WEEKEND BANGERS
The Madrid derby, the Manchester derby, and der Klassiker are part of the thrilling matches fin the coming weekend.
While Manchester City is killing any talk about a ‘title race’ in the English Premier League, the title race is heating up in the Italian Serie A, the Spanish La Liga, and in the German Bundesliga. There are no fixtures being played in the French Ligue 1 this weekend, but the title race in Ligue 1 is also being hotly contested.
SCHALKE VS MAINZ
With one win from their last 39 Bundesliga matches and 9 points behind the relegation-playoff spot, Scahlke will be required to go empty-handed at home against Mainz.
The ambition for both Schalke and Mainz is to survive the relegation battle in the Bundesliga. Schalke have practically run out of hope.
With a max of 33 points left in the season for each team, it will be the biggest miracle if a team that is picking up 0.4 points per game to gather enough points to cover a 9 point (and growing) gap to safety. Mainz will be looking to extend Schalke’s poor results. Victory for Mainz will keep them as a contender in the relegation avoidance battle. The reverse fixtures ended in a 2-2 draw.
JUVENTUS VS LAZIO
Juventus (with a game in hand) are currently 10 points from the top. Extracting three points at home against Lazio is necessary for the pursuit to defend the league title.
BRIGHTON VS LEICESTER CITY
A win at Brighton for Leicester City will allow them to take advantage of the ‘Manchester derby’. Leicester City will finish the round in second place with a win and a Manchester United defeat in the ‘Manchester derby’.
MÖNCHENGLADBACH VS LEVERKUSEN
Monchengladbach and Leverkusen are two teams that seem to have lost their momentum. Recent results on both sides have been poor. Leverkusen opens a 7 point gap between the two sides with a win. With Monchengladbach playing at home, the objective should be getting a win to narrow the gap between the two sides to a point.
FREIBURG VS RB LEIPZIG
RB Leipzig are touching distance from the lead in the title race. A victory over the weekend will allow them to take full advantage of teh results from Der Klassiker.
To keep up the pace, they need a win at Freiburg. Their meeting earlier in the season was a 3-0 win for Leipzig.
HOFFENHEIM VS WOLFSBURG
Wolfsburg will be looking to go 10 straight league games without defeat when they visit Hoffenheim. 6 wins and 3 draws from their last nine.
DER KLASSIKER
BAYERN MUNICH VS DORTMUND
Bayern Munich are chasing their 9th straight league title.
In the last 10 Der Klassiker, Bayern Munich have won 7 and Dortmund have two wins. The last four have ended in victories or Bayern Munich.
Bayern Munich will take another win to secure their place at the top of the Bundesliga standings.
With RB Leipzig on their tails, this is a must-win for Bayern Munich. And with where they sit in the league, this is a must-win for Dortmund.
ELCHE VS SEVILLA
Sevilla will be taking advantage of the Madrid derby with a win at Elche.
OSASUNA VS BARCELONA
Barcelona will be taking advantage of the Madrid derby with a win at Osasuna.
LIVERPOOL VS FULHAM
Liverpool have gone 7 home matches without a win; with their last five games at home ending in defeat. Fulham are in a relegation battle but hopeful. We don’t expect Liverpool’s poor form at home to extend to 8 games.
MANCHESTER DERBY
MANCHESTER CITY VS MANCHESTER UNITED
The reverse fixture was a goalless draw.
The last two meetings have been wins for Manchester United, but Manchester City are on a streak of 21 wins in all competitions; including 15 in the Premier League.
Should Manchester City’s winning streak continue, they are going to add to their 14-point lead in the Premier League title race.
Manchester United have been involved in three straight goalless draw in all competitions (2 in the league). The need to win here is important for United to hold on to second place.
MADRID DERBY
ATLETICO MADRID VS REAL MADRID
Since the second half of the 2016/16 La Liga season, it has either been a Real Madrid win or a draw in the Madrid derby.
The earlier meeting of the season was a 2-0 win for Real Madrid, and the last time Atletico Madrid won the derby was in the first meeting of the 2015/16 season. (1-0). It was a victory that capped a streak of 3 derby wins in a row for Atletico Madrid. (something rare in recent history of the derby)
It was also part of 5 derbies in the league without a defeat for Atletico Madrid.
Atletico Madrid has a game in hand but are not in the position to get comfortable with dropping points in this fixture. A win for Real Madrid will widen the title race that has been widened in recent weeks. Atletico Madrid will have to try and return the favor for the defeat in the open half of the season, while Real Madrid will be there to look for a league double.
ROMA VS GENOA
Two points out of the ‘top four’. A win against Genoa will help Roma’s chances of getting back into the Champions League qualifying spot.
HELLAS VERONA VS AC MILAN
One win from their last four league games have cost AC Milan their lead in the title race. Dropping points against Hellas Verona could have AC Milan fall 9 points behind in a race they were leading a few weeks ago.
NAPOLI VS BOLOGNA
Napoli have been inconsistent in the league but with the figures they have coming up, it will be ideal to pick up a victory at home against Bologna.
CHELSEA VS EVERTON
Everton are with a game in hand and just a point behind Chelsea. They are going to Stamford Bridge to do what no one has done against Chelsea since Thomas Tuchel took over as manager; win. A successful day for Everton will have them with a game in hand a 2 points above Chelsea.
WEST HAM VS LEEDS UNITED
West ham are in contention to qualify for a continental football competition in the coming season. A win at home against Leed United will help West Ham in their chase. Leeds United have 1 win from their last four games.
INTER MILAN VS ATALANTA
If they are to win the Italian title, these are the games Inter Milan are suppose to get through.
Inter Milan will face a strong test at home when Atalanta visit the San Siro. 10 points separate the two teams.
