Kevin Hatchard European Tips: In-form forwards to net, and Atalanta to win | OneFootball

Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid - Vini to lead the revenge mission for Los Blancos

Sunday 22 March, 20:00

Back in late September, Atletico Madrid pulverized Real Madrid 5-2 at the Metropolitano, and the first cracks began to appear in the tenure of Xabi Alonso. Although the Basque coach gained a measure of redemption by beating Atletico 2-1 in the semi-finals of the Supercopa in January, that win in Saudi Arabia came four days before he was given the push.

Alvaro Arbeloa stepped up from coaching the second team to replace Xabi Alonso, and his less proscriptive approach has yielded largely positive results. Manchester City were beaten home and away in the last 16 of the Champions League, while Barcelona are only four points ahead in the race for the La Liga title.

Arbeloa's challenge will be to try to consistently replicate the kind of cohesion and determination that was on show in the first leg against Manchester City. Federico Valverde's world-class hat-trick stole the show, but what was equally noticeable was the willingness of the whole team to press, to double up defensively and to act as a team rather than a collection of excellent individuals.

One of Arbeloa's main tasks was to get Vinicius Junior back to the level of performance he is capable, while also making the Brazilian superstar happy enough to consider signing a new contract. Vinicius has certainly thrived under Arbeloa, and he has netted eight goals across his last ten appearances.

There's no doubt that Vinicius Junior's record against Atletico Madrid is poor, with just one scored against them in his whole Real Madrid career. However, this is no longer the snarling, dogged Atleti of old. These days, Diego Simeone's men are much more potent in attack, but the tradeoff is that they are more vulnerable defensively, especially away from home.

Atleti have remarkably conceded three goals in four of their last five away matches in all competitions, including a 3-2 loss at Tottenham in the Champions League. That defeat didn't prevent them from reaching the quarter-finals, but it continued a pattern of them looking vulnerable on the road.

If Real are to put multiple goals past Atletico on Sunday night, I can't look beyond Vinicius Junior as an Anytime Goalscorer at an attractive 17/10.

Atalanta v Verona - Le Dea to bounce back

Sunday 22 March, 14:00Live on DAZN

Facing Bayern Munich can be a sobering and brutal experience, as Atalanta have just found to their cost. The men from Bergamo were demolished 6-1 at home in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie, and then lost 4-1 in Munich, as the German giants showed no mercy. They started Harry Kane in a game they didn't need to win, and he duly scored a brace which including a stunning solo goal.

However, this could still be a fantastic season for La Dea. Coach Raffaele Palladino has undone the damage done by predecessor Ivan Juric, and Atalanta are in position to challenge for a European spot through the league, while they have also reached the Coppa Italia semi-finals.

Atalanta have won seven of their last nine Serie A home matches, and they have scored multiple goals in six of those wins. This weekend they are facing the bottom side Verona, who have lost 17 of their 29 top-flight games this term. The Gialloblu have conceded a league-high 51 goals, while only scoring 22 themselves.

With Atalanta having no reason to rest and rotate given that the international break is approaching, I expect them to select the strongest possible side here, and I'll back them -1.5 on the Asian Handicap at 2.22. Verona have lost six of their last 11 away games, and four of those defeats were by more than one goal.

Nice v PSG - Bar-goal-a to extend scoring streak

Saturday 21 March, 20:00Live on Ligue 1 Pass

PSG are once again through to the quarter-finals of the Champions League, having demolished a frail Chelsea 8-2 on aggregate. Luis Enrique's side were already 5-2 up from the first leg, and early goals from Kvicha Kvaratskhelia and Bradley Barcola at Stamford Bridge put them on the way to a 3-0 second-leg victory.

Barcola's goal was a magnificent strike, and it underlined the fact that the former Lyon star is full of confidence. Barcola has scored in five of his last six games, and he has 12 goals in all competitions.

At 7/5, I'll happily back Barcola to score against ailing Nice this weekend (keep an eye on the team news to see if he starts). The INEOS-owned side from the French Riviera are having an awful campaign, and are only eight points above the relegation zone. Jeremie Boga and Terem Moffi were effectively chased out of the club in January by angry ultras, and former Lens boss Frank Haise left in December.

Nice haven't won a home game since October, and overall they have lost ten of their last 16 Ligue 1 matches. I expect PSG to get plenty of space to operate against Claude Puel's strugglers, and Barcola is well worth backing to find the net.

Our Bet £10 get £10 offer15/2.