FTS European Football Weekly: Fifth Edition

English Premier League

Arsenal vs Manchester City on Saturday at 9:45pm AEST

Arsenal lifted the Community Shield the last time these two teams met with the Gunners winning 3-0. Manchester City seemed well off the pace that day and will be keen for revenge. City are coming off the back of a shock defeat at home to Stoke after two impressive wins.

Arsenal have drawn their last two matches away to Everton and Leicester. They are set to unleash new striker Danny Welbeck who was signed from rival club Manchester United on deadline day.

Prediction – Arsenal 2 Manchester City 0

Chelsea vs Swansea on Sunday at 12am AEST

Chelsea started the season with two solid victories over two promoted sides in Burnley and Leicester. In their last match, they tore Everton apart, cruising to a 6-3 win without really flexing their attacking muscle. New signings Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas have seamlessly slotted into the Stamford Bridge outfit and look set to push Chelsea towards a league title.

Swansea have been a team inspired by the return of Icelandic playmaker Gylfi Sigurdsson who has already notched a goal and four assists. Garry Monk has reverted back to the playing style that saw them win the League Cup two seasons ago with the side currently sitting in fourth in the league for successful passing percentage (86%).

Prediction – Chelsea 3 Swansea 0

Best of the rest

• Crystal Palace play host to Burnley – both sides are the only teams currently sitting on a single point.
• Liverpool at home to Aston Villa – both sides are looking for their first win of the season with Aston Villa having embarked on a difficult run of fixtures.
• QPR away to Manchester United with Radamel Falcao set to make his debut alongside fellow new boy Daley Blind.

Spanish La Liga

Barcelona vs Athletic Bilbao on Sunday at 12am AEST

The Catalan giants are the only club to have won their first two fixtures after downing both Elche and Villareal. As you would expect, Barcelona have dominated possession (71%) and successful passing percentage (91%).

Athletic had a resounding 3-0 victory over Levante in their last outing and will be quietly confident of grabbing a result at the Nou Camp. Athletic are also exponents of possession football however they are also up for a physical contest.

Prediction – Barcelona 2 Athletic Club Bilbao 1

Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid on Sunday at 4am AEST

Real were in total control for the first 20 minutes of their last match away to Real Sociedad, gaining a 2-0 lead after just 10 minutes. Sociedad came back to win the match 4-2 with the Madrid giants being left with many questions to answer especially in the fullback positions.

Atletico’s title defence is back on track after a 2-1 win over Eibar. It is clear that manager Diego Simeone has opted to stick with the rough and tumble style that has brought them so much success over the last three seasons. This Madrid derby comes on the back of Atletico winning the Spanish Super Cup over Real only a fortnight ago.

Prediction – Real Madrid 1 Atletico Madrid 0

Best of the rest

• Valencia host Espanyol and will be looking to maintain their unbeaten record while Espanyol will be looking to get their first win.
• Real Sociedad travel to Celta Vigo on the back of an incredible comeback against Real Madrid but face a Celta side who have a attained four from six possible points.

German Bundesliga

Bayer Leverkusen vs Werder Bremen on Saturday at 4.30am AEST

Leverkusen have started the season with two wins after two rounds of play and sit pretty at the top of the Bundesliga. They have amassed a solid six goals so far with attacking midfielder Karim Bellarabi being a leading force with two goals and an assist. Interestingly, Bayer have the equal lowest successful passing percentage (64%) in the league.

Werder sit in ninth with two draws and manager Robin Dutt has said that his side needs to push on in these games in order for a successful season. Former Wigan striker Franco Di Santo has a goal and an assist in his two appearances thus far.

Prediction – Bayer Leverkusen 4 Werder Bremen 1

Bayern Munich vs VfB Stuttgart on Saturday at 11.30pm AEST

The Bavarian club have not been at their best so far with a narrow win and a point from their first two games. This being said, they lead the league in possession (62%) and one would feel that their quality in depth will lead them to a consistent string of wins that could start this weekend.

