WHAT TO WATCH: Weekend football thrills, drama, and unmissable action

football06 December 2024 07:10
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Get ready for an electrifying weekend of football as SuperSport delivers world-class action from the globe’s top leagues and competitions. Whether you’re a fan of gripping title races, underdog heroics, or tactical duels, there’s something for every football enthusiast.

From the fiery rivalry of the Merseyside derby to the African giants’ showdown in the CAF Champions League, and high-stakes clashes in Serie A and LaLiga, this is a weekend guaranteed to keep fans glued to their screens.

Here’s your guide to the standout fixtures to catch live on SuperSport…

Milan need to give their ALL against high-flying Atalanta

Serie A: Atalanta v AC Milan
Friday 6 December, 9:45pm (CAT)

Europa League winners Atalanta will hope to continue beating the odds when they welcome AC Milan in Serie A on Friday, a clash that could see them move top and equal club's record winning streak.

Second-placed Atalanta kept up with their stellar campaign when they won 2-0 at AS Roma on Monday, extending their impressive winning run to eight league games. That streak included a 3-0 win at leaders Napoli, whom they now trail by one point.

But a challenging start to December will continue for Gian Piero Gasperini's side when they host the 19-time Italian champions Milan, four days before welcoming European Cup holders Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday.

If they beat seventh-placed Milan, Atalanta will equal the record for their longest nine-game winning run in Serie A, set in 2020.

That feat would require them to overcome Milan in back-to-back home league games only for the second time, after they managed doing so between November 2006 and January 2008.

ALL eyes on the Merseyside derby

Premier League: Everton v Liverpool
Saturday 7 December, 2:30pm (CAT)

Everton won 2-0 in their last Premier League game against Liverpool in April, last winning consecutive league Merseyside derbies in the 1984-85 campaign.

Liverpool’s 2-0 loss in this exact fixture last season ended a 12-game unbeaten away run in the Premier League against Everton (W3 D9). They’ve not lost consecutive visits to Goodison Park since a run of three between 1992 and 1994.

Everton vs Liverpool is the fixture to have seen the most red cards (23) and been drawn 0-0 the most (12) in Premier League history. No side has scored more 90th minute winners against an opponent in the competition than Liverpool have against Everton (5).

Since the start of last season, Liverpool are unbeaten in all eight of their Premier League games kicking off at 12.30 on Saturday (W6 D2), including a 2-0 win against Everton. Meanwhile, Everton are winless in their last six such matches (D2 L4), conceding exactly two goals in each game.

ALL set for a clash of African giants

CAF Champions League: Orlando Pirates v Al Ahly
7 December, 3pm (CAT)

Orlando Pirates will host Al Ahly in a CAF Champions League group stage encounter, in what will be the 5th meeting between the sides in the competition.

In all CAF competitions this will be the 7th meeting between the sides. Over their previous six meetings in all African Club competitions Pirates have three wins to Al Ahly’s one, while there have been two draws.

The sides also met in the 2015 CAF Confederations Cup Semi-finals, Pirates won the first leg 1-0 at home and the second leg 4-3 away from home for a 5-3 aggregate win. The previous four meetings between the sides in the CAF Champions League came in the 2013 edition.

Over the previous four meetings between the sides in the Champions League, both sides have one victory each with two games being drawn.

The sides first met in group A in the 2013 CAF Champions League, the first clash with Al Ahly as hosts on the 4th August 2013, saw Pirates claim a 3-0 win. Thandani Ntshumayelo scored in the 12th minute, Andile Jali converted a penalty in the 73rd minute and Sifiso Myeni scored in the 76th minute. Walid Soliman had a penalty saved by Senzo Meyiwa in the 37th minute.

An ALL-star Real Madrid team travel to Catalonia

LaLiga: Girona v Real Madrid
Saturday 7 December, 10pm (CAT)

Matchday 16 of the 2024/25 LaLiga campaign is just around the corner and one game that stands out is the duel between Girona FC and Real Madrid at the Estadi Montilivi on Saturday. It promises to be another highly entertaining match-up, after these two clubs have played out several high-scoring games in recent years.

Girona FC enter this next duel in decent form. Míchel won the November Coach of the Month prize for LaLiga and then the Catalan team netted deep into second-half stoppage time through Ladislav Krejčí last weekend to snatch a 2-2 draw and rescue a point away at fellow European contenders Villarreal CF. Now, Los Blanquivermells will look to get back to winning ways on home soil, where they’ve won four of their seven league duels this season.

As for the guests, Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid just lost 2-1 away at Athletic Club on Wednesday night. They had won their previous three games before that, scoring nine goals and conceding none, but now travel to Catalonia in search of three points.

Chiefs striving to get ALL three points

Betway Premiership: Polokwane v Kaizer Chiefs
Sunday 8 December, 3:30pm (CAT)

Polokwane City host Kaizer Chiefs in a league clash in what will be the 17th league meeting between the sides since the 2013-14 season.

Over the past 16 league meetings Chiefs hold an advantage with seven victories compared to Polokwane City with three, the remaining six matches have been drawn.

A total of 35 goals have been scored in the previous 16 league matches at 2.19 goals per game. Kaizer Chiefs have scored 22 at 1.38 goals per game and Polokwane City 13 at 0.81 goals per game.

The sides first met in the 2013-14 season with Chiefs as hosts on the 27th of November 2013. Chiefs were 4-1 winners. Chiefs went 4-0 up through Eric Matoho in the 3rd minute, Kingston Nkatha in the 26th minute and a Bernard Parker brace in the 32nd and 60th minutes, Puleng Marema pulled a goal back in the 87th minute.

Chiefs completed a league double with a 2-0 win away from home on the 16th of April 2014 in 2013-14, George Lebese scored in the 8th minute and George Maluleka scored in the 72nd minute.

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