PalpiGol News · EUROPE · WEEKEND PREVIEW
Weekend preview: Atlético vs Barcelona for top spot, Inter host Como, Man United face Villa
Atlético Madrid host Barcelona on Sunday at 3pm ET at the Metropolitano with first place in LaLiga on the line. It headlines a big weekend for Europe's top clubs: Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United are all in Premier League action, Inter host fourth-placed Como in Serie A, and in Brazil the Copa do Brasil semifinals wrap up.
In 30 seconds: Barcelona (30 pts) visit Atlético (28) for top spot in LaLiga · Real Madrid can move within a point of the lead at Valencia on Saturday · Arsenal began the round three points clear of Man City; Man United sit 17th · Inter vs Como is a top-four clash in Italy, where Lazio lead · Porto lead Portugal's Liga by nine points over Sporting
Game of the weekend: Atlético vs Barcelona
By the numbers: 2 · points between leaders Barcelona and Atlético Madrid
By the numbers: 7 · straight LaLiga wins for Atlético
By the numbers: 3 · points Real Madrid trail the leaders before their trip to Valencia
Hansi Flick's Barcelona top the table with 30 points from 11 games: ten wins and one defeat, to Real Madrid. Diego Simeone's Atlético have 28 and have won their last seven league games, though they arrive off a 2-0 home loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
Both sides have absences. Barcelona are without Rodri, injured against Aston Villa, and Dani Olmo, while Jules Koundé and Andreas Christensen face late fitness tests. Atlético are missing Johnny Cardoso and Cristian Romero, but Morten Hjulmand is back from injury.
Match: Atlético Madrid vs Barcelona · Sunday, Nov 8, 3pm ET · Metropolitano, Madrid
| # | Team | Pts |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barcelona | 30 |
| 2 | Atlético Madrid | 28 |
| 3 | Real Madrid | 27 |
José Mourinho's Real Madrid play first, at Valencia on Saturday at 3pm ET, still without the suspended Vinícius Júnior. A win would put them a point off the top before Sunday's showdown.
Premier League: Arsenal set the pace
Arsenal started the round top with 24 points from nine games, three ahead of Manchester City, who visit Nottingham Forest on Saturday at 12:30pm ET. Chelsea (4th, 16 pts) go to Sunderland and Liverpool (6th, 15) visit Crystal Palace, both on Sunday at 9am ET. The pressure is on Manchester United: 17th with seven points, they host Aston Villa at Old Trafford on Sunday at 11:30am ET.
Italy, Germany, France and Portugal
In Serie A, Lazio lead with 28 points and visit Napoli on Sunday. Inter, second on 25, host Como, fourth on 23, at noon ET, while Milan (5th, 21) travel to Genoa. In Germany, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund played early on Saturday, at Mainz and at home to Elversberg; Monday's roundup has the results. Paris Saint-Germain host Troyes at the Parc des Princes. In Portugal, Porto lead by nine points over Sporting, who host Moreirense on Saturday; on Sunday Porto visit Vitória de Guimarães and Benfica travel to Estrela da Amadora.
Brazil corner
The Copa do Brasil, Brazil's national knockout cup, settles its finalists this weekend. Atlético-MG need a three-goal win over Grêmio on Saturday at 4pm ET after losing the first leg 2-0, and Palmeiras take a 1-0 lead to Vasco on Sunday at 3pm ET. The final is a single game on Dec 6 in Brasília.
Highlight: Sunday at 3pm ET brings Atlético vs Barcelona and Vasco vs Palmeiras at the same time: top spot in Spain and a place in the Copa do Brasil final.
The weekend's big games
Fixture: Sat (Nov 7), 12:30pm · Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City · Premier League
Fixture: Sat (Nov 7), 3pm · Valencia vs Real Madrid · LaLiga · matchday 12
Fixture: Sat (Nov 7), 3:05pm · PSG vs Troyes · Ligue 1 · matchday 10
Fixture: Sat (Nov 7), 3:30pm · Sporting CP vs Moreirense · Liga Portugal · matchday 11
Fixture: Sat (Nov 7), 4pm · Atlético-MG vs Grêmio · Copa do Brasil · semifinal (1st leg: Grêmio 2 x 0)
Fixture: Sun (Nov 8), 9am · Crystal Palace vs Liverpool · Premier League
Fixture: Sun (Nov 8), 9am · Sunderland vs Chelsea · Premier League
Fixture: Sun (Nov 8), 9am · Genoa vs Milan · Serie A
Fixture: Sun (Nov 8), 11:30am · Manchester United vs Aston Villa · Premier League
Fixture: Sun (Nov 8), noon · Inter vs Como · Serie A
Fixture: Sun (Nov 8), 1pm · Vitória de Guimarães vs Porto · Liga Portugal · matchday 11
Fixture: Sun (Nov 8), 3pm · Atlético Madrid vs Barcelona · LaLiga · matchday 12
Fixture: Sun (Nov 8), 3pm · Vasco vs Palmeiras · Copa do Brasil · semifinal (1st leg: Palmeiras 1 x 0)
Fixture: Sun (Nov 8), 3:30pm · Estrela da Amadora vs Benfica · Liga Portugal · matchday 11
PalpiGol prediction: Atlético Madrid 1 x 1 Barcelona · Atlético are strong at home and have won seven league games in a row; Barcelona have the league's best attack but are without Rodri and Dani Olmo. A draw keeps Barça on top.
All times ET. Who leaves the Metropolitano in first place? Make your prediction.
Sources: LaLiga (laliga.com); Paris Saint-Germain (psg.fr); Liga Portugal (ligaportugal.pt); CBF (cbf.com.br); Sky Sports; Goal; Sports Mole; Fox Sports; Corriere dello Sport; A Bola.