Even at this early stage of the season, there are glamour games and campaign-defining games. This weekend has both.

In the Premier League the best two outfits in the division meet in what promises to be a tremendous football occasion on Sunday. In Spain we have three selections this weekend, including one derby and two testing away trips for the division’s early pace-setters

And then to round the weekend off, a match in France that’s unlikely to mean much in terms of who wins prizes come the end of the 2018-19, but should be entertaining nevertheless.

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

 

Athletic Club vs. Real Sociedad

Friday, October 5, 3 p.m. ET, beIN SPORTS en Espanol, Sling Latino, Sling World Sports and fubo (free trial)

Both Athletic Club and Real Sociedad have struggled in the early weeks of the La Liga season, although a positive result in a Basque derby has the potential to ignite their campaign.

The match has all the ingredients to be a brilliant watch, as the San Mames will be packed and will be hostile for the visit of La Real. This season there hasn’t been too much for the home fans to shout about, though, as the only win Athletic have on their record is against bottom club Leganes.

Real Sociedad supporters would be enjoying the plight of their neighbors more if they weren’t in a similar position themselves. Manager Asier Garitano has failed to instill any real consistency into his side so far and last week’s home defeat against an out-of-form Valencia would’ve worried the coach.

Both of these teams have traditionally been competing for European spots in La Liga, but at the moment they’re each languishing in the lower reaches of the table. The winner of this may yet press on, while the losers, with a full weekend of games to come, will be glancing nervously over their shoulders.

 

Alaves vs. Real Madrid

Saturday, October 6, 12:30 p.m. ET, beIN SPORTS, beIN SPORTS en Espanol, Sling Latino, Sling World Sports and fubo (free trial)

After three games in a row without scoring, Real Madrid will seek to end an uncharacteristically profligate run against an impressive Alaves team on Saturday.

Following a bright start to life under manager Julen Lopetegui, Los Blancos have toiled in the final third in recent games. They were beaten 3-0 by Sevilla and 1-0 by CSKA Moscow, with a 0-0 draw against Atletico Madrid sandwiched in between; it’s the first time since 2006 they’ve gone three games without netting.

Alaves don’t represent ideal opponents with that in mind, as Abelardo has steered the club to a fine start to the campaign, as they sit in sixth spot. They’re tough to break down, impressive on the counter-attack and in Ibai Gomez they boast a footballer capable of conjuring game-changing moments.

For Madrid, with Barcelona taking on Valencia on Sunday, this is a big chance to put pressure on their rivals at the top of the table. Alaves will see this one as something of a free hit, but have shown enough in their first seven games to suggest they can add to Los Blancos’ woes.

 

Liverpool vs. Manchester City

Sunday, October 7, 11:30 a.m. ET, NBCSN, fuboTV, Sling Blue and PlayStation Vue (free trial)

The most eye-catching fixture of the weekend comes from the Premier League, as champions Manchester City take on the team who appear to be their most equipped contenders in Liverpool.

City actually head to Anfield as the league leaders, which may be a shock to some given they’ve not been discussed too much early this term. The standard they set last season, in which Pep Guardiola saw his team accumulate 100 points, has meant their brilliance has almost become expected.

Liverpool were out of the traps fast early on, but they’ve been tamed in their last three games, losing to Chelsea and Napoli either side of a draw against the Blues. At the moment, things aren’t quite clicking for Jurgen Klopp’s team, but what promises to be a hostile Anfield atmosphere should bring the best from this team.

The league and Champions League meetings between these two teams last term were enthralling, as both managers demand dynamic and attacking football. This one promises to be no different and given the message a win for either would send out, might just be the most important match of the season.

 

Valencia vs. Barcelona

Sunday, October 7, 2:45 p.m. ET, beIN SPORTS, beIN SPORTS en Espanol, Sling Latino, Sling World Sports and fubo (free trial)

After prosperous weeks in the Champions League, attention turns back to La Liga for Valencia and Barcelona on Sunday.

On Wednesday at Wembley it was all about Lionel Messi for the Blaugrana, as the great man inspired them to a 4-2 win over Tottenham Hotspur. The Barca No. 10 dazzled as only he can, creating chances, sashaying past opposition players and producing when chances did drop to him, netting twice.

That will have been ominous for Valencia, but Marcelino’s team have shown some signs in their last two matches that they’re over their disappointing start to the campaign. A 1-0 win over Sociedad last weekend was followed up by a determined point in Europe against Manchester United.

The match between these two sides at the Mestalla last season was an absorbing one, as Valencia caused Barca so many issues in a 1-1 draw. Still, if Messi replicates his midweek form, the Catalan giants have to be confident of taking three points back to the Camp Nou.

 

Paris Saint-Germain vs. Lyon

Sunday, October 7, 3 p.m. ET, beIN SPORTS Connect, Sling Latino and fuboTV (free trial)

Lyon travel to the Parc des Princes looking to be the first team to take points from Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1 this season.

At this point in the campaign the big question at the top of the table doesn’t centre around whether or not PSG are going to be crowned French champions, but how many points they can potentially amass. So far, they’ve won eight from eight and are eight points clear of Lille at the summit.

They’re a class above every team in the French top league, although Lyon are arguably the outfit best placed to take points from them. The visitors of Sunday do have some holes in their squad and have been hit and miss so far in 2018-19; still, Nabil Fekir, Memphis Depay and Bertrand Traore can hurt any team.

Even if Lyon were able to spring a shock, it’s unlikely it’d have too much of an impact on the overall Ligue 1 picture. Nevertheless, the Sunday showdown should be an entertaining game showcasing some of the world’s best players. What’s not to like about that?