5️⃣ spicy fixtures you must watch this weekend 🌶 | OneFootball

Excluding action from the Premier League, we take a look at the games you can’t miss from across the globe this weekend.

Trabzonspor v Galatasaray

All eyes were on Turkey on Thursday as the Champions League group stage draw took place in Istanbul and it might be worth turning your attention back to the country come Sunday.

No team has won the Turkish Süper Lig more times than Galatasaray (22) since its inception in 1959 but Trabzonspor are reigning champions, having won the league for the first time since 1984 last season.

An impressive transfer window has followed, with Marc Bartra, Trezeguet and Enis Bardhi joining from some of Europe’s bigger leagues but both sides have already lost so far this season.

Another slip at this early stage would not bode well.

Spice rating: Mild 🌶

PSG v Monaco

PSG have been utterly unstoppable so far in Ligue 1 this season. They sit top after three games with a perfect record, having notched up an astonishing 17 goals and conceded just three.

Two of those fixtures have came against two of the three most recent champions (Montpellier and Lille) and it is the third, Monaco, who are next to attempt to halt Christophe Galtier’s juggernaut.

It is such a scintillating start that makes this such a compelling fixture. They have taken on the appearance of a boxer who appears unbeatable à la Floyd Mayweather.

You want to watch to see them stunned by an underdog or even to see if they can maintain these ridiculous levels keep standards this high, having not lost in the league at home since April 2021.

But interestingly, Monaco do have more wins (44) against PSG than any other side in league history. Making it 45 appears unlikely on current form but it isn’t impossible.

Spice rating: Medium 🌶 🌶

Bayern Munich v Borussia Mönchengladbach

“Angstgegner” is the German word for bogey team. The literal translation? Scary opponent.

And that’s exactly what Gladbach are to Bayern. Julian Nagelsmann’s side are flying so far this season, winning 7-0 at Bochum last weekend to continue their incredible post-Robert Lewandowski start to the season.

But if anyone can give them a game, it’s Gladbach. Also in top form under new boss Daniel Farke — Gladbach sit second with seven points from three games — they are the side that have resisted Bayern more than any other in Germany over the last 10 years.

They are the only side Bayern have failed to beat in at least 50% of their meetings in that period. Maybe Saturday will be the same old story?

Spice rating: Hot 🌶 🌶 🌶

Fluminense v Palmeiras

In what is becoming a recurring theme in Brazil in recent weeks, there is once again a tasty tussle at the top of the table.

Palmeiras have had a host of challengers lying in second place come at them this month and the latest to try their luck are Fluminense, who welcome the São Paulo side to town.

Eight points separate the sides heading into the weekend and it really could be make or break for the visitors.

One thing to look out for: no player has scored more than central defender Gustavo Gomez for the league leaders so far this season.

Spice rating: Fire 🌶 🌶 🌶 🌶

Juventus v Roma

Whenever José Mourinho arrives in Turin to face Juventus, fireworks can be expected and we anticipate more of the same this Saturday.

He always had a testy relationship with the Bianconeri faithful dating back to his first spell in Italy with Inter and stoked the fires with his infamous ear-cupping gesture after a Champions League win there with Manchester United.

Last season he returned for the first time since that incident and was at it again – taunting Juventus’ ultras with a three-finger gesture to remind them of his treble heroics with their rivals Inter in 2010.

His side have started the season strong too, with 1-0 wins in each of their opening two games, while the pressure is already on his opposite number Massimiliano Allegri after they drew a blank last time out against Sampdoria.

Some have been bold enough to tip the Giallorossi as Scudetto dark horses (although that prediction may be rethought after this week’s injuries to Nicolò Zaniolo and Georginio Wijnaldum) and they could justify some of that belief with a statement success at a venue they’ve struggled at of late.

Roma’s only win at Juventus in the past 11 years in the league came on the final weekend of the COVID-hit 2019/20 season. A much feistier atmosphere awaits them, and their provocative Portuguese coach, this time.

Spice rating: Insane 🌶 🌶 🌶 🌶 🌶