Preview

Apr

2026

Preview: Chelsea and Leeds United clash at Wembley

Leeds haven’t been in an FA Cup final since 1973, and Chelsea need to find some kind of silver lining for what has been an atrocious season. One game stands in the way between these two clubs and a chance to win the oldest tournament in football.

By Alex Roberts

It will take a truly monumental shift for Leeds to be relegated from the Premier League this season. Daniel Farke has done some fine work, and a 2-2 draw with Bournemouth means they can relax a little and focus on doing something special.

Oh Chelsea. What else needs to be said about the Blues this season? Liam Rosenior is gone, 107 days after being appointed. He never had a chance, but five defeats without scoring a single goal is unacceptable for any top side. At least an FA Cup final would give the fans something positive to shout about.

One that got away?

When he broke out in 2017, Ethan Ampadu looked like he would be a Chelsea starter for years to come. Constant managerial changes, some unsuccessful loans, and poorly timed injuries made sure that didn’t happen, however.

Ampadu is now Leeds captain, and arguably their best player this season. A dependable, defensive minded midfielder, the Wales international has embraced his time in West Yorkshire, and the fans have returned the favour.

With 75 tackles, 44 interceptions, 162 recoveries, and 74 clearances, Ampadu is incredibly hard to get past, and he will doubtless be even more motivated to get one over on his former club and make history with his current.

What a mess, lads

Things aren’t going well in West London. Qualification for next season’s Champions League is all-but out of reach, in fact any form of European football is looking unlikely. Let’s not get into the financial black hole the current ownership have found themselves in.

Rosenior has been sacked. The results simply weren’t good enough, but he’s a symptom rather than the actual disease. Reports of the players downing tools should come as no surprise at a club where accountability is at a premium.

Calum McFarlane has been handed the keys once again. He did a decent if unremarkable job when Enzo Maresca was sacked, but an FA Cup final on his CV would be quite the boon. It’s going to be a big summer for Chelsea, get it wrong and their days as a ‘big six’ club are numbered.

Team news

Farke doesn’t have too much to worry about on the injury/suspension front. Anton Stach (ankle) and Sebastiaan Bornauw (ankle) are both major doubts, but they should be returning fairly soon. Ilia Gruev (meniscus) is out until the end of the season.

Chelsea have a few more problems. McFarlane has confirmed that Estêvão (hamstring) won’t feature again in 2025/26, with the youngster’s World Cup also in doubt.

João Pedro (thigh), and Cole Palmer (hamstring) will both have late fitness checks after they both missed Chelsea’s 3-0 defeat to Brighton. Reece James (hamstring), Jamie Gittens (hamstring), Filip Jörgensen (groin), and Levi Colwill (ACL) are all out.

Prediction

Leeds have had Chelsea’s number this season. A 3-1 win at Elland Road and then a 2-2 draw after going 2-0 down in the reverse fixture have been two of their best performances. We thing that trend may continue. So, we’re going with 2-0 to Farke’s side.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Apr

2026

Preview: City meet Saints in first FA Cup semifinal

Manchester City and Southampton go head-to-head in the FA Cup Semi-Final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday afternoon, as Pep Guardiola’s side look to win their eighth trophy in this competition.

By Matt Smith

The Saints last won the FA Cup 50 years ago this year, when they beat Manchester United in the 1976 Final.

The two sides last faced each other just under a year ago when Southampton held Man City to a 0-0 draw at St Mary’s Stadium. They met in the FA Cup back in 2022, with City securing a 4-1 victory away from home.

Team news

Guardiola confirmed in his press conference this week that Spanish midfielder Rodri would be missing for the game against Southampton. The City boss suggested that Rodri could be able to return against Everton, but they aren’t willing to risk him this weekend.

Joško Gvardiol and Rúben Dias have also been ruled out of the trip to Wembley.

Meanwhile, Southampton midfielder Flynn Downes won’t be available for the South Coast side after he was slapped with a three-match ban following a violent conduct incident against Swansea last week.

Mads Roerslev and Alex McCarthy are unavailable once again, while Jack Stephens is a doubt.

Free-scoring Man City

Guardiola has some of the best attackers in world football at his disposal, and that’s been evident in the FA Cup this season. City have scored 4.8 goals per game in the competition so far, only bettered by fellow Premier League side Chelsea.

