Across the men’s and women’s games, English and Scottish football have decided to call off all fixtures this weekend following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
There are still plenty of club games around the world being broadcast, however, and The Athletic writers have compiled this guide to the matches you might want to keep an eye on while the Premier League, EFL, Premiership, National League and more are on pause.
No doubt about the weekend’s biggest game in Germany: Marco Rose takes charge of his first RB Leipzig match following the dismissal of Domenico Tedesco on Saturday as they host Borussia Dortmund, the club that sacked him after just a single season in charge. With cause, too, because Dortmund’s lows under Rose were deep enough to damage his reputation and leave him facing not quite a last chance in Leipzig, but a critical juncture that demands a positive response.
That’s a must-watch, so too are Christian Streich and Freiburg.
Streich is one of German football’s great, enduring characters and his team have won four games straight across all competitions and will return to a febrile Europa Park on Sunday with the chance of retaining their place on top of the Bundesliga.
Yes, really.
They face Borussia Monchengladbach, who can be anything at all, as that miraculous point against perennial champions Bayern in Munich a few weeks ago proved. Gladbach are a team of ethereal talents and mood players — watch out for young Manu Kone — and they’ve been bolstered by the signing of former Dortmund midfielder Julian Weigl, on loan from Benfica.
Seb Stafford-Bloor
Pressure is mounting on Inter Milan coach Simone Inzaghi after three defeats in four games. The 46-year-old has been criticised for getting his line-ups wrong and the team looks like it may be going stale. Inter’s directors were at the training ground to hold talks with Inzaghi after the 2-0 loss to Bayern Munich at San Siro in their Champions League group opener on Wednesday night. Chief executive Beppe Marotta then gave Inzaghi a public vote of confidence in an interview with Sky Italia.
Sacking the raven-haired former striker would be an expense Inter can ill-afford so soon after president Steven Zhang shook hands with him on a contract extension. The hope is Inzaghi can turn things around.
Inter host Torino on Saturday and can expect a rough and tumble game. Ivan Juric’s side have started the season well despite a public falling-out between the coach and his sporting director. New signings Nemanja Radonjic and Nikola Vlasic have hit the ground running and three wins in five games hint at a team ready to challenge for Europe. How will Inzaghi respond?
Elsewhere, Serie A’s leaders Atalanta have a great chance to stay at the top against newly-promoted Cremonese in a Lombardy derby on Sunday.
Atalanta didn’t figure in the conversation for the top four on the eve of the season but they are undefeated and have won four games out of five. The league is so open this season, it’s tempting to consider Atalanta as dark horses. They’re not in Europe and many of their star players won’t be at the World Cup.
As for Cremonese, they’re back in Serie A after 26 years and it was lovely to see one of their favourite sons, Gianluca Vialli, at the Stadio Giovanni Zini on Monday in a vintage red and grey jersey.
Scottish readers might want to check in on the game and see if Jack Hendry makes his debut. Hendry is one of four Scots in Serie A after Empoli’s Liam Henderson, Lewis Ferguson at Bologna and Verona’s Josh Doig.
James Horncastle
La Liga has a full programme of games this weekend, from Girona hosting Valladolid on Friday evening through to Almeria vs Osasuna on Monday.
The four Champions League sides — Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Sevilla — all face teams who finished…
Read More: What football to watch this weekend after Premier League called off