Let’s start in Spain this week. It seems that while Barcelona confront a reasonably straightforward stretch run the other title contenders are being left to knock lumps out each other.  Last week it was a case of Valencia having to beat Sevilla – which they did - and this week they have to repeat the feat, this time against Real Madrid.

If Valencia can collect another three points (they have failed to win back to back league games since mid January) then they only have to play one team presently in the top seven – Real Zaragoza – in their last seven matches.

On the other hand Real Madrid and Sevilla have to play each other as well as Real Zaragoza. Perhaps the team we should really be feeling sorry for is Real Zaragoza who is currently fifth in the league and ahead of Atletico Madrid courtesy of a better head-to-head record.

This weekend Sevilla faces an Athletic Bilbao side that has come to life in their last two matches.  Athletic Bilbao has never been relegated and has finally dragged themselves clear of the bottom three positions in the league. Sevilla are going through a goal drought and this match may prove trickier than the league positions might indicate.

Barcelona have not exactly been road warriors this season and have only one win away from the Nou Camp in the last eight games. They do however have an excellent record against teams in the lower half of the division which is where a disappointing Villarreal side currently resides. Barcelona have won 11 and drawn four of 15 such games, while conversely Villarreal have only three wins in 16 games against top-class opposition.

In Germany, Bayern Munich travels to face the team currently one spot above them in the Bundesliga, third-place Stuttgart. Stuttgart currently enjoys a two-point cushion on Bayern Munich and after this weekend only four games will remain.

Bayern cannot afford to lose this weekend, because if they do there will be a very real possibility that next season their only participation in the Champions League will come from watching on television. For a side that over the last decade has won the Bundesliga title seven times, been runners up twice and finished third once it would be a crippling blow. Only four of the first choice eleven out under the age of 29, and it is clear that Bayern need to retool this summer. Without Champions League money Ottmar Hitzfeld may have to restrict his shopping to the bargain bin.

Inter should wrap up Serie A this weekend after they stumbled late in the midweek game against Roma. Lazio and Fiorentina are two sides that have recently seen excellent runs come to an end. For Lazio, two draws against as Ascoli and Chievo brought eight straight wins to a halt. Even so Lazio’s last loss was back on December 20.  They face a Fiorentina side that lost to Parma in midweek after going 11 games without loss. Both sides enjoy two very effective striking partnerships.  For Lazio it is Rocchi (15) and Giuly many five because he kbit okay because he is going to get very Kiel doolally gor (10), while Fiorentina can look to Luca Toni (16) and Adrian Mutu (14).

Lazio are currently sits third in the league 11 points behind rivals Roma, but only four points ahead of Milan. Fiorentina is seventh but have Empoli and Palermo in their sights even though the gap is five points.

Two teams who have spent the week moving players in and out clash in MLS.  Houston Dynamo moved defender Kevin Goldthwaite to Toronto for midfielder Richard Mulrooney, while the New York Red Bulls also sent defensive help – and they desperately need it – to Toronto in the shape of speedy full-back Marvell Wynne.

However, the most interesting move was the acquisition of 31-year-old Colombian striker Juan Pablo Angel by the New York Red Bulls from Aston Villa. The frantic pace of the Premiership never suited Angel’s style but I reckon he’s got a good few goals left in him and he will turn out to be a very astute signing. The Colombian’s debut depends upon how quickly a work permit can be acquired. 

In the Premiership Manchester United - unbeaten in the last 14 one games – await the visit of Middlesbrough who are winless in their last five away games.  In fact, Middlesbrough have only one away win all season and only two teams have collected fewer away points.  However, Boro appear to enjoy the Old Trafford stage and have a very respectable record.  Since 2002 Boro only lost once in five Premiership visits to Manchester United while winning twice and drawing the other two games.

Coincidently a similar dynamic appears to be at play when Newcastle plays Chelsea at St James’ Park. Newcastle goes into this game have won only once in their last seven Premiership games. Chelsea on the other hand have won their last nine. But, Newcastle have won three and drawn the other when Chelsea have come calling in the last four seasons. The Magpies also enjoy the sixth best record in the league against top half teams, while they sit only 18th against teams occupying positions eleven through twenty. The better the opposition the better Newcastle seem to play. 

Tottenham Hotspur manager Martin Jol said this week that his team needs to win four of the remaining five games in order to secure a UEFA spot for next season. Step one would appear to be beating Arsenal in the early game on Saturday.  This is something that Spurs have failed to do in their last 17 league and cup matches against their North London neighbours. Six more points for Arsenal will guarantee them at least fourth place and entry into the Champions League pre-qualifying round 2. These two teams have shared the points in five of the last six premiership games that White Hart Lane. What chance of six out of seven?

At the bottom of the Premiership Charlton and Sheffield United is a game that everyone will be keeping an eye on. A classic six pointer, Charlton are undefeated in 11 league games against Sheffield United, but are currently two points behind the Yorkshire club with the same number of games played.

Sheffield United have lost more away games in the Premiership than any other team and have not even scored on the road since in early February. On the other hand Charlton are unbeaten in their last four home games and have kept clean sheets in each of then.

The End