Category: Soccer

Top European soccer leagues return to action after a week off for an international break.

The pre-weekend narrative: On Saturday, Real Madrid aims to maintain its perfect season when it battles Real Sociedad. On Sunday, Manchester United visits Manchester City for an exciting derby match, where the visitors are priced as a sizable underdog.

Check out this weekend’s best European soccer predictions for games beginning on Sept. 13, 2025, featuring a pick on Fiorentina vs. Napoli.

Soccer predictions

Manchester City vs. Manchester United (Sept. 14, 11:30 a.m. ET)

Best bet: Manchester United to win or draw (+110)

There are a couple of things working against Man U in this matchup, so let’s get those negatives out of the way.

• Man City will play this contest at home, and home-field advantage is important in soccer.

• In terms of results, United hasn’t been the best. The Red Devils are 1-1-1 this season.

The side arguably deserved better on the road vs. Arsenal on Matchday 1, however. It outshot the Gunners 22-9 and controlled the possession in the 1-0 loss.

But things haven’t been any better for the Citizens. Man City has one win and two losses, with the lone victory coming against last-place Wolverhampton.

In its only home game, Tottenham came into Etihad Stadium and stifled Manchester City 2-0.

This should be an even match, and that puts the value with the almost 4-to-1 underdog.

Key stat: Despite getting off to a mediocre start, Manchester United leads the EPL with 6.8 xG through three games.

Full EPL betting markets

La Liga best bet

Matchup: Real Sociedad vs. Real Madrid (Sept. 13, 10:15 a.m. ET)

Real Madrid to win (-148): This is a steep price, but Real Madrid has the right matchup to improve to 4-0-0.

• Through three matches, Madrid has scored six goals while only conceding once.

• Sociedad is 0-2-1 without playing any top teams to this point.

According to Fotmob, Real Madrid has the highest average match rating going into this weekend (7.45).

The only thing working against Los Blancos is that they’re on the road. But if you can get past that, there is still value on the best team in Spain winning on Saturday.

Bet on La Liga soccer

Serie A prediction

Matchup: Fiorentina vs. Napoli (Sept. 13, 2:45 p.m. ET)

Napoli to win (+125): That makes three away sides that I’m betting on this weekend, but Napoli is too good to be priced at plus money.

After two matches, Napoli is 2-0-0 and has yet to concede.

On the other side, Fiorentina has tied two bottom-half teams in Cagliari and Torino. Both of which are likely to be in the relegation picture this season.

Fiorentina has scored one goal so far this season and should struggle to break down Napoli’s defence.

The Serie A leaders have conceded 0.9 xG and scored three goals in two matches.

Bet on Serie A soccer

Soccer predictions made at 1:13 p.m. on 09/10/25.

Canada continues its stretch of international friendlies against Wales.

The pregame narrative: Les Rouges beat Romania 3-0 on Friday, which was Canada’s biggest margin of victory ever on European soil. The side will be further tested when it takes on a higher-ranked Welsh squad on Tuesday.

Check out our Wales vs. Canada odds and my best bet for the men’s soccer match on Sept. 9.

Wales vs. Canada odds

Wales vs. Canada betting markets

Click linked odds to add selection to your betslip.

Wales vs. Canada odds as of 12:22 p.m. ET on 09/04/2025.

Best bet

Canada draw no bet (+123): I made this same pick for the Romania game, and it cashed with ease.

Wales is the better team of the two European nations, but I still think Canada is mispriced here.

• Since Sept. 7 of last year, Canada has won or tied 12 of 13 matches.

• The one loss came against Mexico, the 13th-ranked nation.

• Notably, Canada has results against Ukraine (4-2), the Ivory Coast (0-0), and the Canadians beat the United States twice.

In 2025, Wales achieved three wins in five matches, but two of these victories were against Kazakhstan and Liechtenstein, two nations ranked well outside the top 100.

Wales struggled against better competition, losing 4-3 to Belgium and drawing 1-1 with North Macedonia, a team ranked 34 spots below Canada.

For reference, Les Rouges are still the higher-ranked team here, sitting at 28 in the FIFA World Rankings while Wales ranks 31st.

