Napoli are top of the table and are looking to defeat Como in search of continuing their good run. Meanwhile, Como are looking to break away from their mid-table position as they are currently sitting 10th.
Since winning the Scudetto in 2023, Napoli are once again back on top and are looking to remain number one. After a loss to Hellas Verona to start the season, Napoli are undefeated in five games with four wins and one draw. With a commanding 5-0 victory over Palermo in the Coppa Italia and a 2-0 victory over Monza, Napoli are looking strong heading into this game. Undefeated at home and having four clean sheets in a row, their defense has been very solid, so a clean sheet from Napoli may be in the cards.
Expectations for Como were low at the start of the season after moving up from Serie B, but with a draw against Bologna in the 4th round and then two consecutive wins, they are looking good. One of those wins was against Atalanta, where they won 3-2. Their last victory was against Hellas Verona, where Cutrone scored a brace, and he’s now looking to score once again to become the top scorer in Serie A. We may expect a goal from the striker again against this top side.
Napoli will be without first-choice goalkeeper Alex Meret, sidelined by injury, meaning Elia Caprile will continue to deputize in goal. Antonio Conte is expected to stick with a back four, with Scott McTominay’s integration into the midfield proving effective.
On the other side, Como's Patrick Cutrone leads the line as their top scorer, but Alberto Cerri remains a doubt due to an ankle issue. Nico Paz and Sergi Roberto will play pivotal roles in their push to challenge Napoli's defense.
Napoli possible lineup: Caprile; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Buongiorno, Olivera; Anguissa, Lobotka, McTominay; Politano, Lukaku, Kvaratskhelia
Como possible lineup: Audero; Van Der Brempt, Kempf, Dossena, Moreno; Perrone, Roberto; Strefezza, Paz, Fadera; Cutrone
With a three-game losing streak, Hellas Verona are looking to defeat Venezia, who are currently sitting 19th and in a relegation spot. Verona are 14th and are looking to advance up the table to avoid relegation. Last season, Verona finished mid-table and are now looking to regain that position in 2024.
To start the season, Hellas Verona won 3-0 against current number one Napoli, but their last three games have all been defeats. In their last game, they lost to Como 3-2. In the 53rd minute, Verona made it 1-1, hoping to win, but Tomas Suslov picked up a controversial red card in the 64th minute, giving Como the edge, and the match ended in a victory for Como. With only six points from their last six games, Verona are hoping to turn the tide.
With new coach Eusebio Di Francesco, Venezia are 19th with only four points to their name. Recently promoted from Serie B, they’ve had a rough start despite winning against Genoa in the fifth round. However, with four losses and one draw, they are looking to pull themselves out of the relegation zone. Their last game against Roma seemed set to end 1-1, but an 83rd-minute goal from Niccolò Pisilli dashed their hopes of taking a point. With no wins in their last 11 away matches, this record is something to keep in mind coming into this game at Stadio Bentegodi. Under pressure, Di Francesco will be hoping to secure a vital result against regional rivals Verona.
Verona will be without suspended players Paweł Dawidowicz and Tomas Suslov. Injuries also rule out Suat Serdar, Abdou Harroui, and Juan Cruz. Casper Tengstedt is expected to lead the attack.
Venezia captain Joel Pohjanpalo remains their key threat, with goals in consecutive games. Alfred Duncan, Giorgio Altare, and Bjarki Bjarkason are out due to injuries.
Hellas Verona possible lineup: Montipo; Tchatchoua, Daniliuc, Coppola, Frese; Duda, Belahyane; Livramento, Kastanos, Lazovic; Tengstedt
Venezia possible lineup: Joronen; Idzes, Svoboda, Candela; Zampano, Ellertsson, Nicolussi Caviglia, Haps; Busio, Oristanio; Pohjanpalo
Two of Europe’s footballing powerhouses, Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain, are ready to face off in the Champions League. The Gunners, who are still searching for their first title in the tournament, face PSG, who are eager to shake off their recent European woes.
