There are only two games remaining in the Bundesliga for Freiburg to clinch a Champions League spot, and for Holstein Kiel to put themselves within a chance of escaping the drop zone. Freiburg occupy the final Champions League spot assigned to the Bundesliga, but are being harassed by a resurgent Dortmund who have recovered from their slow start to the season. And, also by RB Leipzig who have had a similarly underwhelming campaign. 

Freiburg ran out 3-2 winners in the initial meeting between these sides and were in control for large periods, establishing a 3-0 lead which was only cut down in the final few minutes by Holstein Kiel. Freiburg are unbeaten across their last four games in the Bundesliga, winning three of these games. They’ve reacted well to a 4-1 defeat to Dortmund which many believed would swing the pendulum in favour of Niko Kovac’s side but Freiburg’s resilience has been impressive.

Holstein Kiel have shown recent signs of life with wins over Augsburg and Monchengladbach, but neither of these sides had the same level of motivation or quality that Freiburg possess in what has been a great season for Julian Schuster’s side. Holstein Kiel have only won four of their 16 home games in the Bundesliga this season, only Bochum and Heidenheim have amassed fewer points at home than Kiel, who have also conceded more goals at home than any other Bundesliga side (39).

With James Tarkowski sidelined, Jarrad Branthwaite has had to play a more active role in the Everton backline and this has impacted his fouls won record over recent fixtures. 

Branthwaite has won 17 fouls across his 28 Premier League appearances this season (0.65 per 90) which is a pretty solid record for a centre back, but this record becomes even more standout when looking at his recent games. He’ll be up against Raul Jimenez who is averaging 1.49 fouls committed per 90 in the Premier League this season. 

Branthwaite has been hauled down at least once in each of his last five Premier League appearances which would suggest that he is engaging more with the opposition centre forward than he did when Tarkowski was partnering him as that role was often left to the injured centre back.

Ipswich’s performances at Portman Road this season have been really disappointing. Kieran McKenna’s side have only won one of their 17 games at home this season, losing 12 of those encounters. Only Southampton have picked up fewer points at home (five) than Ipswich this season (seven). Most worryingly for McKenna, Ipswich have conceded 40 goals across those games (2.35 per game).

Ipswich are without a win across their last five games in the Premier League, losing three of those. Brentford enter this game with much more momentum, they’ve won each of their last three Premier League games against Manchester United, Nottingham Forest and Brighton as well as picking up commendable points against the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal. 

Brentford ran out 4-3 winners in the initial meeting between these sides, such chaotic games have become the norm for the Bees as we can see in recent 4-3 and 4-2 victories against Manchester United and Brighton. Ipswich have failed to keep a clean sheet across their last 17 matches in all competitions, which is a record that can open the door for Brentford to pick up three points as they look to end the season strongly. 

Manchester City have found some consistency at an important stage of the season and now look nailed-on to finish in the top five and qualify for the Champions League next season. They face a Southampton side that have not won a game since the 1st February when they beat Ipswich at Portman Road.

Southampton have lost 10 of the 12 games that followed that win, only picking up points in the form of draws against West Ham and Crystal Palace. In this run, they’ve lost by two or more goals in seven of them, even against the likes of Leicester, who beat Southampton 2-0 last time out.

Manchester City ran out 1-0 winners in the reverse fixture, but this was quite a flattering scoreline for the Saints. Manchester City had 22 shots in the game, eight of which found the target to produce an xG of 2.95. Manchester City are unbeaten across their last nine games in all competitions which suggests that Pep Guardiola is building towards the same sort of consistency that made City such a dominant force in English football.

Juventus have had a chaotic campaign with the mid-season dismissal of Thiago Motta after his project failed to capture the imagination of the board and the fans. As a result, the Old Lady find themselves in a battle to secure Champions League football next season. Juventus currently occupy the final Champions League spot offered to Serie A, but are being closely chased by Roma and Lazio who are level on points with Juventus and also Bologna, who are just one point off the pace.

Juventus scored the only goal in the reverse fixture back in October which came in the 85th minute. It was quite a forgettable affair as displayed by the fact that Lazio only generated an xG of 0.07 and had two shots in the game. Juventus did manage to record an xG of 1.35 and also had 69% of the ball, which suggests that they could establish a level of control in this game. 

Juventus have scored in four of their last five games in Serie A, the game in which they failed to score was the only game they lost in that recent run of fixtures, against Parma. Juventus had 16 shots in that game but were unable to find that clinical edge needed. The two clean sheets that Lazio have kept across their last five games came against Empoli and Genoa, both of these sides sit in the bottom half of Serie A which indicates that Lazio may struggle more against sides in and around them, with this clash being pivotal for deciding the Serie A representatives in the Champions League next season.

Semenyo typifies Andoni Iraola’s style of play. His physicality in the final third feeds in directly to Bournemouth’s aggressive pressing structure, but this also puts him at risk of picking up bookings - especially against a side like Villa who have won more fouls than any other side in the Premier League this season. 

Semenyo has committed 66 fouls across his 34 Premier League appearances this season (2.02 per 90). He committed three fouls and was shown a yellow card in the reverse fixture, Bournemouth committed 14 fouls in the game overall. 

Semenyo has received nine yellow cards in the Premier League this season, no Bournemouth player has received more cautions than the 25-year-old in the top-flight this term.

It is now reaching a critical stage of the season for sides looking to qualify for Europe or avoid relegation and we have two sides here who are in those contrasting situations. Girona boast a six-point gap to the relegation zone but this lead is precarious with four games still left to play, including this one. 

Villarreal have their own battle at the top of the table, they’ve had an excellent campaign which has seen them keep pace just behind the likes of Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid and Barcelona. However, the recent resurgence of Real Betis has put their Champions League qualification under immediate threat, Manuel Pellegrini's side sit just one point behind Villarreal.

Villarreal have won each of their last two games and have only suffered one defeat in their last five, the pressure applied by Real Betis appears to be having a tangible effect with each goal and point becoming crucial at this point of the season. By contrast, Girona have only won one of their last five games in La Liga which came against a mid table Mallorca side with little to play for. Villarreal should have enough quality to come out on top here, they have a strong away record in La Liga which is only bettered by Real Madrid and Barcelona in the Spanish top-flight this term.