Rest of Europe Predictions and Acca Tips – 16th December 2018

European Football

Rest of Europe Tips & Odds – 16th December 2018

There is another fascinating weekend of top football across from continental Europe to come. Some of the big teams are playing their games on Sunday including Barcelona’s quest to finish the weekend still top of the Spanish top flight.

Here we take a look around at the Rest of Europe tips and predictions for Sunday, December 16th, 2018

Lyon v Monaco – 12.00 pm

Lyon had their game against Toulouse postponed last weekend. But they get back into the swing of things this weekend as they play host to Monaco in Ligue 1. Lyon have produced a home record of W5 D2 L2 this season in the French top flight and four of those five wins were with a clean sheet as well. They have taken a clean sheet in 44% of their home games. They lost their last home game which was against Rennes but were unbeaten in five on home soil before that. Their defence should keep them in this one at the very least. Monaco have shown some signs of willingness to scrap for their survival with two wins in their last three and both of those were away from home. That needs putting into context though because those wins against Caen and Amiens were against the two sides directly above them in the bottom four.

Lyon to win to nil looks a pretty solid proposition in this one at 13/8 odds* (betting odds taken from Paddy Power on December 13th, 2018 at 8:52 pm)

Eintracht Frankfurt v Bayer Leverkusen

Frankfurt have slipped to back to back league defeats after going down against Hertha Berlin last weekend. That was after winning five of six (D1) in a positive sequence. There is a pretty clear and evident pattern of how Frankfurt’s season is going. They are more than capable against any side in the bottom half of the table but when it comes to games against sides in the top half, that’s where it all falls down for them. Leverkusen are just below that halfway line in eleventh place. Leverkusen are unbeaten in three league games, but they have won just twice on their travels in the German top flight with a W2 D2 L3 record. Those three away defeats though were all against current top-four sides. Frankfurt are fifth.

We have to stick with the pattern of Frankfurt returning positives against sides in the bottom half of the table. Leverkusen have struggled away at the top sides so a straight home win at 7/5 is decent enough* (betting odds taken from Paddy Power on December 13th, 2018 at 8:52 pm)

Cagliari v Napoli

Tough away game here for Napoli as they look to try and keep up the pace with league leaders Juventus. Well, it is not so much about keeping pace but just hanging on to the coattails of the leaders as they head into the weekend eight points adrift of Juve. Napoli are on a great run of unbeaten form in Serie A with no defeat in their last eight games. The two away defeats that they have suffered this season though have been on the road. But they carry a current three-match winning away streak into this game. Cagliari may have only won twice at home, but they are unbeaten in Serie A on home soil this season with a W2 D5 record. Each of those home draws have been against sides currently 11th and higher in the table. So they may be able, with their stubbornness cause Napoli a frustrating afternoon.

The draw at 7/2 odds* (betting odds taken from Paddy Power on December 13th, 2018 at 8:52 pm) really isn’t out of the picture in this one at all by any stretch of the imagination. Cagliari have done well to avoid defeat at home. Napoli had that big extra shift against Liverpool in midweek Champions League action at Anfield.

Levante v Barcelona

Levante starts the weekend up in sixth place having enjoyed a really positive season. In four games against the current top eight sides this season, Levante are W4 L1. That includes an away win at Real Madrid. Their home form has seen them win three of their last four in Valencia (L1). There is the likelihood of goals in this one as 86% of their home league games this season have gone above the 2.5 goal line. It’s Barcelona coming for a visit with the Catalans at the top of the table following back to back clean sheet league wins. They did have Champions League action in midweek but sent out pretty much a youth side against Tottenham. Barca have won two of their last three away games and are unbeaten in four away from the Nou Camp. Barcelona have won three of their last four at Levante. The last time they went there though was in their final away game of last season. They lost 5-4 for their only league defeat of last season’s campaign.

We are going with Barcelona to collect a good three points in this one. They are not still at their greatest and have had defensive lapse, so we can take a look at Barcelona to win & both teams to score at 6/5 odds* (betting odds taken from Paddy Power on December 13th, 2018 at 8:52 pm)