Arsenal's start to their Champions League campaign has been far from smooth. Following a fortunate draw against Atalanta, they need to bounce back after struggling to find the net in recent matches. However, the Gunners have shown resilience in domestic competitions, most recently securing a dramatic 4-2 victory over Leicester City. With 11 goals scored in their last three games, Arsenal is optimistic that their attacking form can translate into success on the European stage. Manager Mikel Arteta will have to navigate some absences, including key playmaker Martin Ødegaard and defender Oleksandr Zinchenko.
Meanwhile, PSG enters the match on the back of a solid domestic run, sitting at the top of Ligue 1 with five wins in their first six matches. Their Champions League opener against Girona was a nail-biter, with a last-minute own goal securing a 1-0 victory. Manager Luis Enrique is under pressure to turn around PSG's European fortunes after a series of disappointing campaigns, only reaching the round of 16 in the last two years. PSG has also struggled away from home, suffering defeats in their last three encounters against English opposition. Key players such as Gianluigi Donnarumma and Nuno Mendes are back in contention, offering the team a boost as they look to assert themselves in this crucial fixture.
Both teams face significant injury concerns. Arsenal will be without several key players, including Ødegaard, Zinchenko, Kieran Tierney, and Takehiro Tomiyasu, while Ben White's availability is uncertain. On the PSG side, Gonçalo Ramos and Lucas Hernández will be out of the squad, along with Kimpembe.
Arsenal possible lineup: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Havertz, Partey, Rice; Saka, Trossard, Martinelli
Paris Saint-Germain possible lineup: Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes; Ruiz, Neves, Zaire-Emery; Lee, Kolo Muani, Barcola
With contrasting results in their opening fixtures, Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan meet at the BayArena on Tuesday evening, both vying for crucial points in their Champions League campaigns. This marks the first competitive encounter between the two clubs in European competition, adding an extra layer of intrigue to an already significant match.
Bayer Leverkusen has made a strong return to the Champions League, kicking off their campaign with a commanding 4-0 victory over Feyenoord. Young star Florian Wirtz made history as the first German player to score twice on his Champions League debut, contributing to Leverkusen's largest away win in the competition. The Bundesliga champions are unbeaten in their last nine UEFA home matches and seek to extend this streak. Despite an impressive attack, head coach Xabi Alonso will need to address defensive concerns, as his side has conceded 10 goals in their first five league matches. After a thrilling draw against Bayern Munich and a recent high-scoring affair with Wolfsburg, the pressure is on Leverkusen to tighten their defense while continuing their offensive prowess.
AC Milan enters the match looking to bounce back from a disappointing 3-1 defeat at San Siro against Newcastle in their opening Champions League fixture. However, recent league performances have injected new life into the team, with back-to-back wins, including a 2-1 victory over arch-rivals Inter Milan. New manager Paulo Fonseca's side showed promise in a 3-0 victory over Lecce, with key players like Christian Pulisic, who has scored in his last four matches, finding form. The seven-time European champions are ready to prove their worth against a strong opponent in Leverkusen, aiming to secure their first away win in the Champions League in eight campaigns.
Bayer Leverkusen’s Xabi Alonso is likely to stick with the majority of the squad that performed well against Bayern Munich. Key players such as captain Granit Xhaka and Florian Wirtz are expected to feature prominently, with Wirtz having been directly involved in 24 goals in his last 26 European starts.
On the other side, AC Milan will look to Pulisic as their main threat while also considering the return of Ruben Loftus-Cheek to bolster their midfield. The Rossoneri will miss Marco Sportiello, Ismael Bennacer, and Alessandro Florenzi due to injuries, with captain Davide Calabria also facing fitness issues. As both teams prepare for this pivotal encounter, the matchup promises to be a thrilling battle as they seek valuable points in the Champions League.
Bayer Leverkusen possible lineup: Hradecky; Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapie; Frimpong, Andrich, Xhaka, Grimaldo; Terrier, Wirtz; Boniface
AC Milan possible lineup: Maignan; Emerson, Tomori, Gabbia, Hernandez; Fofana, Reijnders; Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek, Leao; Abraham
Tottenham go against The Red Devils at Old Trafford, where both teams are looking to find consistency after a rocky start to the season. Spurs are ahead coming into this game, sitting 10th, but only on goal difference as both teams start the season with the same record (W2 D1 L2). With United sitting just below them at 11th, they are looking to go ahead in what is a must-win game for both teams.
