Man United aim to shrug off poor form, Bayern face Bayer: 5 talking points for the weekend football

The upcoming weekend in European domestic football promises more season-defining moments and contests. Premier League strugglers Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur go head-to-head at Old Trafford on Sunday, Bayern Munich host Bayer Leverkusen in a match that could decide early contenders for the Bundesliga title, and a Real Madrid side without their star man Kylian Mbappe face Atletico Madrid in the derby.

Let’s now break down each of them one-by-one, and go a little in-depth:

Manchester United, Spurs look for winning momentum

Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur have faced off in some huge season-defining clashes and it’s going to be no different this time around. Both United and Spurs have had to deal with pre-season title expectations and it’s safe to say that both the teams have instead had below-par starts to their respective campaigns.

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More so for Erik ten Hag’s men, who have been unimpressive with a lack of creativity in midfield and their misfiring attack up front.

The Red Devils’ latest setback came in the UEFA Europa League match against FC Twente, when they could not capitalise on an opening goal from Christian Eriksen. In fact, Eriksen would turn from hero to zero for United, with some sloppy play in the 68th minute resulting in a Sam Lammers goal for the Dutch side.

Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs, on the other hand, have won three straight matches since their 0-1 loss in the North London Derby against Arsenal on 15 September. All eyes will be on Dominic Solanke, who has seemingly rediscovered his form after an ankle injury he sustained in August.

Mbappe-less Real Madrid face stern challenge against Atletico

The Madrid derby was supposed to be an early stepping stone in Kylian Mbappe’s Real Madrid career, but as it turns out, the Frenchman will miss the derby on Sunday with a thigh injury. He sustained the injury during a La Liga match against Alaves on Tuesday and is reportedly set to be out for three weeks, which means will miss the La Liga derby against Atletico Madrid on Sunday.

Manager Carlo Ancelotti, however, has several options to cope with the former PSG star’s absence. One such combination could be bringing in Brazilian striker Endrick up front. Endrick, after all, has had a limited role so far this season, playing just 38 minutes across four matches, so he will be keen to prove his credentials.

Jude Bellingham’s role at Real could also change. With Endrick and Vinicius up front, Real Madrid could deploy Bellingham as an attacking No 10. Just two points separate second-placed Real Madrid (17 points) from third-placed Atletico (15 points).

Leverkusen, Bayern and a Bundesliga clash that could define title race

On paper, it’s a top-of-the-table clash in the Bundesliga when Bayern Munich (1st, 12 points) lock horns against Bayer Leverkusen (2nd, nine points). There will be a few standout performers to keep an eye on in this enticing contest.

One of the key battles could be that of Michael Olise (Bayern) and Florian Wirtz (Bayer). Olise has so far made five goal contributions in the Bundesliga since joining the German giants. Wirtz, on the other hand, has found the net four times in three matches across competitions this season. He was pivotal to Bayer’s road to the Bundesliga title, scoring 11 goals and providing a dozen assists.

What worries Leverkusen is their defence. They have given away nine goals already this season. Last season, they had only given away 24 goals in total in the Bundesliga, and more importantly, the last time these two teams met in the Bundesliga, Leverkusen kept a clean sheet in a 3-0 win in February.

Bayern have enjoyed quite the resurgence under Vincent Kompany this season, amassing 29 goals across just six matches across all competitions. Expect a cracking contest at the Allianz Arena.

Inter face Udinese test

Inter Milan will be raring to go against high-flying Udinese and aiming to return to winning ways in Serie A. Inter are coming on the back of a 1-2 loss to rivals AC Milan, which was their first derby loss since 2022.

One concern for Inter heading into the match against Udinese is the below-par form of Lautaro Martinez. The Argentine has scored just one goal in his last 15 matches for Inter. Marcus Thuram, too, has failed to find the net since late August.

Inter’s midfield has also sustained a setback with a thigh injury to Nicolo Barella that he suffered during the Milan derby. According to the club, Barella’s condition will be assessed next week but this is a significant blow for Inter. For Udinese, who are in third place with 10 points, this is a chance to go five points clear of sixth-placed Inter (eight points).

Marseille, Monaco aim to capitalise on excellent start

Marseille and AS Monaco have put Paris Saint-Germain under early-season pressure in Ligue 1. All three teams are tied on 13 points with PSG leading the pack. If the early signs are to go by, this season’s Ligue 1 title race could go down to the wire.

Having said that, PSG enjoyed a 100 per cent run across the first four matches of this Ligue 1 season, and that was up until when they drew 1-1 against Reims last week. Monaco have been the standout team defensively, conceding just two goals in the French top-flight this season. PSG have conceded four, whereas Marseille have given away six. PSG, though, have scored the most goals among the three teams with 17 goals. With Ligue 1’s top three teams having had a fiery start to the season, fans can expect a goal-fest.