5️⃣ spicy fixtures you must watch this weekend 🌶 | OneFootball

After a two-week international break, club football is back in big style, with several spicy games taking place across the weekend.

Here’s your guide to the best of them.

Sevilla vs Real Madrid

The pick of the weekend’s La Liga matches takes place at The Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium, as Sergio Ramos face off against his former club for the first time since leaving in the summer of 2021.

In fact, the last time he played against Real came all the way back in May 2005 during his first stint with Sevilla just months prior to his big-money move to the Spanish capital. He smashed home a free kick on that night, what odds on a repeat?

Anything more would come as a shock as despite being Europa League champions (again), Sevilla currently languish in 14th position.

They have also lost the last four home games in this fixture, but have never lost five in a row.

The chances of stopping that may revolve around stopping Real’s own no.5, Jude Bellingham, who will be looking to continue his stunning goal-a-game record for the club since arriving in the summer.

Spice rating: Mild 🌶

Manchester City vs Brighton

In a battle that will have all tactical enthusiasts giddy, Pep Guardiola and Roberto De Zerbi pit their wits against one another at the Etihad this Saturday afternoon.

City enter the game in unfamiliar territory, having lost consecutive league games for the first time since December 2018, but do find a preferable opposition, at least at home – Brighton have lost all six of their Premier League games at the Etihad by an aggregate score of 16-2.

Goals can be expected again here, with 37 coming in the Seagull’s eight league games to date and City used to plundering them in at home – they average over three a game across last season and three so far this time around.

With an open game likely, could Erling Haaland end his “drought” of two league games without a goal? He has not gone three in a row since joining City.

Continuing the three trend, City have lost three league games in a row since the season before Pep came, Pep hasn’t since May 2015 while Rodri makes a much-welcomed return after serving a three-game ban.

The only question that remains is who might get the three points?

Spice rating: Medium 🌶 🌶

Liverpool vs Everton

The 243rd Merseyside derby kicks off the Premier League weekend, in what must feel like the 243rd early kick off for Jürgen Klopp and his side. Jokes aside, it’s the 13th since 2016, more than double that of any other side.

Early kicks off following international breaks tend to be slow movers but this fixture is usually close to boiling point even before kick-off – no Premier League clash has more red cards (22).

Everton have a wretched recent record at Anfield, with just one win in their last 25 at the home of their greatest rivals, and even then, that win came behind closed doors during the 2020/21 COVID season. The same campaign also saw a Sean Dyche-led Burnley end Liverpool’s 68-home league game unbeaten run, so he has history on the ground.

His Blues’ side have picked up form in recent weeks, with three wins from their last four games in all competitions. They have not recorded back-to-back away wins since May 2021, however.

Some hope may be found in Liverpool’s tendency to concede the first goal – in five of their eight games so far, with the Reds keeping just one clean sheet to date. This has been offset at the other end, and by Mohamed Salah in particular, who has now scored or assisted in his last 12 Premier League games at Anfield (12 goals, 3 assists).

Will it be an unlucky 13 for Everton or will Liverpool come unstuck against the Toffees?

Spice rating: Hot 🌶 🌶 🌶

Milan vs Juventus

No club will likely be happier for the return of club football than Juventus after another scandal-riddled fortnight for Italy’s biggest club.

The betting storm that has engulfed Italian football has seen Juve’s Nicolò Fagioli accept a plea bargain and be handed a 12-month ban from the sport, albeit with the final five suspended.

In spite of that and Paul Pogba’s ongoing drug suspension investigation, Juve find themselves in third spot, just four points off leaders Milan and with a prime opportunity to make a dent in that lead this Sunday.

To do that, they will need to reverse the recent form book, which has seen Milan dominate the fixture, not losing any of their last five and doing the double over the Old Lady last season.

Both sides are set to be without key players at either end of the pitch, with French No.1 Mike Maignan suspended for Milan and Dušan Vlahović likely to miss out with injury.

Can Juve and ex-Milan coach Max Allegri claim a valuable win at the San Siro or will the Rossoneri add to their misery?

Spice rating: Fire 🌶 🌶 🌶 🌶

Chelsea vs Arsenal

In what is a first-ever managerial meeting between Mauricio Pochettino and Mikel Arteta, both Chelsea and Arsenal will be looking to pick up where they left off prior to the international break.

After just one victory from their first six league games, the Blues have won their last two in convincing fashion. The six goals scored in the victories at Fulham and Burnley is also one more than they managed in those first six.

On the other hand, Arsenal have been steady across their opening games but really made their mark with that late win against Manchester City that has breathed both hope and belief into their title aspirations.

The Gunners also have a brilliant recent record against Chelsea, and at Stamford Bridge more pertinently, winning on each of their last league trips to West London. Not since Watford in the 1980s has a side won four in a row on the Blues’ home patch.

Combatting that however is the fact Pochettino has never lost a home league game to Arsenal, winning three and drawing three in his time as Spurs’ manager. That element adds some spice to an already red hot fixture, as does the possibility of Kai Havertz biting the hand that once fed him.

Could the German fully ignite his Arsenal career on his return to the Bridge?

Spice rating: Insane 🌶 🌶 🌶 🌶 🌶