Kevin Hatchard's European Tips: Back fireworks in Paris match | OneFootball

European Football Tips

It's a new football year on the continent, and Kevin Hatchard's back with a trio of bets

In his first European column of 2026, Kevin Hatchard has picked out a trio of betting tips from across the action in France, Spain and Italy.

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PSG v Paris FC - Both teams to strike in capital clash

Sunday 04 January, 19:45Live on Ligue 1 Pass

It's unusual for PSG to start a year without being the top dogs in Ligue 1, but that's the position they find themselves in, as they are a point behind the leaders Lens. A busy 2025 has taken its toll, as it's worth remembering that Luis Enrique's team won the Champions League and reached the final of the summer's Club World Cup. Add in events like the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Intercontinental Cup, and you can see it's been an exacting schedule.

Now the European champions face their first derby against Paris FC since the 1970s, and intriguingly the teams will meet twice this month, as they have been brought together in the last 32 of the Coupe de France. PSG certainly have a fine home record, with six wins and a draw from seven league matches at the Parc des Princes, but the question I'm asking here is whether Paris FC can score.

Since promotion, Paris FC have largely held their own, and they are four points above the relegation playoff spot. They have scored 21 goals, and no-one in the bottom half has a better attacking record. Interestingly for our purposes, Stephane Gilli's team have scored in games against Marseille, Lens, Lille, Monaco, Lyon and Strasbourg, and they have only drawn a blank in two away games all season.

At 2.08, I think a BTTS bet is worth making.

Atalanta v Roma - Gasperini to avoid defeat on Bergamo return

Saturday 03 January, 19:45Live on DAZN

When Gian Piero Gasperini arrived at Atalanta in 2016, the club's chief aim was to avoid the drop into Serie B. A poor start could have seen him dismissed before his reign had really got going, but the Bergamo-based club showed faith, and Gasperini delivered at a level no-one could realistically have anticipated.

Atalanta finished fourth that season, and they would go on to secure top-three finishes in three of the next four campaigns. Under Gasperini La Dea never finished outside the top eight, and the pinnacle of his tenure was winning the Europa League final in 2024, handing Bayer Leverkusen their only defeat of a double-winning campaign.

Now Gasperini will face his former side, and he is hoping for a result that will boost his new team Roma's title hopes. The Giallorossi are just three points off the leaders Inter, although they have played a game more. Recent away form is a concern (Roma have lost three of their last four road matches in Serie A), but overall Roma have won six of their last 10 in the league and they have won three on the spin in the Europa League.

Atalanta have certainly improved under Raffaele Palladino, who replaced Gasperini's immediate successor Ivan Juric. The dour Juric had underwhelmed in spells at Roma and Southampton, and it was only really his connection with Gasperini (he played for him, was his assistant coach and tried to play similar football) that got him the gig.

Former Monza and Fiorentina coach Palladino is getting far more out of a talented bunch, although Atalanta were edged out 1-0 at home by Inter in their most recent game. It's still a mixed picture since Palladino's arrival, with three wins and three defeats in his six league games in charge.

I think the price of 1.96 available to back Roma +0 & +0.5 on the Asian Handicap is generous. Gasperini knows these Atalanta players inside-out, and will be able to target weaknesses, and Roma are 11 points better off than their opponents. If the game is drawn we get a half-win, and a Roma victory brings us a full payout at a shade under evens.

Espanyol v Barcelona - Raphinha to take derby punishment

Saturday 03 January, 20:00Live on Premier Sports

With Real Madrid's season limping from crisis to crisis, Barcelona appear to have come out of their own wobble impressively, and the prospect of back-to-back La Liga titles under Hansi Flick is a realistic one. Barca lead their old foes by four points in the title race, and they are nine ahead of third-placed Atletico Madrid.

Barcelona have responded to a November battering at Chelsea by reeling off six straight competitive wins, although they'll be fully tested by a derby against Espanyol at Cornella El Prat. Espanyol have won five in a row in the league, and are a remarkable fifth in the standings.

Espanyol are sixth in the league when it comes to fouls committed, and they'll be physical here too, which leads me to look at the price of 2/1 that's on offer for Raphinha to be fouled twice and Espanyol right-back Omar El Hilali to commit two fouls or more on the Bet Builder. Raphinha was fouled three times in the recent win at Villarreal, and he'll often raid down the left flank, where he'll come into contact with El Hilali.

The Moroccan has committed two fouls or more in eight of his 14 La Liga starts this term, including four of his last five. He has also picked up four yellow cards this term.

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