Zidane enters ”El Derbi Madrileño” (the Madrid Derby) Sunday, in the unfamiliar position of looking up at neighbours Atletico topping the league table. He will feel confident of doing the double after beating Atletico 2-0 in December. Real are on a seven (7) game unbeaten away La Liga game run, including a massive Nou Camp victory over Barcelona. Diego Simeone’s season is currently better in comparison. The team has also improved as an attacking force with the addition of Luis Suarez. Both teams stand to gain more from avoiding defeat than winning the game, so anticipate a tough tactical battle.

Atletico have failed to win the Madrid Derby since February 2015. Despite the poor derby record, an Atletico win would not be an upset considering each team’s current standing. A win for Atletico would increase the lead to ten (10) points. Defeat would close Real’s deficit to four (4) points, throwing the title race wide open.

Kieran Trippier is back following his 10-week ban. Atletico also have Yannick Carrasco returning from injury, while Thomas Lemar and Jose Maria Gimenez will face late fitness tests. Real will hope Karim Benzema is available, but Sergio Ramos, Eden Hazard and Dani Carvajal will not be fit.

These neighbours play a contrasting style. Atletico is compact and capable of withstanding pressure then counter-attacking with speed and precision vs Real’s possession style. Simeone will set up with the usual 3-1-4-2, switching to 5-3-2 when out of possession. Atletico will seek to use Carrasco’s and Llorente’s pace in the wing-back positions to get up the pitch. The wing-backs will look for the Koke in midfield or supply cutbacks and crosses to the strikers. Alternatively, Llorente can play centrally to supply passes for midfield runners or forwards while Vrsaljko or the returning Trippier, starts wide in the wing-back position. Suarez is clinical and dangerous on headers; additionally, all Atletico attackers are strong dribblers capable of playing short intricate passes around the Real defence. Correa is likely to start ahead of Felix. Felix can come on to deadly effect with his vision, skill, creativity and shooting ability.

Real have quality all around the park, but the team loses some potency without doubtful Benzema. Additionally, Real is not compact defensively, and errors have increased without Ramos and Carvajal. Real will seek to use pace, skill and tactical flexibility in the attacking third. Isco, used in a false-9 role, can easily interchange with Vinicius and Asensio. His roles include; dropping between the lines, pulling defenders out of position and creating space for teammates making runs into the box. Real will have more of the ball, and if the team takes the chances created, the derby dominance will continue.

Simeone cannot be disappointed with his team’s season, but he will want to avoid a 3rd consecutive home defeat in all competitions. The current Real Madrid team presents the best chance to improve both the derby and home form, but Real will see Atletico’s form dip as an advantage. Tactics will take centre stage in this crucial six-pointer fixture, but a 0-0 draw is the most likely outcome.

Solskjaer will feel confident in his team’s ability to end the “noisy neighbours” winning run when he takes his team to the Etihad on Sunday. Despite the recent dip in away form noted above, United remain the only unbeaten travelling team in the Premier League after fourteen (14) away games. United kept City from scoring at Old Trafford in December in the 151st league edition of the Manchester Derby, and Solskjaer will be aiming to replicate that achievement.

A win for Guardiola could see City achieve a seventeen (17) point lead while Solskjaer will be aiming to cut the lead to eleven (11) points. Guardiola has a nearly fully fit squad to choose from, with only Nathan Ake out injured. Solskjaer will be without long term injured Paul Pogba and Juan Mata. Anthony Martial will face a late fitness test while David De Gea may still be out due to a private matter.

United have failed to score in their last three (3) games but Solskjaer will trust his 4-2-1-3 formation when attacking, converting to 4-5-1 out of possession. Matic should make way for the more mobile McTominay alongside Fred in the midfield defensive double-pivot partly blamed for the team’s offensive struggles. Daniel James, Donny Van De Beek, Amad Diallo and Shola Shoretire will be available to make an impact off the bench. Struggling Bruno Fernandez needs improvement for this fixture.

