A look at the pick of the Nations League games in Europe on Sunday:
ENGLAND vs. BELGIUM
Belgium opened its Nations League group with two victories last month, while England collected four points. Belgium, the world’s top-ranked team which beat England twice at the 2018 World Cup, will be without the injured Eden Hazard and Dries Mertens at an empty Wembley Stadium. Mertens is stuck in Italy due to coronavirus regulations. Jadon Sancho and Tammy Abraham are back in contention for England after missing a 3-0 victory over Wales in a friendly on Thursday. They have been declared healthy after breaching national pandemic guidelines by attending a gathering with more than six people. Ben Chilwell was also there last weekend and remains absent with a non-coronavirus-related illness. England coach Gareth Southgate has to decide whether to keep Jack Grealish in the side after a strong display on the left of a front three. With Jordan Pickford looking far from assured in goal for Everton, Southgate also has to decide whether to retain Nick Pope in the starting lineup after a clean sheet against Wales.
Belgium's Jeremy Doku, center, is congratulated by teammates after scoring his sides fifth goal during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Belgium and Iceland, at the King Baudouin stadium in Brussels, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020. (AP PhotoFrancisco Seco)
FRANCE vs. PORTUGAL
First place in the group is up for grabs when World Cup winner France takes on European champion Portugal at Stade de France. They are level after two wins. Having recently overtaken Michel Platini to move into second place on France’s all-time scorers’ list with 42, Olivier Giroud can move closer to Thierry Henry’s national record of 51. But he is still way behind Cristiano Ronaldo’s tally of 101 for Portugal. The superstar will be determined to make up for a rare off day in front of goal in a 0-0 draw against Spain this week.
POLAND vs. ITALY
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, right, sits on the pitch during the international friendly soccer match between Portugal and Spain at the Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon, Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2020. (AP PhotoArmando Franca)
Italy coach Roberto Mancini is likely to recall his regular players after fielding an experimental side in last week’s friendly against Moldova. Italy nevertheless won 6-0 with several players scoring their first international goal. However, Lazio forward Ciro Immobile, the Italian league’s top goalscorer last season, should return to the starting lineup. Italy was held to by Bosnia-Herzegovina to 1-1 in their Nations League opener but went on to beat the Netherlands 1-0. The Azzurri have won 13 of their last 14 games.
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France's Olivier Giroud celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during their friendly international soccer match between France and Ukraine at the Stade deFrance in Saint Denis, north of Paris, Wednesday Oct. 7, 2020. (AP PhotoFrancois Mori)
A look at what’s happening in European soccer on Saturday:
GERMANY
Bayern Munich can seal a record 10th consecutive Bundesliga title in style with three games remaining with a victory at home over second-placed Borussia Dortmund. Bayern is hoping to continue its strong record against Dortmund after winning their last seven encounters. In Europe’s top five leagues, Bayern is tied for the record of nine consecutive titles with Juventus, which won Serie A every season from 2012 to 2020. For Dortmund, Erling Haaland ended a goal drought by scoring twice against Wolfsburg last week amid speculation over his future. Elsewhere, Leipzig hosts Union Berlin for the second time this week after winning their German Cup semifinal, and Champions League-chasing Freiburg hosts Borussia Mönchengladbach. Bayer Leverkusen visits last-placed Greuther Fürth, Eintracht Frankfurt takes on Hoffenheim, and Cologne plays Arminia Bielefeld.
PSG's Kylian Mbappe, center right, celebrates his goal with teammates during the League One soccer match between Angers and Paris Saint Germain, at the Raymond-Kopa stadium in Angers, western France, Wednesday, April 20, 2022. (AP PhotoJeremias Gonzalez)
FRANCE
Paris Saint-Germain is just one point away from sealing a record-equaling 10th league title. With five matches left to play this season, Mauricio Pochettino’s players have the opportunity to wrap up their dominant campaign in front of their home fans against Lens at the Parc des Princes. PSG has a 15-point lead over Marseille and can be crowned even if it loses against Lens on the condition that Marseille does not beat Reims on Sunday. PSG is set to move level with Saint-Etienne, which won its 10th title in 1981 and is fighting to stay up this season. Only two of PSG's previous titles — in 1986 and 1994 — were conquered before Qatar Sports Investments took over PSG in 2011 with the aim of turning it into a world-class club. Also, Saint-Etienne hosts in-form Monaco and Montpellier travels to Lyon.
ENGLAND
Manchester City's head coach Pep Guardiola gestures during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Brighton and Hove Albion at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, Wednesday, April 20, 2022. (AP PhotoDave Thompson)
Manchester City can move four points clear of second-placed Liverpool in the back-and-forth Premier League title race with a home win over relegation-threatened Watford. A victory for City would put pressure on Liverpool ahead of its Merseyside derby against Everton on Sunday. More intrigue this weekend might lie in the race for Champions League qualification, with two candidates meeting at Emirates Stadium when fifth-placed Arsenal hosts sixth-placed Manchester United. Arsenal is tied on points with fourth-placed Tottenham, with United three points back. Tottenham visits Brentford in a match between Christian Eriksen's past and present clubs. Last-placed Norwich is eight points from safety heading into a home match against Newcastle, and Leicester hosts Aston Villa in the other game.
SPAIN
Real Betis and Valencia play the final of Spain’s Copa del Rey in Betis’ hometown of Seville. The match will be at Estadio La Cartuja, a neutral ground where Spain’s national team played its group phase matches for last year’s European Championship. Valencia will be seeking its ninth Copa del Rey after winning No. 8 in 2019. Betis’ second and last cup title came back in 2005. The winner will also earn a Europa League berth.
ITALY
Inter Milan forward Edin Džeko could bring up a century of Serie A goals by scoring twice against his former club as the defending champion hosts Roma. Džeko has a total of 98 goals in the Italian league — 13 for Inter this season and the rest in five years at Roma. A win would send Inter to the top of Serie A, with current leader AC Milan playing at Lazio on Sunday. Inter will also be buoyed after beating Milan 3-0 midweek to reach the Italian Cup final. A win could reignite Roma’s challenge for a Champions League berth. Atalanta has seen its hopes of a top-four finish evaporate following a run of three straight defeats and it visits relegation-threatened Venezia. Two other sides battling the drop, Sampdoria and Spezia, travel to Hellas Verona and Torino respectively.
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