What to Watch: A weekend of cup drama and league showdowns

Football fans are in for a thrilling weekend on SuperSport, with a line-up of must-watch matches across multiple competitions.

In England, the Premier League returns with high-stakes clashes as teams battle for crucial points in the title race, European qualification, and the fight for survival. Meanwhile, in South Africa, all eyes will be on the Nedbank Cup, famously known as "the cup of dreams," where underdogs and giants alike will compete for a spot in the next round.

Elsewhere in Europe, it's business as usual in LaLiga and Serie A, where the continent’s top clubs continue their pursuit of league glory.

Don’t miss a moment of the action - tune in to SuperSport for a weekend packed with football drama!

ALL set for a battle between two teams in the top four

Premier League: Nottingham Forest v Manchester City
- Saturday 8 March | 14:30 (CAT)

Nottingham Forest are winless in their last nine league games against Man City (D2 L7) since a 3-2 win at Maine Road in the second tier in December 1997.

Man City have won their last three Premier League games against Nottingham Forest by an aggregate score of 7-0. They’ve never won four in a row against Forest in the top-flight before.

Since the start of November, this is Manchester City’s eighth Premier League game starting the day in the top four of the table. They’ve taken just one point from the previous seven in this run, conceding at least twice in each match (19 in total).

Nottingham Forest are winless in their last three Premier League games since beating Brighton 7-0 last month (D1 L2). They last went four without a win in April 2024 (D1 L3), the fourth game of which was a 2-0 home loss to Manchester City.

Only Liverpool (22) and Arsenal (18) have won more points in the Premier League in 2025 than Manchester City (16 – W5 D1 L2), with no team netting more often in the top flight than the Citizens this calendar year (21 – same as Liverpool).

ALL to play for in a huge knockout clash

Nedbank Cup: SuperSport United v Orlando Pirates
- Saturday 8 March | 15:00 (CAT)

SuperSport United and Orlando Pirates will face each other in the Nedbank Cup for the eighth time, having first met in the competition during the 1996-97 season.

Of their previous seven Nedbank Cup encounters, five matches were decided in open play, while two went to penalties—each team winning one shootout.

SuperSport United have won three matches in open play and one on penalties, while Orlando Pirates have secured two victories in open play and one via a penalty shootout.

This will be the 24th cup meeting overall between the two sides. Orlando Pirates have won ten, SuperSport United have won seven, and six matches have ended in draws.

Of the six previous draws in cup competitions, five were decided on penalties. SuperSport United have won three shootouts, while Pirates have won two.

The only cup match between the sides to end as an outright draw was a goalless stalemate in the first leg of the 2012-13 MTN8 semifinals, where SuperSport United were the home team.

Their first-ever Nedbank Cup meeting took place in the Last 32 of the 1996-97 edition, with Orlando Pirates hosting on August 31, 1996. The match ended 1-1 after extra time, with Pirates winning 5-4 on penalties. Pirates went on to be crowned champions that season.

Barca looking for ALL three points and a seventh straight win

LaLiga: Barcelona v Osasuna
- Saturday 8 March | 22:00 (CAT)

Barcelona lost their last meeting with Osasuna in LaLiga, 2-4 in the reverse fixture this season, having won each of their previous five. They have never lost both matches in the same campaign against the Navarran side in the competition.

At home, Barcelona have won their last four games against Osasuna in LaLiga, keeping clean sheets in all of them. Only once have they gone 5+ without conceding a goal against them at home in the top-flight (G6 W5 D1 between 1963 and 1984).

Osasuna are the last side to score four or more goals against Barcelona in a LaLiga match (4-2 in the reverse fixture this season) and the only one to have done so in the competition against the Blaugrana with Hans- Dieter Flick on the bench.

Barcelona have won each of their last six LaLiga matches, keeping four clean sheets in four of them, having won just one of their previous eight in the competition (D3 L4).

Barcelona are the first team to score 71+ goals after their first 26 games of a LaLiga campaign since the Blaugrana themselves in 2016/17 (76 goals).

ALL systems go in a classic Premier League rivalry

Premier League: Manchester United v Arsenal
- Sunday 9 March | 18:30 (CAT)

A fierce rivalry, a historic battleground, and high stakes—Manchester United and Arsenal are set for another showdown at Old Trafford!

United’s Nightmare Run: The Red Devils have lost their last four Premier League meetings with Arsenal—their worst-ever streak against the Gunners in league history. Can they finally turn the tide?

Arsenal Chasing History: The Gunners edged this fixture 1-0 last season, but they haven’t won back-to-back league games at Old Trafford since 1979. A win on Sunday would be a statement.

Goals Galore? Arsenal have found the net in their last 10 Premier League visits to Old Trafford, bagging 13 goals in that run. But after firing blanks in their last two league games, can they rediscover their cutting edge?

The Numbers Game: United have beaten Arsenal 99 times in all competitions—the Gunners’ most defeats against any club. Meanwhile, United have only beaten Aston Villa more (106).

United’s Inconsistency: Erik ten Hag’s men came from behind to beat Ipswich 3-2 last time out, but they haven’t won back-to-back league games all season—their longest wait for consecutive victories since 1968-69!

Arsenal’s Worrying Form: Mikel Arteta’s side have managed just three shots on target across their last two Premier League games. If they fail to score again, it’ll be their first three-game drought since August 2021—and the first while sitting in the top two since November 2000.

With Arsenal chasing the title and United desperate for momentum, this one promises fireworks. Who takes the spoils at the Theatre of Dreams?

ALL bets are off when Juventus host high-flying Atalanta

Serie A: Juventus v Atalanta
- Sunday 9 March | 21:45 (CAT)

Juventus have looked like a club in turmoil for most of the season, but don’t count out the "Old Lady" just yet—Sunday night’s clash with Atalanta could launch them right back into the Serie A title race.

Despite fan protests, Champions League heartbreak, and a shock Coppa Italia exit to lowly Empoli, Juve have quietly put together a five-match winning streak in the league. Now, they sit just six points behind leaders Inter Milan, with Thiago Motta’s fourth-placed side gathering momentum at the perfect time.

Monday’s 2-0 win over Verona came amid a hostile backdrop—angry supporters heckled the team at their pre-match hotel and later booed them off at halftime. But on the pitch, Juventus have turned from draw specialists into a winning machine, even if Motta’s tactical identity is still taking shape.

This weekend’s showdown is a serious test. Atalanta are the best away team in Serie A, unbeaten on the road since August. Gian Piero Gasperini’s men, sitting three points ahead of Juve in third, are in the title mix themselves thanks to their ruthless away form, even as they struggle for wins at home.

Juventus might not close the gap on Inter just yet—Simone Inzaghi’s men face bottom-club Monza on Saturday—but with a growing injury list and a Champions League tie against Feyenoord looming, Inter’s grip on the Scudetto could start to slip. Especially with a visit to Atalanta coming up next weekend.

Juve have a golden opportunity - will they seize it?