A look at what’s happening in 2022 World Cup qualifying in Europe on Tuesday:
GROUP A
Portugal looks to rebound from a 2-2 draw against Serbia when it visits Luxembourg, which is coming off a shock win in Ireland. Portugal squandered a two-goal lead against Serbia, leaving both nations tied with four points at the top of the group. Cristiano Ronaldo, who is yet to score in the qualifiers, was furious after having a goal disallowed against Serbia even though the ball appeared to cross the line. Serbia will visit Azerbaijan, which lost its opener against Portugal. Luxembourg is third in the group with three points.
Wales' Gareth Bale warms up during a friendly soccer match against Mexico at the Cardiff City Stadium, in Cardiff, Wales, Saturday, March 27, 2021. (AP PhotoIan Walton)
GROUP E
Following a 3-1 loss to Belgium in its opening qualifying match, Wales hosts the Czech Republic hoping star player Gareth Bale will rediscover his scoring form. Bale, the country's all-time leading scorer, has not found the net for Wales since his 33rd international goal in October 2019. The Czechs do not have such attacking issues, scoring seven goals and taking four points from their pair of opening qualifiers last week. That included a draw with Belgium, the world’s top-ranked team which plays at home to Belarus.
GROUP G
Norway's Erling Haaland, center, reacts during a World Cup 2022 group G qualifying soccer match between Norway and Turkey at La Rosaleda stadium in Malaga, Spain, Saturday, March 27, 2021. (AP PhotoFermin Rodriguez)
After scoring seven goals in its first two qualifiers to top the group, Turkey hosts a Latvia team that has lost both of its opening matches and sits just above last-place Gibraltar thanks to a better goal difference. Turkey has beaten the Netherlands and Norway, considered the best two teams in the group. The Dutch will be looking to improve their goal tally in Gibraltar after squandering several chances in its 2-0 win over Latvia on Saturday. “We have to ensure that we are focused on a good result and hopefully of course score a lot of goals,” Netherlands coach Frank de Boer said. Montenegro, which also has won its opening two qualifiers, hosts Norway, which is still waiting for star striker Erling Haaland to score his first goal in the qualifying campaign.
GROUP H
Croatia was the World Cup runner-up in 2018 but its qualifying campaign has already encountered problems after an opening defeat to Slovenia and an underwhelming 1-0 win over Cyprus. Croatia hosts Malta in what would normally be considered an easy win, though 176th-ranked Malta showed it can surprise bigger teams in a 2-2 draw with Slovakia. Russia is the only team in the group to win its opening two games and next plays Slovakia. Forward Artem Dzyuba needs one more goal to tie the Russia scoring record of 30 held by Alexander Kerzhakov. Slovakia is already in trouble after opening draws with Cyprus and Malta. Slovenia visits Cyprus.
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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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