European football's big weekend fixtures as PSG set for another stroll and Real Madrid look to build winning run

Aditya Devavrat 00:16 03/02/2018
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  • Real Madrid look to continue winning run on Saturday.

    The final week of the January transfer window brought excitement and some surprising moves all across Europe, but now the action shifts back to the pitch.

    Here’s a look at five of the big games from around Europe.

    ANOTHER PSG STROLL?

    It’s hard to see anything other than a PSG win against Lille on Saturday. Kylian Mbappe may be missing due to his midweek red card, and Neymar has come under the spotlight for all the wrong reasons recently, but a side sitting just one point above the relegation zone shouldn’t cause too many problems.

    Lille haven’t beaten PSG since 2012, when a certain Eden Hazard was still in their ranks and the Parisians have won 11 of their subsequent 14 encounters.

    This could yet be a thrilling encounter, however, as PSG haven’t kept a clean sheet in any of their last eight away fixtures and Lille have failed to score in just one of their last eight at home.

    Recent headlines about Neymar haven't been flattering.

    Recent headlines about Neymar haven’t been flattering.

    CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SPOT UP FOR GRABS IN MONCHENGLADBACH

    This is a crucial clash in the Champions League qualification race, with fifth-place RB Leipzig and seventh-place Borussia Mönchengladbach just one and two points outside the Bundesliga top four, respectively. Three points separate second-place Bayer Leverkusen and Gladbach.

    Gladbach have won 10 of a possible 12 points from their last four home fixtures, but Leipzig will fancy their chances on Saturday. Manager Ralph Hasenhuttl has never lost to Gladbach, and striker Timo Werner has scored in each of the three meetings between the two sides.

    Naby Keita should return to the Leipzig starting XI following his comeback last weekend from an abductor injury, while Everton youngster Ademola Lookman, who joined Leipzig in a shock loan move on deadline day, could make his debut.

    Timo Werner loves playing against Monchengladbach.

    Timo Werner loves playing against Monchengladbach.

    CAN INTER MILAN GET BACK ON TRACK?

    Inter Milan haven’t won a league fixture since the first weekend of December, losing two and drawing five of their last seven Serie A games. It’s a run that has seen their title hopes evaporate, as they’ve gone from top of the table on December 3 to fourth place heading into this weekend, 13 points behind current leaders Napoli.

    A visit from relegation-threatened Crotone should be just what the doctor ordered. Walter Zenga’s side had lost five straight away games before beating Verona two weeks ago.

    Inter’s top scorer Mauro Icardi will miss the game with a muscle injury, with fellow striker Eder being backed to find his scoring touch against a side that has only kept four clean sheets all season.

    The goalscoring burden will fall on Eder in Mauro Icardi's absence.

    The goalscoring burden will fall on Eder in Mauro Icardi’s absence.

    CAN REAL MADRID STRING TOGETHER A WINNING RUN?

    The feeling of a crisis still hovers around Real Madrid, despite having won their last two league fixtures by an aggregate 11-2 scoreline. In between the 7-1 win over Deportivo La Coruna and the 4-1 win at Valencia came the stunning home loss to Leganes in the Copa del Rey, which sent them crashing out of the competition and deepened the sense of gloom around the club.

    But with Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale among the players to find form in those two wins, there’s hope for a second-half turnaround to Madrid’s season.

    Saturday’s opponents sit just two points above the La Liga relegation zone, with Levante having won only three times all season. Madrid should comfortably continue their winning run.

    Ronaldo has hit a brace in each of his last two appearances.

    Ronaldo has hit a brace in each of his last two appearances.

    ARSENAL SEEK HOME COMFORT

    The excitement of transfer deadline day, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang arriving and Mesut Ozil signing a new contract, lifted the doom and gloom around Arsenal following a dispiriting 3-1 loss to lowly Swansea.

    That was away from home, where Arsenal’s struggles are well-documented. At home, however, they’ve only lost once all season, and have only dropped a total three times. An Everton slowly finding its feet under Sam Allardyce could still pose problems – and new Toffees signing Theo Walcott may want to mark his Emirates Stadium return (and farewell) with a memorable moment – but Arsenal will have no fear facing a side they have a good record against at home.

    Aubameyang may have to wait for his debut, with the striker set to miss the game due to illness.

    Could Theo Walcott return to haunt Arsenal?

    Could Theo Walcott return to haunt Arsenal?

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