5 games to watch: 11-12 November 2023
We're set for plenty more club football drama this weekend before things are on pause for the November international break...
Here's Mike De Mesmaeker with his 5 most interesting matches that he feels you should keep an eye on while playing Superbru Football this weekend.
Let me start off by apologising to anyone that ever uses the predictions I make here. I was awful last weekend and wouldn’t blame you if you ignored that section from now on. First up this week I'm looking out for this game at 5pm SA time on Saturday as we'll be seeing 4th vs 5th in the Championship.
It’s still very early in the season but as is always the case in the Championship, a team sitting in the play-off positions can’t really afford a run of bad games or they’ll fall behind pretty quickly and find themselves playing catch up for the rest of the season. These two clubs will both feel promotion is possible this season but a slip up here could send one side as low as 9th depending on other results.
Southampton are unbeaten in 7 having recovered from that 4-match losing streak, so will be feeling confident but the Baggies have only lost 1 of their last 10 so they also aren't used to losing at the moment. Adam Armstrong is the main goal threat that WBA need to worry about and I personally don’t see Southampton having an issue here - St Mary’s is not an easy ground to come to and take the win. My Prediction: 3-1. Saturday: 15:00 KO (UK)
This could also be a very interesting fixture among the many 3pm kick-offs in the UK, as United’s poor form meets Luton's optimism and never say die attitude. The Hatters will be buzzing after almost picking up an incredible win at home against Liverpool, with the draw they managed still an excellent result, and that combined with the struggles Man Utd are facing means an away win is actually possible here.
A disappointing Champions League outing against Copenhagen midweek has Manchester United on the verge of being knocked out of that competition, and the hangover from that is what Luton will be trying to expose. This match clearly isn't without jeopardy for Luton too though, as another loss could well see them drop back into the relegation zone seeing as they’re only outside of the bottom three on goal difference.
An interesting game ahead as I say because I don't think an away win is out of the question, but I may be getting ahead of myself a little and with my Superbru pick I'm playing safe because United should of course secure the victory. My Prediction: 2-0. Saturday: 15:00 KO (UK)
On to Sunday now and we need to ask ourselves here, are we excited about this one because we think Chelsea have a chance at an upset here? Or because we're hoping for the kind of chaos that saw Chelsea kill Tottenham's unbeaten streak in such chaotic fashion!
Sunday evening will see a very upbeat Chelsea team attempt to derail a Man City side flying in all competitions. Already qualified for the knockout stages of the Champions League with 2 games to go, City are on fire and Erling Haaland is still very much the man.
June 2020 was the last time Chelsea beat City in the league, so the head-to-head form form very much favours City and after hitting struggling Bournemouth for 6 last weekend, confidence will be as high as ever.
Guardiola's team will be eager to set a gap between themselves and the rest of the field before the break, and this shouldn’t be a problematic game for City in my opinion because as I see it, though Chelsea beat Spurs last weekend, they honestly weren’t convincing enough to say they had a shot at the big guns now. Their team is still a work in progress in my eyes. My prediction: 1-3 Sunday: 16:30 KO (UK)
Serie A on a Sunday night. For me it’s always been a great way to wind down a usually turbulent football weekend. We head off to Stadio Olimpico for the first “Derby della Capitale” of the season.
Sadly, this is currently a mid table clash between former European powerhouses, as Jose Mourinho’s men find themselves 7th in the league with a lot to prove, while Lazio are slightly lower down in 10th .
The last time these sides met, it was a very heated affair - Lazio took it 1-0 but there were 3 red cards so expect fireworks again as both sides attempt to wrestle their way higher up the league table. Could Lukaku be what Roma need to get the win? I don’t see this one being very one sided by so Im settling for a draw this time around but expect entertainment! Sunday: 17:00 KO (UK)
Last but not least, Sunday evening also takes us to the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán stadium as 15th-placed Sevilla take on Betis who are 6th. They call it the El Gran Derbi (The Great Derby) in Spain and though Betis are having a better season thus far, they haven’t recorded an away win against their Seville rivals since 2018!
A match steeped in history dating back decades, Sevilla will know they’ve had the better of their opponents in the past and will need to draw off that if they want to get themselves away from the relegation zone. They hang precariously close to it, just 4 points above to be exact which is hard to believe when you consider that they are the reigning Europa League champions.
Former Real Madrid star Isco is bringing a ton of experience and quality to Betis this season, and having played for Sevilla previously as well, could narrative determine that he ends up being the deciding factor in this match? Sevilla are struggling and will have to use everything they have to try and stop this Real Betis side who are desperate for a win to end the 5-year long drought away in this fixture. My prediction: 0-1. Sunday: 17:30 KO (UK)
Which games are you most looking forward to this week?
Here's Mike De Mesmaeker with his 5 most interesting matches that he feels you should keep an eye on while playing Superbru Football this weekend.
