Each Friday, I curate for you the premier or most captivating matches, truly unmissable in the realm of football every single weekend. Spanning from local rivalries to confrontations at the summit of the standings, vital relegation encounters, and encounters between elite athletes or intriguing strategic duels, a delightful spectacle awaits all.
For this week’s edition, our journey extends to England, France, Spain, Turkey, and Germany, promising additional Cup enchantment, a pair of significant local rivalries, several clashes at the peak of the league, and crucial contests for qualification to European competitions!
FA Cup Quarter-Finals
Commencement: Saturday, 7:45 a.m. ET / 12:45 p.m. GMT (view on ESPN+)
Up to this point in the current campaign, Manchester City has maintained a clear edge in its encounters with Liverpool. They secured two victories: a straightforward triumph at the Etihad Stadium and a nearly astonishing success at Anfield. These two squads will once again meet at the Etihad for this much-awaited FA Cup quarter-final.
City overcame Arsenal to claim the Carabao Cup trophy immediately preceding the international hiatus, showcasing a tactical tour de force orchestrated by manager Pep Guardiola. This achievement will undoubtedly bolster their morale, particularly in the championship pursuit, although their distinct strategies employed in the final (a 4-2-4 formation when out of possession, concentrating players on the right flank) might have been effective solely for that specific confrontation.
When facing Liverpool, Pep and his squad will be compelled to adopt an alternative approach. Guardiola continues to refine his team’s strategic setup and the optimal deployment of Rayan Cherki, concurrent with Erling Haaland experiencing a concerning dip in his performance. Nevertheless, City demonstrates exceptional prowess in cup tournaments under Guardiola’s leadership. Liverpool will need to conjure an extraordinary performance to overcome the Citizens.
Arne Slot’s squad has encountered difficulties in maintaining consistent performance. Mohamed Salah’s performance has been substandard throughout the entire season, and for his concluding match with Liverpool facing City, he will aspire to achieve something remarkable. Is he capable? Across his nine tenures with the Reds, he has amassed 20 goals and assists when playing against them. Florian Wirtz delivered a superb display for Germany in two fixtures during the March international interval, concurrently, Hugo Ekitike excelled for France. This portends favorably for the reigning Premier League titleholders, who confront a formidable challenge on Saturday as dissatisfaction among their supporters, particularly directed at Slot, rapidly escalates.
MY FORECAST: Manchester City 2-1 Liverpool. I believe neither squad is performing optimally this season thus far, and both have exhibited significant variability, but City, on their home turf, will present a formidable challenge for this Liverpool contingent. Consequently, I anticipate a slender victory for the Citizens.
Can Atléti derail Barcelona’s championship pursuit?
Atlético Madrid versus Barcelona
Can Atléti derail Barcelona’s championship pursuit?LaLiga, Game Week 30
Commencement: Saturday, 3 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. GMT
Atlético Madrid is no longer in contention for the championship; nevertheless, they possess the capacity to significantly influence its eventual victor. They suffered defeat at the hands of Real Madrid in the capital city derby prior to the international recess at the Bernabeu, and on this occasion, they will welcome Barcelona to the Metropolitano.
Barça currently holds a four-point advantage over Real Madrid (with the concluding Clásico scheduled for May at the Camp Nou), yet this away fixture presents a challenging excursion for them. They will be without Raphinha for five weeks following an injury he sustained while with Brazil during the international interval. This represents a substantial setback for the team, given he is arguably their most effective player comprehensively (both with and without possession). Alejandro Baldé, Jules Koundé, and Frenkie de Jong are similarly unavailable. Once again, Barcelona’s head coach, Hansi Flick, will be tasked with identifying the optimal strategy for a composite lineup.
This encounter precedes the two squads facing each other again over the subsequent fortnight in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals. We witnessed two spectacular matches between them in the Copa del Rey semi-finals (a 4-0 triumph for Atléti on their home ground, and a 3-0 victory for the Catalans), and this fixture is anticipated to be equally captivating. Atlético are additionally missing several key players. Goalkeeper Jan Oblak remains sidelined, while Johnny Cardoso and Marco Pubill are questionable, and Marcos Llorente is serving a suspension.
During the initial leg of the Copa del Rey, Atlético precisely understood how to capitalize on Barcelona’s elevated defensive line, generating abundant scoring opportunities and subjecting their adversary to immense pressure. Conversely, the league front-runners consistently generate ample scoring opportunities against any opponent; however, Raphinha’s unavailability (he is likely to be substituted by Marcus Rashford in the starting eleven) will impact their offensive inventiveness.
