Stage Set For Commencement Of Major Football Leagues Worldwide
By Tanko Bauka
The clock is ticking slowly, all necessary arrangements have been put in place, and all hands are on deck as almost all the various club sides in Europe have reinforced where necessary.
The stage is almost set for the commencement of major leagues worldwide, and football fans in every nook and cranny are in for yet another ride, excitement, entertainment, and joy, as well as pains, anguish and sorrows.
Clubs in England, Spain, France, Italy, and Germany have all hit the transfer markets, either recruiting new players or selling players they consider surplus, taking advantage of the lengthy transfer window for reinforcements, preparatory to the 2025-2026 football season.
This weekend, the English Barclays Premier League and the Spanish La Liga will take centre stage as hostilities resume.
In England, Crystal Palace defeated Liverpool in the Community Shield via a penalty shootout after a 2-2 draw in regulation time.
The Community Shield is a curtain raiser for the commencement of the Premier League.
The league will kick start on Friday with the defending Champion, Liverpool FC, which brought in new players, Miles Kerkez, Florian Wirtz, Jerome Frimpong, Hugo Etikite, Giorgi Mamardashvili, Armien Pecsi and Freddie Woodman, taking on AFC Bournamount, which was also busy in the transfer market at Anfield.
Aston Villa, which narrowly missed out on a place in this year’s UEFA Champions League tournament, will host Newcastle United, which is yet to sort out the saga surrounding their talisman.
Alexander Isak, who is bent on leaving the club for Liverpool after Newcastle United had earlier rejected Liverpool £110 million pounds bid for the Swedish striker.
Chelsea FC, the newly crowned World Club Champion, seems to be the busiest in the transfer market, bringing in James Gittens, Liam Delap, Joao Pedro, Estavao William, Dario Essugo and Momadou Sarr. They will be at home to welcome the Community Shield winner, Crystal Palace.
The star and stand-out encounter is the cracker between old-time rivals, Manchester United and a familiar foe, Arsenal, at Old Trafford.
The two teams have all reinforced with Manchester United bringing in Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, Diego Leon and Benjamin Sesko while Arsenal fortified with Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martin Zubimendi, Christian Noorgaard, Noni Maduake, Christian Mosquera and Gyokeres.
Manchester City, with new faces, Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Ait Nouri, Marcus Berttinelli, Sverre Nypan, Rayan Cherkri and Trafford will undertake a short trip to battle Wolves.
Tottenham Hotspur welcome new boys Burnley, while Fulham will be on the road to take on Brighton Albion, and another new boy, Sunderland, will host West Ham United.
Nottingham Forest battle Brentford City as Leeds United host Everton in the Monday night football.
In the Spanish La Liga, Girona will host Rayo Vallacano while Villarreal entertain La Liga’s new boys, Real Oviedo.
Deportivo welcome Lavante as Mallorca play host to the La Liga defending Champion, FC Barcelona, with Valencia taking on Real Sociedad.
Celta Vigo will welcome Gatafe, with Athletic Bilbao battling it out with Sevilla, as Espanyol host Atletico Madrid.
Real Madrid travel to take on another new boys, Elche, to round off the first week.
Week one fixtures in the English Barclays Premier League and the Spanish La Liga
English Barclays Premier League
Friday
Liverpool vs Bournamount
Saturday
Aston Villa vs Newcastle United
Tottenham vs Burnley
Sunderland vs West Ham
Brighton Albion vs Fulham
Wolves vs Manchester City
Sunday
Nottingham vs Brentford
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
Manchester United vs Arsenal
Monday
Leeds vs Everton
Spanish La Liga
Friday
Girona vs Rayo Vallacano
Villarreal vs Real Oviedo
Saturday
Deportivo Alaves vs Lavente
Mallorca vs FC Barcelona
Valencia vs Real Sociedad
Sunday
Celta Vigo vs Gatafe
Athletic Bilbao vs Sevilla
Espanyol vs Atletico Madrid
Monday
Elche vs Real Madrid
