Best odds: 7/5
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RB Leipzig are set to play host to VfB Stuttgart at the Red Bull Arena on Friday, in what will be the opening game of the 18th round and the second half of the season in the Bundesliga. There is a long way to go and both teams have a lot to play for at the moment.
RB Leipzig
Founded just 13 years ago, RB Leipzig rose through the divisions for German football very quickly and broke into the Bundesliga in 2016. The progress continues, and these days they are a regular feature of the Champions League, dropping signs that they might soon rise above Borussia Dortmund to establish themselves as the most serious challengers to Bayern Munich s perpetual domination.
At the moment, Die Roten Bullen are third in the Bundesliga table with …
Christian Eriksen has joined Inter in a move from Tottenham that is reportedly worth €20million.
Eriksen, 27, arrived in Milan on Monday to pass his medical and sign a contract that will run to June 30, 2024, with the Serie A club announcing the completed transfer on Tuesday.
The Denmark international spent six and a half years with Spurs but, with his contract set to expire at the end of this season, he had long been expected to leave.
Despite links with Manchester United and Real Madrid, among others, Inter have managed to bring the playmaker to San Siro.
| ANNOUNCEMENT
Milano: your elegance is about to meet its match.
— Inter (@Inter_en)
In a statement in which they also announced the signing of Giovani Lo …
There s a big chance of winning a trophy here or a bigger chance than where I was of course, he said.
The Champions League final was a very bad day, we lost which you don t want to remember.
I m here to win and start something new. The last time I won something was at Ajax so it s many years ago. I still remember the feeling so I want to achieve it here as well.
Those are the words of Inter Milan star Christian Eriksen who explained his decision to join the Italian giants during a recent interview with Sky Italy. The Danish international made the jump over from Tottenham Hotspur for a fee believed to be worth around €20 million, confirming the transfer that many had been expecting for quite some time.
While Eriksen has provided Spurs fans…
Liverpool’s new £60million signing Dominik Szoboszlai has taken the number eight shirt previously worn with such distinction by Steven Gerrard as the former captain is one of his inspirations.
The 22-year-old has signed a five-year contract – subject to a work permit – after a move from Bundesliga side RB Leipzig was wrapped up in a couple of days following the Reds triggering his release clause on Friday, hours before its expiration.
Szoboszlai will wear the shirt most recently vacated by Naby Keita, who was also signed from Leipzig, after his contract expired – but it is the most famous number eight to whom the midfielder looks up to.
We have completed the signing of Dominik Szoboszlai from RB Leipzig, subject to a work permit
— Liverpool FC…
Wayne Rooney turned down an interview for the manager job at Everton in order to commit to Derby County s bid for Championship survival.
The former Manchester United and England captain said there was an approach from his boyhood club to his agent asking if he would discuss the prospect of taking over at Goodison Park.
The Toffees, who sacked Rafael Benitez after just over six months in charge two weeks ago, have yet to appoint a permanent successor.
Although Rooney is convinced he will manage in the Premier League in future, he took the difficult decision to decline talks with Everton as he wants to see through Derby s attempt to avoid relegation to the third tier.
Everton approached my agent and asked me to interview for the vacant job, which I turned…
New head coach Mikel Arteta has been welcomed back to the Arsenal family by his former Gunners team-mate Mesut Ozil.
Arteta has penned a three-and-a-half-year contract with Arsenal and will take up his new role on Sunday after leaving Manchester City, where he has been Pep Guardiola s assistant for the last three seasons.
The former midfielder joined Arsenal from Everton in 2011, spending five years with the Gunners before retiring in 2016 and moving into a coaching role under Guardiola.
He replaces his compatriot Unai Emery, who was dismissed after a dismal run of form that interim boss Freddie Ljungberg has been unable to significantly improve on.
Ozil, who played alongside Arteta for three seasons and found himself out of favour for long periods unde…
FIFA has confirmed that Szymon Marciniak will referee Sunday s World Cup final between Argentina and France.
Marciniak has already overseen games involving both finalists in Qatar, taking charge of France s 2-1 group-stage win over Denmark and Argentina s last-16 victory by the same score against Australia.
The Polish official, who also refereed games at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, has shown just five yellow cards across his two fixtures at this year s tournament and is yet to give a single penalty or red card.
Some referees have attracted criticism for their displays in the World Cup s knockout stages, including Antonio Mateu Lahoz, who booked 15 players in Argentina s quarter-final win against the Netherlands.
The Moroccan Football Federation has lodg…
Is the Gianluigi Donnarumma-Milan relationship coming to an end?
Donnarumma made his debut as a 16-year-old for Milan in 2015, however, the Italy international is reportedly close to making the move to Serie A rivals Juventus.
Step forward Mike Maignan…
TOP STORY – DONNARUMMA OUT, MAIGNAN IN?
Lille goalkeeper Mike Maignan is poised to undergo a medical with Milan as Gianluigi Donnarumma edges closer to a blockbuster Juventus switch, according to widespread reports.
Donnarumma is set to become a free agent and the Milan star is yet to re-sign with the Rossoneri, who qualified for the Champions League.
Gianluca Di Marzio reports Milan are no longer waiting on Donnarumma as they step up their pursuit of Maignan, who will arr…
Luis Diaz s second-half finish propelled Porto to their first win in the Champions League this season as they beat Milan 1-0 to leave the Italians staring at an early exit.
Sergio Conceicao s side were demolished 5-1 by Liverpool in their previous European outing, while Stefano Pioli s men suffered last-minute heartbreak against Atletico Madrid to leave both sides winless from their first two Group B games.
Diaz looked to seize the early initiative but was denied by the woodwork after just four minutes, with Medhi Taremi then spurning a series of chances.
However, Diaz managed to break the deadlock at Estadio do Dragao after the interval to condemn Milan to consecutive European away defeats for the first time since April 2012.
A bad night in Porto comes …
Carlo Ancelotti has refuted suggestions he has a cold relationship with Eden Hazard, attributing the Belgian s lack of playing time at Real Madrid to the fine form of Vinicius Junior.
Hazard s Madrid career has been blighted by injuries, and he has featured for just 297 minutes across all competitions this season, with only 98 of those minutes coming in LaLiga.
In an interview with Belgian broadcaster RTBF, Hazard outlined his respect for Madrid boss Ancelotti but revealed the duo don t talk to each other .
Despite that, Hazard – who has just over 12 months remaining on the five-year deal he signed upon joining Madrid in 2019 – confirmed he wishes to stay at the Santiago Bernabeu next season.
Asked about those comments at a press conference to preview…