Cristano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi will do battle again at the Camp Nou
Barcelona host Real Madrid in the season’s second Clasico hoping to extend their lead at the top of the La Liga table to four points.
The Catalans have taken advantage of Carlo Ancelotti’s side’s recent slip ups to move into poll position in the title race, winning nine of their last 10 league matches.
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Barcelona v R Madrid
March 22, 2015
Meanwhile, Los Blancos have won just one of their last four games but will take confidence from having won the reverse fixture 3-1 back in October.
Barcelona could welcome back Sergio Busquets after an ankle injury as the midfielder returned to training this week. Luis Enrique believes he will be available despite not being 100% fit and has no other fitness concerns.
Jordi Alba and Dani Alves return after suspension
Sergio Busquets is available for Barcelona
Cristiano Ronaldo has been passed fit to play and could be joined in the Real Madrid line-up by Sergio Ramos who has recovered from a hamstring problem. The defender has been out of action since Madrid's victory over Schalke last month.
James Rodriguez remains a major doubt as he continues his recovery from a fracture in his right foot.
Stats
Former Real and Spain defender Fernando Hierro is the most booked player in the history of the fixture with 19 collected in official 'Clasicos' (18 yellow and one red). Real's current centre back Sergio Ramos has 14 yellow cards and two red.
A look back at Barcelona's five goal thrashing of Real Madrid in 2010.
Real have beaten Barca 92 times in official matches, with 89 wins for Barca and 48 draws.
Lionel Messi has scored 21 goals in 29 'Clasicos'. The four-times World Player of the Year is the highest scorer among current members of either squad. Cristiano Ronaldo has 14 for Real.
An estimated 500 million fans around the world will watch the game between the Spanish giants on Sunday.
Barcelona have scored at least 2 goals in 31 of their last 35 home matches in La Liga.
West Brom's Gareth McAuley is shown a red card after just two minutes against Manchester City.
Wilfried Bony’s first Manchester City goal helped the champions beat 10-man West Brom 3-0 after Gareth McAuley’s erroneous early dismissal at the Etihad Stadium.
City were handed the initiative after two minutes when referee Neil Swarbrick sent off McAuley instead of Craig Dawson in a case of mistaken identity after the latter brought down Bony, who was through on goal.
First-half strikes from Bony and Fernando put City two up at the break, before David Silva’s effort 13 minutes from time secured the points against a spirited Baggies side.
Wilfried Bony: Notched first City strike
Sergio Aguero was thwarted on numerous occasions by Baggies goalkeeper Boaz Myhill, who took a starring role in keeping the scoreline respectable.
The result saw City ease some of the mounting pressure on manager Manuel Pellegrini - in his 100th game in charge - by closing the gap on league leaders Chelsea to three points, while West Brom remain 13th after the defeat.
Having seen their domestic and European quests for silverware take a blow with successive 1-0 defeats to Burnley and Barcelona, Pellegrini opted to freshen up side with six changes.
Bony was handed his first start in three games, and it was his persistence in the opening exchanges which forced the Albion defence, and then the referee, into an early error.
With just over a minute on the clock, the Ivorian pounced on McAuley’s under-hit backpass and was challenged by last-man Dawson. The Northern Irishman then tackled Bony inside the area before the referee brought the play back and brandished the red card to the wrong man.
The incident was the second case of mistaken identity in under a month, following Wes Brown’s dismissal at Old Trafford on February 28.
Frank Lampard was called up to the starting line-up for the first time in two months he spurned his side’s first real opening as his sliced an effort from 18 yards wide 20 minutes in.
Fernando celebrates scoring Man City's second goal
Unsurprisingly, City dominated possession and had the host of chances to break the deadlock but Myhill was on hand to deny Silva.
The pressure finally told on 27 minutes when Bony seized on Dawson’s and Craig Gardner’s indecision to gather the ball before coaxing it into the top left-hand corner of Myhill’s goal.
It was his first goal since New Years’ Day when he netted in Swansea’s 1-1 draw at QPR.
A barrage of City attacks ensued as Navas’ neat turn and shot inside the area drew Myhill into another eye-catching save before it was two shortly before the break.
