Ronaldo's Big Comeback, Derby d'Italia Fireworks, and Sociedad's Yankee Boss – Weekend Footy Gems!

Alright, mates, pull up a stool at the pub, crack open a cold one, and let's chat about this weekend's footy crackers. As Julien Laurens over at ESPN Italy has been banging on about, we've got a belter of a lineup: Ronaldo shaking off his sulk to boss Saudi Arabia, the Derby d'Italia that could flip Serie A on its head, and a crafty LaLiga showdown where an American gaffer's turning heads. No armchairs for these – they're pure telly gold.

First up, Saudi Pro League drama on Saturday lunchtime (12:30pm ET, that's tea time for us Brits). Al Nassr host Al Fateh, but the real story is CR7 striding back onto the pitch like he owns the place. The man's been AWOL for two games, chucking a right strop over his club's January wallet being too tight – no PIF cash splash, apparently. But now he's over it, ready to link up with João Félix in Jorge Jesus' trusty 4-4-2. Nassr didn't exactly crumble without him, mind – they bagged wins over Al Riyadh (Mané's cheeky finish) and Al Ittihad (Mané and Gabriel at it again). Seven straight victories have them breathing down Al Hilal's neck, just a point off top spot with a monster clash to come later.

Al Fateh? Winless in six, scraping draws and losses. A couple of Cape Verde lads aside, they're no match for Ronaldo's goal hunt – he's 39 shy of 1,000 career strikes and fresh as a daisy. Expect him to feast. My shout: Al Fateh 0-3 Al Nassr. Easy peasy, even on the road.

Over to Italy for the proper sizzler: Inter Milan vs Juventus, Derby d'Italia number 255, Saturday 2:45pm ET (7:45pm GMT). This ain't just bragging rights – it's title race dynamite. Inter are on an 11-outta-12 Serie A rampage, only tripped up by Napoli. Lautaro Martínez is red-hot, banging in goals for fun over his last four games, while wingback Federico Dimarco's dishing assists (11!) and goals (5) like it's a giveaway. They've shipped just three in eight league games this year, scoring 22. Unstoppable? You bet.

Juve, sitting fourth under Luciano Spalletti, need this like oxygen. They can dazzle – remember that 3-0 Napoli tonking? – thanks to Kenan Yildiz's flair, Weston McKennie's engine, and Khéphren Thuram's midfield grunt. But flop like they did in the Cup at Atalanta (3-0 humbling), and it's curtains. Spalletti's lot are patchy, but unpredictable. Still, San Siro's a fortress. Reckon Inter edge it 3-1 – Juve might nick one, but Inzaghi's lads are too slick.

Sunday's LaLiga treat (3pm ET, 8pm GMT): Real Madrid vs Real Sociedad. Basque boys are buzzing under Pellegrino Matarazzo, the 48-year-old Yank who got the boot from Hoffenheim back in '24. He stepped in for Imanol Alguacil in December and hasn't lost since – seven wins, two draws in nine across all comps. They stunned Barca 2-1 last month, climbing to eighth, sniffing Europa spots (three points off sixth, seven off fifth). Oyarzabal and Gonçalo Guedes are the goal goblins leading the charge.

Madrid? Interim boss Alvaro Arbeloa's got seven straight league Ws, but they're grinding, not gliding. Kylian Mbappé's the lone ranger, 23 LaLiga goals already, even after ref scraps last week vs Valencia. He's dragging them, but cracks show. Matarazzo's magic could exploit that. I'll go Real Madrid 2-1 Real Sociedad – close, but home soil wins.

What a slate, eh? From desert derbies to Milanese madness and Basque boldness. Tune in, lads – footy's serving prime cuts this weekend.