Kevin Hatchard European Tips: Barca to claim Super Cup glory | OneFootball

European Football Tips

The latest edition of El Clasico headlines this week's column

Sunday features some massive games, including a Clasico clash in Saudi Arabia. Kevin Hatchard has a trio of picks for us.

Barcelona v Real Madrid - Barca to get revenge

Sunday 11 January, 19:00Live on TNT Sports

When Barcelona lost El Clasico 2-1 to Real Madrid in October, it seemed Xabi Alonso's men would have the upper hand over their old foes this season. Fast forward a few months, and Hansi Flick's men have rediscovered their best form, while Xabi Alonso has come under severe scrutiny after a series of disappointing results.

While Real Madrid have improved of late, winning their last five competitive games, a defeat to Barcelona in this Spanish Super Cup final would see the harsh glare of the spotlight once again shine in Xabi Alonso's eyes. The former Leverkusen coach's attempt to impose exacting tactical strictures on a squad used to having more room for expression and individuality hasn't been universally successful, but it does seem that the internal noise has died down, at least for now.

A semi-final win over Atletico was a step in the right direction, but it wasn't a perfect performance. Real Madrid went 2-0 up, but after Alexander Sorloth had gotten Atletico back into the game, Julian Alvarez missed a great late chance to equalise. Vinicius Junior produced another underwhelming display, and the rumours about his future refuse to go away.

Madrid are running into a Barcelona team that has won nine games in a row in all competitions, and even when the Catalan giants aren't performing well they are still grinding out results, which was the case in the recent derby victory at Espanyol. In the semi-finals of this competition, a Barca team that started without Lamine Yamal and that rested Robert Lewandowski entirely tore apart Athletic Club in a 5-0 win.

With Yamal rested and raring to go and Raphinha back to full fitness after injury - he starred and scored twice against Athletic Club - I expect Barcelona to win this in 90 minutes. Real Madrid still look vulnerable defensively, and could be without star performer Kylian Mbappe because of injury, with Gonzalo Garcia ready to deputise.

At 2.12 in the Match Odds market, I'm happy to back Barcelona to pick up what would be a fifth win in the last six Clasicos.

Inter v Napoli - Lautaro to rise to the occasion

Sunday 11 January, 19:45Live on TNT Sports

When Simone Inzaghi left Inter for Saudi side Al Hilal, bringing to and end an era that had seen him take the Nerazzurri to two Champions League finals, there were no guarantees that his replacement Christian Chivu would be able to hit the ground running. However, the former Inter player and youth coach has built a four-point lead over champions Napoli in the title race.

Antonio Conte delivered the Scudetto for Napoli in his first season, and returns to the club where he won the league in 2021, before falling out with his bosses over transfer policy in classic Conte style. Napoli won the Italian Super Cup last month, seeing off Milan in the semis before a 2-0 win over Bologna in the final.

In Serie A, Napoli have won five of their last seven to stay in the title race, but their away form continues to be hit and miss. The Partenopei have won six and lost four away from the Diego Maradona, and those losses include shock defeats at Torino and Udinese.

Inter have won seven of nine at home in the top flight, but I can't quite get on board with backing them to win at 8/11. Chivu's men have struggled in the big games this term, losing to Juventus, Napoli and Milan, so instead I'd prefer to back star striker Lautaro Martinez to score at a hefty 6/4 on the Sportsbook.

The Argentinian has found the net in seven of his last 12 competitive games, and he has 18 goals for club and country this term. Whenever he's that kind of price to find the net for Inter, I find it hard to resist, and Napoli are far from bulletproof on their travels.

Bayern v Wolfsburg - Olise to net for runaway leaders

Sunday 11 January, 16:30Live on Amazon Prime

Barring a perfectly understandable Champions League defeat at Arsenal, it's been an outstanding first half of the campaign for Bayern. Coach Vincent Kompany has done a terrific job, and fully earned the contract extension he was given earlier this season. The Bavarian giants are nine points clear at the top of the Bundesliga, and we've only had 15 matchdays. Our friends at Opta tell us that Kompany has collected 123 points from his 49 league games in charge.

Bayern have one of the most dangerous attacking units in Europe. They have scored a staggering 55 goals in the league already, and 19 of those have gone the way of Harry Kane. With all of the understandable hype around Kane, summer signing Luis Diaz and teenage wunderkind Lennart Karl, it's easy to forget the amazing job that Michael Olise does in that team. The former Crystal Palace star has scored ten goals in all competitions, and he has racked up eight assists in the league alone.

We can back Olise to score here at 11/10, and that seems more than fair against one of the worst defensive units in the league. Wolfsburg have leaked 28 goals in 15 league matches, and they are up against a Bayern team that has scored at least twice in 23 league games in a row, which is a Bundesliga record.

Recommended bets

New Customers can get £50 in free bets!