Five Must-See Football Matches This Xmas Season

It is time for a special Christmas edition of the NBA Jerseys weekly round-up of which football matches to keep an eye out for over the extended festive season.

Indeed, with the winter break halting plenty of Europe’s top leagues there’s an emphasis this week on the British game.

But with the holiday season, we’re not restricted to just the weekend, so there’s a fair bit of football to be watched over the next few days.

Sports Pundit’s Game of the Festive Season
Aston Villa v Liverpool
English Premier League
Tuesday, 8.45pm (CET)

Despite Manchester City’s big-spending or Tottenham’s improvements, Martin O’Neill’s Aston Villa seem to be the team most likely to gatecrash the party dominated by the big four. Liverpool, currently sitting 8th following a loss to bottom club Portsmouth, are clearly the most likely of the top four to lose their status.

Indeed, when Villa host the Reds in Birmingham on Tuesday, a lot will be at stake for both these clubs. The Villains got the choccies at Anfield early in the season too, so there’s a good case for them to be favourites here, especially with their improved home form this term.

Rafa Benitez has plenty of work to do to get Liverpool back on track after just four wins in their last 17 matches and he’s reportedly held talks with several players to try and re-invigorate them. Villa do face Arsenal on Sunday, so maybe that’ll help Rafa’s case. But eight points behind Villa in the final Champions League spot in fourth, Liverpool need all 3 points on Tuesday.

Manchester City v Stoke City
English Premier League
Saturday, 4pm (CET)


While the focus of the last week has been mostly on Mark Hughes’s sacking, new Sky Blues boss Roberto Mancini will take centre stage on Saturday as he takes the reigns at City for the first time.

Mancini must know he’s got a tough gig ahead of him but getting the side winning is the obvious immediate aim after an incredible recent run of draws. The new boss retains the belief City can claim a top four berth this term, but Stoke will be a tricky first-up test for Mancini.

Hibernian v Rangers
Scottish Premier League
Sunday, 2pm (CET)

This year’s SPL has wavered from the norm with the Old Firm struggling to regularly take three points, while plucky Edinburgh club Hibernian hang in there. Third-placed Hibs host leaders Rangers this Sunday, with just five points separating the two.

Hibernian have lost just once at Easter Road this term, while Rangers haven’t been able to consistently find the net on their travels with just 10 goals in 7 away trips so far. Both sides are solid defensively, so some individual brilliance from respective topscorers Anthony Stokes or Kris Boyd could be the difference.

AA Gent v Anderlecht
Belgian Jupiler League
Sunday, 6pm (CET)


Belgium’s top flight offers a clash of two sides in wonderful form as third-placed Gent (who’ve won 7 on the trot domestically) host leaders Anderlecht (who’ve won 8 in a row in the league).

Still eight points separates the two clubs, with Anderlecht having a game in hand, but Gent are the real movers in Belgium right now and could be set for an upset which may help second-placed Club Brugge, who face Cercle in a local derby this weekend. If not, Anderlecht’s hotshot 16-year-old sensation Romelu Lukaku is worth a look.

Chelsea v Fulham
English Premier League
Monday, 4pm (CET)

Christmas brings with it another London derby, between a shaky Chelsea side and a Fulham team fresh from defeating champions Manchester United. Still, despite their recent wobbly form, the Blues hold a four-point league lead from United, thanks largely to the Cottagers’ heroics.

But with the African Cup of Nations robbing Chelsea of key men Didier Drogba and Michael Essien during January, the Blues need to keep collecting maximum points before their departure. And Fulham won’t be easybeats, as they have the best defensive record outside the top four. And Bobby Zamora’s in some goalscoring form too.