Our Picks: Top of the table clashes across the continent
Stuttgart v Leverkusen - Joel Barnett
It’s first vs third in the Bundesliga on Sunday as high-flying Leverkusen travel to Stuttgart.
Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen go in to the match in terrific form having won their last eight away matches across all competitions, but could find themselves under pressure at kick-off should Bayern beat Frankfurt the day before.
The Bavarians will move above the Vizekusen on goal difference with a win over Frankfurt on Saturday, which could be significant given they face Stuttgart next weekend, as all three teams tussle for the top.
For die Schwaben, results in their next two fixtures against the league’s top two teams could define their season.
Despite winning their last three league matches in a row, defeat against Leverkusen this weekend or Bayern the following week could prove to be a hammer blow to their title credentials, especially with the tricky fixtures that lie ahead.
Meanwhile Leverkusen have the chance to extend their lead at the top to at least three points with a victory on Sunday, and after coming from behind to draw against Dortmund last weekend, will be boyed by the return to fitness of striker Patrik Schick ahead of their clash at the MHPArena.
Portsmouth v Bolton - Anthony Paphitis
Fratton Park is the backdrop for a tasty League One encounter between table-topping Portsmouth and Bolton, who are right on the hosts' tails.
Portsmouth have looked the team to beat this season and set down a marker from mid September to October when they put together a six-match winning run.
That propelled John Mousinho's men towards the summit and despite a bizarre 4-0 defeat at home to Blackpool recently, back-to-back wins and clean sheets seem to have got Pompey back on track.
But they will have to make do without top scorer Colby Bishop on Monday night with the 11-goal striker absent since their win over Burton last week.
Still, the likes of Paddy Lane and full-backs Jack Sparkes and Joe Rafferty could pose problems for visitors Bolton, who have shot up the form charts of late.
The Trotters are unbeaten in their last seven League One games and had a six-game winning streak of their own snapped by a godless draw away to Oxford United.
Ian Evatt's side have been scoring at will with Northern Ireland striker Dion Charles leading the charge with 11 goals, but defensively they have been hugely impressive.
Bolton have really tightened up on the back end of late by not conceding a goal in any of their last five divisional outings.
That makes for an intriguing match-up between two commanding outfits towards the top of England's third tier.
Peterborough v Oxford - Ali Pollock
Third placed Oxford visit fifth placed Peterborough down in League One on Saturday afternoon – with just a point separating the two sides chasing promotion to the Championship.
The Posh are almost ever-present in the promotion race whenever they find themselves in England’s third tier and its been no different this season.
Manager Darren Ferguson has guided his side into the play-off spots again and has them just four points off of the top two – which they could close to just one with a win this weekend.
Young wingers Kwame Poku and Ephron Mason-Clark have led the way for Peterborough this season, scoring seven goals each while providing a total of nine assists (six for Poku, three for Mason-Clark).
Other young talent have also caught the eye, with defender Ronnie Edwards one to keep an eye on for a future transfer to the Premier League.
The goals are spread more evenly between Oxford’s players – left-back Greg Leigh is their top scorer with five – but the likes of Ruben Rodrigues and Cameron Brannagan will be key to their chances of victory.
Both have been superb throughout the season, making huge contributions to the visitors’ rise up the table.
Oxford could move level with second placed Bolton if they get three points this weekend, providing them a good platform to attack the busy festive period as their promotion hunt continues.
Barcelona v Girona - Ste Carson
La Liga's surprise package Girona continue to rack up the points, but face a huge test this weekend as they take on the reigning champions
Barcelona are enjoying a typically strong season, but the Catalan side and fierce rivals Real Madrid are kept apart at the top of the table by their next challengers.
Girona have been particularly tight this season, picking up points in a professional fashion, with an array of 1-0 and 2-1 victories.
The title underdogs will be aiming to avoid defeat at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys.
Barça will be feeling confident, though, off the back of a 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid, effectively seeing off another league title contender.
Girona, though, know they should keep pushing for the full 90 minutes, following their late 2-1 comeback triumph over Valencia last week.
Barcelona will be looking to Robert Lewandowski, who has seven goals in La Liga this season, to be the main man once again. However, the Poland star failed to score in his last three club outings.
Artem Dovbyk has been flying for Girona this season, but his fitness is unclear. That said, Cristhian Stuani is in a fine run of form - four goals in two matches - so Míchel's side are far from a one-trick pony.
