Arsenal and Dortmund to bounce back, Southampton to slip

Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s Dortmund lie 16th in the 18-team Bundesliga after winning only three league games this season. AFP PHOTO

What you need to know:

Southampton’s rearguard has been rarely breached too, but with the ruthless Sergio Aguero assisted by Stefan Jovetic and perhaps even a recovered Edin Dzeko, this is going to be their biggest test yet

PREMIER LEAGUE

Sunderland vs Chelsea
Chelsea do not have a good recent record against Sunderland and the Stadium Of Light is one of the places where their title bid was derailed last season, but in the current mood Jose Mourinho’s side are bound to break many jinxes, including this one.

Sunderland will do battle and, led by Steven Fletcher, will cause Chelsea some problems and be a potent threat. But Hazard, Fabregas, Oscar, Willian and Ramires are all on song, operating behind goal-happy types like Diego Costa and Didier Drogba. I see no joy for former Blue Gus Poyet here. Away win

Southampton vs Man City
That Man City defence has a few holes that Graziano Pelle, Shane Long and their providers Dusan Tadic and Mane, as well as the young English full backs Ryan Bertrand and Nathaniel Clyne will poke into.

But the champions will be revitalised by that momentous win against Bayern Munich in midweek, and in midfield the returning Yaya Toure, David Silva and Fernandinho will be more than a handful for Morgan Schneiderlin and Victor Wanyama who have enjoyed themselves thus far.

Southampton’s rearguard has been rarely breached too, but with the ruthless Sergio Aguero assisted by Stefan Jovetic and perhaps even a recovered Edin Dzeko, this is going to be their biggest test yet. Away win

Man United vs Hull
Hull were gutted to lose to Tottenham the way they did, and their confidence will have taken a knock. But they are battlers with some quality to boot, and have a manager for whom a visit to Old Trafford is always special.

Their mood will however be in stark contrast to that of United, who ground out an extremely important win at Arsenal, their first away and their second on the trot. There are still glaring weaknesses, but this game represents an opportunity to continue a run they have had not managed before, and they will be determined to take it. Home win &Over

West Brom vs Arsenal
Swansea and Man United represent losses on the trot for Arsenal in the dreaded Black November, yet somehow I don’t see them going down a third straight time if they attack West Brom half as well as they did the other two, especially now that Olivier Giroud is back. Away win

BUNDESLIGA

Hertha Berlin vs Bayern
Never mind the Man City result, a consequence of individual errors from a team that was in control despite their numerical disadvantage. They rested Thomas Muller and Mario Gotze, and have welcomed back Bastian Schweinsteiger. You have got to feel for Hertha. Away win

Frankfurt vs Dortmund
I still find it hard to not give Dortmund a Bundesliga win each time I mentally visualise their quality-laded line-up, the bench back-ups and their oft-times breathtaking transition game. Yet they couldn’t do it at Paderborn last weekend. Trust me at your own peril, but I am stubbornly going for them. Away win

Schalke vs Mainz
Home win

Hoffenheim vs Hannover
Over

Leverkusen vs Cologne
Home win

Woflsburg vs Gladbach
Over

SERIE A

Juve vs Torino
Midweek excursions into Europe might have taken their toll on Juventus, but they still have way too much squad strength to allow this Turin derby to be competitive enough. Home win

AC Milan vs Udinese
Home win

Roma vs Inter
Home win

Sampdoria vs Napoli
Away win

LA LIGA

Malaga vs Real Madrid
Modric is a great miss, but there is way too much firepower for a Real Madrid side inspired by their standing in the table, and the pursuit by eternal rivals Barcelona. Away win & Over

Valencia vs Barcelona
Luis Suarez has started scoring, Neymar just won’t stop. And as for Messi … Away win

Atletico Madrid vs Deportivo
Home win

LIGUE ONE

Marseille vs Nates
Home win

PSG vs Nice
Home win & Over

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