1. Will Lukaku make his first of the year?
Last year was a sporting disaster for Romelu Lukaku. The 29-year-old Red Devil barely scored ten goals across all competitions and he didn’t even score for the national team in 2022. Injuries have never kept him aside so often. His first game of the new year with Inter was an immediate success: 1-0 win against Napoli, the unapproachable leader in Serie A. Lukaku did not score, but is keen to open his account for 2023 this weekend at the Monza field, number fifteen in the standings.
Monza-Inter, Saturday at 8:45 PM
© REUTERS
2. Loaded derby for Mertens and Batshuayi
For the first time ever, two Belgians will face each other in Fenerbahçe-Galatasaray, one of the most heavily charged derbies in the world. This year, the ‘intercontinental derby’ – Fenerbahçe is in the Asian part of Istanbul and Galatasaray in the European – is even more important: ‘Gala’ is in the lead in the Süper Lig and ‘Fener’ follows by one point.
The Belgians are important in both teams. Dries Mertens is gradually finding his feet at Galatasaray and was decisive in the past three games with a goal and two assists. Michy Batshuayi has already scored thirteen goals in seventeen games for Fenerbahçe. On Tuesday, Batsman scored twice against Antalyaspor.
Fenerbahçe-Galatasaray, Sunday at 5 p.m
© Getty Images
3. Revenge for Chelsea?
In England there is cup football on the program this weekend. There are still many lower ranked clubs in the third round of the FA Cup, but there is one absolute top. Chelsea and Manchester City competed against each other on Thursday, and they do it again three days later. The Blues will undoubtedly want to take revenge for the narrow defeat (0-1). It will be seen whether there will be a rotation given the heavy schedule of the English clubs, so men like Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland may get some rest.
Manchester City-Chelsea, Sunday at 5.30pm
© Action Images via Reuters
4. Milan-Belgians receive Mourinho
The highlight of the weekend in Italy is the match between Milan and Roma. We can expect at least one Belgian to kick off with the home team. Alexis Saelemaekers is completely fit after his knee injury and was already in the base on the field of Salernitana last Wednesday. Charles De Ketelaere came on the hour mark and almost scored his first goal for the Rossoneri and Aster Vranckx also got a few minutes. Divock Origi is struggling with an injury.
Milan is second and must win to not let leader Napoli run too far. Mourinho and his colleagues are only sixth, but can bring the difference with Milan to three points.
Milan-Roma, Sunday at 8:45 p.m
© ISOPIX
5. Atlético-Belgians against leader Barça
The weekend also ends in Spain with a top match: Atlético Madrid against Barcelona. The number four in Spain against the leader, although the difference there is already a lot bigger. Atléti has already dropped a lot of stitches and already has twelve points less than Barça after fifteen match days. Yannick Carrasco is expected in the base at the Madrilenians, Axel Witsel is back from illness but does not seem sure of his place yet.
Atlético Madrid-FC Barcelona, Sunday at 9 p.m
© EPA-EFE
