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 week, he previews El Clasico as Xavi’s Barcelona attempt to slow down Real Madrid’s title charge.
Real Madrid v Barcelona, La Liga – 8pm Sunday
Real Madrid captain Karim Benzema and Barcelona's Dani Alves. Alamy Stock Photo
Alamy Stock Photo
At just about any point in history, Barcelona travelling to Madrid with a deficit of 15 points would have signalled a club in crisis. And, to a fashion, it still does but Barcelona appear to be pulling themselves out of the darkness that enveloped the club over last summer.
Yet darker days may be to come since, looking from the outside, it does not appear the club’s financial problems are in any way solved, with plenty of issues being put off until a later date.
For the moment, there would seem to be a revival act being staged at Barcelona. Under Xavi’s management, they have not lost since December, and won their last four Liga matches.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s escape from Arsenal, only possible because of the misfortune that befell Sergio Aguero, has given the club a goalscorer and the likes of Memphis Depay, Luuk de Jong and Frenkie de Jong have made telling contributions to further the club’s continuing links to Dutch football.
The matches between the two clubs this season have been close encounters, with Aguero scoring his only goal for Barcelona back in October in the first Clasico without Lionel Messi, though by then David Alaba and Lucas Vasquez’s goals had already done the damage.
In the Spanish Super Cup back in January, it took extra time for Real to run out 3-2 winners but this is Barca’s last chance to stop it being three seasons without a win over their eternal rivals.
Like Barcelona, Madrid are soon to undergo a makeover but they are ageing far more gracefully. Their mugging of PSG in the Champions League was the latest demonstration of a club that expects to win matches where others, including the game’s nouveau riche, can only hope to win.
It was in March 2019 when Barcelona last beat Madrid, via an Ivan Rakitic goal in the Bernabeu, another star the club has since shed; Messi and Luis Suarez led the line that day.
Karim Benzema is in the form of his life, scoring five goals across two games last week against PSG and Mallorca, and this hardly perennial of the fixture, who scored in last season’s home Clasico win for Madrid, is likely to have another say if he shakes off a muscular injury picked up on Monday.
Middlesbrough boss Chris Wilder. Alamy Stock Photo
Alamy Stock Photo
With one injudicious sending of a press release, Chelsea’s suits converted Saturday’s FA Cup tie into a grudge match. By demanding the match was played behind closed doors as sanctions prevented their own fans being able to buy match tickets, Chelsea threw much of the goodwill they had received in the wake of Roman Abramovich’s moonlit flit from the scene.
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Steve Gibson, the Middlesbrough chairman, doesn’t suffer fools and neither does his manager, Chris Wilder, who enjoys nothing more than putting one over the elite clubs.
Having knocked out Manchester United and Tottenham, a Chelsea in turmoil should hold few fears in Boro’s determination to make life difficult for Thomas Tuchel’s men.
Jose Mourinho and Sergio Oliveira. Alamy Stock Photo
Alamy Stock Photo
Remember Jose Mourinho? Small bloke, talked a lot, was a good manager in the 2000s and for some of the 2010s, too. Then he became one of those bosses who moves from club to club with ever diminishing returns, and you can find him these days in the Europa Conference League.
It appears fair to say that fans of Roma have seen a speeding up of the cycle that did for him at Real Madrid, Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham, and after the club were big spenders in last summer’s transfer market.
Roma are seventh, Lazio fifth and a win in the Rome derby could take Roma above Maurizio Sarri’s team. Roma are not scoring many at the moment, and Lazio have scored 11 more Serie A goals this season.
A repeat defeat in the derby – Lazio won 3-2 in September – and the Mourinho cycle might be reaching its terminal velocity.
Marseille star Dimitri Payet in action against Nice. Alamy Stock Photo
Alamy Stock Photo
While PSG fans boo the likes of Neymar and Messi for their failures in the transfer window and have a purported greater interest in Paris Fashion Week than playing football, their anti-heroes are still strolling to the league title.
This match between second and third in Ligue 1 is important in terms of who is the best of the rest behind a superannuated ego machine, and also because the match between the two back in August ended in a riot when a bottle was thrown at Dimitri Payet.
The re-staging saw the clubs draw in October, and then Nice walloped Marseille 4-1 in the French Cup last month.
Last week saw Hoffenheim hold Bayern Munich, a draw bringing to an end a run of four consecutive victories that has lifted them to level on points with Leipzig and Freiburg in fourth and fifth, and just a point behind third-placed Bayer Leverkusen.
Hertha are on a run of losing their last five matches and go into the weekend in an automatic relegation spot, level on points with Stuttgart. Hoffenheim are short-priced to win in Berlin but look the lock of the weekend to do so.
