The best action to follow this weekend
Saturday
??????? We’ll start our preview with a look at today’s games in the Premier League. There’s six matches scheduled, starting with the clash between top and bottom, Chelsea vs. Norwich City in the early kick-off.
The Canaries are without a win since their top flight return and have failed to score in each of their last four league outings, which is not the kind of form you want to take to the home of the side with the joint-meanest defence in the division.
In the regular afternoon slot, the most intriguing game probably comes at Selhurst Park where Newcastle United take on Crystal Palace in their first outing since the departure of Steve Bruce and their new owners start to look to what will no doubt be a rollercoaster future.
Lastly, it’s 4th vs. 3rd as Brighton host Manchester City. City lost the corresponding fixture last season having already confirmed the league title but it was a result that probably set Brighton up for the brilliant campaign they’ve been having so far in 2021/22.
?? The Bundesliga’s big two are both in action today and go in to the weekend separated by just a point at the top of the table. Second, as it stands are Borussia Dortmund and they’ll go to Arminia where they’ll be without the services of Erling Haaland as he recovers from a hip-flexor injury.
Leaders Bayern will be at home against Hoffenheim, a side who have been known to give the Champions a bit of trouble in the past – not least the 4-1 thrashing in last season’s away fixture back in September 2020.
Elsewhere in Europe there is not a lot to shout about – Milan face Bologna in Serie A, Athletic Club vs. Villarreal is probably the biggest game in La Liga whilst struggling French champions Lille host Stade Brestois looking to get the points they need to get themselves at least in to the top half of the table.
?? Further afield, the two sides top of the pile in MLS’s Western Conference meet in what for many is just a warm-up for the looming post-season play-offs. Seattle Sounders go in the game looking for their first win since they won at opponents Sporting KC three rounds ago.
?? And in Brazil there’s something of a precursor to the standard of fixture to expect tomorrow as Rio de Janeiro rivals Fluminense and Flamengo will meet in the Fla-Flu Derby at the mythical Maracaña stadium.
Sunday
Put simply, tomorrow is a massive day in the football calendar. There are big derbies and huge matches taking place everywhere from Russia, where old rivals Zenit play Spartak to Ecuador, with Emelec facing Barcelona in the Shipyard Derby and in Denmark too where Brøndby clash with FC København.
And in Europe’s big leagues in particular it seems the stars have aligned, or at least the governing bodies have got together with the television companies to give us a day packed full of highlights.
?? El Clásico should need no introduction, but with both sides going through something of a transitional period it will be even more interesting to see who comes out on top – Barcelona, who boast the best home record so far in La Liga, or Madrid by far the highest goal scorers in the league.
Also in Spain tomorrow, current league leaders Real Sociedad go to the defending champions, Atlético Madrid.
?? In Italy, the clash between Napoli and José Mourinho’s AS Roma, who are no doubt still smarting from their 6-1 defeat in Norway this week is just a starter for the main event. The Derby d’Italia is the big Sunday night closer here as Inter host in-form Juventus in the battle between the country’s two most decorated sides.
?? Not to be outdone, France gives us Le Classique, Marseille vs. PSG. The sides couldn’t be from two cities more opposed to each other, geographically, politically or culturally and it is usually for those reasons, plus the actual football on display that makes this game the biggest in Ligue 1.
?? Two of the historically dominant sides in the Netherlands, Ajax and PSV Eindhoven meet in a fixture known as De Topper. There have been 176 meetings between them, with Ajax traditionally having the upper hand, although PSV did beat them 4-0 in the Super Cup just prior to this season starting.
??????? Not to be outdone, the Premier League have also been saving up a special game. Or two, should you count West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur’s London Derby.
The other is the battle for supremacy in the North West of England, Manchester United against Liverpool, the last unbeaten side in the division.
United have won just one of their last 10 games against Jürgen Klopp’s side but despite Liverpool winning the corresponding fixture last season, the Reds have failed to record consecutive league wins at Old Trafford since 2002.
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Cover Image from IMAGO