5 spicy fixtures to watch this weekend 🌶.

Prepare for a magnificent weekend of European football with some tantalizing matchups scheduled for the next weekend.

We've handpicked five must-see games.

Newcastle vs. Tottenham

Tottenham have not had a good run at St James' Park in recent seasons. The North Londoners have surrendered 10 goals in their last two trips to Tyneside, including a 6-1 defeat in April 2023 that left Spurs 5-0 down after 21 minutes.

Ange Postecoglou's attempts to exorcise those demons resulted in a 4-0 loss last season, and Spurs will be anxious to stop their North East hoodoo. After solid, if unspectacular, beginnings to the season for both, a win this weekend would send a message about their European ambitions.

Leverkusen vs. Leipzig

The German champions began their Bundesliga title defence in familiar manner, with a late Leverkusen goal sealing a 3-2 victory over Borussia Monchengladbach. Florian Wirtz's 101st-minute winner was the latest late-game heroics from a side that has become accustomed to scoring stoppage-time goals to salvage victories under Xabi Alonso.

This weekend, Leverkusen will face another tough test against an RB Leipzig squad that has not experienced the same kind of transfer plundering as previous summers.

🗣️ Head Coach @XabiAlonso prepares for tomorrow's top match against RB Leipzig.

Juventus vs. Roma

This weekend, Serie A will play host to some of Europe's most thrilling matches. Champions Inter Milan meet Europa League winners Atalanta on Friday evening, while Lazio visit AC Milan the next day.

The pick, however, is a match between table toppers Juventus and AS Roma in Turin. The former has had a fantastic start under new head coach Thiago Motta, with back-to-back victories and no goals conceded, while Roma is looking to recover from a shaky start and regain momentum under club legend Daniel De Rossi.

With Paulo Dybala's decision to turn down Saudi riches and the arrival of Artem Dovbyk, the capital club now has an all-star forward line.

Celtic Vs. Rangers.

The Old Firm is typically a heated affair, and the opening game of the 2024/25 season takes place this weekend at Celtic Park. Celtic finished comfortably ahead of Rangers last season, and the visitors will be eager to battle harder for the crown this time around.

Rangers bounced back from a goalless draw in their first game, defeating Ross County 6-0 to prepare for the derby. Celtic, with maximum points and no goals surrendered, is the side to beat.

🗣️ "𝗜𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮 𝗖𝗲𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗰-𝗥𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗥𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴."

Brendan Rodgers responded passionately to the news that there will be no away fans at the first two Old Firm league games this season. ⤵️

Manchester United Vs. Liverpool.

The biggest match in English football resumes this weekend, pitting the country's most successful teams against each other at Old Trafford. If we receive even a percent of last season's excitement in this game, we're in for a wild ride.

A see-sawing FA Cup match saw seven goals scored, including a 120th-minute winner from Amad Diallo, before their Premier League meeting at Old Trafford was drawn a month later. This matchup has typically fallen short of expectations, but last season was a pleasant exception. More of the same this weekend, please.

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