PARIS, Oct 23, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Two of the biggest rivalries in world
football will dominate the weekend’s action in Europe, with the first Clasico
of the season being followed by the Ruhr derby between Borussia Dortmund and
Schalke on Saturday.
AFP Sport previews the standout action on the continent this weekend:
– Clasico: Still the greatest game of all? –
Barcelona v Real Madrid, Saturday 1400 GMT
Once the undisputed greatest fixture in world football, the Clasico has
lost much of its lustre.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Andres Iniesta were among the superstars to
move on from Real Madrid and Barcelona in recent years, and this year Gareth
Bale and Luis Suarez departed too. Lionel Messi would have left as well, had
Barcelona let him.
Usually there would be 99,000 fans packed into the Camp Nou. This time,
because of the coronavirus pandemic, there will be none. The huge global
audience will remain, but it’s a long time since these teams have been at
such a collective low ebb.
Barca are struggling to get back on their feet under new coach Ronald
Koeman and lost 1-0 at Getafe last weekend.
Real won La Liga last season but the last week gives a more accurate
picture of where they stand: Zinedine Zidane’s team lost 1-0 at home to Cadiz
and then went down 3-2 to Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League.
Madrid have lost just once in their last seven visits to the Camp Nou
though.
– Tension in the Ruhr –
Borussia Dortmund v Schalke, Saturday 1630 GMT
Another great fixture usually played before a huge crowd, only 300 fans
will be allowed in to see Dortmund host Schalke, rather than the usual
80,000.
These sides are fierce rivals and tensions are running extra high after
Dortmund prodigy Youssoufa Moukoko, 15, received alleged death threats and
racist abuse from Schalke fans after scoring a hat-trick in last Sunday’s 3-2
win in an Under-19 derby.
Dortmund, with Erling Braut Haaland leading the line, will be favourites to
get the better of a struggling Schalke who lost 4-0 on their last visit in
May.
Schalke sacked coach David Wagner after their poor start this season
followed a long winless run at the end of the last campaign. Manuel Baum has
replaced him and got his first point last weekend against Union Berlin.
Dortmund’s 1-0 victory at Hoffenheim last weekend made it three wins out of
four in the Bundesliga this season, but Lucien Favre’s side lost 3-1 at Lazio
in the Champions League in midweek.
– Atletico on rebound –
Atletico Madrid v Real Betis, Saturday 1900 GMT
Atletico are hoping to take advantage of the struggles of Real Madrid and
Barcelona to win a first La Liga title since 2014.
The signing of Luis Suarez from Barcelona underlined their ambition, but
they head into Saturday’s home meeting with Betis on the rebound from their
joint-worst defeat in Diego Simeone’s nine years as coach in Wednesday’s 4-0
loss at Bayern Munich.
Manuel Pellegrini’s Betis have been inconsistent so far but, with the likes
of Nabil Fekir, Sergio Canales and the evergreen Joaquin, should not be
underestimated.
– In search of the promised land –
Lyon v Monaco, Sunday 2000 GMT
Lyon and Monaco have been Champions League semi-finalists in recent seasons
but are not in Europe at all in this campaign, so each is desperate to get
back to the promised land.
Lyon have started poorly in Ligue 1 with just two wins in seven but have
kept hold of star men Memphis Depay and Houssem Aouar.
Monaco have been inconsistent too under new coach Niko Kovac but in Wissam
Ben Yedder they have one of Europe’s most lethal marksmen.
– Milan to maintain fine start? –
AC Milan v Roma, Monday 1945 GMT
Milan put their perfect start to the Serie A campaign on the line when they
welcome Roma to San Siro on Monday.
The Rossoneri have won four out of four so far in the league with Zlatan
Ibrahimovic in fine form, but Roma have some useful veterans of their own in
attack in Edin Dzeko and Pedro and are also slowly building form.