5 Goalscorer Tips Across Europe - 18/2/23

Two of the most in-form teams in Ligue 1 meet on Saturday, with Stade Reims travelling to Nice.

Nice have put a strong run together as they look to make a push for a place in Europe, with four straight league wins. In that time, Didier Digard’s side have picked up huge victories over second-placed Marseille and fourth-place Lens. It leaves them four points off Lille in fifth – who they also beat 1-0 earlier in January.

Reims have also been in good form of late, with the story of Belgian-born English manager Will Still being the story on everyone’s lips. The former Preston North End u14s boss has guided Reims to an impressive unbeaten run – despite costing the team a £20,000 fine every game because he doesn’t hold a UEFA Pro Licence.

Folarin Balogun has been in top form for Still’s side, with 15 goals in 22 Ligue 1 games this season, including the last-gasp equalizer against PSG last month. The Arsenal loanee may provide a spark again this weekend in what looks to be a tight encounter with Nice.

After lifting the Club World Cup last weekend, Real Madrid will be setting their sights on catching Barcelona, after falling behind in La Liga. Los Blancos take on Osasuna in Saturday’s late kick-off.

Carlo Ancelotti’s men returned to league action with a 4-0 win over Elche on Wednesday. Karim Benzema was once again on the scoresheet, bagging a brace from the penalty spot. It sees Madrid stay second in the league, eight points behind Barca.

With Madrid chasing their arch-rivals and in need of another win, Benzema will be looking to help by adding to his 11 goals in 13 league games so far this season, a tally only bettered by Barca’s Robert Lewandowski. Madrid face an Osasuna side that are without a win in their last four league games.

The early Sunday game in Serie A sees Atalanta welcome Lecce to the Gewiss Stadium, as the hosts try to consolidate their place in the Champions League spots.

La Dea are third in Italy’s top tier, three behind Inter in second and a huge 18 behind runaway leaders, Napoli. Atalanta need to keep winning to stay in the European places, with just goal difference separating them from Roma and AC Milan in fourth and fifth places.

Ademola Lookman has been in inspired form for Atalanta this season, with 12 league goals. Only Napoli sharpshooter Victor Osimhen has scored more. The former Everton and Fulham attacker can add to his goals with more against a Lecce side who are 13th and have won just once in their last six.

Celtic will want to keep the distance between themselves and Rangers at the top of the SPFL when Aberdeen are the visitors to Celtic Park.

Ange Postecoglou’s side go into the weekend nine points clear of their Glasgow rivals, with Rangers facing Livingston away from home at the same time on Saturday. The Hoops will be focusing on making it nine straight wins in all competitions against an Aberdeen side that sit in the bottom half of the table having lost three of their last five.

Kyogo Furuhashi has been a livewire up front for Celtic this season, with a remarkable 19 goals in 22 SPFL games. Furuhashi has four in his last five in all competitions, including one goal in the 4-1 win over St Johnstone in Celtic’s last league game.

Following a huge win in midweek away to PSG, Bayern Munich turn their attention to the Bundesliga when they face Monchengladbach away from home on Saturday.

The Bavarians need to keep winning in Germany’s top tier, with Union Berlin and Borussia Dortmund hot on their tail at the top. Bayern have drawn three of their last five, whilst Union and Dortmund can’t stop winning in recent weeks. It leaves the Berlin side second and just one point adrift, with Dortmund not far behind, with just three points separating the Black and Yellows from the top. Julien Nagelsmann’s men have started to return to form though, with two league wins on the bounce.

Kingsley Coman got the winner at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday night, giving the Germans the advantage heading into the second leg of their knockout tie. His second-half winner was Coman’s fourth goal in his last three games in all competitions.

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