Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid September 28, 2013

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Real Madrid enter the match two points behind Atletico in the table and looking to vault over their rivals with a victory at home. Carlo Ancelotti expects to have new signing Gareth Bale back in the lineup after the Welsh winger missed the last two matches with a thigh injury. It would be Bale's first start at the Bernabéu since signing for Madrid at the end of the summer transfer window.

Diego Simeone and Los Rojiblancos meanwhile hope to open up a gap between themselves and 3rd place Madrid. Atletico have won all six of their first league matches this season and are behind Barcelona only on goal differential at the moment.

This will be the first meeting between the two teams since last season's Copa Del Rey final which was won by Atletico, their first victory over their local rivals since 1999.

Real Madrid injuries and suspensions

Out: Xabi Alonso (foot), Raphaël Varane (knee), Marcelo (thigh).

Atletico Madrid injuries and suspensions

Out: Adrian (fractured cheekbone).

Both teams are mostly healthy with Xabi Alonso being Madrid's only sidelined player as he continues to recover from foot surgery. Varane and Marcelo are both training and nearing their returns to the lineup. For Atletico, Adrian remains out with a fractured bone in his face.

Projected lineups

Real Madrid: Diego López, Álvaro Arbeloa, Pepe, Sergio Ramos, Fábio Coentrão, Sami Khedira, Asier Illarramendi, Gareth Bale, Isco, Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema.

Atletico Madrid: Thibaut Courtois, Juanfran, João Miranda, Diego Godín, Emilano Insúa, Mario Suárez, Tiago Mendes, Arda Turan, Koke, Diego Costa, David Villa.

Match Date/Time: 10 p.m. local, 4:00 p.m. ET

Venue: Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid, Spain

Almeria vs Barcelona September 28, 2013

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The reigning champions have taken 18 points from their six fixtures so far in the top flight, scoring 22 goals and conceding just five in the process.

Barcelona will look to maintain their 100 percent record when they travel to Almeria in the La Liga on Saturday.

The defending champions have got off to the now customary perfect start and with Lionel Messi and Neymar in sparkling form are clicking into top gear.

They enjoyed a comfortable win over Real Sociedad on Tuesday to make it six wins out of six in La Liga, and with Almeria struggling to make an impression, having picked up just three points all season, there really looks like being only one winner.

"They have lost a lot of late points, but they have good players, like the four strikers," Barcelona manager Gerardo Martino said of Almeria. "All teams are demanding in their own way and we have to be careful, but we clearly have a much better chance of winning if we can play our own way."
2/11 Barca are 2/11 with Bet365 to beat Almeria.
This follows on from five straight wins at the end of last season and means the Catalan side have now dropped just four points in their last 16 La Liga games.

On Tuesday, they swept Real Sociedad aside at Camp Nou, with Neymar, Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets and Marc Bartra all scoring in a comprehensive 4-1 win.

Messi has begun the season in typical fashion, netting 10 goals in all competitions, but Brazil star Neymar has also enjoyed an impressive start to life in Barcelona after his move from Santos.

However, Dani Alves is not shocked by his compatriot's adaption to Spanish football.

"I knew of Neymar’s abilities and I knew that he’d fit in at Barca. I’m not surprised by his good start," he told Barcelona's official website.

Almeria’s start to the campaign is in stark contrast to Barca's, as they have failed to pick up a win - earning just three points from their six games.

And they look unlikely to improve on that record this weekend, having taken just two points from their last 10 matches against the Catalans.

Their last four meetings have seen Barca rack up an aggregate scoreline of 19-1, including an 8-0 away victory in 2010.

lmeria: Esteban; Nelson, Pellerano, Trujillo, Dubarbier; Tebar, Verza, Vidal, Suso, Rafita; Soriano.

Barcelona: Valdes; Alves, Pique, Bartra, Adriano; Xavi, Busquets, Fabregas; Sanchez, Messi, Iniesta.

