This Weekend's Match Previews
Arsenal V Chelsea: EPL
Arsenal host Chelsea at the Emirates on Saturday with Arsenal 5th in the table, six points behind Chelsea. The Gunners run of form doesn't look good, winning just twice in their last five league games without keeping a clean sheet plus their troubles in the transfer window and the situation with Mesut Özil. Chelsea have been managing well, winning three of their last five league games with Eden Hazard playing the False 9 due to a lack of cutting edge up front. With Manchester United breathing down their necks, a win is a must for both sides in their pursuit for the top 4 but Arsenal have won just one game against teams from the top 6 this season and they need to take points off their rivals.
Real Madrid V Sevilla: La Liga
Real Following their second leg loss to Leganes in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday, Los Blancos have now lost ten games in all competitions. One more than they had in the whole of last season. This weekend, they face surprise package Sevilla at the Bernabéu with the opportunity to go third in the table. Toni Kroos, Thibaut Courtois and Mariano are all out with injury while Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and Marco Asensio all doubtful. Sevilla have been exciting this season, currently 3rd and are level on points with Madrid. They beat Real 3-0 earlier in the season and given Madrid's troubles, Sevilla will fancy their chances.
RB Leipzig V Borussia Dortmund: Bundesliga
The Bundesliga is back after a two week winter break and comes with an exciting clash between RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund. BVB start the second half of the season six points clear off Bayern Munich and will be hoping to start off with a win to continue their title charge. Dortmund go to this game without Manuel Akanji who's out with injury, forcing Lucien Favre to play a makeshift defence with Julian Weigl deployed at centre-back. Leipzig are 4th in the table, they're unbeaten at home (Red Bull Arena) and have conceded the least amount of goals than anyone, so they can cause trouble for the league leaders with Timo Werner in their ranks who has scored 11 goals in the Bundesliga this season.
Napoli V Lazio: Serie A
Serie A is back in action after the Coppa Italia last week and the Supercoppa Italiana on Wednesday. Napoli are 2nd in Serie A, nine points behind runaway leaders Juventus and are five points clear off 3rd placed Inter. It's unlikely that Juventus will drop points which leaves the Naples side in a strange position of where they will be as they are likely to finish in the top 4. Lazio are in the race for 4th place with the Biancocelesti only two points clear off AC Milan and Roma. Napoli will be without Koulibaly, Insigne and Allan due to suspension and Hamsik with injury. For Lazio, a win is a must with Milan and Roma so close with only two points between them.
Other matches to consider are: Liverpool V Crystal Palace as Palace are the last team to beat Liverpool at Anfield in March 2017, Hoffenheim V Bayern as the Bavarians start to play catch-up and Villarreal V Athletic Bilbao with the Yellow Submarine 19th in La Liga, 4 points off safety and Bilbao still in trouble despite having some breathing space.
Arsenal host Chelsea at the Emirates on Saturday with Arsenal 5th in the table, six points behind Chelsea. The Gunners run of form doesn't look good, winning just twice in their last five league games without keeping a clean sheet plus their troubles in the transfer window and the situation with Mesut Özil. Chelsea have been managing well, winning three of their last five league games with Eden Hazard playing the False 9 due to a lack of cutting edge up front. With Manchester United breathing down their necks, a win is a must for both sides in their pursuit for the top 4 but Arsenal have won just one game against teams from the top 6 this season and they need to take points off their rivals.
Real Madrid V Sevilla: La Liga
Real Following their second leg loss to Leganes in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday, Los Blancos have now lost ten games in all competitions. One more than they had in the whole of last season. This weekend, they face surprise package Sevilla at the Bernabéu with the opportunity to go third in the table. Toni Kroos, Thibaut Courtois and Mariano are all out with injury while Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and Marco Asensio all doubtful. Sevilla have been exciting this season, currently 3rd and are level on points with Madrid. They beat Real 3-0 earlier in the season and given Madrid's troubles, Sevilla will fancy their chances.
RB Leipzig V Borussia Dortmund: Bundesliga
The Bundesliga is back after a two week winter break and comes with an exciting clash between RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund. BVB start the second half of the season six points clear off Bayern Munich and will be hoping to start off with a win to continue their title charge. Dortmund go to this game without Manuel Akanji who's out with injury, forcing Lucien Favre to play a makeshift defence with Julian Weigl deployed at centre-back. Leipzig are 4th in the table, they're unbeaten at home (Red Bull Arena) and have conceded the least amount of goals than anyone, so they can cause trouble for the league leaders with Timo Werner in their ranks who has scored 11 goals in the Bundesliga this season.
Napoli V Lazio: Serie A
Serie A is back in action after the Coppa Italia last week and the Supercoppa Italiana on Wednesday. Napoli are 2nd in Serie A, nine points behind runaway leaders Juventus and are five points clear off 3rd placed Inter. It's unlikely that Juventus will drop points which leaves the Naples side in a strange position of where they will be as they are likely to finish in the top 4. Lazio are in the race for 4th place with the Biancocelesti only two points clear off AC Milan and Roma. Napoli will be without Koulibaly, Insigne and Allan due to suspension and Hamsik with injury. For Lazio, a win is a must with Milan and Roma so close with only two points between them.
Other matches to consider are: Liverpool V Crystal Palace as Palace are the last team to beat Liverpool at Anfield in March 2017, Hoffenheim V Bayern as the Bavarians start to play catch-up and Villarreal V Athletic Bilbao with the Yellow Submarine 19th in La Liga, 4 points off safety and Bilbao still in trouble despite having some breathing space.
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