There aren’t any of the big local derbies this weekend but there’s still plenty of thrilling contests to come around Europe.
Sports Pundit’s Game of the Weekend
Italian Serie A, Sunday 8.45pm (CET)
Two genuine Scudetto candidates face off in Sunday’s late kick-off in Serie A, when last season’s third-place getters Napoli entertain the rejuvenated Juventus. The Old Lady are currently top in Italy, while Napoli are down in fifth.
Antonio Conte’s side remain the only team in Serie A yet to taste defeat this term, and fresh from good wins over Fiorentina and Inter Milan, the Old Lady will be full of confidence. Napoli’s loss to Catania was a setback for them last week and saw them slip down the table, but this is their chance to get back up.
QPR v Manchester City
English Premier League, Saturday 6.30pm (CET)
Newly-promoted QPR welcome the visit of Premier League leaders Manchester City in Saturday’s late kick-off in England’s top flight. Question marks are being thrown about on City’s ability to maintain their consistency this term and going goalless for a half last week against Wolves wasn’t ideal. QPR have had mixed results these term but recently beat Chelsea, showing they’re capable of an upset. City will be looking for their big guns to fire.
German Bundesliga, Sunday 3.30pm (CET)
Two of the Bundesliga’s more plucky outfits face off on Sunday when Hannover 96 play host to second-placed Schalke 04. Hannover impressed alot of people in finishing fourth last term and they’ve kept up their fine efforts this campaign, sitting in seventh and having recently defeated Bayern Munich. Schalke, on the other hand, have had some issues with Ralf Rangnick moving on, but have not had last season’s worries and sit second, having won four of their past five league games. The form of Klaas-Jan Huntelaar has certainly played a role, but they may miss him due to a broken nose.
Athletic Bilbao v FC Barcelona
Spanish La Liga, Sunday 8pm (CET)
The European champions dazzled in the Czech Republic in midweek with a 4-0 rout of Plzen, as Lionel Messi sparkled with another hat-trick. Next up for the all-conquering Barca is a trip to the Basque Country where they meet the always tricky and improving Athletic Bilbao. After a slow start to the campaign, Bilbao are actually unbeaten in their past nine matches, but Barca are the type of team to end that run. They’ll know the need the points too, with Real Madrid setting the pace early on in Spain.
Bordeaux v PSG
French Ligue 1, Sunday 9pm (CET)
The early French leaders Paris Saint-Germain can look forward to a normally tough trip to Bordeaux, where the 2009 champions will be hoping to get their season on track. It has been a poor season for Bordeaux who claimed just their second Ligue 1 win last week at Ajaccio, while PSG are flying on top spot with 29 points from 12 games. The big-hitters of Kevin Gameiro, Nene and Javier Pastore have been in top form and it’s hard to see the Parisians being stopped.