#match-preview

#match-preview

Starting with the hosts, extending on their Coppa Italia adventure earlier in the week as they cruised their way to a routine 3-1 victory at home against Empoli, Genoa will be desperate to use that performance as a platform to build on. However, spending large spells of last season looking over their shoulder at a looming relegation scrap, Patrick Vieira's men have once again failed to find any kind of fluidity since opening up the 2025/26 campaign. Last seen falling to a 2-1 defeat away at Bologna, the former Crystal Palace boss has not seen his squad muster a single win from their first four Serie A appearances (two defeats, two draws).

Matias Almeyda's tenure in Seville began with consecutive defeats to Athletic Club and Getafe, results that raised doubts about the Argentine's first steps as a La Liga manager. Yet his side have found a measure of stability since, stringing together a sequence of positive results that has lifted them into mid-table and closer to the European places. After a lively 2-2 home draw with Elche, Sevilla went on to record back-to-back away wins, defeating Girona and most recently Alaves.

"He started the season really well for us but he couldn't make it for [that] one," Skubala said of the 27-year-old Saint Lucia international.

Die Kraichgauer surprised everyone when they secured a 2-1 win over Bayer Leverkusen away from home in their opening league game. Christian Ilzer's side could not carry forward the momentum as they lost 3-1 against Eintracht Frankfurt at home. Last week, they bounced back with a 4-2 victory away at Union Berlin and should enter this game with complete confidence.

Paris Saint-Germain are one of the biggest clubs in the world and were hugely successful last season. Not only did PSG win the Ligue 1 title yet again, but under manager Luis Enrique, they also became the champions of Europe for the first time in history. Luis Enrique's side hammered Serie A club Inter Milan 5-0 in the final of the UEFA Champions League last season.

Neither side were victorious in their respective fixtures across the opening weekend of the 2025-26 campaign, but there should be cause for optimism in both camps. When the two sides met in the league last season, it was the Red Devils who triumphed on both occasions, but only by the slenderest of margins. Although, Marco Silva and company did have the last laugh by beating Man United on penalties in the FA Cup fifth round and will be looking to inflict more misery on Ruben Amorim's side.

Monterrey experienced a damaging 3-2 defeat against Cincinnati in their Leagues Cup opener, placing immense pressure on them to respond in their following match against New York.

Inter Miami and FC Cincinnati will meet for the second time in less than two weeks, following a 3-0 defeat for Miami in their last encounter.

Corinthians are struggling with just one win in their last seven matches, showcasing difficulty in finding consistency and a clinical edge in their game.

Corinthians have struggled since their last title, achieving only two Copa Libertadores qualifications in the past eight years while currently sitting 10th with 16 points in Serie A.

Fredrikstad have come crashing back down to earth in what has been a woeful fashion, failing to win any of their previous seven appearances across all competitions.

England's first job is to get a decent score on the board. Their second is to work out a way to winkle the imperious Shubman Gill out. Stokes and McCullum have supposedly ordered a livelier pitch than we saw at Headingley and Edgbaston but we'll see what the curator has been able to produce in about twenty minutes. There is a slight green tinge to the wicket at the moment.

Eastern Suburbs, after a 2-1 win over Brisbane Roar's U21s, seeks to build on this as they face their defensive troubles this season, with only one win in six matches.

The champions England begin the defence of their title against France, fourth favourites to lift the trophy and the biggest nation in this tournament never to win a major international prize.

Spain have only gone from strength to strength as they continue to underline their status as the greatest women's side from across the globe. Last seen in competitive action claiming an impressive 2-1 victory against England, La Roja open their European adventure on Thursday night pencilled in as the standout title contender.

HJK are seeking an immediate response after a recent 3-0 defeat to KuPS, aiming to maintain their strong form with only one loss in 13 games.