Swansea vs Arsenal September 28, 2013

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Date: Saturday, September 28 Venue: Liberty Stadium Kick-Off: 17:30

Can Arsenal celebrate Arsene Wenger’s 17th anniversary as manager with a win away to Swansea City this weekend?

Swansea manager Michael Laudrup is set to recall a host of players after fielding a weakened team in the League Cup midweek.

Captain Ashley Williams remains doubtful with an ankle injury however, while Pablo Hernandez is out with a hamstring complaint.

Arsenal will hand in-form midfielder Aaron Ramsey a late fitness test, though Tomas Rosicky remains out.

Manager Arsene Wenger will be without a host of players, with Santi Cazorla, Abou Diaby, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Lukas Podolski, Yaya Sanogo and Theo Walcott all sidelined.
Key Stats
Both Swansea and Arsenal won 2-0 in the two corresponding fixtures last season, with the Swans enjoying a shock win at the Emirates in December 2012.

In the last four matches between the two teams in 2012/13, seven of the nine goals scored came in the final 10 minutes.

Going into this weekend, the Swans have the best pass-completion rate in the Premier League this season (87.3%).

Arsenal have lost only two of their last 21 Premier League games. (W16, D3, L2).

Likely Line-Ups
Swansea
Vorm, Rangel, Chico, Amat, Davies, Shelvey, Britton, Dyer, Michu, Routledge, Bony

Arsenal
Szczesny, Gibbs, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Sagna, Ramsey, Flamini, Wilshere, Ozil, Gnarby, Giroud

Southampton vs Crystal Palace September 28, 2013

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Southampton manager Mauricio Pochettino will assess the fitness of those who played in the mid-week League One win over Bristol City before finalising his line-up.

Gaston Ramirez was impressive in that game but is a doubt after limping off.

Crystal Palace will be without Damien Delaney due to an ankle injury but midfielder Kagisho Dikgacoi could earn a recall after serving his suspension.

Paddy McCarthy and Yannick Bolasie remain out however with respective groin and hamstring injuries.

Southampton should be full of confidence heading into a home date with a Crystal Palace side yet to get going.

The Saints rolled the dice in terms of transfer business over the summer, opting to spend big in an effort to further consolidate their top flight standing.

Considerable investment has provided an immediate return, with eight points from their opening five fixtures taking them above the likes of Manchester United, Swansea City and Newcastle United in the Premier League table.

Mauricio Pochettino was charged with the task of building on the foundations put down by his predecessor Nigel Adkins when he inherited the managerial reins, and the Argentine has done just that - with a dogged defensive unit having been breached just two times so far.

The one concern for the Saints, and a glimmer of hope for Palace, is that Dejan Lovren's winner at Liverpool last time out saw Southampton find the target for just the third time in the league.

Ian Holloway's side have also struggled for goals though - drawing a blank in their last two matches and three out of five so far.

Southampton
Boruc, Shaw, Lovren, Fonte, Clyne, Wanyama, Schneiderlin, Rodriguez, Osvaldo, Lallana, Lambert

Crystal Palace
Speroni, Moxey, Mariappa, Guédioura, Gabbidon, Ward, Jedinak, Dikgacoi, Jerome, Gayle, Chamakh

Hull vs West Ham September 28, 2013

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Hull City can secure two wins on the bounce in the Premier League if they snatch all three points from West Ham United this weekend.

The former Championship outfit host the Hammers at the KC Stadium on Saturday following their 3-2 victory over Newcastle United at St James' Park.

Steve Bruce's men kept their winning run going by knocking Huddersfield Town out of the Capital One Cup this week, while West Ham have had an inconsistent start to their campaign.

Sam Allardyce has not witnessed his side win a game since their opening 2-0 win over Cardiff City in August, their latest match resulting in a 3-2 defeat to Everton.

Despite West Ham's recent form, they have won four of their last five meetings with Hull and drawn one.

