Three Biggest Games To Watch In October 2021
Club football is set to take over the driving seat from international action, with Europe's top-five divisions starting to pick up steam in 2021/22. If you are interested in placing a bet on any of the games below, you can use this exclusive Ladbrokes referral code to help you get started, whether it’s a bet on El Clasico or how many goals Ronaldo will score against Liverpool.
Let's take a look at the three most exciting league fixtures to look forward to in October.
La Liga: El Clasico - October 24
Barcelona and Real Madrid will go head-to-head at Camp Nou on October 24 in one of the most highly anticipated fixtures on the European football schedule.
Despite Barca's poor start to life after Lionel Messi, they are still in contention for the La Liga title, having lost just one of their opening seven league fixtures.
Ronald Koeman's side headed into the international break trailing top-placed Real by five points, though they have a game in hand over Carlo Ancelotti's team.
Meanwhile, Madrid's seven-match unbeaten La Liga start under the Italian manager suffered a setback last time out as they fell to a 2-1 away loss to top-flight newcomers Espanyol.
However, for the first time in over a decade, Los Merengues will travel to Camp Nou as pre-match favourites, courtesy of their hosts' underwhelming showings without Messi.
Madrid will entertain a prime opportunity to improve their overall La Liga record against Barcelona in an encounter that could determine Koeman's fate in Spain.
The 13-time European Cup winners have racked up 75 victories in such match-ups to Barca's 72, winning both last season's duels, including a 3-1 thumping in Catalonia.
Karim Benzema and co have been scoring for fun this season, netting a staggering 22 La Liga goals so far, at least ten more than any other side in Spain's elite club competition.
Therefore, it is hard to make a case for Madrid not to penetrate Barcelona's fragile backline that has managed just one clean sheet in four league games at home this term.
Premier League: Manchester United vs Liverpool - October 24
Old Trafford will play host to a blockbuster Premier League showdown between Manchester United and Liverpool on October 24.
Despite adding several top-class players to their star-studded squad over the summer, the Red Devils have blown hot and hold in the early exchanges this season.
October's international break bells rang rescue for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who has come under scrutiny on the back of United's unconvincing performances.
Cristiano Ronaldo and his teammates went into the international window winless in back-to-back Premier League fixtures, though they sit just two points adrift of pacesetters Chelsea.
Meanwhile, Liverpool remain the only side in England's top-flight yet to lose a league match this season, but three of their seven such contests have ended level.
However, based on the firepower on both sides and their recent competitive meetings, we could have an action-packed, high-scoring affair on our hands here.
While United boast free-scoring Ronaldo and up-and-coming English prodigy Mason Greenwood, the Reds can rely on evergreen figures in the shape of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane.
Ronaldo and Greenwood have bagged three Premier League goals apiece thus far, while Salah currently tops the scoring charts in England with a record of six goals and three assists.
So, it is not surprising that both of their previous encounters in all competitions have seen each side net at least twice in matches garnering 5+ total goals.
Serie A: Derby d'Italia - October 24
Reigning Serie A holders Inter Milan will face record-time Italian champions Juventus in a mouth-watering fixture on October 24.
The overall Derby d'Italia record waxes lyrical about the Turin heavyweights' winning prospects here, as they have 85 triumphs in 176 Serie A H2Hs to their name to Inter's 47.
But Juve's mixed start to the season under returning boss Massimiliano Allegri justifies their underdog status going into this match.
Yet, the visitors have enjoyed an upturn in form, going from a four-match winless Serie A start to three consecutive league victories, all of which came by a single-goal margin.
In the meantime, the scars of a controversial 3-2 away defeat in their most recent top-flight H2H are still fresh, as Inter seek consecutive home league wins over bitter rivals for the first time since 1991.
The Nerazzurri lost several significant pieces of their title-winning generation over the summer, with manager Antonio Conte severing ties with the club, as well as star players Romelu Lukaku and Achraf Hakimi.
Simone Inzaghi has done decent work so far, guiding his new employers to a seven-game undefeated Serie A start.
Inter's hopes of retaining the league crown are very much alive, as they sit just four points below table-toppers Napoli.
The upcoming titanic clash against Juventus should provide clarity about the home side's title credentials.
The same goes for the Bianconeri, who are desperate to reclaim domestic supremacy under proven winner Allegri.