May 28, 2023 - Matchplug Blog

Erling Haaland makes history with DOUBLE Premier League award wins

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has become the first player in Premier League history to win both the Player of the Season and Young Player of the Season awards in the same campaign.

The Norwegian superstar first won the senior award on Saturday as he was voted the best player in the country ahead of club teammate Kevin De Bruyne, Arsenal duo Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka, Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford, and Kieran Trippier.

He has now added the second prize as the best young player in the country, beating Moises Caicedo, Sven Botman, Alexander Isak, Alexis Mac Allister, and Arsenal trio Gabriel Martinelli, Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka.

The award means that Haaland is the first player to win both awards in the same PL season, adding yet another entry to his endless list of records since his move to England last summer.

His win also continues City’s streak of victories in the Young Player of the Season voting, as he takes over from back-to-back winner Phil Foden.

The award was introduced for the 2019/20 season and can be won by any player who begins the season aged 23 or under. With Haaland set to turn 23 in July, he will be eligible to win the award next season under the current regulations. His Man City teammate Phil Foden will still be in the running as he turns 23 on the final day of the current season.

Of those in the final shortlist, only Mac Allister and Odegaard will no longer be eligible.

Juventus vs AC Milan: Preview and Expert Football Prediction

AC Milan will look to seal a return to the Champions League next season when they travel to Turin to face Juventus in the penultimate game of the 2022/23 Serie A season.

The hosts’ struggles this season are well documented, with a ten-point deduction for corruption undoing all their hard work this season.

But this time last week, the Old Lady were comfortably sitting inside the top two, with the chance of sealing UCL football against Empoli on Monday.

But they got the aforementioned points deduction and were embarrassed by Empoli, who beat them 4-1. As a result, they come into this tie sitting in seventh place.

While they await the decision of the court on their appeal to revoke the points deduction, Max Allegri’s side can still target a top-six finish to ensure they do not end this season with nothing.

A win here could move them to fifth place, ahead of Atalanta and AS Roma, should the latter two not win their games. A win will also put them just two points behind fourth-placed Milan and give them a chance to a top-four finish in the last game of the season, should other teams stumble

Returning to Allianz Stadium, where Juve have won five of their last six games, may boost the tormented Old Lady.

Meanwhile, AC Milan have just one job–win this game and seal a top-four finish.

The visitors boosted their chances of finishing in the coveted Champions League spots with a huge 5-1 win over Sampdoria last time. The win ended a run of three straight defeats for Stefano Pioli’s side, who, before last week, were looking set for Europa League football.

Having been given a chance to play UCL next season due to Juventus’ punishment, they must not bottle it now.

They will fancy their chances because they are unbeaten away at Juventus (W1, D2) in three visits. However, one win in their last nine away games in all competitions (W1, D4, L4) will not inspire confidence in even the most optimistic fan.

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Everton vs Bournemouth: Preview and Expert Football Prediction

All eyes will be at Goodison Park this Sunday as Everton welcome Bournemouth in their last game of the Premier League season.

The Toffees are one of three teams still in danger of dropping to the Championship. But unlike Leeds and Leicester, the host’s destiny is in their hands as they only need to win to secure their top-flight status for a 69th straight season – only Arsenal have accumulated more consecutive seasons in England’s top-flight.

Solid form in this crucial final month of the campaign has helped them stay above the drop zone, with only champions Manchester City beating them across their last four Premier League (PL) matches (W1, D2).

However, Everton don’t have a good history in season finales as they have lost five of the last six season finales (D1) – one of which came at Goodison Park against Bournemouth in 2019/20.

Their visitors will come into this tie looking to be party spoilers. They will also want to keep their remarkable winning run against Everton, having won the last four meetings between both teams.

Bournemouth scored 3+ goals in each of those contests, but it’s hard to see a repeat of that feat here, given they have netted one or fewer in five of their last six PL matches.

The last three games in that run all ended in defeat for the Cherries, which adds some weight to the notion that they’ve taken their foot off the gas pedal after securing their own PL survival.

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Brentford vs Manchester City: Preview and Expert Football Prediction

Manchester City will bring the curtains down on a successful Premier League season this Sunday when they travel to Corh Ground to face Brentford.

Like their visitors, the hosts have also enjoyed this season thoroughly, producing some classic performances at home and away to leave them on the verge of a top-seven finish.

Even the unfortunate news of Ivan Toney’s ban has not halted the Bee’s momentum, with a 3-1 win over Tottenham in their last outing proving their stability.

That win means they still can finish in the top seven, with two points behind seventh-placed Aston Villa. So a win here and losses for Villa and Spurs will mean they compete in Europe next season.

While the chances of that happening isn’t exclusively in their hands, they will want to win here at least to ensure they take their chance if the opportunity arises.

They will fancy their chances here after winning City in the reverse fixture.

Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola’s side will travel to City Ground looking to avoid a losing league double against Brentford for the first time since 1937/38.

However, this game’s result will ultimately pale insignificance for the Premier League champions, who have crucial FA Cup and Champions League finals on the horizon to achieve an elusive treble.

A trip to London to round off the PL campaign is unlikely to faze the Cityzens, who have already won five of their six league visits to the capital this season (W5, L1). Moreover, they could become the first team in PL history to win six London away games in one campaign if they can turn Brentford over, a seemingly likely outcome when considering City’s incredible unbeaten competitive form (W20, D5).

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Atletico Madrid vs Real Sociedad: Preview and Expert Football Prediction

Atletico Madrid and Real Sociedad will battle for three points this Sunday when both sides meet at Wanda Metropolitano Stadium.

Atletico Madrid blew their chance of finishing in second position in the La Liga table away last time when they were held to a 3-3 draw with relegation battling Espanyol.

Diego Simeone’s side were leading 3-0 at one point in the game but took their foot off the pedal to allow Espanyol back in the game. And by doing so, they dropped to third position in the league standings.

Ahead of their final home game of the season, Atlético supporters will expect their team to step up and justify their position by defeating a top-five club for the first time this season.

The hosts have failed to beat the league’s big boys in six attempts so far (D2, L4), scoring no more than one goal on each occasion. They are fortunate their Champions League participation won’t hinge on their remaining fixtures against top-five rivals Real Sociedad and Villarreal.

Meanwhile, Sociedad can secure Champions League football if they win here.

The visitors kept their top four destiny in their hands last time, beating Almeria by 1-0. The win extended their unbeaten record to seven games (W5, D2) and saw them keep their third clean sheet in their last five games.

Having become the only team to defeat Barcelona at home this season, when they beat them two weeks ago, they will fancy their chances of ending Atlético’s eight-game winning streak at home.

Meanwhile, Sociedad are the only club to have registered more opening goals inside the first 30 minutes (17) than their opponents (15) this La Liga season. So the first half-hour could be an entertaining spectacle.

Therefore, we expect a first-half goal in this game.

Day: May 28, 2023

Erling Haaland makes history with DOUBLE Premier League award wins

Juventus vs AC Milan: Preview and Expert Football Prediction

Everton vs Bournemouth: Preview and Expert Football Prediction

Brentford vs Manchester City: Preview and Expert Football Prediction

Atletico Madrid vs Real Sociedad: Preview and Expert Football Prediction

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