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The upcoming weekend has prepared a few special treats for football fans. The leaders or at least contenders will clarify the mutual relations in the strongest European country leagues. And in the Champions League, the final round of group matches will determine the teams that will advance to the next stage.
In the "Navigator" section this time, we will discuss the most intriguing matches of the week.
2012.12.01, Saturday
Germany's Bundesliga
19:30, Munich's "Bayern" (1st place) - Dortmund's "Borussia" (3rd place)
Last five league match results: "Bayern" - 4 wins and 1 draw; "Borussia" - 3 wins and 2 draws.
Why not start the Saturday evening with a duel between Germany's giants Munich "Bayern" and Dortmund "Borussia"? Many football fans will agree that this match is special. The Bavarians win almost every match in the Bundesliga, and it's practically impossible to stop their attacking machine. Mario Mandzukic and Thomas Muller continuously score goals for their opponents. Frank Ribery and Arjen Robben tirelessly work on opposite sides of the field. Add Javier Martinez, who joined the team this year, to this quartet. This is the answer to why "Bayern's" attacking engine works flawlessly this season.
"Borussia" doesn't have as many world-renowned stars in their lineup. The club's policy regarding team composition differs from "Bayern," but that doesn't mean the team can't play well. The Dortmund team has already proven itself in the national championship and UEFA Champions League. To the surprise of football experts, "Borussia" comfortably sits at the top of the table before the last round of the league group matches and calmly awaits the home match against "Manchester City."
The teams are separated by 11 points in the standings. If the Dortmund visitors want to reduce this gap and maintain intrigue in this year's Bundesliga, Saturday would be a good opportunity. Meanwhile, the Bavarians will try to prove that no team this year can match them. Will they be right - we'll see on Saturday evening.
2012.12.01, Saturday
Netherlands' Eredivisie
21:45, Amsterdam's "Ajax" (4th place) - Eindhoven's "PSV" (1st place)
Last five league match results: "Ajax" - 3 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss; "PSV" - 4 wins and 1 loss.
Perhaps the top-tier Dutch league is not among Europe's strongest, but this match with its history and unpredictable outcome is one of the most interesting events of this weekend. These matches are part of the six so-called "klassiekers" (when "Ajax," "Feyenoord," and "PSV" meet) in the Eredivisie championship. Amsterdam's "Ajax" is the most titled club in Dutch football history, but "PSV" has won the most championship titles in the last 20 years. Hence, it's not surprising that the fans of both teams repeat to each other that their team is the best.
Lately, both teams have shown fairly good play. Despite a loss in the previous round, "PSV" rarely loses in the national championship. An 8-game winning streak speaks for itself. "Ajax" is doing slightly worse, but the club can boast of successful results against teams like "Manchester City."
So far, the head-to-head record, calculated since 1956, favors "PSV" - 46 wins to 40 "Ajax" victories. Victory against their eternal rivals Feyenoord is a matter of honor for the Amsterdam club, while defeating the guests from Eindhoven means proving their sporting superiority in the rest of the season. The question of which team is currently the best is very slippery, but we will find out the answer very soon.
