Kevin Hatchard's European Tips: Bayern tyro to net, Celta and Como to excel

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St Pauli v Bayern Munich - Teen titan to hit the net

Saturday 11 April, 17:30
Live on Sky Sports

Bayern Munich produced a superb display in midweek as they secured a 2-1 first-leg win at Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals. Vincent Kompany's men unapologetically played in their style, pressing high and committing numbers to the attack, despite Madrid having one of the best counter-attacking units in Europe. Although Manuel Neuer had to produce an outstanding goalkeeping display, it was a deserved win for the Bavarian giants.

Now Bayern must complete the job, and I expect wholesale changes for the weekend's visit to the Millerntor. Last weekend Bayern came back from 2-0 down to win 3-2 at Freiburg, as 20-year-old Tom Bischof scored a brace from long range, and terrific teenager Lennart Karl netted a last-gasp winner.

Bayern are nine points clear at the top of the table with six games remaining, so they can afford to drop points here. They've racked up 100 goals in the league, and are on the cusp of breaking the single-season Bundesliga scoring record, which they themselves set back in 1972.

St Pauli are in the relegation playoff spot, and they have claimed just two points from their last four matches. While they do defend well in general, they have conceded three goals in each of the league games they have played against Borussia Dortmund (3-3 draw and 3-1 defeat) and Bayern (3-1 loss at the Allianz Arena).

I like the look of backing Karl to score here at 2.789/5. I'd expect him to start, and the impressive 18-year-old has scored nine goals in all competitions this term.

Celta Vigo v Real Oviedo - Champions League chasers to win big

Sunday 12 April, 17:30
Live on Premier Sports

Given that Celta Vigo have often been fighting a relegation battle in recent years, they are currently having a purple patch. The Galicians have reached the Europa League quarter-finals, but lost 3-0 at Freiburg on Thursday night.

However, there could be an even greater prize on the horizon, as Celta are just a point off the top five in La Liga.
As things stand, Spain will get one of the extra performance spots for the Champions League, which means Celta could qualify for European football's top competition and play at the top level for the first time since the 2003-04 season. In that campaign, they got to the last 16 before losing to Arsenal.

Celta have a golden opportunity to enhance their position this weekend, as they welcome rock-bottom Real Oviedo to Balaidos. Oviedo's progress to the top level was a miracle in the first place, and they have understandably struggled. Last weekend's win over Sevilla was only their fifth top-flight success of the campaign, and they are seven points adrift of safety with eight games remaining.

Celta won 3-2 at Valencia last time out, and they have won three of their last six in La Liga. At Balaidos, Claudio Giraldez's team have won four of their last seven.

We can back Celta -1.0 on the Asian Handicap here at an attractive 2.3611/8. If Celta win by a single goal, our stake is returned, but a bigger win nets us an odds-against success.

Como v Inter - Fabregas' men to frustrate the leaders

Sunday 12 April, 19:45
Live on TNT Sports

The rise of Como is a mix of romantic progress (a drifting club being given a new lease of life in a beautiful setting) and cold, hard business (a set of mega-rich owners developing the football club as part of a wider tourism push marketed to tourists and wealthy celebrities). Regardless of how you view the club's development, it's hard not to be impressed by the job coach (and shareholder) Cesc Fabregas is doing.

Como play attractive, possession-based football, and they are leading a fascinating race for the fourth Champions League spot. Not only that, they are one win away from the final of the Coppa Italia, having drawn 0-0 with Inter in the first leg of the semi-final.

Como have lost just two of their last 19 competitive matches, and they face an Inter side that has only won three of the last eight in all competitions. In their last two Serie A away games, the Nerazzurri have lost against Milan and drawn at Fiorentina, and their seven-point lead in the race for the Scudetto means they can afford to eke out a draw here against tough opposition and still be in good shape.

I'll back Como +0 & +0.5 here at 1.9620/21 on the Asian Handicap, which means we get a half-win if the game is drawn, and pick up a full payout if Como win.

Now read Kev's Arsenal v Bournemouth preview here!