As December ushers in the winter chill, the footballing world heats up with a scintillating lineup of matches that promise to be nothing short of intensity.
The top seven European Leagues:
🇩🇪 Bundesliga, 🇳🇱 Eredivisie, 🇪🇸 La Liga, 🇫🇷 Ligue 1, 🏴 Premier League, 🇮🇹 Serie A, and 🇵🇹 Primeira Liga
December 1.
🇮🇹 Monza vs. Juventus:
Juventus trails by two points in the early Serie A title race with Inter Milan. The two sides met last round and played out a ‘1-1’ draw in Turin. The objective for Juventus this weekend is to gather maximum points against Monza and hope that other results will fall in their favor. The last league meeting between the two sides was a ‘2-0’ win for Monza in Turin.
December 2.
🇪🇸 Real Madrid vs. Granada:
Real Madrid took the top of the La Liga table in the last round of games. A win at home against Granada will guarantee their position for another round. The least Real Madrid can do to hold on to first place is by matching Girona in the result.
🏴 Arsenal vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers:
A late goal in the last round allowed Arsenal to get the win that sent them to the top of the Premier League table. Up next for Arsenal is a game at home against Wolverhampton Wanderers. The league standings predict an Arsenal win. Arsenal were also ‘5-0’ winners the last time this fixture was played.
🏴 Burnley vs. Sheffield United:
Neither side can escape the relegation zone with a win, but it will be a stepping stone. Two promoted clubs that are struggling to find the results to escape the relegation zone. Burnley and Sheffield United both have a win from their opening 13 league games. This is an opportunity for one of them to double their win tally.
⚽ : Burnley vs. Sheffield United
Points per game : (0.31) vs. (0.38)
Points Dropped : (35) vs. (34)
Win Rate : (0.08) vs. (0.08)
Draw Rate : (0.08) vs. (0.15)
Losing Rate : (0.85) vs. (0.77)
Scoring Rate : (0.77) vs. (0.85)
Goal Concession Rate : (2.46) vs. (2.62)
🏴 Newcastle United vs. Manchester United:
There is a point between the two in the standings. Newcastle United and Manchester United were half of the teams that finished in the ‘top four’ last season in the Premier League. They both started this season with some expectation to improve on what they did last season, but it hasn’t gone smoothly for either side. Manchester United is looking for their fourth league win since losing the Manchester Derby, while Newcastle United is looking for the third straight league win.
⚽ : Newcastle United vs. Manchester United
Points per game : (1.77) vs. (1.85)
Points Dropped : (16) vs. (15)
Win Rate : (0.54) vs. (0.62)
Draw Rate : (0.15) vs. (0)
Losing Rate : (0.31) vs. (0.38)
Scoring Rate : (2.38) vs. (1.23)
Goal Concession Rate : (1.08) vs. (1.23)
🇮🇹 Lazio vs. Cagliari:
In the last round, Lazio became the first team to lose a league game against Salernitana this season and remains without a win from their last three league matches. Cagliari is hovering above the relegation zone but a win for them in this tie will see them pull 5 points away from Lazio in the Serie A standings.
🇮🇹 AC Milan vs. Frosinone:
AC Milan are 4 points from the top two and two points from 4th. The expectation is for them to pick up three points at home against Frosinone, the best-performing of the promoted clubs in Europe’s top 7 leagues, according to our Performance Index Rating. AC Milan wants to pull closer to the ‘top 2’, while Frosinone wants the result to move from the midpoint into the top half of the Serie A standings.
🇩🇪 Bayern Munich vs. Union Berlin:
Leverkusen is the only team keeping Bayern Munich from the top. Bayern Munich will be glad to host a struggling Union Berlin for the three points needed to boost their chances of finishing the round at the top of the Bundesliga standings.