Let me start off by apologising to anyone that ever uses the predictions I make here. I was awful last weekend and wouldn’t blame you if you ignored that section from now on. First up this week I'm looking out for this game at 5pm SA time on Saturday as we'll be seeing 4th vs 5th in the Championship.
It’s still very early in the season but as is always the case in the Championship, a team sitting in the play-off positions can’t really afford a run of bad games or they’ll fall behind pretty quickly and find themselves playing catch up for the rest of the season. These two clubs will both feel promotion is possible this season but a slip up here could send one side as low as 9th depending on other results.
Southampton are unbeaten in 7 having recovered from that 4-match losing streak, so will be feeling confident but the Baggies have only lost 1 of their last 10 so they also aren't used to losing at the moment. Adam Armstrong is the main goal threat that WBA need to worry about and I personally don’t see Southampton having an issue here - St Mary’s is not an easy ground to come to and take the win. My Prediction: 3-1. Saturday: 15:00 KO (UK)
This could also be a very interesting fixture among the many 3pm kick-offs in the UK, as United’s poor form meets Luton's optimism and never say die attitude. The Hatters will be buzzing after almost picking up an incredible win at home against Liverpool, with the draw they managed still an excellent result, and that combined with the struggles Man Utd are facing means an away win is actually possible here.
A disappointing Champions League outing against Copenhagen midweek has Manchester United on the verge of being knocked out of that competition, and the hangover from that is what Luton will be trying to expose. This match clearly isn't without jeopardy for Luton too though, as another loss could well see them drop back into the relegation zone seeing as they’re only outside of the bottom three on goal difference.
An interesting game ahead as I say because I don't think an away win is out of the question, but I may be getting ahead of myself a little and with my Superbru pick I'm playing safe because United should of course secure the victory. My Prediction: 2-0. Saturday: 15:00 KO (UK)
On to Sunday now and we need to ask ourselves here, are we excited about this one because we think Chelsea have a chance at an upset here? Or because we're hoping for the kind of chaos that saw Chelsea kill Tottenham's unbeaten streak in such chaotic fashion!
Sunday evening will see a very upbeat Chelsea team attempt to derail a Man City side flying in all competitions. Already qualified for the knockout stages of the Champions League with 2 games to go, City are on fire and Erling Haaland is still very much the man.
June 2020 was the last time Chelsea beat City in the league, so the head-to-head form form very much favours City and after hitting struggling Bournemouth for 6 last weekend, confidence will be as high as ever.
Guardiola's team will be eager to set a gap between themselves and the rest of the field before the break, and this shouldn’t be a problematic game for City in my opinion because as I see it, though Chelsea beat Spurs last weekend, they honestly weren’t convincing enough to say they had a shot at the big guns now. Their team is still a work in progress in my eyes. My prediction: 1-3 Sunday: 16:30 KO (UK)
Serie A on a Sunday night. For me it’s always been a great way to wind down a usually turbulent football weekend. We head off to Stadio Olimpico for the first “Derby della Capitale” of the season.
Sadly, this is currently a mid table clash between former European powerhouses, as Jose Mourinho’s men find themselves 7th in the league with a lot to prove, while Lazio are slightly lower down in 10th .
The last time these sides met, it was a very heated affair - Lazio took it 1-0 but there were 3 red cards so expect fireworks again as both sides attempt to wrestle their way higher up the league table. Could Lukaku be what Roma need to get the win? I don’t see this one being very one sided by so Im settling for a draw this time around but expect entertainment! Sunday: 17:00 KO (UK)
Last but not least, Sunday evening also takes us to the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán stadium as 15th-placed Sevilla take on Betis who are 6th. They call it the El Gran Derbi (The Great Derby) in Spain and though Betis are having a better season thus far, they haven’t recorded an away win against their Seville rivals since 2018!
A match steeped in history dating back decades, Sevilla will know they’ve had the better of their opponents in the past and will need to draw off that if they want to get themselves away from the relegation zone. They hang precariously close to it, just 4 points above to be exact which is hard to believe when you consider that they are the reigning Europa League champions.
Former Real Madrid star Isco is bringing a ton of experience and quality to Betis this season, and having played for Sevilla previously as well, could narrative determine that he ends up being the deciding factor in this match? Sevilla are struggling and will have to use everything they have to try and stop this Real Betis side who are desperate for a win to end the 5-year long drought away in this fixture. My prediction: 0-1. Sunday: 17:30 KO (UK)
Which games are you most looking forward to this week?
This article is part of a fresh regular feature on the brand new Superbru Football app, which is the best place to make your football predictions across all of the tournaments we cover. If you're yet to try out the new app, you can do so now by downloading it here.
Kyle fryer
2,475 caps
Make your chelsea v man city and lazio vs roma combined X1
10 Nov 12:55
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Fleeto2024
1,782 cap
West Brom have been in form so doubt they'll get turned over 3-1
10 Nov 13:28
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mikedemes
21,856 caps
Birmingham did it to them in the beginning of October and they\'re 15th. Southampton are unbeaten in 7. Should be a great game at least. 11 Nov 06:46
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