Every Friday, I highlight the most thrilling or significant football matches to watch over the weekend. From local derbies to top-of-the-table encounters, crucial relegation battles to world-class players clashing, and intriguing tactical showdowns, there will be something for every fan to appreciate.
This week, we bring you action from England, France, Spain, Turkey, and Germany, featuring Cup excitement, two major derbies, key top-of-the-table matchups, and significant contests for European qualification!
Major clash in FA Cup
Manchester City vs. Liverpool
FA Cup quarterfinals
Kickoff: Saturday, 7:45 a.m. ET / 12:45 p.m. GMT (watch on ESPN+)
This season, Manchester City holds the upper hand in their encounters with Liverpool, having secured two victories: a straightforward win at the Etihad Stadium and a dramatic triumph at Anfield. The teams meet again at the Etihad for this eagerly awaited FA Cup quarterfinal.
City recently defeated Arsenal to claim the Carabao Cup just before the international break, showcasing a tactical masterclass from manager Pep Guardiola. This victory will boost their confidence, particularly in the title race, although their specific tactics in the final (4-2-4 when out of possession, focusing on the right side) may not be as effective against Liverpool.
Against Liverpool, Guardiola and his squad will need to adapt their approach. He is still working on the team’s tactics and the optimal use of Rayan Cherki, while Erling Haaland is experiencing a concerning dip in form. Nevertheless, City has been exceptional in cup competitions under Guardiola. Liverpool will need to produce something extraordinary to overcome the Citizens.
Arne Slot’s side has faced challenges with consistency. Mohamed Salah has struggled this season, and in his final match for Liverpool against City, he will aim to make an impact. Can he? He has contributed 20 goals and assists against them during his nine seasons with the Reds. Florian Wirtz excelled with Germany during the March international break, while Hugo Ekitike impressed for France. This is promising for the current Premier League champions, who face a significant challenge on Saturday as discontent among their supporters, particularly towards Slot, is rising rapidly.
MY PREDICTION: Manchester City 2-1 Liverpool. Neither team has been particularly impressive this season, and both have shown inconsistency, but City at home will be difficult for this Liverpool side to overcome. Therefore, I predict a narrow victory for the Citizens.
Can Atlético disrupt Barcelona’s title ambitions?
Atlético Madrid vs. Barcelona
LaLiga, Matchday 30
Kickoff: Saturday, 3 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. GMT
Atlético Madrid can no longer secure the title; however, they can significantly influence who does. They suffered a defeat to Real Madrid in the capital derby prior to the international break at the Bernabeu, and now they welcome Barcelona to the Metropolitano.
Barcelona holds a four-point advantage over Real Madrid (with the next Clásico scheduled for May at the Camp Nou), but this trip poses a challenge for them. They will be without Raphinha for five weeks due to an injury sustained while with Brazil during the international break. His absence is a considerable blow, as he is arguably their most valuable player (both in and out of possession). Alejandro Baldé, Jules Koundé, and Frenkie de Jong are also unavailable. Once again, Barcelona manager Hansi Flick must find the right balance with a mixed squad.
This match occurs just before the two teams face each other again in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals in the following weeks. Previous encounters in the Copa del Rey semifinals were thrilling (with Atlético winning 4-0 at home and Barcelona triumphing 3-0), and this match is expected to be equally captivating. Atlético is also missing several key players. Goalkeeper Jan Oblak remains sidelined, while Johnny Cardoso and Marco Pubill are doubtful, and Marcos Llorente is suspended.
In the first leg of the Copa del Rey, Atlético effectively exploited Barcelona’s high defensive line, creating numerous opportunities and applying significant pressure. Conversely, the league leaders consistently generate chances against any opponent, but Raphinha’s absence (likely to be filled by Marcus Rashford in the starting lineup) will impact their creativity.
MY PREDICTION: Atlético Madrid 2-2 Barcelona. This match is expected to be intense and open, as Atlético will aim to replicate their dominant performance against Barcelona in the Copa del Rey. However, Barcelona will be better prepared this time, even without Raphinha, and should secure a point.
play1:48Marcotti: Barcelona would be unwise to renew Rashford’s loan on current terms
Gab & Juls discuss whether Barcelona should retain Marcus Rashford for the next season.
A significant derby in France
AS Monaco vs. Marseille
French Ligue 1, Matchday 28
Kickoff: Sunday, 2:45 p.m. ET / 7:45 p.m. GMT
This match holds considerable importance in the race for European spots, but it is primarily a major derby—one of the most significant in France, despite the 200 kilometers separating the two cities. The rivalry has been intense since the Bernard Tapie-Arsène Wenger eras in the 1980s and 90s. There is no love lost between the teams, and this will be even more evident on Sunday with only three points between them in the standings.
Marseille currently sits third, but their form has been inconsistent (two wins, one draw, and one loss in their last four matches across all competitions), while Monaco is in sixth place after securing six consecutive league victories, including wins against Lens, Paris Saint-Germain, and Lyon. The Monegasques are the most in-form team in Ligue 1 at the moment, and playing at home against their archrivals, they will aim for a seventh consecutive victory to bolster their push for a top-three finish. Not long ago, manager Sébastien Pocognoli faced significant pressure, and it seemed unlikely for his team to reach third place. However, their excellent form has transformed the situation. Their defensive trio is solid, while forwards Maghnes Akliouche, Folarin Balogun, and Aleksandr Golovin are performing well.
Marseille’s last-minute defeat at home to Lille, another contender for European positions, before the international break was a disappointing result. The team has struggled to find its rhythm since Habib Beye took over as manager (three wins, three draws in Ligue 1, and a loss in the French Cup). This match is crucial for them, as another poor performance could see Lyon and Lille (only two points behind them in fourth and fifth) surpass them in the standings.
