The Champions League is finally back on our screens, but that’s not to say it should take a back seat to the weekend’s fare just yet.
England’s FA Cup has thrown up the usual clashes between monsters and minnows – or two titans in the case of Chelsea and Manchester United on Monday – while the likes of Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund return to league action following their European exertions.
Don’t know which games to prioritise in front of the box this weekend? We’ve come to your rescue.
FA CUP
MATCH: Newport County v Man City
WHERE: Rodney Parade
WHEN: Saturday February 16, 9:30pm GST
The focus turns to the #FACup!
— Manchester City (@ManCity) February 13, 2019
🔵 #mancity pic.twitter.com/GSbTCOAktP
With Manchester United and Chelsea licking their respective wounds until Monday, this is the most intriguing weekend tie of the fifth round for sheer novelty factor.
Don’t expect a Burton-esque 9-0 thrashing, though. Fourth-division Newport have beaten Leicester and Middlesbrough – after forcing a replay at the Riverside – at Rodney Parade to get this far.
Rodney Parade’s surface is, shall we say, questionable. Pep Guardiola will just be hoping his players get out of Wales without needing a visit to the physio.
LA LIGA
MATCH: Real Madrid v Girona
WHERE: Santiago Bernabeu
WHEN: Sunday February 17, 3:00pm GST
On paper it’s an easy home win, but not everything has gone to script for Real Madrid this season. The signs are that they are back yet it just was little over a month ago that they were dropping points to the likes of struggling Villarreal.
Girona are also scrapping for their lives at the bottom of La Liga and have suffered four league defeats in a row. It’s another chance for Santiago Solari to prove he’s the man for the job with a ruthless victory, and perhaps La Liga’s crown as Barcelona begin to look leggy while just six points ahead.
SERIE A
MATCH: Atalanta v AC Milan
WHERE: Atleti Azzurri d’Italia
WHEN: Saturday February 16, 11:30pm GST
It’s funny what the addition of a world-class striker can do to the mood of a team. Krzysztof Piatek is proving as deadly at the San Siro as he was at Genoa, despite having only started to call Italy his home last June.
Allied with fellow January signing Lucas Paqueta, the young Brazilian midfielder who got off the mark against Cagliari last weekend, fourth-placed AC Milan are making a charge back into the Champions League.
They must be wary of Atalanta, however, who are just one point behind the Rossoneri. They not only drew with runaway leaders Juventus in Serie A earlier this season, but dumped them out of the Coppa Italia in a 3-0 stunner.
Krzysztof Piatek goal for AC Milan. Fans chanting in sync with the celebration!
— Mozo Football (@MozoSports) February 10, 2019
PUT SOUND ON! 🔥🔫🔫🔫pic.twitter.com/A9W3Zs7ayq
LIGUE 1
MATCH: Lille v Montpellier
WHERE: Stade Pierre-Mauroy
WHEN: Sunday February 17, 6:00pm GST
Lille are a fun team to watch – like PSG they are absorbing on the attack, unlike PSG they are susceptible to losing in Ligue 1.
This week they entertain Montpellier, the stingiest team outside the all-conquering Parisians having conceded just 19 goals in the league all season.
In the hosts’ corner you have Portuguese sensation Rafael Leao, the 19-year-old whose power in attack causes all sorts of problems, and reported Arsenal target Nicolas Pepe on the wing.
Montpellier dramatically clinched a drew against a rejuvenated 2-2 Monaco last weekend. Can wily veteran Hilton and Co put a lid on Lille?
BUNDESLIGA
MATCH: Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Monchengladbach
WHERE: Commerzbank-Arena
WHEN: Sunday February 17, 6:30pm GST
Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich should wrap up simple victories over strugglers this week, so it’s time to shine a light on a couple of other teams.
Gladbach may not win the league but it’s been some turnaround – they’re only five points away from the 42 they accumulated on the way to ninth last season.
Thorgan Hazard, brother of Eden, is the headline name in the attack and Swiss defender Nico Elvedi is deserving drawing attention from elsewhere, too.
They face a stern test at fifth-placed Frankfurt, spearheaded by Barcelona target Luka Jovic. Dortmund and high-flying RB Leipzig have both recently been held to draws.
