Man City, Aston Villa go head-to-head at the Etihad
Manchester City and Aston Villa go head-to-head at the Etihad in the Premier League on Tuesday night in a crucial encounter in the race for Champions League qualification.
With five clubs being granted a berth in Europe’s top-tier competition, the task has become slightly more forgiving, but no less intense, heading into the final straight.
Following Saturday’s action, Man City and Villa had positioned themselves perfectly to ensure Champions League qualification again next season. Guardiola has now seen his side collect 10 points from four matches, keeping three clean sheets in that time, with recent defensive solidity proving to be the key factor in their upsurge in form.
The hosts have won 14 straight games against Villa at the Etihad, with that being the second-longest such run in Premier League history, with City also holding the best – 16 straight wins versus Newcastle.
While still not looking back to their very best, City are picking up results on a regular basis against clubs that have been in good form recently, and they will feel confident in repeating the feat against this tricky Villa side here.
This is Villa’s best chance yet to end their dreadful run at the Etihad, but they have flattered to deceive against fellow Champions League-chasing clubs this season, and could fall short again.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Barca get closer to La Liga title as they host Mallorca
Barcelona will be aiming to take another big step towards the La Liga title when they host Mallorca on Tuesday night.
The Catalan giants will enter the match off the back of a 4-3 victory over Celta Vigo, which moved them seven points clear at the top of the La Liga table, while Mallorca occupy seventh, which is now a Europe League position in Spain’s top flight.
Barcelona are very much in charge of the title race at this stage of proceedings, and a hugely impressive La Liga campaign has seen them score 88 times in their 32 matches, so they are very much on for a century of league goals in 2024-25.
Barcelona are chasing a treble late in the season, preparing to tackle Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey final next weekend, while they will face Inter Milan in the semi-finals of the Champions League.
Eighth position is now a Conference League playoff spot, meanwhile, so Mallorca are very much on for a European finish this term, which would be an excellent achievement considering that the team finished down in 15th last season.
Mallorca are capable of making this an uncomfortable match for Barcelona, and we are expecting a close game on Tuesday evening in terms of the scoreline. That said, the Catalan giants should be able to navigate their way to another huge three points.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Valencia, Espanyol lock horns in an intriguing match
Two La Liga teams in impressive form will lock horns at Mestalla for an intriguing match on Tuesday evening, with Valencia welcoming Espanyol.
Valencia, who are 14th in the La Liga table, will bring a seven-game unbeaten run into the contest, while 13th-placed Espanyol have been victorious in their last three league games.
Not too long ago, Valencia were in serious relegation danger, but that is no longer the case approaching the end of the campaign, with Los Che unbeaten in their last seven league games, recording four wins in the process.
Valencia have been impressive on home soil this season, picking up 27 points from their 16 matches in front of their own fans, but they have not actually managed to overcome Espanyol in La Liga since July 2020.
Each of the last four La Liga contests between the two sides have finished level, including a 1-1 draw in the reverse game earlier this season, while it was 2-2 in the corresponding fixture at Mestalla during the 2023-24 campaign.
Valencia finished ninth in La Liga last season – a top-half spot is still achievable this term despite their struggles, and Los Che will be bidding to end a largely disappointing campaign on a positive note.
This is set to be a fascinating battle between two in-form teams, and we are expecting it to be close in terms of the scoreline; home advantage could be key, though, with Valencia potentially navigating their way to all three points.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
PSG chase unbeaten season as they travel to face Nantes
Paris Saint-Germain will continue in their pursuit of an unbeaten Ligue 1 season when they travel to the Stade de la Beaujoire to face Nantes on Tuesday night.
This game was rearranged last weekend in order to give PSG more time to prepare for their Champions League tie with Aston Villa, to the disappointment of those in the Nantes camp.
Even though the title is already sewn up, history still beckons for PSG, who are seeking to become the first club in Ligue 1 history to complete a full season unbeaten.
Luis Enrique‘s men are also resounding favourites to beat Reims in the Coupe de France final, while they are one of the red-hot favourites to win the Champions League this season, in what could be an unprecedented treble for a French club.
After not playing in Ligue 1 for two weeks, the champions returned to action at the weekend in a narrow 2-1 win at home to Le Havre, which was not pretty, but got the job done as another hurdle was cleared.
That also saw them win a 10th straight Ligue 1 game for the first time since the 2018-19 season, but next up are one of the few teams that have already taken points off them during the current campaign.
PSG have though found the net in 27 consecutive matches against Nantes, the longest run in the club’s history against a single opponent.
The reverse fixture saw Nantes arrest a five-game losing streak against the Parisians, but it is hard to see them repeating the feat, with six defeats in their last nine Ligue 1 games.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
FIXTURES
Manchester City 20:00 Aston Villa
The post Today’s European Leagues Fixtures & Preview appeared first on The Ghanaian Chronicle.
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