Here's what Flashscore's editors will be watching this weekend.
Saturday, November 30
Borussia Dortmund vs Bayern Munich - 18:30 CET
There are some massive football games on this weekend and it doesn’t get much bigger than Der Klassiker - the Bundesliga blockbuster clash between Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich.
In recent years, excluding the last campaign, these two sides have dominated the league… Well, Bayern have but Dortmund have been their perennial pests in second place in four of the previous six seasons.
This time around, Vincent Kompany’s Bayern look destined to run away with the title again - restoring the status quo in the Bundesliga after Bayer Leverkusen’s brilliant invincible campaign in 2023/24. The Bavarians are six points clear at the top after 11 rounds.
With two-thirds of the season yet to be played though, the script is far from fully written. Although Bayern are in ominous form - unbeaten in the league and on an 11-match winning run - there are few sterner tests than playing away at Dortmund in front of their famed yellow wall at Signal Iduna Park.
While Nuri Sahin’s side have been a bit up and down this season - their loss to Mainz followed by a win over Freiburg a case in point - you can bet they will turn up for this one. Forget form, this is Der Klassiker!
Pat Dempsey
Atletico Mineiro vs Botafogo - 21:00 CET
It takes a big game to turn your attention away from Europe on a Saturday full of football, and they don’t get much bigger than the Copa Libertadores final.
Fighting to win South America’s biggest tournament - their equivalent to the Champions League - are Brazilian clubs Botafogo and Atletico Mineiro, and the showpiece is made even bigger by the fact that neither side are regulars in it, with the former playing in it for the first time and the latter for the second.
It would be some story if Botafogo can prevail given they were playing in Brazil’s second division just three years ago. Since returning to the top tier, they’ve established themselves as one of the nation’s best teams and head into this game sitting top of Serie A, making them fairly clear favourites for it.
That’s also because Atletico Mineiro haven’t won a match of any kind in over a month, losing six and drawing four of their last 10 matches. Their last victory did at least come in this competition though and was hugely impressive with them beating River Plate 3-0 in the first leg of the semis. We’ll have a real game on our hands if they can find that level again, especially with Brazilian veteran Hulk still going strong at the age of 38.
The fact that the two sides drew 0-0 just over a week ago promises a close contest, but the match will be worth tuning into for the atmosphere alone in Buenos Aires.
Finley Crebolder
Sunday, December 1
Liverpool vs Manchester City - 17:00 CET
Liverpool against Manchester City has become one of the most significant modern rivalries in the Premier League but this Sunday's showdown has extra riding on it.
Man City are a side in crisis having failed to win any of their last six games with five defeats and one draw. Another defeat this weekend against the league and their already shrinking hopes of retaining their title will surely be over.
Victory for Arne Slot's men will see them move 11 points clear of City and extend their winning run to seven games in all competitions. Liverpool are in imperious form and their win against Real Madrid midweek was a statement victory from Europe's most in-form side.
These two rivals couldn't be in more differing situations at the moment but things can change quickly in football. If Pep Guardiola can get a tune out of his side then they could end the weekend just five points off the league leaders and very much still in the title hunt.
Defeat would be a new low in a season of disappointment for Guardiola's side and it would put Liverpool firmly in the driving seat for a remarkable title in Slot's first season.
Harry Dunnett
Baltimore Ravens vs Philadelphia Eagles - 22:25 CET
The Baltimore Ravens and Philadelphia Eagles meet in what has to be considered the game of the week in Week 13 of the NFL season. One could not ask for a more intriguing matchup for the Thanksgiving Day weekend.
The Ravens have won the last two competitive head-to-heads between the pair, the last one coming back in 2020. In that clash, the Eagles were down 17-0 at half-time. Despite an attempted fourth-quarter comeback, they could not turn things around, ultimately falling 30-28.
Baltimore are currently the fifth seed in the AFC, just one game back of their heated rivals, the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC North. As for Philadelphia, they are second in the NFC, a game and a half back of the Detroit Lions for the number one overall seed. This will be a fascinating game, as there is so much on the line for both teams from a seeding standpoint. No one will want to miss this one.
David Parkes