Klassiker, Serie A and a weakened PSG – what to look out for in Europe this weekend

AFP Sport previews the standout motion on the continent this weekend:

Haaland v Lewandowski

Borussia Dortmund v Bayern Munich, Saturday 1730 GMT

It’s the largest recreation in Germany, however the newest assembly of Dortmund and Bayern will probably be performed behind closed doorways and, anyway, it has not been a lot of a rivalry in recent times.

Bayern have gained the Bundesliga eight years operating, though Dortmund have completed runners-up 5 occasions in that interval, together with within the final two campaigns.

Bayern have additionally gained 10 of their final 14 Bundesliga conferences since successful their 2013 Champions League closing showdown. In addition they triumphed Three-2 when the perimeters clashed within the German Tremendous Cup lately.

This time, although, the groups are stage atop the Bundesliga and Dortmund are in tremendous type, with Erling Braut Haaland on 10 objectives for the season.

But the most well liked striker in Europe is Bayern’s Robert Lewandowski, and Hansi Flick’s group have gained 32 of their final 33 matches.

Lazio a thorn in Juve’s facet?

Lazio v Juventus, Sunday 1130 GMT

Lazio had been a thorn in Juventus’s facet final season and will probably be hoping to get one over the reigning champions on Sunday.

Andrea Pirlo’s Juventus are a piece in progress even when they continue to be unbeaten in Serie A and are two factors above Lazio. Juve additionally gained within the Champions League in midweek at Ferencvaros whereas Lazio drew at Zenit Saint-Petersburg.

Nonetheless this fixture final season was gained by Simone Inzaghi’s group, who beat Juve Three-1 at house and gained Three-1 once more within the Italian Tremendous Cup just a few weeks later.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s brace did give Juve a 2-1 victory of their final encounter in July, however the excellent news for Lazio earlier than this conflict is that they’re regularly recovering the gamers who’ve missed latest video games on account of coronavirus assessments.

Lazio hope the prolific Ciro Motionless might be amongst these returning. He was pressured to overlook the Zenit draw, with Italian media saying that was linked to a constructive Covid-19 take a look at the earlier week.

Atalanta, Inter to bounce again?

Atalanta v Inter Milan, Sunday 1400 GMT

The groups who completed third and second respectively in Serie A final season are struggling to stay as much as their pre-season billing.

Atalanta are fourth having misplaced two of their first six video games, whereas Antonio Conte’s Inter are sixth.

Each groups are additionally discovering the going robust within the Champions League, with Atalanta being demolished 5-Zero by Liverpool in midweek as Inter misplaced Three-2 to Actual Madrid to drop to the underside of their group.

Who will bounce again right here?

Madrid face crisis-ridden Valencia

Valencia v Actual Madrid, Sunday 1900 GMT

Actual Madrid have emerged from a latest dip to win their final two video games, scoring seven objectives within the course of in opposition to Huesca and Inter, together with Sergio Ramos’s 100th for the membership.

In La Liga, whereas Barcelona toil, Actual are a degree behind leaders Actual Sociedad with a recreation in hand.

A visit to Mestalla to play Valencia is normally one of many largest assessments for a title challenger, and Madrid have gained on simply one among their final six visits.

Nonetheless, Valencia are in disaster, struggling on the pitch and having simply seen midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia flee for Atletico Madrid, becoming a member of an extended checklist of key gamers to have departed in latest months which additionally contains Ferran Torres and Rodrigo Moreno.

PSG with out Neymar, Mbappe

Paris Saint-Germain v Rennes, Saturday 2000 GMT

Paris Saint-Germain must get again on monitor after dropping to RB Leipzig within the Champions League, and they are going to be favourites to make it eight straight Ligue 1 wins by beating Rennes.

Nonetheless, PSG are and not using a host of key gamers on account of harm, chief amongst them each Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, and Rennes — presently third in France — have carried out properly in opposition to the capital facet in recent times, successful extra occasions (Three) than some other customer to the Parc des Princes within the final decade.

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