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Seven great matches to take you from Friday to Sunday. It’s the Sound of Football Weekend Boxset.

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All times are UK

Friday

Bundesliga: Borussia Mönchengladbach v Mainz

19.30 on Sky Sports Mix
The last time Mainz featured in the Boxset, it was around this time last year when they had replaced Bo Svensson with Bo Henriksen as head coach. The 05ers were in a relegation battle and the Danish coach steered them to safety. Henriksen’s first full season in charge has defied expectations. They currently sit fourth in the table, and are looking at European Football and possibly an appearance in the Champions League. Headline performer is Jonathan Burkardt, a 24-year-old Darmstadt native and product of the club’s academy. The striker has scored 14 goals this campaign and is improving by the season. But the success has come from the back three, made up of Danny Ca Costa, Andreas Hanche-Olsen, Moritz Jenz or Domink Kohr. Their goals conceded for the season is 25, which is only bettered by Bayern Munich. Their squad depth is a possible barrier to them staying in the top side, as is their relatively modest goal tally of 39. But they saw off Leipzig last week and as long Burkardt can stay fit then who knows. They travel to a Gladbach side who are quietly going about their business. On 37 points the Foals are one of a clutch of teams in striking distance of a European spot and after an understated couple of seasons the fans would welcome a run in the Conference League, I’m sure. Like Burkardt, Gladbach have a striker in fine form. At €7 million from Heidenheim, 14 goal Tim Kleindienst has been the bargain of the season in any league. TD

Saturday

Championship: Coventry City v Stoke City

12.30 on Sky Sports Football, Main Event & Ultra
The last time Coventry were in the Boxset was for their home game against Sheffield United in November. Back then, Coventry were 18th in the table, three points and five places behind today’s opponents. They had also just fired Mark Robins and were poised to replace him with Frank Lampard. After an indifferent first month in charge, the former Chelsea and Everton manager has turned the club’s fortunes around. Eight wins from their last nine league games have propelled the Sky Blues up to fifth. Robins, of course, is now the manager of Stoke City but is still waiting for their form to turn a corner; they’re one league place worse off since he arrived at the start of January. Having seen Coventry through some of their darkest times, Robins should get a tremendous reception from the home crowd but it’s unlikely that will be enough for his Stoke side to get anything out of this game. GS

Premier League: Brentford v Aston Villa

17.30 on Sky Sport Premier League, Main Event & Ultra
A mid-table clash between two teams who need to get a wiggle on if they are to have a worthwhile finish to their league seasons. Brentford look like they are in a false position; they are a team full of goals and attacking verve. The Bees have lost only two in their last eight league games but sit in the quagmire of the Premier League table. If they can peak at the right moment (just about now in fact) then a late run to the top six is not out of the question. Had it not been for their winless December, we might be likening them to Bournemouth. The West London club’s forward line is enviable: Kevin Shade, Bryan Mbeuno, and Yoane Wissa have 35 goals between them. Immediately behind is the superb Mikel Damsgaard with two goals and 10 assists. The problem is they struggle to keep the ball out of the net, and that is despite the excellent Nathan Collins in their defence. It would not be a surprise if any one or two of those players followed in the footsteps of Ollie Watkins and line up for their big spending opponents next season. Villa’s disappointing league campaign is of course massively mitigated by their Champions League exploits and FA Cup run. But with each passing week the prospects of playing Swiss Model Football next season decreases. Their problem can be summed up by their last league encounter where they were turned over by Crystal Palace. Those are the kind of teams they need to beat if they wish to match the ambitions of coach Unai Emery and justify the considerable outlay of their owners. TD