City have also conceded just twice in the Cup this season, with no side managing fewer per game. Guardiola’s men would fancy themselves against any Premier League side, never mind a team in England’s second tier.

Can anyone stop Southampton?

Southampton have looked a completely different side since Tonda Eckert was appointed as manager. The Saints are currently unbeaten in the last 20 games in all competitions, winning 16 times during that period – a run we studied in this article.

Southampton were even on an eight-game winning streak before they dropped points against Bristol City last time out in the Championship. Eckert’s side have already produced a giant killing in the competition this season, defeating Arsenal at home in the previous round.

O’Reilly’s enjoying Wembley

A surprise package this season has been Man City youngster Niko O’Reilly. The England international has adapted to senior football with ease since he burst onto the scene, capable of playing in multiple positions to an elite level.

The 21-year-old isn’t scared of a big occasion either, scoring a brace in the Carabao Cup final against Arsenal, while also contributing against Chelsea and Liverpool earlier this month. It’s another chance for the youngster to prove himself on the big stage, hoping to impress Thomas Tuchel ahead of the World Cup.

Prediction

It’s two in-form sides going head to head this weekend, but with City producing at the highest level, it’s difficult to see past Guardiola’s side securing a comfortable win. We’re going for a 3-0 victory to City.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Apr

2026

Preview: Barcelona head to Getafe at the end of a double game week

Lamine Yamal’s hamstring injury has rocked Barcelona even with the Catalans still well on course for the Spanish title.

By Graham Ruthven

Finish line in sight

While Barcelona had dreams of a Treble this season, their 2025/26 campaign is now purely about wrapping up LaLiga as early as possible.

Hansi Flick’s team are nine points clear at the top of the table with just six games of the season left to play. It would take an unprecedented collapse for the trophy not to end up in the Catalans’ hands again.

Nonetheless, Barca would surely like to cross the finish line as quickly as possible. It’s not out of the question that they could clinch the title in next month’s Clásico against Real Madrid.

Lamine Yamal, however, will play no further part in Barcelona’s 2025/26 season after the teenager suffered a hamstring injury in the mid-week win over Celta Vigo.

Getafe’s recent positive run of form has lifted them up into sixth place with José Bordalás’ side now targeting European qualification. After beating Real Sociedad away from home mid-week, they could be challenging opponents for the table-toppers.

Remarkably, Getafe are unbeaten in their last five home matches against Barca and could extend that run on Saturday.

*Getafe’s impressive recent H2H record at home to Barca*

Key players

Mauro Arambarri is Getafe’s top scorer and will be a threat as part of the home team’s midfield unit behind the front two of Martín Satriano and Luis Vázquez.

Luis Milla could also be a driving force for Getafe through the centre of the pitch while the back three of Abdel Abqar, Sebastián Boselli and Domingos Duarte in front of David Soria will have to be at their rock-solid best.

With Raphinha and Yamal both injured, Barcelona need other attacking players to step up as the ones to make something happen in the final third and Marcus Rashford could be that figure.

The on-loan Manchester United forward has scored twice in his last five appearances and is almost certain to start on the left side such is the lack of other options available.

Ferran Torres is expected to start as Barca’s number nine with the soon-to-be out of contract Robert Lewandowski struggling to force his way back into the starting lineup.

Only Yamal has created more chances for Barca this season than Pedri who will pull the strings for the away side in central midfield while Frenkie de Jong could be in line to start alongside the Spain international.

Team news

Juanmi and Borja Mayoral will both miss the visit of Barcelona to the Coliseum this weekend while Zaid Romero is suspended.

Yamal will be unavailable for the visitors are limping off with a hamstring injury against Celta Vigo. The winger is expected to return for the World Cup, but his club season is most probably over.

Raphinha is another notable absence with Andreas Christensen similarly in the treatment room at the Camp Nou. Otherwise, Flick has a strong squad to choose from.

Prediction

Getafe are a frustrating team to play against and Barca have managed just one goal on their ground since 2019. This might be the one game in the run in where the Catalans are most likely to drop points: Getafe 1-1 Barcelona.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Apr

2026

Preview: Arsenal take on Newcastle as they look to retake top spot

Arsenal must secure all three points when they welcome Newcastle to the Emirates if they wish to remain in the hunt for the Premier League title.

