FOOTBALL: BIG CLASHES OF THE WEEKEND

1. Newcastle VS. Liverpool

Newcastle go into this match with some morale boosting victories from the FA Cup and UEFA Cup matches. They will surely want to add 3 more points to this match to climb further up the league ladder. Liverpool will be busy with Gerrard and Baros as Baros is not happy being in the starting line-up from the last match while Gerrard has been criticiesd by some fans for his poor performance. They will also need to come back from the Carling Cup final defeat. With Dudek injured, it could be the debut for Scott Carson. Liverpool will also be very careful in their selection for the next weekday match with Bayer Leverkusen. Newcastle will be hoping for the return of Kluivert although he is not really making big impacts to the matches of late.

A must win for both for the sake of pride as well as to climb up the table! I am a supporter of Shearer so I will be hoping for a win from Newcastle.

2. Roma VS. Juventus

This will be an interesting match as we see Capello returning to the Stadio Olimpico in the opposite side. Roma have not been consistent all season, winning matches with alot of goals and sometimes losing tamely to oppositions.

Getting through a Juventus defence that conceded 15 goals in 26 matches is a tough one. Still, you have the current top scorer in Montella as well as Totti with Cassano supplying alot from behind. This will definitely be an interesting encounter. However, let us not forget that Roma's defence is very fragile. The sales of Samuel, Zebina and Emerson with the injury of Chivu had really cut the defence wall super thin. With Trezeguet back, Del Piero, Ibrahimovic and Emerson ever dangerous, Roma will have to figure out how to stop them.

I wish Roma can win this one. It will be a boost to Real Madrid as well. Juventus will also have the pressure to win this one to chase Milan as they are on top with the same amount of points.


3. Valencia VS. Real Madrid

This is another titanic clash. I think Real Madrid is going through the most difficult part of the season. After a match with Juventus, they faced Deportivo, then Real Betis and then Valencia to be ended with another clash with Juventus in Turin. This is another gamble for Luxemburgo as well as the much talked about out of form Ronaldo. Real know they also must win this to keep up the pressure on Barcelona but they know the Champions League clash is also vital. I don't think they are going to bring down a weak side against Valencia. We shall see how the tactics will be.

Of course, Real will also need to pray for a miracle that Barcelona is going to be beaten. Which is a very unlikely thing to happen. Still, Real have injury issues with Salgado, flu for Raul, knee problems with Zidane and this will mean another chance for Owen to start. If he doesn't start because of a stomach bug still unconfirmed, this will give the young prodigy Portillo a chance. I wish Solari will also start instead of Guti. I always have the opinion that Solari is far more talented and better than Guti. Guti is to me the weakest midfielder in the team. Probably same level as Beckham.

Valencia will have Ayala back and since Ranieri's exit from Valencia from the inability to progress further in the UEFA Cup competition, Valencia seem to be getting the consistency back. This will spell bad news to Real. Overall picture seems to be against Real so I just wish them luck.

I want Real to win but it seems to be hard. Another defeat and a victory for Barcelona will make the La Liga crown too far away to be chased.