Saturday, February 15th
Bayer Leverkusen vs Bayern Munich - 18:30 CET
We may be in February, but it’s not hard to argue that this weekend’s clash between defending Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen and league leaders Bayern Munich is a title decider.
Despite having their second-best Bundesliga season up to this point after last season’s success, Bayer Leverkusen are eight points behind Bayern at this stage.
A loss on Saturday for Xabi Alonso’s could mean curtains where they would need to close an 11-point gap in just 12 games.
But, there is hope for the hosts. Alonso is the first manager in Bundesliga history to remain undefeated against the goliaths of Munich in his first five games (W3, D2), showing he seems to have their number so far.
This season’s results of a draw in the league and a win in the cup suggest Leverkusen can close the gap on Saturday evening.
Both sides are not struggling with injuries, meaning we will have strong XIs for the biggest game of the season in Germany - you won’t want to miss this.
Josh Donaldson
Sunday, February 16th
Canada vs USA (Four Nations Face-Off) - 02:00 CET
The United States of Tkachuk, I mean, America is coming off an emphatic 6-1 win over Finland. The Tkachuk brothers put up two goals each after being put on the same line in the second period along with Jack Eichel and it turned into something magical.
Meanwhile, they’ll be taking on a loaded Canada team on more rested legs after their close overtime win over Sweden on Wednesday. The two rivals, especially with current politics in play, will be taking each other on in the primetime 20:00 Eastern time slot.
I think Team Canada’s power play gets the better of Team USA, however, in a close 4-3 win in regulation in front of their home crowd, the USA wins on the physical front. I expect a ton of tempers to flare and I will love every second of it.
With the NBA All-Star Weekend going on at the same time, I expect nothing but negative fan feedback for everything going on with the NBA. The NHL replaced their All-Star game with the best competition possible in the 4 Nations while I expect everything to occur during NBA All-Star Weekend to be an utter snoozefeast.
I’m praying to any god or cosmic entity possible that someone in the dunk contest brings some creative flare for once. Not to mention, the Three-Point Contest doesn’t even have the league’s top three scorers from behind the arc in the competition anyway.
Eric Himmelheber
Tottenham Hotspur vs Manchester United - 17:30 CET
Whenever a match is dubbed the ‘El Sackico’ you know things must be pretty bad at both clubs. And it is fair to say that is exactly the case here with both Tottenham and Manchester United closer to relegation than European football.
Ange Postecoglou’s job must be on thin ice after a disastrous week saw Spurs knocked out of the Carabao Cup at the semi-final stage before Aston Villa ended their brief FA Cup run. All that remains for the North London club is the Europa League and trying to make the top half of the Premier League table.
As for Manchester United, life for Ruben Amorim has been equally bleak recently as his new side continues to struggle to adapt to his style of play.
Although far from convincing, United’s 2-1 FA Cup win against Leicester last weekend keeps hope alive for the season. However bad things have been in the league, United could still win two trophies this season.
However, defeat for either side this weekend and morale will be on the floor and that doesn't bode well as we begin to reach the business end of the season.
Both clubs need to find momentum soon or any fading hope of silverware this season will become even more unrealistic.
Harry Dunnett
The thrilling title race in Serie A continues this weekend as second-placed Inter Milan travel to Turin to face Juventus in a mouthwatering clash on Sunday evening.
Sitting just a point adrift of league leaders Napoli, Simone Inzaghi's men will be desperate to keep the pressure on the Partenopei, who face a tricky assignment themselves - away to Lazio a day earlier.
Inter have dropped points in three of their last six league outings, while Juventus are on a three-match winning run across all competitions - their longest such streak since August.
The Nerazzurri will draw confidence from the fact they’re unbeaten in the last five meetings between the two sides (W2, D3), and with a second successive Scudetto on the line, victory at the Allianz would provide them with a huge boost approaching the business end of the season.
Make sure you tune in, it promises to be a blockbuster!
Danny Clark