This weekend promises to deliver a thrilling spectacle in the sports arena, featuring significant matchups in both rugby and cricket, critical fixtures in the Premier League and Serie A, as well as an exciting contest between two of tennis’ brightest stars at the Indian Wells tournament.
Here’s a glimpse of what our editors will be focusing on throughout the weekend:
Saturday, March 8th
Ireland vs France – 15:15 CET
As the Six Nations championship approaches its climax, a heavyweight encounter is set to unfold in Dublin, with significant implications for the title race next weekend. Currently, Ireland sits atop the standings, having secured victories in all three of their matches thus far. However, France, with only one defeat to England, is just three points adrift, owning an additional bonus point compared to Ireland.
A loss for Ireland would potentially re-inject England into the title discussion, which is a concern given that England’s remaining matches are against the tournament’s weaker teams, Italy and Wales.
Nonetheless, Ireland is on a path towards a Grand Slam, and their opening weekend win against England showcased their prowess on home turf. In front of a passionate crowd, they will be a formidable opponent. Should they triumph on Saturday, the Grand Slam will be tantalisingly close.
France, however, will not be easy to overcome; if their forwards hit form, they will pose a serious threat. Despite playing away, Ireland is favoured to win, but if France brings their best, they may just prove to be the superior side. With all that in mind, this encounter is a must-see for rugby fans this Saturday afternoon.
Harry Dunnett
Jack Draper vs Joao Fonseca
The standout clash from the second round at Indian Wells—arguably tennis’ premier event outside the Grand Slams—features a showdown between rising stars in the sport.
18-year-old Joao Fonseca has emerged as one of the season’s major stories so far. The Brazilian recently followed his success at the NextGen Finals at the close of 2024 with a remarkable upset victory over Andrey Rublev at the Australian Open, before securing his inaugural ATP title in Buenos Aires. His striking forehand power makes him a thrilling player to watch.
To secure victory, Fonseca will need to be at the top of his game against Jack Draper, who is proving himself as one of the world’s elite players. Coming off an impressive run in Doha, Draper fought well but fell to Rublev in a tightly contested final, and a solid tournament in California could propel him into the top 10 of the world rankings.
This will mark their first meeting, and given their talent, it might signify the beginning of an enduring rivalry at the pinnacle of the game.
Sunday, March 9th
Champions Trophy final – 10:00 CET
The ICC Champions Trophy culminates this Sunday with a rematch of one of the group’s fixtures—India taking on New Zealand in Dubai. The fact that these teams have already squared off adds an extra layer of intrigue to the final.
It’s worth noting the controversy surrounding India’s perceived advantages in playing all matches at the same UAE venue, rather than travelling to the “host” nation, Pakistan, which other teams have had to do.
Having said that, India has dominated the tournament, boasting a flawless record of four wins from four games, including a dominant performance against the Black Caps in the group stage.
In that earlier match, Mitchell Santner lost the toss and chose to field, only for India’s spinners to decimate New Zealand in the second innings, bowling them out for just 205 and clinching victory by 44 runs, with Varun Chakravarthy claiming five wickets.
On the surface, it may seem that New Zealand should opt to bat first this Sunday, but making India chase games hasn’t proven effective either. Rohit Sharma lost the toss in India’s other three matches, all of which they won batting second with relative ease.
It seems that there’s nothing that can thwart India in the 50-over format at the moment, but one thing is certain: the Kiwis will give it their all. Their confidence will be buoyed by a resounding semi-final victory over South Africa, where both Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson struck centuries.
Pat Dempsey
Manchester United vs Arsenal – 17:30 CET
Ruben Amorim has expressed that his Manchester United squad is “eager” to find the back of the net and secure wins following their 1-1 draw with Real Sociedad. Their first opportunity to do just that comes against Arsenal on Sunday afternoon.
Securing a win won’t be easy for the Red Devils, given their inconsistent form this season. After coming from behind for a narrow 3-2 victory over Ipswich in their last outing, they are yet to achieve consecutive league victories this season, marking their longest wait for back-to-back wins in league play since 1968-69.
This match also signifies Mikel Arteta’s 200th Premier League game in charge, a tenure during which he has won 118 of his first 199 matches—already the fifth-most wins by any manager in their inaugural 200 appearances in the competition (behind Pep Guardiola with 146, Jose Mourinho with 137, Jürgen Klopp with 127, and Alex Ferguson with 122).
Arsenal recently scored seven goals against Feyenoord, alleviating concerns over their striking options. It remains uncertain whether Mikel Merino will start in an unconventional forward position, but he could pose issues for a back three that has struggled to contain attacks this season.
Expect a victory for Arsenal at Old Trafford, which would amplify the pressure on Amorim.
Josh Donaldson
Juventus vs Atalanta – 20:45 CET
What initially appeared to be a two-horse race in Serie A has seen a drop-off in form from Napoli and Inter, allowing Juventus and Atalanta to re-enter the conversation.
This pivotal clash on Sunday has significant stakes. Juventus enters with the advantage of having won their last five matches in Serie A. However, their last encounter with Atalanta in January ended in a 1-1 stalemate, reflecting Atalanta’s attacking prowess—scoring the most goals from open play (45) in Serie A while Juventus has conceded the fewest (12) from open play.
With everything at stake, this meeting is set up perfectly and carries an atmosphere akin to a cup final. Don’t miss out!
Josh Donaldson
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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