5 blockbuster games to watch this weekend in Europe's top 5 leagues

Games featuring these few teams must be on your wish list this weekend.
Games featuring these few teams must be on your wish list this weekend.

Following some intense European action in midweek, league football is back. All of Europe's major top flights - the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga and Ligue 1 - are a few games into the new campaign, and are slowly gathering steam.

We've already been treated to a few surprise results. In the coming round of fixtures, there are some enticing matchups one needs to watch out for. On that note, here are our top five picks:


#5 Paris Saint-Germain vs Lyon (Ligue 1)

Lyon sprung a surprise on their last visit to Paris - can they do a repeat?
Lyon sprung a surprise on their last visit to Paris - can they do a repeat?

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) are the only side with a 100% record in Ligue 1 after five games, winning all of them. They also have the best goal difference of +11 in the French top flight this season.

However, Mauricio Pochettino's side have only faced teams languishing in the bottom half of the standings. They also faced the newly promoted side Clermont Foot who are making their French top-flight debut.

Lyon, though, will be a different kettle of fish, having stunned PSG 1-0 defeat last year. Moussa Dembele is in a rich vein of form, with four goals in his last three games.

However, Lyon's defence has been shaky, conceding eight times, the joint second-most in the top ten. So the likes of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe would fancy their chances of scoring big.


#4 West Ham United vs Manchester United (Premier League)

Manchester United face in-form West Ham on Sunday
Manchester United face in-form West Ham on Sunday

It's only West Ham, so what makes this clash special? Well, the Hammers are one of only five sides still unbeaten in the Premier League. They have scored the joint second-highest number of goals, with ten in just four games.

Michael Antonio is also in the form of his life, netting five times already in all competitions, including four in the English top flight. So the Red Devils could have their hands full.

Sure, United have also made a flying start to the new campaign, with the returning Cristiano Ronaldo netting a double on his return to the club last weekend. But a shock loss to Young Boys in Europe has punctured their momentum.

They'll hope to bounce back in what promises to be a nerve-wracking encounter between two highly offensive sides.

#3 Valencia vs Real Madrid (La Liga)

Carlos Soler scored a hat-trick on Real Madrid's last visit to the Mestalla.
Carlos Soler scored a hat-trick on Real Madrid's last visit to the Mestalla.

It's a fixture Real Madrid have traditionally struggled to win. You only have to go as far as last November to get a taste of it. The Bats thrashed Los Blancos 4-1 at Mestalla that night, with Carlos Soler netting a hat-trick of penalties.

Nevertheless, Carlo Ancelotti's men will draw inspiration from their flying start to the new season. They are sitting at the top of the table with three wins and a draw from four games, although Los Che aren't too far behind either.

They're level on points with Madrid, and have an identical record, sitting in second place only because of an inferior goal difference. Valencia have won their last two games by a margin of three goals. So this game could be an epic.


#2 Juventus vs AC Milan (Serie A)

AC Milan are on the rise again.
AC Milan are on the rise again.

Once upon a time, this was a fixture between two title contenders. But more recently, though, it became a lopsided affair following Milan's massive decline and Juve's reemergence.

Since the last year or so, the dynamic has changed again. The Rossoneri have revived themselves under the tutelage of wily tactician Stefano Pioli. Meanwhile, the Bianconeri's nine-year reign ended in limp fashion last season as they finished fourth.

So expect a tough game this time around, especially as the Rossoneri also clinched a stunning 3-0 victory in Turin in May. Revenge will obviously be on the Bianconeri's mind. But considering the fact that they're winless in Serie A so far, would they return to winning ways against high-flying Milan?


#1 Tottenham Hotspur vs Chelsea (Premier League)

Tottenham Hotspur failed to score in both league games against Chelsea last season.
Tottenham Hotspur failed to score in both league games against Chelsea last season.

We have another London derby coming up on Sunday when Tottenham Hotspur play Chelsea at home in the Premier League. This one promises to be another cracking game.

Both teams have made a good start to the new league season. But the Blues are one of only five sides still unbeaten in the division, and have been bolstered by the return of Romelu Lukaku.

With four goals from as many games in all competitions, the prolific Belgian is off to a flying start. He will be raring to bag a few more against Spurs, who saw their winning start come to an end a week ago. The Blues will take confidence from the fact that they didn't concede in both league games against Spurs last season.

Crystal Palace ended Spurs' winning start in the league with a surprise 3-0 thumping last weekend. Spurs were then held to a 2-2 draw by Rennes in the first match of the inaugural Europa Conference League.

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