Derbies and classics dominate Sunday schedule
Friday, October 5, 2012
Article summary
Spain has a Clásico, but this weekend has a Clássico and a Classique too as well as derbies in Milan, Moscow and Nicosia. Check out UEFA.com's guide to the domestic programme.
Article top media content
Article body
Russia: FC Spartak Moskva v PFC CSKA Moskva (Sunday 16.00)
Spartak will be without goalkeeper Andriy Dykan, captain Sergei Parshyvlyuk and midfielders Romulo and José Manuel Jurado. CSKA are missing strikers Seydou Doumbia and Tomaš Necid, while Alan Dzagoev serves a five-match suspension, further adding to the sense that the Moscow derby is a battle between two wounded tigers. The Army Men unexpectedly lost 2-0 to FC Dinamo Moskva in their last game, with Dzagoev receiving his second red card of the season, while ten-man Spartak were beaten 3-2 at home by Celtic FC in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday. "We cannot change that result, but we can look to make amends," said Spartak coach Unai Emery. "On Sunday we need to do all we can to put this unpleasant incident behind us."
Cyprus: AC Omonia v APOEL FC (Sunday 17.00)
The big Nicosia derby is traditionally the top match in Cyprus, and with both sides having failed in their bid to land last season's title – and indeed reach the UEFA Europa League group stage this term – the game has become that little bit more significant. Wins in their first four First Division fixtures have put Ivan Jovanović's APOEL top, already seven points clear of Omonia, who two weeks ago brought back coach Toni Savevski – the man who led them to title success in 2002/03 – to replace Neophytos Larkou. "It's a derby match and they are always great games to be involved in, but they are also difficult," said APOEL striker Esteban Solari. "Our first objective is to take the three points, but in games like this that is never easy."
Belgium: Club Brugge KV v KRC Genk (Sunday 18.00)
First League leaders Club Brugge host Genk with both teams unbeaten, and standing first and third in the table respectively. Both clubs have been busy in the UEFA Europa League this week, but Genk coach Mario Been is confident his charges are getting used to mixing European and domestic commitments – something that proved a struggle last season. "We are doing very well at the moment and confidence is high," he said. "We gained experience in the Champions League last year, but the difference now is that we have a selection of players of a consistent standard who can replace one another."
Italy: AC Milan v FC Internazionale Milano (Sunday 20.45)
The Milanese neighbours return from long European trips for this grand encounter at San Siro. "The victory against Zenit gave us confidence," said 19-year-old Stephan El Sharaawy, who scored for the fifth time in his last four games in Russia. "It will be a tough match but we can beat them if we play with the same intensity." Milan certainly need a victory as they are already nine points adrift of leaders Juventus and five behind the Nerazzurri, though they will have to be careful against their former forward Antonio Cassano, who has hit four goals in six outings for Inter. "The Milan fans will boo me but I have nothing against them," he said. "I will just try to help my team to win."
France: Olympique de Marseille v Paris Saint-Germain FC (Sunday 21.00)
First welcomes second in Ligue 1, 19 years since OM and PSG last met while occupying the front two positions in the table. PSG striker Zlatan Ibrahimović has played in Milan derbies and the Spanish Clásico between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF, and is very much looking forward to adding another major European fixture to his scrapbook. "This Classique is going to be an exciting match," said the Sweden captain. "When you are away from home, you don't have all your supporters with you." Les Phocéens dropped their first points of the campaign at Valenciennes FC last week and will hope the Marseille crowd can roar them onto success against Carlo Ancelotti's PSG, beaten for the first time in 2012/13 on Wednesday at FC Porto.
Portugal: FC Porto v Sporting Clube de Portugal (Sunday 21.45)
Interim Sporting coach Oceano Cruz faces a baptism of fire as, 48 hours after replacing Ricardo Sá Pinto at the helm, he leads the Lions into the Portuguese champions' den for the first big Clássico of the Liga season. Sá Pinto paid the price for an abject start to the campaign, the disappointment of one win in five league outings compounded by Thursday's 3-0 UEFA Europa League loss at Videoton FC. Midfielder Fabián Rinaudo wants Sunday's match to be a turning point. "Things are not going well for us at the moment," he said. "We have a chance to put it right on Sunday."