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
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Real Madrid sweat on fitness of Karim 'The Dream' for El Clasico: John Brewin's standout matches
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 week, he previews El Clasico as Xavi’s Barcelona attempt to slow down Real Madrid’s title charge.
Real Madrid v Barcelona, La Liga – 8pm Sunday
At just about any point in history, Barcelona travelling to Madrid with a deficit of 15 points would have signalled a club in crisis. And, to a fashion, it still does but Barcelona appear to be pulling themselves out of the darkness that enveloped the club over last summer.
Yet darker days may be to come since, looking from the outside, it does not appear the club’s financial problems are in any way solved, with plenty of issues being put off until a later date.
For the moment, there would seem to be a revival act being staged at Barcelona. Under Xavi’s management, they have not lost since December, and won their last four Liga matches.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s escape from Arsenal, only possible because of the misfortune that befell Sergio Aguero, has given the club a goalscorer and the likes of Memphis Depay, Luuk de Jong and Frenkie de Jong have made telling contributions to further the club’s continuing links to Dutch football.
The matches between the two clubs this season have been close encounters, with Aguero scoring his only goal for Barcelona back in October in the first Clasico without Lionel Messi, though by then David Alaba and Lucas Vasquez’s goals had already done the damage.
In the Spanish Super Cup back in January, it took extra time for Real to run out 3-2 winners but this is Barca’s last chance to stop it being three seasons without a win over their eternal rivals.
It was in March 2019 when Barcelona last beat Madrid, via an Ivan Rakitic goal in the Bernabeu, another star the club has since shed; Messi and Luis Suarez led the line that day.
Karim Benzema is in the form of his life, scoring five goals across two games last week against PSG and Mallorca, and this hardly perennial of the fixture, who scored in last season’s home Clasico win for Madrid, is likely to have another say if he shakes off a muscular injury picked up on Monday.
John’s bet: Real Madrid to win and both teams to score @ 11/4
Middlesbrough v Chelsea, FA Cup – 5.15pm Saturday
With one injudicious sending of a press release, Chelsea’s suits converted Saturday’s FA Cup tie into a grudge match. By demanding the match was played behind closed doors as sanctions prevented their own fans being able to buy match tickets, Chelsea threw much of the goodwill they had received in the wake of Roman Abramovich’s moonlit flit from the scene.
Steve Gibson, the Middlesbrough chairman, doesn’t suffer fools and neither does his manager, Chris Wilder, who enjoys nothing more than putting one over the elite clubs.
Having knocked out Manchester United and Tottenham, a Chelsea in turmoil should hold few fears in Boro’s determination to make life difficult for Thomas Tuchel’s men.
John’s bet: Middlesbrough and Chelsea to be drawing at 90 minutes @ 17/5
Roma v Lazio, Serie A – 5pm Sunday
Remember Jose Mourinho? Small bloke, talked a lot, was a good manager in the 2000s and for some of the 2010s, too. Then he became one of those bosses who moves from club to club with ever diminishing returns, and you can find him these days in the Europa Conference League.
It appears fair to say that fans of Roma have seen a speeding up of the cycle that did for him at Real Madrid, Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham, and after the club were big spenders in last summer’s transfer market.
Roma are seventh, Lazio fifth and a win in the Rome derby could take Roma above Maurizio Sarri’s team. Roma are not scoring many at the moment, and Lazio have scored 11 more Serie A goals this season.
A repeat defeat in the derby – Lazio won 3-2 in September – and the Mourinho cycle might be reaching its terminal velocity.
John’s bet: Lazio to beat Roma and both teams to score @ 9/2
Marseille v Nice, Ligue 1 – 7.45pm Sunday
While PSG fans boo the likes of Neymar and Messi for their failures in the transfer window and have a purported greater interest in Paris Fashion Week than playing football, their anti-heroes are still strolling to the league title.
This match between second and third in Ligue 1 is important in terms of who is the best of the rest behind a superannuated ego machine, and also because the match between the two back in August ended in a riot when a bottle was thrown at Dimitri Payet.
The re-staging saw the clubs draw in October, and then Nice walloped Marseille 4-1 in the French Cup last month.
John’s bet: Nice to win at Marseille @ 12/5
Hertha Berlin v Hoffenheim, Bundesliga – 2.30pm Saturday
Last week saw Hoffenheim hold Bayern Munich, a draw bringing to an end a run of four consecutive victories that has lifted them to level on points with Leipzig and Freiburg in fourth and fifth, and just a point behind third-placed Bayer Leverkusen.
Hertha are on a run of losing their last five matches and go into the weekend in an automatic relegation spot, level on points with Stuttgart. Hoffenheim are short-priced to win in Berlin but look the lock of the weekend to do so.
John’s bet: Hoffenheim to beat Hertha @ 3/4
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
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