4 days ago
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From Milan to Vancouver
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Football never sleeps, and with the end of the international break, the focus shifts back to the domestic leagues. This weekend, we will see the Copa Sudamericana final in Asunción, the Milan Derby, in MLS, two legends will face off, and important games will take place in France and Spain. In other words, there are once again exciting games to watch across the globe, and with the expertise of our global team, Transfermarkt takes you around the world to highlight five games you should watch this weekend.
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Copa Sudamericana: Lanús vs Atlético Mineiro
Scott Christensen (Area Manager South America & Argentina) on Lanús:
The team has improved a lot since Mauricio Pellegrino's arrival as head coach, and they've reached the second final of the Copa Sudamericana in their history they having won it in 2013. He's a serious coach with clear ideas and came to organize a team that wasn't doing too good last year.
The team usually plays with a 4-2-3-1 line-up, and there are some key players in the starting XI. The players to watch are goalkeeper Nahuel Losada, left-back Sasha Marcich, the defensive midfielders Agustín Cardozo and Agustín Medina, center-backs Carlos Izquierdoz and Eduardo Salvio. The defensive players, in particular, will be tasked with slowing down Brazilian legend Hulk. The club’s most important player, however, will be Marcelino Moreno.
People will remember Moreno for his long stint in MLS, but to be honest, he's surprised everyone with the performances he's had with Lanús since his return. He's by far the best player on the team, controlling every attack, breaking defensive lines with through balls are dribbling, he's scoring and assisting. It's hard to believe Lanús would have reached the Copa Sudamericana final without him.
Marcos Watts (Area Manager Brazil) on Atlético Mineiro:
This weekend's Copa Sudamericana final means everything to Atlético Mineiro's season. After a good start to 2025 easily winning Minas Gerais' state championship (Campeonato Mineiro) and having made 9 signings in the year's first transfer window, the club seemed to be off the track for most of the year: a rough start to the Campeonato Brasileiro season, combined with poor performances at the Copa Sudamericana group stage - that led to a qualification via playoffs - and a defeat to rivals Cruzeiro at the Copa do Brazil quarter final led to the sacking of former manager Cuca and forced the club had to act quickly in finding a new gaffer.
Sitting in mid-table in the Brasileirão, Atlético Mineiro's only realistic chance to qualify for the Copa Libertadores is to become Sudamericana champions, which would be a relief for its supporters and add a second piece of silverware to a year that started with high expectations. Both Atlético and Lanús had to rely on home advantage throughout the knockout stages of the competition, so a neutral venue could mean we'll see a balanced final. Strikers Rony and Hulk could be the difference makers for the Brazilians' attack, while goalkeeper Everson will play a fundamental role in the outcome of the match.
Success in the Sudamericana final would also mean a lot to Jorge Sampaoli: the Argentine could become the first manager to ever win two Sudamericanas (having first won with Universidad de Chile back in 2011), and it would put an end to his 5-year title drought. His last triumph came with Atlético Mineiro, winning the Campeonato Mineiro in 2020 during his first spell at the club. Since then, Sampaoli failed to win titles at Olympique de Marseille, Sevilla, Flamengo, and Rennes.
Legends collide in MLS: Vancouver Whitecaps vs LAFC
Manuel Veth (Area Manager North America):
It will be Thomas Müller against Heung-Min Son on Saturday when the Vancouver Whitecaps host LAFC in the MLS Cup Playoffs Western Conference semifinal. Both Müller and Son have been in incredible form since joining their respective Major League Soccer clubs this summer. While the Raumdeuter has managed 11 goals and 6 assists in 15 games across all competitions, LAFC’s Korean superstar winger has managed 10 goals and 4 assists in 12 games across all competitions.
Although MLS has a long history of aging stars coming over from Europe, very few have met the high expectations. Indeed, both Müller and Son are playing at a level that MLS has only seen from Lionel Messi. That’s perhaps not surprising. Both players arrived fully committed to playing in the league. But they also play for teams that were already playing at a high level before their respective arrivals.
