Every Friday starting this week, I will be selecting for you the best or most exciting games not to be missed in the world of football each weekend. From derbies to top-of-the-table clashes, relegation six-pointers to world-class players facing off against each other or other interesting tactical battles, there will be something for everyone to enjoy.
This week, it’s all about derbies and rivalries, so let’s get straight into it!
High stakes on the Mediterranean
Good versus marseille
league 1match day 13
Kickoff: Friday, 2.45pm ET / 7:45pm GMT
The local rivalry between these two and their fans – known as the Derby de la Méditerranée – is so fierce that Marseille supporters are not even allowed to travel to the Allianz Riviera stadium on Fridays as it is considered too dangerous. The stakes are also high, as both teams are desperate to win.
Nice, ninth in the table, has lost three consecutive games and is five points outside the top four. Marseille are second with only two wins from six in all competitions Paris Saint GermainA win takes them top of the league until the Parisians face Le Havre on Saturday.
There is always a lot of drama going on between these two. We have won big in each, 4-1 and 3-0, with 24 goals scored in the last seven matches between them, including one World Player of the Year. louis henrich Last season for L’OM. The rivalry was undoubtedly highlighted in recent seasons when Dimitri Poyet, who was Marseille’s playmaker at the time, was kicked by a Nice ultra who was on the pitch and the game was abandoned in 2021. Payet was targeted by bottles thrown from the stands and he threw one back in retaliation, enraging the Ultras – they then invaded the pitch and clashed with the players!
My prediction: Nice 1, Marseille 3. As manager Roberto De Zerbi highlighted again on Thursday, Marseille have a really good squad. Despite some injuries defensively, they are much better than Nice; I expect them to attack and apply a lot of pressure in their quest for victory.
A big spiteful match for spainthose who struggle
Valencia versus levante
La Liga, matchday 13
Kickoff: Friday, 3pm ET/8pm GMT
On paper, you could say this edition of the Derby del Turia (“Valencian Derby”) is nothing to write home about. After all, these rivals sit 17th and 19th in LaLiga, with four wins (two each) in 24 combined league games this season, as well as a goal difference of -10 and -7 respectively between them after just 12 league matches.
All this is true. Both Valencia and Levante have not been very good so far this season, which should make for an open clash without a clear favourite. But what makes it worthwhile is that it is a huge regional rivalry that dates back to the 1920s. (Valenia holds the all-time lead with 22 wins and 11 draws to Levante’s nine in 42 matches.) To make it even sweeter, this is their first meeting since 2022, as Levante spent much of the season in the Segunda Division ahead of their promotion in 2025-26. Levante have never won at the Mestalla in La Liga – Valencia have won 10 of 16 home league fixtures – and their last road win in any capacity was in 1937!
Many young talented players will perform in this game. of Levante Eta Eyong23 years old cameroon The striker has been one of the revelations of LaLiga so far this season. javi guerraThe 22-year-old is running the midfield for Valencia carlos alvarez (22) The right side of that is very interesting. Tárrega (23) and Moreno (22) are also two solid defenders.
My prediction: Valencia 1, Levante 1Valencia have scored only 11 goals in 12 league games so far, with Levante scoring 16, so don’t count on the game to be very spectacular, but it will be intense, vigorous and competitive, Perfect for draws,
Latest edition of “The New Firm”
FC København vs brondby
Danish Superligaen, matchday 15
Kickoff: Sunday, 8am ET / 11am GMT
The Copenhagen derby is also known as the New Firm and is the fiercest sporting rivalry. denmarkAlthough his first match took place only in 1992. This will be their 133rd meeting overall, with FC København having dominated in recent years: Brøndby have only won five in the last 19 meetings!
Between them, they share 27 Danish league titles (16 for FC København, the most for any team there) and four of the last five: 2021, 2022, 2023 for Brøndby and 2025 for FC København! However, Brøndby have made the better start so far this season. They are second in the table, just one point behind leaders FC Midtjylland and six points behind Copenhagen, who are currently fourth.
With four goals and five assists so far, Mohammed Elyounoussi Is the host’s best player and leader. Jordan LarsonSon of Heinrich, is also a great supporting act, while you will also get a fixed Youssef Moukoko In the squad. (remember that borussia dortmund?) Brøndby may be missing their best player Nikolai Velis (9 G/A this season), but in his place they have promising 21-year-old Filip Bundgaard.
The fact that their start times are so early speaks to the animosity between the two groups of fans, who will have little time to warm up and prepare for the fight.
My prediction: FC Copenhagen 2, Brøndby 2This season there will be goals between two teams who scored a lot and conceded a lot of goals! However, I see no winners between these two attacking sides, even in the hostile environment of Parken!
The steel city derby is covered in rust
Sheffield Wednesday vs Sheffield United
English Championship, Match Day 16
Kickoff: Sunday, 7am ET/12am GMT
It is one of the greatest rivalries in English football history, dating back to 1890! Sunday will be the 147th match between these two teams, United won 51 against 48 on Wednesday! The two stadiums within the city, Hillsborough and Bramall Lane, are only 3.7 miles apart, but the real drama here will come from the chaos surrounding both teams in the post-season.
