Predictions Weekly: Forecasting El Clásico, Aston Villa vs Man City in the Carabao Cup Final & More

​After a month-long - at least - hiatus from predicting the fortunes of the weekend's football, 90min's editorial team is back by popular demand - or, more honestly, because we've remembered that this is a thing we do.

And what a weekend for us to remember, with a barnstorming Clásico between Real Madrid and Barcelona in prospect, as well as the biggest match of, potentially, the season...pitting West Ham against Southampton at the London Stadium.

Oh, and there's also a heavyweight clash between Juventus and Inter at the top of Serie A, and the contesting of the first piece of domestic silverware in England - as Aston Villa take on the daunting task of defeating Manchester City in the Caribouuu (yes, that's how it should be said) Cup final.

But enough with the fluffing about, we all know that you want to get straight into the nitty gritty. 

So let's do it, starting with a trip over to the Bundesliga...


Hoffenheim vs Bayern Munich

Saturday 29/2 - 14.30

Thomas Mueller

By Chris Deeley

Here's the equation: ​Bayern are pretty good away from home, and Hoffenheim's home form is pretty poor (six defeats in 12 this season). 

David Hasselhoffenheim have also lost three of their last four games in all competitions, and drawn the other. Bayern have won 11 of their last 12, and drawn the other. The only thing that could save the home side here is the fact that Robert Lewandowski's injured. 

That will not be enough.

​Editor Prediction​
Scott​ ​1-3
​Chris ​1-3
​Andy ​0-2
Jack​ 0-2​
​Tom ​1-2
​Toby ​1-2
​Krish ​1-3
​Sean ​2-3

General Consensus: Unanimous Bayern Win


​Bournemouth vs Chelsea

Saturday 29/02 - 15.00

FBL-ENG-PR-CHELSEA-BOURNEMOUTH

By ​Tom Gott

If there's one thing Chelsea love, it's making out-of-form teams look like 1970 Brazil. Fortunately, the Blues are blessed with the added bonus of not having the curse of Stamford Bridge weighing them down.

Nobody likes playing at home anyway.

Buoyed from the win over Spurs and burdened by the loss against Bayern, you'd think Chelsea will come out with a point to prove in this one, but don't expect them to make it easy. After all, where's the fun in comfortably cementing your place in the top four anyway?


Bournemouth will cause a scare, but they just lost 3-0 to Burnley. Burnley. Surely even Chelsea can't mess this up?


​Editor Prediction​
​Scott ​1-1
​Chris ​1-1
​Andy ​0-2
​Jack ​2-2
​Tom ​1-2
​Toby ​1-1
​Krish 1-3
​Sean ​1-2

General Consensus: Split Between Away Win and Draw


West Ham vs Southampton

Saturday 29/02 - 15.00

FBL-ENG-PR-SOUTHAMPTON-WEST HAM

By ​Toby Cudworth

It's officially desperation stations at West Ham, as the threat of ​Premier League relegation looms large over east London.

The Hammers can't stop losing games and even though they put in an admirable performance against the runaway freight train that is Liverpool, they still ended up on the losing side at Anfield this past Monday.

This weekend it's Southampton, who have firmly pushed any threat of relegation West Ham's way, largely thanks to the brilliance of Danny Ings. He's got 15 goals this season for the Saints, while West Ham's top scorer in the league, Sebastien Haller, has six. Says it all really, doesn't it?

Still, let's not use those statistics to stop a West Ham fan from predicting a senseless home win.

​Editor Prediction​
​Scott ​2-1
​Chris ​1-1
​Andy ​1-2
​Jack ​0-1
​Tom ​0-1
​Toby ​2-1
​Krish 1-2​
​Sean ​1-1

General Consensus: Away Win


Watford vs Liverpool

Saturday 29/02 - 15.00​

Sadio Mane,Ismaila Sarr

By ​Andrew Headspeath

With the exception of the defeat in Madrid, Liverpool have found a way to keep eking out the wins, even when not at their very best.

