Actions resume fully with the first gameweek of 2026 as the Premier League, LaLiga, Serie A, and the Ligue 1 kick off where they left off, although the English league had concluded a couple of previous gameweek actions on New Year's Eve.

Here is a preview of ten of the best fixtures going down this weekend, with the Ligue 1 set to feature a first top-flight Paris derby in over 47 years, while Chelsea travel to the Etihad in the Premier League, a few days after losing their manager, Enzo Maresca.

Picks, Previews, and Predictions: 10 selected fixtures 

1. Manchester City vs Chelsea 

It has been a chaotic week at Chelsea, from a home draw with Bournemouth, which extended their winless run to three, to the controversial departure of manager Enzo Maresca, the Blues are in a vulnerable position.

And that is not where anyone wants to be a few days before taking to the Etihad to face Manchester City, who have not dropped a point at home since losing to Tottenham Hotspur in gameweek two.

Manchester City, despite being held to a goalless draw at Sunderland on New Year's Eve, remain one of the most in-form teams, with eight wins and one draw in their last nine games across all competitions.

They have also conceded one goal in their last six domestic games, although Chelsea, despite their recent slumps, have no difficulties putting the ball in the back of their opponents' net, but first game without Enzo Maresca, who knows how they'll fare under caretaker coach Callum McFarlane?

Since their 1-0 win in the 2021 Champions League final, Chelsea have been without a win against Manchester City in the 11 meetings that have followed, managed just two draws, and suffered nine defeats.

Pep Guardiola will be looking forward to putting the draw at Sunderland behind them by winning this fixture, especially as they could be seven points behind leaders Arsenal before kickoff, if the Gunners win their visit to Bournemouth on Saturday.

Prediction: Man City 3-1 Chelsea

2. Tottenham Hotspur vs Sunderland AFC

Sunderland haven't been as impressive as they are at home on the road so far, but they'll have the chance to benefit at a ground that is always giving the visitors if they can stay at the top of their game in London on Sunday's trip to Spurs.

Fresh from their impressive draw with Manchester City, which saw them extend their unbeaten home run to 10, as well as take them to four games unbeaten with their current run, it also gave them their third clean sheet in four games.

Only West Ham United, seven, and Wolves, one, have won fewer points at home than Tottenham Hotspur, eight, in the Premier League this season, a real concern that Thomas Frank has been unable to fix throughout the first part of the season.

They've donated points to teams lower than Sunderland, and the Black Cats are also visiting at a good time, when their host have managed just one win in four, losing two, including one at home.

Sunderland are winless in their last eight Premier League away visits to the ground of Spurs, losing seven, including the last six, with their most recent victory in such a fixture coming in a 2-1 scoreline in August 2008. They may never have a better chance than this Sunday.

Prediction: Tottenham 1-1 Sunderland

3. Newcastle United vs Crystal Palace

A few weeks ago, Crystal Palace was in the best position it could be. Had the chance to finish in the top eight in the Conference League, were in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals, and are level on points with third-place Chelsea in the league.

Unfortunately, they have failed to win any of their last six games across all competitions, finishing outside the Conference League top eight, exiting the Carabao Cup, and now closer to 16th than they are to third in the league standings.

They travel to Newcastle on Sunday evening, with their host being on a better run, especially at St. James ' Park, where only Liverpool and Arsenal have picked up wins so far, and only twice, against Arsenal and Wolves, have they failed to score multiple goals at home.

A difficult test awaits Oliver Glasner and his minions, although they can take courage in the fact that their best point return has come on the road, and a win would make them the team with the most points on the road this season, if Arsenal falls in Bournemouth.

Crystal Palace's last away win at Newcastle came in February 2021, and they have to ensure they do just enough to replicate this, lest they drop into the bottom half by the end of the gameweek.

Prediction: Newcastle 2-1 Palace 

4. Fulham vs Liverpool 

Since their return to the top flight in 2022, Fulham have lost one, drawn one, and won one of three Premier League home meetings with Liverpool, making themselves a nuisance anytime the Reds visit the capital.

Both clubs appear to be in a similar situation. Marco Silva has weathered the storm that saw his team wallowing just above the relegation zone at the start of December, and now just six points separate them from fourth-place Liverpool.

Fulham have won 10 points from their last 12 available, and Liverpool, although they would head into the game on the back of a disappointing home draw with Leeds United, will still be pleased with how far they have come from their infamous nine defeats in 12 games.

At this stage of the season and with just eight points separating fourth and 14th, every week presents an opportunity to climb up the standings, while defeats and even draws could be as devastating.

Prediction: Fulham 2-2 Liverpool

5. Leeds United vs Manchester United 

The Premier League has become so interesting this season that almost no result is surprising, and Leeds United at home to Man United could be another one, where the outcome may not correlate with the script.

