Market: Kai Havertz to score anytime
Odds:
Looking to reclaim their spot in the top-four this weekend, DFP Pokal finalists Bayer Leverkusen will make the trip to what is a downbeat Veltins Arena on Sunday evening.
Starting with the hosts, only managing to pick up a point away at fellow strugglers Union Berlin last weekend, David Wagner s position at the Veltins Arena appears to be growing more untenable by the week. Returning from the enforced break in the midst of a continued disastrous patch, the former Huddersfield boss has seen his side fail to land a single victory across any competition since the start of February. Freefalling away from the European chase and the mood around Gelsenkirchen at a season-low, Schalke have also gained a worrying reputation fro…
Manchester City have unveiled a statue of club greats Mike Summerbee, Colin Bell and Francis Lee outside the Etihad Stadium.
The permanent bronze tribute on the west side of the ground captures the three players in dynamic poses characteristic of their styles of play.
Summerbee, Bell and Lee were the central figures in the City side that won the First Division title in 1968, the FA Cup the following year and both the European Cup Winners’ Cup and League Cup in 1970.
The names of all 29 players who featured during this trophy-winning era are also inscribed on a bronze plate on the statue’s plinth.
It is the latest in a series of tributes the club have made to honour past players, including the commissioning of statues of Vincent Kompany, David Silva an…
Inter notched up a club record 14 consecutive home wins in Serie A as two goals from Alexis Sanchez gave them a 5-1 win over Sampdoria on Saturday.
The recently-crowned Serie A champions took the lead in the fourth minute when Roberto Gagliardini guided the ball beyond Emil Audero.
Sanchez gave a reminder of his quality with a classy finish to increase Inter s lead before ex-Inter man Antonio Candreva s shot led to Keita pulling a goal back for Sampdoria.
Another fine finish from Sanchez made it 3-1 heading into half-time before Antonio Conte s side put a deserved gloss on the result with a clinical goal from Andrea Pinamonti and a Lautaro Martínez penalty.
6 Lautaro Martinez is one of three players to have scored at least six right-footed goals and s…
A ruling which could shape European football for decades to come is set to be announced later this morning.
European Court of Justice judges will confirm their verdict in the European Super League case.
They have been asked to decide whether UEFA and FIFA acted against competition law by blocking the formation of the European Super League in 2021 and then seeking to sanction the clubs involved.
A non-binding decision delivered by the Advocate General in the case last December found rules allowing UEFA to have prior approval of new competitions were compatible with EU law.
Tomorrow is UEFA Judgment Day. After almost 70 years as the sole regulator, gatekeeper and dominant commercial operator of the European football market, UEFA s monopoly may finally end! …
Prediction: Atletico Madrid to win 2-0
Best Odds:
Bookmaker:
Atletico Madrid and Real Valladolid will face each other in La Liga this weekend. The match between the Colchoneros and the Blanquivioletas will take place at Estadio Metropolitano and is scheduled to kick off at 5:30pm UK time on Saturday.
Atletico Madrid
Atletico Madrid are one of the biggest clubs in Spain and regularly challenge for the La Liga title. The Colchoneros won the title in 2020-21, finished third in the league table in 2021-22, and ended up fourth in the standings last season. Atletico also finished second in the La Liga table in 2017-18 and 2018-19.
Things are not going so well for Diego Simeone s side at the moment. Atletico currently find themselves fourth in the L…
Spain head coach Luis Enrique hailed the impact of newcomer Aymeric Laporte after his controversial allegiance switch ahead of Euro 2020.
Laporte is the only Spain defender to play every game at Euro 2020 and looms as a key figure in Tuesday s semi-final against Italy in London.
The France-born Manchester City centre-back only made his international debut last month after being granted Spanish nationality in May.
Laporte, who moved to Spain as a 16-year-old and came through the Athletic Bilbao system, had been capped at every under-age level by France and called up twice for the senior team in 2019 but never debuted for Les Bleus.
Luis Enrique and the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) pursued Laporte over the past three years, despite the player cl…
Freddie Woodman could be excused for having nightmares on Friday night as Cristiano Ronaldo prepares for his second Manchester United debut against Newcastle United.
The 24-year-old goalkeeper has the unenviable task of attempting to stop one of the greatest players of all time – the newly crowned leading scorer in men s internationals – in front of a jubilant United home crowd.
It is a challenge that has proved beyond many of the world s best number ones, including former Newcastle stalwart Shay Given.
The last time Ronaldo faced Newcastle at Old Trafford, in January 2008, he scored three and United hit six
No slowing down for
— Manchester United (@ManUtd)
RONALDO GOAL GLUT
This was a landmark game in a landmark 2007-08…
Competition: Euro 2016 Qualifiers
Market: England to win to nil against Estonia
Odds:
England host Estonia in Group E of the Euro 2016 qualifiers, and are big favourites to maintain their 100% record given recent form. The Three Lions have already booked their place in next year’s European Championships, but they want to end the qualifying campaign with a perfect record. As a result, they won’t take any chances against Estonia, especially considering the visitors still have a playoff place to fight for.
Boasting eight wins from as many games in the qualifying group, England couldn’t be in better form. Manager Roy Hodgson has enjoyed a perfect campaign, and the Three Lions’ defensive record has been a particular highlight too. England have conceded ju…
Jurgen Klopp was awarded the Freedom of the City of Liverpool on Wednesday in acknowledgment of his success at Anfield since his appointment as manager in 2015.
Liverpool have won seven trophies under his stewardship, including the Champions League in 2019 and their Premier League title.
Klopp received the city s highest civic honour at a ceremony at the Town Hall after being nominated in July.
In attendance were members of Klopp s coaching staff, as well as Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish and the city s mayor.
Klopp s side have endured a below-par start to this campaign and are already 15 points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal, though they have reached the knockout stages of the Champions League.
The Reds will play three more times before t…
Stand-in captain Eden Hazard believes Belgium can challenge to win Euro 2016, while Tuesday s opponents Israel face a huge uphill struggle if they are to qualify.
Marc Wilmots men have already booked their ticket to France having defeated Andorra 4-1 on Saturday, a result that moved them above Wales to the top of Group B and sealed their first qualification to the Euros since 2000.
Israel had been in pole position to seal third place and a play-off spot until they suffered a shock 2-1 home loss to Cyprus, which now leaves them up against it ahead of their final qualifier.
Eli Guttman s men are one point behind Bosnia-Herzegovina after they defeated Wales. The turnaround means they must get a better result against table-toppers Belgium in Brussels than Bosni…