Zidane, Villas-Boas under the cosh, Zlatan boosts Milan – what to watch in Europe this weekend

AFP Sport selects among the standout soccer motion in Europe this weekend:

Strain again on Zidane in Madrid

Alaves v Actual Madrid, Saturday 2000 GMT

After successive defeats within the Spanish Tremendous Cup and Copa del Rey, the second a shock loss to third-tier Alcoyano, Actual Madrid will attempt to reignite their La Liga title problem away to Alaves.

Zinedine Zidane’s facet are taking part in catch as much as Atletico Madrid, regardless of having performed a sport extra, after attracts in opposition to struggling Elche and Osasuna, two of the league’s backside three, in current weeks.

Alaves beat Madrid 2-1 within the capital in late November however have received simply as soon as in eight matches since, their slide right into a relegation scrap costing coach Pablo Machin his job final week with former Spain worldwide Abelardo Fernandez returning to take cost.

Strengthened Milan face Atalanta check

AC Milan v Atalanta, Saturday 1700 GMT

Zlatan Ibrahimovic wasted little time shaking off any rust accrued whereas sidelined by a muscle harm as he scored twice in opposition to Cagliari on Monday, in his first Serie A begin in two months.

The 39-year-old Swede has scored 12 targets in simply seven begins this season, second solely to Cristiano Ronaldo within the league, and Milan this week strengthened their assault with the signing of ex-Juventus striker Mario Mandzukic on a free switch.

“Zlatan and I’ve quite a lot of expertise. In soccer, it is necessary to instill worry in your opponents, to battle and to guard your group,” mentioned Mandzukic, who might make his debut in opposition to an Atalanta facet that arrives in Milan unbeaten in 9 league outings.

Finish of the road for Villas-Boas?

Monaco v Marseille, Saturday 2000 GMT

Marseille are reeling after two straight defeats adopted a draw at lowly Dijon, a run that has shattered any fanciful Ligue 1 title desires and forged appreciable doubt over the way forward for coach Andre Villas-Boas.

“I’m on the service of the board. I’m not right here to trigger issues. In the event that they determine that I’m not as much as it by way of outcomes, then it will likely be the time to depart. If a change is required, I’m at their service,” Villas-Boas mentioned following Wednesday’s 1-Zero residence loss to Lens.

Membership president Jacques-Henri Eyraud blasted the gamers as “not match to put on the shirt” within the wake of final weekend’s defeat by backside facet Nimes. A visit to Niko Kovac’s in-form Monaco might spell additional hassle on the Velodrome.

Schalke behind the eight ball

Schalke v Bayern Munich, Sunday 1430 GMT

With their 30-match winless run lastly over, Schalke will need no reminding of what occurred once they met Bayern Munich on the opening day of the season — a crushing Eight-Zero defeat setting the tone for a disastrous first half of the marketing campaign.

In 19-year-old US ahead Matthew Hoppe, Schalke have discovered a ray of hope of their battle in opposition to relegation, however the Royal Blues are eight factors from potential security on the midway stage.

Bayern have clawed out robust wins over Freiburg and Augsburg of their two earlier video games to regain management atop the Bundesliga, sending a “sign to the remainder of the chasing pack” their starvation stays sturdy regardless of a current dip, says Manuel Neuer.

Portuguese League Cup remaining

Sporting v Braga, Saturday 1945 GMT

Having sparred with their rivals off the pitch over the dealing with of Covid-19 instances, Sporting Lisbon bought the higher of Porto in Tuesday’s semi-final thanks to 2 late targets from Cape Verde-born Jovane Cabral.

A day later, Braga overcame their “outrage” at Benfica’s efforts to hunt a postponement of their tie, reserving a spot within the remaining in Leiria with a 2-1 victory over an opposing facet hit by a raft of coronavirus infections.

Sporting and Braga have mixed to win every of the previous three editions of the Portuguese League Cup, the previous lifting the trophy in 2018 and 2019 earlier than Braga defeated Porto in final 12 months’s remaining underneath present Sporting boss Ruben Amorim.

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