Top games to look forward to in Europe this weekend

It’s another weekend of fixtures as the top leagues in Europe round up. Below are some of the top games in Europe for your enjoyment.

Chelsea vs Wolves

The Blues went down 1-0 to a relegation-threatened Everton last weekend, while Bruno Lage’s side were humbled by Brighton & Hove Albion in front of their own fans in a 3-0 loss.

Chelsea’s European fate may still be in their own hands. A spring collapse has left Wolves scrambling to even make the Europa Conference League. This is coming after Lage’s side had initially put in a strong showing for an unlikely top-four finish.

While Mateo Kovacic’s legs were able to handle 45 minutes at Goodison Park, the Croatian came on to replace Jorginho. Tuchel also admitted that he “had to take” the midfielder off in the loss to Everton.

The nature of Jorginho’s injury – if any – is still unclear. Tuchel hopes to have N’Golo Kante back in the fold for the visit of Wolves. Andreas Christensen and Ross Barkley ought to be back from respective illnesses.

Ben Chilwell and Callum Hudson-Odoi continue their spells out of action for the Blues. Tuchel will consider freshening up the attack with either Christian Pulisic or Hakim Ziyech after last weekend’s profligacy.

Wolves injury news

As for Wolves, Lage has been dealt a killer blow with the news that right-back Nelson Semedo will miss the rest of the season. He picked up a thigh injury that he picked up in the early stages of the second half against Brighton.

Daniel Podence and Maximilian Kilman are keeping Semedo company in the medical bay. The latter also out for the remainder of the campaign, but Ruben Neves’s half-time withdrawal last time out was pre-planned after his recent layoff.

Fabio Silva’s half-time change last time out was a tactical one, though. The youngster will certainly expect to make way for Raul Jimenez this week. There could also be a spot in the first XI for Pedro Neto.

Brighton vs Manchester United

Graham Potter’s side humbled Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux last weekend, while the Red Devils enjoyed a confidence-boosting success over Brentford.

The severity of Mwepu’s injury is unclear at this poin. Adam Lallana and Pascal Gross are both ready to deputise if required. Jakub Moder remains out and Jeremy Sarmiento is a slight doubt with a hamstring problem.

Potter may be tempted to make only the one enforced change this weekend following Mwepu’s injury. He should largely stick with the XI that saw off Wolves in convincing fashion, with ex-Red Devil Danny Welbeck getting the nod over Neal Maupay to line up against his old club.

Man United injury news

In contrast, Man United did not pick up any fresh concerns in Monday’s game. However, there are fears that Harry Maguire (knee) and Jadon Sancho (tonsillitis) could now both miss the rest of the season alongside Paul Pogba and Luke Shaw.

Rangnick has refused to rule out the possibility of Maguire playing again this season, though. Aaron Wan-Bissaka could also overcome a knock in time for Saturday’s game but is unlikely to displace Diogo Dalot.

Juan Mata and Phil Jones were both given their Old Trafford swansongs against Brentford. The former may even keep his place in the starting lineup, but Fred’s availability could see Nemanja Matic benched.

Liverpool vs Tottenham

Fresh from booking their place in a third Champions League final from the last five seasons, Jurgen Klopp’s side play their penultimate home game of an unforgettable campaign against a team with plenty riding on the fixture themselves.

Klopp’s men enter Saturday’s match as Europe’s form team. Their only defeat in 29 outings this calendar year being an ultimately meaningless one against Inter Milan in the Champions League.

Liverpool came through the midweek trip to Spain unscathed as far as fresh injuries are concerned. Roberto Firmino is still the only doubt for Klopp.

The Brazilian travelled with the squad to Villarreal but did not make the squad. A place in the starting lineup this weekend seems highly unlikely. He should be back before the end of the season.

Luis Diaz’s half-time introduction was largely credited with inspiring the Liverpool turnaround at El Madrigal. The Colombian has surely played his way back into the starting XI for this match.

The big question is who will join him in the front three? Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah had both played the full 90 minutes in midweek and Diogo Jota played 45.

It would not be a surprise to see one of Mane or Salah rested this weekend. Although next week’s match away to Aston Villa may be a more likely option with one eye also on the FA Cup final next Saturday.

Mane, incidentally, is looking to score in a Premier League game at Anfield for the 50th time, having never lost at the stadium when he has scored in his previous 49 such occasions – the best record of its kind in Premier League history.

Klopp is expected to freshen up other areas of the pitch given the constant turnaround in fixture. Jordan Henderson likely to come into the midfield and Joel Matip set to return in place of Ibrahima Konate in defence.

Alisson Becker, meanwhile, may have one eye on equalling Petr Cech’s all-time Premier League clean sheet record for a season of 24, which he could do if he does not concede again this term.

Matt Doherty, Sergio Reguilon and Japhet Tanganga all remain sidelined, while Oliver Skipp is out for the rest of the season after undergoing surgery.

Kulusevski sat out against Leicester but should come back into the starting XI for this one.

Real Betis vs Barcelona

The Catalan giants recorded a 2-1 victory over Mallorca in the league last weekend, which has left them in second position in the table, two points clear of third-placed Sevilla.

Gerard Pique is facing a battle to return before the end of the season due to the muscular problem that he picked up in the first half of the clash with Mallorca last time out.

Pedri will miss the remainder of the season with the hamstring problem that he picked up against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League in the middle of April.

Barcelona recently revealed that Nico Gonzalez has fractured his toe, and the injury will keep the midfielder out for the remainder of the 2021-22 campaign.

READ ALSO: Europa League: We lost to Frankfurt from the first minute – Moyes

Genoa vs Juventus

The Old Lady are currently fourth in the table, eight points behind leaders AC Milan. Genoa are 19th, three points behind 17th-placed Cagliari heading into the next set of fixtures.

Genoa have only won three league games this term, which is comfortably the worst record in the division, and they have been beaten in four of their last five games at this level, with the disappointing run following a spell where they actually went unbeaten across eight matches to give themselves a fighting chance.

Juventus, meanwhile, have won each of their last three matches in all competitions, booking their spot in the Coppa Italia final with a 2-0 success over Fiorentina before recording back-to-back league successes over Sassuolo and Venezia to make sure of a top-four finish in Serie A.

Genoa are expected to be without Zinho Vanheusden, Nicolo Rovella, Andrea Cambiaso, Lennart Czyborra, Nikola Maksimovic and Roberto Piccoli through injury on Friday.

Stefano Sturaro should overcome the issue that forced him off against Sampdoria, though, and the team could be ultimately be unchanged from the 1-0 defeat last time out.

A 4-2-3-1 formation is likely to include Pablo Galdames in the number 10 position, while leading goalscorer Mattia Destro will start at centre-forward for the relegation-threatened outfit.

As for Juventus, Mattia De Sciglio and Juan Cuadrado are doubts, while Federico Chiesa, Manuel Locatelli, Kaio Jorge and Weston McKennie will definitely be absent.

Head coach Allegri is expected to keep faith with the majority of the side that took to the field last time out, although there could be a change in midfield, with Arthur potentially featuring alongside Adrien Rabiot and Denis Zakaria, while Giorgio Chiellini could return at the back.

Alex Sandro is also pushing to be involved on the left, but Luca Pellegrini should retain his spot, while Dusan Vlahovic is set to be joined by Alvaro Morata in the final third of the field.