The FA Cup takes the main focus in England this weekend, with four teams set to lock horns at Wembley for the place in the semi-finals. Manchester City
There’s a host of Premier League fixtures to get to grips with too, including a spicy ‘Andros-Townsend-Derby’ as Crystal Palace travel all the way up to Newcastle, a win for either providing that extra morsel of confirmation to remain in the top tier next season.
If your palate is a little bit more exotic however, here are four fixtures from across Europe to get stuck into.
Barcelona v Atlético Madrid
It’s first versus second in this La Liga match-up at Camp Nou. In the reverse fixture at the Wanda Metropolitano back in November, the points were shared, with Barcelona claiming a late late equalizer courtesy of Ousmane Dembélé.
With the first-leg of their Champions League quarter-final around the corner, it will be interesting to see Ernesto Valverde’s team selection; Lionel Messi was of course initially rested in that mid-week 4-4 thriller at Villarreal.
Diego Simeone and Atlético will have no such concerns after being ceremoniously dumped out of the European competition by Cristiano Ronaldo and Juventus (more on them later).
A win for Los Rojiblancos in Barcelona will keep the distance between them and city rivals Real and reduce the deficit at the top of the table to just five points and make Blaugrana hearts start ticking just that little bit faster with seven games to go as they strive for their eighth title in a decade.
Juventus v Milan(
Though the destination of the 2018/2019 title is all but confirmed – with Juventus 18 points clear of nearest title challengers Napoli – the chance to see two European historical heavyweights do battle in Turin, with Gennaro Gattuso’s AC Milan venturing west to the face the bianconeri is a match not to be missed,
Milan are looking for their first win (in 90minutes) in nine meetings with Juventus and close the gap on San Siro-sharers Internazionale, one place above in Serie A in third.
If the Old Lady win this game (and Napoli don’t drop points against Genoa on Sunday) they’ll need just one more win for their eighth consecutive title.
Hearts v Hibernian(
The Edinburgh Derby is always one to mark down on the calendar. It may not be the most free-scoring fixture, but it can certainly get tasty. There’s just a point between Hearts and Hibs in the Scottish Premiership table, but it’s the bragging rights that are at stake at Tynecastle Park this Saturday lunchtime. Hearts were beaten by 3-0 by Rangers in midweek, but got the win at Easter Road at the end of 2018.
Bayern München v Borussia Dortmund(
Hands down, disregard all the other previously mentioned suggestions; cancel appointments, birthdays, even miss the birth of your first child.
The term ‘title-decider’ can often be bandied around too flippantly, but in the Bundesliga’s case this weekend, there’s no tag more appropriate.
Bayern Munich have clawed their way back to breath down BVB’s neck, gaining ground after a slippy start to the season when Niko Kovac’s job looked to be on the precipice. Just two points now separate the two sides, with Dortmund just about clinging onto the top spot.
Last time saw a 3-2 thriller which saw the points go the way of Lucien Favre’s Dortmund at the Westfalenstadion. More of the same please.