Football fixtures: PSG get fourth shot at Ligue 1 title party, Man City battle for Premier League

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  • An exciting round of league fixtures await us this weekend from across Europe as title races are, potentially, decided and battles against relegation rage.

    Paris Saint-Germain will be eager to finally seal the Ligue 1 crown, while Stuttgart will hope for salvation in the Bundesliga.

    As always, we will help you plan your weekend by picking out the best of the bunch:

    PREMIER LEAGUE

    Man City v Tottenham

    When: Saturday, April 20

    Kick-off: 15:30 (UAE)

    Familiar foes meet for the second time in four days – and third time, overall, this month – when Premier League holders Manchester City welcome top-four hopefuls Tottenham Hotspur.

    Fresh from Wednesday’s Champions League quarter-final decider, the sides will run-out once again at Etihad Stadium.

    Hosts City should need a perfect four wins from their remaining four top-flight fixtures to retain their crown. Wednesday’s derby at United further complicates matters.

    Spurs hold only one point more than fifth-placed Chelsea, meaning they equally can’t slip. Tension defines this clash.

    LA LIGA

    Getafe v Sevilla

    When: Sunday, April 21

    Kick-off: 16:00 (UAE)

    Clubs moving in opposite directions meet on Sunday at Coliseum Alfonso Perez.

    Hosts Getafe looked certainties for a debut Champions League campaign, before winning just one of their last five La Liga matches to slump into fifth.

    Sevilla looked dead and buried when their excellent start to the campaign unravelled. But Joaquin Caparros’ decision last month to ditch Pablo Machin and promote himself to head coach from director of football has led to an emboldening surge back into fourth.

    His third stint in charge reached its, early, apotheosis with last week’s 3-2 derby win versus Real Betis. They’ll now take some stopping.

    SERIE A

    Inter Milan v Roma

    When: Saturday, April 20

    Kick-off: 22:30 (UAE)

    The time is now for Roma if they are to hold any pretensions of pipping one of the Milan giants to Champions League qualification.

    A trip to third-placed Inter awaits on Saturday, opponents they sit six points and – critically – two places behind.

    Claudio Ranieri’s troops have found some form, winning their last two games 1-0.

    They now face a side who’ve weathered the furore that surrounded star – and wayward – striker Mauro Icardi.

    The Argentina striker has scored just once in 11 previous clashes with the Giallorossi. Now would be an opportune moment to improve on this, surprisingly, dismal record.

    LIGUE 1

    Paris Saint-Germain v Monaco

    When: Sunday, April 21

    Kick-off: 23:00 (UAE)

    Are we finally going to see Paris Saint-Germain enjoy a title party?

    Wednesday’s 3-1 loss at lowly Nantes meant Thomas Tuchel’s men blew a third-successive chance to seal a sixth Ligue 1 crown since 2012/13.

    It’s hardly panic stations. A 17-point gap to second-placed Lille remains, despite the ignominy and hubris of recent weeks caused by much-changed sides slipping up.

    They should now relish a chance to prevail on home soil against fallen giants Monaco.

    Leonardo Jardim’s men, however, won’t make it easy. The Portuguese has lost one of 10 Ligue 1 games upon his return.

    BUNDESLIGA

    Augsburg v Stuttgart

    When: Saturday, April 20

    Kick-off: 17:30 (UAE)

    If five-time Bundesliga champions Stuttgart are to avoid the vagaries of a relegation play-off, they need to start winning matches – fast.

    A meeting with 14th-placed Augsburg provides an invaluable opportunity to make up ground. Just a second triumph in 17 matches, in all competitions, could propel Markus Weinzierl’s troops to within one victory of safety.

    Augsburg, however, scored three unanswered goals to defeat high-flying Eintracht Frankfurt 3-1 last time out. Forward Marco Richter got a double last weekend to end his drought for the season and he’ll be eager to extend this run versus the division’s second-worst defence.

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