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.
🇩🇪 Bayern München vs. RB Leipzig
We’ve reached the penultimate round in the Bundesliga season with the title yet to be decided and Bayern sitting just one point above Borussia Dortmund. But things could all be confirmed over the course of the weekend. Or, failing that, everything will go down to an exciting final round!
Of the four remaining games faced by the two title challengers, Bayern’s clash with third placed RB Leipzig – on Saturday – looks by far the most complicated. Leipzig are eight points down on the leaders but still need a win of their own to confirm their place in next season’s Champions League.
A Bayern victory, combined with any slip-ups for Dortmund in their game at Bayern’s Bavarian neighbours Augsburg – on Sunday – would guarantee that the 10-time title holders would extend their current run of dominance.
A defeat, combined with a Dortmund win, could be catastrophic after a season of complications off the field (Julian Nagelsmann’s sacking) and relative failures on it (the Champions League run). At least in the eyes of the Bayern board, and fanbase. Everybody else concerned with German football might fancy a final weekend where somebody else still has a chance of lifting the Meisterschale.
🏴 Manchester City vs. Chelsea
Most of the talk in English football this week has been around Manchester City overwhelming Real Madrid in the Champions League to reach this year’s final. And just the second final in the club’s history. But while Pep Guardiola’s squad bask in that glory, there’s the small matter of the Premier League to be won.
The equation is fairly simple: City have three games left to play in what is a particularly busy final week of the season. The first of which comes at home to Chelsea on Sunday. They currently have a four point advantage over Arsenal, who only play twice, meaning that one victory for City secures what will be their fifth title in the last six seasons.
They may not even need to do that should Nottingham Forest follow what Brighton did to Arsenal last weekend and beat them when the two clash at the City Ground on Saturday.
Chelsea have nothing to play for but pride and the knowledge that last time Manchester City reached the Champions League Final, in 2021, it was them who stopped them winning it. Chelsea fans may want to forget about the five meetings between the sides that have taken place since then – a run that includes defeats in the league, Carabao Cup, and FA Cup this season alone.
🇵🇹 Sporting vs. Benfica
The destination of the Liga Portugal can also be decided on Sunday. And much like Barcelona did at city rivals Espanyol in Spain last weekend, current leaders Benfica can claim the league at their Lisbon neighbours, Sporting.
With two rounds to play, Benfica have a four point cushion on Porto, their other arch-rivals, who play on Saturday night. Presuming the defending champions win that, at mid-table Famalicão, Benfica will then know what they need to do. A win would be definitive. To put themselves back on top after three seasons without league honours at the home of their rivals has got to be the ultimate carrot for Roger Schmidt’s side. And it will cap a fine season after the Eagles also impressed in the Champions League before bowing out to eventual finalists Inter at the quarter-final stage.
🇪🇸 Sevilla vs. Real Betis
LaLiga is, of course, already decided but that’s not to say there isn’t plenty of intrigue in the league over the next few days. And on Sunday, El Gran Derbi takes centre-stage as Sevilla and Real Betis meet in one of Spain’s fiercest derbies.
Since FotMob records began with the start of the app (around 2010), it’s Sevilla who have had the upper hand, winning 58% of the games played in that time. But this season, at least domestically speaking, it’s Betis who’ve fared better. They currently lie sixth in the table and although they haven’t won at the home of their rivals since 2018 doing so now will keep hopes alive that they can still finish in the Champions League places.
For Sevilla, this game comes at the end of a week in which they beat Juventus, after extra-time, in order to take their almost obligatory place in the final of the Europa League. That was a massive effort, particularly from experienced campaigners such as Ivan Rakitic (our MOTM on the night). And one that may take its toll on their remaining league games.
Under the stewardship of José Luis Mendilibar, who joined the club in March, they have at least righted themselves when previously, their LaLiga status appeared under threat. It’s almost ridiculous looking back, especially when the club now has a seventh Europa League final to look forward to.
🇪🇸 Valencia vs. Real Madrid
Earlier on Sunday, we’ll be following another LaLiga fixture very closely. Firstly because well, it pits two Spanish greats against each other. But secondly, it’s also important for both clubs. A presumably crestfallen Real Madrid travel to relegation threatened Valencia looking for a reaction to their Champions League exit at the hands of Manchester City.
With four rounds to play Madrid are second in the table but embroiled in a battle for that spot with Diego Simeone’s Atlético who sit two points below them. Valencia, on the other hand, have a three point gap between them and the relegation zone. And that may be less come kick-off with the majority of sides around them playing before they get underway at the Mestalla.
Plus two hidden gems from deep in your match feed…
🏆 CAF Champions League Semi-Final: Mamelodi Sundowns vs. Wydad (0-0)
Looking further afield, there’s a very evenly poised Champions League semi-final to be played in South Africa on Saturday. Mamelodi Sundowns, who received their domestic league trophy during the week, take on defending African champions Wydad Casablanca looking to push on and claim a historic double.
Mamelodi Sundowns ended last week’s first game with just nine men but perhaps crucially, they held on for a credible 0-0 draw against another of the continents strongest teams. That leaves them with all to play for on their home turf.
Their Premier League title is the first won under the sole management of head coach Rhulani Mokwena. The 36-year-old is thought to be a rising start of the African game. And he can dance too.
🇳🇴 Norwegian Cup Final: Brann vs. Lillestrøm
You may find some of the FotMob staff are a little distracted on Saturday. That’s because the side local to our HQ in Bergen, SK Brann, are playing in the final of Norway’s cup competition for the first time since 2011.
Only promoted back to the top flight ahead of the current season, this cup run is one that started for both sides way back in May 2022. In fact, both will feature in the first round of the 2023 edition of the cup that starts as early as next week!
But quirks of the Norwegian football calendar aside, this is a clash between two of the country’s biggest and best supported teams, both of whom have started well in the Eliteserien with Brann currently third and LSK fifth.
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