6 hours ago
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From Saudi to Rio
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Football never sleeps. With the conclusion of matchday 1 of the Champions League, the focus shifts back to some of the world's biggest leagues on Friday. Using the expertise of our global team, Transfermarkt takes you around the globe to highlight five games you should be watching this weekend. Whether it is the Greek derby of eternal rivals, the Clássico dos Milhões in Brazil, Derby della Capitale in Italy, or Le Classique between Marseille and PSG, there are some exciting games to watch this weekend across the globe.
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Major clash in Saudi: Al-Ahli vs Al-Hilal
Tiberius Radziejewski (Area Manager Asia):
This Friday, top Saudi Pro League contenders Al-Ahli and Al-Hilal face off in a thrilling encounter. While Matthias Jaissle's Al-Ahli have spent modestly, Al-Hilal splashed over €100 million on stars like Darwin Núñez and Theo Hernández, along with hiring Filippo Inzaghi ahead of the Club World Cup in June.
Both teams remain unbeaten this season, though they had close calls in the AFC Champions League Elite earlier this week, each trailing in their matches. Al-Ahli's star striker Ivan Toney has netted 5 goals in 6 games, including a hat-trick in a cup, while Núñez has scored 2 in 3 matches.
Derby della Capitale: Lazio vs AS Roma
Stefano Buonfino (Content and Community Manager Italy):
The Derby della Capitale is not a match like any other, nor is it a Derby like any other. For two teams like Lazio and Roma, who rarely compete for the Scudetto, especially the Biancocelesti, the Derby is a match that can determine the mood of the season and even the final judgment on a coach's performance. For the fans, the two Derbies are the crossroads of the season; they are their reason for living, and they often manage to convey this to the players, leading to tough and heated matches, especially when the players are products of their respective youth teams, even if the days of Francesco Totti, Paolo Di Canio, and Daniele De Rossi seem long gone.
It will be a heated midday at the Olimpico because morale is low and both teams are struggling. Roma crashed into the Granata wall, without ever really managing to make a dent. Lazio, after raising their heads against Verona, fell again away from home against Sassuolo, their second defeat of the season after their debut against Como. Every derby is different, as we know, but there is a risk that this match will be blocked by fear. However, there is still hope that the attitudes of the two coaches, Sarri and Gasperini, known for their offensive play, will lead to a match full of goals.
Le Classique: Marseille vs PSG
Ronan Caroff (Area Manager France):
Olympique Marseille vs PSG is one of the most anticipated duels of each Ligue 1 season. Yet, since PSG's Qatari takeover in 2011, the results balance clearly leans one way; in 33 games, PSG have won 26, drawn four, and only lost three times. What was once a relatively balanced clash is now clearly dominated by the team from the capital. Still, OM had their moments. As the only unbeaten team of this Ligue 1 season after game day 4, and an easy winner vs Atalanta this Wednesday, PSG once more appears as a clear favourite, even in the absence of the great Ousmane Dembélé and Désiré Doué in attack. After all, in Khvicha Kvaraskhelia and Bradley Barcola, PSG still have two of the best forwards in Europe available.
Even without the two-star strikers, they are still efficient offensively, and Lucas Chevalier is settling nicely as the new goalkeeper. Meanwhile, Marseille alternated good and bad, either cruising through promoted Lorient (4-0) and Paris FC (5-2) but losing on late goals 1-0 vs Rennes and Lyon. Their entrance in the Champions League ended in a frustrating 1-2 defeat to Real Madrid (two penalties), so I would think they will be quite ambitious in a packed Vélodrome against PSG, aiming to also reduce the six points that already separate them.
Derby of Eternal Enemies: Panathinaikos vs Olympiacos
Nikos Sofis (Area Manager Greece):
The Greek derby of eternal rivals is set to happen on Sunday, with Olympiacos having had a perfect start to the season, winning all three of their matches and sitting in first without even having conceded any goals. Panathinaikos, on the other hand, have had a nightmare of a season start. Having only played twice so far, their first match of the season against OFI Crete got postponed, Panathinaikos only managed a 1-1 draw at home against Levadiakos, and a surprising loss to Kifisia with 3-2. With the second most expensive squad in the Greek Super League 1, just behind their rivals Olympiacos, Panathinaikos are clearly falling short of expectations. As a result of this shock loss, Panathinaikos sacked their manager Rui Vitoria. All of this, a few days before one of the most important, if not the most important match for the club.
Several questions need to be asked. Will the team gain in motivation due to the importance of the match against Olympiacos? How will they react to the change in management, and most of all, who will replace Rui Vitoria? Will there be time to announce a new manager, or will Panathinaikos enter that fight with a caretaker? One thing is for sure, whichever decision is taken, there is not much time to prepare, and it will definitely not make the situation easier for whoever will be in charge against Olympiacos.
Clássico dos Milhões: Flamengo vs Vasco da Gama
Marcos Watts (Area Manager Brazil):
Brasileirão's matchday 24 is filled with derbies, but one stands out: the "Clássico dos Milhões" (Flamengo vs Vasco da Gama). The Rio de Janeiro giants will face each other at the Maracanã this Sunday in what could be the marquee fixture of the round. Flamengo are looking to extend their dominance at the top of the table, while Vasco da Gama find themselves in a tricky situation, fighting to climb out of danger and regain confidence.
Flamengo’s recent form has been near perfect, with four wins and a draw with sixteen goals scored and just three conceded in their last five Brasileirão matches - whereas Vasco have struggled for consistency, coming from a mix of disappointing results and heroic moments: despite beating Santos by 6-0 in Brasileirão's 20th round, the club comes from a modest two wins, two draws and one loss in their last 5 Brasileirão matches, followed by a thrilling win on penalties against local rivals Botafogo in the Copa do Brasil quarter-finals.
Flamengo also have the edge in the recent history of the derby, with three wins and two draws in the last five matches against their biggest rivals. While Arrascaeta has been the key player for Flamengo all season, many of their stars could play a role in the outcome of the derby, especially if manager Filipe Luís decides to rest some players for the upcoming Libertadores quarter-final clash against Estudiantes. On Vasco's side, Philippe Coutinho's recent form could be the key to beating their rivals and maintaining their momentum.
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