May 2, 2023 - Matchplug Blog

Real Sociedad vs Real Madrid: Preview and Expert Football Prediction

Tags : Real Madrid Real Sociedad
Category : Football , Football prediction , La Liga , Match Preview

Real Madrid will travel to San Sebastian on Tuesday to face Real Sociedad in the 33rd Round of the 2022/23 La Liga season.

The hosts kept their quest for a top-four finish alive last Friday courtesy of a 2-0 win over local rivals Osasuna. The win kept them locked in the fourth position, five points ahead of Villarreal and in the fifth position.

So they are now well-placed to finish in the La Liga top four for the first time since 2012/13. Star forward Takefusa Kubo declared they “have the right to dream–we are going for the Champions League.”

However, the month of May won’t be easy as they will take on each of the three sides above them, starting here with Real Madrid. The fact that manager Imanol Alguacil has never won the opposite number Carlo Ancelotti (D1, L2), points to the job’s difficulty.

Meanwhile, Madrid come into this tie on the back of a 4-2 win over Almeria, with Karim Benzema scoring a hattrick to make him fourth-highest all-time scorer.

The hosts will hope that Ancelotti rests the Frenchman with the upcoming CDR final and Champions League semi-final in mind. But Ancelotti’s options appear limited, with star forward Vinícius Júnior suspended after picking up his sixth yellow card of the season for dissent.

Yet, Madrid have won just one of their last four league away fixtures (D1, L2), and can’t afford to take their eye off the ball in a La Liga context as they bid to stay ahead of city rivals Atlético in the fight for second place behind champions-elect Barcelona.

Meanwhile, Los Blancos have averaged 1.4 goals per game across their last five La Liga road games (W2, D1, L2), so they should at least keep Sociedad’s defence busy regardless of the end result.

That said we can expect over 2.5 goals scored in this game. Click here to get winning soccer predictions.

Arsenal vs Chelsea: Preview and Expert Football Prediction

Tags : Arsenal Chelsea
Category : Football , Football prediction , Match Preview , Premier League

Arsenal and Chelsea will renew their rivalry this Tuesday when they meet at the Emirates for the 61st Premier League head-to-head meeting.

The Gunners are looking to reclaim their place at the top of the Premier League table, albeit temporarily, after falling flat on their faces last weekend in a 4-1 loss to Manchester City.

That loss was not the main reason they are sitting second in the PL table, though, as their run of three consecutive draws before that game gave the initiative to City. So they enter this game without a win in their last four games (D3, L1).

For a side keen on winning the PL this season, such form is terrible and cannot give them a place on the podium. With the title destination now officially out of their hands, Mikel Arteta’s side will now hope City drops points to allow them a way back in the race.

They will have to keep winning and take their chances should Pep Guardiola’s side drop points. And given that they have never lost against Chelsea in the Premier League between Tuesday and Thursday (W4, D6), it should boost their morale.

However, Chelsea will feel like they can get something from this game, given how poor Arsenal have been. The Blues are in dire form, having lost their last five games under Frank Lampard.

Their total points tally after 32 rounds of games has kept them closer to the relegation zone than the top four, with their 39 points the same as Bournemouth, who are still technically in the relegation zone.

Although the Cherries have played two games more than Chelsea, Lampard will know that getting into a scrappy fight to stay inside the top half isn’t impossible.

Should they lose here, Chelsea will lose 20 competitive games in one season for the first time since 1987/88. But despite all the negatives, the Blues can boast a relatively respectable record in PL London derbies this season (W3, D4, L4). Yet Chelsea have won just one PL game against current top-half opposition this season (W1, D6, L9).

Click here to get correct score predictions.

Liverpool eye move for PSG star

Tags : Liverpool PSG Renato Sanches
Category : Football , Football News , Premier League , Transfers

Liverpool are reportedly considering moving for Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Renato Sanches next season.

The Reds are in the market for a dynamic midfielder, having seen their midfield area in the field suffer degradation.

They have long wanted to sign Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund but recently had to give up the chase for the Englishman due to his price tag.

But that hasn’t stopped them from looking to sign a midfielder as they attempt to rebuild in the summer. They hope to bring in at least two midfield players this summer and see Renato Sanches as a solid option.

This is according to Fichajes, who claims that Jurgen Klopp is an admirer of the Portuguese international and wants to bring him to the club.

As per the report, the player will likely cost Liverpool around €30 million, a fraction of what they were asked to pay for Bellingham.

Sanches is a smooth operator in midfield and will bring the kind of energy and guile often missing in Liverpool since Georgina Wijnaldum left the club two seasons ago.

The 25-year-old joined PSG last summer but has failed to nail down a spot in the starting XI due to a lack of fitness and form. So he would be willing to leave Parc des Princes if he is guaranteed more game time at Anfield and the right offer is tabled.

Sam Allardyce agrees to a SHOCK return to football as Leeds sacks Javi Gracia

Tags : Leeds United Sam Allardyce
Category : Football , Football News , Premier League

Former England and Everton boss Sam Allardyce has emerged as the shock favourite to become Leeds United boss following their struggles.

According to a report by Sportsmail, the Yorkshire side are set to sack struggling Javi Garcia on Tuesday and will bring Allardyce in as an immediate replacement.

The former Bolton manager is expected to start on Wednesday to keep the club in the Premier League.

Leeds United have begun the process of restructuring the club and have already sacked Sporting Director Victor Orta. They currently sit inside the relegation zone and see Allardyce as the manager to keep them above the murky waters.

The 68-year-old has been out of work since failing to beat the drop as West Brom boss two seasons ago. The Englishman is one of the most experienced coaches in the game, having managed 13 different clubs.

His first two games will be against Manchester City and Newcastle, two sides in the top four. So it will be daunting for Allardyce, who will be desperate to keep his solid record as a relegation specialist.

Meanwhile, Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher has backed the 68-year-old to help Leeds avoid the drop this season.

Speaking on Monday Night Football, Carragher was asked what he thought of Leeds United hiring Allardyce the former Liverpool defender said;

“Well, Sean Dyche is a similar sort of manager, and he’s come in at Everton to do that job of making them better defensively.

“We know in the past Sam Allardyce has done that job before.

“I don’t think he’s ever come this late. I think he’s normally come in [and] had a January transfer window.

“He can bring his own players in and have that time to change it. But I think it’s probably a decent appointment. Whether the crowd will get behind that, I’m not so sure.

“I don’t know how Leeds supporters would react to Allardyce. But in terms of trying to make them more solid, better defensively, there’s probably no one better out there.”

Day: May 2, 2023

Real Sociedad vs Real Madrid: Preview and Expert Football Prediction

Arsenal vs Chelsea: Preview and Expert Football Prediction

Liverpool eye move for PSG star

Sam Allardyce agrees to a SHOCK return to football as Leeds sacks Javi Gracia

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