Best Odds: 8/13
Bookmaker:
With all eyes from across Europe falling on the Nou Camp this weekend, Barcelona will welcome Real Madrid to Catalonia.
Barcelona
Starting with the hosts, while Barcelona might have come under more scrutiny for their Europa League exit at the hands of Manchester United last month, Xavi’s side are in the midst of a remarkable domestic flurry. Although the Spanish heavyweights might be dealing with a string of issues behind the scenes in Catalonia, they are breezing towards a first La Liga crown since back in 2019. Last seen putting in another professional display as they claimed a 1-0 victory away at Athletic Bilbao, Sunday’s hosts open this weekend’s fixtures holding a commanding nine-point buffer over their arch-rivals. Continu…
Roberto De Zerbi hailed Brighton’s last-gasp 1-0 victory over Marseille to top Europa League Group B as a “historic moment” in the club’s history.
Joao Pedro smashed in an 89th-minute winner at the Amex Stadium to make sure the Seagulls avoided the play-off round and instead slotted straight into the last 16.
Italian De Zerbi, who masterminded progressing from a group that included Ajax and AEK Athens along with the French 1993 European Cup winners, said: “We haven’t won anything…yet, but we are really happy and proud.
“I told the players before the game that the game was more important for us than them. Marseille are used to playing in European competitions.
“To finish at the top of the table is a historical moment.
“The atmos…
Chelsea target Michael Olise has signed a new four-year deal with Crystal Palace, Eagles chairman Steve Parish has said.
The PA news agency understands Chelsea had agreed to pay the France Under-21 winger’s £35million release clause, but it appears he has now committed his future to Palace.
Parish tweeted on Thursday: “I’m absolutely delighted to announce @m.olise has decided to commit his future to Crystal Palace and this afternoon signed a new four-year deal with the club.”
I’m absolutely delighted to announce @m.olise has decided to commit his future to Crystal Palace football club and this afternoon signed a new four year deal with the club.
@m.olise is an
— Steve Parish (@CEO4TAG)
The 21-year-old, who can play…
Jurgen Klopp can help convince top transfer targets to sign for Liverpool even if they are not in the Champions League next season, according to former Reds striker Ian Rush.
Liverpool have won their last seven games and currently sit fifth, just a point behind Newcastle and Manchester United, who both have matches in hand.
However, even if Liverpool can continue their impressive run and beat Aston Villa at Anfield on Saturday and then finish the campaign with another victory at relegated Southampton, there would be no guarantee of Champions League football again.
We can confirm Roberto Firmino, Naby Keita, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will leave the club upon the expiry of their contracts this summer.
Special acknowledgements will be paid to …
Best odds: 1/2
Bookmaker:
Liverpool are set to welcome Bournemouth to Anfield on Saturday within the 29th round of this season s Premier League roller coaster. The Cherries produced one of the most thrilling comebacks in recent years in the English top flight against Liverpool back in December 2016, when they managed to overturn a 1-3 deficit to win 4-3 at the Vitality Stadium. They also managed to squeeze out a point in the following encounter between these two teams at Anfield, but since then, Liverpool won four times in a row, all quite convincingly. The last time happened early this season at the Vitality when strikes from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keita and Mohamed Salah made sure Liverpool s winning start to the campaign went on uninterrupted.
Liverpool
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West Ham are unlikely to go back in for Manchester United captain Harry Maguire after seeing a £20million bid knocked back, the PA news agency understands.
The Old Trafford giants made the England international the most expensive defender in history when bringing him in from Leicester for £80million in 2019.
Maguire was swiftly handed the captain’s armband, but a lack of form and game time led Erik ten Hag to this month name Bruno Fernandes as United’s new skipper.
After discussions with the manager today he has informed me he is changing captain. He outlined his reasons to me and whilst I’m personally extremely disappointed, I will continue to give my all every time I wear the shirt.
So I wanted to say a massive thank you to the…
— H…
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola doubts Sunday’s visit to Arsenal will have a significant impact on who wins the Premier League this season.
Arsenal flourished under former City assistant Mikel Arteta last season but settled up for a runners-up spot as Guardiola’s side claimed a third successive top-flight triumph en route to a historic treble.
The Gunners are unbeaten after seven matches of this campaign and lie one point behind City, who are bidding to bounce back from last weekend’s surprise 2-1 defeat at Wolves.
Guardiola, though, insisted this showdown being so early in the season places less of an emphasis on the title race, even if he regards Arsenal as one of their main rivals.
He said: “This will not define a lot. It will be different w…
With it finally confirmed last week that has made an almost immediate return to Inter Milan on a season-long loan, many are expecting what could be a hectic summer at .
Now under new leadership at Stamford Bridge after Todd Boehly s takeover was announced back in May, the American businessman has been quick to stamp down his authority.
Almost clearing house among the Chelsea hierarchy, it looks like Thomas Tuchel has been handed quite the treasure chest and the chance to add some more star names over the coming weeks.
With it looking like Manchester City s could be heading to west London ahead of the 2022/23 campaign, it is no secret that Tuchel is desperate to add some defensive reinforcements.
Watching both Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger lea…
John Herdman has said that Toronto must go back to basics to halt their six-game winless run ahead of their trip to Atlanta United on Sunday.
The Reds fell to their third consecutive MLS defeat away to the New York Red Bulls last time out and have scored just four goals in their last five league fixtures.
Toronto enter the encounter in eighth place ahead of their trip to the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, three points ahead of their opponents in the Eastern Conference.
Herdman s side Toronto FC has won only two of their last 30 away matches (D7 L21) dating back to September 2022, but the 48-year-old is keen to put an end to that run.
“We ll get back,” said Herdman. “As I ve said to the lads, they just have to go to the next task.”
“That s all…
Best odds: 11/5
Bookmaker:
Hungary and Switzerland will launch their Euro 2024 campaigns with a Group A clash at RheinEnergieStadion in Cologne on Saturday afternoon.
Joining them in Group A are Scotland and the hosts Germany, who will kick off the tournament in Munich on Friday night.
Hungary
Having failed to progress beyond the group stage at Euro 2020, Hungary enters this year s European Championship with a wave of optimism, with some going as far as tipping Marco Rossi s team as a potential dark horse for the tournament.
Since the beginning of 2023, Hungary have lost just one of their last 14 international matches. They remained unbeaten in their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign, securing five wins and three draws from eight games to top their …