With Gary Andrews focused on Exeter City’s latest attempt to finally win an away match in a white kit (apparently), twofootedtackle.com stalwart Ryan Keaney steps up to the plate to preview the very best of the weekend’s football action around the world and at every level. Why not check a couple of the matches out?
Australia v Japan
Asian Cup Final, 3pm, Saturday 29th January
The two biggest names in the 2011 AFC Asian Cup have made it all the way to the final although their semi-finals were very different affairs. Japan overcame South Korea by the very skin of their teeth with a penalty shoot-out win while Australia were gifted their place in the final by an Uzbekistan side that forgot how to defend.
Both teams are chock full of attacking talent so that probably means it’ll end up being a nervous affair with both sides trying not to lose out on a historic title. Glory for Japan will see them capture an unprecedented fourth Asian Cup trophy whereas the Socceroos are aiming for their first win.
Torquay United v Crawley Town
FA Cup 4th round, 3pm, Saturday 29th January
In amongst the big boys and the all-Premiership clashes, this game has to stick out as the true tie of the FA Cup fourth round. Torquay United, 12th in League Two welcome Crawley Town, the leaders of the Blue Square Premier, to Plainmoor in a game set to delight cup romantics up and down the country.
Torquay’s recent form has been patchy, customary for a team treading water in mid-table, and the focus of Crawley will be to add them to their growing pile of league scalps. Swindon and Derby have already been bested by Steve Evans and his men so far and all visiting eyes will be on lower-league journeyman Sergio Torres to fire the non-league side into the fifth round of the cup.
Barrow v Altrincham
Blue Square Premier, 3pm, Saturday 29th January
While the league leaders will be enjoying themselves in the FA Cup, Barrow and Altrincham will be locked in a relegation six-pointer at Holker Street. With a relegation battle on their hands for the run-in, both managers have been busy bringing in players to bolster their squads and improve their chances of surviving.
Sam Wedgbury, signed from Macclesfield on Tuesday, scored on his debut that evening in Altrincham’s 4-2 win over fellow battlers Hayes & Yeading and a similar performance against The Bluebirds would go down rather nicely.
However, Barrow are a hard team to play at home and boast one of the best defensive home records in the league. Their poor away form has been the main contribution to their poor league position and manager Darren Sheridan will be keen for stand-in goalkeeper Shaun Pearson to impress against the visitors. A draw will suit no one.
Hercules v Barcelona
La Liga, 7pm, Saturday 29th January
Barcelona have lost just one league match all season long and it wasn’t at the hands of Real Madrid, Villareal or Valencia. It was by the newly-promoted Hercules, who arrived to the Nou Camp in September and left with an incredible 2-0 win.
On that night, Barca were rather depleted thanks to a number of international friendlies staged in the four corners of the globe and that played into the favour of the Alicante-based team. Paraguay striker Nelson Valdez struck either side of half-time but any chances of a repeat result are very slim. Barcelona are on a roll and seeking a record-equalling 15th consecutive league victory. Anything less will be seen by everyone as an incredible shock.
Blackburn Rovers Ladies v Sunderland Ladies
FA Women’s Premier League, 2pm, Sunday 30th January
Since the formation of the FA Women’s Super League which will kick-off later this year, the FA Women’s Premier League has looked a little bear of recognisable names. None of the teams currently competing have ever won the league crown. Sunderland currently lead the way but are closely followed by Nottingham Forest and their next opponents, Blackburn Rovers. Victory for Rovers could lift them to the top of the table and with games starting to run out, things are getting rather tight at the top.
Stuttgart v Freiburg
Bundesliga, 2.30pm, Sunday 30th January
If I said that Stuttgart and Freiburg currently lie in 7th and 17th in the Bundesliga table, I’d expect you to assume that Stuttgart are the team just outside the European places and Freiburg are battling relegation. Your assumption would of course be wrong, why else would this be a game to check out this weekend?
Newly-promoted Freiburg are enjoying the season that Stuttgart wanted. Having qualified for the Europa League last year, Christian Gross had hoped for his time to kick on but they didn’t, and he was replaced by Jens Keller in October, who was then replaced by Bruno Labbadia in December. Things have not improved.