Key stat: In the past eight games against nations ranked inside the top 100, Canada is 7-2-1. That means this wager has lost just once in those contests.

Wales vs. Canada predictions made at 1:13 p.m. on 09/07/2025.

The FIFA World Cup qualifiers continue this weekend with European nations owning the spotlight.

The pregame narrative: Reigning European champion Spain looks to claim the top spot in Group B when it faces Turkey on Sunday. Earlier in the day, the Netherlands should get its offence going against Lithuania.

Check out my FIFA World Cup qualifier predictions for the European soccer matches on Sept. 7, 2025.

World Cup qualifier predictions

Turkey/Spain over 2.5 goals (-134): This is arguably the most exciting match of the weekend, with both Spain and Turkey hoping for a strong showing at the World Cup next summer.

Turkey started its journey in Group B with a 3-2 win over Georgia on Thursday. Scoring in bunches isn’t off-brand for the nation, as it scored two or more goals in four of its past five matches.

The Turkish side also conceded in four of those contests, and the over on this total is 4-1 during that time.

A high pace should be welcomed by an attacking group like Spain. La Roja beat Bulgaria 3-0 in its opening match.

When Spain won the Euros last summer, the side led the competition with 13.0 xG. That was over three more than Germany, which scored the second most with 9.8, per Fotmob.

Key stat: Eight straight Spain matches have gone over this total. In those games, an average of 4.9 goals were scored.

European soccer betting markets

European soccer picks

Netherlands team total over 2.5 (-136): The Netherlands is another team that I expect to showcase its offensive prowess this weekend.

The Dutch have the benefit of playing Lithuania this weekend, which has been one of the worst soccer nations in Europe recently.

• The club has gone 12 matches straight without a win. That includes losing twice to Cyprus and twice to Kosovo.

• Lithuania tied Malta 1-1 on Thursday, and the Netherlands beat Malta 8-0 on June 10.

• The Netherlands has scored at least two goals in five of its past seven games. That includes drawing Spain 3-3 in the Nations League quarterfinal back in March.

Now, the side will need three on Saturday to cash this wager, but I don’t think that’s a lot to ask against a club of Lithuania’s quality.

Lithuania has played just once against a top-25-ranked nation (No. 21 Denmark) in 2025 and lost that contest, 5-0. The Dutch rank 14 spots higher at No. 7.

World Cup qualifier predictions made at 9:16 a.m. on 09/05/2025.

Romania and Canada play an international soccer friendly on Friday in preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The pregame narrative: Canada will play six matches between now and the end of the year. Les Rouges will match up with Romania first as the European nation preps for its World Cup qualifier coming up on Tuesday.

Check out our Romania vs. Canada odds and my best bet for the men’s soccer match on Sept. 5.

Romania vs. Canada odds

Romania vs. Canada betting markets

Click linked odds to add selection to your betslip.

Romania vs. Canada odds as of 12:22 p.m. ET on 09/04/2025.

Best bet

Canada draw no bet (+115): Canada being a sizeable underdog doesn’t sit right with me.

The loss to Guatemala at the Gold Cup was a sore spot, but we have to take a look at the recent Canadian performances as a whole, and the side has been impressive.

• Since beating the United States 2-1 on Sept. 7, Canada has won or tied 11 of 12 matches.

• The one loss came against Mexico, the 13th-ranked nation.

• In a friendly in the spring, 28th-ranked Canada defeated Ukraine (No. 26) by a score of 4-2. For reference, Romania ranks quite a bit lower at No. 48.

Even in that loss to Guatemala in penalties, this bet was voided since the result after 90 minutes was a draw.

If we look at Romania’s past results, there’s nothing to be inspired by.

In 2025, the Romanians have played four matches and are 2-2. The two wins came against nations ranked outside the top 120 (Cyprus, San Marino), and the two losses were against teams inside the top 100 (Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina).

On the other side, the Canadians have been much better against higher-ranked competitors.

Key stat: Over their past eight matches against top-100 nations, Canada is 6-2-1, meaning this wager has lost just once in those contests.

Romania vs. Canada predictions made at 12:23 p.m. on 09/04/2025.