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PARIS: Two defeats in 4 days have turned up the warmth on Serie A leaders AC Milan, whereas Lionel Messi and Barcelona face Athletic Bilbao for the third time this month and the very best of the remaining conflict in Germany.
AFP Sport selects a few of the standout football motion in Europe this weekend:
Bologna v AC Milan, Saturday 1400 GMT
Losses to Juventus and Atalanta this month have slowed AC Milan’s title cost, however three winnable video games await Stefano Pioli’s facet earlier than subsequent month’s rematch with second-placed Inter Milan.
Inter dumped their metropolis rivals out of the Italian Cup in midweek, in a sport largely overshadowed by a stormy alternate between Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Romelu Lukaku, two former Manchester United team-mates.
Ibrahimovic was later despatched off and apologised for his behaviour, however denied utilizing racist phrases in the direction of Lukaku after reportedly accusing him of utilizing voodoo. The Swede, who has scored in all however one in all his eight league begins this time period, shall be obtainable for the journey to Bologna.
Barcelona v Athletic Bilbao, Sunday 2000 GMT
Lionel Messi and Barcelona received the higher of Athletic Bilbao when the perimeters met on January 6, the Argentine scoring twice in a 3-2 victory at San Mames, however the Basques settled the rating 11 days later within the closing of the Spanish Tremendous Cup as Messi was despatched off for the primary time in his membership profession.
The 2 sides sq. off for a 3rd time in simply over three weeks, this time at Camp Nou, as Barca hunt a fifth league win on the bounce to remain within reach of Atletico Madrid.
Messi returned in midweek from a two-match ban for lashing out at Athletic’s Asier Villalibre, scoring the equalising aim as Barca got here from behind to beat Rayo Vallecano within the final 16 of the Copa del Rey.
Bayer Leverkusen v RB Leipzig, Saturday 1730 GMT
The prospect of a real title race within the Bundesliga appeared credible simply weeks in the past, however patchy begins to the brand new 12 months for Bayer Leverkusen and RB Leipzig have allowed Bayern Munich to carve out a seven-point lead.
Leverkusen held prime spot earlier than a late Robert Lewandowski aim simply earlier than Christmas condemned Peter Bosz’s facet to a primary defeat of the season, with three extra following within the 5 video games since, plunging them 10 factors adrift of Bayern.
Julian Nagelsmann’s Leipzig loved a short stint in first place firstly of the month, however final season’s Champions League semi-finalists have gained simply one in all their previous 4 video games and crashed to a shock loss at Mainz final weekend.
Bayern Munich v Hoffenheim, Saturday 1430 GMT
Former Bayern reserve group coach Sebastien Hoeness returns to his outdated membership making an attempt to do the double over the European champions, following Hoffenheim’s 4-1 victory within the reverse fixture that snapped the Bavarian giants’ 23-match successful streak.
“We had a superb day. We defended cunningly and had a great plan,” Hoeness informed the Bayern web site. “In fact there was additionally a little bit of luck. Trying again, we had been deserved winners. Nonetheless, Saturday’s assembly is a sport underneath new circumstances.”
Hoeness, 38, is the son of former West Germany and Bayern striker Dieter Hoeness and the nephew of ex-Bayern president Uli. He coached the membership’s reserve group to the third division title final season earlier than leaving for Hoffenheim.
AZ Alkmaar v Ajax, Sunday 1545 GMT
The Covid-19 pandemic introduced an abrupt halt to an intriguing battle for the Eredivisie final 12 months, with Ajax forward of AZ Alkmaar on aim distinction when the season was cancelled with 9 video games left.
In consequence Ajax certified for the Champions League group stage, consigning AZ to qualifying the place they in the end fell brief.
Erik ten Hag’s Amsterdam membership once more cleared the path within the Netherlands, with AZ in fourth place and in search of to avenge final week’s 1-0 loss to Ajax within the Dutch Cup final 16.
AFP Sport selects a few of the standout football motion in Europe this weekend:
Bologna v AC Milan, Saturday 1400 GMT
Losses to Juventus and Atalanta this month have slowed AC Milan’s title cost, however three winnable video games await Stefano Pioli’s facet earlier than subsequent month’s rematch with second-placed Inter Milan.
Inter dumped their metropolis rivals out of the Italian Cup in midweek, in a sport largely overshadowed by a stormy alternate between Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Romelu Lukaku, two former Manchester United team-mates.
Ibrahimovic was later despatched off and apologised for his behaviour, however denied utilizing racist phrases in the direction of Lukaku after reportedly accusing him of utilizing voodoo. The Swede, who has scored in all however one in all his eight league begins this time period, shall be obtainable for the journey to Bologna.
Barcelona v Athletic Bilbao, Sunday 2000 GMT
Lionel Messi and Barcelona received the higher of Athletic Bilbao when the perimeters met on January 6, the Argentine scoring twice in a 3-2 victory at San Mames, however the Basques settled the rating 11 days later within the closing of the Spanish Tremendous Cup as Messi was despatched off for the primary time in his membership profession.
The 2 sides sq. off for a 3rd time in simply over three weeks, this time at Camp Nou, as Barca hunt a fifth league win on the bounce to remain within reach of Atletico Madrid.
Messi returned in midweek from a two-match ban for lashing out at Athletic’s Asier Villalibre, scoring the equalising aim as Barca got here from behind to beat Rayo Vallecano within the final 16 of the Copa del Rey.
Bayer Leverkusen v RB Leipzig, Saturday 1730 GMT
The prospect of a real title race within the Bundesliga appeared credible simply weeks in the past, however patchy begins to the brand new 12 months for Bayer Leverkusen and RB Leipzig have allowed Bayern Munich to carve out a seven-point lead.
Leverkusen held prime spot earlier than a late Robert Lewandowski aim simply earlier than Christmas condemned Peter Bosz’s facet to a primary defeat of the season, with three extra following within the 5 video games since, plunging them 10 factors adrift of Bayern.
Julian Nagelsmann’s Leipzig loved a short stint in first place firstly of the month, however final season’s Champions League semi-finalists have gained simply one in all their previous 4 video games and crashed to a shock loss at Mainz final weekend.
Bayern Munich v Hoffenheim, Saturday 1430 GMT
Former Bayern reserve group coach Sebastien Hoeness returns to his outdated membership making an attempt to do the double over the European champions, following Hoffenheim’s 4-1 victory within the reverse fixture that snapped the Bavarian giants’ 23-match successful streak.
“We had a superb day. We defended cunningly and had a great plan,” Hoeness informed the Bayern web site. “In fact there was additionally a little bit of luck. Trying again, we had been deserved winners. Nonetheless, Saturday’s assembly is a sport underneath new circumstances.”
Hoeness, 38, is the son of former West Germany and Bayern striker Dieter Hoeness and the nephew of ex-Bayern president Uli. He coached the membership’s reserve group to the third division title final season earlier than leaving for Hoffenheim.
AZ Alkmaar v Ajax, Sunday 1545 GMT
The Covid-19 pandemic introduced an abrupt halt to an intriguing battle for the Eredivisie final 12 months, with Ajax forward of AZ Alkmaar on aim distinction when the season was cancelled with 9 video games left.
In consequence Ajax certified for the Champions League group stage, consigning AZ to qualifying the place they in the end fell brief.
Erik ten Hag’s Amsterdam membership once more cleared the path within the Netherlands, with AZ in fourth place and in search of to avenge final week’s 1-0 loss to Ajax within the Dutch Cup final 16.
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