Market: Norwich win
Odds: 19/20 @
Hoping to extend their stay in the play-off places this weekend, Norwich will welcome Sunderland to Carrow Road on Sunday afternoon.
Starting with the hosts, while Norwich might have opened 2023 in the midst of an extended nightmare, David Wagner s men have come roading back in some style. Last seen putting in another thrilling display as they claimed an action-packed 3-2 victory away at Millwall, the former Huddersfield boss should find the mood around Carrow Road at a real high. Finding a route into the play-off places and with their sights set on booking an immediate Premier League return this year, the Canaries have now collected 13 points from their last five Championship outings. Likewise, along with winning each of their …
Eintracht Frankfurt have secured the services of Lucas Piazon on a season-long loan from Chelsea.
The Brazilian joined Chelsea from Sao Paulo in 2011, but has failed to break into the first team at Stamford Bridge with any frequency.
His one Premier League appearance came as a substitute in an 8-0 win over Aston Villa in December 2012, and the 20-year-old has had spells out on loan in a bid to experience regular football.
He was loaned to Malaga for the second half of the 2012-13 campaign, where he made 11 La Liga appearances, four of which were starts.
Last season, Piazon was loaned to Vitesse in the Eredivisie, where he scored 11 goals in 29 league showings.
Lucas Piazon has today joined German side Eintracht Frankfurt on a season-long loan, a …
Mircea Lucescu has left his role as head coach of Turkey.
The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) confirmed on Monday that the 73-year-old has had his contract terminated by mutual consent.
Turkey will always have a special place in my heart, Lucescu said in a statement.
Senol Gunes, who led Turkey to third place at the 2002 World Cup, has been tipped as the favourite to take charge.
Lucescu replaced Fatih Terim in August 2017 on an initial two-year deal, but he failed to seal qualification for the 2018 World Cup, with Turkey finishing fourth in qualifying Group I behind Iceland, Croatia and Ukraine.
They were also relegated to League C of the inaugural Nations League after finishing bottom of their group behind Sweden and Russia.
…
Germany should only call up Bayern Munich sensation Jamal Musiala if he really wants to change allegiances, according to former captain Michael Ballack.
After making his debut in June 2020, Bayern teenager Musiala has become a regular fixture in the Bundesliga champions first-team squad, featuring in 15 games and scoring three goals this season.
The 17-year-old switched from Chelsea s youth academy to Bayern in July 2019 aged 16 before becoming Bayern s youngest ever senior player and their youngest goalscorer.
Born in Stuttgart to a German mother and an English-Nigerian father, Musiala moved to London aged seven and represented England from Under-15 to U21 levels, as well as Germany U16s.
Although he last played for England against Albania in November …
Chris Wilder has signed a new contract with Premier League surprise package Sheffield United, keeping him in charge of the Blades until 2024.
United have impressed under manager Wilder on their return to the English top flight this season, and they sat in eighth place ahead of Friday s encounter with West Ham.
With the top five in their sights, United have been handed a timely boost by news of Wilder s new four-and-a-half-year deal.
Naturally, I m delighted to sign a new deal until 2024 and commit to the club that is close to my heart, Wilder told the club s official website.
Chris Wilder 2024
— Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited)
I am grateful to [the owner] Prince Abdullah for taking the initiative and offering this contract, …
Napoli head coach Rudi Garcia knows his side cannot afford a slow start if they are to target Champions League success this season.
The Partenopei topped their Champions League group ahead of Liverpool and progressed to the quarter-finals last season, where they were beaten by AC Milan.
Garcia’s side, though, head into their opening European tie away to Portuguese outfit Braga on Wednesday night sitting fifth in the table after a draw at newly promoted Genoa left them with seven points from four games.
“There is something wrong in the league (Serie A) because we are only fifth, but it is the start of the season,” Garcia told a press conference.
“The logical thing would be to say that we need to be more consistent, but we can say that the champions…
Best Odds: 7/10
Bookmaker:
In what looks set to be a heavyweight showdown on Wednesday night, Manchester City will welcome PSG to the Etihad for their penultimate Champions League meeting.
Manchester City
Starting with the hosts, marking their return from the international break over the weekend, Manchester City will be desperate to keep up that momentum when they turn their attention back to Champions League duties. Putting on a thumping display at the Etihad, Pep Guardiola s side breezed their way to a 3-0 romp against Everton, a result that firmly keeps them in the Premier League title hunt. Now with their sights set on trying to clinch top spot in Group A as they enter their penultimate European showdown on Wednesday night, the former Bayern Munich boss has…
Lionel Messi became the first player to score 400 LaLiga goals on Sunday as Barcelona cruised to a 3-0 victory over Eibar at Camp Nou.
After an unusually quiet first 45 minutes, Messi burst into life after the restart and claimed his milestone goal – his 13th in eight appearances against Eibar.
Luis Suarez had given Barca the lead with their only shot on target in the first half, and he doubled his tally six minutes after Messi s moment in the spotlight with a composed finish from a tight angle.
That was enough to seal a sixth win in a row for Barca in the league, and a ninth successive over Eibar since their promotion to the top flight.
His goat-ness.
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona)
Messi took up more of a playmaker role in the openin…
Bayern Munich will face either Al-Duhail or Al Ahly in their Club World Cup semi-final on February 8.
The competition s draw took place on Tuesday in Zurich and confirmed European champions Bayern will tackle hosts Al-Duhail or CAF Champions League holders Al Ahly.
Al-Duhail secured their qualification as hosts by winning the Qatar Stars League in 2019-20, with no Qatari side managing to win the AFC Champions League.
Egyptian giants Al Ahly won African club football s biggest prize in November and qualified for the Club World Cup for the sixth time, having last appeared in 2013, which was also Bayern s only previous appearance.
The official draw for the 2020 is complete
Bring on 4 February!
— FIFA.com (@FIFAcom)
Al-Duhail re…
Cristiano Ronaldo has been tipped by John O Shea to one day manage Portugal once he brings an end to his playing career.
The five-time Ballon d Or winner is part of Portugal s squad for Euro 2024, which they kick off with a match against Czech Republic next Tuesday.
Ronaldo will take part in his 13th major international tournament and what could be his last given he will be 41 by the time of the next World Cup.
Despite his age, Ronaldo continues to score regularly for Al Nassr at club level and also netted 10 times in Euro 2024 qualifying.
When the forward does eventually hang up his boots, however, former Manchester United team-mate O Shea can see him moving into coaching.
Speaking ahead of Tuesday s friendly with Portugal, Republic of Ireland in…