Big games in London, Seville and Monaco
This weekend promises plenty of great football across Europe, and we’ve taken a closer look at three of the matches we’re looking forward to! Spurs host Newcastle in big PL fixture early Saturday evening, Atlético Madrid visit Sevilla the same evening before Monaco host Marseille on Sunday. Let’s take a closer look at these matches!
Spurs – Newcastle
Saturday August 29 at 18:30 CEST
Tottenham’s first PL home game under Roberto De Zerbi brings Newcastle United to North London on Saturday evening, with both clubs searching for their first league victory of the season.
Spurs could hardly have made a worse start last weekend. A 3-0 defeat at Brentford exposed many of the problems that contributed to their extraordinary 17th-place finish last season, and De Zerbi’s extensive summer rebuild clearly remains a work in progress.
There was at least a much-needed response in the League Cup on Wednesday. Tottenham beat Charlton 5-1, with Dominic Solanke, Mikey Moore, Kevin Danso and Ben Davies among the scorers, while new £75m winger Sávio came off the bench to contribute a goal and an assist on his debut.
The Brazilian gives De Zerbi another badly needed attacking option, while Spurs have subsequently added Omar Marmoush from Manchester City. The Egyptian has joined initially on loan, with an obligation to buy next summer for £50m plus a potential £10m in add-ons. His ability to operate centrally or from the left should give Tottenham greater flexibility once he is fully integrated.
Saturday also provides an immediate reunion between Sandro Tonali and Newcastle. Spurs paid £100m for the Italian this summer and expect him to become one of the central figures in De Zerbi’s new team. Against a Newcastle side that will attempt to play aggressively rather than simply defend deep, Tonali’s ability to receive the ball under pressure and move Spurs through midfield could become particularly important.
Newcastle are undergoing substantial changes of their own. Matthias Jaissle replaced Eddie Howe during the summer and has inherited a younger squad following several major departures, including Anthony Gordon’s move to Barcelona. The Magpies nevertheless showed plenty of attacking promise in their opening league match against Liverpool, only being denied victory by a stoppage-time Dominik Szoboszlai penalty in a 2-2 draw. They then beat West Brom 3-2 in Wednesday’s League Cup tie.
Jaissle has made clear that Newcastle will not abandon their approach because they are playing away. That could produce exactly the type of match Tottenham need to be wary of.
De Zerbi wants his teams to invite pressure and play through it, but the system can leave dangerous spaces when possession is lost. Newcastle have enough speed and technical quality to exploit those moments, particularly against a Tottenham side still learning what their new manager requires.
History also suggests Newcastle should travel with confidence. They have won their last two PL visits to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium 2-1, while Spurs have won only one of the last seven league meetings between the clubs.
There is an interesting contradiction, however. Tottenham have been excellent in their first home league game of recent seasons, winning five in succession by an aggregate score of 14-1. Opta’s pre-match simulations also make Spurs favourites, giving them a 43.5% chance of victory compared with Newcastle’s 31.5%.
We are less convinced about choosing a winner. Both managers want their teams to play positively, both defences have already conceded multiple goals in the PL and neither looks settled enough to trust completely. There should be opportunities at both ends.
Team News
Tottenham’s injury list remains significant. Xavi Simons, Dejan Kulusevski and Wilson Odobert remain unavailable, while Mohammed Kudus was not ready to return for Wednesday’s cup game. James Maddison has been dealing with a shoulder problem, although De Zerbi described it as a relatively minor injury.
There is better news defensively. Micky van de Ven and Pedro Porro returned to the squad against Charlton after their delayed preparations after this summer’s international tournament, while Solanke is also available. Sávio made an immediate impact from the bench on Wednesday and is pushing strongly for a PL start.
Marmoush could also be involved following the completion of his move from Manchester City.
Newcastle may hand a debut to Nico González. The midfielder has trained since completing his move from Manchester City, and Jaissle confirmed on Thursday that he is available for selection.
Betting Tips
Both teams to score at 1.52 looks like the strongest option.
Tottenham should carry considerably more threat than they managed at Brentford, particularly with Sávio available and further attacking reinforcements arriving. Newcastle scored twice against Liverpool and three more in midweek, so there is little reason for Jaissle to approach this game conservatively.
