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Only three weeks have passed since the first leg between City and Tottenham, and it’s already time for the return. Guardiola’s team made a foreboding and providential comeback (in terms of Premier League ambitions) in the Etihad match, played in January as a seventh-day recovery, immediately after the one-two close by Spurs signed by Kulusevski and Emerson Royal on the final time. They didn’t go down but, on the contrary, found energy and game to show off a great second half, accompanied by four goals. That match can be considered quite emblematic with regard to Antonio Conte’s team (who will be absent because of health issues): technically strong, capable in his best moments of play of putting down even the top teams, but then too brittle and pierceable in defense.
Now that the same opponent comes back, Spurs will have a desire for revenge on the one hand, but probably, on the other, they will seek first of all a greater and more effective defensive phase against a City that, despite this and other beautiful and recent victories, cannot “rest on their laurels” but rather they must only and only win, given that Arsenal continues not to lose any shots, at least in the league, because in the last round of the FA Cup, the Gunners were beaten by City 1-0 thanks to Ake’s goal. A sixteenth-final, albeit important, was not and is not the goal of the Citizens that Arsenal would like to overcome in the league (the two direct matches are still to be played), and for this reason they will approach the difficult match at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium presumably with the “intent, in fact, to make the match,” which promises to be quite unpredictable from the point of view of progress and tactics but instead certainly predictable (like any great Premier League match) as regards entertainment and intensity.
Form Guide
Tottenham Hotspur WWLLWW
Fans of Tottenham Hotspur will hope for a result similar to their most recent game, which was a victory in the FA Cup against Preston North End with a score of 3-0.
During that game, Tottenham Hotspur held possession for 69% of the time and had 13 shots on goal, with 6 of them finding the target. On the other end of the field, Preston North End had five shots on goal, but only one of them was on target.
In recent games involving Tottenham Hotspur, it has become increasingly usual to see a scoreline that reads 0-0.
If we look at their previous six matchups before this one, a bet placed on both teams scoring resulted in a loss in five of them before we got to this one.
Tottenham Hotspur come into this match having not won at home in the league in either of the previous two matches they have played in.
Manchester City WLLWWW
Manchester City comes into this matchup on the heels of a 1-0 victory in the FA Cup against Arsenal.
During that game, Manchester City held 54% of the possession and had 8 shots on goal, with 3 of them finding the back of the net. On the other hand, Arsenal had five shots on goal, with two of them actually hitting the target.
Over the course of their last six matches, Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City squad has found the back of the net a total of 13 times. There have been six goals scored against them during that time span, bringing the total number of goals scored against them to one.
Manchester City had not beaten Tottenham Hotspur in any of their previous three league matches played away from their usual venue prior to this match.
Tottenham Hotspur vs Manchester City Predicted XI
Tottenham Hotspur Predicted XI: Lloris; Romero, Dier, Davies; Porro, Hojbjerg, Bentancur, Perisic; Kulusevski, Kane, Son.
Manchester City Predicted XI: Ederson; Lewis, Akanji, Laporte, Ake; Gundogan, Rodri, De Bruyne; Mahrez, Haaland, Grealish.
Prediction
Our analysis suggests that Tottenham Hotspur have the potential to score a goal against this Manchester City team; but, we also believe that a single goal is not likely to be enough for Tottenham Hotspur to get the outcome that they are looking for.
We anticipate a competitive encounter, with Manchester City emerging victorious after 90 minutes with a score of 1-2.
Barcelona’s march in the league continues. Not even a charged and combative Betis managed to stop the Blaugrana, who, under the guidance of Xavi, increasingly give the impression of being a valid, compact, and, above all, winning group. Barça’s next challenge comes from the same city as the previous one: Sevilla, and they will try to outperform their city rivals despite having a significantly lower ranking; however, they have improved in the last two rounds, with victories over Cadiz and Elche lifting them out of the relegation zone. Now, to look for continuity of results, coach Sampaoli will try to snatch a point at the Camp Nou, an eventuality that, both in absolute terms and mainly for the season that both teams are experiencing, would look like a real feat. Barcelona, which had already made up for the lack of Robert Lewandowski, in fact found him again in Benito Villamarin’s last match against Betis, a match that saw the Pole score. The striker’s return is naturally a weapon that, for the shaky defenses of the Spanish championship, can be lethal; thus, the Andalusians’ hopes of getting a result will rely on an excellent performance by the defense, which, in fact, has been undefeated in the last two matches.
On the other hand, defensive solidity at home is at home in Barcelona, which, at the Camp Nou, has truly applause-worthy statistics as it has only conceded one goal in the league. All the main numbers are therefore in favor of Xavi’s boys, who, after beating Real in the Super Cup, seem to have taken a step forward, which makes them, due to technique and cynicism, very difficult to contain for the vast majority of La Liga teams.
Form Guide
Barcelona WWWWWW
After winning their previous game in La Liga by a score of 1-2 against Real Betis, Barcelona will be looking for a similar outcome this time around.
During that match, Barcelona held a possession percentage of 64% and had 13 shots on goal, with only 3 of them hitting the target. Real Betis, the team they were playing against, had five shots on goal, with one of them actually hitting the target.
