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A look at what’s happening around European football on Sunday:
ENGLAND
Liverpool’s preparations for a trip to Aston Villa in the Premier League have been complicated by Sadio Mane following Thiago Alcantara in contracting the coronavirus and having to self-isolate. Mane has scored three goals at the start of Liverpool’s Premier League title defense that has seen all three games won. The Tottenham team has been stretched to the limit due to a heavy workload. José Mourinho’s trip to former club Manchester United marks the end of a grueling run of seven games in 22 days and four out of eight as Tottenham compete in three competitions. Mourinho has been able to strengthen his squad with the loan of striker Carlos Vinicius as the latest addition. Midfielder Donny van de Beek was United’s only addition to the summer transfer window that closes on Monday for international transfers. The six-game day begins with Leicester chasing a fourth straight win early in the season at home to West Ham. A week after scoring their first point since winning promotion, West Bromwich Albion is absent in their fourth game for a Southampton side just won for their first win. Fulham, who play for Wolverhampton Wanderers, have not only lost all three Premier League matches so far, but have been knocked out of the League Cup by second-division Brentford. Sheffield United also doesn’t have a point as he heads to Arsenal, but has defender John Egan back from suspension and forward Rhian Brewster has joined from Liverpool.
SPAIN
Barcelona play Europa League champions Sevilla at Camp Nou, with the focus on teenager Ansu Fati after starting the season with three goals in his first two games for the Catalan club. Like Barcelona, Sevilla also won their first two Spanish league games. Real Madrid visit Levante in search of their third consecutive victory. Coach Zinedine Zidane will still be without Eden Hazard, who has yet to make his season debut due to injuries.
ITALY
There are doubts as to whether Sunday’s main match between defending champion Juventus and Napoli will take place. Napoli did not depart as scheduled for Turin on Saturday night after two players tested positive for coronavirus, but Juventus and the Italian league’s governing body said the match is moving ahead. Earlier, title-seeking Inter Milan visit Lazio, still reeling from a 4-1 loss to Atalanta. Atalanta receives Cagliari. Also, it is: AC Milan vs. Spezia; Benevento vs. Bologna; and Parma vs. Hellas Verona.
GERMANY
Bayern Munich are aiming to overcome their first defeat in 32 matches in all competitions with a win against Hertha Berlin in the Bundesliga. Bayern’s busy schedule finally took its toll last weekend when Hansi Flick’s team fell in a 4-1 loss at Hoffenheim. The team bounced back with a 3-2 win over Borussia Dortmund in the German Super Cup on Wednesday. Hertha return to Munich after drawing 2-2 against Bayern last season. Bruno Labbadia’s team is also hoping to bounce back from a 3-1 loss at home to Eintracht Frankfurt last weekend. Wolfsburg host Augsburg in the early game, hoping to deny the visitors their third win in three games.
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