Post by NickWorthem on May 4, 2013 2:55:23 GMT -5
Rather than concentrating it, individually to the EPL, I want to discuss worldwide football.
This weekend we have a lot of excellent matchups. The most important of which is Fiorentina - AS Roma. Fiorentina needs this win to stay competitive with AC Milan for the final Champion's League spot, for Serie A. Fiorentina won the season series, with Milan thus, if they finish level, they would take 3rd place and Milan would end in the Europa League. With Steven Jovetic rumoured to be headed to Arsenal, they must clinch third in order to attempt and keep him. They have Giuseppe Rossi, in tow, but Jovetic is on a significantly higher level as he has, alone, been carrying Montenegro towards the World Cup.
Staying in Italy, Juventus has a chance to clinch Serie A, on Sunday, with a win over Palermo. It's certainly expected to be the clincher. However, do not anticipate Juventus packing it in, to finish the season. They will continue to play hard and search to stay in-form, as they transition into the summer.
Also on tap, we have a preview of the Champion's League Final with German rivals Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund taking each other on, in a Bundesliga clash. While this will not be a telling result, for their date and Wembley, it will be a chance to see how hot emotions are running, for both teams. Bayern has, basically, won the League, with Dortmund seemingly cashing in, after winning two straight league titles, in order to win in Europe. With Mario Gotze and Robert Lewandowski, likely, to leave Dortmund, in the summer, it will be with high hopes that they succeed, in the Final, later this month.
In La Liga, there are two significant matches that interest me.
First, we have Valencia hosting Osasuna as they stand five points from fourth, in line to secure another Champion's League spot. Really, times have been tough at Valencia. After dominating Europe and doing well domestically, they have suffered financially, in-line with the Spanish recession. Supporters of the club need something to hang onto; climbing into fourth would make the pain of selling Mata, Silva, Alba, and Villa much easier.
Secondly, Barcelona, five points away from clinching the title, host Real Betis. With Lionel Messi still hurting, from the knock he took against PSG, they really need someone else to step up. Pedro and Alexis Sanchez have been very real disappointments this season and it would be an excellent time for them to start scoring, in aim of clinching another league title.
A few transfer rumors of note, for the summer window:
-Barcelona are looking to bring in Pepe Reina, on a two year contract, while they search for their successor.
-Luka Modric, after under-performing at Madrid, could be headed to Serie A's Inter Milan
-Speaking of Real Madrid midfielders, Xabi Alonso is linked heavily with a return to the English Premier League by joining Chelsea.
-There is huge speculation that Cesc Fabregas could be heading to AC Milan, but I would take this lightly. Milan is still dealing with some financial woes that caused them to sell, both, Thiago Silva and Zlatan Ibrahimovic to PSG. It is far more-likely that Milan pursues Arjen Robben, from Bayern Munich, whom could cost as little as 12m after the German giants added Borussia Dortmund's Mario Gotze.
This weekend we have a lot of excellent matchups. The most important of which is Fiorentina - AS Roma. Fiorentina needs this win to stay competitive with AC Milan for the final Champion's League spot, for Serie A. Fiorentina won the season series, with Milan thus, if they finish level, they would take 3rd place and Milan would end in the Europa League. With Steven Jovetic rumoured to be headed to Arsenal, they must clinch third in order to attempt and keep him. They have Giuseppe Rossi, in tow, but Jovetic is on a significantly higher level as he has, alone, been carrying Montenegro towards the World Cup.
Staying in Italy, Juventus has a chance to clinch Serie A, on Sunday, with a win over Palermo. It's certainly expected to be the clincher. However, do not anticipate Juventus packing it in, to finish the season. They will continue to play hard and search to stay in-form, as they transition into the summer.
Also on tap, we have a preview of the Champion's League Final with German rivals Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund taking each other on, in a Bundesliga clash. While this will not be a telling result, for their date and Wembley, it will be a chance to see how hot emotions are running, for both teams. Bayern has, basically, won the League, with Dortmund seemingly cashing in, after winning two straight league titles, in order to win in Europe. With Mario Gotze and Robert Lewandowski, likely, to leave Dortmund, in the summer, it will be with high hopes that they succeed, in the Final, later this month.
In La Liga, there are two significant matches that interest me.
First, we have Valencia hosting Osasuna as they stand five points from fourth, in line to secure another Champion's League spot. Really, times have been tough at Valencia. After dominating Europe and doing well domestically, they have suffered financially, in-line with the Spanish recession. Supporters of the club need something to hang onto; climbing into fourth would make the pain of selling Mata, Silva, Alba, and Villa much easier.
Secondly, Barcelona, five points away from clinching the title, host Real Betis. With Lionel Messi still hurting, from the knock he took against PSG, they really need someone else to step up. Pedro and Alexis Sanchez have been very real disappointments this season and it would be an excellent time for them to start scoring, in aim of clinching another league title.
A few transfer rumors of note, for the summer window:
-Barcelona are looking to bring in Pepe Reina, on a two year contract, while they search for their successor.
-Luka Modric, after under-performing at Madrid, could be headed to Serie A's Inter Milan
-Speaking of Real Madrid midfielders, Xabi Alonso is linked heavily with a return to the English Premier League by joining Chelsea.
-There is huge speculation that Cesc Fabregas could be heading to AC Milan, but I would take this lightly. Milan is still dealing with some financial woes that caused them to sell, both, Thiago Silva and Zlatan Ibrahimovic to PSG. It is far more-likely that Milan pursues Arjen Robben, from Bayern Munich, whom could cost as little as 12m after the German giants added Borussia Dortmund's Mario Gotze.