Argentina vs Italy Match Preview, Football Predictions, and Betting Tips

Argentina almost missed out on qualifying for this summer’s World Cup in Russia after a really poor start to their qualification campaign. However, former Sevilla manager, Jorge Sampaoli stepped in and helped them finish inside the South American qualification places by going unbeaten in their last 4 games, picking 6 points out of a possible 12. After the qualifiers, they have played two friendlies – a 1-0 win over Russia and a 4-2 loss to Nigeria, they would be looking to get a better result in this high profile game. Italy would not be in the World Cup later this year. The Azzurri finished understandably second in their qualification group behind Spain, but they spurned the chance of making it to the global showpiece via the playoffs when they fell 1-0 on aggregate to a very determined Swedish side. That failure to reach the World Cup cost Gian Piero Ventura his job. Their new manager, Luigi Di Biagio would be looking to get a job on the permanent basis with a good result here. The Italians have lost just 13% of their last 15 games, while the Argentines have won just 40% of their last 15 games.

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China vs Wales Match Preview, Football Predictions, and Betting Tips

China’s quest to get among the superpowers of Asian football came up short in the last FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign as they finished 5th to Iran, Uzbekistan, South Korea, and Syria. They did, however, manage to show some good form in the latter stages of that qualifying campaign with wins over Uzbekistan and South Korea, but they still have a long way to go in terms of getting among the big boys of Asian and world football. They are without a win since their last world cup qualifier against Qatar,  in that time they have drawn against North Korea and South Korea, lost to Colombia, Serbia and Japan, they would be looking to frustrate Ryan Giggs’ Wales as he makes his managerial debut here. Wales were the surprise package of Euro 2016 as they reached the semifinal when other bigger nations like England failed to even get beyond the group stage. However, they could not follow that achievement with  a world cup qualification and this led to Chris Coleman resigning to take charge of  Sunderland. They lost just one game in the world cup qualifying series but drew five of their opening six games. They lost their first post-world cup qualifying friendly to France, before drawing with Panama ahead of this game.

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Wenger ready to try again for RB Leipzig star after missing out on signing him in January

Arsenal are preparing for a major overhaul this summer even if they manage to still qualify for the UEFA Champions League at the end of the season. The Gunners missed out on Europe’s biggest competition last season and have already lost the top four spot this season, but they can get back to the Champions League by the end of the season if they can win the Europa League. Some of Arsenal stars are expected to leave at the end of this season and replacements have already been lined up. According to Sun Sport, one player that the Gunners have in mind is RB Leipzig’s, Emil Forsberg. The Swede has attracted the attention of Europe’s biggest teams since the end of last season, and the Gunners had an offer for his signature rejected outrightly by the Germans in January. Forsberg is said to have been angry at Leipzig denying him the chance to join the Gunners as he has hopes of playing in the Premier League in the near future. Arsenal could still find it hard to get their man when the season ends as Leipzig are preparing to keep hold of their men as they have already lost Naby Keita to Liverpool.

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Denmark vs Panama Match Preview, Football Predictions, and Betting Tips

Panama would be competing in their first ever FIFA World Cup in Russia later this year, this feat was achieved thanks to an 88th-minute winner by Seattle Saunders’ Román Torres in their game against Costa Rica. Despite being one of the smallest nations in the world in terms of footballing pedigree, Panama showed some class during the last World Cup qualifiers as they won against Costa Rica and secured impressive draws against Honduras and USA, they would now look to cause some upset when the World Cup finally gets underway in Russia. Denmark needed to go through the playoffs to secure a place in Russia 2018, but the Scandinavian nations did not struggle to win their playoff game against the Republic of Ireland as they won the return leg 5-1. With the likes of Sisto Pistone, Yusouf Poulsen, and Christian Eriksen in their ranks, Denmark would be considered favourites in this game, but Panama should not be underrated as they showed in their 1-1 draw against Wales in the last round of friendly games. Although they boast some of the best-attacking talents in Europe, Denmark are not so remarkable defensively as they have conceded at least a goal in each of their last three games.

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Jose Mourinho prepares to overhaul his Manchester United squad next summer with Anthony Martial and Luke Shaw leading mass exodus of stars

As Jose Mourinho criticized his star men excluding Nemanja Matic at the weekend, it appears that the end is near for most of the Red Devils players. According to Daily Mail, the Portuguese manager is already fed up with most of his players and he is ready to sell them and use their transfer fees to fund a new spending spree. The former Chelsea and FC Porto boss has spent over $400 million as the manager of Manchester United, but he does not appear to be satisfied with what his players are delivering and he would cut out every dead wood when the next transfer window rolls by. Among the star men to be axed are Anthony Martial and Luke Shaw with the latter failing to impress Mourinho since he took over at Old Trafford. Daley Blind and Matteo Darmian have rarely featured for the club under Mourinho and this season appears to be their last at the Europa League holders. Mourinho is targeting the Premier League title next season and he wants only top quality players who can deliver that.