Don't expect to see many swashes buckled at Vicarage Road on Saturday, with Watford - the Premier League's joint-lowest scorers and without a win five - likely to set up for a long afternoon of muck and bullets defending, while stifling the Reds' creativity out wide will be the priority. 

If Liverpool find a way through it will set a new Premier League record for consecutive wins (19).

Editor Prediction​
​Scott ​0-2
​Chris ​0-3
​Andy ​0-1
​Jack ​1-2
​Tom ​0-3
​Toby ​1-3
​Krish ​1-3
​Sean ​1-2

General Consensus: Unanimous Liverpool Win


Everton vs Man Utd

Sunday 01/03 - 14.00

Moise Kean,Harry Maguire

By ​Scott Saunders

It's Manchester United in 2019/20. 

They lose to the bad teams, and more often than not, beat the good teams. Everton are not quite bad enough to be a bad team, but not quite good enough to be a good team, so perhaps it's best to just sit on the fence. 

1-1.

​Editor Prediction​
​Scott ​1-1
​Chris ​1-2
​Andy ​2-1
​Jack ​1-1
​Tom ​1-1
​Toby ​1-1
​Krish ​1-2
​Sean ​2-1

General Consensus: Draw


Aston Villa vs Man City

Sunday 01/03 - 16.30

FBL-ENG-PR-ASTON VILLA-MAN CITY

By ​Sean Walsh

Last year's Carabao Cup final saw Manchester City come up against a Chelsea side they battered weeks prior, but were taken all the way to penalties.


This time around, they face an Aston Villa side they battered weeks prior, so you know what that means? They're getting battered again.


Sorry, Villans, but City are coming off their biggest win in Europe since they won the Cup Winners' Cup and will be hell bent on sweeping any silverware left for them amid their ban/somehow falling 237 points behind Liverpool.

Editor Prediction
​Scott ​0-3
​Chris ​0-4
​Andy ​0-3
​Jack ​0-200
​Tom ​0-4
​Toby ​1-3
​Krish ​1-4
​Sean ​0-4

General Consensus: Unanimous Man City Win


Juventus vs Inter

Sunday 01/03 - 19.45

Maurizio Sarri,Antonio Conte

By Jack Gallagher

Reasons why Inter will win: 

1. Antonio Conte. 

2. Inter have a competent midfield.

3. Inter have a regular starting XI.

4. Inter have runners throughout their team. 

5. Romelu Lukaku will quite literally eat Juve's back four. 

Reasons why Juventus will lose: 

1. Maurizio Sarri.

2. Juventus' midfield is the worst it's been since the Christian Poulsen days.

3. Juventus do not have a nailed-on starting XI. 

4. A lot of Juve's players can't run. 

5. Juve's back four will quite literally be eaten by Romelu Lukaku.

​Editor Prediction​
​Scott ​1-1
​Chris ​1-1
​Andy ​1-0
​Jack ​0-1
​Tom ​1-1
​Toby ​2-1
​Krish 1-2​
​Sean ​0-0

General Consensus: Draw


Real Madrid vs Barcelona

Sunday 01/03 - 20.00

Gareth Bale,Jordi Alba

​By Andrew Headspeath

It might not be the highest quality Clásico in recent memory but that won't diminish its importance.

With Barça two points clear of Madrid, a win at the Bernabéu would be crucial in the title race. Los Blancos - who have not beaten their Clásico rivals at home in La Liga since 2014 with a GD of -8 since - need a reaction after a traumatic night against Man City, but still have huge problems in attack without Eden Hazard. 

While Zinedine Zidane's side still has La Liga's tightest defence, disappointing results against Celta and Levante have re-awoken issues of Madrid's vulnerability.

Lionel Messi, meanwhile, scored four last weekend...

Editor Prediction​
​Scott 1-1​
​Chris ​2-1
​Andy ​0-1
​Jack ​1-2
​Tom ​1-2
​Toby ​0-2
​Krish ​1-1
​Sean ​1-1

General Consensus: Barcelona Win


For more from Toby Cudworth, follow him on Twitter!


Source : 90min