Football Archives - Page 126 of 277

Haaland compared to Messi and Ronaldo

April 10, 2023 No Comments

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has likened Erling Haaland to five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo and his eternal rival Lionel Messi. The Norwegian striker has been in hot form since joining Man City from Borussia Dortmund last summer. He is already City’s all-time leading goalscorer in a single season, having scored twice in his side’s 4-1 over Southampton on Saturday. That brace took his tally in the Premier League this season to 30 in only 27 appearances. With nine games still to play in the PL this season, Haaland could score ten more goals, given his current ratio of goals per game. That would put the Norwegian on 40 goals this season. Should he achieve that, he would smash the existing single-season Premier League record of 32 goals held by Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah. Read more: Man United make decision of Marcel Sabitzer Speaking after the game against Southampton on Saturday, Haaland’s coach Pep Guardiola quickly praised the superstar’s goal-scoring ability, comparing him to Ronaldo and Messi. However, he insisted that the Argentine was a more complete player. “In terms of the thesis of scoring goals. He’s quite similar in terms of Cristiano, but Messi is the more complete player,” Guardiola explained. “Messi can play wherever while Cristiano and Erling are machines. Erling knows those two guys dominated over two decades, not just one or two seasons, winning titles and doing everything. Football is a better place for Cristiano and Messi for what they have done for our business and the traction of these two guys competing at the big clubs. “Erling is arriving in the toughest league in the world. I can talk as I’ve been in other leagues, and doing what he has done is remarkable.” The Catalan coach worked extensively with Messi at Barca and is better placed than most to directly compare Haaland to the World Cup winner. And according to Pep, it seems that Haaland has the edge on the all-time great in terms of his positive mindset. “Haaland is always happy, always smiling. Lionel Messi scored two but not three and was a bit sad because he didn’t score the third!” Guardiola explained. “Erling is all the time in an incredible mood. Even in the bad moments at the beginning of this season, when people said he couldn’t adapt, he arrived at training with a big smile and said hi to everyone. He has had an incredible impact, not just on the pitch. “Every day in training sessions, in the locker room. I have the feeling that he is so happy with us. He never complains about [being taken off]. He respects me a lot.”

Koulibaly opens up on his future amid uncertainty around Chelsea stay

April 10, 2023 No Comments

Chelsea defender Kalidou Koulibaly has insisted he wants to remain at the club despite uncertainty around his future at Stamford Bridge. The Senegal defender has not enjoyed a comfortable season, with Chelsea struggling. Since joining from Napoli last summer, Koulibaly has played 20 Premier League games as the Blues sit 11th in the table. The Senegalese centre-back spent eight years at Napoli before switching to Stamford Bridge for a reported 33 million Euro deal. He was one of Todd Boehly’s first signings as Chelsea owner and scored on his home debut against Tottenham. Read more: Joao Cancelo insists Bayern career has been ‘positive’ despite a disappointing start While he has admitted he has not been in the best form, the defender insists he wants to remain at Chelsea for as long as possible. “I know I’m not at 100 per cent yet, but I think I’m coming to my level,” he said. “Chelsea made a big decision to sign me, and there’s a big desire in me to give back. I want to be part of this club for many years. This is not the year Chelsea were expecting, but sometimes when you have big changes, new proprietors, and half the team is new, everybody has to adapt. “But we know how big the ambition is here, and we’re going to work to win back the confidence of the supporters.” In his short time at Stamford Bridge, Koulibaly has seen three managerial changes, with Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter and Frank Lampard all brought in his nine months at the club. He will be hoping that after his side’s 1-0 loss to Wolves in Lampard’s return, his side will be able to get back to form as they target a top-seven finish.