MY PREDICTION: AS Monaco 2-0 Marseille. Mason Greenwood’s suspension for Marseille will be a significant setback, as he has been their standout player this season. Monaco is brimming with confidence and has great momentum heading into this match; I anticipate they will be too strong for their opponents.
An Istanbul derby with title stakes
Fenerbahçe vs. Besiktas
Turkish Super Lig
Kickoff: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. GMT
This Istanbul derby features second place against fourth, but it is a more critical match for the hosts. Fenerbahçe trails the leaders Galatasaray by four points, who have a game in hand but will face Trabzonspor, currently third in the table, this weekend.
Fenerbahçe manager Domenico Tedesco will hope that Galatasaray drops points in their match while his team secures a victory at home against their city rivals. Fener has dropped points recently, including a loss to Karagumruk (2-0) and a draw with Antalyaspor (2-2). To win their first league title since 2014, they must perform flawlessly. They have finished second for four consecutive seasons! Marco Asensio and Talisca have been their standout players, while young Frenchman Sidiki Cherif has already made an impact since joining in January, similar to N’Golo Kanté and Matteo Guendouzi.
Fenerbahçe has only lost one match this season, but their nine draws have been detrimental. Galatasaray has two losses but only four draws. Besiktas is significantly behind, eight points adrift of Trabzonspor and Fener. They cannot win the title and will qualify for the UEFA Conference League, but they would relish the opportunity to thwart Fenerbahçe’s title hopes. They are also in good form, with six wins in their last seven matches across all competitions, their only loss coming against Galatasaray (1-0) despite a commendable performance.
Tammy Abraham remains the league’s top scorer despite his move to Aston Villa in January, but Orkun Kökçü will be crucial for the Eagles as the season progresses. He has recorded six goals and six assists in the Super Lig so far and is Besiktas’ most influential player.
MY PREDICTION: Fenerbahçe 2-1 Besiktas. I believe that despite Besiktas’ strong form, this is a vital match for Fenerbahçe, and they will seize this opportunity. They are likely to secure a victory at home on Sunday.
Inter must reverse their fortunes quickly
Inter Milan vs. AS Roma
Italian Serie A, Matchday 31
Kickoff: Sunday, 2:45 p.m. ET / 7:45 p.m. GMT
Surprisingly, Inter Milan has managed to win only one of their last six matches across all competitions. This includes their elimination from the Champions League by Bodo/Glimt, a defeat to AC Milan in the derby (again), and two consecutive draws against Atalanta and Fiorentina (both 1-1) after taking the lead in each. Inter is struggling at a critical point in the season, and now Milan is just six points behind, poised to capitalize if their rivals falter.
While Inter faces this crucial match on Sunday, Milan will be traveling to Napoli on Monday for a challenging encounter. At least Inter will be at home, where they have only lost twice and drawn twice all season. However, they need to quickly regain their best form. The absence of Lautaro Martínez has been a significant issue for them and a key factor in their recent struggles. Fortunately, Hakan Calhanoglou has returned to midfield, and his presence is already enhancing the team’s performance.
This match is equally important for Roma. They currently sit sixth in the standings, tied on points with Juventus in fifth and just three behind Como in fourth. As we await clarity on whether Serie A will feature four or five teams in the Champions League next season, Roma requires points following a poor run. Aside from their victory over Lecce (1-0) in the last match before the international break, they had only secured one win in their previous seven matches across all competitions. Manager Gian Piero Gasperini is facing challenges in finding form for his team. Roma often struggles to score goals, despite Donyell Malen’s good form since his January transfer from Aston Villa (seven goals in 10 Serie A matches).
MY PREDICTION: Inter Milan 2-1 AS Roma. I believe Inter Milan will return to winning ways on Sunday. This is a crucial match, one they will approach with a champion’s mentality.
A near top-of-the-table clash in Germany
VfB Stuttgart vs. Borussia Dortmund
German Bundesliga, Matchday 28
Kickoff: Saturday, 12:30 p.m ET / 5:30 p.m. GMT
This weekend features a third versus second matchup in the Bundesliga as Stuttgart hosts Borussia Dortmund. There is currently an eight-point gap between the two teams in the standings, so a victory for Sebastian Hoeness’s side would narrow the deficit to five and provide them with a chance to catch their opponent before the season concludes. Dortmund is still pursuing Bayern, but with a nine-point gap and both Klassikers already played, it seems almost an impossible task. Thus, Niko Kovac and his team can concentrate on securing second place.
Aside from their loss to Bayern a month ago, Dortmund has been in excellent form, achieving nine wins and just one draw (against Leipzig) in their last 10 matches, excluding the Bayern game. They have only lost two matches this season, both to Bayern, and remain unbeaten against the rest of the league. Dortmund’s defense, the second best in the league, just behind Bayern’s, will face a test against this Stuttgart team, which possesses significant attacking prowess.
At 29, Deniz Undav has emerged as one of the league’s top strikers, netting 18 goals already. He has been on fire lately, with 11 goals and seven assists in his last 15 matches across all competitions. Undav even scored for Germany during the international break. This match will feature a compelling duel against Dortmund’s prolific No. 9: Sehrou Guirassy, who has scored 13 goals this season. Notably, Guirassy has netted eight times (and provided one assist) in his last 10 matches across all competitions for Dortmund.
MY PREDICTION: Stuttgart 2-2 Dortmund. I anticipate a high-scoring encounter between two teams with in-form goal scorers. Stuttgart has not yet secured a Champions League spot, but a win on Saturday would significantly enhance their chances; however, I do not expect BVB to allow them to achieve that.
