England: explosive Mancunian derby, first for Conte
Before the international break, Premier League players have an important 11th day to play, marked in particular by the Manchester derby, from midday Saturday (1:30 p.m.).
United (5th with 17 points) has the opportunity to come back to City (3rd, 20 pts) and definitively put his coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer back in the saddle.
The Citizens will be keen to erase the misstep at home against Crystal Palace (2-0 defeat) last week.
Manchester United coaches Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (l) and Manchester City Pep Guardiola on December 12, 2020 in Manchester Paul ELLIS POOL / AFP / Archives
If the leader Chelsea (25 pts) receives Burnley (18th) a little later (4:00 p.m.), the other major meetings are expected on Sunday with the return of Antonio Conte to the Premier League at the head of Tottenham (3:00 p.m.).
The Londoners (9th with 15 points) will try to revive at Everton (10th) in free fall, with a draw followed by three losses in the last four tricks.
The day will end at 5.30 p.m. with an enticing West Ham (4th, 20 pts) against Liverpool (2nd, 22 pts).
After their qualification for the knockout stages of the Champions League on Wednesday, the Reds will try to stick to Chelsea and distance their pursuers.
Spain: Xavi expected, Seville derby
Will we see Xavi in La Liga again this weekend?
Feverishly awaited on the bench of FC Barcelona, the former glory blaugrana, very close to signing with his club of heart according to the Catalan press, could sit on the bench of Barça from Saturday afternoon (4:15 p.m.) at the Balaidos stadium, in Galicia, where Barça have to face Celta Vigo.
The main attraction of this 13th day will however be the Seville derby, which closes on Sunday (9:00 p.m.) at the Betis stadium, the Benito-Villamarin.
Manuel Pellegrini's men (5th) receive Sevilla FC (3rd) injured by their defeat at home against Lille 2-1 on Tuesday in the Champions League.
The French of Betis Nabil Fékir (d) against the Brazilian of Sevilla Fernando Reges, March 14, 2021 in Sevilla CRISTINA QUICLER AFP / Archives
For the rest, Atlético Madrid, reigning Spanish champion but corrected 2-0 by Liverpool at Anfield Wednesday in C1, travels to Valencia on Sunday (4:15 p.m.).
Real Madrid will seek to take back the reins of La Liga in another derby against a promoted Rayo Vallecano (6th) on Saturday at 9 p.m.
Italy: Milan derby, an opportunity for Naples
AC Milan, co-leader with Napoli, tackles the derby against Inter (3rd) on Sunday (8.45 p.m.) in a strong position, with seven points ahead after a series of seven consecutive wins in the league, unprecedented for fifteen years .
Théo Hernandez is suspended, but the Rossoneri will count on their totem Zlatan Ibrahimovic, spared in the Champions League against Porto (1-1) and still ultra-motivated for a meeting that is successful for him (six goals in six derbies in the league with Milan).
AC Milan star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic against Porto in the Champions League, November 3, 2021 in Milan Marco BERTORELLO AFP / Archives
But Inter, despite the departure this summer of Romelu Lukaku, has lost none of its attacking force, with the best attack in Serie A (28 goals).
The man to watch will be Lautaro Martinez, author of a double in the last derby in February (3-0), determined to end a scarcity of a month without a goal.
Naples will watch for a possible misstep from the Rossoneri to try to take the big Sunday (6:00 p.m.) alone.
But beware of Hellas Verona, which has already brought down Roma, Lazio and Juventus this season, and made Milan tremble.
Juve, 9th after two defeats against Sassuolo and Verona, must react on Saturday against Fiorentina (7th).
Qualification now in his pocket in the Champions League, Paulo Dybala and his family have made their comeback in the league the priority for the end of 2021.
Germany: top duel Bayern-Friborg
Bayern Munich, Bundesliga leader and handily qualified in the knockout stages of the Champions League, welcome Freiburg (3rd), still undefeated, on Saturday (3.30 p.m.).
Since the accident in the 2nd round of the German Cup (5-0 defeat against Mönchengladbach), the Bavarians have put back their scarecrow costume: two 5-2 victories, at Union Berlin last Saturday and against Benfica on Tuesday .
Robert Lewandowski, among the favorites in the Ballon d'Or race, scored half of his team's ten goals ...
Polish Bayern striker Robert Lewandowski scorer against Benfica in the Champions League, November 2, 2021 in Munich Tobias SCHWARZ AFP / Archives
Outnumbered after 30 minutes, Dortmund was again slapped 3-1 in C1 by Ajax Amsterdam, after the 4-0 in the first leg.
Still without Erling Haaland, sidelined for several weeks due to a hip injury, the second Bundesliga has a complicated trip to Leipzig (8th), Saturday at 6.30pm.
Christopher Nkunku's teammates have just snatched a 2-2 draw against Paris SG in the Champions League.
hap-pev-alu-jde / fby
© 2021 AFP