Manchester, North London derbies, Inter-Barcelona Champions League clash mark return of club football
Manchester, North London derbies, Inter-Barcelona Champions League clash mark return of club football: The English Premier League returns this weekend with a vengeance by featuring two derbies on consecutive days.
The North London derby on Saturday and the Manchester derby on Sunday will be welcome news. It is for EPL fans after a two-week international break and cancellation of some vital fixtures due to the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.
This week also marks the triumphant return of the Champions League.
Some games to keep an eye on this week are listed below.
Manchester City vs Manchester United (Sunday, 6.30 PM)
Manchester City and Manchester United have been bitter rivals seemingly since the beginning of time, and their match this weekend promises to be the weekend’s most exciting matchup.
However, the blue half of Manchester has taken home the lion’s share of the plaudits in recent years due to their free-flowing and pragmatic approach to the game, whereas the once-dominant red half has struggled for an identity since the retirement of their iconic manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
As was the case last time, City is the heavy favorite on home soil against a United team that has won four consecutive Premier League games after suffering two consecutive losses to open the season.
United fans, though, should be skeptical of their team’s form because it has been inconsistent in recent years.
While they are playing better as of late, having won over league leaders Arsenal and an out-of-sorts Liverpool, they are still capable of a collapse like the one they suffered against Real Sociedad in the Europa League on September 9.
When these two teams last faced each other in the Premier League, City won 4-1 and continued on to win the league for a record-setting fifth time. After signing Erling Haaland for this season, the team is formidable.
The Norwegian striker has been on fire since joining the club, with 11 goals in only seven Premier League appearances. United’s defense duo of Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez has improved greatly as of late, but Haaland’s presence casts a long shadow that threatens to swallow up any fight they put up.
Since Lisandro Martinez is much shorter than the towering Haaland, he will be under extra pressure.
United’s starting lineup will likely feature Marcus Rashford, Antony, and Jadon Sancho up front, with recent injury returnee Antony Martial starting on the bench. Whether or whether Cristiano Ronaldo will play in this game is still up in the air.
If Ten Hag is going to start the Portuguese talisman, he may have to sit one of his top three scorers. Meanwhile, Casemiro will likely make his season debut in the Premier League.
Arsenal vs Tottenham (Saturday, 5 PM)
When Arsenal and Tottenham square off in the fiery North London derby this Saturday, it will add a fresh chapter to the storied rivalry between these two powerhouses. This time around, though, the script has an extra incentive, as Arsenal currently sits atop the league and Tottenham currently sits in third place, separated by only one point.
Arsenal’s hopes of making the Champions League this year were destroyed by a 3-0 loss to Tottenham in May, and you can know that Mikel Arteta and the rest of the Gunners team will be out for vengeance. Spurs are undefeated so far this season, whereas Arsenal’s spotless record was blemished by United, so it won’t be easy to overcome them.
Tottenham’s record at the Emirates Stadium isn’t exactly stellar, so the Gunners will have a distinct advantage in this matchup. Only one of their last 29 trips to this stadium resulted in a victory.
It doesn’t help that the Lilywhites’ roster is wracked by injury; they may be without Hugo Lloris, Dejan Kulusevski, and Ben Davies.
In spite of the team’s sluggish start to the season, Son Heung-min came on as a substitute against Leicester City and scored a hat trick in just 13 minutes after entering the game. On Saturday, Conte will likely start Son, Harry Kane, and Richarlison in an all-out attempt to win.
When it comes to key players, Arsenal only lost Emile Smith Rowe, who was never a lock to start. Their offensive unit is primed and ready to go, with players like Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Martinelli, and Gabriel Jesus hoping to annihilate their competition and cement their position atop the league.
Inter Milan vs Barcelona (Wednesday, 12.30 AM)
In a pivotal Champions League match, Barcelona will face Inter Milan at San Siro. After suffering identical 2-0 defeats at the hands of the defending German champions, both teams need a win more than ever.
Barcelona is doing well in La Liga, while Inter is off to a sluggish start and currently sits in seventh place in Serie A after being blown out by Udinese 3-1.
The Nerazzurri have played the Blaugrana ten times, with only one victory. They have lost six of the games. There has been a run of injuries among Barcelona players, both on and off the field, which could help Inter.
The absence of Jules Koundé, Ronald Arajo, and Héctor Bellern for the foreseeable future leave a significant gap in Barca’s defensive lineup. Even though Memphis Depay and Frenkie de Jong haven’t had a huge impact this season, they’ll also be sitting this one out.
Meanwhile, Inter will be counting on the health of striker Romelu Lukaku for this match. Croation midfielder Marcelo Brozovi will also miss this match due to an injury sustained while on international service.
Honorable mentions
Liverpool vs Brighton (Saturday, 7.30 PM)
Inter vs Roma (Saturday, 9.30 PM)
Sevilla vs Atletico Madrid (Saturday, 10 PM)
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