5 games to watch: Hoffenheim, Dortmund set for showdown

Here are five of the best matches in Europe that you should watch this weekend, including a big Bundesliga showdown on Saturday.

After an incredible week of Champions League and Europa League games, the European leagues offer up some great matchups over the weekend. The top five leagues all offer a game that will have implications on the potential Champions League spots next season. Here are five most worth your time.

5. PSV Eindhoven vs. Ajax — Sunday, Sept. 23, 10:45 a.m. ET (ESPN+)

There are only three teams that have played in every Eredivisie season: PSV, Ajax and Feyenoord. They’ve combined for 56 titles. Whenever the three clubs play each other, there are massive title implications. On Sunday, PSV host Ajax in a game between the two most successful Dutch clubs.

Ajax have won the most Eredivisie titles with 25, but haven’t won since 2014, when they won their fourth consecutive title. Last season, Ajax finished four points behind PSV, who won their third title in the last four years. After five games, PSV are two points ahead of Ajax, after they drew with Heracles Almelo.

The defending champions’ perfect start can be credited to their incredible attack. Mark van Bommel has used a front three of Steven Bergwijn, Luuk de Jong and Hirving Lozano with Gaston Pereiro playing in behind. The four players have combined for 15 of PSV’s last 21 goals. Ajax have kept four straight clean sheets behind the center-back pairing of Daly Blind and Matthijs de Ligt, while keeper Andre Onana has been great. Up front, Ajax are relying on returning club legend Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, who has scored six goals this season.

4. Lyon vs. Marseille – Sunday, Sept. 23, 3:00 p.m. ET (BeIN Sports)

Even before Lyon shocked Manchester City on Wednesday, the game Sunday was big. The Clash of the Olympics is one of the bigger rivalries in France. It’s also one of the tightest derbies in Europe. Lyon hold a one game edge in wins over the 111 games across all competitions. However, Marseille have scored more goals in those games.

Marseille have got off to a better start in Ligue 1, picking up 10 points in their first five games, three more points than Lyon. The addition of Kevin Strootman gives them one of the best midfields with Dimitri Payet and Florian Thauvin. Payet scored one of the best goals of the season last weekend, while Thauvin leads the club with five goals. Nabil Fekir showed exactly why Liverpool wanted him so much in the summer against City. The Lyon midfielder scored and assisted against the Premier League champions and will play a large role against Marseille.

3. Real Madrid vs. Espanyol — Saturday, Sept. 15, 2:45 ET (BeIN Sports)

Real Madrid had their perfect started ended last week against Athletic Bilbao. The three-time reigning Champions League winners are two points behind Barcelona, ahead of their game with Barcelona city rivals Espanyol. After four games, the Espanyol are tied for third in La Liga with seven points.

Real continued their Champions League dominance, beating Roma 3-0 on Wednesday. Gareth Bale has embrace being a large focus of the club with Cristiano Ronaldo gone. The Welsh star scored against Roma and has three La Liga goals this season. Espanyol are far from a flashy club and will play conservatively against Real. This season, they’ve kept two clean sheets and have only scored five goals.

Honorable mention: Getafe vs. Atletico Madrid – Saturday, Sept. 15, 12:30 p.m. ET (BeIN Sports)

Atletico Madrid were expected to challenge Real and Barcelona for the title but have got off to a poor start. Diego Simeone’s side have picked up five points in four games. On Saturday, Atleti play Getafe, who have got off to a good start, picking up seven points.

Atletico are already seven points behind Barcelona. They can’t afford to drop anymore points this early in the season. As good as Atleti are, they can’t dig themselves out of an early hole and catch Barcelona. After a slow start, Diego Costa scored against Monaco, winning their first Champions League game. Atletico are hoping that Costa’s goal against Monaco will get him going in La Liga.

Getafe’s lone loss of the season was in the opening weekend against Real Madrid. The two goals scored by Real are the only goals Getafe have allowed. Angel Rodriguez is off to a great start, scoring three goals this season.

2. AC Milan vs. Atalanta — Sunday, Sept. 23, 12:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

AC Milan and Atalanta were both qualified for Europa League last year and expect to contend for Europe again this season. However, both teams have got off to bad starts and enter the weekend with four point. Needless to say, both teams need a win to climb back into the top half of the table.

Milan drew 1-1 with Cagliari in their last game, with Gonzalo Higuain scoring. Gennaro Gattuso is hoping that is the first of many goals for Higuain in Milan. The Red and Blacks will need Higuain to be near the top of the Serie A goal scoring list if they are going to qualify for Champions League again.

Atalanta have played some wild games this season in Serie A and Europa League qualifying, most notably a 3-3 draw against Roma. However, Gian Piero Gasperini’s side have lost two straight games. Papu Gomez leads the club with two goals and two assists. Over the past two Serie A season, Gomez has combined for 22 goals and 24 assists.

Honorable mention: Sampdoria vs. Inter Milan – Saturday, Sept. 22, 2:30 p.m. ET (ESPN+) and  Inter Milan vs. Fiorentina – Tuesday, Sept. 25, 3:00 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

No team in Europe has a busier week than Inter Milan. On Tuesday, they came from behind to beat Tottenham in Champions League. Saturday, they play Sampdoria and on Tuesday, Sept. 25, Inter host Fiorentina. With three games in a week, Luciano Spalletti will likely have to make changes to his lineup in one of the games.

After getting off to a slow start in Serie A, picking up only four points in four games, Inter are hoping Mauri Icardi’s 85th-minute goal against Spurs kickstarts their season. Icardi scored a Serie A-best 29 goals last season but Tuesday’s goal was his first of the year. Dropping points in the next two games will severely hurt Inter’s chances of finishing the top four.

Sampdoria and Fiorentina enter the weekend tied for fourth with seven points. The two clubs played on Wednesday, settling for a 1-1 draw. Sampdoria’s attack has been strong this season, with Gregoire Defrel, Fabio Quagliarella and Gianluca Caprari combining for eight goals. Fiorentina have a very good attack with Giovanni Simeone and Federico Chiesa that will test Milan’s defense.

1. Hoffenheim vs. Borussia Dortmund — Saturday, Sept. 22, 9:30 a.m. ET (FS1)

Since Julian Nagelsmann took over as manager at Hoffenheim, his club have picked up more points than every team except Bayern. Last season, Dortmund and Hoffenheim finished level on points. This season, Dortmund have got off to a better start with seven points in their first three games, while Hoffenheim have only three points.

Hoffenheim drew with Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League on Wednesday, when Nagelsmann becoming the youngest Champions League manager in history. Adam Szalai has got off to a strong start to the season, scoring three goals, while Andrej Kramaric has taken more of a playmaking role. After beaing Dortmund 3-1 at home last season, Hoffenheim will try to close the gap on Dortmund.

Dortmund needed an 85th minute goal from Christian Pulisic to beat Club Brugge on Wednesday. After missing the past two games, Pulisic’s return gives Dortmund another attacking option as Lucien Favre tries to figure out his best lineup. Favre decided to change formations against Brugge and rested his regular midfield, keeping them fresh for Saturday.

Honorable mention: Schalke vs. Bayern Munich – Sunday, Sept. 22, 12:30 p.m. ET (FS2)

Schalke finished as runners-up to Bayern Munich last season. After three games, Schalke are still looking for their first point of the season. However, they might be catching Bayern at the right time. Despite the perfect start, Bayern injuries are starting to pile up. Kingsley Coman, Corentin Tolisso, Rafinha and Thiago could all miss Saturday’s game. A desperate Schalke team will want to get their first points of the season and end Bayern’s perfect start.