With all five of Europe’s big leagues back in action and football being played on almost every continent, this weekend might feel somewhere close to business as normal.
From today onwards we all get to enjoy the Bundesliga, La Liga, Ligue 1, Serie A and the Premier League with 100s of other games from leagues around the globe also filling up your matches tab.
And here, we preview the best of what’s coming up.
? Friday Night
?? As you probably know already – the Bundesliga is back! And tonight’s curtain raiser is a chance for Germany’s top division to celebrate last season’s champions and now Champions League winners, Bayern Munich as they take on Schalke at the Allianz Arena.
?? In France, Lyon have been picked for the live Friday night slot on TV for the third Friday in a row! Tonight, they host Nimes – the surprise package of the 2019/20 season. Both sides do however, have only one win to their name so far this season.
?? Another league coming back to the app is the Portuguese Primeira Liga. Here, Benfica who are probably still licking their wounds from a surprise defeat to Greek champions PAOK in the Champions League qualifiers during the week start their campaign at Famalicão.
?? And in MLS, the games between Seattle Sounders and LAFC should guarantee us some goals! Last time out, the MLS Cup holders smashed in seven against San Jose whilst LAFC found some form as they scored four in their win over Portland Timbers.
? Saturday
??????? Tomorrow is a busy day in the Premier League with Manchester United set to return from their extended rest against Crystal Palace and the recently inspired looking, Arsenal hosting West Ham United. There’s also a chance for Everton to improve their shooting stats with the Toffees playing West Bromwich Albion. In last weekend’s win over Spurs, Everton had a grand total of 9 shots off-target!
?? The new Serie A season starts somewhat slowly in Italy with Saturday featuring just two games – Fiorentina welcome Torino to Florence whilst AS Roma go to Hellas Verona.
?? On day two of the new Bundesliga, there’s a Borussen Derby to look forward to – a rivalry between two sides bonded by reasonable proximity but mainly because they both chose the word Borussia for their club name! Borussia Dortmund vs. Borussia Mönchengladbach also happens to be a clash between the teams that finished second and fourth in 2019/20.
?? For just over a month, the eight sides that make up the Canadian Premier League have been playing in the Island Games – a condensed, bubble like tournament that has formed the league’s second season of existence. And on Saturday, it’s come down to a final between defending champions, Forge FC and HFX Wanderers.
The winners will go on to contest the Canadian Championship, the country’s long running Cup competition against Toronto FC and compete in next year’s CONCACAF League.
? Sunday
??????? The new Premier League season gives us a proper Super Sunday this week, with four games spread across the day.
Spurs go to Southampton, Newcastle United entertain Brighton and Leicester play Burnley but the undoubted main event sees the champions Liverpool meet Chelsea for a grudge match in London.
?? In something we’re going to start calling the Martin Ødegaard Clasico (suggestions for a better name welcome) Real Madrid will feature for the first time since the return of La Liga. And coach Zinedine Zidane, who cancelled Ødegaard’s two season loan deal to Real Sociedad precisely because he did so well in his first season may now use the Norwegian himself as his side start their campaign at Sociedad.
?? And with Sunday the traditional day of action in Serie A, Juventus vs. Sampdoria headlines the opening round of fixtures. The Champions will look to start strong as they set their sights on a TENTH straight title.
?? South Korea’s K League reaches it’s final regular season round with the title still very much on the line! Ahead of five further games that will take place after the league split, just two points separates leaders Ulsan Hyundai from last year’s winners, Jeonbuk. That’s following the midweek meeting between the two that ended in a 2-1 win for the chasers.
On Sunday, Ulsan head to Incheon – a side who need points themselves as they bid to avoid relegation whilst Jeonbuk are at home to Busan IPark.
? And there’s a mini-Derby Day feel to Sunday in Scandinavia with AIK playing Hammarby in Stockholm, capital of Sweden whilst further south, Denmark’s most tempestuous rivals, FC København and Brøndby face off in the Superligaen.
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