Weekend Watch: Take a Closer Look

By: Daryl | April 4th, 2008

Take a closer look

Here’s a quick guide to what’s going on this weekend…

Saturday
Arsenal vs Liverpool
It’s the Premier League filling in the Champions League sandwich (or should that be the other way around) as these two meet for the second of three clashes. Both still have plenty to play for. Arsenal still have a shot at the Premier League title (even though it’s from a lot further away than it used to be) and Liverpool still need points to take fourth place. But with the finely balanced Champions League quarter final second leg just three days later, will the two managers be dabbling in a bit of squad rotation?

Partizan Belgrade vs Red Star Belgrade
First place Partizan host second place Red Star in the Belgrade derby. Red Star trail by five points, so a win would make the Serbian league very very exciting all of a sudden. Recent history favours Red Star, who haven’t lost at Partizan for seven years.

Rosario Central vs Newell’s Old Boys
It’s the Clasico Rasarino in Argentina, as Rosario Central host their old foes Newell’s Old Boys at Estadio Gigante de Arroyito. Rosario are in sixth place, juts one point ahead of Newell’s, so an away win would not go down well.

FC Porto vs Estrela Amadora
Porto are 15 points clear at the top the BWIN Liga and welcome Estrela Amadora to the Estádio do Dragão knowing that a win over the 11th place team would secure the Portuguese title. If and when that happens, it will be Porto’s third championship in a row and 23rd total.

Sunday

Marseille vs Lyon
Lyon are now nine points clear of Bordeaux at the top of Ligue 1, with just seven games to go. Every win takes them a step nearer to the title. But fourth place Marseille are fighting to catch Nantes in third place and claim that last Champions League spot. Marseille has already beaten Lyon once this season, and Ligue 1 top scorer Karim Benzema is doubtful for the champions.

Houston vs Dallas
Howdy, put on your ten gallon hat, cus it’s the Texas derby partner. I’ll stop that now. But it is the Texas derby, with MLS champs Houston hoping to bounce back from last week’s 3-0 defeat to the Revs. Dynamo are still without Ricardo Clark, who got himself suspended for kicking Carlos Ruiz when these two met in the 2007 playoffs. Dallas drew their opening game against Chivas, but will be hoping highly paid Mexican Duilio Davino can produce something more substantial than Denilson managed last season.

Sevilla vs Villarreal
Seems Villarreal were right to get rid of Juan Roman Riquelme. The Yellow Submarine have broken the Real Madrid-Barcelona stranglehold on the top two and now sit second, six points behind Real. The visit to Sevilla, who are in sixth place and scrapping for that fourth Champions League spot, will be a big test of their title credentials.

There’s also the FA Cup semifinals of course, with West Brom vs Portsmouth and Barnsley vs Cardiff. Read our eye bulgingly video filled preview here.

Any other games we should keep an eye on?