Lorient vs Marseille: Preview and Expert Football Prediction

April 9, 2023 No Comments

Marseille will travel to Stade du Moustoir this Sunday, hoping to keep their quest for an unlikely Ligue 1 title alive against Lorient. The hosts are looking to regain the momentum they gathered just before the international break, having suffered a 3-1 defeat and a red card against Lille in their last outing. That wasn’t the ideal start for Régis Le Bris’ men after his contract extension until 2027. However, the loss will unlikely dampen the mood as this remains Lorient’s best-ever points return after 29 Ligue 1 rounds (44). Read more: Rayo Vallecano vs Atletico Madrid: Preview and Expert Football Prediction That point haul has eclipsed their 43-point haul from the 2012/13 season when finishing in eighth, yet with an eight-point gap to the top-five ahead of the round, European qualification may be a bridge too far. Regardless they will give it a shot and will be buoyed by a return home as Lorient are unbeaten in all but one home league game since the turn of the year (W3, D2, L1). But games against Marseille don’t always go in the way of the hosts, who have lost their seven clashes against Marseille. The visitors enter this round of games just six points behind league leaders, PSG, following a four-game unbeaten run of league games (W2, D2). Igor Tudor’s men don’t have a problem playing away from home, as they are on the longest current winning streak of away league games across the top five European divisions (W8). Moreover, the visitors scored at least twice in seven of those victories, whilst four of the last six came without reply, a compelling stat indeed for a side that haven’t lost away to Lorient in over a decade (W5, D2). That said, an under 2.5 goals bet will be the best prediction for this game.

Rayo Vallecano vs Atletico Madrid: Preview and Expert Football Prediction

April 9, 2023 No Comments

Atletico Madrid will travel to Madrid this Sunday to face Rayo Vallecano in the 28th round of the 2022/23 La Liga season. The hosts find themselves higher in the La Liga standings than they did before their previous meeting with Atlético Madrid despite suffering the longest active winless streak of the competition (D5, L2). They come into this game sitting in ninth position, so it’s certainly not too late to give up on their dreams of European football yet. If Real Madrid wins the Copa del Rey final, it will send the seventh-placed team into the preliminary rounds of the UEFA Europa Conference League, so there is still a chance for a European adventure next season. Read more: Leeds United vs Crystal Palace: Preview and Expert Football Prediction They have proven that they can frustrate top teams in the league, with their 1-1 draw with Atlético at the Metropolitano in October, alongside a draw at Camp Nou (0-0) and win at home to Real Madrid (3-2), enough reminders that on their day they can compete with the league’s best. Atletico Madrid will look to keep their place in the top four of La Liga when they travel to Campo de Futbol de Vallecas on Sunday. The visitors are primed to continue their ten years without a loss to Vallecano in any competition (W11, D3) after three consecutive La Liga wins ‘to nil’ gave them plenty of breathing space in third place. They have a nine-point buffer inside the Champions League qualification slots going into the round. They will fancy their chances of winning here, having won ten of the last 13 competitive games between both sides (D3). Click here to get expert football predictions.

Leeds United vs Crystal Palace: Preview and Expert Football Prediction

April 9, 2023 No Comments

Crystal Palace will look to continue their positive start to life under Roy Hodgson on Sunday when they travel to Elland Road to face relegation-threatened Leeds United. The hosts are one of nine Premier League teams currently embroiled in an ugly relegation battle after 29 rounds of football. But they did their chances of survival a lot of good in midweek when they beat struggling Nottingham Forest 2-1 at home. Leeds United boss Javi Gracia was quick to credit his players as “the protagonists” after they came from behind to secure the win, which was his third win in just six Premier League (PL) games at the helm (W3, D1, L2). Read more: Liverpool vs Arsenal: Preview and Expert Football Prediction That positive run has propelled Leeds to 13th place ahead of the weekend, though with just two points separating them from the drop zone, the battle for survival is far from over. Meanwhile, Palace began life under former boss Roy Hodgson with a dramatic 2-1 win over fellow strugglers Leicester. That result ended the Eagles’ torrid 13-game run without a win in all competitions and lifted them to the top of a raft of eight sides separated by just five points between 12th-19th ahead of the round. Their next task is to end their torrid six-game winless run of away games (D1, L5), with four defeats coming by just a single goal. However, Elland Road hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for the visitors, who have lost every away H2H encounter with Leeds United since the 2006/07 season (L7). Meanwhile, Leeds have scored just three goals across a winless seven-game run of PL games played on Sundays (D2, L5). It could be another under 2.5 goals outing at Elland Road on Sunday.

