Riley McGree and Mohamed Toure will meet in the EFL Championship this weekend as Norwich and Middlesbrough compete for a huge three points.
Elsewhere, Cammy Devlin faces an Old Firm derby for the first time, while Maty Ryan is tasked with holding off the might of Barcelona.
In Focus
CommBank Socceroos face off in Championship
Riley McGree and Mohamed Toure will go head-to-head in the EFL Championship this weekend, when Norwich travel to take on Middlesbrough.
The two sides both sit mid-table at present and three points for either side would be a big boost to lift them up the table. Both players were rested for their midweek fixtures so will be fresh and raring to go for the all-important clash.
McGree has an assist in his five appearances so far after returning from the injury that kept him out of the FIFA World Cup squad, while Mo Toure has been in scintillating goal scoring form, with four goals and an assist so far this campaign.
Fixture: Middlesbrough v Norwich, Sunday 13 September, 12.00am AEST
Devlin prepares for Old Firm
While Cammy Devlin has been no stranger to big matches during his time in Scotland, the Old Firm awaits as he takes on Celtic as a Rangers player for the first time.
The rivalry between Celtic and Rangers is considered one of the fiercest in world football. This year, Rangers meet the defending Scottish champions for the first time during the league cup quarter-final this weekend.
The 28-year-old midfielder will be hoping to make his mark on the big stage in a match that will have eyes on it from all across the world.
Fixture: Rangers v Celtic, Sunday 13 September, 9.00pm AEST
Barcelona in sight for Ryan
Speaking of the spotlight, it doesn't get much bigger than taking on Barcelona - and it will be Maty Ryan tasked with keeping a clean sheet against one of the biggest clubs in football this weekend.
Levante have enjoyed a positive start to the season but any result against Barcelona would be a massive boon to their hopes of survival.
Ryan has been a key part of their early success. The 34-year-old has kept two clean sheets and has made 17 saves across four games so far to see the club sitting eleventh on the table.
While he will no doubt have plenty to do, Ryan has proven to be a steady presence in the face of big games countless times in his career, and it is unlikely that the weekend will be different.
Fixture: Levante v Barcelona, Monday 14 September, 12.15am AEST
Midweek Headlines
Alex Robertson continues to pull the strings for Cardiff City in the EFL Championship. In a draw with Stoke City, Robertson created 1.07 expected assists with six key passes, three big chances created and nine progressive carries. The 23-year-old praised the Bluebirds coaching staff this week, crediting his success to his role deeper in midfield.
Result: Cardiff City 1 - 1 Stoke City
Ajdin Hrustic played two matches for Al Nasr this week. In the first, he scored in a 2-1 defeat to Ajman; in the second, he played the full match in a 1-1 draw with Al Jazira. The 30-year-old has been playing regularly this campaign and has been consistently contributing to the creative output of his side.
Result: Al Nasr 1 - 1 Al Jazira
It may have ended in defeat, but midweek, Gianni Stensness became the first Socceroo to feature in the Champions League proper since Milos Degenek in 2023. The centre-back played the full match for the Norwegian club Viking after they reached the Champions League for the first time in their history. Teammate Nicholas D’Agostino was not named in the matchday squad.
