Weekend Bangers
THE INTERNATIONAL BREAK IS OVER. DOMESTIC FOOTBALL MAKES A RETURN WITH SOME BLOCKBUSTERS.
Paris St. Germain are the only side in Europe’s top domestic leagues to be able to keep their position at the top of the league standings with a defeat in the coming weekend.
The other 4 league leaders must pick up points.
Monaco and PSG
Atletico Madrid and Barcelona
Liverpool and Leicester City
Tottenham and Manchester City
Besiktas and Istanbul Basaksehir
The most recent title winners in Ligue 1 go at each other.
Monaco vs PSG (French Ligue 1)
Paris St. Germain are on an 8-game winning streak and a 4-point lead at the top of the Ligue 1 standings.
Next in line for Paris St. Germain is a Monaco team with continental football aspirations. Monaco hasn’t beaten Paris St. Germain in any competitive match since 2016. The best they’ve managed was a 3-all draw in Paris earlier this year.
Rennes and Lille must bounce back from their defeats in the last round to keep up the pace in the title race against PSG.
Rennes vs Bordeaux (French Ligue 1)
Rennes are scheduled to open the round as host to Bordeaux, while Lille are scheduled to close the round as host to Lorient.
In the last round, Rennes were at the wrong end of a ‘3-0’ score in Paris against the defending champions and current league leaders.
Lille also conceded 3 goals in the last round; ‘3-2’ defeat against Brest.
They will both be looking for the morale booster from a victory.
As things stands, Aston Villa are title challengers in the Premier League.
Aston Villa vs Brighton (English Premier League)
Aston Villa are three points from the top of the league with a game in hand. They’ve already had remarkable results in the league since the start.
They will be the favorites going into their match with Brighton; which adds to their advantage in the league title race.
Another ‘Mourinho vs Guardiola’ meeting.
Tottenham vs Manchester City (Premier League)
Manchester City have games in hand, but they’ve not been the team many have gotten use to. They are not tearing defenses apart like they use to.
On the other hand is a Tottenham side that is improving with results. As things stand in the English Premier League, Tottenham are a point from the top of the league standings.
A win against Manchester City will allow Tottenham the opportunity to take advantage of the ‘Liverpool vs Leicester City’ fixture. (A draw) or a Liverpool win will in all probability carry Tottenham to the top of the table with a win against Manchester City.
Who will Luis Suarez be supporting from home?
Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona (Spanish La Liga)
It was suppose to be a ‘Luis Suarez vs Lionel Messi’ when Atletico Madrid host Barcelona on Saturday. But with Suarez reportedly contracting COVID-19, that clash won’t happen. Who will Luis Suarez be supporting from home? Will he be one the side of his new club or will his 6-season attachment to Barcelona keep his heart with his former team?
To be fair, Barcelona needs a good result from this match more than Atletico Madrid does. Picking up three points in Madrid will be crucial for Barcelona’s morale and ambitions. They are 9-points from the top of the league and 6 points from Atletico Madrid.
A win for Atletico Madrid could be enough to climb to the top of the league standings if the results from the other fixtures do them a favor.
- In the German Bundesliga, RB Leipzig will take a win at Frankfurt and hope Bayern suffers against Werder Bremen (very unlikely).
- To bounce back from a 4-1 defeat against Valencia in the last round of the Spanish La Liga, Real Madrid will be taking on 2nd-place Villarreal.
- Istanbul Basaksehir have some work to do to defend their league title. They travel to Besiktas this weekend in the Turkis Super Liga
- Real Sociedad guarantees top spot in the Spanish La Liga for one more round with a win at Cadiz. Fortunately for Real Sociedad, Cadiz haven’t found a win at home this season.
Will it be a consecutive win for Brest, or a 7 straight defeat for Saint-Etienne.
