Preview of the Weekend: United eager to bounce back; Ronaldo battles for 1st Serie A goal

Welcome to All Football's Preview of the Weekend. As Europe's top leagues enter their pivotal stages, you should miss not even one game! Below are the best matches the world of football would bring to you.

Real Madrid  vs  Leganes

Kick off:  20:45

Date:  Sat, 01-Sep-18

Probable Lineups

Focus:

Real Madrid have opened up their La Liga campaign with consecutive victories after recovering from 1-0 down to beat Girona last weekend.

Karim Benzema got on the scoresheet twice at Montilivi, with Gareth Bale also netting and continuing his strong start to the season.

Leganes have been very competitive during their first two fixtures of the campaign, losing late to Athletic before coming back from 2-0 down to draw with Real Sociedad.

Prediction:

Real Madrid  2-1  Leganes

Chelsea  vs  Bournemouth

Kick off:  16:00

Date:  Sat, 01-Sep-18

Probable Lineups

Focus:

Chelsea have won their first three league games and beat Newcastle last weekend with 81% possession. They were turned over 3-0 the last time they played Bournemouth at home and will be out for revenge on Saturday.

Bournemouth have made an impressive start to the season, unbeaten through four matches in all competitions. They even came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Everton last weekend.

This should be an entertaining game between two sides that try and play appealing football. Chelsea haven't had it all their own way against the Cherries in the past and should expect another tough encounter.

Prediction:

Chelsea  2-1  Bournemouth

Nimes  vs  PSG

Kick off:  17:00

Date:  Sat, 01-Sep-18

Probable Lineups

Focus:

Nimes' impressive start to the season was rudely ended against Toulouse, and the leaders should offer no comfort, even as they sort themselves out tactically and personnel-wise.

Even with the champions lacking a firm identity under new head coach Thomas Tuchel, their famous front three should be more than enough to peg back Les Crocs.

Prediction:

Nimes  1-3  PSG

Stuttgart  vs  Bayern Munich

Kick off:  18:30

Date:  Sat, 01-Sep-18

Probable Lineups

Focus:

Stuttgart need to recover from a poor start to the season after a 1-0 defeat against Mainz. They face the most difficult opponent on their home debut, but are still unbeaten in the Mercedes-Benz-Arena since Tayfun Korkut took over last season.

Bayern won a challenging game against Hoffenheim 3-1 last week and look to improve in possession here. With several high-quality internationals fighting for their spots, the intensity in the squad should be high in the next few weeks.

Expect Bayern to dominate possession and Stuttgart to wait for chances on the break.

Prediction:

Stuttgart  1-2  Bayern Munich

Manchester City  vs  Newcastle United

Kick off:  18:30

Date:  Sat, 01-Sep-18

Probable Lineups

Focus:

Manchester City were held to a 1-1 draw with Wolves last weekend and will look to return to winning ways when they host Newcastle. They've won five of their last six home meetings with Newcastle, scoring 22 goals in that run.

Newcastle have made a disappointing start to the season, picking up just one point so far, and were knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Nottingham Forest on Wednesday night. Against a City side hellbent on returning to winning ways after a week off from competitive action, they could face a long 90 minutes at the Etihad Stadium.

Indeed, the hosts should make light work of Newcastle here.

Prediction:

Manchester City  5-1  Newcastle United

Parma  vs  Juventus

Kick off:  20:30

Date:  Sat, 01-Sep-18

Probable Lineups

Focus:

After a surprise win over Udinese, Parma will have been disappointed to lose against SPAL last time out.

Juventus have started strong and have a 100 per cent record after two matches. They should cope with an intense atmosphere and run out comfortable winners here.

Prediction:

Parma  0-3  Juventus

Leicester  vs  Liverpool

Kick off:  13:30

Date:  Sat, 01-Sep-18

Probable Lineups

Focus:

Leicester have won three in a row since their opening day defeat to Manchester United and have kept clean sheets in two of those outings.

Liverpool have made a 100 per cent start to the season after three matches and are the only side left in the Premier League yet to concede.