Summer acquisition Fernando grabbed his second goal for City, having scored his first in a 3-1 victory at the Hawthorns in December.
The Brazilian punished Jonas Olsson’s and Myhill’s hesitancy in the area to prod home from close range on 41 minutes.
Saido Berahino misses the target from close range.
City continued their relentless push for a third after the break but Myhill proved impenetrable as Aguero was denied from three yards.
Bony and Aguero hit the woodwork as their efforts struck the post and cross bar in quick succession.
Albion rallied and spurned a glorious opportunity to halve the deficit when Saido Berahino headed Olsson’s flick over onto the bar and then over the target from close range before Silva wrapped up the points.
Substitute Stevan Jovetic did well to fashion a yard and get a shot away but Silva was on hand to get the decisive touch to deflect it into the back of the net.
Harry Kane: On the mark three times against Leicester
Harry Kane crowned a fine week with a hat-trick to become the Premier League’s top goalscorer and earn Tottenham a dramatic 4-3 victory over Leicester at White Hart Lane.
The striker, picked for England for the first time on Thursday, tapped home from close range after just six minutes before doubling the lead seven minutes later with a scuffed effort into the far corner.
Spurs - who lost goalkeeper Hugo Lloris to injury in the first minute - had been suspect defensively conceded when Dave Nugent’s early cross was fired in by Jamie Vardy before half-time.
Wes Morgan’s header just after the break hauled the Foxes level but Kane converted from the penalty spot to restore Spurs’ lead and then Jeff Schlupp's own goal seemed to put the game beyond doubt.
Harry Kane delighted to round off memorable week with first Premier League treble
Nugent volleyed into the near corner in the dying moments to set up a tense finish but Spurs held on to restore their top-four challenge and keep Nigel Pearson’s side in deep relegation trouble.
Having selected Kane for the upcoming Euroepan Qualifier against Lithuania and subsequent friendly with Italy, Roy Hodgson watched from the stands as the 21-year-old scored his first ever league hat-trick and took his tally to 29 from 43 appearances this term.
After Lloris was stretchered off just seconds into the game following a collision with teammate Kyle Walker, Kane found his opener when Foxes keeper Kasper Schmeichel parried an Eric Dier flick into his path.
Leicester were a threat on the break, posing Walker and Tottenham’s right-hand side real problems, but it was the England right-back who helped set up Kane for his second with a low cross not cleared by Robert Huth.
Spurs should have been 3-0 up inside 22 minutes when Christian Eriksen beat three players on the edge of the box and fired against the far post, with Nacer Chadli blazing the rebound over an open goal from close range.
Tottenham head coach Mauricio Pochettino was proud to see his Tottenham team bounce back after defeat to Manchester United
Pearson’s side, who knocked Tottenham out of the FA Cup at the Lane in January, were anything other than fazed and deserved to pull a goal back through Vardy after both Esteban Cambiasso and Nugent went close.
And an equaliser was equally as merited; Morgan heading home powerfully five minutes into the second half without any resemblance of a Tottenham challenge.
The visitors had chances to take the lead themselves and Huth should have done better with another free header inside the box, but Nugent was kicking himself after losing possession to Danny Rose inside his own box before pulling the defender over to conceded a penalty on 64 minutes.
Kane, who had been quiet in the second half, coolly found the left-hand corner and could have had a fourth and his 30th of the season with a late effort over the bar – a tally that has not been levelled by any Spurs player since Jurgen Klinsmann in 1995.
Schlupp’s own goal proved to be the decider with Nugent volleying in Leicester’s third skilfully at the death, but Pearson’s side remain bottom of the division and without a win in eight Premier League games.
Olivier Giroud: Celebrates after scoring his first goal against Newcastle
Olivier Giroud scored twice in four first-half minutes as Arsenal held off a battling Newcastle side to win 2-1 and move within four points of leaders Chelsea.
The Frenchman diverted Santi Cazorla’s free kick home before heading in a corner from the Spaniard, but Moussa Sissoko pulled one back in a second-half resurgence from the hosts.
