Every football lover in Europe and beyond will be eagerly awaiting another weekend of top football action after the international break.
During the break, the international friendlies and Russia 2018 World Cup Qualifiers were the toast of the people as great goals were scored courtesy individual and team efforts.
Now, the players have returned to their clubs and top international matches will be expected from the top flight leagues across Europe; England, Germany, Spain, Italy and others.
WuzupNaija presents the bigest matches of the weekend which we think you must not miss.
Check them out:
Manchester United versus Arsenal
Arguably the most anticipated match of the weekend, Arsene Wenger will lock horns with Jose Mourinho as both managers renew their English football rivalry which spans almost a decade now.
For Arsene, it will be another attempt at breaking the jinx of never being able to defeat a Mourinho-tutored team in as many attempts, not even when the Portuguese keeps taunting the Arsenal manager, and also calling him a ‘specialist in failure’.
The Arsenal manager and his team are high flying in the league having picked up valuable points after losing the opening game of the season to Liverpool.
Mourinho’s Manchester United on the other hand are yet to totally convince football followers and analysts that they are genuine title contenders, but would still fancy their chances of defeating the London-based club in a couple of hours.
Atletico Madrid versus Real Madrid
Real Madrid have started the season in an unconvincing fashion and may not have a better time to prove their title credentials than in this encounter with their arch-rival, Atletico Madrid.
This is one of the toughest derbies in world club football as both teams always look to outshine each other, but the red-half of the city may think they can win this again.
Having suffered huge defeats in the hands of the Atletico side, Real, under the tutelage of legendary Zinedine Zidane will try to bounce back and produce something spectacular to maintain their lead in the La Liga.
Diego Simeone on the other hand, is one manager who knows how to get the best out of his players, and snatching the league from under the nostrils of Barcelona and Real Madrid recently may also help boost his morale that he can do it again this season.
Udinese vs Napoli
This match in the Serie A is another very important and significant match which is taking place at the Dacia Arene in Udine.
The head to head stats of both clubs’ meetings is rather breathtaking and unbelievable; 29 matches played, 9 win and losses for either side and 11 draws.
With the statistics shown above, both sides will be looking at canceling out the other and there is no better day than today to achieve this.
Although Napoli are yet to hit the heights that they hit last season, they will still fancy their chances of usurping Udinese in their own home.
Wolfsburg vs Shalke 04
Ordinarily, Wolfsburg are not a traditionally strong football team in German. The likes of Shalke, Dortmund, Bayern, Hertha Berlin and Leverkusen are still regarded as bigger sides.
But the fact that Wolfsburg could come from nowhere to win the league title a few years ago makes them a team which cannot be pushed aside anymore.
In this clash against Shalke 04, the team would fancy their chances of creating something unusual to move from their 14th position on the log upwards.
Shalke on the other hand, have not been fantastic, but they would think holding their own against a struggling Wolfsburg should not totally pose a threat to them.
Dortmund vs Munich
Bayern Munich are clearly the favourites to win this encounter against their evergreen rivals, Dortmund, but it will definitely not be a stroll in the park.
Coach Carlo Ancelotti who is in his first season at the Allianz Arena, will have his hands full when his wards visit the former Bundesliga champions, especially with the red-hot form of Pierre Aubameyang in the front line of the visitors.
Dortmund will also want to move up the table to occupy a reasonable position which will all but guarantee Champions League football next season.