It is also notable that none of the previous 62 PL meetings between Tottenham and Newcastle has finished 0-0. No fixture has been played more often in the competition without producing a goalless draw.
For those looking for a result-based selection, a draw also seems appealing. Newcastle’s recent record against Spurs makes the hosts difficult to back at short odds, but Tottenham’s strong record in their opening home fixture makes an away victory equally difficult to trust.
Our prediction: Tottenham 2-2 Newcastle
Sevilla – Atlético Madrid
Saturday August 29 at 21:30 CEST
Sevilla have emerged as one of the early surprises of the league season, and Saturday night’s visit from Atlético Madrid provides the first serious indication of whether their excellent start can develop into something more substantial.
Luis García Plaza’s side have collected maximum points from their opening two games. A 2-1 home victory against Rayo Vallecano was followed by a much more eye-catching 3-1 win at Athletic Club, leaving Sevilla with six points and five goals already scored.
That is an encouraging beginning for a club attempting to move on from a disappointing 2025/26 campaign.
García Plaza was appointed during the spring and has had an entire summer to reshape the team. The early evidence suggests Sevilla are prepared to play with considerably more ambition, although there remains a defensive vulnerability that Atlético should be capable of testing.
The visitors have four points rather than six, but their unbeaten start tells only part of the story. Atlético opened with a 2-0 victory over Málaga before producing one of the strangest matches of the early season against Villarreal. Marc Pubill put Diego Simeone’s team ahead, but two Villarreal penalties and Robin Le Normand’s red card transformed the contest. Giuliano Simeone eventually rescued a 2-2 draw with an 85th-minute equaliser.
Atlético were fortunate to escape with a point. Villarreal generated approximately 3.6 expected goals compared with Atlético’s 0.7, with Jan Oblak required to produce another excellent performance. That should concern Simeone before travelling to a Sevilla side playing with confidence.
There is also considerable uncertainty surrounding Atlético’s attack. Julián Álvarez has missed training this week through illness amid continued speculation about his future. Simeone has already acknowledged that using Ademola Lookman as a central striker does not get the best from the Nigerian, and Giuliano Simeone has subsequently been tested alongside him in attack.
Those problems make this a considerably more difficult fixture for Atlético than the club names alone might suggest.
Sevilla have scored in both league games and should be willing to attack at home. Atlético, meanwhile, have scored twice in each of their opening matches but have not looked secure defensively.
The recent meetings between these clubs strengthen the case for another competitive game. Sevilla won the corresponding fixture 2-1 last season, and the last four meetings have produced 16 goals in total.
Atlético still possess the stronger squad, but this does not look like an ideal moment to oppose Sevilla.
Team News
Sevilla remain without Alfonso González and Marcão, but Kike Salas is available again after serving a suspension.
Scottish striker Robbie Ure has been given an early opportunity to establish himself in García Plaza’s team following his summer move. The former Rangers and Sirius forward started at San Mamés, although his coach has acknowledged that he is still adapting to the demands and conditions of Spanish football.
Atlético have the more significant selection concerns. Le Normand is suspended following his red card against Villarreal.
The biggest question surrounds Álvarez. The Argentina international has missed training through illness and is considered a major doubt for the trip to Seville. His potential absence would leave Simeone without a natural first-choice centre-forward and could result in Lookman and Giuliano Simeone forming an improvised attacking partnership.
Betting Tips
Given Sevilla’s start and Atlético’s current problems, Sevilla double chance – win or draw at 1.75 is our preferred selection.
The hosts have won both league matches and already demonstrated at San Mamés that their form is not simply the product of an easy opening fixture. Atlético required a late equaliser and an outstanding Oblak performance to rescue a point against Villarreal, while the absence of Le Normand weakens the defence.
Both teams to score is another attractive option. Sevilla have scored five times already but are not particularly convincing defensively, while Atlético have found the net twice in each of their opening two matches despite their problems at centre-forward.
We expect Sevilla’s perfect record to end, but not necessarily with a defeat.