Spurs have been a mixed bag this season, but with recent success both domestically and in the Europa League, they have momentum. With a 3-0 win against Qarabag and a comeback victory over Brentford, Ange’s side is looking to keep the train moving as they head into this away game. Spurs looked good this preseason, but after an underwhelming 1-1 draw against Leicester in their first game and back-to-back losses to Newcastle and Arsenal, alarms were raised. However, with Brennan Johnson finding form, scoring in three consecutive games, and the return of Son from injury, things may be looking up for Tottenham. One thing to note is that Spurs have only two wins in their last 12 away games.
Finding rhythm is key for United, as they have looked great in some games this season but have also been plagued with some underwhelming performances. After their 0-3 loss to Liverpool, United bounced back and beat Southampton 0-3, following that up with a 7-0 win against Barnsley in the Carabao Cup. However, they have drawn their last two games against Palace and Twente in the Europa League. The main problem for Manchester is their trouble converting chances, scoring only five times despite having one of the highest expected goals (xG) numbers in the league.
United welcome back Mason Mount and Rasmus Højlund, both of whom are expected to be in the starting lineup. Marcus Rashford, who was benched in the last match, is likely to return to lead the attack. However, defensive injuries remain a concern, with Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia still unavailable.
Spurs will be without Richarlison and Wilson Odobert due to injuries, but the positive news is that Son Heung-min, who suffered a slight knock earlier, is expected to start. Tottenham will rely heavily on their attacking trio of Brennan Johnson, Dominic Solanke, and Son to break down United’s defense.
Manchester United possible lineup: Onana, Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martínez, Dalot, Mainoo, Eriksen, Rashford, Fernandes, Garnacho, Zirkzee
Tottenham Hotspur possible lineup: Vicario, Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie, Bentancur, Maddison, Kulusevski, Johnson, Solanke, Son
FENERBAHÇE / UNION SAINT-GILLOISE
After an exciting day one of Europa League football, we get set for day two. Mourinho’s Fenerbahçe face off against Union SG and manager Pocognoli. The Turkish giants have played 14 times in this tournament, with their best result being a semi-final appearance in 2012-13. As for Union, this is their second attempt at the Europa League, with their first coming last season where they were defeated by Bayer Leverkusen in the quarter-finals.
Fenerbahçe are sitting second in the league after a loss to rivals Galatasaray in their last game, losing 1-3. Coming second in their domestic league five times since 2012, Fenerbahçe are on the hunt for silverware. With the addition of Mourinho, who has won all three of UEFA’s competitions, their chances are better than ever. Fenerbahçe are currently coming into this game (W4 D1 L1) and have looked good, conceding only two times and scoring 13 in five games before their loss to Galatasaray, showing good form so far.
Union looked good last season, finishing only one point behind champions Club Brugge in their domestic league. However, this season is off to a rocky start as they are currently 12th. The team has only two wins in eight games, along with four scoreless draws this season, as they struggle to find the back of the net.
Fenerbahçe striker Bright Osayi-Samuel is still out with a foot injury but is expected to be back next month, with Edin Dzeko most likely retaining the top spot. Amrabat should also start after being benched against Galatasaray.
Union SG are without striker Fuseini, who was suspended in the qualifying round against Slavia Prague. Union are also missing Teklab, who is recovering from a broken leg.
Fenerbahçe possible starting lineup: Livakovic, Muldur, Djiku, Söyüncü, Oosterwolde, Fred, Amrabat, Tadic, Szymański, Saint-Maximin, Dzeko
Union SG possible starting lineup: Moris, Burgess, Machida, Leysen, Castro-Montes, Sadiki, Vanhoutte, Rasmussen, Terho, Ivanović, Akinpelu
Roma are set to go against Bilbao in both teams' first game of this year's Europa League. Roma is no stranger to UEFA football, having won the Conference League in 2022 under Mourinho. Bilbao, like Roma, is no stranger to the Europa League, but since their final appearance in 2012, they have not reached further than the round of 32, hoping to change that this time around.