By Ross Kilvington

It’s Déjà vu for Arsenal

The Gunners losing to Manchester City in the final few weeks of the season to hand Pep Guardiola’s side the initiative in the title race is something we have seen before.

This season, however, it feels as though if Arsenal cannot get over the line, massive questions will be asked of Mikel Arteta heading into the summer.

“All the talk of [Mikel] Arteta being at risk and Arsenal winning no trophies needs to stop. I don’t think that way, because I think Arsenal are going to win the Premier League,” said former Arsenal defender Lauren who was speaking on behalf of CasinoWizard regarding Arsenal’s title chances.

“I’m positive, I am confident. Losing against Manchester City has not ended the race for the title. The only issue against Manchester City was that they took their chances and Arsenal didn’t. The only disappointment was in the final third.

“That’s the difference in those types of games, the small margins are highlighted for everybody to see. Manchester City weren’t better – they aren’t better – they just took their chances.”

The Gunners did hit the woodwork twice during the match and they certainly displayed more attacking intent compared to their previous league match against Bournemouth.

With just five matches left, Lauren also used the FotMob lineup builder to pick his strongest XI heading into the crucial run-in.

*Try out the FotMob lineup builder for yourself – either in the app, or at fotmob.com*

Arteta must lead Arsenal to five wins from five, starting with the clash against Newcastle on Saturday.

Eddie Howe is a man under pressure

Newcastle occupy 14^th place in the table on 42 points and have won just five Premier League games this year.

Where has it all gone wrong? Poor transfer business in the summer looks like it is coming back to haunt Howe. Being knocked out of the Champions League has also deflated confidence at St James’ Park.

The Magpies will be looking to take advantage of Arsenal’s recent stutter, but a defeat would pile more pressure on the manager heading into the what could be a pivotal summer for the club.

Team News

Arteta will be without Bukayo Saka for this clash. Furthermore, Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori are both doubts for the game on Saturday evening.

Fabian Schär and Tino Livramento will both be absent for Newcastle due to ankle and leg injuries respectively.

Joelinton is suspended while Anthony Gordon is a doubt because of a hip issue.

Prediction

Both teams are under pressure for differing reasons and this makes the game an intriguing one.

Arsenal must win in order to keep their Premier League title ambitions on track. For Newcastle, three points would see the Magpies get back on track for a place in the top half of the table.

I expect the Gunners to emerge with all three points from this match, although it will likely be a tight affair.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Apr

2026

Preview: Spurs go to relegated Wolves in another must win game

It’s felt as though Spurs’ last two or three games have been make or break for their season, but their Saturday trip to Wolverhampton might just be the real deal.

By Ian King

Wolves’ recent performances offer Roberto De Zerbi a little optimism ahead of Spurs’ trip to Molineux

At this late stage in the season, one individual moment can cloud everything else. A stoppage-time equaliser for Brighton at The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday obscured the fact that Spurs’ performance for the previous 96 minutes had been a substantial improvement over anything they’d seen for weeks, and with West Ham failing to get past Crystal Palace the following Monday, they do remain in sight of Premier League salvation.

But push is becoming shove, and a trip to Wolves has now become even more of a must-win game than it already had been. West Ham’s point at Selhurst Park was enough to finally put the matter of their relegation beyond doubt, so the big question facing Roberto De Zerbi this weekend will be whether his opponents will react by playing for pride for the remainder of this season or whether they’ll take this as an opportunity to put their feet up instead.

Their results since returning from the international break – a 4-0 loss at West Ham and a 3-0 loss at Leeds – afford the Spurs head coach a little optimism on that front, at least.

Wolves’ recent record against Spurs is excellent

One of the first signs of the trouble ahead at The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this season came at the end of September, when a Wolves team that had lost their first five games picked up their first point of the season with a 1-1 draw.

Wolves’ recent historical history against Spurs is strong, as well. The last six meetings between the teams have ended in four Wolves wins and two draws, with the last Spurs win having come in August 2022. The corresponding fixture between these two teams last season ended in a 4-2 Wolves win in the middle of April.

Xavi Simons was a breath of creative fresh air against Brighton

The decision to start Xavi Simons against Brighton reaped huge dividends against Brighton. He provided the assist for their first goal, hit the post, and then scored a quite excellent goal to put them 2-1 up with twelve minutes to play. Having also scored twice for them in his last start against Atlético Madrid in the Champions League, he could yet be the key to them unlocking Premier League survival this season.

