The international break is over and most leagues are back. The EPL is still off as it’s an FA Cup weekend. Let’s cover 7 games across the top leagues for this weekend’s best soccer predictions.
Soccer Picks and Parlays #1
Saturday in the FA Cup
Chelsea vs Port Vale Prediction
1215pm
6th place Chelsea aren’t going to win the Premier League and are now knocked out of the UCL, so the FA Cup is their chance at a prize.
They’ve beaten Charlton 5-1, Hull 4-0 and Wrexham 4-2 (in extra-time) to get here. But they’re in a dreadful run of overall form with losses of 5-2, 1-0, 3-0 and 3-0 in all comps in their last 4.
Port Vale have a huge task ahead of them going on the road to Stamford Bridge. Port Vale are 24th, or last in the third division, League One at 7-10-21. They’ve progressed with a bunch of close wins. After beating Maldon & Tiptree 5-1 way back in the first round, it’s been 1-0 wins over Bristol Rovers, Fleetwood Town, Bristol City and Sunderland.
In all comps they have 1 win in 6, another 1-0 win over Bolton Wanderers in the league, but have since lost 1-0 and 4-0.
Chelsea are struggling, but vs a lower level team ranked 61 spots below them, at home may be the tonic to get them back in the win column, and likely with 2-3 goals. They haven’t lost to a lower level team in 37 cup matches.
- Soccer Picks: Chelsea over 2.5
Hamburger vs Augsburg Prediction
930am
Neither team is having a good season with 10th Augsburg travelling to 12th Hamburger. Both are above the drop zone, but only by 6 and 7 points. Perhaps getting a point each in a draw wouldn’t be the worst result. It was tight in November, 1-0 home Augsburg win. And Hamburger do have the most draws in Germany.
But Augsburg only has 6 wins since that win. While 5 of those came in a 6-game period, it’s now losses of 2-1, 2-0 and 5-2. Only twice in 12 games have they kept clean sheet and both of those came at home. Only twice in 11 games have they not scored, and both were on the road, where they are here.
But Hamburger are certainly a team that can be scored on, something that has happened in 7 straight games (11 goals total). Despite winning only 3/14 and 1/6, they have scored in 8/9 (14 goals total) recently. In their last game they jumped out to a surprising 3-0 lead over Dortmund but fell apart in the end giving up 2 PKs and another goal in the 73’, 78’, and 84’ minutes.
BTTS or Over 1.5.
- Soccer Picks: Both Teams to Score
- Parlay Picks: CHE over 2.5 / HAM vs AUG btts (+129)
Soccer Picks and Parlays #2
Saturday.
Stuttgart vs Borussia Dortmund Prediction
1230pm
It’s 3rd hosting 2nd in the last game on the Saturday slate. I’m hoping for more of what we saw in their first meeting, a 3-3 draw in Dortmund in November. Last year it was two Stuttgart wins, 5-1 and 2-1 and there’s been 3+ goals between them in 6/8.
This match features two of the league’s top scorers in Undav for Stuttgart with 18 goals and Guirassy for Dortmund with 13.
Since getting knocked out of the UCL by Atalanta and then losing 3-2 to Bayern, Dortmund have won 2-1, 2-0 and 3-2. Not since a 2-0 loss to Inter have they not scored, and in 9 of those 10 games since they’ve scored 2 or more. They also just gave up 2 to Hamburger and have conceded 2, 0, 1, 3, 4 and 2 goals in recent games.
Stuttgart got knocked out of Europe themselves losing both UEL legs to Porto and are just 3-2-3 in their last 8 overall games, but did route Augsburg 5-2 in their last game. They score in most games (13/15) but have conceded twice in 4/5 and at least 1 in 9/11.
- Soccer Picks: Both Teams to Score
Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona Prediction
3pm
These teams will be getting to know each other each other really well in the next couple of weeks. They play on Saturday in La Liga and then will again meet twice more in the UCL Quarterfinals starting on Tuesday. How both approach this weekend’s game may be tough to judge.
But we know Barca need points to stay ahead of Madrid and will have to do it without the injured Raphinha who got injured on international duty.
We’ve also already seen 3 meetings this season between them so we could see a total of 6. First Barca won 3-1 at home in the league. Then Atleti won 4-0 at home in the Copa del Rey, before Barca won 3-0 at home in the 2nd leg, not being enough to make the comeback, and Atleti moving on to the final.
If we follow that trend, it could be an Atleti win and maybe one where they score multiple goals. They’ve scored 2+ in 7/10. They’ve also given up 2+ in 5/6 and are coming off back-to-back 3-2 losses to Tottenham and Real Madrid. Sorloth is a miss up top, while Cardoso and Llorente are suspended.
Barca could only edge past Rayo Vallecano 1-0 last round but are undefeated in 8 at 7-1-0, outscoring opponents 25-6 in that time. It’s a rare game where Barca don’t score (the last time being 10 game back though in this venue vs Atleti). That’s the only time in 29 games they haven’t scored.