The drama and tension will be huge, given that United are 22nd with just three wins and Wednesday are 24th and lowest after just one win; They also have the following -4 points His 12-point penaltyThe club were handed over at the start of this season after being placed into administration last month due to their financial difficulties. This came after a long period of turmoil under owner Dezphon Chansiri; Can they return to an even stronger position with a win over their biggest rivals?
It has indeed been a difficult season for both Sheffield clubs. Without their talisman Barry Bannan (three goals, two assists), no one knows where Wednesday would be. Perhaps the same can be said about Callum O’Hare For United: He has four goals and two assists so far.
My Prediction: Sheffield Wednesday 1, Sheffield United 2In partnership with O’Hare tyreese campbell This will be key to Sheffield United’s victory in this derby on Sunday. They will not be able to face him on Wednesday.
North London derby adds spice
armory vs tottenham
Premier Leaguematch day 12
Kickoff: Sunday, 11:30am ET / 4:30pm GMT
It is one of the biggest games in the English calendar, and also one of the fiercest rivalries. This will be the 198th derby between the Gunners and Spurs (84 wins for Arsenal, 62 wins for Tottenham) and it feels like more than just local pride. It’s first versus fifth in the Premier League table, Mikel Arteta versus Thomas Frank, style versus practicality, title ambitions versus top-five ambitions.
Gabriel’s injury absence is a big blow for Arsenal in this game, although the Gunners’ defense should still be very strong piero hincapie Or Riccardo Calafiori He was replaced against a timid Tottenham attack. Spurs’ lack of creativity has been a problem this season, so they need their more talented players to step up: Simmons, Odobert, Kudus if he’s back.
Both teams have suffered major injuries and while Spurs have been the best team away from home in the league so far this season (13 points from five matches), Arsenal are the best team at home among the teams playing five home games (Manchester City Have played six). So it has everything it takes to be a firecracker!
My prediction: Arsenal 2, Tottenham 1Despite not having their strongest XI, Arsenal will still be too strong for their neighbors, even though I still see both teams scoring in this game, Domestic benefits will also be important,
serie a supremacy on the line
Inter Milan Vs. AC Milan
Serie A, matchday 12
Kickoff: Sunday, 2:45 PM ET / 7:45 PM GMT
Next, we have the Derby della Madonnina, named after the statue of the Virgin Mary (or Madonnina) at the top of Milan Cathedral.
Nerazzurri (black and blue) and Rossoneri (Red and Black) have faced each other 244 times since October 1908, shortly after Milan Cricket and Football Club split into two entities, AC Milan and FC Milan internationalBoth clubs have been incredibly successful since then and are fighting for honors again this season, Inter are leading a very tough Serie A campaign, level with Roma and just two points ahead of third-place Milan,
two years ago, Interestist Beating their arch-rivals 5-0 in Serie A, but in their last encounter coppa italia Last season, Milan won 3-0!
I expect it to be a battle of the forwards, because they are two teams that play with two fronts. on one side, lautaro martinez And marcus thurmanother one, take rafale And Christian Pulisic (Who should start next Christopher NkunkuLeao has been in great form with four goals and one assist in his last five matches. Lautaro has been in third place for club and country. This will be epic!
My Prediction: Inter Milan 2, AC Milan 1I think Leao and Pulisic will be a real threat to the Inter defence, but overall the home team are the better team, they are at home and even without the injured Dumfries on the right they will be very strong,
NWSL Championship Final
Kickoff: Saturday, 8pm ET/Sunday, 1am GMT
No team has faced each other more than this in the history of nwsl In comparison, these two will meet for the 44th time on Sunday – their fourth meeting this season (twice in the league, once in the CONCACAF Champions Cup)! And it’s also the playoff final!
So there is everything to play for between two teams that know each other very well, with two Spanish head coaches, a lot of stars (Esther, Geese, Rose Lavelle And Ann-Katrin Berger For Gotham, as well trinity rodman, Croix Bethune, Narumi Miura And Sophia Kantor for the soul) and great young talents (Jadyn Shaw, gift monday, Kisha Sila, Josephine Hasbo), the spectacle will be very special.
Since the summer break, five Spirit players have contributed to five or more goals – Monday (7), Rodman (7), Rosamonde Kouassi (6), Bethune (5), and Cantor (5), which shows the great depth of his talent. But Gotham is the queen of late wins and mental toughness when it comes to money. Plus Esther is now fully back from her injury and ready to roar!
Who will prevail this time? Whoever wins won’t have long to enjoy it as they could also meet again in the CONCACAF Champions Cup semi-finals if they both win their quarter-finals next week!
My Prediction: Washington Spirit 0, Gotham FC 1Despite the amount of firepower that Washington has, I think Gotham will be solid and pull it off and find a way to get Aster on the score sheet for the win in a very tight game,
