Chelsea v Liverpool and Sevilla v Real Madrid among top fixtures to watch out for this weekend

Sooraj Kamath - Writer 19:12 18/09/2019
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  • After an entertaining round of midweek fixtures in the Champions League, league football is set to glue us to our TV screens with some more fascinating match-ups.

    Most key battles will see teams that were engaged in European fixtures face each other as they attempt to fight the fatigue.

    Which are the big games you need to clear your schedule for? We help you choose the best fixture from each of the top five leagues.

    LA LIGA

    KarimBenzemaRealMadridLevante (1)

    Fixture: Sevilla v Real Madrid

    Venue: Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan

    Date: Sunday, September 23

    Time: 11:00pm GST

    Two unbeaten teams will face each other at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan as table-toppers Sevilla host Real Madrid. This tie will see Sevilla boss Julen Lopetegui take on his former club for the first time.

    The Seville side went through a major makeover in the summer as they roped in over 13 players and saw as many departures. The transformation has seemed to work, given they have won three of their four games so far.

    Madrid have dropped off after their impressive opening day win over Celta Vigo. Two drawn games followed and they were lucky to edge Levante in the third, meaning Los Blancos are in a dire need of a big win.

    Sevilla won 3-0 in the same fixture last season but heroes on the night, Andre Silva and Wissam Ben Yedder, have left the club.

    Key players: Joan Jordan (Sevilla), Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)

    PREMIER LEAGUE

    tammy abraham

    Fixture: Chelsea v Liverpool

    Venue: Stamford Bridge

    Date: Sunday, September 22

    Time: 7:30pm GST

    A replay of last month’s UEFA Super Cup final will see Chelsea and Liverpool lock horns in our top Premier League tie of the weekend. Both teams came into Europe in a high but came crashing down to earth, following defeats to Valencia and Napoli.

    The Londoners shone in their away test against Wolves in the previous game, emerging 5-2 winners thanks to a Tammy Abraham hat-trick.

    Liverpool stuttered against Newcastle but came back from a goal down to maintain their 100 per cent record in the domesticseason.

    The last five encounters between the two teams at the Bridge have seen Chelsea win once and lose twice.

    Key players: Tammy Abraham (Chelsea), Sadio Mane (Liverpool)

    SERIE A

    RomeluLukakuInter (1)

    Fixture: AC Milan v Inter Milan (Milan derby)

    Venue: San Siro

    Date: Saturday, September 21

    Time: 10:45pm GST

    One of the most historic derbies in football will take the centre stage on Saturday as AC Milan and Inter Milan face off at the San Siro.

    The hosts will look to build on their last two wins, well aware that they have not scored more than one goal in any of their games so far and will need as many as possible against the table toppers.

    Antonio Conte’s Inter Milan have made a statement by winning three of three so far, although needed a last-ditch equaliser to rescue a point against Slavia Prague in the Champions League.

    AC Milan have not won a league game against the rivals since January 2016 and are unlikely to break the jinx on Saturday.

    Key player: Suso (AC Milan), Romelu Lukaku (Inter Milan)

    GERMAN BUNDESLIGA

    Reus

    Fixture: Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Dortmund

    Venue: Commerzbank-Arena

    Date: Sunday, September 22

    Time: 8:00pm GST

    Two teams carrying tired legs from European engagements will fight for three points at the Commerzbank-Arena as Eintracht Frankfurt host Borussia Dortmund.

    The hosts will look to turn things around after a 2-1 defeat against Augsburg. But accumulating three points in a fixture they haven’t won in over three years will require a special performance.

    Dortmund were unlucky to have shared the spoils with Barcelona in the Champions League, having dominated the Spanish side over 90 minutes. However, they arrive into the fixture on a positive note, having thumped Bayer Leverkusen 4-0 in their previous Bundesliga game.

    The last two meetings between the two sides at this venue ended in a draw. More of the same or will Frankfurt manage an upset against the Black and Yellows?

    Key players: Goncalo Palencia (Eintracht Frankfurt), Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund)

    LIGUE 1

    neymar

    Fixture: Lyon v Paris Saint-Germain

    Venue: Parc Olympique Lyonnais

    Date: Sunday, September 22

    Time: 11:00om GST

    PSG’s biggest test in their Ligue 1 title defence will see them travel to Lyon on Sunday in search of three points.

    Lyon won their first two games, scoring nine goals and conceding zero to top the table. But they could not build on it and have managed just two points in three games since. They enter this fixture hoping to get their season back on course after a 2-2 draw against Amiens.

    PSG responded to their 2-1 defeat against Rennes by keeping clean sheets in all three games that followed. However, they needed an acrobatic effort from Neymar in injury-time – upon the Brazilian’s return to the line-up – to claim all three points against Strasbourg.

    The last five meetings between the two sides have seen no draws, with Lyon winning twice. An entertaining clash is in the offing.

    Key players: Memphis Depay (Lyon), Neymar (PSG)

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