The Premier League returns once again, following a week’s break, while the English Football League Cup final also takes place at Wembley over the weekend. An FA Cup replay wraps up the action in England this week.
It is an important period in Spain as teams head into a double game week that also includes a mouth-watering fixture between two of the top teams in the La Liga. The Serie A also sees a couple of top notch fixtures as four of the top five teams go up against each other. The French domestic league is also heating up at the top, and teams cannot afford any more slip-ups.
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#1 EPL returns after a week’s break
After a week’s break, the Premier League returns for gameweek 26, however, four teams will not feature as a result of their commitments in England’s domestic cup competitions.
League leaders Chelsea host an in-form Swansea City at Stamford Bridge, as the Blues aim to extend their lead over second-placed Manchester City. The Swans have three wins in their last four games and have moved four points clear of the bottom three.
Two of the bottom three sides, Hull City and Crystal Palace, have home ties against Burnley and Middlesbrough, respectively. Marco Silva’s side have been playing impressively ever since the Portuguese joined the club but are still struggling to grind out results.
Ronald Koeman’s Everton are unbeaten in their last eight games in the league and should be able to extend that run in their home fixture against rock bottom and out-of-form Sunderland.
Tottenham host Stoke City on Sunday, while title holders Leicester City will be desperate for a win in their match against Liverpool on Monday night.
#2 Manchester teams in domestic cup action
Both Manchester sides will be missing from Premier League action this week, as they will both feature in domestic cup competitions. This week would have played host to the second Manchester derby in the league this season, however, it will have to be put on hold.
City failed to see off Huddersfield Town in the fifth round of the FA Cup, after only managing a goalless draw. They take on the Championship side at the Etihad on Tuesday night. The Red Devils, meanwhile, have a crucial tie against Southampton in the final of the EFL Cup on Sunday. Jose Mourinho is aiming for his first major trophy as Manchester United manager but they will have to be at the very top of their game if they are to get past the Saints.
Arsenal will be the only club in the top flight of English football to not feature at all this week.
#3 Atletico Madrid host Barcelona in double gameweek in Spain
This week will see teams playing over the weekend as well as in midweek. Real Madrid will still have a game in hand after playing Villarreal on Saturday, while Los Blancos take on Las Palmas in their midweek fixture.
Barcelona are unbeaten in their last 16 games in the La Liga and are currently in second place in the league. They face a very tough trip to fourth-placed Atletico Madrid in their weekend fixture and host Sporting Gijon in midweek, while Diego Simeone’s side make the trip to Deportivo La Coruna in their midweek fixture.
Sevilla will be looking to put together a string of positive results this week as they travel to Real Betis and host Athletic Bilbao later in the week.
#4 Roma and Napoli prepare for tough week
All of the top five teams in the Serie A find themselves in a good run of form of late. Juventus already look like runaway winners for the title, while the other four teams look to seal the European spots. The Old Lady should find it easy to extend their six-game winning run when they host relegation-threatened Empoli.
Roma and Napoli are the closest to catching Massimiliano Allegri’s side but both teams will find it hard to get past their opponents this week. Roma will face fourth-placed Inter Milan at the San Siro in a crunch tie, while Napoli are looking to extend their unbeaten run of 14 games when they host Atalanta, who are level on points with Inter in fifth.
#5 PSG cannot afford another slip-up
The Ligue 1 leaders’ slip up against struggling Bastia last week was not taken advantage of as PSG also dropped points against Toulouse. The draw left the Parisians level on points with third-placed Nice, only pipping them on goal difference.
Unai Emery’s side might have secured a brilliant result in the Champions League against Barcelona a few days ago but they must up their game in Ligue 1 if they are to retain their title. They face tough opposition in the form of Marseille this weekend, who have been in decent touch as well. The Olympians currently lie in sixth place in the league, four points off a Europa League spot.
Monaco travel to Guingamp in the hopes of extending their lead at the top. Nice host Montpellier without Mario Balotelli, who is serving a ban after receiving his third red card of the season last week.
Key Fixtures:
Saturday
Chelsea vs SwanseaEverton vs SunderlandRB Leipzig vs CologneFreiburg vs Borussia DortmundBayern Munich vs HamburgHertha Berlin vs Eintracht FrankfurtNapoli vs AtalantaJuventus vs Empoli
Sunday
Tottenham vs Stoke CityManchester United vs Southampton (EFL Cup)Atletico Madrid vs BarcelonaVillareal vs Real MadridInter vs RomaMarseille vs PSG
Monday
Leicester City vs Liverpool
Tuesday
Manchester City vs Huddersfield (FA Cup Replay)
Wednesday
Barcelona vs Sporting GijonReal Madrid vs Las Palmas
Thursday
Deportivo La Coruna vs Atletico Madrid
