April 2, 2023 - Matchplug Blog

Atlético Madrid vs Real Betis: Preview and Expert Football Prediction

The La Liga top-four battle continues this weekend as Atletico Madrid battle Real Betis for three points at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium.

The hosts are in command of the race behind Barcelona and Real Madrid, having taken at least three more points than the chasing pack.

They will open up a nine-point cushion inside La Liga’s top-four if they can notch up a fourth successive win against fellow Champions League hopefuls Real Betis.

Diego Simeone has never failed to lead the Rojiblancos there in ten previous full seasons at the helm, and with just one loss in 12 La Liga games, their place amongst Europe’s elite looks safe once again.

With the Argentine’s charges also netting nine goals across their last two home matches alone, it isn’t easy to see past yet another win for them.

Real Betis will be desperate to make it two wins in two games when they travel to the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium on Sunday. The visitors beat Mallorca 1-0 just before the international break to ensure they remained in the top-four race.

The win ended a run of four games without a win for the Verdiblancos, who are now free from Europa League distractions, having been eased out by Manchester United just before the international break.

With that behind them, the focus will be on getting into the top four. With Betis going unbeaten in four La Liga road trips ahead of kick-off (W3, D1), they will fancy their chances of getting a result in the capital.

However, Betis’ appalling record against squads led by Diego Simeone (W1, D5, L16) is hard to ignore. Much of that can be attributed to nine blanks across Betis’ ten prior away H2Hs against Atlético in the Simeone era, hinting at an unhappy start to April.

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Napoli vs AC Milan: Preview and Expert Football Prediction

Serie A top four hopefuls AC Milan will travel to Naples this Sunday to face run-away league leaders Napoli.

The hosts are cruising to their first Scudetto since the 1990 season, thanks to a return of 23 league wins and just two losses (D2) in 27 games.

A club-record 71 points from those first 27 Serie A games has given the hosts an almost insurmountable 19-point lead atop the table, prompting talks of Napoli being ‘champions-elect’.

Coach Luciano Spalletti has been the architect of this campaign. The Italian will be desperate to extend his remarkable work at the Naples-based side in the Champions League too.

His side’s meeting with Milan on Sunday is the first of three H2H meetings over 17 days, with both sides set to meet in the Champions League quarter-finals next week.

A win here could tell what will happen in that game. Napoli will be confident of winning here, though, as they have enjoyed great success at home this season. Only Lazio have taken points from Napoli across their last eleven Serie A home games (W10, L1). So a return to Stadio Diego Armando Maradona reinforces their credentials in this match.

However, AC Milan will be mildly confident of getting a result, given that they have won the last two head-to-head meetings between both sides. But their form just before the international break doesn’t inspire confidence, with the San Siro side winless in their last four competitive games (D2, L2).

They’ve won just three of their last eleven games (D3, L5), which not only dumped them out of the title race but also put their participation in next season’s UCL at risk.

Manager Stefano Pioli tried to boost morale by stating, “nobody is perfect or unbeatable,” as he plots to avenge a 2-1 loss in the reverse fixture. However, his biggest hurdle looks to be his side’s wretched away form, with the Rossoneri losing four of their last five Serie A road trips (W1).

Ten goals conceded during those defeats is a stark reminder of their defensive frailties, as only relegation-battling Cremonese have conceded more goals than Milan.

With Napoli scoring for fun, another high-scoring game with over 2.5 goals could be on the cards.

West Ham vs Southampton: Preview and Expert Football Prediction

The fight for Premier League survival enters its final stretch, with West Ham and Southampton meeting at the London Stadium for another cracking game.

Both sides are desperate to find form following the international break. However, West Ham are the side more desperate for a win, primarily as the future of their manager David Moyes reportedly rests on results from this game.

The former Everton and Man United boss could be relieved of his duties if he loses here. So a tense encounter could ensue, particularly as West Ham lost this game 3-2 last term.

Another high-scoring encounter could follow because the Hammers have kept just four home PL clean sheets this term. Furthermore, at least three goals have been scored in ten of the last H2H hosted by West Ham (W7, L3).

That said, the Hammers are unbeaten in four league games here (W2, D2), suggesting the international break perhaps came at a bad time for them as far as their home form is concerned.

Southampton will hold similar feelings, having collected as many points since sacking Nathan Jones six PL games ago (eight) than in the 17 games prior, as they desperately fight to keep in touch at the foot of the table.

Following their battling 3-3 draw with Tottenham, in which the Saints battled back from 3-1 down, manager Rubén Sellés said, “the players want to fight for each other, and I’m very proud of it.”

Selles will hope that his side can produce another battling performance in London that could see them move out of the bottom of the table. They will fancy their chances, though, considering they have won twice as many league away games as home ones this term (W4, D1, L9). Also, given that three of their away league victories this term came against sides that start the round inside the bottom six, all by a one-goal margin, the Saints appear well prepared to march into battle again.

That said, this game will likely feature over 2.5 goals.

Newcastle vs Manchester United: Preview and Expert Football Prediction

Manchester United will look to strengthen their grip on third position when they travel to St James Park this Sunday to play fellow top-four hopefuls Newcastle United.

The Magpies are contesting for a place in the top four this season, with their brilliant recruitment and management driving them towards their first appearance in the Champions League since the 2002/03 season.

They kept their quest on course just before the international break, with a pair of 2-1 wins over Wolves and Nottingham Forest, ensuring they remain within the distance of fourth-placed Tottenham.

Even better is that Eddie Howe’s side come into this tie sitting just two points behind Spurs, with two games in hand. So a win here will take them above the North London club, who don’t play until Monday.

A win here will also put them level on points with Manchester United, who are just three points ahead. Having lost the Carabao Cup to the Red Devils in February, they will be desperate to exact revenge on them here.

St. James’ Park is the perfect place to achieve that, given that they have lost just one PL game here all season (W7, D5, L1). In addition, United wouldn’t want to drop points here, given the tight fight with Tottenham and Newcastle for the top four.

The Red Devils signed off for the international break in style by cruising into the FA Cup semi-final thanks to a 3-1 win over an ill-disciplined Fulham side.

With the season now in its final stretch, the goal for teams is to pick up as many points as possible in each game. It’s no different for Manchester United, who can still win three trophies this season, having already secured the Carabao Cup and qualified for the last eight of the Europa League and FA Cup last four.

However, the visitors had failed to score in back-to-back PL games and the reverse H2H (0-0). So they will have to be at their clinical best to win here and keep their top-four destiny intact.

Rediscovering their scoring form will be crucial to any United success, as only relegation-threatened Leicester, Nottingham, and Bournemouth have conceded more away league goals ahead of this round than United’s 27.Click here to get the best prediction for the game.

Day: April 2, 2023

Atlético Madrid vs Real Betis: Preview and Expert Football Prediction

Napoli vs AC Milan: Preview and Expert Football Prediction

West Ham vs Southampton: Preview and Expert Football Prediction

Newcastle vs Manchester United: Preview and Expert Football Prediction

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