Schalke will look to inflict a third consecutive Ruhr derby defeat on Borussia Dortmund when they host their local rivals on Saturday.
Jens Keller’s men welcome Dortmund to the Veltins Arena knowing victory could see them move into the top four as they look to recover from a difficult start to the campaign. And the hosts should take confidence from their performances last season, when they took maximum points from both their encounters with Jurgen Klopp’s charges.
However, Schalke were beaten 3-0 by Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League in midweek, and go into the game with a number of injury concerns. Attacking midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng (knee) is a doubt, while striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and midfielder Marco Hoger (both knee) are unavailable, along with winger Jefferson Farfan (groin).
Midfielder Anthony Annan and forward Chinedu Obasi, who are lacking match fitness, are also on the sidelines. Dortmund are in superb form going into the contest, having lost just two of their last 14 games in all competitions.
Klopp is eager to atone for last year’s defeats to Schalke, which he said hurt more than losing out to Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga and the UEFA Champions League.
Dortmund – who beat Arsenal 2-1 in the Champions League in midweek – will be boosted by the potential return of midfielder Sebastian Kehl, who is close to a return from a foot injury, but attacking midfielder Ilkay Gundogan (back) and defender Lukas Piszczek (hip) are still out.
On TV? Delayed coverage on BT Sport at 10pm
La Liga:Barcelona v Real Madrid
Saturday, 5pm
BARCELONA WILL LOOK to beat arch-rivals Real Madrid in La Liga for the first time in almost two years in this evening’s much-anticipated El Clasico.
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The Catalan giants last won a league fixture against Real Madrid in December 2011, as they came from behind to win 3-1 in the Spanish capital. And although Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup wins have since followed, Barca will be determined to end a run that has seen them take just one point from their last three league meetings with Real.
Gerardo Martino’s table-toppers are the only side to avoid defeat in La Liga this term, having recorded eight wins and one draw. They were held to a goalless stalemate at Levante last week but will hope a return to the Camp Nou – where they have won their last 19 Liga matches – helps them return to winning ways.
Real Madrid sit third in La Liga, three points adrift of Barca, with their only loss of the season coming against neighbours Atletico Madrid last month.
Both sides have new stars determined to make an impact in their first Clasico – Neymar in Barca’s case, and Gareth Bale in Real’s – while managers Martino and Carlo Ancelotti will also experience their first taste of Spain’s fiercest derby.
On TV? Sky Sports 2 at 5.10pm.
Serie A: Inter Milan v Verona
Saturday, 7.45pm
Inter Milan’s Rodrigo Palacio celebrates after scoring against Torino last week. Credit: Massimo Pinca/AP/Press Association Images
Inter will be keen to avoid becoming the latest victim of newly promoted Verona’s surprise Serie A start when the sides mee.
Walter Mazzarri’s side dropped points against Torino last weekend, the Turin club scoring a last-minute equaliser to earn a 3-3 draw, and are now winless in three matches having faltered after a promising start to the new campaign.
Under normal circumstances, even that dip in form would not prevent them from starting as overwhelming favourites against a Verona side who were promoted as runners-up from Serie B last season, but Andrea Mandorlini’s men continue to defy the pundits.
They moved into the top four by virtue of an enthralling 3-2 win over Parma last weekend, secured as Brazilian midfielder Jorginho – who has been linked with a move to Inter – netted his second of the game from the penalty spot two minutes from time. Mandorlini’s side have won five of their first eight Serie A games ahead of their first league meeting with Inter since 2002.
They will be searching for their fourth consecutive triumph, and the 53-year-old Mandorlini – now in his fourth season with the club – is hopeful that their current run of form can continue.
On TV? BT Sports 1.
Ligue 1: St Etienne v Paris Saint-Germain
Sunday, 8pm
Paris Saint-Germain will look to consolidate their Ligue 1 lead this weekend as French football braces itself for a strike over a controversial supertax.
French clubs are furious over government plans to tax top earners 75 percent.
There will be a first lockdown in the professional game since 1972, scheduled for the last weekend of November, after a unanimous vote against Socialist President Francois Hollande’s controversial supertax initiative.
According to Ligue 1 teams, the new law, if implemented next year, would leave them with a 44 million euro tax bill and keep foreign talent away.
On the pitch, Swedish star Zlatan Ibrahimovic hit a majestic four goals during PSG’s 5-0 humiliation of Belgian side Anderlecht in midweek.
The 32-year-old has now scored 10 goals in his last five matches as Laurent Blanc’s side continue their near perfect start to the season.
His form has hit new heights as the capital club stand on the brink of the Champions League knockout phase, and have a two-point lead to protect heading into Sunday’s away fixture at Saint-Etienne.
