There’s a bundle of high profile fixtures this weekend from Italy, Germany, England and Spain, with the top-of-the-table clash in Serie A the pick of the bunch.
Sports Pundit’s Game of the Weekend Juventus v Napoli Italian Serie A, Saturday 6pm (CET)
This game appears to represent a genuine Scudetto contest with Juve and the Napolitans occupying the top two points on 19 points apiece after seven games. The Partenopei would love to end the Old Lady’s long unbeaten record in Serie A which goes back to the 2010-11 season. These two last met in the Supercoppa which Juve won 4-2, but not without controversy with Napoli having two men sent off as well as boss Walter Mazzarri. Napoli’s prolific Edinson Cavani will be dangerous, while Juve will miss keeper Gianluigi Buffon who has a thigh injury.
Tottenham v Chelsea English Premier League, Saturday 1.45pm (CET)
Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas takes on his former club for the first time with his side in some good form, having gone unbeaten since the opening day defeat to Newcastle. The Blues have had a busy international break, with John Terry and Ashley Cole in the news for the wrong reasons yet again. Terry will miss this game through his suspension from his racial abuse charge, while Frank Lampard is battling a virus. Tottenham’s last clash with a top side was a 3-2 win at Manchester United, with Clint Dempsey netting the winner.
Borussia Dortmund v Schalke 04 German Bundesliga, Saturday 3.30pm (CET)
This early season Ruhr derby takes on added significance given title contenders Bayern Munich’s perfect start to the season. Third-placed Schalke are already seven points behind Bayern, while fourth-placed Dortmund are a further two behind their Ruhr rivals. This game represents a great chance for Schalke to end BVB’s recent dominance of this fixture, with Jurgen Klopp’s side struggling for form and with injuries including Jakub Blaszczykowski and Mario Gotze.
Lazio v AC Milan Italian Serie A, Saturday 8.45pm (CET)
It’s third versus 11th in Serie A’s late Saturday kick-off but it is Lazio who are sitting higher up the table as the 2011 champions battle for results following the departures of a series of key players including Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The pressure is on Rossoneri boss Massimiliano Allegri having been given the dreaded vote of confidence this week. Vladimir Petkovic’s Lazio are not the kind of side Allegri would want to face right now, particularly with Miroslav Klose in scoring form in midweek.
Deportivo Coruna v Barcelona Spanish la Liga, Saturday 10pm (CET)
How times have changed since Deportivo won the Spanish title back in 2000, with the club experiencing relegation since, while Barca have claimed five La Liga crowns and been European champions three times too. Newly-promoted Depor are currently 18th with just one win this term, while Barca are top of the table with 19 points from seven games with Lionel Messi in hot form, but they are without the injured Carles Puyol and Dani Alves for this one.