Weekend Domestic League Fixtures
October 27, 2018
Borussia Dortmund vs Hertha Berlin (German Bundesliga)
Currently at the top of the league table and looking good enough to put a break to Bayern Munich’s dominance in the Bundesliga. Borussia Dortmund will be going for the win to keep the point-gap between themselves and the rest of the league.
Hertha Berlin’s victory against Bayern Munich in addition to the fact that a win could get them into a ‘Champions League’ qualification spot in the league standings won’t allow Borussia Dortmund to take this match lightly despite having home support. Hertha Berlin is unbeaten in their last three league matches despite consecutive draws in their most recent fixtures.
Athletic Club vs Valencia (Spanish La Liga)
Athletic Club and Valencia shouldn’t be fighting to get away from the relegation zone but they are after 9 rounds in the 2018/19 La Liga season.
Atletico Madrid vs Real Sociedad (Spanish La Liga)
Real Sociedad will cut the gap in points between themselves and Atletico Madrid down to a point if they can bounce back from their home draw against Girona and do what seems improbable by taking the maximum points from an Atletico Madrid side that is unbeaten in the league since their away defeat to Celta Vigo on September 1st 2018.
Monaco vs Dijon (French Ligue 1)
A victory at home won’t pull Monaco from the relegation zone, but it will be the progress they were searching for with the managerial changes. Thierry Henry will get his home debut as coach of Monaco. The hope for Henry and Monaco is that victory comes their way. Monaco has been winless in the league since their opening match fixture against Nantes. Both teams have suffered 6 defeats in their opening 10 matches of the season, but pre-season expectations have Monaco’s record that is under the microscope.
October 28, 2018
RB Leipzig vs Schalke 04 (German Bundesliga)
RB Leipzig fell out of the early title race in the Bundesliga after being held at Augsburg to a point from a goalless draw. After putting an end to a string of defeats from their opening 5 matches of the season with consecutive victories, Schalke 04 is at the risk of beginning another losing streak if they get beaten at Leipzig.
Schalke is in need of a positive result to bounce back from their defeat at home to Werder Bremen while RB Leipzig is looking to get back into a strong position in the early title race.
Barcelona vs Real Madrid (Spanish La Liga)
El Clasico
Calendars are marked at the start of the season for this fixture. And it feels like it came around the right time for a fair head-to-head match between Barcelona and Real Madrid.
To ensure they remain in pole position, Barcelona will be in search for a Camp Nou victory against their archrivals.
Madrid is on a winless streak in the La Liga after 3 defeats and a draw from the last 4 fixtures.
The season hasn’t been kind to Real Madrid. They can be pulled down to the bottom half of the standings if they are on the losing side against Barcelona in the first El Clasico of the 2018/19 season. Fortunately for Real Madrid, Lionel Messi sidelined by injury this fixture.
Manchester United vs Everton (English Premier League)
In some ways, Manchester United’s form is getting better. In other ways, they are severely underperforming. Manchester United will be tested at home when they face Everton.
Everton has accumulated a point more than Manchester United in the league standings after 9 rounds. Round 10 is an opportunity for Everton to widen the gap to 4 or risk falling 2 points behind. While Manchester United managing to go unbeaten in the last two league matches come across a positive sign for something better, Everton is on a three-game winning streak in the league.
Napoli vs Roma (Italian Serie A)
Napoli would need to see off Roma to guarantee that the 5-point gap between themselves and Juventus at the top of the league table remains. Roma is looking to avoid making it a consecutive defeat in the league while healing the wounds inflicted after a shocking home defeat to SPAL.
Marseille vs Paris St. Germain (French Ligue 1)
Marseille has a chance to stop Paris St. Germain from 11 wins out of their opening 11 matches in Ligue 1. At 8 points clear at the top of the table, it isn’t a necessity for PSG to secure the three points away from home as much as it is for Marseille to get something from the match to deny Lyon the chance to kick them out of the top four with a victory away against Angers.
October 29, 2018
Lazio vs Inter Milan (Italian Serie A)
A defeat will have Lazio expose to the possibility of falling out of the Champions League spot. A victory for Inter Milan would not only widen the gap between themselves and Lazio but could also see them jump to second in the league standings if Roma gets the best of Napoli.
Tottenham Hotspur vs Manchester City (English Premier League)
Manchester City will put their unbeaten run to a test at the Wembley Stadium.
Sitting at the top of the league standings means Manchester City is doing the right things to defend their league title, but if Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, and Tottenham Hotspur don’t drop points before they face Tottenham, Manchester City does not have the luxury of dropping points.
With that said, a win for Tottenham in combination with favorable results from other fixtures around the league could be Tottenham’s ticket to the top of the pile.
