5️⃣ spicy fixtures you must watch this weekend 🌶 | OneFootball

From Barcelona to the BayArena, these are the five games you simply have to watch this weekend.

Lens v Lyon

Things are starting to get seriously bad for Lyon.

The seven-time French champions started off the season in a bad way and despite changing their manager in October, have somehow stayed in the doldrums.

Former OL defender Fabio Grosso was hired to replace Laurent Blanc two months ago but this week, after just nine games in charge, the Italian former World Cup winner was also given the boot.

Les Gones are rock bottom of Ligue 1 having won just one game this term and now travel to sixth-place Lens with interim boss Pierre Sage in the dugout.

Lens meanwhile have been on an impressive run of form domestically, not conceding a goal since the start of October.

Franck Haise’s side were, however, humbled at Arsenal in midweek as they lost 6-0 to the Premier League side and could well be there for the taking.

Spice rating: Mild 🌶

Napoli v Inter

Sunday night sees Napoli host Inter in one of the most anticipated games in Serie A so far this season.

Napoli have struggled under the weight of expectation following last term’s Scudetto win, having failed to adequately replace boss Luciano Spalletti.

Rudi Garcia lasted just over three months in the job but new coach Walter Mazzarri hasn’t exactly ripped up trees in his opening two games so far either.

The Partenopei will have to be much better than they were against Atalanta last time out as top of the table Inter come to town.

Simone Inzaghi’s side have lost just one game so far this campaign, are the division’s top scorers with 30 and have conceded the fewest amount of goals to boot.

Spice rating: Medium 🌶 🌶

Manchester City v Tottenham

It’s all gone wrong for Ange Postecoglou and Tottenham over the past few weeks.

The Australian coach’s commitment to a high line and gung-ho pressing is admirable but injuries to key players has made them much more vulnerable since the 4-1 defeat to Chelsea on November 6.

Spurs now go to Manchester City on Sunday and will undoubtedly try and match the reigning champions punch-for-punch.

That may, on paper, look like something of a fool’s errand but the north London side are the closest thing to a bogey team City have under Pep Guardiola.

Going back to 2019, City have won just three times against Spurs in all competitions and lost the last time these two met back in February.

This one is going to be absolutely fascinating.

Spice rating: Hot 🌶 🌶 🌶

Bayer Leverkusen v Borussia Dortmund

There is, to put it simply, no better team in Europe right now than Bayer Leverkusen.

Xabi Alonso’s side have yet to lose this term and have dropped points just once in 12 Bundesliga games.

In Victor Boniface, Die Werkself have a striker who can do no wrong and in Alonso himself, a coach who is going right to the very top of the game.

They host Dortmund on Sunday in a game which has all the ingredients of a classic.

Dortmund’s win at Milan in the Champions League this week showed a level of maturity previously missing from this young squad and proved that they have what it takes to win the big games away from home.

They will need to find those reserves of footballing wisdom this weekend for the ultimate test at the BayArena.

Spice rating: Fire 🌶 🌶 🌶 🌶

Barcelona v Atlético de Madrid

“Either you adapt and work for it or things don’t work out for you. João worked very well at times, but you have to be consistent.

“There were times when he got tired and didn’t see himself here. That’s why he’s made the effort (to leave) and the club has also made the effort to give him a way out.”

Antoine Griezmann wasn’t in the mood to be diplomatic this week when he was asked about João Félix and his summer loan move from Atlético de Madrid to Barcelona.

The two sides meet on Sunday in what was always bound to be a tasty occasion, but now has a bit more bite.

Both of these teams come into the clash at Montjuic with 31 points but there’s a definite sense that it’s Atleti who are the club with momentum at the moment.

In Griezmann, Atleti have – alongside Jude Bellingham – the best player in LaLiga at the moment and are currently on a run of form that has seen them lose just one game since the end of September.

Barça meanwhile have performed in fits and starts under Xavi with a turgid draw at Rayo Vallecano last weekend but then an impressive win over Porto in the Champions League on Tuesday.

With João Félix also having a point to prove, this is one you simply cannot miss.

Spice rating: Insane 🌶 🌶 🌶 🌶 🌶