A second El Classico in the space of five days takes place on Sunday and it should be as good as ever – even without the meaning of previous years. Barcelona have all but wrapped up the La Liga title already and will want to bounce back from the midweek defeat at the Nou Camp in the Copa del Rey. With Champions League ambitions on the agenda the following week for Real Madrid, their focus might not be on this game but then again it is the El Classico so expect another memorable encounter as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo do battle.
A crucial game for Martin O'Neill's Sunderland, who have been dragged closer to the relegation dogfight in the Premier League in recent weeks. Victory over a Fulham side who secured an important win of their own over Stoke City last week would go a long way to ending thoughts of the drop, but don't expect many goals in this one. It will be tight, tense and edge of the seat stuff with plenty of graft. Not one for the purist most probably, but intriguing for other reasons all the same.
One positive for Chelsea is that they won't be facing their own on-loan striker Romelu Lukaku, who has been in fine form for West Brom. He is not permitted to play against his parent club, and that hands the initiative to the home side, who simply must win if they are to avoid becoming embroiled in a battle for Champions League qualification. It won't be easy, but Chelsea are due a big victory following a frustrating run of form.
Everton have gone off the boil in recent weeks as their Champions League qualification hopes took a battering and they will need to overcome a stubborn Reading side to maintain the push for Europa League football. Reading have made a habit of late comebacks, but they were well and truly beaten by Wigan last week and have question marks to answer over their chances of surviving relegation as a result. A visit to Goodison Park is no easy task though.
Aston Villa need points after slipping into the relegation zone last weekend, and the visit of Manchester City is probably not what the doctor ordered. City are desperate for victory of their own to keep the pressure on leaders Manchester United at the top of the Premier League and should have too much for Villa to cope with, even taking into consideration their Capital One Cup win over the current Premier League champions.
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