Weekend Watch: Gettin’ All Domestic

By: chris | November 23rd, 2007

European qualifying is over and it’s time to get back to business, no matter how depressed you might be (yes, that means you, England). There are some derbies back in full swing and a lot of upper-table positioning to be claimed in many a league this weekend. Internationals are nice, but it’s just peaches to see all those clubs back in action.

Saturday

Bayern Munich – VfL Wolfsburg

Let’s see, you failed to qualify for the Champions League last year, spent roughly the GDP of Albania as a result in the summer, have won only 1 of your last 5 games, have maybe akinda sorta contacted Rafa, denied contacting him without even giving the coach the dreaded vote of confidence (which is like 2x the dreaded VOC), were quoted as saying “his time is almost up”…and you really want us to believe that Ottmar Hitzfeld isn’t on the hot seat? Really? Come on, the slightest sign of let up and all of Munich will be put into crisis mode. And this game is against Felix Magath to boot. Hello, drama.

FC Kobenhavn v Odense BK

We’re going to start calling Danish SuperLigaen “Parity Central”. There are only twelve teams in the league, but 6 of those are within 5 points of first place. FCK is currently tied in first on 30 while Odense is sitting 4th with 27. Basically, this game is bigtime important…and so isn’t every other game in the Superligaen.

Derby – Chelsea

Over/Under for CSKA London: +/- 73.5. Hell, Sheva might even score a goal.

(Nah.)

Energie Cottbuss – Werder Bremen

Because Ivan Klasnic might play. And that’s pretty much the only reason you need.

Kaiser Chiefs – Orlando Pirates

Sure, neither team has had a stellar season, and South Africa probably has bigger things to worry about this weekend (and for the next 930 days…roughly), but a derby is a derby is a derby is a derby – and these teams HATE each other. To the point where winning or losing the derby is what makes or breaks their seasons. Love these games.

Serbia – Kazakhstan

If a tree falls in a wood, and nobody is around to hear it, will it make a sound? Due to “competitive reasons”, as opposed to just scrapping the match because this game has zero meaning now, UEFA has decided that the show must go on and Serbia will get its chance at revenge against the Snow Leopards. So enjoy this magical exhibition match.

Sunday

Austria Vienna v Rapid Vienna

It’s the day you’ve been waiting for all year: The Vienna Derby. Austria’s in 1st, Rapid’s in 2nd. It gets no bigger than this, my friends.

Lanus v Argentinos Juniors

Three games left in the Apertura and surprise leaders Lanus only have a 3 point cushion to work with, and taking on AJ is no easy task, as they’re only 7 points behind in 5th place. Meanwhile, Boca Juniors are in 2nd place and take on 16th place Arsenal trying to climb up behind Lanus and avoid finishing as 2007’s bridesmaids after placing 2nd in the Clausura. Who said Argentine football wasn’t interesting? (Nobody, that’s who.)

You know the drill. If we missed it, get after it down below.