Roma, under manager Ivan Juric, are eager to continue their strong performance in European competitions, having reached the semi-finals last season, ultimately falling to Bayer Leverkusen. Roma currently sit mid-table in Serie A, having won their last match against Udinese, though they remain inconsistent with three draws and one loss in their last five games. The Giallorossi also have a solid record in the Europa League, losing only three of their last 18 matches in the tournament.
Meanwhile, Athletic Bilbao is making their return to European football after a six-year hiatus, aiming to make a significant impact this season. Athletic Bilbao is enjoying a strong resurgence, climbing to third in La Liga after winning their last three matches, including a dominant 3-0 victory against Celta Vigo.
Roma faces some injury concerns with captain Lorenzo Pellegrini likely out due to a knee injury. Alexis Saelemaekers and Enzo Le Fée are also unavailable, placing pressure on their attacking options. Striker Artem Dovbyk will look to extend his scoring streak.
Athletic Bilbao will be without key players, including winger Nico Williams and goalkeeper Unai Simón, both sidelined due to injuries. However, brother Iñaki Williams is expected to start.
AS Roma possible lineup: Ryan, Mancini, Hermoso, Ndicka, Çelik, Koné, Cristante, El Shaarawy, Soulé, Baldanzi, Dovbyk
Athletic Bilbao possible lineup: Agirrezabala, Gorosabel, Vivian, Paredes, Yuri, Ruiz de Galarreta, Vesga, I. Williams, Sancet, Berenguer, Guruzeta
In their hunt to achieve back-to-back victories, Valencia face Osasuna after their 2-0 win against Girona, looking to carry momentum. Osasuna comes into this game after defeating Las Palmas 2-1, picking up a 7th place spot.
With a bad start to the season, Valencia picked up just one point from five matches with losses to Barcelona, Celta Vigo, Bilbao, and Atletico Madrid. But a victory over Girona gave them some much-needed confidence as they need to get out of the relegation zone, where they’re sitting in 19th place. Their previous encounter with Osasuna in April ended in a 1-0 win for Valencia, although they lost 2-1 in the earlier fixture at Mestalla last season. The team has struggled to secure a top-four finish since 2019 and finished ninth last season, trailing seventh-placed Real Betis by eight points.
Osasuna has had a good start with a record of (W3 D1 L2), giving them a respectable 8th place. They started their campaign by losing against Girona but quickly rebounded and beat Celta Vigo before once again losing to Rayo Vallecano. A good but inconsistent start for Osasuna makes them very unpredictable. Osasuna has found success in recent visits to Mestalla, winning two of their last three matches there.
Valencia will miss their main striker, Hugo Duro, but welcomes back Dani Gomez. Rafa Mir is suspended, and injuries to Jose Gaya, Jaume Domenech, and Mouctar Diakhaby leave the squad short-handed. Head coach Ruben Baraja may retain the same lineup as against Girona, with Javi Guerra expected to play in the No. 10 role.
Osasuna will be without Iker Munoz and Kike Barja due to injury. Ante Budimir is likely to start as the central striker, supported by Bryan Zaragoza and Ruben Garcia, with Lucas Torro playing a crucial role in midfield.
Valencia Possible Lineup: Mamardashvili, Correia, Tarrega, Mosquera, Vazquez, Barrenechea, Pepelu, D. Lopez, Guerra, Rioja, D. Gomez
Osasuna Possible Lineup: Herrera, Areso, Catena, Boyomo, Bretones, Torro, Ruben Garcia, Moncayola, Oroz, Zaragoza, Budimir
With Real Madrid looking to overtake Barcelona for the top spot and Deportivo Alaves aiming to break into the top 6, this game holds plenty of intrigue. Real Madrid, on a five-game winning streak across all competitions, are clear favorites, but an upset could be in the making. Deportivo Alaves comes into this match with momentum after an impressive home win against Sevilla.
Real Madrid has looked strong this season, securing six wins in eight games across all competitions and claiming the UEFA Super Cup along the way. Currently four points behind Barcelona after four wins and two draws in La Liga, Madrid will be aiming to close the gap. Last season’s Champions League winners are once again in pursuit of silverware.
