Europe 1 with AFP 00:24, February 17, 2023

Before facing each other in the Champions League on Tuesday, Liverpool and Real Madrid have points to seek in the Championship this weekend, on the lawn of Newcastle for the Reds and against Osasuna for the partners of Karim Benzema.

Struggling in the Premier League with a ninth place seven points from the top 5, Liverpool are approaching a few decisive days for the rest of their season.

The trip of the Reds to Newcastle (4th) on Saturday (6.30 p.m.) should allow them to finally chain two victories in a row in the Championship, which has still not happened in 2023 for Jürgen Klopp's team.

Above all, a success can restore their confidence before the big European meeting against Real Madrid, scheduled for Tuesday at Anfield (9:00 p.m.) in the knockout stages of the Champions League.

Returned to the top of the Premier League after their victory at Arsenal on Wednesday (3-1), Manchester City travels to Nottingham on Saturday (4:00 p.m.), while the Gunners open the weekend at 1:30 p.m. at Aston Villa.

>> READ ALSO

- "I am not for quotas": football referee Stéphanie Frappart favors skills over parity

Germany: return in sight for Nkunku

Three months after his injury just before leaving for the World Cup, Christopher Nkunku will return to RB Leipzig.

The striker missed five matches in the Bundesliga and gave up his place at the top of the scoring charts to the German Niclas Füllkrug (13 against 12).

During his absence, Leipzig lost ground on the competition (5th, 7 points behind), beaten by Union Berlin (2-1) and held in check by Bayern (1-1) and Cologne (0-0 ).

Present in collective training at the start of the week, "Cristo" could play a few minutes on Saturday (3:30 p.m.) in Wolfsburg and restart the machine before the reception of Manchester City on Wednesday (9:00 p.m.) in the Champions League.

After their fourth straight win on Tuesday in Paris, Bayern travel to Mönchengladbach.

Julian Nagelsmann's men will need a success not to endanger their first place, while Union Berlin are only one point behind (43 against 42).

The Berliners receive the Schalke red lantern on Sunday (3:30 p.m.) and will aim for a sixth consecutive success in the Bundesliga.

On the same dynamic at the start of the year, Borussia Dortmund (seven victories in all competitions) receives Hertha Berlin.

>> READ ALSO

- "There is an emergency": Éric Borghini, member of the Comex, calls on Noël Le Graët to resign

Spain: easy Barça?

In Spain, FC Barcelona continues its road to the title: the Catalans receive the poorly ranked Cadiz (16th) at Camp Nou on Sunday (9:00 p.m.) for the 22nd day of La Liga.

The pressure may come from Real Madrid: the reigning Spanish champions, winner of the red lantern Elche on Wednesday, faces the pleasant surprise of the start of the La Liga season, Osasuna, on Saturday (9:00 p.m.), with a chance to return provisionally five points from the Blaugranas.

Antoine Griezmann's Atlético Madrid only has La Liga left to play.

He receives Athletic Bilbao on Sunday (6:30 p.m.) and, for the 125th anniversary of the Basque club, the Colchoneros will leave their opponents the honor of wearing their red and white striped jersey at the Metropolitano, the one that inspired the Atlético pattern. .

>> DISCOVER HERE

- FFF: Noël Le Graët singled out by the audit mission, what will happen now?

Italy: Galliani danger for AC Milan

Naples, launched in a separate championship with its record lead of fifteen points over Inter Milan, opens the 23rd day on Friday (8:45 p.m.) on the ground of Sassuolo (15th).

With no doubt a little head in Frankfurt where awaits Tuesday a round of 16 first leg of the Champions League.

Far behind, AC Milan (5th three points behind Inter) regained morale (and defense) after their victories against Torino (1-0) in the league then Tottenham (1-0) in C1.

But beware of the short trip to Monza, a club that is growing quickly under the leadership of Adriano Galliani, responsible for administering the club for Silvio Berlusconi as he did for thirty years with the Rossoneri.

After a catastrophic start (five defeats in the first five days) and an express change of coach with the appointment of former under-19 technician Raffaele Palladino, the promoted recovered (10th) and remains on eight unbeaten matches.

At the bottom of the ranking, expected reactions from Salernitana (16th) and Spezia (17th) after the coaching changes, respectively against Lazio (6th) and Juventus (9th due to their fifteen-point penalty).