Our Picks: Play-off rematch and heated Italian rivalry catch the eye

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Our Picks: Play-off rematch and heated Italian rivalry catch the eye

Flashscore UK's editors have had a look through the fixtures this weekend and picked out a few matches to keep an eye on
Flashscore UK's editors have had a look through the fixtures this weekend and picked out a few matches to keep an eye onFlashscore / Profimedia
Football is finally back in full swing across Europe and there are plenty of entertaining ties to look out for.

From new managers and play-off rematches to heated rivalries and... heated tea rivalries (sorry), Flashscore UK's editors have had a look through the fixtures this weekend and picked out a few matches to keep an eye on:

PSG v Lorient - Joel Barnett

PSG will get their 50th campaign in Ligue 1 underway against Lorient on Saturday evening with new manager Luis Enrique at the helm.

The former Barcelona and Spain manager replaced Christophe Galtier in the summer but there will be no honeymoon period at the Parc des Princes with the club currently rocking.

To improve on last season Enrique will have to manage without star striker Kylian Mbappe - with chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi insisting the player must be sold - and Lionel Messi, who joined Inter Miami in the summer.

Mbappe says he has no intention of leaving PSG this season
Mbappe says he has no intention of leaving PSG this seasonAFP

There are also questions over the future of Neymar, who will miss the match through illness - a valid reason, but one that hasn't stopped the avalanche of speculation.

Galtier led the Parisians to their ninth title in 11 seasons but was sacked after a dire Champions League campaign. With an overhauled and youthful squad, a poor start to life in Ligue 1 will certainly add early pressure to Enrique's tenure.

It's not ideal preparation for their match against Lorient, with Les Bris unbeaten in their opening game in each of the past three seasons and looking to replicate their incredible start to last season with a notable scalp.

Lorient comfortably beat PSG at the Parc des Princes in April and will have a new-look defence with former Manchester City defender Benjamin Mendy making his controversial return to football alongside new signing Formose Mendy.

Cagliari v Palermo - Ste Carson

It’s unusual to have such an eye-catching clash in the earliest stages of the Coppa Italia, but that’s exactly what we have with this match.

Two storied rivals - competing in the Derby delle Isole - who are, at least in recent history, two of the most recognisable football clubs from Italy.

Cagliari escaped the clutches of Serie B last season, promoted via play-offs, but rivals Palermo finished ninth and remained in the second tier.

There will certainly be mention of the two side's positions on the footballing pyramid mentioned in the stands, but the two teams shouldn't be too far off each other ability-wise.

Previous meetings between Cagliari and Palermo
Previous meetings between Cagliari and PalermoFlashscore

Cagliari have strengthened their spine somewhat, though, with signings that include Ibrahim Sulemana, Eldor Shomurodov and the experienced Simone Scuffet.

Palermo, on the other hand, have seemingly prioritised picking up a number of fading Serie A players, including Roberto Insigne, Fabio Lucioni and, most notably, Leo Stulac.

The match will be played at the Unipol Domus stadium in Cagliari, Sardinia, and is scheduled to start at 20:15 BST.

Cagliari go into the latest instalment of the Derby delle Isole as the favourites, particularly so because of the home advantage, but nothing is certain in football - especially where rivals are concerned.

Coventry v Middlesbrough - Ali Pollock

The second weekend of Championship action sees a repeat of last season’s play-off semi-final when Coventry host Middlesbrough.

Both sides were among the best in the division last time out and are again expected the challenge at the top end of the league – even though each club lost on the opening weekend.

They also have two of the best managers in the league with Mark Robins and Michael Carrick both doing stellar jobs with their respective teams.

The Sky Blues lost their best player in Viktor Gyokeres but have adequately replaced him as well as improved their squad in other areas.

The previous five meetings between Coventry and Boro
The previous five meetings between Coventry and BoroFlashscore

Boro are also set to lose their star man in Chuba Akpom – and although a move is yet to come to fruition, he hasn’t featured in any of their matches so far.

A total of nine new additions for Coventry as well as seven for Middlesbrough give both teams a very new look going into Saturday's game.

Coventry's Ellis Simms didn't have the best debut, but his instinctive finishing makes him a good bet to score at some point – also keep an eye on fellow new signing Haji Wright who majorly stood out in his cameo from the bench last weekend.

With Middlesbrough, they still need a striker to come in but the lively Morgan Rogers – signed permanently from Manchester City – has taken up an exciting

role in their attack so far.

Hull v Sheffield Wednesday - Brad Ferguson

A Yorkshire derby takes place on Saturday in the Championship as Hull host county rivals Sheffield Wednesday.

This week Hull manager Liam Rosenior admitted a charge of improper and confrontational behaviour towards a match official after earning a red card in the 97th-minute of their opening-day loss to Norwich.

Hull were agonisingly close to a draw but were forced to settle for zilch at Carrow Road, with their manager feeling disappointed in their performance - as well as his own.

Rosenior will be missing from the touchline against the Owls which could prove costly in their first home game of the season.

Sheffield Wednesday suffered a similar story in their first match, conceding a late goal in the 87th minute to a James Ward-Prowse right before the England midfielder no doubt secures a move back to the Premier League - a bid from West Ham is reported to have been accepted by the Saints.

The 2-1 home loss at Southampton wasn't the Championship homecoming they had hoped for, and they'll be keen to get points on the board this weekend to begin building a bit of momentum.

The previous five meetings between Hull and Sheffield Wednesday
The previous five meetings between Hull and Sheffield WednesdayFlashscore

It'll be tricky for Wednesday though as they've suffered a nasty 15 defeats from their last 20 Championship away games - they also conceded 42 goals and achieved zero clean sheets during that time when they were last in the second tier in 2020/21. New boss Xisco Muñoz will want to correct that stat rather urgently.

Hull themselves turned the KC Stadium into something of a formidable fortress last season with only eventual champions Burnley managing to beat the home side throughout the league campaign.

Something tells me this is the kind of match to turn those stats on their head, mind.

Hull have just about had the better of it in the previous five meetings between the sides, although Wednesday have won and drawn the last two. They'll be hoping to capitalise on the Tigers' manager being forced to sit in the stands, probably stewing with a lovely brew. 

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