2024 kicked off with a bang on New Year’s Day as Liverpool and Newcastle faced up in what was the only match to take place across Europe’s top five leagues, with the score ending 4-2 to Liverpool and all six goals coming in the second half.
The drama is likely to continue into Tuesday and Wednesday’s fixtures as games from England, Spain, Italy and France are all set to take place.
The standout game of the week see’s Spain’s second-placed side, Girona, host third-placed Atletico Madrid in what is sure to be a highly-contested affair. However, with other games sure to provide drama over the next two days we’ve picked out our top tips and booking code for the upcoming games.
Brighton & Hove Albion to win, 2.60
West Ham United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
West Ham and Brighton are both coming into this game on the back of huge victories over a member of England’s ‘big six’, with West Ham beating Arsenal and Manchester United 2-0 in their last two games while Brighton beat Tottenham Hotspur 4-2. Both clubs are currently in a race for the European places with West Ham in sixth and Brighton in eighth, but with games in hand on those around them these places could change come the end of the night.
West Ham have managed just one victory over Brighton in the English Premier League since Brighton got promoted in 2017/18, while they are yet to pick up a victory against the Seagulls at the London Stadium.
This is sure to be a close game, but with Brighton’s impressive track record over West Ham we expect Brighton to continue their run and take the three points against the Hammers.
Girona to win, 2.60
Girona have possibly been Europe’s surprise package this season, as they finished 10th last season but now sit second in La Liga on the same points as leaders Real Madrid. They boast the best attack of any side so far in the league with 42 goals scored, which has helped them in losing just once in their eighteen league games.
However, Atletico Madrid are no easy opponent as they sit in third place and just seven points behind Girona. Atletico haven’t quite been at their brilliant defensive best with 19 goals conceded in eighteen games this season, but Diego Simeone’s men have also been lethal in attack with 36 goals scored and 11 of these coming from star striker Antoine Griezmann.
All of this builds up to a fantastically tight game between these two side but with Girona having lost just one game this season, all the way back in September against Real Madrid, we believe that they will continue their unbelievable run and take the victory.
Kylian Mbappe to score anytime, 1.50
Kylian Mbappe has been on fire this season having scored 27 goals already this season for club and country, including an impressive 18 goals in just 16 league games. Mbappe’s next match sees him face up against Toulouse in the Trophee des Champions, a side who have really struggled this season as they find themselves 16th in Ligue 1 with 23 goals conceded in 17 games.
Mbappe has enjoyed this fixture in recent years, scoring three in his last five appearances against Toulouse and with the striker having previously netted in the Trophee des Champions, he will fancy himself to add to this season’s goal tally in this upcoming game.
Booking Codes:
Overall: 5YLL7GX
Tuesday: 5YLLBRD
Wednesday: 5YLLGDX
