Four matches to watch this weekend: First, Mourinho’s next London test
Jose Mourinho, coach of EPL struggling Chelsea FC
Tottenham v Chelsea @White Hart Lane @13:00 on Nov.29
Jose Mourinho has been under pressure all season and the pressure will increase as he faces another London derby in Tottenham Hotspur. Mauricio Pochettino has led his young team to the vestiges of the top four and they have not lost in the league since the opening 1-0 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford. Even though they had a long trip in the Europa League on Thursday, the team is playing well enough with Harry Kane scoring on a regular basis, something that cannot be said of Chelsea’s Diego Costa. A loss on Saturday, and all the good work that the Blues have done in their last two matches will be up in smoke. The weight of the outcome makes this a very dicey affair.
Form Guide – Tottenham (W W D W W) | Chelsea (W W L W L)
Head to head
01/03/15 LEC Chelsea 2 – 0 Tottenham
01/01/15 PRL Tottenham 5 – 3 Chelsea
03/12/14 PRL Chelsea 3 – 0 Tottenham
08/03/14 PRL Chelsea 4 – 0 Tottenham
28/09/13 PRL Tottenham 1 – 1 Chelsea
Prediction: Tottenham 2-1 Chelsea
Nigeria v Mali @ Mbour – Caroline Faye Stadium @18:00 on Nov.29
The last time Samson Siasia led a Nigerian team to the Olympics [Beijing 2008], he came within 90 minutes of gold. He starts another journey – this time to Rio, on Sunday in Senegal against Mali.
But it has not been the best preparation for the gaffer as his mother was recently kidnapped and some players have had to drop out of the team while some have had to be dropped.
But in Azubuike Okechukwu and Oghenekaro Etebo, Siasia has two midfield players who have the skill and desire to impress but they will have their hands full with the duo of Adama Niane and Adama Traore, who was voted the best player at the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand. Egypt and Algeria complete a tough looking group.
Prediction: Mali 1-2 Nigeria
Leverkusen v Schalke @BayArena @17:30 on Nov.29
The two teams are locked on 20 points with the season not being as productive as they would have wanted. It makes for compelling viewing with both eyeing a Champions League place for next season. Leverkusen have just one win in their last five matches same as Schalke with both floundering behind Bayern Munich by a massive 17 points, after just a third of the season gone. So they need a response.
Form Guide – Levekusen (D W L L L) | Schalke (W L L D D)
Head to head
21/03/15 BUN Schalke 0 – 1 Leverkusen
25/10/14 BUN Leverkusen 1 – 0 Schalke 04
15/02/14 BUN Leverkusen 1 – 2 Schalke 04
31/08/13 BUN Schalke 2 – 0 Leverkusen
13/04/13 BUN Schalke 2 – 2 Leverkusen
Prediction: Leverkusen 1-2 Schalke
Napoli v Inter Milan @Stadio San Paolo @21:00 on Nov.30
A top two clash in Italy between two sides who have genuine intentions of wresting the Scudetto from Juventus. Inter are resurgent under Roberto Mancini while no one expected the Partenopei to be doing so well under Maurizio Sarri, who in 16 games with his home-town side has lost just once. They also have the third most prolific attack after Roma and Fiorentina with the second best defence after Inter.
Form Guide – Napoli (W W W W D) | Inter (W W W W D)
Head to head
08/03/15 SEA Napoli 2 – 2 Inter
04/02/15 COI Napoli 1 – 0 Inter
19/10/14 SEA Inter 2 – 2 Napoli
26/04/14 SEA Inter 0 – 0 Napoli
15/12/13 SEA Napoli 4 – 2 Inter
Prediction: Napoli 3-1 Inter
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