England’s 2-1 win in Berlin will be the focus until the Premier League returns along with all the other domestic games in Europe. There are some high quality fixtures this weekend, with Saturday night looking particularly tasty as there is the Aston Villa-Manchester United clash followed by Inter Milan-Juventus or as some are billing it Mourinho v Ranieri.
Aston Villa v Manchester United, Premier League, November 22, 2008
Last week’s 2-0 win at the Emirates may have signaled the start of Aston Villa’s challenge to break up the so-called “Big Four” in England and secure a lucrative place in the Champions League.
The 2-0 win at Arsenal was an almost faultless performance from Martin O’Neill’s men and if Ashley Young had put away his first-half penalty, Villa could have won much more comfortably. O’Neill, a manager not known for hyperbole, commented after the game that his team had been “brilliant” and they need to produce further performances in the same vein if they are to pip Arsenal to fourth place.
Whilst many pundits predicted Aston Villa could be the team to challenge the four dominant teams in England at the start of the season, they have tailed off a little in recent weeks. Surprisingly losing away at Newcastle and then at home to Middlesbrough.
Villa have quality throughout the side and in particular Ashley Young and Gabriel Agbonlahor have the pace, talent and hunger to lead them to a Champions League place. O’Neill also made some astute signings such as Carlos Cuellar and Brad Friedel who could provide the defensive steel and experience necessary for a successful league season.
In recent days O’Neill has been reportedly preparing for a spending spree in January and their form up until the transfer window could be crucial for their hopes of qualifying for the premier club competition in Europe. Besides another game with Arsenal on Boxing Day, this looks like the hardest game Villa will face before the end of the year.
United will of course come into the game as favourites and will be wary of the quality in Villa’s side. Sir Alex Ferguson wrote in his programme notes for the home game with Stoke last week that following defeats this season to Liverpool and Arsenal, the Premier League champions cannot afford to slip up again this season.
It has been a mixed week for Cristiano Ronaldo who claimed his 100th and 101st goals for the Red Devils but was then part of a Portugal team that were thrashed 6-2 by Brazil. Whilst there is an injury doubt surrounding Dimitar Berbatov, Wayne Rooney, and Rio Ferdinand did not play for England in midweek and Carlos Tevez was voted man of the match in Argentina’s win in Scotland.
This game will go a long way to showing the quality of the Aston Villa squad and whether they can compete with one of the most talented teams in world football. United have a great record against Villa in recent times and youngsters such as Young and Agbonlahor will be eager to produce another performance that makes the rest of the Premier League take note.
101gg predicts: Aston Villa 2 - Manchester United 1
Inter Milan v Juventus , Serie A, November 22, 2008
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