Our prediction: Sevilla 1-1 Atlético Madrid
Monaco – Marseille
Sunday August 30 at 20:45 CEST
Two clubs with ambitions of challenging near the top of the league meet at Stade Louis-II on Sunday evening, with both AS Monaco and Marseille looking to protect perfect starts to the new domestic season.
Marseille produced the more emphatic opening statement. Bruno Génésio’s first league match in charge ended with a 4-0 victory over Strasbourg at the Vélodrome. The final score was slightly flattering because the match remained goalless at half-time and Strasbourg were subsequently reduced to 10 men, but Marseille were already controlling proceedings before the red card.
They finished with 67% possession, 14 attempts to Strasbourg’s five and an expected-goals advantage of 1.89 to 0.20. Amine Gouiri scored twice, while Keyliane Abdallah and Pierre-Emile Højbjerg completed the victory late on.
Gouiri is the obvious danger for Monaco. The forward has now contributed eight goals and three assists across his last eight home appearances in all competitions, although Sunday’s trip provides a very different test. Monaco have made Stade Louis-II an extremely difficult venue for Marseille.
The hosts have won the last three league meetings between these sides in the Principality: 3-2 in September 2023, 3-0 in April 2025 and 2-1 last season.
Filipe Luís has also made an encouraging start as Monaco coach. A 1-0 victory at Le Havre gave them three points from their opening league fixture, while European qualification has already been secured. Monaco followed a 3-2 away victory over Górnik Zabrze with an emphatic 4-1 win in Thursday’s return leg, completing a 7-3 aggregate victory and booking their place in the ECL.
That means Monaco enter Sunday having won four of their last five matches in all competitions, including their final pre-season victory at Liverpool.
The concern is the schedule. Thursday night’s European game gives Monaco considerably less recovery time than Marseille, who have had more than a week to prepare following their opening league fixture. Filipe Luís was able to manage the second leg from a position of strength, but playing another high-intensity match only three days later could become significant during the closing stages.
Marseille will also arrive with confidence that Génésio’s possession-based approach is already taking shape. Against Strasbourg, the combination of Højbjerg’s control in midfield and Gouiri’s movement in attack became increasingly difficult to contain as the game progressed.
Monaco present a much greater counter-attacking threat, though. They have scored 10 goals across their last three competitive home meetings with Marseille, and there is enough attacking quality in the side to punish the visitors if Génésio commits too many players forward.
This is therefore a difficult game in which to choose a winner. Marseille arguably produced the better opening-weekend performance and have enjoyed the superior preparation time, while Monaco possess home advantage and an excellent recent record in the fixture. Goals look more reliable than the result.
Team News
Monaco’s injury problems remain significant despite their excellent start. Takumi Minamino, Mohammed Salisu, Jordan Teze and Folarin Balogun are unavailable, while Matthis Abline remains a doubt. Christian Mawissa is available again following suspension. The league’s own match information lists those four players among Monaco’s principal absentees.
Thursday’s European victory does at least appear to have passed without another major injury problem, which will be welcome news given the short turnaround.
Marseille have had a full week to prepare but will be without Leonardo Balerdi. Génésio otherwise has a relatively strong group available and will be reluctant to make unnecessary changes after the performance against Strasbourg. Gouiri’s two goals make him the obvious choice to continue leading the attack.
Betting Tips
Both teams to score at 1.47 is our strongest selection.
Marseille’s four goals against Strasbourg demonstrated the attacking potential available to Génésio, even if three arrived after the opposition were reduced to 10 men. Monaco have meanwhile scored seven times across their two ECL matches and have repeatedly caused Marseille problems at Stade Louis-II.
There is also value in considering over 2.5 goals. Three of the last four league meetings at Monaco have produced at least three goals, including 3-2 and 3-0 home victories before last season’s 2-1 result.
For the match result, we narrowly favour Marseille. Monaco’s European commitments have given them only three days to recover, whereas Génésio has had an entire week to prepare specifically for this fixture.
The hosts’ recent record against Marseille prevents us from making the away win our main selection, but the extra preparation time could prove decisive in a close contest.
Our prediction: AS Monaco 1-2 Marseille
Please note that the odds might have changed since the writing and/or publication of this article.
Last Updated: 28.08.2026
