April 1, 2023 - Matchplug Blog

PSG identify Messi’s successor from Barcelona

Paris Saint-Germain have reportedly identified French star Ousmane Dembélé as the player to take over from Lionel Messi should the Argentine leave the club this summer.

Messi’s future is subject to much speculation this summer, given that he has less than three months on his current deal at PSG. The 35-year-old will be out of contract at the end of June and has reportedly put every contract discussion on hold till the end of the season.

As per reports, he wants to finish this season strong with PSG before deciding where to play next. However, several clubs are queuing up for him, including Barcelona, who openly admitted that they have opened talks with him.

Major League Soccer side Inter Miami and at least two Saudi Pro League sides have also indicated interest, while PSG has a lucrative offer already on the table.

However, the Parisians are prepared for the worst-Messi leaving. Should the World Cup winner leave, the French giants will target another Barcelona star; Dembele. According to El Nacional, PSG will go all-out for the French winger this summer if they cannot convince Lionel Messi to stay.

Even though his injury record isn’t excellent, Dembele is seen as one of the most talented attacking players available. The Barca winger only signed a new deal at Camp Nou last summer but could be sold this summer, especially as Barcelona are struggling financially. As a result, the Catalan side could be forced to sell some players to fund the move for new players.

Liverpool ahead of Juventus in the race for Teun Koopmeiners

Premier League giants Liverpool are reportedly ahead of Serie a side Juventus in the race for the signature of Atalanta man Teun Koopmeiners.

The midfielder has been one of the key players under Gian Piero Gasperini, and his form is attracting interest from the two European heavyweights.

The Dutchman predominantly plays as a defensive midfielder but has an eye for goal. His six goals and three assists in 26 appearances for Atalanta this season is better than the contributions of any of Liverpool’s midfielders.

The Reds want to improve their ageing midfield and consider Koopmeiners, a player that can fit into their system. Atalanta under Gasperini are known for their pressing style of football, so the 25-year-old will need little introduction to Klopp’s style.

According to a report on Tuttomercatoweb, Liverpool likes the midfielder, and the Reds are the top side in the race, ahead of Juventus, who are also keen.

Atalanta values the midfielder at 50m euros, a figure that is reportedly within the range of what Klopp’s side are willing to pay, as it is cheaper than what Dortmund want for Jude Bellingham.

Liverpool are desperate to sign the Borussia Dortmund man but is looking more likely that they will be priced out of a move for the young Englishman, who is also attracting interest from Manchester City and Real Madrid.

Inter Milan vs Fiorentina: Preview and Expert Football Prediction

Serie A returns this weekend with Inter Milan playing host to Fiorentina for the 28th Round of the 2022/23 season.

The San Siro side are looking to get back to form after a return of just three points in four games has put the job of head coach Simon Inzaghi in perspective (W1, D3). The most recent of those losses was a 1-0 defeat against fierce rivals Juventus, which saw Inter Milan lose twice to the Bianconeri without scoring in a single Serie A season for the first time since 1976/77.

The defeat was also the ninth defeat for the Nerazzurri in the season’s Serie A– a fate they have suffered after the opening 27 rounds just once this century.

Having survived the international break, Inzaghi will probably end the season at Inter. But with his side just three points ahead of fifth-placed AS Roma in the top-four race, the former Lazio manager will know that he cannot afford his side to drop further points.

However, Inter will fancy their chances against a Fiorentina side they beat in five of the last six H2Hs (D1). Yet, the visitors were the most in-form team in Italy just before the international break, with their 13 points from five games (W4, D1) only matched by Lazio.

It even gets better when you factor in other competitions for Fiorentina, who will travel to Milan on a seven-game winning run in all competitions. That run has seen them qualify for the UEFA Europa Conference League quarter-finals and move back to the top half of the standings for the first time since mid-January.

Consequently, they started this round only four points away from seventh spot (and the potential European place that may come with it). That aforementioned run also consisted of consecutive clean-sheet away league victories which saw Fiorentina net five goals combined in those appearances.

That offers us a glimpse that this game could go either way. However, a potential ‘over 2.5 goals’ game is more likely.

Click here to get correct score tips daily.

Bayern Munich vs Borussia Dortmund: Preview and Expert Football Prediction

Bayern Munich will look to begin life under Thomas Tuchel with a bang when they welcome fierce rivals Borussia Dortmund to the Allianz Arena this Saturday for the second Bundesliga Der Klassiker of the season.

Tuchel replaced Julian Nagelsmann, who was sacked last week after a return of five wins from ten Bundesliga games in 2023. The poor return of points has seen the Bavarians relinquish the top spot to Dortmund, with their most recent 2-1 loss to Bayer Leverkusen placing them one point behind the visitors.

After his unveiling, Tuchel proclaimed that he wants to win “all the titles”, as Bayern are still in the battle to lift a Bundesliga, Champions League and DfB Pokal treble. But any hopes of doing so will be hinged mainly on how he performs in this first game against his former club.

