It’s another bumper weekend of fixtures around Europe’s top leagues, headlined by two powerhouse blockbusters in England’s Premier League.
RB Leipzig v Bayern Munich
Friday 8:30pm European time - German Bundesliga
Third-placed Leipzig host leaders Bayern on Friday night, with Julian Nagelsmann taking on his former side as the Bundesliga returns after its winter break. The Bavarians won 10 straight games in all competitions prior to the break, so we’ll see if they can maintain that momentum against a strong opposition. Leipzig won four straight in the Bundesliga prior to the break too, so both bring in form, albeit from months ago. Christopher Nkunku is the league’s top scorer and Leipzig’s player to watch.
Saturday 1:30pm European time - English Premier League
Two of England’s under-performing powerhouse clubs meet in Saturday’s early kick-off. The Reds are down in ninth, having lost their past two league games. It’s been a period of tumult for Chelsea under new boss Graham Potter, although they snapped their three-game winless run with a midweek victory over Crystal Palace. The Blues landed Mykhaylo Mudryk in a big-money signing in midweek, while fellow new arrival Joao Felix will miss due to suspension.
Sunday 5:30pm European time - English Premier League
Leaders Arsenal host third-placed United on Sunday, with the Red Devils’ 10-game winning run halted by their midweek draw at Crystal Palace. That result takes some sting out of this contest, where a United defeat probably ends their remote title hopes. But it does feel like two old juggernauts re-uniting for battle after both endured difficult periods. Casemiro will miss this game in a major blow for United, having picked up a fifth yellow card in midweek.
Sunday 8:45pm European time - Italian Serie A
Third-placed Juventus host sixth-placed Atalanta on Sunday, with the Bianconeri coming off a heavy 5-1 loss to Napoli last weekend. Juve subsequently are 10 points behind the leaders in the Scudetto race. Free-scoring Atalanta are unbeaten in their past three league games and remain in top-four contention, having smashed Salernitana 8-2 last weekend, followed by a 5-2 rout of Spezia in the Coppa Italia in midweek, hinting that we can expect goals. Ademola Lookman has netted four goals in those two games.
Sunday 9pm European time - Spanish La Liga
Eighth-placed Athletic Bilbao welcome second-placed Real on Sunday evening, with both sides coming off defeats in the league. Athletic went down to in-form Real Sociedad 3-1 last weekend, while Real lost 2-1 to Villarreal earlier this month in the league. Los Blancos also went down to 3-1 Barcelona in last weekend’s Spanish Super Cup final. Real need to get the three points with Barcelona on top by three points, but a trip to the Basque Country is always tricky, with Athletic having the fourth best home record.
