Every Friday, I spotlight the most thrilling soccer matches you won’t want to miss over the weekend. Whether it’s fierce rivalries, crucial matches for title contenders, relegation battles, or iconic player face-offs, there’s something exciting for every fan.
This week, we’ll delve into action from England, Germany, Portugal, France, and Italy, featuring not one but three cup finals, an epic derby, a critical relegation fight, and even a Champions League final!
– Chambers: Emery’s brilliance leads Villa to Europa League success
– Olley: Inside Arsenal’s strategy to secure the Premier League title
– Liverpool’s “Keep or Dump”: Future plans for midfielder slots
Premier League, Matchday 38
Kickoff: Sunday, 11 a.m. ET / 4 p.m. GMT
It all culminates here (part 1). The final match of the season, the last 90 minutes for Tottenham or West Ham to secure their spot in the Premier League.
Spurs are in dire need of at least a point against a mid-table Everton team that must hope for a miracle to reach eighth place and qualify for Europe. Yet, with head coach Roberto De Zerbi’s squad struggling at home, boasting only two victories in 18 league games and facing injury woes, nerves will be high come Sunday afternoon.
After a challenging season, Tottenham needs to take matters into their own hands to avoid the embarrassment of relegation.
For West Ham, victory against Leeds is essential, followed by the hope that Everton can assist them. Following a heartbreaking 3-1 defeat to Newcastle United, Hammers boss Nuno Espirito Santo and his players face a daunting task. However, with Spurs’ recent loss at Chelsea, hope remains alive. West Ham will push hard against Leeds, who have little to lose, while keeping their ears tuned to the Tottenham match on the radio.
MY PREDICTION: Tottenham 1-0 Everton, West Ham 2-0 Leeds. I believe Tottenham will secure the point they need to avoid relegation. It’ll be a tense affair, with immense pressure on Spurs, while West Ham plays at home. I foresee a narrow victory for Tottenham alongside a West Ham win, but it will be a heartbreaking end for the Hammers.
0:59
De Zerbi: Tottenham’s relegation decider bigger than Europa League final
Roberto de Zerbi claims that the relegation decider against Everton is of greater importance than last season’s Europa League final.
Lens aims for first trophy in nearly three decades
Lens vs. Nice
Coupe De France final
Kickoff: Friday, 3 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. GMT
This season has been spectacular for Lens. Having pushed Paris Saint-Germain to the limit and finishing second in the league with their highest points total ever, they’ve also secured a spot in next season’s UEFA Champions League. Now, they have a chance to win their first French Cup, aiming to end a trophy drought since the Coupe de la Ligue in 1999, following three finals losses in 1948, 1975, and 1998.
Manager Pierre Sage has done an outstanding job, implementing an intense pressing style of play. With stars like Adrien Thomasson and Mamadou Sangare in midfield, alongside Florian Thauvin in attack, Lens is poised for victory. However, the absence of their star defender Samson Baidoo due to injury is a significant setback, yet they remain favorites heading into the Stade de France.
The national stadium is likely to see strong support for Lens, who face a Nice team not in the best of circumstances. Finishing 16th in Ligue 1, Nice approaches the final facing promotion playoffs against Saint-Étienne to retain their top-flight status. Their recent 0-0 draw against relegated Metz ended in chaos, with fans storming the pitch and hurling objects at the directors. Such scenes are unfortunately becoming commonplace. Many fans are now uncertain about attending the final due to transport issues.
Nice’s hope rests on Elye Wahi, on loan from Eintracht Frankfurt, whose performance has been impressive despite regular isolation up front. This match represents a significant opportunity, and they will strive for an upset in French Cup history.
MY PREDICTION: Lens 3-0 Nice. While Nice may aim to defend and counter, I believe Sage’s squad will capitalize on their momentum and talent to claim the title decisively.
Anticipating a thrilling Women’s Champions League final
Barcelona vs. OL Lyonnes
UEFA Women’s Champions League final
Kickoff: Saturday, 12 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. GMT
This is the highly anticipated final everyone has been waiting for: OL Lyonnes against Barcelona, this time in Oslo on Saturday. Following their previous three notable finals (with OL winning in 2022 and Barça in 2019 and 2024), this fourth installment promises a showdown full of intensity.
Jonatan Giraldez, now manager of OL Lyonnes, faces his former team, which he built to success, including in Europe. The Catalans are determined to reclaim their European title after falling short against Arsenal last year in Lisbon. Though they aren’t invincible, they remain formidable. Bayern challenged them in the semifinals, proving that a flawless performance is essential to best them.
A significant boost comes from the return of Aitana Bonmati, expected to start after recovering from an injury. With the Ballon d’Or winner in their ranks, Barcelona becomes even more of a threat, but Lyonnes are confident. They boast a deep, talented lineup capable of causing headaches for Barcelona with their physicality, experience, and technical prowess.
