Weekend predictions: Pressure on Man United, Carrick already? Wrexham to beat Birmingham?
Late August is no time to hit the panic button, but another loss against a promotion side may well send Manchester United into crisis. PLUS: We head to Germany for the start of the Bundesliga, and Wrexham vs. Birmingham face-off.
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Ahead of every weekend, I pick the best or most exciting games not to be missed in the world of football. From derbies to top-of-the-table clashes, relegation six-pointers to world-class players facing each other, or other interesting tactical battles, there will be something for everyone to enjoy.
This week, we cover the start of the German Bundesliga, two massive derbies, a clash between Champions League teams, and some managers under pressure too.
- Carlisle: Who are the USMNT's brightest U21 prospects bound for Europe? - Tighe: 10 players who could still move before the transfer window closes - Julián Álvarez transfer saga: Will he join Barça, Arsenal? Stay at Atlético?
Barça hoping to keep their strong start going Barcelona vs. Rayo Vallecano
The defending champions enjoyed their first home game of the season on Thursday against Athletic Club, and are back at Camp Nou on Monday to face Rayo Vallecano. In their opener, we saw how sharp they were away from home, destroying Elche 5-0 with energy, flair and efficiency. Oh, and it was a very experimental lineup: Raphinha played as the No. 9 in the absence of a real striker in the squad after the departures of Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres, and was outstanding in his new role. He did everything: leading the press, scoring, running, setting up teammates and fighting for everything in the attacking third. Anthony Gordon came off the bench to dish two assists, and Fermín López was also excellent in the No. 10 role. Even with an interesting defensive set-up -- Eric García at right back, 19-year-old Xavi Espart at left back -- Barcelona were solid.
Manager Hansi Flick will have some key players even sharper physically this weekend and, while that's scary for any opposition, it's especially difficult for Rayo given that they're expected to struggle this season. They have lost promising manager Inigo Perez, who left for Villarreal, and some key players like center back Nobel Mendy (to Hull City) and full back Pep Chavarría (to Chelsea). They have not won a game so far this season, with a defeat at Sevilla and home draw against Alavés.
MY PREDICTION: Barcelona 3-0 Rayo Vallecano. There will be no real match, as Barcelona will toy with Rayo. Lamine Yamal was quiet in his first competitive game of the season, but I expect him to be much sharper and decisive in this game. Flick will even be able to rotate for his third game in eight days without it changing the outcome.
Carrick did so well after taking over in January that expectations are high now, especially after their impressive transfer business helped their midfield (Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa, Carlos Baleba from Brighton & Hove Albion, and Andrey Santos from Chelsea). The team didn't look right at Hull and Carrick needs to rally his players and gain some momentum ahead of some difficult games: at Everton in Matchday 3 and hosting Manchester City in Matchday 4.
Ipswich started their latest era in the Premier League with a last-minute 2-1 win against Sunderland. They have invested heavily in the summer, with an outlay of £150 million to recruit both experience (midfielders Sasa Lukic from Fulham and Florentino Luís from Burnley, forward Daizen Maeda from Celtic) and youth (winger Julio Enciso and defender Abdoul Ouattara from Strasbourg, forward Emersonn from Toulouse). They were intense and coherent tactically last weekend against Sunderland, but this is going to be a much tougher game for them. They will have a plan to try frustrate United and hit them in transition.
MY PREDICTION: Man United 2-1 Ipswich Town. Ipswich have nothing to lose when they head to Old Trafford. The pressure is all on Carrick and United, but I think they will bounce back and get a win on Sunday afternoon. They will improve their performance compared to last weekend, which should be enough to get a win.
