Tottenham host West Ham in an intriguing London derby
Premier League football returns from the international break with an intriguing London derby on Saturday lunchtime, as Tottenham Hotspur host West Ham United in the lunchtime kickoff.
Tottenham suffered a calamitous capitulation in a 3-2 loss to Brighton before the international break, while West Ham restored a sense of pride by thumping Ipswich Town 4-1.
Always one to cut a calm demeanour both before and after matches, Tottenhamcoach Ange Postecoglou did not follow in the footsteps of his predecessor Antonio Conte in his post-game press conference, but it did not take a body language expert to determine that the Australian was apoplectic.
Postecoglou admitted that the South Coast calamity was his worst defeat since becoming manager of Tottenham.
Furthermore, each of Spurs’ last seven Premier League home games has seen them win one then lose the next, and with the Lilywhites sinking Brentford 3-1 in their last top-flight match at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, those of a superstitious nature may fear the worst on Saturday.
As heavily criticised as West Ham have been this season, the Irons head to North London unbeaten in their last three Premier League away matches.
The first Premier League game back after the international break promises entertainment, as both Spurs and West Ham are forces to be reckoned with in the final third while also possessing defensive weaknesses for the other to exploit.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Man United look to end winless run against Brentford
Manchester United will be looking to end a five-match winless run in all competitions when they welcome Brentford to Old Trafford for a Premier League contest on Saturday afternoon.
The two teams meet for the first time since March when they played out a 1-1 draw at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Not for the first time, Erik ten Hag has survived the axe and lives to fight another day as Man United manager, despite overseeing the club’s worst-ever start to a Premier League season, with only eight points accumulated and two wins posted in their opening seven matches.
The Red Devils have opted to remain silent on Ten Hag’s future following a seven-hour executive meeting that was held in London just over a week ago by members of the club’s leadership group, including Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Joel Glazer.
Man United have had little to celebrate at Old Trafford so far this term, but there is reason to be optimistic ahead of Saturday’s fixture, as they have won each of their last five home league games against Brentford by an aggregate score of 13-2.
Man United are facing an injury crisis as they could be without as many as 10 first-team players.
While Brentford can travel to Old Trafford without any pressure on their shoulders, that cannot be said for Ten Hag who can ill-afford to see his Man United side produce another below-par performance on home soil.
.Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Real Madridto secure back-to-back wins againstCelta Vigo
Real Madrid will be bidding to make it back-to-back wins in Spain’s top flight when they continue their domestic campaign with a clash against Celta Vigo at the Estadio Municipal de Balaidos on Saturday night.
Los Blancos are currently second in the La Liga table, boasting 21 points from their opening nine matches of the campaign, while Celta occupy ninth, with a successful start seeing them collect 13 points from nine games.
Celta have been a good watch in La Liga this season, boasting a record of four wins, one draw and four defeats from nine matches to collect 13 points, which has left them in ninth spot in the division ahead of their return to action.
Claudio Giraldez‘s side actually have the third-best home record in La Liga this season, picking up 10 points from their five matches, and they will be welcoming a Real Madrid outfit with only one win to show from their four league fixtures on their travels.
Celta have lost each of their last eight league games against Real Madrid, though, with their last top-flight victory over Los Blancos coming more than 10 years ago.
Real Madrid have found it difficult to get going on their travels this season, and Celta are a big threat in the final third of the field. Aspas’s absence is a blow for the Sky Blues, though, and we are backing Ancelotti’s side to pick up a much-needed three points here.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Real Madrid Players
Juventus faceoff with Lazio in Turin
Heavyweights Juventus and Lazio will fight it out for three points on Saturday night, when the teams meet in Turin.
Though Juve had to settle for a disappointing draw before international football intervened, they sit within touching distance of top spot following an unbeaten start to life under Thiago Motta.
Unable to reproduce a thrilling finale to their Champions League win against RB Leipzig just a few days earlier, Juventus could only claim one point from their most recent outing, at home to Serie A strugglers Cagliari.
They will head into their latest home assignment confident of victory, though, as the weight of history is firmly on their side against Lazio – Juve have lost just one of the clubs’ last 20 Serie A meetings in Turin, winning 15.
Indeed, the Biancocelesti’s only away win during that time dates back to October 2017, albeit recent results suggest a slight narrowing of the gap to their more successful rivals.
With a number of players unavailable, Juventus may have to put up with another single-point haul, as Lazio seem to be heading in the right direction and have scored freely this season.
A share of the spoils would keep both teams in touch with the Serie A pace-setters, and neither would be too dissatisfied to walk away with a draw.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Saturday
Tottenham Hotspur 12:30 West Ham
Manchester United 15:00 Brentford
Newcastle United 15:00 Brighton
Southampton 15:00 Leicester City
AFC Bournemouth 17:30 Arsenal
Sunday
Friday
Deportivo Alavés 20:00 Real Valladolid
Saturday
Celta de Vigo 20:00 Real Madrid
Sunday
Saturday
Sunday
