5️⃣ spicy fixtures you must watch this weekend 🌶 | OneFootball

After an exciting midweek of European action, it is time for domestic action to resume and we look at five fixtures that can’t be missed.

Well, technically, eight …

Juventus v Napoli

This may not have much riding on it in terms of Scudetto significance.

But a meeting between Juventus and Napoli is always a little fiery, all the more so now with the Bianconeri welcoming their visitors in the midst of their procession towards a title that has rarely left Turin over the past decade.

Animosity is bound to be high at the Allianz Stadium, particularly after Juventus won their appeal against the closure of the Curva Sud after alleged racist abuse of Inter striker Romelu Lukaku, meaning a full house will welcome the Partenopei.

They too are bound to be fired up for this one after their disappointing Champions League exit and will undoubtedly be viewing this as a big chance to rub their impending success in the nose of Italy’s most successful club.

There will be no love lost on the field or in the stands for this one.

Spice rating: Mild 🌶

Championship play-off deciders

There are just three games remaining in the Championship season and the race for Premier League football is poised on a knife’s edge.

With third to sixth place entering the play-offs, the jostling for position in those places is captivating viewing, especially with just three points separating Millwall in fifth from Preston in 11th.

And incredibly this close to the finish line, we have five of those seven teams all fighting it out against each other this weekend.

Blackburn in sixth and West Brom in seventh do have the slight advantage over the rest as they both have an extra game in hand over the rest, with Rovers facing Preston in a Lancashire derby, while the Baggies play host to Sunderland, who are sitting just a point behind them.

As if all of that wasn’t enough, Norwich have made a big mess of their promotion push this season but are still in the picture and could move into the top six with a win over Swansea, who themselves are lurking just outside and do still harbour faint hopes with a perfect run-in.

Luckily, none of the fixtures clash, meaning there will be no multi-screen requirement.

Spice rating: Medium 🌶 🌶

Brighton v Manchester United

All eyes are also on Wembley for the FA Cup semi-finals.

Manchester City are big favourites to book their place in the final against Sheffield United but their local rivals face a much tougher task on Sunday.

Erik ten Hag has already lifted one trophy this season at the hallowed venue and is aiming for a double but to even reach that point, they’ll have to overcome one of the season’s most impressive sides in Brighton.

Roberto De Zerbi’s impact on the Seagulls has been stunning. They have won over many neutrals with their fearless, no-holds-barred approach and deserve to end the season with something tangible to show for their efforts – be it European football or the FA Cup, or both.

United also come in off the back of a devastating and sobering Europa League capitulation in Seville, where individual errors cost them dearly.

Which sets the stage perfectly for this one.

Spice rating: Hot 🌶 🌶 🌶

Newcastle v Tottenham

What a weekend in English football.

We’ve already looked at mouthwatering matches in the Championship and FA Cup but the Premier League also has a very interesting clash going down in the north east.

There, it is fourth against fifth in the fight for Champions League football as Newcastle welcome Tottenham to St James’ Park.

Eddie Howe’s side could effectively kill Spurs off in their bid for the top four as a win would see them move six points clear, while also having a game in hand.

But they do come in off their poorest performance of the season in being hammered 3-0 at Aston Villa, although the Londoners fared little better in their late capitulation against Bournemouth.

It is effectively win or go home time.

Spice rating: Fire 🌶 🌶 🌶 🌶

Women’s Champions League semi-finals

And finally, it is Women’s Champions League semi-final weekend.

The first legs take place across Saturday (Chelsea-Barcelona) and Sunday (Wolfsburg-Arsenal), with return games to follow across the following eight days.

Stamford Bridge has already sold over 30,000 tickets for the visit of the tournament favourites, who recently took their winning streak in league action to a staggering 60 games and will be determined to replicate that success in Europe and attempt to go one better after their loss in the final last season.

But it was Chelsea who knocked out holders Lyon in the last round and that alone makes them a big threat, as does their ability to grab goals from anywhere.

The Gunners come in knowing this may be their best shot of silverware in the run-in after losing to WSL leaders Manchester United but their injury woes increased further in that defeat as Leah Williamson joined Vivianne Miedema, Beth Mead, Caitlin Foord, Kim Little and Lina Hurtig on the treatment table.

Meanwhile, Wolfsburg sent out a recent warning as to their own trophy credentials by reaching the DFB-Pokal final with a 5-0 thrashing of Bayern Munich.

Spice rating: Insane 🌶 🌶 🌶 🌶 🌶