German Bundesliga
Fixture: Hertha Berlin 0-1 FC Koln
Venue: Olympiastadion (Hertha home)
Kick-off: 4.30pm GMT (Sunday)
Verdict: New Hertha Berlin coach Friedhelm Funkel may have got the capital club playing again. A gutsy 3-2 win in the Europa League and a decent shout away at Borussia Dortmund, have me believing that Hertha are about to turn a corner.
Koln are fourth from bottom and playing like they are fourth from bottom.
Betting Advice: 2pts Hertha Berlin to win at 6/4 (2.5 generally)
French Ligue 1
Fixture: Lyon 5-5 Marseille
Venue: Stade de Gerland (Lyon home)
Kick-off: 8pm GMT (Sunday)
Verdict: Marseille were disappointed not to get the opportunity to entertain PSG last weekend, but they took out their frustrations on a shell-shocked Zurich side in the Champions League in midweek (6-1).
Lyon came through a tough battle at home to Liverpool in midweek, to put themselves in a prime position for qualification. However, the last thing they will want after that battle is to face down a flying Marseille side
Marseille can prove what I have been saying all season that they have everything they need to win the French title this season.
Betting Advice: 3pts Marseille (+0.25) at Evens (2.0 at Bet365)
Spanish La Liga
Fixture: Sporting Gijon 1-0 Espanyol
Venue: Estadio Municipal El Molinon (Gijon home)
Kick-off: 4pm GMT (Sunday)
Verdict: Two form sides meet. Espanyol will be hampered slightly by the controversy surrounding striker Raul Tamudo who has become persona non grata after the Espanyol chairman revealed that the talented goalscorer lied about wanting a transfer away from the club in the summer.
It looks like he might get his wish in January expect to see him in England.
Meanwhile, Gijon have been incredibly difficult to beat this season as Real Madrid and Deportivo La Coruna found out in the last few weeks but have failed to get out of the drawing habit.
Espanyol, too, are serial draw specialists on their travels. And with both attacks coming up against two very tight defences, this could be a case of honours even.
Betting Advice: 1pt draw at 23/10 (3.3 generally); 2pts under 2.5 goals at 4/5 (1.8 generally)
Italian Serie A
Fixture: Udinese 0-1 Fiorentina
Venue: Friuli (Udinese home)
Kick-off: 2pm GMT (Sunday)
Verdict: This battle of the nearly men this season is a game of two strikers.
With the absence of Fiorentina striker Adrian Mutu after he underwent surgery on his right knee after the Champions League game against Debrecen this week, Udinese will have the edge.
Udinese will be buoyed by the return to full fitness of Italian international Antonio di Natale. He has been suffering from a knock for a few weeks, and it is no surprise that his absence from the starting line-up has coincided with the Zebrette losing to lowly Atalanta and Chievo.
Betting Advice: 1pt Udinese to win at 6/4 (2.5 at Stan James)
Fixture: Parma 2-0 Chievo
Venue: Ennio Tardini (Parma home)
Kick-off: 2pm GMT (Sunday)
Verdict: The newly-promoted side Parma have had a more than respectable start to the season, and could continue their good run here.
Although Chievo have found life a lot easier away from home than at home of late that may be a quirk of the fixture list as wins away to Bari and Catania just don't cut it as respectable form.
Betting Advice: 1pt Parma to win at 23/20 (2.15 at Stan James)
