This Weekend’s Big Match-Ups

This weekend sees a lot of huge matchups and tournaments happening across the world of sport, just another huge point in a season that is proving to be one of the most dramatic in recent history. With massive rivalries, intriguing side plots, and some of the finest athletes in the world strutting their stuff, the quality on show is going to be unmatched. Let’s take a look at some of the tastiest matches happening this weekend.

NBA: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (November 6th)

Basketball legend LeBron James’ 2018 free agency move to the Los Angeles Lakers from Cleveland Cavaliers, the team that first drafted him way back in 2003, was a huge talking point for the NBA. James ended up winning the 2020 NBA Championship with the Lakers after linking up with generational talent Anthony Davis, and things looked rosy for James and Los Angeles. Cleveland was rooted to the foot of the Eastern Conference, and James was flying.

Oh, how times have changed. This year, James, Davis, and triple-double king Russell Westbrook have led the Lakers to a 2-5 record so far this season, and they are looking a million miles away from the level of the top contenders in the Western Conference. They have won their last two games, but the worrying signs are there that this could be another season of disappointment for the Lakers. Cleveland, on the other hand, is one of the form teams in the league, and their acquisition of Donovan Mitchell over the off-season has led them to a 6-1 record, second-best in the Eastern Conference. On current form, this should be a Cavaliers win, but never count out LeBron James against one of his old teams.

NBA schedule on TV and stream.

EPL: Chelsea vs. Arsenal (November 6th)

Arsenal’s magnificent start to the season shows no signs of slowing down, and the Gooners still occupy top spot in the league, two points above the monstrous-looking Manchester City side of Pep Guardiola. Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus, and Emile Smith-Rowe are in red-hot form, and Mikel Arteta has this team playing with all the joy and confidence of Arsenal teams of the early 2000s.

Chelsea has also enjoyed a solid last few weeks as Graham Potter has had a strong start to life as Chelsea manager. However, last week’s embarrassing 4-1 loss to Potter’s old club Brighton was an unexpected blow, and Chelsea will have to improve drastically to dream of getting three points against this rampant Arsenal side. Chelsea does historically have a good record against Arsenal, especially at home, but this season feels different. Attacking midfielders Kai Havertz and Mason Mount, along with summer signing Raheem Sterling, will have to be sharp and clinical if they want to score goals against an organized and disciplined Arsenal defense, and this London derby promises to be a blockbuster.

Premier League schedule here.

NFL: Kansas City Chiefs vs. Tennessee Titans (November 6th)

This year’s NFL has been an absolute rollercoaster, with some of the top teams and quarterbacks going through struggles while some of the historically mid-placed teams are flying. Kansas City Chiefs, led by young superstar QB Patrick Mahomes, got past some early season struggles, and now their offense is firing on all cylinders, with Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce dominating teams on the way to a 5-2 record so far this season.

The Tennessee Titans have shown similar strength in recent weeks, with the devastating running of running back Derrick Henry blowing teams away and the arm of QB Ryan Tannehill getting them out of countless difficult situations. Their one-two punch has also led them to a 5-2 record, and this weekend’s matchup against the Chiefs will be a brutal contest as both teams will try their best to get one over the other. This could well be a playoff game in the AFC, and victory in this game could be a mental advantage to the winners if they do eventually meet in the postseason.

NFL schedule on TV and stream.

Tennis: Paris Masters (October 29th - November 9th)

This week, the Paris Masters has gotten off to a fantastic and dramatic start, with tennis legend Rafael Nadal shockingly losing to American Tommy Paul in his first match since becoming a father. World number three Daniil Medvedev also crashed out early in a surprise loss to Alex de Minaur, and the number one British player Cameron Norrie was defeated by French qualifier Corentin Moutet.

With the tournament wide open, the ones looking to benefit from all of this chaos are former number one and tennis great Novak Djokovic and Greek talent Stefanos Tsitsipas, who at 24 is starting to put together consistent performances that match his massive talent. World number one Carlos Alcaraz is also in the mix and playing incredibly strongly since his US Open win in September, and his opponent in that final, Casper Ruud, also has his eyes on a first Masters title. There are huge names still left in the draw, and this week will decide who comes out on top.

Paris Masters Open schedule.