With European commitments prompting shifts in domestic schedules, we’ll have to wait until late in the weekend to sample the standout matches.

On Sunday there’s huge derby games from Spain and France, while Monday sees two of the Premier League’s biggest names square off. In Italy there’s a match on each day between potential Champions League hopefuls.

All kick-offs are in Eastern time. Enjoy your weekend and enjoy the games!

 

Barcelona vs. Real Madrid

Sunday, October 28, 11:15 a.m. ET, beIN SPORTS, beIN SPORTS en Espanol, Sling Latino, Sling World Sports and fubo (free trial)

So often the Clasico in Spain is the fixture the football world anticipates more than any other. Yet there’s a different mood around this one, with each team in a curious position.

Real Madrid head to the Camp Nou with manager Julen Lopetegui reportedly on the brink of being axed. Although they won unconvincingly against Viktoria Plzen on Tuesday, their last La Liga outing saw them beaten by Levante at home and left them languishing down in sixth position in the table.

For Barcelona it’s a chance to pile the misery on, although if they are going to earn a big win over their rivals here they will need to do so without Lionel Messi. That’s after he fractured his arm in the 4-2 win over Sevilla on Sunday that took the Blaugrana back to the top of the La Liga table.

With Messi absent and Cristiano Ronaldo no longer at Madrid, this contest does feel a little more lowkey than previous editions. However, in regards to the La Liga title and the potential future of Lopetegui, it has the potential to be yet another defining encounter in the long list of special matches between these teams.

 

Napoli vs. Roma

Sunday, October 28, 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+

With Juventus streaking clear at the top of the Serie A table, only second place appears to be up for grabs this season. Napoli and Roma will feel capable of snatching it.

At the moment Napoli appear best placed to do so. They were excellent in midweek against Paris Saint-Germain and were eventually unlucky not to win, with Angel Di Maria’s last-gasp equaliser enough to give the Parisians a 2-2 draw. However, Carlo Ancelotti’s side have hit their straps following a challenging start to the campaign.

Roma also excelled in midweek, beating the CSKA Moscow 3-0 on the back of an Edin Dzeko masterclass. On the domestic front their form has not been as promising, as they were shocked at the Stadio Olimpico 2-0 by SPAL in their previous outing. Bouncing back here will be a big ask.

If Roma do want to cling on to Napoli then it feels key for them to take something from this encounter at the San Paolo. Victory for the Partenopei would see them surge 10 points clear of their opponents, which is a gap that feels insurmountable for Roma, even at this early stage of the season.

 

Marseille vs. PSG

Sunday, October 28, 4 p.m. ET, beIN SPORTS, beIN SPORTS en Espanol, Sling Latino, Sling World Sports and fuboTV (free trial)

While the title race may well already be over in Ligue 1, meetings between Marseille and PSG are always worth a watch, especially when these two meet at what is an always atmospheric and hostile Stade Velodrome.

PSG may have struggled to show their best in the Champions League, but so far this season in Ligue 1 they’ve proven to be a cut above the rest. Going into this game they are perfect through 10 matches in the French top flight, with Neymar and Kylian Mbappe tearing defenses apart with a devastating ease.

Marseille are among a clutch of clubs who will feel as though second spot is within reach. At the moment they sit in fourth, with Lille and Montpellier the surprise occupants of second and third, respectively. Nevertheless, a win here for the south-coast club would potentially kickstart a season for a team that’s shown flashes of major potential.

Last season’s encounter between these two at the Velodrome was one of the standout matches in France, as Neymar was sent off in a 2-2 draw between the two sides. PSG remain favorites, but a white-hot backdrop from Marseille supporters can potentially level the playing field.

 

Lazio vs. Inter Milan

Monday, October 29, 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+

Like Roma and Napoli, second place may be the height of any ambition held by Inter Milan and Lazio this season, but that shouldn’t make this showdown at the Stadio Olimpico any less enjoyable.

Inter, in particular, are beginning to look like an excellent side. Although they were well beaten by Barcelona in the Champions League on Wednesday they will still be feeling in good spirits after a dramatic derby win over AC Milan. Mauro Icardi—who else?—proved to be the difference-maker with a stoppage-time winner.

Lazio are also looking more and more like the team that terrified so many opponents last season, racking up six wins in their last seven in the top flight. While we’ve yet to see the best of star names like Ciro Immobile or Segej Milinkovic-Savic yet, there’s been extra cohesion in the way manager Simone Inzaghi has set them up.

The manager will hope the team can add some flourish to those performances on Monday night, as Inter have shown themselves to be a tough outfit to break down. It’ll also be fascinating to see if Stefan De Vrij is involved for Inter, having left Lazio to join the Milan outfit in the summer.

 

Tottenham vs. Manchester City

Monday, October 29, 4 p.m. ET, NBCSN, Universo, fuboTV, Sling Blue and PlayStation Vue (free trial)

Although there’ll be excitement about this fixture between two of the best teams in the Premier League, there’s a fear the spectacle may be ruined by and NFL fixture being played at Wembley the day before. The pitch, as such, might not be in the best fettle.

For Manchester City, who play so much of their football on the floor, that may be something of a concern, as the passing patterns they’ve showcased in devastating wins over both Burnley and Shakhtar Donetsk might be more difficult to execute. With that in mind, Spurs might not be too concerned if the pitch is a little scuffed up.

Tottenham have quietly had their best start ever to a Premier League season too. While they may not be playing at their absolute peak now, traditionally Mauricio Pochettino’s sides have come on strong late in the season, so if they can stay in touch at the top they may make up ground in 2019.

Even so, there have been ominous signs from City lately, with the team playing some of the best football of Guardiola’s tenure in recent matches. Regardless of what’s underfoot, if they turn up and perform to their best, they’ll be too strong for Spurs.