We have a full on weekend of derby games and serious tests for some of the sides who’ve shined brightest so far. We start with United vs. City, and take a look at the Championship, Barcelona’s freescoring ways, plus check in on MLS.
United and City lock horns
Alarm bells were ringing for Enzo Maresca’s Manchester City in the post-Pep era after a humbling defeat to Arsenal in the Community Shield.
City’s answer was to spend big in the final days of the transfer window, and they arrive at Old Trafford boasting a 100% record and an in-form Erling Haaland, who’s scored five goals in his last three matches across all competitions.
Only Maresca’s City and Arsenal have a 100% record after three rounds in the Premier League
He’ll face a United defence which has conceded two or more goals in each of their first three league matches for just the second time in 50 years (thanks, Opta Joe). United’s start to the season has been streaky, despite a summer midfield rebuild and signs of a formidable attack.
Michael Carrick started his reign with United’s 2-0 win over City at Old Trafford in January. A repeat would be exactly the kickstart United need.
Red meets Blue in Manchester at 16:30 on Sunday.
Barcelona’s ruthless attack is firing on all cylinders
Free-scoring Barcelona have been in unstoppable attacking form this season. Hansi Flick’s rampant side boast a 100% win record and sit top of LaLiga, having scored 17 goals in four games.
Barcelona’s 17 league goals in just four games have come from five different players
In the midweek Champions League action, the Blaugrana smashed Feyenoord 5-1 at Camp Nou, ensuring they’ve netted five times for the fourth time this campaign and the third match running.
Raphinha has been particularly devastating, the Brazilian’s six LaLiga strikes make him just the second player after Lionel Messi to score this many goals at this stage of the season since the turn of the century.
It’s not just Raphinha on fire going forward – Fermín López and Lamine Yamal both also have four goals each to their names, while summer signing Anthony Gordon is the division’s top creator with four assists.
We can only wish the best of luck to Levante, who escaped relegation on goal difference last season and currently sit 11th this time around.
Who’s leading the pack in the EFL Championship?
The Championship never fails to disappoint.
Following a winless three-game streak to kick off their return to the second tier, West Ham United have now hit their stride, registering a trio of victories with 10 goals scored in the process. The recent 3-2 win over Bolton Wanderers lifted them to second and another opportunity to continue this momentum beckons on Friday night as Nuno Espírito Santo’s men host Wrexham.
West Brom’s Jimmy-Jay Morgan leads the Championship for Goals + Assists
West Ham only trail surprise-package West Bromwich Albion, who, under former midfielder James Morrison, are two points clear at the top.
Meanwhile, at the wrong end of the table, Burnley are one of only two teams in the 24 strong division without a win, alongside newly-promoted Cardiff City. The struggling Clarets get a chance to rectify this damning statistic against high-flying Welsh side Swansea on Saturday.
Familiar Glaswegian foes meet again
The battle lines have been drawn in Glasgow as we’re set for an Old Firm double-header over the next two Sundays. Rangers and Celtic first face off in a Scottish League Cup quarter-final at Ibrox, and then again back in the Premiership in another seven days time.
The Old Firm met six times last season, with Celtic taking three wins
Last season, Celtic squeezed past Rangers in both cup competitions, but didn’t beat them in any of their three regular Premiership matches. The Hoops got their revenge with a 3-1 victory in their second-phase Championship Group in May, before going on to dramatically claim the title in a final day showdown against Hearts.
Rangers will want to swiftly forget about last season after seeing Celtic clinch yet another league and cup double. Derek McInnes’ side are already five points adrift of their Glaswegian enemies, with Celtic winning all six of their league games.
A League Cup triumph for Rangers could be the tonic to offset Celtic’s dominance in the league, with these upcoming Old Firm derbies having the power to completely dictate the rest of the season.
A defining Eastern Conference clash between the top two
MLS is serving up a mouthwatering contest this weekend as Inter Miami entertain Eastern Conference leaders Nashville in Florida.
Although they possess Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez, Casemiro and Rodrigo De Paul, Inter Miami are currently nine points behind Nashville, who are marching towards the Supporters’ Shield.
Nashville lead Inter Miami in the Eastern Conference and Supporters’ Shield
Their previous meeting unfolded in nightmare fashion for Miami, with Nashville breezing to a comprehensive 4-1 victory and Messi having a first-half penalty saved.
