PROPER football is back. The 2017/18 Premier League season got underway last weekend and it is now time for Europe’s elite domestic divisions to return. Without further ado, here are my top tips ahead of the opening weekend in Germany, Spain, Italy and France...

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SCHALKE vs RB LEIPZIG

Schalke have gone 14 games without defeat on home soil – a run that stretches all the way back to January.

Domenico Tedesco’s side have managed to hold onto highly-touted young talent Max Meyer and the hosts will be quietly confident of securing an opening weekend victory as they look to build on last season’s 10^th placed finish.

Meanwhile, the visitors will expect to push Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund close in the Bundesliga title race for the second season in a row.

When Leipzig were promoted to Germany’s top flight, nobody expected them to challenge at the top but Ralph Hasenhuttl’s men exceeded all expectations. I’m expecting Leipzig to make another quick start...

TIP: RB Leipzig to win OR draw @ 13/25

BARCELONA vs REAL BETIS

No Neymar? No problem. The Brazilian officially completed his move to Paris Saint-Germain earlier this summer for a world record fee of £198 million – a staggering sum of money.

The Spanish giants are yet to sign a top class replacement but Barcelona have enough quality to put Real Betis to the sword in front of an expectant Camp Nou; even with Luis Suarez out injured.

For the visitors, this is about as difficult as it gets. Facing Barcelona away from home on the opening weekend isn’t exactly ideal but La Blaugrana were far from assured when losing 3-1 to Real Madrid in the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup.

It will be a case of damage limitation for the visitors but who knows, they might surprise us all...

TIP: Barcelona to score in both halves @ 1/2

CROTONE vs AC MILAN

Crotone avoided relegation by the skin of their teeth last season but may find the going too tough in Serie A this campaign.

The Italian minnows have failed to strengthen in the summer transfer window and it would take a brave man to back Crotone against this new-look Milan outfit – they are yet to beat AC in a competitive fixture.

Milan will need some time to gel completely but they should be strong enough to run away with a comfortable victory here.

Away from home, there will be less pressure on Milan’s shoulders on the opening weekend and we could see a convincing performance from the visitors. I’m expecting the visitors to score at least twice – 3/5 represents solid value...

TIP: Over 1.5 AC Milan goals @ 3/5

PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN vs TOULOUSE

Neymar made an immediate impact on his PSG debut last weekend, scoring one goal whilst assisting another in their 3-0 victory away at Guingamp.

On paper, the hosts are well placed to win the Ligue 1 title this campaign and Neymar can be their difference maker. Playing in front of an expectant Parisian crowd for the first time, he can lead PSG to a convincing win here.

For Toulouse, this is almost unfair. There will be a vibrant atmosphere around the stadium following Neymar’s arrival and the visitors will be attempting to spoil the party.

PSG have a solid record against Toulouse in recent years and anything but a home win looks unlikely if truth be told. The hosts to win both halves is short enough but looks a fairly safe bet... 

TIP: PSG to win both halves @ 17/20

*Odds correct at the time of writing. Latest betting markets available here...*

Manchester United (1/3) will look to continue their rapid start to the new Premier League season when Leicester City visit Old Trafford on Saturday evening.

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The Red Devils have secured two 4-0 victories against West Ham United and Swansea City so far this campaign and plenty of punters will fancy Jose Mourinho’s men to continue their fine run of form.

Meanwhile, Leicester were on the losing end of a seven-goal thriller against Arsenal on the opening weekend but got back to winning ways against Brighton & Hove Albion.

With Jamie Vardy looking sharp in the early stages of the campaign, Craig Shakespeare’s side could be set to cause a few problems for Mourinho’s side here...

No Zlatan, No Worries

News of Zlatan Ibrahimović’s return to Old Trafford was confirmed just a few days ago but it will be down to Romelu Lukaku to lead the line for the time being.

The Belgium striker is off and running in a United shirt having scored in each of their two Premier League fixtures so far and he is currently available at 5/2 to open the scoring in this contest.

The likes of Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Paul Pogba have all flourished in recent weeks and United’s potent attacking unit may overpower the Leicester defence.

With eight goals in just two top flight games, Mourinho’s men have hit the ground running and the Red Devils could run riot if they get an early goal on Saturday evening.

