Chasing Packs in EBPL Prepare To Close Gap Between Them and Liverpool
By Tanko Bauka
As the domestic leagues across Europe proceed on the international break after this weekend’s Fixtures, the chasing pack in the English Barclays Premier League, Arsenal, Nottingham Forest, Chelsea and Manchester City have the opportunity to take advantage of the league leader Liverpool FC not playing in the league this weekend as a result of their engagement in the final of the Carabao cup with Newcastle to grab the three points in their various matches to help close the gap between them and Liverpool.
Arsenal will have their hands full as they welcome another London arch-rival in the form of Chelsea FC in a match which always divides London into reds and blues.
The two teams have not only been the dominant forces in London but also in the English Barclays Premier League, and the match is going to be fierce as both teams, apart from playing for the three points, which is paramount, will also play for who is the bragging right in London.
Slightly improved Manchester United would want to build on their recent momentum as they travel to face Leicester City, managed by Manchester United, former acting manager Ruud Van Nistelrooy, who was later replaced by Ruben Amorim.
Pep Guardiola Manchester City will be at home to welcome Brighton Albion while AFC Bournemouth entertain Brentford as Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur slug it out in another London derby at Craven Cottage stadium.
In the Spanish LA Liga, the league leader FC Barcelona will be in action after suspending their match against Osasuna following the death of the team doctor last weekend.
FC Barcelona travel to Madrid to take on Atletico Madrid, which will want to use the encounter to put behind them their UEFA Champions League exit to their arch-rival Real Madrid to restore confidence among their followers.
Second-place Real Madrid travel to battle it out with Villarreal and would need to avoid defeat to stay in the hunt for the league title.
Laganes host Real Betis, Sevilla entertain Athletic Bilbao as Valencia continue their survival fight against Girona which are also finding life so difficult in the Spanish LA Liga.
Rayo Vallacano host Real Sociedad and Osasuna welcome Gatafe.
In the Italian Serie A, all eyes, especially of Napoli fans, will be on the match between Atalanta and Inter Milan. As the two giants and contenders go against each other, Napoli must seek to avoid defeat against Venezia to stand any chance of being Champion once again.
AC Milan host Cesc Fabregas Como to continue to fight for a top finish to also stand a chance to play in Europe’s elite competition. A.S Roma welcome Cagliari while Bologna host Lazio.
In the German Bundesliga Bayern Munich, which suffered defeat last weekend against Werder Bremen, travel to take on Union Berlin while RB Leipzig take on Borussia Dortmund.
Stuttgart host wounded Bayern Leverkusen, which were dumped out of the Champion League by Bayern Munich, and Werder Bremen slugg it out with Bayern Monchengladbach as VFL Bochum host Holstein Kiel.
Fixtures across Europe
English Barclays Premier League
Saturday
Everton vs West Ham
Ipswich Town vs Nottingham
Manchester City vs Brighton
Southampton vs Wolves
AFC Bournemouth vs Brentford
Sunday
Arsenal vs Chelsea
Fulham vs Tottenham Hotspur
Leicester vs Manchester United
Spanish LA Liga
Friday
Las Palmas vs Deportivo Alaves
Saturday
Real Valladolid vs Celta Vigo
Mallorca vs Espanyol
Villarreal vs Real Madrid
Girona vs Valencia
Sunday
Laganes vs Real Betis
Sevilla vs Athletic Bilbao
Rayo Vallacano vs Real Sociedad
Osasuna vs Getafe
Atletico Madrid vs FC Barcelona
Italian Serie A
Friday
Genoa vs Lecce
Saturday
AC Monza vs Parma
Udinese vs Hellas Verona
AC Milan vs Como
Torino vs Empoli
Sunday
Venezia vs Napoli
Bologna vs Lazio
A.S Roma vs Cagliari
Fiorentina vs Juventus
Atalanta vs Inter Milan
German Bundesliga
Friday
FC St Pauli vs Hoffenheim
Saturday
Union Berlin vs Bayern Munich
Mainz 05 vs SC Freiburg
FC Augsburg vs Wolfsburg
Werder Bremen vs Monchenglabach
RB Leipzig vs Dortmund
Sunday
VFL Bochum vs Frankfurt
Heidenheim vs Holstein Kiel
Stuttgart vs Bayern Leverkusen
