Weekend Watch: What goes up…

Every game counts during the season, but the old cliché about games counting more at the end seems to hold true every year. The seasons are winding down in Europe with the races in England, Spain and Germany tighter than tight. And then there is Holland where three teams are tied at the top heading into the final round. There are relegation fights galore. It should be a great weekend of football. Here are some randomly selected games to keep an eye on.

Saturday

Los Angles v Chivas USA – They share a city and they share a stadium so by all definitions this is a derby. The LA Galaxy are the glamour team off to a lousy start as they await the one legged wonder from England. Chivas USA are off to a grand start and many are saying they could be the team to beat in MLS this season.

Ayr v Morton – It doesn’t matter that Morton are going to win promotion from the Scottish Division Two or that Ayr is a midlevel team. What matters is that Ayr’s nickname is “The Honest Men”. The nickname comes from a line from a Robert Burns poem:

“Auld Ayr, wh’am nere a toon surpasses
For honest men and bonny lasses”.

That is your high learning for the week. Don’t get used to it.

Young Buffaloes v Midas Mbabane City – Don’t follow football in Swaziland? You aren’t alone. But pound for pound the league has some of the best names around. Young Buffalos, Eleven Men in Flight, Hub Sundowns, and the famous Malanti Chiefs of Pigg’s Peak.

Sunday

Dutch Eredivise – If there is a league to watch this weekend it is the one in Holland where three teams are top at the top heading into the final round. AZ Alkmaar have the goal difference advantage but must play on the road against Excelsior. Ajax are also away form home against Willem II Tilburg. PSV Eindhoven will have the home support against Vitesse Arnhem but they also have the worst goal difference of the three.

Benfica v Sporting Lisbon – A mammoth game in Portuguese football with second place Sporting playing on the road against third place Benfica. One interested party will certainly be FC Porto who are just four points clear at the top.

Atlas v Querétaro – There is a relegation battle in Mexican football in the final round of games. If Queretaro wins, they stay up. If they tie, they have to hope that Santos loses in order to remain in the top flight. A loss and a draw coupled with a Santos win or draw will send Queretaro packing.

Arminia Bielefeld v Werder Bremen – After getting smoked 3-0 on Thursday against Espanyol in the UEFA Cup, Werder Bremen must go on the road as they battle Schalke 04 and VfB Stuttgart for the top spot in the Bundesliga. Meanwhile, Arminia Bielefeld are fourth from the bottom, fighting for their relegation lives.

Sevilla v Espanyol – These two teams could meet again in the UEFA Cup final. Sevilla is a point behind Barcelona at the top of Spain’s table. Espanyol are well behind but would relish the chance to play spoilers.

Roma v Lazio – It is derby day in Rome with second place Roma squaring off against third place Lazio, and if history tells us anything, the fans of both sides will probably square off against one another too.

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Category: World Football