Lookman against Mbappé in the Madrid derby, the highlight of a European weekend that precedes the long international break, which once again sees two iconic managers go head-to-head: El Cholo Simeone and José Mourinho.
The neck-and-neck race in the Premier League between Manchester City and Arsenal continues, while Bayern and PSG chase the top of the Bundesliga and Ligue 1. Among the most interesting fixtures are Tottenham-Aston Villa, Sevilla-Barcelona, Leverkusen-Leipzig, Marseille-PSG, Lyon-Rennes and Porto-Benfica.
ENGLAND
The gap that has already opened up between the two dominant sides, Arsenal and Manchester City — both on maximum points — and the rest is a deep one: following the derby victory over United thanks to the ever-reliable Haaland, Maresca's march has become relentless, as it takes that much to keep pace with an Arsenal that looks stronger and more competitive with every passing week. An easy task awaits the Citizens against Sunderland, the side featuring former Roma man Le Fee, Danso and Brobbey. A tougher challenge awaits the champions against Brighton, with O'Riley and Ferguson in their ranks.
The two surprise packages of the season, Leeds and Hull, face Crystal Palace and Newcastle respectively, while the most delicate match is between two fallen giants: De Zerbi's Tottenham and Aston Villa — the side of Suzuki, Ruggeri, Jackson and Abraham — both in crisis and firmly in the relegation zone. Liverpool (who deepened Tottenham's crisis by knocking them out of the League Cup) are in action at Bournemouth. Chelsea travel to Brentford. Manchester United are going through a difficult spell: after losing the derby, they were knocked out of the League Cup by Brighton. The Red Devils will now look to bounce back away at Fulham.
21:00 Brentford-Chelsea.
Saturday: 13:30 Tottenham-Aston Villa, 16:00 Brighton-Arsenal, Newcastle-Hull, 18:30 Nottingham-Coventry.
Sunday 20th: 15:00 Bournemouth-Liverpool, Leeds-Crystal Palace, Man City-Sunderland, 17:30 Fulham-Man United.
SPAIN
Barcelona's goal carousel shows no sign of slowing down. In the midweek fixture they put seven past Racing Santander, with Raphinha completing a hat-trick to bring his tally to nine already. The Blaugrana are on maximum points after six games, having scored 28 goals — four and a half per match. Now La Liga offers up two marquee fixtures involving the top five: Flick's Barça are in action away at Sevilla, a side that appears reborn after years of mediocre drifting.
But the highlight takes place at the Metropolitano, which hosts the Madrid derby between Atlético — five points behind the Blaugrana — and Mourinho's Real, three points back. It will be a gripping contest between two managers who have crossed paths many times before. Atlético, who have not won the derby since the 5-2 of a year ago, are reviving David — a shadow of himself at Juventus — who has returned to scoring regularly and should start alongside Alex Baena and Lookman. Real will again line up Bellingham with Mbappé and Vinícius, though fans continue to look with suspicion at the style of play Mourinho has imposed, one that concedes too much defensively. Betis — who have already beaten Real — could take advantage of the direct clashes; they are in action at La Coruña. Despite their victory over Malaga, Villarreal remain low in the table and look to climb by hosting Levante.
Saturday: 16:15 Athletic-Alavés, 21:00 Sevilla-Barcelona.
Sunday: 16:15 Atlético-Real, 18:30 Villarreal-Levante, Deportivo-Betis, 21:00 Valencia-Real Sociedad.
GERMANY
Bayern find themselves chasing after the draw with Dzeko's Schalke two weeks ago and now get an early start by hosting Union Berlin. Little more than a formality for Kane and company, but in the meantime Freiburg and Dortmund are enjoying the thrill of sitting at the top of the table. While the ambitions are high for the team featuring Beier and Bellingham Jr., for Freiburg's squad it is a new and exciting prospect.
The weekend's away opponents are illustrious but going through a disappointing spell. Dortmund face Stuttgart, who have already lost two games, while Freiburg visit Frankfurt, who have 4 points.
The most interesting match is between two clubs aiming for the Champions League, Leverkusen and Leipzig, but the clash between two newly promoted sides who are making a good impression, Schalke and Elversberg, also arouses curiosity.
8:30 PM Bayern-Union Berlin.
Saturday: 3:30 PM Frankfurt-Freiburg, Bremen-Augsburg, 6:30 PM Stuttgart-Dortmund.
Sunday: 3:30 PM Leverkusen-Leipzig, 5:30 PM Schalke-Elversberg, 7:30 PM Paderborn-Hoffenheim.
FRANCE
PSG won the European Super Cup and began their Champions League campaign by thrashing Slovan Bratislava. But the champions are struggling domestically, sitting 5 points behind the three leaders Lille, Monaco and Rennes. As in recent years, Luis Enrique is carefully managing the squad's fitness in view of such a long season: on Sunday they face a fallen giant, Marseille, who are struggling and were hammered 4-1 by Italiano's Besiktas in the Europa League. The highlight is the clash between Lyon and Rennes, while Monaco host Thauvin's Lens and Davide Ancelotti's Lille should comfortably prevail away at Nice, who sit bottom.
8:45 PM Monaco-Lens.
Saturday: 5:15 PM Paris FC-Strasbourg, 8:45 PM Lyon-Rennes.
Sunday: 5:15 PM Nice-Lille, 8:45 PM Marseille-PSG.
Other leagues
In the Netherlands, PSV seek their sixth consecutive win away at Twente on Sunday at 2:30 PM, while AZ, joint leaders on points, host Telstar at the same time. In Portugal there is a big match on Sunday at 9:30 PM between Farioli's Porto, leaders with a perfect record after 6 games, and Benfica, 2 points behind, who won comfortably in Milan. In Turkey, a clash between Salah and Osimhen tomorrow at 7 PM as league leaders Galatasaray travel to Trabzonspor. Italiano's Besiktas, second and one point back, are in action away at newly promoted Amedspor on Sunday at 7 PM.
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