Real Betis and Atletico Madrid have different objectives on their minds ahead of the final Liga matchweek in 2019. While Los Colchoneros are looking to sneak into the Top 4 race, Betis simply want to end the year on a high note since they sit in the middle of the standings. These two sides will collide Sunday at 15:00 GMT at Estadio Benito Villamarin.
Real Betis
Real Betis have undoubtedly taken most of their points at home, and their recent form backs up that statement. Los Verdiblancos have lost just two of nine games at Estadio Benito Villamarin this term (W5, D2, L2) and, as if that wasn’t enough, they also enter this contest riding a four-game undefeated streak in LaLiga (W3, D1). One of the most notable trends for them has been the fact that both teams have scored in ev…
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With it all still to play for on Wednesday night, Celtic will be desperate to extend on their Champions League adventure when they travel to FC Midtjylland for their second-leg showdown.
FC Midtjylland
Starting with the hosts, while Midtjylland might have been heavily outplayed at Celtic Park last week, the Danish outfit do find themselves holding the most marginal of leads on Wednesday night. Managing to mount a second-half comeback on foreign soil as they snatched a 1-1 draw and a crucial away goal, The Wolves will be seeking a far more polished display if they re to extend on their European adventure in midweek. However, while Head Coach Bo Henriksen might have seen his side end last year s tournament with back-to-back 1-1 draws a…
Danny Ings has joined for Southampton on a permanent transfer following his season-long loan from Liverpool last term.
Ings left Anfield in August 2018 to join Saints on a loan deal that included an agreement for a transfer a year later.
That switch has now been formally finalised, with Ings signing a three-year contract at St Mary s Stadium for a reported fee of £20million.
The 26-year-old, who scored eight goals across 25 Southampton appearances in all competitions in 2018-19, is now excited for the new season after putting serious knee injury troubles behind him.
I m raring to go for the new season.
Hear from after he signed his three-year deal with :
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC)
It feels good, Ings told Southampt…
As for the visitors, making a return to winning ways after snatching a 1-0 win off of Crystal Palace in the North East over the weekend, few across the Premier League would have expected Newcastle s rise entering the festive period. Despite much displeasure over the arrival of Steve Bruce over the summer, the Magpies open Christmas Day in ninth and the one-time Sunderland boss has seen his side win three of their last four top-flight outings. With the mood around St. James Park arguably the highest it has been in recent memory, Thursday s guests have lost just a pair of their last nine Premier League appearances, a run highlighted by a 2-2 draw against defending champions Manchester City last month. With summer signing Miguel Almirón bagging his first goal over the weekend, the Magpies…
Full-back Christian Fuchs claimed Leicester City s 2-1 defeat to Manchester United in the Community Shield was not a fair result.
Premier League champions Leicester were undone by Zlatan Ibrahimovic at Wembley, with the star recruit s 83rd-minute winner deciding the contest on Sunday.
Penalties looked likely in London as the match petered out for a draw after Jamie Vardy pounced on Marouane Fellaini s attempted back pass to equalise seven minutes into the second half, cancelling out Jesse Lingard s stunning solo effort in the 32nd minute.
While lamenting the loss, Fuchs insisted Leicester are ready to defend their Premier League crown.
I think it was a good performance and we had our chances, a couple more chances than United, he said
We didn t …
AC Milan coach Gennaro Gattuso said his side is lacking a bit of malice as he outlined his aims for next season in the aftermath of a 5-1 final-day victory over Fiorentina.
Goals from Hakan Calhanoglu, Nikola Kalinic, Giacomo Bonaventura and a brace from Patrick Cutrone made sure of Milan s place in next season s Europa League and gave the San Siro faithful a day to celebrate at the end of a tumultuous season.
Gattuso has been credited with turning the club s campaign around and he paid tribute to his players after they produced an emphatic finale.
I have to thank this group, there were very difficult moments, Gattuso told Sky Sport. I found some guys that gave me a great sense of belonging. I broke the boxes for five months but nobody has ever failed to respec…
Harry Maguire has been included in the Leicester City squad for their first pre-season game of the summer, when they face Scunthorpe United this evening (Tuesday).
The centre-back has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester United in the recent few days, with latest rumours suggesting United were willing to match Leicester s valuation which stands at £80 million. It would be a world-record fee for a defender, surpassing the £75 million Liverpool paid to sign Virgil van Dijk from Southampton in January 2018. Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer even went as far as warning his current crop of centre-backs that there would have to be departures as well, should the England international arrive to Old Trafford this summer.
However, Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers obviously …
Lyon will hope to take their impressive recent form into their French first division clash at Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday, in what will be the first genuine test of their title aspirations.
Claude Puel s team are Ligue 1 s form side, having won their last four league games, and they made a positive start to their Champions League campaign with a 1-0 victory at home to Serie A heavyweights Fiorentina on Wednesday.
Bordeaux s title triumph last season left Lyon trophyless for the first time since 2000, but their performances in recent weeks suggest they are well placed to challenge for honours again and they go into Sunday s game level on points with Bordeaux at the top of the table.
The team looks great to me, said PSG goalkeeper Gregory Coupet of his former s…
Manchester United ace Paul Scholes has set his sicghts on ‘winning everything’ with the club this season.
The 34-year-old has just recently returned from a three-month injury absence.
Scholes said in the Daily Star: This year has been a great one for us. We won the league and the European Cup in May and this season has gone well so far.
We are still in four competitions and I m looking forward to next year.
My aim for 2009 is to see United win everything and for me to be a part of a team that goes on to lift trophies at the end of the season.
He continued: Now we can really concentrate on the league, the Champions League and the two domestic cups.
[Source: Daily Star]
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Michael Carrick has urged Manchester United to build the foundations for their season in Tuesday s UEFA Champions League play-off round first-leg tie against Club Brugge.
United missed out on Europe for the first time in 19 years after a disappointing seventh-placed finish in the 2013-14 Premier League season.
However, manager Louis van Gaal delivered a return to Europe s top table during his debut season in charge, but they must negotiate a tricky tie against the Belgian Pro League side to reach the group stages.
And midfielder Carrick is keen to stress the importance of the double header to United s campaign.
It s going to be a big night on Tuesday. It ll be a big two games in fact they could help set us up for the season, Carrick told United s officia…