Kevin Hatchard's European Football Tips: Back Leipzig and Juve tyros to shine

Bayer Leverkusen v RB Leipzig - Dazzling Diomande to sparkle again

Saturday May 2, 17:30
Live on Sky Sports Mix

The battle for Champions League spots takes centre-stage in the Bundesliga this weekend. Fifth-placed Hoffenheim take on Stuttgart, who are fourth, and this clash between Leverkusen and Leipzig at the BayArena is sixth versus third.

Leipzig are having an excellent first season under new coach Ole Werner, and while things will doubtless be tougher next season with European football to test the squad, the club feels like it's back on the right track. Die Roten Bullen are playing the club's signature style of football - fast-paced, vertical, intense.

Leipzig have developed a reputation for developing great young talent before selling it on for big money, and the latest example is Ivory Coast winger Yan Diomande. The 19-year-old already has 13 goals in all competitions, 12 of which were scored in the Bundesliga. He is the second-youngest player in Bundesliga history to net a hat-trick. He is also a regular source of assists, and produced one of the passes of the season to tee up Ridle Baku in last weekend's win over Union Berlin.

Diomande is 11/102.11 on the Sportsbook to score or assist at any time against a Bayer Leverkusen team that's failing to regularly convince under coach Kasper Hjulmand. Although Die Werkself won a Rhineland derby 2-1 at Köln last weekend, they played poorly and were boosted by a very soft penalty.

Leverkusen have won just four of their last 10 league games, and they've conceded 13 goals across the last seven matchdays. Against a strong Leipzig team, I think they'll conceded goals, and I'll back Diomande to be on the scoresheet.

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Juventus v Verona - Turkish delight for Turin giants

Sunday May 3, 17:00
Live on DAZN

As predicted in last week's column, Juventus played out a rather drab 0-0 at Milan last weekend, and in doing so took another small step towards qualifying for the Champions League. Things are looking up for the Bianconeri - both coach Luciano Spalletti and star forward Kenan Yildiz have signed contract extensions, and the team is playing the kind of bright, exciting football that Spalletti is known for.

Juventus have a three-point lead over fifth-placed Como in the race for the final UCL spot, and there's every chance they'll further consolidate their position this weekend. Juve are up against Verona, who are one of the worst teams in the division.

Verona are on the cusp of relegation, they have lost 21 of their 34 games, and they have conceded 56 goals. They are going down with a whimper, having lost eight of their last ten.

I'll back Kenan Yildiz to score here at 11/102.11. The Turkish international has a club-high ten Serie A goals, and even though he's only found the net in two of his last seven league games,

I'll back him to rediscover his touch against such poor opposition. It's worth considering that Juventus have won five out of their last seven, and at home it's three wins out of four.

Celta Vigo v Elche - Sarabia's men to take a step towards safety

Sunday May 3, 13:00
Live on La Liga TV

The La Liga relegation battle has developed into a truly extraordinary scrap for survival, with the entire bottom half of the table still trying to make sure they put enough points on the board. Just like the Premier League, it's not certain that the magic 40-point tally will be enough.

Elche came up as runners-up in the Segunda Division last season, and started the season superbly. Eder Sarabia's side kicked off the schedule with three wins and four draws, but then won just two of the next 21. With relegation looming, they have found a way to win four of five, including an eye-catching win over Atletico Madrid.

Elche go into this weekend four points above the dropzone, and they visit a Celta Vigo side that is blowing the chance to qualify for the Champions League and maybe even a European place of any type. The northern side were beaten home and away by Freiburg in the quarter-finals of the Europa League, and in La Liga they have lost five of their last seven, including the last three.

Celta have lost four of their last five at Balaidos, and I think resurgent Elche can pick up at least a point. I'll lay the home side at 1.774/5.

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