Avoiding the Drop

Dries Mertens- Actual Size

Ross County F.C. v. Greenock Morton F.C. (Saturday)

First place feels gooood. It feels even better when you realize that even a draw will be enough to stay in first place for another week. However, a win and potentially stretching the lead over the rest of the table to seven points would be even better. The Staggies could be catching Greenock at just the right time, the Ton started the season well, but have now taken only four points from their last five matches. County will however have to keep a close watch on Greenock striker Peter MacDonald- he’s the top scorer in the First Division with 7 goals in the season’s first ten matches. Fun Fact: Peter MacDonald’s full name is “Peter Ian Ronald MacDonald.” I leave you to make your own burger clown-related jokes. Fun Fact 2: County currently have the 2^nd best defense and offense in the First Division- nice.

Chelsea F.C. v. Arsenal F.C. (Saturday)

This version of the London Derby features two sides that I could care less about- not just this season, ever. Actually, that’s not true, I used to care about the Arsenal of Dennis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry, they were the best side I’d seen since the treble-winning Manchester United side and until the emergence of Messi’s Barca. Maybe knowing what they once were is why I resent their “above averageness” now. I’ve never liked Chelsea and I don’t think I ever will. The only championship I’d like to see them win again is the nPower Championship. All of that being said, I’d like so see Chelsea win this match. Arsenal are already out of the European places- why not keep them there? Fun Fact: I still can’t decided which Chelsea player I like the least: Lampard? Terry? Essien? Anelka?

Juventus Football Club SpA v. Football Club Internazionale Milano SpA (Saturday)

This is the Derby of Italy, there’s no doubt about that, but for the Milan half of the match it’s going to seem like a bit of a hollow occasion. Each week of the Serie A season I’ve expected Inter to get the result that would put their season back on the right track, but after eight weeks it still hasn’t happened. The club is still only two points above the relegation zone and has not shown any sign of changing its ways. I know it sounds crazy since he just got there, but I have to wonder if Claudio Ranieri will survive the season? Juventus, who haven’t won a scudetto in almost a decade, could not have gotten off to a better start- they were the only club in the top flight with an unbeaten record. Fun Fact: Juventus have announced that this will be Alessandro Del Piero’s last with the club- he debuted in 1993.

Associazione Sportiva Roma SpA v. Associazione Calcio Milan SpA (Saturday)

The Derby del Maestro, on the other hand, retains much of its traditional glamour this year as both clubs are still in contention for the league title and for European qualification. Milan are in fifth place, but only two points behind league leaders Juventus, and Roma are only three points further down the table. Here’s a question for you: With all the clubs chasing Maarten Stekelenburg during the summer (including Manchester United) how is it that he’s only played one more match for Roma this season than Romanian international Bogdan Lobonț? Well, whatever the case, I’m sure Sir Alex Ferguson is delighted with David de Gea… Fun Fact: Carlo Ancelotti coached Milan from 2001-2009 and Chelsea from 2009-2011. He’s now the coach of the Maltese national team. No, seriously, that’s the truth.

Club Atlético Osasuna v. Levante Unión Deportiva, S.A.D. (Sunday)

Levante remain in first place thanks to their win over Real Sociedad, so I’ve decided I’m going to ride this Levante “thing” out until the end. Most likely they’re not going to win La Liga or anything else when all is said and done, but let’s see how long they last- shall we? Chances are that they will beat mid-table Osasuna this week and that will set up an interesting match-up with Valencia next week. This will be the first time they’ve faced a quality side since beating Real Madrid early in the season. Osasuna could just use a win- they only have one since early September- and they need something to stop their free fall before they find themselves nearing the relegation zone. Fun Fact: Osasuna regularly have two Iranian players in their starting eleven- Javad Nekounam and Masoud Shojaei.

Philips Sport Vereniging v. F.C. Twente ’65 (Saturday)

With all due respect to the fine folks at Feyenoord, these are the two clubs that are going to challenge AZ for the Eredivisie title this year- if any club is going to. Although PSV are in second place and Twente are in third place, both clubs are only four points behind AZ and they are both tied on goal differential as well. This all might actually be good news for AZ- allow the teams chasing them beat up on each other while they continue to pile up points! Fun Fact: My nominee for “World’s Best Small Player” is PSV’s Belgian international Dries Mertens. The diminutive (5′ 5”) winger already has 11 goals in the first 10 matches of the Eredivisie season. Fun Fact 2: Twente’s first manager was Austrian Friedrich Donnenfeld, who spent much of his playing career with famous Hakoah Vienna.