This weekend is shaping up to be an exhilarating one as the Masters, one of the most electrifying events in the sporting calendar, reaches its finale. At the same time, a champion will be crowned in Monte Carlo, while the NBA regular season wraps up, and fierce rivalries ignite in the football world.
Here’s what our editors will be tuning into this weekend:
Saturday, April 12th
Bayern Munich vs Borussia Dortmund – 18:30 CET
A few weeks ago, Bayern Munich appeared to have all but secured the Bundesliga title, but a revitalised Bayer Leverkusen is keeping them on their toes, just six points adrift of the leaders with six matches remaining.
This Saturday evening, the Bavarians will face Borussia Dortmund in Der Klassiker, a match that will serve as a stern assessment of Bayern’s title aspirations.
Dortmund, who suffered a heavy defeat against Barcelona midweek, currently find themselves in eighth place in the league. However, they’ve regained some momentum, having earned back-to-back victories in their last league outings as they head to the Allianz Arena.
Their recent encounters against Bayern have been more promising, with a 2-0 victory away from home last season and a hard-fought draw earlier this campaign.
The stakes are high for both teams, and a victory for Dortmund could throw a spanner in the works for Bayern’s title bid, prolonging their anxiety.
The atmosphere in Munich is expected to be electric, making this a match not to miss.
Josh Donaldson
Sunday, April 13th
Monte Carlo Masters Final
The first clay-court Masters event of the season in Monte Carlo culminates this weekend, featuring numerous compelling storylines worth following.
As we head towards Sunday’s final, the finalists are yet to be determined. In one semi-final, Alex De Minaur is set to face Lorenzo Musetti, while Alejandro Davidovich Fokina is matched up against Carlos Alcaraz.
De Minaur is making waves as the first Australian to reach the Monte Carlo semi-finals since 1979 and has shown marked improvement on clay courts. Conversely, Musetti recently defeated three-time champion and defending title holder Stefanos Tsitsipas to secure his debut in a Masters 1000 semi-final. The Italian thrived on clay and promises a competitive contest.
Meanwhile, world number three and four-time Grand Slam champion Alcaraz, who had never tasted victory at this venue before, is heavily favoured to overcome fellow Spaniard Davidovich Fokina, who reached the final here in 2023 and feels at ease on clay.
While Alcaraz is expected to clinch the trophy on Sunday, recent months have shown he is not invincible, adding an intriguing layer to the concluding days of the tournament.
Tolga Akdeniz
The Masters Final Round
Masters week is a highlight in the sporting calendar, and Sundays at Augusta are truly something special. When the lead group takes to the tee on Masters Sunday, a hush falls over the crowd, only to be followed by an explosion of noise after each player’s shot. There’s absolutely nothing quite like it.
During the 2025 Masters, anything can happen after Justin Rose set the pace with an impressive opening round of 65, claiming a three-shot lead. Hot on his heels is world number one Scottie Scheffler, boasting a strong start to his title defence.
Despite being the clubhouse leader, Rose faces stiff competition, as Scheffler is undoubtedly the main contender, while Rory McIlroy, who was poised to match him, suffered a disastrous double bogey on hole 15, jeopardising his chances and leaving him at even par.
McIlroy began strongly, aiming for a -4 round, and with potential for -5, but his fortunes crumbled, complicating his pursuit at a course that seems almost cursed for him at this point.
Fortunately for McIlroy and other contenders trailing behind, there are still three rounds remaining, and the outcome remains uncertain as we eagerly anticipate who will don the famed Green Jacket come Sunday night.
However, Scheffler stands out as the one to beat.
Harry Dunnett
End of NBA Regular Season – 19:00 CET
After months of hard grind, the NBA regular season draws to a close on Sunday, with much still at stake in the Western Conference.
While teams across the league are still vying for playoff positions, the picture in the West remains murky, with several squads unsure if they will secure a direct spot in the playoffs or require participation in the play-in tournament.
The Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, and Los Angeles Lakers have cemented their playoff places, but the scramble for the remaining three spots will unfold on Sunday.
Five teams—the Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers, Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Memphis Grizzlies—are all in contention for those slots, and each has a credible chance of qualifying.
Sunday’s matchups include the Nuggets taking on the Rockets, the Timberwolves facing the Jazz, and the Grizzlies squaring off against the Dallas Mavericks. A particularly pivotal clash sees the Los Angeles Clippers go against the Golden State Warriors.
If the Clippers lose and the Warriors win their penultimate fixtures on Friday night, this clash becomes immensely significant, potentially determining which teams will secure playoff berths. It’s an exciting narrative as we enter the crucial stages of the NBA season.
Tolga Akdeniz
Lazio vs Roma – 20:45 CET
The highlight of Serie A this weekend is the Derby della Capitale on Sunday night, featuring Lazio and Roma, who share the Stadio Olimpico and are both aiming for European competition next season.
Marco Baroni’s Lazio is clinging to a two-point lead over Claudio Ranieri’s Roma, sitting sixth and seventh in the standings, respectively. Both teams are still in the hunt for Champions League qualification, with third-placed Atalanta merely one win ahead of Lazio.
Although Lazio holds a slight advantage in the table, Roma boasts an impressive record in recent matches, having achieved the best form in the league over their last 10 and 15 encounters. They have not lost in 15 Serie A matches, a run that included a 2-0 victory over Lazio earlier in the season.
While Lazio lacks the same recent form, they come off a crucial away victory over Atalanta last weekend. With both sides looking to gain the upper hand, this derby is set to be an absolute thriller to conclude the weekend in Italy, as the stakes are incredibly high!
Pat Dempsey
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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