Matchday Review - April 11th, 2024
Europa League - Quarter-finals (1st Legs)
Liverpool 0 vs. 3 Atalanta
Benfica 2 vs. 1 Marseille
AC Milan 0 vs. 1 AS Roma
Bayer Leverkusen 2 vs. 0 West Ham
Atalanta beating Liverpool was the shock of the quarter-finals yesterday that too at Anfield. Benfica got a narrow win against Marseille but the second leg still gives the French team a reason for optimism. AC Milan lost to Roma and the Romans will favour their chances at home in the return leg. Leverkusen beat West Ham 2-0 and they should get by in the second leg to continue their journey for a treble this season.
Europa Conference League - Quarter-finals (1st Legs)
Viktoria Plzeň 0 vs. 0 Fiorentina
Olympiacos 3 vs. 2 Fenerbahce
Club Brugge 1 vs. 0 PAOK
Aston Villa 2 vs. 1 Lille
All the games remain in balance in the Conference League. All of the teams have narrow leads and the results could go either way in the return legs.
Matchday Preview - April 12th, 2024
Premier League MW 33
Newcastle vs. Tottenham
Eighth placed Newcastle take on fourth placed Tottenham. Both teams have an identical run of form over their last five games having lost one game each. Spurs are trying to seal a place in the top four while Newcastle are holding out hope for a Europa or Conference League place. Tottenham won the reverse fixture 4-1.
Brentford vs. Sheffield United
15th placed Brentford have drawn their last three games as they take on bottom of the table Sheffield United. Brentford are strictly mid table and should be around there for the rest of the season. Sheffield are nine points from safety and will likely get relegated at the end of the season. Sheffield united won the reverse fixture 1-0.
Man City vs. Luton Town
Third placed City welcome 18th placed Luton Town. Luton are the in the relegation zone on goal difference and stand a legitimate chance at survival. City are pushing for the title though and they should pick up three points in this game. City won the reverse fixture 1-2.
Nottingham Forest vs. Wolverhampton
17th placed Forest welcome 11th placed Wolves. Both teams only have one win in their last five games. Forest are trying to avoid relegation while Wolves are looking to finish in the top 10. The reverse fixture was a 1-1 draw.
Burnley vs. Brighton
19th placed Burnley sit six points away from safety while Brighton are 10th with one win in their last five games. Burnley have a small chance at survival and all they can do is try and pick up three points as many times as possible. Brighton are aiming for a top 10 finish but have been in poor form. The reverse fixture was a 1-1 draw.
Bournemouth vs. Man United
12th placed Bournemouth were in brilliant form until they lost last weekend as they take on sixth placed United. United have one win in their last five games and are in danger of dropping down the table while Bournemouth are part of the group of teams fighting for a place in the top 10. Bournemouth won the reverse fixture 0-3.
Liverpool vs. Crystal Palace
Liverpool are second in the table on goal difference and followed up their draw last weekend with a heavy loss to Atalanta in the Europa League. Palace is 14th in the table and has nothing to fight for this season. It would be great if we could see another Crystanbul scenario but Liverpool will likely pick up three points. The reds won the reverse fixture 1-2.
West Ham vs. Fulham
This weekends London derby comes to us from West London as seventh placed West Ham welcomes 13th placed Fulham. West Ham are aiming for a Europa League place while Fulham have an outside chance at finishing the top 10. Fulham won the reverse fixture 5-0.
Arsenal vs. Aston Villa
League leaders Arsenal welcome fifth placed Villa. Arsenal sit at the top on goal difference while Villa is behind fourth on goal difference. Emery visits the Emirates once again with the chance to dent the Gunners title hopes. Arsenal have no margin for error from now until the end of the season. Villa won the reverse fixture 1-0 and if Emery could pull off something similar with Villa on Sunday then he would be commended for his contributions to society.
La Liga MW 31
Atletico Madrid vs. Sporting Girona
Mallorca vs. Real Madrid
Cadiz vs. Barcelona
Las Palmas vs. Sevilla
Athletic Bilbao vs. Villarreal
Real Sociedad vs. Almeria
Real Madrid sits eight points clear at the top of the table as it travels to Mallorca. Barcelona, Girona and Atletico make up the top four, Bilbao and Real Sociedad form the chasing pack. Most of the teams should pick up straight forward wins this weekend but Atletico against Girona will be an interesting game. Bilbao will be playing their first game at home since winning the Copa Del Rey and the stadium will be a sight to behold.
Serie A MW 32
Lazio vs. Salernitana
Torino vs. Juventus
Napoli vs. Frosinone
Sassuolo vs. AC Milan
Udinese vs. AS Roma
Inter Milan vs. Cagliari
Inter sits 14 points clear at the top and they are likely to maintain that lead and inch closer to the title this weekend. Milan, Juventus and Bologna make up the top four. Roma, Atalanta, Lazio and Napoli form the chasing pack. Torino against Juventus will be fun since it is the Turin derby but the other games should offer straight forward three points.
Bundesliga MW 29
Bayern Munich vs. Koln
Monchengladbach vs. Borussia Dortmund
RB Leipzig vs. Wolfsburg
Bayer Leverkusen vs. Werder Bremen
Bayer Leverkusen can seal the Bundesliga title this weekend if they pick up three points regardless of other results. If they win they would be 16 points clear with five games to go. Bayern should beat Koln but you never know given their recent form. Stuttgart and Leipzig make up the top four with Stuttgart standing a chance to move into second if Bayern drops points. Dortmund can also move back into the top four if Leipzig drops points. Very interesting weekend of German football, lots of maths involved.
Ligue 1 MW 29
Lyon vs. Brest
Second placed Brest takes on 10th placed Lyon. Both teams are in good form and it should be an interesting game. Not sure several of the other teams are not playing.