No Premier League action does not mean there will be no matches to watch this weekend, which ushers in the month of March, as a number of high-profile encounters and possible upsets are set to take place across major competitions (outside of AFCON) this weekend.
Saturday, March 1
La Liga
Real Betis v Real Madrid
Former Real Madrid man, Isco, is now captain at Real Betis, and is linking up too devastating effect with Manchester United loanee, Antony, who won an appeal to overturn a suspension to be available for the match against title-chasing Real Madrid.
Atletico Madrid v Athletic Club
After denying Barcelona at the death in Copa Del Rey during the week, Atletico welcome fourth-placed Athletic Bilbao for a potential banana-skin which could derail the title ambitions of Diego Simeone’s team – especially if the Williams brothers turn up big time.
FA Cup
Manchester City v Plymouth Argyle
For sending Liverpool out of the FA Cup, Argyle were rewarded with a trip to the Etihad for the chance to cause yet another major upset in the oldest Cup competition in the world. Can The Pilgrims follow up wins over Brentford and Liverpool with another against the Cityzens?
Bundesliga
Eintracht Frankfurt v Bayer Leverkusen
Third-placed Frankfurt will be looking to bounce back from a crushing loss at Bayern Munich last time out when they welcome Leverkusen, who can go 11 points clear in second-place with a win to keep their fading title defence just alive.
Serie A
Napoli v Inter Milan
Italy’s top two teams and the last two Scudetto winners face-off at the Diego Maradona Stadium in a clash that could give Inter some breathing space at the top or send Napoli back to the top and potentially leave the three-horse title race even closer.
Ligue 1
PSG v Lille LOSC
The Ligue 1 leaders appear to be getting out of sight of their rivals, unless fourth-placed Lille can do something about it this weekend. Both teams have Champions League engagements awaiting next week as well, but Lille need this domestic blockbuster more to remain in the UCL qualifying spots for next season.
Sunday, March 2
NPFL
Kano Pillars v Enugu Rangers
Fourth-placed Rangers go to the north knowing a loss will see their hosts, Kano Pillars, go above them on the league table. Both teams will be out to pick up valuable points, especially as two of the top three teams will be meeting elsewhere.
Shooting Stars v Rivers United
United returned to second spot ahead of Shooting Stars on goal difference following a 1-0 win over Katsina United, making the trip to Ibadan to face the Oluyole Warriors one to watch for teeming football fans in Nigeria – more so because of the game taking place in Kano too.
FA Cup
Manchester United v Fulham
The Red Devils were vulnerable many times against relegation-threatened Ipswich on Wednesday night, as they were last time they faced Fulham before snatching a 1-0 win in a recent Premier League match. The Cottagers will be out to correct that in this FA Cup clash at Old Trafford, but will they succeed?
La Liga
Barcelona v Real Sociedad
With the Madrid clubs facing potentially tricky teams a day before, Barcelona will come up against a tricky test of their own at home to ninth-placed Sociedad, just as they will have one eye on the trip to Portugal days later to face Benfica in a Champions League Round of 16 first leg clash.
Serie A
AC Milan v SS Lazio
Both teams missed out on gaining ground on their rivals last time out and will be out to get the three points – for Milan, to remain in the hunt to finish in a European spot for next season having crashed out of the Champions League while for Lazio, to remain in the chase for Champions League qualification next season.
Ligue 1
Olympique Marseille v FC Nantes
Moses Simon’s Nantes continue their fight against the relegation zone when they come up against Olympique Marseille, themselves chasing Champions League qualification now that PSG appear to be running away at the top.