January has arrived and with it the opening of the winter transfer window. The new economic realities of the Premier League television contracts mean that small English clubs have the financial muscle to meet and outbid offers from established European clubs. The window closes on February 1st as play returns in full to all of countries, except Germany, where the Bundesliga is off until January 22nd. Here are the five can’t miss matches for the weekend.
Real Madrid vs. Deportivo La Coruna, Saturday 2:30 p.m. EST, beIN Sports USA
Is Zizou the answer? Or is it too late? Los Blancos are behind Barcelona (who has an extra game in hand) and cross-town rivals, Atletico in the La Liga table. Real Madrid must also keep an eye on Villarreal, who are winners of five in a row and sit one point behind in fourth place. If Madrid were to slip to fourth, that would mean participating in the Champions League playoffs next summer, which would be an unappetizing prospect.
All is not doom and gloom at the Bernabeu, however, as Ronaldo, Benzema and Bale along with James Rodriguez, Luka Modric and Toni Kroos present the most lethal offense in Spain. Zidane will look for buckets of goals when Deportivo La Coruna (no slouch at seventh in the table) travel to the Spanish capital to welcome Real’s new manager.
Prediction: Zizou gets what he wants, 4-0 to Real Madrid.
Tottenham Hotspur vs. Leicester City, Sunday 11:00 a.m. EST, Fox Sports 1
The oldest football competition in the world returns this weekend as Premier League and League Championship teams set to clash in the third round of England’s FA Cup. Eastleigh, a Conference team led by goalkeeper Ross Flitney, is the only non-Football League side remaining. The Spitfires welcome the Bolton Wanderers to the Ten Acres in a very winnable match. While many will keep tabs on how far the upstarts can go in the competition, the match of the weekend in England finds Leicester City traveling to White Hart Lane to face Spurs. The Foxes stumbled through the holidays with two draws and a loss to Liverpool and things will only get tougher as Leicester will arrive in North London without the services of leading scorer, Jamie Vardy, who is nursing a groin injury. The Foxes manager, Claudio Ranieri, will look to Riyad Mahrez to jumpstart the potent Leicester offense which has failed to notch home a goal in their last three matches after scoring in their first 17 games.
The Spurs, who are looking for their first FA Cup title since 1991, will rely on the passing of Christian Eriksen and the scoring of Harry Kane while sporting the stoutest defense in all of England. Mahrez and backup striker Leonardo Ulloa will be sure to test Tottenham keeper, Hugo Lloris. The Argentine Ulloa has scored in all five FA Cup matches in which he got the starting nod and to add to the intrigue, these clubs will meet again next Wednesday in a critical Premier League match.
Prediction: Kane scores and the Spurs defense locks down the Foxes, 1-0 Spurs.
Toluca v. Tigres, Sunday 1:00 p.m. EST, Univision Deportes
Football returns to Mexico as the Clausura begins on Friday. To get in tune for the upcoming season, check out the top stories, including the returns of Miguel Herrera and Rafael Marquez. Champions, Tigres and striker, Andre-Pierre Gignac, will start out their campaign for the bicampeonato on Sunday when they travel to Toluca. The Frenchman, Gignac, will look to keep the form that saw him lead the Apertura in goals with 15. Toluca will look to keep pace with their leading scorer, Fernando Uribe.
Prediction: Tigres stumbles out of the gate with Toluca taking all three points, 2-1.
Fiorentina v. Lazio, Saturday 12:00 p.m. EST, beIN Sports USA
Italia!! Fiorentina who are second in the Serie A table are seeking their first league title since the late 60’s. They will hosts Lazio on Saturday as they try to keep pace with Inter Milan who is one point ahead of the Purple squad. Fiorentina will look to attackers Josip Ilicic and Nikola Kalinic to fuel Serie A’s highest scoring club.
Prediction: More goals for the Purple as they win 3-0.
Chelsea v. Scunthorpe United, Sunday 9:00 a.m. EST, Fox Sports 1
The good news for the Blues: since the Special One’s departure they are undefeated. The not-so-great news: Chelsea has two wins and two ties without Mourinho in charge—victories over relegation-zone dwellers, Sunderland and Crystal Palace, and draws to Watford and Manchester United. While the last win over Crystal Palace was dominant and resounding, the fans at Stamford Bridge will get antsy if League One club, Scunthorpe, plays Chelsea close. It is unclear what type of squad Manager Guus Hiddink will field but I would not be surprised to see a first rate eleven as the Blues look for any silverware to salvage an unsteady campaign.
Prediction: Scunthorpe strikes early to put the Bridge on edge but the Blues survive, 2-1.
