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From Mexico to England
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As we do every week, we feature five games to keep an eye on over the weekend. This week offers a massive slate of exciting games across several continents. This week, there is a massive El Súper Clásico in Mexico, as well as big fixtures in Italy, Greece, and Türkiye. Plus, we are going niche for the FA Cup. In other words, there are once again exciting games to watch across the globe, and with the expertise of our global team, Transfermarkt takes you around the world to highlight five games you should watch this weekend.
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Fierce Rivalry in Türkiye: Trabzonspor vs Fenerbahçe
Lara Karacan (Area Manager Türkiye):
Trabzonspor vs. Fenerbahçe - especially at Trabzonspor’s home ground - has always been one of the fiercest fixtures in Turkish football. On February 14, it will be anything but easy for Domenico Tedesco’s Fenerbahçe side, who remain unbeaten in the league and sit on 49 points, to collect points at Papara Park. The hosts are closely behind on 45 points and determined to keep their title hopes alive with a crucial home victory.
The rivalry between these two clubs is deeply rooted and has repeatedly been marked by major incidents. The 2010/11 season remains one of the most controversial chapters, as both teams finished level on points, with Fenerbahçe crowned champions due to goal difference - a topic still emotionally debated today. In 2015, Turkish football was shaken by an armed attack on Fenerbahçe’s team bus near Trabzon, which left the driver injured and led to a temporary suspension of league matches. Most recently, last season’s pitch invasion after the final whistle once again highlighted the intensity and volatility surrounding this historic clash.
Title clash in Greece: PAOK vs AEK
Nikos Sofis (Transfermarkt Area Manager Greece):
PAOK against AEK on Sunday, a top match between third and first in the Greek Super League 1. AEK could make a big step towards winning the championship this season, while PAOK really need this win to catch up to AEK. AEK are three points ahead. PAOK are in good form at the moment, and have also made it back into the Cup final for the first time since 2023.
This will be the 173rd match between the two, in which AEK have the upper hand with 72 wins, while PAOK won 54 duels. 46 have ended in a draw. In the last 3 matches between the two, it was always PAOK who won, with AEK's last win dating to February 2025. In their last two encounters in May and October, AEK haven't even registered a goal against PAOK. With both teams being in top form, it will definitely be a top match to follow.
What about players to watch? Georgios Giakoumakis on PAOK's side and definitely Luka Jović on AEK's side, who is living a renaissance in Greece. Giakoumakis scored seven goals in 16 games this season, while Jović stands at 12 goals in 18 games.
El Súper Clásico: Chivas vs América
Osvaldo González Camacho (Transfermarkt Area Manager Mexico):
El Súper Clásico looks unusually balanced. Chivas arrive as the undefeated leaders of the Clausura 2026 after a perfect start to the tournament, combining defensive order with a direct attacking style. However, they may be without Luis Romo, one of their most influential players, after suffering muscular discomfort against Mazatlán, a potential absence that could alter the team’s midfield structure and leadership on the pitch.
América, meanwhile, arrive in a completely different moment compared to the opening weeks. After a hesitant start, they have rebuilt momentum with three consecutive wins and a more stable tactical shape, regaining attacking confidence and defensive control. It also could be the first real look at some of their reinforcements: Lima, Thiago Espinosa, or Raphael Veiga, players brought in precisely for nights like this. With Chivas leading the table and América regaining form, the conditions are set for one of the most even clásicos in recent years.
Derby d'Italia: Inter Milan vs Juventus
Stefano Buonfino (Transfermarkt Content Manager Italy):
Since the 1960s, Inter-Juventus has been the Derby d'Italia, even more than the city derbies in Milan and Rome. This rivalry exploded in the 1990s and 2000s due to Calciopoli and the surrounding scandals, leading the two sets of fans to hate each other. Plus there are also some fascinating names to keep an eye on. Whether it is Lautaro Martínez and Marcus Thuram at Inter or Kenan Yıldız and Weston McKennie at Juve.
Today, Inter-Juventus is a top-of-the-table clash, even though the Bianconeri are 12 points behind, and this is probably their last chance to try to reach the Scudetto that is already severely compromised. A win is therefore a must for the Old Lady (Vecchia Signora), while Inter are looking for three points to keep Milan and Napoli, currently more dangerous than Juventus for mathematical reasons, at bay.
Luciano Spalletti took over the bench during the season and, despite ups and downs, has managed to find some consistency, even in players who had disappointed, such as Jonathan David. Christian Chivu was called upon to pick up the pieces of an Inter side suffering from their Champions League debacle against PSG, and he managed to keep the group united. And the results seem great, but he lost too many direct clashes. And this is where the Derby d'Italia becomes even more interesting: Juve are obliged to win, and Inter have something to prove to their fans, especially after their loss to Juve in the first part of the season, in a thrilling 4-3 with a Juventus comeback.
Underdog challenge in the FA Cup: Macclesfield vs Brentford
Ben Littlemore (Transfermarkt Content Manager England):
Non-league Macclesfield produced the greatest shock statistically in FA Cup history with an amazing performance to knock out the holders Crystal Palace in the third round. They were ranked 117 places below Palace, meaning this was the biggest upset in the competition of all time in terms of league places. Macclesfield play in the National League North, which is the sixth tier of English football. There have only been nine non-league wins against top-flight opponents in the past 100 years of the FA Cup. Up next for them on Monday night is another Premier League side - this time in Brentford, who are currently flying high in the league under Keith Andrews.
The money already brought in from playing these two top-tier teams will be so huge for Macclesfield, who have had testing times in recent years. One hundred and forty-six years of history were consigned to the history books when Macclesfield Town ceased trading in 2020, before local businessman Robert Smethurst bought the club's assets and, with former player Robbie Savage joining the board, the club was reformed as a phoenix club. Once again, they will also have the extra motivation of playing for forward Ethan McLeod, who tragically died in a car accident while travelling back from a match in December
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