Late August is no time to hit the panic button, but another loss against a promoted side may well send Manchester United into crisis already. George Wood/Getty Images Bayern face a tough opening-day opponent Bayern Munich vs. VfB Stuttgart German Bundesliga, Matchday 1 Kickoff: Friday, 2:30 p.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. BST The Bundesliga starts this weekend, with the champions Bayern hosting Stuttgart at the Allianz Arena. Vincent Kompany and his players won the German Supercup last weekend, beating Borussia Dortmund and looking excellent in the first half. Jamal Musiala won't be back in the squad this weekend, and Kompany played new signing Nathaniel Brown in the No. 10 role against Dortmund, despite him usually being a left back or central midfielder. It worked.
No team in Germany are really strong enough to beat Bayern at home, and the addition of Brown but also Ismael Saibari, the Morocco international forward, makes them even stronger than last season. Even with the Champions League being the biggest priority this season, they should still walk to a 10th league title in the past 11 seasons.
Still, Stuttgart are a tough team to open with. They finished fourth last season and have qualified for the Champions League again. Sebastian Hoeness is doing a great job there, and they have added some good players to the squad (with the likes of forward Dzenan Pejcinovic and winger Leo Sauer) without losing any of their key players, either. At least they are playing their toughest game of the season first and getting it out of the way.
MY PREDICTION: Bayern Munich 3-1 Stuttgart. I can't see Stuttgart stopping Bayern. Bayern picked up where they left off at the end of last season vs. Dortmund, though I expect them to control this game for longer. There will be loads of goals, chances and shots between two teams who have put up 14 goals between them in their last three encounters (Bayern won 3-0, 4-2 and 5-0).
For City and Enzo Maresca, the context is not too different. His City side did win their first game, against Bournemouth, but only in the last minute and via a very unconvincing performance. Maresca even admitted that he didn't know his best starting XI, having played defender Marc Guéhi in central midfield. There are a lot of question marks over Maresca's ability to succeed Pep Guardiola and start a new successful cycle at the club after nearly a decade of almost uninterrupted success.
So both new managers have a lot to lose. They need positives, either in result, performance, or both. City striker Erling Haaland didn't score in matchday one and missed two big chances, so he will be eager to kick-start his season, but if Rayan Cherki starts, he might have a more reliable supply of opportunities.
MY PREDICTION: Crystal Palace 1-1 Manchester City. City are still trying to find their feet in this new Maresca era, as we saw last weekend, and it's quite similar for Palace and Sage. The home support will be key in this game, and Palace should take advantage of it to get a point.
On the other hand, Como and manager Cesc Fabregas will offer something totally different. It will be intensity, high press and counter pressing. No other team in Italy really play like Como and, after qualifying for the Champions League, they have recruited well -- Nico Paz on a permanent deal, defender Trevoh Chalobah from Chelsea, and full back Yan Couto on loan from Borussia Dortmund. Despite their draw against Udinese in the first game of the season, they should be stronger on Sunday.
MY PREDICTION: Napoli 1-2 Como. I don't think Allegri should have been given the Napoli job. His style is too negative for the players they have and he is not going to be able to motivate his squad like Conte could. Fabregas will fancy Como's chances in a game like this, even away from home, and will take the three points.
Max Allegri is Napoli's new boss, but is he the right fit? Giuseppe Maffia/NurPhoto A fiery French derby on the Mediterranean AS Monaco vs. Marseille French Ligue 1, Matchday 2 Kickoff: Sunday, 2:45 p.m. ET / 7:45 p.m. BST The first Mediterranean derby of the season is here. Marseille and Monaco both won their opening game in Ligue 1, l'OM at home against Strasbourg, while Monaco went to Le Havre to get three points. Both performances were very promising for the two new managers, Bruno Genesio and Filipe Luis.
Genesio is one of the best managers in Ligue 1, coming off run of successful seasons with Lyon, Stade Rennais and Lille. He is seemingly immune to pressure and is also almost 20 years older than his counterpart, Filipe Luis. The 41-year-old Brazilian was a really good player and quickly became a very good manager at Flamengo in Brazil, where he won everything. Monaco is his first job in Europe, though the club have high expectations given his promise.
