AC Milan vs Inter
Both teams have been having a great season in Serie A and are hoping to finish the season at the top. That is what this derby is about. Milan is currently second with 10 wins in 11 matches, matching league leaders Napoli who have a better goal difference. Milan has won seven consecutive games in Serie A, defeating Roma on the road 2-1 in the last round. Inter, who won the Scudetto for the first time in 11 years last season, is currently third with a seven point deficit compared to Milan, making this match a must-win for them. Inter has won six out of the last seven games against Milan.
Manchester United vs Manchester City
The Manchester derby couldn’t come at a better time as both sides are going through a tough period of the season. United’s manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been living on a hot seat and he is going into another game with his job on the line. In the last Premier League match, the Red Devils defeated Tottenham 3-0 in London but that single performance cannot put away the embarrassment of a 5-0 home loss to Liverpool the week before. The Citizens are also in desperate need of a win since they lost 2-0 to Crystal Palace at home in the last round.
Bayern Munich vs Freiburg
Despite all the predictions Freiburg continue as the only undefeated team in the Bundesliga. In the first ten rounds, Christian Streich’s team achieved six victories and four draws to sit third in the Bundesliga standings, just behind Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund. Is it finally time for someone to defeat them? If anyone can do that, it is Bayern Munich. These two cities are located at a distance of about 300 kilometers, which gives additional charm to the match, in addition to the fact that Freiburg, with a possible triumph, could also take the league lead. Bayern had its ups and downs but still stands on top of the standings with 8 wins in 10 matches.
RB Leipzig vs Borussia Dortmund
Leipzig avoided losing to PSG with a last minute goal but still, they have no chance to advance to the next phase of the Champions League. Therefore, Jesse Marsch’s team is focusing on the domestic championship. They are currently eighth in the standings and if they want to qualify for next’s seasons elite tournament, they need to do something now. Dortmund is second with only one point deficit to leading Bayern Munich but given the fact that they have eight players on the injury list, this match will be extremely tough for them. Both of last season’s games between these two saw five goals so a similar count can be expected on Saturday.
Napoli vs Verona
Napoli has switched its style of play, from strictly offensive game to focusing on the defensive end. Whether that was the right choice can best be answered with a look at the standings. Napoli are on top of Italian Serie A with 10 wins in 11 matches. Coach Luciano Spalletti brought the team to perfection defensively, as they have conceded only 3 goals in 11 games. One of the main players in the Neapolitans’ defense, Khalid Calibali, received a red card against Salernitana in the last round and will not play against Verona. On the other hand, Verona comes to Naples after a surprising win over Juventus. Under coach Igor Tudor, Verona is playing above all expectations as they share the eighth spot with Juventus, Bologna and Empoli.
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