The month of March will bring in some incredible football action. There are some exciting derbies in store while the quarterfinalist will be decided for this season’s Champions League. Here are the top games you need to watch this month.
Liverpool vs Manchester United (Premier League 2022/23)
A colossal North-West derby to look forward to in the opening weekend of the month in the Premier League. Eight games undefeated Liverpool team at Anfield face-off against Manchester United reshaping their glory days under Erik ten Hag. The reverse game of this fixture at Old Trafford brought the first victory under the Dutch coach and United will try to do the same to add more points in cementing their third place on the Premier League table. On the other hand, the Reds will try to maintain their six games unbeaten run in this fixture having also not conceded a goal in their last three.
Roma vs Juventus (Serie A 2022/23)
Roma welcomes Juventus in a huge clash without their manager Jose Mourinho on the touchline, sent off against Cremonese last weekend. The Giallorossi are fighting to stay in contention for the Champions League places with only three points separating them from the top four. Juventus, meanwhile, are closing in on a European spot after stitching together a four-game winning run in Serie A. Roma have suffered the most Serie A losses in these fixtures but have won each of their last four games at Stadio Olimpico. While the Bianconeri have won six of their last seven games in the league.
Chelsea vs Borussia Dortmund (Champions League 2022/23 Round of 16 2nd Leg)
Under fire manager, Graham Potter will undergo a massive test to continue receiving backing from the Chelsea owners in the Champions League tie against Bundesliga title chasers Borussia Dortmund at Stamford Bridge. Edin Terzic’s men carry a 1-0 advantage from the first leg and have not lost a single game this year will be favorites to advance to the quarterfinals. Dortmund's priority will be their league but are unwilling to break the momentum gathered post-World Cup. The Blues though are struggling for quite some time now having won only twice this year.
Bayern Munich vs Paris Saint-Germain (Champions League 2022/23 Round of 16 2nd Leg)
Securing a 1-0 win in Paris, Bayern Munich will feel they have placed a foot in the quarterfinals but PSG’s change in form recently could speak otherwise. The Parisians grew more in the second half of the first leg and are willing to translate the same energy in the second leg at Munich. The Ligue 1 giants won at the Allianz Arena in the last encounter two years ago but that was the only one managed in the last three visits. Bayern Munich have won five times in seven meetings overall failing to score only in the first encounters in the Champions League between the sides back in 2017.
Real Madrid vs Liverpool (Champions League 2022/23 Round of 16 2nd Leg)
Holding a 5-2 lead on aggregate, Real Madrid might have sealed the tie with Liverpool in Anfield itself but that does not take away the excitement of the reaction from the Reds at Santiago Bernabeu. Jurgen Klopp’s men have drawn positive results from last month aside from this defeat and despite a challenging schedule ahead are determined to change things. Los Blancos also faltered in recent games raising a few eyebrows. Even though Madrid have a comfortable lead, the tie is far from dead and anything is possible for the game two weeks after.
Barcelona vs Real Madrid (La Liga 2022/23)
After the round of the 16-second leg at Santiago Bernabeu, Carlo Ancelotti’s men enter straight into an El Classico with FC Barcelona in the league this time after suffering a loss in the same fixture in the semi final first leg of Copa del Rey. The second title decider in La Liga after Real Madrid won the first one last year but this is expected to be a different ball game altogether. Barcelona suffered losses in back-to-back games before the win in the cup and are willing to triumph over their rivals in front of the home crowd to extend their lead further at the top of the league table.
Inter vs Juventus (Serie A 2022/23)
The derby d’Italia of great importance as Inter welcomes reviving Juventus at San Siro to change their respective position on the Serie A table. The Nerazzurri are trying to move second behind runaway leaders Napoli while the Old Lady of Turin are desperate to seek a European football spot. Inter lost the reverse fixture in the league and also have won only once in the last six meetings at home. Juventus also have mustered only one victory from four games against Inter.
Italy vs England (2024 Euro qualification)
Italy faces England in a repeat of the Euro 2020 final played in 2021 in the qualifiers for the next edition of the tournament hosted by Germany. Luke Shaw put the Three Lions ahead in the first minute of that final before Leonardo Bonucci equalized from a corner in the second half from where the Azzuris went to lift the trophy at Wembley by winning on penalties. They beat them again in last year’s Nations League at home after playing a goalless draw back in England. Gareth Southgate’s men will be ought to seek revenge after not winning this fixture, including friendlies, in their previous six attempts.
France vs Netherlands (2024 Euro qualification)
In another spicy game in the first round of the 2024 Euro qualifiers, 2022 World Cup finalists France will lock horns with quarterfinalists Netherlands for an epic battle at the Stade de France. Both Les Blues and the Oranje shirt finished in the last 16 stages of the previous edition and are in a desire to change that in Germany upon reaching the main event. It will be quite a way to begin the qualifiers with the two locked in for an early battle, expected to be the top two of their group to qualify. The Dutch have lost in their last three visits to France but Didier Deschamps’s men did suffer a 2-0 loss in the last meeting in the Nations League back in 2018.
