Weekend Jury: 'It's a worry they couldn’t tempt him in before hiring Igor Tudor. There’s every chance Spurs will still be in the relegation mix on the final day'

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What is your best bet this weekend?

Henry Hardwicke, Racing Post Sport: West Ham and Leeds have a relegation battle to consider but I fancy the Hammers to win Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final. Leeds have won only four of their last 17 matches in 90 minutes and Daniel Farke’s shot-shy side have failed to score in four of their last five outings. 

Tom Hill, Racing Post Sport: Coventry should pick up three points against Derby on Good Friday. A home win and both teams to score appeals. Coventry have the best home record in the Championship and have won seven of their last eight. Derby have won four in five, but only one of those came away from home. 

Patrick Madden, Racing Post Sport: A playoff place is probably beyond Norwich but their recovery from a dreadful start has been impressive and they look a solid bet to beat Portsmouth at Carrow Road. The Canaries have won six of their last seven at home while Pompey have just one point to show from their last six outings, with relegation looking increasingly likely.

Stephen McDonnell, BoyleSports: Monaco are on a great run, winning their last six games in Ligue 1 to edge themselves closer to that automatic Champions League position. They are only three points adrift of Marseille and it’s a huge game this weekend. Marseille have blown hot and cold of late and while I expect a close game, Monaco can come out on top.

Who are the most vulnerable favourites?

HH: Celtic were beaten 2-0 by Dundee United prior to the international break and they could struggle again on Sunday’s trip to Dens Park. Dundee have already beaten the Hoops 2-0 on the banks of the Tay this season and it’s three defeats from three visits to the city this term for the champions.

TH: Middlesbrough look like they are feeling the pressure in the Championship promotion race and they are only two points ahead of Millwall. Boro are without a win in four at home and they last scored two goals in front of their home fans at the end of January. Millwall are unbeaten in five on the road, winning four of those.

PM: There’s a huge clash at the Riverside on Friday as Middlesbrough welcome Millwall and it could be worth taking on the hosts at odds-on. Boro’s last four home games have seen them draw with lowly Oxford and Leicester, lose to Charlton and draw with Bristol City. Millwall’s away form has been strong and they could leapfrog Boro into second place.

SMc: Real Madrid. If Mallorca have any chance of staying in La Liga next season it will be solely down to their home form which has seen three wins in their last five. Mallorca play a tough, physical game which can disrupt Madrid’s rhythm and flow and I expect Real to have one eye on next week’s Champions League tie with Bayern Munich.

Who wins the FA Cup?

HH: Arsenal were poor in the League Cup final but I still fancy the Gunners in the FA Cup. One of Liverpool or Man City are going out at the quarter-final stage, while the north Londoners should cruise through against Southampton. Chelsea, West Ham and Leeds aren’t good enough to stop Mikel Arteta’s men. 

TH: Manchester City’s recent Champions League elimination means the FA Cup is their best chance of lifting more silverware this season. With Arsenal nine points clear in the Premier League, City have to put all their eggs in the FA Cup basket. The Citizens have already shown they can handle the big occasion by lifting the EFL Cup last month.

PM: I still fancy Arsenal to win the league, despite all the background noise, but the League Cup final suggested more than one trophy might be beyond them. The semi-final draw will play a big part and could see Chelsea through to the final, but Manchester City should beat Liverpool at home in the quarters and I’d fancy them to go all the way.

SMc: Manchester City have a great record in the FA Cup and are trying to make it four finals in a row. I can see them going all the way this year, and with the league slipping away it will be their only chance of additional silverware this season. Chelsea and Liverpool have been very inconsistent and Arsenal’s main focus will be lifting the Premier League trophy.

'One of Liverpool or Man City is going out at the quarter-final stage, while Chelsea, West Ham and Leeds aren't good enough to stop them' – Henry Hardwicke

Is Roberto De Zerbi the right appointment for Spurs?

HH: I don’t think so. It’s pretty much impossible not to impress when managing Brighton given the set up of the club, but the Italian didn’t really excel on the south coast. Big-spending Marseille parted ways with the combative 46-year-old and Tottenham should have held on to bring Mauricio Pochettino back to north London. 

TH: De Zerbi’s teams have usually needed to dominate possession and Tottenham’s defence has not shown anything that suggests they can build out from the back. It is also a little worrying that the club’s board couldn’t tempt De Zerbi before hiring Igor Tudor. There’s every chance Spurs will still be in the relegation mix on the final day.

PM: In some ways De Zerbi to Spurs looks like a disaster waiting to happen, but bringing in a top-level coach on a long-term deal makes far more sense than scratching around for a seven-game stopgap. He might provide the rockets up backsides which Spurs need to survive but I don’t see him fulfilling his five-year contract.

SMc: De Zerbi should be a very good fit for Tottenham, but it depends heavily on patience which Spurs don’t tend to have. His number one objective will be to keep them up which I think he will, while bringing structure to the club. De Zerbi excels in improving young technical players which Tottenham have plenty of and I think he will be a success.

Where is the value on the midweek European coupon?

HH: Atletico Madrid look far too big at Barcelona on Wednesday. Barca have been beaten by PSG, Seville, Real Madrid, Atletico, Chelsea, Girona and Real Sociedad this season and it’s pretty clear that Hansi Flick’s men struggle whenever they are up against decent opposition. 

TH: Nottingham Forest beat Porto in the league phase of the Europa League, but it is a surprise to see the Portuguese side odds-against for Thursday’s knockout tie. Forest have won three of their six away games in Europe, but Porto are unbeaten in 12 on home soil and they have lost only once at Estadio do Dragao all season. 

PM: After a steady start, Paris Saint-Germain look like they are coming to the boil at the right time and they were ruthless in their 8-2 aggregate walloping of Chelsea in the last 16 of the Champions League. Liverpool have had more joy on the continent than domestically but have a mountain to climb against the European champions.

SMc: Real Madrid look a huge price at home to Bayern. Their experience and mentality is unmatched when it comes to the Champions League knockout phase, especially at home, and I think they will take a first-leg advantage to the Allianz Arena the following week.

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