As we enter a new weekend of football, Jon Turner picks his five must-see matches.
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ARABIAN GULF LEAGUE
Al Ahli v Al Wasl, Friday, Abu Dhabi Sports HD, 5.20pm
The UAE’s domestic top flight has passed the midway stage and the destination of the title looks to be going one of two ways. Al Ain lead Al Ahli by two points, with third-placed Al Nasr nine points further back. Having dropped two points at Al Dhafra courtesy of a last-minute equaliser last time out, Ahli will be looking to bounce straight back when they take on an Al Wasl side flying high in the league of late. Wasl, currently fourth, impressed as they beat Nasr 3-2 in their last match, and confidence is high among Gabriel Calderon’s players. However, they will have a tough task in getting anything from the Rashid Stadium, a venue where Ahli have won all seven league matches this season, scoring 25 goals in the process. The long-term absence of Rodrigo Lima is a blow to Ahli, but the discovery of form for fellow striker Moussa Sow has helped fill the void. A match Ahli are expected to win and can ill-afford to lose.
PREMIER LEAGUE
Manchester City v Leicester City, Saturday, beIN Sports HD, 4.45pm
It is the start of February, only 14 matches remain in the Premier League and Leicester City are still top of the table. Three points separate Leicester City and Manchester City heading into this pivotal match, and following their 2-0 win over Liverpool on Tuesday, the dream of the title ending up at the King Power Stadium is starting to merge with reality. A win for City will haul them above Leicester on goal difference, and behind a fit and firing Sergio Aguero, the home side are expected to claim victory. However, if this season has taught us anything it is that the normal rules do not apply to Leicester. Either way, this should be an absorbing contest between two sides producing the best attacking football in the league.
EREDIVISIE
Ajax v Feyenoord, Sunday, beIN Sports HD, 3.30pm
Feyenoord’s remarkable slump in form has seen them slip from table toppers to third and 14 points behind leaders PSV Eindhoven. For the first time in their history, Feyenoord have lost five successive league games. The last thing they need is a trip to Ajax, the biggest rivalry in Dutch football. A match that has been played 176 times since its first meeting in 1921, Feyenoord have won 55 games, Ajax 79. Feyenoord desperately need topscorer Dirk Kuyt to find his shooting boots again after five league games without a goal, whereas Ajax are ticking along nicely, losing just once in their last 10. More misery could be in store for Feyenoord.
PREMIER LEAGUE
Chelsea v Manchester United, Sunday, beIN Sports HD, 8pm
While Manchester City and Leicester fight for the top honour, Chelsea and Manchester United are enduring seasons to forget, although the former’s plight is much more extreme than the latter. Having won nine of the last 11 league titles between them, United and Chelsea are all but out of the title race. Louis van Gaal’s fifth-placed United are 10 points off top spot, while Guus Hiddink’s team remain in the bottom half of the table. Regardless, this remains a massive fixture in the football calendar, and the recent improvement in form for both sides makes for an intriguing encounter. Despite sitting 14th, Chelsea have the longest unbeaten run in the league at eight games, while United bounced back from a disappointing home defeat to Southampton with arguably their best display of the season on Tuesday to beat Stoke City 3-0. Chelsea have a real chance to close the gap on United, and after the draw with Watford on Wednesday, a victory over United on Sunday will close the gap to eight points. In this crazy Premier League season, there is still plenty to play for.
BUNDESLIGA
Bayer Leverkusen v Bayern Munich, Saturday, beIN Sports HD, 9.30pm
Bayern Munich face one of their toughest tasks of the Bundesliga season when they travel to fourth-placed Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday evening. The Bavarians are firm favourites to retain the league title and currently hold an eight-point lead over Borussia Dortmund in second. This weekend could ultimately prove key to the Bundesliga title race: Dortmund have a tricky tie as they travel to third-placed Hertha Berlin, and should Bayern leave the BayArena with all three points and Dortmund fail to win in Berlin, it could be all over in terms of a serious title challenge. However, Leverkusen enter the game in good form, losing just once in their last seven league games, and in striker Javier Hernandez have a player who can provide a constant stream of goals. Bayern should have too much for Leverkusen but this will not be the walk in the park Pep Guardiola’s men have become accustomed to.
