Best Odds: 3/5
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Looking to extend on their early La Liga flurry, Barcelona will travel to Madrid when they meet Rayo Vallecano on Tuesday night.
Rayo Vallecano
Starting with the hosts, at the heart of a public La Liga struggle last season as they only just clung to their top-flight status, Rayo Vallecano are looking for a smoother ride this time around. However, getting proceedings underway with a stunning performance on August 18th as they snatched a 2-1 victory away at Real Sociedad, Inigo Perez’s men should find the mood in their camp at a real high. Collecting four points from their first two La Liga appearances, the Little Thunderbolts will certainly be excited to make a return to the Spanish capital here. Despite being pencilled in as a real u…
Pedri plans to stay at Barcelona for many years to come but is not ruling out a move to the Premier League.
The 20-year-old has been a revelation since breaking into Barca s first team, establishing himself as a key player for the LaLiga leaders.
Pedri won FIFA s Golden Boy award for being the best young player in Europe in 2021 and quickly forced his way into the Spain team.
The young maestro is contracted to the Blaugrana until 2026 and has no intention of moving on for now, but suggested he may ply his trade overseas further down the line.
When asked about the possibility of a switch to England, he is quoted as saying by Marca: At the moment, no. I m at Barca and hopefully I ll stay here for many more years.
I love LaLiga, but nothing should e…
Reports have surfaced that Joao Felix is unhappy at Atletico Madrid having fallen out of favour in recent games.
Atletico have reportedly moved to reiterate that they do not want to sell the Portuguese, who it is claimed has requested a January move.
Joao Felix joined the Colchoneros on a seven-year deal in 2019 from Benfica for a fee of €126 million.
TOP STORY – PSG AND BARCA KEEN ON JOAO FELIX
Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona are both considering moves to sign wantaway Atletico Madrid forward Joao Felix.
AS claims PSG are weighing up a move for the 22-year-old as they make plans for the potential departure of Lionel Messi at the end of this season.
El Nacional reports that Barcelona are in the race for the Portuguese too, as they f…
Tired of your mates recycling the same old football trivia questions from years gone by?
Bring them bang up-to-date and get them guessing with our Opta-powered Premier League quiz.
All the answers are at the bottom of the page, so you can claim the high ground when it comes to statistical knowledge!
1. With his winning goal against Arsenal last time out, Declan Rice became the 10th teenager to score in the Premier League for West Ham, and the first since 2002. Who managed the feat more than 16 years ago?
WHAT a result!
Declan Rice s first goal for the Club gives us a superb victory over Arsenal
— West Ham United (@WestHamUtd)
2. Liverpool are unbeaten in 31 Premier League home games. Their record in the …
Mauricio Pochettino admitted his Chelsea players are falling well short of the targets set for them in pre-season as they seek respite from their sporadic Premier League form at home to Crystal Palace on Wednesday.
Results at Stamford Bridge have been the only bright spot in recent weeks with three straight wins in west London during December, meanwhile fortunes on the road have taken an alarming downturn.
Defeat against Wolves at Molineux on Christmas Eve was their fourth away loss on the spin following reverses at Newcastle, Manchester United and Everton, and has left the team facing the likely prospect of failing to qualify for Europe for a second season.
A Carabao Cup semi-final against Championship side Middlesborough in January could open the door to a poss…
Callum Smith scored against his former club Hamilton to give Airdrie a 1-0 win in the first leg of their cinch Championship play-off final at the Excelsior Stadium.
Smith, who joined Airdrie from Hamilton in 2021, struck early in the second half to help his side into a slender advantage before Saturday’s second leg at the ZLX Stadium.
Hamilton, relegated from the Scottish Premiership two seasons ago and bidding to avoid relegation to the third tier for the first time since 2004, were first to threaten through on-loan Hearts midfielder Connor Smith.
Connor Smith, playing against his brother Callum, fired an early angled shot inches wide, while Airdrie went close through Callum Fordyce’s half-volley, which was turned away by Hamilton goalkeeper Jamie Smith.
…
Tottenham have appointed former Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho as Mauricio Pochettino s replacement.
Mourinho, The Special One , arrives at Tottenham, who sacked Pochettino just five months after the club s remarkable run to the Champions League final.
Tottenham opted to make a change at the end of the international break, with Spurs languishing in 14th position in the Premier League after 12 rounds.
I am excited to be joining a club with such a great heritage and such passionate supporters, Mourinho said in a statement, having been appointed head coach until the end of 2022-23.
The quality in both the squad and the academy excites me. Working with these players is what has attracted me.
Club statement
— Tottenham Hotspur (@S…
Lucas Moura s incredible second-half hat-trick saw Tottenham snatch a 3-2 win at Ajax and a place in the Champions League final on away goals.
As in last week s semi-final first leg, Erik ten Hag s side were smoothly into their work by the time inspirational captain Matthijs de Ligt headed a fifth-minute opener.
Hakim Ziyech made it 2-0 10 minutes before half-time but, in a season now steeped in implausible Champions League comebacks, Lucas brace had the game all-square on the night before the hour.
Ziyech hit the post and Spurs defender Jan Vertonghen struck the crossbar before the irrepressible Lucas steered home Dele Alli s pass deep into stoppage time.
It means an all-English final against fellow comeback kings Liverpool in Madrid on June 1 for Mauri…
Sweden struck in either half to retain their World Cup best of the rest status with victory over co-hosts Australia in the third-place play-off.
A Fridolina Rolfo penalty and fine Kosovare Asllani strike secured a 2-0 win for Sweden, who never looked in danger of losing to the home favourites in Brisbane.
Peter Gerhardsson’s side responded magnificently to their last-minute semi-final exit at the hands of Spain, outclassing Australia to win the third-place play-off for the fourth time in their history.
Sweden started quickly and set out their stall early on as Arsenal forward Stina Blackstenius got in on goal within the opening two minutes, her low shot turned away by Mackenzie Arnold.
Just as the hosts looked to be getting a foothold in the game, Swede…
Olivier Giroud s first-half double set up a comfortable 4-0 home win over 10-man PAOK in which Callum Hudson-Odoi opened his Chelsea account, Maurizio Sarri s side topping Group L after extending their run of wins to five matches.
BATE s 2-0 home defeat of Vidi earlier in the day ensured Chelsea could not be caught in top spot, with Sarri making 10 changes from a crushing 3-1 loss at Tottenham that ended their unbeaten start to the Premier League season last time out.
Yevhen Khacheridi s early red card gave Chelsea s young guns plenty of chances to fire but it was Giroud s well-taken brace before the break that put the Blues on track for victory.
And 18-year-old Hudson-Odoi hit his first Chelsea goal with a fine finish before substitute Alvaro Morata headed a la…