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Here we go, one final opportunity
The past 18 weeks have seen us attempt to use our accumulated football knowledge to seal a successful Sky Bet Group Bet. There have been some poor weeks where none of our bets have come in, but there have also been some painfully close weeks where we’ve missed out by little more than a goal.
But in this final week we must strive once more to give it a go, and there are some decent matches for us to pick from.
Captain Obvious: Wayne – Juventus to beat Fiorentina
Juventus slipped up last weekend in their attempts to wrap up the title against SPAL. They wouldn’t have worried too much, especially with a Champions League quarter-final days away and an enormous points cushion in the Serie A title race.
Fast forward a few days though and things are looking a little different. The points cushion is still there, but Juventus’ hopes of winning the Champions League are gone, after being undone by Ajax’s young swashbucklers.
That defeat and subsequent elimination from Europe brings added importance to their match against Fiorentina at the weekend. Being knocked out of Europe is devastating for a side like Juventus, but what better way to make up for it than by sealing the title against your bitter rivals? Provided they can pick themselves up from the Ajax defeat, I expect Juve will win this one convincingly.
Dark Horse: Si – Everton to beat Manchester United
A battle of two unpredictable teams, United have stuttered almost every step of the way since knocking PSG out of the Champions League, while Everton have been unable to get any discernible momentum under Marco Silva.
These two sides – despite the difference in their first team’s monetary values – have a lot in common. Both can dazzle at times, both can be hugely frustrating, and both (defences in particular) can often just appear to forget how to play the game of football.
United were lucky not concede three or four against West Ham last weekend, with only David de Gea’s heroics keeping them in the game. His confidence will be hit a touch after his mistake at the Camp Nou, and if United take to the field at Goodison as absent-minded as they have done in recent weeks they may well be in trouble.
The Stat Man: Reuben – Valencia to beat Real Betis
Valencia’s domestic form this season has been strange. Though they have played well for large spells of the season, they have for a long time been unable to find that winning formula.
This is evidenced by their 16 draws in LaLiga this season, but crucially they’ve recently begun to start picking up wins. Marcelino’s side have three wins in their past five LaLiga games and currently sit on 49 points; three points off Sevilla in fourth place. They’re also performing impressively in the Europa League.
On Sunday they come up against a Real Betis side which is going in the opposite direction, with just one win (and three defeats) in their last five, after a particularly encouraging period earlier this season.
Valencia will be striving to return to the Champions League next season, and given both sides’ respective set of results lately, I can see the away side taking home the three points.
Dark Horse: Matt – BTTS in Cardiff City vs Liverpool
Cardiff City’s victory over Brighton and Hove Albion this week has stirred things up at the bottom of the table, and on Sunday they welcome title chasers Liverpool to the Welsh capital.
Jurgen Klopp’s side are in particularly good form at the moment, and were very impressive in their defeat of Chelsea last weekend, but Neil Warnock has made the Cardiff City Stadium a difficult place for sides to come to this season.
Chelsea struggled enormously there recently and probably should have lost. Add to this the inherent pressure from Manchester City having played a day before and I think that – while Liverpool will win – they’ll struggle to keep a clean sheet.