⚽ : Bayern Munich vs. Union Berlin
Points per game : (2.67) vs. (0.58)
Points Dropped : (4) vs. (29)
Win Rate : (0.83) vs. (0.17)
Draw Rate : (0.17) vs. (0.08)
Losing Rate : (0) vs. (0.75)
Scoring Rate : (3.58) vs. (1)
Goal Concession Rate : (0.75) vs. (2.25)
🇩🇪 RB Leipzig vs. Heidenheim:
A defeat at Wolfsburg dropped RB Leipzig out of the ‘top 4’, but a win against promoted Heindenheim could get them back in if Dortmund fails to get maximum points against Leverkusen.
🇫🇷 Lens vs. Lyon:
Lens will be without Elye Wahi, who is suspended after picking up a red card in their last game. This should benefit Lyon but with the season they’ve had so far, it is hard to tell if Lyon will be able to take advantage of it. Lyon is relegation-bound as things stand. They have one win after 12 games played and are coming off a ‘2-0’ home defeat to Lille.
🇵🇹 Famalicão vs. Porto:
A victory for Porto will put pressure on the ‘top two’ teams in the Primeira Liga title race. Porto is three points behind Benfica and Sporting CP.
December 3.
🇪🇸 Sevilla vs. Villarreal:
Sevilla has been inconsistent all season but they will leapfrog Villarreal in the standings by beating them this weekend.
🇪🇸 Barcelona vs. Atlético Madrid:
The two teams are on 31 points, but Atletico Madrid is a position ahead, with more wins recorded and with a game in hand. Barcelona will be at home. It will be a battle for 3rd place between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.
⚽ : Barcelona vs. Atlético Madrid
Points per game : (2.21) vs. (2.38)
Points Dropped : (11) vs. (8)
Win Rate : (0.64) vs. (0.77)
Draw Rate : (0.29) vs. (0.08)
Losing Rate : (0.07) vs. (0.15)
Scoring Rate : (1.93) vs. (2.31)
Goal Consession Rate : (1) vs. (0.92)
🏴 Chelsea vs. Brighton & Hove Albion:
There was a pre-season buzz around these two clubs. Chelsea comes to this game after a ‘4-1’ beating at Newcastle, while Brighton won their first league game in seven with a narrow ‘3-2’ win against Nottingham Forest.
🏴 Liverpool vs. Fulham:
At the very least, a win for Liverpool will keep them 2 points away from the top of the league table. Liverpool were ‘1-0’ winners the last time this fixture was played. Fulham is coming off their first league win in five games, a narrow win against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the last round.
🏴 Manchester City vs. Tottenham Hotspur:
Points dropped in a ‘1-1’ draw with Liverpool ended up costing Manchester City their top spot position in the league. If they are to bounce back and pick up a win at home against Tottenham, it will be Tottenham’s fourth straight league defeat, after going through their opening 10 league games of the season without a defeat.
⚽ : Manchester City vs. Tottenham Hotspur
Points per game : (2.23) vs. (2)
Points Dropped : (10) vs. (13)
Win Rate : (0.69) vs. (0.62)
Draw Rate : (0.15) vs. (0.15)
Losing Rate : (0.15) vs. (0.23)
Scoring Rate : (2.54) vs. (1.92)
Goal Concession Rate : (1) vs. (1.31)
🇮🇹 Sassuolo vs. Roma:
Roma is three points out of the ‘top 4’ in Serie A as things stand. Beating Sassuolo is an opportunity to close in, but most importantly, a needed result to guarantee Roma’s position in the standing. Both Atalanta and Fiorentina are in a position to take advantage of any points Roma drops in this fixture.
🇮🇹 Napoli vs. Inter Milan:
The two most recent Serie A champions face off, with last season’s winner, Napoli, 8 points behind the current league leaders, Inter Milan. While Napoli will likely remain fourth even in defeat, Inter Milan’s position at the top of the table will be at risk should Juventus find success against Monza.
