Five for Friday: things we're looking forward to this weekend

The FA Cup takes centre stage this weekend with Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and others in action. Wenger would be advised to leave the Emirates in a bullet-proof vehicle if the Gunners don't sidestep Watford into the next round and West Ham offers a tricky tie for van Gaal at Old Trafford. Neither club would want a replay so home advantage for both should just about seal their advancement into the semi-finals. Elsewhere expect Reading and Crystal Palace to provide a score draw and Everton to complete Chelsea's week of misery.

Hertha BSC sitting in third this late in the campaign has surprised everyone. Notorious for mismanagement and underachievement, if there ever was an award for the worst capital city team Hertha would probably take the cake. Schalke achieved their best start to a season in over 40 years but have since dropped off. Their win against Köln last weekend meant they gained three points on Hertha as Berlin slumped to a defeat from Hamburg. Today, a win would help Schalke leapfrog Hertha to third. With the Bundesliga’s top two uncatchable this 3rd v 4th Friday night encounter is the cream of the crop for the Bundesliga right now.

Barely a season in and Thomas Tuchel has done great things at Borussia Dortmund. Arguably the best second placed team in Europe, still in mathematical reaching distance of Bayern Munich and playing great football, he now welcomes his former club Mainz to the Signal Iduna Park. Mainz are now known as the “Bayern-Killers” having beat the Bavarians 2-1 in Munich last week. Flying high and in pursuit of Champions League spots, sitting in fifth and two points off third, Mainz will want another giant slaying under their belt.

The top three in Spain should have a smooth weekend with three easy victories and it's Gary Neville who should be worrying. While his spot on the bench of Valencia seems booked, at least until the end of the season, a defeat in the Valencia derby against Levante - sitting at the bottom of the table - would mean a third consecutive loss in all competitions and could raise the already impatient fans to call for Neville’s resignation.

Juventus host Sassuolo tonight and as straight-forward as you might expect this result to pan out Juve shouldn't take it in their stride. Sassuolo have defeated both Milan and Lazio in their previous two league games and even took three points from Juventus earlier in the season. It's unlikely Juve will slip up again tonight and with Napoli on their heels they'll want to keep their lead at the top of Serie A.