Euro Vision: 4 continental games not to be missed this weekend
Bundesliga: Schalke v Borussia Dortmund
Saturday, 2.30pm
Schalke will look to inflict a third consecutive Ruhr derby defeat on Borussia Dortmund when they host their local rivals on Saturday.
Jens Keller’s men welcome Dortmund to the Veltins Arena knowing victory could see them move into the top four as they look to recover from a difficult start to the campaign. And the hosts should take confidence from their performances last season, when they took maximum points from both their encounters with Jurgen Klopp’s charges.
However, Schalke were beaten 3-0 by Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League in midweek, and go into the game with a number of injury concerns. Attacking midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng (knee) is a doubt, while striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and midfielder Marco Hoger (both knee) are unavailable, along with winger Jefferson Farfan (groin).
Midfielder Anthony Annan and forward Chinedu Obasi, who are lacking match fitness, are also on the sidelines. Dortmund are in superb form going into the contest, having lost just two of their last 14 games in all competitions.
Klopp is eager to atone for last year’s defeats to Schalke, which he said hurt more than losing out to Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga and the UEFA Champions League.
Dortmund – who beat Arsenal 2-1 in the Champions League in midweek – will be boosted by the potential return of midfielder Sebastian Kehl, who is close to a return from a foot injury, but attacking midfielder Ilkay Gundogan (back) and defender Lukas Piszczek (hip) are still out.
On TV? Delayed coverage on BT Sport at 10pm
La Liga:Barcelona v Real Madrid
Saturday, 5pm
BARCELONA WILL LOOK to beat arch-rivals Real Madrid in La Liga for the first time in almost two years in this evening’s much-anticipated El Clasico.
The Catalan giants last won a league fixture against Real Madrid in December 2011, as they came from behind to win 3-1 in the Spanish capital. And although Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup wins have since followed, Barca will be determined to end a run that has seen them take just one point from their last three league meetings with Real.
Gerardo Martino’s table-toppers are the only side to avoid defeat in La Liga this term, having recorded eight wins and one draw. They were held to a goalless stalemate at Levante last week but will hope a return to the Camp Nou – where they have won their last 19 Liga matches – helps them return to winning ways.
Real Madrid sit third in La Liga, three points adrift of Barca, with their only loss of the season coming against neighbours Atletico Madrid last month.
Both sides have new stars determined to make an impact in their first Clasico – Neymar in Barca’s case, and Gareth Bale in Real’s – while managers Martino and Carlo Ancelotti will also experience their first taste of Spain’s fiercest derby.
On TV? Sky Sports 2 at 5.10pm.
Serie A: Inter Milan v Verona
Saturday, 7.45pm
Inter will be keen to avoid becoming the latest victim of newly promoted Verona’s surprise Serie A start when the sides mee.
Walter Mazzarri’s side dropped points against Torino last weekend, the Turin club scoring a last-minute equaliser to earn a 3-3 draw, and are now winless in three matches having faltered after a promising start to the new campaign.
Under normal circumstances, even that dip in form would not prevent them from starting as overwhelming favourites against a Verona side who were promoted as runners-up from Serie B last season, but Andrea Mandorlini’s men continue to defy the pundits.
They moved into the top four by virtue of an enthralling 3-2 win over Parma last weekend, secured as Brazilian midfielder Jorginho – who has been linked with a move to Inter – netted his second of the game from the penalty spot two minutes from time. Mandorlini’s side have won five of their first eight Serie A games ahead of their first league meeting with Inter since 2002.
They will be searching for their fourth consecutive triumph, and the 53-year-old Mandorlini – now in his fourth season with the club – is hopeful that their current run of form can continue.
On TV? BT Sports 1.
Ligue 1: St Etienne v Paris Saint-Germain
Sunday, 8pm
Paris Saint-Germain will look to consolidate their Ligue 1 lead this weekend as French football braces itself for a strike over a controversial supertax.
French clubs are furious over government plans to tax top earners 75 percent.
There will be a first lockdown in the professional game since 1972, scheduled for the last weekend of November, after a unanimous vote against Socialist President Francois Hollande’s controversial supertax initiative.
According to Ligue 1 teams, the new law, if implemented next year, would leave them with a 44 million euro tax bill and keep foreign talent away.
On the pitch, Swedish star Zlatan Ibrahimovic hit a majestic four goals during PSG’s 5-0 humiliation of Belgian side Anderlecht in midweek.
The 32-year-old has now scored 10 goals in his last five matches as Laurent Blanc’s side continue their near perfect start to the season.
His form has hit new heights as the capital club stand on the brink of the Champions League knockout phase, and have a two-point lead to protect heading into Sunday’s away fixture at Saint-Etienne.
On TV? BT Sports 1
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