THE INTERNATIONAL break is finally behind us. While some people love it when national teams play as it brings forth different types of feelings, fandom, and excitement, it’s always good to have the club football back.
Now that the weekend of top European football is finally here, let us take a look at some of the must-watch-TV coming our way in the next few days.
Dinamo vs. Hajduk
We’re talking about one of the biggest rivalries in European football, the flares will go up when Dinamo and Hajduk meet at Maksimir.
Dinamo has been dominating the Croatian First Division for decades now, while Hajduk is awaiting their first title since the 2004/2005 season. This could be their year as they brought back the likes of Mario Livaja and Ivan Rakitic and appointed Gennaro Gattuso as manager.
With a loss, Hajduk could already say goodbye to the title challenge. If you want a unique football experience, watching this match should be on your bingo card.
Real Sociedad vs. Real Madrid
The fight for the title in La Liga is always almost exclusively between Real Madrid and Barcelona.
After the first few rounds, it would appear that the game is on for both clubs and the fight will last until the last round. Any team that has title aspirations needs to play well when visiting Real Sociedad.
One of the toughest away fields, Anoeta Stadium, is a fortress created by Alguacil Imanol. Mbappe, Vini Jr, Modric, Bellingham, and the gang will have a tough task against Kubo, Zubimendi, and Aguerd.
Think twice before you use your Stake.com to bet against Real Sociedad. But don’t think at all about missing this duel.
Tottenham vs. Arsenal
Yes, this is the weekend of the North London Derby. The excitement for this fixture started to rise the moment the international break was over.
Unfortunately, due to an injury, Martin Odegaard will miss the derby match. It will be up to Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Gabriel, Saliba, and Havertz to defend the honor of The Gunners.
Arsenal is once again trying to mount a serious title challenge, which is quite difficult against the likes of Man City and Liverpool. On the other hand, Tottenham Hotspur will be looking for another top-four finish and a return to the Champions League.
Ange Postecoglou’s team didn’t start the season the right way, so they will be looking to make amends in the derby match. We all know that Son, Kulusevski, Romero, and Maddison have what it takes to win this one.
If you’re a sports betting fan, favouring the home team shouldn’t be out of the question. Even without a bet on the North London Derby, it’s not a match you want to miss.
Liverpool vs. Nottingham Forest
Historically, here we have two of the biggest English clubs. While Liverpool regained its footing during the era of Jurgen Klopp, modern Nottingham Forest is still looking for its identity. Klopp is no more, but, the new manager, Arne Slot, continued in his steps with amazing precision.
The Reds are firing on all cylinders, led by established superstars such as Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, backed by the likes of Mac Allister, Arnold, Robertson, Szoboszlai, Luis Diaz, and Diogo Jota.
This year, they appear to be aiming for the top and Liverpool’s side will give Man City a run for their money.
Nottingham Forest has different aspirations and mid-table finish would be like a title to them. Led by Nuno Espirito Santos, Forest established a nice squad of experienced international players such as Chris Wood, Nikola Milenkovic, Ibrahim Sangare, and Awoniyi Taiwo, while being backed up by domestic talent in White-Gibbs and Hudson-Odoi.
This match promises to be a festival of goals, so you shouldn’t miss it on TV.
Marseille vs. Nice
Every fan of football is familiar with the rivalry between Marseille and Nice. A duel which is dubbed as the Derby de la Méditerranée, due to the team’s geographical position, promises to be one of the best matches this weekend. Why?
Well, Marseille is one of the most ambitious football projects in Europe. Their new manager is Roberto de Zerbi. During the summer, they brought in more than a few reinforcements. The most notable ones are Mason Greenwood, Hojbjerg Pierre-Emile, and Neal Maupay.
Also, they have started the season on a high note with two wins and a draw scoring 10 goals in the process.
Nice, on the other hand, is led by the experienced manager, Haise Franck, who came over from Lens, and the likes of Dante, Laborde, Boga, Ndombele, and Clauss on the field.
While Marseille enters this match as a clear-cut favourite we don’t expect Nice to roll over.
Football for the weekend will be a nice prelude while we wait for the new season of the Champions League to start, and these matches should help you to shorten the wait.
