By NICK IUELE
English Premier League table-toppers Chelsea will take on Manchester United this weekend. The Blues are still undefeated on the season, while United is tied for second position with Manchester City with 18 points. Chelsea will look to rebound from a Champions League loss to Shakhtar as the Red Devils try to close the EPL gap.
In Italy, AC Milan faces a virtual must-win on Sunday against Genoa at the San Siro. The Italian giants are currently in 15th place in the table, five spots below Genoa. Another loss, which would be Milan’s six of the season, could mean a sacking is in the near future for boss Massimiliano Allegri.
Real Madrid will look to continue their ascent up the table against a solid Mallorca side on Sunday. Despite losing in Champions League during the week, Madrid is in fine La Liga form and has moved up to fourth position after a very shaky start. A win and a Malaga loss could put Madrid in automatic UCL position.
Here is a look at this weekend’s European action:
ENGLAND
Everton and Liverpool square off in the Merseyside Derby on Sunday. The Toffees have only lost once this season and sits in the fourth position in the table. Liverpool, who only has two wins to this point, will be desperate to not only beat their rivals but also take all three points to begin moving up.
Arsenal looks to rebound against Queens Park Rangers after suffering a loss to Norwich last weekend. The Gunners have now lost two in a row in all competitions and will need to right the ship quickly if they want to get into the Europe conversation.
Here are this weekend’s English Premier League matches:
Aston Villa vs. Norwich City
Arsenal vs. Queens Park Rangers
Reading vs. Chelsea
Stoke City vs. Sunderland
Wigan Athletic v.s West Ham United
Manchester City v. Swansea City
Everton vs. Liverpool
Newcastle United vs. West Bromwich Albion
Southampton vs. Tottenham Hotspur
Chelsea vs. Manchester United
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ITALY
After suffering a loss to Juventus last week, Napoli will try to take all three points from Chievo Verona to fend of third-place Lazio. The Juve loss was Napoli’s first of the season and the two goals allowed were two of only three allowed all season. Napoli should take this match with ease to keep pace.
Roma plays Udinese on Sunday. I Lupi are in fifth place right now and can remain in European qualification position with a positive result. Udinese is battling an up and down season, but is still a mid-table club.
Here are this weekend’s Serie A matches:
Siena vs. Palermo
AC Milan vs. Genoa
Catania vs. Juventus
Bologna vs. Inter Milan
Fiorentina vs. Lazio
Sampdoria vs. Cagliari
Torino vs. Parma
US Pescara vs. Atalanta
AS Roma vs. Udinese
Napoli vs. Chievo Verona
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SPAIN
Surprise success Real Betis faces a battle against Valencia this weekend. Valencia has been a much improved club in the last few weeks, moving up to ninth in the table. Betis could need all three points to stay in in the fifth spot.
Barcelona takes on Rayo Vallencano on Saturday. Despite being undefeated and in the top spot at the table, Barca has not been their dominant selves so far this term. With clubs like Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid and Malaga surging, Messi and Co. will need to not only continue to win, but improve as well.
Here are this weekend’s La Liga matches:
Espanyol vs. Malaga
Real Betis vs. Valencia
Celta Vigo vs. Deportivo La Coruna
Rayo Vallecano vs. Barcelona
Real Zaragoza vs. Sevilla FC
Levante vs. Granada
Atletico Madrid vs. Osasuna
Athletic Bilbao vs. Getafe
Mallorca vs. Real Madrid
Valladolid vs. Real Sociedad
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GERMANY
Schalke eyes to continue their excellent form against Nurnberg. Schalke is firmly in third place in the Bundesliga table with 17 points and the club is coming off a huge UCL win over Arsenal.
Bayern Munich will puts their perfect 8-0-0 record on the line against fifth-place Bayer Leverkusen. Munich has only lost once in all competitions this season and has looked like one of the best teams in the world at times. Leverkusen will have their work cut out for them in Munich on Sunday.
Here are this weekend’s Bundesliga matches:
FC Augsburg vs. Hamburg SV
Fortuna Dusseldorf vs. VfL Wolfsburg
Mainz vs. TSG Hoffenheim
SC Freiburg vs. Borussia Dortmund
Schalke 04 vs. Nurnberg
SpVgg Greuther Furth vs. Werder Bremen
VfG Stuttgart vs. Eintracht Frankfurt
Bayern Munich vs. Bayer Leverkusen
Hannover 96 vs. Borussia Monchengladbach
FRANCE
Marseille is in danger of losing their share of the top spot in Ligue 1 if they lose to a good Lyon club this weekend. The table-toppers suffered a shock defeat at the hands of Troyes last round and are not tied with with Paris-St. Germain, technically in second on goal differential.
Paris St. Germain can take complete control of the table with all three points against Nancy. PSG is coming off a UCL win and have yet to lose in league play this term. However, a loss and a Lyon win over Marseille buts Lyon in the top spot, as only one point separates the three sides.
Here are this weekend’s Ligue 1 matches:
St. Etienne vs. Stade Rennes
Lille vs. Valenciennes
AS Nancy Lorraine vs. Paris St-Germain
Montpellier vs. Nice
Sochaux vs. Evian Thonon Gaillard
Stade de Reims vs. Troyes
Toulouse vs. Brest
Lorient vs. AC Ajaccio
Bastia vs. Bordeaux
Marseille vs. Lyon