United is the first of four (4) games in ten (10) days for City. Guardiola will field his most potent line up in this title race six (6) pointer. He wants to wrap up the league title as early as possible so he can focus on the elusive Champions League trophy. Although City dominate the league in terms of victories, the team is not as free-scoring as other editions of Guardiola’s teams. The current City squad emphasises possession, ingenuity and defensive solidity. Don’t be surprised to see City line up with a 4-2-3 formation switching to 3-1-6 in attack. City will have to overload the offensive third if they hope to score against United’s compact defence. In-form lkay Gundogan does well in the half-spaces. So does Phil Foden. Gabriel Jesus and Riyad Mahrez could make way for them with the false nine (9) role rotating among different City players. They will attempt to drag the United defence out of position.

If Gabriel Jesus retains his start, he is excellent at dropping deep, overloading the middle third, finding space between the lines and releasing runners. Jesus also presses brilliantly, working his socks off for his teammates. Sergio Aguero is unlikely to start due to match-fitness; he could also disrupt Guardiola’s defensive tactics, but he could make the difference off the bench.

Width will be pivotal for both teams. Sterling will struggle against Wan-Bissaka, but making runs in-behind him will open the half-space for runners from the City midfield to shoot or dribble into the box. Walker or Silva can do the same against Luke Shaw. Greenwood is likely to start on the right. He and Wan-Bissaka will need to provide the width to force Joao Cancelo to hold his left-back position rather than push into central midfield as he frequently does. Keeping Cancelo out wide means Gundogan and others will find it harder to make runs from midfield as United would outnumber them. Rashford will also need to keep his width to attract Walker or Rodri. Rashford’s width creates space for Cavani and Bruno. Both teams possess quality from set-pieces and have the ability to shoot from a distance.

Pride and bragging rights are on the line, and not losing is more important to both teams than a win; so, they will give very little to each other in this compact game. Neither team is free-scoring, so we predict a draw and a 0-0 result would not be a shocker.

As Antonio Conte takes his in-form Inter team down to the Ennio Tardini stadium on Thursday, he will have fresh memories of the two (2) points he dropped to Fabio Liverani’s men in October at the San Siro. Liverani departed in January, but Gervinho, who scored a double in the 2-2 draw, is still at Parma. Gervinho had been deemed surplus to requirements in the January transfer window. He has fallen down the pecking order, but there is no doubting his quality. He could be an option off the bench.

As a serial winner, Conte needs no reminders of the importance of every point. He takes nothing for granted, and he will want an emphatic result against this struggling Parma team. Parma nearly beat him; so, that is an added incentive to motivate Inter in the game. Conte knows that three (3) points may increase his Serie A lead over Milan to seven (7) points. A win for Parma could take them closer to the 18th position and boost their relegation battle.

In contrast, Parma Manager Roberto D’Aversa will be using the October result where Parma were so close to a massive upset to encourage his charges that they can go one step further this time around.

D’Aversa will be without Roberto Inglese, but he will be hoping Juraj Kucka and Wylan Cyprien can recover in time for this challenging fixture. Except for doubts over Ivan Perisic’ fitness, Inter have a fully fit squad.

D’Aversa knows Inter has the depth to bring on quality players with each substitution. The keys to this game for Parma will be to match Inter in the midfield. With the ball, Inter have the potential to play as many as six (6) midfielders if Martinez drops deep and the wing-backs push up into midfield. Martinez, dropping into midfield, pulls defenders out of position. Defenders pushing into midfield creates space for Lukaku to make powerful runs, either to the flanks or into the box. He can hold up the ball and wait for support or take on defenders and test the keeper with a powerful shot. Inter has so many beautiful strikers of the ball that goal threats are everywhere and need to be closed down. 

D’Aversa may consider bringing in an extra body in midfield for a double pivot to shield his defence. The added midfielder could affect his attacking playing style that has contributed to increases in goals scored. D’Aversa wide forwards must drop deep to match Inter numerically in midfield when out of possession. Space will exist behind the inter wing-backs at times. Playing the ball long to Cornelius allows Parma to relieve pressure and move the team up the field. He has strong hold-up play, and he can flick the ball into space behind the wing-backs for Karamoh and Mihaila to make runs in behind the Inter defence.

Inter’s form and quality should carry them comfortably through this game but never underestimate the underdogs. Parma could very well spring a shock result.

Inter should take this one by a 0-2 margin.