B/R Experts Predict Top Matches in World Football for Weekend of September 20-21
Another weekend of club matches across Europe gives our Bleacher Report experts the chance to polish their prediction skills.
In the Premier League, Arsenal will look to put their Champions League defeat to Borussia Dortmund behind them, but their trip to high-flying Aston Villa will not be an easy one.
The biggest English game of the weekend comes on Sunday as Chelsea travel to champions Manchester City.
In La Liga, Real Madrid are at Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday where they will be hoping to end a run of two successive defeats in the league. Bayern Munich face a trip to Bundesliga bottom club Hamburg on the same day.
Serie A, arguably, has the biggest game of the weekend with early league leaders AC Milan playing host to second-placed Juventus on Saturday. Both clubs have 100 percent records to protect, meaning something has to give at the San Siro Stadium.
Do you agree with our experts' forecasts for this weekend? Let us know in the comments below.
Aston Villa vs. Arsenal
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Alex Livie: Aston Villa 0-2 Arsenal
First goalscorer: Aaron Ramsey
Villa may be flying high in the Premier League and will fancy their chances at home, but Arsenal have real quality and will take the three points.
Karl Matchett: Aston Villa 1-0 Arsenal
First goalscorer: Gabriel Agbonlahor
Villa’s impressive start has to end some time, but they seem to produce good performances against Arsenal anyway, who themselves had a tough midweek clash and won’t find this game much easier.
Sam Tighe: Aston Villa 0-2 Arsenal
First goalscorer: Danny Welbeck
Villa's run will come to an end and it should be against Arsenal, who they never beat at home.
Will Tidey: Aston Villa 1-1 Arsenal
First goalscorer: Philippe Senderos
Villa have looked so compact this season and will be high on confidence. Meanwhile, injury-ravaged Arsenal will be tired from European exploits.
Michael Cummings: Aston Villa 1-1 Arsenal
First goalscorer: Andreas Weimann
Arsenal have been hit by yet more costly injuries, and with precious little cover, they'll record yet another draw at Villa.
Jerrad Peters: Aston Villa 1-1 Arsenal
First goalscorer: Gabriel Agbonlahor
Four rounds into the season and Aston Villa are four points up on Arsenal. Did anyone see this coming? They'll continue to ride their momentum to a score draw.
Alex Dimond: Aston Villa 1-2 Arsenal
First goalscorer: Danny Welbeck
Aston Villa are on a high after the victory over Liverpool, but Arsenal will be determined to bounce back after the Dortmund result, and Danny Welbeck might well get himself off the mark.
Deportivo La Coruna vs. Real Madrid
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Alex Livie: Deportivo 0-3 Real Madrid
First goalscorer: Gareth Bale
Real have had a poor start to the season and have looked disjointed at times. But cream always rises to the top and they will be too good for Depor.
Karl Matchett: Deportivo 0-2 Real Madrid
First goalscorer: Karim Benzema
Time to get back to winning ways in La Liga for Real, who have had a tricky start to the season domestically.
Sam Tighe: Deportivo 0-3 Real Madrid
First goalscorer: Gareth Bale
Real Madrid crushed Basel with ease and now the Liga form will improve in turn.
Will Tidey: Deportivo 0-3 Real Madrid
First goalscorer: Karim Benzema
No nonsense from Madrid here. They'll dispatch Coruna with ease, albeit playing a tighter style than we saw against Atleti.
Michael Cummings: Deportivo 2-3 Real Madrid
First goalscorer: Karim Benzema
It's been a constant struggle for Real so far this season, thanks to their dodgy defence and a lack of defensive cover in midfield. Expect more of the same at Depor.
Jerrad Peters: Deportivo 1-3 Real Madrid
First goalscorer: Karim Benzema
The Riazor is rarely a welcoming ground for Real Madrid, but they edged a 2-1 win at the ground last season and look to have finally turned the corner following Tuesday's demolition of FC Basel.
Alex Dimond: Deportivo 1-2 Real Madrid
First goalscorer: Karim Benzema
Three defeats in a row is almost inconceivable for Real, but that is the prospect that faces them at the Riazor. It might not be a flawless performance, but their attacking quality should see them through.
AC Milan vs. Juventus
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Alex Livie: AC Milan 1-1 Juventus
First goalscorer: Carlos Tevez
This has all the makings of a tense affair, so expect two of Serie A's top names to share the spoils.
Karl Matchett: AC Milan 2-2 Juventus
First goalscorer: Carlos Tevez
There are so many sub-plots to this one it’s almost like the Milan of old are back. This will be a big test for both new managers and neither will likely be disappointed with a draw.
Sam Tighe: AC Milan 0-1 Juventus
First goalscorer: Fernando Llorente
Allegri's return to San Siro yields a victory, putting Juve three points clear of their rivals early on.
