January 8th: Thursday’s European Double – 6/1 Special, Betting Tips & Predictions

With the midweek action rolling onto Thursday night, a string of European heavyweight will steal centre stage.

Alongside Arsenal and Liverpool’s blockbuster battle from north London, both the French and Spanish Super Cups also take place over in the Middle East.

Ahead of what is a stacked night of action from across the globe, we have taken a look at some of Thursday’s most attractive betting tips.

19:00 Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid 

While Diego Simeone’s men might have got December underway with consecutive La Liga defeats, it appears that was just a minor blip for Los Rojiblancos. Despite opening the New Year with a 1-1 stalemate away at Real Sociedad last weekend, they have won each of their other four appearances across all competitions and have also suffered just a pair of domestic defeats since the opening weekend of the 2025/26 campaign. Despite travelling to the Middle East on Thursday night pencilled in as an underdog contender, Atletico will certainly be excited by a stellar record agains their arch-rivals. Storming their way to a sensational 5-2 romp when they last met Los Blancos on September 27th, Simeone’s side have suffered just a pair of defeats from any of their previous seven meetings across all fronts and they will certainly ask some serious questions of a Los Blancos defence who have failed to find any kind of stability at the back.

Although Xabi Alonso might have found a huge amount of pressure on his shoulders last month, the former Bayer Leverkusen boss has certainly steadied the ship at the Bernabeu. Putting in what was arguably a season-best display over the weekend as they opened the New Year with a thumping 5-1 victory at home against Real Betis, Los Blancos have now on all of their previous four appearances across all competitions by an aggregate score of 12-4. Enjoying what has become their most fruitful spell since returning from November’s international break, Alonso’s superstar squad are now searching for some much-welcomed defensive stability. Facing a real battle in the race to reclaim their La Liga crown in 2026, Madrid have registered just a sole clean sheet from any of their last six outings. Hit with that rollercoaster 5-2 defeat when they travelled to the Metropolitano back in September, the Whites will be more than aware that they face a stern examination in the Middle East.

Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid Betting Tip: Julian Alvarez to score anytime @ 21/10 with Pribet

20:00 Arsenal vs Liverpool 

Signing off the 2024/25 campaign without a single piece of silverware to show for their troubles, Mikel Arteta was more than aware of the expectations that were on his shoulders this time around. However, getting the New Year underway last weekend with a pulsating 3-2 victory away at Bournemouth, the Gunners are sat firmly in the driving seat to get their hands on a first domestic crown since way back in 2004. Signing off December with a stellar 4-1 romp at home against a record-breaking Aston Villa, Arsenal have now won all of their previous six consecutive appearances across all competitions. Storming their way to a Champions League knockout stage ticket and winning all of their six European showdowns by an aggregate score of 17-1, Thursday’s hosts find the mood in their camp at a red-hot high. Really finding a clinical edge in the final third, Arteta’s runaway leaders will be confident of making another heavyweight statement in north London.

While Liverpool might have signed off 2025 in the midst of what was a much-welcomed flurry, Arne Slot’s men have once again shown some glaring inconsistencies over the past week. Suffering last-gasp heartbreak away at Fulham over the weekend as they eventually had to settle for a 2-2 stalemate in west London, the former Feyenoord boss has already accepted that his squad will relinquish their Premier League crown this year. Getting the midweek fixtures underway sat 14 points adrift of the Gunners, Liverpool have also struggled to find any real fluidity away from Anfield. Despite securing a 2-1 victory against Tottenham on December 20th, Slot’s camp have won just a pair of their previous eight domestic showdowns outside the red half of Merseyside. It should also be noted, the Reds have registered just a sole point from any of their last three Premier League trips to the Emirates.

Arsenal vs Liverpool Betting Tip: Ryan Gravenberch over 1.5 fouls @ 11/8 with Luckster

Thursday’s European Double

• Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid – Julian Alvarez to score anytime @ 21/10
• Arsenal vs Liverpool – Ryan Gravenberch over 1.5 fouls @ 11/8

Place a £10 bet on our Daily Double with Vegas Land and pocket £73.63 if all predictions are correct.

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