5️⃣ spicy fixtures you must watch this weekend 🌶 | OneFootball

The return of a king, top four clashes and even a cup final.

This weekend really does have it all.

Lens v Monaco

It’s sixth versus fifth in Ligue 1 this weekend as the race for Champions League qualification heats up.

Lens host Monaco with Franck Haise’s side surely desperate to set things right after their agonising Europa League defeat to Freiburg on Thursday.

The French outfit had been leading 2-0 against the Bundesliga club with just 20 minutes to go but a late rally from the Germans saw them win 3-2 in extra time to end Lens’ European dreams.

It was true heartbreak for Les Sang et Or who must now brush themselves off to take on the Monégasques who are suffering their own mini-meltdown of one win in five.

The south coast club may be enduring a bad run of form results-wise, but their last five matches have included 18 goals with a brilliant 2-2 draw with Marseille the best of them.

One thing we can guarantee from this Sunday lunchtime clash then, is plenty of goalmouth action.

Spice rating: Mild 🌶

Milan v Atalanta

It’s another Champions League-chasing clash, this time in Italy, with Milan hosting in-form Atalanta.

Atalanta are, alongside Serie A leaders Inter and Bayer Leverkusen, Europe’s most impressive side right now – winning eight of their last nine games and scoring 25 in the process.

Gian Piero Gasperini has once again showed himself to be one of the continent’s foremost tacticians with La Dea steamrollering all before them since the turn of the year.

This is going to be a do or die week for the Bergamo outfit though with a trip to the fashion capital on Wednesday to face Inter.

It’s the Rossoneri first up, however, with Stefano Pioli’s side seven points ahead of Atalanta in third, but coming off of back-to-back against Monza and Rennes.

This should be absolutely fascinating.

Spice rating: Medium 🌶 🌶

Real Madrid v Sevilla

There was a let-off for Real Madrid last weekend as they dropped points at Rayo Vallecano but saw title contenders Girona lose in a 3-2 thriller at Athletic Club.

Carlo Ancelotti will surely have breathed a sign of relief but the Italian tactician will be aiming to get back to winning ways on Sunday as his side host Sevilla.

That will be easier said than done however, with the Andalusian outfit enjoying a mid-season revival after an historically bad start to the campaign.

Sevilla have drawn two and won two of their previous four games and will have the totemic Sergio Ramos returning to the scene of his greatest moments.

The veteran defender has already admitted it will be like “coming home” when he steps out at Santiago Bernabéu on Sunday, but can one of Real Madrid’s best ever players ransack his former lodgings and leave the current crop wondering where the points went?

Spice rating: Hot 🌶 🌶 🌶

Bayern Munich v RB Leipzig

What a week it’s been for Bayern Munich.

The Bavarian giants are rarely out of the headlines but this week the reigning Bundesliga champions have led the German news agenda morning, noon and night.

At a club where two dropped league points is considered unacceptable, two defeats on the bounce has been almost unthinkable.

What happens if two losses becomes three however?

We could be about to find out this weekend with Thomas Tuchel’s side hosting an in-form RB Leipzig who are unbeaten in three and slowly climbing up the table.

With news being confirmed on Wednesday that Tuchel will no longer be coaching Bayern come the end of the season, could this clash at the Allianz Arena hasten his demise and virtually hand Bayer Leverkusen the title?

We’ll find out on Saturday evening.

Spice rating: Fire 🌶 🌶 🌶 🌶

EFL Cup final

Chelsea face Liverpool in the EFL Cup final on Sunday for the first piece of silverware in the English football calendar.

And before we start let’s just ignore the fact that the last two finals between these two have been incredibly dull 0-0 snoozefests.

This time around, we’re confident it’s going to be different with two of the Premier League’s biggest and most trophy-laden clubs gooing head-to-head at Wembley having enjoyed and endured two very different seasons so far.

The Reds are currently leading the English top-flight, four points ahead of Manchester City having lost just twice all campaign long.

Chelsea meanwhile are stranded in 10th but having a fairly impressive record against the top four so far this term – losing just once in five matches

That loss was against Jürgen Klopp’s side, however, a 4-1 hammering at Anfield which seemed to kickstart this Liverpool tilt towards the title.

With the Reds iconic manager having already confirmed he will leave at the end of the season, what better way to say goodbye than with lifting a trophy at the home of the beautiful game?

Spice rating: Insane 🌶 🌶 🌶 🌶 🌶