Ayoze Perez and Yoan Gouffran both had opportunities to rescue a point, while David Ospina kept out Mike Williamson’s header, but Arsene Wenger’s side held on to record their sixth Premier League win in succession, maintaining any outside hopes for the title but strengthening their grip on a top-four spot.
John Carver says he was delighted with his players’ valiant performance against Arsenal, but was disappointed with the goals they conceded.
It is a third-straight defeat, meanwhile, for John Carver’s men, whose terrible record against Arsenal continues as they lost a seventh game in succession against the Gunners.
Newcastle had the better of the early exchanges as Wenger’s men looked nervous in the opening stages, but the hosts couldn’t carve out any decent chances; Ayoze Perez’s blocked effort their best opening.
Aaron Ramsey had Arsenal’s first decent chance as he latched on to Giroud’s flicked ball through the defence, but the Welshman’s attempted flick around Tim Krul rolled harmlessly off target.
But Giroud soon opened the scoring as the visitors won a free kick towards the right-hand side in the 24th minute, and Santi Cazorla’s whipped ball in was headed on by Danny Welbeck before the striker met the ball with his knee to turn it past Krul and into the net.
Things quickly got worse for the hosts as Giroud bagged his second of the match within four minutes, Cazorla again the provider as this time he fired in a corner which the Frenchman headed across goal and into the bottom far corner.
Pressure
The hosts came flying out of the blocks for the second half, and three minutes in they were right back in the game as Remy Cabella played a one-two with Perez before pulling back to Sissoko, who drilled the ball low into the net from 15 yards out.
Perez then nearly fired Newcastle level a minute later as he cut inside from the left before curling a wonderful effort which flew just wide of Ospina’s far post.
Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud praised his sides resilience after holding on to beat Newcastle 2-1 at St James' Park.
Arsenal were on the ropes and it looked like a matter of time before Newcastle found the equaliser but Gouffran spurned a glorious opportunity on the hour. The Magpies saw penalty appeals turned down as Perez’s cross hit Calum Chambers’ arm, but play went on and it fell for Gouffran, who could only fire straight at Ospina.
The goalkeeper was soon called into action again as the hosts won a corner, and Mike Williamson powered a header at goal which Ospina turned away with a magnificent reflex stop.
Moments later Daryl Janmaat drilled wide from distance, while Welbeck had a chance to alleviate the pressure at the other end, but he could only force a corner off Tim Krul from a tight angle.
As time ran out, Ospina again proved the hero as he turned away Perez’s low effort with another good save, and the visitors held on to take their sixth win in succession to put themselves right up there with the top two.
Matt Le Tissier's verdict
Matt le Tissier says that Arsenal should have made light work of Newcastle after going two goals ahead, but Newcastle’s resurgent second half performance m
It should have been a bit more comfortable for Arsenal. Going 2-0 up in less than half an hour, they were so much on top that you thought it could have been any kind of score. Newcastle were looking a little bit disorganised at that point but they didn’t kick on and it was still just the two at half time. They didn’t make Tim Krul make too many saves after that. Newcastle came back strongly after half time and got a goal just after half time – it was a cracking goal too.
At that point you thought ‘game on’ and Newcastle gave it a really good go, Ospina had to make a couple of good saves, one from Perez and then from a very close-range flick header from Sissoko. It should have been more comfortable than it was but Arsenal still ground out the three points and are in a very good position.
Shane Long of Southampton celebrates after scoring against Burnley
Southampton maintained their hopes of a Champions League place with a 2-0 victory over Burnley on Saturday.
Shane Long grabbed his first Premier League goal for 14 games before a Jason Shackell own goal rubberstamped the victory on a bittersweet afternoon for Saints, who had Fraser Forster stretchered off with a serious-looking knee injury.
Burnley played with their usual gusto as both Danny Ings and Sam Vokes were denied in the first-half by substitute goalkeeper Kelvin Davis but Saints created the better chances with Graziano Pellè and Steven Davis rattling the crossbar.
The hosts were dealt a huge blow inside 10 minutes as the in-form Forster went down after a routine clearance from a back pass.
