Kevin Hatchard's European Football Tips: Barca to net another fun victory

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·19 December 2025

Kevin Hatchard's European Football Tips: Barca to net another fun victory

European Football Tips

We've got three odds-against European tips to round off 2025

OneFootball Videos

After securing four winners from his last six tips, Kevin Hatchard's got a trio of odds-against picks to round off 2025.

Villarreal v Barcelona - Leaders to win gripping game

Sunday 21 December, 15:15Live on Premier Sports

This season has been something of a rollercoaster ride for Barcelona, but Hansi Flick's team have regained the initiative in the title race. Barca lost El Clasico in October, but Real Madrid have had a major wobble since then, allowing the champions to overhaul them.

However, all is not entirely well at Camp Nou, with the defence still a major concern. Flick shows no signs of compromising on his team's high defensive line, and he's hopeful that the latest configuration (Gerard Martin and Pau Cubarsi at centre-back, with Eric Garcia in front of them) can do the trick. Barca haven't really been able to replace influential centre-back Inigo Martinez since his move to Saudi Arabia.

Barca are therefore relying on their incredible attacking unit to get them through, and it is consistently delivering. The return of Raphinha has been a major boost, Lamine Yamal is as phenomenal as ever, while Pedri is one of the best midfielders in the world. With a supporting cast that includes Dani Olmo, Ferran Torres, Robert Lewandowski, Fermin Lopez and others, few can match Barcelona as an attacking force.

A trip to the Ceramica looks formidable, with high-flying Villarreal unbeaten at home in La Liga. Marcelino is squeezing every drop of potential out of a limited squad, but scratch beneath the surface and the picture isn't quite so rosy. In the Champions League, the Yellow Submarine have hit the sea bed, collecting one point from six games. They have faced modest opposition at home in the league, and in their two toughest games overall they lost at Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.

I think Barca can make it three La Liga away wins on the spin, and this could be similar to their wins at Celta Vigo (4-2) and Real Betis (5-3). Barca have only kept one clean sheet away from home in the league, and that was back in August, so I'll back Barca to win and Both Teams To Score on the Sportsbook at 6/4.

Stuttgart v Hoffenheim - Turbocharged attacks to produce a cracker

Saturday 20 December, 14:30

Both Stuttgart and Hoffenheim are part of the race for Champions League qualification, and both have played some thrilling football. Stuttgart coach Sebastian Hoeness (who faces his former club this weekend) has already delivered a top-two finish and a DFB Pokal success in his VfB tenure, and he is once again impressing with a possession-heavy, front-foot style.

Striker Deniz Undav has hit a true purple patch. The German international is desperate to win a place in Julian Nagelsmann's World Cup squad, and he has netted 10 goals across his last 12 competitive appearances, including a stunning hat-trick in a 3-3 draw at Borussia Dortmund.

Hoffenheim sold 22 players in the summer and made major renovations to their starting XI. Kosovan trio Leon Avdullahu, Albian Hajdari and Fisnik Asllani have all excelled, Wouter Burger has been tremendous in midfield since exiting Stoke City, and hard-working forward Tim Lemperle has been a smart pickup from Köln on a free transfer.

Stuttgart have scored 25 goals in the league and have conceded 22, while Hoffenheim's figures are 29 and 20. Neither team tends to try to dig in, and I can't see this being anything other than a goal-fest. Seven of Stuttgart's last 10 games in all competitions have featured at least four goals, as have five of Hoffenheim's last eight.

I'll back Over 3.5 Goals here at 2.3.

Genoa v Atalanta - Palladino has loosened the reins in Bergamo

Sunday 21 December, 19:45

Given the impression that new Atalanta boss Raffaele Palladino has made in his first few weeks with La Dea, it's hard to escape the notion that the club wasted a chunk of the campaign labouring under the guidance of Ivan Juric. Tarnished by disastrous spells at Roma and Southampton, Juric only really got the job because he is a disciple of Atalanta legend Gian Piero Gasperini, and he won just four of his 15 matches at the helm.

Former Monza and Fiorentina boss Palladino lost his first game in charge at the champions Napoli, but has since won five out of six, including superb victories over Eintracht Frankfurt and Chelsea in the Champions League. Usefully for our purposes, six of his seven matches have featured three goals or more.

Palladino's Atalanta have already put four goals past Genoa in the Coppa Italia, and they are capable of covering the Over 2.5 Goals line themselves against the same opponents this weekend. Coach Daniele De Rossi has steadied the ship with wins over Verona and Udinese, and all five of his games in the dugout have seen an Over 2.5 Goals bet land. At a hefty 2.14, that feels like the smart play here.