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Euro Vision: 4 continental games not to be missed this weekend

Need to get your European footy fix? Here’s this weekend’s top game in each of the continent’s big four leagues.

Serie A: Lazio v Roma

Sunday, 2pm

IF YOU NEED to be told what the biggest match in Europe is this weekend, you’re doing football wrong. When Lazio and Roma meet in the Rome derby, you pay attention.

Eleven games into the Serie A season, there’s little to choose between the two city rivals. Roma currently lie in sixth while their neighbours are two points ahead in fifth. The momentum is with Roma though who come into the game off a 3-1 win against Palermo which steadied the ship following back-to-back defeats.

Meanwhile Lazio coach Vladimir Petkovic has been fighting fire following an embarrassing 4-0 defeat at Catania last season. Defeat in the most important game of the season would not only see Lazio slip behind Roma, it would put Petkovic under further pressure.

On TV? ESPN, coverage begins from 1.30pm Sunday.

La Liga: Levante v Real Madrid

Sunday, 8.30pm

MOURINHO’S MADRID KEPT their Champions League challenge alive with a 2-2 draw against Borussia Dortmund midweek.

But now Real face a tricky away test to Levante and Los Merengues need a win if they are to stop Barcelona from extending their eight-point lead in the league.

Trips to the Estadi Ciutat de Valencia haven’t been kind to Madrid; they haven’t won there since January 2008 and have picked up just one point from their last two visits in the league.

With usual front men Gonzalo Higuain and Karim Benzema ruled out through injury, expect Cristiano Ronaldo to shoulder more of the attacking burden than usual.

On TV? Sky Sports 4, 8.30pm Sunday.

Bundesliga: Bayern Munich v Eintracht Frankfurt

Saturday, 2.30pm

FRANKFURT’S STRONG START has been the fairytale story in the Bundesliga this season. In their first season back in the top flight, Armin Veh’s men have won six of their opening 10 games and currently lie third.

Saturday afternoon brings a true test of their credentials though as they travel to the Allianz Arena to face Bayern Munich, with the league leaders flying high following their 6-1 Champions League rout against Lille on Wednesday evening.

Frankfurt haven’t won in Munich since 2000, but with Bayern goal threats Mario Gomez recovering from injury and Mario Mandzukic laid low with the flu, they will fancy themselves to keep things tight.

On TV? It doesn’t look like it.

Ligue 1: Montpellier v Paris Saint-Germain

Sunday, 8pm

YOU CAN’T BEAT a bit of Zlatan on a Sunday night — but just because Ibrahmovic is suspended does not mean that you can ignore Paris Saint-Germain’s trip to champions Montpellier on Sunday evening.

Although at this stage, Montpellier are champions by title alone. Rene Girard’s men have won just three times in 15 matches and are currently struggling down in 14th place. To make matters worse, they were dumped out the Champions League on Tuesday with a 3-1 defeat against Olympiakos.

Without league top scorer Ibrahimovic and injured Argentine Ezequiel Lavezzi, Carlo Ancelotti’s PSG will have to rely on the firepower of Kevin Gameiro to lead the attack. Marseille are breathing down their neck in second place and the league leaders cannot afford to slip up.

On TV? ESPN, coverage begins from 7.30pm Sunday.

– Additional reporting by AFP

Don’t touch that dial… here’s the sport on TV this weekend

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