5️⃣ spicy fixtures you must watch this weekend 🌶 | OneFootball

The weekend is almost upon us and the world of football has some spicy treats in store for us again.

Here’s what’s on the menu.

Semi-final time in the Women’s Champions League

Spice rating: Mild 🌶

History is repeating itself in the Women’s Champions League this year.

Back in 2020, Barcelona met Wolfsburg in one semi-final while Lyon took on PSG in the other, and this year it’s the same again.

Holders Barcelona are considered the favourites to reclaim their title but they will have to be wary of a Wolfsburg side who have already eliminated Chelsea and Arsenal from the competition this season when they meet at Camp Nou in Friday’s first leg.

Then on Sunday it’s the clash of the two French titans, when Lyon will be out to exact revenge on PSG for knocking them out of the Champions League on away goals last season.

Both ties are expected to attract big crowds and if you like high calibre football, be sure to tune in too.

Mourinho’s Inter reunion

Spice rating: Medium 🌶 🌶

After the glorious era which culminated with the 2010 Champions League triumph, José Mourinho is considered an Inter legend.

But this weekend, Mourinho returns to San Siro as coach of Roma, and it’s the most eye-catching fixture of the Serie A weekend.

It hasn’t all been plain sailing for Roma this season but the signs in recent weeks suggest Mourinho has got them on the right track and, though a three-match winning streak ended with Stephan El Shaarawy netting a late equaliser against Napoli on Monday, a late assault on the Champions League spots is not out of the question.

Getting a result this weekend looks like a big ask, however. Inter were superb as they put rivals Milan to the sword with a 3-0 victory in the Coppa Italia semi-final on Tuesday and the momentum seems to be with Simone Inzaghi’s side in the race for the Scudetto.

This is a huge game for both sides. Expect fireworks.

Who will be crowned Kings of Spain?

Spice rating: Hot 🌶 🌶 🌶

Real Madrid have pretty much got the LaLiga title sewn up but the league takes a backseat this weekend and all eyes will be on the Copa del Rey in Spain.

Seville’s Estadio La Cartuja is the venue where Real Betis will face Valencia on Saturday evening, and it’s a tough match to call given neither side is in the best form.

Manuel Pellegrini’s Betis have won just three of their last 12 matches in all competitions and were beaten by Elche in midweek, severely damaging their chances of qualifying for the Champions League.

While for José Bordalás’s Valencia it’s four wins from 13, with two defeats on the spin going into this game.

Betis should be considered slight favourites and they will be hoping to win for Joaquín, who will finally be hanging up his boots this summer. The 40-year-old was a young whippersnapper the last time Los Verdiblancos lifted the Copa in 2005, and this would certainly be a fitting way for him to bow out.

Pride at stake in the Bundesliga

Spice rating: Fire 🌶 🌶 🌶 🌶

There were several moments this season when German football fans dared to dream of a Bundesliga title race.

But despite Bayern Munich rarely hitting top form in Julian Nagelsmann’s first season in charge, they will seal a 10th successive crown with victory on Saturday and Borussia Dortmund will have to settle for second place again.

It has been a transition season for both clubs but especially for Dortmund, and more will be expected of Marco Rose’s side next season.

Niklas Süle will be heading to the Westfalenstadion in the summer but it looks like Erling Haaland will be saying goodbye, and it will be interesting to see how that money is reinvested if the striker is sold.

For now there’s this weekend’s Klassiker – a fixture which is a battle for pride and perhaps a delaying of the inevitable.

A huge derby in Brazil

Spice rating: Insane 🌶 🌶 🌶 🌶 🌶

The new Brasileirão season has only just begun but there’s a massive fixture coming our way already this weekend.

The Paulista Derby between Palmeiras and Corinthians is considered one of the world’s fiercest rivalries between two of São Paulo’s oldest clubs, and we can expect tasty tackles and a fervent atmosphere at the Arena Barueri on Sunday.

Hosts Palmeiras really need a victory having made a nightmare start to the new season, drawing one and losing two of their opening three fixtures.

Corinthians have fared much better, with two wins from their two league fixtures, including a 3-0 win over Avaí last time out in which Róger Guedes bagged a hat-trick.

The derby offers a great chance for Palmeiras to kickstart their season, and an opportunity for Corinthians to pile more misery on their neighbours.

Whatever happens, it’s going to be a spicy one.