Prediction: Union Berlin win
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The UEFA Europa League is back in our lives as we rapidly approach the play-off round of the competition. With sides from the Champions League hoping to launch themselves into the round of 16, this serves as an interesting new format to ensure that there s an even greater benefit to winning your group instead of coming 2nd. Today, we ll be taking a look at what should be a really fun clash between Union Berlin and Ajax.
Union Berlin
After spending years out of the loop at the elite level in German football, Union Berlin are back. In addition to their insanely passionate fanbase, they also have a squad and a manager they can be proud of. Right now, they are pushing Bayern Munich harder than anyone i…
Cristiano Ronaldo told Patrice Evra that Juventus would smash Atletico Madrid ahead of Tuesday s stunning Champions League victory in Turin.
The Portuguese superstar scored a record-equalling eighth Champions League hat-trick to lead Juve to a 3-0 win over Atletico, sending them to the quarter-finals courtesy of a 3-2 aggregate success.
Evra – who played with Ronaldo at Manchester United between 2006 and 2009 – took to Instagram to reveal a WhatsApp conversation between the pair that shows the Juve forward was in confident mood five days ahead of the clash.
Having played for Juve for three seasons until 2017, Evra told the 34-year-old he was counting on him to overturn the deficit from the first leg and Ronaldo responded by stating that his side would have …
Captain Gethin Jones scored his first Sky Bet League One goal for almost a year to help promotion-chasing Bolton beat Wycombe 2-1.
The Australia international, recently returned from Asian Cup duties, netted a superb 32nd-minute header from Nat Ogbeta’s cross after the visitors had impressed early on.
Jones’ previous third tier goal had been another fine header on Valentine’s Day, 2023.
Bolton’s win was sealed by substitute Jon Dadi Bodvarsson in stoppage time, before Luke Leahy scored a penalty for the visitors.
Ian Evatt’s side also needed some vital interventions from goalkeeper Joel Coleman.
Coleman, handed a home league debut with Nathan Baxter injured, produced three first-half saves; the best of them denying Dale Taylor a fine sol…
Former Italy and Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini has announced his retirement.
The 39-year-old has called time on his career following the end of the MLS season, where his side Los Angeles FC lost the MLS Cup to Columbus Crew at the weekend.
Chiellini, who won Euro 2020 with Italy, says it is time to “start new chapters” in his life.
You have been the most beautiful and intense journey of my life.You have been my everything. With you I have travelled a unique and unforgettable path.But now it is time to start new chapters, face new challenges and write further important and exciting pages of life.
— Giorgio Chiellini (@chiellini)
“You have been the most beautiful and intense journey of my life,” he wrote on social media.
�…
Arsenal will be Barcelona s opponents in the annual Joan Gamper Trophy match, the Catalan club s traditional season curtain-raiser.
The 2019 edition of the Joan Gamper Trophy game – named in honour of the businessman who founded Barca – will be the 54th.
It will be Arsenal s first appearance in the match, which sees Barca face a different guest each year.
Barca have won each of the last six editions, beating Boca Juniors, Chapecoense, Sampdoria, Roma, Leon and Santos, the game against the latter finishing 8-0.
Arsenal will be the sixth English club invited to play for the trophy. Manchester City were the last to feature, beating Barca 1-0 in 2009, making them one of only two sides with Sampdoria to win the match since 2005.
The match will be h…
Prediction: Both Teams To Score and Liverpool To Win
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The final two teams with flawless records in the Premier League come together on Saturday evening as Liverpool and Arsenal clash at Anfield.
The hosts currently sit top of the table having claimed victories in their opening two games of the season. Meanwhile, Unai Emery’s Gunners head to Merseyside aiming to claim top spot having also notched six points so far this season.
Liverpool
Despite a somewhat underwhelming start to the season, Jurgen Klopp’s Reds have no reason to not be confident heading into this mammoth clash at Anfield. Having claimed the UEFA Super Cup against Chelsea, they have followed that up with two consecutive Premier League wins, equalling the club�…
Xabi Alonso saluted big influence Victor Boniface, insisting the Bayer Leverkusen forward is improving every week ahead of their clash with Wolfsburg.
Boniface opened his account for the season with two goals and an assist in last weekend s 4-1 victory over Hoffenheim.
The 23-year-old netted 14 times last term as Leverkusen roared to the first Bundesliga title in their history, while remaining unbeaten in all 34 matches.
And Alonso feels the striker s continued growth is evident.
We see a development with Boni from week to week, he told reporters at his pre-match press conference. He s very important for us and has a big influence on our play.
His influence off the pitch is also positive. He brings fun to the dressing room and is a good characte…
Paul Pogba is set to become a free agent when his contract with Manchester United expires at the end of the season, and according to , Juventus are preparing an offensive to bring their former midfielder back to Turin.
The France international spent four years with the Old Lady, having left Manchester United s Under-21 side in 2012 to return to Old Trafford for over €100 million in 2016. In all competitions, he represented the Serie A giants on 178 occasions, scoring 34 goals and producing 40 assists in his last spell at the Allianz Stadium.
Paris Saint-Germain are also believed to have made a move for the 29-year-old and their offer is apparently more lucrative, but Juventus feel Pogba is truly tempted by the prospect of returning to the club where he developed into …
Diego Simeone made no excuses after Atletico Madrid slumped to a 2-0 defeat to Levante and urged his side to respond to a first home loss since December 2019.
Atleti could have gone nine points clear at the top of LaLiga with a victory, but their 22-match unbeaten top-flight run at the Wanda Metropolitano was brought to a halt on Saturday.
A deflected first-half strike from Jose Luis Morales put Levante in front and Jorge de Frutos sealed a shock win right at the end when he found an empty net from long range with Jan Oblak up for a corner.
Real Madrid can cut their city rivals advantage to only three points, albeit having played a game more, in the title race if they beat Real Valladolid later in the day.
Atleti had been held to a 1-1 draw at Levant…
Luka Modric believes Real Madrid s older players are still hungry for Champions League glory.
Croatia midfielder Modric, 35, has lifted the trophy four times with Madrid since he joined them in 2012 and is the eldest of seven players in their squad aged 30 or over.
Sergio Ramos (34), Karim Benzema (33), Marcelo (32), Toni Kroos (31), Nacho (31) and Eden Hazard (30) are the other Madrid players of a certain vintage.
Los Blancos did not make it beyond the last 16 in the previous two seasons after defeats to Ajax and Manchester City in 2018-19 and 2019-20, respectively.
However, Madrid booked their place in the quarter-finals of this season s competition with a 3-1 (4-1 on aggregate) victory over Atalanta on Tuesday.
Modric completed more passes (89)…