Title races are the best, aren t they?
Months of games, so many ups and downs, goals scored and conceded, and yet it can all still come down to the finest margins in the closing minutes of the last day.
To paraphrase Homer Simpson, the winner is showered with praise; the loser is taunted and booed until my throat is sore.
With one matchday left, the title races in both Serie A and the Premier League are going to the final 90 minutes. Milan and Manchester City have their destinies in their own hands, but Inter and Liverpool are looking to respectively pounce on any stumble.
There is the potential for exceptional drama in Italy and England, but can the Nerazzurri and the Reds have much hope of pulling off the improbable and wrestling the respective title…
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is bemused by criticism of Cristiano Ronaldo, who again rescued Manchester United a result in midweek at Atalanta.
After a Champions League brace, Ronaldo now has nine goals in 11 games for United this season heading into Saturday s Old Trafford derby against Manchester City.
The veteran forward scored three goals in his last five Premier League Manchester derbies in his first stint with United. Indeed, his final strike for the club before joining Real Madrid came against City in May 2009.
However, he is also the only player to have been sent off in two Manchester derbies in the Premier League.
Despite Ronaldo s goals, United have been unconvincing since he returned to the club this season, prompting some to suggest his role in the te…
Borussia Dortmund demolished Augsburg 5-1 in the Bundesliga on Saturday in a perfect dress rehearsal ahead of next week s Champions League semi-final return leg at Paris Saint-Germain.
Dortmund, who face PSG on Tuesday after their 1-0 first leg win in Germany earlier this week, enjoyed a whirlwind start with three goals in the first 29 minutes.
Youssoufa Moukoko struck either side of Doneyll Malen s 20th minute goal to quickly put the game to bed.
Augsburg cut the deficit in the 32nd minute with Ruben Vargas but the visitors restored their three-goal cushion through Marco Reus, who will leave the club after 12 years at the end of the season, in the 34th.
34 Aged 34 years and 339 days, Dortmund’s Marco Reus is the oldest player to be directly involved in…
Prediction: Match to end in 1-1 draw
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Molde FK and Cercle Brugge KSV will lock horns with each other in the UEFA Europa League Third Qualifying Round. The first leg of the tie between the Eliteserien club and the Belgian Pro League team will be held at the Aker Stadion and is scheduled to kick off at 6 pm UK time on Thursday.
Molde FK
Molde FK are one of the most well-known clubs from Norway and have a rich history. They have been successful as well, winning the Eliteserien five times and the Norwegian Cup on six occasions. Molde are one of two Norwegian clubs who have played in the UEFA Champions League.
MFK are trying to book their place in the group stage of the UEFA Europa League this season after finishing fifth in th…
Best odds: 13/25
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The upcoming match between Barcelona and Girona on Sunday promises to be a significant encounter in La Liga.
Girona has indeed emerged as an significant surprise in the Spanish top flight this season, amassing an impressive 38 points from 15 matches, placing them second in the standings alongside Real Madrid. Barcelona, currently occupying the third position, trails Girona by four points, and that makes the match likely to prove an intriguing battle between the Catalan rivals at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys.
Barcelona
Barcelona s recent victory against Atletico Madrid was pivotal in maintaining their challenge in La Liga, securing a 1-0 win with Joao Felix, on loan from Atletico, scoring the only goal in the first half. With…
Ryan Babel has pulled out of the Netherlands squad ahead of Tuesday s final Euro 2020 qualifier against Estonia.
The Galatasaray forward was not intact after the 0-0 weekend draw with Northern Ireland and has returned to his club, according to statement from the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB).
Babel, 32, started in Belfast and lasted until the 90th minute before making way for defender Nathan Ake.
Ronald Koeman has now lost three of the players who started Saturday s stalemate, which was enough to confirm the Oranje s qualification for Euro 2020.
Virgil van Dijk was released from the squad for personal reasons, while Martin de Roon is suspended after receiving a third yellow card.
Netherlands are two points behind Group C leaders Germany …
Final presentations from countries competing to host the 2018 World Cup are being held in Zurich on Thursday morning.
The joint bid of the Netherlands and Belgium, who are bidding against Russia, England and another joint bid from Spain and Portugal, were the first to state their case.
Dutchman Guus Hiddink took to the stage to declare how the 2000 European Championships, which were co-hosted by the Netherlands and Belgium, demonstrated how well the two nations could handle a sporting event of that magnitude.
Then Netherlands/Belgium bid chief and former Dutch international star Ruud Gullit heralded the virtues of the country s green focus for the World Cup, and said they would provide two million bikes to help fans move around.
This is not a gimmick it…
Prediction: Match to end in 2-2 draw
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Croatia and Poland will lock horns with each other in the 2024–25 UEFA Nations League A Group 1 this weekend. The match between Zlatko Dalić’s side and Michał Probierz’s team will be held at the Opus Arena in Osijek and is scheduled to kick off at 7:45 pm UK time on Sunday.
Croatia
Croatia have established themselves as a major power in football in recent weeks. Not only are the Checkered Ones expected to qualify for major international competitions with ease, but they are also backed by many football fans to reach the semi-finals and the finals and perhaps even to win them.
The Blazers reached the final of the 2018 World Cup finals in Russia and reached the semi-finals at the …
Marcus Rashford is hopeful Manchester United can build on their dominant EFL Cup success over Barnsley when they go to Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday, highlighting the importance of their attackers building positive relationships.
Rashford scored twice as United routed the third-tier side 7-0 at Old Trafford, reaching the fourth round of a competition they won in Ten Hag s first season at the helm in 2022-23.
On Saturday, they return to the scene of one of their most humiliating defeats under the Dutchman, facing a Crystal Palace side that thrashed them 4-0 in May.
Rashford – who also opened his Premier League account for the season in last week s 3-0 victory at Southampton – believes the confidence garnered from United s midweek win could t…
Best Odds: 11/10
Bookmaker:
Looking to extend on their Champions League charge on Saturday evening, Tottenham will travel to Craven Cottage when they meet Fulham.
Fulham
Starting with the hosts, while Fulham might have signed off February with a stunning 2-1 victory away at Manchester United, Fulham have largely struggled with their consistency since opening up the New Year. Last seen falling to a 2-1 defeat against Wolves, Marco Silva’s men almost find themselves sat in Premier League limbo. Facing a real uphill battle in their bid to punch a top-half finish, the former Everton boss has seen his squad win just a trio of their previous 11 showdowns across all competitions. However, although Fulham might have gained somewhat of a reputation for their rugged pe…