The winner of the Clasico will go high of La Liga, whereas Germany’s shock Champions League contenders face off and Paris Saint-Germain can’t afford to be distracted by ideas of Bayern Munich. AFP Sport selects a few of the standout motion in Europe this weekend:
CRUNCH CLASICO
Real Madrid v Barcelona, Saturday 1900 GMT
Some say the Clasico has misplaced its lustre, however out of the blue Spain’s two giants meet for the possibility to go high of La Liga, at the very least for twenty-four hours.
At the beginning of February they had been 10 factors behind leaders Atletico Madrid, every having performed a sport extra. Atletico’s kind has since dipped, whereas Real and Barca have been relentless. Zinedine Zidane’s reigning champions have received seven and drawn two of their final 9, whereas Barcelona are unbeaten in 19, together with 16 wins.
Now Barcelona are only one level behind Atletico, whereas Real are three factors behind the leaders however have the head-to-head benefit.
Even with out followers at Real’s coaching floor, the stakes are as excessive as they’ve been in this fixture in a very long time.
Can Lionel Messi rating towards Real for the primary time in three years after six video games drawing blanks? Will Real be distracted by the prospect of their Champions League quarter-final return towards Liverpool?
GERMANY’S SURPRISE TOP-FOUR CLASH
Eintracht Frankfurt v Wolfsburg, Saturday 1330 GMT
Wolfsburg haven’t completed in the Bundesliga’s high 4 since 2015, Eintracht since 1993. Both are on the right track to end there this season, with the Wolves third and Frankfurt fourth.
Eintracht have misplaced simply as soon as in 16 video games since Wolfsburg beat them 2-1 in December and final weekend’s 2-1 win at Borussia Dortmund left them seven factors away from Erling Braut Haaland’s crew in fifth with seven matches left. Wolfsburg, 4 factors higher off, have misplaced as soon as in 13.
Both are coached by an Austrian, with Eintracht’s Adi Huetter and Wolfsburg’s Oliver Glasner spending time at Red Bull Salzburg earlier than leaving their residence nation. Their strategies will not be the identical although: Wolfsburg’s success relies on a stable defence, whereas solely Bayern Munich have scored extra targets than Frankfurt, whose main marksman Andre Silva has 22 targets.
PSG PLAY CATCH-UP
Strasbourg v Paris Saint-Germain, Saturday 1500 GMT
PSG claimed a shocking win in the snow in Munich in their Champions League quarter-final first leg on Wednesday. The return leg is on Tuesday however in the meantime Mauricio Pochettino’s aspect have a vital journey to Strasbourg in Ligue 1.
A 1-0 defeat by Lille final weekend noticed them slip three factors behind their conquerors on the high with seven video games left, whereas Monaco and Lyon are nonetheless in competition.
PSG have misplaced and drawn on their final two league visits to Alsace and go to the Stade de la Meinau with out the suspended Neymar. The Parisians have already misplaced eight league video games this season and have to be cautious of a Strasbourg crew who just lately drew in Lille and beat Monaco.
ATLETICO TO RESPOND?
Betis v Atletico Madrid, Sunday 1900 GMT
Diego Simeone’s Atletico will know the result of the Clasico earlier than taking to the sphere towards Betis as they return to town the place they misplaced 1-0 towards Sevilla final weekend.
In two months Atletico have seen a 10-point lead atop La Liga expend on a run of simply 4 wins in 10, and they’re with out injured high scorer Luis Suarez in addition to the suspended Marcos Llorente for the go to to sixth-placed Betis.
MOSCOW DERBY
Lokomotiv Moscow v Spartak Moscow, Sunday 1600 GMT
Gazprom-backed Zenit Saint-Petersburg are on the right track to win a 3rd straight Russian title, but when they’re to slip up then a quartet of Moscow’s grandees are queueing up.
Among them are second-placed Spartak and third-placed Lokomotiv, who meet on Sunday, with CSKA and Dynamo additional again.
Lokomotiv are in search of a sixth straight win for the reason that league got here out of its lengthy winter hibernation, whereas Spartak are searching for a fifth consecutive victory fuelled by the targets of Aleksandr Sobolev and Jordan Larsson, the Swedish son of Henrik rumoured to be a goal for Dortmund.
Read all of the Latest News and Breaking News right here