MY FORECAST: Atlético Madrid 2-2 Barcelona. This promises to be a highly intense, wide-open contest, as Atlético will aim to replicate their commanding display against Barca in the Copa del Rey. Nevertheless, Barcelona will arrive better prepared on this occasion, even without Raphinha, and ought to secure a draw.
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Marcotti: Barcelona would be foolish to extend Rashford’s loan under the present conditions
Gab & Juls discuss if Barcelona ought to retain Marcus Rashford for the upcoming campaign.
French Ligue 1, Game Week 28
Commencement: Sunday, 2:45 p.m. ET / 7:45 p.m. GMT
This fixture holds substantial importance in the contention for European qualification, yet it is primarily a colossal derby — among France’s most significant, notwithstanding the 200-kilometer distance separating the two urban centers. This has been an immense rivalry originating from the Bernard Tapie-Arsène Wenger periods in the 1980s and 90s. No affection is harbored between these squads, and this sentiment will be further accentuated on Sunday with merely three points distinguishing them in the league standings.
Marseille occupies the third position, yet their performance has been inconsistent (recording two victories, one stalemate, and one defeat across their last four fixtures in all competitions), whereas Monaco sits in sixth, having achieved six consecutive league triumphs, notably against Lens, Paris Saint-Germain, and Lyon. The Monegasques currently represent the most proficient squad in Ligue 1, and on their home ground facing their primary adversaries, they will be seeking a seventh successive victory to sustain their remarkable charge toward a top-three placement. Only a short while past, head coach Sébastien Pocognoli faced immense scrutiny, and it appeared improbable for his team to attain the third position. However, their magnificent run of form has altered the entire situation. Their defensive trio demonstrates considerable strength, concurrently, attackers Maghnes Akliouche, Folarin Balogun, and Aleksandr Golovin are performing admirably.
Marseille’s defeat in the final moments at home to Lille, another claimant for European berths, preceding the international pause, constituted a truly unfavorable outcome. This squad hasn’t genuinely found its rhythm since Habib Beye’s appointment to the dugout (achieving three victories, three stalemates in Ligue 1, and one loss in the French Cup). This match is critically important for them, as a further subpar performance could allow Lyon and Lille (trailing them by just two points in fourth and fifth places, respectively) to surpass them in the league standings.
MY FORECAST: AS Monaco 2-0 Marseille.
Mason Greenwood is barred from playing for Marseille, which will represent a significant void, given he’s been their most outstanding performer this campaign. Monaco exude self-assurance and carry substantial momentum into this match; I anticipate they will prove too formidable to overcome.
An Istanbul Derby with Championship Ramifications
Fenerbahçe vs. Beşiktaş
An Istanbul Derby with Championship RamificationsTurkish Süper Lig
Kickoff: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. GMT
This Istanbul derby pits the second-placed team against the fourth-placed, featuring two footballing titans; however, the encounter holds considerably greater significance for the home side. Fenerbahçe trails league leaders Galatasaray by four points. Galatasaray, while having a game in hand, travels to Trabzon this weekend to face a Trabzonspor squad currently sitting third in the standings, level on points with Fener.
Fenerbahçe’s manager, Domenico Tedesco, will be hoping that Gala falters in their fixture while his own team secures a victory at home against their cross-city rivals. Fener has recently squandered points, suffering a 2-0 defeat at Karagümrük and a 2-2 draw at Antalyaspor. Should they aspire to claim their inaugural league title since 2014, flawless execution will be imperative. They have finished runners-up for four consecutive seasons! Marco Asensio and Talisca have been their standout players, while the young Frenchman Sidiki Cherif has already made an impact since his January arrival, alongside N’Golo Kanté and Matteo Guendouzi.
Fenerbahçe has suffered only a single defeat throughout the entire season, yet their nine draws are proving immensely costly. Galatasaray, conversely, has two losses but merely four draws. Beşiktaş lags considerably, trailing Trabzonspor and Fener by eight points. They are out of contention for the title and are set to qualify for the UEFA Conference League, but they would relish the opportunity to thwart Fenerbahçe’s championship aspirations. They are also in impressive form, having registered six wins in their last seven competitive outings, with their sole loss coming against Galatasaray (1-0) despite a commendable display.
