Europe’s top soccer leagues are in full swing this weekend.
The pre-weekend narrative: Crystal Palace looks to keep ascending up the EPL table in a matchup with Everton on Sunday. Later on, two Italian giants, Juventus and AC Milan, battle for position atop the Serie A table.
Check out this weekend’s best European soccer predictions for games beginning on Oct. 4, 2025, featuring a pick on Real Madrid vs. Villarreal.
Soccer predictions
Real Madrid vs. Villarreal (Oct. 4, 3 p.m. ET)
Best bet: Real Madrid halftime/fulltime (+106)
Madrid is coming off a shocking 5-2 defeat against Atletico Madrid in La Liga. But that was on the road, and Atletico is a European powerhouse.
Los Blancos are back at home and play an inferior Villarreal squad that is currently third in the La Liga table but hasn’t played many quality opponents.
- Villarreal has won the last three matches in Spain by one goal apiece against teams all outside of the top eight. Two of those matches were at home.
- When the side had to play better teams, it fell short. Villarreal lost to both Tottenham and Atletico Madrid on the road in the past few weeks. Each opponent cashed this wager.
I believe Real Madrid’s offence will be too much to handle here. Los Blancos score 2.3 goals per match.
Villarreal has a big UCL match on Wednesday vs. Juventus, while Madrid played on Tuesday and dominated FC Kairat of the Kazakhstan Premier League, 5-0.
The away team will have a lot more squad management to worry about ahead of this weekend, and Real Madrid should be rather fresh.
Expect a quick start from Xabi Alonso’s starting 11.
Key stat: Madrid is 3-1 against this wager in its last four games across all competitions.
EPL best bet
Matchup: Everton vs. Crystal Palace (Oct. 5, 9 a.m. ET)
Both teams to score – No (-127): Crystal Palace is playing way above expectations, sitting third on the EPL table after six matches.
That’s because of its strong defence. The side is tied with Arsenal for the fewest goals allowed per match (0.5).
On the other side is Everton, a team that has struggled to score (seven goals so far). But the Toffies are ninth on the table thanks to their defensive efforts.
Under 2.5 goals in this match holds a -159 price tag, and if you can stomach that price, it’s a play I’d also recommend.
But there’s a strong chance this match plays as a stalemate with at least one side holding a clean sheet.
If I had to pick a team to win, I’d lean toward Crystal Palace because of its recent results, but the Eagles are on the road, so there’s a chance Everton squeaks out a win or even a 0-0 draw.
Serie A prediction
Matchup: Juventus vs. AC Milan (Oct. 5, 2:45 p.m. ET)
Over 2.5 goals (+115): This is arguably the most gruelling part of the soccer schedule. Since Sept. 13, these teams have combined to play eight matches. Mix in international fixtures for some players, and it’s been a busy month.
That could lead to more mistakes this weekend, and these two sides are talented enough to take advantage.
- Milan is tied for first in Serie A and has scored 2+ goals in five of seven matches this season (all competitions).
- Juventus sits one point behind and has scored in all six of its matches.
That includes a 4-4 draw against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League and a 4-3 win over Inter Milan in Serie A. At its best, Juventus’ offence can cash this wager alone.
These attacks are potent and have a high ceiling for Sunday’s match.
Soccer predictions made at 10:25 a.m. on 10/01/2025.
Spencer is a true sports junkie. A graduate of the Sports Journalism program at Centennial College, he first joined NorthStar Gaming as an intern in 2023. He is now a contributing writer. He loves finding the edge to bet on in all sports but has a deep passion for the NBA and UFC. Previous stops include Sportsnet.