Spanish La Liga
Fixture: Racing Santander 1-2 Barcelona
Venue: Estadio El Sardinero (Racing Santander home)
Kick-off: 4pm GMT (Sun)
Verdict: While Barcelona continue to fly at the top of the table, Racing Santander are having their own little renaissance and are unbeaten in seven. That run started out with a few draws, but they have won three of their last four with their last perhaps their best: a 10-man 2-0 win away from home at third place Sevilla. While Barcelona will prove a different class of opposition, Santander are dogged in defence and could get a draw out of the game at home, which makes an odds against +2.25 spread on the handicap an absolute steal. Barcelona have only managed to make that spread three times away from home this season and, more tellingly, only once against 11 men.
Betting Advice: 10pts Racing Santander to win with +2.25 on the Asian Handicap at 13/10 (2.3 at Bet365)
Italian Serie A
Fixture: Napoli 2-2 Udinese
Venue: San Paolo (Napoli home)
Kick-off: 5pm GMT (Saturday)
Verdict: Every now and then I talk about the value on offer on matches where it is patently obvious that the oddsmaker has very little knowledge of the market in which he sets his odds. Take the huge, huge 4/1 on offer generally for Udinese to win at Napoli. This is probably based on the fact that Udinese won for the first time since October. Fine, you say. But Udinese win was at home against Juventus and culminated a steady return to form for a team that has lost its way a bit. The previous weekend Udinese looked back to their best, but squandered a hat full of chances and missed a penalty at Palermo. Napoli on the other hand, seem to be going the other way with three defeats on the spin. 4/1, you say? Very generous, I say.
Betting Advice: 3pts Udinese to win at 4/1 (5.0 generally)
French Ligue 1
Fixture: Bordeaux 2-2 Lille
Venue: Stade Jacques Chaban-Delmas (Bordeaux home)
Kick-off: 4pm GMT (Sunday)
Verdict: We'll take second placed Bordeaux to win at home any day of the week, particularly against a Lille side with just one win away from home all season. Bordeaux are still looking likely to push Lyon all the way in the title race this season, and have won five on the spin of late.
Betting Advice: 4pts Bordeaux to win at 9/10 (1.9 at Bet Direct and Stan James)
German Bundesliga
Fixture: Hamburg 1-0 Bayern Munich
Venue: HSH Nordbank Arena (Hamburg home)
Kick-off: 7.30pm GMT (Friday)
Verdict: The Bundesliga is back, and it's been so long I suggest a little of caution in the next couple of weeks as we see who has come back strong and who has forgotten to play the beautiful game. Bayern seem to have return strong, taking Stuttgart apart away from home 5-1 in the German Cup in midweek. If that is any indication of their attitude after the break, they should overhaul Hoffenheim at the top in no time.
Betting Advice: 2pts Bayern Munich to win at 11/10 (2.1 generally)
