Sports Pundit’s Game of the Weekend
FC Barcelona v Valencia Spanish La Liga’‘Saturday, 8pm’’
Spanish football offers a real treat on Saturday evening when league leaders Valencia travel to reigning champions Barcelona. This game has been eagerly anticipated between two heavyweight rivals.
David Villa faces his former club for the first time too, to add an extra bit of tension to the contest. Then again, he is under an injury cloud along with Xavi. Barca, in fourth, haven’t hit top gear this term either so there’s plenty to play for.
Ambitious Valencia will be without Joaquin who has been good this term, but Juan Mata is their main man this season. For Barca, Lionel Messi is back after injury and the international break and he’ll be eager to remedy their troubles. Important clash.
Schalke 04 v VfB Stuttgart German Bundesliga’‘Saturday, 3.30pm (CET)’’
Two of Germany’s strongest clubs face off on Saturday in a clash between the Bundesliga’s bottom two teams. It’s been a surprisingly disappointing start to the campaign for this pair and it’s culminated in Stuttgart boss Christian Gross’ dismissal this week.
Jens Keller will take charge of Stuttgart in the interim, while Schalke boss Felix Magath’s returns to his former club. Schalke have been better lately after losing their first three matches of the season but they’ll need to win this one, if they’re to suggest they can get near the top this season with their star-studded squad. Full of intrigue.
Aston Villa v Chelsea English Premier League’‘Saturday, 6.30pm (CET)’’
Gerard Houllier’s eighth-placed Aston Villa welcome league leaders Chelsea in Saturday’s late kick-off, hoping to avoid a heavy defeat from the Blues who thrashed them 7-1 last season.
At Villa Park, though, the Villains have beaten Chelsea twice in the past three seasons and with John Terry battling injury, you can sense an upset. The good news for Chelsea is Frank Lampard is back from injury. Should be interesting.
AS Roma v Genoa Italian Serie A’‘Saturday, 8.45pm (CET)’’
Claudio Ranieri’s title-chasing AS Roma will hope to rebound after the international break after a disappointing start to the campaign. Nineteenth-placed Roma host midtable Genoa in a game which could define the hosts title ambitions.
Roma have underwhelmed this campaign, but they are unbeaten at the Stadio Olimpico. They know, though, they need all three points here otherwise Ranieri will be under pressure again. Genoa won’t be easybeats considering their quality and Giuseppe Sculli (four assists this season) could be a key man. Crucial for Roma.
Everton v Liverpool English Premier League’‘Sunday, 2.30pm’’
There’s nothing like a Merseyside derby, but when both sides are in the bottom four then there’s sure to be plenty of tension.
It has been a big few weeks for Liverpool, with the drama with their owners making more headlines than the pressure mounting on boss Roy Hodgson or the under-performing Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres. Everton’s season hasn’t started well either but their win at Birmingham a fortnight suggests they’re heading in the right direction and they’d love nothing more than a win here to condemn their rivals.