Month: November 2024

Verdict: Away win

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Following the promising goalless draw against World Cup holders Germany, under-strength England face another stern test as they play host to star-studded Brazil, who eased off to a friendly win over Japan despite the fact that a number of key men were rested at Stade Pierre-Mauroy.

England

The national team bosses did well to arrange high-profile international friendlies against Germany and Brazil, hoping Gareth Southgate’s side will learn from games against two of the world’s strongest sides, but the fans feared the plans could backfire after a host of important players withdrew from the squad. The head coach was heavily criticised for handing call-ups to players like Jack Cork, Joe Gomez, Lewis Cook and Do…

Sergi Roberto is ready to sign another new deal with Barcelona, despite revealing his current salary is in line with a player who has been promoted from the reserve side.

Spain international Sergi Roberto agreed terms on a one-year extension in June to stay at Camp Nou for the 2022-23 campaign following the conclusion of his previous contract.

The 30-year-old, who is into his 13th season as a member of Barca s senior squad, has again been linked with a move away as he enters the final six months of his latest deal.

While his salary has taken a hit in wake of the Catalan giants crippling financial situation, Sergi Roberto is happy to stay on at the club for at least another season.

Right now I m getting paid as if I had moved up from Barca B, but I do it …

Now that Arsene Wenger has signed a new contract with Arsenal until 2019, the 67-year-old is likely to turn his attention to the transfer market.

If any aspect of Wenger s coaching career has been consistent, it is his ability to spot talent. What is more remarkable is the number of players he seems to have failed to sign. There may have been many things that Wenger did not see during his Arsenal career but, according to the man himself, rising stars across the football world are not among them.

In fact, Wenger has claimed to have wanted so many of the latest heralded prodigies down the years that you wonder how bad Arsenal s negotiating powers must have been to fail to convince any of them to join. Well, we ve done what Wenger failed to do in two decades in north Londo…

Cesar Azpilicueta has warned Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta to expect a hostile reception from the Chelsea fans at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday.

Iniesta stunned Blues supporters with a sublime stoppage-time strike to earn a 1-1 draw in the second leg of their 2008-09 Champions League semi-final, sending 10-man Barca through to the final on away goals.

It was a hammer blow for Chelsea, who saw multiple penalty claims turned down by referee Tom Henning Ovrebo in an outcome that still rankles with the club s faithful.

Iniesta last week said it will be special to return to Stamford Bridge, but Azpilicueta thinks it is unlikely he will be made to feel welcome.

I remember that I was in Osasuna when he scored that goal to take Barcelona to the final in Rome,…

Best Odds: 7/10

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Desperate to widen their buffer at the top of the Ligue 1 table, PSG will welcome Reims to the Parc des Princes on Sunday night.

Starting with the hosts, although PSG might have extended on their Coupe de France adventure earlier in the week thanks to a 7-0 romp against lower-league Pays de Cassel, Christophe Galtier s men are enduring somewhat of a Ligue 1 wobble. While the reigning champions might still hold a three-point buffer over a high-flying Lens, the Parisians find themselves under some increasing pressure. Last seen putting in another downbeat display as they slumped to a shock 1-0 defeat away at Rennes, the former Nice boss has seen his superstar squad lose two of their last three top-flight battles. Likewise, opening the Ne…

Manchester United come up against a Barcelona side with a formidable home record on Tuesday, with the Premier League club aiming to overturn a one-goal deficit from the first leg and book a spot in the Champions League semi-finals.

Barcelona have not been beaten in 30 Champions League games at Camp Nou and will be confident of maintaining that streak against United, particularly given Lionel Messi s history against English clubs in the competition.

In Tuesday s other quarter-final second leg, Ajax travel to Juventus with their tie delicately poised after an absorbing 1-1 draw in Amsterdam last week.

Here are some essential Opta facts as we get ever closer to finding out who will progress to the last four.

Barcelona v Manchester United

4  Of th…

Real Madrid interrupted Spain s World Cup preparations on Tuesday to announce that head coach Julen Lopetegui will head to the Santiago Bernabeu at the conclusion of the tournament.

Spain have floundered at the last two major events, but won each of Euro 2008, World Cup 2010 and Euro 2012, with Lopetegui now building a group that looks primed for a serious challenge in Russia.

However, it is now or never for the former Under-21s coach if he is to taste success with his country before returning to club management.

Lopetegui is not the first to have tried their hand at both the Spain and Madrid jobs. Omnisport assesses how some of the others have fared

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— #CHAMP13NS (@realmadriden)

JOSE VILLALONGA (MADRID 1954-57, SPAIN 1962-66)