As he went to punt the ball clear his left knee seemed to buckle and he signalled to the bench straight away that something was seriously amiss. He was stretchered off and was taken straight to hospital.
Southampton's Shane Long breaks the duck at St Mary's Stadium to put the Saints 1-0 up against Burnley
His replacement Davis, who was making his first Premier League appearance since New Year’s Day 2014, was called straight into the action as he denied Sam Vokes from 10 yards with a superb block.
Burnley continued to provide most of the attacking spark and George Boyd wanted a penalty on 24 minutes after Jose Fonte caught his trailing leg in the box but referee Anthony Taylor was unmoved.
Southampton’s build-up was impressive to watch but a killer finish was lacking as the crowd began to get a tad restless with their side, who had only scored one goal in their previous home matches.
Fraser Forster of Southampton is substituted after picking up an injury
Pelle, who hasn’t scored in the Premier League for 12 games, bore the brunt of their groans but it was his mis-kick that played a part in the opening goal on 37 minutes.
Nathaniel Clyne fired a strike at goal from the right hand side of the box and Pelle completely duffed his kick from eight yards but lucky for him, Long was waiting at the back post to stab home.
The goal triggered a crazy ten minutes of football with both teams creating numerous chances.
Pelle was the first to miss, smashing a very presentable effort against the crossbar from six yards after a Fonte knockdown before Ings broke up the other end and drew another great save from Kelvin Davis.
Clyne then fizzed a deflected shot inches wide of Tom Heaton’s far post and just seconds later Steven Davis rose to meet a Dušan Tadic cross but the ‘keeper tipped the ball onto the crossbar.
Southampton's Sadio Mane and Burnley's David Jones vie for possession
There was still time in the first-half for Vokes to test Kelvin Davis from 12 yards with a firm header after good work from Ings.
Southampton manager Ronald Koeman made a switch at half-time to counter Burnley’s attacking nous by bringing on holding midfielder Victor Wanyama for the attack-minded Tadic and it worked a treat as the visitors were restricted to half-chances as Wanyama and Morgan Schneiderlin bossed the midfield from then on.
After the tactical switch, Saints were the side creating all the chances and doubled the lead on 58 minutes when Shackell got himself into a muddle in his six-yard box and diverted a fizzed in Ryan Bertrand cross into the net.
Burnley never gave up in the closing stages but lacked the quality in the final third to create any real pressure on a superb Southampton defence that has conceded just 21 goals all season - the best defensive record in the league.
The victory puts pressure on both Manchester United and Liverpool before their clash at Anfield tomorrow in the race for Champions League qualification while Burnley remain in the bottom three.
Ronald Koeman says the 2-0 victory over Burnley is the best birthday present he could have hoped for, but the Dutchman could be without Fraser Forster afte
Soccer Saturday reaction: Paul Merson
“It was a difficult game for Burnley and it was in the balance for a while. After Long scored, Southampton got on top and they should have got a second, Pelle misses an absolute sitter. Burnley go up the other end and it falls to Ings and then Davis make a worldie save.
"Davis came on for Forster, it was out of nothing. He went to kick the ball and his knee gave way. Davis came on and made two or three good saves. They had their chances as they always do when they go away from home.
“I was impressed with Southampton. I thought they were really good, they passed the ball around second half. Bertrand was absolutely outstanding, he gave Trippier a torrid time. Shackell couldn’t do much about the own goal but after that Burnley never looked like scoring. For the first time that I’ve seen them this season they looked tired."
All the action from the day's Premier League matches brought to you by Jeff and the rest of the Soccer Saturday boys.
Player Ratings
Southampton: Forster (6), Clyne (7), Fonte (7), Alderweireld (7), Bertrand (8), Schneiderlin (7), S. Davis (7), Tadić (6), Mané (7), Long (7), Pellè (5).
Don't miss the biggest game on the planet this Sunday on Sky Sports 5 at 7.30pm
Ahead of Sunday's top-of-the-table Clasico clash at the Nou Camp, Sky Sports' top Spanish pundits give their verdict...
