Match Previews - Page 2

Starting left-back Angeliño is sidelined with bronchitis until early November. He has made 5 starts this season, contributing 1 goal and 2 assists, with unmatched two-way ability. His replacement, Spinazzola, while experienced, is 18% slower and has been dribbled past 7 times in the last 3 league games, with only a 52% success rate defending crosses.

The 2025–26 La Liga season has been a rollercoaster for Espanyol. In the opening four rounds, they recorded 3 wins and 1 draw, only trailing behind Real Madrid and Barcelona—a true dark horse emergence. In Round 5, a win against Real Madrid could have propelled them to the top of the table, but Espanyol fell 0–2, exposing limitations.

Throughout the long and storied history of the Premier League, few rivalries have burned as fiercely—or as memorably—as that between Liverpool and Manchester United. On October 19 at 23:30, Anfield will once again become the stage for English football’s most iconic fixture: the Red Derby.

In the previous league match, Huddersfield were not inferior in overall play, but a penalty awarded before halftime saw them fall behind. Even after their opponents were reduced to ten men in the second half

Currently holding a record of 3 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss, Belgium sit third in Group J. With North Macedonia and another draw complicating the standings, the qualification race has become wide open — making this match absolutely crucial.

In the previous matches, Switzerland have showcased their vast experience as the key difference. In their first three games, they easily defeated their opponents while maintaining full control of the pitch

The head coach Aliyev has already departed, and the team is still in search of a new manager. Among the current squad, two key players from the Russian Premier League—central defender Alibiev from Akhmat and forward Samorodov—are included, providing some quality on both ends of the pitch.

The head coach has called up a 27-man squad for this match, including seven players who were either left out or withdrew from last month’s international fixtures.

Goalkeeper Robin Olsen has struggled with inconsistent performances in the past two rounds, leading to his withdrawal from the national team. On the offensive side, Liverpool’s striker Alexander Isak and Arsenal forward Joel Pohjanpalo are both included in the squad, potentially forming a formidable two-pronged attack that significantly boosts Sweden’s firepower.

Defensive linchpins Rahmani and mainstay left-back Paqarada are both sidelined due to injury, a significant blow to the team’s backline. However, there’s a silver lining—young Heidenheim defender Shabani has turned down a call-up from the Swiss national team to proudly represent Kosovo. He’ll be on standby and ready to contribute whenever needed.

Both captain midfielder and forward Knudsen have been included in the squad despite carrying injuries. While they are expected to start, their form may be affected. Central defender Chukwudi withdrew due to injury, and the team called up Svendsen as a replacement.

In the last round of World Cup qualifiers, their performance was inconsistent and unreliable. Midfielder Kastanos from Verona stood out, but in midfield he was largely isolated and lacked sufficient support.