Barcelona Vs Real Madrid; tomorrow, 8:50pm
My Prediction: Barcelona 2—4 Real Madrid
I love watching this derby because the result is always uncertain regardless of their current form. They have been neck and neck all through the years. Out of 221 official meetings, Real Madrid are actually on top with 88 victories vs Barcelona’s 87. The remaining 46 matches have ended in a draw. Barcelona of course have dominated the fixture in recent years with Pep Guardiola in charge. But it’s as if they lost their El Classico dominance when Pep left; going on to lose to Madrid in the Spanish Cup albeit on the away goal rule.
However, since the season started, it’s the Catalan club that started much stronger. Barca are top of La Liga with 18 points from 6 games while Real Madrid have had arguably their worst start to the season; securing just 10 points from 6 matches. I’m sure it has a lot to do with Christiano Ronaldo’s beef with the club early in the season. It has to be because Real still have the same squad that won the league last season. Barca, however, will be without influential captain Carlos Puyol who dislocated his shoulder during their Champions League tie on Tuesday.
And with Gerard Pique already out; the defence is in trouble. Clearly they’ll go back to using Alex Song and Javier Mascherano as defenders; unnatural positions for the midfielders. Still this game is tough to call as both teams have been conceding silly goals this season. I am biased though because I am Team Mourinho.
AC Milan Vs Inter Milan, tomorrow 9:45pm
My Prediction: Milan 1—2 Internazionale
These two giants of Italian football are in trouble. They have both gone through periods of winning the Scudetto with little challenge. So it was a breathe of fresh air when Juventus beat them to it last season; and unbeaten! What a wake up call! Right now AC Milan are 11th in the La Liga standings with seven points after 6 games.
Yikes! Midweek, they were lucky to beat Zenit 3-2 in the Champions League considering two of their three goals were Zenit own-goals. Milan are rumoured to be chasing Pep Guardiola and come January they want him to buy Cesc Fabregas. But neither will be available tomorrow. Internazionale are having a better season. They’re third right now with 12 points from 6 matches but neither club is showing the dominance of years gone by. Both clubs will be at home because, well, they share the San Siro, but I believe the home side; in this case Milan, will have more allocation for their fans. I don’t believe it makes a different. Milan are struggling.
Manchester City Vs Sunderland, Today 2:45pm;
My Prediction: City 1-1 The Black Cats
Manchester City equals Mario Balotelli and Joe Hart. Who else is actually playing in the side right now? City are struggling with results right now and have been fortunate not to lose in the past week. They had to come from a goal down against Fulham only to win it in the dying minutes of the game. A similar fate met them midweek when a last minute penalty saved them the blushes of losing to Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League.
Are City real title contenders this season or just pretenders? Just like City; and Chelsea if you must; Sunderland are unbeaten this season although they had to fight against Wigan last weekend for their first win. They aren’t conceding much but they’re barely scoring as well so both teams seem to have similar problems right now. I foresee another low scoring game with the defenders and keepers really earning their keep today.
Chelsea Vs Norwich Today 5pm
My Prediction: The Blues 3 – 1 Norwich
Chelsea are just lucky. Apart from Arsenal; who awarded them the three points; they’ve had a relatively easy run in the league so far. So it’s no wonder they are top and unbeaten. And their luck continues with a clash against Norwich at Stamford Bridge today. Why bother going into this game? Chelsea are doing what Man United so often do. Play unimpressive football but grinding out the results. And they’ll continue to do that today. Roberto de Mateo had better enjoy this fairytale run while it lasts.
West Ham Vs Arsenal,Today 7:30pm
My Prediction: The Hammers 0 – 2 The Gunners
This will be the first of three big derby’s this weekend; the other two being the Milan Derby and El Classico! In the past, West Ham were Arsenal’s boogie team and I feared them. But that was another day in another time. With players like Gervinho, Aaron Ramsey, Theo Walcott, Santi Cazorla, Per Metersacker and many others in such great form, who can beat us now? Chelsea were lucky last week but The Hammers won’t be so lucky today. We have no new injuries today considering Mikel Arteta who was a worry early in the week, played midweek. That said; West Ham are not having a bad season; In fact they are ahead of Arsenal in the standings with two points more! Yikes! When did that happen? Still I’m not scared.
Liverpool Vs Stoke City Sunday 5pm
My Prediction: The Reds 1—3 Stoke
Liverpool should be relegated. One win in 6 matches is shameful. A loss on Thursday to Udinese at Anfield was shameful. Brendan Rodgers described their midweek performance as lazy! Liverpool are wasting our time in the EPL and taking up a spot that a determined team like say Crystal Palace should be holding. Sorry Kieni Githinji, Juna Vidyarthi, Fareed Khimani, Joseph Kenyua, Eve D’souza and the other confused Scousers in this town; your team is a waste of space! Stoke City led by Peter Crouch and a has-been known as Michael Owen will make mincemeat out of you tomorrow. I almost don’t want to watch the game because I don’t want to see the pain; but I guess you’re used to it. Tee hee. Infact I bank on Owen to score against his former club.
Newcastle Vs Man United Sunday 6pm
My Prediction: The Magpies 3—2 The Red Devils
In the 1990’s this would have been such a great fixture given that Newcastle used to be a major power house in English football. It’s still an important fixture by name and to me; it’s an even more important fixture now because Manchester United can lose to them in their present condition. Sir Alex Ferguson is suffering at the back with Jonny Evans and Lemanja Vidic on sick-off and goals are being conceded thick and fast. So coming up against a dark black Senegalese scoring machine like Demba Ba now is not what the doctor ordered for Sir Alex. But it is what the FA ordered. United’s front line of RVP and Wayne Rooney is lethal but how many can they score without conceding. While Ba has been averaging a goal a game, the Magpies have other players scoring as well. United have just the one—RVP; with Rooney assisting. Can Sir Alex’s one man show; with Rooney assisting, overcome Alan Pardew’s 11-man show? I don’t think so. But it will be a high scoring game; it has to be with all that firepower.