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As the season enters into its ‘business half’, the league tables have begun to take shape and we have an idea of what the standings might look like at the end of the season. The teams are supercharged with purpose and know what they're playing for. Fans are also beginning to get an idea of what fixtures might end up weighing heavily on the outcome of this season.So here's a look at some of the biggest fixtures to come ahead in this season, especially the ones that will have a big say in what happens at the end of the season:
#1 Tottenham vs Arsenal - 7th February
The north London derby is one of the most famous local rivalries there is in England. It is also the most goal friendly fixture in the Premier League with 128 goals in 45 matches.
This time around, the derby comes as both teams are engaged in a tight battle for the top four. The race is as close as it has ever been. Pochettino is finally having an effect on this team while Arsene Wenger too has turned things around after a rather lukewarm start to the season.
This fixture comes at the right time for both teams as both have players approaching peak form. The likes of Cazorla, Sanchez, Giroud, Kane, and Eriksen have displayed remarkable form since the turn of the year. Both teams will be pumped for it and cannot afford to drop points at this crucial juncture.
#2 Liverpool vs Manchester United - 22nd March
Like the two North London clubs, Manchester United and Liverpool are also embroiled in a battle for Champions League qualification and will be determined to get the better of their rivals.
There is a great deal of history between these two teams and is one of the most watched fixtures in the Premier League. The added incentive of European qualification should only serve to make this bitter rivalry more volatile. The last match between these two ended 3-0 in favour of Manchester United.
Liverpool have seen a remarkable turnaround in their form since that fateful encounter and will be relishing the opportunity to avenge that loss. The return of Sturridge should add to their confidence and give them a much-needed boost in getting the desired result.
Van Gaal's United too have made steady improvements since their victory over Liverpool and sit in third spot on the table, but van Gaal will be wary of defeat as it could be fatal to his ambitions of leading United back to Europe's premier competition.
#3 Chelsea vs Manchester United - 18th April
Early in the season, it looked like Chelsea would run away with the title, but some wobbly performances of late have seen the others back in the fray and reminded them of the pernicious nature of the premier league. The title isn't won till it definitively is and Chelsea will not be in the mood to gift United any unnecessary points.
Similarly for Manchester United who, if the current table is anything to judge by, will not be in a position to drop any points before the end of the season. Their objectives for this season might be different, but both teams will look to go for the jugular and it should make for an interesting show of football. The personalities of Van Gaal and Mourinho and the mutual respect they share should make this a feisty affair.
#4 Arsenal vs Chelsea - 25th April
Irrespective of their aspirations and season objectives, this one is guaranteed to be amouthwatering treat for football fans. The animosity between these two clubs is too great for it to be an underwhelming affair. The fans hate each other, the players hate each other, and most importantly, the managers hate each other.
The last match between these two saw a tight affair which ultimately led to Chelsea winning 2-0. That match will also be remembered for the touchline bust-up between Mourinho and Wenger, in which Wenger appeared to shove Mourinho after the latter tried to block his way on the sidelines.
Apart from their general dislike of each other, this match will also see Fabregas returning to the Emirates for the first time after leaving Arsenal in 2011. It will be an intense atmosphere that will greet him and it will require a great deal of mental strength for him to be able to deal with it.
Wenger, in all these years, has never managed to beat Mourinho, but Arsenal's recent performances against bigger teams have shown that Wenger is finally willing to sacrifice his philosophy for the sake of a win and will not hesitate to change his tactics to get the desired result.
#5 Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid - 7th February
Atletico's ability to strike gold in the big games helped them to a famous title win last year. Simeone will be hoping that his team can kick on in the second half of the season to achieve a repeat of last season’s accomplishments, and what better game to start than next week’s fixture against Real Madrid.
After Simeone's arrival, the rivalry has been turned on its head with Atletico managing to hurt Real repeatedly, so much that Atletico are now the favourites to beat them whenever they meet. The recent Copa del Rey quarterfinal was a great example of this.
The only significant victory Real have attained over Atletico, in recent times, was their win in the Champions League final and even that required the game to go into extra time after Sergio Ramos' injury time equalizer. Carlo Ancelotti will be wary of the threat posed by Atletico and will know that a loss will throw open the title race.
