5 big matches to watch out for this international week

5. Portugal v Switzerland, October 10

Portugal v Andorra - FIFA 2018 World Cup Qualifier

Next Tuesday’s encounter is sure to be a straight fight for qualification to Russia unless the Portuguese somehow slip against the minnows of Andorra, whom they defeated 6-0 at home.

The European champions have been playing catch-up in Group B since the opening round of fixtures when they suffered a 2-0 defeat at the hands of the Swiss in Basel, but they will have their chance to exact revenge in Lisbon.

Since that night in September 2016, neither team has blinked, winning all of their subsequent eight fixtures in an admittedly weak group. Portugal have been spectacular, scoring 28 goals, Cristiano Ronaldo getting 14 of those, whereas the Swiss have been merely solid.

If the resolve of the visitors continues, Ronaldo and his Portugal colleagues will face a playoff.