World Football: 10 Games to Watch This Weekend

It has been an extremely exciting week all across world football, and this weekend, viewers will be treated to even more interesting top-level fixtures.

From Europe's oldest and most prestigious cup competition to crucial matches with Champions League implications in Serie A, La Liga and Germany, there are thrilling games in store.

As we get ever-closer to the end of Europe's league seasons, each match carries greater significance, and viewers are treated to more intense football.

So, without further ado, here are 10 of the best games for us to watch on this great sporting weekend.

Everton vs. Sunderland

After David Moyes' 10 year anniversary was spoiled in midweek by an inspirational Steven Gerrard, Everton will look to get back to their previous winning ways in the FA Cup against Sunderland.

As the Black Cats have shown against Arsenal, they are a very tough side to beat when Martin O'Neill has them at their fighting best, scrapping for every ball and always looking to nick a goal.

Moyes will want to celebrate at least one of the fixtures flanking his anniversary in style, and if Everton can get past this challenge, they will have a very good chance of going to Wembley in May.

Liverpool vs. Stoke City

Despite their phenomenal home victory over Everton, Liverpool are still a club severely in need of results.

Despite over £100 million spent in the past year on player acquisitions, the Reds are currently languishing in seventh place, and only scored their first League goals at home this week through the incomparable Steven Gerrard.

Thus, Liverpool will be fighting for cup glory only, with their place in the Europa League already clinched and no chance of qualifying for the Champions League.

Expect a very good Starting XI and a very spirited performance from Liverpool, with a determined Stoke holding out for a replay.

Bayer Leverkusen vs. Borussia Monchengladbach

Fresh off their Champions League humiliation at the little hands of Lionel Messi, Bayer Leverkusen must get themselves focused because they are fighting for their right to European football next season.

In Borussia Monchengladbach, Leverkusen will face a stern test against a team that has exceeded expectations this season and is currently in line for a Champions League position.

Gladbach will want to remain firmly in third place to automatically qualify for next year's competition, while Leverkusen must hold off Stuttgart, Werder Bremen and Hannover to remain in fifth place.

Robin Dutt's men also have a faint hope of snatching fourth place away from Schalke, with seven points to make up from nine remaining games.

Bayern Munich vs. Hertha Berlin

Bayern Munich is fighting to sustain any remaining hope of winning the Bundesliga title this season.

The German giants, despite laying a vicious 7-1 beatdown on FC Basel in the Champions League, are five points adrift of the superb Borussia Dortmund.

For Bayern to comeback and win the Bundesliga this season, they will need to win almost every game to make up the deficit they currently find themselves in and hope for Dortmund to stumble.

If they cannot get past lowly Hertha Berlin, their hopes will pretty much be dashed.

Udinese vs. Napoli

This is nothing short of a massive match between two sides jockeying for Champions League football, and, potentially the Europa League.

Recently knocked out of the CL in stunning fashion by Chelsea, the vaunted attacking side of Napoli will have to be at their best to break down a stubborn Udinese team with whom they are level on points.

Both sides are level on points with 46, and are chasing Lazio, two ahead, for the third and final Champions League qualifying position. 

The right set of circumstances would catapult the winner of this tie into their desired League position, while the loser could possibly be separated from sixth-place Roma by a mere two points.

Real Madrid vs. Malaga

Both sides are very much in form for this clash at the Bernabeu, and both play some of the most attractive football in Spain.

Malaga, even with the considerable amount of investment put into the team, have surprised this season in La Liga, and are currently in fourth place; in other words, in line for Champions League qualification.

The table is extremely tight, however, as the difference between fourth and ninth place is a mere four points. Every game, therefore, is a vital one for Malaga.

Madrid, meanwhile, must maintain their hefty 10-point lead over Barcelona at the top of the table to give Los Blancos confidence and reduce unnecessary stress during the title run in.

Fulham vs. Swansea

While we're on the subject of Spanish football, there is a team 1,100 miles away from Barcelona that is emulating their beautiful tiki-taka style of play to great success in the Premier League.

Not Arsenal, not Manchester City, but Welsh giants Swansea City.

When Scott Sinclair, Danny Graham and Leon Britton get their rhythmic game going, the Swans are deceptively difficult to stop. After claiming Arsenal's scalp in January, Swansea outplayed Manchester City at their own game to give the Sky Blues a 1-0 loss.

Fulham are in great form as well, notwithstanding their recent loss to Aston Villa. Driven by Clint Dempsey, the Cottagers are almost as entertaining and deceptive as their Welsh opponents.

This will be a fantastically fluid football match from two teams in great nick.

Wolves vs. Manchester United

Not that Sir Alex Ferguson's team is one that lacks mental fortitude, but Manchester United cannot feel sorry for themselves at all after their Europa League exit to Athletic Bilbao as they seek to strengthen their grip on first place in the Premier League.

On paper, they should not have much of a challenge before them in Wolves, who are slipping further down the table with every passing match, and can now only look down upon Wigan at the bottom of the table.

But when a team simply parks the bus and hunkers down to withstand waves of attacks, it can be hard even for a team like United to break their opponents down.

If the Red Devils cannot snatch all three points, the title race will be blown completely open, and questions will be asked of the quality of England's top two teams.

Nancy vs. Montpelier

As the season begins to wind down in France, every game is massive for Montpellier and Paris Saint-Germain, the two challengers for the title.

The former has grossly over-performed this season, and few would have pegged them to be only one point behind their mega-rich competitors this late in the season.

Yet, with only a few more rounds of fixtures remaining, this is where La Paillade find themselves. Every football fan who does not support wealthy Qataris turning some clubs into super-teams should be pulling for the underdog in this race.

If they do not win their match against Nancy, however, there will be little hope for the fantastic story.

Valencia vs. Athletic Bilbao

This is just about as good and competitive as Spanish football can get without the term "Clasico" being involved.

Valencia, third in the league, are not at all in an impervious position. Osasuna sits in sixth place, yet are only two wins away from equaling Valencia's point-total.

But, ah, Athletic Bilbao. The Basque club got quite the confidence boost by decisively knocking Manchester United out of the Europa League at the San Mames.

Striker Fernando Llorente is in scintillating form, and their impressive play against United showed that Bilbao can at least make a run at a Europa League place, as the Champions League just seems a bridge too far at this point.

This will be an exciting, high-stakes match with confident sides that have much to play for.

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