This weekend doesn’t have the big blockbuster match-ups but there’s intriguing games for clubs under pressure and teams striving to achieve their ambitions.
Saturday 4pm European time - English Premier League
The pressure is on Graham Potter’s Blues amid a disastrous run with only two wins from their past 14 games in all competitions. Chelsea are down in 10th in the league, so anything less than three points against bottom club Southampton will suffice. The Saints have plenty of their own issues, namely they are without a manager after Nathan Jones’ dismissal earlier in the week. This game is full of tension.
Saturday 6:30pm European time - English Premier League
It’s no surprise that this fixture pits fourth versus ninth but there is surprise that it’s Newcastle who are well ahead of Liverpool, but that’s been their fortunes this term. The big-spending Magpies have enjoyed a stellar season under Eddie Howe, but have stalled lately with three straight draws threatening their top-four aspirations. The Reds seem a long way off the top four, nine points behind Newcastle with a game in hand, so anything but victory will all but end their fading Champions League aspirations.
Sunday 1pm European time - French Ligue 1
French champions PSG are five points clear in Ligue 1 but are in a mild crisis after three straight losses in all competitions, with Kylian Mbappe only returning from injury in midweek as a substitute. His return is a major boost for this clash against fifth-placed Lille who’ll be keen to capitalise on their stumbling opponents. Lille have only lost once in their past 10 league games, although they’ve conceded 12 goals in their past two meetings with PSG, losing 7-1 and 5-1.
Manchester United v Leicester City
Sunday 3pm European time - English Premier League
Erik ten Hag’s United have enjoyed an excellent few months, catapulting them into the top three, while they were impressive in midweek away to Barcelona. The reality is United are only five points off top spot. The visit of 13th-placed Leicester seems routine on paper but the Foxes have won their last two and seem vastly improved after a poor start to the campaign. United will not want to drop any points with a sniff of the top two after Arsenal’s recent wobbles. Can Marcus Rashford maintain his form?
Atletico Madrid v Athletic Bilbao
Sunday 6:30pm European time - Spanish La Liga
With leaders Barcelona hosting lowly Cadiz and second-placed Real Madrid going to midtable Osasuna, this clash looks appetising from Spain, with fourth-placed Atletico up against seventh-placed Bilbao. Athletic responded to a five-game winless run in the league with back-to-back victories with Oihan Sancet netting four goals in two games. Atletico are unbeaten across their past five league games, with new signing Memphis Depay scoring the winner last game.
