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European Weekend Preview: Man City hosts Tottenham; Inter takes on Napoli; and more

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By RYAN TOLMICH

Domestic leagues make their triumphant return this weekend, with the English Premier League leading the way with a clash of top four hopefuls.

Manchester City, unbeaten in their last four games, take on Tottenham, who conceded 11 goals to the reigning champions in the pair’s meetings last season. Meanwhile, Chelsea, who have surged to six wins in their opening seven games, travel to Selhurst Park to take on Crystal Palace.

Serie A also boasts a meeting of two of the league’s traditional powers as Napoli and Inter look to rebound from lackluster starts to their seasons.

In addition, Barcelona look to increase their lead atop La Liga against the surprising Eibar, Borussia Dortmund attempt to stop their skid in a matchup with Cologne and Ligue 1 leaders Olympique Marseille take on Toulouse.

Here is a closer look at this weekend’s action from the top leagues in Europe:

ENGLAND

After a two week break, Manchester City and Tottenham are set to kickoff the Premier League’s return to action.

Man City enter the weekend with a short-staffed midfield due to injuries to Fernandinho and Samir Nasri. Midfielder Yaya Toure is also questionable due to his participation in recent international contests. Meanwhile, Tottenham may need to turn to backup goalkeepersMichael Vorm as starter Hugo Lloris recovers from a thigh injury.

Meanwhile, Chelsea look to pick up the team’s seventh win in eight games when they take on underdogs Crystal Palace, who topped Chelsea 1-0 last season. Palace’s upset chances could receive a boost from the absence of Diego Costa, whose status is uncertain due to a hamstring injury.

Here is a closer look at this weekend’s Premier League action:

SATURDAY

Manchester City vs. Tottenham

Arsenal vs. Hull City

Burnley vs. West Ham

Crystal Palace vs. Chelsea

Everton vs. Aston Villa

Newcastle vs. Leicester City

Southampton vs. Sunderland

SUNDAY

Queens Park Rangers vs. Liverpool

Stoke City vs. Swansea City

ITALY

Despite disapointing starts to their 2014-15 campaigns, Napoli and Inter have a chance to add some life to their seasons when the two traditional powerhouses collide Sunday.

Napoli and Inter enter the weekend in seventh and 10th, respectively, with each team having slumped to two losses in their first six games. Napoli enter the weekend with the benefit of momentum, having picked up two straight wins, while Inter enter off of drubbings at the hands of Fiorentina and Cagliari.

Juventus, on the other hand, will look to continue their run atop the table going when they take on last-place Sassuolo. The reigning champions have allowed just two goals all season, both last time out against Roma, and remain unblemished on the young season.

Here is a closer look at this weekend’s Serie A action:

SATURDAY

Roma vs. Chievo Verona

Sassuolo vs. Juventus

SUNDAY

Fiorentina vs. Lazio

Atalanta vs. Parma

Cagliari vs. Sampdoria

Hellas Verona vs. Milan

Palermo vs. Cesena

Torino vs. Udinese

Inter Milan vs. Napoli

SPAIN

In a matchup of perennial power versus surprising upstart, Barcelona takes on Eibar at the Camp Nou.

Eibar, who earned direct promotion to La Liga for the first time in the club’s history last season, have fared well thus far in their first campaign in the top flight. Eibar currently sit in ninth place, but face a task of a whole new level when they visit Barcelona, who will be playing their last league game without the suspended Luis Suarez.

The two Madrid sides are also in action this weekend, as Real Madrid visits Levante and Atletico Madrid hosts Espanyol.

Here is a closer look at this weekend’s La Liga action:

SATURDAY

Levante vs. Real Madrid

Athletic Bilbao vs. Celta Vigo

Barcelona vs. Eibar

Cordoba vs. Malaga

SUNDAY

Atletico Madrid vs. Espanyol

Deportivo La Coruna vs. Valencia

Elche vs. Sevilla

Villareal vs. Almeria

GERMANY

Borussia Dortmund’s season-starting slump is threatening to derail the club’s season before it even gets going.

Having lost four of their first seven games, BVB already sit 10 points behind leaders Bayern Munich, whose run atop the Bundesliga looks set to continue. If BVB are set to have any hope of climbing back into the race, the club will need to start racking up points, starting this weekend against Cologne.

Meanwhile, Bayern, who have picked up 17 points from the opening seven games, take on last place Werder Bremen.

Here is a closer look at this weekend’s Bundesliga action:

SATURDAY

Bayern Munich vs. Werder Bremen

Mainz vs. Augsburg

Hannover vs. Borussia Monchengladbach

Freiburg vs. Wolfsburg

Stuttgart vs. Bayer Leverkusen

Cologne vs. Borussia Dortmund

Schalke vs. Hertha Berlin

SUNDAY

Hamburg vs. Hoffenheim

Paderborn vs. Eintracht Frankfurt

FRANCE

Olympique Marseillie are running rampant through Ligue 1.

After picking up a loss and draw in their opening two games, Marseille have won seven straight to surge to the top of the league table. Having already amassed a five point lead, Marseille will look to increase that advantage Sunday against eighth-place Toulouse.

Second-place Bordeaux will also see action this weekend in a matchup with Caen, who have picked up just eight points from their first nine games.

Here is a closer look at this weekend’s Ligue 1 action:

SATURDAY

Lorient vs. Saint-Etienne

Lille vs. Guingamp

Metz vs. Rennes

Monaco vs. Evian

Nantes vs. Reims

Nice vs. Bastia

SUNDAY

Olympique Marseille vs. Toulouse

Bordeaux vs. Caen

Montpellier vs. Olympique Lyon

What games stand out to you this weekend? See any upsets on the horizon?

Share your thoughts below.

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