While the Champions League has kept us at the edge of our seats on the weekdays, some tasty fixtures across the top five European leagues await us this weekend.
While the title race is all but over in Spain, Italy and France, it could go down to the wire in England and Germany. Also, the European spots are up for grabs in all the top five leagues and the teams will be looking to step on the accelerator in the last stretch of games.
Here we take a look at the top fixture in each of the five leagues.
La Liga
Fixture: Sevilla v Real Betis
Where: Ramon Sanchez Pizuan
When: April 13, Saturday; 10:45 PM GST
Real Betis
The fight for the fourth and last Champions League spot is most interesting in Spain. Getafe are currently on fourth position with 50 points. Sevilla are breathing down their necks with 49 points. With just 43 points, Betis have an outside chance for fourth place and it’s likely that they will find themselves fighting for a Europa League spot.
The El Gran derby could shape the top-four race as Betis look to get an important win over Sevilla and do Getafe a favour in the process.
Quique Setien’s men have enjoyed the better head-to-head record of late. They are unbeaten in three derbies, emerging victorious on two occasions. However, Sevilla are in better dynamics and are favourites to clinch the tie.
Pablo Sarabia and Giovani Lo Celso are the players to watch for in this fixture that promises to produce a cracker.
Premier League
Fixture: Liverpool v Chelsea
Where: Anfield
When: April 14, Sunday; 7:30 PM GST
Eden Hazard will look to build on his sensational performance against West Ham
The title race is now closer in England than it has been for the past few seasons. Liverpool are on top after 33 games, having managed to collect 82 points. Manchester City are just two points behind and have a game in hand. Chelsea are in third position but their Champions League spot is under threat as they could slip to fifth if Tottenham and Arsenal win their game in hand.
Liverpool have never gotten the better of the London Club since their 2-1 win at Stamford Bridge in 2016.But the momentum is in their favour as they look to inch closer to the title, knowing any slip-up can be punished by City. Meanwhile, Chelsea are in desperate need of a win to keep their top-four hopes alive.
Will Sadio Mane inspire the Reds to a crucial win or will Eden Hazard steal the show like he did against West Ham on Monday night?
Serie A
Fixture: AC Milan v Lazio
Where: San Siro
When: April 13, Saturday; 10:30 PM GST
Krzysztof Piatek has become an instant star for AC Milan.
The battle for the fourth place has reached the climax in Serie A and this tie could make a huge difference in the race for the Champions League spot. Just three points separate fourth placed AC Milan and eight placed Lazio and the latter have a game in hand.
Milan have lost three of their last four games in the league. They enter this tie after a 2-1 defeat to table-toppers Juventus. Lazio will be looking to better their result against Sassuolo where they played out a 2-2 draw.
No goals were scored in the reverse fixture earlier this season, but one can expect a great clash on Saturday given what’s at stake.
Krzysztof Piatek and Ciro Immobile are the players who are most likely to determine the outcome of this game.
Bundesliga
Fixture: RB Leipzig v Wolfsburg
Where: Red Bull Arena
When: April 13, Saturday; 5:30 PM GST
Timo Werner
Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund will be kept busy by Fortuna Dusseldorf and Mainz 05 this weekend. Our attention shifts to the battle for Champions League spots as RB Leipzig look to secure theirs while Wolfsburg test their luck for an unlikely berth in the top four.
Ten points separate the two teams and it’s the visitors who are in greater need of a win as a defeat could push them to as deep as the ninth position and dent their Europa League hopes.
This tie has been contested equally in recent times, with both teams winning two games each in their last five meetings. Both teams are coming back from two-goal wins – Wolfsburg defeated Hannover 3-1, while Leipzig impressed with a 4-2 win away from home against Bayer Leverkusen.
Leipzig will turn to Timo Werner to take them home and Wolfsburg will be hoping that Wout Weghorst will be at his best to hand them a crucial win.
Ligue 1
Fixture: Lille v Paris Saint-Germain
Where: Stade Pierre-Mauroy
When: April 14, Sunday; 11:00 PM GST
Mbappe will want to catch up with Messi in the golden boot race
It’s a table-toppers clash as LOSC Lille host Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday. PSG are one win from claiming yet another Ligue 1 title and at this point, it’s only a matter of time. Lille will do everything to ensure that it does not happen on their turf. Also, a defeat to PSG will mean that Lyon can reduce the gap between Lille to just two points and hence threaten their position in the Champions League qualification spot.
Lille have not defeated PSG in the league for seven years now and it’s unlikely that they will delay PSG’s title celebrations on Sunday.
Both teams drew in their previous outing – Reims and Lille played out a 1-1 draw whereas PSG were held at home by Strasbourg.
Kylian Mbappe has a lot of catching-up to do with Lionel Messi in the race for the European golden boot. Nicolas Pepe can increase his transfer value by inspiring his team to an unlikely win against the French giants.
