All of Europe’s Top 5 leagues will be active this weekend.
The German Bundesliga and the Italian Serie A join the remaining pack.
After three matches into the season, Saint-Etienne is looking like a team that has plans to save their status as the most successful team in the French Ligue 1.
Saint-Etienne is the only team in Ligue 1 with a perfect record. They top the league after handing Marseille their first defeat of the season.
To keep their 100% start to the season, a win at Nantes is required from Saint-Etienne.
Rennes and Monaco are tied on points; and are currently in the leading end of the league title race in the French Ligue1. A win for either side could see them top the table at the end of the round if Saint-Etienne is finally beaten.
It hasn’t really been the ideal start for Paris St. Germain. Thankfully there are 30+ matches to play in the season. A win is needed at Nice to settle the nerves in Paris.
Just like PSG, Lyon has dropped more points than expected at this point in the season.
Lyon must bounce back from the midweek defeat against Montpellier and dropped points over the past weeked with a win at home against Nimes.
Bundesliga
Bayern Munich begin their title defense season at home against Schalke.
Can Bayern keep their winning streak going and get the expected win against a Schalke team that ended last season poorly?
Borussia vs Borussia
There were 4 points between Borussia Dortmund and Borussia Monchengladbach at the end of the season last year. Both teams secured Champions League football for this season. They kick off the 2020/21 season against each other. Dortmund will play host to Monchengladbach.
La Liga
Real Madrid begin their title defense season away against Real Sociedad. It will be a test for both teams.
Serie A
Fiorentina and Torino play the opening fixture for the 2020/21 Italian Serie A, while Juventus begin their title defense season at home against Sampdoria.
Premier League
A chance for both Leeds and Fulham to pick up their first Premier League victory since promotion. The two promoted teams face each other at Elland Road. Performance from last season and from the opening round of this season; in addition to the venue makes Leeds United the favorite to win this tie.
Manchester United kick off their season at home against a Crystal Palace side that have three points in the bag from their opening game.
It will be a big (early) test for both Chelsea and Liverpool.
Chelsea will see if the progress made of the summer has closed the gap between them and Liverpool, while Liverpool will be tested to see if they are up to defend their league title.
Manchester City’s season opener will be away against a Wolves side that did a league double against them last season.
The Weekend Bangers
German Bundesliga returned for 2020/21 season.
2020/21 German Bundesliga returns on Friday.
Bayern Munich has a chance to go in for title number 9 in a row.
Borussia Dortmund are expected to be their main contender.
RB Leipzig under Julian Naggelsmann are also expected to give a better title race this year.
Then there is Borussia Monchengladbach.
2 – Borussia Dortmund – 69 points
3 – RB Leipzig – 66 points
4 – Borussia Mönchengladbach – 65 points
5 – Bayer Leverkusen – 63 points
Bayern won the title by 13 points against Borussia Dortmund.
The gap between Dortmund, RB Leipzig, Borussia Monchengladbach, and Leverkusen was not wide.
RB Leipzig will be without Timo Werner (their top scorer)
Leverkusen will be without Kai Havertz (their top scorer) and Kevin Volland.
Has Chelsea weakened RB Leipzig and Leverkusen in the Bundesliga race for the 2020/21 season.
Werder Bremen had a close call with relegation last season. They survived the relegation playoffs to remain in the top flight. Getting far away from the repeat of last season form will be the goal.
Augsburg, FC Koln, Mainz, and Schalke will also be required to make amendments for their performance last season.
Schalke did not get a win in any of their last 16 league matches of the 2019/20 season.
11 defeats and 5 draws that included a set of 4 consecutive defeats and 3 consecutive defeats.
Promoted teams
Arminia Bielefeld
Stuttgart
Robert Lewandowski came very close to winning the European Golden Boot. This is another shot at it.
Treble season can be repeated for Bayern Munich.
September 18, 2020
Bayern Munich vs Schalke
September 19, 2020
FC Koln vs Hoffenheim
Frankfurt vs Arminia Bielefeld
Union Berlin vs Augsburg
Stuttgart vs Freiburg
Werder Bremen vs Hertha Berlin
Dortmund vs Monchengladbach
September 20, 2020
RB Leipzig vs Mainz
Wolfsburg vs Leverkusen
Domestic league football is back in Italy
Another season and another chance for Juventus to win their 10th consecutive league title.
At the end of the season, Inter Milan were just a point away from being the champions. With Antonio Conte staying on as Inter Milan’s manager, the team has a chance to build on the project they’ve started. Can Inter Milan actually go on and break Juventus’s dominance in Italy.
Atalanta outscored every team in the league last season. Should we expect to see another exciting team this year?
Lazio and Ciro Immobile go at it again.
Can Immobile keep the Golden Boot? Can Lazio finish top four again?
Roma and AC Milan must reclaim their place in Italian football. Recent years have not be a good showing for both teams.
Napoli was a title contender just a few seasons ago. Finishing in 7th is quite low for a club like Napoli.
Genoa, Torino, and Sampdoria escaped relegation last season. Avoiding the threat this season should be the plan.
The promoted teams
Benevento
Crotone
Spezia
Teams not in action in the opening round
Atalanta
Benevento
Inter Milan
Lazio
Spezia
Udinese
Opening Round Fixtures in Serie A
September 19, 2020
Fiorentina vs Torino
Hellas Verona vs Roma
September 20, 2020
Parma vs Napoli
Genoa vs Crotone
Sassuolo vs Cagliari
Juventus vs Sampdoria
September 21, 2020
AC Milan vs Bologna
