GARETH BALE IS expected to make his home Real Madrid debut in the derby clash with Atletico after overcoming a thigh injury.
The world record signing has missed Real’s last two matches with the problem after pulling up in the warm-up ahead of the 4-1 victory over Getafe, but he returned to training on Thursday.
Bale rejoins a squad that will be full of confidence following their controversial victory over Elche on Wednesday, although they will likely still have the words of coach Carlo Ancelotti ringing in their ears.
Ancelotti’s side needed a highly debatable last-gasp penalty from Cristiano Ronaldo to secure the points with the last kick of the game in midweek, and the Italian admitted that his players must do more if they are to overcome their arch-rivals at the Bernabeu this weekend.
Playing the way we did (against Elche), we are not going to win the derby,” he said. “We need to play better, with more intensity and more personality.”
Atletico made it six wins out of six with their 2-1 win over Osasuna on Tuesday and they will be hoping to maintain their perfect record in the first derby of the season.
They won their last meeting with Real in extra time in last season’s Copa del Rey final but they have not tasted league success against their capital counterparts since 1999.
Coach Diego Simeone will be hoping to break that run of 23 league games without a win and they will be brimming with confidence after their perfect start to the Liga campaign.
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On TV? Sky Sports 2
Bundesliga: Eintracht Frankfurt v Hamburg
Saturday, 5.30pm
Hamburg are accustomed to finding themselves at the business end of the table, but have endured a poor start and are stuck third from bottom.
Their bad run of form has cost manager Thorsten Fink his job, and the Imtech Arena outfit will be under the stewardship of former Netherlands boss Bert van Marwijk for the first time against Eintracht Frankfurt.
On TV? BT Sports 1
Ligue 1: Lyon v Lille
Saturday, 7pm
Lille’s Salomon Kalou. Credit: Michel Spingler/AP/Press Association Images
Lille make the trip to Lyon hoping to continue their fine start to life under Rene Girard.
After a 3-0 win over Evian on Tuesday thanks to goals from Salomon Kalou, Jesper Hansen and Ronny Rodelin, they currently sit in fourth, just four points off leaders Monaco.
Lyon, meanwhile, lost to Fabrizio Ravanelli’s Ajaccio in midweek and are without a victory in over a month.
On TV? BT Sport 2
Serie A: Roma v Bologna
Sunday, 7.45pm
HIGH-FLYING ROMA will hope to maintain their 100% record in Serie A on Sunday.
Rudi Garcia’s charges beat Sampdoria 2-0 on Wednesday to record five straight wins at the start of a Serie A campaign for the first time in their history, and will hope to extend that run when they play host to Bologna at the Stadio Olimpico.
The table toppers come up against a Bologna side that have failed fail to register a league victory, but with three draws from five games could cause an upset.
Euro Vision: 4 continental games not to be missed this weekend
La Liga: Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid
Saturday, 9pm
GARETH BALE IS expected to make his home Real Madrid debut in the derby clash with Atletico after overcoming a thigh injury.
The world record signing has missed Real’s last two matches with the problem after pulling up in the warm-up ahead of the 4-1 victory over Getafe, but he returned to training on Thursday.
Bale rejoins a squad that will be full of confidence following their controversial victory over Elche on Wednesday, although they will likely still have the words of coach Carlo Ancelotti ringing in their ears.
Ancelotti’s side needed a highly debatable last-gasp penalty from Cristiano Ronaldo to secure the points with the last kick of the game in midweek, and the Italian admitted that his players must do more if they are to overcome their arch-rivals at the Bernabeu this weekend.
Atletico made it six wins out of six with their 2-1 win over Osasuna on Tuesday and they will be hoping to maintain their perfect record in the first derby of the season.
They won their last meeting with Real in extra time in last season’s Copa del Rey final but they have not tasted league success against their capital counterparts since 1999.
Coach Diego Simeone will be hoping to break that run of 23 league games without a win and they will be brimming with confidence after their perfect start to the Liga campaign.
On TV? Sky Sports 2
Bundesliga: Eintracht Frankfurt v Hamburg
Saturday, 5.30pm
Hamburg are accustomed to finding themselves at the business end of the table, but have endured a poor start and are stuck third from bottom.
Their bad run of form has cost manager Thorsten Fink his job, and the Imtech Arena outfit will be under the stewardship of former Netherlands boss Bert van Marwijk for the first time against Eintracht Frankfurt.
On TV? BT Sports 1
Ligue 1: Lyon v Lille
Saturday, 7pm
Lille’s Salomon Kalou. Credit: Michel Spingler/AP/Press Association Images
Lille make the trip to Lyon hoping to continue their fine start to life under Rene Girard.
After a 3-0 win over Evian on Tuesday thanks to goals from Salomon Kalou, Jesper Hansen and Ronny Rodelin, they currently sit in fourth, just four points off leaders Monaco.
Lyon, meanwhile, lost to Fabrizio Ravanelli’s Ajaccio in midweek and are without a victory in over a month.
On TV? BT Sport 2
Serie A: Roma v Bologna
Sunday, 7.45pm
HIGH-FLYING ROMA will hope to maintain their 100% record in Serie A on Sunday.
Rudi Garcia’s charges beat Sampdoria 2-0 on Wednesday to record five straight wins at the start of a Serie A campaign for the first time in their history, and will hope to extend that run when they play host to Bologna at the Stadio Olimpico.
The table toppers come up against a Bologna side that have failed fail to register a league victory, but with three draws from five games could cause an upset.
On TV? BT Sports 1
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Athletico Madrid Bologna Hamburg Lille Lyon Previews Real Madrid Eintracht Frankfurt Roma