Will Tidey: AC Milan 2-1 Juventus
First goalscorer: Jeremy Menez
Milan have had a crazy start to the season, while Juve have been doing what they always do. I just have a feeling Milan can win at home in this one.
Michael Cummings: AC Milan 1-2 Juventus
First goalscorer: Jeremy Menez
Milan thrilled onlookers with their wild 5-4 win over Parma last weekend, but while the Rossoneri seem to have found new life under Inzaghi, beating Juventus will be much more difficult.
Jerrad Peters: AC Milan 1-2 Juventus
First goalscorer: Keisuke Honda
AC Milan have lost their last four matches to Juventus by a combined score of 8-2. They'll get on the scoreboard, but Carlos Tevez and Co. will continue their perfect start to the season.
Alex Dimond: AC Milan 1-1 Juventus
First goalscorer: Carlos Tevez
AC Milan were involved in a thriller last weekend, but this one will surely conform closer to all the stereotypes about Italian football. A hard-fought draw seems highly probable.
Hamburg vs. Bayern Munich
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Alex Livie: Hamburg 0-3 Bayern Munich
First goalscorer: Robert Lewandowski
Hamburg are without a win to their name from three matches and come into the game propping up the table. Bayern will be in no mood to dish out presents, so expect Pep Guardiola's men to claim an easy win.
Karl Matchett: Hamburg 1-3 Bayern Munich
First goalscorer: Robert Lewandowski
Bayern will have too much for most of their domestic rivals this season, and assuming there are no ill-effects from the Manchester City game, HSV won’t be any different.
Sam Tighe: Hamburg 0-2 Bayern Munich
First goalscorer: Robert Lewandowski
Hamburg are in for another very tough season, and Bayern are coming off a last-minute win vs. Manchester City.
Will Tidey: Hamburg 0-4 Bayern Munich
First goalscorer: Thomas Muller
Hamburg have started the season badly. Bayern are Bayern. Romp forthcoming.
Michael Cummings: Hamburg 0-3 Bayern Munich
First goalscorer: Thomas Muller
Three games, two losses and no goals so far for Hamburg. It's highly unlikely that any of those dubious records will change against Bayern.
Jerrad Peters: Hamburg 0-3 Bayern Munich
First goalscorer: Thomas Muller
Hamburg have yet to win a match this season, and their troubles will only continue with the visit of Bayern Munich. Bayern have scored at least four goals in their last three trips to Imtech Arena.
Alex Dimond: Hamburg 1-3 Bayern Munich
First goalscorer: Mario Gotze
The midweek game with Manchester City will have expended a lot of injury, but Bayern will still have enough to win this game with something to spare.
Manchester City vs. Chelsea
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Alex Livie: Manchester City 1-2 Chelsea
First goalscorer: Eden Hazard
A real clash of the titans. There won't be much between the two, but Chelsea have looked very good so far and can extend their 100 percent start to the season.
Karl Matchett: Manchester City 1-2 Chelsea
First goalscorer: Eden Hazard
Most people expect these to be the top two in the Premier League this season, so this is an early chance to see who might be No. 1. Over the long haul it will likely be Chelsea…and in this 90 minutes, too.
Sam Tighe: Manchester City 2-0 Chelsea
First goalscorer: Sergio Aguero
Chelsea won't do it again, Manuel Pellegrini won't fall for it again. Aguero the difference.
Will Tidey: Manchester City 2-2 Chelsea
First goalscorer: Diego Costa
We're in for a cracker here (will probably be 0-0 now). I think Chelsea will strike early, but City will claw back a point.
Michael Cummings: Manchester City 1-1 Chelsea
First goalscorer: David Silva
Neither side will want to lose this early-season showdown of title favourites.
Jerrad Peters: Manchester City 1-2 Chelsea
First goalscorer: Diego Costa
This will be Chelsea's biggest test of the season to date, but too many things are going well for Jose Mourinho's men to indicate anything else but a win at Eastlands.
Alex Dimond: Manchester City 0-1 Chelsea
First goalscorer: Diego Costa
Jose Mourinho's M.O. in these big away games is to defend deep and hit on the counter. A repeat of last season's game could be on the cards, with Costa perhaps getting the goal this time.
Latest Standings
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| Week's Total | Total | |
| Karl Matchett | 11 | 45 |
| Mike Cummings | 10 | 40 |
| Alex Dimond | 11 | 35 |
| Jerrad Peters | 4 | 34 |
| Sam Tighe | 3 | 33 |
| Alex Livie | 9 | 27 |
| Will Tidey | 6 | 26 |
B/R
Correct result: 1 point
Correct first goalscorer: 2 points
Correct scoreline: 3 points