Real Madrid started the season with two draws in their first three league matches but have since found their rhythm, winning three consecutive games against Real Betis, Real Sociedad, and Espanyol. Upcoming challenges include a trip to Atletico Madrid and a Champions League fixture against Lille.
Alaves are building on an impressive 10th-place finish last season, eyeing a potential European spot as they sit just one point from 6th place. With no distractions from Conference, Europa, or Champions League commitments, they have found good form, winning three of their last four games.
Luis Garcia’s team secured victories over Real Sociedad and Las Palmas before continuing their good run with a win against Sevilla. Despite suffering a heavy 5-0 defeat to Real Madrid last season, Alaves previously notched a memorable 2-1 win at the Bernabeu in November 2020.
Real Madrid will miss four players due to injury: Eduardo Camavinga, Dani Ceballos, David Alaba, and Brahim Diaz. Jude Bellingham and Dani Carvajal may also be rested due to minor injuries. Ancelotti is expected to reintegrate Vinicius Junior, Antonio Rudiger, and Ferland Mendy into the squad, with Lucas Vazquez likely to start at right-back. Endrick, who has scored twice off the bench since joining, is anticipated to make his first start.
Alaves will be without Jesus Owono due to injury, but the rest of the squad is in good shape. Carlos Vicente and Toni Martinez, both with two league goals this season, are expected to play key roles in the attack alongside Carlos Martin. Joan Jordan and Ander Guevara will likely form the midfield duo, while Manu Sanchez is expected to start as a left-back.
Real Madrid possible lineup: Courtois; Vazquez, Militao, Rudiger, Mendy; Modric, Tchouameni, Valverde; Endrick, Mbappe, Vinicius.
Deportivo Alaves possible lineup: Sivera; Tenaglia, Abqar, Sedlar, M. Sanchez; Jordan, Guevara; Vicente, Stoichkov, Martin; T. Martinez.
Manchester United are set to go against Crystal Palace at home in both teams 5th game this season. With United looking to inch closer to a top 5 Finnish Palace are hoping to secure their first win of the season and avoid a relegation spot.
The reds are looking to redeem themselves after their last meeting with Palace where they lost 4-0. With new signings like De Ligt, Zirkee and Ugarte Man U are looking to come ahead this time around. This season The Reds are 10th after four games with (W2 L2) as a record looking to tip the scale. After a commanding win against Barnsley in the 3rd round of the Carabao Cup where they won 7-0 they are on a high but can they carry that momentum into the Premier League? It is important to note that Barnsley is a League One team but the momentum from the win should give Manchester an edge.
Crystal Palace is still in the winless club after four games along with Leicester, Ipswich, Wolves, Southampton and Everton. Even if they were draws Palace showed great resilience in a good 1-1 result against Chelsea and also coming back from behind in an impressive 2-2 draw against Leicester. Crystal Palace also come into this game with a win after beating QPR 2-1 in the Carabao Cup and before that won 4-0 against Norwich but their luck tin he Premier League is yet to show itself.
New Palace signing Riad is out with a knee injury while Glasner confirmed that Doucoure is out for “several weeks”. Franca and Chalobah are also out. New signing Lacroix is set to make a start next to Guehi and Clyne in defence.
As for United Lindelöf, Malacia, Shaw and Yoro are all out with injuries. Hojlund and Mount are a question mark for this match. A similar team for United as they had against Southampton is expected.
Crystal Palace possible starting lineup: Henderson, Clyne, Guehi, Lacroix, Munoz, Wharton, Lerma, Mitchell, Eze, Nketiah, Mateta
As Feyenoord prepare to host Bayer Leverkusen at De Kuip, both teams have plenty to prove as they kickstart their 2024/25 UEFA Champions League campaigns. The matchup offers an intriguing mix of tactical nuances, key player battles, and the quest for momentum in what has already been an unpredictable season for both clubs.
Feyenoord enter this game coming off a mixed start in the Eredivisie, where they’ve struggled to find their rhythm under new coach Brian Priske. Although they clinched the Johan Cruijff Schaal with a hard-fought win over PSV Eindhoven on penalties, their league form has been inconsistent. With just one win in their first four games (W1 D3), the Dutch giants are currently sitting in eight place, far from the form that saw them secure second place last season. In mind of their rocky start and now being faced against Bundesliga champions Feyenoord will have to look deep and find their form from last season to compete.
