25/04 - 20:00
Following on from the March international break, the ‘run-in’ is now set to begin with a couple of months to go in Europe’s six major leagues. This is a standout match from each of the leagues ahead of this upcoming weekend…
BUNDESLIGA
Bayern Munich vs Borussia Dortmund | 17:30 on Saturday
In Europe’s six major leagues, only one has a title race that is as tight as a single game and that could well be decided in Der Klassiker at the weekend.
Over the international break, Julian Nagelsmann was surprisingly sacked and immediately replaced by Thomas Tuchel. The Bavarians suffered a 2-1 defeat away to Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen a couple of weeks ago and sit a point behind Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga table with the distraction of a UEFA Champions League quarter-final coming up soon.
Borussia Dortmund have no such distractions after their loss to Chelsea in the Last 16 of the competition. Edin Terzic’s side have been more competent and pragmatic than in the recent past and have finished a match day at the top-of-the-table for the first time in nearly half a decade. They hammered Cologne by six goals to one in their most recent outing.
LA LIGA
Atletico Madrid vs Real Betis | 20:00 on Sunday
These are two sides that are challenging for a top four finish and UEFA Champions League qualification with this an important marker in the ‘run-in’.
Since it became apparently clear that Diego Simeone was departing at the end of the season, as well as some January departures, Atletico Madrid have been in excellent form and now there are indications that Simeone will remain at the Metropolitano. Los Rojiblancos come into this on the back of a 3-0 defeat of Valencia, extending their unbeaten run in La Liga to ten matches.
Real Betis, under the management of Manuel Pellegrini, begin this weekend’s round of fixtures sitting fifth in the table, three behind Real Sociedad and six behind their upcoming opponents. The Andalusians’ most recent outing was a 1-0 victory at home to Real Mallorca, extending their own unbeaten La Liga run of form to six matches.
LIGUE 1
Paris Saint-Germain vs Olympique Lyonnais | 19:45 on Sunday
Despite neither of these sides having much jeopardy on the game going into the weekend, this is one of the bigger rivalries in French football and should always be worth keeping an eye on.
Christophe Galtier seems destined to depart Paris Saint-Germain at the end of the season as the French reigning champions continue to underperform. The home team remain at the top-of-the-table due to the incompetence and inconsistency of others as their 2-0 loss at home to Rennes a couple of weeks ago was a continuation of a post-Christmas blip.
They now face an Olympique Lyonnais side that, under the management of Laurent Blanc, begin this weekend’s round of fixtures sitting firmly in the middle-of-the-table. The visitors’ most recent outing was a 1-1 draw at home to Nantes, extending their unbeaten run of form to five matches in all competitions and they aren’t too far off the top six and the European spots.
PREMIER LEAGUE
Manchester City vs Liverpool | 12:30 on Saturday
In recent seasons, this has been one of the biggest clashes in European football and, usually, a Premier League title decider; not this time, though.
Under the management of Pep Guardiola, Manchester City are eight points behind his former assistant manager Mikel Arteta and Arsenal. Whilst City do have a game in hand they also have the added distraction of an FA Cup semi-final and UEFA Champions League quarter-final coming up, amid doubts over Erling Haaland’s fitness.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">🛡️ Unbeaten at HOME in 2023 (top 4 tiers):<br><br>PL: Brentford, Liverpool, Man C, Man U, West Ham<br>Ch: Blackburn, Boro, Bristol C, Burnley, WBA, Watford<br>L1: Ipswich, Plymouth, Sheff W<br>L2: , Orient, Stockport<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BrentfordFC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BrentfordFC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/YNWA?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#YNWA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COYI?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COYI</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Rovers?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Rovers</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UTB?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UTB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BristolCity?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BristolCity</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UTC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UTC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WestBrom?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WestBrom</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WatfordFC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WatfordFC</a> <a href="https://t.co/d3wjf7M3z7">pic.twitter.com/d3wjf7M3z7</a></p>— playmakerstats (@playmaker_EN) <a href="https://twitter.com/playmaker_EN/status/1640380671905464323?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 27, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Liverpool have endured a really difficult campaign as they begin this weekend’s round of fixtures sitting seven points off the top four, albeit they have two games in hand on Tottenham in fourth. The Reds’ inconsistency has been stark throughout the campaign and that was shown in their 1-0 loss at Bournemouth, a week after hammering Manchester United 7-0.
PRIMEIRA LIGA
Sporting CP vs Santa Clara | 20:30 on Saturday
These are two sides that are underperforming their pre-season expectations but to very different extents with very different immediate prospects.
Under the management of Ruben Amorim, who is being linked with a move away to several clubs, Sporting CP begin this weekend’s round of fixtures sitting outside of the top three and the UEFA Champions League spots. The home team did knock out Premier League leaders Arsenal in the UEFA Europa League in their most recent outing before the international break.
Santa Clara have overperformed in recent seasons and flirted with European competition but the Azores based club are destined for automatic relegation. Their last match, a 2-0 defeat at home to Rio Ave, means they have now suffered six successive defeats and they are winless in their last 16 matches in all competitions as they sit at the bottom-of-the-table.
SERIE A
Napoli vs Milan | 19:45 on Sunday
With two months to go in the season, this match is a symbolic passing on of the baton between Italy’s champions-elect and the reigning champions.
Under the management of Luciano Spalletti, Napoli have put together an exceptional and exciting side that are cruising towards Serie A. The Neapolitans have only ever won the Scudetto twice and both of those triumphs came in the Diego Maradona era. The hosts begin this weekend’s round of fixtures sitting 19 points clear of Lazio.
This match is a UEFA Champions League quarter-final in a few weeks but Milan have endured a difficult domestic campaign and defence of their title. The Rossoneri, under Stefano Pioli, are currently sitting fourth in the table at the start of this weekend’s round of fixtures. They have managed just four victories in their last 15 matches in all competitions.
