5️⃣ spicy fixtures you must watch this weekend 🌶 | OneFootball

After a breathtaking weekend of derby drama across the continent last weekend, things are a little less chaotic this time around.

Nonetheless, here are the five fixtures you cannot miss.

Man Utd Women v Chelsea

It is FA Cup semi-final weekend in the women’s game and the standout tie is undoubtedly Chelsea’s trip to Manchester United.

They travel to Leigh Sports Village on Sunday afternoon in the wake of Tottenham welcoming Leicester City to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium earlier in the day.

Given that 15 points separate them in the league, Emma Hayes’ side are rightly viewed as strong favourites but on their day this season, United have shown they have the quality to compete with the best of them.

Their previous meeting at Stamford Bridge in January in the WSL was a lot closer than the 3-1 scoreline suggests – and if United are to have any hope on Sunday they must do a better job of keeping that day’s hat-trick hero Lauren James quiet.

Wembley awaits for the winner…

Spice rating: Mild 🌶️

Athletic Club v Villarreal

What an atmosphere the Athletic Club faithful will whip up at San Mamés for the visit of Villarreal as they return home for the first time since lifting their first major honour in 40 years.

There was already a full house at that venue last weekend as fans crammed in to watch giants screens beaming back the action in Seville, where they were also cheered on by a fervent travelling support as the edged Mallorca out on penalties.

The mood will be euphoric but the game also has significance in the standings too with the new Copa del Rey holders sitting just two points off Atlético de Madrid in the fourth and final Champions League place, while the struggling Yellow Submarine are rooted firmly in mid-table.

There is a sense that the momentum is now with Ernesto Valverde’s men as they push for a return to Europe’s top club competition for the first time in a decade.

Spice rating: Medium 🌶️ 🌶️

Bayer Leverkusen v Werder Bremen

After 119 years of history and being on the receiving end of countless taunts at their nearly men status, Bayer Leverkusen are at long last on the brink of glory.

Their incredible unbeaten season across all competitions so far under Xabi Alonso has taken them within three points of a first ever Bundesliga title, which could be secured on Sunday evening at home with victory over Werder Bremen.

It may not even come to that though. If Bayern Munich and Stuttgart both lose on Saturday (with those teams both 16 points behind the leaders), Leverkusen will be champions before they play, while if Bayern and/or Stuttgart draw, a point would also be enough for the league leaders.

No matter what happens the day before, some epic scenes will be guaranteed at the BayArena on Sunday. The dream is almost reality.

Spice rating: Hot 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️

Torino v Juventus

Sandwiched between last week’s Derby della Capitale in Rome and Milan’s Derby della Madonnina next week in Serie A’s run of mouthwatering inter-city showdowns is the Derby della Mole between Torino and Juventus.

While this is the more one-sided of the big three city rivalries of the current Serie A season (Toro have lost more games against their city rival than any other side and are winless in their last 17 league meetings), it is notable that the Bianconeri’s form in 2024 has been erratic at best and poor at worst, with Massimiliano Allegri’s men often unimpressive even in victory.

In their impressive recent derby run, they’ve never won four in succession and at no point in the fixture’s history has a side gone 18 without defeat so history does beckon for Juve but opportunity also beckons for the Granata, with impressive coach Ivan Jurić only missing a derby success to savour as he nears a summer exit after a successful spell in charge.

Home advantage will offer them hope against their illustrious cross-town opponents and expect this one to get fiery. It may not have the global appeal of many of Italy’s other more-heralded derbies but this one is a must-see fixture between two hated rivals which will guarantee fireworks.

Spice rating: Fire 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️

Arsenal v Aston Villa

Last weekend, there was a blink from one of the three title hopefuls in the Premier League as Liverpool slipped at Manchester United courtesy of two wonder goals from the home side.

Aside from their trip to Tottenham, this is arguably the toughest test the Gunners will face in the run-in – facing an extremely dangerous Villa outfit who have their own need for points in their top four pursuit in addition to being coached by ex-Arsenal boss Unai Emery, which adds an extra layer of spice to this one.

After losing their previous four straight meetings, Villa won the last duel between the sides in December, leaving Arsenal under no illusions as to the difficulty of the task awaiting them, particularly while coming off the back of a taxing Champions League nail-biter against Bayern Munich.

That said, the Villans themselves were also in action in midweek as they overcame Lille in the first leg of their Conference League tie to set this one up perfectly.

Spice rating: Insane 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️