The Ryder Cup and the Madrid derby are two huge sporting events in their own right, and this weekend we are being treated to both in an epic few days of sport. With the NFL and the Women's Rugby World Cup final thrown into the mix, you won't want to be making any plans away from your sofa!
Here's what Flashscore's editors will be watching on another unmissable weekend of sport.
Friday, 26th September
Ryder Cup (13:00 CET to Sunday)
In a sport like golf, where individuality is king, the Ryder Cup turns it all on its head with the iconic cross-Atlantic duel between Team USA and Team Europe.
After winning in dominant fashion two years ago, Europe head to New York looking to produce something they have done just three times in the competition's history - win in the States.
The last time they did that was in 2012 with the 'Miracle in Medinah', where they roared back from 10-6 down on the final day to regain the trophy.
From that group, only Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose remain, with returning captain Luke Donald also on hand to provide advice and expertise. The European team as a whole looks stronger, whilst the American team will be headed up by the likes of Scottie Scheffler and Bryson DeChambeau.
Bethpage Black will host the tournament, a driver's golf course that rewards length and audacity. McIlroy, who will be Europe's lynchpin, said after their win in 2023 that winning a Ryder Cup away from home is the pinnacle of the sport, and his team seem ready to pen their names into the history books.
It's a weekend of sporting drama almost unrivalled, with simmering tensions, a raucous crowd and the best players in the world; it's going to be box office.
Josh Donaldson
Saturday, 27th September
Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid (16:15 CET)
The pick of the football this weekend is undoubtedly the Madrid derby in LaLiga on Saturday afternoon. On paper, you might take a glance at this fixture and think, Real Madrid are already streets ahead of their city rivals in the league, but in derbies, the form book goes out the window!
Speaking of form, Real’s is imperious. Xabi Alonso’s side have started the league season with six wins from six, conceding just three goals to date. At the other end, Kylian Mbappe has already netted seven times in that run and looks on track for an all-time season.
Suffice it to say, Atletico Madrid's fortunes have been rather different. They are coming off a win in midweek, having edged Rayo Vallecano 3-2 at the death, but before that, they dropped points in four league matches this season, and it's not even October. Down in seventh, it’s certainly not the start to the season that Diego Simeone would have hoped for.
It should be noted, Atleti underwent a hefty rebuild in the summer with plenty of new faces coming in. However, you could say the same thing about Real, and they are sitting pretty atop the table. One side have clicked while the other are yet to get going at all.
Despite the gulf in form, this derby is particularly hotly contested, as recent meetings demonstrate.
The last three LaLiga fixtures between the sides were all 1-1 draws, while they each narrowly beat each other in the Champions League last season, with Real going through on penalties in that knockout tie. What’s more, you have to go back to September 2022 for the last time Los Blancos won at the Metropolitano.
All that is to say, this derby is notoriously hard to win, fiercely contested, and despite a wobbly start to the campaign, you wouldn’t want to rule out Simeone’s side from springing a surprise. One thing is for sure: the hosts will rise to this occasion, and it may even kick-start their stuttering season.
Pat Dempsey
Women’s rugby World Cup final (17:00 CET)
The Women’s Rugby World Cup comes to a fascinating conclusion on Saturday afternoon at Twickenham, with two-time winners England taking on Canada as the two highest-ranked nations battle it out for the ultimate prize.
John Mitchell’s Red Roses - who are competing in their seventh consecutive World Cup final - will be full of confidence heading into the clash, having racked up a remarkable 32 straight Test victories since losing the 2022 showpiece to New Zealand.
It was the in-form Canadians who delivered a dominant semi-final performance to eliminate the Black Ferns from this year’s tournament, and they’ll be determined to carry their momentum into Saturday’s match as they target a first-ever World Cup trophy.
With tickets for the 82,000-capacity Allianz Stadium selling out as early as last month, it promises to be some occasion in West London, so make sure you tune in to watch!
Danny Clark
Sunday, 28th September
Baltimore Ravens vs Kansas City Chiefs (22:25 CET)
In a battle of 1-2 teams that are in desperate need of a win, the 2.5-point favourite Ravens are heading to Kansas City for another Lamar Jackson-Patrick Mahomes special. Only one team in the history of the NFL has gone on to win a Super Bowl after starting the season 1-3 - the 2001 New England Patriots.
So whoever loses this game will have their Super Bowl window all but closed.
The Ravens are coming off their second primetime loss of the season, while the Chiefs are coming off a win against the New York Giants. But both teams have drastically struggled to start the season.
Baltimore remains the No. 1 scoring offence in the league. However, their defence is the complete opposite, ranking 32nd.
The Chiefs boast the No. 21 scoring offence and the No. 11 total defence. So what seems like a game that could prove to be worthwhile may end up being ugly in the end.
Baltimore will be without their star defensive tackle, Nnamdi Madubuike, yet again this week, while Travis Jones and Broderick Washington have yet to practice, leaving their already depleted interior defensive line in even worse shape should the latter two miss Sunday’s action.
Kansas City will be getting back their No. 1 wide receiver in Xavier Worthy as he returns from a dislocated shoulder injury that he sustained in Week 1. It'll be a huge addition for a team that has yet to have a wide receiver eclipse 100 yards in a game this season.
This will be a matchup of two teams that either show their records really tell us they're just not that good or that it was simply a rough start to the season and nothing more.
Eric Himmelheber