SATURDAY

REAL MADRID 2-2 BARCA 7pm

Barcelona head into El Clasico with a bad record of two losses away from home, but they sit top of La Liga, three points ahead of their bitter rivals Real Madrid, whose coach Rafael Benitez will have a first feel of the atmosphere when the biggest soccer rivalry in Europe kicks off. Lionel Messi is back to form the Barca trident after two months out, and returns when his two sideshows in Neymar and Suarez have been covering up perfectly for the Blaugrana. Saturday will be just the third time this season that all of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema start together. Benzema will play for the first time since being charged with complicity to blackmail and conspiring to commit a criminal act in a case involving a sex tape featuring French teammate Mathieu Valbuena.

MAN CITY 2-1 LIVERPOOL 7.30pm

Manchester City have scored more goals than any other Premier League team on home turf and go into this bogey fixture on top of the table with Liverpool coming off Jurgen Klopp’s first loss of Anfield career. The Kop are the one side Manchester City struggles to beat every season, but after three draws, then three wins, Klopp could be on course to three losses to complete nine games with three identical results. First loss to Crystal Palace could be followed by City defeat in a game Sergio Aguero wants to feature in after a month out, while Liverpool’s Daniel Sturridge also wants to return from injury. There will be a lot of attention on Raheem Sterling as he faces his former club.

WATFORD 2-2 MAN UNITED 2.45pm

Watford are proving they can keep their place in the premiership. Red Eagles will travel without inspirational striker Anthony Martial and midfielder Michael Carrick. This is a tricky tie that could end in a draw

CHELSEA 3-1 NORWICH 5pm

Don’t you all love jokes? They say El Clasico is pitting Real Madrid against Barcelona today, while ‘El Relegato’ has Chelsea hosting Norwich. Mourinho will not like this but he has to return to the touchline and belt out boring instructions to disinterested players.

JUVENTUS 2-0 AC MILAN 10pm

A struggling Juventus against a resurgent AC Milan, but the Old Lady of Turin should see this one off.

SPURS 2 -3 WEST HAM 10pm

Tottenham Hotspur fans want to be considered the big side. If so, West Ham will be out to beat them. That is what the Hammers do to big sides.

OTHER FIXTURES

SCHALKE 1-3 BAYERNWOLFSBURG 0-2 BREMENBOLOGNA 2-1 ROMAEVERTON 1-1 ASTON VILLANEWCASTLE 2-0 LEICESTERSWANSEA 1-2 B’MOUTHS’THAMPTON 0-0 STOKEWEST BROM 2-1 ARSENALjacobs.seaman@newtimes.co.rw