The Big Five: Manchester United's clash with Tottenham headlines weekend overseas action

THE BIG 5: Can AVB put his critics on ice with a fluent display at Old Trafford, or will the Ryan Giggs show march on?

TOTTENHAM'S trip to Manchester United is the headline act of the weekend but there's another exciting round of Premier League and La Liga coming your way this weekend.

Here's our Big 5:

Manchester United v Tottenham, Saturday 11pm (EDT) Sunday, Fox Sports 1 HD

Tottenham will look to bounce back from their 6-0 hiding to Manchester City by taking on a Manchester United side fresh from a 5-0 win at Bayer Leverkusen.

The pressure is on at White Hart Lane, where Tottenham's Premier League campaign has faltered - winless in their last three.

News_Rich_Media: We pay tribute to Ryan Giggs, the most decorated player in the Premier League era, who turns 40 this week.

A win in freezing Norway in the Europa League helped ease pressure on Andre Villas-Boas, but his failure to gel his new signings, and Spurs' lack of cutting edge, still has to be a concern in the league. Tottenham average 53 per cent of possession for nine goals in 12 matches - toothless and lacking combinations.

United, on the other hand, are unbeaten in 11, but are also searching for consistency. 5-0 in Germany, missing Robin van Persie, Michael Carrick, Nemanja Vidic, Marouane Fellaini and Rafael, came off the back of two dropped points against Cardiff in the league.

This week, it's Ryan Giggs's week. The United legend turns 40, and if you want to believe in fairytales, he's scored more goals against Spurs (10) than any other club.

News_Image_File: Plenty for Jose Mourinho to think about.

Chelsea v Southampton, 3.10am (EDT) Monday, Fox Sports 1 HD

We're on the cusp of a busy December period, where many will expect Southampton's stirring start to stumble. Arsenal did the business against them last weekend, but can Mauricio Pochettino's side show their wares on the weekend?

Chelsea can kick away from the Saints on the table with a win at home before a 'simpler' run against Sunderland (away), Stoke (away) and Crystal Palace at home sees 2013 end with a glamour tie against Arsenal.

But Jose Mourinho's side were well below their best against Basel, and discontent over Juan Mata's persistent omission have resurfaced again this week after a poor display midweek. Samuel Eto'o is now injured, so there remains unanswered questions about Chelsea's 2013-2014 bona fides.

They remain in a formidable position on the table heading into December but Pochettino's side have the energy, gumption and class to cause problems at Stamford Bridge.

It should be another intriguing battle in midfield - Arsenal's in-form engine room were forced to grind it out against the Saints last weekend. Artur Boruc went a long way to making things easier for Arsenal, but Arsene Wenger hailed the Saints' ability to stifle his band of playmakers.

"To stop us from playing it was the best we have seen," he said after the game.

Mourinho blamed fatigue for the limp display at home to Basel, but if whoever he chooses in his midfield attacking trio aren't sharp on the weekend, Southampton will fancy their chances.

West Ham v Fulham, 2am (EDT) Sunday, viewers' choice

Okay, so this game isn't guaranteed to keep you awake at 2am on Sunday morning. Arsenal's trip to Cardiff, or Manchester City's home show against Swansea on Monday morning are full of more entertainment value.

But there's plenty riding on this London derby, which is also bottom of the table clash, pitting teams 17 and 18 - both on 10 points - up against each other.

Both Sam Allardyce and Martin Jol are becoming accustomed to boos from the stands - West Ham have only won twice all season, while Fulham are on a run of four losses.

This is a fixture that normally has goals (22 in the last six) and how both bosses will dream of success up front in this instalment.

Allardyce's strikerless experiment has been an utter flop, as he waits for Andy Carroll's return from injury, while Jol has Darren Bent, Dimitar Berbatov and Bryan Ruiz, but Fulham have scored just 11 goals - two more than the Hammers.

Jobs are on the line in this one, with particular scrutiny on Dutchman Jol.

News_Image_File: There's a big chance for Neymar to assert himself.

Athletic Bilbao v Barcelona, 6.55am (EDT) Monday, Fox Sports 1 HD

News_Rich_Media: Matchday five of the Champions League threw up a number of potentially decisive encounters with only one round remaining before the knockout stages. Check out the goals from the pick of the morning's action.

Barcelona are looking to rebound from European disappointment, after their surprise loss to Ajax.

The midweek defeat was the first time they were beaten in 21 games since Gerardo Martino took charge in July. They were missing Lionel Messi and goalkeeper Victor Valdes, and could also be without Adriano, Jordi Alba and Dani Alves on the weekend.

Midfielder Xavi, as you would expect, played down the influence of Messi's absence saying the Catalan club did not do enough to win.

They'll get another chance to prove their Messi-less credentials against Bilbao, whose good form has them within a point of Villarreal for the final Champions League spot.

It's a good challenge for Barca: Bilbao haven't lost at home since the opening of the new San Mames in September with four wins and two draws from six games at their new stadium.

"We need to have intensity from the start and in San Mames it will be another test," Xavi said.

"We need to turn it around and go for it from the off with that intensity that we lacked (against Ajax)."

Ernesto Valverde's side are unbeaten at home since the opening of the new San Mames in September with four wins and two draws from six games at their new stadium.

News_Rich_Media: Check out the goals from the pick of Thursday's UEFA Champions League action.

Espanyol v Real Sociedad, 7.55am (EDT) Sunday, Fox Sports 1 HD

Sixth placed Sociedad will look to bounce back from their UEFA Champions League exit at the hands of Shakhtar Donetsk by bouncing back against ninth-placed Espanyol on Sunday (EDT).

"We started on the wrong foot especially the opening two matches when I think we deserved more from those games. "It is going to be very tough to qualify again for this competition. But I think we are playing well in La Liga and improving all the time. "What we have to do now is recover well and focus on Saturday's game," Sociedad boss Jagoba Arrasate said.

The San Sebastian club will take on an Espanyol outfit who beat Vallecano 4-1 last weekend via a Sergio García hat-trick. The Catalan outfit have petered out after a strong start to the campaign, but back-to-back wins won't hurt at all.