English football’s giants are in cup action this weekend, and there are also massive clashes in South Africa, Italy and Spain
England’s biggest clubs are in action in the FA Cup fourth round this weekend, as the Premier League’s top sides look to take one step closer to Wembley.
Will any of the heavyweights fall at this early stage, and which of the minnows are ready to make the most of their moment in the sun and become giant-killers?
The biggest mismatch comes on Sunday, where imperious league leaders Liverpool travel away to Shrewsbury Town.
It’s only the second meeting in history between these two, and the first since 1996 when the Reds won 4-0 at Gay Meadow.
Surprisingly, Liverpool haven’t reached the Fifth Round of the FA Cup since 2015, when they made the semi-finals, and they’ve twice been dumped out by lower-league opponents in the Premier League era.
However, the chances of Shrewsbury emulating Bolton Wanderers in 1993 and Oldham Athletic in 2013 are slim, even if they have lost just one of their last 17 FA Cup games at home.
Liverpool, of course, are enjoying a remarkably dominant run of form, having taken 91 points of their last 93 available to them in the Prem.
Surely they won’t slip up, and the game is live on SS3 at 19:00 CAT on Sunday.
Elsewhere, Tottenham Hotspur are away at Southampton in an all-Premier League clash on Saturday, Chelsea travel to Hull City, and Manchester City host Fulham.
Manchester United will face either Watford or Tranmere Rovers depending on the outcome of their Third Round replay.
There’s also fascinating PSL action this weekend, with Kaizer Chiefs away at Golden Arrows in Saturday’s early kick-off, before Orlando Pirates host AmaZulu in the evening.
On Friday, SuperSport United take on Chippa United, as they look to focus on the football after the recent news of Dean Furman’s impending departure and the ongoing speculation about Jeremy Brockie’s future.
Coach Kaitano Tembo has acknowledged his side is beginning to feel the heat as they look to maintain the pace set by leaders Chiefs, while also looking over their shoulder at the teams coming up behind them.
“At both ends of the log‚ there is pressure, and three points against Mamelodi Sundowns at home would have moved us a little bit closer to the top‚” he told journalists. “It’s getting tighter and tighter in front of us and also behind where there are teams that are breathing down our neck.
“Three points against Sundowns would have meant us getting closer to the top and importantly‚ we could have moved two points ahead of them.
Full SuperSport weekend fixtures
Friday 24 January:
SuperSport United vs Chippa United SS4 (SA) & SS9 (ROA) Kickoff at 20:00 (CAT)
Brescia vs AC Milan SS9 (SA) & SS8 (ROA) Kickoff at 21:45 (CAT)
Saturday 25 January:
Golden Arrows vs Kaizer Chiefs SS4 (SA) Kickoff at 15:30 (CAT)
Southampton vs Tottenham SS3 Kickoff at 17:00 (CAT)
Valencia vs Barcelona SS7 Kickoff at 17:00 (CAT)
Orlando Pirates vs AmaZulu FC SS4 (SA) & SS9 (ROA) Kickoff at 18:00 (CAT)
Hull City vs Chelsea SS3 Kickoff at 19:30 (CAT)
Sunday 26 January:
Atletico Madrid vs Leganes SS7 Kickoff at 13:00 (CAT)
Inter Milan vs Cagliari SS9 (SA) & SS8 (ROA) Kickoff at 13:30 (CAT)
Manchester City vs Fulham SS3 Kickoff at 15:00 (CAT)
Watford / Tranmere vs Manchester United SS3 Kickoff at 17:00 (CAT)
Shrewsbury vs Liverpool SS3 Kickoff at 19:00 (CAT)