The past two weeks have been dominated by European competition with teams in action in the Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League.
However, there is a break from European competition this week and in the midweek we will have teams playing in a number of domestic competitions.
In England, that means we will have the only midweek round of the FA Cup played this week with all eight Fifth Round ties being contested across Tuesday and Wednesday nights.
Additionally, there will be two Premier League games played on Wednesday evening that will have major ramifications at the top and the bottom of the table.
With plenty of great action to enjoy at the bookmakers, you won’t be surprised to discover that bet365 Sport will have extensive coverage of all these key league and cup games in midweek and remember, that includes In Play betting alongside the site’s extensive pre-match betting options.
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Let’s now take a closer look at the games that are set to take place this week in both competitions.
All games kick off at 8pm unless otherwise stated and all odds shown were correct with bet365 Sport as of the time of publication but those odds may have changed in the meantime.
FA Cup 5th Round
Tuesday 28th February
- Stoke City v Brighton & Hove Albion (7.15pm)
Games Played – 41
Stoke Wins – 16
Brighton Wins – 9
Draws – 16
Any Trends? – Brighton won 1 of last 18 between the two. Over 2.5 goals in 4 of last 5
Stoke City have done well to reach the fifth round of the tournament but I think they could be in for a tough night against Roberto De Zerbi’s Brighton. The Seagulls have come through some tough away games already in this competition and I think that they will be too strong on the night for the home side. It won’t be a walkover, but I do see Brighton winning the game relatively comfortably as my tip below suggests.
Top Tip – Correct Score – Stoke City 0-2 Brighton – 6/1
- Leicester City v Blackburn Rovers (7.30pm)
Games Played – 98
Leicester Wins – 35
Blackburn Wins – 38
Draws – 25
Any Trends? – Leicester unbeaten in last 3 (2 wins, 1 draw), both teams scored in 3 of last 4.
There’s not that much difference between these two teams in terms of places in the league pyramid, so I think this may well be a closer game than many expect. Blackburn are playing well in the Championship but their record suggests that when they are beaten, it can be by a fair few goals. I expect Leicester’s quality attack to take advantage of this here and I can see a few goals, a home win plus Iheanacho getting his customary FA Cup goal, which just so happens to be a bet boost.
Top Tip – Bet Boost – Match Result Leicester, Iheanacho to score anytime, Over 2 goals – 11/4
- Fulham v Leeds United (7.45pm)
Games Played – 61
Fulham Wins – 20
Leeds Wins – 26
Draws – 15
Any Trends? – Both teams scored in 4 of last 6. Five of last 6 have had over 2.5 goals.
When these two teams last met back in October, Fulham snatched the win at Elland Road by the odd goal in five and I think we can look forward to a similarly open game here. Neither side has much to lose by going for the win and indeed, a quarterfinal spot in the FA Cup, with a chance of a Wembley semifinal, would be a positive on the season. Leeds have their Premier League status to worry about which makes me think Fulham will win this one either 1-0 or 2-0.
Top Tip – Fulham to win and both teams to score – no – 3/1
- Bristol City v Manchester City
Games Played – 25
Bristol City Wins – 10
Man City Wins – 9
Draws – 6
Any Trends? – Man City won all last 4. Both teams scored in all last 4 games.
Last time these teams met was in a two-legged League Cup Semi Final, which Man City won but not after an almighty scare. Bristol City have had a somewhat up and down season in the Championship to lie 13th, while Manchester City are 2nd in the EPL. Both teams have conceded too many goals this season but I think with the quality Manchester City have, they should be looking to land the win here and I think there is a good value bet boost available for this game at bet365.
Top Tip – Bet Boost – Man City to win both halves, Alvarez to score anytime, Over 7 corners – 10/3
Wednesday 1st March
- Southampton v Grimsby Town (7.15pm)
Games Played – 29
Southampton Wins – 11
Grimsby Town Wins – 9
Draws – 9
Any Trends? – 11 of last 14 games have seen both teams score.
This will be the first time in over 40 years that these two teams of met and the last match was in the FA Cup, with Southampton eventually winning 4-1 after two 0-0 draws. I can’t see a 0-0 draw here as with home advantage and by far the better squad, even though their league for is a worry, I do think Southampton will pick up the win and there is a nice bet boost available on bet365 which I think has a good choice of landing.
Top Tip – Bet Boost – Ward Prowse to Score, Southampton to win, Over 2 goals – 10/3
- Burnley v Fleetwood Town (7.30pm)
Games Played – 0
Burnley Wins – 0
Fleetwood Wins – 0
Draws – 0
Any Trends? – 5 of Fleetwood’s last 6 games have seen one goal or fewer scored.
These two teams have never met previously but both come into this game in very good form. Burnley have won three of their last five, drawing the other two, while Fleetwood are also unbeaten and have won four of their last five, drawing the other. However, there is a difference between compiling that record at the top of the Championship and in the middle of League One and I think after a slow start, Burnley will come through and claim the win with a couple of second half goals.
Top Tip – HT/FT – Draw/Burnley – 11/4
- Manchester United v West Ham United (7.45pm)
Games Played – 150
Man Utd Wins – 72
West Ham Wins – 46
Draws – 32
Any Trends? – five of the last six games between the two finished 1-0, West Ham winning just one.
Recent games between these two have tended to be few on goals, with five of the last six finishing 1-0, four in favour of Manchester United, just one for West Ham. However, United come into this home game on the back of a Carabao Cup victory over Newcastle United at the weekend and their confidence will be sky high as a result of that and their win over Barcelona a few days beforehand. As such, I think they are going to be too powerful a foe for West Ham here.
Top Tip – Correct Score – Man Utd 3-1 West Ham – 12/1
- Sheffield United v Tottenham Hotspur (7.55pm)
Games Played – 94
Sheff Utd Wins – 29
Tottenham Wins – 38
Draws – 27
Any Trends? – Over 2.5 Goals & Both teams scored in 4 of last 5 games.
For me, this is one fixture that I think could be a banana skin for the Premier League team. Sheffield United have been in great form in the Championship this season and lie second to Burnley, looking like they will get a swift return to the Premier League. Spurs form of late has improved but they still do look worryingly open defensively. I can see a tight game, both teams scoring but maybe Sheffield United grabbing a surprise late winner.
Top Tip – Sheff Utd to win and both teams to score – 13/2
Premier League
Wednesday 1st March
- Arsenal v Everton (7.45pm)
Games Played – 220
Arsenal Wins – 109
Everton Wins – 65
Draws – 46
Any Trends? – Everton have won 4 of last 5 but only one win came away from home.
Everton saw themselves drop into the relegation zone once again after the weekend results saw teams below them pick up wins. They now travel to Arsenal badly in need of a result. The Gunners kept top spot in the table with a win over Leicester and they’ll want revenge for a surprise loss at Everton back at the start of February and I think they’ll get that quite comfortably here landing a 2-0 or 3-0 win.
Top Tip – Arsenal to win to nil – Evens
- Liverpool v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Games Played – 113
Liverpool Wins – 58
Wolves Wins – 37
Draws – 18
Any Trends? – The teams played 3 times since Jan 7th. Each winning 1, losing 1, drawing 1.
This will be the fourth time the teams have met since early January and so far there has been one win apiece and one draw in the three previous games. The last saw a comprehensive 3-0 win for Wolves at Molyneux. At home, Liverpool should be much better but they do look susceptible to conceding and I think Wolves may do enough to claim a score draw here like they did in the FA Cup.
Top Tip – Draw and both teams to score – 5/1
