Sports Pundit’s Game of the Weekend
Manchester City v Chelsea English Premier League’‘Saturday, 1.45pm (CET)’’
Saturday’s early kick-off in England brings the battle of billionaire owners and their expensive sides when City host leaders Chelsea.
Sky Blues boss Roberto Mancini has been lumping the pressure of the Londoners this week as well, claiming Chelsea will win the title this season. After a stunning start to the season which has seen Chelsea win all five games, scoring 21 goals and conceding only one, some they have already!
But this will be Chelsea’s biggest assignment so far this campaign, while City – after some indifferent results against Sunderland and Blackburn – need to show their credentials.
Bayern Munich v FSV Mainz German Bundesliga’‘Saturday, 3.30pm (CET)’’
Looking at the Bundesliga fixture list prior to the new campaign nobody would’ve expected this clash to be worthy of game of the weekend, but that’s how it’s culminated with FSV Mainz winning five from five so far and sitting at the summit in Germany.
The challenge of a trip to the Allianz Arena certainly puts that record at risk and Bayern stopper Hans-Jorg Butt insists Mainz can not retain their lofty position. But Mainz are there for a reason, with some decent football so far and with Andre Schurrle firing they can pose problems for the reigning champions who’ve started slowly.
Werder Bremen v Hamburg SV> German Bundesliga’‘Saturday, 6.30pm (CET)’’
The north-west German derby takes place in the late kick-off in the Bundesliga on Saturday. And Werder need the points after winning just one of their first five matches, while Hamburg are up in sixth.
HSV are coming off last weekend’s intercity derby against St Pauli so they’ll be familiar with the occasion, but they’ve not won in their past three and need to get back on track. Werder coach Thomas Schaaf has called for calm from his side despite their poor start but they need to bounce back after losing their past two matches.
AS Roma v Internazionale> Italian Serie A’‘Saturday, 8.45pm (CET)’’
Last season’s Scudetto went down to the wire and it was battled out by these two. Four matches into the new campaign it hardly appears there will be a repeat with Roma down in second-last with two points, while Inter are back on top.
If Claudio Ranieri’s Roma are to get into the title race, you fancy it needs to start here. The Giallarossi welcome back Francesco Totti but lose Julio Sergio (injury) and Philippe Mexes (suspension). For Inter, Samuel Eto’o and Diego Milito are in form.
Olympique Lyonnais|Olympique Lyon v St Etienne> French Ligue 1’‘Saturday, 9pm (CET)’’
It’s been a horrendous start to the Ligue 1 campaign for title contenders Olympique Lyon and this week club president Jean-Michel Aulas had to publicly defend coach Claude Puel, claiming it’s not the time to sack him.
Lyon, of course, are struggling just above the drop zone in 17th with one win and five points from their first six league matches. St Etienne, on the other hand, have begun the season in wonderful form and sit top of Ligue 1. Dimitri Payet has been a key to their success with six goals already.