League football will be taking a break due to the international commitments after this weekend. But before then arch-rivals Inter Milan and Juventus lock horns in the Derby d’Italia, Lionel Messi will be looking to score his first La Liga goal of the season, while AC Milan will be looking to end their three-game losing streak. Here are Things to look out for in European football: October 5-6. Bet on football here.
Derby d’Italia
Inter Milan host Juventus on Sunday in another instalment of the Derby d’Italia. In the last few seasons, this match had less profile due to Juve’s dominance of Serie A and Inter’s decline. However, this season, Inter have already revealed their ambitions of challenging for the Scudetto having won all of their five league games already. Juventus somehow sleepwalked to their last eight consecutive Scudetto’s but now it looks like they have a worthy challenger in the Nerazzurri. Inter were brilliant at the Camp Nou in the Champions League but narrowly lost due to the brilliance of Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez. Nonetheless, they showed they can go toe-to-toe against the bug guns. Their title credentials will be tested on Sunday. Can they beat the champions on Sunday?
RB Leipzig to bounce back?
RB Leipzig’s terrific start to the season was halted by David Wagner’s Schalke 04 who beat them 3-1 away from home last week. Most pundits have tipped Julian Nagelsmann’s side to challenge for the Bundesliga this season but they failed their first test. However, great teams are made from their ability to bounce back from defeats. On Saturday, they face Bayer Leverkusen, a team they’ve beaten in their last two meetings. The good news is, the last time Leipzig lost back to back Bundesliga games was in April 2018 therefore, they should feel confident visiting Bayer Leverkusen.
AC Milan to end their losing streak?
Since clinching the Scudetto in 2011, AC Milan are yet to win a trophy and the dreadful start to the 2019/2020 is a testament of things to come. They have lost their last three Serie A matches and have a difficult trip to Genoa this weekend. The Rossoneri are 16th in the table and boss Marco Giampaolo is facing the axe after a poor start to the campaign. They will need to improve soon given they will be facing AS Roma, Lazio, Juventus and Napoli in the next few weeks. Genoa are 18th in the table and have won just one Serie A match since March. Therefore, this is Milan’s window of opportunity to find some form and confidence.
Lyon to end run of poor form?
Lyon ended a run of seven matches without a win in all competitions by defeating German side RB Leipzig away from home in the Champions League. Still, Sylvinho’s men have not won in Ligue 1 since that 6-0 demolition of Angers in August which seems like centuries ago. In that span, they’ve lost three and drawn three of their last six league games putting pressure on Sylvinho. Furthermore, a difficult trip to Saint-Ettiene awaits on the weekend. Can they bounce back?
Lionel Messi to open his account this season?
Lionel Messi is yet to score in this season’s La Liga, with the Argentine star struggling to get fit. His absence has coincided with Barcelona’s stuttering start to the season. For the first time in a decade, Messi began the season watching on from the sidelines with the 32-year-old missing the Blaugrana’s first four games with a foot injury. The last time the Argentine missed over a month of football was back in 2015. On Sunday Barca face Sevilla, a team Messi has tormented throughout his time in Spain. The Argentine has scored 36 goals in 37 appearances in all competitions against them. Can he open his La Liga account on Sunday?