Silver Saturday: European season reaches its climax as Arsenal, Barcelona & Bayern fight for glory

Three of the continent’s biggest names will be feeling varying degrees of desperation as they attempt to end their campaigns on a high

Three of Europe’s biggest clubs face season-defining finales on Saturday as the continent’s domestic campaigns draw to a close with a flurry of potentially heart-stopping encounters.

Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Arsenal are all in action in fixtures that will carry a huge amount of significance when evaluations are made on each side’s 2013-14 season.

After a difficult season both on and off the pitch, Barca could yet claim the Liga title by beating Atletico Madrid in a fascinating 18:00CET kick-off at Camp Nou.

While Champions League finalists Atleti know that a draw will be enough for them to lift the league crown, a first defeat in six games this term against the Blaugrana will see the Catalans pocket a 23rd Liga success.

SILVER SATURDAY LINEUP

 18:00 CET
FA Cup
Arsenal – Hull City
La Liga Barcelona – Atletico
20:00 CET
DFB-Pokal Dortmund – Bayern

The defending champions could still be without Neymar and Jordi Alba, but the chance to end a troubled campaign with a fifth title in six years and a fantastic farewell gift for Carles Puyol could well see them home.

At the same time, Arsenal will be aiming to end a nine-year wait for a trophy by collecting the FA Cup at Wembley. But standing in their way are a Hull City side playing the first major final in their 110-year history.

The Gunners are heavy favourites to end their drought, but manager Arsene Wenger has been quick to steer the pressure away from his players.

“No matter what the result will be, this club – and this is always most important – can deal with the consequences of any game,” he said.

“No matter how much we talk about it, you can win and lose but you want to come out of the game feeling you have done the maximum to win and that is what we want to achieve.”

Over in Berlin at 20:00CET, Bayern Munich will look to recover from their recent Champions League mauling at the hands of Real Madrid by clinching a domestic double.

Pep Guardiola’s side face Borussia Dortmund in the DFB-Pokal final knowing that defeat would bring a sour end to a season in which they looked set up for treble glory when clinching the league title at the same Olympiastadion in March.

While they won the Bundesliga with seven games to spare, Guardiola is well aware that the knives could be out if they fail to end the campaign on a high following a post-title slump in form.

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