Preview of Premier League, La Liga and Serie A, 6-9 May 2022

By Shadrack Nyakoe The pick of Premier League matches this weekend sees Liverpool host Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield on the evening of Saturday 7 May. This clash sees the Reds looking to keep up their fight to win the title, while the Lilywhites are chasing a top-four finish and a spot in next season’s UEFA Champions League. Spurs coach Antonio Conte is hoping captain Harry Kane can continue to be an inspiration for his side: “When you see him work this way, for sure you have to show the desire to continue to work very hard. For this reason I want to tell him thanks because he’s a big example for everything,” said the Italian tactician.

“And I hope to give him satisfaction. Now he is enjoying playing this type of football and we have to try to continue together because I’m seeing many players with great improvement. Every player is improving and for this reason, Tottenham is going up and up.”

Elsewhere, champions Manchester City will have to wait until Sunday to respond to Liverpool’s result, as they welcome Newcastle United to the Etihad Stadium. The Magpies have made solid progress under Eddie Howe, with club legend Alan Shearer praising the manager for his transformation of Joelinton from striker to the midfielder.

“I thought it was unfair the fee and giving him the number [nine jerseys], I never felt he was a center-forward or wanted to play there. But he never shied away,” said Shearer. “I think that’s why he’s got the respect from the fans because he never shies away or hid.”

“For him to go from where he was to where he is now and playing such a major part in what Newcastle are doing in that midfield role, he deserves a huge amount of credit. Not only him but Eddie as well, for giving him the freedom to go and do that.”

Other matches to look out for in this round are Leeds United’s visit to Arsenal, a ‘red and white’ derby between Brentford and Southampton, as well as Manchester United’s trip to Brighton & Hove Albion. SuperSport is also the only place to get English commentary on the legendary La Liga, where the top match for this round is ‘El Derbi Madrileno’ between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid at Estadio Wanda Metropolitano. This clash will signal a changing of the guard as far as the La Liga title is concerned, with outgoing champions Atletico effectively handing over the crown to their arch-rivals Real. Yet Rojiblancos manager Diego Simeone will hope his side can sting Los Blancos and avenge a 2-0 defeat from earlier in the season at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.

“At the Metropolitano, it’ll be a different game. We’ll study what we did well here, we’ll try to improve everything and we’ll give everything we’ve got to win in front of our fans,” said Atletico midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia.

Another potential thriller from the Spanish top flight this round sees Barcelona head to Estadio Benito Villamarin to face Real Betis. The Verdiblancos narrowly won 1-0 when the teams met earlier this season, though that clash broke this fixture’s recent tradition of being high-scoring: the teams’ previous six La Liga meetings had produced a total of 36 goals! Barca, meanwhile, has defended accusations that they are overly reliant on ‘wunderkind’ Pedri, who has been in brilliant form of late and has added goal scoring to his already incredible repertoire of abilities.

“I wouldn’t go that far, he is an extraordinary player, I won’t skimp on singing his praises, he is a player that excites and makes the difference,” said Blaugrana boss Xavi.

Another clash to keep an eye out for is the meeting of Villarreal and Sevilla at Estadio de la Ceramica. The Yellow Submarine’s domestic form has not matched their performances on the European stage, but they will nonetheless be looking to claim a significant scalp in the shape of Los Nervionenses.

“We had it completely clear that we had to attack and defend as a unit. I want to thank the coaching staff for having faith in me,” said Villarreal midfielder Giovanni Lo Celso, who will be aiming for another barn-storming performance.

The top clash from this weekend in Serie A is Internazionale welcoming Empoli to the San Siro and looking to claim a clutch win in the race for the Scudetto. The Nerazzurri have kept on fighting to defend their title, even through tough times, and manager Simone Inzaghi is buoyed by his team’s resurgence.

“I think this Inter team has what it takes to win any type of match,” said Inzaghi. “We must continue to fight and believe in our principles, the things that make us a team. We must fight for Inter, for the badge, and our supporters.”

Title rivals AC Milan will be a way to Verona and chasing a win to push the Scudetto race right down to the wire. Manager Stefano Pioli is denying the notion that his team has lost spark at just the wrong time of the season.

“I don’t know if that’s the right term. You have to make the right choice at the right time. We were wrong in accuracy and timing when we could have scored,” said the Rossoneri boss.

Napoli, meanwhile, faces a trip to Torino and manager Luciano Spalletti knows that his team is essentially out of the running for the Serie A title. “Now everything is getting harder,” the Neapolitans boss explained. “We have no choice but to be professional. Now, we think about winning the next game, even if now it depends on others and not on us.”

