July is here and we are now in to the final month of Europe’s elongated football season, whilst leagues elsewhere in the world are just getting going. The end result for us at FotMob is that it’s business as usual, with games coming up thick and fast from all over the place! So here’s our regular look at the best action coming up this weekend.
? Friday Night.
?? Tonight is relatively quiet in terms of major league action, but the fixture in La Liga should provide some entertainment.
Atlético Madrid have been in great form since the re-start, rising up to 3rd in the table and they can further consolidate their customary spot in the Champions League places should they beat tonight’s visitors to the Wanda Metropolitano, Mallorca.
??????? In England, there’s a London Derby in the EFL Championship, with Charlton Athletic hosting Millwall and further down the pyramid, the promotion play-offs start in League One. Portsmouth host Oxford United in one semi-final whilst Fleetwood Town are at home to Wycombe Wanderers in the other.
? Saturday
?? There’s still 9 rounds to go in Serie A but Saturday’s key fixtures involving the sides at the top could go some way to determining the outcome of the title.
With Juve boasting a 4 point lead, any fresh slip-up from chasers Lazio will surely pave the way for Juventus to hone in on their 9th straight Scudetto.
Lazio face Milan in the late kick-off, whilst it’s Derby Day in Turin as Juventus play cross-city rivals, Torino.
?? With the league season all over in Germany (bar Monday’s relegation play-off, 2nd leg) there’s the small matter of the DFB Pokal to settle on Saturday.
In what will be the 77th showpiece final in this long-standing competition, Bayern Münich will be looking to secure the double as they contest their 3rd straight final, this time against Bayer Leverkusen.
For their part, Leverkusen haven’t made it this far since 2009 whilst Bayern are defending champions and already boast 19 tournament wins.
??????? There are some big sides involved in Premier League action on Saturday, with Manchester United looking to continue their revival against struggling Bournemouth, Chelsea entertaining Watford and in perhaps the biggest game of the day, Arsenal travel to high-flying Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Down in the Championship, and on the day that pubs re-open in England for the first time since March, there’s the small matter of a local derby between Derby County and Nottingham Forest. ?
?? The J League, one of the biggest leagues in Asian football finally makes its return tomorrow.
Japan’s top tier was suspended after just one round of the new season back in Feburary, so there’s not a lot to go on in terms of the form guide! Outside observers, and particularly any Barcelona fans currently disgruntled with with their lot might be interested in watching Andrés Iniesta’s Vissel Kobe side take on Sanfrecce Hiroshima.
? Sunday
?? If you believe the press, the season is all but over for Barcelona but with 5 games to go in La Liga, it’s still a little early to call this two horse race. Yes, Barca are dropping points here, there and everywhere but Real Madrid’s lead is still only 4 points.
And both sides are in action on Sunday. Real Madrid would normally expect a hostile reception at Athletic Club in the Basque Country so may be grateful for the lack of crowd and Barcelona travel to Villarreal later in the day.
??????? Liverpool might have partied a little too hard after being crowned Premier League Champions, that’s if Thursday’s result at Manchester City was anything to go by. But who can blame them after they finally ended the club’s thirty year wait for a title!
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