Bundesliga Game of the Week: Borussia Dortmund 3-1 Hannover

Borussia Dortmund got back to winning ways with a 3-1 victory against 8th placed Hannover. Striker Robert Lewandowski started after reports he could miss out and took only 8 minutes to put the home side ahead comfortably slotting home. He then doubled his own and team's tally in the 21st minute tapping home after the Hannover keeper could only parry a effort. The away team kept plugging away though and were rewarded with 5 minutes to play in the half. After a mix up in defence Abdellaoue was able to head the ball over the line to halve the deficit.

The home side were able to get back in control with the game in the second half, largely down to the introduction of midfielder Gotze. The game was wrapped up in the 73rd minute when Schieber cool fired home from 18 yards after a run and cut back from captain Jacob Blaszczykowski. Dortmund remain in 2nd place and Hannover continue their poor away form, losing 9 out of 12.

Starting Line Ups:
Borussia Dortmund: Weidenfeller, Subotic, Groskreutz, Schmelzer, Santana, Blaszczykowski (Bender), Gundogan (Gotze), Reus (Sahin), Kehl, Schieber, Lewandowski

Hannover 96: Zieler, Chahed, Pocognoli, Schulz, Djourou (Schlaudraff), Konan, Pinto, Rausch (Schmiedebach), Hoffmann, Sobiech, Abdellaoue (Haggui).

La Liga Game of The Week: Real Madrid 2-1 Barcelona

Real Madrid warmed up for Tuesday's crunch Champions League tie against Manchester United with their second victory against Barcelona in a week, this time with an under strengthen side. Madrid started without Ronaldo, Ozil and Khedira but they showed no sign of struggling against their rivals when Karim Benzema put the home side ahead from close range after just 6 minutes.

A strong Barcelona outfit struck back within 15 minutes of going a goal behind when Lionel Messi cut inside and fired under Diego Lopez in the Real goal. Barcelona dominated the possession but with the match their for the taking the home side introduced Ronaldo in hope of getting the win. And that came with only 8 minutes to play when Sergio Ramos rose highest to nod home and take all 3 points.

Victor Valdes received a red card after the final whistle for his protests to the referee.

Starting Line Up:
Real Madrid: Diego Lopez, Varane, Ramos, Pepe, Coentrao (Arbeloa 69), Kaka (Khedira, 58), Modric, Essien, Callejon, Morata, Benzema (Ronaldo 58)]

Barcelona: Valdes, Alves, Mascherano, Alba, Pique, Iniesta, Thiago (Tello 85), Busquets, Villa (Sanchez 67), Messi, Pedro (Adriano 77)

Premier League Game of the Week: Tottenham Hotspur Vs Arsenal 3/3/13

I don't think anyone will argue that the Premier League Game of the Week this weekend is the North London Derby between Tottenham and Arsenal on Sunday. As well as the usual atmosphere with this type of game, it has an extra edge this weekend as the home side currently sit 4 points ahead of Arsenal, and are looking to finish above them in the league for the first time in 18 years. A win for Spurs would put them 7 points clear of Arsenal, and in a very good position with 10 games remaining, as they eye a place back in the Champions League next season. However, a win for Arsenal would make things very tight at the top, and give them a much needed boost.

Both sides are in good form in the league, with Tottenham not losing a game in 2013, and Arsenal winning their last 3, against Stoke, Sunderland and Aston Villa, respectively. Arsenal won the return fixture at the Emirates Stadium 5-2, but they haven't won at White Hart Lane since 2007, so the home side will go into this one the favourites.

Player to Watch: With 6 goals in his last 4 league games, including two in a 3-2 win against West Ham on Monday night, the Player to Watch in this match is without doubt Tottenham's Gareth Bale. He is in the form of his life at the moment, and has scored 4 goals in North London derbies since moving to Tottenham in 2007, so could make the difference yet again this weekend.

Follow @Soccer_Xtra for team news and live score updates throughout the game, and check back to www.soccer-xtra.blogspot.com for a match report afterwards.

Bundesliga Game of the Week: Borussia Dortmund Vs Hannover 96 2/3/13

Borussia Dortmund will be looking to get back to winning ways after last weeks 1-0 defeat to league leaders Bayern Munich. Top scorer Lewandoski is set to miss out for home side and with Hannover coming into the game off a 5-1 home win against Hamburg it will prove to be a tight affair.

The away side sit in 8th position, looking to continue on a good run of form that could see a late charge for a major European cup place. Last week's defeat to Bayern leaves the home side 17 points adrift of top spot and will now be looking over their shoulders at Bayer Leverkusen who sit only 1 point behind them in third.

Player to watch: With Dortmund in desperate need of 3 points Marco Rues will no doubt be key to any success the home side are going to have. With Lewandoski missing the young German international will have to provide the ammunition.


Soccer Xtra Prediction: Dortmund 2-1 Hannover

La Liga Game of the Week: Real Madrid Vs Barcelona 2/3/13

Real Madrid and Barcelona meet for the second time in a week after Madrid's comfortable 3-0 victory at the Nou Camp in the second leg of the Copa Del Rey. With Barcelona having already seemingly wrapped up the league the game will have no barring on where the title ends up but will still have an edge to it with Barcelona looking for revenge for the cup exit.

A win for the away side will put them 19 points clear of their hosts and there's no doubt that the men from Madrid will have one eye on their midweek tie with Manchester United which is nicely poised at 1-1. A win for Madrid will put them within touching distance of their neighbours Atletico.

Players to watch: In a game littered with world class talent it is hard to look past current Balon D'or winner Lionel Messi. After a quiet game on Tuesday night he will be looking to add to his 38 league goals so far this season.



Soccer Xtra Prediction: Real Madrid 1-3 Barcelona

Serie A Game of the Week: Napoli 1-1 Juventus

The Serie A Game of the Week between league leaders Juventus and second placed Napoli has ended in a 1-1 draw. The away side took the lead after just 10 minutes, when Giorgio Chiellini got on the end of a superb cross by Andrea Pirlo, and powered a header past the helpless Morgan de Sanctis. Juventus continued to dominate the early parts of the game, and had a great chance to double their lead when Mirko Vucinic was put through, but was denied by a superb one handed save by de Sanctis.

Napoli managed to capitalise on Juventus' failure to add to their lead just before half time, when Gokhan Inler let fly with a superb shot from 25 yards, and after a slight deflection, beat Buffon in the Juve goal. There was a moment of controversy a couple of minutes later when Edinson Cavani looked to have elbowed Chiellini after the defender pulled his hair, but the striker was only given a yellow card for what easily could have been a red.

The second half was end to end from start to finish, with plenty of chances for both sides, but Napoli definitely had the best of them. Both Marek Hamsik and Christian Maggio forced good saves from Buffon, but the clearest of chances fell to substitute Blerim Dzemaili. The Juve keeper parried a Hamsik shot, but Dzemaili unbelievably fired wide of an open goal.

Juventus still sit 6 points clear at the top of Serie A, in pole position for back to back league titles.

Starting Line Ups:

Napoli: De Sanctis, Cannavaro, Campagnaro, Britos (Dzemaili 47), Maggio, Inler (Armero 85), Behrami, Zuniga, Hamsik, Pandev (Insigne 67), Cavani.

Juventus: Buffon, Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini, Lichtsteiner, Pirlo, Vidal, Marchisio (Padonin 90), Peluso, Giovinco (Matri 75), Vučinić (Pogba 86)