The fixture schedules for the European teams are getting more and more hectic as the action in February is about to kick into full gear. The Premier League has not provided any shortage of entertainment since the start of the year, with another headliner in game week 25. Struggling Liverpool will take on an impressive Spurs team in a fight at the top of the table.
The other European leagues also offer equal value, with Real Madrid itching to get back on the pitch, as they aim to extend their lead at the top, following their postponed game against Celta Vigo last week.
Elsewhere, the European continental competitions will also return to action for the first time since December.
#1 Make or break time for Liverpool against Tottenham
Arsenal open the weekend’s fixtures in England when they host a rejuvenated Hull City side at the Emirates. Arsene Wenger’s team are fresh off a thrashing at the hands of Chelsea, while The Tigers recorded a commanding win over Liverpool in the previous week.
Manchester United will look to replicate their performance against Leicester last week when they take on Watford. Champions Leicester City are dangerously close to the relegation zone after losing their last five league games and they travel to Swansea in a crucial tie at the bottom of the table.
League leaders Chelsea travel to Burnley, while Manchester City visits Bournemouth on Monday.
But the biggest fixture of the weekend comes in Saturday’s late fixture with Liverpool welcoming Tottenham to Anfield. The Reds have not won on home turf or in the league in 2017 and Jurgen Klopp will be keen for his side to register their first win since the end of December.
Tottenham will pose a tough challenge though, as they aim to close the gap on Chelsea. A win for Tottenham can effectively end Liverpool’s title ambitions while Klopp’s team might also risk further dropping down the table.
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#2 Top teams have it easy in Bundesliga
This week in Germany will see four of the top five teams in the league; take on four of the bottom five sides. Bayern Munich dropped points for the first time in eight games against Schalke last week but will have an easier task against Ingolstadt, who are second from bottom.
RB Leipzig who were beaten for the third time in their last six games by Dortmund last week, will host Hamburg. Bottom of the table Darmstadt only have nine points to their name in 19 games face another tough test when they take on Dortmund, who have shown signs of improvement of late.
Wolfsburg are fifth from bottom, following back-to-back losses. They face a visit from Hoffenheim – the only team in the league apart from Bayern Munich that have not lost on more than a single occasion this season.
#3 AC Milan looking to move closer to the top
Following a poor run of three losses in a row, AC Milan will aim to get back to winning ways when they visit fourth place Lazio on Monday. Juventus maintained a four-point lead at the top, with a game in hand, after they beat high-flying Inter Milan last week. They will travel to Cagliari and are expected to record a comfortable win.
AS Roma should also win comfortably in their game against struggling Crotone. The team from the capital are in second position and on a decent run, having lost just once and won the remainder of their last six games in Serie A.
#4 Champions League makes much-awaited return
After more than a month, Champions League football makes its long-awaited return. The first legs of the round of the 16 stages will be underway in the coming week, with some mouth-watering fixtures to look forward to.
The leaders of Portuguese Liga – Benfica will host Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday night’s fixture. The second tie on Tuesday will see a clash of two heavyweights as Paris Saint-Germain welcome Barcelona to the Parc des Princes. The two teams have played each on six occasions in the last four seasons, with PSG winning on only a single one of those games. The Parisians will be keen get the better of Luis Enrique’s men this time.
Wednesday’s action sees Arsenal travel to Bayern Munich for their seventh meeting against the Bavarians in five seasons. Both sides have met in the Round of 16 thrice so far, with Bayern progressing on all three occasions. The same night will see Real Madrid play host to an in-form Napoli side. Los Blancos are on a good run themselves but Cristiano Ronaldo and co. have to work very hard if they are to get the better of the Italian outfit.
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#5 Europa League returns for Round of 32
This week also welcomes back Europa League action. 32 teams will battle it out in the first-leg on Thursday night. Tottenham dropped down to the Europa league after finishing third in their Champions League group and Mauricio Pochettino’s team will have to make the trip to Belgium, where they will take on Gent.
Jose Mourinho’s side are still alive in every competition they have entered so far this season. The Red Devils host St.Etienne at Old Trafford in the hopes of securing a positive result, while Spanish side Villareal welcome an impressive Roma team.
Other noteworthy fixtures include Lyon’s trip to AZ Alkmaar, Borussia Monchengladbach’s match against Fiorentina and Shakhtar’s trip to Celta Vigo.
Key Fixtures:
Friday
Bordeaux vs PSG
Saturday
Arsenal vs Hull CityManchester United vs WatfordMiddlesbrough vs EvertonLiverpool vs TottenhamAlaves vs BarcelonaOsasuna vs Real MadridDarmstadt vs Borussia DortmundIngolstadt vs Bayern Munich
Sunday
Burnley vs ChelseaSwansea City vs Leicester CityAtletico Madrid vs Celta VigoCagliari vs Juventus
MondayBournemouth vs Manchester CityLazio vs AC Milan
Tuesday
Benfica vs Borussia Dortmund (Champions League)PSG vs Barcelona (Champions League)
Wednesday
Bayern Munich vs Arsenal (Champions League)Real Madrid vs Napoli (Champions League)
Thursday
AAA Gent vs Tottenham (Europa League)Manchester United vs St Etienne (Europa League)Villareal vs Roma (Europa League