With three goals and one assist this season, that Tolu Arokodare heads the list for their goals and assists combined speaks volumes about the state of Wolves’ season. The striker scored one of their goals in their 2-2 draw at Brentford in the middle of March and provided an assist in their 2-1 win against Liverpool earlier that month. He’s been on the bench as much as starting this season, but he remains one of their most potent goal threats.

After a season-long injury crisis, Spurs are starting to welcome players back

There was something of a pleasant surprise for Spurs fans when James Maddison returned to the bench for the Brighton match. He didn’t get on the pitch, but his creativity is exactly what their midfield has been lacking for much of the season. Rodrigo Bentancur also returned to the starting eleven, putting in a decent shift before being replaced midway through the second half.

Gugliemo Vicario didn’t make it back for this match, although Antonin Kinsky put in another decent performance in his place again. It may yet be the case that Vicario has already played his last game of the season. Cristian Romero, Mohammed Kudus, Wilson Odobert, Destiny Udogie, Lucas Bergvall, Ben Davies, and Dejan Kulusevski will all be absent.

For former Spurs’ player Peter Crouch, who was speaking exclusively to Paddy Power, it’s “Dejan Kulusevski who is the biggest miss this season. His injury is just a massive mystery at this point and his absence is one of the main reasons they’re down in 18th.“

Wolves have been missing a number of players, and several of them could be ready to return for this match. Sam Johnstone, Matt Doherty and José Sá could all return, though none of them are confirmed. Yerson Mosquera is suspended after reaching 10 yellow cards, and Enso González will be out for the remainder of the season.

After a couple of false starts, this really is a “must-win” game for Spurs

First it was the Nottingham Forest game. Then it was the Sunderland game. But this trip to Molineux when Wolves have already been relegated, and with just five matches left to play, really does feel like the real deal when it comes to “must-win” matches before the end of this season for Spurs. Given that they need at least two or three wins from their last five fixtures and that this is the easiest of those on paper, a failure to pick up three points on this occasion would surely seal their fate.

The good news on this front is that there are good reasons to believe that they can finally end their five-month wait for a Premier League win. There’s clearly been no complete transformation under De Zerbi yet, but there were clear signals that his methods are starting to get through to the players, and the potential return of some creativity to their midfield is exactly what they need, on the pitch.

Much will come down to what the reaction of the Wolves players might be to confirmation of their relegation. On their day, they’re capable. Two of their three Premier League wins this season have come against Aston Villa and Liverpool, who occupy top five places in the table.

But there’s a flip side to this. Their two Premier League results since returning from the last international break have been abject, and this coupled with Spurs recent mild upturn makes an away win more likely than it might have seemed a couple of weeks ago.

I am, therefore, predicting a 3-1 Spurs win for this match and for that seal to finally be broken, although there remain several ways in which this could yet prove to be a final false dawn of the season for the faded North London giants.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Peter Crouch quotes via Paddy Power.

Apr

2026

Preview: Liverpool looking to cement top five place as Palace visit Anfield

Liverpool need a positive result to boost their chances of salvaging Champions League qualification from a disappointing season.

By Graham Ruthven

Top five chances

Virgil van Dijk’s stoppage time header gave Liverpool the bragging rights in last weekend’s Merseyside Derby, but Arne Slot’s team must perform better to back that up with a win over Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Out of the Champions League and not involved in this weekend’s FA Cup semi-finals, Liverpool are now solely focused on securing a top-five place in the Premier League table.

Victory over Everton boosted their chances of achieving this, but Brighton, Bournemouth and Chelsea are still chasing Liverpool with the Premier League season entering the final stretch of fixtures.

Crystal Palace also have a narrow focus for the final few weeks of the season and that is winning the Conference League to send off outgoing manager Oliver Glasner in glory.

The Eagles have lost just one of their last eight games in all competitions, but could be forgiven for having one eye on next week’s Conference League semi-final against Shakhtar Donetsk.

Glasner will leave Palace when his contract expires at the end of the season and questions remain over Slot’s continued employment as Liverpool manager after an underwhelming campaign.

