5️⃣ spicy fixtures you must watch this weekend 🌶 | OneFootball

We’re at that time of year where the weather is absolutely perfect for football. And these five matches, bursting with narrative, are about to light up the entire weekend.

Sheffield Wednesday v Huddersfield

Darren Moore was beloved as Sheffield Wednesday manager. The former defender led the Owls to promotion last season, playing attractive football and delivering one of the most dramatic runs in the history of the play-offs to eventually seal glory at Wembley.

He never managed the club again.

A fallout with club owner Dejphon Chansiri over the summer was first private, then public. The outspoken Owls’ owner has gone on to attack critical fans recently and this week fired Moore’s replacement, Xisco Muñoz, after he failed to win any of his 10 league games in charge.

Given that run, it is no surprise to see Wednesday rooted to the bottom of the table as the post-Xisco era begins … and it begins with the visit of Darren Moore’s Huddersfield Town.

The Terriers have just two points from their first three games under the 49-year-old and will be looking for a first win as they make the short trip to Hillsborough on Saturday.

Spice rating: Mild 🌶

Man Utd Women v Arsenal Women

It is 11 months since Alessia Russo broke Arsenal hearts with a late winner at the Emirates Stadium, delivering a huge statement win for Manchester United as they underlined their WSL title credentials.

But the lifelong United fan has since swapped shirts, joining the Gunners on a free transfer this summer.

There’s plenty to prove, then, as she returns to the club in just the second game of the season. Especially as Arsenal’s start to the season has been such a disappointment: a Russo brace couldn’t prevent an exit in the Champions League qualifying rounds against Paris FC and the England star struggled to get too involved as Liverpool won in north London to kick off the league campaign last week.

Manchester United’s opening weekend saw them win at Villa Park and they still could feature in the Champions League this season, should they get past Paris Saint-Germain in Champions League qualifying.

With Arsenal also targeting United goalkeeper Mary Earps — they saw at least one bid turned down over the summer — something of a grudge has developed between these two sides and there is pressure on both sides on Friday night to prove they can go the distance and deny Chelsea a fifth consecutive title.

Spice rating: Medium 🌶 🌶

Reims v Monaco

It’s yet another reunion as our attention turns to Ligue 1 and a battle at the top of the table that does not include PSG.

Monaco top the table seven games in and are the league’s top scorers, netting 18 times already. Two of those have come from summer signing Folarin Balogun in just 190 minutes and the American international should have had more, missing twice from the penalty spot in a 1-0 defeat to Nice last month.

This week’s opponents, Reims, know all about Balogun’s talents. On loan at the club from Arsenal last season, his 21 goals led the club to an 11th-placed finish.

But they don’t seem to miss him.

Will Still’s side have gone from strength to strength and sit third in the table at this early stage of the season, just a point behind Monaco, with attacking midfielder Teddy Teuma filling Balogun’s boots in terms of end product to date.

A number of clubs are emerging as potential shock title challengers in France this season and this game is an opportunity for both sides to underline their own credentials.

Spice rating: Hot 🌶 🌶 🌶

Juventus v Torino

You have to go all the way back to April 2015 for Torino’s last win in the Derby della Mole. You have to rewind another 20 years, to April 1995, for the last time they won a Serie A derby away from home.

Given all that, these games have been so much more competitive than you might imagine in recent years.

There have been heartbreaking late goals scored by Juve in this fixture: an injury-time Andrea Pirlo free-kick in 2014 stole all three points, Cristiano Ronaldo netted an 84th minute equaliser in a 1-1 draw in May 2019, Leonardo Bonucci scored a dramatic 89th minute winner in December 2020.

Even last season, Torino led twice before going on to lose 4-2 to the Old Lady.

Is this the year they finally get one over their local rivals?

Spice rating: Fire 🌶 🌶 🌶 🌶

Arsenal v Man City

Mikel Arteta has beaten 23 of the 24 teams he has faced in the Premier League as Arsenal manager. But in seven matches against Manchester City, the Spaniard has suffered seven defeats.

There have been successes elsewhere — an FA Cup semi-final win in 2020, the Community Shield (on penalties) at the start of this season — but Arteta’s Arsenal have repeatedly fallen short in this fixture in the league.

Falling short is something City don’t really do but they have tasted defeat in each of their last two domestic games, first at Newcastle in the EFL Cup, then at Wolves in the Premier League last weekend. They were without Rodri in both games and will not have the Spaniard again as they visit north London on Sunday. How well they can replace him, or how well Arsenal can exploit his absence, will be the key to this one.

Pep Guardiola’s side may have a hoodoo over Arsenal but their last two visit to the Emirates — a late 2-1 win over 10-men in 2022 and a 3-1 win last season — have seen Arsenal properly compete with them.

If City can stave them off again, it will feel like a big step towards another Premier League title but if Arsenal get over their sky blue hump, the race is on.

Spice rating: Insane 🌶 🌶 🌶 🌶 🌶