It doesn't get much bigger than this. Sunday's schedule is headlined by the Old Firm derby between Celtic and Rangers, with the Madrid derby, a huge relegation six-pointer between Fulham and Manchester United, Bournemouth against Liverpool and Le Classique between Marseille and Paris Saint-Germain also live throughout the day. Here's our preview of the five standout fixtures, along with the rest of the day's televised football.
Today's Five Biggest Games
| Fixture | Kick-off | Competition | TV Channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Celtic v Rangers | 12:00 | Scottish Premiership | Sky Sports Main Event |
| AFC Bournemouth v Liverpool | 14:00 | Premier League | Sky Sports Main Event |
| Atletico Madrid v Real Madrid | 15:15 | La Liga | Premier Sports 1 |
| Fulham v Manchester United | 16:30 | Premier League | Sky Sports Main Event |
| Marseille v Paris Saint-Germain | 19:45 | Ligue 1 | Ligue 1+, Amazon Prime Video PPV |
1. Celtic v Rangers
There is no fixture in world football quite like the Old Firm derby, and this one arrives with a delicious subplot. Celtic go into the game top of the Scottish Premiership and unbeaten in the league all season, but they head into Parkhead on the back of a chastening 3-0 League Cup defeat to their fiercest rivals, a result that has given Rangers real belief. Russell Martin's side have won five league matches in a row and will fancy their chances of a first league double over Celtic in some time.
Celtic — form guide
- Unbeaten in all six Scottish Premiership matches this season
- Lost 3-0 to Rangers in the League Cup quarter-final
- Also beaten 3-1 by Ferencvaros in the Europa League
Rangers — form guide
- Won each of their last five league matches
- Beat Celtic 3-0 in their most recent head-to-head meeting
- Sit second in the table, five points behind the leaders
Celtic's league form remains the best in the country on paper, but Rangers arrive with genuine psychological momentum after that cup victory, and derbies have a habit of throwing up surprises. We're backing the visitors to back up their cup win with a first league victory at Parkhead in some time.
Prediction: Rangers to win. Celtic 1-2 Rangers — the confidence from that cup win carries Russell Martin's side to a huge result.
2. AFC Bournemouth v Liverpool
Liverpool arrive on the south coast in far the sturdier form of the two sides, unbeaten in their last five matches across all competitions, while Bournemouth have struggled to turn promising performances into results, drawing their last two league games against Brentford and Newcastle. Arne Slot's side will fancy their chances of making it three wins on the bounce.
AFC Bournemouth — form guide
- Drew 2-2 at home to Brentford in their last league fixture
- One win, three draws and a defeat across their last five matches
- Sit 15th in the table with three points from four games
Liverpool — form guide
- Drew 0-0 at home to Fulham in their last Premier League outing
- Unbeaten in their last five matches across all competitions
- Won 2-0 away at Ipswich Town earlier this month
Liverpool have been the more reliable side by some distance this season, and while Bournemouth's home form has produced goals at both ends, we expect the Reds' greater quality and consistency to tell on the south coast.
Prediction: Liverpool to win. AFC Bournemouth 1-2 Liverpool — the Reds' steadier form proves the difference in an entertaining game.
3. Atletico Madrid v Real Madrid
The Madrid derby brings together two sides in good form, though Real Madrid arrive with the more convincing recent record. Los Blancos sit second, three points off the top, and come into the game off the back of a dramatic stoppage-time win over Elche, while Atletico Madrid have bounced back from an early-September wobble with successive wins, including a 4-0 thrashing of Osasuna.
Atletico Madrid — form guide
- Beat Osasuna 4-0 in their last La Liga fixture
- Also thrashed Real Sociedad 3-0 in the game before that
- Lost to Athletic Bilbao and Liverpool earlier this month
Real Madrid — form guide
- Won 3-2 at Elche with a stoppage-time winner
- Sit second in La Liga, three points behind the leaders
- Their only league defeat this season came against Real Betis
Both sides have shown they can be vulnerable, but Real Madrid's habit of finding a way to win — even when not at their best, as their late show against Elche proved — gives them the edge in what should be a fierce, tight derby at the Metropolitano.