Graham Hunter - Barcelona 3-2 Real Madrid
Real Madrid aren't as poor as the Schalke result suggested and the return of Dani Carvajal, Marcelo, plus Sergio Ramos and Luka Modric means they'll be competitive. But I'd take Barcelona to have more stamina and more goals in them. I fancy a late winner. Luis Suarez, of course.
Rob Palmer - Barcelona 3-3 Real Madrid
As always, it's billed as Messi v Ronaldo! However, this year I suspect it will come down to the supporting acts. The two superstars will get special marking so watch out for ex-Premier League stars Suarez, who is back to his best and Gareth Bale, who is silencing critics and upstaged Ronaldo last week.
Barcelona vs R Madrid
March 22, 2015
Jon Driscoll - Barcelona 3-1 Real Madrid
The return of Modric and Ramos has pepped up an ailing Real Madrid. They can win El Clasico – if we see Bale working hard to help in midfield and Ronaldo fully focused on the team’s well-being. But that’s too many ifs and Messi has been irresistible.
Gaizka Mendieta - Barcelona 2-1 Real Madrid
Real Madrid historically always have made great comebacks when they most need them, and Sunday they definitely need a win or a draw. Although they’ve improved with Ramos and Modric I don’t see them as a 90 minutes with options on the bench. Barcelona are a confident team with all their concepts and ideas fully understood with many options on the bench. Also, the Nou Camp will be the advantage…
Albert Ferrer - Barcelona 3-1 Real Madrid
Real Madrid are stronger with Ramos and Modric but they are not able at the moment to keep their rhythm for the whole game and going to the Nou Camp is difficult. What Modric gives to Real Madrid is another chance to build the game. Barcelona can concede goals on the counter; everybody is attacking, the opposition win the ball back and the full-backs are forward. When Real get the ball they will fly to the flanks to look for the full-backs and go, so let’s see what happens. It depends who takes their chances, Real might have less but let’s see who takes them.
Guillem Balague - Barcelona 1-2 Real Madrid
Real Madrid have got a habit of resurrecting when you least expect it, and Clasicos are games where form doesnt count. Barcelona had moments of doubts in some big games earlier in the season but dealt very well with City and Atletico in the cup. But Real will offer a similar threat – pressuring high on the counter – to PSG, a team that Barcelona lost against this season.
Ahead of Real Madrid's top of the table clash with Barcelona, Sky Sports look back at the best Clasico goals from the 21st century
Ossie Ardiles - Barcelona 3-1 Real Madrid
For four reasons: 1) Barcelona are playing at home. 2) They are leading La Liga. 3) They are playing far better than Real, and 4) Lionel Messi is more confident than Cristiano Ronaldo right now. However, it is the Clasico, and as with any derby, anything can happen.
Kevin Keatings - Barcelona 2-2 Real Madrid
Real Madrid's problems are not so deep seated as to make the Camp Nou an ordeal. Expect Ronaldo to show up on the big stage, with help from Bale and Karim Benzema, to secure a 2-2 draw.
Scott Minto - Barcelona 3-1 Real Madrid
I went for 2-2 in Revista on Monday. Despite Barcelona being in great form in 2015 and Madrid not, I thought Real could lift themselves on the big occasion. Then came the Man City game! Barca brilliant, Messi as good as he's ever been. I now can't see how Madrid can stop him/them.
Watch the Champions League quarter-final draw including repeat of last year's final between Atletico and Real Madrid.
Atletico and Real will contest the Madrid derby in the Champions League quarter-finals - a rematch of last year's final in Lisbon.
In what is set to be an intense week in the Spanish capital, the two La Liga giants will meet first at the Vicente Calderon on April 14 before the second leg at the Bernabeu eight days later on April 22.
Real thrashed their rivals 4-1 after extra time at the Estadio de Luz last May, with goals from Sergio Ramos, Gareth Bale, Marcelo and Cristiano Ronaldo.
But they have failed to beat Atletico in all six fixtures since, losing in the Spanish Super Cup, Copa Del Rey and both La Liga clashes, including a 4-0 thrashing last time out.
French Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain, who knocked out Chelsea in the last 16, will face current La Liga leaders Barcelona, who brushed aside Manchester City in the last round.
