SuperSport viewers on DStv and GOtv can look forward to extended action from the Premier League, La Liga and Serie A with matches.
The pick of Premier League matches this weekend is the meeting of Manchester City and Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium on the early afternoon of Sunday, 2 October.
While the Citizens are flying high and looking like a powerful machine under the guidance of Pep Guardiola, United are still finding their identity under Erik ten Hag – and will be playing for the first time in the Premier League for almost a month (having had their previous two matches postponed due to the Queen’s passing and related policing issues).
Ten Hag has admitted that the international break did not help his preparations for this derby: “I don’t have the players [while they are away with their national teams],” the Dutchman said. “What can we plan? We can plan work structures with the players who will be there. They will get a break but also have good sessions. We can work on specifics but when 90 per cent of the squad is not there, we cannot work on development. That is clear.”
The round also features the latest edition of the North London derby, as Arsenal welcome Tottenham Hotspur to the Emirates Stadium. Spurs claimed a key victory over the Gunners toward the end of last season, earning them a spot in the UEFA Champions League ahead of their rivals. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will surely use that as motivation for this clash.
“This is the game at the end of the day – it’s decided in various small fractions of time, moments and details that lead to a football result,” said Arteta.
“It can be completely different to what you have earned and our job is to earn the right to win the match. Sometimes it’s margins, errors or decisions that are not in your hands.”
Other games to look out for include Crystal Palace hosting Chelsea for a London derby, Brighton & Hove Albion visiting Liverpool and a potential Monday night thriller between East Midlands rivals Leicester City and Nottingham Forest at the King Power Stadium.
SuperSport is the only place where you can get English commentary on the legendary La Liga, where the headline fixture for this round is the meeting of Sevilla and Atletico Madrid at Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on the early evening of Saturday 1 October.
Atletico are looking to build on their somewhat underwhelming start to the campaign and a win in Andalusia will go a long way in boosting their confidence, according to manager Diego Simeone: “I have seen improvements, but we are inconsistent,” said the Argentine. “We can do more to put ourselves in a strong position this season, and this game is very important in that regard.”
Straight after the match in Seville, Mallorca will welcome Barcelona to the Son Moix Stadium and look to claim a major scalp: “I have spoken with the players and it would be important to get the three points and leave a good image so that people go home happy,” said Mallorca manager Javier Aguirre. “We have managed to make the team run and be intense. It is the only way that I understand we can compete, because talent without effort it doesn’t do much.”
Champions Real Madrid, meanwhile, will have to wait until Sunday night for their home match against Osasuna, with manager Carlo Ancelotti singing the praises of Vinicius and Rodrygo, who have stepped out of the shadow of Karim Benzema to shine in recent weeks.
“We are enthusiastic about our attack, about our young people. Karim makes us dream, but you end up getting used to what he does. So, when a young player comes on, it makes you dream even more,” said the Italian.
The round also features a Friday night opener between Athletic Bilbao and Almeria, Villarreal’s trip to Cadiz on Saturday afternoon, and a Monday night clash between Rayo Vallecano and Elche at Estadio de Vallecas.
In this round, the top clash from Serie A sees Internazionale welcome Roma to the San Siro for an early-evening clash on Saturday 1 October. Neither the Nerazzurri nor the Giallorossi has enjoyed a start to the season that they would be completely satisfied with, but this clash presents an opportunity to make a statement of intent coming straight off the international break.
Inter manager Simone Inzaghi has revealed that he is in the process of building a “new Inter” in which competition for places will drive up the level of their performance: “Having two or even more players competing for each and every position in the XI is the ideal situation,” said the Italian tactician. “That is what we strive for, knowing it will make the team stronger overall.”
Saturday also features Napoli in action earlier in the day, as they welcome Torino to Estadio Diego Armando Maradona, while champions AC Milan head to Stadio Carlo Castellani to take on Empoli – with manager Stefano Piolo urging his team not to underestimate their opponents.
“Games straight after the international break are always complicated: we don’t know exactly when in what condition the players will return from their national team, making planning and preparation difficult. In addition, we will be away from home, making it even more challenging,” said Pioli.
A busy Sunday is headlined by Atalanta welcoming Fiorentina to Bergamo for what should be an entertaining affair, Juventus’ underwhelming form this season will be under scrutiny when they host Bologna in the late kick-off – anything less than a victory for the Bianconeri will be judged harshly by the Turin fans – and the round wraps up on Monday with Udinese travelling to Verona.
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