Sports
BARCELONA will have the chance to extend their lead at the top of La Liga to seven points when they play neighbours Espanyol on Sunday (15:15 GMT).
Barca striker Robert Lewandowski is the runaway top scorer in La Liga with 14 goals, twice as many as anyone else, including two in last weekend’s 4-0 win at Real Madrid.
So should we be surprised by how well boss Hansi Flick has taken to life at the Catalan giants?
“Tactically he has done things very well,” Spanish football expert Guillem Balague told the Euro Leagues podcast. “He does owe a bit to Xavi, but that defensive line is the highest in Europe and no other team provokes more offsides. All that is [down to] Hansi Flick.”
Second-placed Real Madrid and Villarreal, who are third, have seen their games postponed because of devastating flash foods in the Valencia region.
Madrid were meant to be at bottom club Valencia, while Villarreal had a home game with Rayo Vallecano.
Wobbling Atletico Madrid, who have lost three of their last five games in La Liga and the Champions League, host lowly Las Palmas on Sunday at 13:00 GMT.
Can Napoli keep going in Serie A?
Napoli bid to keep their Serie A title charge going when they take on third-placed Atalanta.
Antonio Conte’s side are unbeaten in 10 games, winning nine of those, and will be hoping to maintain or extend their four-point lead over Inter Milan on Sunday (11:30 GMT).
“This is what Antonio Conte does in Italy,” said Italian football expert James Horncastle.
“If we go back to matchday one, they lost 3-0 at Hellas Verona. The transfer window was still open, he hadn’t got some of the players he really wanted, like Scott McTominay – ‘McTomadona’ – and Billy Gilmour.
“Once McTominay integrated he has been very useful playing off Romelu Lukaku, he has the engine to be in a midfield three but also has the energy to break behind Lukaku.
“And they have arguably one of the best dribblers in the world in Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. I think they will win the league. Napoli are looking very good.”
But Atalanta, who have Serie A top scorer Mateo Retegui, have only lost once since August and a win would take them to within three points of the leaders.
Second-placed Inter host struggling Venezia at 19:45 GMT.
Juventus – who are unbeaten but have drawn six of their 10 games – visit Udinese on Saturday (17:00 GMT).
Tight at the top in Germany
The Bundesliga’s top two, Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig, are both in action on Saturday. The pair are on 20 points, five clear of anyone else.
Bayern host fourth-placed Union Berlin at 14:30 GMT, while Leipzig are at Borussia Dortmund – who sit seventh – at 17:30 GMT.
Champions Bayer Leverkusen, who are third, get the weekend going with a home game against Stuttgart on Friday (19:30 GMT).
Can Monaco close gap on PSG?
Unbeaten Ligue 1 leaders and perennial champions Paris St-Germain host Lens, who have drawn five of their nine games, on Saturday at 16:00 GMT.
Monaco will be hoping to be level on points with PSG before that game starts, as they host Angers on Friday (18:00 GMT).
The bottom two, Le Havre and Montpellier, meet on Sunday at 16:00 GMT.
Can Amorim’s Sporting make it 10/10?
Media caption,
It’s my decision – Sporting boss Amorim on Man Utd interest in him
Sporting will have extra eyes on them when they host Estrela on Friday at 20:15 GMT.
Boss Ruben Amorim is widely expected to join Manchester United and says he will discuss his future after the game.
Sporting have won their first nine Portuguese league games this season – but are only three points above Porto, who host Estoril on Sunday (20:30 GMT).
In the Netherlands, the top two go head-to-head.
PSV, who have won all 10 Eredivisie games this season, go to second-placed Ajax – who are eight points behind – on Saturday at 17:45 GMT. BBCSport
A.I
Nov. 1, 2024
Tags: Guillem Balague Rayo Vallecano. Robert Lewandowski Xavi
