Every big match of the day, previewed from the data: recent form, team news, head to head, where to watch it live and our lean — then three AI engines take over on match day.
This week in football
A column on every big match before the week starts, and the full story once it ends.
Arsenal left Anfield with a 1-0 win and the Premier League summit to themselves, while Manchester City lost at home to Brighton despite 21 shots. Lazio hit six at Sassuolo and Barcelona six against Alaves.
Liverpool v Arsenal at Anfield on Sunday 1 November caps a 20-match week across three leagues. Before it, Lazio's hold on second place in Serie A is tested at Sassuolo on Tuesday.
Read the week ahead
Match previews
Football match previews, predictions and team news · Page 19 | MATCH PULSE
Lecce host Juventus at Stadio Via del Mare on Sunday 25 October 2026, with only two points separating 12th from 8th in Serie A. Juventus arrive with seven players out and a winless league run; our preview weighs that against Lecce's shaky defence.
Third-placed SC Freiburg host Bundesliga leaders Bayern München at Europa-Park-Stadion on Sunday 25 October 2026, just one point behind after six rounds. Our preview weighs two high-scoring sides, Bayern's thin squad and a head-to-head record that has not favoured Freiburg.
Bottom-placed Sunderland host seventh-placed Leeds at the Stadium of Light on Sunday 25 October 2026, with four points from seven games. This preview weighs form, absences and a tight head-to-head to reach a lean on the result and the goals.
Eleventh-placed Toulouse host seventeenth-placed Estac Troyes in Ligue 1 on Sunday 25 October 2026. Troyes arrive on five straight defeats, and our analysis leans clearly towards the home side.
Sixth-placed Rennes host 14th-placed Strasbourg at Roazhon Park on Sunday 25 October 2026 in Ligue 1. Two leaky defences, a six-point gap in the table and a one-sided recent head-to-head shape this preview.
Ninth-placed Marseille host bottom club Le Havre at the Orange Vélodrome on Sunday 25 October 2026. Marseille have lost both recent home games, but Le Havre are winless in seven and missing six players.
Twelfth-placed Auxerre host 16th-placed Le Mans in Ligue 1 on Sunday 25 October 2026, with just three points between them. Our preview weighs Auxerre's home form and Le Mans's leaky defence against a long home injury list.
Angers, 15th, host seventh-placed Lorient at Stade Raymond Kopa on Sunday 25 October 2026 in Ligue 1 round 8. A leaky home defence meets one of the league's tighter backlines, and that shapes our lean.
Göztepe, 13th, host seventh-placed Çorum FK in Süper Lig round 9 on Sunday 25 October 2026. Çorum arrive with the stronger form and a sturdy away record, while Göztepe have leaked goals at home.
Thirteenth-placed Sparta Rotterdam host fourth-placed Ajax at Het Kasteel on Sunday 25 October 2026. Ajax have the better numbers and a long absence list, while Sparta have conceded 15 goals in their last five games.
Winless Estoril, 18th with two points, host 12th-placed Moreirense at the Estádio António Coimbra da Mota on Sunday 25 October 2026. Both sides are struggling for goals, so this preview looks at who can break the deadlock.
Fourth-placed Real Betis visit eighth-placed Celta Vigo in La Liga round 10 on Sunday 25 October 2026. Our preview weighs a draw-heavy home side against a high-scoring, leaky visitor missing a suspended defender.