This Football Weekend

Such is the relentless pace of the European football calendar that we’ve barely had enough time to savour the return of continental competition and another round of tantalizing domestic league competition is upon us. There are some great matches to look forward to across the continent and these are my picks for the games to watch this football weekend.

Friday September 16

Sampdoria vs AC Milan

Vincenzo Montella returns to the Luigi Ferraris as manager of AC Milan in what is surely going to be a contentious game in a feisty atmosphere. Montella’s reign as manager of Sampdoria was tumultuous at best and the early indications are that his reign at the helm of the Rossoneri won’t be smooth either.

Meanwhile Sampdoria have gotten off to a great start under the canny management of Marco Giampaolo. With Luis Muriel firing on all cylinders, Sampdoria won their first two fixtures and look set to get maximum points against Roma last weekend before mother nature intervened and changed the momentum of the match.

Samp will be keen to get one over their former manager, while Montella will want to get a positive result or the pressure will increase a few notches with an already disillusioned fanbase in Milan.

Chelsea vs Liverpool

Mourinho vs Guardiola last weekend, Conte vs Klopp this weekend. This is the season that just gives when it comes to managerial battles in the Premier League. Both teams come into the game with a mixture of positives and questions from their performances in the league so far.

Chelsea have looked focused, though not always inspired. Ironically, when they played some of their best football at Swansea last weekend, they contrived to lose two points thanks to some shaky defending and refereeing incompetence.

Shaky defending is something Liverpool are familiar with, having conceded 7 goals already. The Reds are purring in attack however, and look set to thrill fans regardless of consistency.

Under Klopp Liverpool have saved their best for big games such as these. On the other hand, Conte loves to prepare tactics and ideas for big opponents as well. How this one turns out is anyone’s guess.

Saturday September 17

Hoffenheim vs Wolfsburg

Hoffenheim have started the Bundesliga season as the great entertainers, scoring six and conceding the same amount. As if having 29-year old manager Julian Nagelsmann wasn’t a story in itself, Hoffenheim were the first opponents for the Bundesliga’s newest and most hated team, RB Leipzig. They conceded a late equalizer to draw that match 2-2 and followed it up with an absolutely mental game at Mainz. Nagelsmann’s men were torn to shreds trailing 4-1 at the half, only to come back and tie the game with three goals after the 70th minute.

Wolfsburg were tipped by many to struggle this year after last season’s very disappointing campaign. However, Dieter Hecking’s men have been steady so far with four points from the first two games. It’s highly unlikely that the Wolves will reach the heights of their memorable 2014-15 season, but with Julian Draxler, Mario Gomez, Luiz Gustavo, Ricardo Rodriguez and Jakub Blaszczykowski in the side, there is enough in this squad to keep a football fan excited.

It will be interesting to see who comes out on top in this battle between the youngest manager and an elder statesman of the Bundesliga.

Sunday September 18

Feyenoord vs PSV Eindhoven

It’s a game that is pencilled into the calendars as soon as the Eredivisie fixtures are released. The fact that is also a clash of table-toppers adds an extra layer of intrigue to the occasion. Feyenoord have fallen away in the last decade in comparison to PSV and Ajax, but there is finally a sense of upward momentum since the team from Rotterdam won the KNVB Beker last season.

Feyenoord have started the season in blazing fashion with five wins out of five and carried that momentum into the Europa League, where their campaign kicked off with a fantastic win over Manchester United. PSV had a less celebratory week in Europe as once again penalty woes against Atletico Madrid cost them. Nevertheless, nothing can soothe those wounds better than a home win over Feyenoord and jumping over their rivals into top spot. I just can’t wait for kickoff in this one!

Athletic Bilbao vs Valencia

Memories of last season’s tempestuous Europa League round of 16 match are still fresh in the minds of both sets of fans. Neither team have started the season well. Valencia have lost all three La Liga games so far, including two losses at home. Athletic at least got off the mark last weekend thanks to a stunning goal from Raul Garcia at the Riazor, but they then followed it up with a humiliating 3-0 defeat to European debutants Sassuolo in the Europa League.

Nothing I have seen from these two in the season so far would suggest a free-flowing classic, but the animosity and pressure make this a high-stakes game.

Hertha Berlin vs Schalke 04

One team comes into this game with maximum points, behind Bayern Munich only on goal difference, while the other has yet to open its account. Many would assume that Schalke would be the former and Hertha the latter. In stead, the Berlin side have continued their fine form from last season, thanks in large part to the creativity and energy of Genki Haraguchi allied with the defensive shape and discipline of manager Pal Dardai.

