Weekend predictions: Madrid derby heats up LaLiga, Brighton to stun Arsenal?

The 2026-27 club season is just a month old, and we are already heading into an international break, but as the European fixture list proves, there are some heavyweight clashes this weekend before the three-week -- yes, three-week -- international break kicks in.

There are some classic derbies, top-of-the-table matches and long-standing rivalries ready for a new chapter across the continent over the coming days. And this weekend, get ready for stand-out games in Italy, Spain, England, Portugal, Scotland, France and renewal of hostilities in the East End of London.

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This is the game of the weekend in all of Europe, as it pits the early pacesetters in Italy against each other in a fixture where something has to give between two sides defending 100% winning records in Serie A.

Roma, chasing their first Scudetto since 2001, face reigning champions Inter at the Stadio Olimpico as league leaders due to their superior goal difference. Gian Piero Gasperini's team have scored 12 and conceded just one goal in four games so far, with Netherlands forward Donyell Malen hitting six goals already for the Giallorossi and Paulo Dybala registering four assists.

But Inter, who have won two of the last three Serie A title races, travel to Rome as the dominant force in Italy and will face Gasperini's team determined to strike a blow against their early challengers. Inter have won 10 and lost two of their last 12 meetings with Roma dating back to 2021, so Saturday's clash will be a real test of Roma's title credentials.

MY PREDICTION: Roma 2-1 Inter. Roma have made a formidable start to the season and their defense is stronger than Inter's, so that gives the home side the edge.

The 244th Madrid derby is all about which team emerges as the biggest challenger to reigning champions and unbeaten LaLiga leaders Barcelona.

Jose Mourinho's side head to the Metropolitano on Sunday three points behind Barça after a 1-0 defeat at Real Betis on Sept. 4 gave them an early loss on their record.

Atlético, two points further back in third, have made an inconsistent start to the season, with a home draw against Villarreal and a 3-0 defeat away to Athletic Club. But Diego Simeone's side has since bounced back by scoring seven goals and conceding none in wins against Real Sociedad and Osasuna, so they will face Real with confidence growing and the likelihood of Julián Álvarez being fit to play after a recent muscle injury.

Real start as favorites, with Kylian Mbappé already in form with seven goals in LaLiga so far, but Atleti's recent run gives them hope.

MY PREDICTION: Atleti 1-3 Real. Real are just stronger all round and even if Álvarez is fit to play, how fit is he really after so long off the training pitch?

There is already talk in England of Arsenal going unbeaten this season and matching the historic feat of Arsene Wenger's 2004 Invincibles, but is that usual early-season hyperbole, or a realistic outcome for Mikel Arteta's champions?

In truth, it's both. It's way too early to predict an unbeaten season, but Arsenal have looked so strong at the start of their title defense -- seven wins from seven games and just three goals conceded in all competitions -- that it's already difficult to pick out many slip-ups.

But their trip to face Brighton at the Amex is certainly a potential bump in the road for the Gunners. Fabian Hürzeler's Seagulls are the top scorers so far in the Premier League with 13 goals in four games, and they fought back from 2-0 in midweek to win 3-2 against Manchester United in the Carabao Cup.

Hürzeler is a rising star in coaching, and his spat with Arteta over Arsenal's tactics last season will add spice to this game.

MY PREDICTION: Brighton 0-2 Arsenal. Arsenal rested key players in their Carabao Cup win at Ipswich Town on Tuesday, but Hürzeler went strong at Old Trafford 24 hours later, so fatigue is likely to be significant for the home side.

There are big derby games all over Europe this weekend, so how about the Liam Rosenior derby between Paris FC and Strasbourg at Stade Jean-Bouin?

This time last year, Rosenior was quietly making a name for himself as Strasbourg coach, managing several on-loan Chelsea players -- Strasbourg and Chelsea are owned by parent company BlueCo -- while establishing Les Bleu et Blanc at the top end of Ligue 1.

We all know what happened next. Chelsea fired Enzo Maresca as coach in January and moved Rosenior from Strasbourg to Stamford Bridge in what proved to be a dismal 23-game spell in charge for the 42-year-old.

But Rosenior is now rebuilding his reputation with Paris FC, guiding the club to fourth in Ligue 1 after an unbeaten start to the season and they face sixth-place Strasbourg knowing that a win could take them top if second-place AS Monaco fail to beat Lens on Friday.

MY PREDICTION: Paris FC 2-0 Strasbourg. Strasbourg have the leakiest defense in the top half and Paris have the momentum, so this is a home win.

Five teams are still unbeaten in the Portuguese league after six games so far this season, but top two sides Porto and Benfica are already pulling away from the chasing pack.

Defending champions Porto have won all six of their league games so far and Francesco Farioli's side haven't lost a league game at Estádio do Dragão since Apr. 2025. But that defeat -- a 4-1 loss -- was given by Benfica in a game that saw Vangelis Pavlidis score a hat trick.

So with former Fulham coach Marco Silva now in charge of the Lisbon giants, who have won five and drawn one of their six games so far, Porto's long home streak will face a stern test on Sunday. Greece international Pavlidis is already leading the Golden Boot race with eight goals this season, so Benfica will fancy their chances of a win this weekend.

MY PREDICTION: Porto 2-2 Benfica. This is a real heavyweight clash in Porto, and both sides are in form, so it will be tough for either team to get the win.

Here we go again: the sport's most deep-seated rivalry and the one with the longest history. Celtic and Rangers have faced each other 453 times and the head-to-head is incredibly close, with Rangers claiming 173 wins and Celtic 172.

Martin O'Neill's Celtic are already five points clear of their Old Firm rivals having won six from six in the league so far -- Rangers have lost one and drawn one -- but a 3-0 League Cup win at Ibrox last Sunday has given Rangers momentum going into their trip to Celtic Park. Derek McInnes, hired as coach from Hearts this summer, has had a turbulent start as Rangers boss, but beating Celtic last week has transformed his standing among the supporters and another positive result this weekend will banish any remaining negativity.

Due to crowd trouble during recent games, no away fans will be allowed at Celtic-Rangers games this season, so home advantage will be huge on each occasion.

MY PREDICTION: Celtic 3-1 Rangers. Rangers are improving under McInnes, but Celtic are formidable at home and that will shade it for the Bhoys this weekend.

Whenever there is a fan survey of the biggest rivalries in England, Millwall vs. West Ham -- the Dockers Derby -- often comes out on top, despite the two clubs from the East End of London rarely facing each other in recent times.

It is a rivalry rooted in union disputes dating back to the 1900s at long-since-closed dockyards, but the enmity between supporters has not faded.

Saturday's clash at The Den will be the 100th meeting between the two rivals and the first since Feb. 2012, and West Ham, top of the table following relegation from the Premier League last season, will be favorites to win. But Alex Neil's Millwall reached the Championship playoffs last season and their last home defeat against the Hammers was back in 1988, so local pride and the organization of the home side make this game much closer than league positions might suggest.

MY PREDICTION: Millwall 1-3 West Ham. This will be a heated derby, but West Ham still have stacks of Premier League quality and that will make the difference.