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With the introduction of the Premier League winter break, football addicts may worry about not getting their fix of football.
Matchday 26 of the EPL will be spread out over the course of two weeks, which means a severe lack of football. Thankfully there are two imperative matches being played this weekend in the Bundesliga and Serie A that will fill the empty space left by the winter break.
Let's be real, the Premier League is decided already. Hell, even Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola admitted Liverpool is going to win after his side’s defeat to Tottenham.
It is time to turn attention toward leagues that are actually competitive and have some critical games for the upcoming weekend.
Premier League Winter Break Alternatives
Bayern Munich vs. RB Leipzig
For a league that has had the same winner for the past seven seasons in a row, it is nice to see the Bundesliga actually be competitive for once. With the exception of last season when Bayern only beat out Borussia Dortmund by two points, Bayern has won the league in the past seven seasons by a margin of 10 points or more.
A new foe has appeared for the Bavarian giants, and it is none other than the sleazy, sneaky and beautiful RB Leipzig. It is widely known that “RasenBallsport” Leipzig are the most hated team in Germany.
The one good thing Leipzig brings to the Bundesliga is some parity and better competition. Bayern and Leipzig sit one and two in the table right now with Dortmund and Monchengladbach close behind.
Bundesliga table after matchday 20. #FCBayern back where they belong! pic.twitter.com/cjOq5L7TC3
— Home Bayern (@_HomeBayern) February 2, 2020
Sunday’s meeting between the leaders of the Bundesliga will be the 10th meeting between the two sides. Bayern has won six of the 10 meetings, with two draws and only one loss to the energy drink giants.
Kickoff is schedule for noon EST.
Inter Milan vs. AC Milan
Getting off the couch won’t be necessary on Sunday. Following the clash between the German giants is the Milan Derby.
Both Milan sides are undefeated so far since the turn of the new year. Inter Milan sits a game back from league leader Juventus and is looking for its first title since the 2009-10 season.
AC Milan sits eighth in the league but is in a three-way tie for sixth based on points. The Rossoneri have found new life with the introduction of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, winning five of six matches since his arrival. Meanwhile Inter’s Romelu Lukaku has also been hitting form with a brace in his last match against Udinese.
Romelu Lukaku has scored as many league goals as Man United in 2020 pic.twitter.com/VxBSiCbdeM
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) February 3, 2020
Lukaku had nothing but respect for his former Manchester United teammate when asked about facing Ibrahimovic.
“Ibra is a champion; I respect him,” Lukaku said. “In Manchester I could train every day with him, that was the most beautiful thing for me. It will be nice to play against him. He is a great champion and professional.”
It should be a classic match in the San Siro; kickoff is at 2:45 p.m. EST.