Bayer Leverkusen, meanwhile, are coming off a historic Bundesliga-winning season. Under the guidance of manager Xabi Alonso, Leverkusen dominated domestic football last year, almost going undefeated and adding the DFB Pokal to their trophy haul. This season after three games they are sitting fifth (W2 L1). After a loss to RB Leipzig where they were 2-0 up coming into extra time in the first half but after a goal in the last seconds of the said half Leverkusen completely lost control. In the second half they did not show their late game prowess that they had last season and ultimately lost 3-2.
Injuries to Feyenoord key players Calvin Stengs and Quilindschy Hartman could complicate things, limiting Priske's options and forcing him to rely on depth players to fill the void. Santiago Gimenez is probably starting up top with him having two goals and one assist in four games he is sure to contribute. Defender Gernot Trauner got injured in the Euros but is expected to make the bench.
Leverkusen are not concerned on the injury front and should start more of the same XI as they did last game against Hoffenhiem with Frimpong making a start instead of Tella.
Feyenoord possible starting lineup: Wellenreuther, Lotomba, Beelen, Hancko, Smal, Timber, Zechiel, Nieuwkoop, Nadje, Paixao, Gimenez
Bayer Leverkusen possible starting lineup: Hradecky, Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapie, Frimpong, Andrich, Xhaka, Grimaldo, Terrier, Wirtz, Boniface
In another exciting clash in the Champions League, Atalanta welcome Arsenal to Bergamo. The Europa League champions Atalanta are against Premier League power house Arsenal. With Atalanta being ninth this season they are looking to find momentum elsewhere instead of the Serie A meanwhile Arsenal are second looking to keep their from.
Atalanta under Gian Piero Gasperini are having a tough time with only recording two wins in four games. With new stadium Atalanta hopes to bring new results and rekindle their form in UEFA competitions. Having knocked out Liverpool in their last Europa League campaign Atalanta is not unfamiliar with Premier League top teams. But with a different look to the team and new management we will see if Atalanta can keep up.
Arsenal, on the other hand, have been one of the Premier League’s standout performers. Mikel Arteta’s side has yet to taste defeat this season, thanks to a balanced approach between a solid defense and a fluid, creative attack. New signings Declan Rice and Kai Havertz have slotted in well, adding depth to a team already brimming with talent. With a record of (W3 D1) after a 1-1 outing against Brighton at home Arsenal picked themselves up and beat Tottenham away 1-0 giving them second place after four games.
With Odegaard out with a ankle injury Arsenal are without midfield magician and are looking to Trossard to fill the void. New signing Merino not seeing the field after picking up a shoulder injury in his first training session he is not expected to make an appearance. Kieran Tierney, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Oleksandr Zinchenko are all out with injury but Gabriel Jesus seems to be back after being a late substitute against Spurs.
Atalanta are without Scamacca and Scalvini with Toloi and Godfrey missing the Fiorentina game due to injury. In good news, Kolasinac is back with Djimsiti in defence with striker Zaniolo appearing on the bench last game.
Atalanta BC possible starting lineup: Carnesecchi, Djimsiti, Hien, Kolasinac, Bellanova, Ederson, De Roon, Ruggeri, De Ketelaere, Lookman, Retegui
Arsenal possible starting lineup: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber, Partey, Rice, Saka, Trossard, Sterling, Havertz
Juventus are set to go against PSV in the first round of the new Champions League format. Juventus coming into this game with a record of (W2 D2) putting them 3rd at the table and they are going against Netherlands top side PSV who are unbeaten in five games.
With the loss of Chiesa to Liverpool, Kean to Fiorentina and Szczesny to retirement Juventus squad is not the same as it was last season. With a new manager in Thiago Motta at the helm who got his Bologna side to a surprise 5th place last season Juventus got off to a great start to their 2024 campaign. Winning their first two games 3-0 they later played two scoreless draws in two unimpressive showings. But one thing to take away from those games are the four clean sheets.
