5 must-watch matches around Europe this weekend

Some of the best teams in Europe's top leagues go head-to-head over the weekend, a final hurrah before the two-week international break. Some of the contenders are surprising - Hoffenheim's rise up the Bundesliga a perfect example - but the traditional heavyweights also have a good chance to assert themselves and create distance between their nearest rivals.

Here are the most interesting contests on the slate this weekend:

Napoli vs. Lazio

When: Saturday, Nov. 5., 3:45 p.m. ET

Where: Stadio San Paolo

In recent years, Napoli has entered this fixture as the better team.

That's not the case this weekend.

Unburdened by European commitments, Lazio has come together under rookie manager Simone Inzaghi. Going six matches unbeaten in Serie A, the Biancocelesti are now up and above Napoli in fourth place.

A big part of Lazio's early-season success is Ciro Immobile. He's finding the net regularly for the first time in two years, scoring seven goals in his past five outings.

Moves to Borussia Dortmund, Sevilla, and Torino took Immobile down the wrong path, but he's since reclaimed a spot in Italy's plans. More importantly, he's provided Lazio with a permanent replacement for club icon Miroslav Klose.

Napoli's form isn't so inspiring. Defensive miscues cost the Partenopei a point at Juventus last weekend, and scoring has required a full team effort. Manolo Gabbiadini hasn't provided sufficient cover for the injured Arkadiusz Milik, putting pressure on midfielders and wingers to get the goals.

Bayern Munich vs. Hoffenheim

When: Saturday, Nov. 5., 10:30 a.m. ET

Where: Allianz Arena

Bayern Munich and Hoffenheim both enter Saturday's tilt unbeaten, the latter surprising onlookers with its sudden ascent up the Bundesliga standings.

This is a team that just last season battled relegation; now it's won five league games in a row. Even more stunning is that Hoffenheim's manager is 29 years old. Julian Nagelsmann took over the senior squad in February and led it to safety.

Though the club doesn't have a standout goal scorer, it has found the net by committee. Sandro Wagner, Mark Uth, and Andrej Kramaric have combined well up top, while centre-back Niklas Sule's headed effort provided last weekend's 1-0 win over Hertha Berlin.

Sule rejected a move to Chelsea in the summer, and he's one of the reasons why Hoffenheim's defence is no longer so porous. The 21-year-old has worked with Nagelsmann for the past six years, a relationship formed during their time with the youth team.

Partnered with veteran Sebastian Rudy, Sule has shed his recent disciplinary problems. He's a physical defender who can recover from tricky positions.

Hoffenheim's defence will have problems against Bayern's attacking corps, particularly with Robert Lewandowski back in scoring form. The Poland international managed braces against Augsburg and PSV after a somewhat quiet spell since the October international break.

Arsenal vs. Tottenham

When: Sunday, Nov. 6., 7:00 a.m. ET

Where: Emirates Stadium

Arsenal can boost its early-season bid for the Premier League title in the best way possible: with a win over north London rival Tottenham.

The two clubs are in two different places. Unbeaten in 15 matches across all competitions, the Gunners have both dominated and shown resilience, while Spurs have capitulated to sorry defeats and lost the high-octane intensity that defined last season's title run.

Goals are flowing freely for Arsenal, which can count on anyone from Theo Walcott to Mesut Ozil to run up the score. Ozil's more advanced positioning is allowing him to get in the box and plunder the opposition's goal. What's better, Olivier Giroud has found a way to make an impact off the bench. The Frenchman has three goals in the past 107 minutes of action.

The opposite is true for Mauricio Pochettino's side. Harry Kane's return to the squad is a massive boost, but he may not be fit enough to truly make a difference at the Emirates.

Sevilla vs. Barcelona

When: Sunday, Nov. 6., 2:45 p.m. ET

Where: Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan

The international break will do Barcelona a world of good. Battered by injuries in recent weeks, the Blaugrana have lost Gerard Pique, Jordi Alba, and Andres Iniesta.

Barcelona didn't look like its same confident self at the Etihad, where it slumped to a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Pep Guardiola's Manchester City. Uncharacteristic defensive errors - even from evergreen midfielder Sergio Busquets - doomed Luis Enrique's side.

One more challenge stands in the way before the break. Sevilla is one of La Liga's most exciting teams at the moment, playing brilliant, high-tempo football under Jorge Sampaoli.

The last team to beat Sevilla at the Sanchez Pizjuan was indeed Barcelona in the Super Cup, but the Andalusian club has since won seven straight home fixtures. It's very much a cauldron.

Spanish football expert Graham Hunter wrote in the Daily Record recently of Sevilla's similarities to Guardiola's Barcelona.

"Without the ball they hunt it down until they get it back - pressing, robbing, snarling. When they have the ball it's moved, flowingly and lovingly, until the opposition tires, or presents gaps - and usually succumbs," Hunter noted. "Bit like Barca 2009."

Samir Nasri's status is one to monitor. A hamstring injury could keep the Frenchman out of the lineup, which would rob Sevilla of its central playmaker and creator.

Porto vs. Benfica

When: Sunday, Nov. 6., 1 p.m. ET

Where: Estadio do Dragao

Benfica has the benefit of a five-point lead over Porto in the Liga NOS standings as it heads north for Sunday's O Classico, one of the most fiery rivalries on the continent.

But visiting the Estadio do Dragao is no easy task.

Porto has won 28 of the past 31 matches at its home ground, the last of which was a 1-0 victory over Club Brugge in Champions League action.

Defeat against Benfica is in itself reprehensible, but at this point of the season, Porto cannot afford to lose any more points.

Nuno Espirito Santo's side is a particularly young one, with the likes of Andre Silva (20) and Diogo Jota (19) carrying goal-scoring responsibilities.

Porto is also as close to full health as it can be - which is something Benfica cannot say for itself. Brazilian poacher Jonas remains out, while defensive pivot Ljubomir Fejsa is also doubtful.