Assuming this weekend’s fixtures don’t fall foul of the weather, there’s some cracking lower league fixtures to warm your cockles on this wintery weekend, or a samba showdown in the final weekend of the Brazilian championship, if you fancy something a bit warmer. Or if you don’t fancy going beyond Europe, there’s three games that will have plenty of significance at the top of their respective domestic leagues, in this weekend’s Six Picks.
Lazio v Inter Milan
Italian Serie A, 7.45pm, Friday 3rd December
Will the real Inter Milan please stand up? The team who lost limply to Chievo or the side that demolished Parma 5-2 last weekend? That result, achieved without the suspended Samuel Eto’o, combined with a Champions League win over Twente has given Rafa Benitez a little more longer at the San Siro but this weekend presents the Spaniard with his biggest test yet.
Edy Reja’s Lazio are genuine title contenders this season and have, at times, been exhilaration. But the Biancazzurri have only managed two one-all draws in their past two games and will be looking to get back to winning ways and keep up the pressure on AC Milan at the top. Inter will see this an an excellent chance to reaffirm their credentials, Lazio may think Benitez’s team are ripe for the taking.
Bury v Chesterfield
nPower League Two, 3pm, Saturday 4th December
Assuming this one survives the weather, spectators could be in for a treat of two promotion chasing teams we’ve stuttered of late and will be looking to reaffirm their credentials at the top end of League Two. Chesterfield can be free-scoring when the mood takes them, especially when striker Craig Davies is playing well, but have only won once in four games.
The Shakers, meanwhile, are formidable away from home but have struggled of late at Gigg Lane. Alan Knill has been putting an impressive young side together as Bury are, rightly, in the mix for promotion. Both sides can turn on the style when it suits them and this should be well worth a watch if you’re at a loose end in the North West.
Dover Athletic v Woking
Blue Square South, 3pm, Saturday 4th December
Carrying over from last week’s FA Cup preview, two teams who’ve been making headlines with a good cup run. Woking took Brighton to penalties before crashing out while Dover have now put out both Gillingham and Aldershot to reach the third round. And if this survives the weather, it should be a decent tie between two of the more attractive sides at this level.
Martin Hayes’ Dover sit one place outside the playoffs, with a growing number of games in hand, and, on their day, can outplay the best of opponents, especially if star striker Adam Birchall is on form. Woking, meanwhile, may be lower-mid table but shouldn’t be underestimated, with a large number of draws being their Achilles heel this season. As a sub-plot, the pair met in the FA Trophy a couple of weeks ago, with Woking emerging as 2-1 winners.
Real Madrid v Valencia
La Liga, 9pm, Saturday 4th December
It’s been a fairly traumatic week for Real after a 5-0 mauling in the Classico to Barcelona, not to mention the punishments handed out for Sergio Ramos’ and Xabi Alonso’s red cards against Ajax in the Champions League. Valencia, still on a mini-run of their own, must be apprehensive in wondering what kind of performance Madrid will turn on.
Valencia are definite challengers for a top four spot in La Liga and this will be a good test of Real’s mettle and character. Home advantage will undoubtedly help, especially given Mourinho’s 8-year unbeaten home record and a good win against a decent Los Che side should get Madrid up and running. But Valencia are a decent side and shouldn’t roll over lightly.
Paris Saint-Germain v Brest
Ligue Un, 4pm, Sunday 5th December
One of the reasons we love Ligue Un at twofootedtackle is the tightness and unpredictability that the league throws up, where a couple of bad results can pitch a team from 1st to 12th as, currently, only five points separate those two positions. With Marseille failing to put ground between them and their rivals with a goalless midweek draw against Rennes, this weekend is a great chance for the squabbling pack to keep the pressure up at the top.
Brest were table toppers themselves until a couple of weeks ago, largely thanks to their home form. On the road, it’s been a different story with the Bretons falling to a number of narrow losses. PSG, meanwhile, are finally starting to look like the dark horses many have thought they could be and with one place and point between them, this game could significantly alter the look of the table.
Fluminese v Gurani; Goias v Corinthians; Cruzeiro v Palmeiras
Campeotano Brasileiro Serie A, 7pm, Sunday 5th December
Three for the price of one here as the Brazilian league enters its final weekend. It’s tight at the top with Fluminese leading by one point over Corinthians in second while Cruzeiro are two points off the top in third. Flu should be favourites as they go into the weekend just needing a win at home to already relegated Gurani.
Corinthians also face another related team in Goias while Curzeiro have a tricky tie when they host the inconsistent Palmeiras. Don’t rule out The Fox though, although it would take a fairly unlikely, if not impossible, set of results to see Cuca’s team crowned champions. Best put your money on Fluminese.
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Tags: Brest, Bury, Campeotano Brasileiro, Chesterfield, Corinthians, Dover Athletic, Fluminese, Inter Milan, Lazio, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Valencia, Woking