Brest vs Saint-Etienne (French Ligue 1)
Brest ended a run of 3 consecutive league defeats with a win against Lille in the last round. They can make it a consecutive win and also hand Saint-Etienne a defeat that will extend their losing streak in the league to 7 games. There is also the option to share the points.
(Considering that they have a game in hand) a win for Marseille against Nice will keep them on track to be PSG’s main challenger in the title race in Ligue 1. As things stand, a win for Nice will allow them to leap 2 points above Marseille.
Everton must find the result to move from their losing streak.
Fulham vs Everton (English Premier League)
Fulham have been struggling most of the season. Everton have been struggling in recent games but Fulham has been struggling all season. Who will come out on top when they meet?
The last three league games have all ended in a defeat for an Everton side that started this season off as title contenders.
Can a depleted Liverpool side keep Anfield a fortress?
Liverpool vs Leicester City (English Premier League)
Injuries and COVID positive results have depleted the options for Liverpool’s player selection. Liverpool are expected to be vulnerable at home when the current league leaders come to Anfield.
Leicester City must win at Anfield to guarantee their place at the top of the Premier League standings.
A win for Liverpool could see them top the league standings at the end of the round; at the very least equal the most points accumulated in the league.
In Italy …
Only a victory will guarantee that AC Milan remain at the top of the Serie A standings at the end of Round 8.
AC Milan unbeaten start to the season will be put to the test in Naples against Napoli.
With a win, Napoli will ties AC Milan in points accumulated.
Sassuolo and Roma will be poised to take advantage of the result from this fixture.
Sassuolo are away to Hellas Verona, while Roma play as host to Parma.
AC Milan’s failure to win against Napoli will see Sassuolo take top spot with a win against Hellas Verona.
In search for their opening win …
- Huesca‘s search for win number 1 of the season in the Spanish La Liga will be away against Osasuna.
- West Brom‘s search for win number 1 of the season in the English Premier League will be away against a Manchester United side that are yet to win a game on home grounds.
- Sheffield United search for win number 1 of the season. West Ham will be their next try.
- Burnley‘s search for win number 1 of the English Premier League season will be against Crystal Palace.
- Crotone‘s search for win number 1 of the season in the Italian Serie A will be at home against Lazio.
- Schalke’s search for win number 1 of the season in the German Bundesliga. Wolfsburg will be their next try.
- Mainz‘s search for win number 1 of the German Bundesliga season will be away at Freiburg.
- FC Koln‘s search for win number 1 of the German Bundesliga season will be against Union Berlin.
November 20, 2020
Osasuna vs Huesca (Spanish La Liga)
Rennes vs Bordeaux (French Ligue 1)
Monaco vs Paris St. Germain (French Ligue 1)
November 21, 2020
Aston Villa vs Brighton (English Premier League)
Tottenham vs Manchester City (English Premier League)
Manchester United vs West Brom (English Premier League)
Schalke vs Wolfsburg (German Bundesliga)
Frankfurt vs RB Leipzig (German Bundesliga)
Villarreal vs Real Madrid (Spanish La Liga)
Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona (Spanish La Liga)
Crotone vs Lazio (Italian Serie A)
Brest vs Saint-Etienne (French Ligue 1)
Marseille vs Nice (French Ligue 1)
Besiktas vs Istanbul Basaksehir (Turkish Super Lig)
November 22, 2020
Fulham vs Everton (English Premier League)
Sheffield United vs West Ham (English Premier League)
Liverpool vs Leicester (English Premier League)
Freiburg vs Mainz (German Bundesliga)
FC Koln vs Union Berlin (German Bundesliga)
Cadiz vs Real Sociedad (Spanish La Liga)
Hellas Verona vs Sassuolo (Italian Serie A)
Roma vs Parma (Italian Serie A)
Napoli vs AC Milan (Italian Serie A)
Angers vs Lyon (French Ligue 1)
Lille vs Lorient (French Ligue 1)
November 23, 2020
Burnley vs Crystal Palace (English Premier League)
