Some weekends whisper. Some weekends mumble. And some weekends grab you by the collar, slam you against the wall and scream: “Lad, these are absolute gifts.” This one? Oh, it’s the third category. I’ve stared at these fixtures long enough to burn holes in the team sheets, and three picks have risen from the chaos like footballing prophecies. Strap in.
Odds provided by 1XBet.
Southampton v Leicester
FA Cup Fourth Round, St Marys, Southampton, UK, 4pm CET
Prices: 1.73 Southampton, 3.84 Draw, 4.36 Leicester
Leicester City are in absolute disarray. Not a wobble, not a stumble, I’m talking full circus‑clown, legs‑in‑the‑air, custard‑pie‑to‑the‑face collapse. The points deduction rattled them, but Wednesday night’s meltdown against Southampton was the moment the wheels didn’t just come off, they rolled down the M27 and into the Solent.
Picture it: 3–0 up at home, cruising, fans singing, players smiling… and then conceding four inside the last ten minutes. At home. To the same team they now have to face again, away, in the cup. If that doesn’t leave psychological scar tissue, nothing will.
Tonda Eckert has Southampton playing with a sharp, organised, ruthless edge. They’re aggressive without being reckless, confident without being cocky. And at St Mary’s, with the crowd snarling behind them, they’ll know Leicester are fragile. The Foxes’ priority is survival, not silverware. They’ll rotate, they’ll sulk, and they’ll suffer.
Southampton win. And they might not even need to break a sweat.
Tip: Southampton to win @ 1.73. 1 unit.
Inter v Juventus
Serie A, San Siro, Milan, Italy, 8.45pm CET, Saturday 14th February
Prices: 2.06 Inter, 3.52 Draw, 4.08 Juventus
Inter are a machine. Not a delicate machine, not a pretty machine, a roaring, relentless Serie A juggernaut that looks like it’s been built in a factory where the only settings are dominate and intimidate. Eight points clear, barely breaking a sweat, and playing football with the swagger of a team that knows the title is theirs unless they actively try to hand it away.
Juventus? They’re the opposite. One week they look like contenders, the next they look like they’ve forgotten which way they’re kicking. There’s no rhythm, no certainty, no menace. And inconsistency is the worst possible trait to bring into the San Siro.
Inter at home turn the whole stadium into a pressure cooker. The crowd becomes a single booming voice, the pitch feels tighter, and every Juve touch is greeted with a wall of noise. Inter don’t just beat teams there, they squeeze the life out of them. They control the tempo, they dictate the mood, and they win because that’s simply what they do.
Juve will huff, puff, and maybe even flash a moment or two… but Inter will keep them at arm’s length all night.
Tip: Inter to win @ 2.06. 1 unit.
Oxford v Sunderland
FA Cup Fourth Round, Kossam Stadium, Oxford, UK, 3pm CET, Sunday 15th February
Prices: 4.66 Oxford, 3.66 Draw, 1.76 Sunderland
Sunderland are one of those sides who’ve quietly built themselves into something sturdy. Not flashy, not chaotic, just solid. And in the Premier League, solidity is priceless. They’re basically safe already, which means this cup tie becomes a free swing: a chance to build momentum, give the fans a run, and enjoy themselves.
Oxford, meanwhile, are floundering. Four without a win, confidence evaporating, and the table starting to look like a problem rather than a puzzle. They’re not awful, but they’re not good enough to trouble a Premier League side unless everything goes perfectly. And nothing about Oxford right now screams “perfect”.
Even if Sunderland rotate, the class gap is enormous. Premier League pace, Premier League physicality, Premier League decision‑making. Oxford will chase shadows, cling on, and eventually crack.
Tip: Sunderland to win @ 1.76. 1 unit.
Check out the For Foot Sake tipping record here.