Tammy Abraham remains the league’s leading goal scorer, despite his January departure for Aston Villa, but Orkun Kökçü is poised to be the pivotal figure for the Eagles for the remainder of the season. He has contributed six goals and six assists in the Süper Lig thus far and stands as Beşiktaş’s most influential performer.
MY FORECAST: Fenerbahçe 2-1 Beşiktaş. I believe that, notwithstanding Beşiktaş’s strong run, this match is vital for Fenerbahçe, and they will seize this chance. They are expected to clinch the victory at home on Sunday.
Inter Must Reverse Their Fortunes — Swiftly
Inter Milan vs. AS Roma
Inter Must Reverse Their Fortunes — SwiftlyItalian Serie A, Matchday 31
Kickoff: Sunday, 2:45 p.m. ET / 7:45 p.m. GMT
Remarkably, Inter Milan has secured victory in only one of their last six matches across all competitions. This unfortunate streak includes their elimination from the Champions League by Bodø/Glimt, another defeat to AC Milan in the derby, and consecutive 1-1 draws against Atalanta and Fiorentina, both times after initially taking the lead. Inter is underperforming at the most critical juncture of the season, and now Milan trails them by merely six points, poised to capitalize if their rivals continue to drop points.
While Inter prepares for this momentous game on Sunday, Milan will journey to Napoli on Monday for an exceptionally challenging fixture. At the very least, Inter will play on home turf, where they have recorded only two losses and two draws throughout the season. Nevertheless, they urgently need to regain their peak performance. Lautaro Martínez’s absence has been their most significant impediment and the primary cause of their recent dip in form. Fortunately, Hakan Çalhanoğlu has finally returned to midfield, and his presence is immediately enhancing the team’s play.
This encounter also carries immense weight for Roma. They currently occupy sixth place in the league table, holding the same number of points as Juventus in fifth and just three behind Como in fourth. As we await clarification on whether Serie A will feature four or five teams in next season’s Champions League, Roma desperately requires points following a period of poor results themselves. Aside from their 1-0 triumph over Lecce in the last game before the international break, they had managed only one win in their preceding seven matches across all competitions. Manager Gian Piero Gasperini is struggling to find consistency for his squad. Roma frequently struggles to convert chances, despite the excellent form of Donyell Malen, who joined from Aston Villa in January (seven goals in 10 Serie A appearances).
MY FORECAST: Inter Milan 2-1 AS Roma. I anticipate Inter Milan will return to winning ways this Sunday. It’s a crucial match, and they will approach it with the resolve of champions.
German Bundesliga, Matchday 28
Kickoff: Saturday, 12:30 p.m ET / 5:30 p.m. GMT
The Bundesliga features a clash between third and second this weekend as Stuttgart hosts Borussia Dortmund. An eight-point difference currently separates the two sides in the league standings, meaning a victory for Sebastian Hoeneß’s squad would narrow the gap to five points, offering them an opportunity to attempt to close in on their opponent before the season concludes. Dortmund continues its pursuit of Bayern, but with a nine-point deficit and both ‘Klassiker’ fixtures already contested, achieving this goal seems almost insurmountable. Thus, Niko Kovač and his team can concentrate on securing the runner-up position.
Excluding their defeat against Bayern a month ago, Dortmund has been in superb form for quite some time, boasting nine wins and only one draw (at Leipzig) in their ten matches apart from the Bayern game. Their sole two losses this season have come against Bayern, and they remain undefeated against all other teams in the league. Dortmund’s defense, which ranks second-best in the league only behind Bayern’s, will face a rigorous examination from this Stuttgart side, which possesses considerable attacking prowess.
At 29, Deniz Undav has established himself as one of the league’s premier strikers, having already netted 18 goals. He has been in formidable form recently, contributing 11 goals and seven assists in his last 15 appearances across all competitions for his club. Undav has been exceptional and even scored for Germany during the international break. This promises to be a compelling duel against Dortmund’s prolific number 9: Serhou Guirassy, who has tallied 13 goals this season. More significantly, Guirassy has scored eight times (and provided one assist) in his last 10 competitive outings for Dortmund.
MY FORECAST: Stuttgart 2-2 Dortmund. I foresee a high-scoring encounter between two teams featuring in-form goal scorers. Stuttgart is not yet assured of a Champions League spot, but a win on Saturday would significantly boost their prospects; however, I don’t expect BVB to allow them to achieve it.