5 games to watch: Manchester United battle Chelsea for fourth
By Adam Stocker
Here are five of the best matches from Europe this weekend, headlined by Manchester United and Chelsea battling for a top-four spot.
There are fewer than five games remaining in all of the big leagues across Europe. In the Premier League and Bundesliga, the title race will go down to the final game of the season. While the title race is over in other leagues, the race for spots in the Champions League is wide open.
5. Leicester vs. Arsenal — Sunday, April 28, 7 a.m. ET (NBCSN)
With three games remaining in the Premier League season, nothing has been decided. The title race and top four spots are up for grabs. Arsenal enter the weekend in fifth place, four points behind Tottenham and one point behind Chelsea. After losing two straight games, the Gunners need to win on Sunday if they are going to qualify for the Champions League. On Sunday, Arsenal go to King Power Stadium to play Leicester. The Foxes have moved up and down the table between seventh and 10th place all season. Since Brendan Rodgers’s arrival on Feb. 27, Leicester have 13 points in seven games and will look to finish the season on a high note.
4. Borussia Dortmund vs. Schalke — Saturday, April 27, 9:30 a.m. ET (FS2)
Bayern Munich are one point ahead of Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga table race with four games remaining. The title will be determined over the final four games. Bayern play the two relegation clubs and the third and fourth place clubs. Dortmund play four clubs between fifth and 15th in the table. However, the toughest game that Dortmund might have is on Saturday when they host Schalke in the Revierderby. While Dortmund and Schalke are at opposite ends of the table, strange things can happen in derbies. If Dortmund take Schalke lightly, they could drop points that cost them the title.
A season ago, Schalke finished second ahead of Dortmund in the table. The two clubs played one of the most entertaining games last season in Dortmund. The home club went up 4-0 in the first half but collapsed in the second half. Schalke walked away with a 4-4 draw.
3. Torino vs. AC Milan — Sunday, April 28, 2:30 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
The race for fourth in Serie A is going to go down to the final weekend of the season. With five games remaining, AC Milan and Atalanta are tied for fourth. Roma, Torino, and Lazio are all within four points of fourth place. The tight race for the final Champions League spot also means the race for the Europa League is a compelling mess. After the weekend’s games conclude, fourth through eighth changes. Each spot a club climbs in the table is worth millions of dollars.
The table could be completely altered after Torino and Milan play on Sunday. Only three points separate the two clubs. Milan have managed to hold onto fourth place despite multiple teams being right behind them. While Milan are still in fourth, they could have run away from the rest of the clubs behind them if they would not have dropped so many points. Milan have drawn 11 games this season. Torino have quietly climbed the table. The Bulls have lost only twice since the start of 2019. Walter Mazzarri’s team will look to continue their hot streak and take points from Milan.
2. Inter Milan vs. Juventus — Saturday, April 27, 2:30 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Juventus claimed their eighth straight Serie A title last weekend after beating Fiorentina. The Scudetto will be the only piece of silverware that Juve pick up this season. While most teams would consider a league title to be a success, it is far from it for Juventus. Under Massimiliano Allegri, Juventus have won the league title and Coppa Italia every season. Juventus’ Champions League failure this season could cost Allegri his job at the end of the season.
On Saturday, Juventus play Inter Milan at the San Siro. With five games remaining, Inter Milan are third in Serie A and hold a five-point lead in the race for the Champions League. That lead could disappear by the end of the season if Inter lose to Juventus. Inter have not lost since Mauro Icardi returned to the lineup after a dispute with the club and will need that streak to continue if they are going to remain ahead of the clubs chasing them.
1. Manchester United vs. Chelsea — Sunday, April 28, 11:30 a.m. ET (NBCSN)
The wheels have fallen off of Manchester United after the initial hot streak under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. The Red Devils have lost four of their last six games. Despite the losing streak, United are still in the race for the Champions League. United are three points behind fourth-place Chelsea, who they happen to host on Sunday at Old Trafford.
Sunday’s game will be a star-studded affair with the players and teams have something to play for and something to prove. A win for United would bring them level with Chelsea. However, a loss would force United to drop down to the Europa League. The Blues will move closer to a Champions League berth with a win on Saturday. However, Maurizio Sarri’s team has stumbled down the stretch. Chelsea have won only twice in their last five games.