Not sure which matches you can’t miss this weekend? The new Football Weekender newsletter chooses the best games for you: Who is in form, which matches are likely to produce the most goals, the most important derbies and rivalries, and which teams are desperate for points. Always sent on Friday afternoon, in advance of every game, so you can have a choice of which matches to pay more attention to.
November begins with a number of mouth-watering clashes across the top European leagues. At Old Trafford, Aston Villa will be hoping to end a hoodoo that has seen them win just twice there in the league in the last 31 meetings.
Man Utd are on a poor run of their own given that they’ve not won in seven Premier League matches. With this being the last one before the international break, could it be Michael Carrick’s swansong, or if he follows up United’s Champions League win in midweek with another victory, will he be given another stay of execution?
It isn’t just in the Premier League where excitement can be found either. A top-of-the-table clash in LaLiga sees Atletico Madrid hosting Barcelona knowing that a win would send them to the summit. The Catalans have won the last four league games at the Metropolitano, so an Atleti victory is by no means a foregone conclusion.
Bayern Munich head to Mainz on the back of a 30-match unbeaten run away. Their last defeat on the road? At Mainz in December 2024. Elsewhere, Lazio top the Serie A table, have won on their last four league trips to Napoli, and will hope to keep that run going on Sunday.
The weekend in five games
Saturday, November 7th, 15:30 CET: Mainz vs Bayern Munich
The last time that Bayern Munich lost an away game was way back in December 2024 – against Mainz. Since then, they’ve not lost in 30 games on the road, and they arrive as joint table-toppers. The hosts have conceded 17 goals in their last six games, with 10 of those coming in the first halves.
Sunday, November 8th, 12:30 CET: Napoli vs Lazio
Napoli have lost their last four home league games against current league leaders Lazio, who arrive in Naples having won their last six Serie A matches. If the Partenopei were to lose again, it would be a fifth loss in 11 league matches this season, something that hasn’t occurred since 2000/01.
Sunday, November 8th, 13:30 CET: Club Brugge vs Anderlecht
Anderlecht have six victories from their last 10 league games, but face the Jupiler League leaders, who have scored in 27 consecutive matches. The hosts have averaged 3.4 goals in their last five games, and have found the net in 17 straight matches.
Sunday, November 8th, 17:30 CET: Man Utd vs Aston Villa
Aston Villa arrive at Old Trafford on the back of two successive Premier League away wins, which is as many as they’ve managed in their previous 12 matches combined. Man Utd desperately need a league win after going seven EPL games without a victory.
Sunday, November 8th, 21:00 CET: Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona
Barcelona have won on their last four league trips to Atletico Madrid, but Los Rojiblancos are currently on a seven-game winning run in the Spanish top flight. Julian Alvarez, who wanted to join Barca in the summer, has scored four goals in his nine appearances against the Catalans.