Bayern’s current 52-point haul is their worst return at this stage of a Bundesliga season since they last failed to lift the famous trophy in 2011/12. Should they lose here, they will end the weekend four points behind Dortmund.

While Bayern wilted in 2023, the visitors have enjoyed a remarkable run of form in 2023. They remain unbeaten in the league this year, with their only blip coming in a 2-2 draw against fierce local rivals Schalke 04.

Having won eleven of their last 13 games in all competitions, they will bear no fear on this trip to Munich. A 6-1 win over Cologne just before the international break should also be give them much-needed inspiration.

However, they’ve lost their last eight Bundesliga trips to the Allianz Arena. Yet, Dortmund boss Edin Terzić has been boosted by the return of key players such as Julian Brandt and Youssoufa Moukoko from injury and will “travel to Munich with confidence and a full squad”.

Meanwhile, an incredible 346 goals have been scored across the 107 Bundesliga Der Klassikers; that’s 3.28 goals per match on average. So an ‘over 2.5 goals’ prediction will be a good bet.

Click here to get correct score tips daily.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa: Preview and Expert Football Prediction

After two weeks without football, Chelsea return to Premier League action this Saturday as they welcome Aston Villa to Stamford Bridge.

The Blues will be desperate to return to winning ways after a disappointing 2-2 draw with a struggling Everton side marked their last game before the international break. The result ended a run of three consecutive wins for Graham Potter’s side, who are still battling to play Champions League football next season.

But with each loss, the Blues find themselves further away from their quest. They currently sit in tenth position, eleven points behind fourth-placed Tottenham, having played a game less.

However, the injury-ravaged London side could now be without as many as five regular starters for the visit of Aston Villa, a side Chelsea have beaten in nine of the last eleven Premier League H2Hs (D1, L1).

Potter’s side would dearly love to extend that run with another victory, but having won just three of their last nine PL home games (D3, L3), Stamford Bridge isn’t the impenetrable fortress it once was. It certainly isn’t the premier spot if entertainment is what fans want, with the stadium producing the fewest total goals (26) of any PL ground this season.

Meanwhile, Villa will come to Stamford Bridge confidently after going undefeated in their last four PL games (W3, D1). If Chelsea can still dream of a top-four finish, the visitors have every right to do the same, given that they are sitting just behind their hosts in eleventh position, with the same number of points on the table.

However, Unai Emery will be more concerned about finishing strong, as his initial objective was avoiding relegation. But a win here will take them into the top half of the table and possibly shift their target for the season to breaking into the top seven and securing a place in Europe next season.

However, considering they’ve lost on six of their last seven PL visits to Stamford Bridge, they may be playing catch-up again come the close of play on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Stamford Bridge is the only ground not to have seen a goal scored in the opening 15 minutes of a PL game this season. So we can expect a game of few goals. The best bet, therefore, will be under 2.5 goals.

Click here to get expert football predictions.

Manchester City vs Liverpool: Preview and Expert Football Prediction

Premier League returns this weekend with the biggest clash of the weekend, featuring Manchester City and Liverpool. Both teams will renew their rivalry this Saturday at the Etihad for the 29th Round game of the 2022/23 Premier League season.

Unlike in recent seasons, where games between the pair were title deciders, this weekend’s fixture features two teams on the opposite side of the form table. While Manchester City are flying courtesy of a run of six consecutive wins and ten games without defeat (W8, D2), Liverpool are winless and scoreless in two games (L2).

Pep Guardiola’s men kept their quest for their seventh Premier League crown alive just before the break with a 1-0 win over Crystal Palace in their last league outing. The win over the Eagles was followed by two massive Champions League and FA Cup wins, which came by a combined 13-0 scoreline.

One individual, Erling Haaland, scored eight out of those 13 goals. However, the Norwegian is unlikely to feature in this game, giving Liverpool a significant boost. But having fallen eight points behind Arsenal in the title race, City need little reminding that this game is a must-win if they want to keep their quest for the title alive.

Meanwhile, not only does the likley absence of Haaland help Liverpool, the return of attacker Luis Diaz after five months of injury will also be a morale boost for Jurgen Klopp’s side, who will be desperate to get back to winning ways and rekindling their fading top-four hopes.

The Reds went into the international break in a dour mood, losing their last two games against relegation-threatened Bournemouth and Real Madrid before the hiatus.

With nothing left to play for than the top-four this season, Klopp will hope that his boys will give their very best in this game against a team they have beaten just once in their last 13 PL matches at the Etihad (D5, L7).

Meanwhile, Man City’s run of eight consecutive wins at home ahead of this game puts them as clear favourites for a win here.

Click here to get expert football predictions.

Day: April 1, 2023

PSG identify Messi’s successor from Barcelona

Liverpool ahead of Juventus in the race for Teun Koopmeiners

Inter Milan vs Fiorentina: Preview and Expert Football Prediction

Bayern Munich vs Borussia Dortmund: Preview and Expert Football Prediction

Chelsea vs Aston Villa: Preview and Expert Football Prediction

Manchester City vs Liverpool: Preview and Expert Football Prediction

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