Club football makes a welcome return after the international break, and fans across Europe can look forward to a blockbuster weekend. Manchester United vs Arsenal, the Madrid derby, Der Klassiker and the Derby della Madonnina all take place on the same weekend, a veritable feast of football for the eyes.
There are plenty of intriguing storylines at the top and bottom of the tables across Europe, with closely-fought races in all of the Serie A, Bundesliga, Premier League, La Liga and Ligue 1. With players coming back from gruelling trips abroad on international duty, there is plenty at stake in terms of injuries as well, with managers facing a true dilemma.
Taking factors like form and player fitness into consideration, here are Sportskeeda’s predictions for the weekend beginning 19th November 2016. (All times in IST)
Serie A
Saturday, 19th November
Chievo 2-2 Cagliari (7:30 PM)
Udinese 1-3 Napoli (10:30 PM)
Sunday, 20th November
♦ Juventus 4-1 Delfino Pescara (1:15 AM)
The Old Lady will be hoping to extend their sizeable lead at the top of the Serie A table. Gonzalo Higuain’s confidence might have taken a hit after misfiring for Argentina, but Juve’s record signing should be fit enough to partner with fellow Argentine Paolo Dybala to put Pescara’s defence to the sword. The relegation candidates might not have enough of an answer when faced with the Juve juggernaut and we can look forward to a footballing rout in Turin.
Sampdoria 1-2 Sassuolo (5:00PM)
♦ Atalanta 2-3 Roma (7:30 PM)
The Giallorossi have a chance to stay in touch with Juventus at the top of the Serie A table, and will have to swat aside this season’s surprise package. Mo Salah, Edin Dzeko and Diego Perotti represent the most prolific attack in Serie A, and expect a repeat of last season’s superb 3-3 draw, although 2nd place Roma might have enough to pull off a vital victory against their opponents in 5th place.
Crotone 0-3 Torino (7:30 PM)
Empoli 0-0 Fiorentina (7;30 PM)
Bologna 1-1 Palermo (7:30 PM)
Lazio 2-0 Genoa (7:30 PM)
Monday, 21st November
♦ AC Milan 2-1 Inter Milan (1:15 AM)
The Derby della Madonnina returns to action with the odds heavily favouring AC Milan against their hated rivals, Inter Milan. The Rossoneri have enjoyed a bit of a revival this season under Vincenzo Montella’s tutelage including beating champions Juventus, with the manager relying on fresh faces to propel Milan up to 3rd in the table. The youthful talents of Manuel Locatelli and Gianluigi Donnarumma in goal should be enough for the red-and-black half of Milan to take the spoils.
As for Inter, a disastrous start under Frank de Boer has meant the Dutchman has made way for Stefano Pioli, but it is likely to be an unhappy debut in the Milan derby for their manager. The much-vilified Mauro Icardi remains the Nerazzurri’s only hope of getting anything from the game, but expect Inter to remain wallowing in 9th place in the table after the final whistle blows in the San Siro.
Bundesliga
Saturday, 19th November
♦ Bayer Leverkusen 2-2 RB Leipzig (1:00 AM)
This season’s surprise package, 2nd placed RB Leipzig, face a tough trip to the Bayer Arena, and have the chance to go top of the Bundesliga with a win over their 8th placed opponents. Expect a thrill-a-minute fixture, with Javier Hernandez and Timo Werner likely to be on the scoresheet for either side.
SV Darmstadt 1-0 Ingolstadt (8:00 PM)
Wolfsburg 0-1 Schalke 04 (8:00 PM)
FC Augsburg 2-2 Hertha BSC (8:00 PM)
Mainz 2-1 SC Freiburg (8:00 PM)
Borussia Monchengladbach A German Team 1-3 FC Koln (8:00 PM)
♦ Borussia Dortmund 3-3 Bayern Munich (11:00 PM)
Pep Guardiola’s last two Der Klassiker’s were drab goalless draws, but with Carlo Ancelotti replacing him at the helm of Bayern Munich, expect the biggest game in the Bundesliga to be an attacking feast with Thomas Tuchel no exactly being a shrinking violet himself. Dortmund have a need to win to claw their way back up from 5th place, which should see them come out of the gate firing on all cylinders, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang likely to continue his excellent scoring form.
Bayern have one of the best defences in Europe, but also face the 5th highest goal-scoring side in Europe. Ancelotti might have to rely on his devastating frontline of Robert Lewandowski to get something from this game, especially with Thomas Muller still not as fluent in front of goal this season.
Sunday, 20th November
TSG Hoffenheim 3-0 Hamburg SV (8:00 PM)
Werder Bremen 1-2 Eintracht Frankfurt (10:00 PM)
Premier League
Saturday, 19th November
♦ Manchester 2-2 Arsenal (6:00 PM)
While this fixture doesn’t have the tension of a title clash of late, thanks to Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement, it still remains one of the most contentious games in the Premier League season. There is added spice to this game now that Jose Mourinho is the Red Devil’s manager – while it is no Keane vs Vieira, Mourinho and Arsene Wenger have no love lost between the pair. Expect the touchlines to be lit up with fireworks, if not the pitch.
