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 4 | MATCH PULSE
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.
Levski Sofia, 17th in the Europa League table, host 27th-placed Jagiellonia on Thursday 5 November 2026. Levski's tight defence meets a Polish side that scores freely on the road.
Crystal Palace host 1899 Hoffenheim at Selhurst Park on Thursday 5 November 2026 in the Europa League league stage. A struggling home side meets a visitor in far better recent form, and both sit inside the play-off places.
Anderlecht (22nd) host Red Bull Salzburg (21st) at Lotto Park on Thursday 5 November 2026, with both sides inside the Europa League play-off zone. Salzburg arrive scoring freely but with ten players out, so our lean is an open, close match.
AC Milan, 24th in the Europa League table with three points, host fourth-placed Ferencvarosi TC, who have won all three games. Milan's thin defence meets one of the form attacks in the competition.
Al Kholood, five straight defeats and 18 goals conceded in that run, host Al Khaleej Saihat in Pro League round 13 on 5 November 2026. Our analysis leans towards the visitors and a game with goals.
Mid-table Sao Paulo host 17th-placed Corinthians at MorumBIS on Thursday 5 November 2026 in Serie A Round 34. The home side's form at this ground and the visitors' away record point to a lean towards the hosts.
Botafogo host Atletico-MG in Serie A round 34 on Thursday 5 November 2026, with two sides short on form and heavily hit by injuries. Our preview weighs a seventh-placed visitor on a losing run against a 12th-placed home team.
Serie A leaders Flamengo host 15th-placed Gremio at the Maracanã on Wednesday 4 November 2026, with a 36-point gap between the sides. Our preview weighs form, absences and a close head-to-head record to find where the match could turn.