European Football Weekend Prediction Digest, January 17-18 2026

All top European championships are returning and ready to delight viewers with their spectacle. In addition, on the upcoming weekend of January 17 and 18 we will find out the best national team of Africa for the next two years. And our tipsters are ready to help you with choosing the optimal predictions.

Manchester United vs Manchester City

The 22nd round of the Premier League gives us the most unpredictable derby of recent years. At “Old Trafford” there will be a clash of two polar football worlds: City, who are trying to catch up with Arsenal despite the personnel crisis in defence (injuries to Dias and Guardiola), and United, who are in a state of emergency reboot. The appointment of Michael Carrick instead of Ruben Amorim creates a tactical puzzle for Pep Guardiola – there is almost no up-to-date data for analysing the game of the renewed opponent.

The “Red Devils” have a series of four matches without a win, and the elimination by Brighton in the cup is no longer perceived as a sensation. Darren Fletcher in the role of acting head coach failed to correct the situation. The debut in the derby is a huge challenge for Carrick, for whom it is critically important to avoid defeat at the start. The density in the table still leaves the Mancunians with chances to fight for top-4.

Manchester City are also not ideal: three consecutive draws in the championship allowed Arsenal to break away. However, the Semenyo transfer has already begun to bring dividends. Convincing cup victories over Newcastle (2:0) and Exeter (10:1), where Antoine distinguished himself with goal involvements, confirm that the ex-Bournemouth star has organically fitted into the attacking line of the “Citizens”.

Despite City’s dominance in recent years, in the last five derbies there is parity: two wins each and one draw.

Real Madrid vs Levante

After the defeat in the Spanish Super Cup final against “Barcelona” (2:3) Xabi Alonso was sacked, appointing Alvaro Arbeloa in his place. However, there are already talks about searching for a coach for a summer appointment, which is connected with Real’s elimination from the Copa del Rey — they lost to “Albacete” (2:3). The pressure is reaching its peak — during the match with “Levante” the team will face whistling from their own fans. Mbappé is unavailable again, but Valverde can play in the centre of the field after Carvajal’s comeback.

“Levante” changed their coach and achieved an emotional uplift, beating “Sevilla” (3:0) and drawing with “Espanyol”. True, the quality of play has not become dramatically better. The top scorer Etta Eyong has returned, but the defence may let them down: the “frogs” concede many chances near their goal and fail on defensive set pieces.

Hamburger SV vs Borussia Mönchengladbach

At the legendary “Volksparkstadion” stadium, spectators are expecting a confrontation between two historically significant German clubs, which are currently searching for their best game. Hamburger, having returned to the elite and trying to establish themselves in it, will host Mönchengladbach “Borussia”, which seeks to stabilise results after another series of failures.

Hamburger of the 2025/26 season is a classic example of a team whose home and away performances differ dramatically. 14 out of the total 19 points were earned precisely on home soil, which is the eighth indicator in the Bundesliga for home performance. At the same time, the away form of the “dinosaurs” remains the worst in the league. Statistics confirm the open nature of Hamburger’s home games: in 6 out of 9 matches at “Volksparkstadion” this season the “both teams to score” bet has landed.

The Mönchengladbach side started the second half of the season on real “swings”. After a confident thrashing victory over Augsburg (4:0), Eugen Polanski’s charges received a painful blow in the next round, losing to the currently powerful Hoffenheim with the score 5:1. The question of defensive stability remains the Achilles’ heel of the “Foals”, however their attack led by one of the league’s best scorers – Haris Tabakovic (9 goals this season) – consistently creates chances.

Hoffenheim vs Bayer Leverkusen

In Sinsheim, neighbours in the standings will meet. This is a match with a high price for a mistake, as both clubs are претенding on a ticket to the Champions League.

Hoffenheim are currently the best home team in the league: 5 consecutive wins with an average scoring of 3.6 goals per game. Christian Ilzer’s charges consistently gain points, losing only to the leaders. The elimination from the German Cup by St. Pauli in the penalty shootout allows the “villagers” to fully concentrate on the Bundesliga. Having a game in hand, they have every chance to overtake Stuttgart, who currently occupy the fourth position.

