Atletico Madrid take on Las Palmastoday
Atletico Madrid will be bidding to make it seven straight wins in La Liga when they travel to Estadio Gran Canaria on Friday evening to take on Las Palmas.
Diego Simeone‘s side are third in the table, three points behind leaders Real Madrid with a game in hand, while Las Palmas occupy 10th, boasting 14 points from their opening 11 matches of the campaign. Las Palmas struggled in the early stages of the campaign, winning just one of their opening seven La Liga matches, but they have been in excellent form over the last month, boasting four wins from their last five games in all competitions.
As is often the case, a lot of the focus in La Liga this season has been on Real Madrid and Barcelona, meaning that Atletico’s excellent start has somewhat gone under the radar.
Simeone’s side have won eight, drawn one and lost one of their 10 league games this season to sit third in the table on 25 points, only three points behind leaders Real Madrid with a match to spare.
Atletico have won their last six in the league, with the team responding impressively to their 3-0 loss at Valencia in the middle of September, which was undoubtedly the low-point of their campaign thus far.
Both teams have been strong defensively this season, while Las Palmas have found it difficult to hit the back of the net, so we are predicting a low-scoring away win here.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Can morale-depleted Man Unitedmake amends against Fulham
With their crisis worsening by the week, a morale-depleted Manchester United team seek to make amends for a disastrous few days when they meet Fulham at Craven Cottage in Saturday’s early Premier League kickoff.
If the Old Trafford panic button had not already been pressed after a harrowing 3-0 derby defeat to Manchester City, Red Devils chiefs’ fingers may now be hovering dangerously above the red switch after Newcastle subjected the Red Devils to an identical pummelling in the EFL Cup.Three wins, three draws and four losses in the Premier League so far can certainly be described as a mixed bag for Manchester United.
Breaching the Ipswich backline was not a problem for Fulham, but the Tractor Boys have struggled for defensive solidity all season long.Whether Muniz can solve the hosts’ attacking conundrum in the long-term remains to be seen, but with several well-rested Man United players desperate to prove a point at Craven Cottage, we have faith in Ten Hag’s men to get back on track and condemn the Cottagers to a fourth defeat in a row in this fixture.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Newcastle, Arsenal in blockbuster battle at St James’ Park
On the back of contrasting evenings in the EFL Cup, Newcastle United and Arsenal return to Premier League duty with a blockbuster battle at St James’ Park on Saturday evening.
While the Magpies eased past holders Manchester United 3-0 on Wednesday evening, the Gunners’ knockout run came to an end with a 3-1 fourth-round beating at the hands of West Ham United.
The hosts are more than capable of putting a dent in Arsenal’s title aspirations while boosting their own hopes of glory, though, as Newcastle have won each of their last three Premier League home games without conceding, recovering the defensive nous that made them quite the force to be reckoned with in 2022-23.
Newcastle’s Old Trafford exploits are even more commendable when taking Howe’s team selection into account, as the Magpies rested several regular starters. Both sides will be recalling integral performers to their starting XI, but with the Magpies flaunting a resolute defence at home and Arsenal boasting an unparalleled rearguard streak on the road, we can only envisage a low-scoring affair ending all square as the Gunners prolong their unbeaten top-flight record.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Bologna in a home encounter against Lazioon Friday
Fresh from their Coppa Italia second-round success in midweek, Bologna return to Serie A action with a home encounter against Lazio at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara on Friday night.
While the hosts currently sit eighth in the Italian top-flight standings, the visitors are just one place and one point above their upcoming opponents in seventh.
Bologna extended their impressive unbeaten run in all competitions to 10 matches when they secured a 2-0 home victory over 10-man Hellas Verona in the Coppa Italia on Tuesday, setting up a last-16 tie with holders Inter Milan next month.
Lazio boasted the second-best away record in Serie A last season en route to securing second place, but they have since endured a mixed start on the road this term, winning two – including a 2-1 success at champions Napoli – and losing three of their first five top-flight away matches.
The Eagles will fancy their chances of claiming a positive result on Friday, though, as they have only lost two of their last 20 top-flight games against Bologna
A goalless stalemate was played out the last time these two teams butted heads in March, and another closely-fought contest could be on the cards.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
