Weekend soccer preview: Derby matchups intriguing
What to watch in the leading soccer leagues in Europe this weekend:
ENGLAND
It’s derby day in the Premier League on Sunday. The pick of the meeting of neighbours is Unai Emery’s first chance to take on Tottenham since succeeding Arsene Wenger at Arsenal. A change in manager has transformed the mood at Arsenal, but the team is worse off in the standings. Tottenham is in third place, three points ahead of Arsenal. After 13 games last season, Arsenal was a place higher in fourth, with Tottenham a point behind.
Liverpool is transformed this season, though, heading into the Merseyside derby against Everton. Juergen Klopp’s side remains unbeaten and is only two points behind leader Manchester City, having been 14 points adrift at this stage last season.
Chelsea’s unbeaten start was ended by Tottenham last Saturday.
Now, Fulham makes the short trip to Stamford Bridge with former Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri seeking a second successive win since being hired by the last-place team.
SPAIN
Sevilla faces a tough challenge to its league lead when it visits Alaves on Sunday. Alaves is the revelation of the season. The small Basque Country club hasn’t lost any of its six home matches and has risen to fourth place. Victories at its Mendizorroza Stadium include a 1-0 triumph over Real Madrid last month.
GERMANY
Borussia Dortmund is looking to captain Marco Reus and striker Paco Alcacer to maintain its unbeaten start to the Bundesliga. The leaders host Freiburg on Saturday. Reus is enjoying his best season for Dortmund, contributing eight goals and seven assists after appearing in all 12 league games.
ITALY
Roma is in turmoil ahead of the visit by third-place Inter Milan on Sunday. A loss to relegationthreatened Udinese and a 2-0 collapse to Real Madrid in the Champions League — even though Roma advanced to the knockout rounds — have left coach Eusebio Di Francesco under pressure. Languishing in seventh place, Roma is without four injured starters.