Picking up a 2-1 win away at fellow high-flyers Granada last weekend, Real Sociedad have continued on what has been a stellar resurge. Handed the chance to leapfrog both Real Madrid and Barcelona to the top of the La Liga standings heading into the weekend, Imanol Alguacil s men have now won three of their last four appearances. With many around the Reale Arena starting to believe that their side can secure a remarkable top-four finish this season, one man to keep an eye out for on Friday will be leading marksman, Willian José. Bagging five La Liga strikes heading into November, the 27-year-old has also found the net in back-to-back matchups on home soil and there is no doubt that Sociedad should be looking to extend their recent purple patch. While Friday s hosts might be enjoying a b…
Market: Eibar win
Odds: 19/20 @
Hoping to force their way into the play-off places on Sunday evening, Eibar will welcome Huesca to the Ipurua Municipal Stadium.
Starting with the hosts, eventually suffering last-gasp heartbreak away at Cartagena last weekend, there is no doubt that Eibar will be seeking an immediate response here. However, while Gaizka Garitano s men might have seen their six-match unbeaten run come to an abrupt end last time out, Los Armeros are desperate to secure a La Liga return this season. Opening this weekend s fixtures with just their goal difference keeping them outside the play-off places, the former Athletic Bilbao boss will be glad to make a return to home soil on Sunday evening. In fact, Eibar are remarkably yet to suffer a single S…
Wigan boss Roberto Martinez says he is filled with immense pride ahead of his 150th Premier League game as the club s manager.
The Spaniard was appointed as Steve Bruce s successor in 2009 and has since attracted plaudits for helping the club maintain their top-flight status despite a negligible transfer budget.
But, ahead of reaching the milestone when his team take on his former club Swansea on Wednesday, Martinez claimed he will only be happy with three points.
I never really take much notice of landmarks but 150 games in the Premier League fills me with immense pride, he told the club s official website.
This football club is an incredible place for me and always will be. I m proud to reach that landmark but it s important we mark it with a good performance and three point…
Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter said he was shocked to learn of a search of the French Football Federation (FFF) offices in relation to criminal proceedings against him.
The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland (OAG) had searched the FFF offices in connection with the criminal proceedings against Blatter after opening an investigation into the Swiss in September last year on suspicion of criminal mismanagement and alternatively misappropriation following a suspected payment of CHF 2million to ex-UEFA president Michel Platini.
Both Blatter and Platini have since been banned from all football-related activities, although the former is also facing criminal charges.
As part of that investigation, the French Financial Prosecution Office searched the FFF …
Germany s defensive line is a cause of concern ahead of the World Cup in Russia, according to Jurgen Kohler.
Joachim Low s side are backed among the favourites to retain the title secured in Brazil four years ago, although the world champions have lost seasoned campaigners at the back.
Philipp Lahm and Per Mertesacker have both retired since glory in 2014, with Bayern Munich duo Jerome Boateng and Mats Hummels now the more experienced players of Low s defensive ranks, but Kohler is not convinced.
I simply miss the consistency. If central defence does not play at the highest level, it will be difficult for any team, the 1990 World Cup winner told T-Online.
I have the impression that many players are no longer used to leading duels.
Especi…
Fulham surprised many by winning promotion to the Premier League from the Championship last season. However, their success is not that surprising considering that boss Slavisa Jokanovic has previous of winning promotion, having previously guided Watford to the top-flight in the past, only to leave the Hornets.
The Cottagers needed heavy recruitment in the summer to have a squad of players, as their squad was tiny prior to a raft of new arrivals this summer.
One of those new arrivals was Serbian striker Aleksandar Mitrovic, who arrived on a permanent deal after impressing at Craven Cottage on loan in the second half of last season.
Already proving vital to Fulham
Mitrovic proved crucial in the Cottagers winning promotion to the top-flight, scoring 12 goals in 20…
Cristiano Ronaldo posted a philosophical message on Instagram after opting to skip the FIFA awards ceremony, where Lionel Messi was named the Best Men s Player.
Ronaldo finished third behind Messi and Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk, but decided not to attend the ceremony in Milan on Monday.
The 34-year-old has been ruled out of Juventus Serie A clash against Brescia on Tuesday due to an adductor injury.
After the awards ceremony, Ronaldo posted a philosophical message on Instagram.
Patience and persistence are two characteristics that differentiate the professional from the amateur, he wrote.
…
Bruno Fernandes has hailed Jesse Lingard for his spectacular form with West Ham and feels he has been the best player in the Premier League for a spell this season.
Lingard joined West Ham on loan from Manchester United in January having not featured in the Premier League under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer since the start of the campaign.
He has racked up nine goals and three assists in 13 matches since his move, earning a return to the England squad in the process.
Fernandes has been thrilled to see Lingard thrive, saying everyone at United is delighted for him.
If you see Jesse, I think Jesse, at the moment, if you watch the last 10 games, has been top, top, top level, Fernandes said to Inside United magazine.
For me, if you watch the last 10 games, h…
Manchester United made a splash in the final hours of transfer deadline day, bringing in Edinson Cavani and Alex Telles and agreeing a deal with Atalanta for Amad Diallo, while Arsenal spent big on Thomas Partey.
The Premier League giants had been criticised for their lack of activity in the transfer market after only bringing in Donny van de Beek from Ajax ahead of the new season.
A 6-1 humiliation to Tottenham on Sunday seemingly sparked the Old Trafford boardroom into action a day later, though, with the club sealing an eye-catching move for Cavani, who had been unattached after leaving Paris Saint-Germain at the end of last season.
The Uruguay international has signed a one-year deal with the option to extend for another 12 months and joined Telles in th…
Market: Athlone Town double chance
Odds: 4/7 @
Looking to extend on their play-off charge this weekend, Athlone will welcome Wexford to town on Friday night.
Starting with the hosts, while Athlone might have suffered late heartbreak away at the Finn Harps earlier in the week as they had to settle for a 1-1 stalemate, Dario Castelo’s men have continued on an eye-catching flurry. Sat in the driving seat to punch another play-off ticket this season, the Town are unbeaten in all of their previous 10 straight matchups across all competitions a run that stems all the way back to April 5th. Signing off May with a stellar 1-0 victory against title contenders Cork City, Athlone have also gained a reputation for their continued success on home soil. In fact, Friday’s …