The excellence that has been present in Barcelona’s defense has been highlighted by the most recent results that they have achieved. Barcelona has only allowed two goals against them at their goal in the previous six matches, demonstrating that they have a strong defensive unit.
Sevilla WLWWLW
Sevilla enters this encounter on the back of a victory in their most recent La Liga match, a 3-0 triumph over Elche CF in their most recent matchup.
During that game, Sevilla had 81% possession of the ball and 22 shots on goal, with 8 of those shots hitting the target. Elche had six shots on goal for their team’s opponent, but only one was on target.
Over the course of their most recent half-dozen matches, Sevilla has scored a total of nine goals for themselves. In addition, Sevilla has scored at least one goal in every single one of those matches. During that span of time, their defenders have been on the receiving end of five goals scored against them.
Barcelona vs Sevilla Predicted XI
Barcelona Predicted XI: Ter Stegen; Kounde, Araujo, Christensen, Balde; Pedri, Busquets, De Jong; Raphinha, Lewandowski, Gavi.
Sevilla Predicted XI: Bounou; Montiel, Gudelj, Nianzou, Acuna; Delaney, Rakitic; Jordan, Torres, Lamela; En-Nesyri.
Prediction
We think Barcelona will have a lot of chances and shots on goal during this game.
On the other hand, Sevilla might have a hard time scoring goals, but we still see them coming back and scoring at some point throughout the match.
At this point, we are going to go ahead and predict that Barcelona will win by a score of 3-1 by the time the referee blows the final whistle.
Inter host Milan at the Meazza in the derby in the 21st round of Serie A. A few days after the match in the Super Cup, which was dominated by the Nerazzurri and finished 3-0, the Rossoneri are looking for revenge in the midst of a crisis of results that risks compromising the entire season. In fact, Pioli is back from three consecutive defeats, the last 5-2 at home against Sassuolo. The situation in Milan also risks falling apart because qualification for the next Champions League is at high risk. The Rossoneri are in fifth place in the standings, but with the same points as Lazio and Atalanta (38).
Inter, on the other hand, seems to have fully recovered from the surprise defeat against Empoli, and after the Tuscans, they have an open streak of two consecutive victories. A painful 2-1 victory against Cremonese arrived in the last round of Group A, while in the Italian Cup, the Nerazzurri qualified for the semi-finals by eliminating Atalanta 1-0. The numbers speak for Inzaghi: Inter has won five of their last six games, restoring their arrogance at the top of the league, trailing an unbeatable Napoli. Inzaghi is second alone with 40 points, 13 fewer than Spalletti. Half the team is in the pits for Pioli, who will not yet be able to count on starting goalkeeper Maignan, as well as Florenzi, Ibra, Tomori, and Bennacer. Dest has recovered, so it’s a 4231 with Giroud as the center forward. Saelemaekers, Diaz, and Leao are standing behind him. 352 for Inzaghi, who will have to do without Brozovic and Handanovic. Skriniar returns in defense, Barella in midfield, and in front of the couple Lautaro Lukaku instead.
Form Guide
Inter Milan WWWLWW
Fans of Inter Milan will be hoping for a result similar to their previous game, which was a 1-0 victory in the Coppa Italia over Atalanta.
During that encounter, Inter Milan had 51% possession of the ball and 14 shots on goal, with only three of them finding the back of the net. Matteo Darmian was the sole player who scored for Inter Milan (in the 57th minute). On the other hand, Atalanta had ten shots on goal, but only one of them was successful in hitting the target.
The most recent results for Inter Milan’s backline indicate that everything is proceeding exactly as intended at this point. Inter Milan has conceded few goals to their rivals, as evidenced by the fact that the sum of the goals that have been scored against them in their last six matches stands at three.
Before this matchup, Inter Milan had not beaten AC Milan in any of their previous three league contests. They are looking to change that.
AC Milan DLDLLL
After suffering a loss to Sassuolo in their most recent match in Serie A action, both AC Milan and their fans who traveled with them will be hoping for a different outcome in this one. Sassuolo was the team that they faced in their most recent match.
During that game, AC Milan held 61% of the possession and had 10 shots on goal, with 5 of them finding the back of the net. Sassuolo had 9 shots on goal, but only 7 of them were on target. Sassuolo’s shots were on target 7 times.
At least three goals have been scored in each of the last five and a half matches out of the previous six that have featured AC Milan. During that span of time, the overall average number of goals scored per match is 3.83, while the average number of goals scored by AC Milan is 1.
Inter Milan vs AC Milan Predicted XI
Inter Milan Predicted XI: Onana; Skriniar, Acerbi, Bastoni; Darmian, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Martinez, Dzeko.
AC Milan Predicted XI: Tatarusanu; Calabria, Kalulu, Kjaer, Hernandez; Pobega, Tonali, Krunic; Saelemaekers, Giroud, Leao.
Prediction
We are of the opinion that AC Milan might have a difficult time finding the back of the net when playing against this Inter Milan club, who ought to score the decisive goal that wins it.
So, we think this game was very close, even though Inter Milan won by a score of 1-0 after regulation and overtime.