Weekend Football Preview: Key Matches Ahead

Every Friday, I’ll highlight the most anticipated football matches of the upcoming weekend from various leagues worldwide, including thrilling derbies, crucial showdowns, and the debut of new managerial appointments.

This week, we’ll delve into fixtures in England, Spain, France, Germany, and Morocco featuring a major derby, a title decider, notable league debuts, and an exciting tournament final.

Derby Clash in Eastern France

Strasbourg vs. Metz
Ligue 1, Matchday 18
Kickoff: Sunday, 9 a.m. ET / 2 p.m. GMT

The derby in Eastern France is set to take place! Metz returns to the top tier after last summer’s promotion and will face their intense rivals Strasbourg in a charged atmosphere this Sunday.

In their previous encounter in August, Strasbourg emerged victorious on the road. However, the dynamic has shifted, as coach Gary O’Neil has taken over from Liam Rosenior (who departed for Chelsea), and star striker Emmanuel Emegha remains sidelined due to injury. It’s expected that Strasbourg will employ a back four, moving away from the back three previously utilized.

A new chapter begins, but tensions remain high, with expected protests against the BlueCo ownership due to its detrimental impact on the French club. Strasbourg sits seventh in the standings, six points adrift of fifth and eight points from UEFA Champions League qualification. A win here is crucial as they prepare for more challenging fixtures against Lille, Paris Saint-Germain, AS Monaco (Coupe de France), and Marseille.

Metz urgently needs the points as they languish at the bottom of the table with only three victories in their first 17 games. The relegation battle is tight, with only six points separating 18th and 13th place, making a win pivotal for manager Stephane Le Mignan, who is under significant pressure.

MY PREDICTION: Strasbourg 3 – 1 Metz. O’Neil’s league debut is set to be a success in what promises to be a vibrant atmosphere, leading his team to victory over the struggling Metz.

Can Arbeloa Turn Things Around at Real?

Real Madrid vs. Levante
LaLiga, Matchday 20
Kickoff: Saturday 8 a.m. ET / 1 p.m. GMT

Where to begin with Real Madrid’s tumultuous start to 2026? After suffering a loss to Barcelona in the Spanish Supercopa final, the club parted ways with Xabi Alonso, only to be knocked out of the Copa del Rey by second-tier Albacete under new coach Alvaro Arbeloa.

Facing Levante, currently near the bottom of the table, seems fortuitous for Madrid. However, Levante has shown competitiveness away from home, sitting mid-table in away performance despite their lackluster overall results with only three wins this season.

Since Luis Castro took charge, Levante secured a convincing 3-0 win over Sevilla and drew 1-1 against Espanyol. The focus this Saturday will be on how Real Madrid attempts to navigate their crisis. While still trailing Barcelona by just four points in the LaLiga title race, they must improve defensively and surpass Levante to gain momentum.

Kylian Mbappé’s absence due to injury complicates matters further as the club gears up for a Champions League encounter with Monaco next week.

MY PREDICTION: Real Madrid 2 – 0 Levante. Although the match may be challenging, trailing from their previous defeat, Real shouldn’t miss the opportunity to claim a victory against Levante.

Tension in Manchester: A Pivotal Derby

Manchester United vs. Manchester City
Premier League, Matchday 21
Kickoff: Saturday, 7:30 a.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. GMT

This match marks the beginning of Michael Carrick’s tenure as the interim manager of Manchester United, stepping in until season’s end. Carrick faces a daunting task right away with a derby against title contenders Manchester City.

Though he might have preferred an easier start, Carrick will need to confront one of the league’s top teams early on. The expectations for United are high; fans hope for a solid back four, a resurgence from Bruno Fernandes in his role, and effective play from forwards Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha, and Bryan Mbeumo.

On the other side, City is experiencing some inconsistency and will be looking to capitalize on their opponents’ rebuilt momentum. Despite some mismatched results recently, newcomers like Antoine Semenyo have showcased their ability to make an immediate impact.

Erling Haaland has become a point of concern, as he has struggled to score from open play over the last five matches, though the expectation remains that he will contribute this weekend.

MY PREDICTION: Manchester United 1 – 2 Manchester City. United has performed decently against top clubs lately, but it may not suffice to halt their rivals’ quest for the title.

Bayern’s Quest for Consistency Continues

RB Leipzig vs. Bayern Munich
Bundesliga, Matchday 18
Kickoff: Saturday, 12:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. GMT

Bayern aims to mirror their highly successful first half of the season as they kick off 2026 against RB Leipzig, one of their strongest opponents thus far. This match will be the first of three challenging away games against top contenders before they head to Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen.

Leipzig currently sits third and is eager to take revenge for an earlier 6-0 humiliation at the hands of Bayern earlier in the season. While Leipzig will look to put pressure on the Bayern defense, they must avoid making costly mistakes against this offensive juggernaut.

With standout performances from Harrry Kane and Michael Olise, Bayern remains formidable, and young talents are emerging as key contributors.

MY PREDICTION: RB Leipzig 1 – 3 Bayern Munich. Despite the challenge, Bayern is on track to maintain their unbeaten league record and should find a way to secure another victory against Leipzig.

The African Final: Morocco vs. Senegal

Morocco vs. Senegal
Africa Cup of Nations, Final
Kickoff: Sunday, 2 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. GMT

The Africa Cup of Nations culminates with a showdown between Morocco and Senegal, widely regarded as the two top teams in the tournament. The final will showcase star players Achraf Hakimi and Sadio Mané, ensuring a charged atmosphere from both sets of supporters.

Morocco holds significant advantages historically, having won six out of seven finals hosted on home soil. However, Senegal possesses valuable experience from previous AFCON finals, adding to the suspense surrounding the match-up.

While Morocco’s robust organization proved effective in their semifinal against Nigeria, they must maintain composure and manage expectations to clinch the title on home soil.

MY PREDICTION: Morocco 2 – 1 Senegal. Given their statistical edge and home advantage, Morocco is favored to prevail, but Senegal’s pedigree should ensure a tightly contested final.