Both teams are coming off difficult summers in which they had to move or release key players due to financial restrictions, which have also prevented them from recruitment, though there will still be a lot of talent on the pitch with the likes of forward Igor Paixão (Marseille), playmaker Aleksandr Golovin (Monaco), winger Tim Weah (Marseille) and midfielder Lamine Camara (Monaco). Both managers have been given the target of a top-four finish and Champions League qualification that the clubs missed out on last season. (Instead, Marseille will be in the Europa League, and Monaco in the Conference League.) So this game is already very important, and the two sets of fans have had animosity for each other since the Bernard Tapie/Arsène Wenger era of the 1990s.
MY PREDICTION: Monaco 2-2 Marseille. I think it will be a spectacular game, with two attacking teams going for it. Monaco played in the Conference League qualifiers on Thursday so won't be as fresh as Marseille and that could make a difference late in the game.
USMNT star Tim Weah will be looking to make his mark as Marseille take on Monaco on Sunday. Yohan Castella/Eurasia Sport Images A Hollywood battle between two Championship rivals Wrexham vs. Birmingham City English Championship, Matchday 3 Kickoff: Friday, 3 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. BST The derby of the Championship clubs with famous North American owners is back. It's Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac's Wrexham vs. Tom Brady's Birmingham City, and the teams have had exactly the same start to the season so far: two games, two 1-1 draws, two points apiece with the same goal difference, goals scored and goals conceded. They are 13th and 14th in the second-tier right now, far from their objective of a top-eight finish, but at least they are still unbeaten.
The rivalry, as we saw last season -- especially in the Blues' 2-0 win at home in April, which was a blow to their rivals' hope for the playoffs -- is getting bigger. They share the same ambitions on the pitch and off it, with another busy summer for both. Their investment has been significant again, with roughly £20 million spent by Wrexham to land the likes of goalkeeper Anthony Patterson (from Sunderland), midfielder Benjamin Whiteman (from Preston North End) and defender Jacques Ekomié (from Angers); and a similar amount by Birmingham with the likes of goalkeeper James Beadle (on loan from Brighton), midfielder Jhon Solis (from Girona) and forward Luis Vázquez (from Anderlecht).
Both managers, Phil Parkinson and Chris Davies, have better squads and quality of players now, they just need a first win to kickstart what they hope to be a successful season.
MY PREDICTION: Wrexham 2-1 Birmingham. I almost went for another draw, which would be the third in three games for both teams, but I think Wrexham will get a narrow win. There is not much between the two teams on paper, but the home support will make the difference.
First Brussels derby of the season Union St.-Gilloise vs. Anderlecht
The first derby of Brussels between Union St.-Gilloise and Anderlecht is here and the tension will be high. Last season USG destroyed their rivals three times (5-1 and twice 3-1) to show their superiority. Even though they finished four points behind title-winners Club Brugge in the end, Les Unionistes were comfortably the second-best team in the country. Once again, Union are having a busy summer with lots of departures, including key players (Promise David, Anan Khalaili, Kjell Scherpen all to the Premier League) and the arrivals of unproven young players that David Hubert, the 38-year-old manager, will develop. USG didn't start their season well after being beaten by Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League qualifiers and drew against Zulte-Waregem last weekend.
Anderlecht won their Europa League playoff vs. Kairat, but lost at Beveren at the weekend, though new manager Vitor Bruno is implementing some attacking football and a lot of movement. They too have been busy in the transfer market, but they will expect a lot from their academy stars -- mainly right back Ali Maamar (21) and Joshua Nga Kana, the new 17-year-old prodigy on the wing.
MY PREDICTION: Union St.-Gilloise 3-2 Anderlecht. I think this will be a very open game between two attacking sides. Anderlecht have scored three goals in three of their games so far this season, while USG scored 10 in their three games before their draw with Zulte. I think Union St.-Gilloise will win this one at home too.