Schalke would like to believe that they have a talismanic manager in their own right in Markus Weinzerl. Though the new era hasn’t got off to the greatest of starts, it should be pointed out that one of the losses was against Bayern Munich in what was actually the Royal Blues’ best performance in a big match after a long time.

Results however, are the only currency that matter. An away trip to the capital is no easy feat, but it will be intriguing to see how the attacking talents of Yevhen Konoplyanka, Max Meyer, Breel Embolo and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar match up against Dardai’s organized and intelligent defensive unit.

Inter vs Juventus

The stature of this fixture may be diminished for some in light of Inter’s recent struggles. However, the Derby d’Italia is still a marquee match for many football fans and this occasion won’t be any different.

Juve continue to operate like clockwork in Serie A. The loss of Paul Pogba has been offset by the goals of Gonzalo Higuain and Miralem Pjanic is just getting warmed up. The Old Lady did however hit a road block against Jorge Sampaoli’s organized Sevilla team in the Champions League.

While that was considered a disappointment by many in Italy, it pales in comparison to Inter’s shambolic loss at the San Siro to Hapoel Be’er Sheva in the opening game of their Europa League campaign. The knives are already out for new manager Frank de Boer, despite the fact that he was hired only a week before the new season started. A positive result at home to Juve would certainly buy him some time.

While Juve are clearly the favourites, the Nerazzuri will have a point to prove. Make sure to watch the battle between the two orchestrators – Pjanic and Ever Banega, while also keeping an eye out on the intelligent runners – Sami Khedira and Joao Mario. Then of course, there are the Argentinean forwards going against each other, Dybala and Higuain for Juve, Icardi for the home side. Need I say more?!

Fiorentina vs Roma

Another Serie A game between two teams that underwhelmed in Europe. Clashes between these two rarely disappoint thanks to their commitment to playing attacking technical football. Outside of the calamity that was the Champions League playoff, Luciano Spalletti’s men have actually started quite well in Serie A with seven points so far.

La Viola had their matched rained off last weekend, and hence, should be fitter in this contest. However, Paulo Sousa is another manager who is starting to feel the pressure as Fiorentina have failed to push on in 2016. The Portuguese will hope for the crowd at the Artemi Franchi to give his players full backing in what is bound to be a tough assignment.

Watch this match for the quality of passing and attacking, but more importantly, watch it for Francesco Totti, who continues to defy time by delivering peerless performances from the bench.

Marseille vs Lyon

In an ideal world this would be a top of the table clash between two of PSG’s most viable challengers. In stead, the clash of the Olympiques sees two inconsistent teams who are still trying to sort themselves. The 2014-15 season when they ran PSG so close now seems like an eternity ago.

Nevertheless, before QSI set up shop in Paris, this was the big match in Ligue 1 and for fans of both teams they aren’t many games that are bigger. Both sides conceded three goals last weekend and everything suggests there will be defensive jitters in this game as well. Combine that with the attacking prowess of Cornet, Ghezzal, Tolisso, Gomis, Thauvin and Cabella, and we should get to see an entertainer.

Monday, September 19

Braga vs Benfica

If there is one team in Portugal that manages to make a dent amongst the big three of Benfica, Sporting and Porto, it is Braga. The 2011 Europa League finalists are playing some good football, following on from their cup win to end last season.

Despite being unbeaten so far, Benfica are still to hit the high notes from last season. However, Rui Vitoria’s men live for the big games, and an early season test welcoming a Braga side that are ahead of the Eagles only on goal difference should get the juices flowing at the Stadium of Light. Throw in to the mix Benfica’s purchase of Rafa Silva from Braga and there’s bound to be plenty of intensity and animosity in this top of the table clash. The Estádio da Luz will be the place to be on Monday night!

Bayern Munich 4 (6) Juventus 2 (4)

A most remarkable UEFA Champions League Round of 16 tie ended with Bayern Munich coming back from the brink to beat Juventus in a thrilling knockout match. The following are player ratings for the match.

Bayern Munich

Manuel Neuer 6

After a bad pass from the back led to Juve equalizing in the first leg, Neuer’s distribution was questionable once again. Displayed calamitous decision-making which led to the away side’s first goal and was lucky to not be penalized for another errant pass, when Alvaro Morata’s cool chip was incorrectly ruled offside. Kept the crowd at the Allianz Arena nervous throughout the match with some borderline passes and would have received a lower rating but for a superb save when Juan Cuadrado looked destined to make it 3-0 on the stroke of half time. Made another excellent save in the dying embers of the match to deny Mario Mandzukic.

