Matches to look out for

This is the penultimate weekend for domestic action before the vital March international break takes over the footballing world. This is a look at some of they key matches to keep an eye on as the ‘run-in’ edges closer…

All kick-off times are GMT.

BUNDESLIGA

1899 Hoffenheim vs Bayern Munich | 14:30 on Sunday

This is not only a match between two teams inside Germany’s top four but it also sees the return of Julian Nagelsmann to his former club.

1899 Hoffenheim, under the management of Sebastian Hoeness, are once again over-achieving. They reached the headlines qualifying for the UEFA Champions League with Nagelsmann performing near miracles. The Baden-Wurttemberg club sit just inside the top four and the UCL spots after four successive results of late.

Bayern Munich come into this fresh off the back of a 7-1 hammering of Red Bull Salzburg in the second-leg of their UEFA Champions League Round of 16 tie. The Bavarians had a mixture of Guardiola and Flick’s styles at the start of the campaign but inconsistency and defensive lapses have seen Bayern a little fragile.

⚽Most goal involvements in #UCL + #UEL (fr. 2017/18):

5⃣0⃣: Lewandowski (42G/8A)
4⃣6⃣: Mbappé (26G/20A)
4⃣5⃣: 🔴FERNANDES (24G/21A*)⚪
4⃣2⃣: Salah (33G/9A)
4⃣1⃣: Messi (31G/10A), Ronaldo (35G/6A)

*Highest number of assists#mufc #ggmu pic.twitter.com/cvl1WbuQAY

— playmakerstats (@playmaker_EN) February 23, 2022

LA LIGA

Rayo Vallecano vs Sevilla | 13:00 on Sunday

In a weekend of innocuous La Liga matches, this is one Primera match that is crucial at both ends of the table with two sides on the verge of embarking upon poor ‘run-ins’.

Andoni Iraola has done a very good job as manager of Rayo Vallecano but the Madrid-club have struggled since their fast start to the season. They were always reliant on near perfect home form but now that has dipped and their away form has not improved. Rayo will still hope they have enough to avoid the drop already but they will be getting concerned.

Julen Lopetegui’s Sevilla have been one of the most impressive defensive teams in La Liga. The Andalusians are still in a title challenge alongside Real Madrid but that impressive defence has led to a lack of attacking importance and cohesion. An example of that being a goalless draw at home to Alaves at the weekend. 

LIGUE 1

Olympique Lyonnais vs Stade Rennais | 16:05 on Sunday

This is a match between one side outside of the European spots and expectations of finishing inside those spots – and one that is inside with less ambition.

Lyon come into this on the back of a 1-0 win away to Porto in the first-leg of their Round of 16 tie in the UEFA Europa League. Peter Bosz’s side are an extremely attacking and intense team with an aggressive style of play but Bosz has begun to compromise with extra control added to their tactics and that has improved their form.

Rennes have been waiting for a real push towards UEFA Champions League qualification in recent years with fairly heavy investment leading to under-performing results. However, the visitors now come into this on the back of three successive victories as they are pushing for the top three. They faced Leicester in the UEFA Europa Conference League in midweek. 

PREMIER LEAGUE

Manchester United vs Tottenham Hotspur | 17:30 on Saturday

A battle of two teams that are inside of the ‘big six’. Manchester United will view this match as a game of ‘look what you could have won’.

Ralf Rangnick is a Technical Director nowadays and his coaching may be outdated – at least elements of it. He is still an excellent identifier of talent and has a good awareness of football tactics. However, The Red Devils come into this on the back of a 4-1 hammering at the hands of Manchester City last week and they have been very poor, in terms of results, since his arrival.

Tottenham had a thrilling and emphatic 5-0 hammering of Everton on Monday night in which Harry Kane continued his impressive performances. Spurs have underperformed under Antonio Conte and the Italian has been evidently frustrated at times. This is a huge match between two sides pushing for the top four and the UEFA Champions League spots.

PRIMEIRA LIGA

Braga vs Gil Vicente | 20:30 on Sunday  

Much like most of the key matches across Europe, this is between two sides towards the top end of the table, pushing for European qualification.

Carlos Carvalhal has implemented an impressive and innovative style of play that the former Sheffield Wednesday and Swansea City boss describes as ‘formation-less’. They won the cup last season, finishing fourth, and they remain fourth in the table this season but they are on a run in the UEFA Europa League.

Gil Vicente had a difficult start to the season but they have since been one of the very best teams in the league. They lost their opening two matches of the season but they have since been impeccable and they now sit in the top five and the European spots ahead of this weekend’s round of fixtures having only lost games against the four teams above them in the table. 

SERIE A

Hellas Verona vs Napoli | 14:00 on Sunday

These are two of just 17 teams that have scored more than 50 goals in the league across Europe’s six major leagues. 

Igor Tudor was appointed Hellas Verona boss in the middle of September, they’d already been high-scoring but they have very much been high-scoring, once again. Their 28 matches so far this season have consisted of a combined total of 97 goals. They sit inside the top-half and they are now unbeaten in their last four matches.

©Getty / Paolo Bruno

Napoli are involved in one of the best Serie A title races in years. It is a three-team title race between themselves and the two Milan clubs. Luciano Spalletti’s Neapolitans come into this on the back of a 1-0 defeat at home to one of those rivals, though, as they handed the advantage to AC Milan. They have now won just one of their last six matches in all competitions.