Result: Viking FK 1 - 3 VfB Stuttgart
Midweek Results
Nestory Irankunda (Sporting CP, Liga Portugal) – unused substitute in 3-1 victory against Galatasaray in the UEFA Champions League
Lucas Herrington (Hull City, Premier League) – full match in 1-0 defeat v Sunderland in EFL Cup
Mo Toure (Norwich City, EFL Championship) – not in matchday squad for 2-1 victory against Birmingham
Joe Gauci (Lincoln City, EFL Championship) – started and played full match in goals in 4-0 defeat v Bournemouth in EFL Cup
Riley McGree (Middlesbrough, EFL Championship) – not in matchday squad for 3-0 defeat to Crystal Palace in EFL Cup
Hayden Matthews (Bradford City, EFL League One) – 62 minutes on debut, with 4 interceptions, 5 clearances, 3/3 aerial duels won in 3-1 victory over Leyton Orient in EFL Cup
Deni Juric (Wisla Plock, Ekstraklasa) – not in matchday squad for 1-1 draw with Pogon Szczecin
Cammy Devlin (Rangers, Scottish Premiership) – 13 minutes in 1-0 victory over St. Mirren
Aiden O’Neill (New York City FC, MLS) – 63 minutes in 2-1 defeat to New England
Patrick Yazbek (Nashville SC, MLS) – 16 minutes in 2-1 defeat v Toronto
Upcoming Fixtures
Patrick Beach (ES Troyes, Ligue 1) – v Lille, Sunday 13 September, 11.00pm AEST
Lucas Herrington (Hull City, Premier League) - v Chelsea, Sunday 13 September, 12.00am AEST
Nestory Irankunda (Sporting CP, Liga Portugal) – v Famalicao, Monday 14 September, 5.30am AEST
Alessandro Circati (SL Benfica, Liga Portugal) – v Gil Vicente, Monday 14 September, 5.00am AEST
Jackson Irvine (Cerezo Osaka, J1 League) - v Sanfrecce Hiroshima, Saturday 12 September, 8.00pm AEST
Tete Yengi (Machida Zelvia, J1 League) – v Yokohama F. Marinos, Saturday 12 September, 9.00pm AEST
Paul Okon-Engstler (FC Köln, Bundesliga) – v Werder Bremen, Sunday 13 September, 2.30am AEST
Harry Souttar (Leicester City, EFL League One) - v Stockport County, Sunday 13 September, 12.00am AEST
Alex Robertson (Cardiff City, EFL Championship) – v Bolton, Saturday 12 September, 9.30pm AEST
Joe Gauci (Lincoln City, EFL Championship) – v Preston, Sunday 13 September, 12.00am AEST
Hayden Matthews (Bradford City, EFL League One) - v Notts County, Saturday 12 September, 9.30pm AEST
Sam Silvera (MK Dons, EFL League One) – v Peterborough, Sunday 13 September, 12.00am AEST
Martin Boyle (Hibernian, Scottish Premiership) – v Ross Country, Sunday 13 September, 12.00am AEST in the League Cup
Patrick Yazbek (Nashville SC, MLS) – v Inter Miami, Sunday 13 September, 9.30am AEST
Aiden O’Neill (New York City FC, MLS) - v Real Salt Lake, Sunday 13 September, 11.30am AEST
Connor Metcalfe (FC St. Pauli, 2. Bundesliga) – v Wolfsburg, Sunday 13 September, 4.30am AEST
Nishan Velupillay (FC Ingolstadt, 3. Liga) – v Saarbrucken, Saturday 12 September, 10.00pm AEST
Paul Izzo (Randers, Danish Superliga) – v Odense, Monday 14 September, 12.00am AEST
Ryan Teague (KV Mechelen, Belgian Pro League) – v Anderlecht, Saturday 12 September, 4.45am AEST
Jacob Italiano (Grazer AK, Austrian Bundesliga) – v Altach, Sunday 13 September, 1.00am AEST
Nicholas D’Agostino (Viking FK, Eliteserien) – v Kristiansund, Sunday 13 September, 10.30pm AEST
Gianni Stensness (Viking FK, Eliteserien) – v Kristiansund, Sunday 13 September, 10.30pm AEST
Deni Juric (Wisla Plock, Ekstraklasa) – v Cracovia, Sunday 13 September, 8.15pm AEST
Max Balard (NAC Breda, Eerste Divisie) – v Jong Utrecht, Saturday 12 September, 4.00am AEST
Jason Geria (Albirex Niigata; J2 League) – v Montedio Yamagata, Sunday 13 September, 7.00pm AEST
Unavailable
Kai Trewin (New York City FC, MLS) – Injured
Kye Rowles (D.C United, MLS) – Injured
Jordy Bos (Feyenoord, Eredivisie) – Injured
Lewis Miller (Blackburn, EFL Championship) – Injured
Cameron Burgess (Swansea City; EFL Championship) – Injured
Cristian Volpato (Sassuolo, Serie A) – Injured