Weekend Predictions: Cup Finals, Titles and Relegation

Lots to predict this weekend. It’s the FA Cup Final in England and the DFB Pokal Final in Germany, we’ll get a new Ligue 1 winner in France and there are five La Liga teams fighting to avoid the final relegation spot.

My predictions below, please leave yours in the comments.

Chelsea vs Everton, Saturday May 30th, 3pm
English FA Cup Final, Wembley

Ah, the FA Cup. It’s not quite what it used to be, but it’s still damn exciting. Chelsea are still feeling hard done by after that Champions League semi-final business and it’s Guus Hiddink’s last game in charge. In many ways he deserves the trophy for his good work in a short space of time.

On the other hand David Moyes has been doing good work at Everton for seven years now, so it’s really about time he was rewarded with some silverware. Either way, both teams will be desperate to win it, and that has to be a good thing.

There’s an excellent preview of this game already up on EPL Offside, plus buildup on both Chelsea Offside and Everton Offside already. So not much more for me to add.

Perdiction Prediction: Everyone’s predicting a dull game, especially since their two previous meetings this season produced precisely zero goals. But I’m going to go against form and say a 2-2 draw, with Chelsea winning on penalties. Michael Ballack will be on the scoresheet.

FA Cup Final betting odds at PaddyPower

Bayer Leverkusen vs Werder Bremen, Saturday, May 30th, 8pm
DFB Pokal/German Cup Final, Olympic Stadium, 8pm

Both these teams had disappointing Bundesliga campaigns, but now have a chance to rescue their season with a cup win. Only one of them can do that though, obviously.

Werder lost the UEFA Cup Final recently, and will be bidding goodbye to both Frank Baumann (retiring) and Digeo (whose move to Juventus is now official) at full time.

Prediction Neither are in great form, so it’s tough to say what will happen. They can’t both lose. But Werder’s season has been so frsutrating that I’m going to predict more of the same, 1-0 to Leverkusen. Captain Simon Rolfes will score.

DFB Pokal Final betting odds at PaddyPower

French Ligue 1 Title Race

Either Bordeaux or Marseille is going to be the first non-Lyon team to win the French title since 2001. Bordeaux lead by three points and have +1 better goal difference and have just received very good Yoann Gourcuff related news.

Relevant fixtures: Saturday, May 30th, 9pm kickoff
Marseille vs Rennes
Caen vs Bordeaux

Tough games for both teams as Rennes are still chasing a European spot while Caen must win to have any chance of avoiding relegation.

Prediction: I can see Marseille doing it. Crazy things happen when a team is fighting for it’s life, so I predict Caen to beat Bordeaux, allowing Marseille to take the title with a win at home.

France Ligue betting odds at PaddyPower

La Liga Relegation

OK, this is a little bit complicated. It’s the final day of the season. Recreativo and Numancia are already down. So five – FIVE! – teams are fighting to avoid that third and final relegations post, the trapdoor to the Segunda.

I don’t know who has what head to head record (and have the mental capacity/coffee reserves to work it out either) but I do know that according to Reuters all five teams can avoid relegation with a win.

“But what if they all win?” I hear some smart-arse ask. Well, they can’t, because two of them play each other.

Relevant fixtures: Sunday may 31st kickoff, 7pm
(relegation threatened teams in bold)
Osasuna vs Real Madrid
Racing Santander vs Getafe
Real Betis vs Real Valladolid
Sporting Gijon vs Recreativo Huelva

Prediction: I fear for Osasuna. They’re the team currently in 18th and they’re playing a Real Madrid team who’ve just seen Barcelona win the Champions League.

La Liga betting odds at PaddyPower

Over on Bet Offside, Offshore Oscar is backing Everton to win the FA Cup, as well as Sevilla and Real Betis for La Liga victories.

Time for a look at last week’s predictions. I scored a lousy 5 points, but congratulations to the following people:

Gold
SP: 15pts (got Prem relegation spot on, the top two in Germany and Scotland, plus Scotland’s bottom three)

Silver
Drabik: 12pts (Prem relegation spot on, top two in Bundesliga and Scotland)

Bronze
Ian: 12pts (Prem relegation spot on, top one in Bundesliga, top two in Scotland plus St Mirren in 11th)

Drabik gets silver based on the new “earliest comment wins” system. Special mention to wob who also got 12pts but just missed out.

So this week, it’s a hybrid of the usual and the league placing thing from last week. Please give me your predictions for:

Chelsea – Everton (final scoreline plus one goalscorer) If you predict a draw than tell me who wins on PKs

Leverkusen – Bremen (final scoreline plus one goalscorer) If you predict a draw than tell me who wins on PKs

Who finishes first in Ligue 1? Two points if you’re right.

Who finishes 18th in La Liga? Two points if you’re right.

Some Related Stories:

Category: World Football