Weekend of Superclasicos

Photo Courtesy of Official CA River Plate Twitter Account

Each major soccer country has that game which you are going to watch no matter who you root for and support because it is the biggest rivalry between two of the biggest teams in the country.

These games are better known and referred to as ‘Superclasicos’ and there are several which will be played this upcoming weekend around the world.

Related: Interpreting the Most Recent FIFA Decision on Qatar 2022

Of the three Superclasicos to be played this weekend, two will be played in Latin America in both Argentina and in Mexico. In Mexico, Club America will host Chivas de Guadalajara on Saturday in what is clearly the most lopsided superclasico to be played in recent years.

Coming into the game, Club America is on top of the Liga MX Apertura 2013 standings with 28 points from 11 games played. America come into the Mexican superclasico having beaten Xolos of Tijuana 2-0 despite playing six non-regular starters.

Chivas on the other hand are an absolute mess as they lie 15th in the current league standings with eight points from 11 games, and frankly need to start winning games in order to improve their standing in the relegation table for next tournament and for the next 18 months.

There is no reason to expect or assume that Chivas has any chance of winning other than that since it is a superclasico, records and current form go out the window. That said, I expect a 2-0 win for America, who will continue to keep winning.

The other superclasico to be played in Latin America this weekend will be at the Estadio Monumental as River Plate hosts Boca Juniors in what it the most likely intense and fiercely-contested clasico in all of soccer. Both teams come in on winning form, as River lie fifth on 14 points through nine games, while Boca are one spot ahead of River in fourth with 16 points through nine games.

Both teams know that winning this superclasico will keep them firmly within distance of current league leaders and defending champions Newell’s Old Boys. This game can sometimes be more physical than skill, but I expect to see a well played game with a few spikes in emotions, with River will win 2-1.

The other superclasico to be played this weekend will take place in France as the latest round of ‘Le Classique’ will be played as Olympique Marseille will host Paris Saint-Germain at the Stade Velodrome on Sunday. Going into the game, L’OM lie third in the league standings with 17 points trough eight games while PSG are tied atop of the Ligue 1 standings with 18 points through eight games.

L’OM suffered a dip in form after having lost 2-1 to AS Monaco, but their league play has better in the last three games. PSG, on the other hand, keep winning despite their inability to look fluid as a team. That said, I think L’OM will hands PSG it’s first league loss by winning 2-0.

Aside from the three superclasicos to be played, there are several other marquee games which will be games to watch in Europe this weekend.

In Germany, Bayer Leverkusen hosts Bayern Munich in on Saturday as Bayer are third with 18 points and Bayern are tied atop the Bundesliga standings with 19 points. It is a game which means more to Bayer as a win would allow them to feel that they have a legitimate chance of pushing Bayern and Borussia Dortmund for the league title.

In Italy, Inter hosts AS Roma in a game which will serve as a big test for the capital club, who currently lead Serie A after having won the first six league games. Inter come into the game also having started the season well as they are fourth on 14 points, and have greatly improved defensively with Walter Mazzarri at coach and Hugo Campagnaro anchoring the defense in the absence of Javier Zanetti.

I think Inter will hand Roma its first league loss by winning 1-0 with a goal from Mauro Icardi.

Lucas Carreras is a contributing Soccer writer for www.RantSports.com. You can follow Lucas on Twitter by following him @maldini3fan and you can add him to your network on Google.

Soccer Posts

Jack Wilshere
Jack Wilshere: Midfielder Believes National Players Must Be Born in England
USA Today Sports
Barcelona Reportedly Reach an Agreement with Marc-Andre Ter Stegen
Belgium national team
What Can We Expect from Belgium in 2014 World Cup?
England World Cup Soccer - Wembley Stadium
A Star is Born at Wembley in Andros Townsend

Around the Web

ZergNet