With Andy Carroll still out injured and Modibo Maiga struggling to find form, Ricardo Vaz Te may be called into the team, while Bruce is expected to be without Maynor Figueroa, who is on compassionate leave.

Both sides come into the match off the back of 3-2 scorelines in their last league matches, but they were both on different sides of the result. Hull were certainly impressive against Newcastle as they managed to shock their hosts and take three points away from the North East which would have made former Sunderland manager and Geordie Steve Bruce very happy. On the other hand West Ham were turned over by an unbeaten Everton side after conceding two goals with ten men as Mark Noble was sent off for two bookable offences.

Hull City: McGregor; Rosenior, Davies, Chester, Elmohamady; Brady, Huddlestone, Livermore, Quinn; Aluko, Graham

West Ham United: Jaaskelainen; O'Brien, Rat, Collins, Reid; Noble, Morrison, Nolan, Diame, Jarvis; Vaz Te

Fulham vs Cardiff September 28, 2013

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Fulham pair Aaron Hughes and Bryan Ruiz face fitness tests on their respective thigh and ankle injuries.
Goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg, Ashkan Dejagah and Matthew Briggs are all still sidelined.

Fulham defender Aaron Hughes and midfielder Bryan Ruiz face fitness tests to determine if they will be fit. Hughes and Ruiz have been absent with thigh and ankle injuries, respectively. Ashkan Dejagah (calf), Matthew Briggs (hernia) and first-choice goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg (shoulder) are still out.
Cardiff boss Malky Mackay could choose to hand Peter Odemwingie a first Premier League start for his new club.

Odemwingie scored in the midweek Capital One Cup defeat at West Ham and could usurp Fraizer Campbell in the lone striker role at Craven Cottage. Mackay is otherwise expected to stick with the side that suffered a last-gasp defeat to Tottenham last weekend. Andrew Taylor will make his 100th appearance for the club, while Kevin McNaughton has joined Bolton on a month-long emergency loan.

Cardiff forward Peter Odemwingie could be rewarded with his first Premier League start for the club after scoring on his full debut in the midweek League Cup defeat at West Ham.
Fellow striker Andreas Cornelius remains out with an ankle problem.

MATCH PREVIEW

Fulham have taken only one point from their last six Barclays Premier League home games (L5 D1).
No team has won more points from losing positions than Cardiff (4) this season in the Barclays Premier League.
The last league meeting between Fulham and Cardiff came in the fourth tier in 1996-97.
Peter Beardsley scored the opening goal for Fulham in their last home game against Cardiff; a 2-1 League Cup win over the Welsh side.
Fulham have allowed their opponents to attempt 100 shots (including blocked shots) so far this season; a Premier League high.
This is Fulham’s worst ever run of results at home in the Premier League (over a six game period).
Only one away team has failed to score (Stoke in February 2013) in the last 17 Premier League games at Craven Cottage.

When Fulham beat QPR on 1 April, it virtually ensured their Premier League status and, with eight games still left to play, it seemed another top-10 finish was within their grasp.

However, they subsequently ended the campaign by claiming just four more points, losing six of those final matches and scoring just seven more goals in the process.
That stuttering form has again plagued them at the beginning of this season too. Fulham have earned just one point since the opening-day win at Sunderland, leaving them in the bottom three of the fledgling table. Only three goals scored indicates their most significant failure.

Manchester United vs West Brom September 28, 2013

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Manchester United will be looking to get back to winning ways in the Premier League when they host West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.

The Red Devils started to get a 4-1 mauling at the Etihad Stadium out of their system in midweek as they edged out another of their fiercest rivals, Liverpool, in a Capital One Cup clash.

David Moyes will, however, be aware of the need to offer a positive response in the league - especially in front of an expectant Old Trafford fan base.

It has been a testing start for the Scot, in his first season as Sir Alex Ferguson's successor, but the schedule would appear - on paper at least - to be a little more favourable over the coming weeks.

The same cannot said for West Brom, who will face United, Arsenal and Liverpool before the end of October.

