5️⃣ spicy fixtures you must watch this weekend 🌶 | OneFootball

What a weekend we have in store. Seriously.

Here are five non-Premier League matches to look forward to this weekend …

Special mentions 🔥

OK, more than five. We don’t usually do this but there are so many huge games on this weekend that we couldn’t just ignore these fixtures, even if they didn’t quite make the cut.

We’ve got Juventus v Inter, Marseille v Lyon, Galatasaray v Besiktas AND the MLS Cup Final (LAFC v Philadelphia Union) all to enjoy on top of our five spicy fixtures.

Get comfortable!

Ajax v PSV

With nine league wins apiece so far this season, just a point separates Ajax and PSV Eindhoven at the top of the Eredivisie. Sunday’s game is massive.

The top two in the Netherlands have a mammoth 78 goals between them in a combined 23 league games so far this season and their Supercup meeting back in July ended 5-3 to PSV with Ajax’s Calvin Bassey seeing red.

For a few years now Ajax have dominated the league but PSV look ready to make a charge for their first title since 2018 this time around, with youngsters Cody Gakpo (nine goals, 11 assists) and Xavi Simons (eight goals, three assists) in inspiring form in the league.

This is not one to be missed.

Spice rating: Mild 🌶

Manchester United Women v Chelsea Women

WSL champions Chelsea visit a Manchester United side with a 100% win rate in the league so far this season. This one is absolutely huge.

After impressing but just finishing short of the top three in the last couple of campaigns, United have hit the ground running in 2022/23. Captain Katie Zelem is looking like one of the best midfielders in the league, Ella Toone and Alessia Russo have continued their form from the summer, and new signing Nikita Parris is getting herself on the scoresheet now as well.

At the other end, Mary Earps is still yet to concede this season.

Chelsea’s record isn’t quite perfect after their opening day defeat to Liverpool so they really cannot afford to slip up with United and Arsenal already both above them on goal difference with a game in hand.

Spice rating: Medium 🌶 🌶

Real Betis v Sevilla

Year after year, this is one of the most highly anticipated derbies in Spain and beyond. For good reason, they really hate each other.

And there’s added flavour to it this time around with Sevilla in the unusual position of 18th, in the relegation zone. Usually found looking to upset bigger names and competing for trophies in Europe, they have won just two of 12 LaLiga games so far this season and a managerial change has not turned things around.

Betis sit fourth in the table as they continue the good form of last season but there could be a twist in store.

Ordinarily you’d fancy the fourth-placed home team against the team near the foot of the table but Sevilla have won four of the last six derbies, including last season’s game at the Estadio Benito Villamarín.

Spice rating: Hot 🌶 🌶 🌶

Atalanta v Napoli

Off to Italy for the first of two fixtures. And remember we’ve omitted Juventus v Inter! Now that’s what we call a bumper weekend.

First up is a clash between first and second, with top of the table Napoli visiting second-place Atalanta.

The hosts don’t look the ferocious attacking force of the last few seasons anymore but have tightened up at the back and can thank the form of Englishman Ademola Lookman for their impressive run: the ex-Everton and Leicester man has a goal every every 134 minutes since his summer arrival in Italy.

Lookman has nothing on Napoli and their frontline, though. Not with Khvichaa Kvaratskhelia and Victor Osimhen both flying.

Coming into this unbeaten in Serie A with eight wins in a row, Napoli could make a real statement in one of the season’s biggest tests.

Spice rating: Fire 🌶 🌶 🌶 🌶

Roma v Lazio

And we are sticking around in Italy for our final pick of the week.

One of Europe’s most heated derbies has an extra kick to it with just a point separating Roma and Lazio as the weekend kicks off.

Roma have already had one laugh this week, sealing their place in the Europa League knockout rounds while Lazio lost to Feyenoord to drop into the Europa Conference League.

And this is a real clash of styles too, with José Mourinho’s pragmatism meeting Maurizio Sarri’s dogmatic, possession-hungry 4-3-3 ideals.

Each side has won two of the last six derbies and don’t write off the chances of any red cards — there have been six in the last 12 games involving Roma and four in the last eight Lazio have played in all competitions.

Fiery indeed.

Spice rating: Insane 🌶 🌶 🌶 🌶 🌶