Sports Pundit’s Game of the Weekend
Real Madrid v Valencia Spanish La Liga’‘Saturday, 10pm (CET)’’
Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid were emphatically thumped 5-0 in Monday’s El Clasico and need to respond and the challenge of hosting fifth-placed Valencia won’t be easy.
Real were completely shown up by Barcelona last week, appearing a step below their opponents. Mourinho emphasised it was only one game and the season has a long way to go yet, so this is the kind of game they need to respond in.
Valencia started the season well, but have dropped off of late. They’ll still be tough to beat though. David Villa will face his old club for the first time too.
Lazio v Inter Milan Italian Serie A’‘Friday, 8.45pm (CET)’’
Surprise early-season high-flyers Lazio host out-of-sorts European champions Inter Milan on Friday evening in a game which promises to be entertaining ahead of a big weekend of fixtures.
Inter boss Rafa Benitez is under increasing pressure following a poor run of results which saw the Italian champions slip down to sixth but last weekend’s 5-2 win over Parma has eased the pressure. Nevertheless, second-placed Lazio represent a major challenge for Inter who continue to faill to convince.
Chelsea v Everton English Premier League’‘Saturday, 4pm (CET)’’
English champions Chelsea are in desperate need of a victory after a run of three matches where they’ve collected only the one point, and Saturday’s visit of Everton represents a fine opportunity to do so.
Carlo Ancelotti’s men have been out of sorts in recent weeks in the absence of key men such as Michael Essien, John Terry and Frank Lampard, while Didier Drogba’s scoreless run in the league grows. Everton, despite sitting down in 16th, are always dangerous with Tim Cahill in form, so this should be intriguing.
Schalke 04 v Bayern Munich German Bundesliga’‘Saturday, 6.30pm (CET)’’
Two of Germany giants go head-to-head on Saturday evening when Felix Magath’s Schalke 04 play host to Louis van Gaal’s Bayern Munich in Gelsenkirchen.
But the problem neither of these sides are up the top, with Magath’s men struggling in a relegation battle down in 15th when their big off-season of recruitment suggested they’d be up the other end. Bayern, meanwhile, have improved of late with key players returning from injury to sit fifth, but this represents a tough task. Can they keep up their revival?
Villarreal v FC Sevilla> Spanish La Liga’‘Sunday, 7pm (CET)’’
While Barcelona and Real Madrid dominate the title race in La Liga, the battle to be best of the rest continues when third-placed Villlarreal host eighth-placed FC Sevilla on Sunday.
Both sides have been strong in Spain over the past decade and will be looking to claim third spot, while the Yellow Submarine – who’ve impressed this term – might have higher aspirations. Sevilla have lost their past two and need a win, while Villarreal have claimed just four points from their past three and also will be after three points without compromise.