Steve Clarke could do without such a run, but can take comfort from the fact that a first victory of the season was secured last time out against Sunderland - at the fifth time of asking.

Building on that result is the challenge facing the Baggies, but a record which has seen them go 35 years without success at Old Trafford does not bode well.

David Moyes's side suffered a heavy defeat to local rivals Manchester City last Sunday, although they did secure a 1-0 win over Liverpool in the League Cup on Wednesday evening.

Wednesday night's 1-0 win over Liverpool eased the pressure on David Moyes slightly and his team can go into Saturday's clash with West Brom in reasonably optimistic mood.

The start of the season has been far from perfect, but the difficult run of fixtures is over and there can be no more excuses. Manchester United now have a winnable sequence of league games and it is crucial they take as many points as they can during this period, beginning on the weekend.

Moyes made eight changes to the team that was torn apart by Manchester City.

His changes responded with a positive performance in the Capital One Cup, deservedly winning the game after some spells of genuinely excellent football, a rare treat this season. It will be interesting to see what side the manager opts for on Saturday afternoon.

West Brom come into the match off the back of a penalty shootout defeat to Arsenal in the same competition.

Moyes has no new injury concerns and may be tempted to hand a start to Javier Hernandez, who scored the winning goal against Liverpool.

Midfielders Shinji Kagawa and Nani are also in contention to start, while striker Robin van Persie may miss the match as he continues his recovery from a groin injury.

West Brom boss Steve Clarke is expected to recall goalkeeper Boaz Myhill and midfielder Manuel Amalfitano after both were rested against Arsenal.

Man Utd: De Gea; Smalling, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra; Carrick, Fellaini; Valencia, Kagawa, Nani; Rooney

West Brom: Myhill; Jones, McAuley, Olsson, Ridgewell; Amalfitano, Mulumbu, Morrison, Sinclair, Sessegnon; Anelka

Aston Villa vs Manchester City September 28, 2013

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Manchester City will be looking for their fourth consecutive victory in all competitions when they travel to Aston Villa on Saturday.

Aston Villa will attempt to contain free-scoring Manchester City when they meet in Premier League competition on Saturday.

Villa have made a steady yet unspectacular start to the 2013/14 campaign - collecting six points - and are one of only four sides yet to be involved in a draw this season.

Recent form suggests a stalemate is unlikely at Villa Park this weekend - with Villa having shipped four goals in a Capital One Cup clash with Tottenham Hotspur on home soil in midweek.

In contrast, City plundered five against Wigan Athletic to take their tally to 12 in their last three outings.

The standout result in that run came last Sunday, as Manuel Pellegrini oversaw a 4-1 derby demolition of Manchester United.

There is no doubting that an expensively-assembled squad is capable of maintaining those high standards and embarking on a sustained push for the Premier League title, but a return of one point from a possible six on the road so far this term suggests City need to shake off a bout of travel sickness.

Manuel Pellegrini's side followed up last weekend's win over local rivals Manchester United with a 5-0 thrashing of Wigan Athletic in the League Cup on Tuesday evening.

Aston Villa secured their first Premier League victory in four attempts last Saturday when they defeated Norwich City at Carrow Road.

However, Paul Lambert's side were knocked out of the League Cup by Tottenham Hotspur in midweek following a 4-0 loss.

Villa striker Christian Benteke has been ruled out for up to six weeks with a hip injury so Libor Kozak, who scored the winning goal against Norwich, is expected to start in attack.

City boss Manuel Pellegrini has no fresh injury concerns and could name the same XI that beat Manchester United, with Sergio Aguero and Alvaro Negredo starting up front.

Aston Villa: Guzan; Lowton, Vlaar, Okore, Luna; El Ahmadi, Westwood, Delph; Agbonlahor, Kozak, Weimann

Man City: Hart; Zabaleta, Kompany, Nastasic, Kolarov; Navas, Toure, Fernandinho, Nasri; Aguero, Negredo