Forget title races, there is a lot at stake elsewhere in the table!
Despite the constant drama of battles for the title and European qualification, we must remember there is just as much drama elsewhere. As we edge nearer to the end of the season, each match becomes vital for many teams in their quest for survival. We see teams with terrible runs of form but, at any given moment, players can rise to the occasion and get a victory from out of nowhere. This is the unpredictable beauty of football! In this preview we will try to make sense of these battles at the bottom, along with a historic Spanish derby to look forward to!
Not sure who to take a punt on? Then read our preview and place your bets wisely!
Contents:
1. West Ham United vs Newcastle United
2. VfB Stuttgart vs VfL Bochum
3. Osasuna vs Atlético Madrid
4. Athletic Club vs Real Sociedad
5. Venezia vs Genoa
West Ham United vs Newcastle United
West Ham’s impressive season continues, they are still battling for a top 4 spot by being only 2 points behind Manchester United and, given the inconsistencies from the Red Devils this season, they may have the chance to overtake them this weekend. All they have to do is repeat the scoreline from the reverse fixture on the first matchday of the season, a 4-2 victory over the Magpies. If that’s the case, then they would ‘do the double’ over Newcastle for just the third time in Premier League history (1998-99, 2018-19). We should be guaranteed goals here, too: the Hammers have scored in all 12 of their home league games this season and, in home and away combined, both teams have scored in 16 of the matches that they’ve appeared in.
What about Newcastle and their remarkable recovery? After seeming destined for relegation, Eddie Howe and his new signings have jumped out of the drop zone, winning their last 3 league matches. They last won 4 in-a-row in April 2018! It could likely happen here, though, given that the Toon Army have won their last 2 away visits to West Ham. One of the main reasons for their recent revival is the signing of Kieran Trippier. The England right-back has been a revelation for the Geordies, scoring two direct free-kicks in his first 4 games, but he will now miss several weeks due to injury. Without arguably their best player, how will Newcastle cope?
VfB Stuttgart vs VfL Bochum
Following last weeks outstanding performance against Bundesliga behemoth Bayern Munich, we couldn’t help but talk about Bochum! Die Unabsteigbaren were only promoted to the Bundesliga this season, but already they have settled in well. That incredible 4-2 victory over Bayern last weekend has meant that Thomas Reis’ side are now 10 points above the relegation zone. This is mainly thanks to their home form, with wins against teams like Bayern, Frankfurt, Wolfsburg and Hoffenheim in front of their own fans. Their main issue, however, is their away form: they have only won 2 away matches all season. One other concern: Bochum have won only 1 of the last 16 competitive meetings against Stuttgart.
To add to that, when it comes to solely Bundesliga games, Stuttgart are unbeaten in 9 matches against Bochum (won 6, drawn 3), and for just home league matches, the record is even better: Die Roten are unbeaten in the last 18 Bundesliga matches against Bochum when played in their own stadium. For them, it’s vital that this record continues: Pellegrino Matarazzo’s men are on a run of 4 consecutive defeats and are without a win in their last 7 (losing 6, drawing 1), the worst form out of anyone in the league. Victory has never been more important, especially since they are 4 points away from safety. A feisty clash awaits!
Osasuna vs Atlético Madrid
If ever there was a ‘good time’ to play Atleti, it is certainly now. Despite victories over Rayo, Valencia and Getafe in the last 2 months, Simeone’s side have simply never looked convincing, and it is defeats against the likes of Mallorca, Granada and, just yesterday, against Levante (who only had 1 win all season) that prove there are serious problems inside the Rojiblancos camp. A team once renowned for their defensive strengths currently only have 1 clean sheet in their last 11 league matches, and away from home in the league they haven’t won in their last 5 (drawn 1, lost 4). This doesn’t bode well ahead of the trip to El Sadar, but perhaps they can take comfort in knowing that they have won their last 3 meetings at Osasuna. With a concerning injury to striker Matheus Cunha, will Atleti have to rely once again on Ángel Correa?
Osasuna will surely be licking their lips at the prospect of facing Atleti in this form. All the more so given that the Pamplona side are on a good run themselves: they have won 3 of their last 5 games (drawn 1, lost 1), which is a decent recovery since going without a victory in the previous 10 beforehand (drawing 5, losing 5). They haven’t conceded a single goal in their last 3 LaLiga games, and the ever-passionate fans inside El Sadar will certainly do their bit to help this form continue. A victory against Atleti would end an unwanted record of a seven-match losing streak against Simeone’s side and, with the way things are going, this could be the match to change it!
Athletic Club vs Real Sociedad
One of the highlights this weekend, and a highlight every year inside the Basque Country, is the historic derby between Athletic and La Real. There have been many crucial clashes over the years, none more so than the 2020 Copa del Rey Final (which Real Sociedad won), but the match on Sunday also holds great importance; both sides are fighting for Europe!
Athletic are currently in 8th, just 4 points off Sociedad in 6th place, but the gap could have been smaller had Marcelino’s side not fallen to a late defeat on Monday against Mallorca. Before that match, Los Leones were in fine form: they had won 4 of their last 6 LaLiga matches (drawing 1 and losing 1) and they’ve progressed through the rounds of this season’s Copa del Rey, defeating both Barcelona and Real Madrid. Those two cup victories were at home, and although in Basque derbies there is very little to separate the teams, we can expect San Mamés to have a huge influence on the match here.
However, it should be noted that despite the home advantage, it is Real Sociedad who have won 2 of the last 3 league derbies in San Mamés. Plus, when we also add in the matches at their own stadium, Anoeta, it appears promising for los Txuri-Urdin: Real Sociedad have won 5 of their last 8 LaLiga games against Athletic, drawing 2 and losing only 1. Imanol Alguacil’s side are seeing steady form in the league, unbeaten in their last 5 matches (won 2, drawn 3) but goals come few and far between. In fairness, the same can be said for Athletic, too: from 1st position to 14th in the league, both Athletic and Real Sociedad are the teams with the least goals scored, 25 and 24 respectively. Although, at the same time both sides have strong defensive records, both conceding only 21 goals each (joint 3rd best in the league). How much action will we see in a derby?
Venezia vs Genoa
We’ll take you away from the ever-exciting Serie A title race this weekend and focus on a similarly dramatic race at the bottom, the fight for survival! Venezia are the ones in a better position currently, they are on the border between safety and relegation, and they sit 5 points clear of Genoa. The reason for such a gap is mostly thanks to their win last weekend at Torino, which ended an unwanted 10-game winless run (drawing 3, losing 7), and a victory here against fellow strugglers Genoa would give the Venetians back-to-back wins for only the second time this season.
To call Genoa “strugglers” would be a bit of an understatement. The Rossoblù are without a win in their last 22 (!) Serie A matches, the worst in their history. Their only win this season came way back in September, against Cagliari, and since then the remainder of their points have been made up of draws. There have been quite a lot of them, too: the Genovese have drawn 12 matches so far, the most out of any team in all of Europe’s top 5 leagues! The meeting earlier in the season between the two sides was, of course, a draw, but with both teams desperate for a victory here, which way will we see the points swing?