Laurens’ weekend outlook: Ronaldo’s comeback, Inter vs. Juve in Serie A
Every Friday, I highlight the most thrilling or significant football matches that should not be overlooked over the weekend. From local derbies to top-of-the-table encounters, relegation battles to world-class players clashing, and intriguing tactical showdowns, there will be something for every fan to appreciate.
This week, we explore England, Scotland, Spain, Italy, France, and even Saudi Arabia for a major derby, some Cup excitement, a plethora of new managers, and a notable return!
– Tighe: Which clubs acquire the best players for each position and the reasons behind it?
– Connelly: The Premier League’s 50 most regrettable transfers ever
– Wright: As Forest seeks a record fourth manager of the season, do frequent changes in management yield positive results?
Ronaldo makes his return
Al Fateh vs. Al Nassr
Saudi Pro League, Matchday 21
Kickoff: Saturday, 12:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. GMT
He is back! After sitting out Al Nassr’s previous two league matches in protest over the lack of investment from PIF during the transfer window, Cristiano Ronaldo has chosen to end his “strike” and will return to the field on Saturday to face 10th-placed Al Fateh.
While his return will undoubtedly boost morale, his team performed admirably in his absence, securing victories against Al Riyadh (1-0, courtesy of a Sadio Mané goal) and Al Ittihad (2-0, thanks to goals from Mané and Gabriel). Nevertheless, Al Nassr is likely stronger with CR7 in the lineup, and he will start on Saturday alongside João Félix in Jorge Jesus’ established 4-4-2 formation.
The Riyadh club remains firmly in the title race, trailing league leaders Al Hilal by just one point with 14 matches still to play, including a crucial home clash against the top side on May 7, during Matchday 32.
This weekend presents an ideal opponent for Ronaldo’s return: Fateh has not won any of their last six league matches (four draws, two losses), and aside from a couple of Cape Verde internationals, their squad lacks depth. The Portuguese superstar should thus be well-positioned to continue his pursuit of 1000 career goals. He is currently 39 goals short and will be refreshed to add to his tally following his brief hiatus!
MY PREDICTION: Al Fateh 0-3 Al Nassr. Even as visitors, there should be a clear disparity between a high-momentum Al Nassr (seven consecutive wins) and the return of their star player against an average Al Fateh side.
Derby d’Italia carries title significance
Inter Milan vs. Juventus
Italian Serie A, Matchday 25
Kickoff: Saturday, 2:45 p.m. ET / 7:45 p.m. GMT
Is there a more significant match in Italy than Inter vs. Juve? This is the Derby d’Italia, marking the 255th official meeting between these two prominent rivals, and Saturday’s encounter could greatly influence the title race and the season’s final stretch.
While Milan, currently second in the standings (eight points behind Inter) but with a game in hand, faces Pisa on Friday night, Inter has the opportunity to make a strong statement if they maintain their winning streak in the league. They have triumphed in 11 of their last 12 Serie A matches, with the only blemish being a 2-2 draw against Napoli. Lautaro Martínez has been in exceptional form, scoring in each of his last four league appearances, and Federico Dimarco has also excelled, contributing 11 assists and five goals this season: impressive for a wingback! The Interisti have appeared nearly unstoppable at times recently, even with some absences, achieving five clean sheets in eight league matches since the start of 2026, and scoring an impressive 22 goals.
This presents a significant challenge for Juve and Luciano Spalletti, but his squad — currently fourth in the standings — requires a victory. If they perform as they did at home against Napoli a few weeks ago, where they secured a 3-0 win, they could pose problems for Inter. However, if they replicate their performance against Atalanta in the Cup last week, where they lost 3-0, they will struggle! They have been inconsistent, but the talents of Kenan Yildiz, along with the strong form of Weston McKennie and Khéphren Thuram in midfield, make them capable.
MY PREDICTION: Inter Milan 3-1 Juventus. Inter has been remarkably strong lately, but they must remain cautious as this Spalletti-led Juve side can be unpredictably effective at times. Nonetheless, I find it hard to believe Juventus can leave the San Siro with even a draw.
Can Matarazzo sustain Real Sociedad’s momentum?
Real Madrid vs. Real Sociedad
Spanish LaLiga, Matchday 24
Kick off: Sunday, 3 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. GMT
Pellegrino Matarazzo has made a significant impact since taking over as head coach at Real Sociedad. The 48-year-old American, who was dismissed by Hoffenheim in November 2024, succeeded Imanol Alguacil in December and has remained unbeaten since! His team has recorded seven victories and two draws in the nine matches across all competitions under his leadership. They even triumphed over LaLiga leaders Barcelona 2-1 last month, marking an impressive turnaround for a side that had been struggling prior to his arrival.
The Basque team is now eighth in the standings, just three points behind Espanyol in sixth place and seven behind Betis in fifth! Mikel Oyarzabal and Gonçalo Guedes have been instrumental in their resurgence on the field, consistently delivering excellent performances and scoring goals.
This weekend, they face a Real Madrid side that is also in winning form, having secured seven consecutive league victories, despite not performing at their best, and with interim manager Alvaro Arbeloa still addressing several challenges. Kylian Mbappé faced scrutiny from referees last weekend against Valencia but still managed to score, marking his 23rd LaLiga goal this season. However, he has been carrying the team throughout the season, while the supporting players have not consistently met expectations.
