The best action to follow this weekend
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Saturday
?? We start in Germany where the latest Berlin Derby falls on Saturday evening. Union, who sit seventh travel across town to face a Hertha side mired in relegation trouble. One win in their last 10 league games sees them 17th but level on points with Arminia, who currently sit in the relegation play-off place and a point below Stuttgart, who sit above the drop zone.
Since Union’s promotion in 2019 both sides have won two derbies a piece and there’s been one draw but Union did also beat Hertha in a 5-goal thriller in the DFB Pokal back in January.
Elsewhere, league leaders Bayern face fellow Bavarians Augsburg at the Allianz Arena. The visitors are in good form with three wins in their last four and they’ll be looking to complete an unlikely double having beaten Die Roten at home in November.
There’s also a big game in the 2. Bundesliga with leaders Werder Bremen going to third-placed St. Pauli. The title race in Germany’s second tier is always hotly disputed and at the time of writing the top four are separated by just two points!
??????? The Premier League has five games lined up for Saturday and they include a massive lunchtime kick-off for relegation-threatened Everton, at home to Manchester United. The defeat at Burnley in the week left Frank Lampard’s side one point above the relegation zone and he’ll be desperate for an upturn in results if he’s to maintain the club’s proud record – Only Arsenal have spent more consecutive seasons in the England’s top tier, 96 to Everton’s 68.
Chelsea must pick themselves up from defeat to Real Madrid by going to Southampton before they then look to rescue their Champions League title defence, in Madrid next Tuesday. Fourth-placed Tottenham visit Aston Villa whilst Arsenal entertain goal-shy Brighton and the day’s big six-pointer comes as Watford and Leeds United clash at the Hornets’ Vicarage Road.
?? All three of Spain’s Champions League quarter-finalists are in domestic action on Saturday. The aforementioned Madrid, led by mercurial top scorer Karim Benzema will be looking for revenge against Getafe who beat them in the away fixture at the turn of the year.
Villarreal, who lost to Cadíz and Levante between their famous wins over Champions League heavyweights Juventus and Bayern play Athletic Club who sit eighth, directly below them in the race to qualify for another European adventure next season!
Atlético Madrid face the long trip to Mallorca before returning to the capital ahead of their second leg against Manchester City.
?? In Serie A and after facing each other last weekend, both Inter and Juventus will be looking to close the gap on the top two with Milan and Napoli not playing until Sunday. Inter host Hellas Verona, a side they’ve not lost to in their last 14 meetings whilst Juve go to Cagliari, who haven’t kept a clean sheet in 18 games.
??????? The Scottish Premiership gave us an exciting Old Firm Derby last weekend but now it’s time for two more classic rivalries from the same division. Dundee United host near-neighbours Dundee – literally, their grounds are situated on the same street, and playing at the same time, Hearts meet Hibs in the big Edinburgh Derby.
?? Chronologically speaking, the last big Derby of the day to kick-off comes in MLS where LA Galaxy play LAFC. Although it’s a rivalry that dates back only as far as 2018, ‘El Tráfico’ has become a mainstay in the league and it almost always guarantees goals. In fact, there’s been at least two goals in all 13 meetings between the two and both sides have scored in all but three of those.
Sunday
??????? Despite there being seven rounds still to play after this weekend, you’d be forgiven for thinking that the Premier League season comes to a head on Sunday when Manchester City clash with Liverpool. The league’s two dominate forces of the current era, managed by two of the world’s most revered coaches are separated by just a point in their battle for the title. There’s a lot riding on this one, something that’s only further complicated by the fact that it falls between the first and second legs of Champions League quarter-finals, for both sides.
There are three other Premier League games to warm you up before the day’s main event. Brentford host West Ham, in-form Crystal Palace go to Leicester City and in a really key battle at the bottom, Norwich City take on Burnley.
?? In La Liga, second-placed Barcelona head to Valencia where they’ll play Levante, a side capable of surprising some of the league’s best with wins against Atlético Madrid and Villarreal against their name in recent months.
Xavi’s side though are on a 14-game unbeaten run in all competitions, Thursday’s Europa League draw at Eintracht Frankfurt something of a comedown after back-to-back wins against Madrid and Sevilla.
?? The Serie A title race appears to be another one that’ll go down to the wire with Milan leading the way by a single point. They have seven games left to play, starting with Sunday’s trip to Torino, who haven’t won at home in their last four matches. This may be an ideal time for Milan to find their shooting boots after failing to score more than once in a game since mid-February.
Chasers Napoli are also in action, at home to Vincenzo Italiano’s Fiorentina and Roma, still smarting from their latest defeat to Norwegian champions Bodø/Glimt are at home against bottom side Salernitana.
?? The Bundesliga’s chasing pack are the main draw in Germany on Sunday with Leverkusen (3rd) looking to sure up their Champions League qualification place at Bochum, Freiburg (5th) also playing away at Eintracht and RB Leipzig (4th) facing off against Hoffenheim (6th).
?? After the state championships that fill the early part of the year in Brazil it’s now time for the new Serie A season to start. Defending champions Atlético Mineiro, fresh from adding a 47th Campeonato Mineiro to their list of honours thanks to a Hulk-inspired win over Cruzeiro begin with a tough assignment, at home to Internacional.
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Cover Image from IMAGO