With the FA Cup once again stealing centre stage in midweek, we have plenty of eye-catching affairs from across Britain’s elite.
On a Wednesday schedule that also boasts a quartet of Scottish Premiership showdowns, we have found a pair of intriguing betting markets that are worth keeping an eye out for.
19:45 Kilmarnock vs Livingston
While Kilmarnock might have found themselves scrapping it out at the foot of the Premiership table last season, Derek McInnes’ men have made a string of improvements this time around. Although Wednesday’s hosts might have been disappointed last weekend as they eventually had to settle for a 1-1 stalemate away at Motherwell, Killie should be smelling a real opportunity here.
Although the former Aberdeen boss might ha…
Gareth Southgate says “performance is the priority” in North Macedonia as already-qualified England look to make up for winning with a whimper against minnows Malta.
The Euro 2020 runners-up sealed their place at next summer’s edition with two matches to spare and were below par in Friday’s qualifier.
England disappointed a packed Wembley crowd by limping to a 2-0 victory over Malta, leading the manager to suggest his players had subconsciously taken their foot off the gas.
Southgate did not castigate those that have done so well for him over the years, but he is demanding a vastly-improved display in North Macedonia as they bring the curtain down on 2023.
Touchdown for the !
— England (@England)
“Performance is the priority,…
Antonio Rudiger has professed he will always be Chelsea as he prepares to leave the Stamford Bridge club at the end of the season.
The 29-year-old defender has established himself as an important figure since Thomas Tuchel took charge of the Blues last year but will leave the club next month after the expiration of his contract – with Real Madrid widely seen as his likely destination.
Rudiger has played 33 Premier League games for Chelsea this term, contributing to 14 clean sheets as Tuchel s men secured a top-four finish, and will make his final appearance against Watford on Sunday.
Writing about his imminent departure for The Players Tribune, Rudiger emphasised his emotional connection to the club, where he has become a fans favourite since arriving in 201…
Nottingham Forest have reached an agreement with Sevilla over the proposed transfer of Gonzalo Montiel, according to The Athletic.
The 26-year-old had an incredible 2022/23 season for both club and country, scoring the decisive penalty for Argentina in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, as well as the decisive penalty in Sevilla s triumph over AS Roma in the Europa League final. He ll certainly represent quite a coup for Forest, having been linked with Fulham as well.
Forest managed to preserve their hard-won status as a Premier League team and have started the new campaign relatively well. After narrowly losing away to Arsenal in the opening round, they beat newly promoted Sheffield United at the City Ground on Friday to book the first three points. Nonetheless, manager Stev…
Belgium got their World Cup qualification campaign up and running as Kevin De Bruyne inspired them to a 3-1 comeback win over Wales.
In the first meeting of the teams since Wales memorable 3-1 triumph in the Euro 2016 quarter-finals, the world s number one ranked side fell behind to Harry Wilson s 10th-minute opener.
Gareth Bale was central to Wales opener, though Belgium s star player subsequently stepped up, levelling proceedings with a stunning effort.
Thorgan Hazard completed the turnaround six minutes later and, after a bright second-half performance from Wales, Roberto Martinez s team sealed a strong start to Group E through Romelu Lukaku s penalty.
Wales suffered a blow when Joe Allen hobbled off injured in the eighth minute, yet the visitors were …
Sergio Aguero scored his first Premier League goal since January 2020 as Manchester City cruised to a straightforward 3-0 win at Fulham and extended their lead at the top of the table.
Scott Parker s Cottagers had given their survival hopes a massive boost with a 1-0 win at Liverpool last weekend, but runaway leaders City brought them back down to Earth with a clinical second-half display.
Neither side looked particularly impressive in the first half, with City s few opportunities not giving Alphonse Areola a great deal to worry about.
But Pep Guardiola s men took their chances in the second period as Fulham gifted them a couple of goals, with John Stones, Gabriel Jesus and Aguero netting, the latter s penalty his first league strike since January 21 last year af…
Jerome Boateng insisted Bayern Munich s players were behind David Alaba amid uncertainty over the defender s future.
Alaba, 28, looks set to leave the European and Bundesliga champions after failing to agree to a new contract, with his current deal expiring at season s end.
Still, the defender played 90 minutes as Bayern thrashed Salzburg 6-2 in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Boateng said the players backed Alaba, who arrived at Bayern as a youth player in 2008.
Of course it s an issue, but not as big as it is done. He focuses on the essentials, he told Sky.
It s not an easy situation for him, that is clear. But he played another great game today.
We as a team are absolutely behind him.
W. We don’t stop.
…
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says there is no need to hit the panic button and claims a derby with Manchester City is probably the best game Manchester United could wish for following their Champions League exit.
The Red Devils crashed out of Europe s premier club competition with a 3-2 defeat at RB Leipzig on Tuesday and will be back in Europa League action in February.
United have no time to feel sorry for themselves, as they face City at Old Trafford on Saturday looking for a fifth consecutive Premier League victory.
Solskjaer expects United to show a positive response to a painful midweek defeat in Germany as they bid to get the better of their neighbours for a third time in a row in the top flight for the first time since a run of four victories from 2008 to 2010…
Colombia will be without star player James Rodriguez for their Copa America campaign, though the Everton playmaker claimed he has worked hard to be fit.
It was at an international tournament with Colombia that James rose to stardom. He won the Golden Boot at the 2014 World Cup, scoring six goals – including a sensational effort against Uruguay – as his country made it to the quarter-finals.
His performances in Brazil earned him a move to Real Madrid, though injuries have since plagued his spells with Los Blancos, Bayern Munich and Everton, and now his hopes of starring for Colombia once more have taken a blow.
The 29-year-old missed the end of Everton s campaign due to a persistent calf injury which has limited him to 26 appearances in all competitions this…
Best Odds: 2/1
Bookmaker:
Looking to make it three wins on the bounce this weekend, Real Madrid will host Valencia from behind closed doors on Sunday afternoon.
Real Madrid
Starting with the hosts, managing to pick up what was a much-needed victory against Getafe earlier in the week, there is no doubt that Real Madrid are a side seeking some stability. Still looking to close the eight-point buffer that Atletico hold over them at the top of the table, the defending champions have managed to muster themselves nine points from their last four La Liga matchups. However, crashing out of the Copa del Rey last month thanks to what was a stunning 2-1 defeat away at lower-league Alcoyano, another loss at the hands of Levante on January 30th did highlight some underlying…