How are Europe’s top football leagues positioned after the early exchanges?
With the almost rude interruption of the UEFA Nations League this week all of Europe’s top leagues are on hold. In the Premier League things are looking pretty tight at the top, while in Italy Juventus have been in rampant form. However, in Spain and Germany the big guns haven’t had it all their own way during the early stages. Let’s take a look at the standings and goal scorers from around Europe’s top football leagues after the opening exchanges.
Premier League Outright Odds
After the first eight rounds the early signs are that we could have one of the closest title contests in many years. Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool are all on 20 points with Arsenal on a nine match winning run in all competitions on 18-points alongside North London rivals Spurs.
Man City remain favourites at 4/6 to go all the way with Liverpool slotting in behind them at 9/4. Chelsea, like Liverpool and City are still unbeaten and look good value at 8/1, especially if Hazard can continue his rich vein of form.
I think it is fair to say that Spurs haven’t been on their best so far this season, while Arsenal at 40/1 might be finding their feet nicely under new manager Emery but there are still question marks about their defence.
Premier League Top Goal Scorers Odds
In the goal scoring charts Eden Hazzard at 11/2 leads the way with seven goals followed by Sergio Aguero second favourite at 3/1, Harry Kane 5/2, Brighton’s Glenn Murray and Fulham’s Mitrovic all on five.
Arsenal duo of Aubameyang 12/1 and Lacazette 14/1 are in good form at the moment with four goals alongside Raheem Sterling.
Serie A Outright Odds
In Italy Juventus 1/7 have got their quest to win an eighth consecutive Scudetto off to the perfect start with eight wins from eight. The Old Lady have 24-points already six clear of second placed Napoli 6/1, who they have already beaten this season.
Inter Milan 16/1 are currently third, two points behind followed by Lazio, Sampdoria, Roma and Fiorentina.
Juventus claiming another Serie A title already looks done and dusted.
Serie A Top Goal Scorer Odds
Genoa’s Krzysztof Piatek at 4/1 has had a blistering start to the season scoring nine of their 12-goals. Napoli’s Lorenzo Insigne has found the back of the net on six occasions, while Immobile 7/1 with five goals, Ronaldo EVS, Mandzukic and Higuain 11/1, all have four. Ronaldo incidentally has four assists to go with those goals.
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La Liga Outright Odds
Who would have thought that Sevilla would be sitting top of the table after the first eight games! The Andalusian club, who are expected to fade away are at 40/1 to win the league, are one-point clear of Barcelona who remain 8/13 favouites. Atletico at 9/2 look good value and Real Madrid 3/1 a point adrift.
Los Blancos are not having things their own way after suffering three losses and a draw in their last four games in all competitions. Speculation coming out of Madrid overnight is that Lopategi is already facing the sack and that Jose Mourinho could make a spectacular return to the Santiago Bernabeu!
Barcelona and Atletico look the most likely to win the league at this early stage, although it does look like it could be a lot tighter thank last year.
La Liga Top Goal Scorer Odds
Much the same as Italy, another relative unknown leading the scoring charts in Spain. Girona’s Cristian Stuani leads the way with eight goals followed by Sevilla’s Andre Silva on seven.
Lionel Messi who remains the favourite at 4/11, has had another brilliant start to the season with five goals and four assists. Karim Benzema 14/1 has found the back of the net on four occasions with Louis Suarez 11/1 and Gareth Bale 14/1 both on three.
The reality is that Messi will top the scoring charts unless he is injured for a large chunk of the season.
Bundesliga Outright Odds
There might be a mini crisis at Bayern Munich, however the odds don’t suggest it. The Bavarian giants remain 1/4 favourites for a seventh consecutive title despite being sixth in the league, four points off leaders Dortmund who are looking for a first Bundesliga title since 2011/12 at 7/2.
Leipzig, Gladbach, Hertha and Werder are all three points behind Dortmund and a point ahead of Bayern, although with plenty of games still to play I expect the title race to boil down to Bayern and Dortmund.
Bundesliga Top Goal Scorer Odds
Robert Lewandowski has had a relatively quiet start to the season with three goals but remains 8/11 favourite to finish the Bundesliga top scorer for a fourth time in six years.
Dortmund’s Paco Alcacer leads the way with six goals, followed by Duda and Alassane Pléa 16/1 on five. I like the look of Marco Reus 20/1 and Timo Werner in particular at 12/1 to finish top scorer, both players currently with four goals each.
