PARIS, Feb 26, 2021 (BSS/AFP) – Lionel Messi will hope to carry on his
superb recent form in La Liga, while AC Milan’s Serie A title hopes face a
huge test, there are massive showdowns in Portugal and the Netherlands, and
Lyon head to Marseille.
AFP Sport selects some of the standout action in Europe this weekend:
Messi to continue form against Sevilla?
Sevilla v Barcelona, Saturday 1515 GMT
Barcelona were outclassed by Paris Saint-Germain in their Champions League
last 16, first leg recently, but since early December they have only lost
once domestically inside 90 minutes. Undefeated in 14 in La Liga, they did
lose 2-0 at Sevilla in the Copa del Rey semi-final first leg on February 10.
The teams again clash at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on Saturday, with
fourth-placed Sevilla two points behind third-placed Barca while boasting a
game in hand. Julen Lopetegui’s side may also be up against it in Europe
after losing 3-2 in their Champions League first leg against Borussia
Dortmund, but they have won six in a row in La Liga, keeping five straight
clean sheets.
However they have not faced a player of Lionel Messi’s calibre in any of
these games — Messi has 15 goals in his last 14 La Liga appearances and has
also scored 12 in Barcelona’s last 12 league trips to Sevilla.
Porto’s last chance?
Porto v Sporting, Saturday 2030 GMT If Porto are to successfully defend the
Portuguese title they will surely need to end runaway leaders Sporting’s
unbeaten record this season when the rivals clash at the Estadio do Dragao.
Twenty games in, Sporting have 17 wins and three draws and sit 10 points
clear of Porto in second. For Sporting the prospect of a first league title
since 2002 is real, but they have won just once at Porto in 13 years. Ruben
Amorim’s team also needed a late equaliser to draw 2-2 at home to Porto in
the first “Classico” between the sides this season, in October.
Ajax aim to pull clear
PSV Eindhoven v Ajax, Sunday 1330 GMT
The situation is similar in the Netherlands, with Ajax six points clear of
second-placed PSV at the top, with a game in hand. Sunday’s game at the
Philips Stadion is therefore a must-win for Roger Schmidt’s PSV.
The clubs have already met twice in 2021. Ajax came from two down to draw
2-2 in Amsterdam in the league in January, and then won 2-1 at home in the
Dutch Cup quarter-finals earlier this month with Sebastien Haller scoring
twice.
Erik ten Hag’s Ajax are unbeaten since Atalanta knocked them out of the
Champions League group stage in early December, and are favourites to reclaim
a title they won in 2019 before the coronavirus pandemic led to last season
being cancelled.
Milan playing catch-up
Roma v AC Milan, Sunday 1945 GMT
Milan have lost the initiative in the Serie A title race and last weekend’s
derby defeat to Inter left them four points behind their city rivals at the
top. Stefano Pioli’s side had already been beaten at Spezia a week previously
and, should Inter beat Genoa earlier on Sunday, the Rossoneri will be seven
points behind the leaders by the time they kick off at Roma. Roma are fourth
and can close to within two points of Milan with a win. Neutrals, though,
will settle for a repeat of the 3-3 draw between the sides at San Siro in
October, when Roma came from behind three times to earn a point.
‘Olympico’ with Lyon in title hunt
Marseille v Lyon, Sunday 2000 GMT
A major rivalry has developed between these clubs over the last decade, as
they have competed with one another for Champions League qualification at a
time when Paris Saint-Germain have dominated in France.
However, Olympique Lyonnais have lost just two of their last 20 “Olympico”
meetings with Olympique de Marseille, and the visitors are favourites coming
into Sunday’s clash at the Velodrome.
They are one of four teams in contention for the Ligue 1 title, sitting
second, three points behind leaders Lille and above PSG and Monaco.
Marseille, meanwhile, have slumped to seventh and are a club in crisis as
they await the arrival of a new coach in Argentine Jorge Sampaoli.