MY PREDICTION: Barcelona 3-2 OL Lyonnes. I foresee a captivating final. These two elite teams have enjoyed remarkable seasons, and I predict a closely contested match, giving Barcelona the slight edge.
1:20
Giráldez: UWCL final is the most significant match of Lyonnes’ season
Jonatan Giráldez refers to the UEFA Women’s Champions League Final between Barcelona and OL Lyonnes as the most crucial match, emphasizing that the outcome could be “50-50.”
German Cup final
Kickoff: Saturday, 2 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. GMT
It’s astonishing to think that Bayern Munich last secured a domestic double six years ago during the pandemic in 2020 when they achieved a treble alongside the Champions League and Bundesliga.
Despite their historical dominance, Bayern’s form in the domestic cup has faltered in recent years. Following their disappointing Champions League semifinal exit against PSG, the current squad aims to complete a domestic double, heading to Berlin as favorites.
Bayern has been exceptional this season in Germany, losing only once in the Bundesliga and netting an impressive 122 goals in 34 league matches (an average of 3.6 goals per game). With a front three of Michael Olise, Harry Kane, and Luis Díaz, one of the most formidable attacking trios in club history, they exhibit an exciting, aggressive style of play.
Meanwhile, Stuttgart coach Sebastian Hoeness has his team playing a similar intense style. Despite three prior losses to Bayern this season (including a 2-1 defeat in the German Supercup and substantial defeats in the league), they believe they can pull off a surprise upset. A flawless performance is needed, but their transitional play can pose threats if executed effectively.
MY PREDICTION: Bayern Munich 3-1 Stuttgart. Stuttgart’s campaign has warranted a trophy, but Bayern’s strength this season will likely prevail. Expect to see the dominant side that has barely lost domestically showcase its prowess on Saturday.
Juventus faces crucial match for Champions League qualification
Torino vs. Juventus
Serie A, Matchday 38
Kickoff: Sunday, 2:45 p.m. ET / 7:45 p.m. GMT
It all comes to a head (part 2) with a heated Turin derby as Juventus seeks a Champions League spot!
Unfortunately for Juve, they don’t even fully control their fate following a home loss to Fiorentina. Currently positioned sixth on the table, they are equal on points with Como in fifth and trailing by two points to AC Milan and AS Roma in third and fourth places. Therefore, not only must they win against city rivals Torino (who have nothing at stake), they also need favorable results elsewhere.
Milan plays at home against Cagliari, who also have nothing to gain, Como is at Cremonese, while Roma faces already relegated Hellas Verona.
Ultimately, Juventus can only blame themselves for this predicament. After a solid run at the end of April with five wins and a draw in six league matches, their chances faded following draws against Milan and Verona, compounded by the loss to Fiorentina. Failing to qualify for the Champions League would have significant financial implications and could lead to questions about manager Luciano Spalletti’s future.
Torino, meanwhile, has nothing to lose. Despite a shaky run of one win in five, they relish the chance to thwart their arch-rivals’ European hopes.
MY PREDICTION: Juventus 2-1 Torino. Torino will put up a fight, but Juventus must be equally aggressive. I expect Juve to take all three points, but it may not be enough for Champions League qualification, leading to a disappointing end to the season.
An epic David vs. Goliath face-off this weekend
Sporting CP vs. Torreense
Portuguese Cup final
Kickoff: Sunday, 12:15 p.m. ET / 5:15 p.m. GMT
We have yet another classic David vs. Goliath scenario, and this one may be even more pronounced than the Lens-Nice final in France.
Sporting, last season’s champions and cup winners as well as recent Champions League quarterfinalists, face second-tier Torreense in the Portuguese Cup final at the Estadio Nacional this Sunday.
For Torreense, reaching this stage has been nothing short of miraculous, marking their return to the final for the first time in 60 years. With a chance to end the season with both a trophy and potential promotion to the top flight (they’re engaged in playoff matches against Casa Pia), the scenario is a dream come true, representing the biggest match in their history.
The disparity in resources today is far more significant than it was in the 1960s, but Torreense has crafted a unique squad of promising young French talent, such as Ismaïl Seydi and Mohamed Diadié. Their experienced centre-back Stopira from Cape Verde (World Cup-bound) and goal-scoring prowess from Musa Drammeh make Torreense a resilient unit forged through hard work under manager Luis Tralhao.
However, Sporting is the clear favorite! Finishing second in the league, just six points behind champions Porto, they enjoyed a remarkable season, highlighted by a strong Champions League run that included a narrow quarterfinal exit to Arsenal. With one of Europe’s top strikers, Luis Suárez (37 goals and eight assists in 52 matches), they’ve proven their excellence throughout the season, losing only two league matches to Porto and Benfica. As long as they handle this match with the seriousness it deserves, losing seems unlikely, although surprises do happen in football.
MY PREDICTION: Sporting CP 3-0 Torreense. While I love a good underdog story, it’s hard to envision Torreense pulling off an upset. Sporting has consistently performed well across all competitions and should demonstrate their dominance in this final.