European Football Weekend Preview - 27 September 2024

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Premier League - Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur (Sun 29th Sept, 4.30, Sky Sports Main Event)

• United dropped points at Palace last weekend, once again showing how much work has to be done at Old Trafford. The performance was solid, but several missed chances highlighted their problems in attack; with only 2 wins out of 5 in the Premier League, a win is needed to stay in touch of the top 4 places. It was also a disappointing week in Europe as points were dropped on opening night in the Europa League at home to FC Twente.

• After defeat in the North London derby, Tottenham bounced back with a come-from-behind victory over Coventry in the League Cup and Brentford in the league last weekend. Like their opponents a win is sorely needed to prevent the gap to the Champions League places from becoming too much, even this early in the season. Spurs had success in their first match in the Europa League, defeating Qarabag 3-0 despite Radu Dragusin being sent off.

• Form in the last 5 league games

Man Utd = D-W-L-L-W

Tottenham = W-L-L-W-D

• Head to Head (Last 26 Premier League games)

Man Utd = 13 wins

7 Draws

Tottenham = 8 wins

• Key Stat

Since the inception of the Premier League, Tottenham have only won twice at Old Trafford.

• Key Player - Bruno Fernandes

The Portuguese playmaker is the key man at United. Often criticized for his petulance and theatrics, all that aside when Fernandes is on form he is a player that the Red Devil’s turn to for inspiration. He will want to improve his strike rate thus far, he has had 17 shots, with only 3 on target and no goals. 

• Key Player - James Maddison

Brilliant in Spur’s win last weekend over Brentford in a deeper midfield role, Maddison gave an all action display where he won 14 duels, completed 88% of his passes, and grabbed himself a goal to go with his performance; he could give United plenty of problems if their midfield is having yet another off day. 

• Injuries/Suspensions - Manchester United

Lenny Yoro, Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia, and Victor Lindelof are all missing through injury for Sunday’s encounter.

• Injuries/suspensions - Tottenham Hotspur

Richarlison and Wilson Odobert are predicted to be out until next month with injuries, otherwise Spurs have a full selection to choose from. 

• Prediction

A very difficult game to call, despite having a poor record at Old Trafford, Tottenham have the ability to cause further headaches for Erik Ten Haag’s charges; Spurs to win 2-1 with Maddison to be a key figure in the contest.

La Liga - Atletico Madrid v Real Madrid (Sun 29th Sept, 8pm, ITV4)

• Sunday sees Atletico and Real face off in La Liga for the 175th time at the Metropolitano, in last season's corresponding fixture Diego Simeone led his side to a 3-1 win; it was to be Los Blancos only league defeat all season. 

• Atletico have had an inconsistent start, despite remaining unbeaten in their first 7 games, they have drawn 3 times though against Rayo Vallecano, Espanyol, and Villarreal, and required a late Julien Alvarez goal to defeat Celta Vigo on Thursday night.

• Real sit 2nd with 5 wins this season in their opening 7 games, but have experienced teething problems trying to fit Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo, Endrick, and Arda Gular into the team in a workable formation. Hard work was made of Alaves on Tuesday night, Los Blancos winning 3-2 in a frantic ending to the game.

• Form in the last 5 league games

Atletico Madrid = D-W-W-D-W

Real Madrid = W-W-W-D-W

• Head to Head (Last 28 La Liga matches)

Atletico Madrid = 6 wins

10 Draws

Real Madrid = 12 wins

• Key Stat

Real Madrid have been awarded the most penalties so far in La Liga, 5 in total.

• Key Player - Antoine Griezmann

Now 33, Atletico still heavily rely on the brilliance and ingenuity of Griezmann when others fail to step up. The French World Cup winner has 2 goals and 2 assists this season, he also scores high for chances created with 9; any breakthrough will most likely have his stamp on it on Sunday night. 

• Key Player - Vinicius Junior

Mbappe may have finally joined the European Champions, but so far the star of the team still remains Vinicius Junior. With 3 goals and 3 assists, it just feels that at the moment as his teammate is still finding his feet, the team turns to the Brazilian in times of need; with 8 goals in 13 games in all competitions against Atletico, Vinicius enjoys the Madrid derby. 

• Injuries/Suspensions

Pablo Barrios is back training, but will most likely miss out. Rodrigo De Paul is    experiencing physical discomfort and is a doubt.

• Injuries/suspensions

Brahim Diaz, Daniel Ceballos, David Alaba, and Eduardo Camavinga are all missing for Real with various injuries.

• Prediction

Atletico are a tough nut to crack at home, with Real still to click it could be a long night for Thibaut Courtois; I think Atletico will win 2-1. 

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Bundesliga - Bayern Munich v Bayer Leverkusen (Sat 28th Sept, 5.30pm, Sky Sports Football)

• Last season Bayer Leverkusen ended Bayern Munich’s dominance of the Bundlesiga, the Bavarians had won it 11 times in a row; it was the first time after many heartaches over the years that Die Werkself (the factory) finally lifted the Meisterschale. 

• Under new manager Vincent Kompany, Bayern have been in devastating form, winning their first 6 games in all competitions scoring 27 goals in the process; arguably this will be their first big test of the season.

