The best action to follow this weekend
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Saturday
??????? The English FA Cup, the world’s longest-running cup competition has reached the Third Round, the stage at which the big boys enter the draw. With games spread across the weekend and into Monday, we’ve picked out just a selection of the ties we think are worth following in the app.
Four Non-League sides survived the early rounds and they all feature on Saturday. Two clubs, Kidderminster Harriers and Yeovil Town have been rewarded with ties against Championship opposition – Reading and Bournemouth respectively whilst the plum draw was saved for Chesterfield (currently top of the National League) as they face European Champions Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Elsewhere, we think the all-Premier League clash between Leicester and Watford should be interesting as will the South London battle between Millwall and Crystal Palace. And there’s potentially tricky ties for Everton, who go to Hull City and Southampton, who visit Swansea City.
?? In Spain, Real Madrid will be looking to bounce back from last weekend’s surprise defeat as they welcome Valencia to the Bernabéu. Both sides made hard work of beating lower division sides in midweek so the jury is still out on their post-Christmas form.
Also in action on Saturday are Barcelona, as Xavi’s semi-refreshed side test a run of four unbeaten away games at Granada. And early season pacesetters Real Sociedad will need a result against Celta Vigo if they’re to stop their slide back in to the mid-table pack.
?? There’s just one game from France coming up on Saturday night that we should mention, with Lens (7th) taking on Rennes (4th) in a clash between two sides who have dipped in and out of form so far this season.
?? The Bundesliga resumes this weekend, with the inevitable reports of multiple positive COVID-19 cases dominating the build-up.
Borussia Dortmund play at Eintracht Frankfurt in the evening kick-off, with 4th meeting 7th earlier in the day as Bayer Leverkusen take on the impressive Union Berlin. We’ll also be keeping at eye on Augburg’s game at fifth placed Hoffenheim. The struggling Bavarian side have signed breakthrough US star Ricardo Pepi in a bid to solve their problems in front of goal.
Sunday
? On Sunday and after a delay of seven months, the 2021 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations finally gets underway in Cameroon.
We’ve been looking forward to this tournament and we’ll be following it closely on our social media channels in the coming weeks.
Today’s opening games come in Group A as hosts Cameroon look to start well against Burkina Faso and Cape Verde take on group outsiders Ethiopia, who are making their first finals appearance since 2013.
If you follow African football, please take part in our AFCON predictor game. Make your call on the results and share your predictions with your friends – the bigger and bolder your claims, the better!
To play, simply hit the link here or click on the image above.
?? Sunday sees a massive game In France’s Ligue 1 as the two sides who’ve won 14 of the last 20 titles, Lyon and PSG meet at the Groupama Stadium.
Despite their well documented struggles this season (6 wins in 18 games) Lyon won’t want to lie down without a fight, especially if they can stop PSG extending their 11 point lead at the top of the table.
?? In Italy, where COVID-19 outbreaks put paid to four of the fixtures scheduled for Thursday, we’ll have to see which games get the go ahead for Sunday.
On paper, we should see leaders Inter host Lazio whilst chasers Milan take the gondola ride to Venezia. Meanwhile, managerial royalty José Mourinho and Massimiliano Allegri do battle as Roma meet Juventus.
?? Back in La Liga, look out for title-challenging Sevilla’s game against Quique Sánchez Flores’ improving Getafe side (unbeaten in six) and Atlético Madrid’s trip to the similarly in-form Villarreal.
Both should be real tests for the sides currently sitting in the Champions League places.
??????? And finally, Sunday’s highlights in the FA Cup include a second trip to Anfield in the last three seasons for third tier Shrewsbury Town.
The Shrews famously held Liverpool to a 2-2 draw back in 2020 before suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat in the replay thanks to an an own goal scored Ro-Shaun Williams (no longer at the club). As a reminder – there will be no replays in the stage of the competition this season.
Another League 1 side, Morecambe also have a glamour tie to look forward to as the Shrimpers go to Tottenham Hotspur, whilst Arsenal also face a potential banana skin with a game at sleeping giants Nottingham Forest.
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.
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Cover Image from IMAGO