David Alaba 3

One of the worst performances in the Austrian international’s Bayern career. All over the shop while defending a ball over the top that led to Juve’s first goal. Tried to atone for his error by supporting the attack, but kept misplacing passes before crucially ceding possession in the attacking third leading to Morata’s run and assist for the second goal. Roasted again by Morata at the beginning of the second half when switched to centre back, but was comfortable once the Spaniard was substituted.

Medi Beanti 3

Dragged all over the place by Juve’s fluidity and was left chasing shadows as Morata, Paul Pogba, Alex Sandro and Cuadrado all ghosted by him in the first half. Mercifully substituted at the half. Benatia still has to justify the large sums of money Bayern paid Roma for his services.

Joshua Kimmich 5

Similar to his partners, Kimmich couldn’t live with Morata. In fairness, didn’t actually make any errors with the ball but was clear for everyone to see that he is not a natural defender. Showed glimpses in the second half of why Guardiola trusts him so much, playing some lovely diagonals as the home side ratcheted up the pressure.

Philipp Lahm 6

The only calm presence in the Bayern defence when all around him were losing the plot. Contributed to Bayern retaining possession in Juve’s half, however was not accurate when presented with crossing opportunities. Remained largely untroubled on the flanks from the beginning of the second half.

Xabi Alonso 5

Couldn’t get his metronomic passing going and was guilty of trying the Hollywood ball too often. Usually great at taking defensive positions, Alonso was completely overrun by the pressing of Juve’s engine room. That he was withdrawn early in the second half was no surprise.

Arturo Vidal 7

Made an excellent attacking run into the box as early as the third minute of the match but failed to connect cleanly with a pass from Douglas Costa. Like his teammates, got his feathers ruffled in the first half. His energy and drive were crucial in the turnaround, however. Seemed more comfortable once Alonso left the pitch. Dropped deep to start Bayern’s attacks before acting as the link up man further up the field in the last 20 minutes. Displayed his hallmark pressing when nicking the ball that found Kingsley Coman in space to cross for the equalizer. The Chilean is definitely getting better as the season progresses.

Franck Ribéry 6

Expected to play a leading role in Arjen Robben’s absence, Ribery’s first half was error strewn, full of errant crosses and misplaced passes in the final third. Gained confidence in the second half and had Stephan Lichtsteiner’s number for the last half an hour of the match as he consistently dribbled past the right back. As he works his way to full fitness, the French winger’s final ball is bound to get better.

Douglas Costa 9

A supreme display by the Brazilian. Even when Juve had the stranglehold, Costa was the only Bayern player to trouble the visitors in the first half. The ball almost glued to his feet at times, he dribbled and ran past players almost at will. Consistently played in excellent crosses and one cute pass to Thomas Müller brought Bayern’s first shot on target in the first half. That Bayern’s first goal came courtesy of a Costa cross was no surprise, his left foot curling a sublime cross that dissected the previously impregnable back three of Patrice Evra, Leonardo Bonucci and Andrea Barzagli. Played the match that truly heralds his arrival as a game changer in Europe.

Thomas Müller 7

Well-marshalled by Juve’s excellent defence for most of the game, Müller tried his best to make an impact. Ran the channels but couldn’t get the ball in truly dangerous positions except when he drew a smart save from Buffon in the first half. Then, when all seemed lost, found a pocket of space to head in the equalizer in stoppage time, before assisting Thiago Alcántara’s go-ahead goal.

Robert Lewandowski 6

A frustrating evening for Bayern’s leading forward. Simply couldn’t get the better of either Bonucci or Barzagli and couldn’t stay composed in the heat of the battle. Scored an unmissable header thanks to Costa’s brilliance but was otherwise ineffectual for the rest of the match.

Juan Bernat 6

Came on in the second half to take over from Alaba at left back. Made the flank more secure as he dealt with Cuadrado’s threat and overlapped effectively with Ribery in the attacking third.

Kingsley Coman 8

Could have been considered unfortunate to miss out on a place in the starting eleven after strong showings in recent Bundesliga games. Nevertheless, Coman made a decisive contribution after coming on for Alonso. Initially seemed too easy to read for Alex Sandro, but got better as the game went on. Played the pass that found Costa in space to cross for the first goal and then delivered an excellent cross for the equalizer. Turned his engines to full blast during extra time, twisting and turning past Juve’s tiring back four before sealing the game with a wonderful run and curled finish.

Thiago Alcántara 7

Came on for 20 minutes in extra time and had a decisive impact as his brilliant one-two with Muller was followed by a calm finish for Bayern’s third goal. With his range of passing and technical skill, it is likely that Guardiola will have his compatriot play a larger role in the later rounds of the competition.

