Two European club competition finals take centre stage this weekend, while there’s more leagues commencing their 2020-21 seasons with Belgium and Russia offering some exciting match-ups.
Friday 9pm European time - Europa League final
The Europa League final takes place in Cologne on Friday night, with 18-time Italian champions Inter Milan heading in as the marginal favourites over Spanish outfit FC Sevilla who’ve won this trophy five times in the past two decades. Inter won the UEFA Cup three times in the 1990s but have contended for the UEFA Champions League in recent years but crashed out at the group stage this term, leading to their focus on this trophy. Under Antonio Conte, Inter haven’t won any silverware this term so victory will be important for him, while Sevilla’s history in this tournament shows they’ll be ready.
Saturday 1:30pm European time - Belgian First Division A
Two of Belgium’s traditionally strong clubs meet in the early kick-off on Saturday with 10-time domestic champions Standard Liege playing host to four-time league winners Genk. Standard haven’t been Belgian champions for more than a decade but new boss Philippe Montanier has them off to a perfect start this season with two wins from two games. Genk were champions in 2018-19 but were well off the pace last term, struggled to adjust following manager Philippe Clement’s exit for Club Brugge.
Saturday 4pm European time - Belgian First Division A
Reigning Belgian champions Club Brugge are back at home against early league leaders Beerschot AC on Saturday. Brugge started the season with a shock home loss to Charleroi but bounced back last weekend with a 4-0 win over Eupen with a double from Krepin Diatta. Beerschot represents a tougher assignment, having knocked off Oostende and Zulte-Waregem in their first two matches after winning promotion last term.
Spartak Moscow v Lokomotiv Moscow
Sunday 6pm European time - Russian Premier League
Record 22-time Russian champions Spartak Moscow entertain city rivals Lokomotiv Moscow on Sunday in the fourth round of fixtures in the new Russian Premier League season. Three-time champions Lokomotiv aren’t Spartak’s traditional Moscow rivals, instead that’s CSKA, but this game still offers intensity. Both sides are unbeaten this season, with Lokomotiv up in third while Spartak are down in sixth but armed with recent signing and Russia international Aleksandr Kokorin.
Paris Saint Germain v Bayern Munich
Sunday 9pm European time - UEFA Champions League final
Emerging French powerhouse Paris Saint Germain have reached European club football’s pinnacle for the first time as they chased that elusive UEFA Champions League trophy against the five-time winners Bayern Munich. Both sides recorded 3-0 wins to secure their spots in Sunday’s final in Lisbon, with PSG boosted by a full return to fitness from Kylian Mbappe. Bayern have been in unbelievable form since the restart led by Serge Gnabry and Robert Lewandowski.
