In this weekend preview we summarise the best five games to follow on your match feed. And make a couple of suggestions for matches that you may otherwise miss.
🇮🇹 Napoli vs. Salernitana
This tip is probably twofold, as the outcome of this season’s Serie A title race actually depends on two results over the weekend. First, runaway league leaders Napoli need to beat regional rivals Salernitana at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on Saturday afternoon. Then, if Lazio fail to win in Sunday’s early game at Inter, you can expect the party to end all parties to kick-off back in Naples!
There were unbelievable scenes when the team arrived back at the airport after beating Juventus last weekend (see above) but that will be small-fry compared to the day when a first Scudetto since 1990 is finally confirmed.
🏴 Rangers vs. Celtic
For the fifth time this season, and the second time this month, Scotland’s two biggest clubs meet each other again. This time, we’re on neutral territory as Hampden Park plays host to this Scottish Cup semi-final tie on Sunday. Celtic have undoubtably had the upper-hand against their old enemies this season, winning three of the four Glasgow Derbies, with the other being a 2-2 draw in which they equalised in the 88th minute. With third tier Falkirk and second tier Inverness playing in the other semi-final though, there is every chance that the winners of this game will go on to lift the cup. As if either needed extra motivation.
🇳🇱 Ajax vs. PSV
Dutch giants Ajax and PSV Eindhoven have played each other even more recently – going toe-to-toe in the league just last weekend (pictured).
On Sunday, they face off again in what will be the 105th final of the KNVB Cup, the major cup competition in the Netherlands. In fact, it’s also a repeat of last year’s final, which was won by PSV. With Feyenoord odds on to win the Eredivisie, this is the only opportunity for either side to lift silverware this season.
🇫🇷 Nantes vs. Toulouse
The big sides just keep falling by the wayside in the Coupe de France this season, leaving us with a final that features defending champions Nantes against Toulouse, the sides placed 16th and 12th in Ligue 1 respectively.
PSG were undone by Marseille back in the Round of 16 before L’OM were themselves upset by Ligue 2 giant-killers Annecy. Toulouse finally ended their run in the semi-finals while Nantes have beaten Lens and Lyon to get back to the final. Last season, they were 1-0 winners over Nice, ending a 20-year wait for a trophy.
🇹🇷 Beşiktaş vs. Galatasaray
Galatasaray, with a star studded squad that includes the likes of Mauro Icardi, Juan Mata, Nicolo Zaniolo, Dries Martens and Fernando Muslera currently lead the Süper Lig by six points. With seven rounds to play, they meet city rivals Beşiktaş on Sunday, who themselves sit third and a further two points down on second placed Fenerbahçe. The three Istanbul rivals have dominated the league this season and bar a showdown with Fener on the penultimate weekend, this game is the stiffest test that Galatasaray will face in the run-in.
Plus two hidden gems from deep in your match feed…
🇧🇷 Derby Paulista: Palmeiras vs. Corinthians
It’s early days in the new Brasileirão season, the main national league in Brazil, but this weekend will see two of the league’s biggest sides face off in a São Paulo. Defending champions Palmeiras have enjoyed superiority over their city rivals in the past few years – even winning South America’s biggest prize, the Copa Libertadores back-to-back in 2020 and 2021. And they’ve started the season slightly better – winning one and drawing the other in the opening two rounds while Corinthians have won one, lost one.
Both sides will have been relieved to scrap through their respective cup matches in the week – Corinthians needing penalties to beat third tier Remo, and Palmerias only drawing the second leg of their tie at Serie B club Tombense to go through 5-3 on aggregate.
🏆 AFC Champions League Final: Al Hilal vs. Urawa Red Diamonds
In a quirk of the footballing calendar, we’ll finally see the first leg of the 2022 AFC Champions League Final take place in Riyadh on Saturday. Defending 2021 Champions, and record winners, Al Hilal are the Saudi hosts for the clash with J-League side Urawa Red Diamonds. This is a repeat of the 2017 Final – won by Urawa, and the 2019 Final – won by Al Hilal, so perhaps consider this the decider! And know that both clubs have some great pedigree in this competition and have already conquered their respective regions to get this far – the competition being split in to East and West Zones until we reach this final stage.
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Cover Image from IMAGO