Sure wins for Real, Barcelona and Arsenal

Chelsea vs. West Brom
This battle of the teacher versus the pupil should see Jose Mourinho triumph over Steve Clarke. Never before has Mourinho publicly ranted against his own team. One or two players yes, but never an entire group as he did after losing to Newcastle. He will have made changes for Schalke, will make even more for this one and, perhaps predictably, will get the reaction he is looking for. Home win

Liverpool vs. Fulham
Martin Jol is damned if he does, damned if he doesn’t. He can go to Anfield and park the bus for damage control in the hope of sneaking a result, or he can put out an attacking team at a ground where others like Southampton have been rewarded for being bold. Either way he is destined to lose, but for his and the team’s sake he had better give it a go regardless. Home win

Sunderland vs. Man City
Having beaten Newcastle in the derby and Southampton in the Capital One Cup in consecutive home games, the last team Sunderland would have liked to visit the Stadium of Light is Man City. Any chance of gathering the kind of momentum to lend hope to the prospects of survival is likely to be interrupted by a team that is only just getting into its own groove. Away win

Man United vs. Arsenal
After several weeks of making out like I was in possession of some crystal ball, these two best represent the relative terrible predictions-weekend I had last time out. I didn’t think United would beat Fulham, or that Arsenal would overcome Liverpool. Now they face each other and somethin’s gotta give. Arsenal’s best chance to put one over long time jinx opponents I reckon. Away win

Spurs vs. Newcastle
Sooner than later Tottenham are going to start scoring the goals an ensemble of such immense talent suggests. The visit of improving Newcastle, famous conquerors of Chelsea last weekend and buoyed by that performance and result, comes too soon for that projected Spurs goal glut I am afraid. Draw

Crystal Palace vs. Everton
Every fibre in my body is screaming away win, with the trite visuals throwing images of the celebrating Romelu Lukaku and Kevin Mirallas (oh and is that Leighton Baines I see too, grinning after yet another set piece strike or crossed assist?). Yet for some strange reason I am shutting those visuals out and envisaging a defiant Palace saying no this once. Draw

Serie A
Juventus vs. Napoli
Second and third go up against each other in one of the best match-ups across Europe. Rafa Benitez lives for these big ones, the tactician attentive to detail who has successfully plotted against his peers so often in these one-offs. Yet I feel that thins once, he will come up short in Turin. Home win.

Roma vs. Sassuolo
Roma seemed to be enjoying the record-breaking victory run and playing with freedom, but if not already then the pressure of the whole thing would have burdened then soon. Now that it is gone they can start again, in the comfort of their home albeit against plucky visitors with nothing to lose. Home win

Bundesliga
Bayern vs. Augsburg
The Bayern juggernaut speeds on unabated, with most in the Bundesliga powerless to stop it, and it would take a momentous lapse in concentration for Augsburg to do what many others have failed. Champions League chores are not in the least bit a distraction, just a welcome variation and opportunity for their massive squad. Over

Wolfsburg vs. Dortmund
Bayern’s rivals Dortmund don’t quite have that luxury of squad or a home fixture, and having played out an extremely demanding one in midweek against Arsenal, they will be stretched away to this collection of experienced and skillful Brazilians and their sidekicks. Draw

French Ligue 1
Monaco vs. Evian
Playing a day before PSG, Monaco will snap up the chance to go level on points with their title rivals. They can only take over leadership on goal difference if they win 7-0, which is unlikely. Still, they will get the ‘Over’

PSG vs. Nice
They were subpar against Anderlecht in midweek, but will want to put that performance firmly behind them. ‘Over’

Spanish La Liga
Real Madrid vs. Sociedad
Xabi Prieto and Sociedad have fond memories of the Santiago Bernabeu, but this could be one to forget. Home win

Betis vs. Barcelona
Messi hasn’t scored in four La Liga games and everybody is talking. Betis are wishing they could all just shut up! Away win

Villarreal vs. Atletico
Atletico are sinking all vessels in their path, but not the Yellow Submarine.

Valencia vs. Valladolid
They struggle for goals sometimes do Valencia, but they should find enough to win.

Bilbao vs. Levante
Should be a good watch this one, and Bilbao should win it.

Scotland
Ross County vs. Celtic
Physical and mental wounds for Celtic after the misadventure of Amsterdam should heal here. Away win

Netherlands
NEC Nijmegen vs Ajax: ‘Over’

Zwolle vs Twente: ‘Over’

NAC Breda vs. PSV: ‘Over’

Vitesse vs Utrecht: ‘Over’

Den Haag vs. Cambuur: Home win

Russia
Rubin Karzan vs. Krasnodar: Home win

CSKA Moscow vs. Terek Grozny: ‘Over’

PFK Sovetov vs. Dinamo Moscow: Away win

Turkey
Kasimpasa vs. Gaziantepspor:
Home win

Kayserispor vs. Besiktas:
Away win

Sivasspor vs. Bursaspor:
Home win

Argentina
Newell’s Old Boys vs. San Lorenzo:
‘Under’

Boca Juniors vs. Tigre: Home win

All Boys vs. Gimnasia La Plata:
Away win

Brazil
Cruzeiro vs. Gremio: Home win

Corinthians vs. Fluminense:
Home win

[email protected]