I favor Atleti at home where they’re 13-1-1, but if I take a loss for Barca not scoring, I’ll accept that.
- Soccer Picks: Both Teams to Score
- Parlay Picks: STU vs DOR btts / ATM vs BAR btts (+112)
*I’m just taking the BTTS in both of these but adding the Over 2.5 to both would also bump this up if you want a better return.
Soccer Picks and Parlays #3
Sunday.
Eintracht Frankfurt vs Koln Prediction
I don’t trust either of these teams. Frankfurt have 3 wins in 15. But they’ve had a new coach now for a few games and are at least 2-1-1 in their last 4, while keeping clean sheets in 3/4. However they lost 2-1 to Mainz last round. Only once in 8 games and twice in 17 have they not scored and at home to Koln, you’d think that trend continues.
The Billy Goats are winless in 7 to go with only 2 wins in 18. Since 1-0 win over Wolfsburg on Jan. 30, they’re 0-3-4 and have given up 2, 3, 2, 2, 2, 1 an 3 goals last round in 3-3 draw. Scoring hasn’t been the problem, something they’ve done in 11/12.
When they played in Koln in November it was a wild 4-3 Frankfurt win. So maybe the BTTS is a solid bet here, besides the fact Frankfurt have improved defensively.
- Soccer Picks: Frankfurt to score
Valencia vs Celta Vigo Prediction
Celta Vigo advanced in the UEL knocking out Lyon, but couldn’t follow that up with a win, losing 4-3 at home to Alaves last round, despite going up early 3-0. They’re just 1-2-2 in their last 5, but their scoring streak continues, now at 11 games, plus in 17/18. Often a good BTTS team, they’ve conceded as well in 5/6.
Valencia are just 12th and 7 points clear of the drop. But the Bats have won 4/6 and 3/4 and won 2-0 last round. They’ve been capable of keeping a few clean sheets, in 3/6 but have also conceded twice in 6/10 games and 1+ in 7/10. Only 2 times in 22 games have they not scored and at home at the Mestalla, they’ve only failed to score twice (Real Madrid and Villarreal).
Celta are better and usually score in most games, but Valencia at home are capable, and past scores between them are 4-1 Celta (this year) and also 2-1, 3-1, 2-2 and 3-1.
- Soccer Picks: Both Teams to Score
- Parlay Picks: EF to score / VAL vs CV btts (+120)
Let’s cover one more game that won’t make the best bets but is a huge game in the FA Cup.
Man City vs Liverpool Prediction
745am
It’s the 3rd meeting this season with Man City winning 3-0 and 2-1 in the EPL already. Liverpool won 2-0 in both games last season and it was two 1-1 results the season prior. Man City won two before that, and Liverpool two before that. So the results have gone in swings and not always as high-scoring as you may think. The Under 2.5 is 4-2, but there’s been 3 goals in both matches this season.
Man City has beaten Exeter 10-0, Salford 3-0 and Newcastle 3-1 in the FA Cup.
After 3 games without a win in overall comps, they got their hands on some silverware beating Arsenal 2-0 in the EFL Cup Final before the break. Just once in 16 games (Real Madrid) has City now scored. Now they’re in another cup competition, where they’ve won 19/21 FA Cup matches, only losing in the finals, twice. It’s also 17 straight home FA Cup wins.
Liverpool beat Barnsley 4-1, Brighton 3-0 and Wolves 3-1 in the FA Cup.
Overall, only a 4-0 win over Galatasaray in the UCL to get them into the quarters is their only win in 4 games and they lost 2-1 to Brighton last round. They too have scored in most games, doing so in 16/17 — but have conceded in 6/7. Salah has announced he’s moving on at the end of the season so that could give the Reds a push to get him another trophy. He sat out international duty injured, but could possibly return this weekend.
Man City got their hands on a trophy despite a down year. While Liverpool are still in the UCL, no one would be picking them to win. This could also be their best chance at silverware in the FA Cup.
- Soccer Picks: BTTS (-200) or the Draw (+300)
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Ryan Métivier is a seasoned editor, writer and communications professional with years of experience in all fields. When it comes to covering sports, he’s written for numerous outlets and organizations including the OHL, CHL, SportsXpress, Sports Betting Dime, Cleveland.com, MassLive, FanSided and others.
While he’ll always cheer for his hometown Toronto teams, when it comes to betting, his only allegiance is his bankroll. Ryan specializes in global soccer, the NFL and the NHL, but if there is a bet to be made, he’ll make it. As the founder of Shred The Spread, Ryan focuses on combining storylines, trends, analytics and good bankroll management to creating simple bets that make sense.
When not making a case for why both teams will score in an MLS soccer match, he can be found focusing his efforts on fitness, attempting to learn Spanish, cooking or planning his travel adventure.
