Verdict: Lionel Messi to score anytime Barcelona to score over 2.5 goals
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Making their return from the enforced break and looking to widen their buffer at the top of the table, Barcelona will make the trip to an empty Iberostar Estadi on Saturday night.
Mallorca
Starting with the hosts, entering the enforced break with a much-needed 2-1 win against Eibar, Mallorca simply have their sights set on mounting a late charge for La Liga safety. Enjoying their brightest run of the season so far back in March and losing just one of their previous four top-flight outings, Head Coach Vicente Moreno has been vocal about his side finding some stability on home soil. Despite picking up a pair of shock victories at the Iberostar Estadi against…
Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has accused the Premier League of an “abuse of process” over the 10-point penalty handed to Everton last week, and called on the organisation to declare the sanction null and void.
Burnham, who is an Everton season-ticket-holder, spoke out on the day Toffees fans protested en masse prior to Sunday’s defeat to Manchester United at Goodison Park.
In an open letter to the Premier League, which he described as a “formal complaint”, Burnham argued that its failure to have a sanctions policy in place prior to commencing the process, and subsequent introduction of one once the process was under way, amounted to an “abuse of process”.
I have today written to the to register a formal complaint about the treatment of .
Saturday sees the third meeting between Manchester City and Chelsea this season, but crucially not the last.
Both sides advanced through their Champions League semi-finals in dominant fashion this week, setting up an all-Premier League final in Istanbul.
This weekend s game at the Etihad Stadium is a big one for City, who will clinch the title with a win, but it will also be interesting to see how Chelsea approach it.
The Blues were blown away by City under Frank Lampard earlier this season, losing 3-1 at home, yet Thomas Tuchel then masterminded an FA Cup semi-final success against Pep Guardiola s men.
The German will hope to have the upper hand heading into the big European showpiece.
See you in the final, !
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— Manchester …
Manchester United goalkeeper Mary Earps has expressed her frustration at untrue speculation regarding her future.
The 30-year-old capped an incredible 2023 by being voted the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year on Tuesday night.
She helped England reach the World Cup final and saved a penalty in the showpiece match from Jenni Hermoso. The Lionesses were beaten 1-0, but Earps was voted goalkeeper of the tournament, having been named the best in her position in the world for 2022.
England and Manchester United goalkeeper Mary Earps was named Sports Personality of the Year 2023 on Tuesday night.
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport)
She also kept 14 clean sheets as United finished second in the Women’s Super League, but there are question marks surroundi…
Everton s appeal against their 10-point deduction for financial breaches is unlikely to be overturned, according to football finance expert Dan Plumley.
The Toffees received the heaviest points deduction in Premier League history earlier this month, leaving them in the relegation zone after they were found to have broken the league s profit and sustainability rules, spending £19.5m over the allowed limit across four seasons between 2018 and 2022.
The club is appealing the ruling, looking to use mitigating factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the war between Ukraine and Russia, which led to the cut of financial ties with Alisher Usmanov, a commercial partner of the club.
However, Plumley believes even if Everton s appeal is successful, the deduction …
Italy and Spain are preparing to face one another for the 10th time at a major tournament, but Luis Enrique believes this is an Azzurri side like never before.
The two old rivals have been paired again in the semi-finals at Euro 2020, making this the most common fixture at the European Championship and World Cup combined.
This will be the seventh Euros clash, with the sides meeting at least once in four consecutive championships.
Spain eliminated Italy in 2008 and beat them in the final in 2012 but were toppled by the Azzurri four years later and now face a rejuvenated Roberto Mancini outfit.
This Italy side isn t, perhaps, like the ones of years gone by – one that would sit back and wait to see what happened, Spain coach Luis Enrique said.
Th…
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…
Robin van Persie remains hopeful Netherlands can qualify for Euro 2016 heading into Saturday s away game against Kazakhstan.
The Dutch sit fourth in Group A with 10 points from eight games and desperately need a win in Astana at the weekend.
Additionally, they need third-placed Turkey to slip up in their remaining two fixtures and Van Persie is confident that is exactly what will happen.
Don t ask me why, but I believe Turkey will definitely spill points in their last two games, Van Persie told De Telegraaf.
The Turkish players at Fenerbahce are all confident they will progress, but I have no doubt they will slip up.
It is now up to us to ensure we bag the full three points in both of our last two games. That is all that matters. It is not impo…
As qualifying for Euro 2016 nears its conclusion, here we take a look at what each of the contenders need from the coming round of fixtures to take a step closer to next year s tournament in France.
Group A
Iceland and the Czech Republic have already booked their flights to France next year after drawing against Kazakhstan and winning in Latvia respectively, but Turkey and Netherlands are set to fight it out for the coveted play-off berth. Turkey moved two points clear in third position after routing Netherlands on Sunday. Should Fatih Terim s men win in the Czech Republic, and the Dutch fail to do so against Kazakhstan next month, Turkey will reach the play-offs.
Group B
A first major tournament since the 1958 World Cup remains on the cards for grou…
Bernd Leno is aiming to impress with Germany and stake his claim for a spot in the squad should they make it to Euro 2016.
The Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper, called up for the first time for the current round of international fixtures, watched from the bench as Joachim Low s men were beaten 1-0 by Republic of Ireland last Thursday.
He hopes that by working hard in training he can garner favour with the coaching staff and be considered for a spot in the squad at the finals in France next year, with Germany needing a point at home to Georgia on Sunday to seal their place.
We ll have to wait and see. My task here is to make the best possible impression of myself here and to put in some convincing performances during training, Leno told the DFB s official website.<…