As October draws to a close, there are more than enough top-class matches in store this weekend.
At Anfield, Arsenal will need to break a hoodoo that hasn’t seen them win there since 2012. Liverpool are currently six points behind the Gunners, so can reel them in with a victory.
Both teams had differing fortunes in their Carabao Cup ties in midweek, with Mikel Arteta undoubtedly hoping for an immediate reaction from his side after they were humbled by fourth-tier Fleetwood Town.
It isn't just in the Premier League where excitement can be found either. Harry Kane will lead the line for Bayern Munich in Der Klassiker, and in the wake of his Ballon d’Or win. There's no better way to celebrate that than with a win against the only other unbeaten team in the Bundesliga, Dortmund.
Two derbies in LaLiga and Serie A are bound to excite. Real Sociedad head to Athletic Club looking to extend a run that’s seen them score at least twice in their last four matches, whilst AC Milan face an Inter side who top the table in Italy, but who haven’t beaten the Rossoneri in the last seven meetings.
A weekend of five games
Friday October 30th, 21:05 CET: Lille vs Lens
Third plays seventh in the game of the round in Ligue 1, and with only two points separating Lille in third to Lens in seventh, the need for the away team to grab all three points is obvious. There have been no draws in this fixture in the last five, and in three of those games, Lens didn’t score.
Saturday October 31st, 18:30 CET: Bayern vs Dortmund
Bayern Munich and Dortmund are the Bundesliga's only unbeaten sides after seven matches, with both teams winning five games and drawing two. Bayern have scored 25 league goals (including 18 at home in three games) and conceded six, while Dortmund have 12 goals to their name and just four conceded. The visitors have also kept five clean sheets so far this season, too.
Saturday October 31st, 20:45 CET: AC Milan vs Inter
Inter lead Serie A with 25 points, seven ahead of Milan, but the recent head-to-head record is interesting as the Rossoneri are unbeaten in their last seven meetings with Inter in all competitions, winning five and drawing two. Inter have won eight of their nine league games this season, so this could be a Derby della Madonnina for the ages.
Sunday November 1st, 17:30 CET: Liverpool vs Arsenal
Arsenal haven’t beaten Liverpool at Anfield since 2012 - when Mikel Arteta was in the North Londoners' XI - but they currently have the best defensive record in the Premier League, having conceded only five goals. Five of the last 10 meetings have been draws, but if the Gunners can earn all three points, it’ll be the first time they’ve done so home or away against the Reds since February 2024.
Sunday November 1st, 21:00 CET: Athletic Club vs Real Sociedad
Athletic Club have taken points in their last four LaLiga home games, but have won just two of their last seven matches home and away in the Spanish top flight. Los Leones need a home win here because La Real are already seven points ahead of their rivals; they arrive at San Mamés having won their last four league matches, and having scored at least twice in those games.