Battle Royale at Stamford Bridge as Arsenal and Chelsea rekindle rivalry
By Tanko Bauka
London would be divided into two colours, Chelsea Blues and Arsenal’s Red, as the two top-of-the-table teams clash this weekend at Stamford Bridge Stadium.
The rivalry between Chelsea and Arsenal has, over the years, created tension and anxiety among the supporters, and any encounter between them brings excitement and entertainment.
This weekend’s encounter has a lot at stake, because, apart from the three points, pride and supremacy are also at stake.
Chelsea currently is the World Club Champion while Arsenal also currently is in their best form, and the two teams are occupying the first and second positions on the league table.
Manchester City has the opportunity to make amend as they welcome Leeds United to the Etihad Stadium and they cannot afford to lose ground as any slip will give their opponents on top of the summit the chance to extend their lead and Liverpool too cannot afford to lose ground after losing 3-0 against Nothingham Forest last weekend and Arne Slot travel with his Liverpool side to take on West Ham United and Liverpool must do everything possible to pick up the three points at stake to save their head coach from the backlash from the club faithful supporters and to also put their season back on track as they seek to defend the title.
Manchester United after their shambolic performance against 10 man Everton at Old Trafford on Monday night where they failed to cancel only the solitary goal by Everton will this weekend travel to face their usual nightmare Crystal Palace at the Selhurst Park Stadium and the Red devils have not been finding it easy especially against Crystal Palace but they must strive to put every setback behind and overcome the Eagles in their backyard to restore confidence.
Tottenham Hotspur, after the thorough bashing from Arsenal last weekend, ambushed another London team, Fulham, at home, and Thomas Frank, who is under severe pressure, would also want to use the match to build back belief and confidence, but on the other hand, Fulham are not a pushover.
Brentford host Burnley while inform Sunderland welcome yet another inform team, AFC Bournemouth, to the Stadium of Light, with Unai Emery’s Aston Villa entertaining Wolves at Villa Park Stadium.
In the Spanish La Liga, the battle for a clear league leader intensified as only one point separates Real Madrid in the first position and FC Barcelona in the second position.
FC Barcelona returned to their backyard Nou Camp stadium for the first time last weekend, welcoming Deportivo Alaves, while Real Madrid will again be on the road to confront Girona, as Atletico Madrid tackle Real Oviedo at home.
Real Sociedad entertain Villarreal as Sevilla and Real Betis battle for the three points, while Levante host Athletic Bilbao.
Mallorca engage Osasuna as Celta Vigo host Espanyol, with Rayo Vallacano taking on Valencia on Monday night.
In the Italian Serie A, AC Milan would have their hands full again as they prepare to welcome Lazio to San Siro Stadium in the Italian capital, while Juventus engage Cagliari, and AS Roma set up a tricky encounter with Napoli to continue their impressive form in the league.
Newly promoted Pisa SC welcome Inter Milan, while Ademola Lookman’s inconsistent Atalanta battle underperforming Fiorentina, as Bologna and Cremonese slug it out with Lecce welcoming Torino, as Como entertain Sassuolo.
In the German Bundesliga, Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund face each other, and there is a lot to play for between the two German giants, while the league leader Bayern Munich will be at the Allianz Arena to welcome FC St Pauli, as Werder Bremen host Cologne, with Union Berlin taking on Heidenheim.
Eintracht Frankfurt battle Wolfsburg while Hamburger host Stuttgart.
Fixtures across Europe
English Barclays Premier League
Saturday
Sunderland vs AFC Bournemouth
Manchester City vs Leeds United
Brentford vs Burnley
Everton vs Newcastle United
Tottenham Hotspur vs Fulham
Sunday
Crystal Palace vs Manchester United
West Ham United vs Liverpool
Nottingham Forest vs Brighton
Aston Villa vs Wolves
Chelsea vs Arsenal
Spanish La Liga
Friday
Gatafe vs Elche
Saturday
Mallorca vs Osasuna
FC Barcelona vs Deportivo Alaves
Lavente vs Athletic Bilbao
Atletico Madrid vs Real Oviedo
Sunday
Real Sociedad vs Villarreal
Sevilla vs Real Betis
Celta Vigo vs Espanyol
Girona vs Real Madrid
Monday
Rayo Vallacano vs Valencia
Italian Serie A
Friday
Como vs Sassoulo
Saturday
Parma vs Udinese
Genoa vs Hellas Verona
Juventus vs Cagliari
AC Milan vs Lazio
Sunday
Lacce vs Torino
Pisa SC vs Inter Milan
Atalanta vs Fiorentina
AS Roma vs Napoli
Monday
Bologna vs Cremonese
German Bundesliga
Friday
Monchenglabach vs RB Leipzig
Saturday
Hoffenheim vs FC Augsburg
Union Berlin vs Heidenheim
Werder Bremen vs Koln
Bayern Munich vs FC St Pauli
Leverkusen vs Dortmund
Sunday
Hamburger vs Stuttgart
Eintracht Frankfurt vs Wolfsburg
SC Freiburg vs Mainz 05
