Following the conclusion of the men`s international break, club football makes its highly anticipated return this weekend, featuring a lineup of engaging matches. This comeback also sets the stage for next week`s UEFA Champions League action. Here`s an end-of-week football update.
Weekend Football Fixtures (All times U.S./Eastern)
Friday, Sept. 12
Bundesliga: Bayer Leverkusen vs. Eintracht Frankfurt, 2:30 p.m.
NWSL: San Diego Wave vs. Gotham FC, 10 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 13
EPL: Arsenal vs. Nottingham Forest, 7:30 a.m.
LaLiga: Real Sociedad vs. Real Madrid, 10:15 a.m.
Serie A: Juventus vs. Inter, 12 p.m.
Bundesliga: Bayern Munich vs. Hamburg, 12:30 p.m.
NWSL: North Carolina Courage vs. Angel City, 12:30 p.m.
MLS: San Jose Earthquakes vs. LAFC, 8:30 p.m.
Liga MX: Club America vs. Guadalajara, 11:15 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 14
EPL: Manchester City vs. Manchester United, 11:30 a.m.
Serie A: AC Milan vs. Bologna, 2:45 p.m.
LaLiga: Barcelona vs. Valencia, 3 p.m.
NWSL: Chicago Stars vs. Portland Thorns, 3 p.m.
The Forward Line
A Tale of Two Manchester Teams
While Europe`s top leagues offer plenty of excitement this weekend, the undisputed main event is arguably one of the last on the schedule: Manchester United`s journey to face Manchester City, concluding the Premier League action on Sunday.
City and United are pursuing distinct objectives this season, yet despite their many differences, they approach this latest derby edition with some surprising common ground. Both teams are navigating a period of transition after significant summer spending. City`s most recent acquisition was Gianluigi Donnarumma from Paris Saint-Germain on deadline day. Donnarumma is expected to claim the starting goalkeeper role by the derby, though fellow new signing James Trafford has been the first choice so far this season. Trafford, who arrived in the summer after a strong season with Burnley, initially beat Ederson for the position but has appeared uncertain in early matches, suggesting he might be better suited as Donnarumma`s understudy for now. Donnarumma, however, views this competitive dynamic as beneficial.
Donnarumma: `I’m happy because competition is good for everyone. I can’t wait to meet [James], and I can’t wait to meet my new teammates. We have to be a strong and united group with people who care for each other and that is the key to success. Together we can make great success. …. For a player, I think achieving in the Premier League is the maximum for his career, therefore I’m really happy to be here. I’m willing to take to the pitch for this club who has been trying so much to sign me and I hope I can pay that trust back.`
Goalkeeping isn`t the only lineup dilemma for Sunday. Neither Pep Guardiola nor Ruben Amorim has fully optimized their new-look squads. The City manager will also contend with injuries to Rayan Cherki and Omar Marmoush. Rodri made his first league start since sustaining an ACL injury last year, but as their defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion just before the international break demonstrated, the Ballon d`Or winner wasn`t a magic solution to their issues. Against Brighton and in a previous loss to Tottenham Hotspur, City’s attack was stifled, struggling to find a consistent rhythm and revealing considerable scope for improvement.
A confrontation with United might be an opportune fixture for City to troubleshoot, even if the Red Devils currently sit one point ahead of their rivals at this very early stage of the season. United is in the midst of rebuilding to align with Amorim’s tactical vision, but the results have been less than convincing. Their 3-2 victory over Burnley before the international break was a tight affair, and while their performance in a 1-0 loss to Arsenal received some praise, their shot-taking approach prioritized quantity over quality. Furthermore, their defense potentially remains a vulnerability. United will also feature a relatively new shot-stopper, with Altay Bayindir stepping into the role at the season`s start following Andre Onana`s recent loan move to Trabzonspor.
Midfield Link Play
Champions League Play on the Horizon
This weekend’s domestic action will also serve as a crucial prelude to the UEFA Champions League, with the league phase officially commencing on Tuesday and extending over three days of matches.
Reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain are expected to have a straightforward Ligue 1 outing against Lens on Sunday, but their Champions League title defense will be anything but simple. They will host Atalanta on Matchday 1, followed by a true test of their resolve on Matchday 2 at Barcelona. Subsequent matches against Bayern Munich, Tottenham Hotspur, and Newcastle United could significantly impact their league phase progression. PSG will have to navigate the initial stages without Ballon d`Or nominees Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue, both sidelined for several weeks with injuries the club attributes to the France national team.
Barcelona, meanwhile, faces Valencia domestically before opening their Champions League campaign against Newcastle. Last season`s semifinalists are entering the opening week of European action as the bookmakers` favorites to win the entire competition, a testament to the remarkable turnaround achieved by their domestic double-winning side, spearheaded by Lamine Yamal. Rivals Real Madrid may not be far behind as manager Xabi Alonso continues his first season in charge, successfully balancing a somewhat lopsided squad. Their Champions League journey begins with a meeting against Marseille after their weekend match at Real Sociedad.
Rounding out the oddsmakers` top contenders for the Champions League are Liverpool and Arsenal. Liverpool has unfinished business in Europe after an early exit to PSG last season, while Arsenal reached the semifinals for the first time in nearly two decades before also succumbing to the eventual champions. The Reds have a favorable weekend match against Burnley before moving on to face Atletico Madrid midweek, who currently rank as one of the Champions League`s mid-tier sides. The Gunners will take on Nottingham Forest on Saturday before preparing for their Champions League opener against Athletic Bilbao, who reached the Europa League semifinals last season before being knocked out by Manchester United.
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Premier League: Arsenal vs. Nottingham Forest, Saturday, 7:30 a.m.
💰 THE PICK: Arsenal to win 1-0 (+650) – The opening fixture of the Premier League weekend holds significant intrigue after Nottingham Forest made the season`s first managerial change, replacing Nuno Espirito Santo with Ange Postecoglou. The new appointment promises attack-minded tactics, a style he prominently displayed during his two-year spell with Tottenham Hotspur. However, implementing this approach effectively in his first game might be a challenge, particularly against the defensively disciplined Arsenal. Considering Postecoglou has never secured a win against the Gunners, expect the hosts to claim a fairly routine victory at the start of the weekend.
CBS Sports Golazo Network Programming
- Morning Footy (Weekdays 8-10 a.m.): This flagship morning show helps fans start their day informed with highlights, interviews, and the biggest soccer storylines. Morning Footy is also available in podcast form.
- Attacking Third (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday): The leading women`s soccer show provides live studio coverage. With the NWSL season back, analysts break down the USWNT, NWSL, and European domestic season. Sunday live streams are also available as soon as the last NWSL game concludes.
- Call it What You Want (Tuesday and Thursday): Jimmy Conrad, Charlie Davies, and Tony Meola discuss all things USMNT and the state of soccer in the United States as the country prepares to co-host the 2026 World Cup. New episodes are available live every Tuesday and Thursday at 10 a.m. ET.
- Scoreline (Daily): Scoreline is the newest destination for fans to catch up on all the biggest news and results impacting global football, match highlights from top competitions, and all the unmissable goals from the day`s action, airing seven days a week.
- How to watch: CBS Sports Golazo Network is a free 24/7 channel exclusively dedicated to offering unparalleled coverage of all top soccer competitions worldwide. You can stream for free.