• Leverkusen have been up to their old tricks, winning games in the dying moments and providing us with some classic matches, but lacking the control manager Xabi Alonso would like in games; their defense has proved very leaky so far, conceding 2.25 goals on average in their first 4 Bundesliga games

• Form in the last 5 league games

Bayern Munich = W-W-W-W-L

Bayer Leverkusen = W-W-L-W-W

• Head to Head (Last 28 Bundesliga games)

Bayern Munich = 15 wins

6 Draws

Bayer Leverkusen = 7 wins

• Key Stat

Both Bayern and Leverkusen are currently the top scorers in Germany with 16 and 13 goals in the league respectively

• Key Player - Harry Kane

After a disappointing Euro’s where Kane lacked sharpness, the former Spurs striker has hit the ground once again with Bayern; he has 9 goal contributions in the Bundesliga as Kompany’s side sit top of the pile after 4 games. Kane scored in the corresponding fixture last season. 

• Key Player - Florian Wirtz

Crucial to Leverkusen’s success last season, since returning from a serious injury a few seasons back, Wirtz has shown what he is capable off; with 4 goals so far, this could be another big season for the German international. Alonso will turn to him on Saturday evening, hoping for a big performance at the Allianz Arena. 

• Injuries/Suspensions - Bayern Munich

Arijon Ibrahimovic, Daniel Peretz, Hiroki Ito, Josip Stanisic, Manuel Neuer, Mathys Tel, Sacha Boey, and Tarek Buchmann prop up Bayern’s lengthy injury list. 

• Injuries/suspensions

Leverkusen have no issues regarding team selection ahead of their weekend clash with Bayern.

• Prediction

Porous at the back, but sharp in attack, Leverkusen will provide plenty of entertainment. Bayern are looking back near their dominant selves, I just can’t see Alonso’s men outsourcing their opponents; Kane and co to win a classic 3-2. 

Serie A - Torino v Lazio (Sun 29th Sept, 11.30am)

• Torino are the surprise leaders at the top of Serie A, winning 3 of their 5 opening matches, and remain unbeaten so far. They were dealt a blow with manager Ivan Juric moving to Roma, Paolo Vanoli came in as his replacement; the new incumbent led his side to a 3-2 win away at Verona, but saw Il Toro dumped out of the Coppa Italia midweek by Empoli.

• Marco Baroni, in his first few weeks at the Stadio Olimpico has had an inconsistent start, seeing his team winning only 2 of their first 5 games. Last weekend they suffered a late defeat in Florence when Albert Gudmunsson converted a 90th minute penalty to deny Lazio a point. Lazio bounced back to record a 3-0 away win over Dynamo Kiev in the Europa League.

• Form in the last 5 league games

Torino = W-D-W-W-D

Lazio = L-W-D-L-W

• Head to Head (Last 24 Serie A games)

Torino = 5 wins

9 Draws

Lazio = 10 wins

• Key Stat

Torino are unbeaten in their 8 previous matches

• Key Player - Vanja Milinkovic-Savic

Undoubtedly the star of Torino’s season so far, Milinkovic has been a rock between the sticks as he has helped his team claim top spot in Serie A. The Serb has kept 2 clean sheets, saved a penalty, and made 21 saves already. 

• Key Player - Nuno Tavares 

On loan from Arsenal, full back Tavares has settled into life in a blue shirt with ease. He has provided 3 assists and created 6 chances for his teammates, becoming the creative hub for Lazio. 

• Injuries/Suspensions - Torino

Mergim Vojvoda and Perr Schuurs are the only absentees for Torino.

• Injuries/suspensions - Lazio

Samuel Gigot will be the only Lazio player to miss out, he has a shoulder injury. 

• Prediction

I feel with European commitments and an average beginning to the campaign, Lazio will struggle in the fixture, Torino to win 1-0.

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Ligue 1 - Lens v Nice (Sat 28th Sept, 4.00pm)

• Lens have had an unbeaten start to the Ligue 1 season, recording 2 wins and 3 draws. With only 5 goals scored, their strength is most certainly in defence where they have conceded just 2 goals so far under new coach Will Still. 

• Franck Haise returns to his former club for the first time since swapping Lens for Nice in the summer; it has been an encouraging start with the only defeat coming against high-flying Marseille. They also had a 0-0 draw with Real Sociedad on Wednesday in the Europa League.

• Form in the last 5 league games

Lens = D-D-D-W-W

Nice = W-L-W-D-L

• Head to Head (Last 26 Ligue 1 games)

Lens = 6 Wins

11 Draws

Nice = 9 wins

• Key Stat

Lens have kept the most clean sheets in Ligue 1 this season (3).

• Key Player - Brice Samba

• The former Nottingham Forest keeper is a key figure for Lens and has been in good form so far. He has formed part of a defensive unit that has ensured Les Sang et Or (blood and gold) are hard to break down. 

• Key Player - Jonathan Clauss

• Surplus to requirements at Marseille, Clauss moved down the coast and has proven a shrewd acquisition for Nice; the full back has a goal and 2 assists to his name already. 

• Injuries/Suspensions - Lens

Jimmy Cabot and Martin Satriano miss out through injury, Kevin Danso is a long term absentee with a heart condition. 

• Injuries/suspensions - Nice

Gaetan Laborde, Jeremie Boga, Morgan Sanson, and Terem Moffi are unavailable for Saturday; Hicham Boudaoui and Mohammed Ali-Cho are doubts for the fixture. 

• Prediction

I can imagine this will be a low scoring encounter, with Lens happy to let Nice try and  break them down; I predict a 0-0 draw.

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