What to expect across Europe’s top five leagues
With the next round of weekend matches on the horizon, we take a look at the key matchups ahead of another decisive weekend across Europe’s top five leagues. We will also be looking at what to expect this weekend, the importance of each key matchup for each side, and what it could mean for their position in their respective league. There are also several questions fans will be eager to know: Could a defeat this weekend see Thomas Frank staring at the exit door, or did his European heroics on Wednesday buy him more time? How will Athletic Bilbao’s defeat against Sporting affect their momentum going into the Basque derby? Will a poor result against Newcastle this weekend see Slot get closer to being sacked, or was his European success so far enough to make up for his poor form in England? Stay t
Who will come out on top of Euskal Derbia this weekend
For this weekend’s round of exciting matches, we begin with the historic Basque derby between two giants in Spanish football, Athletic Bilbao and Real Sociedad. This rivalry dates all the way back to 1909 and started as a result of regional, economic, and sporting differences, making this one of the most intense rivalries in Spain. Now these two bitter Basque rivals will lock heads this weekend, with each side looking to come out on top. Athletic Bilbao, who currently sit in 13th, will be eager to pick up a win, as three points would see them move closer towards a top 10 position in the league.
La Real looking to stretch their 2026 unbeaten run to 8 games
Real Sociedad, on the other hand, are in flying form at the moment and are yet to lose a game in 2026 thus far. In fact, La Real’s unbeaten run stretches to seven games, with their last defeat coming to Girona in early December. Real Sociedad currently sit in 8th place in La Liga and will be eager to play European football next season, and a win against Athletic will bring them much closer to that goal. It is going to take a lot for Athletic to come away with a victory against a La Real side in red-hot form, especially because they come into this clash having been eliminated from the Champions League.
However, with that being said, Athletic Bilbao will be at the San Mamés, and traveling to La Catedral has proven to be a daunting task for any away team who plays there. Regardless of Athletic Bilbao’s recent poor run of form, they always stand a chance when playing in front of some of the most passionate fans in Spain.
The Reds looking to return to winning ways; but will have to get past the toons
Liverpool are currently winless in their last five Premier League games and will be keen to return to winning ways against the Toon Army. However, picking up a win on Saturday will be no easy task, as they take on a Newcastle side who are capable of putting on a good defensive showing, which they have demonstrated on numerous occasions throughout this season. Liverpool may be performing well in the Champions League, but at the moment they currently sit in sixth place in the Premier League. If they are to retain a spot in the Champions League next season, they must ensure that they step up their performances for the remainder of the season.
It will also be interesting to see if a defeat this weekend brings Arne Slot closer to getting sacked. At the moment, a defeat against Newcastle seems unlikely to see Slot get sacked; however, should his poor domestic performances continue, it could see him fail to secure a spot in the UCL next season. This would then raise questions amongst the Liverpool board members about whether he is the right manager to lead Liverpool into the next season.
Newcastle, on the other hand, who are in 9th place and just five points off of a Champions League position, arguably need this win more than Liverpool. Should Newcastle fail to pick up a result this weekend, it could set the tone for the rest of their season. A win this weekend at Anfield, however, could bring them closer to their objective of playing in Europe’s finest competition for a second season in a row.
Best weekend matchup across Europe’s top five leagues
Last but not least, it would be impossible to discuss this weekend’s round of matches without talking about arguably the biggest fixture of them all. Tottenham take on Manchester City in a bid to get their season back on track, whereas City will be aiming to remain within close proximity to Arsenal in the Premier League table, who lead by just four points.
It must be said that Tottenham’s direct qualification to the Round of 16 certainly helps Thomas Frank’s case to continue on as manager. However, it is very important to note that in order to play in Europe next season, they would have to be in a top 7 position, and Tottenham currently sit in 13th. With that being said, if Tottenham maintain their poor run of form, it could see Thomas Frank shown the exit door unless Spurs were to pull off the impossible and win the Champions League.
