Soccer: Miller picks 7 matches including the historic Premier League race, La Liga action & much more
If you are a fan of the Premier League, every day brings something new.
Take a look at the La Liga table, Ligue 1 table, or the Serie A table, and you will see that those leagues have been all but over for months.
But not in England: this Premier League race will go down in history, and should go down to the wire as well, with all 10 matches on the final day (May 12) kicking off at the same time.
Arsenal took care of its business Monday, with a straightforward 2-0 win over Newcastle. Now Tuesday, Manchester United gets its chance to jump back ahead of the pack in the Premier League table. With a win over Wolverhampton, the Red Devils will be in third, on 64 points.
But this is a tough task. Manchester United did not play well on Saturday, but still found a way to beat Watford. Tuesday, the Red Devils have to visit Wolverhampton, the side that knocked them out of the F.A. Cup two weeks ago at the Molineux.
There is a silver lining for United; the F.A. Cup semifinals are this weekend at Wembley, and Wolves have a tough match with Watford on Sunday. The winner gets a trip to the F.A. Cup final in May, and a shot at European football next season with the cup.
Will Wolverhampton rest players Tuesday? It might, but this will still be a tough match.
In the other Premier League contest, Watford will take on a Fulham side that will be relegated with a loss, or if other results go against it this week. The Cottagers have not been good enough in their first season back in the top flight in half a decade, with just four wins from 32 games and the worst goal difference (-43) in the league. They have allowed 73 goals, which is one of the worst figures across the continent.
But the question is the same here; will Watford rest players?
Watford manager Javi Gracia says his team will be ruthless:
"I think the best way to prepare for that important game we play on Sunday is to try and win the next game," Gracia said. "That is the best way to respect the FA Cup and to respect the Premier League as well. I will choose the players I want, but I am always thinking about the best formation and the best line-up to win the next game.”
So that should answer that question.
Fulham has lost nine matches in a row, 13 of 14, and have the worst form in the league.
In Spain, the top two teams in La Liga will be in action, and you can get Barcelona at good value on the road. Barcelona is unbeaten in 15 matches against Villarreal, with 13 wins.
The same thing is in play in Italy, with Juventus on the road at low odds (-125). Juve is unbeaten in 14 against Cagliari, with 12 wins, including five in a row.
There are two cup matches in France and Germany, with the team much higher in the table the best bet on the money line.
ENGLAND PREMIER LEAGUE
Watford (-133) vs. Fulham (+370), draw (+370), 2:45 p.m. (NBC Gold)
THE PICK: Watford ML (-133)
Wolverhampton (+310) vs. Manchester United (+100), draw (+245), 2:45 p.m. (NBC Sports and Fubo.tv)
THE PICK: Manchester United ML (+100)
FRANCE COUPE DE FRANCE
Lyon (-200) vs. Rennes (+475), draw (+310), 3:10 p.m.
THE PICK: Lyon ML (-200)
GERMANY DFB POKAL
Augsburg (+400) vs. RB Leipzig (-154), draw (+290)
THE PICK: RB Leipzig ML (-154)
ITALY SERIE A
Cagliari (+425) vs. Juventus (-125), draw (+245)
THE PICK: Juventus ML (-125)
SPAIN LA LIGA
Atletico Madrid (-275) vs. Girona (+850), draw (+350), 1:30 p.m. (beIN Sports and Fubo.tv)
THE PICKS:
Atletico Madrid ML (-275)
Atletico Madrid -1 (+110)
Villareal (+400) vs. Barcelona (-154), draw (+320), 3:30 p.m. (beIN sports and Fubo.tv)
THE PICK: Barcelona ML (-154)