Weekend Watch: Oh, the Drama

By: Martha | December 21st, 2007

GUTI RAWR.

Things are falling quiet as seasons end in Asia and South America, and Europe closes up for winter break, but we’ll all probably be able to find some things with which to occupy our time. El Clasico and the Milan derby on the same day, just hours apart? Yes, please.

Saturday

AS Nancy v Olympique Lyon: Not a match with the pedigree of El Clasico, but just as important when it comes to the table: Lyon are top, with a four point lead over surprise package Nancy, and a win for the home side would send them into a break with a whole lot of confidence.

Fulham v Wigan Athletic: Newly manager-less Fulham welcome their fellow strugglers to what is being called the Relegation Dogfight of Doom. (Being called that by me, today. I’m sure it’ll catch on.) With the teams second- and third-bottom in the league and well and truly desperate, it’s and honest-to-god six-pointer and, manager or not, Fulham need a win.

Dundee United v Grenta: Grenta are the only team in Scotland with fewer than four wins — they’ve got one. They go to Dundee hoping against hope for a little cooperation, anything to lessen their misery.

Sunday

Barcelona v Real Madrid: Always huge, El Clasico gets even bigger this time, with the teams separated by only four points at the top of the table. If Real can grab an away win, they’ll go into the winter break sitting pretty atop a seven-point lead. Barcelona may be without Lionel Messi, but they’ve got this guy Eto’o healthy, as well as a slew of others who can score, from a certain Brazilian benchwarmer to a kid named Bojan Krkic, who’s their newest not-so-secret weapon.

Inter Milan v AC Milan: Throw out the records, ignore the fact that Inter are top while Milan are languishing in the middle of the table and have yet to score at home in Serie A — none of that matters in the derby. Both teams rested everyone who matters during their midweek Coppa Italia matches, no one is suspended, and Zlatan will be there. It will be good. (Oh, and though the San Siro is a shared ground, it’s technically Milan’s away match, so they should have no problem scoring.)

Standard Liège v Racing Genk: A win or a draw at home would put Standard Liège into the break as the only undefeated team in Belgium’s Jupiler League. And, on the off-chance Club Brugge cooperate and lose away to lowly Westerlo, Standard and Club Brugge will be joint top.