The best action to follow this weekend
Saturday
??????? The very first game of the weekend in the Premier League is undoubtably the biggest of the round as the two Manchester clubs meet at Old Trafford.
United come in to the game off the back of their last gasp draw at Atalanta during the week, a result that came after the morale boosting win over Spurs on Sunday – can Solskjær keep his hands on the wheel with another three points against Pep Guardiola? He’s the only long-standing Premier League manager to have more wins than losses against his opposite number across the city.
There are four other matches in England’s top flight today, including a home game for Chelsea versus Burnley – a contest the European Champions have only dropped points in once since 2017 and Newcastle’s trip to Brighton, where they’ve not won in the same time period (4 attempts).
?? In the Bundesliga, Freiburg have been defying all expectations this season with the club from the Black Forest yet to have lost 10 games in to the season. With six wins and four draws to their name they sit three points behind leaders Bayern München, the side where they’ll be putting their unbeaten record on the line today.
Elsewhere, usual there or thereabouts title challengers Leipzig and Dortmund clash in the day’s late kick-off.
?? Spain’s biggest clubs are also in action later. Barcelona go to Celta Vigo perhaps under the tutelage of interim coach Sergi Barjuan for the last time as they await the return of club legend and likely new manager Xavi Hernández.
And Real Madrid take on the third largest club in their home city, Rayo Vallecano who are currently being inspired by the goals of former Atlético Madrid hero Radamel Falcao.
Not to be outdone, the big boys of Serie A and Ligue 1 play today. Juventus, dominant in Europe but indifferent at home in Italy play Fiorentina whilst PSG travel south west to face Bordeaux.
? Following the big Cairo Derby on Friday night (won by Al Ahly), two more of Africa’s biggest club games are lined up for today.
In South Africa, Kaizer Chiefs play Orlando Pirates in the Soweto Derby and further north, Moroccan giants Wydad and Raja clash in Casablanca.
There’s also a massive game between rivals in Brazil where Internacional go up against fellow Porto Alegre club Grêmio in a game known as the Grenal. This one has some added spice as defeat for Grêmio would keep them in the relegation zone and at least seven points adrift of safety, with eight games to play.
Sunday
?? The Derby day feel to the weekend continues unabated tomorrow, not least at the San Siro.
Unbeaten Milan sit second in Serie A, five points above reigning champions Inter and with both sides on form, this edition of the Derby della Madonnina could be a hot one!
Napoli, the only side matching and indeed bettering Milan (in terms of goal difference) this season play Hellas Verona earlier in the day. Verona will be looking for more from their loan striker and famous footballing son, Giovanni Simeone.
The Argentine scored both in their shock win at Juve last time out, taking him to eight league goals in 10 appearances this season.
??????? With this weekend falling after a midway round in all of UEFA’s continental competitions, there are four Premier League games held over for tomorrow.
Arsenal go up against their training ground neighbours Watford (literally, look it up!), Rafa Benítez’s Everton play Antonio Conte’s Tottenham, Leeds entertain Leicester and the league’s top scorers Liverpool go to West Ham.
?? La Liga is similarly busy tomorrow with five of the current top seven sides all featuring. Real Sociedad (1st) play Osasuna (7th), Atlético Madrid (4th) look to snap back in to gear away at Valencia and the weekend is rounded off nicely by the most competitive looking Grand Derbi for years, Betis vs. Sevilla.
?? Amazingly, progression to the knockout stages in this years’ MLS season is still up in the air with only tomorrow’s final round of regular season games to play.
In the Eastern Conference six sides are fighting over three remaining slots whilst in the West, it’s a similar tale with five sides competing for the last three on their side of the league.
To try and make sense of it all, please give this article a read ahead of tomorrow’s Decision Day.
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Cover Image from IMAGO