Barcelona and Liverpool title hunts, plus Revierderby, are weekend's best football fixtures

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  • Another exciting round of league fixtures await us this weekend from across Europe.

    Barcelona and Liverpool face pivotal days in their respective title hunts, while we could be treated to another modern classic between rivals Borussia Dortmund and Schalke.

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

    PREMIER LEAGUE

    Liverpool v Huddersfield

    When: Friday, 23:00 (UAE)

    Long-awaited Premier League glory remains tantalisingly close for the Reds.

    Friday evening will see the neck-and-neck race with holders Manchester City recommence when relegated Huddersfield travel to Anfield.

    Of Liverpool’s three remaining domestic assignments, this should be the simplest. Jurgen Klopp’s rampant squad last dropped points at Everton on March 3, six games ago.

    The – toothless – Terriers, in contrast, have lost 21 of their last 23 fixtures and have conceded 10 times in their previous three away outings.

    The pressure is immense for Liverpool to end 29 years’ of hurt. But it is not likely to start showing this weekend.

    LA LIGA

    Barcelona v Levante

    When: Saturday, 22:45 (UAE)

    The Camp Nou is poised for another La Liga title party.

    Win against third-bottom Levante and a seventh top-flight crown in the last 10 season will be Barcelona’s.

    It is difficult to know what to expect from Saturday’s opponent, who are on a five-match winless run. 5-0 and 3-0 victories have already been recorded against Granotas [Frogs] by Barca this term, but January 11’s 2-1 Copa del Rey round-of-16 first-leg loss is one of just three suffered from 28 fixtures played in 2019.

    Levante are fighting for survival and will not make it easy. There is also the distraction of Wednesday’s Champions League semi-final date with Liverpool.

    LIGUE 1

    Caen v Dijon

    When: Sunday, 17:00 (UAE)

    Caen and Dijon are ensconced in Ligue 1’s relegation places, meaning defeat for either when the pair meet on Saturday cannot be countenanced.

    The stakes are higher for Sunday’s host. Last weekend’s encouraging 1-0 win at Nice still kept them in the second-and-final guaranteed relegation spot.

    Imminent opponents Dijon are two points and one place advanced, in the relegation play-off position. Antoine Kombouare’s charges have also found some form at a critical juncture, winning twice and drawing once this month.

    If results go their way this round, they’ll be one point from certain safety. But defeat will put them right back in the mire.

    SERIE A

    Torino v AC Milan

    When: Sunday, 22:30 (UAE)

    Serie A’s title race was tied up by Juventus last weekend, but the scrap for the top four remains wide open with five fixtures to fulfil.

    Two of the protagonists meet this Sunday when seventh-placed Torino attempt to gain points parity with fourth-placed AC Milan.

    Torino last played in the Champions League – then called the European Cup – in 1976/77. An upgrade on December’s goalless draw with the Rossoneri is essential.

    Milan are stumbling towards to the finish, with one victory from their preceding six games.

    Champions League football is on the line for 2019/20, making the stakes huge.

    BUNDESLIGA

    Borussia Dortmund v Schalke

    When: Saturday, 17:30 (UAE)

    A Revierderby of serious consequence appears on Saturday.

    Hosts BVB will likely need to win each of their four remaining fixtures to stand any chance of besting Bayern Munich for the Bundesliga title.

    Neighbours Schalke have sunk throughout 2018/19 and could, conceivably, be dragged into the relegation play-off berth if several results go against them.

    This fixture in 2017/18 also threw up one of the Bundesliga’s most-memorable matches. BVB went 4-0 up by 25 minutes, only for an unfathomable collapse to be sealed with a 94th-minute equaliser by Naldo.

    Whether either set of fans could physically handle a repeat is another matter.

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