Three To See – The Weekend’s Football (16.5.09 – 18.05.09) – Manchester United, FC Twente, Olympique Marseille

Last weekend our choices for ‘Three to See’ saw three action-packed and potentially decisive games take place in Scotland, Argentina and England. Rangers beat Celtic 1-0 in the Old Firm derby, taking a massive step forward in the SPL title race, Rosario Central and Newell’s Old Boys shared the spoils in the Rosarina derby with a 1-1 draw and Alan Shearer picked up his first win as Newcastle United manager with a vital 3-1 victory over Middlesbrough.

So which three have we chosen for this weekend?

1, Manchester United vs Arsenal (English Premier League) 12.45 GMT, Saturday 16th May 2009

Just one point stands between Manchester United and a record-equalling 18th league title now, and for United that obstacle can be overcome with either a win or a draw at home to Arsenal on Saturday. The champions have gone into focus mode in recent weeks, showing stunning resolve and what Spanish speakers would call some serious ‘huevos’ to carry themselves to the brink of an third straight Premier League crown.

Michael Carrick’s left foot rifle against Wigan in midweek may mean the Red Devils now have one hand on the trophy, but a job still needs doing on Saturday against an Arsenal side possessing a rather dry mouth after all the wound licking that has taken place at the Emirates in recent weeks.

Arsene Wenger had a lot of disgruntled fans to answer to at the club’s shareholder AGM this week, and with United being one of the teams directly responsible for that hurt after the way the European champions ruthlessly dispatched of Arsenal in the Champions League semi-finals, revenge is the word on the lips of many Gunners fans heading North for the match. Arsenal have a popular song for trips to United: ‘We won the league in Manchester’ – referring to 2002 when a Sylvain Wiltord-inspired Arsenal wrapped up the title at Old Trafford. United fans will be hoping Saturday’s result gives them the perfect riposte to that taunt for years to come.

2, Heerenveen vs FC Twente (Dutch KNVB Cup Final) 17.00 GMT, Sunday 17th May 2009

With the domestic season over in Holland all eyes are on the 91st instalment of the Dutch Cup final this weekend, as Heerenveen take on FC Twente at De Kuip stadium in Rotterdam.

It has not been a campaign to remember for Holland’s traditional superpowers of PSV Eindhoven, Ajax and Feyenoord this year. With AZ Alkmaar lifting the title, FC Twente and Heerenveen in the cup final and none of the storied trio even qualifying for the Champions League, 2008/2009 has been annus horribilis for Holland’s truly big clubs. More power to the smaller clubs then, whose hard work and diligence has resulted in great success this year, and two of them will be rewarded with their day in the sun on Sunday.

Steve McLaren has done an excellent job at FC Twente in getting them to the Champions League and a cup final, and deserves high praise for everything he has done in his first year in Holland, except for that awful TV interview. Twente have only ever won the KNVB Cup twice, but have a great chance now to finally lift some silverware.

Heerenveen too have had a successful season by and large, finishing 5th in the league, and Sunday’s game represents a real chance to win the first major trophy in their history. Twice they have made it to the cup final, vs Ajax in 1993 and Roda JC in 1997. Twice they have been beaten.

Heerenveen were beaten 6-0 by Twente in the league earlier this season, but in a one-off cup game it should prove much more of a contest. Players to keep an eye on: Viktor Elm and Daniel Pranjic for Heerenveen, Blaise Kufo and Eljero Elia for FC Twente. All are KNVB Cup Golden Boot contenders going into the match, all are matchwinners on their day.

3, Olympique Marseille vs Olympique Lyonnais (French Ligue Une) 20.00 GMT, Sunday 17th May 2009

For seven long years Olympique Lyonnais have ruled over France like Fidel Castro ruled over Cuba, with all the domination of a Max Mosley home video. However, French football is about to be liber
ated from the Les Gones era of supremacy, with the emergence of a new king set to be crowned in the next few weeks. ‘But who will it be?’ the people cry, unsure of their next champion, ‘Bordeaux or Marseille?’ Well Sunday’s game at the Stade Velodrome will go a long way towards giving them an answer.

It could prove extremely fitting, if Marseille are to win the league, that Sunday’s game sees them pitted against the outgoing champions (all but, Lyon could still mathematically win the title). A changing of the guard of sorts. Then again victory for Marseille is not a given. The impending end of Lyon’s age of rule has also brought with it a period of reflection in France on just how good they really were, and Marseille manager Erik Gerets described them as ‘the pride of French football for the last seven years.’ Lyon may not be the masters for much longer but they are still a side worthy of praise, and confronting them as Marseille do on Sunday still warrants caution.

Given the stakes, Sunday’s game promises to be a magnificent spectacle. Marseille’s fans, a passionate bunch whatever the occasion, know that victory would be a huge step towards a first league title in 17 years and the game has been sold out for weeks. Gerets, who will leave the club at the end of the season, has called for the team to win as a gift to the public for their fantastic support all year. It will be his penultimate game in charge at the Velodrome. And there is also the added spice of Hatem Ben Arfa playing against his former club and coming face-to-face with a certain Karim B. It promises to be a cracker.

Tell us your thoughts on these games, and any others you will be watching this weekend, by leaving us a comment.

Arsenal, Dutch Football, English Premier League, FC Twente, French Ligue 1, Heerenveen, KNVB Cup, Manchester United, Olympique Lyonnais, Olympique Marseille, Three to See