EVERY FRIDAY, FOOTBALL writer John Brewin – who has clocked up countless air miles covering the European game over the past decade – looks ahead to five key fixtures from the Premier League and around the continent.
As well as explaining why you need to know about these matches, he’ll also pick out a tip for each one along with the latest William Hill prices.
This weekend, Wembley hosts the second fixture in six days between Manchester City and Liverpool, while Real Madrid and Bayern Munich also get back to domestic competitions after their midweek Champions League ties.
Manchester City v Liverpool, FA Cup – 3.30pm Saturday
Just six days after playing out a 2-2 draw that had the TV pundits drooling as they talked of a an all-time Premier League classic, the best of the best meet again. Beyond this FA Cup semi-final, played at Wembley at that odd kick-off time with fans bussed down from the north west due to there being a total rail shutdown in England, there may be one further meeting in Paris for the Champions League final.
This is the match where one club will have its hopes of a treble extinguished – in Liverpool’s case, a quadruple is on the line – and that adds great weight to a competition neither club will have prioritised ahead of the season.
In these repeated meetings, there is a possibility that a rivalry rather too cordial for the tastes of some might actually heat up, that the post-match embraces between Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp, Kevin De Bruyne and Virgil van Dijk may become cooler. Should Paris be reached by both, perhaps there will be greater needle after what happened at Wembley.
Following a week that has included Champions League football for both, bruising particularly for City at Atletico Madrid, there will be a reshuffle in both packs.
Despite his heroics in the Carabao Cup final, Ireland’s Caoimhin Kelleher will probably not get a start for Liverpool as Klopp chose Alisson in the previous round at Nottingham Forest but City may field Fernandinho, the old soldier who has announced this season will be his last for the club.
Previously, Liverpool making changes would expose their lack of squad depth as opposed to City but Klopp is now far more flush with options, with the likes of Luis Diaz and Harvey Elliott to play with, and Roberto Firmino having been on the bench at the Etihad last week.
The occasion, probably marred by empty seats after that rank failure in logistics from the English Football Association, can be expected to be low-key by comparison to last week’s pyrotechnics, but it will almost certainly be tight. Neither manager will appreciate extra time or the psychodrama of a penalty shootout to drain their players but such a conclusion to the afternoon seems highly likely.
John’s bet: Man City and Liverpool to be drawing at full-time @ 12/5
Sevilla v Real Madrid, La Liga – 8pm Sunday
Tuesday night in the Bernabeu was chaotic, and there was relief when Real escaped the doggedness of Chelsea to reach the Champions League semi-final. Can a team be said to have ridden their luck when they also delivered a moment as wondrous as Luka Modric’s pass for Rodrygo’s goal?
On such clutch moments is the Madrid doctrine founded, of getting things done when other outfits wilted under the pressure. Sunday night in Andalusia may not require Carlo Ancelotti’s team to draw so deep into their reserves.
Sevilla have faded badly of late, losing to Barcelona to be overtaken for second, though they did beat Granada 4-2 last week.
John’s bet: Real Madrid to beat Sevilla and both teams to score @ 4/1
Napoli v Roma, Serie A – 6pm Monday
Last week against Fiorentina, the Napoli dream of winning a first title since Diego Maradona was running out at the stadium that now bears his name, took a severe nose dive. A 3-2 defeat denied them the chance to go top of the table as AC Milan drew with Torino.
Still, by far the most exciting title race in Europe’s top five leagues remains on a knife-edge, and Jose Mourinho can only play the role of spoiler, though his team have been on a decent run of late, and are five points off Juventus in fourth.
There’s a distinct possibility that Roma can further damage Napoli’s challenge. Mourinho would probably enjoy that.
John’s bet: Roma to beat Napoli @ 3/1
Arminia Bielefeld v Bayern, Bundesliga – 2.30pm Sunday
A bad week for Bayern, a very bad week. Beyond the Champions League exit at the hands of Villarreal that brought into question the future of Julian Nagelsmann, there were those reports in Poland that Robert Lewandowski had signed an agreement to join the dad’s army at Barcelona.
Out of the German Cup too, Bayern now have little to play for and the recriminations can begin at a club where in-fighting and factionalism are part of the make-up.
Arminia, without a win since February and in the relegation play-off position, should present little problem. But then again, Bayern, despite being such clear leaders, have become highly unreliable.
John’s bet: Bayern to win and both teams to score @ 11/8
Manchester United v Norwich, Premier League – 3pm Saturday
Talking of unreliability, there’s Manchester United, whose loss last week to Everton may well have closed down the avenues for the bottom three to escape from the relegation zone. Though in beating Burnley on Sunday, Norwich gave themselves a glimmer of a chance, pulling Sean Dyche’s team back into the mire.
Can United be as bad as last week? With Ralf Rangnick looking unable to turn things round with Harry Maguire’s form as shaky as ever and Cristiano Ronaldo’s mood darkening it’s a possibility.
Norwich last won here in December 2015, and only Juan Mata, David de Gea and Phil Jones are still at United from that day.
John’s bet: Norwich to beat Manchester United @ 11/1
William Hill odds above correct at the time of writing. New online customers get €30 in free bets when they bet €10 with William Hill. Just use the promo code H30. For all the latest prices, visit williamhill.com. 18+, always gamble responsibly. For more information, see gamblingtherapy.org