VfB Stuttgart sit in 16th on one point which came in their opening match away to Borussia Monchengladbach. Manager Armin Veh is open about his love for possession football but his side will need to work a miracle to dominate a Bayern midfielder with the likes of Gotze, Martinez and new recruit, Xabi Alonso.

Prediction – Bayern Munich 3 Vfb Stuttgart 0

Best of the rest

• Borussia Dortmund host Freiburg and Jurgan Klopp will be expected to make it two wins in a row against a side yet to score.
• Newly promoted Paderborn will hope to build on their solid start against FC Koln with both sides having four points from six.
• Schalke 04 travel to Borussia Monchengladbach after holding champions Bayern Munich to a draw in their last match.

Italian Serie A

Juventus vs Udinese on Sunday at 4.45am AEST

Juventus won their opening match 1-0 away to Chievo courtesy of a Cristiano Biraghi own goal in the sixth minute. The Old Lady had an incredible 72% of possession but only managed three shots on target.

Udinese dispatched newly promoted Empoli 2-0 with 36-year-old striker Antonio Di Natale netting a second half brace. The aging talisman needs another 10 goals to overtake Italian legend Roberto Baggio on the Serie A all time top goalscoring charts. Udinese were far more effective with their shooting with six from 12 shots troubling the keeper.

Juventus 0 Udinese 1

AC Milan vs Parma on Monday at 4.45am AEST

The Rossoneri started the season off with a convincing 3-1 win over Lazio. New coach and goalscoring legend Filippo Inzaghi set out his side in such a way that see physical prowess play an important role  Their 23 tackles was a league high for the opening weekend.

Parma were upset by the lowest ranked promoted side Cesena in the opening weekend and will be determined to turn their fortunes around. Parma were perhaps unlucky in that match after dominating for large periods only going down to a goal just before half time.

AC Milan 1 Parma 1

Best of the rest

• Roma visit Empoli looking to make it two wins in a row after a sound win over Fiorentina.
• Socceroo Joshua Brillante will be lucky to start when Fiorentina host Genoa after his poor performance on the opening weekend.

French Ligue 1

Lyon vs Monaco on Saturday at 4.30am AEST

Lyon won their opening match but have gone on to lose three in a row which leaves them lingering on the edge of the drop zone. The most successful club in France since the turn of the millennium have dominated their opening five matches with an average of 60% possession (3rd in the league) as well as 18 shots per game (1st in the league). If these trends continue, surely the results will come.

Monaco have also been underwhelming with only one win in their first four games. The Principality club lost two superstars in Radamel Falcao and James Rodriguez over the transfer window but they still possess quality all over the park. Similarly to Lyon, Monaco have been dominating matches and perhaps a result in this match for either team could send them on the right track.

Prediction – Lyon 2 Monaco 3

Rennes vs Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday at 1am AEST

Rennes have two wins in the opening four games and are sitting in fifth position. This is incredible considering that they have only managed an average of two shots on target per game, the lowest in the league.

PSG remain undefeated with two wins and two draws and are coming into this match on the back of a resounding 5-0 over AS Saint-Etienne. The cash rich Parisian club have had the most possession in the league (70%) as well as most shots on target per game with six.

Prediction – Rennes 0 PSG 4

Best of the rest

• League heavyweights Marseilles travel to rock bottom Evian and will be looking to add to their eight goals scored so far.
• 1st place Bordeaux will be hoping to continue their unbeaten ways when they visit Guingamp who sit in the relegation zone.

5 best matches rest from across Europe

• Nottingham Forest vs Derby County in the English Championship on Sunday at 10.15pm AEST
• Boavista vs Academica in the Portuguese Primeira Liga on Monday at 1pm AEST
• Celtic vs Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday at 9.45pm AEST
• PEC Zwolle vs PSV Eindhoven in the Eredivisie on Sunday at 4.45am AEST
• Zenit St. Petersburg vs Dinamo Moscow in the Russian Premier League on Sunday at 12.30am AEST

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