In this weekend preview we summarise the best five games to follow on your match feed.
🏆 FIFA Club World Cup Final: Manchester City vs. Fluminense
First up, we’re guaranteed to see a new name etched into FIFA’s Club World Cup trophy, on Friday, as debut finalists Manchester City and Fluminense go head-to-head.
The Brazilian giants finally won their first Copa Libertadores title back in November, defeating Boca Juniors after extra-time, before then going on to finish seventh as their domestic league came to a close earlier this month. As representatives of the CONMEBOL region, Fluminense were therefore awarded a semi-final spot in this, the twentieth edition of this tournament, where they duly beat African champions Al Ahly in routine fashion. Watch out for young goal scoring sensation, John Kennedy, who will hope to feature at some point in the final. He scored in every knockout tie in the club’s Libertadores run. And then again in Monday’s semi-final.
Man City arrived in Saudi Arabia, for these finals, somewhat out of form having won just one of their last six Premier League games. But their expected superiority – as UEFA representatives – was back on show when they coasted to a 3-0 victory over AFC Champions League holders Urawa Red Diamonds in the other semi-final, played on Tuesday.
The European Champions have history on their side, with whoever is present from UEFA having won 15 of the previous 19 finals in the tournament under its current guise. And City’s Pep Guardiola is looking to become the first coach to win four titles, moving him clear of Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti in the record books. But he’ll have to do so against Fernando Diniz, a coach that is styling himself as the ‘anti-Guardiola’, and appears to be making great strides with Fluminense, if not with the Brazilian national team, who he is also temporarily in charge of.
Diniz is trying to do away with the rigid formations and a fast paced passing game, and instead, asks his players to be fluid, swarming areas of the pitch, both in possession, and to win back the ball from the opposition. The clash of styles should be interesting to watch.
🏴 Premier League: Liverpool vs. Arsenal
Back in Man City’s domestic league, the current matchday is spread right across the weekend, with the round’s main attraction coming with this top of the table clash, scheduled as Saturday’s late kick-off.
At the time of writing, Arsenal hold a one point advantage over hosts Liverpool at the top of the standings. That could all be changed though, by Aston Villa, should Unai Emery’s side win their Friday night game against bottom team Sheffield United.
Liverpool haven’t lost a league game against the Gunners, at Anfield, since September 2012, so their current 19-game unbeaten run on their own patch (all comps) should give the Reds some confidence ahead of this one.
Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta will be targeting this game, though, as he looks for the statement victory that could see his London side really stamp their authority on this season’s title race. The Gunners come in to the game having won five of their previous six in the league, and with a league-high seven clean sheets to their name.
🇪🇸 LaLiga: Atlético Madrid vs. Sevilla
There’s just one game remaining in Spain’s top flight this year. And that comes at the Metropolitano on Saturday night.
Atlético host Sevilla, who picked up their first win under new coach Quique Sánchez Flores on Tuesday night, barely 48 hours after his appointment. They beat Granada 3-0, away from home, to collect just their third win of the season, something that moved them three points clear of the drop zone.
At the other end of the table, Atlético sit fourth, albeit 10 points off city rivals Real, who lead Girona on goal difference following games earlier in the week. With this fixture being a rearranged match from earlier in the season, Atleti were also in action midweek. Diego Simeone’s side conspired to let a 3-1 lead slip at home to Getafe, who scored on 87 minutes, and again after 93 minutes to level the contest. Atlético managed to build that lead despite the sending off of star defender Stefan Savić in the first half.
One of the side’s other main performers – Antoine Griezmann – scored twice, taking his tally to 16 goals for the season (all comps). If Sevilla are going to get anything from this game, they’ll need to stop the Frenchman from getting a good sight at goal.
🇮🇹 Serie A: Inter vs. Lecce
Also on Saturday, Serie A leaders Inter are in action when they take on mid-table Lecce. Regardless of other results (Juventus play earlier on Saturday), the Nerazzurri are guaranteed to hold on to top spot for Christmas, but coach Simone Inzaghi will be looking for a reaction from his side following a surprise in the Coppa Italia on Wednesday.
Inter are the current Coppa holders but they suffered their first defeat since September when they were knocked out of the Round of 16, by Bologna, 2-1 after extra-time, at the San Siro. That ended a 15-game unbeaten run in all competitions and came despite Carlos Augusto opening the scoring for the home side on 92 minutes.
Back in the league, Inter haven’t conceded a goal in three games, and they continue to boast both the best attack – they average 2.4 goals per games – and the best defence – they’re conceding just 0.4 goals per game – in the division. For their part, Lecce come in to this game in good nick, they’re unbeaten in five, and ended a run of four draws with last weekend’s 2-1 win over Frosinone.
🇹🇷 Süper Lig: Fenerbahçe vs. Galatasaray
By far the biggest game taking place anywhere in the world on Sunday, Christmas Eve, comes in Türkiye. Here, the two continental rivals from different sides of Istanbul sit level on points at the top of the Süper Lig, something that adds even more spice to what is already one of the most fierce local derbies in the game.
The title race already looks like being a two-horse race with these two 14 points ahead of their nearest challengers, Kayserispor. Speaking of whom, Fenerbahçe beat the third placed side in dramatic fashion on Wednesday night. That game finished 4-3 to Fener, who were the away side, and was achieved despite them going down to nine men in the closing stages.
Michy Batshuayi scored a second half hat-trick as he deputised for old warhorse Edin Džeko, who already has 12 league goals to his name this season. A tally that puts him on a par with Galatasaray’s leading man, Mauro Icardi. The Argentine striker didn’t find the net as Gala struggled to a 1-0 victory over Karagümrük on the same night to keep pace with their rivals.
With Fener being by far and away the top scorers in the division, and Gala having the strongest defence, we could be set for a season defining contest.
Cover Image from IMAGO
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.
Or join our new WhatsApp Channel for updates on all the important football going on this weekend!