A look at what’s happening in the Nations League on Tuesday:
GERMANY vs. SWITZERLAND
After finally winning a Nations League game at the seventh attempt on Saturday, Germany bids to follow up with another victory on Tuesday to keep the pressure on Group 4 leader Spain. Joachim Löw’s team hosts Switzerland – bottom of the group with one point from three games – in Cologne, where no fans will be allowed due to rising coronavirus cases in the city. Despite beating Ukraine 2-1 in Kyiv to end a run of three games without a win, Germany remained prone to mistakes and far off its best, and Löw said he would keep faith in the same players if he could to give them more playing time together. But there are doubts over the fitness of Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Julian Draxler and Leipzig pair Marcel Halstenberg and Lukas Klostermann. Löw will once again be able to build the side around the experienced Bayern Munich “block” of Manuel Neuer, Leon Goretzka, Joshua Kimmich and Serge Gnabry, with Real Madrid’s Toni Kroos partnering Kimmich in midfield. Kroos is in line to make his 100th appearance for Germany, while Kimmich is set for his 50th. “The two of them formed a very good understanding from the start,” Löw said.
Switzerland's Xherdan Shaqiri wears a face mask prior a training session of the Swiss national soccer team prior the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Germany and Switzerland in Cologne, Germany, Monday, Oct. 12, 2020. (AP PhotoMartin Meissner)
UKRAINE vs. SPAIN
Spain will try to strengthen its hold on first place in Group 4 when it visits Ukraine, a team it beat 4-0 in Madrid in September. Spain has a two-point lead over Germany after three matches. The Spaniards will be looking to win their third straight game in the competition after triumphs over the Ukrainians and Switzerland. It opened with a draw against Germany. About 15,000 fans are expected for the match in Kyiv. Ukraine's squad remains depleted because of COVID-19 cases among some of its players. Ukraine is four points behind Spain.
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Spain's Sergio Busquets attends a press conference at the Olimpiyskiy Stadium in Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, Oct. 12, 2020. Ukraine will play a UEFA Nations League soccer match against Spain on Tuesday. (AP PhotoEfrem Lukatsky)
Spain's Sergio Ramos, right, and Jesus Navas warm up during a training session at the Olimpiyskiy Stadium in Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, Oct. 12, 2020. Ukraine will play a UEFA Nations League soccer match against Spain on Tuesday. (AP PhotoEfrem Lukatsky)
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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