Liverpool vs Arsenal: Preview and Expert Football Prediction

April 9, 2023 No Comments

Arsenal will take their quest for the Premier League title to Anfield this Sunday, where they face an out-of-form Liverpool, battling to rekindle their top-four bid. The Reds, in recent seasons, have entered this time of the season embroiled in battles to secure the Premier League crown. But this campaign, they’ll merely be spectators after recording just 12 wins from their first 28 games of the season (D7, L9). European football isn’t even assured for them next season after a rotten run of no win in three league matches (D1, L2) has left them eighth and three points off of the top six ahead of this round. Read more: Lazio vs Juventus: Preview and Expert Football Prediction Each of those losses came on the road, and the Reds will hope Anfield can again be the equaliser in getting them back on track. It’s proven to be so recently, and they have kept four consecutive home league clean sheets thanks to their most recent PL Anfield contest, a 7-0 thumping of bitter rivals Manchester United. Arsenal have often felt the wrath of a buoyant Kop, too, with Liverpool winning each of the last six PL head-to-head meetings at Anfield by an aggregate score of 22-4. However, the Gunners are a different beast this season and will be confident of getting a good result at Anfield this time. They come into this tie on the back of a 4-1 thrashing of Leeds United. The win made it seven successive PL wins to the Gunners, adding to the belief that the red half of North London can see their first league triumph since 2003/04. Arsenal’s potential title-winning grit was on full display in their 3-2 success over Liverpool in the reverse fixture, meaning they could earn themselves a first league double over the Reds since 2009/10. Arsenal’s away form has been partly responsible for their dominance in the league this season, as they’ve won seven more points on the road than their closest title rivals. That includes victory in seven of their last eight PL away matches (L1), which has contributed to Arsenal owning both the league’s best defence (nine goals conceded) and offence (28 goals scored) on their travels. Click here to get accurate football predictions.

Joao Cancelo insists Bayern career has been ‘positive’ despite a disappointing start

April 8, 2023 No Comments

Bayern Munich full-back Joao Cancelo has insisted that “his heart is in the right place” and is not worried, claiming that his Bayern career has been “positive” despite struggling to get minutes. The Portuguese international sealed a move to the Allianz Arena in a short-term loan deal in January. The agreement includes a permanent purchase option after the first six months. However, things have not gone as planned for Cancelo, who has struggled to find his feet in his new surroundings and fell down the pecking order under former manager Julian Nagelsmann. Read more: Cody Gakpo admits to confusion over his Liverpool role A change in management did not immediately transform his fortunes as new boss Thomas Tuchel benched him in his first game in charge against Borussia Dortmund in Bundesliga. However, despite his struggles in Germany, Cancelo has stated that he is putting everything in training to turn around his fortunes and can “always be counted upon”. “I see my start at Bayern as positive. There’s always a certain adjustment period for footballers. That’s why I tried to integrate myself into the team as quickly as possible, to get to know the teammates & the system,’ he told the official club website. “Sometimes it is said that I may not have a very simple personality. But my heart is in the right place,” he added. “And you can always count on me. Everyone and everything at FC Bayern is focused on absolute success. Here you work really hard in every single training session – I really like this mentality. I’m happy to be here and to play for this great team.” Despite not getting enough minutes in Germany, Bayern rate Cancelo highly, and the club’s director Hasan Salihamidzic has insisted that “Cancelo is a top player” and “will get his games.”

Lazio vs Juventus: Preview and Expert Football Prediction

April 8, 2023 No Comments

Lazio will look to continue their impressive run of form when they welcome Juventus to Stadio Olimpico this Saturday. The Rome-based club are currently of the most in-form teams in the Serie A, as they come into this tie on a run of six league games without defeat. Furthermore, each of those results came without Lazio conceding a goal, helping them to the number one spot as the club with the best defence in the Italian top flight this season. Read more: Nice vs PSG: Preview and Expert Football Prediction It’s been a remarkable turnaround for Lazio, who ended last season with the second-worst defensive record in the top half. At the same time, Maurizio Sarri‘s men now boast the division‘s best defensive record, with only 19 goals conceded. Back-to-back Serie A wins ‘to nil’ have seen them strengthen their grip on second place as they start this round with a four-point cushion over the chasing pack. Carrying such form, it seems like a great time to face a Juventus side they’ve beaten just once here across the last eleven H2Hs (D2, L8). Given six of Lazio’s eight Serie A home wins this term came without conceding, another solid defensive display should be expected here, but considering the last time Lazio beat Juventus without conceding was back in 2004, that certainly isn’t a foregone conclusion. Despite being slapped with a 15-point deduction, Juventus are gradually pulling themselves back into the top-four race with solid results in the league. The Old Lady come into this tie on a run of three straight Serie A wins, taking them to seventh position, only six points behind the Champions League spots. So they would interestingly be four points clear of Lazio in second if not for the ban, and coach Massimiliano Allegri will be eager to confirm his side’s theoretical ‘second-place’ status that results have merited with an eye-catching result here. However, something will have to change for them to achieve that, as the visitors have lost three of their four Serie A away matches against current top-six sides (W1) this season. Meanwhile, Juve has won the first half ‘to nil‘ in four straight H2Hs and will be backed to produce a low-scoring encounter. That said, an under 2.5 goals bet is the best prediction for this game.

