Ahead of another weekend of football, Jon Turner picks five matches not to be missed. All kick-off times UAE.
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SERIE A
Juventus v Sassuolo, Friday, beIN Sports HD, 11.45pm
All title races across Europe, France aside, are heating up, and none more so than Italy’s Serie A. After a calamitous start to the season, Juventus are now motoring and lead the way on a run of 18 games unbeaten, three points ahead of Napoli in second. Juve have the chance to take the early advantage and extend that lead to six points when they host Sassuolo on Friday night. This should be a routine victory for Juventus, but Sassuolo enter the game in excellent form, and have the ability to pose a real threat. Unbeaten in five games, including most recently back-to-back 2-0 wins over Lazio and AC Milan, seventh-placed Sassuolo should not be taken lightly.
PRIMERA LIGA
Barcelona v Getafe, Saturday, beIN Sports HD, 7pm
A lack of big clashes in Spain’s top division this weekend, but you can never go wrong by spending 90 minutes marvelling at Lionel Messi and Barcelona. The Primera Liga leaders can take another step towards the title on Saturday evening when they welcome Getafe to Camp Nou. Barcelona are looking unstoppable and enjoy an eight-point cushion over Atletico Madrid, with Real Madrid an incredible 12 points off the pace. Barca manager Luis Enrique may decide to make some changes, with the second leg of their Uefa Champions League last 16 tie with Arsenal on the horizon. Whichever side he decides to field, this should be another routine win for a Barca team seemingly cruising to a second successive club treble.
FA CUP QUARTER-FINAL
Everton v Chelsea, Saturday, beIN Sports HD, 9.30pm
Knocked out of the Uefa Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain, the league title long surrendered, and top four hopes rapidly fading, Chelsea’s only chance of salvaging a modicum of success from this season lies in the FA Cup. The trophy they have won four times in nine years also looks to be Chelsea’s only hope of securing European football next season, albeit in the Europa League. Chelsea face one of the toughest draws remaining when they travel to Goodison Park to face Everton, the club they defeated in the 2009 FA Cup final the last time Guus Hiddink was in temporary charge. Everton, too, have had their problems this season, and defensive frailties have proved costly, although their attack can cause Chelsea problems. A difficult one to call, but Chelsea should just shade this match.
FA CUP QUARTER-FINAL
Manchester United v West Ham, Sunday, beIN Sports HD, 8pm
Another blockbuster match-up in the FA Cup sees high-flying West Ham travel to Manchester United for a place in the final four and a trip to Wembley. Separated by one place and two points in the Premier League table, West Ham and United have experienced vastly differing seasons so far. Under the management of Slaven Bilic and led on the pitch by the supremely talented Dimitri Payet, West Ham have become a force to be reckoned with, and sit just a point off the Champions League places. United’s season, meanwhile, has stuttered, and successive wins were most recently followed by defeat at West Brom. Another tough FA Cup clash to call, the Old Trafford effect should help United, but this West Ham side have proved time and again this season to be more than a match for anyone.
BUNDESLIGA
Borussia Dortmund v Mainz, Sunday, beIN Sports HD, 8.30pm
Another week, another potentially crucial match for Borussia Dortmund. After missing the chance to reduce the gap on leaders Bayern Munich to two points last week when the sides played out a goalless draw, Dortmund host fifth-placed Mainz aware that anything less than a win could spell the end of their title challenge. Bayern welcome struggling Werder Bremen a day before, and assuming they secure victory, Dortmund’s failure to do so could put Bayern out of sight. Mainz have big ambitions of their own and are just a point behind Schalke in the final Champions League places. Five wins in their last seven, including a famous victory over Bayern at the Allianz Arena, Mainz will provide a stern test of Dortmund’s title credentials.