Football returns in Italy and Spain this weekend, but the English FA Cup steals the show with an unbelievable third round match-up between the two hottest teams in the country.
Sports Pundit’s Game of the Week
Manchester City v Manchester United
English FA Cup, Sunday 2pm (GMT)
It’s derby day in Manchester and it’s a stunning occasion with the two clubs facing off in the third round of the FA Cup. Yes, you read right, the third round!
It’s the Premier League’s top two clubs going face to face on Sunday evening, and there will be plenty of heat after the stunning 6-1 derby win for City back in October. As well, the Sky Blues knocked United out of last season’s FA Cup at the semi-final stage, progressing 1-0 before lifting the trophy.
United had been in good form until two shocking recent defeats to Blackburn and Newcastle. City, meanwhile, stumbled late at Sunderland but got back on track with a commanding win over Liverpool in midweek. Based on form, City are the favourites but who knows what’ll happen.
Birmingham City v Wolverhampton
English FA Cup, Saturday 1.30pm (GMT)
Two Midlands rivals face off in England’s FA Cup in the early kick-off on Saturday evening. Birmingham, who won the League Cup last season, are sitting midtable in the Championship so the FA Cup will be important to them this term, particularly given the fact they’re facing a rival in the third round. Wolverhampton are actually winless in their past six games and are battling in the Premier League so a win here would boost morale and the fans would surely love it.
Atalanta Bergamo v AC Milan
Italian Serie A, Sunday 3pm (GMT)
It may be 11th place versus the leaders, but there’s alot to like about this clash, particularly given Atalanta’s recent unbeaten run, their unbeaten home form and the fact they’d be fifth if it wasn’t for their preseason points deficit. German Denis is proving a deadly striker for Atalanta and Milan will need to be prepared. With second-placed Juventus (level with Milan on points) away to bottom club Lecce, the leaders know they will need all three points here to stay top.
Spanish La Liga, Sunday 6pm (GMT)
Last season this would have been a clash to decide who is the best of the rest, but how things have changed for the Yellow Submarine who recently appointed Jose Francisco Molina as their new boss after Juan Carlos Garrido’s ill-fated rein where he leaves the side just hovering above the drop zone. Meanwhile, Valencia are firing on all cylinders although they’re hardly keeping pace with the top two. Los Che are third, four points adrift of secnod-placed Barcelona and they’ll be hunting the points here to keep in touch.
Spanish La Liga, Sunday 9.30pm (GMT)
While there’s a Manchester derby in England, there’s a huge local rivalry in Spain when the two Catalan clubs face off in Barcelona. Eighth-placed Espanyol play host to second-placed Barcelona in Sunday’s late kick-off in La Liga. Espanyol have only managed 17 goals for the whole season, while Barca have a whopping 50 in 16 games, so there’s a big imbalance there and keeper Cristian Alvarez is set for a busy day.