Arsenal are favourites when it comes to overall form recently, but history heavily favours Manchester United, with the Gunners’ last win at Old Trafford in the league coming a decade ago in 2006, although Danny Welbeck did give Arsenal a win in the FA Cup. Expect Mesut Ozil to continue his great scoring form, while Marcus Rashford will probably torment the Arsenal yet again, much like his two-goal salvo in the 3-2 win last year.
Sunderland 3-2 Hull City (8:30 PM)
Watford 2-1 Leicester City (8:30 PM)
Crystal Palace 1-3 Manchester City (8:30 PM)
Everton 2-0 Swansea City (8:30 PM)
Stoke City 0-0 AFC Bournemouth (8:30 PM)
♦ Southampton 2-2 Liverpool (8:30 PM)
The Reds are top of the Premier League, but continue to leak goals in defence. The Liverpool juggernaut could come crashing to a halt against Southampton, with their most important player, Philippe Coutinho a doubt for the game, while the Saints have a good record at the Stadium of Light in the league.
Tottenham Hotspur 1-2 West Ham United (11:00 PM)
Sunday, 20th November
♦ Middlesbrough 1-4 Chelsea FC (9:30 PM)
Chelsea FC can go top of the Premier League with a win – Antonio Conte’s side will be the last of the big boys to play this weekend and will have the advantage of knowing their rivals have slipped up going into the game. There are a couple of injury doubts, but Conte’s 3-4-3 system is looking more fluent as the season goes on. Expect some great goals, with the Riverside fans likely to go home unhappy.
Tuesday, 22nd November
West Bromwich Albion 0-0 Burnley FC
La Liga
Saturday, 19th November
Real Betis 1-1 Las Palmas (1:15 AM)
Deportivo la Coruna 0-2 Sevilla (5:30 PM)
♦ Barcelona 3-1 Malaga (8:45 PM)
The Catalans have major players coming back from injury, and with Leo Messi and Neymar enjoying a productive international break, there should be a positive mood when Barcelona welcome Malaga to the Nou Camp. MSN should continue their superlative form in front of goal, as Barcelona have a great chance to claw back some points at the top of the La Liga table.
Eibar 2-2 Celta Vigo (11:00 PM)
Sunday, 20th November
♦ Atletico Madrid 1-0 Real Madrid (1:15 AM)
Real Madrid’s unbeaten run of 28 games without a defeat could come to an end at the Vicente Calderon, as Zinedine Zidane’s side have not been very impressive this season despite being top of the Liga table. Atletico have history on their side when it comes to the Madrid derby at the Calderon, having gone unbeaten 9 times in the league, winning 5. Antoine Griezmann could be the Rojiblancos difference maker yet again, as the Frenchman has a penchant of turning up for the big games, while Diego Simeone will undoubtedly fashion an impregnable defence.
As for Real Madrid, they have concerning injury news, with Alvaro Morata ruled out. Cristiano Ronaldo’s poor form in front of goal looked to have ended against Alaves, but the Portuguese superstar might be thwarted by a stubborn Atletico defence, with the hosts likely to claw back the gap that Madrid have opened up at the top of the table.
Deportivo Alaves 0-0 RCD Espanyol (4:30 PM)
Valencia 2-0 Granada (8:45 PM)
Sporting Gijon 1-3 Real Sociedad (11:00 PM)
Monday, 21st November
Athletic Bilbao 1-2 Villarreal (1:15 AM)
Tuesday, 22nd November
CD Leganes 1-0 Osasuna (1:15 AM)
Rest of Europe
Portuguese Primeira Liga
The Portuguese League doesn’t have any league action this weekend, with the cups taking centre stage
Ligue 1
Friday, 18th November
Lorient 0-4 AS Monaco (11:30 PM)
The Ligue 1 table-toppers are the highest scoring team in Europe’s Top 5 leagues, and will likely put bottom-placed FC Lorient to the sword. Expect a goal-fest to come, with Radamel Falcao likely to continue his resurgence in front of goal.
Saturday 19th November
Paris St-Germain 3-1 Nantes (9:30 PM)
PSG have truly missed Zlatan Ibrahimovic this season, but Edinson Cavani has stepped up in his place, albeit inconsistently. The Uruguayan, along with Angel Di Maria, should be enough firepower to defeat Nantes and keep up the pressure on their fellow title challengers.
Monday, 21st November
AS Saint-Etienne 2-2 OGN Nice (1:15 AM)
OGC Nice only have to avoid defeat to continue to remain at the top of the table, and a tough trip away to St-Etienne is hardly the ideal place to go. The hosts are notoriously good at home, although Mario Balotelli should continue his superb form in front of goal to offset the host’s attacking threat.
Turkish Super Lig
Sunday, 20th November
Fenerbahce 2-1 Galatasaray (10:30 PM)
The biggest game in Turkish football takes place this weekend, with Fenerbahce taking on Galatasaray in the Intercontinental derby. Both sides come into the game in not the best of shapes, with the hosts experiencing one of their worst ever starts to a season, while Galatasaray wasted a good start with two defeats in their last two games.
Gala have also not defeated Fener in the Sukru Saracoglu stadium in 15 years, and with their Istanbul rivals having some positivity in the the air due to defeating Manchester United in the Europa League recetly, expect Fenerbahce to run away with a win.
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