With the Championship taking center stage this weekend, we have a string of interesting affairs from across England s footballing tiers. So, for those of you looking to stick on a Saturday acca, we have found a handful of helpful tips that are worth keeping an eye out for.
Saturday December 17th
BST 15:00 Barnsley vs Burton
Although Barnsley might have lost their Championship status last season, Saturday s hosts have an immediate second-tier return at the top of their agenda this time around. Last seen on December 2nd as they laid down another League One marker thanks to an eye-catching 2-1 win away at Peterborough, the Tykes are enjoying what has been an extended purple patch. Along with cruising their way to a 3-0 romp against Crewe last month while on FA Cup dutie…
An emotional Igor Angelovski suggested a sensational win over Germany was comparable to European Championship success for his North Macedonia side.
In the biggest shock of the World Cup qualifying campaign so far, North Macedonia claimed a remarkable 2-1 victory in Duisberg on Wednesday.
North Macedonia are set to make their major tournament debut as an independent nation at Euro 2020 and have now also improbably boosted their Qatar 2022 hopes, sitting above Germany in Group J, three points behind early leaders Armenia.
Angelovski s men had just 30.5 per cent of possession against the 2014 World Cup winners but were clinical when their chances came.
Veteran forward Goran Pandev and midfielder Eljif Elmas scored as North Macedonia registered six goal atte…
Pep Guardiola is expecting captain Fernandinho to be out of action for between four to six weeks after the midfielder sustained another injury in Manchester City s win over Porto.
The Brazil international was brought on in the 85th minute of Wednesday s Group C clash at the Etihad Stadium but failed to see out the game after pulling up with a suspected leg injury.
He has suffered several muscle issues in recent seasons, seeing him sit out 15 games two seasons ago as City won a clean sweep of domestic honours.
And Guardiola, who was also without Gabriel Jesus, Nathan Ake, Benjamin Mendy, Kevin De Bruyne and Aymeric Laporte against Porto, is predicting another lay-off for the versatile midfielder.
It is bad news. It is in the place he was injured before, G…
Former Tottenham and Wales legend Gareth Bale produced one of the top highlights from the amateur ranks while playing at the AT T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
Bale, 33, retired from professional football in January after spending six months with MLS club LAFC.
Playing in his first PGA Tour event, Bale was partnered with Korn Ferry Tour Championship winner Joseph Bramlett, who he said he met around a year ago and has kept in contact with since.
We met about a year ago and we have just been speaking over the year, he said. I said to him last week let s prepare for this week – he had a great week last week, and what a player.
He is a world-class player. Just watching these players play, you can learn things and how they go about their business and how they do th…
Romelu Lukaku s return to Chelsea has bolstered team-mate Marcos Alonso s optimism for the season ahead.
The Belgium forward moved back to Stamford Bridge from Inter for a reported £97.5million (€115m) fee, having proven prolific in Italy.
Lukaku led Inter to their first Serie A title in a decade last season, netting 24 league goals.
Having left the Blues in 2014, Lukaku rejoins a club who won the Champions League under Thomas Tuchel last term and Alonso is thrilled to have the 28-year-old on board.
I m looking forward to playing with him, the Spaniard told Chelsea s official website.
He s going to be a great help for us. He s a great player, it s good to have him back and I m looking forward to start training with him.
Alonso, who…
Kolo Toure believes working under Pep Guardiola was the perfect crash course in management for Vincent Kompany.
Former Manchester City captain Kompany has enjoyed a fine season in charge of Burnley, leading the Clarets straight back to the Premier League and the Championship title.
Kompany, 37, left City in 2019 to become player-manager of Anderlecht.
He joined Burnley last year, and his success at Turf Moor has seen him become one of the most highly coveted young managers, with Tottenham reportedly interested in taking him to north London.
Kompany s ex-City team-mate Toure, who endured a difficult, short spell as Wigan Athletic boss earlier in the 2022-23 campaign, always felt the Belgian would go onto big things in management.
You could feel th…
Stefano Pioli hailed Milan for replicating their strong Champions League showings in Serie A after Sunday s victory over Lecce arrested a slump in domestic form.
Milan had won just one of their last six league games, denting their hopes of a top-four finish, but overcame Lecce 2-0 at San Siro after a Rafael Leao double.
The Rossoneri sit level on points with fourth-placed Roma, who visit Atalanta on Monday, while they trail Juventus by three after the Bianconeri s 15-point deduction was reversed this week.
Their struggles in the Italian top flight were in stark contrast to Champions League performances, having reached the last four for the first time since 2007 after a 2-1 aggregate win over Serie A leaders Napoli.
Pioli revealed his message to his Milan …
Liverpool s incredible unbeaten home run in the Premier League was ended in a shock loss to Burnley on Thursday.
After going 68 league games unbeaten at Anfield, the defending champions were stunned 1-0 after Ashley Barnes 83rd-minute penalty.
It was the first time Jurgen Klopp s side had lost at home in the top flight since they went down to Crystal Palace in April 2017.
The Reds run started with a 0-0 draw against Southampton and featured 55 wins and 13 draws, scoring 176 goals and conceded just 44 in the 68 games.
They also managed to keep 36 clean sheets, creating a fortress that helped propel them to a first league title since 1990 last season.
Liverpool are second on the all-time list for top-flight unbeaten runs at home, behind Chelsea …
Hasan Salihamidzic is doing a great job as Bayern Munich sporting director and does not deserve to be criticised, according to his former team-mate Sammy Kuffour.
Salihamidzic has held the role since July 2017 and was recently handed a new contract to remain as part of the Bayern boardroom staff for the next four years.
Bayern have won five successive Bundesliga titles during the Bosnian s tenure, as well as the Champions League, Club World Cup and the DFB-Pokal on two occasions.
Despite Bayern s success, Salihamidzic has often had to defend himself when it comes to the club s transfer business, not least after Robert Lewandowski s recent departure.
— FC Bayern München (@FCBayern)
But Kuffour, who played alongside Salihamidzic for t…
Bernardo Silva will likely seek a new project in the next few years, but he will wait until the end of the season before discussing his Manchester City future.
Since signing for City from Monaco in 2017, Silva has won four Premier League titles as well as five domestic cups, playing a vital role in Pep Guardiola s team.
Barcelona were reportedly interested in luring the Portugal international to Camp Nou in the last transfer window, though City s reluctance to sell ensured a move never materialised.
While Silva is focused on winning more silverware with City before the end of the season, he has refused to rule out a move prior to next campaign.
I m very focused on this season and it doesn t make sense to talk about leaving because we re in the middle of …