Leicester are in a good place at the moment but the absence of Jamie Vardy really hurts their chances of getting something on Saturday afternoon.

Liverpool are Vardy's favourite opponents in terms of goals scored (7) and would have put their perfect defensive record to the test.

Jurgen Klopp's side have won three of the last four meetings between the two sides, all by a one-goal margin. It should be slightly more comfortable for them here.

Prediction:

Leicester  0-2  Liverpool

Cardiff  vs  Arsenal

Kick off:  14:30

Date:  Sat, 02-Sep-18

Probable Lineups

Focus:

Cardiff have just two points to their name from their opening three league games of the season, but have been incredibly difficult to break down, conceding just two goals from those three. They're yet to score, however, and that needs to change if they are to put their first win on the board.

Arsenal earned their first league win under Unai Emery last time out and the Gunners will be keen to get their season up and running after back-to-back opening defeats to Manchester City and Chelsea, respectively. They have won four of their last five competitive meetings with Cardiff, but conversely have lost eight of their last nine away league outings.

This is a tough one to call, but with Emery hoping to lay down a marker, he could oversee a narrow win in Cardiff.

Prediction:

Cardiff  0-1  Arsenal

Watford  vs  Tottenham

Kick off:  17:00

Date:  Sat, 02-Sep-18

Probable Lineups

Focus:

Watford have made a stunning start to the season and are one of the surprise early pace setters, winning three of three matches so far. A 2-0 Carabao Cup win at Reading on Wednesday night will boost morale ahead of a tough welcome of Tottenham.

Spurs, too, have won their opening three league matches, but will look to benefit from an extended period of rest, with the north London side not in cup action this week. They haven't lost a competitive match to Watford since 1993 and after an impressive showing at Manchester United on Monday night, will fancy their chances of winning here.

Watford look well organised, but this is their first real test of the new season. In this early top of the table clash, Spurs should put an end to the Hornets' winning start to the campaign.

Prediction:

Watford  1-2  Tottenham

Barcelona  vs  Huesca

Kick off:  18:30

Date:  Sat, 02-Sep-18

Probable Lineups

Focus:

Barcelona have taken maximum points from their opening two games, but last weekend proved to be a tough test in difficult conditions against Real Valladolid.

The hosts are unbeaten at home in the league since September 2016, but Huesca fancy themselves as underdogs.

Huesca have taken four points from their opening six available, with the club from Aragon surprising many with their intensity and spirit.

Prediction:

Barcelona  3-1  Huesca

Burnley  vs  Manchester United

Kick off:  17:00

Date:  Sat, 02-Sep-18

Probable Lineups

Focus:

Burnley have played nine matches in all competitions this season but are yet to win in regular time. The Clarets were eliminated from the Europa League on Thursday and that will surely benefit them going forward.

Burnley were renowned for their defensive resolve last season, but have 11 goals in their last four matches in all competitions. Europa League football has not helped their early season form.

Manchester United are in a terrible place at the moment after Monday's 3-0 defeat at home to Tottenham. Jose Mourinho is under huge pressure and desperately needs a win to relieve some of it. A convincing performance would be even better for the Portuguese.

Burnley have really struggled this season and should prove the ideal opponents for United to get back on track but you just sense it won't be that simple for the away side on Sunday.

Burnley have failed to score in four of their last five home matches against United, including each of their last three. Anything other than three points would plunge Mourinho's future into further doubt.

Prediction:

Burnley  1-1  Manchester United

AC Milan  vs  Roma

Kick off:  20:30

Date:  Fri, 31-Aug-18

Probable Lineups

Focus:

Milan had their opener against Genoa postponed and had to start their season in Naples, where they raced into a 2-0 lead before losing 3-2 in dramatic fashion.

Roma drew 3-3 last week with an Atalanta team that fielded mostly reserves, and the Giallorossi endured an especially poor first half.

Both sides are not happy with their results and performances of last week, but for both there are positive points to be considered from their previous game. Roma will want to avoid letting their opponents control the pace of the game the way Atalanta did, and Milan should be easier for them to manage.

Prediction:

AC Milan  1-1  Roma