Juventus

Gianluigi Buffon 6

In fairness, the veteran could do nothing about any of the four goals. Outside of that, Juve’s stalwart was hardly called to action, except to make a smart stop from Müller’s shot in the first half. His wait for a first European title with Juve continues.

Patrice Evra 6

For 85 minutes it was a masterful performance from the Frenchman. Comfortably dealt with Lahm’s overlapping runs in the first half. When Massimiliano Allegri switched to a back three in the second half, Evra slotted in seamlessly. Then made costly errors for Bayern’s second and third goals. Sometimes, there is simply no justice in football.

Leonardo Bonucci 7

Kept Lewandowski in his pocket the whole match in a masterclass of defending. Clearances and tackles were executed with usual precision and his reading of the game alongside Barzagli is second to none. Only real quality was going to come in the way of Bonucci and victory and unfortunately for Juve that is exactly what Bayern delivered. Visibly tired in extra time along with the rest of the team.

Andrea Barzagli 7

Like his partner, the veteran was exceptional. Stuck to Müller brilliantly in the first half, barely giving him an inch. As Juve’s right flank started caving in against an improved Ribery, Barzagli made several crucial interceptions and well-timed blocks. Again, was only undone by quality and then fatigue.

Stephan Lichtsteiner 6

Fantastic hassling and pressing in the first half as evidenced in the crucial role he played in Juve’s first goal. At the back, kept Ribery and Alaba in check the whole of the first half. Unfortunately regressed in the second half as he was pinned back by Ribery, contributing to Bayern’s overbearing pressure. Could have scored in the third minute of extra time but his shot lacked power and then ran out of gas.

Sami Khedira 7

Excellent pressing set the tempo for Juve’s first half. Ruffled Alonso and Vidal and clearly had the upper hand in midfield. Exactly why Allegri brought him off is unclear, as his experience and leadership could have been the difference in the home stretch.

Hernanes 5

The Brazilian made an impact in the first leg but was largely anonymous this time around. Kept possession well when he had the ball, but his role lacked clarity. Bizarrely kept on for the whole 120 minutes.

Alex Sandro 6

Played in an advanced position in the first half and was excellent. His energy and pace troubled Kimmich and Benatia as he took up dangerous positions to receive the ball out wide. Reverted to a more conventional left back role in the second half and found himself with no breathing room as first Costa and then Coman tormented him on the flanks.

Juan Cuadrado 7

Probably his best performance since the Colombian joined the Old Lady. Showed a hitherto unseen level of calmness when he finished Juve’s excellent second goal and arguably would have sealed the tie had Neuer not blocked his shot on the stroke of half time. Doubled up in defence to help Lichtsteiner and tormented Alaba on the break. Quieter in the second half as Bayern gained a foothold, but still fulfilled his defensive responsibilities diligently.

Paul Pogba 8

It is a mark of his quality that Pogba made the finish for the game’s opening goal look so easy. Many would have rushed their shot in such a position, but Pogba caressed his shot into the corner of the net with finesse. Played the role of auxiliary forward in the first half to perfection, using his strength, pace and technical ability to give Benatia and Kimmich all sorts of problems. In the second half, played the role of auxiliary full back, helping Sandro and Lichtsteiner on both flanks with some exceptionally well-timed tackles. Tried his best to drive Juve in extra time but to no avail.

Álvaro Morata 8

Morata is Juve’s man for the occasion in Europe and it was no different this time around. The Spaniard was sensational for the duration of his time on the pitch with nobody in Bayern’s defence having an answer for him. Harshly judged offside when he coolly chipped Neuer after the goalkeeper’s horrendous mistake, Morata put his head down and got on with the game. His run from just outside the box in Juve’s half to the edge of Bayern’s box in the buildup to Juve’s second goal is sure to be a part of Champions League highlight reels for years to come. Would have had an even higher rating, but for scuffing two easy chances in the second half that would have put the tie to bed. The whole flow of the game changed when Allegri subbed him. Bianconeri fans will have nightmares about that decision for quite a while yet.

Stefano Sturaro 4

Another player who made such a huge impact after coming on in the first leg, only to have a complete nightmare in the reverse fixture. Sturaro hardly did anything right, giving possession away numerous times when all Juve needed was a bit of time on the ball. Played the role of bystander as first Vidal and then Kimmich switched play around him.

