5 games to watch: 3-6 November 2023
We're set for some massive football fixtures this weekend, so as usual, here's Mike De Mesmaeker to run you through the standouts. Now that the Rugby World Cup Final has passed and he's just about calmed down after celebrating his beloved Bokke's triumph, focus is firmly on football!
Here are 5 of the most interesting matches to keep an eye on while playing Superbru Football this weekend.
We kick it off Friday night with a fixture that really could go either way. A win for Leicester will put them 8 points clear of 2nd-placed Ipswich, while a win for 3rd-placed Leeds could put them within 6 points of Ipswich too.
Leicester have been nothing short of spectacular so far this season. 13 wins from 14 games and just 1 defeat leaves them top of the pile and looking for nothing but 3 points against a Leeds side that have started their campaign very hot and cold.
Daniel Farke's team are very capable of results on their day, but with Leicester on a 9-match winning streak in the Championship, the Foxes will rightly expect a victory to keep their eyes firmly on automatic promotion come the end of the season. Its going to be a tight game but I think Leicester have just got such amazing momentum right now that they’re going to edge it. My prediction is 3-2. Friday: 20:00 KO (UK)
Der Klassiker. That’s what its known by locally, one of the football fixtures marked on any fan's calendar, alongside the likes of El Clasico and the Milan derby. Provided you still use a calendar of course.
Harry Kane is set for his first taste of “Der Klassiker” as he and Bayern travel to Dortmund on Saturday night. In terms of league form, what better way to head into a fixture like this than with a recent 8-0 victory behind you? There was then the small matter of one of the biggest upsets in German Cup history in midweek though, as Bayern went and lost to Saarbrucken who are in the third tier on Wednesday evening.
I'm not sure that will have too much of an impact on this game though and with both sides still unbeaten in the Bundesliga so far this season, and with just 2 points separating them on the log, we should be in for a treat. Marco Reus and company have a point to prove as they're still reeling from their final day of last season heartbreak, but Bayern Munich are unbeaten in the last 10 matches between these sides and I honestly don’t see it going any other way than another Bayern win. My prediction is 1-3. Saturday: 17:30 KO (UK)
As Der Klassiker kicks off in Germany, we have this Premier League game taking place simultaneously so you may need to two-screen proceedings on Saturday or watch one back on catch up! Contrasting results in the League Cup in midweek see these sides head into what should be another very entertaining Saturday night fixture.
Newcastle swept a lacklustre Man Utd aside at Old Trafford by 3 goals to 0 on Wednesday, while Arsenal never got going at West Ham and were eliminated 3-1. The Premier League is of course a larger focus, though, and Newcastle are unbeaten in their last 3 home games, keeping clean sheets in all 3.
They will come up against an Arsenal side desperate to keep their title hopes alive with a victory at St James' Park so this will be a test for the Magpies who are looking to get themselves back inside that top four like last season. Arsenal just look to me like a team on a mission and I'm not sure a midweek bump is going to be enough to deter them so I think they’ll be taking this vital game. Prediction: 1-2. Saturday: 17:30 KO (UK)
Once we're through those two crackers, the stage is set for what could be pure fireworks in LaLiga as a “full of belief” Real Sociedad go head-to-head with Spanish heavyweights Barcelona.
In last weekend's El Clasico, Barcelona were handed their first loss of the season thanks to a Jude Bellingham brace. The last time they met Sociedad back in May, it was Imanol Alguacil's team that took all 3 points at Camp Nou. Sitting in 5th place and just 5 points behind Barcelona, “La Real” will want to close that gap by full time on Saturday night so it should be entertaining.
Barca will be bolstered by the possible return of Polish superstar Robert Lewandowski who came off the bench during last weekend's game and will therefore probably start here. Real Sociedad are yet to lose at home this season, but Barcelona have won their last 3 games at Reale Arena so those stats really set the scene for something special.
Barcelona will be hurt by their El Clasico loss and a win at a top 5 opponent will be exactly what they are looking for so I'm backing them for a convincing win to put them back on track (0-2). Saturday: 20:00 KO (UK)
Spurs vs. Chelsea. 1st vs 11th. Pardon? Yip, that’s the current situation in the Premier League. We sit back and enjoy another London derby on Monday night to close the weekend off.
Tottenham Hotspur are enjoying life at the peak of the premier league while £1bn Chelsea, sit just below mid table. Mauricio Pochettino returns to his former club for the first time as Chelsea manager, so this really should be an interesting one.
Ange Postecoglou has only really experienced success so far with Spurs whereas Chelsea on the other hand have been finding life really difficult with wins coming randomly here and there but suffering plenty of defeats in between. The Blues have been unable to string any sort of form together so their 2-0 victory in the League Cup in midweek may not necessarily translate to Premier League improvement here.
