Title on the line for Manchester City
Old rival United and Everton can play spoiler on derby-filled weekend in the U.K.
It’s a derby-filled weekend in the Premier League. On Saturday, Manchester City can clinch the title with a win at home to rival Manchester United. It would be the earliest any team has won the Premier League title, in what is the first of many records City can break this season. United, of course, will be looking to play spoiler.
Also in the spoiler roll on Saturday is Everton, which hosts Liverpool in the early game. Reds scoring ace Mo Salah picked up a slight groin injury mid-week, and might be rested. Everton has a good home record this season, but has been hopeless against top-six clubs, so Liverpool are clear favourites.
Finally, on Sunday, we have a London derby as Chelsea hosts West Ham. The Blues continue to drop points and now a Champions League place looks out of reach.
The Hammers have been doing even worse, but, in the midst of a fan revolt, did manage their best result of the season, beating Southampton 3-0 last Saturday.
Battling for position
It’s another busy week across Europe with plenty of key games and Champions League spots being contested.
Saturday is the Madrid derby, as third-place Real looks to narrow Atletico’s four-point lead in the standings. Real hosts the match.
In Italy, Roma is looking to hold onto third place under the challenge of Inter and Lazio. Still smarting from a 4-1 Champions League loss away to Barcelona, Roma hosts Fiorentina on Saturday. Fiorentina sits mid-table, but is a dangerous side with a good road record.
French side Marseille is another team fighting to hold onto a Champions League place, with Lyon just two points back. On Sunday, Marseille hosts sixth-place Montpellier, a team that has a notoriously stingy defence under coach Michel Der Zakarian.
Probably the most meaningful contest is Monday’s Bundesliga clash between RB Leipzig and visiting Bayer Leverkusen. Leipzig holds the last Champions League spot, with Leverkusen a point back.
This is a great chance for Leipzig to open the gap, especially as Leverkusen’s top scorer, Kevin Volland, is in a slump. The striker has gone 10 games without a goal. He also has a newborn daughter in the house, so likely isn’t getting a lot of sleep.
It’s a knockout
The Champions League quarter-finals conclude next week, with teams facing huge uphill battles in each of the four contests.
On Tuesday, we have Manchester City hosting Liverpool after losing 3-0 at Anfield. City’s defence was terrible in that game, and manager Pep Guardiola will need to figure out something better than playing central defender Aymeric Laporte at left-back. Liverpool’s movement and pace on the flanks is just too good. City has the firepower to come back, but they need to keep Liverpool off the scoresheet. Also needing a big win at home is Roma, who trail 4-1 against Barcelona.
On Wednesday, Bayern with home advantage should be able to finish off Sevilla, after winning 2-1 in Spain. Sevilla has to score at least twice to advance.
Finally, Real Madrid hosts Juventus after posting a crushing 3-0 win in Turin. People are still buzzing over Cristiano Ronaldo’s incredible goal on a soaring bicycle kick, which earned him a standing ovation from the Juventus fans. That will be hard to top.
Upside down
English non-league side Sutton Town is sitting solidly in second place in the National League, which would put them into a playoff for promotion to the pro ranks of League 2.
But thanks to a crazy rule, they’re also at risk of being relegated!
The problem is the club’s FIFA-approved 3G artificial pitch, as such surfaces aren’t yet permitted in the Football League. If Sutton gets promoted, they would have to tear up their three-year-old, million-dollar pitch and replace it with grass, at huge expense.
If they don’t, they can’t be promoted, and, under National League rules, they would actually be relegated instead as a penalty! That’s nuts.
If they earn promotion, Sutton owners plan to appeal to the Football League to be allowed to keep their artificial pitch. If that fails, they’ll have a very tough choice. Bob Lenarduzzi is president of Vancouver Whitecaps FC. For tickets visit whitecapsfc.com/tickets.