La Liga, Premier League, and Ligue 1 return to action, while the Bundesliga officially begins its season a week later than the other top leagues. However, the German teams haven't been idle, playing a round of the DFB Pokal, the national cup.
The Premier League features a clash between Brighton and Manchester United. The home team started the season strong with a 3-0 away win against Everton, thanks to Japanese talent Mitoma. United struggled against Fulham at Old Trafford, with former Bologna player Joshua Zirkzee finding the net.
Reigning champions Manchester City will face newly promoted Ipswich Town at home after a strong win at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea. The Blues head to Wolverhampton seeking redemption after their defeat in the opening big match.
Premier League, Liverpool soars: Arsenal and City struggle, Tottenham sinks
11 Nov - 17:58 •
1' min
Tensions will run high in the Aston Villa vs. Arsenal match. Aston Villa performed well in their London away game against West Ham, while the Gunners, led by Riccardo Calafiori, had an easy time against Wolves. Liverpool aims to capitalize on a favorable schedule and secure another win against Brentford at home after a straightforward 2-0 victory against Ipswich.
In La Liga, two big matches stand out immediately. Atletico Madrid vs. Girona is undoubtedly the highlight of the second round. The two clubs face off again after last season's battles for third and fourth place. Both teams are coming off draws, against Villarreal and Betis Sevilla, respectively.
It's the first real test for Barcelona, who face the always formidable Atletico Bilbao at the Olympic Stadium. The Blaugrana, led by Hansi Flick, suffered a heavy 2-1 loss in Valencia, with goals from Robert Lewandowski, while the Basques had a disappointing 1-1 home draw against Getafe.
Real Madrid must quickly bounce back from their draw in Mallorca and will play against Valladolid, who won their opening match against Espanyol by a narrow margin. It's crucial for Ancelotti's side to avoid further missteps in the title race.
Ligue 1 kicked off last night with PSG-Montpellier, where the Parisians crushed Montpellier with a 6-0 win. Lyon vs. Monaco is undoubtedly one of the great classics in France. Often rivals with the same goal of winning the championship, they are experiencing different moments. The home team suffered a heavy 3-0 defeat to Rennes and hasn't had a dream 2023-2024 season. Monaco, always in contention for the top spots in recent years, comes off a 1-0 win against newly promoted St. Etienne.
Roberto De Zerbi's Marseille will take on Reims at the Velodrome. The Italian coach's side made a strong impression in their first outing, routing Brest, last season's surprise team.
The Bundesliga officially kicks off with its first matchday, starting a week later than the other four top leagues. The defending champions, Bayer Leverkusen, will open the season away at Borussia Monchengladbach. It won't be an easy task for Xavi Alonso's side, who will face the challenge of holding off Bayern Munich's charge.
Bayern Munich will play at the Allianz Arena against Wolfsburg, a match that brings back fond memories of the early 2000s when the teams clashed fiercely for the title. Borussia Dortmund vs. Eintracht Frankfurt is another match to keep an eye on, as it could go either way.
Leipzig will aim to do well at home against Bochum in a match that still presents some challenges. There's great anticipation for St. Pauli's official return to the Bundesliga, with their home debut against Heidenheim, who secured a commanding survival last year.
