Kevin Hatchard's European Tips: Under-fire Madrid boss to be nervy again | OneFootball

European Football Tips

This week's column covers Spain, France and Italy

After securing two winners from three selections last weekend, Kevin Hatchard's trawled the continent for another trio of picks...

Football... Only Bettor. Listen to the latest episode now.

Alaves v Real Madrid - Hosts can prey on visitors' angst

Sunday 14 December, 20:00

These are fraught days at Real Madrid. Wednesday's home defeat to Manchester City in the Champions League wasn't enough to see coach Xabi Alonso sacked, but a run of two wins in eight has seen him placed in jeopardy at one of the world's most demanding clubs.

Following that collapse against City, a raft of players like Rodrygo, Thibault Courtois and Raul Asencio lined up to back their beleaguered boss. However, Xabi Alonso's attempts to bring uniformity and a collective spirit to the Bernabeu have all too often fallen on deaf ears, and his strained relationship with Vinicius Junior (a favourite of president Florentino Perez) has done him few favours.

Real Madrid are trying to show patience, but defeat at Alaves this weekend would probably be the final straw, with second-team boss Alvaro Arbeloa tipped to take charge on a caretaker basis should the axe fall. Madrid haven't been able to solve last season's defensive inconsistencies, and they have been plagued by injury woes.

While I'm not sure Alaves can necessarily take full advantage of Real Madrid's problems, I do think they can score on Sunday at Mendizorroza. Argentine coach Eduardo Coudet just about kept the Basque club up last season, and they are looking more comfortable this time around, six points clear of the dropzone.

This season, Alaves have scored against Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Athletic Club and Real Sociedad, and at home they have won four out of eight in the league, losing just twice. This will be a nerve-shredding game for Real Madrid, and I'll back Both Teams To Score at 1.86. Madrid have kept a clean sheet in just one of their last six matches.

Lens v Nice - Away side should be opposed again

Sunday 14 December, 16:15Live on Ligue 1 Pass

Last weekend we rightly opposed Nice at odds-on against Angers, as the crisis club lost 1-0 at home. The INEOS-owned strugglers have now lost eight competitive games in a row, and the recent attack on players and officials by some of the club's ultras (you can read more in last week's column here) has cast a dark shadow over the southern side.

On Thursday, Frank Haise's side lost 1-0 at home to Braga, and now they travel to face their coach's former team. Lens are top of Ligue 1, and have played some excellent football under former Lyon boss Pierre Sage. The Blood and Gold are benefiting from not being in Europe this term, and they have won their last five games in the league, including eye-catching victories against Monaco and Strasbourg.

Lens have won six in a row at the Felix Bollaert, and I'll back them to win and throw in Under 3.5 Goals on the Sportsbook at 6/4. Nice have scored just four goals during their eight-match losing run, and only two of Lens' league games have featured four goals or more.

Bologna v Juventus - Italiano to deliver another blow to Bianconeri

Sunday 14 December, 19:45

Vincenzo Italiano worked wonders at Fiorentina for a number of years, taking them to the final of the Conference League twice and also the final of the Coppa Italia. Yes, La Viola lost all three showpiece matches, but it was still a stunning achievement. It says a lot that since the coach's departure, Fiorentina have sunk to the bottom of the Serie A table.

Italiano is now impressing at the Renato Dall'Ara. Last season he won the Coppa Italia with Bologna, their first major trophy for 51 years, and this term the Rossoblu are fifth in Serie A and going well in the Europa League.

On home soil, Bologna have suffered just one defeat all season (bizarrely a Cremonese win powered by Jamie Vardy), and they have beaten high-flying Napoli and Como. Overall, Italiano's side have lost just four games all campaign, and three of those were in the first five matches of the season.

Juventus come to Bologna on the back of a much-needed Champions League win against Pafos, but they made heavy weather of it against the Cypriots, and injuries are still biting hard. Defenders Bremer and Federico Gatti are on the sidelines, and bustling centre-forward Dusan Vlahovic is out until the new year.

Juve have only won twice away from home in Serie A this term, they lost at Napoli last weekend, and in the away game before that they were held by the bottom club Fiorentina. The Bianconeri have lost at Como and Lazio this term, and I've happy to back Bologna Draw No Bet here at 2.08.

Recommended bets