The best action across Europe this weekend - talking points, kick-off times and odds
Wondering what matches to watch across Europe's top five leagues this weekend? Well wonder no more as we highlight the pick of the bunch from each, along with a brief summary of events set to take place elsewhere.
PREMIER LEAGUE
Top Match - Huddersfield vs Crystal Palace
Today’s Premier League fixtures are the reverse of the opening weekend of the season, when Huddersfield were in dreamland with a 3-0 win at Crystal Palace. Another win for the Terriers would move them seven points clear of Roy Hodgson’s side.
Talking Point - Will Wilfried Zaha's return inspire a crucial victory for the visitors?
Elsewhere bottom club West Brom travel to Bournemouth in desperate need of a win, Stoke will be aiming to exploit Everton’s woeful away record and Liverpool are bidding to move back to third when they host Watford.
SERIE A
Top Match - Sampdoria vs Inter
With the top four all in action against bottom half clubs, Inter’s trip to Sampdoria could leave them cut adrift. The hosts are unbeaten in three at home against the Nerazzurri, who are without a win in five away from home while Samp are unbeaten in six at home and battling for for a European finish themselves.
Talking Point - Can Mauro Icardi spark back into life against his former club?
Juventus have a head start with a trip to SPAL on Saturday having stolen a march in the title race, so Napoli will need a win at home against Genoa. Beneath the latter, just six points separate Cagliari in 14th and Verona in 19th.
LA LIGA
Top Match - Villarreal vs Atletico Madrid
If the title race in LaLiga wasn’t ended when Atleti lost at Camp Nou it certainly will be should they lose against their sixth placed rivals this weekend. Villarreal are patchy at best at home but have won their last two against Diego Simeone’s side at the Madrigal, with the visitors scoring just three times in their last six visits.
Talking Point - Are Atletico guaranteed second spot or is there still a chance to climb or fall?
Real Madrid would aim to exploit any slip from their capital city rivals as they host a Girona side with genuine European aspirations. The promoted outfit are the only side in Spain’s top-flight to have won their last three league matches. Meanwhile there is a relegation six-pointer between Las Palmas (18th) and Deportivo La Coruna (19th).
BUNDESLIGA
Top Match - RB Leipzig vs Bayern Munich
Last season’s closest rivals to the champions, RB Leipzig are down in sixth at present but the race for European spots is so tight that they will still have hopes on matching last season’s second place finish. This fixture was one of the games of the season when they met last year as Bayern came from 4-2 down with six minutes remaining to win 5-4.
Talking Point - Can this game live up to last season's thriller?
Elsewhere Schalke in second travel to Wolfsburg, who are outside of the relegation play-off place on goal difference alone, with Dortmund (third), Leverkusen (fourth) and Frankfurt (fifth) also facing bottom half teams.
LIGUE 1
Top Match - Marseille vs Lyon
The Olympique derby is a potentially high stakes affair this Sunday, with the two sides looking likely to be battling it out for a Champions League qualifying spot in third. A win for the hosts would all but cut Lyon adrift in fourth, with Nantes a further 11 points back, but a victory for OL would reduce the gap to their opponents to just two points.
Talking Point - Are Lyon able to win when it matters most without Nabil Fekir?
PSG could move within one game of the title should they win at Nice and Monaco fail to beat Lille tonight. Meanwhile there are two huge games in the relegation battle between Amiens and Troyes and Toulouse and Strasbourg - four of six sides separated by just four points between 14th and 19th.
