Paris (AFP) – AC Milan, reigning Italian champions, rub shoulders with Atalanta Bergamo for a first reveal of their form on Sunday, in a European weekend marked by perilous trips for FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, as well as a Manchester United-Liverpool clash.
Italy: test of fire for AC Milan
After a victorious warm-up lap for all the greats of Serie A once morest second-tier teams during the resumption last weekend, place Sunday at the first test for AC Milan at Atalanta Bergamo (8:45 p.m.).
Winner of Udinese (4-2), the rossonero champion showed that he already had the fangs. But Olivier Giroud’s team, perhaps still on the bench due to the great form of Ante Rebic, must be wary of a less sparkling “Dea” but determined to recover their health following a mixed season , as shown by their solid initial victory once morest Sampdoria (2-0).
It will be the first Lombard derby of a season that will know a lot with five clubs from the region in the elite (also with Inter Milan, Monza and Cremonese).
Inter ( once morest La Spezia), Naples ( once morest Monza) and Roma (ahead of Cremonese) will be keen to make a successful debut at home once morest opponents within their reach.
On the other hand, distrust will be de rigueur for Lazio Rome, expected on Saturday (6:30 p.m.) by a Torino with attractive recruitment. Caution also for Juventus, where Angel Di Maria, following his remarkable debut on Monday once morest Sassuolo (3-0), went to join an already busy infirmary for the start of the season (Pogba, Szczesny, Chiesa, Aké).
Spain: Barça and Real in minefield
In Spain, FC Barcelona already has no more time to lose: the Catalan club, hung 0-0 by Rayo Vallecano at Camp Nou for its return to business last weekend, hopes to win its first success of the season . But Xavi’s team will have a lot to do on the Real Sociedad pitch on Sunday evening (10:00 p.m.).
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It will be necessary to see if the star rookie Robert Lewandowski opens his goal counter in the Blaugrana jersey, while the captain of Real Madrid Karim Benzema, announced rival of the Pole for the title of “Pichichi”, has not yet scored either. in La Liga.
Real, winner 2-1 in the snatch on the lawn of promoted Almeria last weekend, goes to Vigo on Saturday (10:00 p.m.) to challenge Celta, another complicated trip.
At the top of the table, Atlético Madrid, winners 3-0 at Getafe last weekend, and Villarreal, who dominated Valladolid by the same score, meet Sunday (7:30 p.m.) at the Metropolitano to keep the lead in La Liga.
England: duel of fear ManU-Liverpool
At the end of the 3rd day on Monday, the “Reds”, in poor shape, travel to the “Red Devils” in bad shape as the Premier League’s red lantern (beaten twice).
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Erik ten Hag, Manchester United’s new Dutch technician, is having a very complicated start, between the humiliation suffered at Brentford (4-0) last Saturday and the management of the case Cristiano Ronaldo, eager to leave.
Mancunian leaders are firing on all cylinders on the transfer market to attract recruits, so far without result.
Liverpool, for its part, conceded two draws and cannot afford to see Manchester City, crowned last season with a point ahead of Fabinho’s teammates, soar in the standings.
The Mersey club must digest the departure of Sadio Mané to Bayern Munich this summer. This trip to Old Trafford will be without his announced successor, Uruguayan striker Darwin Nunez, expelled Monday once morest Crystal Palace (1-1).
The Citizens, leaders with two successes without having conceded the slightest goal, will challenge Sunday (5:30 p.m.) Newcastle, which for the moment has been quite wise on the transfer window despite the generous means of its Saudi owners.
And Arsenal, the only other team to have won twice, travels to Bournemouth on Saturday (6:30 p.m.).
Germany: Leverkusen already under pressure
Borussia Mönchengladbach, 3rd with four points, has the opportunity to temporarily take the lead on Friday (8:30 p.m.) in the event of victory once morest Hertha Berlin at the start of the 3rd day of the Bundesliga.
Unexpected bottom of the Bundesliga following two matches, Bayer Leverkusen for its part made its worst start to the season since 1979 and absolutely had to win at home once morest Hoffenheim to avoid a crisis.
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Like Leverkusen and Frankfurt (1 point), Leipzig has still not won a single match, held in check in Stuttgart (1-1) and once morest Cologne (2-2). The match once morest Union Berlin will be crucial in order not to let Munich and Dortmund, the only two teams with two victories, escape the classification.
Bayern, easy winner of Wolfsburg (2-0) in its Allianz Arena last week, will travel to Bochum on Sunday, while Borussia, which overthrew Freiburg (3-1), receives Werder Bremen.
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