Watching many of Europe’s elite domestic leagues open up the 2023/24 campaigns this weekend, Sunday promises another stacked schedule from across the continent.
So, for those of you looking to stick on a Sunday flutter, we have found a pair of eye-catching affairs that can offer a great return for your weekend bet.
13:30 AZ Alkmaar vs Go Ahead Eagles
Once again gaining a string of plaudits last season as they secured an immediate top-four finish, AZ Alkmaar have certainly cemented their spot as a Dutch powerhouse over the past few years. Reaching the Europa Conference League semi-finals last season before falling to eventual winners West Ham, Sunday’s hosts should find the mood in their camp at a continued high.
Enjoying a hugely impressive summer …
Wolves have been dealt a blow ahead of the upcoming Premier League season after star striker Raul Jimenez was ruled out for a number of weeks with knee and adductor injuries.
Jimenez, who returned to first-team football 12 months ago after a fractured skull saw him sit out the majority of the 2020-21 campaign, is reportedly likely to miss at least a month of action after limping out of a 3-0 friendly win over Besiktas.
Raul came off in the game against Besiktas after he stretched for the ball and felt something in his knee and his groin, an update on the club s official website revealed.
Scans reveal that he has suffered a medial collateral ligament injury to his knee and a minor strain of his adductor. Neither injury is very serious but he is expected to…
Joelinton scored the only goal as 10-man Newcastle United got off to a winning start in the Premier League with a 1-0 victory over newly promoted Southampton at St James Park.
The Magpies midfielder s decisive strike came just before half-time for Eddie Howe s side, who claimed all three points despite having Fabian Schar dismissed for violent conduct earlier on.
Southampton enjoyed large periods of possession on their Premier League return.
Jack Stephens strike was denied by the offside flag in the 10th minute, before they were handed a numerical advantage 18 minutes later when Fabian Schar was shown a straight red card after squaring up to Ben Brereton Diaz.
But it was Newcastle who broke the deadlock in the final minute of the first half, when Alex Mc…
Market: Lille win
Odds: 4/5 @
Hoping to extend their stay in the top-four this weekend, Lille will travel to the Stade Gabriel-Montpied on Sunday afternoon when they meet Clermont.
Starting with the hosts, although Clermont might have shocked everyone across Ligue 1 last season as they claimed a famous top-half finish, Les Lanciers have come crashing back down to earth this time around. At the heart of what has been a public struggle and now facing a real uphill battle to keep hold of their top-flight status, Pascal Gastien’s side have collected just 10 points from their first 14 Ligue 1 appearances this year. With it looking like their is mounting pressure on the former Niort boss, Clermont will certainly face another tricky test here. Last seen putting in an…
Paris Saint-Germain striker Arnaud Kalimuendo has joined Rennes in a reported €25million transfer, penning a five-year deal with the Ligue 1 side.
Kalimuendo, a France Under-21 international who signed his first professional contract with PSG as a 17-year-old in 2019, had been strongly linked with Premier League side Leeds United after they missed out on Belgian forward Charles De Ketelaere to Milan.
The pacey forward has spent each of the last two seasons on loan at Lens, scoring 12 league goals in the 2021-22 campaign as they recorded an impressive seventh-placed finish.
Only nine players, including PSG stars Kylian Mbappe (28) and Neymar (13), outscored Kalimuendo last term, earning the 20-year-old a big-money move to Europa League qualifiers Rennes.
Mauricio Pochettino has suggested it will take another four years to develop a winning mentality at Tottenham – even if he is not the man in charge.
Spurs hopes of a first trophy since 2008 were ended for another year on Saturday, as Manchester United came from behind to beat them 2-1 in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.
Midfielder Dele Alli, who broke the deadlock before Alexis Sanchez and Ander Herrera turned the match around, claimed afterwards that his side must learn to see out key games against top opposition.
But Pochettino, who took over as manager four years ago, thinks it will take the same time again to cement Spurs place as a consistent challenger for honours and even suggested it could fall to another manager to continue the work.
A bitt…
Cheltenham equalled the record for the most consecutive games without scoring in the Football League as Tuesday night’s 2-0 loss to Fleetwood extended their run to 11.
Coventry in 1919-20 and Hartlepool in 1992-93 also went 11 games without scoring and here, the PA news agency looks at the longest scoreless runs and how the Robins compare.
Cheltenham not at the races
Junior Quitirna and Jack Marriott scored Fleetwood’s goals as Cheltenham had veteran defender Curtis Davies sent off on their way to another unwanted record.
Their nine-game drought up to September 23’s 3-0 defeat to Stevenage was already the longest from the start of a Football League season, beating Halifax Town’s eight in 1990-91. Last Saturday’s 2-0 loss at Lincoln extended that before…
Eddie Howe knows Newcastle United still have work to do to catch Manchester City but believes there is no longer a real gap between the teams.
Newcastle were beaten 2-0 at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, a 14th consecutive Premier League defeat at a stadium where they have never won in the top flight.
But Howe s side – who drew 3-3 with City at home – had their chances, most notably through Callum Wilson and Joelinton, who both miscued in front of goal.
In the eyes of the Newcastle coach, it was a far cry from their visit last May, when City ran out 5-0 winners.
City also beat Newcastle 4-0 at St James Park less than a month into Howe s tenure in December 2021.
There are things for us to reflect on, minimal chances for them today, Howe said a…
Iker Casillas has denied fresh reports he is retiring from football after he suffered a heart attack during training with Porto last month.
The Real Madrid and Spain great had a myocardial infarction on May 1 and underwent emergency surgery before returning home five days later.
Reports in Portugal claimed Casillas will announce his retirement on Thursday, with the goalkeeper said to be taking up a role on Porto s board of directors.
But the 38-year-old indicated the media have jumped the gun, because he is yet to be told by medical experts whether he has recovered enough to play football again.
The same as this tweet a month ago, except for the part of the medical check with the doctor, Casillas wrote on Twitter, referencing a previous retirement deni…
Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson is concerned about the club s growing injury list after defender Martin Kelly was sidelined with a hamstring injury.
Kelly, who was making his 100th appearance for the club, limped off shortly before half-time in Sunday s Premier League draw at home to relegation rivals Newcastle United.
The Eagles are already missing a host of first-team players, with Scott Dann, Jason Puncheon and in-form forward Bakary Sako ruled out for the rest of the season.
Mamadou Sakho returned from injury to replace Kelly as Palace came from behind to claim a point against Newcastle, but Hodgson remains frustrated.
It s very annoying because we ve worked hard to avoid muscle injuries, Hodgson told reporters. That came about because of a foul �…