PSG will be without their talisman Zlatan Ibrahimovic for the first leg after he was shown a straight red card in the victory at Stamford Bridge and received a one-match ban, but the Swede will be able to return to face his former club in the second leg at the Nou Camp on April 21.
Scott Minto believes that Atletico Madrid will be the favourites when they take on Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final.
Pep Guardiola's Bayern Munich, thumped by Real in last year's semi-finals, face Porto, who have reached the last eight for the first time since 2009.
Serie A champions Juventus take on Monaco, who dumped out Arsenal in the last 16 but are in danger of missing out on the top-four in France.
First legs: April 14: Atletico Madrid v Real Madrid, Juventus v Monaco
April 15: Porto v Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain v Barcelona
Second legs: April 21: Bayern Munich v Porto, Barcelona v Paris Saint-Germain
April 22: Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid, Monaco v Juventus
Sky Sports' Paul Merson gives his predictions ahead of an important weekend in the Premier League.
Ahead of the upcoming break for international football, Merse is back to cast his expert eye over thePremier League fixtures. Here's how the 'Magic Man' sees the 10 games going.
Liverpool v Manchester United, Sky Sports 1, Sunday
Merson feels Liverpool's attacking players will pose too much of a threat to United at Anfield in the Super Sunday clash
Liverpool definitely start as favourites to win this game, although I do not think that they can afford to lose as then they will fall five points behind United, and that will be too many to catch up with so few games left to play this season.
United’s win over Spurs on Sunday was the best they have played so far this campaign and while people have said how poor Spurs were, I have seen them play that badly before this season and still win games, such as at Aston Villa.
If United can get into the final third often enough and get the ball to Ashley Young, then Marouane Fellaini becomes a big threat. However, if they have to start their attacks in their own half and play it forward from there to the Belgian, then I think Liverpool will be able to cope with that OK.
And while United were very good in that match against Tottenham last weekend, I still feel Liverpool will win this game as they will have too much pace and movement up front for the visitors, and I do not see how their back four will be able to cope with the home team’s attacking players.
PAUL PREDICTS: 3-1
Liverpool vs Man Utd
March 22, 2015
Hull City v Chelsea,Sky Sports 1, Sunday 4pm
Merse feels Chelsea have now all but wrapped up this season's title
I would be shocked if Chelsea threw the title away from here, there is no question that it is Chelsea’s to lose now and they will be keen to put the championship to bed as soon as possible, then let the others fight it out for the remaining three Champions League spots.
And I think they will win this game as they are a cut above Hull, who will be out of their depth here despite their recent upturn in form, so I am going for an easy 2-0 win to Chelsea.
PAUL PREDICTS: 0-2
Hull City vs Chelsea
March 22, 2015
West Ham United v Sunderland, Sky Sports 1, Saturday
Dick Advocaat's appointment at the Stadium of Light has left Paul Merson puzzled
I do not know where Dick Advocaat’s appointment has come from really – if you had given me 100 guesses, I still would not have got it and I can see this being a Fulham situation all over again like with Felix Magath.
I know people have said that Advocaat has managed in Scotland before, but that is not the Premier League at all and I am really shocked by the news. I would have liked to see Kevin Ball get the job until the end of the season had they not gone first to get Sam Allardyce from West Ham, who is the manager they should have tried for.
I do not know why they did not offer Big Sam a three or four-year deal and seen what he said, as Allardyce would have definitely kept them up. And even if he did not, he would have brought them straight back up the next season, so it would have been worth the investment either way.
But I cannot see anything other than an easy 3-0 win for West Ham.
West Ham vs S'land
March 21, 2015
PAUL PREDICTS: 3-0
Manchester City v West Bromwich Albion, Saturday
City have to beat West Brom at Eastlands on Saturday if they want to have any hope of retaining their title, says the Magic Man
Tony Pulis will ensure that West Brom are up for this game, even if they do not really have anything to play for, while Man City go into it on the back of a terrible result at Burnley last time out and I think they have to win this match.
If City don't, they will definitely struggle to finish in the top two and then all of a sudden – if Liverpool also win against Manchester United on Sunday – the Champions League positions will all start to bunch up.