This fixture could look very different next season, but for the time being both Liverpool and Crystal Palace have plenty to play for.

Key players

Mohamed Salah certainly hasn’t been his usual self this season, but the Egyptian showed glimpses of his best form in last weekend’s win over Everton, scoring the opening goal in the derby.

Salah will pose a threat from the right wing while Cody Gakpo is in line to start on the left. The Dutchman set up Salah nicely against Everton and has 12 goal contributions in the league so far this season.

Hugo Ekitike’s injury means Alexander Isak is expected to start as Liverpool’s number nine with the Swedish striker still searching for full fitness having missed so many matches through injury.

Nobody has created more chances for Liverpool this season than Dominik Szoboszlai who will be a driving force for the home side through the middle of the pitch.

Jean-Philippe Mateta has scored three times in his last four appearances and could have the World Cup in his sights with the French striker on Didier Deschamps’ radar for a place in his squad for the summer.

Adam Wharton will be key for the Eagles in the centre of the pitch. He too could feature at the World Cup and must be sharp to handle the likes of Ryan Gravenberch and Szoboszlai at Anfield.

Being realistic, Dean Henderson will also need to be in top form to give Palace a chance of a positive result. Only Gianluigi Donnarumma has a higher save percentage in the Premier League this season than Henderson.

Team news

Giorgi Mamardashvili escaped serious injury against Everton, but is still expected to miss two to three weeks of action after coming off midway through the derby with a knee problem.

Alisson Becker is also sidelined through injury and so Freddie Woodman could be in line to start his first Premier League match after making his league debut off the bench last weekend.

Ekitike, Conor Bradley, Wataru Endo and Giovanni Leoni will be unavailable for the Reds, limiting Slot’s options in a number of areas.

Glasner could feasibly rest some of his best players ahead of next week’s clash with Shakhtar, although a six-day turnaround should keep Palace fresh for that match.

Otherwise, Eddie Nketiah is Crystal Palace’s only serious injury concern at the moment, giving Glasner a well-stocked squad to choose from.

Prediction

Given Palace have that first ever European semifinal on the horizon, and Liverpool’s strength in front of their own fans, we’re expecting a narrow home win: Liverpool 1-0 Crystal Palace.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Apr

2026

Preview: Real Madrid aim to keep faint LaLiga title hopes alive as they face Real Betis

Real Madrid have a chance to close the gap to Barcelona to six points as they take on Real Betis at the Estadio de la Cartuja on Friday evening.

By Ross Kilvington

Real Madrid must pray for a Barcelona meltdown

Barcelona sealed a narrow 1-0 win over Celta Vigo on Wednesday, but they will play a day after Madrid’s clash with Betis.

Furthermore, the final Clásico of the season takes place in a few weeks, but the title race might be done and dusted before then.

Álvaro Arbeloa’s men have been in poor form over the previous few weeks. In LaLiga, a 1-1 draw with Girona came just six days after a damaging 2-1 loss against Mallorca. Those results allowed Barcelona to build a commanding lead at the top of the table.

Factor in a Champions League semi-final exit to Bayern Munich, there is a real possibility that Madrid finish the season without winning a major trophy for the second successive campaign.

All they can do is keep winning and hope Hansi Flick’s side undergo a massive collapse between now and the end of May.

Real Betis gunning for Europe

Betis are undergoing a fine campaign as they currently reside in fifth place in the table at the time of writing.

Seven defeats from 32 games is the third-best record in the division and it has Betis well in contention for a place in the Europa League next term.

Perhaps the only disappointment was the recent defeat to Braga in that very competition. Having drawn the first leg 1-1, Manuel Pellegrini and his side suffered a poor 4-2 defeat at home last week to end hopes of reaching the semi-finals.

The attacking trio of Antony, Cucho Hernández and Abde Ezzalzouli have scored 38 goals between them across all competitions this season and have played a massive part in lifting Betis up the table.

Although the reverse fixture was lost 5-1 in January, if those three can perform on Friday evening, Betis have a chance of sealing a positive result against an indifferent Madrid team.

Team news

Betis will be without the services of Diego Llorente and Junior Firpo due to muscle injuries. Ángel Ortiz has suffered with a shoulder problem recently and he is a doubt for the clash on Friday evening.

Rodrygo is a long-term absentee for Madrid after he suffered an ACL injury in March that keeps him out until the start of next season.

