Market: Shakhtyor win to nil
Odds:
Handed the chance to make yet another statement and briefly climb into the European spots, a high-flying Shakhtyor will host leading relegation scrappers Belshina on Friday evening.
Starting with the hosts, putting in what was another rampant display last weekend and picking up a 2-0 victory against Slavia, the mood in Shakhtyor camp remains at a season-high. Despite showing some worrying inconsistencies when opening the 2020 campaign, the Yellows have won four of their last five matches across all competitions and are unbeaten over the past five weeks. With their sights firmly set on securing a top-three finish this season, there is no doubt that Head Coach Yuriy Vernydub will be most impressed by his side s continued display…
Market: Bochum win
Odds:
Continuing on their unbeaten run since returning from the enforced break, Bochum will welcome St. Pauli to an empty Vonovia Ruhrstadion on Friday evening.
Starting with the hosts, while Bochum might have been disappointed to have only collected a point away at Nurnburg last week, Thomas Reis side did dominate large spells of proceedings and have caught the eye since returning to action. Unbeaten in each of their four Bundesliga II appearances and finding a route back into the top half of the table, there is no doubt that Reis and co will be glad to make a return to home soil on Friday evening. Including picking up a deserved 2-1 win over Holstein Kiel in their last matchup at the Vonovia Ruhrstadion, Bochum really made a statement when …
Wolves on Thursday were given a 25,000 pound (39,000 dollars) suspended fine for fielding a B side against Manchester United at Old Trafford in December.
Wolves manager Mick McCarthy changed his entire outfield line-up for the 3-0 Premier League loss to United from the side that had beaten Tottenham the previous weekend.
The only player surviving the cull was American goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann.
Wolves then recalled nine of the players that had been in action at White Hart Lane for the next league game at home to fellow strugglers Burnley and won 2-0.
The Premier League said in a statement: The Premier League Board has issued Wolverhampton Wanderers FC with a suspended 25,000 fine pound after deciding that the team fielded in their league fixture agains…
Dutch playmaker Wesley Sneijder insisted on Wednesday his country s impressive pre-World Cup form counted for little, as Holland embark on another major tournament praying that their high hopes do not evaporate.
A 2-1 win over Mexico, an impressive 4-1 victory over fellow World Cup qualifiers Ghana and an emphatic 6-1 mauling of Hungary have indicated that the Dutch are in the form to launch a concerted bid to win the first World Cup in their history.
But Sneijder, fresh from winning the Champions League with Inter Milan, told AFP in an interview that the only match that mattered now was the first Group E clash against Denmark in Johannesburg on Monday.
We re not interested in being the world champions of friendly matches, he said at the team s training camp in…
Western Sydney Wanderers goalkeeper Vedran Janjetovic was pelted with toy snakes as he made his return to former club and arch-rivals Sydney FC in a 0-0 draw at Allianz Stadium.
After failing to make an A-League appearance for leaders Sydney this season, Janjetovic crossed the divide to join Wanderers on an 18-month deal in December and made just his second outing in the derby.
The goalkeeper was immediately booed but quickly made an impression, denying Slovakia international Filip Holosko before a backpedalling to tip a header from Alex Wilkinson over the top in spectacular fashion.
But as Janjetovic returned for the second half a section of the Sydney fans behind his goal made their feelings knowing, hurling plastic snakes in his direction.
There s leg…
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho believes full-back Luke Shaw is going through a difficult period as he tries to break back into the first team.
Shaw, 21, has made just seven Premier League appearances this season, having missed most of 2015-16 due to a broken leg.
Questions have been raised over the England international s future as he battles to earn a spot in Mourinho s side.
The Portuguese tactician said injuries and bad timing have played their part for Shaw, who joined the club from Southampton in June 2014.
You try to have in the squad the players with more minutes, the players in better shape, in better condition, Mourinho said.
In Luke Shaw s case, even in the game against Reading, when he could have started the game and had 90 m…
Manchester City have signed teenage defender Issa Kabore from Belgian First Division club Mechelen
Kabore, a 19-year-old Burkina Faso international, will spend next season back at Mechelen on loan, having penned a five-year contract at the Etihad Stadium.
The right-back moved to Belgium from Rahimo in his homeland last August and went on to make five first-team appearances in 2019-20.
A fee has not been disclosed for the transfer, which remains subject to international clearance.
This is a win-win situation for all parties, said Mechelen sports director Tom Caluwe.
Alles is getekend. Alles is officieel.
Dit waren de eerste woorden van voor Issa
— KV Mechelen (@kvmechelen)
The player himself dreams of the Premi…
Virgil van Dijk is been joined by six Liverpool team-mates in the 30-man shortlist for the 2019 Ballon d Or, while Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are also present.
Van Dijk played a vital role as Liverpool won the 2018-19 Champions League, producing several standout performances at the heart of Jurgen Klopp s defence en route to the title, making him one of the favourites for major individual awards.
He was pipped to The Best FIFA Men s Player award by Barcelona star Messi, who will surely be Van Dijk s biggest competition for the Ballon d Or having inspired a Barca side many consider underwhelming to the league title.
Fellow Reds stars Sadio Mane, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah, Alisson, Georginio Wijnaldum and Roberto Firmino all join Van Dijk on t…
Greek first division club Xanthi announced on Wednesday that they had signed Zambian international striker Christopher Katongo on a one-year contract.
No financial details of the deal were revealed by the club which finished fourth from bottom last season just avoiding relegation on the final day of the season.
The 28-year-old began his career in Zambia and South Africa before heading to Europe in 2007 when he signed for Norwegian side Brondby. He moved to Arminia Bielefeld in Germany in 2008.
Katongo made his international debut for Zambia in 2003 and has scored 11 goals in 51 appearances.
His brother Felix, who currently plays for Mamelodi Sundowns in South Africa, is also a Zambian international.
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Germany defender Marcell Jansen’s agent has ruled out a move to Liverpool for the Hamburg star.
The 24-year-old was part of Germany’s impressive World Cup squad and scored the opener in their 3-2 win over Uruguay.
Jansen has been a hit at Hamburg since joining the club from Bayern Munich in a £7million deal in 2008.
The interest in him is a credit to Marcell, Gerd vom Bruch told the Hamburger Morgenpost newspaper.
But he is under contract with Hamburger SV and will be respecting this.
Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson is in the market for a new full-back after selling Emiliano Insua and releasing Fabio Aurelio.
[Source: The Hamburger Morgenpost]
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