Sport

THE MARTIN LAURENCE £1.6 MILLION PICK 15 – 22ND APRIL

Search ‘WSTipster’ to join me in taking down this weekend’s £1.6 Million Pick 15 pool. YOU can join my Syndicate, if you’re fast enough!

Malaga vs Valencia – Sat, Apr 22 12:00

The first game in this week’s Pick 15 is too close to call for me, and not wanting to lose out before the ticket has even begun, I’m covering my back. Valencia have been much improved since the turn of the year but have still struggled on the road, with 2 wins in 12, while Malaga’s shock victory over Barcelona ended a run of three home defeats in a row.

Selection: Cover

West Ham vs Everton – Sat, Apr 22 15:00

Far more cut and dry in this one, with West Ham faltering to a draw with bottom club Sunderland last week while Everton secured a convincing win over Burnley. The Toffees away form is suspect but in Romelu Lukaku they have a player that will relish this fixture, having scored more goals against the Hammers than any other side (9), aiming to reach a quarter century in the Premier League this season.

Selection: Everton

Swansea vs Stoke – Sat, Apr 22 15:00

So early in the ticket, this match is too risky for me too, with Swansea struggling badly of late but in desperate need of the points compared to their visitors. Clement’s men have been much better at home than on the road but the return of Shaqiri has seen Stoke improve in recent games, with both he and Arnautovic capable of outstanding and abject performances from one week to another.

Selection: Cover

Hull vs Watford – Sat, Apr 22 15:00

While Swansea have deteriorated this month, Hull continue to show real fight and they remain unbeaten at home under Marco Silva. A match against a Watford side with nothing to play for at the KCOM Stadium is the perfect chance for the Tigers to take a big step towards survival and I expect them to take it.

Selection: Hull

Sheffield Wednesday vs Derby – Sat, Apr 22 15:00

Results over the Easter weekend ensured that Derby’s feint hopes of a play-off spot were laid to rest, while back-to-back wins for Wednesdaymean they are in the driving seat in a threeway scrap for the final two places. The Owls’ home record has been a little patchy of late but Derby have picked up just four points from their last 7 away games. A tight game is likely nonetheless.

Selection: Sheff Weds OR Draw

Chelsea vs Tottenham – Sat, Apr 22 17:15

With these two now just four points apart in the title race, getting the edge in an FA Cup semi-final would be a real statement win. At the same time, however, the losing side won’t have the distraction of a Wembley final, so the one thing both will want to avoid is extra-time. Two of the last eight meetings between the two have ended in stalemate but I can’t see this being a third on Saturday.

Selection: Chelsea OR Tottenham

Fiorentina vs Inter – Sat, Apr 22 19:45

Both sides enter the game off of disappointing results, though it’s Inter that have fallen flat the most of late, without a win in four having conceded a 97th minute equaliser in the Milan derby last week. They suffered a shock defeat at Crotone in their last away game, and while the Viola’s last home match ended in a similar upset, with defeat to Empoli, that was their first at home all season.

Selection: Fiorentina OR Draw

Real Sociedad vs Deportivo – Sun, Apr 23 11:00

While they may have fallen off the pace and just outside of the top six as a result, Real Sociedad have enjoyed a strong season and shouldn’t find too many problems against a Depor side with a rotten away record. They’ve won just once on the road, losing 5 of the last 6 and are now far enough off the drop zone to be too concerned with a relegation battle.

Selection: Real Sociedad

Toulouse vs Nice – Sun, Apr 23 14:00

While they’ve dropped to third, Nice have shown they aren’t ready to give up on a shock title bid just yet, winning 7 and losing none of their last ten. Toulouse, by contrast have won just one in 8 and while they remain difficult to beat, particularly at home, they have very little to play for compared to their visitors, who’ve won four of their last five against TFC.

Selection: Nice

Chievo vs Torino – Sun, Apr 23 14:00

Chievo approach the game in dismal form but the home advantage could at least spare them a fifth consecutive defeat here. Torino have struggled badly on the road all season, with just 3 wins from 16 preventing them from mounting a European push. Only Bologna have drawn more away games than Mihaijlovic’s men (5), while in the last five meetings between these two in Chievo there have been three stalemates and just three goals scored by each side.

Selection: Draw

Udinese vs Cagliari – Sun, Apr 23 14:00

Another mid-table clash in Serie A, the hosts will rightly be narrow favourites against a Cagliari side that has won just three away from home all season. While two of said victories have come in their last three away games, they came against Crotone and Palermo, who are 18th and 19th respectively. Udinese, meanwhile, have won their last two at home, scoring seven and conceding just one having also beaten Milan and drawn with Juve in their last five at the Friuli.

Selection: Udinese

Schalke vs RB Leipzig – Sun, Apr 23 16:30

While Schalke’s home form has been decent, they will be recovering from a Europa League quarter-final with Ajax before facing a Leipzig side battling hard to keep their spot in second. Hasenhuttl’s men have won four on the bounce and while their away form has been hit and miss recently, their hosts’ European exploits may just take too much out of them as the game wears on.

Selection: RB Leipzig

Liverpool vs Crystal Palace – Sun, Apr 23 16:30

The Reds have had to battle to the sort of back-to-back wins they just weren’t managing earlier in the season and with the end in sight and a Champions League finish within their grasp their focus seems to be improving. Palace’s impressive form has seen them all but safe and while Allardyce won’t let up on his charges, Liverpool have won 11 of 16 at home and should have too much firepower against a side that won’t be able to call upon Reds loanee Mamadou Sakho.

Selection: Liverpool

Real Madrid vs Barcelona – Sun, Apr 23 19:45

Simply put, if Real Madrid win this one then the title race in La Liga will be all but over. Barcelona’s away form has cost them so far but they’ve won two of their last three at the Bernabeu and in Lionel Messi they have a man in scintillating form in the league. With a huge task to progress in Europe, barring a Copa del Rey final the blaugrana’s season could be finished with defeat, and they will want to send Enrique out in style.

Selection: Barcelona

Eibar vs Athletic Bilbao – Mon, Apr 24 19:45

Two Basque teams in a battle for European spots, the reason behind Eibar’s remarkable bid has been their home form, while Athletic’s record away is all that has prevented them from guaranteeing a top 6 finish. The hosts have won 9 of 16 at home this season, and four of their last six, while Ernesto Valverde’s men have lost 8 of their last 12 on the road by contrast.

Selection: Eibar

Martin Laurence is the content manager for WhoScored.com.

You can follow more of his tips on Twitter @WSTipster