Saturday's Bundesliga, Serie A and La Liga predictions & free football tips

Best bets and predictions for the weekend's matches in the Bundesliga, Serie A and La Liga.

Best bets

Barcelona 8pm Saturday
1pt 13-8 Betfair

BTTS & over 2.5 goals in Juventus v Atalanta 5pm Saturday
1pt 20-21 BoyleSports

Borussia Monchengladbach 2.30pm Saturday
1pt 7-5 Betfair, BoyleSports, Hills

Villarreal v Barcelona

Following Barcelona's 0-0 draw with Benfica in the Champions League on Tuesday, manager Xavi described his side's performance as "not Barca-worthy" but nonetheless insisted his team were "far superior" to the Portuguese outfit.

The Catalan club would have lost the game had Haris Seferovic not missed an open net late on for Benfica, but with 66 per cent possession and 14 shots, Barca were the better team.

That match followed a 1-0 defeat of Espanyol in Xavi's first match as manager and the focus has clearly been on making them a tougher unit to break down.

And they should have few issues when they travel to struggling Villarreal, who lost to an underwhelming Manchester United side in midweek.

Villarreal have managed only three wins in 13 league assignments this term and Barcelona, who are showing signs of improvement under their new coach, are worth chancing at odds-against.

Juventus v Atalanta

While Juventus were pummelled 4-0 by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, Atalanta were frustrated in a 3-3 draw with Young Boys in the Champions League in midweek.

And it has not exactly been plain sailing for either side in Serie A this term, suggesting the match-result market could be worth swerving when they clash at the Allianz Stadium.

Goals, however, are always likely when Atalanta are in town. Both teams have scored and there have been over 2.5 goals in each of the Bergamo side's last six contests in all competitions.

That could be the best bet when they travel to Turin, where Juventus should be stronger in the final third with the likely return of Paulo Dybala to the starting lineup.

Cologne v Borussia Monchengladbach

In March 2020, the Rhine derby between Cologne and Gladbach became the first 'Geisterspiel' - a match played behind closed doors - in Bundesliga history but this week's meeting between the sides at the RheinEnergie Stadium is set to host a full house of spectators.

Come the end of the game, though, it will likely be the travelling fans celebrating with Gladbach a great bet at odds-against to prevail.

Under Adi Hutter, Gladbach have hit a great run of form, winning three of their last four matches in all competitions in a streak which included a 5-0 thrashing of Bayern Munich in the DFB Pokal.

They go into this weekend's game only three points off the top four and can enhance their position with victory over rivals Cologne, who have won only one of their last six Bundesliga fixtures.

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