5️⃣ spicy fixtures you must watch this weekend 🌶 | OneFootball

The international break is in our rear view mirrors and it’s time to turn attention back to the club game.

Here are five games we cannot wait to sink our teeth into this weekend.

Milan Women v Roma Women

First Roma leapfrogged Milan to become the biggest challengers in Italy to Juventus, then they leapfrogged Juventus last season to win their first ever title in the women’s game.

And ex-Milan striker Valentina Giacinti was a massive reason why.

Giacinti only ever dreamed of becoming a Milan legend and she was on track to do so. Captain of the club at the time, she signed a new contract back in the summer of 2021 … and was gone within months. Arguments broke out and the striker joined Fiorentina on loan in January 2022.

By the summer, she left permanently for the capital.

“One thing is certain, that I will always be true to myself, even if someone has tried to shatter my biggest dream, which is that of becoming a symbol of Milan,” she said on her way out.

Roma’s joint top scorer last season (with Andressa Alves, who has left this summer), she helped the club storm to the title and their defence starts this weekend against her former club. Focus in Rome has been on strengthening the backline this summer, so Giacinti will have even more responsibility than ever at the other end of the pitch.

Spice rating: Mild 🌶

Manchester United v Brighton

With three wins from four games, Brighton have started where they left off last season and look primed to once again trouble the top four or five positions.

That could spell bad news for Manchester United, though Erik ten Hag’s side could lean on their home form to see them win this weekend.

United have not lost a Premier League game at Old Trafford since their first game of last season … when Brighton were the visitors. United have won 17 of the 20 games since then, drawing the other three, but they have not convinced yet this season.

Wolves and Nottingham Forest both left Old Trafford disappointed to have lost and Ten Hag’s side have been beaten twice on their travels, losing to Tottenham and Arsenal in north London.

With Antony and Jadon Sancho not up for selection this weekend, a tricky task could get a whole lot harder and Ten Hag will likely look on in envy as Brighton can turn to star winger Kaoru Mitoma and possible debutant Ansu Fati.

The battle of the strikers — Rasmus Højlund is in line for a full debut and Evan Ferguson is back in training after a hat-trick last time out — could be another thrill to keep an eye on here.

Spice rating: Medium 🌶 🌶

Bayern Munich v Bayer Leverkusen

It is not that often Bayern Munich welcome the Bundesliga league leaders to the Allianz Arena and it puts an interesting spin on Friday’s mammoth Bundesliga clash.

Bayer Leverkusen are so often Germany’s nearly club, consistently flattering to deceive and infrequently delivering on their full potential. It’s early days but that looks like it could change under Xabi Alonso.

After steering Leverkusen clear of the Bundesliga drop zone — they were 17th when he took over 11 months ago — by first improving their defensive record, Alonso has his side keeping the ball better, pressing higher, and just bullying opponents. Ask RB Leipzig, Borussia Mönchengladbach or SV Darmstadt.

Victor Boniface has been a revelation in these opening weeks (perhaps Harry Kane isn’t the league’s new leading striker?) and Granit Xhaka adds quality and leadership in midfield.

For their part, Bayern missed out on some summer targets and things just aren’t quite clicking. Giving Leverkusen the chance to blow the title race wide open …

Spice rating: Hot 🌶 🌶 🌶

Cardiff City v Swansea City

Any Swansea fans making the short trip across South Wales this weekend will have to head to their home ground first and take their ID with them to board coaches laid on to take them to Cardiff.

“Once supporters are on their respective coaches, your travel voucher will be exchanged for a valid match ticket.”

There’s little spicier than a game that sees the police and the clubs involved put such measures in place to keep home and away fans separated for their own good.

Both Cardiff and Swansea have started the season slowly — they sit 19th and 22nd in the Championship table respectively — making this one an early six pointer with even more than just bragging rights on the line.

The hosts will be eager to set the record straight too: they’ve lost each of the last four meetings between the sides and haven’t won this fixture at home for a decade.

Spice rating: Fire 🌶 🌶 🌶 🌶

Inter v Milan

A city, a stadium, an origin story. And a place at the top of the Serie A table as this weekend kicks off.

Those are just some of the things Inter and Milan share.

There has been some rate of change in the city this summer, with Inter having to replace André Onana, Milan Škriniar, Marcelo Brozović, Edin Džeko and Romelu Lukaku after their run to last season’s Champions League final.

For now, it looks like they’ve done a fine job and especially at the extremes of the pitch, with Yann Sommer yet to be beaten in goal and Lautaro Martínez (not a new face) kicking on to a new level as the attacking burden falls on him more than ever before.

On Saturday they ‘welcome’ Milan to San Siro with Stefano Pioli’s side also three from three at this early stage of the campaign. It’s a mix of old — Olivier Giroud is shining as brightly as ever — and new — Christian Pulisic has hit the ground running — for Pioli’s Milan, who are showing no teething issues as they move on from Sandro Tonali.

Pulisic and ex-Chelsea team-mate Ruben Loftus-Cheek look right at home with the Rossoneri and can lighten the load on Rafael Leão, who was so often the go-to man in recent seasons.

With both teams on nine points, this is an early chance to claim a massive victory (as well as the local bragging rights) in what looks like it could be a wide open Serie A title race that both sides will fancy their chances in.

Spice rating: Insane 🌶 🌶 🌶 🌶 🌶