- The Assist
- Posts
- Man City vs. Chelsea, Espanyol vs. Barcelona, Celtic vs. Rangers, and more
Man City vs. Chelsea, Espanyol vs. Barcelona, Celtic vs. Rangers, and more
After a short break, the Assist is back to guide you through the first weekend of 2026
The New Year is here and the fixture gods have lined up a host of top games in the Premier League and Derbies galore elsewhere, including the first top flight meeting of two Parisian clubs for well over 30 years, and in-form Espanyol against city rivals Barcelona.
Bournemouth vs. Arsenal
The four Premier League fixtures played on New Year’s Day resulted in just two goals scored, neither of which came at the Stadium of Light, where Manchester City were left frustrated by Sunderland. That blank scoreline put an extra bit of gloss on Arsenal’s triumphant 4-1 victory over third-placed Aston Villa two days earlier.
The Gunners lead at the top of the table stands at four points coming out of the festive period, and after ending Villa’s 11-game winning streak, Mikel Arteta can now focus on a opposition side that are currently enduring one of the worst runs of form in the division.
Arsenal head to the South Coast to face Bournemouth on Saturday evening, with the Cherries winless in 10 league games, seriously underperforming when it comes to their xG (our figures suggest their should be at least four places better off in the table), and dealing with the prospect that their star performer this campaign, Antoine Semenyo (nine goals, three assists), may or may not have played his last game for the club.
That’s a headache for Andoni Iraola, a coach who has managed to get one over Arteta, his fellow Basque, in the last two meetings between these sides.
Man City vs. Chelsea
After being held at bay by a combination of Robin Roefs, Sunderland’s backline, and the sheer collective will of a raucous home crowd on Wearside, Pep Guardiola may be hoping that manager-less Chelsea offer less resistance when it comes to kickoff on Sunday. Thursday’s draw ended the Sky Blues’ eight-game winning run across all competitions.
The quick turnaround between games and the shock news that Pep’s former protege, Enzo Maresca, had been dismissed on New Years’ Day may mean that any tactical preparation for this game will be rather rushed. At the time of writing, no news on Chelsea’s next manager has been forthcoming, with Liam Rosenior, who’s Strasbourg side we’ve praised previously in this newsletter, looking the most likely candidate - promotion from one BlueCo club to another being slightly easier than cobbling together a recruitment process when the busy and distracting January transfer window is open.
The London Blues fell out of the Champions League places over Christmas following two damaging home results; the defeat against Villa, and a draw versus Bournemouth. Chelsea have now lost 15 points from winning positions in the league this season, more than anyone else, and their current run has seen them win one of their last seven.
Espanyol vs. Barcelona
The picture at the top of LaLiga is rather similar to that in the Premier League, with Hansi Flick’s Barcelona holding a four point lead over their arch-nemesis Real Madrid.
But ahead of a week where Spain’s big two will fly off to Saudi Arabia for the midseason Supercopa tournament, that is designed to create an extra Clásico in the calendar, Barca face the more immediate threat of their own crosstown rivals.
Espanyol’s return to the top flight has been remarkable this season, and their current fifth placed position (with a game in hand) is a testament to Manolo González, the man who oversaw their promotion.
Espanyol’s style is built on defensive resolve and a patient attack. The Periquitos have the fourth best goals against record in the league but record the lowest average possession of anyone (40.7% to Barca’s 68.4%, for example).
Barcelona have won their last eight league games, all by a margin of at least two goals, but Espanyol’s only defeat in their last six was a Copa Del Rey upset where they rested players against lower league opposition.
Celtic vs. Rangers
The traditional News Years’ meeting between Scotland’s Old Firm falls relatively late, on Saturday the 3rd, but it should prove to be a critical game for the fortunes of both clubs, and their respective midseason managerial appointments - Wilfried Nancy at Celtic, and Danny Röhl at Rangers.
Nancy’s short time with the Hoops has been lambasted by all quarters, a run of four straight defeats proving the worst possible start for the Frenchman. Back-to-back wins followed but any confidence that built was quickly wiped out by Tuesday’s defeat at Motherwell.
If Celtic can beat their archrivals for a second time this season, following November’s triumph in the League Cup final, it would give Nancy a massive boast, and move them level with stumbling league leaders Hearts ahead of their game later in the day. Defeat though, would mean that Rangers instead move level on points with Celtic.