Nice vs PSG: Preview and Expert Football Prediction

April 8, 2023 No Comments

Ligue 1 holders Paris Saint-Germain will travel to Allianz Riviera this Saturday to face European hopefuls Nice in the 30th round of the 2022/23 Ligue 1 season. The hosts’ quest to break into the European spots this season have been slow, yet steady with 45 points so far, taking them to eighth position, five points behind Lille in fifth position. However, a 1-1 draw with Angers last time threatens to undo their patient work as it means they are winless in their last four league games (D4). But it also means that they come into this tie on a 14-game unbeaten run in all competitions (W8, they D6), the second-longest in the club’s history, inching them ever closer to the club record of 16 games set back in 1984. Read more: Manchester United vs Everton: Preview and Expert Football Prediction While they remain unbeaten in that time, they could miss out on the European spots unless they can produce a remarkable turnaround in Ligue 1’s final nine games. However, given that they have been unbeaten in home league action since September and won this fixture against league leaders PSG last season, they may have some belief they can open up the title race, for other teams at least. Meanwhile, PSG come into this tie in terrible form, having lost their last two league games. As a result, pressure is mounting on coach Christophe Galtier, who incidentally was Nice coach last season. The French man will know that his former side will not want to do him favours as they will also be keen on taking maximum points. He hasn’t overseen a victory in a personal away H2H against Nice since November 2013 (D3, L4), casting doubt on whether PSG can avoid a third-straight Ligue 1 defeat for the first time since 2010. Nevertheless, the Parisians travel to the Southeastern coast of France holding a healthy six-point lead atop Ligue 1 ahead of the round. The Ligue 1 title is their last shot to glory this season, having already been knocked out of the Champions League and Coupe de France. They can’t afford to let the Ligue 1 title slip too. Click here to get today’s soccer prediction.

Manchester United vs Everton: Preview and Expert Football Prediction

April 8, 2023 No Comments

Manchester United will continue their quest for the top four this Saturday when they welcome relegation relegation-threatened Everton to Old Trafford. Both sides are fighting at opposite ends of the table, with the hosts part of three teams fighting for third and fourth position, while the visitors are in a battle with nine other teams fighting to avoid relegation. United come into this tie on the back of a massive 1-0 win over Brentford last time out. The win ended a run of three league games without a win (D1, L3) and took their season’s point tally to 53. That point toilet places them in fourth position, level on points with third-placed Newcastle United and three ahead of fifth-placed Tottenham, who have played one more game. Read more: Southampton vs Manchester City: Preview and Expert Football Prediction They will hope to keep their feet firmly planted in the top four and will be happy that they will return to Old Trafford, where they have enjoyed much of their success this season. Erik ten Hag’s men have lost only one game at Old Trafford in the Premier League (W10, D3) and have conceded the fewest goals at home in the league. So they will fancy their chances of winning this game against an Everton side that they have a remarkable 38 Premier League (PL) wins against. Meanwhile, Sean Dyche’s side secured a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Tottenham Hotspur last time. They won the point came despite playing most of the second half with ten men after Abdoulaye Doucoure was shown a straight red card for shoving Harry Kane. The result extended Everton’s unbeaten run to four PL matches (W1, D3), pushing them to 16th position in the standings. Although they sit outside the relegation zone on goal difference alone ahead of the game week, there’s a new fighting spirit in this squad who have now found an equaliser immediately after falling behind to each of their last three goals conceded. So, they will travel to Old Trafford in high spirits and confident of another strong performance. If they win here, manager Dyche will grab an impressive personal record of becoming the second-ever English manager to win away at Old Trafford in the PL with two different clubs. Click here to get the correct score predictions for this game.

Haaland compared to Messi and Ronaldo

Koulibaly opens up on his future amid uncertainty around Chelsea stay

Lorient vs Marseille: Preview and Expert Football Prediction

Rayo Vallecano vs Atletico Madrid: Preview and Expert Football Prediction

Leeds United vs Crystal Palace: Preview and Expert Football Prediction

Liverpool vs Arsenal: Preview and Expert Football Prediction

Joao Cancelo insists Bayern career has been ‘positive’ despite a disappointing start

Lazio vs Juventus: Preview and Expert Football Prediction

Nice vs PSG: Preview and Expert Football Prediction

Manchester United vs Everton: Preview and Expert Football Prediction

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