Elsewhere, Juventus face a trip to Genoa, and manager Massimiliano Allegri has conceded that his side will need to be more clinical in front of goal. “We need to improve and be more serene in those situations,” said the Bianconeri tactician. “I don’t like compliments, otherwise, we become a team that is satisfied with compliments and finds excuses. I don’t want excuses or compliments, I want victories.” Also keep an eye out for Lazio at home to Sampdoria, Roma visiting Fiorentina and Spezia welcoming Atalanta to Stadio Alberto Picco. Premier League broadcast details, 7-8 May 2022 All times CAT Saturday 7 May 16:00: Brentford v Southampton – LIVE on SuperSport OTT2 16:00: Burnley v Aston Villa – LIVE on SuperSport Variety 3 16:00: Chelsea v Wolverhampton Wanderers – LIVE on SuperSport Premier League and SuperSport Maximo 1 16:00: Crystal Palace v Watford – LIVE on SuperSport Variety 2 18:30: Brighton & Hove Albion v Manchester United – LIVE on SuperSport Premier League and SuperSport Maximo 2 20:45: Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur – LIVE on SuperSport Premier League and SuperSport Maximo 1 Sunday 8 May 15:00: Arsenal v Leeds United – LIVE on SuperSport Premier League and SuperSport Maximo 1 15:00: Norwich City v West Ham United – LIVE on SuperSport Variety 2 15:00: Leicester City v Everton – LIVE on SuperSport Variety 3 and SuperSport Maximo 360 17:30: Manchester City v Newcastle United – LIVE on SuperSport Premier League and SuperSport Maximo 1 La Liga broadcast details, 6-8 May 2022 All times CAT Friday 6 May 21:00: Levante v Real Sociedad – LIVE on SuperSport La Liga, SuperSport Maximo 2 and SuperSport GOtv La Liga Saturday 7 May 14:00: Mallorca v Granada – LIVE on SuperSport La Liga, SuperSport Maximo 2 and SuperSport GOtv La Liga 16:15: Athletic Bilbao v Valencia – LIVE on SuperSport La Liga, SuperSport Maximo 2 and SuperSport GOtv La Liga 18:30: Celta Vigo v Alaves – LIVE on SuperSport La Liga and SuperSport GOtv La Liga 18:30: Cadiz v Elche – LIVE on SuperSport Variety 2 and SuperSport Maximo 360 21:00: Real Betis v Barcelona – LIVE on SuperSport La Liga, SuperSport Maximo 360 and SuperSport GOtv La Liga Sunday 8 May 14:00: Getafe v Rayo Vallecano – LIVE on SuperSport La Liga, SuperSport Maximo 2 and SuperSport GOtv La Liga 16:15: Villarreal v Sevilla – LIVE on SuperSport La Liga, SuperSport Maximo 2, and SuperSport GOtv La Liga 18:30: Espanyol v Osasuna – LIVE on SuperSport La Liga, SuperSport Maximo 2 and SuperSport GOtv La Liga 21:00: Atletico Madrid v Real Madrid – LIVE on SuperSport La Liga, SuperSport Maximo 2 and SuperSport GOtv La Liga Serie A broadcast details, 6-9 May 2022 All times CAT Friday 6 May 18:45: Internazionale v Empoli – LIVE on SuperSport Football, SuperSport Maximo 2, SuperSport Maximo 360, and SuperSport GOtv Select 1 21:00: Genoa v Juventus – LIVE on SuperSport Football, SuperSport Maximo 360, and SuperSport GOtv Select 1 Saturday 7 May 15:00: Torino v Napoli – LIVE on SuperSport Football, SuperSport Maximo 360, and SuperSport GOtv Select 1 18:00: Sassuolo v Udinese – LIVE on SuperSport Football and SuperSport GOtv Select 1 20:45: Lazio v Sampdoria – LIVE on SuperSport Football and SuperSport GOtv Select 1 Sunday 8 May 12:30: Spezia v Atalanta – LIVE on SuperSport Football, SuperSport Maximo 360 and SuperSport GOtv Select 1 15:00: Venezia v Bologna – LIVE on SuperSport Football and SuperSport GOtv Select 1 18:00: Salernitana v Cagliari – LIVE on SuperSport Football, SuperSport Maximo 360 and SuperSport GOtv Select 1 20:45: Verona v AC Milan – LIVE on SuperSport Football, SuperSport Maximo 360, and SuperSport GOtv Select 1 Monday 9 May 20:45: Fiorentina v Roma – LIVE on SuperSport Football, SuperSport Maximo 2, and SuperSport GOtv Select 1