While the Premier League takes centre stage, there's a huge Saturday of football elsewhere in Europe too: Real Madrid look to keep up their perfect start in La Liga, two of the Bundesliga's early pace-setters are in direct early-season tests, Lazio's unbeaten start faces a big test against AC Milan, and Paris FC host Lyon in Ligue 1. Here's our full preview.
Headline Fixtures
| Fixture | Kick-off | Competition |
|---|---|---|
| Lazio v AC Milan | 12:00 | Serie A |
| Borussia Dortmund v Paderborn | 14:30 | Bundesliga |
| Augsburg v Bayer Leverkusen | 14:30 | Bundesliga |
| Paris FC v Lyon | 20:45 | Ligue 1 |
| Real Madrid v Rayo Vallecano | 20:00 | La Liga |
Also Live In The UK
| Fixture | Competition |
|---|---|
| Athletic Club v Elche | La Liga |
| Osasuna v Espanyol | La Liga |
| Genoa v Frosinone | Serie A |
| Atalanta v Cagliari | Serie A |
| Mainz 05 v Eintracht Frankfurt | Bundesliga |
| Hoffenheim v Stuttgart | Bundesliga |
| Strasbourg v Monaco | Ligue 1 |
1. Lazio v AC Milan
Lazio arrive in fine form, coming from behind to win 2-1 at Udinese with goals from Davide Frattesi and Albert Gudmundsson, leaving them unbeaten through their opening three fixtures. AC Milan, by contrast, were held to a 1-1 draw at Juventus and will need a better attacking display if they're to leave the Stadio Olimpico with anything.
Lazio — form guide
- Came from behind to win 2-1 away at Udinese
- Unbeaten through their opening three Serie A fixtures
- Showing real character to fight back from behind in recent weeks
AC Milan — form guide
- Drew 1-1 away at Juventus in their last Serie A outing
- Needed a stoppage-time equaliser to salvage a point in Turin
- Have struggled to find a settled attacking rhythm this season
Lazio's habit of finding a way to win, even from losing positions, gives them the edge over a Milan side who have looked short of ideas in front of goal in their opening matches, and we're backing the hosts to make it three wins from four.
Prediction: Lazio 3-1 AC Milan. Lazio's fighting spirit and home advantage prove too much for a stuttering Milan.
2. Borussia Dortmund v Paderborn
Borussia Dortmund head into this one with two wins from two and looking every bit the early pace-setters, while newly-promoted Paderborn have found life back in the Bundesliga brutally difficult, yet to score a goal in their opening fixtures. This has the look of a home banker on paper.
Borussia Dortmund — form guide
- Won both of their opening two Bundesliga fixtures
- Sit third in the early table with a strong goal difference
- Fought back from behind to beat Villarreal in the Champions League in midweek
Paderborn — form guide
- Yet to score a goal in their opening two Bundesliga matches
- One draw and one defeat since returning to the top flight
- Sit second-bottom of the early Bundesliga table
A Paderborn side without a single goal to their name this season travel to a Dortmund team full of confidence after a dramatic Champions League comeback, and this looks a heavily one-sided contest on paper.
Prediction: Borussia Dortmund 4-0 Paderborn. Dortmund's firepower should be too much for a Paderborn side still searching for their first goal.
3. Augsburg v Bayer Leverkusen
Augsburg's perfect start to the season — two wins out of two and top of the early table — faces its sternest test yet against a Bayer Leverkusen side who have shown their own attacking quality despite a mixed start of one win and one defeat. Both sides have been happy to trade goals so far this season.
Augsburg — form guide
- Won both of their opening two Bundesliga matches
- Top of the early Bundesliga table on goal difference
- Have scored seven goals in their first two league games
Bayer Leverkusen — form guide
- One win and one defeat from their opening two matches
- Have scored six goals in their two games so far this season
- Capable of attacking quality but inconsistent defensively
Two of the Bundesliga's most attack-minded early performers go head to head, and while Augsburg's home form has been eye-catching, Leverkusen's squad depth and quality should just about see them come away from Bavaria with the points in an entertaining, high-scoring game.