Super Sunday: Previewing five cracking clashes

There's simply no other place to be this Sunday than in front of the TV watching football. Here are the five biggest matches across Europe. 

 Barcelona vs Real Madrid

El Clásico, arguably the biggest club game on the planet season on season, and it's a fixture that Real Madrid has dominated in very recent memory, with Los Blancos winning the last three LaLiga H2Hs. Barcelona's recent mini-revival at home has seen them win from behind against Valencia and scored exactly three times in each of their last two top-flight outings at Nou Camp, and they'll also be buoyed by news that wonderkids Pedri and Ansu Fati have signed new long-term deals at the club. They'll battle to contain a Real Madrid attack that has already scored 22 times in eight matches though, so we should see goals here.  

Man United vs Liverpool

United's 4-2 reverse at Leicester snapped their 29-game unbeaten run on the road in the EPL and they've now picked up just a single point from their last three matches. They did produce a fine comeback from two goals down to triumph 3-2 over Atalanta on Wednesday night in the Champions League, which will be a timely boost. Jürgen Klopp's Reds hit five past Watford at the weekend and on Tuesday they became the first side ever to score three goals against a Diego Simeone-coached team away from home in the Champions League. It was also the first home defeat that Atléti has suffered in the Champions League since 2017. In Mohamed Salah they boast arguably the hottest footballer on the planet right now, with the Egyptian's goal at the Wanda Metropolitano making him the first Reds player ever to score in nine consecutive matches for the club.  

Roma vs Napoli

Napoli is the only side across Europe's top five leagues with a 100% record this season. They had the red-hot Victor Osimhen to thank for a late win against Torino last time out, making it eight from eight for Luciano Spaletti's team in Serie A. Roma has alternated neatly between losses and wins in their last five, highlighting an inconsistency that is plaguing a talented young team under new boss José Mourinho. Can Napoli extend their incredible start to the season? They've won four of the last five Serie A H2Hs, scoring 13 goals in that sequence, so the omens are good.  

 Inter vs Juventus

It's the defending Italian champions against the team they deposed. The Nerazzurri's Scudetto win in 2021 eased Juve's stranglehold on the Italian title this millennium, and 2021-22 didn't start well for Massimiliano Allegri's men. Juve has steadied the ship after a wretched start though, now finding themselves just three points behind Inter ahead of kickoff. The Old Lady is returning to its old ways with four consecutive wins across all competitions by an identical 1-0 scoreline. Old habits die hard. With Napoli and Milan setting a searing pace at the summit, both sides will feel they must win here to keep pace. Inter hasn't kept a clean sheet in any of their last seven Serie A outings, whereas Juve has won 1-0 consecutively against Torino and Roma, results sandwiched between excellent Champions League wins over Chelsea and Zenit. It's a fascinatingly-poised heavyweight encounter that should deliver the goods.  

Marseille vs PSG

Matteo Guendouzi, on-loan from Arsenal, bagged two goals and an assist in OM's impressive home win last time out against Lorient. They're now 10 points behind league leaders PSG but with a game in hand, setting Les Phocéens up nicely for a daunting clash with none other than PSG this Sunday. Judging by their recent form, though, Marseille shouldn't feel overawed. By the way, Dimitri Payet assisted three of Marseille's four goals against Lorient, so the old magician is back to his old tricks. PSG had to come from behind in midweek against RB Leipzig, but come from behind they did, thanks to a brace from Lionel Messi and a lovely swept finish by Kylian Mbappé following a devastating counter-attack. This is exactly the type of heavyweight Ligue 1 fixture where Messi will want to leave his indelible mark. We cannot wait for the drama to unfold.