We start off on the outskirts of Manchester, with a five star selection from our League One Scout…

Rochdale are in poor form going into their match against promotion-chasing Carlisle United. They are joint-bottom of League Two, two points from safety, and have lost 17 of their 27 matches this season. The team is lacking in defenders due to red cards and their coach suggests he needs reinforcements.

Rochdale have won just one of their last 10 matches. During that run, they have averaged just 0.9 goals per game. Their opponents have doubled that scoring rate. Carlisle have won four of their last five matches and are averaging two goals a game since Christmas.

Now up off to Spain for a Catalan derby, where our Scout likes the look of Barcelona…

Xavi’s have done quite well during the previous two games of Lewandowski’s three-match ban, winning 1-0 at Atlético and 1-0 at home to Getafe. Their defence remains solid and the midfield is looking sharper than ever. This should be a victory for Barcelona, one which would confirm them as league leaders at the halfway stage of the campaign.

Barcelona have won their last two away matches against Girona without conceding. They have lost just one of their league matches this season. Girona have done reasonably well in front of their own fans this season but this game looks a step too far.

Sticking with Spain for another five-star selection from our La Liga scout…

This match is between two teams near the bottom of the table, but there is a large gap in current form and squad quality. Sevilla, who have had a poor season, have recently been performing better in the league and have been energized by new signings. They have won two home league games in a row, and are expected to have a comfortable home win against Elche, who sit bottom of the table and have loaned one of their main strikers to a rival team.

Sevilla have won their last four home matches against Elche; scoring 10 and conceding just 1. They have won their last two matches after some disastrous home form to start the season. Elche have failed to win any of their nine matches on the road and have collected just three points from those matches.

Our fifth selection comes from our Bundesliga Scout, for the evening game in Munich…

There are just four points separating the teams. Eintracht Frankfurt has a chance to challenge Bayern for the title with a win. Bayern is currently winless to start 2023 and there is mounting pressure on Julian Nagelsmann to perform. Eintracht Frankfurt boasts one of the Bundesliga’s most impressive attacks this season and with the dynamic attacking players such as Randal Kolo Muani, Daichi Kamada, Mario Gotze and Rafael Borre, it makes Oliver Glasner’s side one of the most dynamic in attack. Expect goals at both ends.

Bayern’s only clean sheet in their last six Bundesliga matches came against Schalke, who are bottom of the table with nine points. Frankfurt are averaging 2.12 goals per game in the Bundesliga this season and will be confident of finding the net here.