PSV won the 2023 Erdivisie season and got to the round of 16 in the Champions League losing to finalist Dortmund. With PSV scoring 20 in their last five games and only letting in three they are looking very good coming into this Champions League clash. PSV finally got the title last season after three years of being runner-ups and are now looking to advance further then their last Champions League campaing,
This weekend Motta gave new signings Teun Koopmeiners, Nico Gonzalez, Pierre Kalulu and Douglas Luiz a chance in their 0-0 draw against Empoli. Khephren Thuram made his return from injury coming off the bench as well. Timothy Weah also made his return to the Juventus squad after a thigh injury.
PSV got De Jong back with the striker scoring from the penalty spot in their game against NEC. Winger Hirving Lozano is a question mark after a friendly against Genk and it’s unsure if he will make the trip. New signings Dest and Karsdorp are both out of the squad with Obispo also out injured with a knee injury.
Juventus possible starting lineup: Di Gregorio, Kalulu, Gatti, Bremer, Cabal, Locatelli, Fagioli, Cambiaso, Koopmeiners, Yildiz, Vlahovic
PSV Eindhoven possible starting lineup: Benitez, Ledezma, Flamingo, Boscagli, Dams, Til, Schouten, Veerman, Bakayoko, De Jong, Tillman
AC Milan are hosting Liverpool in their first game of the 2024 Champions League Campaign. Milan come into this game with a record of (W1 D2 L1) and are currently in 9th place, as for Liverpool they are 4th with (W3 L1) after their disappointing 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forrest in their last game.
With Klopp managing to bring Champions League glory back to Anfield, Liverpool are now looking to get the same treatment from new manager Arne Slot. Slot previously took Feyenoord to a second place finish last season and a championship the season before. Now Slot is looking to replicate league glory and at the same time chart unknown territory by competing for the Champions League with new team Liverpool. Arne only brought in one starter for the 24/25 season in Fredrico Chiesa and the Italian is in the squad but the former Juventus winger is unlikely to start. With only one star signing and no key players leaving we will see if it’s a matter of tactics for Liverpool as they set out with the same team but new manager.
AC Milan looked rough before the Nations League break having one loss and two draws but after said international break they put four past Venezia with all four coming within the first 30 minutes of play. Both wingers Pulisic and Leao scored with new striker signing on loan from Roma Tammy Abraham also scoring the last one of the four. Milan looked like a well oiled machine against Venezia but one thing to keep in mind is that Venezia are last in the league with (D1 L3) as a record. But that does not diminish the great showing from the Rossoneri.
With Chiesa not likely to start expect Salah and Gakpo on the wings with Nunez making his first start taking Diego Jotas place. Harvey Elliott is also out with a foot fracture. But injury wise Liverpool are in luck as only Elliott is on said list. Rotation wise we could see Endo making a start instead of Mac Allister.
AC Milan will be without Bennacer and Florenzi as well as defender Thiaw. Calabria seems to be fine after an apparent injury but will probably not start for Milan. Tammy Abraham will most likely start with Leao and Pulisic on the wings. Expect Tomori to replace Gabbia in defence but otherwise the same XI as they had against Venezia.
**AC Milan (4-2-3-1): ** Maignan, Emerson, Tomori, Pavlovic, Hernandez, Reijnders, Fofana, Loftus-Cheek, Pulisic, Abraham, Leao
**Liverpool (4-2-3-1): ** Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson, Endo, Gravenberch, Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo, Nunez
The Premier League is back after a 12-day hiatus as Aston Villa takes on Everton at Villa Park. Aston Villa, being 7th on the table after two wins and one loss to start this campaign, are looking like clear favourites against 20th-placed Everton, who have lost all three games so far.
Villa lost their first game at home against Arsenal and are now looking to give the home fans a win. Winning 2-0 against West Ham and then going on to beat Leicester 2-1, with Nations League call-up Amadou Onana and super sub John Duran both netting, Villa should feel confident coming into this game. With star forward Ollie Watkins only having one assist in the last three games, Duran has been stepping up, scoring two in the last three. Aston Villa are also unbeaten against Everton in the last 10 games since returning to the Premier League in 2019 (W7 D3), keeping 7 clean sheets and only allowing Everton to score three times across all 10 games.
