Four fixtures from around Europe that you simply can’t miss this weekend

High-flying Southampton feature yet again in one of four fixtures worth watching this Sunday. There’s also a big game for Andre Villas-Boas’ future at White Hart Lane, as well as to mouth-watering encounters from Spain and France.

Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United (Sunday, 12:00 UK time)

Spurs came away from this fixture last season with a point after Clint Dempsey cancelled out Robin van Persie’s first half goal at the death. It’s very much a new-look side this time around under Andre Villas-Boas, one much better on paper, but far from so on the pitch.

They’ve struggled to play well as a team so far this season, and were thumped 6-0 by Manchester City in the last round as a result. That game was the third successive one in which they failed to score. Coming up against a United side unbeaten in their last six league games and high on confidence following a hugely impressive 5-0 win in Germany against Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League, that doesn’t bode well at all. Villas-Boas needs a good result to ease the mounting pressure on his shoulders. It’ll be worth tuning in to see if he gets it.

Chelsea v Southampton (Sunday, 16:10 UK time)

Chelsea, like Spurs, are having their struggles under Jose Mourinho so far this season, with a shock loss away to FC Basel in the Champions League in midweek giving further evidence of that. Southampton would no doubt feel deflated after collapsing of sorts at Emirates Stadium in their 2-0 loss to Arsenal, which was their first loss in nine games, but Mauricio Pochettino and his players would fancy their chances at Stamford Bridge this Sunday, particularly after seeing lowly West Bromwich Albion nearly steal a win there a few rounds back, but for a controversial refereeing decision.

That fortunate result means the Blues are undefeated in 15 home matches in the league. Should the Saints do well enough to end that run, they would go above Chelsea in the table. As far as individuals go, keep an eye out for young James Ward-Prowse in this one. The 19-year-old is having a great season so far, earning a Performance Score of 228 points in his 12 appearances.

Athletic Bilbao v Barcelona (Sunday, 20:00 UK time)

Bilbao, currently fifth in La Liga, are in good form at the moment, losing just once in their last seven games. The kind of confidence that brings would come in handy seeing that Barcelona are up next on their fixture list. The Catalans are unbeaten this season, and despite being without the mercurial Lionel Messi, will still pack a punch up front.

Alexis Sanchez, who netted in the 2-2 draw this game played out in last season, is in fine form at the moment, netting six goals in his last five games. All his goals have come at home, however, which Bilbao would take note of. Neymar, who has assumed Messi’s central role in the Argentine’s absence, is also a huge threat, having set up eight goals already this season, which is the joint most in La Liga. If Ernesto Valverde’s men are to get a good home result, their defenders will have to bring their ‘A game.’

PSG v Lyon (Sunday, 20:00 UK time)

It’s fair to say Lyon are a far cry from the side that they were a few years back, but this fixture hasn’t really lost its importance in France. Zlatan Ibrahimovic and company are unbeaten in their last 25 games and are top of Ligue 1, while Remi Garde’s men sit humbly in seventh. They, meanwhile, are unbeaten in their last three games. Blaise Matuidi grabbed the game’s only goal in this fixture last season. Despite Lyon’s travails, expect this game to be just as tight.