The intrigue is heightened by the fact that it pits the Conference’s best attack (Miami, 59 goals scored) against the league’s most formidable defence (Nashville, 19 goals conceded).
With one win in their previous seven MLS games, Miami have to throw everything at the leaders.
David vs Goliath in the Bundesliga
Regular Assist newsletter faves Elversberg are playing in their first-ever Bundesliga season after winning promotion to the German top-flight in May. Despite all odds, they’ve opened their account with thrilling back-to-back wins against Bayer Leverkusen (3-2) and Borussia Mönchengladbach (4-3).
With three promotions in five years, Elversberg’s story is a fairytale, and the next instalment of their epic sees the minnows welcome Bavarian giants Bayern Munich to the tiny municipality of Spiesen-Elversberg.
Bayern are in uncharted territory, and not in their customary, trailblazing way.
Following their goalless draw with Schalke last Saturday – Bayern’s first match without scoring in 47 games – Vincent Kompany’s side head into Matchday 3 in sixth place. It’s the first time in two full calendar years that Bayern aren’t occupying the top spot in the Bundesliga.
Elversberg’s stadium can usually house the full population of the town but currently has a reduced capacity!
Friday: West Ham can move top of the Championship if they can record what would be their fourth straight win at home to Wrexham.
In Serie A, Venezia and Fiorentina are hoping to get their first points of the season. And it’s a similar story in Germany, where Union Berlin and Schalke are both looking for a first win.
Sevilla vs. Valencia is a clash between two sleep-y giants in LaLiga, the away side having scored just once so far. Unbeaten Rennes at at home to Marseille in France, while AZ Alkmaar are out to make it six wins from six in the Eredivisie when they play Willem II.
Saturday: It’s another seven game mega-day in the Premier League, starting with Bournemouth vs. Brentford at lunchtime. Third placed Hull City go to fourth placed Chelsea at 3pm, while Liverpool play host to Fulham at the same time.
Will Tottenham ever score again? A home game vs. Everton is their next chance to break their duck for the season. And then it’s off to the Stadium of Light for the late game between Sunderland and Arsenal.
Augsburg are the surprise leaders after two rounds in Germany, albeit four teams have six points from six. They play Bayer Leverkusen while Dortmund, another side on maximum points are at home to promoted Paderborn.
Real Madrid aim to get back to winning ways in their league campaign when they play fellow capital city side Rayo Vallecano at the Bernabéu. Liam Rosenior’s Paris FC - second in Ligue 1, face Lyon - who sit third.
And in Serie A, Lazio vs. Milan determines who will end the day on top of the table.
Sunday: In a typically early kick-off, Rangers meet Celtic for the first time this season, at the quarter-final stage of the Scottish League Cup.
The Manchester Derby - United against City is the stand out game in the fourth round of the Premier League campaign, with Coventry vs. Brighton the only other fixture on the slate for Sunday.
Levante face the freescoring Barcelona in LaLiga. Hansi Flick’s defending champions have netted 17 goals in their four games while the home side’s five goals for the season all came in the one game they’ve won!
A trip to Brest is next up for PSG, who are on an unfathomable four-game domestic run without a win. Napoli have had a bad couple of results as well, but they have a home game against Bologna to concentrate on this weekend.
And in Germany, newly promoted minnows Elversberg host the mighty Bayern Munich, pitting the tiniest-ever top flight side against the most successful.
Lastly, Genk vs. Gent is always one of our favourite sound-alike oddities in the match feed, but this time it has the added bonus of having some impact on the top of the table in Belgium, with Gent starting the weekend two points clear after five games.
Bradley Barcola recorded the fastest speed of the season on his Premier League debut
For the first time, FotMob now carries physical data stats for the Premier League (and the Champions League). That means you are able to track metrics such as fastest speed, total distance covered, total time spent running and number of sprints.
All the data is available on a player, team, or league basis, and also per 90 minutes, giving you a gauge on who is putting a shift in at your club, but also how that high press compares with other teams in the division.
As it stands, Bradley Barcola has produced the top speed recorded this season (35 km/h) - and on his debut to boot! Fulham have run more than anyone else per match (120km to Arsenal’s 119.9!) and 34-year-old Thomas Meunier, now at Sunderland, has covered the most distance per 90 (12.4km).
