5️⃣ spicy fixtures you must watch this weekend 🌶 | OneFootball

Even after a packed midweek, this weekend is full of interesting fixtures to settle down and enjoy.

Here are five matches to look forward to this weekend …

Sheffield Wednesday v Newcastle

The FA Cup always springs a few surprises, and one fixture that stands out is Newcastle’s trip to Hillsborough to face Sheffield Wednesday.

Former WBA boss Darren Moore is doing some superb work in S6, the Owls currently sitting second in League One with 52 points from their opening 25 games.

They’ve bagged 45 goals in the process, with striker Michael Smith one to watch out for with a eight goals so far this season and Josh Windass – yes, that one – just behind him with seven.

Wednesday took down Morecambe in the first round, followed by a win over Mansfield to be rewarded with a glamour tie with Newcastle, currently third in the Premier League.

Of course, Eddie Howe’s men should have enough to overcome the Yorkshire side on paper, but after a battling to a tough draw with Arsenal in midweek there could well be some squad rotation on the cards.

Could there be an upset?

Spice rating: Mild 🌶

AEK Athens v Panathinaikos

Like any cross-city derby, the AEK-Panathinaikos matchup is always a fiercely contested one.

Both sides reside in the Greek capital of Athens, and Sunday’s encounter will see first play second in the Greek Super League.

A win for AEK would close the gap to their rivals to just four points, although recent history suggests Panathinaikos are favourites.

They have won three of the last six meetings, losing two and drawing another.

Watch out for former Villarreal man Aitor Cantalapiedra, who has bagged seven goals for Panathinaikos this season.

Spice rating: Medium 🌶 🌶

Fenerbahçe v Galatasaray

Although both these sides reside in Istanbul, the fixture is nicknamed the Intercontinental derby due to their location on either side of the European and Asian city divide.

No matter what the situation on the pitch, it is one of the most intense derbies in world football once handed the moniker Nefret Derbisi (Derby of Hate).

Although times have moved on, the rivalry has not been diluted, with over 51,000 supporters packed inside the Nef Stadium for the fixture’s third-highest attendance ever in 2019.

To make matters even more spicy, Galatasary top the Turkish Süper Lig by just one point, with Fenerbahçe sitting right behind them.

Expect spice in this one…

Spice rating: Hot 🌶 🌶 🌶

Milan v Roma

José Mourinho is always up for a battle, and this weekend sees his Roma side travel to San Siro to face Scudetto holders Milan.

The Rossoneri are currently in second place in the Serie A standings, and their win over Salernitana coupled with Napoli’s defeat to Inter, the gap at the top has closed to just five points.

Meanwhile, Roma enjoyed a win over Bologna in their first game back after the World Cup break, and have played some good football under Mourinho this season.

Their problem has been finding the back of the net, with only 19 goals scored in their opening 16 matches. Just to add some context, cross-city rivals Lazio also sit on 30 points in the table, but have scored 27 times.

And when Chris Smalling is your side’s second best goalscorer, it’s perhaps time to admit you have a problem.

Yet if José can get Tammy Abraham back to last season’s form, we could see Roma shoot up the table.

Could that be this weekend?

Spice rating: Fire 🌶 🌶 🌶 🌶

Atlético Madrid v Barcelona

This year, Atlético Madrid are lagging behind in the title race, currently 11 points adrift of Barcelona in first place.

Yet that doesn’t stop this from being a huge fixture in the weekend’s LaLiga calendar, with old rivalries reignited.

A win at home to Barça would hand Atleti’s local rivals Real Madrid – sitting joint top on 38 points – advantage in the title race, but don’t for a minute think that will stop Diego Simeone from doing everything possible to take all three points.

Atleti are coming off the back of a 2-0 midweek win against Oviedo in the Copa del Rey, but Barcelona didn’t have such an easy passage through to Round of 16.

Xavi’s men were held to a 3-3 draw by third tier Intercity, taking the tie to extra time where it was won by a goal from Ansu Fati.

That backdrop undoubtedly sets up this Sunday evening fixture perfectly.

Get your popcorn ready.

Spice rating: Insane 🌶 🌶 🌶 🌶 🌶