Vicente Calderon is expected to be at its intimidating best, and will be nothing short of a cauldron for the visiting Real players.
#6 Barcelona vs Real Madrid - 22nd March
The El Clasico is possibly football's biggest spectacle apart from the World Cup. The amount of viewers it garners easily dwarfs the biggest shows of any other sport, such is its draw. The previous Clasico was a tad underwhelming given the reputation of this fixture, but this one certainly won't be.
Both teams have again proved their title credentials and will be keen to keep their hunt on track with a win. Barcelona's poor showing in their 3-1 loss at the Bernabeu could have been attributed to their new look team and the fact that players were still adjusting to each other.
This time though, it won't be the same as Suarez, Mathieu and Rakitic have bedded in properly while both James Rodriguez and Toni Kroos have been very consistent performers for Real. This will be an eagerly anticipated fixture and could well throw up another classic given the kind of form these two are in.
#7 Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona - 17th May
Last season's title finale went down at the Camp Nou and was decided after a tight battle between these two. This season, again, could see these teams decide the winner of the La Liga, only this time it'll be at the Calderon.
The last match between these two ended 3-2 in Barcelona's favour. The game was rife with action all over the park. There were two red cards, massive player brawls, five goals, a boot hurled at the linesman and to top it all off, it was only a Copa del Rey match, so one can imagine the intensity which will be on display when the title is on the line.
The Calderon can also be expected to be very unforgiving towards the Barcelona players for what Atletico fans and players thought was unsporting behaviour on the Catalans’ part in the last match.
#8 Lyon vs Paris-Saint Germain - 8th February
Prior to this season very few, if any, would have predicted the French league to be as competitive as it has been so far. Everyone thought it would be another season of complete PSG domination, but the timely revival of former giants Lyon and Marseille has made the competition a three-way race. For the first time in a long time, PSG aren’t favourites.
Lyon are, surprisingly, the favourites, despite them having slashed their wage bill, sold off their expensive players and invested, almost exclusively, on their youth. Such measures of austerity can often deter a team from winning, but Lyon have done remarkably well to stay competitive. They host the champions this week, at the Stade de Gerland. They will be without their talisman Alexandre Lacazette who has scored 21 goals in 22 appearances, but will still be hoping to cause an upset.
Laurent Blanc hasn’t enjoyed the best of times with PSG this season, but he still stands a chance to salvage his soiled reputation and maybe even stay at PSG beyond this season. For that though, he will need to start off with a win on Sunday.
The first match ended 1-1 with Samuel Umtiti and Edinson Cavani getting on the scoresheet.
#9 Marseille vs Lyon - 14th March
The titans of old are back and are ready to clash again for the biggest prize in French football. The Ligue 1 trophy, which has eluded both these teams for so long, is now back within reach and will no doubt heighten their players’ desire to win in their upcoming fixture. It is a potential title decider and could be the match that sways the title in one direction or the other.
Marseille, in the first half of the season, failed to beat both Lyon and PSG, but managed to end the year on top of the table. They will be hoping to find themselves in the same position in the table come the end of the season, but will know that they won’t be as lucky as they were in the first half without beating their direct rivals.
Lyon, on the other hand, will take solace from the fact that Marseille have dropped in intensity, since the winter break, and will be there for the taking. With PSG also in the hunt, this match could have a long-lasting impact on either teams’ title aspirations.
#10 Roma vs Napoli - 4th April
Roma’s early season form has faded and they have lost ground on leaders Juventus. Where once they were gunning for the highest prize in Serie A, they’ve now been reduced to chasing from a distance. Realistically, they don’t look like closing the gap on Juventus, but a frail hope remains in the capital about their chances of getting their title campaign back on track.
It is the only thing that gives them purpose and keeps them going lest they get comfortable and slip-up, and a drop from second position could jeopardise their Champions League qualification.
Napoli sit four points behind Roma and will be very keenly looking forward to their trip to the Stadio Olimpico, where a win could put them in the automatic qualifying positions for the Champions League. In the meantime, they will be hoping for complacency from Rudi Garcia’s team which they will hope to capitalise on to reduce the points gap.
Napoli won the first fixture 2-0 with Rafa Benitez’s men successfully suppressing Roma’s attacking verve while taking their chances at the other end, and their fans will be hoping for a repeat of that performance.
