Top seven football matches to watch in November 2023

AFC Champions League

Group stage, Matchday 4

If you haven’t yet watched an AFC Champions League, here’s the perfect reason. Firstly, you can gauge the competition’s level of skill to see if it’s truly growing as the media claims. Secondly, you can see how Cristiano Ronaldo is performing in Al Nassr. Lastly, you can catch up on the progress of familiar faces such as Aymeric Laporte, Sadio Mané, Marcelo Brozović and more. Al Nassr has already advanced to the 1/8 finals with nine points from three games. Although Al Duhail is lagging behind by eight points, their last game was a seven-goal spectacle, leaving us hopeful for a repeat performance.

Portuguese Primeira Liga

Matchday 11

It’s no shocker that Benfica, Sporting, and Porto are leading the league and the only contenders for the title. Even though it’s early in the season, the result of the Clássico dos Clássicos could significantly influence the title fight, particularly if Sporting secures a win and solidifies their top position. The timeless Ángel Di María is once again a key player at Benfica, much like he was from 2007-2010. At Sporting, keep an eye on Swedish striker Viktor Gyökeres, a recent addition from Coventry City, who’s already netted six goals.

UEFA European Championship Qualifiers

Matchday 10

The qualification for UEFA EURO 2024 will be at stake when Ukraine welcomes Italy to a neutral field in Leverkusen. Ukraine only has one match remaining, while the Azurri have two. Their performance against North Macedonia, which is scheduled three days prior, will have significant implications. A victory for Luciano Spalletti’s squad would require them to only draw against Ukraine. However, if the current European champions are defeated, Ukraine will only need a single point to secure their qualification. In their initial match on September 12, Ukraine suffered a 2-1 loss and is now hoping for North Macedonia to maintain their unbeaten streak against Italy at four matches.

CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifiers

Matchday 6

In my opinion, the match between Brazil and Argentina epitomizes the El Clásico of international football. These two teams are among the greatest and have a fierce regional rivalry, not to mention the brightest stars in football. What more could a neutral fan ask for? Argentina currently leads the standings with four victories from four matches. Brazil, on the other hand, will be hoping the Maracanã stadium will provide them with a much-needed boost after only securing one point from their last two qualifiers. Unfortunately, Neymar’s severe knee injury means that Vini Jr. and Rodrygo will have to shoulder the offensive responsibilities. Meanwhile, Lionel Messi, fresh from winning his record-breaking eighth Ballon d’Or, is expected to lead the reigning world champions.

English Premier League

Matchday 13

The rivalry between Man City and Liverpool may not have been significant initially, but over the past decade, it has come to represent the pinnacle of English football. As Jamie Carragher, a former Liverpool stalwart, stated in 2022, “We’ve never seen the two top teams and their top-notch managers go head-to-head like this before.” As of November 6, the teams are separated by merely three points in the table, and I anticipate both will continue to be title contenders by season’s end. With Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah leading the goal-scoring, the next chapter in the Pep and Klopp story is set to be just as thrilling.

Italian Serie A

Matchday 13

Another derby on the menu, as Juventus will host Inter in Derby d’Italia, potentially for the top spot in Serie A standings. Inter have a far better squad on paper with the likes of Yann Sommer, Denzel Dumfries, Hakan ÇalhanoÄŸlu and Lautaro Martínez running the show. Juventus are punching above their weight, at least for me, with a less experienced team and fewer big names, but they don’t have to spend their energy on the UEFA Champions League having been suspended by UEFA this season. Do not expect goals galore as Juve rely on the back line once again, but make sure not to miss this game if you’re a fan of tactical tussle.

UEFA Champions League

Matchday 5

This season’s UEFA Champions League group stage may not boast many five-star matches between the top-4 league’s biggest teams, but it doesn’t lack thrilling conflicts. A prime example is the match between PSG and Newcastle. Despite being absent from Europe’s premier competition since 2003, Newcastle has made a strong comeback, demonstrating a wise investment with a 4-1 triumph over PSG in their initial group encounter. However, it remains to be seen if they can handle the pressure at Parc des Princes.

• Dortmund vs. Newcastle, UEFA Champions League — November 7
• Stuttgart v Dortmund, German Bundesliga — 11 November
• UEFA European Championship Qualifiers: Poland vs Czechia — November 17
• 17 November, CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifiers &— Argentina vs Uruguay
• PSG v Monaco, French League 1 — 24 November
• UEFA Champions League: PSG vs Newcastle &— November 28
• UEFA Champions League: Real vs Napoli &— November 29