By OkayGoal 
The five best football fixtures to watch this weekend, featuring AFCON quarter-finals, the FA Cup third round, and El Clรกsico.
Five spicy fixtures you must watch this weekend:ย
Macclesfield vs Crystal Palace
The FA Cup third-round weekend is always one to watch, as English footballโs biggest clubs join the competition. Everyone loves a potential cup upset, so perhaps the best viewing will be found at Macclesfield. The non-league side are climbing back through the ranks, with the phoenix club โ reborn from Macclesfield Town in 2020ย โ now in the sixth-tier.
This weekend, Macclesfield host the holders as Crystal Palace arrive at Moss Rose. Palace were the underdogs during last seasonโs final win over Manchester City at Wembley, but now start as overwhelming favourites.
Winners once. Holders still.
We are Crystal Palace.Introducing the limited-edition @EmiratesFACup Winnersโ Ball that will be used in our fixture this weekend against Macclesfield ๐ค pic.twitter.com/hhz38EthDz
โ Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) January 8, 2026
Can John Rooney, younger brother of Wayne, mastermind a Macclesfield cupset?
Spice Rating: Mild ๐ถ
Egypt vs Ivory Coast
The Africa Cup of Nations has reached the quarter-final stage and there are heavyweight clashes everywhere.
On Saturday evening, record-winners Egypt face holders Ivory Coast in an unmissable match. The Pharaohs saw off Benin in extra time last time out, with Mohamed Salah on target for his third goal of the tournament.
Salah is bidding to end his wait for an elusive AFCON tournament, but Egypt face an Ivory Coast team in terrific form. Manchester United winger Amad Diallo has been a driving force in their campaign.
Egypt will face Ivory Coast in the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations ๐ช๐ฌ๐จ๐ฎ pic.twitter.com/rvs13g6ZiQ
โ Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 6, 2026
Spice Rating: Medium ๐ถ๐ถ
Algeria vs Nigeria
Another cracker in Africaโs continental competition.
Algeria and Nigeria meet in the last eight, the only two teams with a 100% record in the competition so far. Riyad Mahrez has rolled back the years for Algeria with three goals, though it was a last-gasp Adil Boulbina that prevented penalties against DR Congo last time out.
๐ฉ๐ฟ Algeria vs. Nigeria ๐ณ๐ฌ
Canโt wait for this AFCON quarterfinal ๐ฎโ๐จ pic.twitter.com/xoCCvLPWUo
โ B/R Football (@brfootball) January 6, 2026
For Nigeria, Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman have in rich form with both on target as the Super Eagles thrashed Mozambique 4-0 in the Round of 16. Nigeria will be determined to make up for their World Cup disappointment with a first AFCON win since 2013.
Spice Rating: Hot ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ
Inter Milan vs Napoli
Inter Milan meet Napoli in Serie A this weekend, in a clash that could have huge implications on the title race. Inter lead the Scudetto chase, ahead of facing the defending champions at the San Siro.
Cristian Chivuโs side secured their sixth win in a row after beating Parma 2-0 in midweek to open up a three-point lead at the top. However, memories are still fresh of a humbling defeat at Napoli earlier in the campaign.
Which way will this one go?
Spice Rating: Fire ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ
Barcelona vs Real Madrid
El Clรกsico is always the biggest fixture on the European calendar, so itโs always good when another gets added. Barcelona and Real Madrid set up a Spanish Super Cup showdown this week after securing semi-final wins in Saudi Arabia.
The first silverware of the Spanish season is on the line, as the eternal rivals collide in the Middle East.
๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐
On Sunday, itโs Barcelona ๐ Real Madrid for the Spanish Super Cup trophy ๐๐ช๐ธ
๐๐ฅ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ง ๐ข๐ก! ๐ฅต pic.twitter.com/bry9afHi4o
โ 433 (@433) January 8, 2026
Barcelona battered Real Madrid in this fixture last season, scoring four times before half-time. Revenge is on the agenda for Real.
Spice Rating: Insane ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ๐ถ
Read โย Premier League Team of the Week โ Berge, Barnes, Thiago
See Also โย Premier League Awards: Record-breaker Barnes, Semenyoโs signs off