Weekend Preview: Roma vs AC Milan, Man Utd vs Aston Villa and more
The result of pretty much every game across Europe’s BIGGEST leagues from now until the end of the season has massive implications. Here are mini previews for 6 fixtures this coming weekend across Serie A, LaLiga and the English Premier League.
Saturday 29th April
Free-scoring hosts should test the champions
The Champions League this season has obviously become a massive focus for AC Milan, who face city rivals Inter in what should be a fascinating semi-final clash next month. They’ll want to guarantee their participation in that competition next season through a top-4 finish as well, although that’s no foregone conclusion in a congested Serie A table.
Ahead of the weekend, Milan are in that coveted 4th position above Saturday’s opponents Roma purely on goals scored, with the all-important head-to-head advantage still at stake after a 2-2 draw at San Siro in January. The sides are locked on 56 points apiece as things stand. Roma scored 3 goals in each of their last 3 league matches at Stadio Olimpico, making a ticket for this match pretty hot property.
Can José Mourinho pull a rabbit out of the hat in the Italian capital? He might need to, with Inter and Atalanta also in hot pursuit. Roma still need to play Inter in the league in early May before 2 Europa League semi-final legs against Bayer Leverkusen. The Special One usually relishes BIG occasions like these.
Did you know?
8 of the last 9 Serie A meetings between these sides featured goals at both ends, but you have to go back to October 2019 for Roma’s last league win over the Rossoneri
Xavi’s men are almost champions again
Betis failed to make up significant ground in their top-4 chase with a 0-0 draw against Real Sociedad on Tuesday. It leaves them 6 points adrift of the Basque side, who are in 4th place.
They’ll have to do their very best to breach a Barcelona defence that shipped just 9 goals in their first 30 LaLiga matches, writing before their midweek trip to Rayo Vallecano. It’s a staggering record and one of the major drivers behind what should be a title-winning season.
Real Betis won this fixture 1-0 last season thanks to a Juanmi goal, but lost their 2 prior visits by an identical 5-2 scoreline. So what are we trying to say here? Betis are consistently inconsistent when they travel to the BIG sides.
Here’s proof: Real Betis won 4-3 at Camp Nou in November 2018 with Lionel Messi scoring a brace and 4 different players (Junior Firpo, the legendary Joaquín, Giovani Lo Celso and Sergio Canales) on the scoresheet for Los Verdiblancos. A repeat of that score looks unlikely.
Did you know?
The only of 7 visiting teams to score at Camp Nou in LaLiga in 2023 were Real Madrid, who lost 2-1
Sunday 30th April
The Citizens are chasing a treble
Defending champions Man City haven’t been quite as formidable on the road as they have been at Etihad Stadium, but they’re breathing down Arsenal’s neck in the title race and with games in hand.
Fulham endured a mid-table slump where they lost 4 Premier League matches on the bounce, but picked up consecutive wins against Everton and Leeds, before a defeat to in-form Aston Villa last time out.
The hosts are safe from relegation and unlikely to push for a European place, though that didn’t stop them from defeating Everton and Leeds teams with far more at stake. Can they put a spanner in the works of Pep Guardiola’s treble dream?
Did you know?
City have won 13 consecutive matches across all competitions against Fulham, last failing to beat them in a 2-2 draw at Craven Cottage in 2011
Emery proving his pedigree
Unai Emery’s first game in charge at Villa Park was a 3-1 win over Manchester United, and the club have been on a steep upward curve ever since. When the Spaniard took over, they were 17th and they’re since climbed to 5th. That tells its own story.
With successive fixtures against Tottenham, Villa and Brighton (who Man Utd eventually overcame on penalties in the FA Cup semi finals last weekend), the Red Devils are coming up against a host of sides chasing European football.
Erik ten Hag’s men have a reasonable cushion in terms of the race for a top-4 place but this challenging sequence of games should produce some enticing and intriguing football.
Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins has 20 direct goal contributions (14 goals, 6 assists) in the Premier League this season. Watkins scored at Old Trafford in the EFL Cup, and has netted 5 times in his last 6 matches. United will need a plan for him.
Did you know?
Between Emery’s first Premier League game at Aston Villa on 6th November and 25th April, no side won more games than their 13 (tied with Arsenal, stat via OptaJoe)
Electric atmosphere expected
Newcastle’s stunning 6-1 win over Tottenham at St James’ Park may have relegation-threatened Southampton dreading their visit to the north east. That being said, the Saints did collect a point at leaders Arsenal in their last away game, but deep down they’ll be disappointed they didn’t claim all 3 points after a pulsating 3-3 draw at Emirates Stadium.
The Magpies look good for a top-4 finish, helped by the recent goalscoring form of Swedish striker Alexander Isak. Southampton’s last win away to Newcastle was in January 2015. If you consider their current form on top of that, the omens aren’t great.
Did you know?
Ahead of Newcastle’s midweek trip to Everton, Alexander Isak had scored 4 goals in his last 4 Premier League matches at an average of a goal every 69 minutes
Reds back in the mix for a European place
Tottenham sacked interim boss Cristian Stellini so now former midfielder Ryan Mason, who had an interim stint of his own in 2021, takes charge on a temporary basis. Stellini’s fate was sealed after Tottenham’s shambolic 6-1 defeat at Newcastle, a match in which they found themselves 5-0 down after 21 minutes. Their very next away assignment is at Anfield of all places.
Liverpool have actually conceded 4 goals in their last 2 Premier League matches at home, namely in a 2-2 draw with Arsenal and a thrilling 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest. With no clean sheets in 7 away matches for Spurs, things could get worse for the North Londoners.
Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah has been accused of being below his best by some fans but you wouldn’t know it looking at his stats. Ahead of the midweek trip to West Ham, he’d scored 5 goals in 5 league games, totalling 16 goals and 7 assists throughout the season.
Did you know?
Liverpool have won 8 of their 11 meetings with Tottenham since last losing to them in October 2017