Juventus vs. Atalanta: A Blockbuster Serie A Week & Arsenal’s Saliba Extension

As the weekend arrives, football enthusiasts can anticipate a thrilling lineup of matches worldwide. Alongside Europe`s spectacular Ryder Cup triumph, a host of significant football games are set to unfold. James Benge is here to guide you through the best ways to spend your sporting weekend.

📺 Weekend Football Schedule

All times U.S./Eastern

⚽ The Forward Line

🇮🇹 Serie A Spotlight: Juventus and Atalanta Clash

One of the weekend`s most anticipated matches arrives on Saturday afternoon as Juventus faces Atalanta. This encounter promises to be highly engaging, especially if the home side maintains their recent prolific scoring form. After a rather subdued performance last season, Juventus has demonstrated a dramatic turnaround in 2025-26, netting four goals in a thrilling victory against Inter, and repeating this feat at home against Borussia Dortmund in what has been the Champions League`s standout game so far.

Igor Tudor`s squad has started the season strongly, trailing league leaders Napoli by only two points after securing three wins and a draw in their first four games. Tudor, a former player for Juventus in their dominant late 1990s and 2000s era, took charge in March following Thiago Motta`s struggling tenure. He ignited a rapid revival that appears to have carried over into the current season. Khephren Thuram elaborated on Juventus`s momentum-building experience at the Club World Cup:

Thuram: “We`re having a pretty good start. We know the coach well as he was with us last year and at the [Club] World Cup. The World Cup was very important for us to all be together, to learn how to work together as a group. What we`re doing as a group right now is pretty good, but we still have work to do. We hope it`s going to get better.”

Currently fourth in the table, Atalanta`s start wasn`t as explosive as Juventus`, having drawn their first two matches. However, signs of progress are evident from this significantly revamped team. A summer marked by player sales is typical for Bergamo, but this year saw not only the departure of top scorer Mateo Retegui. After nine successful years, Gian Piero Gasperini also left Atalanta to take the helm at Roma, with former Southampton boss Ivan Juric stepping in. Juric`s side initially took time to find their rhythm, but their last two games have seen commanding two-goal margin victories over Lecce and Torino.

This match could also offer a glimpse into the performances of two key USMNT figures: Weston McKennie and Yunus Musah. While both have started only one Serie A game this season, they received extended minutes in the Champions League. Musah, who joined us before this weekend`s game, explained his move from AC Milan to Atalanta on loan with a buy option:

Musah: “I`m at a time in my career where it`s important for me to focus on that [central midfield] position and develop as much as I can in that area. Also, Atalanta is in the Champions League, and having played in the Champions League in past seasons, I wanted to carry that on. That was something huge that really caught my attention.”

With two of Italy`s highest-scoring teams, featuring US talent, and a battle brewing at the top of the table, this promises to be an enthralling contest. This is just the beginning of a weekend that also includes Inter`s trip to Sardinia to face Cagliari, and Milan concluding the weekend against league leaders Napoli.

🔗 Midfield Link Play

📝 Arsenal Secures Superstar Talent: William Saliba`s Long-Term Deal

In the Premier League, this week has been light on on-field drama, with top teams comfortably progressing in the EFL Cup as expected. Perhaps the most significant news emerged on Thursday morning: William Saliba is reportedly set to sign a new five-year contract with Arsenal. This is no exaggeration; it`s a profoundly important piece of business, potentially more impactful than any of the numerous summer signings made by the Gunners.

Among the genuine superstars in Mikel Arteta`s squad, Saliba had always seemed the most likely to consider a departure. This wasn`t solely due to a perceived strained public relationship between Saliba and Arteta during the years before Saliba established himself in the first team. More importantly, Real Madrid had shown interest, with whispers in the Spanish press suggesting they viewed him as their next high-profile acquisition. One could easily envision the scenario: stalled negotiations, forcing Arsenal to contemplate a cut-price deal or losing Saliba on a free transfer.

Instead, Arsenal has secured the services of one of the game`s best young center-backs until 2030. This follows Gabriel Magalhaes`s extension, with Bukayo Saka`s negotiation expected to be more straightforward given his openly expressed desire to win silverware with Arsenal.

The timing of Saliba`s extension could not be better, coming just before the Gunners` marquee Premier League fixture away to Newcastle. High pressure has been a constant theme for Arsenal early this season, perhaps more than Arteta would prefer. Should Liverpool win at Crystal Palace, Arsenal could find themselves eight points off the top of the table by Sunday. However, recent seasons have demonstrated Saliba and his teammates` ability to deliver in these crucial moments.

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• Set Piece Shift: Tottenham`s noticeable increase in size and strength, particularly in set pieces during their EFL Cup win over League One Doncaster Rovers, raises concerns about a potential further imbalance within the English football pyramid.
• Tragic Loss: Dreadfully sad news from England reports the death of former Arsenal player Billy Vigar on Thursday, following an incident in a Chichester Town match at the weekend. A serious brain injury is attributed to a collision with a concrete wall.
• Thuram Speaks: Watch Morning Footy`s full interview with Khephren Thuram as he discusses playing against his brother Marcus and his relationship with Thierry Henry.

💰 The Back Line

💵 Best Bets

• Premier League: Crystal Palace vs. Liverpool, Saturday, 10 a.m. ET
  💰 THE PICK: Crystal Palace 1, Liverpool 1 (+600) – Despite Liverpool`s five wins from five to start the season, these victories have often involved late drama and tense moments. While Arne Slot`s team is expected to fully click soon, they face a Crystal Palace side that is already well-settled. Crystal Palace previously held Liverpool to a 2-2 draw in the Community Shield this season, and a similar strong performance is anticipated on their home turf.

For additional picks, predictions, and expert tips, stay informed with the latest betting news.