10 Key Battles in World Football for Weekend of October 3-5
The midweek European exertions of teams around the continent make for fantastic viewing, but the weekend heralds the return of another bout of competitive domestic action—the staple diet of any football fan.
We've taken our usual look around every major league for you to bring you 10 of the biggest battles that will take place over the coming days, including fixtures from the Premier League, MLS, La Liga and beyond.
From top-of-the-table clashes to age-old rivals doing battle, here are our key games for the weekend ahead.
Valencia vs. Atletico Madrid
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Valencia have started the season in good form, putting in impressive performances until last weekend's draw with Real Sociedad. Still, they are unbeaten and sit in second place in La Liga.
Atletico Madrid are the reigning champions, though, and with good reason. They put Sevilla to the sword last weekend and have head coach Diego Simeone back on the touchline after his lengthy ban, and they are likewise unbeaten in La Liga.
Both teams are level on points and should be full of confidence, which should make for a cracking game.
Cruzeiro vs. Internacional
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Over to Brazil, where there is a top-two battle that could shape the title fight for the remainder of the season.
Cruzeiro can go nine points clear if they beat Internacional at home, but they've just dipped in form recently, winning just one of their last three games. Internacional, meanwhile, are on a three-game winning streak and can close the gap to three points if they get the win.
It will be a big test of Inter’s new look (yet retro) front line of Alex, Nilmar and Andres D’Alessandro.
Borussia Dortmund vs. Hamburger SV
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Back to Europe and to the Bundesliga, where two underperforming sides will do battle this weekend in a bid to kick-start their domestic season.
Dortmund have been great in Europe but have won just two from six in the league so far. Already seven points behind Bayern Munich, BVB have to kick into gear quickly if they are to challenge for the title.
HSV, meanwhile, have been poor for a couple of seasons now and barely avoided relegation last year. They have started 2014-15 in even worse form. They have yet to win and are rock bottom. Improvements are needed—fast.
River Plate vs. Boca Juniors
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One of the biggest derbies in world football, the Superclasico, takes place in Buenos Aires this weekend.
River Plate vs. Boca Juniors is always a passionate and emotional spectacle, which will only be added to this weekend by the fact River are gunning for the title. They sit three points clear going into the 10th round of games in the Torneo Inicial.
Boca currently sit in 12th, eight points behind their great rivals, so they will be keen to gain ground and stop River going clear with a win.
D.C. United vs. Sporting KC
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Staying in continental America, MLS also brings us a top-end clash.
The top two in the Eastern Conference wage war early in the weekend, with D.C. United hosting Sporting KC. With six points separating the two and the end of the regular season drawing near, it's probably the final chance for Sporting to catch the conference leaders ahead of the MLS Cup.
D.C. are the team in form, though, and even a draw would be a fine result for them.
Dynamo Kyiv vs. Shakhtar Donetsk
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Back to Europe for the rest of our action, and to Ukraine.
The biggest game of any season in the Ukrainian Premier League is when its two biggest clubs, Dynamo Kyiv and Shakhtar Donetsk, do battle. One of these two sides have won the league every year since 1992-93, with Shakhtar taking the last five.
On Sunday, they will face off in Kyiv with just one point between them and both playing catch-up on Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk in the early-season league table.
Chelsea vs. Arsenal
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Into the Premier League in England now, where the biggest game of the weekend is a London derby between Chelsea and Arsenal on Sunday.
Jose Mourinho's side look heavy favourites for the title on current evidence, and they will be looking to land a telling blow on a supposed rival this time out in order to maintain their unbeaten record and first-place vantage point.
Arsenal are also unbeaten, but Arsene Wenger's men have only won twice, with too many draws leaving them playing catch-up already. A big win over Galatasaray in midweek should boost confidence ahead of a game that will show if they are ready to challenge for the title.
Paris Saint-Germain vs. Monaco
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For one season, this was the big clash in Ligue 1 in France, featuring the two heavily backed clubs that brought star names to the league.
PSG continue to do so, but Monaco downsized considerably in summer and have struggled to replicate the impressive results of last season.
It should be a one-sided game, all things considered, but Monaco are not entirely without players of ability in their ranks. Monaco boss Leonardo Jardim desperately needs a positive result or two, though Laurent Blanc's future is also far from certain, per L'Equipe (h/t Get French Football News).
Juventus vs. Roma
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Last season's top two in Serie A are already this season's top two.
Juventus and Roma have identical 100 per cent records at the start of 2014-15 and have only conceded one goal between them—so something's got to give.
It should be a titanic clash that will bring out the best of both sides and could be an early indication as to where the title is heading come the end of the season.
Real Madrid vs. Athletic Bilbao
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We finish up in La Liga, where the biggest game of the weekend sees Real Madrid host Athletic Bilbao.
Real have been imperious in attack thus far and showed a more resolute defensive side to their game away against Villarreal last weekend. Therefore, it will be interesting to see how Carlo Ancelotti sets up his team at home against a side who have struggled for form so far this season.
Athletic are lacking in creativity and goals at the moment and have been unable to find last season's fluidity in possession, so they face a massive test of their resilience at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday.
