Can't Miss: PSG Gets Going, Barcelona Looks to Keep Rolling and Birmingham Derby
The best action from Ligue 1, LaLiga and English Championship make up this week's Can't Miss.
FRIDAY
LIGUE UN - LILLE 0 - 1 PSG
PSG still working through teething problems of Unai's new era
Unai Emery is suffering from a truth versus perception problem at PSG. Aside from that whole awkward issue of much of the team apart from Edinson Cavani apparently downing tools. And that whole peculiar crouching habit that comes with the Unai package.
The truth is a team still trying to find a tactical path under a rigid, demanding new manager, without the goals of King Zlatan but just six points off the top of the table, behind a Nice side that surely won't stay the course for the remaining 28 games of the season.
But the perception is of a plodding, disheartened PSG, whose star players are not performing - when not on the bench - and whose owners are regretting not giving the keys away to the Eiffel Tower to bring in Neymar last summer. An awful goalless draw against Marseille last weekend did not ease any of these pressures.
The reality is someone in between, with even Coach Emery himself admitting ahead of the visit to take on Lille that "self confidence cannot be bought at a store."
Friday's match against opponents caught in a relegation battle is one that PSG should be able to put away with aplomb. It just depends on the truth v perception balance on the night.
SATURDAY
Barcelona 1 - 0 Granada
Before the Match
Granada take on role of Camp Nou cannon fodder
Not even a vintage year in La Liga that could see one of five teams atop the Primera table at the end of the weekend, could produce one of the genuine shocks of the century in Spain. Could it?
After all, bottom-of-the-table side Granada are already on their second coach of the season, have conceded 23 goals, failed to win a single game in ten nor pick up a point in the Camp Nou in 22 visits. Indeed, 14 goals have been let in in Granada's last 3 visits to the stadium.
If that footballing pancake is not thick enough, the huge dollop of cream is a Barcelona side that has scored 29 goals already this season and has just enjoyed a rare week off, a chance for Leo Messi to pop over to Eurodisney - France's attempt to ruin good-hearted American fun.
But this season is a heck of a freaky Friday of a year in Spain. The likelihood is the mother of all blowouts for Barcelona against Granada, however it is oddness ahoy this year in LaLiga, so be prepared to expect the unexpected.
SUNDAY
Birmingham City 1 vs 1 Aston Villa
A demolition derby in England's second city
Aside from the rebuilding of the city's railway station from one of the bleakest in history to a spaceship, there is not a huge amount to get excited about in England's second city. But all that ends on Sunday in the first league city derby between Birmingham and Aston Villa in nearly six years.
That match took place in much happier days for the dueling pair when both clubs were in the Premier League. Birmingham are making steady but sure progress to return and look good to reach that goal through the play-offs this season.
Aston Villa are suffering more turbulent times having cast aside Roberto di Matteo for the Championship King, Steve Bruce, who has won promotion from the division on four occasions, in a managerial career spanning nearly 20 years.
Six of those were spent on the bench Birmingham, who he lead up to the Premier League on two occasions, giving Sunday's return to St. Andrews some extra spice in a clash where there is no love lost between the rival sets of supporters.