With the international break behind us, club football makes a strong comeback this weekend, featuring several crucial matchups. Concurrently, the Miami Open comes to an exciting conclusion with many of the world’s top tennis athletes vying for victory.
Here’s what our editors will be keeping an eye on over the weekend:
Saturday, March 29th
Miami Open Finals
The women’s tournament culminates in a spectacular final between the top seed Aryna Sabalenka and world number four Jessica Pegula, echoing last year’s US Open final.
In that encounter, Sabalenka triumphed in two tightly contested sets, yet Pegula, who overcame the impressive Alexandra Eala in the semi-finals, is hopeful for an upset, having previously defeated Sabalenka twice.
On the men’s side, the semi-finals include six-time Miami champion Novak Djokovic against 2024 finalist Grigor Dimitrov, while home favorite Taylor Fritz faces off with rising star Jakub Mensik.
Both matches are expected to be thrilling, yet Djokovic remains the frontrunner as he seeks to claim his landmark 100th ATP Tour title. The competition will be stiff, with Fritz aiming for his second Masters 1000 trophy, Dimitrov looking to improve after last year’s final, and Mensik hoping to achieve his first title on Tour.
Danny Clark
Besiktas vs Galatasaray – 18:30 CET
In the Turkish Super Lig, the title race is at a crucial stage with two-time defending champions Galatasaray currently leading Fenerbahce by nine points, though they have a game in hand. This Saturday, Galatasaray faces their biggest challenge yet with an away game against their Istanbul rivals, Besiktas.
Galatasaray remains unbeaten this season, boasting 22 wins and five draws over 27 games, with Nigerian star Victor Osimhen showcasing incredible scoring prowess lately, netting nine times in his last five matches. This sets them on a promising path towards a potential historic 25th Super Lig title.
Besiktas, however, has had a challenging season, having replaced their manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Despite an initial positive start, recent back-to-back losses have hindered their momentum, placing them fourth in the standings, a significant 27 points behind Galatasaray. In derby games, however, past form often does not determine the outcome, and both clubs will be eager to secure a significant victory.
Sunday, March 30th
As the season progresses, matches at the top of the table become critical in the title race, and this is certainly true for the upcoming De Topper clash. Ajax knows that a win would put them nine points ahead in the Eredivisie with just seven games to go, positioning them to almost secure the title. Conversely, a victory for PSV would narrow the gap to three points, keeping their title hopes alive.
Ajax heads into the match in strong form, having won nine and drawn one of their last ten league fixtures, while PSV has struggled, winning only three of their last ten across all competitions. However, playing at home, PSV has an edge and is known for their attacking prowess. Ajax, under Francesco Farioli, has been defensively solid too, conceding just 20 goals in 26 matches.
Finley Crebolder
Napoli vs AC Milan – 20:45 CET
This Sunday, two Serie A heavyweights will clash, with the match being crucial for the hosts, Napoli, who are still in a title hunt but trail their rivals Inter by three points. With Inter facing Udinese earlier in the evening, Napoli could find themselves six points behind by kickoff, making a win essential against an inconsistent AC Milan.
Unfortunately for Napoli, their recent form has dipped after a strong start, winning only one of their last seven Serie A matches, including a disappointing defeat to newly promoted Como. The upcoming fixtures against AC Milan and Bologna are critical, as any further slip-ups could jeopardize their title aspirations.
Harry Dunnett
For LaLiga enthusiasts, El Gran Derbi promises to be an exhilarating encounter between city rivals Sevilla and Real Betis, hosted by Betis at the Estadio Benito Villamarín. Betis arrives with impressive momentum, being unbeaten in six and riding a five-match league winning streak, fueled by in-form stars such as Isco and Antony.
Currently sitting sixth, Betis is eyeing a push for European qualification, whereas Sevilla struggles in 10th place, trailing significantly but still harboring hopes for a top-six finish. After winning their first derby of the season 1-0 in October, Sevilla will recognize the challenge posed by the resurgent Betis as they head into what forecasts to be an entertaining showdown.
Pat Dempsey