Everton’s start to this season has been all kinds of bad, and it could get worse facing off against Aston Villa at Villa Park. Losing their first game 0-3 against Brighton and then suffering an even worse 4-0 defeat to Spurs, things looked bleak for Everton as they faced Bournemouth at home. After scoring two goals early in the second half, it looked like the Toffees would get their first win at home, but they turned that two-goal lead in the 86th minute into a 3-2 defeat after two stoppage-time goals from Bournemouth. With only two goals in the last three games, Everton needs a change to get out of the relegation zone.
Aston Villa is in a rough spot with Leon Bailey and Matty Cash not playing, and Tyrone Mings short of match fitness after a knee injury. We could see some rotation from Emery’s Villa as they are set to make their Champions League debut on Tuesday. Watkins’ status is unknown after receiving a hard knock, but I believe he will be rested, and we could see John Duran make his first start.
Everton has some trouble on the defensive side with Branthwaite and Patterson both unlikely to return. Also, captain Seamus Coleman is a question mark after getting injured during the international break. Calvert-Lewin will continue up top, hoping for a better start after the international break.
Aston Villa (4-4-2): Martinez, Bogarde, Konsa, Torres, Digne, Onana, Barkley, McGinn, Tielemans, Rogers, Duran
Everton (4-2-3-1): Pickford, Young, Tarkowski, Keane, Mykolenko, Gueye, Iroegbunam, Harrison, Doucoure, McNeil, Calvert-Lewin
We are ready as the last round of games in the Nations League before the one-month break begins, and this time it’s between the Netherlands and Germany. Germany comes into this game after a blowout against Hungary, where they won 5-0, but their opponent also scored 5 in the first round in their game against Bosnia, finishing 5-2. Both sides are relying on young talent, with German youngsters Musiala, Wirtz, and Pavlovic all scoring against Hungary, while Simmons and Zirkzee also scored in their game.
The Netherlands are looking good after their game against Bosnia, with their front three each scoring one. Holding Bosnia to only 25% possession, the Oranje cruised to a 5-2 victory. With the squad looking very similar to their Euros team, Ronald Koeman hopes to get his team further than a semifinal after allowing a devastating extra-time goal against England. Their Euros run was very mediocre, going to the playoffs as the best third-place team in the group after Austria and France, but this time around, Koeman and his team are looking to prove themselves.
Germany, after their 5-0 victory against Hungary, is looking strong, with their youngsters showing prowess. Wirtz, Musiala, and Pavlovic all scored, and all three are under 21. Niclas Füllkrug also found the back of the net, now having 14 goals in 22 matches as the 31-year-old West Ham striker is set to play his 12th cap for Germany. With Joshua Kimmich as captain, the Bayern Munich player hopes to guide his team to a first-place spot. Julian Nagelsmann now leads his team against a much tougher opponent in the Netherlands.
Zirkzee is expected to keep his place as striker, with Simons and Gakpo at his sides. Midfielders Marten de Roon and Georginio Wijnaldum are out of the squad, alongside Bergwijn. Micky van de Ven and Joey Veerman are both out with injuries, but Jurrien Timber made his return to the center-back position, so expect him to get some minutes alongside Van Dijk.
Germany is hoping for their young players, like Wirtz and Musiala, to fill the roles of retired veterans like Neuer, Gündoğan, Kroos, and Müller. Ter Stegen will be in goal, and expect Tah to start alongside Schlotterbeck in defense, as Real Madrid star Rüdiger is rested. Leroy Sané still has trouble with injuries and was not called up, so there will probably be no changes up top.
We will likely see similar lineups from both teams, with both sides expected to start the same players as in their first games.
Netherlands (4-2-3-1): Verbruggen; Dumfries, De Ligt, Van Dijk, Aké; Schouten, Reijnders; Malen, Xavi, Gakpo; Weghorst.
The probable lineup for Germany in the "system of play. Germany (4-2-3-1): Ter Stegen; Kimmich, Tah, Schlotterbeck, Mittelstädt; Andrich, Pavlović; Musiala, Groß, Wirtz; Havertz.
