Top of the table clashes in Germany and Portugal, Derby della Madonnina and West Ham’s horrific fixture list, the weekend promises to be entertaining. Here are the Things to look out for in European football: February 8-9. Bet on these games here.
Bundesliga top of the table clash: Bayern v Leipzig
The top two teams in the Bundesliga, Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig, meet on Sunday in a highly anticipated top-of-the-table clash, a match that could have significant consequences. A point separates these two sides after 20 matches. This will be a battle fought on many fronts. Leipzig will want to regain their lead at the top of the table and march towards a historic first Bundesliga title. The top two Bundesliga scorers Robert Lewandowski and Timo Werner will also lock horns while Julian Nagelsmann goes head to head with Hansi Flick, someone who was part of Germany’s coaching team in the 2014 World Cup. The talking points and the key battles make it a huge fixture. Who will get all the three points?
Derby della Madonnina: Inter Milan v AC Milan
The first time these two bitter rivals met early in the season, things were very different. Milan were enduring another poor start to the season while Inter were enjoying one of their best starts in a while. This time round, Milan are unbeaten in 2020 while Inter have drawn three of their last four Serie A games. Although form gets thrown out of the window in a derby like this, Milan are in a better position now. Still, Inter are 19 points ahead of their arch-rivals going into this clash. Inter last won the Serie A title in 2010 as part of the treble under Jose Mourinho and are right up there in the race. Stefano Pioli’s side was the last side to win the Scudetto before Juventus’ dominance started in 2012. Who will take the bragging rights?
Crystal Palace winless run to continue?
Crystal Palace travel to Goodison Park to face Everton on Saturday in the Premier League with Roy Hodgson’s men looking for their first win since Boxing Day. A run of four points from their last six games has seen them slide to 14th, six points above the drop zone. The Eagles’ need to get points but their tough fixture against a rejuvenated Toffees side is compounded by the fact that they haven’t beaten the hosts since 2014. Three points separate the two sides. Can Roy Hodgson’s team overcome their poor form to claim the win at Goodison Park?
Start of West Ham’s brutal fixture list
Manchester City (a), Liverpool (a), Southampton (h), Arsenal (a), Wolves (h), Tottenham (a) then Chelsea (h) are West Ham’s next fixtures which start on Sunday at the Etihad. It’s hard to imagine the Hammers winning all those games taking into account their poor campaign. David Moyes’ side are 18th in the table and those fixtures couldn’t come at a worse time. However, matches against sides around them come towards the end of the season. They’ve lost three of their last five league games and won just one of their last eight. Where will they be after this?
O Classico: Porto v Benfica
Two of Portugal’s biggest and most successful teams meet in a top-of-the-table clash in the Primeira Liga on Sunday. These bitter rivals are separated by just seven points at the top of the table. Benfica have only dropped three points in the league this season and will be out to avenge that sole loss to their arch-rivals when they travel to the Estadio do Dragao. Benfica did the double over the Dragons last season and Porto will want to avenge that by winning in front of their crowd in what is expected to be a hotly-contested affair. Since the 2002/2003 season, no other side in Portugal’s top flight has won the league apart from these two. Can Porto complete the double over their opponents?