Spurs are yet to taste defeat this season, they are in the right frame of mind and playing league leading football, so I really don’t see this one going any other way than a home win. My prediction is 3-1. Monday: 20:00 KO (UK)
Which games are you most looking forward to this week?
Here are 5 of the most interesting matches to keep an eye on while playing Superbru Football this weekend.
We kick it off Friday night with a fixture that really could go either way. A win for Leicester will put them 8 points clear of 2nd-placed Ipswich, while a win for 3rd-placed Leeds could put them within 6 points of Ipswich too.
Leicester have been nothing short of spectacular so far this season. 13 wins from 14 games and just 1 defeat leaves them top of the pile and looking for nothing but 3 points against a Leeds side that have started their campaign very hot and cold.
Daniel Farke's team are very capable of results on their day, but with Leicester on a 9-match winning streak in the Championship, the Foxes will rightly expect a victory to keep their eyes firmly on automatic promotion come the end of the season. Its going to be a tight game but I think Leicester have just got such amazing momentum right now that they’re going to edge it. My prediction is 3-2. Friday: 20:00 KO (UK)
Der Klassiker. That’s what its known by locally, one of the football fixtures marked on any fan's calendar, alongside the likes of El Clasico and the Milan derby. Provided you still use a calendar of course.
Harry Kane is set for his first taste of “Der Klassiker” as he and Bayern travel to Dortmund on Saturday night. In terms of league form, what better way to head into a fixture like this than with a recent 8-0 victory behind you? There was then the small matter of one of the biggest upsets in German Cup history in midweek though, as Bayern went and lost to Saarbrucken who are in the third tier on Wednesday evening.
I'm not sure that will have too much of an impact on this game though and with both sides still unbeaten in the Bundesliga so far this season, and with just 2 points separating them on the log, we should be in for a treat. Marco Reus and company have a point to prove as they're still reeling from their final day of last season heartbreak, but Bayern Munich are unbeaten in the last 10 matches between these sides and I honestly don’t see it going any other way than another Bayern win. My prediction is 1-3. Saturday: 17:30 KO (UK)
As Der Klassiker kicks off in Germany, we have this Premier League game taking place simultaneously so you may need to two-screen proceedings on Saturday or watch one back on catch up! Contrasting results in the League Cup in midweek see these sides head into what should be another very entertaining Saturday night fixture.
Newcastle swept a lacklustre Man Utd aside at Old Trafford by 3 goals to 0 on Wednesday, while Arsenal never got going at West Ham and were eliminated 3-1. The Premier League is of course a larger focus, though, and Newcastle are unbeaten in their last 3 home games, keeping clean sheets in all 3.
They will come up against an Arsenal side desperate to keep their title hopes alive with a victory at St James' Park so this will be a test for the Magpies who are looking to get themselves back inside that top four like last season. Arsenal just look to me like a team on a mission and I'm not sure a midweek bump is going to be enough to deter them so I think they’ll be taking this vital game. Prediction: 1-2. Saturday: 17:30 KO (UK)
Once we're through those two crackers, the stage is set for what could be pure fireworks in LaLiga as a “full of belief” Real Sociedad go head-to-head with Spanish heavyweights Barcelona.
In last weekend's El Clasico, Barcelona were handed their first loss of the season thanks to a Jude Bellingham brace. The last time they met Sociedad back in May, it was Imanol Alguacil's team that took all 3 points at Camp Nou. Sitting in 5th place and just 5 points behind Barcelona, “La Real” will want to close that gap by full time on Saturday night so it should be entertaining.
Barca will be bolstered by the possible return of Polish superstar Robert Lewandowski who came off the bench during last weekend's game and will therefore probably start here. Real Sociedad are yet to lose at home this season, but Barcelona have won their last 3 games at Reale Arena so those stats really set the scene for something special.
Barcelona will be hurt by their El Clasico loss and a win at a top 5 opponent will be exactly what they are looking for so I'm backing them for a convincing win to put them back on track (0-2). Saturday: 20:00 KO (UK)
Spurs vs. Chelsea. 1st vs 11th. Pardon? Yip, that’s the current situation in the Premier League. We sit back and enjoy another London derby on Monday night to close the weekend off.
Tottenham Hotspur are enjoying life at the peak of the premier league while £1bn Chelsea, sit just below mid table. Mauricio Pochettino returns to his former club for the first time as Chelsea manager, so this really should be an interesting one.
Ange Postecoglou has only really experienced success so far with Spurs whereas Chelsea on the other hand have been finding life really difficult with wins coming randomly here and there but suffering plenty of defeats in between. The Blues have been unable to string any sort of form together so their 2-0 victory in the League Cup in midweek may not necessarily translate to Premier League improvement here.
Spurs are yet to taste defeat this season, they are in the right frame of mind and playing league leading football, so I really don’t see this one going any other way than a home win. My prediction is 3-1. Monday: 20:00 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
Do the same but midweek
8 Nov 10:00
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