The initial weekend of the Premier League season brought positive outcomes for the leading title contenders. Concurrently, European football takes prominence midweek, with several teams progressing towards securing a place in the UEFA Champions League.
Upcoming Matches
(All times U.S./Eastern)
Monday, Aug. 18
- DFB Pokal: Rot-Weiss Essen vs. Borussia Dortmund, 2:45 p.m.
- EPL: Leeds United vs. Everton, 3 p.m.
- NWSL: Seattle Reign vs. Chicago Stars, 10 p.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 19
- LaLiga: Real Madrid vs. Osasuna, 3 p.m.
- UCL qualifying: Rangers vs. Club Brugge. 3 p.m.
- CWCC: Alianza vs. Washington Spirit, 8 p.m.
Premier League Opening Matches
Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal Win Initial Fixtures
The Premier League`s top clubs began their season impressively this weekend, as Liverpool, Manchester City, and Arsenal all secured victories in their initial fixtures. However, the quality of their performances varied, leaving it uncertain if this was due to lingering preseason effects or potential future challenges.
Manchester City delivered the most commanding performance among the three, securing a 4-0 victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday. Erling Haaland netted twice, while new signings Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki each scored on their Premier League debuts. This marked a robust beginning for a re-energized City squad, as Pep Guardiola`s team aims for a comeback after narrowly missing the title last season. Although tougher challenges await, their straightforward and dominant display, even without key players like Rodri and Josko Gvardiol, strongly suggests that their summer squad overhaul is yielding positive results.
In contrast, Liverpool`s 4-2 win against Bournemouth on Friday highlighted their defensive vulnerabilities, while Arsenal scraped a 1-0 win over Manchester United on Sunday despite a subpar performance. The Gunners` solitary goal came from a corner, a familiar tactic, but they allowed 22 shots and registered a mere 76% passing accuracy – their lowest figures since a 2-2 draw with City in September 2022. New striker Viktor Gyokeres also had a quiet Premier League debut, failing to register a shot as Arsenal`s offensive threat was subdued at Old Trafford.
The weekend`s most significant upset occurred on Saturday at the Stadium of Light, where newly promoted Sunderland secured an impressive 3-0 victory against West Ham in their first top-flight match in almost a decade. The Black Cats celebrated their Premier League return in spectacular fashion, with their performance indicating a promising strategy for their challenging bid to avoid relegation.
Chuck Booth noted that despite only 37% possession, Sunderland effectively scored through set plays and counterattacks. Simon Adingra proved a valuable acquisition from Brighton with an assist, and key players like Danny Ballard were crucial to their success. For Sunderland, a strong start is vital, and with Burnley as their next opponent, they have an opportunity to accumulate six points from two matches, reaching 15% of the typical 40-point safety target early in the season.
Champions League Qualifying
Final Round of Champions League Qualifying Underway
The final seven group stage positions in the UEFA Champions League are currently being contested over the next fortnight, with 14 teams battling in the concluding qualification round ahead of next week`s draw.
Notable contenders include three former Champions League winners – Benfica, Celtic, and Crvena zvezda – alongside Scottish powerhouse Rangers and Bodo/Glimt, who impressively reached the UEFA Europa League semifinals last season, marking a first for a Norwegian club. These two-legged ties will unfold over this week and next, with the victor of each series on aggregate score advancing to the league phase. The pairings are:
- Ferencvaros vs. Qarabag
- Crvena zvezda vs. Pafos
- Bodo/Glimt vs. Sturm Graz
- Celtic vs. Kairat
- Basel vs. Copenhagen
- Fenerbahce vs. Benfica
- Rangers vs. Club Brugge
Tuesday`s key fixture is in Glasgow, where Rangers face Club Brugge in a clash of European regulars. Rangers, after two consecutive Europa League Round of 16 appearances, seek their first Champions League qualification since 2022-23, while Club Brugge aims to re-enter the competition following their unexpected advancement past Atalanta to the Round of 16. Also on Tuesday, Crvena zvezda hosts Cyprus` Pafos, and Qarabag visits Ferencvaros.
However, Tuesday`s matches are just a prelude to the most anticipated encounter: Fenerbahce versus Benfica. Almost precisely 25 years after Benfica provided Jose Mourinho with his inaugural managerial position at 37, the esteemed coach now faces the challenge of guiding Fenerbahce into the Champions League by overcoming his former team. Fenerbahce endured a demanding qualification path, defeating Robin van Persie`s Feyenoord 6-4 on aggregate in the prior round. Beyond Mourinho`s personal narrative, the stakes are exceptionally high for Fenerbahce, as they strive for their first Champions League campaign since 2008-09. This heightened pressure did not deter Mourinho from making bold statements after their victory over Feyenoord.
“I believe Benfica would have preferred Feyenoord. They are aware of our strength and know it won`t be an easy match for them. But we are ready. I want to play, the fans want to play, the players want to play. This competition is crucial financially and for prestige. We are facing strong teams, first Feyenoord, now Benfica; it’s not a simple playoff. Honestly, I don`t think Benfica is pleased with this draw.”
Key Football News
- Man Utd-Arsenal takeaways: Analysis of the mixed performances from Manchester United and Arsenal on Sunday, along with insights into the Gunners` winning strategy despite imperfections.
- Reijnders` strong start: Tijjani Reijnders` impactful Premier League debut for Manchester City, scoring in their 4-0 win and demonstrating his potential as a successor to Kevin de Bruyne.
- EPL overreactions: A look at common overreactions following the opening weekend of Premier League matches.
- High temps in Kansas City: The NWSL match between Kansas City Current and Orlando Pride faced significant delays due to extreme heat.
- USMNT players score: Christian Pulisic started his season with a goal for AC Milan in the Coppa Italia, while Josh Sargent`s form for Norwich City might prompt Mauricio Pochettino to reconsider the forward.
- Real Madrid`s delayed start: Real Madrid`s opening LaLiga match was postponed to Tuesday due to their Club World Cup semifinal participation.
- Liverpool fan arrested: An incident involving a Liverpool fan arrested for alleged racist abuse towards Bournemouth`s Antoine Semenyo during Friday`s match at Anfield.
Betting Insights
Premier League: Leeds United vs. Everton, Monday, 3 p.m.
THE PICK: Thierno Barry to score (+280)
Everton has high expectations after a strong summer transfer window, and while Jack Grealish gained more attention, Thierno Barry could be their most exciting new addition. Although forwards often need time to adapt to the Premier League, as demonstrated by Viktor Gyokeres` debut, the initial schedule favors Everton. Leeds United, despite their admirers, is a newly promoted team facing a tough fight against relegation. This fixture could provide an ideal opportunity for Barry to make a strong start to his English career.
