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Mbappé's Rollercoaster Season 🎢

Super Sunday With Barcelona, Real Madrid, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool & Everton

Yoosof FarahNov 28, 2009

For any football fan, Sunday 29th November will be one of the highlights of the season, as six of the world's biggest clubs do battle.

El Clásico

Over in Spain, there is the Battle of La Liga, as FC Barcelona host Real Madrid at the Nou Camp in yet another highly anticipated El Clásico match.

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On the team news front, it doesn't look great for Barcelona. They could be without key players Lionel Messi (favourite for the 2009 FIFA World Player of the Year award) and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the £42m striker who has seven league goals and three assists to his name so far this season.

They will probably have to call on their Spanish stars, Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta, to do the business. This point was not lost on Real Madrid's Xabi Alonso, who said of his Spanish teammates: "Their performance level is truly impressive. I believe they are the best midfielders in the world."

As for Real Madrid, a massive boost for them comes in the form of £80million worth of Portuguese talent with current World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo returning from injury.

The world's most expensive player returned as a substitute during Madrid's Champions League success over FC Zurich, and will be hoping (or perhaps expecting) for a place in the starting line-up tomorrow evening.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid manager Manuel Pellegrini faces a dilemma on who to partner Raul up front. Gonzalo Higuain has staked his claim after scoring his seventh goal of the season midweek, while Karim Benzema will be hoping to feature in his first taste of El Clásico.

Battle of London

Having gained increased significance amongst both sets of supporters in recent years, capital rivalries will resume on Sunday as Arsenal take on league leaders Chelsea.

Chelsea may lead the way in the Premier League at present, but Arsenal have proven enough this season to show that they could well be there at the top, or near the top, come May.

History dictates that positive results against potential title challengers are the making of a successful side, meaning both teams will no doubt be desperate to come out on top on Sunday.

In terms of team news, Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka's chances of finding the target against his former club will be greatly helped by the defensive crisis currently giving Arsene Wenger a serious headache.

Arsenal are already set to be without Gael Clichy (back) and Kieran Gibbs (ankle) this weekend, while Swiss centre-half Johan Djourou (knee) is also sidelined.

The biggest worry for the Gunners though, concerns William Gallas. The Frenchman suffering eye and ankle knocks during their European encounter with Standard Liege in midweek.

Jack Wilshere (ankle) and Abou Diaby (calf) will be missing in midfield, while Robin van Persie (ankle) and Nicklas Bendtner (hernia) are notable absentees in the attacking department.

Luckily for Chelsea, they have no such concerns ahead of the game, having welcomed back their key men in midweek.

Didier Drogba and Michael Ballack both came through the Champions League trip to Porto unscathed, while Deco is also back to full fitness following a recent groin complaint.

Frank Lampard failed to make the game in Portugal with a thigh problem, but Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti is confident the midfield ace will be ready to face the Gunners.

That means Jose Bosingwa (knee) remains the only long-term absentee for the Blues, with the full-back not expected to be back in action until after the New Year.

The Merseyside Derby

Goodison Park is the venue for the first Merseyside derby of the season, as Everton take on Liverpool FC in the city of Liverpool.

This season's encounter will make for an interesting match, as both teams are struggling for form and only five points separate the two sides.

Everton will be hoping to improve their recent home record against Liverpool, having lost seven of the last nine league meetings at Goodison Park.

Under-pressure Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez is also in desperate need of a win, having not won in the league since last month's Anfield triumph over Manchester United.His side now faces a genuine struggle to finish in the top four and claim that lucrative fourth Champions League spot this season.

As for the team news, Everton remain without injured captain Phil Neville, whose knee injury sustained against Fulham may require surgery and will continue to keep him sidelined until at least next month.

Long-term absentee Mikel Arteta (knee) furthers his spell on the sidelines and an ankle injury keeps Leon Osman out, leaving manager David Moyes light in midfield.

A trio of knee injuries also keeps out Phil Jagielka, James Vaughan and Victor Anichebe, which could force Moyes to stick with a similar side which went down 3-2 to Hull City on Wednesday night.

On the bright side for the Toffees, Marouane Fellaini and Diniyar Bilyaletdinov return from suspension and could immediately return to the first team.

As for Liverpool, manager Rafa Benitez awaits news on the availability of star striker Fernando Torres, with Frenchman David Ngog on hand to deputise once more should the Spaniard fail to recover in time.

Out-of-favour full-back Andrea Dossena is struggling to make the bench with a groin injury while Philipp Degen serves the last of his three-match suspension.

It's a Super Sunday that doesn't come round very often, with three massive derbies in the world of football all taking place on the same day.

All matches are vitally important in terms of their respective leagues, and there is only one question on the lips of all football fans: who will win?

Barca? Real Madrid? Arsenal? Chelsea? Liverpool? Everton? By the end of Sunday, we will know all three parts of the answer to that much asked question.

Mbappé's Rollercoaster Season 🎢

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