4 biggest European League fixtures to look out for this weekend

We are in for a bumper weekend of football action, as the biggest clubs on the continent slug it out for top honours.

With just a few matchdays of the season left, most teams are putting in final efforts to achieving their season objectives, as just minor details could prove to be the difference between ending the campaign on a high and finishing in disappointment.

While some have domestic honours in their sight, others are trying to secure European qualification and results this weekend would play a key role in deciding which way the pendulum swings. In this piece, we shall be taking a look at the four biggest matches to watch out for this weekend in Europe.

#4. Inter Milan vs Atalanta (Italian Serie A)

Date - Sun 7, April

Venue - Estadio Giuseppe Meazza (San Siro)

This fixture is a matchup between 3rd and 5th in Serie A, with the extra spice of having a Champions League qualifying spot on the line.

Inter Milan currently occupy third place on the standings, but are just four points ahead of city rivals AC Milan in 4th and five ahead of their visitors, making this a crunch fixture for the Nerazzurri.

For their part, Atalanta would be seeking to make it to the Champions League for the first time ever and would be buoyed by their emphatic 4-1 win over Bologna in midweek which saw them equal an 87-year-old record as the first side to score four goals in the first half of a Serie A match.

La Dea have been regular Europa League participants in recent years, but would be keen to take it a notch up and play with the big boys next season and in Gian Piero Gasperini, they have a wily tactician who could help pull off the victory, while Duvan Zapata is one of the most in-form strikers in Europe and would be keen to continue his good run against Inter.

Inter Milan must have been relieved to have brought an end to the long-running Mauro Icardi saga as his services would come in handy during the run-in, while Atalanta would be inspired by their first leg 4-1 victory over their hosts.

#3. Juventus vs AC Milan (Italian Serie A)

Date - Sat 6, April

Venue - Allianz Stadium

Once upon a time, this fixture used to have far more serious consequences, as both clubs were accustomed to being in the upper echelons of Italian football and battling it out for Scudetto glory.

Those days are long gone, however, as Juventus' utter dominance of the Serie A landscape means they have turned the league into essentially a one-horse race while AC Milan has fallen a long way off their previous heights.

With the Bianconerri all but guaranteed to win their 8th consecutive domestic title, there is the small matter of Champions League qualification being on the line as Milan are currently engaged in a five-team battle to decide the final two Champions League spots with just eight rounds of matches left.

The Rossoneri had been high flying from the end of last year, going unbeaten in 13 consecutive matches in all competitions, with the last five of those being victories in Serie A and this helped consolidate their spot in third place on the standings.

They have however dropped in form in recent weeks, losing consecutive matches to Inter Milan and Sampdoria, while drawing with Udinese in midweek.

This fixture is undoubtedly more important for Milan and much less so for Juventus who are more likely to have their attention on their midweek Champions League clash with Ajax but nevertheless, we are in for fireworks at the Juventus stadium.

#2. Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid (Spanish La Liga)

Date - Saturday 6, April

Venue - Estadio Camp Nou

The top two clash in Spain and while it might not necessarily be a deciding factor in the La Liga title race, it has the potential to make the run-in a bit more exciting.

Heading into mid-week, Barcelona held a 10-point advantage at the summit with nine matches left which judging by the strength-in-depth of the Blaugrana, you would expect them to maintain.

However, a surprise draw with relegation-threatened Villareal saw their lead at the top cut to eight points to add more spice to the fixture against Diego Simeone's men.

It is very much a clash of superior attack against an imperial defence, as Barcelona currently lead the way in terms of goals scored in the league with 79 from 30 goals while Atletico has the meanest defence having let in just 19 goals.

The Colchoneros have not defeated Barcelona in La Liga since 2011 and with all other hopes of a trophy this season having been extinguished, this is a record they would be keen to overturn.

#1. Bayern Munich vs Borussia Dortmund (German Bundesliga)

Borussia Dortmund v Bayer 04 Leverkusen - Bundesliga

Date - Saturday 6, April

Venue - Allianz Arena

This is arguably the biggest fixture this weekend with the most riding on it, as both clubs battle it out for domestic dominance with each's fate very much in their own hands.

Borussia Dortmund are seeking to end Bayern Munich's six-year stranglehold on the Bundesliga by winning their first domestic title since 2012 and for so long, BVB had the advantage, holding a seven-point lead at the top as players like Marco Reus, Paco Alcacer and the highly rated Jadon Sancho led their charge on the field.

A disastrous run of form between February and March which saw them win just one out of five matches, however, saw them drop points to make Bayern Munich gain ground on them.

Both clubs went neck-and-neck at the summit over the last fortnight as they were level on points, but a surprise draw with Freiburg last weekend by Bayern Munich once more gave Dortmund the advantage albeit by a much less significant gap of two points.

The Die Klassiker is the biggest game of the football calendar in Germany and this weekend, it takes on much extra significance as it could go a long way in deciding who wins the German league title this year and as such, it is a must watch fixture.

Edited by Rahul Arun