Kevin Hatchard's European Tips: Bayern to batter Bavarian neighbours | OneFootball

European Football Tips

Bayern have a man in form that Kevin Hatchard wants to back

Last weekend was another profitable one for the European column, and Kevin Hatchard's back with three more selections.

Bayern v Augsburg - League leaders to flex their muscles again

Saturday 24 January, 14:30

At half time in Leipzig last weekend, Bayern were staring down the barrel of a first domestic defeat of the campaign. They were 1-0 down against a rampant RB Leipzig, and had the hosts not been wasteful in front of goal, it could've been a more sizeable deficit.

However, Bayern dug deep and blew Leipzig away after the break, putting five goals past them without reply. Serge Gnabry scored his 100th Bayern goal, substitute Michael Olise helped himself to a goal and three assists, and the returning Jamal Musiala bagged an assist on his first appearance since picking up an horrific injury at the summer's Club World Cup.

Bayern followed that up with a routine 2-0 win over Union Saint-Gilloise in the Champions League, as Harry Kane scored a brace. Bayern have scored 103 goals in all competitions, and have won 26 of their 29 competitive matches. This is a special team doing special things.

Now struggling Augsburg make the short trip across Bavaria to the Allianz Arena, and I'm expecting them to take a beating. FCA lost their last away game 4-0 at Borussia Mönchengladbach, and have lost six of their last seven away matches in the league. With 35 goals conceded in 18 games, Manuel Baum's men have one of the worst defensive records in the division.

On that basis, I'll back Michael Olise to score at 2.3 on the Exchange. We successfully backed him to find the net against Leipzig last weekend at 9/5, and he duly racked up a goal and three assists. Olise has netted four goals across his last five matches, and is full of confidence after a phenomenal run of form.

Villarreal v Real Madrid - Vinicius the golden boy again

Saturday 24 January, 20:00Live on Premier Sports

It's been a rollercoaster ride for Real Madrid, with Xabi Alonso losing his job and caretaker boss Alvaro Arbeloa making a dreadful start with a defeat at second-tier Albacete in the Copa del Rey. However, since then Madrid have beaten Levante 2-0 in the league and hammered Monaco 6-1 in the Champions League.

One of the key elements of Arbeloa's short reign has been how much he has been talking up Vinicius Junior, and it seems clear that the club is gearing up for another attempt to persuade the Brazilian winger to restart contract talks. His current deal expires in the summer of 2027, and his strained relationship with Xabi Alonso pushed him closer to the exit door.

Vinicius was outstanding against Monaco, setting up three goals and scoring another. He has found the net in two of his last four games, and we can back him to score again here at 6/4.

Villarreal are third in the league, but I have my doubts about them against top opposition. Marcelino's team have been awful in the Champions League (they even lost to hapless Ajax in midweek), and they have lost to Atletico Madrid and Barcelona in the league this season. In the reverse fixture, a 3-1 win for Madrid, Vinicius Junior scored twice.

Juventus v Napoli - Hosts have improved, but are too short

Sunday 25 January, 17:00Live on TNT Sports

There's no doubt that Juventus are making big strides under former Napoli boss Luciano Spalletti. They qualified for the Champions League's playoff round on Wednesday as they beat Jose Mourinho's Benfica 2-0, as Weston McKennie extended his scoring run in the competition to three matches.

In the league, the Bianconeri are fifth in the standings, but a recent 1-0 defeat at Cagliari has probably killed off any lingering title hopes. The strikers continue to misfire - summer signings Lois Openda and Jonathan David have just four league goals between them, and they have become reliant on the talents of rising star Kenan Yildiz.

Napoli's hopes of progress in the Champions League were damaged by a 1-1 draw at Copenhagen in midweek, with boss Antonio Conte complaining about the schedule afterwards. In the league, the champions have lost some ground after a run of three draws in four.

Despite Napoli's recent wobble, the price available of 1.9 to back them +0.5 on the Asian Handicap seems like a gift. The Partenopei haven't lost any of their last nine matches in all competitions, and they recently drew 2-2 at the leaders Inter. In the reverse fixture last month, Napoli won 2-1.

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