Best Odds: 6/4

Bookmaker:

Looking to claim an immediate response on Saturday afternoon, Atletico Madrid will welcome Sevilla to the Metropolitano Stadium.

Atletico Madrid

Starting with the hoists, while Atletico Madrid might have continued to receive a string of plaudits since opening up the 2023/24 campaign, Diego Simeone’s men are seeking a recent boost. Last seen earlier in the week suffering an infamous collapse at home against Getafe as they eventually had to settle for a 3-3 stalemate, the Colchoneros know that they are seeking a minor miracle in their bid to snatch a 12th domestic crown in the New Year. Hit with a 2-0 loss at the hands of Athletic Bilbao earlier in the month Simeone will also have a mounting headache over his side’s recent issues at …

Best odds: 8/13

Bookmaker:

The international break is over and the season in leagues around Europe enters the final stretch. The upcoming week in the Premier League could hardly be more interesting, particularly for Liverpool, who face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday and Arsenal on following Sunday at Anfield, but first, they must take a trip to the Etihad this Saturday, where they ll be hosted by Manchester City.

Neither of these teams is where their supporters want them to be this season, but make no mistake, this is still a proper Premier League blockbuster.

Manchester City

City may not be where they want to be at this point, but unlike Liverpool, they re not too far either, and with a game in hand on league leaders Arsenal, they trail by seven…

Lionel Messi remains a doubt for Barcelona s trip to Sevilla in LaLiga on Saturday, coach Ernesto Valverde has confirmed.

A hamstring injury kept Messi out of both Argentina matches during the international break, including a 6-1 thumping in Madrid at the hands of Spain.

Messi took part in some of Thursday s session, but with a Champions League quarter-final against Roma coming next week Valverde is prepared to give the forward time to prove his fitness.

We have to wait, we are taking care of him, like Argentina did, Valverde told a media conference on Friday. Football players are used to having these little niggles during parts of the season, they re used to putting up with it.

Players can control it but you have to try not to go over the limit. We d l…

Diego Simeone insisted Atletico Madrid are merely focused on game by game during a tense press conference, following his side s mixed start to the LaLiga season.

Los Rojiblancos head coach, who was speaking ahead of their trip to face Athletic Bilbao, offered short, vague answers to only a handful of questions as he addressed reporters for just four-and-a-half minutes.

Simeone has come under scrutiny after Atletico drew two of their opening three matches, with a drab goalless stalemate against promoted Espanyol already leaving them four points adrift of leaders Barcelona.

During the latter, the Argentine substituted Julian Alvarez and Samuel Lino at half-time, while he replaced striker Alexander Sorloth for defender Reinildo later on with his side still seeking t…

Rasmus Hojlund claimed to be the “happiest man alive” after breaking his Premier League duck to earn Manchester United a stunning 3-2 comeback win over Aston Villa.

Under-fire striker Hojlund, who cost an initial £64million from Atalanta in the summer, grabbed the 82nd-minute winner on his 15th top-flight appearance.

Villa were on course to move level on points with Liverpool at the top of the table following first-half finishes from John McGinn and Leander Dendoncker before Alejandro Garnacho’s double brought the hosts level.

I m the happiest man alive right now.

— Manchester United (@ManUtd)

Hojlund’s decisive strike, which followed five goals in the Champions League, further eased the pressure on manager Erik ten Hag as United cel…

I have to be a little careful about what I am saying here, King said. A small part of me believed it could happen, and of course it was a bit emotional for me considering I had moved to England as a 16-year old to try and fulfil my dreams and to achieve my goals. 

I aimed to do so at Manchester United, and when it didn t happen I made a choice and left. 

And when you hear after all that, that you are linked with Manchester United and that there was an offer on the table, then of course the same feelings you had as a 16-year old come back to you.  

Those are the words of Bournemouth forward Joshua King who has spoken out about his potential move to Manchester United which fell apart during the final days of the January transfer window. 

While he …

Franck Ribery has suffered ligament damage to his right ankle in an ill-timed injury blow for embattled Serie A side Fiorentina.

The Viola confirmed the setback after the 36-year-old was forced off in the first half of Saturday s 1-0 loss to Lecce.

Panagiotis Tachtsidis sliding challenge left the experienced winger in considerable pain and he had to be helped from the field.

Precisely how long he will spend on the sidelines remains to be seen, but Fiorentina can little afford to do without the former Bayern Munich star following a third successive defeat.

A club statement read: Ribery underwent tests after spraining his ankle. They revealed a Grade I/II tear of the medial collateral ligament of his right ankle. He has begun treatment and his condition wil…

Kalvin Phillips has completed his loan move from Manchester City to West Ham, the clubs have announced.

The England midfielder will spend the rest of the season at the London Stadium.

The 28-year-old has been frustrated by a lack of game time at City since joining the club from Leeds in the summer of 2022.

Forging a Lion s legacy

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Have Tottenham finally found an alternative to Harry Kane?

According to reports, Spurs are in talks to sign Real Sociedad s Willian Jose with just over a week to go until the transfer window closes.

But it could take in excess of £50million to finally end their search for a second out-and-out striker.

TOP STORY – SPURS TO DIG DEEP FOR SOCIEDAD STRIKER

Krzysztof Piatek, Islam Slimani and Fernando Llorente have all been linked but Tottenham have now set their sights on 28-year-old Willian Jose, reports the Guardian.

The Brazilian was left out of his side s Copa del Rey clash with Espanyol on Wednesday and could now be headed for north London.

Talks are underway, the Guardian states, although Spurs could be forced to contemplate…

Being top of the table at Christmas is much-talked about in Europe, but what does it mean in the A-League?

After an impressive start to the season, Perth Glory hold top spot despite a loss to Sydney FC last time out.

Perth (20 points) are ahead of Melbourne Victory (19) and the Sky Blues (17), who are the only two teams within a win of the league leaders.

It is just the second time Glory have been in this position, adding to 2014-15, when the club were demoted to seventh following a salary-cap scandal.

This A-League season started later than ever before but, with the help of Opta, we take a look at where teams top at Christmas have ended up at season s end.

. head into the festive period top of the .

How does the ladder make you feel?