The Euro Preview: Madrid and Rome derbies highlight weekend games

It’s a big derby weekend in Spain with Real taking on Atletico, while in Italy there’s Roma-Lazio and Juventus renew their rivalry with Napoli.

La Liga

We’ve finally reached a point of the season where the big teams start to face each other. The first big game of the Spanish season is the Madrid derby on Saturday at the Santiago Bernabeu, where Atletico take on Real Madrid.

The game is a rematch of the last month’s Super Cup. The Rojiblancos, who captured the Europa League last season, defeated Real Madrid 4-2 on Aug. 15 in the Estonian capital, Tallinn.

Real, tied for first place with Barcelona with 13 points, are coming off a 3-0 loss to Sevilla on Wednesday, while Atletico, led by Diego Costa and Antoine Griezmann, won their clash against newly-promoted Huesca 3-0.

“We are getting back into our groove, being comfortable on the ball and together as one,” Atletico defender Filipe Luis said after the match. “Little by little we are getting back to our best. We need to get used to winning again. We had a tough start to the campaign, and we always demand so much of ourselves here and you can’t always be at your best. We’re on the right track.”

Barcelona, meanwhile, host Atletico Bilbao on Saturday at the Camp Nou. Barca also lost midweek, to Leganes 2-1, making it the first time both they and Real lost on the same matchday since January 2015. Lionel Messi remains in fine form, and will be hoping to power his side to another victory as the league champions look to break away from Real and Atletico.

In other key matchups: Espanyol travel to play Rayo Vallecano on Friday, while Real Sociedad host Valencia the following day.

Serie A

Italy’s top flight is also filled with a high-profile derby this weekend, following a midweek matchday, as well as a familiar top-of-the-table clash between two very familiar title contenders.

First up is the derby on Saturday, with Roma taking on Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico. Roma, after a slow start, need to get back to winning ways if they want to contend for the title. Lazio also need a victory to keep pace with the top of the table. Lazio are in a much better position, after picking up 12 points over six games and catapulting to third place. Roma, on the other hand, have just eight points in as many games.

The other big game later the same day is the Juve-Napoli clash at the Allianz Stadium in Turin. Juventus, currently in first with 18 points, take on a surging Napoli side that are just three points behind them. The two traded blows all last season. Napoli beat Juve 1-0 down the stretch, but the Bianconeri captured the scudetto in what was the tightest title race in Europe.

Juve manager Massimiliano Allegri told reporters on Wednesday following as 2-0 win against Bologna that the upcoming clash against Napoli “will be a beautiful match.” We certainly hope so.

Bundesliga

The German top flight is also coming off midweek action as first-place Bayern Munich play at Hertha Berlin on Friday, while second-place Borussia Dortmund, just two points behind, play the following day in Leverkusen against Bayer.

Bayern are coming off a 1-1 draw at home against Augsburg. BVB trounced Nurnberg 7-0 on Wednesday with goals coming from six players and two assists from Christian Pulisic, as they try to keep pace with the defending league champions.

Bayern will have their hands full against Hertha, who with 10 points are a surprise fourth. Werder Bremen, meanwhile, are in second place with 11 points. They take on Stuttgart on Saturday with a shot at first place.

In another must-see game on Saturday will feature fifth-place Borussia Monchengladbach play at sixth-place Wolfsburg.