With a stacked schedule from across the footballing globe, we are treated to a host of intriguing affairs this weekend. On that note, for those of you looking to stick on a Sunday acca, we have found a trio of helpful tips that are worth keeping an eye out for.
Sunday July 9th:
BST 00:30 New York Red Bulls vs New England Revolution
Putting in another action-packed display last weekend as they snatched a 2-2 draw away at Eastern Conference leaders Cincinnati, New England are certainly enjoying a hugely impressive flurry. Along with clinching back-to-back 3-1 victories against Orlando and Inter Miami on either side of June’s international break, Bruce Arena’s men will be desperate to make another MLS statement in the early hours of Sunday. Unbeaten in each of their…
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hailed Bruno Fernandes risk-taking and explained how he gave Paul Pogba the freedom to inspire Manchester United to a 5-1 opening-day demolition of Leeds United.
Fernandes scored his first United hat-trick, the 10th opening-day treble in Premier League history, while Pogba laid on four assists to kick-start their challenge to dethrone Manchester City in style.
Pogba is the seventh player to assist four goals in the same Premier League game, his performance serving as an emphatic demonstration of his quality amid speculation over his future with the France star s contract set to expire at the end of the season.
On Saturday s evidence, Fernandes and Pogba can successfully spearhead United s quest for their first Premier League title since 2013,…
Rafael Nadal requested that his opening match at the Madrid Open does not clash with his beloved Real Madrid s Champions League semi-final against Manchester City, according to tournament director Feliciano Lopez.
Nadal, who has won the Madrid Open on five occasions, will face Serbia s Miomir Kecmanovic in the round of 32 on Wednesday, the same day Los Blancos bid to overturn a 4-3 first-leg deficit against Pep Guardiola s team at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The 21-time grand slam winner is known to be an avid supporter of Madrid and was invited to take an honorary kick-off before Carlo Ancelotti s team wrapped up their 35th league title with a 4-0 win over Espanyol at the weekend.
Lopez confirmed Nadal s request to Spanish radio network Cadena SER on Tuesday.
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Reims are flying under head coach Will Still and remain undefeated in Ligue 1 since the Belgian-born Englishman took charge in October.
A goal from Arsenal loanee Folarin Balogun sealed a 1-0 win at Monaco on Sunday, taking Reims into eighth place and closer to European qualification.
Still is only the second boss to remain unbeaten in his first 17 games (W9 D8) in the top-five European leagues in the 21st century, after Tito Vilanova with Barcelona in 2012-13 (18).
The 30-year-old is astonishingly costing the French club €25,000 per game in fines due to not having a UEFA Pro Licence under Ligue 1 rules.
It is clearly worth it, though, with Reims having kept six consecutive clean sheets in the league, establishing their longest run without conceding a g…
Milan host Liverpool knowing they need a win to keep their Champions League hopes alive in one of the headline fixtures on Tuesday.
Real Madrid and Inter meet in a battle for top spot in Group D, with both already qualified as the Italian side travel to Spain with a woeful recent record.
Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain are already through in Group A as well, with Lionel Messi aiming to follow in the footsteps of George Weah and Neymar at home to Club Brugge.
Stats Perform takes a look at the key Opta data behind the next set of matches.
Players to watch in a couple of huge fixtures on Matchday 6 | |
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague)
Milan v Liverpool: Reds eye English record
Milan are searching for their f…
England boss Roy Hodgson will be happy with his teams draw for the Euro 2016 qualifiers
England have been handed what has been described by many as an ‘easy draw’ for qualifying for Euro 2016.
However, no matter who England draws the Three Lions seem to make a meal of qualification, as the likes of Germany and Spain cruise through qualification campaigns.
England have been drawn in a group with Switzerland, Slovenia, Estonia, San Marino and Lithuania for Euro 2016 qualification.
England’s opponents are not exactly stellar names in European or world football, but neither were Poland or Ukraine and England did not exactly cover themselves in glory against those nations in World Cup qualification.
Comfortable
In truth a national team t…
Gavi has signed a new deal with Barcelona through to 2026, with a buyout clause of €1billion.
The 18-year-old midfielder has been a revelation since breaking through to the Barca first team, and has become a key part of Xavi s side.
Gavi has already made 54 appearances in all competitions for the Blaugrana, having joined the club from Real Betis as a youngster in 2015 before emerging through the Catalan giants famed La Masia.
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Poland maintained their strong record in Euro 2016 qualifying, as Robert Lewandowski scored three times in four minutes to see them to a 4-0 win over Georgia on Saturday.
After Arkadiusz Milik had put the home side in front just after the hour, it seemed Poland would have to hold onto their slender advantage with a minute of normal time to go.
However, Bayern Munich striker Lewandowski had other ideas, smashing home his first in the 89th minute before adding a header and then sliding in his third in stoppage time.
Lewandowski now tops the scoring charts with seven, and Poland sit at the summit of Group D, a point clear of Germany, who had a hat-trick hero of their own in their 7-0 demolition of minnows Gibraltar.
Andre Schurrle scored three times for …
Alex Ferguson, Ally McCoist and Kenny Dalglish were among those to pay tribute to Walter Smith on Tuesday after he died aged 73.
Smith who enjoyed much of his playing career at Dundee United is a Rangers icon, having won 21 trophies during two spells at Ibrox as manager of the Scottish champions.
He oversaw the Glasgow giants unlikely run to the UEFA Cup Final in 2008 and managed Scotland between 2004 and 2007.
Smith also took charge of Everton and spent time at Manchester United as an assistant to Ferguson, who expressed his sorrow following the passing of his friend and former colleague.
I am absolutely devastated, Ferguson told United s official website. Walter was a special person. He fought his illness with great courage.
He was a great fri…
As always, there was plenty of drama as the Premier League continued on Sunday.
Ralf Rangnick made a winning start to life in the Old Trafford dugout as Manchester United saw off Crystal Palace.
Tottenham and Aston Villa, meanwhile, continued their resurgences under Antonio Conte and Steven Gerrard respectively.
Spurs enjoyed a commanding win over bottom side Norwich, with Villa coming from behind to defeat Leicester City.
And despite Patrick Bamford s last-ditch goal, Leeds United dropped more points from a winning position against Brentford at Elland Road.
With lots to reflect on, Stats Perform takes an in-depth look at the pick of Opta s post-match facts from Sunday s action…
FULL-TIME Man Utd 1-0 Crystal Palace
Ralf Rangni…