Mario Mandzukic 5

A frustrating evening for the Croatian who simply didn’t offer the same kind of threat as Morata. His lack of pace emboldened Bayern’s defence to play further up the pitch, which in turn ceded Juve’s initiative. Should really have buried a header after a pearler of a cross from Pogba in extra time to at least make Bayern squirm in the last few minutes.

Roberto Pereyra 5

Honest application and tireless running is what you get from Pereyra and that’s what the Argentinean provided again. Whether that is what Juve needed at the time is another question altogether.

Everton 2 Chelsea 0

Everton kept their season alive after an excellent win over Chelsea in the FA Cup quarterfinals.The following are the player ratings for the match.

Everton

Joel Robles 7

Had little to do, but was effective when called upon. Did well to tip over a Willian free kick, but rather than any spectacular saves it was two moments that combined decision-making and positioning that were pivotal. After Pedro was released by a through ball in the first half, Robles did well to not commit when his compatriot had a sight on goal, depriving Chelsea of a shot on goal. Then in the second half, Diego Costa was released in a similar manner and Robles did excellently to drive the forward wide enough, so that even when the shot came it was at an incredibly difficult angle. Small moments, but the game could have had a different outcome if Chelsea would have scored first.

Leighton Baines 6

After Everton’s recent defensive calamities, solid had to prioritized over spectacular and Baines delivered in that regard. Nullified the threat of Willian and Pedro while going toe to toe in an intense battle with Azpilicueta. Didn’t commit to as many forays forward as usual and delivered a few dangerous set pieces that tested the Chelsea defence.

Phil Jagielka 6

Solid and stable. Jagielka was rarely threatened and was calm and collected whenever called upon. 12 clearances with minimum fuss, Roberto Martinez will rely on Jagielka to lead by example at Wembley if Everton are to finally win their first silverware of the century.

Ramiro Funes Mori 7

The Argentinean was excellent. Chelsea’s forwards seem to have targeted Funes Mori over Jagielka, but the centre back won every battle against Costa, Willian and Pedro while winning all the aerial duels he was involved in. Frightened the Chelsea defence with some excellent runs in to the box on set pieces and probably should have opened the scoring with an excellent header.

Seamus Coleman 6

Like Baines, Coleman didn’t venture forward as is his wont. Seemed to be caught out by Kenedy’s pace and trickery in the first 15 minutes of the match before settling into a strong defensive display. Kept possession well in Chelsea’s half of the pitch and played some cute passes that released Aaron Lennon in space.

James McCarthy 7

Neat and tidy, composed in possession and took up excellent positions when Chelsea had the ball. With McCarthy in such form, Everton always look like a composed team. Easily outclassed Mikel and Matic.

Gareth Barry 4

While the midfield veteran was calm in possession and played some excellent passes, Barry committed silly fouls throughout. Should have received a yellow card long before his first one in the 84th minute and compounded his stupidity with an unnecessary foul on Fàbregas just minutes later. A deserved red card and on another day his daftness could have cost the Toffees dearly.

Tom Cleverley 6

Took the most advanced positions from midfield in the first half and had two half-chances courtesy of some smart late runs. Didn’t really do much in the second half, but Cleverley will always be a player with anonymous phases in a match.

Ross Barkley 7

Made some frustrating decisions in the final third for most of the match, but played a key role in Everton gaining a foothold in the second half. Intelligent running and passing in the second half consistently stretched Chelsea’s back four. Generously awarded an assist for the first goal, his pass for the second goal had the precise weight, rounding up an impressive performance.

Aaron Lennon 5

Infuriating. Lennon may have hit a patch of good form in the past month thanks to his scoring but the winger remains as frustrating with his decision making as at any point in his career. Found in some excellent positions out wide, Lennon never found his teammates thanks to some terrible crossing.

Romelu Lukaku 9

Lukaku finally got his first goal against Chelsea since being sold by them and what a goal it was. Combining pace, strength and finesse, the Belgian outwitted Chelsea’s defenders before calmly finishing. The goal will surely be replayed for years to come as a great FA Cup memory. Followed it up with an assured finish with his weaker right foot. A reminder then, that Lukaku is still only 22.

Chelsea

Thibaut Courtois 6

Couldn’t do much about either of Lukaku’s strikes. Didn’t actually face much other than the two goals and calmly collected some dangerous set pieces.

Kenedy 5

Started the game with some enterprising runs in attack and showcased some exciting moments of trickery. However, inexperience was exposed in the second half as Everton continuously attacked his flank. Was guilty of playing Lukaku onside for the decisive second goal.

