Top match preview: Why this is the best weekend of action in Europe all season
After a remarkable week of European action, the weekend’s football certainly doesn’t disappointed, with Sunday in particular set to be one of the best days of the calendar, with no fewer than four matches between first and second in the league on the continent.
PREMIER LEAGUE
There’s little doubt as to the marquee match-up in England’s top-flight, with Manchester City once again knowing that a victory will secure them the title. The games don’t get any easier, however, facing an in-form Tottenham side on a six-game winning streak in the league and looking to extend the leaders run of defeats to four in all competitions.
Elsewhere Crystal Palace and Brighton renew their fierce rivalry, with the Eagles in desperate need of the points, while West Brom could be relegated by Manchester United with a defeat if other results go against them.
LA LIGA
It’s first against third in Spain as Barcelona aim to bounce back from the heartache of their Champions League exit against a Valencia side with five wins in a row. There’s a battle for Europa League spots too when Sevilla host Villarreal in Saturday’s early-kick, with just two points and one place separating the sides in seventh and sixth, while Deportivo and Las Palmas must win to avoid being well and truly cut adrift at the bottom with Malaga.
SERIE A
There are a number of meaningful match ups in the battle for places among the top six in Italy, starting with Inter’s trip to Atalanta, with the two sides gunning for returns to the Champions and Europa League respectively. Both Napoli and Juventus face sides also aiming to qualify for the latter in the form of AC Milan and Sampdoria, before the biggest game of the weekend in Serie A rounds off the action. The Rome derby is perhaps more crucial than ever, with Lazio and Roma level on points in fourth and third with Inter breathing down the necks ahead of game week 32.
BUNDESLIGA
Bayern may have wrapped up a sixth successive title last week but there’s still plenty to play for beneath them, not least between Schalke and Borussia Dortmund, who face off in the Revierderby on Sunday. Elsewhere Leverkusen vs Frankfurt is the pick of the bunch the day before, between fourth and fifth in the scrap for a Champions League berth.
LIGUE 1
There’s little doubt as to the game of the round in France, as the champions elect host the holders in the late kick-off on Sunday. Paris Saint-Germain are able to strip Monaco of their crown with a win at the Parc des Princes.
BEST OF THE REST
Arguably the biggest game of the entire weekend, the race for the title in Portugal hots up this weekend as Benfica host Porto in O Classico. The home side top the league ahead of their visitors by a single point coming into a defining match of the season for both sides.
PSV Eindhoven have the chance to claim the title in Holland this weekend, but to do so they will need to beat Dutch giants Ajax in the final game of the round this Sunday, while there’s a top table match up in the Turkish Super Lig too, with Istanbul Basaksehir travelling to Galatasaray in a capital city clash. Meanwhile Wolves could claim the Championship title in a derby against Birmingham on Sunday if results in Fulham and Cardiff’s matches go their way on Saturday.
And breathe!
Saturday 14th, suggested schedule
Sevilla vs Villarreal 12:00 (Sky Sports)
Bayer Leverkusen vs Frankfurt 14:30 (Bet 365)
Barcelona vs Valencia 15:15 (Bet 365)
Fulham vs Brentford 17:30 (Sky Sports)
Tottenham vs Manchester City 19:45 (Sky Sports)
Sunday 15th suggested schedule
Wolves vs Birmingham 12:00 (Sky Sports)
Schalke vs Borussia Dortmund 14:30 (BT Sport 2)
PSV Eindhoven vs Ajax 15:45 (Sky Sports Mix)
Galatasaray vs Istanbul Başakşehir 17:00 (Bet 365)
Benfica vs Porto 18:00 (Free Sports)
Lazio vs Roma 19:45 (BT Sport 3)
Paris Saint-Germain vs Monaco 20:00 (Bet 365)
