Andy Brassell's Weekend Football Tips Including Sunderland Vs Crystal Palace
European football expert Andy Brassell is back to share his three best selections for this weekend's action across Europe's top leagues.
As always, Andy will provide a fourth selection exclusively for Gambling.com account holders, using the latest odds from Grosvenor.
Andy has been a writer and broadcaster on European football for 20 years, featuring on TalkSPORT, On The Continent, The Guardian, Sky Sports and TNT Sports.
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Cologne Vs Mainz, Saturday 2.30pm
The two Carneval cities meet this weekend and the visitors at least have cause to celebrate, having won their first Bundesliga game since September against sorry Heidenheim on Tuesday.
It was their first win under new coach Urs Fischer and their first league victory since September.
On paper it feels as if a corner has been turned, with the 05ers off the bottom and unbeaten in four.
Cologne Vs Mainz League Comparison:
Team | Position | Played | Points | GD |
Cologne | 12th | 17 | 17 | -4 |
Mainz | 16th | 17 | 12 | -12 |
However, the reality is that they were fortunate to hang on in the closing stages against Heidenheim - quite plainly the worst team in the division - having fumbled a two-goal lead at Union Berlin three days before.
Cologne are winless in eight but were excellent in holding Bayern for 70 minutes on Wednesday before succumbing, and have an increasing number of options up front as absences recede.
Andy's Panel Selection 1: Cologne Vs Mainz: Cologne To Win - 23/20 With Grosvenor
Andy Brassell's Weekend Tips:
- Selection 1: Cologne Vs Mainz: Cologne To Win - 23/20 With Grosvenor
- Selection 2: Sunderland Vs Crystal Palace: Sunderland To Win - 33/20 With Grosvenor
- Selection 3: Napoli Vs Sassuolo: Under 2.5 Total Goals - 10/13 With Grosvenor
Sunderland v Crystal Palace, Saturday 3pm
This is a game that both sides will be really desperate to win.
Sunderland, having wowed us all in the season’s opening months, are on a winless streak of five in the Premier League, while Palace are in an even worse spot, having gone nine without victory in all competitions.
Sunderland Vs Crystal Palace League Comparison:
Team | Position | Played | Points | GD |
Sunderland | 10th | 21 | 30 | -1 |
C Palace | 13th | 21 | 28 | -1 |
Oliver Glasner’s side are recovering from last week’s shock cup exit at Macclesfield and he will be glad to see the back of this transfer window, with Marc Guehi one of those linked with a move away.
Yet Regis Le Bris still has a team unbeaten at the Stadium of Light in their 10 Premier League games this season, so it is hard to see Palace making a dent here.
Andy's Panel Selection 2: Sunderland Vs Crystal Palace: Sunderland To Win - 33/20 With Grosvenor
Napoli Vs Sassuolo, Saturday 5pm
Napoli have got a bit stuck of late, drawing thrice in a row to fall off the title pace behind an accelerating Inter.
They were frustrated by a debutant goalkeeper, Filippo Rinaldi, in a goalless home game with Parma and can often make heavy weather of modest opponents.
Sassuolo, meanwhile, have scored twice in their last five games and are winless in six after a positive start.
Napoli Vs Sassuolo League Comparison:
Team | Position | Played | Points | GD |
Napoli | 3rd | 20 | 40 | +13 |
Sassuolo | 11th | 20 | 23 | -4 |
The weakness inherent in the league’s bottom teams will probably keep them away from real trouble.
However, they need some of the plethora of injured players who missed last weekend’s defeat at Roma (including Kristian Thorstvedt and Domenico Berardi) as quickly as possible.
Andy's Panel Selection 3: Napoli Vs Sassuolo: Under 2.5 Total Goals - 10/13 With Grosvenor
Andy's weekend treble pays out at around 9/1 with Grosvenor.
Got a European treble of your own? Share it with us in the comments below!