Gary Cahill 7

One of his best displays this season. Imperious in the air and some excellent last-ditch tackles kept Everton from scoring earlier in the game. Outwitted by Lukaku for the opening goal, but not many centre backs would have been able to cope with that moment of skill. Will be expected to keep up the same standards to finish the season heading in to Euro 2016.

Branislav Ivanovic 5

A performance to remind every one of his early season foibles. The only difference was that this was in his preferred position of centre back. The Serb was beaten in the air early in the second half when the hosts had a string of corners and was outpaced by Lukaku and Barkley on different occasions during the game. Recent run of good form brought to a shuddering halt.

César Azpilicueta 6

Another tireless performance from one of Chelsea’s most consistent players this season. Did well defensively until Lukaku’s moment of magic. Offered himself as an attacking outlet whenever Chelsea had the ball, although his final delivery was not of the expected standard.

John Obi Mikel 6

Effective in possession and tried his best to help the defence by taking up deeper positions as the game wore on. Couldn’t prevent Everton overrunning the midfield but there was only so much he could do on his own. Which brings us to …

Nemanja Matic 4

Matic hasn’t been a regular recently and Guus Hiddink must be cursing himself for reinstating the Serb in the starting line-up. Last season’s midfield stalwart has had a startling decline this season, further compounded by an ineffective display at Goodison. Hardly got a tackle right, ceded possession and then ran out of gas in the second half. Will have a tough job convincing the new Chelsea manager to keep him in the squad.

Cesc Fàbregas 7

The only true creative presence on the pitch for the Blues. Fàbregas was head and shoulders above everyone else in Chelsea’s front six. His beautifully weighted through balls resulted in the two best chances for the visitors. Tried to keep the Blue’s play vertical but his colleagues were just not on the same wavelength.

Willian 6

An honest performance as has become the norm for the Brazilian. The stardust has receded a little in the past few weeks, but Willian gave his best, bringing out a good save from Robles after a dangerous free kick. Substituted when arguably should have stayed on in stead of …

Pedro Rodríguez 5

Another underwhelming performance from what was supposed to be a statement signing for Chelsea. Made a hash of a decent chance and was generally anonymous for the game. Can’t remember him beating either full back and shanked two horrible crosses when Chelsea were chasing the game.

Diego Costa 3

Probably the most overdue red card in English football history. While Costa was actually decent with the ball, he was his usual nasty self off it. Didn’t take long to get in the wars with Barry and was no surprise his sending off came after another altercation with the same adversary. Might suffer a big suspension if the FA reviews the video of him trying to bite Barry. A recent upturn in form will now be a mere footmark in an unsavoury season for the Spanish forward.

The Europa League is back!

The return of European football gets most fans excited about the Champions League. With the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern, PSG and others involved, it is of course natural that Europe’s secondary club competition gets overlooked. However, this writer always looks forward to the Europa League knockout competition. Jurgen Klopp recently called the tournament a “Mini-Champions League”. Looking at the calibre of the remaining teams and some of the fixtures in the round of 32, his suggestion is not far off the mark. Some of these matches could quite conceivably be seen in next season’s Champions League, while others are ties between some great historic clubs.

Here are some ties that should the whet the appetite for all football fans:

Anderlecht (3rd in Belgian Jupiler League) vs Olympiakos (1st in Greek Super League)

Borussia Dortmund (2nd in Bundesliga) vs Porto (3rd in Portuguese Liga)

Fiorentina (3rd in Serie A) vs Tottenham (2nd in Barclays Premier League)

Saint-Étienne (4th in Ligue 1) vs Basel (1st in Swiss Super League)

Villarreal (4th in La Liga) vs Napoli (2nd in Serie A)

Galatasaray (5th in Turkish Super Lig) vs Lazio (7th in Serie A)

Marseille (11th in Ligue 1) vs Athletic Bilbao (7th in La Liga)

Shakhtar Donetsk (1st in Ukrainian Premier League) vs Schalke 04 (5th in Bundesliga)

Sporting Lisbon (1st in Portuguese Liga) vs Bayer Leverkusen (3rd in Bundesliga)

Marseille 1 Paris Saint-Germain 2

Another cracking Le Classique between these two great rivals. The match between Marseille and Paris Saint-Germain followed the template of the meeting at the Parc des Princes earlier in the season, which in turn was very similar to the two encounters last season.

Marseille were relentless throughout the match, pressing incessantly and bypassing PSG’s much-vaunted midfield at will. Lassana Diarra was the standout player in midfield, with 87 touches of the ball, 86 % passing accuracy with his 67 passes and four tackles. Diarra’s form this season makes him a shoo-in for the French national team at this summer’s Euro. A special mention also goes to Remy Cabella, who had an outstanding game. Cabella scored Marseille’s equalizer after an excellent run and arguably should have had a couple of assists but his teammates failed to finish the chances he created.

