Let the weekend games begin

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Table-top clash Barcelona will take on the fiesty Falcao and Atletico Madrid.

The world would most certainly be a mind-numbingly boring place without football. Love it or hate it, or remain disaffected by it, it surely affects a friend, a lover, a parent, or a sibling. And if it doesn’t, the best suggestion would be to find a new lover or friend, and disown the parents and siblings.

The vagaries of a football season, the pure emotion, skill and athleticism week in week out and the anticipation of moments of pure genius, so good they couldn’t even be written in a script, are but a few reasons to love the sport. We are now getting into to a busy festive period in English football, and Spain, Germany and Italy look forward to a sensible winter break.
There are some great match-ups this week, involving dynamites in Iberia, pistol crackers in London, and potential slips ups in Japan and Newcastle.
Chelsea FC is currently munching on a lot of sashimi in Japan in anticipation of the Club World Cup final against the mighty Corinthians. A pointless cup, but a match which could entertain, and potentially give us a chuckle at Chelsea’s expense, which is always welcome. Rafa Benitez, however, knows that winning could be the pivotal point of the season for them, as they have lately looked in danger of falling behind the Manchester clubs. A strong team selection means that Corinthians face a tough ask.
Up north in Newcastle, Manchester City will be gnashing and gnawing at the title challenge, and they will look to make short work of a Newcastle side which have looked way off their best. Newcastle need to get their season back on track, and what would be better than defeating the current EPL champions? In other match-ups, Reading play a beleaguered Arsenal on Monday, and United welcome Sunderland for their annual thumping.
Swansea, fresh from winning a semifinal slot in the Capital One Cup, face Tottenham at White Hart Lane. Neither side will give an inch, but the timing of the match suits Michael Laudrup’s side. What remains is for them to lose their inferiority complex whilst away at big clubs.
In La Liga, Barcelona face the feisty Falcao and Atletico, perhaps the one other side capable of matching Barca at their best. Real will be hoping their city rivals can help cut the gap between Real and Barca. We look forward to an exciting week ahead.