Every big match of the day, previewed from the data: recent form, team news, head to head, where to watch it live and our lean — then three AI engines take over on match day.
This week in football
A column on every big match before the week starts, and the full story once it ends.
Arsenal left Anfield with a 1-0 win and the Premier League summit to themselves, while Manchester City lost at home to Brighton despite 21 shots. Lazio hit six at Sassuolo and Barcelona six against Alaves.
Liverpool v Arsenal at Anfield on Sunday 1 November caps a 20-match week across three leagues. Before it, Lazio's hold on second place in Serie A is tested at Sassuolo on Tuesday.
Read the week ahead
Match previews
Football match previews, predictions and team news · Page 3 | MATCH PULSE
Pointless FC Thun host Heart Of Midlothian at Stockhorn Arena on Thursday 5 November 2026, with both sides in the lower reaches of the Conference League table. Our analysis points to an open, goal-friendly night.
Mjallby AIF host Borac Banja Luka at Olympia on Thursday 5 November 2026, with both sides inside the play-off places. Borac arrive in far better recent form, while Mjallby are still searching for a home goal in their last two.
FC Midtjylland, 25th with one point, host 13th-placed Ajax at MCH Arena on Thursday 5 November 2026 in League Stage matchday 3. Both sides score freely and rarely keep clean sheets away from home or at it, which points to an open game.
Winless Lincoln Red Imps host Hajduk Split, who have won both league-stage games, at Europa Point Stadium on 5 November 2026. This preview weighs form, goals and the table to find a lean.
Pointless KuPS host Gent at Tammelan Stadion on Thursday 5 November 2026 in matchday 3 of the Conference League league stage. Gent sit 17th with three points, and the numbers lean their way.
FK Crvena Zvezda host bottom-table Inter Club d'Escaldes at Stadion Rajko Mit on Thursday 5 November 2026 in Conference League League Stage matchday 3. Our analysis leans heavily towards the home side, with goals likely.
Atalanta host Kairat Almaty at the New Balance Arena on Thursday 5 November 2026 in League Stage round 3 of the Europa Conference League. The hosts are 15th but badly out of form, while the visitors sit 31st; our analysis leans towards a home win with goals.
Aarhus, 26th with one point, host 16th-placed SC Braga, who have three, at Cepheus Park on Thursday 5 November 2026. Braga's sharper recent numbers give them a slight edge, but Aarhus have been hard to beat at home.
Sparta Praha host Bournemouth at Stadion Letná on Thursday 5 November 2026 in League Stage matchday 4 of the Europa League. The visitors arrive with a perfect nine points and five straight clean sheets; the hosts sit 16th on four.
Real Sociedad host Lyon at the Anoeta Stadium on Thursday 5 November 2026 in matchday four of the Europa League league stage. A high-scoring home side meets a Lyon team that has not scored away from home in two games.
NEC Nijmegen host Omonia Nicosia at Stadion de Goffert on Thursday 5 November 2026 in matchday four of the Europa League league stage. Two sides inside the play-off places meet, with NEC short of numbers and still without a home win.
Lillestrom (31st, one point) host Plzen (33rd, none) at Åråsen Stadion on Thursday 5 November 2026. Both sides have leaked goals in the Europa League, so this preview looks at whether Plzen's away scoring can exploit a shaky home defence.