N160m pick 15 preview

Yinka Ogunlami 16:17 - 07 April 2017

SportyNews guides you through games from around the continent with this week’s N160 million pick 15 preview.

We head over to Spain for the opening leg of this week’s pool and we're going to side with Espanyol. They’ve not lost at home since early February and that is enough to convince us to go with an Espanyol victory on Saturday lunchtime.

Selection: Home win

WEST BROMWICH ALBION vs SOUTHAMPTON

Tony Pulis’ men are solid at home and they may take full advantage of a hapless Saints side on Saturday. The visitors are already on their holidays and the Baggies may have too much if they go for the throat.

Selection: Home win or Draw

WEST HAM UNITED vs SWANSEA CITY

The Hammers are sliding down the Premier League table but victory over Swansea might be on the cards if Slaven Bilic gets his tactics right. Paul Clement’s men crumbled against Spurs last time out and West Ham might be too strong.

Selection: Home win or Draw

NORWICH CITY vs READING

Since Alex Neil’s departure, Norwich have stepped up to the plate. The Canaries are far from perfect but the Carrow Road faithful may swing this one in their favour; Reading just aren’t as strong away from home.

Selection: Home win

BURTON ALBION vs ASTON VILLA

Aston Villa are still in with an outside chance of snatching a playoff spot and the visitors will be confident of beating struggling Burton. The hosts lost to Newcastle last time out and another defeat could follow here.

Selection: Away win

CARDIFF CITY vs BRENTFORD

Although the form book suggests that the visitors will win, I fancy Cardiff on home soil. Neil Warnock’s men are much improved and they should have too much for a Brentford side that may be content with avoiding relegation.

Selection: Home win

NOTTINGHAM FOREST vs HUDDERSFIELD TOWN

Huddersfield are up against it but the Terriers are still in with a sniff of automatic promotion to the Premier League. Forest have shown signs of improvement in recent weeks but it may prove prudent to side with the visitors.

Selection: Away win

SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY vs NEWCASTLE UNITED

Newcastle have almost managed to secure promotion back to the top flight at the first time of asking but they will need to win this to fend Brighton off at the summit. Wednesday are a decent outfit but the Magpies should be good enough.

Selection: Away win or Draw

BAYERN MUNICH vs BORUSSIA DORTMUND

For us, it is impossible not to support Bayern Munich at home. Carlo Ancelotti’s side have been better since the Christmas break and the defending Bundesliga champions will be keen to extend their advantage at the top of the table.

Selection: Home win

GRANADA vs VALENCIA

Granada are in real trouble near the bottom of the table and we'll be backing the visitors to pick up a positive result in this contest. Valencia aren’t much better if truth be told but they should have enough to snatch at least a point.

Selection: Away win or Draw

CAGLIARI vs TORINO

The visitors look well placed for the win and it would be foolish to back Cagliari on current form. Torino are a solid outfit and they will be confident of picking up another crucial win as they look to climb the Serie A division.

Selection: Away win or Draw

TOULOUSE vs MARSEILLE

Marseille have found their feet in recent months and the visitors should have enough to defeat Toulouse on any given day. Dimitri Payet can lead his side to victory more or less on his own – for that reason, we're going with the away side.

Selection: Away win

EVERTON vs LEICESTER CITY

A tricky one. Leicester’s rise to prominence makes this a tough game to call but we're siding with Everton on home soil. They were unlucky to draw at Old Trafford during the week but they can bounce back this weekend.

Selection: Home win or Draw

LAZIO vs NAPOLI

Napoli will take plenty of heart from their cup victory over Juventus earlier this week – even though they were not able to advance to the next round. The hosts are a solid unit but Napoli are a class above.

Selection: Away win

CRYSTAL PALACE vs ARSENAL

Arsene Wenger is under intense pressure but the Gunners should have too much firepower for Sam Allardyce’s Palace. The Eagles have shown signs of improvement as of late but the visitors NEED to win – and they will.