That would signal a dramatic turnaround in their fortunes after the disastrous start to the campaign given to them under Russell Martin. The club’s decision to replace Martin with Danny Röhl has saved their season, with the German boasting a win percentage of 73% so far.
There is another famous derby game taking place in Scotland’s Premiership this weekend, but the drama of Dundee United vs. Dundee, the rivals who’s stadiums share the same street, has rather had it’s thunder stolen by Sunday’s Ligue 1 fixture between PSG and Paris FC.
Paris FC currently occupy the Stade Jean-Bouin, an equally impressive looking ground used mainly for rugby, that sits directly across the road from PSG’s Parc des Princes. And they’ll be looking both ways and carefully crossing said road for the first top flight meeting between two Parisian clubs since 1990.
The history of the two are intricately linked, with the foundation of PSG, as we know it, stemming from a vote to create a new professional football team for Paris in 1970. Two years later, when name changes and financial commitments were again being decided by the club’s members, a split emerged and a breakaway team was formed as Paris FC in the amateur divisions of French football.
Ever since, Paris FC have lived in PSG’s shadow but their promotion from Ligue 2, powered by the ownership of the Arnault family (and a minority owned by Red Bull), has shaken things up in the French capital.
In truth, Paris have struggled for consistency on their top flight return but they do sit four points and two places above the relegation zone. PSG start the weekend in second, a point down on surprise leaders Lens, a lead that may be extended when the Blood and Gold play their game this evening (Friday).
From a 44 metre away trip to one that totals out at about 14,000 kilometres and actually requires a lengthy plane journey. Liga Portugal leaders Porto, who are still unbeaten after 16 rounds of the season, must head to Santa Clara, a side based in the Azores, an archipelago situated west of mainland Portugal in the Atlantic Ocean.
Porto have been sensational under the tutelage of 36-year-old Italian coach Francesco Farioli, who joined after missing out on the Eredivisie title with Ajax last season. They are one of only fours sides who have yet to suffer a defeat in any of Europe’s top 10 leagues, and one of only two who currently lead their division (Slavia are unbeaten in 19 over in Czechia).
The Dragões have conceded just four goals in their 16 games and have a goal difference of +31, a return that is only likely to improve further when they have been able to register the transfer of the legendary Thiago Silva. The 41-year-old returns to European football after an impressive spell back in his home land with Rio club Fluminense.
Santa Clara, who were affiliated with Porto’s great rivals Benfica for the early part of their history, enjoyed their best ever league finish last season, coming fifth following promotion, but have struggled to match that, and now sit 14th and just two points above the relegation zone.
The versatile USMNT international has played in just about every outfield position for the Old Lady and new Juve manager Luciano Spalletti clearly rates him very highly.
With seven goals in seven Premier League games, Leeds United’s summer signing is looking focused and refreshed as part of Daniel Farke’s fluid new system.
Enjoy our extensive preview of each Round of 16 tie as Africa’s biggest tournament reaches the knockout stages this weekend.
Pro Tip: Click on any of the matches below, then tap the star in the right hand side of the match page to add them to your Following section.
Friday: Tonight, the biggest games on your feed see French league leaders RC Lens head to Toulouse knowing a win would take them four points clear of PSG. And Milan can move above rivals Inter to take over at the top of Serie A, if they do the business away at Cagliari.
Saturday: Aston Villa vs. Nottingham Forest kicks off the weekend round in the Premier League and Wolves vs. West Ham is the very definition of a relegation six pointer. Senegal vs. surprise package Sudan opens the Round of 16 at AFCON 2025, which is previewed above. In Serie A, fifth placed Juventus face Lecce, and Roma boss Gian Piero Gasperini comes up against former club Atalanta.
Sunday: Yorkshire meets Lancashire as Leeds and Manchester United clash as one of six Premier League games taking place, a fixture list that also includes Fulham vs. Liverpool and Spurs vs. Sunderland. Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid take on Real Betis in LaLiga, and Inter close the latest round in Serie A with a game against Bologna. Back at the AFCON, South Africa vs. Cameroon is perhaps the heavyweight tie in the Round of 16.