⚽ : Napoli vs. Inter Milan
Points per game : (1.85) vs. (2.46)
Points Dropped : (15) vs. (7)
Win Rate : (0.54) vs. (0.77)
Draw Rate : (0.23) vs. (0.15)
Losing Rate : (0.23) vs. (0.08)
Scoring Rate : (2) vs. (2.31)
Goal Concession Rate : (1.08) vs. (0.54)
🇩🇪 Bayer Leverkusen vs. Borussia Dortmund:
Should Bayern Munich do the expected by winning against Union Berlin, then Leverkusen will have to hand Dortmund a third league defeat to stay top of the league table. Leverkusen and Bayern Munich are the only clubs left unbeaten in the league.
⚽ : Bayer Leverkusen vs. Borussia Dortmund
Points per game : (2.83) vs. (2)
Points Dropped : (2) vs. (12)
Win Rate : (0.92) vs. (0.58)
Draw Rate : (0.08) vs. (0.25)
Losing Rate : (0) vs. (0.17)
Scoring Rate : (3.08) vs. (2.08)
Goal Concession Rate : (0.83) vs. (1.58)
🇫🇷 Le Havre vs. Paris Saint-Germain: Last season’s Ligue 2 champions will host last season’s Ligue 1 champions. PSG keeps top spot with a win.
🇫🇷 Monaco vs. Montpellier: Monaco has one win from their last four league games and is coming off a ‘5-2’ defeat in Paris to PSG. They will host a Montpellier side that has one win from their last five league games. Monaco is among the title contenders as things stand, so this is an opportunity to get the result to keep their status in the title race. Montpellier, on the other hand, hovers above the relegation zone as things stand. This is a chance for the points that will help lift them higher.
🇫🇷 Marseille vs. Rennes: A midtable battle between two sides that should be in the top half of the Ligue 1 standings.
🇳🇱 Feyenoord vs. PSV Eindhoven:
The defending champions, Feyenoord, will host the league leaders, PSV Eindhoven, with 7 points between the two despite occupying the top two spots in the league. PSV Eindhoven’s perfection has been the reason Feyenoord’s title defense season has been harder than it should be. To close in on the top of the Eredivisie standings, Feyenoord will have to be the first team to take points from PSV Einhoven this season.
⚽ : Feyenoord vs. PSV Eindhoven
Points per game : (2.46) vs. (3)
Points Dropped : (7) vs. (0)
Win Rate : (0.77) vs. (1)
Draw Rate : (0.15) vs. (0)
Losing Rate : (0.08) vs. (0)
Scoring Rate : (3.08) vs. (3.69)
Goal Concession Rate : (0.85) vs. (0.38)
🇳🇱 Go Ahead Eagles vs. Twente:
There is a 5-point gap between 4th placed Twente and 5th place Go Ahead Eagles. Both teams dropped points in the last round of games, with Twente suffering their second league defeat of the season in a ‘2-0’ game with PSV Eindhoven, and Go Ahead Eagle quickly giving up a lead to settle for a ‘1-1’ draw with NEC Nijmegen.
🇳🇱 NEC Nijmegen vs. Ajax:
Ajax has climbed their way into the top half of the league table after a disastrous start to their season. More wins are expected from Ajax since 8th place is too low of a position for them in the Eredivisie. NEC Nijmegen is unbeaten in their last 5 league games, granted that they’ve all been draws.
🇳🇱 Utrecht vs. AZ Alkmaar:
With the top two teams facing off this weekend (Feyenoord vs. PSV Eindhoven), third-placed AZ Alkmaar can take advantage of the result by grabbing a win from relegation-zoned Utrecht.
🇵🇹 Moreirense vs. Benfica :
The title defense season for Benfica has been a tight one. They ended Sporting CP’s unbeaten start to take the top spot, but they must keep winning to maintain their lead. The two teams are tied on 28 points, with Porto three points behind. Porto will play away to Famalicao the day before Benfica’s match against Moreirense, and Sporting will host Gil Vicente the day after. Benfica can only guarantee top spot for another round with a win against Moreirense.
