The Premier League takes center stage once again this weekend and there are three standout matches to sample.

While the race for the title in England’s top flight is becoming increasingly one-sided, there’s still an outside chance of a fightback. But the chasing teams face a difficult challenge in front of their own supporters this weekend. Elsewhere, there are two matches that’ll have vital connotations as the race for the Champions League hots up.

The other two fixtures come from the Bundesliga, as team vie for vital points at both ends of the table.

All kick off times are in Eastern time. Enjoy your weekend and enjoy the games!

VfB Stuttgart vs. Borussia Dortmund

Friday, February 20, 2:30PM, GolTV, fuboTV PRO & KlowdTV

In seasons gone by, a match between these two teams would have been a top of the table clash. But after disastrous campaigns for each, this is a match both sides have to win in order to stave off their lingering relegation fears.

Dortmund are definitely on the right track, though. Jurgen Klopp’s team have won their last two games in succession, bagging seven goals in total. Marco Reus’ return to the team has given BVB an overdue incisive attacking edge again and suddenly they look like a team refreshed; a win here at Stuttgart would surely alleviate their relegation concerns in full.

The bottom club are in desperate need of a win too, however. A loss here could see Stuttgart cut adrift in the relegation zone; coming into this one they’re three points behind 17th place Hertha Berlin. They’ll be hoping a raucous home crowd can put a halt to Dortmund’s recent renaissance and move them to within one point of their upcoming opponents.

But encouragingly for those who frequent the Westfalenstadion, it looks as though Dortmund have rediscovered their mojo in recent weeks. A win here would give the Ruhr club the buffer they need to forget about the drop zone and push towards the upper reaches of the Bundesliga table.

Paderborn vs. Bayern Munich

Saturday, February 21, 9:30AM, GolTV, fuboTV PRO & KlowdTV

The form of Bundesliga new-boys Paderborn has been one of the most intriguing facets of this Bundesliga season so far. Coming into this clash with league leaders Bayern, they find themselves in a respectable 12th place and they’ll be keen to test their mettle against one of the continent’s finest teams.

Pep Guardiola’s side endured a stuttering start to domestic life after their return from the winter break, but during their previous match with Hamburg, the Bavarians looked back to their irresistible best. They ran in eight goals in that particular contest to reaffirm their status as the top side in the division and you suspect they’ll be keen to build on that stunning performance.

The Bayern boss has a surfeit of options available to him at this stage of the campaign and will be keen for his side to preserve their competitive levels as they march towards the latter stages of the Champions League. But the classy personnel all over the field should ensure that displays remain at a high standard as the business end of the season comes into focus.

All the ingredients are in place for a shock, however. The German outfit played an energy-sapping game with Shakhtar Donetsk in midweek and could be a little bit labored as such. If Bayern aren’t at full tilt, Paderborn have shown enough about them in their maiden Bundesliga campaign to suggest they could swipe a positive result.

Manchester City vs. Newcastle United

Saturday, February 21, 12:30PM, NBC & NBC Sports Live Extra

It’s the reverse of the opening day fixtures in the Premier League and one of the most exciting clashes to look forward to will come at the Etihad Stadium. Manchester City must win this one in order to keep pace with a rampant Chelsea team, while Newcastle United will do their utmost to make it three successive games unbeaten.

John Carver will take his team to City with a degree of confidence too, you imagine. The Toon Army beat the champions 2-0 in a League Cup fixture at the Etihad earlier in the season and that night Newcastle were wonderful in nullifying the offensive talent in City’s line-up. Whether the can repeat the trick remains to be seen.

After a difficult spell of results, Manuel Pellegrini’s team returned to form in earnest when they hammered Stoke City 4-1 at the Britannia Stadium last time out. The most encouraging facet of that performance was the masterclass turned in by Sergio Aguero, as the Argentina striker netted his first goals since returning from injury.

You suspect that if City are to mount a late charge for the title this season then a return to form for their top scorer is absolutely imperative. Newcastle represent tricky opposition however and they’ll be confident of taking something from a venue at which the hosts haven’t really flourished as of late.

Tottenham vs. West Ham

Sunday, February 22, 7:00AM, NBCSN & NBC Sports Live Extra

Sunday starts with what should be a bouncing White Hart Lane, as London rivals Tottenham and West Ham get set for what’ll be a full-blooded encounter. There’s a perennial animosity between these two teams and with both sides enjoying decent seasons, the match should be bursting with spades of finesse and ferocity.

West Ham won on both of their visits to White Hart Lane last season and as such they should be confident going there again. Indeed, last year the Hammers notched an emphatic 3-0 victory against Spurs in the league, much to the delight of manager Sam Allardyce. Despite an eighth place position coming into this game, it’d be major surprise to see a repeat of that scoreline.

Tottenham seem to be finding form at just the right time. They were very unlucky to lose 3-2 to Liverpool in their last Premier League game, but memories of Harry Kane’s magnificent brace against Arsenal at the Lane will still be fresh in the mind of supporters. Another win other a local rival would inject even more momentum into their burgeoning season.

In Kane and Christian Eriksen, Mauricio Pochettino boasts two of the division’s most in-form players and West Ham will have to be at their most cohesive if they’re to keep them out. But the Hammers have pulled off some shock results this season and while they aren’t at the levels they showcased in the infancy of the campaign, the white shirts of Spurs will surely spur them towards raising their game.

Southampton vs. Liverpool

Sunday February 22, 11:15AM, NBCSN & NBC Sports Live Extra

With Chelsea romping away atop of the Premier League table, the most entertaining battle at the division’s summit looks as though it’ll come in the race for a spot in the top four. At this juncture, both Southampton and Liverpool will feel as though they have an excellent chance of landing one of those coveted positions.

Saints’ charge has faltered a little in recent weeks, but to dismiss their chances of finishing in a Champions League place would be somewhat premature. Ronald Koeman’s side seem to be getting players back to full fitness at the right time however and against Liverpool should be close to fielding an XI close to what’d be their strongest team.

You suspect they’re going to need all their finest players to be on form this weekend when taking on a rejuvenated Liverpool side however. The Reds have been almost immaculate since the turn of the year and they too have high-profile stars beginning to settle into a devastating groove. Against Crystal Palace in the FA Cup, they showed an ominous underpinning fortitude to their play as well.

There are few teams in the division who are quite as intense off the ball as these two and as such, expect a frenzied 90 minutes of soccer. The points on offer to either side are like nectar at this stage of the campaign, but picking up a victory over a positional rival would inject some real initiative into the Saints’ or the Reds’ cause.

Follow Matt on Twitter @MattJFootball