For all of Marseille’s excellence though, they were once again caught out by the quality of the champions on the break. PSG had three shots on target and scored twice. Ultimately the superior individual quality of Les Parisiens told. Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored in Le Classique once again and then provided the assist for Angel di Maria to rifle in a superb finish on the break. While Ibra and di Maria will take most of the plaudits, credit also has to go Thiago Silva and Serge Aurier who made several excellent tackles and last-ditch clearances to keep PSG in the game when Marseille were overrunning the midfield.

While PSG were second best for most of the match, Laurent Blanc may feel that such an intense and difficult match was ideal preparation for the resumption of the team’s Champions League campaign. This level of football is what PSG are going to have to overcome to go deep on the continent (although many would say this season’s iteration of Chelsea are not much better than Ligue 1’s mid table sides) and coming through such an intense clash with a win bodes well for the capital club.

Meanwhile Marseille themselves may be better off making a good fist of their Europa League campaign. A team of their talent should be able to make up the five-point gap to third, but the consistency simply isn’t there, especially since they can’t buy a win at home. The last time Michel’s men took three points at the Velodrome was in October, a staggering and unacceptable fact for a team of Marseille’s stature. Despite playing some of the most exciting football in the country, another season of underachievement beckons for L’OM.

Roma 2 Sampdoria 1

Roma continued their mini-revival under the auspices of Luciano Spalletti, winning their third consecutive game in Serie A. What looked like a routine home win turned into a nervy 2-1 win over Sampdoria. With Fiorentina and Inter both stuttering, the Giallorossi have stormed back into contention for the last Champions League spot on the back of nine points in their last three games.

Starting with the positives, Spalletti’s men really should have buried the game in the first half. There was some fabulous interplay between Mohamed Salah and the pair of new signings, Diego Perotti and Stephan El Shaarawy. At least three clear chances were wasted before Alessandro Florenzi grabbed the opener on the stroke of half time. Perotti then scored an excellent second early in the second half. In stead of seeing the game out, Roma then suffered their traditional bout of nerves. Sampdoria got one goal back courtesy of a Miralem Pjanic deflection and then the home side’s midfield lost the plot completely. The visitors piled the pressure and only a trio of brilliant saves by Wojciech Szczesny ensured the capital side took the three points.

While Roma are gaining some sense of momentum, la Samp remain mired in the relegation battle. Vincenzo Montella’s men seem to play at a high level for about 40 minutes in each match, but their poor phases of play are being ruthlessly punished by their opponents. Montella has to get the team focused from kickoff to the final whistle. It may be easy to dismiss their relegation fears on the basis of the team being too good, but a rut at this stage of the season can be irreversible. It is only the inadequacies of Carpi, Frosinone and Hellas Verona that separate Sampdoria from the relegation zone. There is undisputed firepower in the team with Luis Muriel, but Montella needs to tighten up at the back immediately so that Sampdoria can at least salvage a lower mid-table finish. If not, it’s going to be hard to see Montella managing at the Marassi past the end of the season.

Celta Vigo 1 Sevilla 1

The second game in this week’s triple-header between Celta Vigo and Sevilla finished in a thrilling 1-1 draw. How Sevilla managed to escape with a draw is anyone’s guess. The home side battered their opponents especially since Federico Fazio’s sending off in the 25th minute, but their poor finishing combined with some heroic last-ditch defending from the visitors meant only one point in stead of three.

In the grand scheme of things, a point didn’t do much for either team. Sevilla stretched their unbeaten streak in the league to five games, however they are yet to have an away win this season. Such poor returns on the road make it unlikely for Unai Emery’s men to make up the eight-point deficit to Villarreal in the last Champions League spot.

Meanwhile, Celta are outside the European spots on the basis of goal difference and their limited squad makes it difficult to see them overtaking either Sevilla or Athletic Bilbao. However, a season of promise can still finish well. If Claudio Beauvue’s finish was anything to go by, the Galician team might just have one of the most exciting attacking trios in the league once Nolito returns to the playing eleven. Nolito, Beauvue and the underrated Iago Aspas can be a handful against most defences in the league.

Attention now turns to the final instalment of this trilogy on Thursday. Sevilla should easily navigate the Copa Del Rey semifinal after their 4-0 win at home in the first leg. Nevertheless, with the non-stop attacking football we have seen in the two matches between these teams so far and with a Celta Vigo side with nothing to lose, hopes are we’ll see another crazy end-to-end game in the second leg.