Elsewhere, Raúl Asencio was hospitalised with a digestive infection and will miss the game, as to will Thibaut Courtois with a thigh issue.

Prediction

Madrid may have got back to winning ways on Tuesday with a 2-1 victory over Alavés, but the pressure is on to keep pace with Barcelona.

Betis could exploit this on Friday evening and give themselves a massive boost in their chase for a Europa League spot in the process.

It will be a tight game. As such, a draw is on the cards.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow all the games from LaLiga on FotMob in the 2025/26 season – with in-depth stat coverage, including xG, shot maps, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

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Apr

2026

Preview: Barcelona host Celta Vigo in midweek round

It’s all about the title run-in now for Barcelona after their disappointing quarter-final exit in the Champions League to domestic rivals Atlético Madrid and there’s no room to slip up in their last home match before El Clásico.

By Karl Matchett

Even with a six-point lead with seven games to play, Hansi Flick’s side won’t be taking too much for granted when it comes to LaLiga. Four of those fixtures are away from home and besides, there’s a potential bigger issue at play.

The decider

Should Barcelona win their next three and the chasing Real Madrid do likewise – or they otherwise match each other’s points totals in that span – then the Camp Nou meeting of the pair on 10 May will not only be one of the most watched games of the season, but a potential title decider. If Barca win that encounter, they claim the title, on home soil and against their greatest rivals. Slip up beforehand though and open the door to a Real comeback, and Los Blancos will be able to barge through and reignite a title charge.

But Barca are 16 from 16 so far at home this term – keep that up here and it’s just a few more small steps and a third title in four seasons will be theirs!

Overdue return

It shouldn’t be expected to be a one-sided encounter, though, with Celta Vigo very much writing their own story this season. They sit sixth in the table, on the verge of their best domestic campaign in a decade. They also made the Europa League quarter-finals and look well-placed to qualify for European competition in back-to-back seasons for the first time in 22 years, since the side of Alexandr Mostovoi, Gustavo Lopez and Sylvinho.

They were in the Champions League that year, after finishing fourth in 2002/03 – and they were also relegated. Two decades on, Celta look ready to be a competitive team near the top once more.

Recent form

Just one defeat in 12 for Barcelona, but it was a damaging one in that first leg at home to Atlético. Since then they’ve won twice more.

Celta have hit a badly timed slump, losing four of their last five in all competitions, but their away form in LaLiga is the third-best of all clubs.

*Celta’s home and away record this season*

Team news

Barcelona remain without key forward Raphinha as well as Marc Bernal and Andreas Christensen, but the returns of Frenkie de Jong and Gavi give them midfield options.

For Celta, Carl Starfelt is a doubt and will be a big miss if he can’t play, but Javi Rodríguez is back from suspension. Forward Ferran Jutglà has seven goals this term – he scored once for Barca in LaLiga back in 21/22.

Key player

It’ll be interesting to see who is the starter up top to see out the season – Ferran Torres has two goals more than Robert Lewandowski though from 500 minutes more. Ferran’s 14 strikes come from a 12.4 xG, he averages 1.8 shots on target per 90 and he’s the more creative of the two as well. Three goals in his last two games means he’s on form.

*Barca’s top scorers in LaLiga this season*

Prediction

Barcelona to take another step towards retaining their title. Barcelona 2-0 Celta Vigo.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Apr

2026

Preview: Manchester City eye top spot as they visit Burnley

Manchester City will return to the summit of the Premier League standings for the first time since Matchday 1 with a win against Burnley.

By Neel Shelat

A fair way to go yet in Manchester City’s title chase

Manchester City’s 2-1 win over Arsenal leaves almost nothing to separate the two title contenders, as they’ll be level on both points as well as goal difference if City win this game in hand by a single goal. That should set us up for a thrilling end to the season, which is sure to throw up more twists and turns along the way.

While City are in fantastic form having won 12 and drawn the remaining three of their last 15 domestic fixtures, they’ll have to do very well to keep up that pace until the end of May. They have a tough run of league fixtures against European contenders Everton, Brentford and Bournemouth coming up after an FA Cup semi-final at the weekend, so staying on pace to finish on 85 points will take quite some effort.

