Manchester United head for Chelsea on Saturday without Cristiano Ronaldo but with the wind in their sails nonetheless after an impressive win against Tottenham.
That is the standout game of the weekend, but fans with long memories might say the City Ground clash of Nottingham Forest and Liverpool rivals it for prestige. It is the first league meeting since 1999 between the one-time great rivals.
Leaders Arsenal head to Southampton on Sunday, while Tottenham host Newcastle United on the same day, and Manchester City welcome Brighton and Hove Albion to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
Leeds United badly need a win as they tackle Fulham at Elland Road, Aston Villa begin life without Steven Gerrard by tackling Brentford, and the programme is rounded off by West Ham s …
Toni Kroos has been recalled to the Germany squad after an absence of almost three years, the country’s football association has announced.
The Real Madrid midfielder revealed last month he was planning to come out of international retirement.
The 34-year-old made himself unavailable for selection after Germany’s elimination from the delayed Euro 2020 tournament but has reversed his decision following talks with new coach Julian Nagelsmann.
Former Bayern Munich boss Nagelsmann, who took charge of the national side last September, has included Kroos in a 26-man squad for friendlies against France and the Netherlands later this month.
This would indicate Kroos, who has 106 international caps and won the World Cup in 2014, is now in the picture for this …
Luis Enrique has made it clear that Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets will not necessarily be at Euro 2020 if he does not maintain his form.
A winner of the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012, Busquets has earned 118 caps for La Roja since making his debut in 2009.
He remains a key figure at the heart of midfield for club and country and captained the side that drew 0-0 with Portugal in Lisbon on Tuesday.
However, Busquets will be a month short of his 33rd birthday when the postponed Euro 2020 finals begin next June and his starting spot with Spain is already under pressure from Manchester City midfielder Rodri.
Luis Enrique cannot guarantee Busquets will be part of his plans next year if he is not able to sustain his performance levels.
If he main…
Ange Postecoglou was left to rue missed chances as Tottenham s Champions League hopes were ended after Tuesday s 2-0 defeat to Manchester City.
Spurs needed three points to take the Premier League s top-four race to the final day but were undone by Pep Guardiola s side, who moved within touching distance of another top-flight title.
Erling Haaland s routine tap-in from Kevin De Bruyne s brilliance after 51 minutes proved a cruel blow before the City striker s stoppage-time penalty sealed a decisive three points.
It could have been a different story, though, if Stefan Ortega – on as a second-half substitute for Ederson – did not deny Heung-min Son s gilt-edged chance following Manuel Akanji s error.
The City goalkeeper denied the onrushing Spurs forwar…
Al-Nassr have appointed former Milan boss Stefano Pioli as their new head coach after parting company with Luis Castro, the Saudi Pro League club confirmed on Wednesday.
Cristiano Ronaldo s side, who finished a distant second in the Pro League to unbeaten Al-Hilal last season, relieved Castro of his duties after taking five points from their first three games of 2024-25.
Al-Nassr have played out frustrating 1-1 draws with Al-Raed and Al-Ahli in their first two home games of the campaign, either side of beating AL-Feiha 4-1.
Pioli had been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia after leaving his role as head coach of Milan at the end of 2023-24, when the Rossoneri finished 19 points behind Serie A winners Inter.
Pioli Is Nassrawi. We welcome Stefano Pioli as …
Best odds: 12/5
Bookmaker:
Two Group C teams vying to stay in the hunt for the last 16 of Euro 2024 meet at the Allianz Arena in Munich on Thursday afternoon, as Slovenia face Serbia.
The two nations, unable to secure a win in their opening group matches, are separated by just one point in the standings. A victory here would be crucial in significantly boosting their chances of advancing to the knockout rounds.
Slovenia
Competing in their first European Championship since 2000 and their first major tournament since the 2010 World Cup, Slovenia began their Euro 2024 Group C campaign with a 1-1 draw against Denmark in Stuttgart last Sunday.
The Danes took the lead in the first half with a goal from Christian Eriksen, who scored exactly 1110 days a…
Roberto Martinez is daring to dream as Portugal prepare to open their Euro 2024 campaign, where ageing star Cristiano Ronaldo has been selected on merit .
Portugal are the favourites to top Group F in Germany, opening their tournament against Czechia on Tuesday before facing Turkiye and Georgia.
Martinez s side were the only team to win 100 per cent of their games in the qualifying campaign (10/10), while they also scored more goals than any other team (36).
The former Belgium manager has major-tournament pedigree, too, guiding the Red Devils to third place at the 2018 World Cup and quarter-finals at Euro 2020.
Going further on this occasion remains at the forefront of the Spaniard s mind.
We must believe, we need to dream big, the Portugal head …
Best odds: 111/100
Bookmaker:
Ahead of Euro 2024, Denmark faces Norway in the second of two all-Scandinavian friendlies at the Brondby Stadium on Saturday evening.
Kasper Hjulmand s team secured a 2-1 victory against Sweden in midweek, with returning hero Christian Eriksen playing a crucial role. Meanwhile, Norway relied on Erling Haaland, their star striker, in their 3-0 win over Kosovo.
Denmark
Premier League stars showcased their talent in Denmark and Sweden s clash in Copenhagen on Wednesday. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg opened the scoring in just two minutes, swiftly answered by Alexander Isak. However, Eriksen, making an emotional return since his Euro 2020 cardiac arrest, netted the winning goal in the 86th minute, preserving Denmark s unbeaten record f…
Paul Pogba says his long-awaited return to Manchester United has brought him back to his happy place following Euro 2016 disappointment with France.
Pobga was a key member of France s squad as they attempted to claim the European Championship on home soil, but fell short at the last hurdle, losing the final 1-0 to Portugal after extra time.
The Frenchman struggled in the final as Eder proved the unlikely hero for Portugal in extra time, and while Pogba was left despondent in defeat with the national team, he was happy to put the loss behind him as well as months of transfer speculation to focus on a new start at United in his second stint with the club.
It was a bit of sadness of course, because we lost the final at home, Pogba told MUTV.
But I would s…
Fabian Ruiz wants to do something historic for Spain after booking a place in the Euro 2024 quarter-finals with a 4-1 victory over Georgia in Cologne.
La Roja found themselves behind due to Robin Le Normand s 18th-minute own goal, but came from behind to register the biggest win margin from a losing position in the competition’s history.
Rodri got the equaliser in the first half, before Fabian, Nico Williams and Dani Olmo sealed the victory, with an eye-catching quarter-final against Germany next up for Spain.
Fabian praised Spain s spirit to come from behind and is already looking past their last-eight meeting with Germany.
We played a great second half, the team gave everything on the pitch, Ruiz said.
Germany? Any opponent is difficult. We …