Bordeaux 1 Saint-Étienne 4

An open and entertaining match between two Ligue 1 teams harbouring hopes of European qualification. At the end of the match only Saint-Étienne remain in contention after an emphatic 4-1 win away to Bordeaux.

Christophe Galtier’s men have been playing some excellent football since the turn of the year.  Three of their last five matches have now included a home win over Lyon and away wins at Rennes and Bordeaux. Their only loss in that period was a hard-fought reversal against PSG. Les Verts are now building momentum. Behind Nice only on goal difference, they welcome Monaco next weekend full of confidence. There are many positive signs that Galtier can look to for that crucial clash.

Always solid at the back, ASSE are now displaying greater verve in the final third, consequently scoring more goals.Alexander Søderlund is proving to be a hit since arriving in January. Despite missing a penalty to finish the game in the first half, the Norwegian scored another crucial goal after getting off the mark against Lyon. The real star of the show however, was debutant Oussama Tannane. The 21-year old Moroccan dovetailed beautifully with Søderlund, Benjamin Corgnet and Vincent Pajot while giving Diego Contento and Cedric Yambéré several nosebleeds on the left side of Bordeaux’s defence. A goal and an assist were just rewards for an enterprising display and the youngster may have forced himself into Galtier’s first eleven ahead of the infuriating Jean-Christophe Bahebeck.

Willy Sagnol will have been left really disappointed by this defeat. Girondins were on a seven-match unbeaten run at the Stade Matmut-Atlantique and fans were beginning to believe that a late run for European qualification was on the cards. However, after conceding seven goals in their last two games, one wonders if this is a watershed moment in Bordeaux’s season. Two of their best players in Wahbi Khazri and Henri Saivet left in January and the new recruits have not had a promising start. Mathieu Debuchy demonstrated a level of defensive negligence that explains why he had fallen far down the pecking order at Arsenal. While Mauro Arambarri and Malcom gave decent accounts of themselves, there was simply too much tactical indiscipline all over the park. After a promising first season in management, Sagnol’s magic seems to be fading and it’s difficult to see how can he salvage anything from what is quickly becoming a very disappointing season for Bordeaux.

Chelsea 1 Manchester United 1

Lots of great post-match analysis all over the web on this match. An interesting point by Daniel Storey in his piece on Football365.

Game on, you’d have thought, yet there never seemed to be any tension brewing in the fixture. After the vibrancy of Leicester on Saturday came the grim realisation of a Chelsea vs Manchester United fixture. This used to be a glamour fixture.

My opinion is that amongst the big games in the Premier League, battles between these two have almost always been underwhelming. Even at the peak of Sir Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho’s teams, matches between Manchester United and Chelsea have left a lot to be desired for the neutral. The Champions League final, though tense, was hardly inspiring, while several title deciders between these two have been affairs of grit and physicality rather than finesse and creativity. The two exceptions to this were during André Villas-Boas’ ill-fated reign at Stamford Bridge.

This match was hardly any different from the usual drudgery served up in this rivalry. Each team had phases of ascendancy, but the only players who stood out were the two goalkeepers. This of course is not to suggest that there were a non-stop barrage of shots.

In fact, the only memory of this game is most likely going to be a sad one. Kurt Zouma’s howls of pain after an unfortunate landing were very hard to hear and the replays were sickening to see. At the time of writing, there is no official diagnosis, but it is more than likely that the young Frenchman’s season is over, and along with it a chance to appear at Euro 2016 on home soil. Heart breaking indeed.

Athletic Bilbao 0 Villarreal 0

The sixth place team in La Liga hosting the fourth place team. One expected fireworks. In stead we got an anti-climax of a game. The onus was on Athletic to take the game to Villarreal. The home side needed a win to make the race for the last Champions League spot somewhat interesting. In stead, after this stalemate, Villarreal have a 10-point lead over Bilbao with 15 games remaining. In a league where away wins are still difficult, that is a substantial gap.

The Yellow Submarines will be happy with the point. Marcelino Garcia Toral’s men seemed to have learnt some important lessons from last season. They were well in the mix for fourth spot last season, but some soft defeats derailed that bid. This season, Villarreal may not score much, but they have certainly become tougher to beat, both, at home and on the road. The only concern that Garcia Toral will have is the injury to Mateo Musacchio. With Eric Bailly also currently sidelined, Villarreal will hope that their Argentine centre back is not seriously hurt. If most of the first team manages to stay fit, Villarreal should navigate their remaining fixtures while retaining that all-important fourth spot.
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