In fact, the Whitecaps have been one of the big surprise packages this season. In the spring, the Vancouver club reached the final of the Concacaf Champions Cup, eliminating Inter Miami CF 5-1 on aggregate in the semifinals. Under new head coach Jesper Sørensen, the ‘Caps have become tactically sound and, at times, the most exciting team in the league to watch. The club’s secret has been the collective effort, which is why Müller fits in well at the Whitecaps.
LAFC, in the meantime, have been an aggressive scoring powerhouse. Son has formed an instant chemistry with Denis Bouanga, who has scored 24 goals in 31 regular-season games. The two are spectacular to watch at times. Indeed, it will be interesting to see whether the Whitecaps’ defense around MLS defender of the year Tristan Blackmon has enough to stop the powerful LAFC attack. Either way, the game has generated significant buzz. The Whitecaps announced last week that they have sold all 55,000 seats at BC Place. It is a proper stage for one of the must-watch games this weekend.
Milan Derby: Inter Milan vs AC Milan
Stefano Buonfino (Content Manager Italy):
The Milan Derby may not be the most fiercely contested derby, but it is certainly the one with the most spectacular setting, at least in Italy. But this one should be one of the last at San Siro, given that Inter and Milan have acquired the stadium and are in charge of the project to build the new modern Scala del Calcio.
In recent years, Inter has dominated its Rossoneri cousins, winning six derbies in a row (a record) and earning its second star (awarded after 20 league titles) in a Derby. Last season, however, something broke, and Milan transformed from sacrificial victim to the Nerazzurri's worst nemesis: five matches, two draws, three defeats for Inter, the last one 3-0 in the Coppa Italia semi-final.
Max Allegri has the task of continuing the streak, while Cristian Chivu has the task of breaking the curse. Theoretically, Inter starts with the strongest and most proven team, but Milan has a solid tactic and defense, and the right mood in direct confrontations, which is exactly what their rivals lack. Milan lacks a strong offensive reference point, but Inter has shown that it suffers more when attackers are left free to roam in the wide spaces behind the defensive line. Furthermore, Inter, having a Champions League match against Cholo Simeone's Atlético Madrid, may be less inclined to take risks and be less daring. It could be a goalless and balanced game, but a goal in the early minutes could also lead to a completely different match.
Ligue 1 rivals meet: Stade Rennais vs AS Monaco
Ronan Caroff (Area Manager France):
We enter the second third of Ligue 1's season, and despite their rankings, Stade Rennais and AS Monaco had rocky starts to the 2025/26 season. The home team was inches away from firing coach Habib Beye after 1.5 months without a win (including three 2-0 to 2-2 crashes), but has recently turned the tide with wins vs Strasbourg and Paris FC.
Now sitting two points away from Monaco, whose new coach, Sébastien Pocognoli just passed his first month in office. His record thus far is 3 wins, 2 draws, and 2 losses, including the latest game, a 1-4 home defeat against Lens. So, two teams with different recent forms, but with the common goal of not letting the European places slip away too much.
Players to watch at Monaco include Maghnes Akliouche and Mika Biereth. Both were in high demand this summer but opted to stay in Ligue 1. At Stade Rennais, 18-year-old Kader Meïté looks like the latest wonderkid to emerge at the club.
Valencia Derby: Valencia vs Levante
Ivan Fuénte (Content Manager Spain):
Valencia and Levante are in a very bad situation for the derby. Both are at the bottom of the table (17th against 19th), and their most recent results are negative. Levante have not won since early October (0-2 against Real Oviedo), and Valencia have not won since September (2-0 against Athletic). That win is Valencia's last victory at Mestalla (1D 2L since then). In opposition, Levante has only lost one of its last five away games (3W, 2D).
In any case, head-to-head matches between the two sides have been very favorable for Valencia, so much so that Levante UD have never won at its rivals' home ground. The historical differences between the two clubs are notable, but both are currently fighting to avoid relegation to the second division.
Although both teams are fighting relegation, there are some interesting names to watch. At Levante, Karl Etta Eyong (5 goals) is the top goalscorer. The 22-year-old Cameroonian is one of the most interesting young up-and-coming strikers in LaLiga. Also, a fascinating player to watch is his teammate Carlos Álvarez. Both those players will keep Valencia center-back César Tarrega busy. The 24-year-old has been crucial for Valencia this season.
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