With that in mind, backing United to be leading at half-time may be the best option. At the time of writing, the hosts are valued at 4/6 to win the opening 45 minutes and supporters will be expecting another fast start.

Finishing well is equally as important as starting well but an early goal will settle the Old Trafford faithful down.

Don’t Write The Foxes Off

If Leicester’s extraordinary 2015/16 title-winning campaign told us one thing, it is to expect the unexpected. In football, you can never take anybody for granted and the Foxes will be quietly confident of upsetting United here.

Their recent record against the Red Devils isn’t great but we cannot rule Leicester out completely.

Shakespeare will have a game plan – you can be sure of it. Vardy has the pace and tricky to cause problems for this United defence and it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see Leicester adopt a very direct approach.

With the exception of Antonio Valencia, this Red Devils back four isn’t the quickest and the Foxes could take full advantage of this.

As of August 24^th, the Foxes are valued at 17/20 to get on the scoreboard at Old Trafford – a decent price to say the least. United have been dominant in the early stages of the season but that form won’t last forever.

Eventually, Mourinho’s defensive unit will fall and Leicester have the attacking talent to end United’s resistance.

Prediction

For me, a United win with both teams scoring is the best bet here – currently available at 41/20 with 888Sport. The Red Devils are in supreme form right now and should be too hot for Leicester; even if the Foxes produce their best effort.

The visitors should have enough to test the Red Devils though but this may be a step too far...

MANCHESTER UNITED 3-1 Leicester City (priced at 19/2 with 888Sport)

Paris Saint Germain are having the most extravagant summer window anyone can remember. They destroyed the world record to sign Neymar and are closing in on equally flabbergasting deals for Kylian Mbappe and Fabinho from their domestic rivals, Monaco.

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In all the heavy-spending carnage, rumours have surfaced that many of their squad are on their way out of the French capital. Angel di Maria has drawn headlines, Serge Aurier may well be a Tottenham player soon, and Julian Draxler is destined for another move despite impressing throughout much of last season.

Draxler has been known as one of the world’s best youngsters for years.

A troublesome spell towards the end of his Schalke days and while at Wolfsburg led to a blockbuster move to Paris, where the immensely gifted German has somehow ended up surplus to requirement. Puzzling for those who saw him tear Barcelona apart last season, it could make for a fascinating saga towards the end of the window.

The German international remains at 3/10 to still be a Paris player come the closing of the window. A price that – should the rumours ring true – seems shockingly low given the widespread talk that Draxler is available, even if the fee does go follow the inflated trend of this summer.

Players of Draxler’s ability and ceiling are desired across the world on the rare occasion they become available. At just 23, the attacking midfielder has shown he can dominate against the best in the Champions League and would be a welcome addition to any squad in world football (with the exception, perhaps, of Real Madrid).

Paris’ potential sale is a reflection on their transfer business, rather than on the standards that Draxler can – and has – produce.

Liverpool surprisingly lead the running for Draxler at a price of 11/5. Should Philippe Coutinho’s move to Barcelona finally come to fruition (which is improbable at the time of writing) the German would certainly be on the replacements short list, and would be a real coup for Jurgen Klopp’s side.

Fitting him into the team might be tricky with Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino, but Klopp would find a way to add Draxler’s creative spark.

Barcelona – who are ignoring all of Liverpool’s abrupt rejections to their Coutinho approaches – follow in this market. With Ousmane Dembele sealed, Draxler could well be a cut-price (and probably better) alternative to the Brazilian.

At 5/1, the odds are hardly in their favour, but it has to be worth considering given Barcelona’s state. They are a wounded animal post-Neymar, and a team in such disrepair needs spending and the arrival of quality like the German. It remains unlikely that PSG and Barcelona will be doing transfer deals together in the near-future, mind.

The two Milan clubs are rank outsiders at 20/1 and 30/1. AC Milan have given their squad not just a facelift this summer, but a complete rebuild. It has been costly and extravagant, but a late move for Draxler should not be ruled out as they continue to reassert themselves in Serie A.

The price of 30/1 is long for a club with their ambition and spending power, which makes it the clear outside bet as we ponder the future of a potential superstar.