The final major international window before the World Cup begins Monday and lasts through early next week with crucial matches being contested across UEFA, CONMEBOL, Concacaf, CAF, AFC and OFC. We'll know 29 of the 32 competing nations in Qatar after this period, with only the inter-confederation playoffs (two spots) and a delayed European playoff final (one spot) to go.
The planets aligned and will bring a lot of derbies around the world this weekend. Yes, you are probably very aware of El Clásico between Real Madrid and Barcelona on Sunday, but Spain is not the only country where the land will tremor with the passion of its fans.
Here is a list of the heated rivalries you will be able to witness, in chronological order.
There's the scoreline and then there's reality.
After Liverpool's 2-0 first leg victory at the San Siro back on Feb. 16, the refrain you constantly heard in the buildup and throughout the opening hour at Anfield on Tuesday was that Inter was still precariously alive in this one — just get the first goal and Anfield would be theirs for the taking!
Juventus eked out a 1-0 win over Spezia on Sunday, maintaining its grip on a top-four place in Serie A. After the match, Bianconeri coach Massimiliano Allegri broke some bad news to Juve and USMNT fans with a Weston McKennie injury update: The Texan is done for the season.
With 10 Serie A matches remaining, AC Milan is top of the table following Sunday's nervy 1-0 victory over Napoli at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
Inter is two points back of Milan and maintains a game in hand, but the Rossoneri are one step closer to a first Scudetto since 2011 while Napoli, which entered the match level on points with Milan, likely now sees its wait for a first league title since 1990 extended.
The moment of the match was provided by Olivier Giroud in the 49th minute.
Eighteen-year-old Moustapha Cissé scored his first two Atalanta goals with the composure of a veteran striker.
The first came from a looping through ball, which Cissé took one touch to control before providing a steady low finish inside the far post. The second came on a well-placed, one-touch shot after some strong interplay with a teammate on the edge of the penalty area.
Milan U19 - Atalanta U19 pic.twitter.com/6VLc3BohBl
Juventus escaped with a 1-0 win over Fiorentina in the first leg of the Coppa Italia semifinals on Wednesday. Dušan Vlahović, who joined the Bianconeri from Fiorentina for up to $90 million in January, played the full 90, but it was one of his (former) teammates who scored the late winner.
Despite approaching 27 years as a senior professional, Gianluigi Buffon has no plans to retire yet after signing a new deal at Parma that will see the goalkeeper continue playing until the ripe old age of 46.
Buffon re-joined Serie B side Parma — the team he made his debut for as a 17-year-old in November 1995 — last year, with the club announcing on Monday that he has signed a contract extension until 2024.
Americans tuning in to Juventus’ 1-1 draw with Villarreal in the Champions League on Tuesday watched in horror as the Old Lady’s young American limped off injured in the 81st minute. The Weston McKennie injury is a broken foot, according to reports, putting into doubt his ability to participate in vital World Cup qualifiers for the USMNT next month.
Juventus is an odd club at the moment. The Old Lady, owner of a record 36 Scudettos, isn’t the same side that won nine straight Serie A crowns from 2011-2020. Talent is there, but not everywhere.