5 Nations League Tips to Watch This Weekend - Gameweek 5

Borussia Dortmund’s Erling Braut Haaland will be relishing the chance to play in the Nations League once again when his native Norway travel to Romania on Sunday.

The 20-year-old has been an absolute revelation since his move to Germany, and so far has scored 11 goals in as many matches this season to give a usually unrivalled Robert Lewandowski something to think about in the race for the Bundesliga Golden Boot.

While his club form continues to highlight his enormous potential, his performances for Norway have been much the same. Most notably, he has scored six goals in four games during this season’s Nations League, including a breathtaking hat-trick against this weekend’s opponents Romania.

Alongside generational talents such as Martin Odegaard and Jean Peter Hauge, Haaland looks to be at the forefront of an exciting young Norway side who have scored more goals than any other side in the Nations League. It would come as no surprise to see Haaland get on the scoresheet on Sunday evening, and we’ve tipped him to score and beat the Romanians at 9/5.

England captain Harry Kane will be looking to carry over his fine form of late as Gareth Southgate’s side continue their Nations League campaign with a trip to Belgium.

Although Heung-min Son leads the goalscoring charts for Spurs this season, Kane has become an integral part of Jose Mourinho’s strikeforce and has inadvertently found himself as the chief playmaker, registering eight assists and scoring seven goals so far.

The 27-year-old will be eager to get on the scoresheet, with his last international goal coming almost a year ago against Kosovo way back in November 2019. Belgium poses a stern test for Kane and England, and they will be hoping to bounce back from the narrow loss to Denmark last time out, who sit just above them in Group A. However, the reverse of this weekend’s fixture saw England run out eventual winners, courtesy of a second-half Mason Mount winner.

If Kane can transfer his creative and goalscoring exploits we have seen of late to the national team, Belgium will certainly have a difficult evening trying to contain him, which is why our tip for this one goes to Kane to score and draw this tough fixture at 15/2.<br/>

The European champions host the current world champions on Saturday night, in what certainly is the tie of the round on matchday five.

Portugal are also the current holders of the Nations League and have assembled one of the most frightening teams in world football, blending youth with experience to create a side that is undoubtedly capable of continuing to win major tournaments.

They are currently unbeaten at the top of their group, with the only draw coming in a goalless affair with this weekend’s opponents France.

Meanwhile, Les Bleus are on an eleven game unbeaten run, winning nine and drawing two in what is seemingly a neverending run of impeccable form.

While Portugal will certainly welcome the return of Cristiano Ronaldo, who is currently 14/5 to score first, we have tipped Antoine Griezmann to continue his fine form for the national team.

Although he has certainly had his critics in Spain with Barcelona, he seems to relish his chances with France, and has scored four goals in his last six appearances, most recently netting early on in France’s latest Nations League fixture against Croatia.

Therefore, we have tipped Griezmann to score and the match to end in a draw at 11/1.

Despite slumping to a surprise defeat to Ukraine last month, Spain remain top of their group, with Germany sitting below them with a point separating the two.

Although it certainly isn’t the Spain of old, Luis Enrique has assembled a team budding with promise, and are certainly one of the youngest teams you’ll find in the Nations League this weekend.

However, they will be without one of the most promising young talents in Ansu Fati, who has just undergone surgery that’ll keep him out well into next year. Therefore, there may be a chance for Wolves’ Adama Traore to take a prominent role in Spain’s upcoming fixture against Switzerland. His power and presence adds a completely new dimension to a typically technical Spain side, but he will certainly give Enrique the opportunity to counter-attack alongside Rodrigo.

Another player to keep an eye on this weekend will be Manchester City’s Ferran Torres, who could too feature in the starting line up. The 20-year-old has scored in each of his three Champions League appearances so far, and certainly looks one for the future.

Spain are favourites for this one, and we’ve tipped them to get a win here by either a 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1 scoreline at 15/8.<br/>

Germany will be looking for only their second win across both Nations League campaigns when they host Ukraine this weekend.

Their recent fixtures have certainly not been short of goals, with two 3-3 draws in their last three games highlighting some defensive issues that Joachim Low will be hoping to eradicate.

However, they still look a force going forward, and Timo Werner, Kai Havertz and Serge Gnabry all got on the scoresheet in the most recent fixture against Switzerland. Werner has started to settle to life in England, and has eight goals in 12 appearances in all competitions in what is proving to be money well spent for Frank Lampard.

The German will certainly be the one to watch on Saturday evening, and his pace will surely cause Ukraine all sorts of problems. Werner has been boosted to EVENS to score anytime in 90 minutes, whilst he is also priced at 4/1 to score 2+ goals.

By Charlie Rhodes