Weekend of intriguing derbies in Europe
Having learnt the hard way recently that victories can only be earned with full-out effort for the full time on the clock, the two top clubs will collide today in a North London derby at the Emirates, hoping to gain three needed points that could jump-start a run to the upper reaches of the Premier […]
Having learnt the hard way recently that victories can only be earned with full-out effort for the full time on the clock, the two top clubs will collide today in a North London derby at the Emirates, hoping to gain three needed points that could jump-start a run to the upper reaches of the Premier League. Both squads are on the outside looking in at the top four entering this weekend, with Spurs (5-2-4) eighth on 17 points, one point and one spot ahead of Arsenal (4-4-3), who lead Fulham on goal differential for ninth. Both teams, however, were left ruing opportunities in which they lost ground to the table’s frontrunners. While Arsenal at least salvaged a point despite their issues, Spurs were not as fortunate in a 2-1 loss at reigning champions Manchester City. Steven Caulker gave Tottenham a first-half lead, but was defensively liable for the equalising goal before Spurs allowed a late winner by Edin Dzeko in the 88th minute.
In the German Bundesliga, Bayern Munich’s sensational domestic season shows no signs of abating and, with a string of players back from injury and illness for today’s Bavarian derby at Nuremberg (1430 GMT), the team are deservedly eyeing their 11th league win in 12 games. Bayern midfielders Bastian Schweinsteiger and Toni Kroos did not travel with Germany for their friendly match against Netherlands on Wednesday due to illness but were back on the training pitch that same day.
Striker Mario Gomez, out of action since undergoing ankle surgery in August, has also returned to team training and his four goals against a regional division team on Tuesday showed he was itching for senior-team action. Meanwhile, the encounter between Real Betis and Sevilla is an interesting derby that may not be in the class of the Real Madrid- Barcelona el clasico but is not doubt a match to watch any day.
Real Betis travel across the Andalucian city to take on neighbors Sevilla tomorrow (2030 GMT) for a derby of huge importance locally, and a match of major significance in the push for the European places in La Liga.
“They may not be as important as a Barca-Real in terms of the quality of players, the spectacle on offer, and the media coverage, but they are passionate games,” Alves was quoted by Spanish media as telling Algerian newspaper Le Buteur. “They are tougher than a ‘Clasico’.”