In this weekend bulletin, we selected three matches from the Ligue 1, LaLiga, and Süper Lig that caught our attention, and shared our predictions along with detailed analysis.
RC Strasbourg Alsace vs Paris Saint-Germain
Match Analysis
Strasbourg are an interesting team having an inconsistent and unpredictable season, much like US Sassuolo. They score goals, but they also concede plenty.
They have scored 12 goals across six league matches. At the same time, however, they have conceded 11 goals in those six games and have failed to keep a clean sheet in any of them.
Although their away form has been poor, they remain a dangerous team at home. Strasbourg are still unbeaten on their own ground this season. Their 2–1 victory over RC Lens and 1–1 draw with AS Monaco in particular reminded us that they should not be underestimated.
PSG are going through an extremely demanding schedule because of their UEFA Champions League commitments, while Strasbourg are not involved in European competition and should therefore come into this match fresher. They will want to take advantage of PSG being more fatigued than they are. Highly rated young prospect Gessime Yassine may also be particularly eager to prove himself in such a high-profile fixture.
One of Strasbourg’s most important center-backs, Ismaël Doukouré, will miss the match through injury. Considering their already problematic defense, which has been conceding regularly, this represents a major disadvantage against PSG’s elite attacking line.
PSG, meanwhile, have been inconsistent this season but recorded an impressive 4–2 away victory over Manchester City in their most recent UEFA Champions League match. It was a hugely important result for the Paris side, who had already started showing signs of improvement in recent matches. PSG’s attack had not struggled too much to create chances since the beginning of the season anyway, and this victory should have given them exactly the confidence they needed.
Having scored 16 goals in their last five competitive matches, PSG appear to be showing signs of returning to their glamorous best through their effective attacking line. Against a Strasbourg side with defensive problems, they will want to create plenty of chances, score one or more goals, extend their winning run in the league, and climb back into the top three.
PSG are likely to rotate because of their demanding schedule. However, considering Luis Enrique’s habit of rotating regularly in almost every match and the depth of PSG’s squad, it would be somewhat exaggerated to describe rotation as the main factor likely to determine the result. That does not mean it will have no impact at all, of course.
With the exception of the Stade Brestois 29 match, PSG have conceded in every game they have played this season. We can therefore say that they have some defensive problems of their own. That increases the chances of them conceding again against a Strasbourg side that remain unbeaten at home. It is also worth noting that Strasbourg have managed to score one or more goals against PSG in every meeting at Stade de la Meinau since May 1, 2004.
Taking all of these details into account, we appear to be heading for a high-scoring encounter in which the ball should find the net at least three times.
Prediction
Over 2.5 Goals
Real Betis Balompié vs FC Barcelona
Match Analysis
Real Betis continue their excellent form after attracting plenty of attention with their UEFA Champions League victory over FC Porto. Collecting 19 points from eight LaLiga matches represents a start to the season that the club have not managed to repeat for almost a century.
Veteran coach Manuel Pellegrini’s side have defeated Real Madrid at home and started their UEFA Champions League campaign with two wins from two. They are playing with enormous confidence and morale. They also possess a wide variety of attacking talent. Their 14 goals in eight matches are a direct reflection of that effective attack. If they can beat Barça’s offside trap, they could find the net once or even several times in this difficult match.
However, conceding nine goals in eight matches, including four across their last two competitive fixtures, shows that Real Betis also have some defensive problems. Against a Barcelona side averaging 4.25 goals per match, that is a serious concern. Just as in their previous two competitive matches, Betis could easily concede two or more goals against Barcelona.
Hansi Flick’s machine-like Barça continue to break records. They have won every LaLiga match this season, scoring 34 goals in the process. They have also won both of their UEFA Champions League matches while scoring nine goals.
Since the start of the season, they have dominated matches regardless of the opponent and consistently produced huge numbers of goalscoring opportunities. They can make almost any game look like a training exercise. It is particularly impressive how they deny their opponents possession, wear them down mentally, lull them into a sense of security, and then suddenly create a clear goalscoring opportunity with a single pass.
However, as we saw against Levante UD and Racing Santander, Barcelona’s attacking system built around a high defensive line can become a serious disadvantage against teams capable of beating the offside trap and executing quick transitions effectively. Real Betis are extremely dangerous at home and are enjoying a strong season. They are a tough opponent that should not be underestimated and certainly have the ability to exploit this weakness and make a real contest of the match.
Rather than choosing a side in what will be Barcelona’s most serious test of the season so far, backing at least three goals in the match appears to be the much more logical option.
Prediction
Over 2.5 Goals
Trabzonspor vs Beşiktaş JK
Match Analysis
There is a very positive atmosphere around Trabzonspor after winning all three matches under Thomas Reis while scoring 11 goals. The managerial change has also had a major positive impact on Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian star looks extremely happy and is in excellent form, having recorded four goals and three assists in those three matches.
However, conceding twice against Kuopion Palloseura in their most recent match was a worrying defensive sign for Trabzonspor. It is also worth remembering that André Onana saved a penalty in that game. They did rotate heavily, but conceding so easily against such a weak opponent is still unacceptable. Even without rotation, we had already seen earlier in the season that Trabzonspor have some chronic problems against teams capable of producing quick and effective attacks. Their defense can look slow, make positional mistakes, and leave major spaces behind.
Vincenzo Italiano’s Beşiktaş, meanwhile, have made an excellent start to the season, remaining involved in the title race domestically while also starting strongly in Europe. They have won six of their last seven competitive matches and scored 22 goals during that run. Just like Trabzonspor, Beşiktaş possess a highly effective attacking line.
However, conceding ten goals during those matches shows that Beşiktaş also suffer from chronic defensive problems, much like Trabzonspor. They can occasionally leave huge spaces behind or make absurd individual mistakes that put their opponents straight through on goal. Their dreadful defensive performance away to Amed SK in their most recent league trip was a clear example.
This will be a match between two teams that have no trouble scoring regardless of the opposition, but can also concede very easily. It could also turn into a battle between the stars. Salah for Trabzonspor and Dušan Vlahović for Beşiktaş may both make an extra effort to impose themselves, almost as if they were involved in a personal duel. It is also worth remembering that Beşiktaş have Leandro Trossard in their squad, a player well known for making the difference in big matches.
In what is likely to be a fierce and high-tempo encounter, we should see at least three goals.
Prediction
Over 2.5 Goals