Sunday Ligue 1 and Serie A predictions & free football tips

Best football bets and predictions for Sunday's matches in Ligue 1 and Serie A.

Where to watch

Atalanta v Juventus
BT Sport 1, 7.45pm Sunday

Metz v Marseille
BT Sport 3, 7.45pm Sunday

Best bets

Juventus
2pts 6-4 BoyleSports

Marseille to win to nil
2pts 7-4 Betfair

Sunday's European preview

Atalanta v Juventus

Atalanta's challenge for a top-four finish in Serie A has been hampered by their poor home record and it is unlikely to improve when they welcome in-form Juventus to Bergamo.

Juve lost 1-0 at home to Atalanta in November but since that defeat they have won ten of their 14 fixtures in all competitions.

It will take a special second half of the season for them to overhaul Inter, Napoli and Milan to win the title but a ten-game unbeaten run in Serie A has taken them above Atalanta into fourth place and they reached the Coppa Italia semi-finals thanks to a 2-1 win over Sassuolo on Thursday.

January signings Dusan Vlahovic and Denis Zakaria both scored on their debuts in last weekend's win over in-form Verona and Paulo Dybala has also hit form, finding the net in four of his last six Serie A and Coppa Italia games.

Atalanta followed up goalless draws with Inter and Lazio with home defeats to lowly Cagliari in Serie A and Fiorentina in the Coppa. They have won only three of their 11 home league games this season, and just one of their last six Serie A fixtures at home or away, so look ill equipped to knock Juve off their stride.

Metz v Marseille

Marseille's last two results were a 5-2 Ligue 1 win over Angers and a 4-1 French Cup defeat at Nice but a more sedate contest is expected when they face shot-shy Metz.

Six of Marseille's seven away wins this season have been to nil and they have a good chance of another shutout against hosts who have failed to score in five of their last eight games, including a cup defeat to fourth-tier Bergerac Perigord.

Metz frustrated Marseille in November's reverse fixture, earning a 0-0 draw despite being reduced to ten men early in the second half, but their last two home games ended in 2-0 defeats to Nice and Strasbourg and a similar outcome is expected this weekend.

Not got a Paddy Power account? Sign up and get up to £50 in free sports bets

Place a single £10 Sportsbook bet and get money back as a free bet if it loses. There are x5 Free Bets available. Max refund per qualifying bet is £10. Only deposits made via Credit/Debit Card will be eligible for the promotion. Paddy's Rewards Club: Get a £10 free bet when you place 5x bets of £10+. T&Cs apply 18+ begambleaware.org

MORE FREE BETS

Today's top sports betting stories

Follow us on Twitter @racingpostsport