Pandora Hughes
There’s a full schedule of soccer across all the big European leagues and MTS brings you the pick of the weekend betting action in Spain, Germany, England, and Italy
Who do Bettors Favor?
There are some key battles in the title races across four nations in Europe this weekend and betting fans who check out their favorite online sportsbooks will find some open contests.
In the weekend’s big game, the Madrid Derby, bookmakers are taking no chances and make Real the strong favorites at +100. Elsewhere in Europe, Chelsea are a short price to beat Leeds, while Leipzig are -125 to get the better of Borussia Monchengladbach in the Bundesliga’s big weekend clash and Atalanta are expected to pick up three points in Verona on Sunday.
| Real v Atletico |  |  |  |
| Real Madrid | +110 | +110 | +110 |
| Atletico Madrid | +260 | +255 | +230 |
| Draw | +250 | +260 | +230 |
Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid, 2021-12-12
Real Madrid go into this game with a ten-point lead over their city rivals in La Liga, and an eight-point advantage over second-placed Sevilla so a victory over Atletico – the reigning Spanish champions – would give further momentum to Real’s title challenge.
Aside from a surprise defeat to Espanyol at the start of October, Real have been remarkably consistent in recent weeks, going ten games without defeat in all competitions and recording six consecutive victories in the league. With Barcelona still struggling and Atletico also losing their way, the road looks clear for Carlo Ancelotti’s side to stroll to another league title.
By contrast, Diego Simeone’s team look lost at the moment. Their normally reliable defensive unit has looked shaky, and that has encouraged Simeone to double down on the defensive tactics. Besides a dramatic loss of form, the team may also have to manage without key striker Luis Suarez, who was forced off with a muscle injury in a Champions League game.
Atletico haven’t won this fixture since the 2015-16 season and while they have managed six draws in the last ten, they look vulnerable this time.
RB Leipzig v Borussia Monchengladbach, 2021-12-11
Neither of these sides go into Saturday’s clash in good form and both are languishing well short of the top six. Leipzig have lost their last three Bundesliga games and have dropped to eleventh in the table, while Monchengladbach are down in 13th place after consecutive defeats to Koln and Freiburg.
Of particular relevance to this game is Monchengladbach’s terrible away record. They’ve lost five out of seven on the road this season, with one draw and just a solitary victory and that does not bode well for their trip to the east this weekend.
Leipzig will start as favorites, and there is some justification beyond home advantage for their relatively short price. Although they have struggled in the league of late, their last two Champions League games saw them thrash Brugge 5-0 and then beat Manchester City at home to secure a Europa League place.
In fact, their home form has been pretty good. Prior to their defeat against Bayer Leverkusen, they’d won four home games in a row, by an aggregate score of 15-2. Given that they have also had the better of this fixture in recent seasons, they look a solid wager for the win here.
Chelsea v Leeds 2021-12-11
Chelsea have been one of Europe’s form teams this season, though there are some indications that they may be suffering the effects of setting the pace in the Premier League while also defending their Champions League title.
Thomas Tuchel’s side have only won two of their last five in the top flight. They were held to draws at Stamford Bridge by Burnley and Manchester United and were beaten by West Ham in their last away fixture. They will also go into this weekend’s fixture on the back of an energy-sapping 3-3 Champions League game in St Petersburg on Wednesday.
But though they might be vulnerable, it isn’t clear that Leeds are the team to take advantage of. There is a long and bitter rivalry between these teams and Saturday’s game could be pretty feisty, but although that can often prove to be a leveling factor, Leeds just don’t look capable of winning this game. They can, however, earn a scrappy draw and that looks like the value pick here.
Hellas Verona v Atalanta, 2021-12-12
Verona recorded a welcome win last time out, courtesy of a sending-off for Venezia, although they had to work hard to secure their 4-3 success. The result will at least give them some hope ahead of their home tie with Atalanta, but I can’t see past the visitors here.
Gian Piero Gasperini’s team continue to punch above their weight in Serie A and are now nine games unbeaten in the league. They are particularly strong on the road, where they’ve recorded an impressive seven wins and one draw from eight games.
Verona are a hard-working team and will hope to make it hard for Atalanta, but the visitors are simply too strong and have to be the pick in this game.
Best Online Sportsbooks to Bet on Soccer
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