The Bernabeu crowd has expressed their dissatisfaction with the team’s performances lately, and this could be the case again on Saturday.
MY PREDICTION: Real Madrid 2-2 Real Sociedad. Despite Real Madrid’s impressive winning streak, they have numerous issues, but I believe Real Sociedad, currently the most in-form Spanish team, will create enough challenges to secure a point.
Will we witness another FA Cup upset?
Macclesfield vs. Brentford
English FA Cup, fourth round
Kickoff: Monday, 2:30 p.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. GMT (Stream LIVE on ESPN+)
Can they do it again … can they? A month after eliminating the FA Cup holders and Premier League team Crystal Palace from the tournament, sixth-tier underdogs Macclesfield are back for the fourth round, still at home and once again facing a top-flight opponent! This time, it’s Brentford making the trip to the leasing.com Stadium on Monday night.
Manager John Rooney and his squad are dreaming of another giant-killing moment and the continuation of their remarkable FA Cup journey this season. They are in good form, having won four of their last five league matches, and will play at home on their artificial pitch, which should provide an advantage against a Brentford team that is not accustomed to this surface. Additionally, Macclesfield benefits from the fact that Brentford is coming off a relatively short rest after hosting Premier League leaders Arsenal on Thursday night.
The underdogs will have slightly more rest than their opponents, but that may not be sufficient to make them favorites.
This match is essentially Brentford’s to lose. They will be cautious given what transpired with Palace, but manager Keith Andrews should be able to rotate his squad without significant loss in quality, and they will arrive in the northwest of England — Macclesfield is near Manchester, for those curious — with confidence about advancing!
MY PREDICTION: Macclesfield 0-3 Brentford. While we all appreciate a great Cup run by a smaller team, I believe Macclesfield’s journey will come to an end on Monday night. Brentford is unlikely to repeat the mistakes made by Palace and will prove too strong for the underdogs, regardless of their lineup.
Marseille enters the post-De Zerbi phase
Marseille vs. Strasbourg
French Ligue 1, Matchday 22
Kickoff: Saturday, 11 a.m. ET / 4 p.m. GMT
This has been quite a week for Marseille. Following a humiliating 5-0 defeat to PSG on Sunday at the Parc des Princes, Roberto De Zerbi quickly resigned as manager. He was unable to comprehend how his team could perform so well against Lens one week and then so poorly against PSG or Brugge in the Champions League, where they also faced humiliation and were eliminated. This was not the intended outcome, but in a city so passionate about football, the likelihood of a crisis was always high.
And indeed, a crisis occurred!
L’OM, now fourth in the standings, trails Lyon by three points for the highly sought-after final Champions League spot for next season, and must respond with a victory against Strasbourg at the Vélodrome on Saturday afternoon. Jacques Abardonado, a Marseille native, former player, and assistant coach, will take charge as interim coach until the club appoints a permanent replacement (Habib Beye, who was recently dismissed by Rennes, is expected to be the choice!).
For Gary O’Neill, after hosting and losing to PSG two weeks ago, he will now experience Marseille and the Vélodrome. It remains uncertain what kind of atmosphere he will encounter, as OM fans are dissatisfied with the current season, but he anticipates a response from his players following their surprising and disappointing defeat at Le Havre last weekend. They currently sit seventh in the standings, just one point behind sixth-place Rennes and three behind fifth-place Lille, but they need a positive result in Marseille, where the hosts have only lost once all season in the league!
MY PREDICTION: Marseille 1-2 Strasbourg. I do not believe the departure of De Zerbi and the interim appointment will lead to a new manager bounce. I expect Strasbourg to capitalize on their vulnerabilities and secure a victory.
A crucial match in the Scottish title race
Rangers vs. Hearts
Scottish Premiership, Matchday 27
Kickoff: Sunday, 11:30 a.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. GMT
This could be a pivotal moment in what has been an extraordinary title race in Scotland. For the first time since the 1980s, three clubs are competing for the league title: Hearts lead with a five-point advantage over Rangers and six over Celtic, with the latter holding a game in hand over their rivals. Leading the table does not guarantee winning the league, given the revised format, but it provides a significant advantage in the Championship playoffs.
This means that Ibrox Park will be electric on Sunday as their team hosts the leaders. Rangers recently dropped two points against Motherwell on Wednesday night despite facing 10 men, which was a significant setback, following a previous drop in points away at Hibs less than a month ago. They must rectify this against Hearts, who have been the surprising standout of this season.
Derek McInnes is doing an excellent job as Hearts manager, but the key to their success may lie in their recruitment, following the arrival of Brighton’s owner Tony Bloom as a shareholder last summer. With a data-driven approach, they have signed players who have made a substantial impact on the team, such as Portuguese forward Claudio Braga (10 league goals this season).
Hearts’ recent form has been somewhat inconsistent (two wins from their last five in all competitions), but they have been the best away team in the Premiership this season. They will not fear traveling to Glasgow, having previously defeated Celtic away in December. They also won against Rangers in the reverse fixture at home later that same month.
MY PREDICTION: Rangers 2-1 Hearts. This is a significant opportunity for Rangers and their manager Danny Rohl to make a statement as the season progresses and gain crucial ground on the league leaders. I believe they will achieve this.
