There is a lot of football this weekend so here’s our attempt to condense the next 72 hours in the life of the FotMob Matches tab down to bite-size chunks for you to digest, at your leisure.
? Friday Night.
As a warm-up for what’s to come, how about these tasty looking appetisers.
??????? The Premier League’s bottom side, Norwich City take on Leicester City (3rd) in what should be an important game for both sides. Leicester will look to cement their Champions League aspirations whilst Norwich need to cut the 7 point gap from themselves to that all-important 17th place.
Did you know… After a run of nine consecutive Premier League home game in which they conceded at least two goals, Norwich have shipped just twice across their last three at Carrow Road (W1, D1, L1).
?? In La Liga, the resurgent Real Sociedad host Real Vallalodid, owned of course by the original Ronaldo. Fired on by their Scandinavian duo, Martin Ødegaard and Alexander Isak, La Real are looking up at the moment with a European place a distinct possibility.
? In Africa, the CAF Champions League has reached the Quarter Finals stages and there are two big games tonight. First, Egyptian giants Zamalek go up against the current holders, Espérance of Tunisia before Raja Casablanca, from Morocco play TP Mazembe, the most decorated side in the Congo.
After Zamalek’s request to postpone the Cairo Derby against Al Ahly due to be played earlier in the week was denied, they then failed to show up and therefore forfeited that game. That’s how seriously they’re taking the Champions League. ?
? Saturday
?? The 25th MLS season kicks off.
The top league in the United States is going all out for this special anniversary season, even dragging in Hollywood film score composer, Hans Zimmer to produce them a theme tune!
The action on the pitch gets underway with 8 games on Saturday, including the inaugural match for new expansion side, Nashville who start against 2018 champions, Atlanta United. Those awaiting a first look at David Beckham’s Inter Miami side will have to wait until Sunday night when they travel to LAFC.
??????? Liverpool closing in on EPL title.
The current Club World Cup champions head to Watford in Saturday’s late kick-off in the Prem. Honing in on their first English league triumph in the Premier League era, Liverpool need just four more wins – regardless of what points their nearest rivals, Man City and Leicester pick up over the remainder of the season.
The day also starts with one of those league rivalries that only seems to make sense in the English game as Crystal Palace travel to not-so-near neighbours, Brighton & Hove Albion.
?? Bayern and Dortmund both in action in Germany.
The Bundesliga’s biggest clubs continue their respective tilts at the title on Saturday. Bayern go to Hoffenheim looking to strengthen that grip on what would be a thirtieth Meisterschale trophy whilst a win for Dortmund, when they entertain Freiburg would see them move second, above RB Leipzig at least for 24 hours.
?? Top two meet in Poland.
You can add the Polish Ekstraklasa to the list of exciting European title races you’ve been looking for this year! Just 8 points separates the current top six and on Saturday night, the top two face each other in Warsaw as second place, Cracovia look to close the gap on leaders, Legia.
?? The Soweto Derby.
South Africa’s biggest rivalry is set for another edition on Saturday afternoon as Orlando Pirates clash with Kaizer Chiefs at a sold out Soccer City.
The game pits 3rd against 1st and if this video doesn’t get you hyped for it, we don’t know what will.
? Sunday
?? El Clásico.
It’s the biggest game in world football and will therefore dominate proceedings for us on Sunday. Real Madrid go in their home game with Barcelona knowing that a win will take them back to the top of La Liga, at the expense of Barça and go some way to decide the destination of the title.
With both sides showing some unfamiliar frailties during the campaign, and suffering perhaps surprising results in the Champions League this week, whoever comes out on top in this one will look to use it as a springboard for the rest of their season.
?? The big game in Serie A.
With the Italian football calendar heavily disrupted by the outbreak of coronavirus in the northern half of the country, this weekend’s schedule could look a little different by Sunday.
But, if all goes to plan – we’ll have the spectacle of Juventus versus Inter being played behind closed doors in Turin. It will be a strange atmosphere for a game of such magnitude, perhaps increasing the tension as both sides look to keep up the pace at the top of the table.
Going into the weekend, Juve sit top with Inter third but that might be different by kick-off as second place Lazio play on Saturday.
??????? Silverware on the line in England.
The final of the League Cup, between Aston Villa and Manchester City takes place at Wembley on Sunday afternoon.
City are looking to make it a hat-trick of wins in this competition, with Pep Guardiola always taking what is England’s 3rd most important domestic trophy relatively seriously. Villa have a proud record of Cup wins themselves, albeit the last of their 5 titles came back in 1996.
?? Le Derby in Southern France.
Generally, the Derby Rhône-Alpes between Lyon and Saint Etienne goes off! Not as well known as other derbies in Ligue 1 but guaranteed to be as intense as anything you’ll see in the French game, these games are always worth looking out for.
Here’s a clip from their last meeting to give you some idea of what to expect. ?
?? It’s all going on in the Eredivisie.
Lastly, Sunday looks like being a great day in the Dutch top flight as the top four all play one another. Firstly, there’s PSV Eindhoven (4th) versus Feyenoord (3rd), also known as De Kraker (great name!) followed swiftly by Ajax’s (1st) home game against AZ Alkmaar (2nd) in Amsterdam. AZ could go level on points with their opponents to tighten what already looks like a congested league table.
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