Relegation on the cards for Burnley

Burnley certainly have a lot of reasons to not look forward to this game. The Clarets will become the second team to be relegated from the Premier League this season if they lose this match, with their fate already all but mathematically confirmed. Worse yet, they’ll likely go down with a thrashing given their dismal head-to-head record against Manchester City.

City have won the last 14 meetings between these two sides with an aggregate scoreline of 51-3, while Burnley’s last win over them came way back in 2015. The Clarets haven’t put a goal past Pep Guardiola’s side’s defence at Turf Moor in the 2020s, so it’s safe to say that they are massive underdogs.

Team news

Burnley’s injury list includes forward Zeki Amdouni, midfielders Josh Cullen and Hannibal Mejbri, and defenders Connor Roberts and Jordan Beyer. Manchester United academy graduate Axel Tuanzebe’s status is doubtful due to an achilles tendon injury.

Manchester City will remain without defenders Joško Gvardiol and Rúben Dias, while Guardiola has also confirmed that Rodri will sit this game out after going off with a groin injury against Arsenal.

Key players

Martin Dúbravka is sure to have a particularly busy day in goal, so he’ll need to bring out the best of his shot-stopping to keep his side in the game for as along as possible, or at least keep the score down.

Jaidon Anthony scored the equaliser in the reverse fixture before his side ultimately went down 5-1, and he’ll be critical to their goal-scoring hopes again. James Ward-Prowse is the league’s leading creator from set-pieces since his Burnley debut in February, so he could provide an alternative.

Erling Haaland scored his first league goal in over two months on the weekend, so he’ll be hungry for more. Nico González will have an important role to play in midfield, while Rayan Cherki could well be the one to break the game open if it gets too tight.

Prediction

Manchester City have the attacking firepower to register a comfortable multi-goal win and go top of the league on goal difference.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Apr

2026

Preview: Madrid in midweek action against Alaves

Real Madrid host Deportivo Alavés on Tuesday evening as they look to rescue their chances of lifting the title in LaLiga.

By Matt Smith

Álvaro Arbeloa’s side sit nine points behind Barcelona as it stands, and they’ll need their LaLiga rivals to slip up drastically in order to leapfrog them into first place.

When these two sides met back in December, it took a late Rodrygo winner to secure a 2-1 victory for Madrid.

Team news

Real Madrid will once again be without both Thibaut Courtois and Rodrygo due to injury.

Raúl Asencio also joins the injury list after being diagnosed with gastroenteritis recently.

Alavés remain without Carlos Protesoni due to injury, but other than that, they should have a fully fit squad travelling to Madrid.

They will be without Abde Rebbach, however, as he will serve a suspension after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season last time out.

The form of champions?

It’s been a dismal last few weeks for Real Madrid, capped off by being knocked out of the Champions League by Bayern Munich. The second leg defeat made it four games without a victory in all competitions for the Spanish side, who will be wanting for the season to end.

It’s certainly not the form of champions, and they can have few complaints if Barcelona are confirmed winners in the next few weeks. Madrid haven’t been clinical enough in front of goal, scoring 65 times compared to Barcelona’s 84.

Old school Alavés

Alavés have picked up some impressive results of late, and are unbeaten in their previous four games. Alavés favour an old-school-style, with only Getafe making more tackles than them in LaLiga this season.

Quique Sánchez Flores’ side like to get the ball out wide as much as possible, delivering into the box to try to create chances. Only Atlético Madrid have produced more accurate crosses than Alavés in LaLiga this term.

Their recent form sees them sitting just outside the relegation zone by one point, so they’ll be desperate to come away with something from this one.

Arda Güler the man of the moment

One player who was perhaps unfortunate to be on the losing side against Bayern Munich was Turkish star Arda Güler. The 21-year-old struck twice in Munich, while he was also sent off after the full-time whistle.

*Güler’s passing numbers are some of the best in LaLiga*

Güler isn’t a guaranteed starter for Madrid, but his performance against Bayern might lead to Arbeloa playing him from the beginning against Alavés. The Madrid boss will be looking for inspiration from somewhere, and Güler could be the man to produce.

Prediction

Despite Madrid’s inconsistent form of late, it’s difficult to see them not securing all three points in such a crucial game if they want to stand a chance of winning the title.

We’re going for a 2-0 victory for Arbeloa’s side.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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