Festive Period Football
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The festive period is always a crucial time in the football calendar and 2022 is no different. With the World Cup complete, thoughts return to the domestic leagues around Europe and we have come fantastic matches to enjoy across the continent.
Beginning with the Premier League and a standout fixture from the Boxing Day schedule is the game between Aston Villa and Liverpool.
Unai Emery has started to have an impact at Villa Park and could make life tough for Jurgen Klopp. Liverpool are already at the stage where they cannot afford to drop more points in the title race.
Defending champions, Manchester City, travel to Elland Road to play Leeds United on the 28th of December and on the 5th of January, they meet Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Pep Guardiola knows his team need wins to stay in touch with Arsenal and that match is a wonderful way to end the festive period in the Premier League.
Moving to Spain and La Liga resumes on the 31st of December. League leaders Barcelona host Espanyol in the Derbi Barceloní and while it should be a comfortable win for the host, anything can happen in a derby, especially when the teams have not played in La Liga for over a month.
In terms of the league table, the meeting between Real Sociedad and Osasuna is interesting. Real Sociedad are currently third in the league but a win for Osasuna would move them onto the same number of points as the hosts and put them in Champions League qualifying contention.
The Italian Serie A restarts following the World Cup on the 4th of January and we have a fantastic match to look forward to between Inter Milan and Napoli.
There is a great deal riding on this game as a win for Napoli would see them further enhance their chances of winning the title and all but end the chances of Inter Milan. However, a victory for Inter Milan would keep them in contention and sow the seeds of doubt in the mind of Napoli as they aim to stay top of the league.
In France, all eyes will be on Paris Saint-Germain as their stars return following the World Cup. They face what looks like a comfortable home game against relegation threatened Strasbourg.
The pick of the fixtures sees second place Lens travel to the south coast to play Nice. Lens are just about staying in touch with PSG at the top of the table but if they drop points in this fixture against a midtable Nice team, PSG could start pulling away in first place.
The Scottish title race will be interesting over the festive period with both Rangers and Celtic facing a tricky trip to Aberdeen before meeting each other on the 2nd of January.
Rangers are at home and there is always a tremendous atmosphere for the Old Firm Derby. Rangers need to win this game to stay in the title race.
Elsewhere, Sporting Braga host Benfica in the Primeira Liga on the 29th of December and this is third vs first in Portugal.
In Turkey we have games on the 25th of December and there are two matches worth following as Galatasaray host Istanbulspor and league leaders Fenerbahce travel to Trabzonspor, who are currently sixth in the table.
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