By PHILLIP QUINN
With both sides on the outside of the Champions League places, Arsenal will visit Manchester United on Saturday in a big clash in the English Premier League.
Even after the announcement that Daley Blind would miss the next six months through injury, there’s no clear favorite heading into the match. Somehow, despite all of the money spent over the summer, things for Manchester United are, once again, falling onto the shoulders of Wayne Rooney.
The veteran forward seemed energized upon receiving his 100th cap for England, so perhaps he’ll translate some of that onto the field for Manchester United. Angel di Maria trained Friday, potentially putting injury worries behind him. Perhaps there will be some magic between two on the field.
The Derby della Madonnina remains one of the biggest matches across Europe no matter where Inter and Milan sit in the table. Both clubs are going through some hard times at the moment and are struggling to recapture their former glory. The goal for this season is clear: Qualify for next season’s Champions League. Robert Mancini has taken the helm at Inter once again. Can he restore the club to their rightful place?
Here’s a closer look at the action across Europe’s top leagues this weekend:
ENGLAND
Chelsea will be targeting a seven point lead over Southampton before the Saints take the field on Monday night. And, with West Brom coming to Stamford Bridge, it’s very likely the Blues will make that a reality. Jose Mourinho’s side has already managed to build a seemingly insurmountable eight point lead over their supposed title-challengers Manchester City, and it could be double digits at the end of the weekend. That can’t be what City were expecting.
Here are this weekend’s matches in the English Premier League:
Saturday, November 22
Chelsea vs West Bromwich Albion
Everton vs West Ham United
Leceister City vs Sunderland
Manchester City vs Swansea City
Newcastle United vs Queens Park Rangers
Stoke City vs Burnley
Arsenal vs Manchester United
Sunday, November 23
Crystal Palace vs Liverpool
Hull City vs Tottenham Hotspur
Monday, November 24
Aston Villa vs Southampton
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SPAIN
Real Madrid will be taking their traveling Galacticos to Eibar this weekend in what should be an easy match for Los Merengues. Carlo Ancelotti is expect to deploy Isco in the midfield next to Toni Kroos to make up for the absence of Luka Modric; however, with the superb form that Kroos is currently in, it may not matter what player is next to him.
The more intriguing match takes place in Barcelona when Sevilla visit. They’re sitting in fifth place but are only four points behind first place Real Madrid. While it’s likely that Real Madrid take all three points against Eibar, a Sevilla victory in Barcelona would throw a wrench into everyone’s expected title race.
Here are this weekend’s matches in La Liga.
Friday, November 21
Athletic Bilbao vs Espanyol
Saturday, November 22
Atletico Madrid vs Malaga
Eibar vs Real Madrid
Barcelona vs Sevilla
Deportivo La Caruna vs Real Sociedad
Sunday, November 23
Rayo Vallecano vs Celta Vigo
Levante vs Valencia
Elche vs Cordoba
Villarreal vs Getafe
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GERMANY
Bayern Munich came out of the international break with more names to add to their ridiculously long injury list. However, there is a reason that they have built one of the deepest squads in world football. They’ll be put to the test this weekend when Kevin Volland and Roberto Firmino leading Hoffenheim into the Allianz Arena. Pep Guardiola’s side should be the victors here, but one must wonder if the injuries will eventually catch up to them.
Remarkably, this weekend’s Nordderby between Hamburg and Werder Bremen is one of the biggest in recent memories. While Werder have won six of the last eight between these two teams, Sunday’s match could have huge implications for these two once-elite clubs languishing down in the relegation spots. A victory by either would be a big boost coming out of the break.
Here are this weekend’s matches in the Bundesliga.
Saturday, November 22
Bayern Munich vs Hoffenheim
Borussia Mönchengladbach vs Eintracht Frankfurt
Hannover vs Bayer Leverkusen
Mainz vs Freiburg
Paderborn vs Borussia Dortmund
Schalke vs Wolfsburg
Cologne vs Hertha Berlin
Sunday, November 23
Hamburg vs Werder Bremen
Stuttgart vs Augsburg
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ITALY
Both Juventus and Roma will play on Saturday, but with Roma playing the early match, they’ll have the opportunity put pressure on Juventus with a victory. With Gervinho and Juan Iturbe likely resting ahead of Roma’s Champions League match with CSKA Moscow, the burden of scoring will fall to a front line led by Adem Ljajic, Alessandro Florenzi, and Mattia Destro.
If Roma manage a victory, then all of the pressure is on Juve to get a result and maintain their three point lead at the top of Serie A. The Bianconeri are third in their Champions League group and will be targeting a result midweek to help advancement to the knockout rounds. They won’t be able to take Lazio lightly at the weekend, or the other capital team is sure to sneak away with the points.
Here are this weekend’s matches in Serie A.
Saturday, November 22
Atalanta vs AS Roma
Lazio vs Juventus
Sunday, November 23
Torino vs Sassuolo
Cesena vs Sampdoria
Hellas Verona vs Fiorentina
Napoli vs Cagliari
Parma vs Empoli
Udinese vs Chievo Verona
AC Milan vs Inter Milan
Monday, November 24
Genoa vs Palermo
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FRANCE
Paris Saint-Germain have the opportunity to take over the top spot in Ligue 1, for at least a couple of days, when they visit Metz on Friday. It will likely fall onto the shoulders of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, as PSG enters the match with a fairly depleted lineup. Even though he picked up a bit of knock while playing for Sweden during the week, Zlatan is Zlatan and should lead PSG to the promised land.
Here are this weekend’s matches in Ligue 1.
Friday, November 21
Metz vs Paris Saint-Germain
Saturday, November 22
Bastia vs Lyon
Monaco vs Caen
Guingamp vs Stade Rennes
Lorient vs Lens
Nice vs Stade de Reims
Sunday, November 23
Nantes vs Saint-Etienne
Montpellier vs Toulouse
Marseille vs Bordeaux
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Do you think Arsenal can take three points away to Manchester United? Which team is winning Derby della Madonnina?
Share your thoughts below.
Arsenal/Man U is at the Emirates
The latest reports say that Di Maria trained yesterday and will play this weekend. Do you guys fact check at all?