The UEFA Nations League dominates proceedings this weekend and over the next couple of days there’s plenty of opportunity to see who’s looking good in their brand new international strip and more importantly, how fit your favourite stars are ahead of the new club football season.
And of course, we’ll be bringing you our tips from those domestic leagues that are already in full flow.
? Friday Night
? In international action, there’s a number of tasty looking games tonight, with Italy facing Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Netherlands vs. Poland both taking place in League A, the top tier of the UEFA Nations League.
Lower down the food chain in League B, we will of course be rooting for our much hyped generation of Norwegian talent as we play Austria in Oslo.
And for fans of European political history there’s the game between both sides of what was formally Czechoslovakia – Slovakia vs. Czech Republic.
?? At U21 level, there is also a raft of qualifiers for the next junior European Championships set to be held in Hungary and Slovenia in 2021. England’s young lions go to Kosovo as they bid to maintain their stranglehold on Group 3.
?? And in club football, there’s a meeting between two of the Saudi Professional League’s biggest sides; Al Ittihad and Al Nassr.
? Saturday
? Moving to tomorrow’s packed schedule, the Nations League provides games with some serious pedigree.
World champions France are in Sweden whilst in the same group in League A, Portugal – the inaugural winners of the competition will surely be tested by World Cup runners-up, Croatia.
And elsewhere, England will be looking to exorcise some old demons as they travel to Reykjavík to meet Iceland, the side who famously knocked them out of Euro 2016.
?? Back in domestic action, it’s Derby Day in the League of Ireland where Shamrock Rovers go up against old foes Bohemians. And it’s not the only time the club will be playing a side famous for their red and black stripes this month with Rovers having drawn Serie A giants, Milan in the next round of Europa League qualifying!
??????? And in England, the Women’s Super League has been making a lot of noise in the build-up to the start of their new season. World Cup winners, Rose Lavelle and Sam Mewis have joined up with Manchester City whilst reigning champions Chelsea snapped up Danish international and Wolfsburg legend, Pernille Harder. With other world stars already plying their trade in the league and England internationals like Rachel Daly returning home amid rumours of similar news regarding Champions League winners Lucy Bronze and Alex Greenwood, we’ve got ourselves a serious season on the cards!
Who better to ask what we should be looking out for this weekend, than our friends at the Two Girls Talk Balls Podcast:
The WSL makes its long awaited return this weekend after a curtailed ending last season. On Saturday, Aston Villa host Manchester City following their promotion from the Championship. However, all eyes will be on Sunday’s Manchester United vs. Chelsea match as the Casey Stoney vs. Emma Hayes battle recommences. United pushed them close last season, they’ll be desperate to go one better this time around.
? Sunday
? In the Nations League, Sunday will see Spain and Germany look to build on / get over the disappointment of Thursday’s 1-1 draw between the two, where a 96th minute equaliser from Spain’s José Gayà cancelled out an earlier effort from new Chelsea signing, Timo Werner.
Spain host Ukraine, who themselves managed a 2-1 victory over Switzerland in Thursday’s other game in League A, Group 4 – with Germany now travelling to face the Swiss in Basel.
??????? Sunday is a significant day for EFL Championship side Brentford as they play the first competitive game at their new stadium in West London, a Carabao Cup tie against Wycombe Wanderers.
They hosted their first friendly there just this week.
?? And finally, in MLS Sunday gives us another dose of not one, but two of the league’s biggest rivalries.
Barely a fortnight after the club’s last met – MLS Cup holders Seattle Sounders look to do the double over Portland Timbers and LA Galaxy continue their so called El Tráfico beef with LAFC.
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