Chelsea v Arsenal, Getafe v Barcelona and other big game predictions from around Europe

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  • A goal feast in Europe had football fans salivating and another set of mouthwatering clashes are on the menu as the domestic action returns this weekend.

    Big games are on offer across all five major European leagues, so we’ve picked out the best from each and offered our predictions.

    LA LIGA

    Getafe v Barcelona

    Barcelona were breathtaking in the midweek pummeling of Juventus and they will now to look land a psychological blow on Real Madrid by opening up a seven-point advantage before they play on Sunday.

    They travel to Getafe in a bid to maintain their 100-per-cent start to the La Liga campaign and it’s a fixture they’ve lost only once since 2008.

    Lionel Messi has been extraterrestrial so far this season and no side has been able to make him look human – expect him to deliver another otherworldly performance and guide the Blaugrana to victory.

    Kick-off

    Saturday, 6:15pm (GST)

    Prediction

    0-2

    Jose Bordalas v Ernesto Valverde

    LIGUE 1

    PSG v Lyon

    It’s first versus third in Ligue 1 in a clash which will showcase the very best talent French football has to offer.

    PSG have been peerless so far and their embarrassment of riches in attack have seen them surge to the top of the table with a 100-per-cent record. Lyon, though, are unbeaten through five league games (three wins, two draws) but are still to hit top gear with the trip to Paris their biggest of the campaign.

    Nabil Fekir is displaying his best form but Memphis Depay and Bertrand Traore have some work to do. That’s not the case for trio Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Edinson Cavani who will likely tear through yet another opponent.

    Kick-off

    Sunday, 11pm (GST)

    Prediction

    3-1

    Unai Emery v Bruno Genesio

    Unai Emery v Bruno Genesio

    BUNDESLIGA

    RB Leipzig v Borussia Monchengladbach

    Ralph Hasenhuttl’s Leipzig are apart of the strong group of teams which contains Borussia Dortmund and Hoffeinheim who will hope to capitilise on Bayern Munich’s slow start to the new season.

    They sit a point off top with two wins from three after recovering from their opening day defeat to Schalke and all eyes will be on their Germany international Timo Werner.

    The 21-year-old was phenomenal last time out, scoring a stunning solo effort in the 2-0 triumph over Hamburg and with Gladbach being held by Augsburg before losing to Eintracht Frankfurt he’ll look to get on the scoresheet once more to further accelerate his hype train.

    Kick-off

    Saturday, 8:30pm (GST)

    Prediction

    2-0

    Ralph Hasenhuttl v Dieter Hecking

    PREMIER LEAGUE

    Chelsea v Arsenal

    The big game in the Premier League this weekend comes from Stamford Bridge as Chelsea host Arsenal.

    The narrative leading into this one is of a stumbling Gunners who have been embarrassed away from home by Stoke and Liverpool, while Chelsea are finding their championship class following the surprise opening-day defeat to Burnley.

    Arsene Wenger has an atrocious record against the rest of the top six and despite positive signs against Bournemouth last weekend, Chelsea are simply a different animal and one they won’t be able to tame.

    Kick-off

    Sunday, 4:30pm (GST)

    Prediction

    1-0

    Antonio Conte v Arsene Wenger

    Antonio Conte v Arsene Wenger

    SERIE A

    AC Milan v Udinese

    Andre Silva’s hat-trick in the 5-1 win over Austria Vienna in the Europa League was the first treble notched by a Rossoneri player since Kaka in 2006.

    The result and the performance offered the perfect response after they were battered 4-1 by Lazio in Serie A last weekend and Vincenzo Montella’s switch to 3-5-2 seems to have done the trick.

    Udinese travel to the San Siro on Sunday with just one win from their three opening league games and nothing but a win will do for Montella if they hope to keep within touching distance of title challengers Juventus, Napoli and rivals Internazionale.

    Kick-off

    Sunday, 5pm (GST)

    Prediction

    2-1

    Vincenzo Montella v Luigi Delneri

    Vincenzo Montella v Luigi Delneri

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