For Bayer after the triumphant season of 2023/24, the time of reboot has come. The main reason is the sale of key performers. Currently the “pharmacists” occupy sixth place, trailing Hoffenheim by only one point. Interestingly, Bayer’s away scoring (4.1 goals per match) is significantly higher than in home matches (3.2).

Hoffenheim forward Adam Hlozek will most likely miss the match against his former team due to injury.

Chelsea vs Brentford

“Chelsea” after the manager change played two cup matches under Liam Rosenior and left a good impression, despite the defeat from “Arsenal” with the score 2:3. News about a possible flu epidemic inside the team is alarming, but for now it is worth believing in the best to get the first win in the Premier League framework after an unsuccessful series of five matches in which “Chelsea” invariably conceded one-two goals.

Returning to the winning path in the game against “Brentford” will not be easy, because Keith Andrews’ team demonstrates excellent scoring play and has been gaining points for six rounds in a row, and all four wins in this stretch were achieved with a minimum difference of two goals. Moreover, “Brentford” have excellent statistics of recent meetings with “Chelsea” — the “bees” lost only one of the last eight head-to-head matches, and in the last three visits to “Stamford Bridge” they scored nine goals.

Sunderland vs Crystal Palace

For the first time after the exhausting “Boxing Day” marathon, English Premier League teams finally managed to rest and recover their strength. In the confrontation at the “Stadium of Light” will meet teams from the middle of the table: Sunderland, who remain one of two teams in the league without home defeats, will host the still depleted by injuries Crystal Palace.

The last games for both clubs were FA Cup matches, which brought radically different emotions. While the “black cats” advanced further, defeating Everton in a penalty shootout, the “eagles” as current trophy holders frankly disgraced themselves, being eliminated by a representative of the sixth division. However, such a fiasco for Oliver Glasner’s charges also has a reverse side – now the team’s calendar has been significantly unloaded. Considering the large number of injured and general fatigue of the leaders, this can help the Londoners concentrate on improving their game in the championship.

Statistics of the last month are on the side of the hosts. Starting from mid-December, “Sunderland” lost only one match out of seven. And although they managed to win only twice (including success in the Cup), such a result looks much more solid than Palace’s indicators: over the same period the “eagles” managed only two draws, losing the rest of the matches.

Egypt vs Nigeria

Egypt perform inconsistently at the tournament. In matches against Zimbabwe and Benin, thanks to character, they managed to turn the course of the meetings. In the game against Cote d’Ivoire the team looked excellent on counterattacks. In several matches they managed to perform successfully thanks to the good form of the leaders — Mohamed Salah scored four goals, Omar Marmoush — two. At the same time, in the game against Senegal the “pharaohs” looked completely unconvincing, delivering the first shot only in the 90th minute.

Nigeria won all their matches until they ran into a higher-class opponent, and even against Morocco on their home ground the “eagles” lost only on penalties. The team has the best attack at the tournament: Victor Osimhen shares second place in the top scorers race, and Ademola Lookman is the best assist provider.

RB Leipzig vs Bayern Munich

The 18th round of the German Bundesliga opens the second half of the championship with a real “dessert”. At the “Red Bull Arena” representatives of the top four will meet, and this match can become decisive for the championship ambitions of both teams.

RB Leipzig approach the meeting in the status of underdog, which is not surprising, because they face the hegemon of German football – Munich Bayern. Uncertain results at the end of 2025 – two defeats from Bayer Leverkusen and Union Berlin with the identical score (1:3) – put into question the ability of the “bulls” to impose real competition in this match. Some optimism is added by the convincing victory over Freiburg in the last round.

This game will become a marker for Ole Werner’s team: defeat will virtually cross out even the theoretical chances of Leipzig for the “silver salad bowl”.

Bayern are currently “on a roll”. The Munich side met 2026 with two extremely spectacular victories, and the thrashing of Wolfsburg (8:1) has already joined the archive of the glorious crushing triumphs of the “Recordmeister”. Immediately three of Vincent Kompany’s charges are in the top-5 league scorers, and 20 goals by Harry Kane in 17 rounds make him the main favourite in the race for the “Golden Boot”. Unlike their opponents, the guests will have to rationally distribute their forces, because already on January 21 they have a Champions League match waiting for them.

The previous meeting at the beginning of the current campaign ended with a confident triumph of the Munich side, who crushed their opponent with the score (6:0).

Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal

While the world’s attention is focused on the Manchester derby, the leader of the championship – London Arsenal – is heading to visit Sean Dyche. On paper this is a duel between leader and outsider, but in reality – a clash of opposite football ideologies.

Nottingham’s elimination from the FA Cup by modest Wrexham can be interpreted in two ways. On one hand, it is a painful defeat from a lower division team, on the other – an opportunity to concentrate on survival in the Premier League and performances in the Europa League. A 7-point gap from the relegation zone looks comfortable, however four defeats in the last five championship matches are worrying the fans. The recent away victory over West Ham gives grounds to hope for the best.

Arsenal, taking advantage of Manchester City’s slip-ups, strengthened their leadership. Despite not always bright play, Mikel Arteta’s charges retain chances for trophies in all tournaments they participate in. After a pragmatic match against Liverpool, the “Gunners” confidently passed Portsmouth and Chelsea in the cups. The strength of modern Arsenal is the absence of dependence on a particular star, Arteta has created a monolithic system where any footballer can become a source of threat.

In head-to-head matches there is a complete advantage of the Londoners – 4 wins and 1 draw in the last 5 meetings.

Toulouse vs Nice

In Toulouse the team of the same name, which in recent seasons has established itself as a solid mid-table side in Ligue 1, will host “Nice”, which is conducting the current campaign extremely unsuccessfully.

The first half of the championship “Toulouse” finished in the middle of the table, having 6 wins, 5 draws and 6 losses. At the end of the first part of the season the “violets” gained excellent form, celebrating victories in four out of five last matches (including success in a penalty shootout in the French Cup). At home, Carlos Martinez’s charges demonstrate surprisingly even statistics: three times they won, drew and lost. The team is separated from the European competition zone by only one point, and parallel performances in the Cup remind of the triumphant season of 2022/23, when “Toulouse” secured a ticket to the Europa League.

For “Nice” the first half of the season became a real nightmare: total failure in the Europa League and championship, conflict between leading players and fans. All this led to the dismissal of Franck Haise, although in the last match under his leadership the team still won the cup match, thus interrupting the nine-match losing streak. Claude Puel, who already worked with the club about ten years ago, was called to correct the situation. Under his leadership the “eaglets” managed to play two matches, in which the team looked significantly more attractive and balanced. However, the team from the Côte d’Azur is ahead of the relegation zone by only 4 points, so the new coach still has a lot of work ahead.

Wolverhampton vs Newcastle United

At the “Molineux” stadium there will be a match in which the hosts, who currently close the table, will host Newcastle, who confidently hold on in the top-6 and claim a ticket to the Champions League.

After the played rounds the situation for the “wolves” looks critical. Currently the team has only 7 points, while to the saving position they need to gain at least three times more. This task seems fantastic, especially considering that competitors above the relegation zone must consistently lose points. If anything gives hope, it is the last series of Wolves: in three matches in the framework of the elite division of England the team did not lose, managing to add 5 points to their balance.

Newcastle approach the meeting in a less favourable physical condition, having three days less for recovery. Moreover, in just three days the “magpies” have a very important home Champions League match against PSV waiting for them. It is away games that are the “Achilles’ heel” of Eddie Howe’s charges this season – in terms of away results the team occupies only fourteenth place. At the same time, Newcastle is a traditionally uncomfortable opponent for Wolverhampton: the last time the “wolves” took points from the “magpies” was back in 2023, and their victory dates back to 2021.

Senegal vs Morocco

Both teams do not belong to the number of classic favourites of the African championship. Both have won the tournament only once each, and the Moroccans – exactly half a century ago. Senegal has fresher memories of triumph at the Africa Cup of Nations – from 2021. Against the background of seven titles of Egypt or five of Cameroon, the achievements of the current finalists in historical terms look rather modest. Therefore, for both the upcoming final is a grand event. And the mood for it from the footballers will be appropriate.

The Senegal national team scored a lot in the early stages of the tournament – three goals each against Botswana, Benin and Sudan. But closer to the final they began to play more restrained and reliably: in the quarterfinals and semifinals the Senegalese needed only one scored goal for success.

The Moroccans in principle put reliable defence above all football values. In six matches of the Cup the tournament hosts conceded only one goal! An exchange of goals is a rarity for both teams: in 10 matches – only two cases each.

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