It’s another bumper weekend of glamour fixtures, while the pressure mounts on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Manchester United and we get our first look at Barcelona after Ronald Koeman’s exit.
Friday 9pm European time - French Ligue 1
Lille stunned PSG last season, pipping them to the Ligue 1 title by two points although the tables have turned this campaign, with the Parisians seven points clear at the top while the reigning champions are down in 10th, 13 points off the pace. PSG have a few issues, with Kylian Mbappe ruled out due to an ear infection while Lionel Messi is doubtful after picking up a knock at training. Lille are far from the champion side of last season, with boss Christophe Galtier having left along with Mike Maignan, but they have the league’s top scorer in Jonathan David and are full of threat.
Saturday 3:30pm European time - German Bundesliga
This may not seem your typical top five fixture, but Union have enjoyed a stellar start to the new season, sitting fifth with only one loss after five games. Bayern are top on 22 points, six ahead of Union. The Bavarians are the team to beat in Germany and if Union an claim their scalp it would be significant, having already beaten Wolfsburg and Borussia Moenchengladbach this term. Bayern are also coming off a humbling 5-0 DFB-Pokal thrashing from Gladbach in midweek to add further intrigue. Look out for Union forward Taiwo Awoniyi.
Saturday 6:30pm European time - English Premier League
The pressure continues to mount on Ole Gunnar Solskaer following United’s 5-0 rout by Liverpool last weekend and it doesn’t get any easier with a trip to Tottenham. The Red Devils have only claimed one point from their past four league games, seeing them slip down to seventh. Spurs have been inconsistent this term, sitting one point ahead of United in sixth. Son Heung-Min has a good recent record against United while Harry Kane has only netted once this league season. For United, Marcus Rashford has been a big inclusion lately after injury but they’ll be without the suspended Paul Pogba.
Saturday 9pm European time - Spanish La Liga
Speaking of pressure, that eventually boiled over for Barcelona in midweek with Ronald Koeman axed, meaning they’ll play for the first time under caretaker Sergi Barjuan against 16th-placed Alaves. Barcelona lost to Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday, days after going down 2-1 to Real Madrid in El Clasico prompting Koeman’s dismissal after months of speculation. Whether his exit will prompt an uplift in form remains to be seen, but the players’ reaction will be intriguing. Alaves have won their past two matches to climb out of the drop zone and won’t be easy.
Sunday 8:45pm European time - Italian Serie A
Jose Mourinho’s fourth-placed AS Roma host AC Milan who have started the new Serie A season exceptionally, collected 28 points from a possible to be behind leaders Napoli only on goal difference. Milan may have struggled in Europe this term but they have won their past six league games, working well as a unit. Roma have been less convincing, despite some positive signs under Mourinho, collecting seven points from their past five games as they miss injured pair Chris Smalling and Leonardo Spinazzola in defence.