Seeing Man United play against Wolves in mid-week at Old Trafford, and them giving the visitors their third point of the season, it wouldn't be much of a surprise if they are beaten at Elland Road on Sunday.

Leeds United have been in impeccable form since the start of December, and have remained unbeaten, winning two and drawing four, despite playing Liverpool twice, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, and Sunderland.

In the absence of Bruno Fernandes, Ruben Amorim's side's struggles are obvious, especially against Wolves, where they almost became the first team to be beaten by the bottom table team this season in the league.

Leeds, especially away from home will be tougher, and Amorim will hope to have a few bodies back from injury, and a positive result, having passed the chance to move into the top four on multiple occasions, with just three wins in their last 10 games.

The Red Devils are unbeaten in their last nine Premier League meetings with Leeds, winning six, since a 1-0 defeat at Sunday's ground in September 2002.

Prediction: Leeds United 1-2 Man United 

6. Real Madrid vs Real Betis 

Desperation has hit the camp of Los Blancos ahead of their new year return following the injury to star forward Kylian Mbappé, but not many will see this as a blow, because of their conquest before the arrival of the Frenchman in 2024.

Although they do have other injury worries, especially in defence, Xabi Alonso has the chance to feature Rodrygo, Vinicius Junior, and Jude Bellingham at the same time, while they would also be the top three superstars, one that led them to the league and Champions League double in 2024.

They welcome Real Betis to the Bernabéu, a team that has enjoyed a great start to the season, both in the league and the Europa League, where they are positioned sixth and fourth respectively.

Betis will also head into the game on a brilliant run of nine wins in their last 13 games across all competitions, with a 5-3 loss to Barcelona being their only negative result in that period.

Real Madrid will be desperate for a win as they continue to chase Barcelona, who may have gone seven points clear with a derby win over Espanyol on Saturday evening, and to build momentum ahead of important Super Cup and Champions League dates.

Each side has won one in their last five meetings, while Betis has not won away to Real Madrid since a 2-0 success in May 2019, when goals from Jese and Loren Moron condemned Zinedine Zidane's team to defeat on the final weekend of the season.

Prediction: Real Madrid 2-1 Real Betis

7. Inter vs Bologna 

A few weeks after their dramatic penalty shootout in the SuperCoppa Italiana, Inter and Bologna clash again, this time in the league, where no shootouts will be required in case of a draw.

The two teams are placed high on the Serie A standings until recent weeks, when Bologna's dip in form saw them lose ground, while Inter assumed the summit, with Sunday's visitors trailing by 10 points.

Inter has won each of its last four league games heading into this weekend, and is also unbeaten in their last five league home meetings with Bologna, winning three but drawing the most recent two.

Prediction: Inter 2-1 Bologna

8. Atalanta vs AS Roma 

AS Roma are at a point where they need a run of positive results lest they surrender their status as a title contender, but in their trip to Atalanta this weekend, they knew it would be decisive, and they would want to avoid another defeat.

But this isn't a kind fixture. Before this season kicked off, Atalanta had become the better club having finished ahead of the Giallorossi in the last three seasons, but so far they have struggled due to managerial inconsistency.

With six wins in their last eight games, Rafaelle Palladino will want to prove a point against Gian Pierro Gasperini, the very man he succeeded on the job, maybe not directly, but just a few months difference, after Ivan Juric, who lasted four months on the job.

Atalanta have also enjoyed a better run in this fixture. They have five wins and one draw in their last six meetings, while Roma haven't tasted a win in this fixture since March 2022.

Prediction: Atalanta 1-1 AS Roma 

9. AS Monaco vs Olympic Lyonnaise 

Both sides have surrendered their quest to stop PSG from winning the league this season, a fight they have passed to the likes of RC Lens, Olympique Marseille, and maybe Lille.

However, the goal at this stage of the season is staying in contention for European places, an achievement that will make the host a lot more desperate for the points to keep pace with the teams ahead, especially after back-to-back league losses.

Lyon, who won their case against financial shortcomings earlier in the season to maintain their top-flight status, will not have many complaints about how their season has been, and the result of the meetings with Monaco may have no effect as they will still remain in the top six.

None of the last ten meetings between the two teams at the ground of Monaco has ended in a draw, with both sides winning five apiece, although Monaco have won three of the last four such games.

Prediction: AS Monaco 2-2 Lyon

10. PSG vs Paris FC

It might not be one of the fixtures expected to be fiercely contested as both sides occupy opposite ends of the table, but the Paris clubs are local rivals, and this is set to be their first competitive derby since December 1978.

Paris FC have been away from the top-flight ever since their relegation at the end of that season, which was also the first-ever season the two sides have met, with both meetings ending in draws.

Starting the year with a win will be a priority for Luis Enrique, especially as they currently trail RC Lens on the league summit, while Olympique Marseille and LOSC Lille are also not far behind.

Prediction: PSG 4-1 Paris FC