Sunday's European match predictions: Barcelona can blank Sevilla

Best bets and predictions for Sunday's matches in Serie A and La Liga.

Best bets

Napoli to beat Atalanta 2pm Saturday, BT Sport ESPN
1pt 21-10 Betfair, Betfred, Hills

Inter to beat Juventus 7.45pm Sunday, BT Sport 1
1pt 13-8 Betfair

Barcelona win to nil v Sevilla 8pm Sunday, LaLigaTV
1pt 11-8 Betfair, Coral

Atalanta v Napoli

Atalanta host Napoli on a crucial day in the Italian title race and despite the fact that bookmakers can barely split all three outcomes, the away side may be worth siding with.

Luciano Spalletti’s squad are just three points off Milan but would leapfrog them with a win to top the table before the Red and Blacks face Bologna on Monday.

Atalanta had designs of their own to lift their first ever Serie A title but inconsistency at home has eluded them as they lie 15 points off top spot before this encounter.

Gian Piero Gasperini’s men have won just four of their 14 home games in the league this year and their opponents have been particularly strong on the road, with Napoli winning ten of their 15 away games.

While the title race is out of their grasp, Atlanta do have a trip to RB Leipzig in the Europa League quarter-finals to focus on in just four days so may keep a little back for that big game. As a result of that and their poor home form, Napoli are fancied for another away victory.

Juventus v Inter

Inter looked to be cruising to retain their Serie A title but one win in their last seven has derailed their bid, leaving them six points off rivals Milan with a game in hand.

Hoping the break will have allowed them to reset, they travel to Turin to face Juventus, who are just a point behind having played a game more.

Inter have been on the wrong end of some bad luck in recent weeks and may be able to put that right against Juve, who recently suffered a chastening defeat to Villarreal which knocked them out of the Champions League.

The hosts have been better domestically recently but their attacking play doesn’t quite match up to the rest of the title contenders. Juve are the lowest scorers in the top half and have scored 15 goals fewer than free-flowing Inter.

That attacking advantage may just give the away side the edge and allow them to put their poor pre-international break form behind them.

Barcelona v Sevilla

Barcelona announced their arrival under new manager Xavi with a comprehensive 4-0 win over Real Madrid before the international break.

They follow up straight after the pause by facing second-placed Sevilla.

Injuries and an inability to finish off games have cost the away team dearly in recent weeks, and they have drawn seven of their last nine league games as the gap has opened up to nine points behind leaders Real Madrid.

To add to that, the Europa League specialists were knocked out of that competition by West Ham and a season that promised much looks as if it could peter out.

Julen Lopetegui’s side also have a number of injury issues to worry about with as many as seven first-team players doubtful including first-choice goalkeeper Yassine Bounou.

Barca are unbeaten in their last 12 games in all competitions and while their attacking efforts have been the main source of praise, Xavi has also tightened them up defensively and they have kept clean sheets in four of their last six matches.

Sevilla have failed to score in four of their last seven and a Barcelona win to nil is fancied.

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