We’re another week deep into the August marathon of Champions League and Europa League action from the mini-tournaments being held in Portugal and Germany. And we hope you’re loving it as much as we are!
For this weekend’s preview we are, of course focusing on the headline game from the app each day but we thought you might also want to hear about a few other matches that are going on in the various leagues running around the world.
? Friday Night
?? The Estádio da Luz, usually home to Benfica plays host to tonight’s biggest game. In fact, it’s probably the most anticipated of the Champions League quarter-finals. Barcelona meet Bayern München in a clash between the only two sides left in the competition who’ve actually won it in the past. It also gives us a meeting between two of the world’s greatest forwards – Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski.
The two have 16 goals between them in this season’s competition with the Pole scoring 13 of them, and if stats are your thing – Lewandowski is leading the way in a lot of ours.
Make sure you check our TV schedule so you don’t miss this one wherever you are!
?? Meanwhile, in Italy there are still some important details to sort out ahead of the next season there. In Serie B for instance, there are ongoing play-offs for both promotion to the elite level and relegation to the third tier. And tonight we’ll see whether Pescara, and their excellent kit designed by a 6-year-old boy can hold on to their place in the league. They currently have a 2-1 advantage over Perugia heading into tonight’s second leg.
?? Here in Norway, there’s also an interesting match-up in our second tier. Trømso currently lead the table, taking their relegation from last season’s Eliteserian to heart by winning their first eight games straight! Tonight they take on Grorud a side managed by Eirik Kjønø, a young coach as addicted to Football Manager as we are.
? Saturday
?? Back in Portugal, the last of the four Champions League semi-finalists will be decided when Manchester City meet Lyon at the Estádio José Alvalade (home to Sporting).
Lyon, with just one competitive game under their belts since March pulled off an unlikely victory, on away goals in the last round – upsetting Juventus to set up this tie. But will they be able to stop City’s array of attacking talent, who pressed so hard to bring about Real Madrid’s downfall in their game last week?
Whoever gets through this will go on to face the winners of Friday’s clash between Barça and Bayern in the final four.
Elsewhere, we have a big day of North American football to look forward to.
?? In Canada, the Island Games – a bubble like tournament got underway this week and will now form the full second season of the fledgling Canadian Premier League.
And on Saturday, we’ll get a first look at expansion club Atlético Ottawa, as the side owned by their famous namesakes in La Liga play their inaugural game against York 9, one of the favourites for this season’s championship.
?? And following a surge of requests from our users in the US, we’ve made the bold step of adding a brand new competition to the app! The NISA league sits at the 3rd tier of football in the States and is now home to one of the country’s most historic clubs.
Which means you’ll be able to follow New York Cosmos, formally home to all-time greats like Pelé and Raúl as they play Michigan Stars tomorrow evening.
?? And in Australia, where the A League’s regular season is now coming to a close, Premier Plate winners, Sydney FC have one more game to get through – tomorrow, against Alessandro Diamanti’s Western United before we move on to the play-offs, taking place later this month.,
? Sunday
After four days of back-to-back Champions League action, it’s the turn of the Europa League to take centre-stage on Sunday.
?? In the first of the semi-finals, Sevilla will face Manchester United in Cologne with the Europa League specialists looking to reach their fourth final in seven years.
The Spanish side have won five editions of the competition in total, more than anyone else, with a famous hat-trick of wins coming between 2014 and 2016. Manchester United actually won the next Final, defeating Ajax in 2017 so they’ll be plenty of pedigree on show in this one. ?
If you want to follow any of the games mentioned above, click on the relevant link and tap the bell icon to receive all the key match updates.
Or join us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to discuss all the important football going on this weekend!