However, I still expect City to win this one 2-0.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-0
Aston Villa v Swansea City,Saturday
Merson thinks Villa will not find it easy against Swansea at Villa Park on Saturday afternoon
Villa will have looked at Burnley’s match with Manchester City and thought they would have been more than just three points from safety after their own great win at Sunderland last week, and six points clear is a lot more of a cushion than three.
I do worry a bit for Villa in this fixture as their fans will, for the first time this season, be turning up at Villa Park expecting their team to get a result and Swansea is a hard fixture, while Garry Monk will want his side to achieve a record points total in the Premier League.
And that is why I am going for a 1-1 draw, as I see this being a tough contest for Villa.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-1
Newcastle United v Arsenal,Saturday
Arsenal will cruise to victory at Newcastle on Saturday according to Merse
This is Arsenal all over at the moment, they will win their last nine league games of the season and then there will be huge optimism around the club that they can go and win next season’s Premier League.
Yes they have been in impressive form of late, but they still lost that one crucial game at home to what was a poor Monaco side in the Champions League.
Meanwhile, Newcastle will be without their captain Fabricio Coloccini through suspension, and I think he will be a huge miss and even though they will be playing in front of 50,000 fans at St James’, Arsenal have a great record there and I expect an easy win for Arsene Wenger’s side.
PAUL PREDICTS: 0-3
Southampton v Burnley, Saturday
The Magic Man feels Southampton should just be too strong for struggling Burnley this weekend
I have watched Burnley play away from home a few times this season and wherever they go, Sean Dyche’s men have a go. They drew at both Chelsea and Manchester City, while they should have also won at Manchester United, when they were much better than them that night at Old Trafford.
Southampton also need to win this match and I was hugely impressed with how they played in the second half of the opening 45 minutes at Chelsea last Sunday, when I thought they were superb, although after half-time the home side dominated and should have won easily.
But if Southampton win this game and there is a draw between Liverpool and United on Sunday, then Ronald Koeman’s team are right back in the race for the top four. And despite them having dropped off the pace this year, I still see them just winning this one after the confidence they will have picked up from that draw at Chelsea last weekend.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1
Stoke City v Crystal Palace,Saturday
Stoke will get the better of Palace on Saturday, according to Merson
I like Stoke and I very rarely go against them when they are at home, while I have also been impressed with Palace since Alan Pardew took over. They have great pace both on the wings and up front, while they are a decent team away from home, and apart from the result at Southampton last time out, I think they have won four or five on the road this season.
However, Stoke are a hard team at home, so I am going for a 2-1 win to them.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1
Tottenham Hotspur v Leicester City, Saturday
Merse predicts a shock win for Leicester at Spurs on Saturday afternoon, like they managed in the FA Cup
People are going to think that it’s my Arsenal connections as I am going to go for a Leicester win here. Spurs were poor last week at United and Harry Kane has just been called up by England. And that may mean him subconsciously not wanting to get injured and his head could be on the international games next week, while Spurs have been over-reliant on his and Christian Eriksen’s goals so far this season.
Leicester have to win this game and while they were also poor last week at home to Hull, I think Tottenham will come on to them and the visitors’ pace in attack with Andrej Kramaric – who I like a lot – and Jeffrey Schlupp could hurt them.
And they also won at White Hart Lane in the FA Cup, so that is why I am going for them this week.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-2
Queens Park Rangers v Everton, Sunday
QPR and Everton will share the spoils at Loftus Road on Sunday afternoon, says the Magic Man
QPR have to win this game if they want to get out of trouble, but despite Everton having just come back from a long trip to Dynamo Kiev on Thursday, I still think that they will be a dangerous team to face now at the end of the season as – let’s face it – they have got good players haven’t they? And they shouldn't be where they are, should they?
Everton still need to get a result themselves on Sunday and regardless of their match in Kiev, they must come away from Loftus Road without getting beaten as if they do lose, then they are right back in trouble.
If Everton manage to avoid defeat, then that should be enough to see them stay up, which is why I think they will come away with a 1-1 draw.
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A look back at Barcelona's five goal thrashing of Real Madrid in 2010.