Premier League: Wolverhampton Wanderers v Everton

20.00 on TNT Sports 1 & Ultimate
Less of a six pointer than it was a month ago, Everton have pulled themselves out of the relegation mire thanks to the returning Moyesiah and a couple of wins should see them well and truly safe. That said, a loss against Wolves, while not disastrous, would leave Toffees fans feeling more nervous than they’d like to be. Wolves, meanwhile, have shown no small amount of grit to put distance between themselves and the bottom three - helped, in part, by Leicester’s absolute recent ineptitude. But if Victor Pereira’s side are going to make themselves safe, they need to be picking up wins at home - a point is really no good to them here, especially as Everton still qualify as a relegation rival of sorts. And when in you’re in a battle, you don’t want to be missing your most talented player, with Matheus Cunha suspended after the red mist descended during their FA Cup victory over Bournemouth. Without Cunha’s creative scheming, they may struggle to unlock an Everton defence that can be frustratingly stubborn for opposition teams. But then David Moyes is somewhat lacking strikers and will hope that Beto’s good form continues. It’s been some turnaround from the forward, who has gone from outcast to spearhead in a matter of weeks. You suspect this may not be high on quality, with a lot of hard working defenders on show, but the end result could have a big impact on this season’s relegation battle. GA

Sunday

Premier League: Tottenham Hotspur v Bournemouth

14.00 on Sky Sports Premier League, Main Event & Ultra
At the start of season, it wouldn’t have been unfair to assume the side chasing a European spot was Spurs while Bournemouth would be mired in mid-table, probably safe from relegation but not really troubling anyone. As it is, Andoni Iraola’s side have been a joy to watch at times and sit just four points behind Man City. But the Cherries are in a mini-slump currently, with defeats to Wolves, of all teams, in both the league and the cup sandwiching a loss to Brighton. Spurs, though, are exactly the type of side you want to play if you’re wanting a confidence boost. Let’s not recycle all the criticism of Ange Postecoglou. Regular Spurs watchers and Boxset readers know just how leaky the Aussie’s tactics leave his team, combined with a paper thin squad that’s always one injury away from a crisis. The good news for the North Londoners is the treatment room is getting less full, which means Bournemouth could be treated to the sight of former striker Dominic Solanke lining up against them. The former Cherry was largely ineffectual in Tottenham’s 1-0 loss at Dean Court in December but the rule of ex-players scoring against their old teams could well come into play here. Ultimately, this should be a very watchable match. Bournemouth are easy on the eye, while Spurs are always compelling, in a slow motion car crash way. Whatever the result, a legion of football writers will no doubt be ready with further Ange thinkpieces, which will be far less entertaining than the match itself. GA

Premier League: Manchester United v Arsenal

16.30 on Sky Sports Premier League, Main Event & Ultra
Both sides come into this following away trips in European competitions. Arsenal benefit from two extra days of rest and the ease in which they cruised through their Champions League round of 16 first leg against PSV, winning 7-1. United’s trip to San Sebastián for their Europa League tie wasn’t anywhere near as straightforward but was at least a respectable performance. United took the lead with a smart finish from under-pressure striker Joshua Zirkzee but conceded a penalty towards the end. The Gunners are pushing for a record fourth consecutive league win against United but it was Amorim’s side that prevailed when the sides met in the FA Cup third round in January. Having been susceptible to Arsenal’s set piece play in the league game at the Emirates, United proved tougher opposition in the cup, eventually winning on penalties. And it was on penalties that United’s cup run ended last weekend at home to Fulham. This one has the potential to grind out to a 0-0, with United desperate to halt the slide that has this season seen them lose more league games than they’ve won at Old Trafford. But despite recent headline-grabbing big wins, it’s been feast or famine for the Gunners. They failed to score in three of the four games between putting five past City and seven past PSV. GS

Serie A: Juventus v Atalanta

19.45 on TNT Sports 1 and OneFootball
Juve’s winning run goes on, bringing them back into title contention, having looked to have drifted away from the top three they now find themselves able to draw level on points with today’s visitors with a win here. Atalanta have been able to keep pace with Inter and Napoli but that has as much to do with the patchy form of those clubs rather than Gasperini’s side showing their title credentials. Of course it hasn’t all been gravy for Juve; in February, after going out to PSV in the Champions League they were knocked out of their Coppa Italia quarter-final against Empoli on penalties, since I bigged him up in my preview for January’s Derby d’Italia, Kolo Muani’s goals have dried up. Standards are high at Juventus and the jury is still out on Thiago Motta’s leadership of the club. Should he snatch the unlikeliest of Scudetti he should at least be safe up to Christmas. GS


Whatever you watch, have a great weekend.

Graham, Terry and Gary