Last sprint after the international break: these Nati stars are still fighting for the championship title

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After the international break it is before the end of the season. Some of our national team stars are also in the thick of the trophy battle.

There are still eight games to go in the Bundesliga – with a ten-point lead over Bayern, Leverkusen and Nati captain Granit Xhaka (31) can only beat themselves. The first championship in club history and therefore the first title since the cup victory in 1993 is within reach.

The matches in Dortmund (April 21) and at home against Stuttgart (April 27) will be the two most difficult tasks on paper. After the two-week break, the Werkself will continue with a home match against Hoffenheim on Easter Saturday (3:30 p.m.).

At the same time, Xhaka also has a good chance of winning two more trophies: Leverkusen is the last remaining first division team in the DFB Cup. On April 3 they welcome Fortuna Düsseldorf, in the final (May 25) Kaiserslautern or Saarbrücken would be waiting. There are still three rounds to play in the Europa League. The opponent there is West Ham (April 11 and 18), and in the semi-finals a duel with Milan or AS Roma could arise. Leverkusen would not meet top favorite Liverpool until the final in Dublin (May 22) at the earliest.

After the international break, an absolute blast awaits Manuel Akanji. On Easter Sunday (5:30 p.m.), leader Arsenal will visit the Citizens. It remains to be seen whether the defender will feature after missing out against Ireland.

A three-way battle is looming in the Premier League. City are currently one point behind in third place; Liverpool in second place are level on points with Arsenal. There are still ten matches to play.

Like Xhaka, Akanji still has a chance to win the treble. In the FA Cup, City will face Chelsea in the semi-finals (April 20). The final would most likely feature a city derby if Manchester United beat second division Coventry. On their way to the Champions League title, the three-time defending champions will face Real Madrid in the quarter-finals (9 and 17 April).

Nati goalkeeper Yann Sommer (35) does not have to worry about his second national title in a row (after Bayern in 2023). The Milanese lead Serie A with nine games to go, 14 points ahead of their city rivals Milan. It’s hard to imagine anything going wrong. It is still unclear whether Sommer will return between the posts on Easter Monday against Empoli (8:45 p.m.) – the goalkeeper injured his ankle in the match against Denmark.

One or two national players are also involved in the surprisingly exciting Super League championship race. For example, from the last team of Nati coach Murat Yakin (49), newcomer Dereck Kutesa (26) is fighting for the first Servette championship title of the 21st century. Only the worse goal difference currently separates Geneva from leader YB.

Of the team from the capital, only goalkeeper David von Ballmoos (29) was recently appointed to the national team – he moved up after Sommer’s injury. Furthermore, Cedric Itten (27) and the injured Filip Ugrinic (25) are also Bernese European Championship candidates.

Uran Bislimis (24) Luganesi is in third place, eight points behind. If the top duo make a mistake, the Ticino team is ready.

Source : Blick