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Manchester United vs Brighton Match Preview, Football Predictions, and Betting Tips

Manchester United were expected to make the quarterfinals of the Champions last week after they drew the first leg of their Round of 16 game in Seville, but the Red Devils adopted a negative tactic at home and fell 2-1 to the Spaniards thanks to 2 goals from Yassim Ben Yedder who came off the bench in the second half. The FA Cup is now Jose Mourinho’s only hope of winning a trophy this season. They have won 9 of their last 13 games in all competitions, and they have lost just 2 competitive games at home this season, winning 15 of 17 including last weekend’s 2-1 win over Liverpool. They have also kept 13 clean sheets from 19 home games this season. Brighton saw their seven-match unbeaten run come to an end at Everton last weekend when the Toffees defeated them 2-0. They do not have the best away form as they have netted only 8 times away from the Amex Stadium this season. fewer than a total of 3 goals have been scored in each of their last 11 games, and they have lost 6, won one and drawn two of their last 9 games against Manchester United.  

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Liverpool draw Manchester City in the Champions League quarter finals as Real Madrid and Juventus meet for repeat of last season’s final

Liverpool have been handed Manchester City in the Champions League quarterfinal draw that sees the two remaning English sides go head to head while the three remaining Spanish sides avoid each other. Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola’s men won each other at home this season as Liverpool became the first and only team to win the Cityzens in the Premier League so far. The Reds would look to get another one over in this game, while Manchester City would be eyeing a place in the semifinals as they continue to look for a treble of trophies. Liverpool would host the first leg at Anfield on April 4th, while the return leg would be played at the Etihad on the 10th of the same month. The two sides would face derby games in between the two fixtures with Liverpool visiting Everton and Manchester City hosting Manchester United in a game that could see them winning the Premier League with games to spare. In other draws, Barcelona takes on AS Roma, Sevilla plays Bayern Munich, while Real Madrid and Juventus play each other in a repeat of last season’s final.

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Sam Allardyce targets Manchester United centre half as Jose Mourinho plots to bring in replacement

Phil Jones is a target of Everton Manager, Sam Allardyce ahead of next summer’s transfer window. The England defender has been underperforming this season and he has come under increased scrutiny from the club’s fans so far. Jose Mourinho also appears to have become fed up with the England defender alongside Chris Smalling and he is looking at selling the two of them next summer. Jones has not been named in the matchday squad for the last couple of matches with Chris Smalling and Eric Bailey Mourinho’s preferred choice so far. Allardyce has been having problems with his defence also and he rates Jones very high. The former Crystal Palace manager has been unimpressed by the form of Micheal Keane and Ashley Williams so far, and he has already planned a summer spending spree to strengthen his defence. However, a move for the England man would depend on whether Allardyce would still remain at the helm when the season ends. His team have had an up and down form since the turn of the new year and he could be axed if they fail to qualify for the Europa League at least by the end of the season.

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AS Roma vs Shakhtar Donetsk Match Preview, Football Predictions, and Betting Tips

The Champions League is AS Roma’s best chance of lifting a silverware this season and the Giallorossi would do well to get past Shakhtar Donetsk and reach the quarterfinals. They came from a goal up to lose the first leg 2-1 in Ukraine, but they have a chance of redemption in this second leg at the Stadio Olimpico. They are currently 16 points off the top of Serie A, but their European form has been great this season. They topped their group ahead of Chelsea after beating the Blues 3-0 at home and securing a 3-3 draw at Stamford Bridge. They head into this games with two wins from their last two games including a surprising 4-2 win at Napoli a few days back, that should boost their morale ahead of this game. Shakhtar Donetsk are running away with the Ukrainian league once again as they are currently 5 points ahead of Dynamo Kiev with 22 games already played. They were the first team to defeat Manchester City this season and they head into this game on the back of 5 consecutive wins. They won the first leg 2-1 and would be looking to cancel out Roma’s away goal early in this game.

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Stoke City vs Manchester City Match Preview, Match Predictions, and Betting Tips

Stoke City find themselves in relegation trouble with just 9 league games left to play, but the Potters have shown some good form recently and they could survive relegation after all. However, they would need to find a way to get a point against this Manchester City team here first. They drew their last league game against fellow strugglers, Southampton, a result that means they are now winless in 5 games. More positively, they have lost only one of their last 6 games, they still remain inside the bottom 3 and they still have matches against Arsenal, Liverpool and Spurs before the season ends. Manchester City lost their first home game in midweek against FC Basel, but it was a heavily rotated team which fell 2-1 to the Swiss side. They qualified for the next round of the Champions League anyway thanks to a 4-0 win in the first leg. They still have a 16 points advantage over Manchester United in the Premier League race and they are on the brink of winning the title with games to spare. Their form at the turn of this new year has not been very good, especially away from home and they could fail to get all three points here again.

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