The last game between Atletico Madrid and Barcelona was effectively LaLiga s 2017-18 decider, with Lionel Messi s free-kick sending the Catalans on track to win the title.
Since that March meeting both teams have invested in reinforcements to add depth to their squads, while Andres Iniesta and Gabi are among the key players for the respective teams to have moved on to new clubs.
But Ernesto Valverde and Diego Simeone are set to name very similar sides to that March game when they face off at the Wanda Metropolitano, with Barca having a one-point lead at the top of the table.
Valverde has been criticised for not using his new signings enough and Simeone seems to prefer his trusted old guard. Starting with the five new faces at Atletico, we assess each of the new a…
FIFA reported losses of $369million for 2016 and had budgeted to for a greater loss this year.
The latest financial report issued by world football s governing body projects a deficit of $489m in 2017, although it expects a bumper year in 2018, with the television deals for the World Cup in Russia forecast to help the FIFA meet its target for the 2015-18 period of a $100m profit.
Legal costs rose, related to the scandal that engulfed the organisation in May 2015, when US and Swiss authorities arrested top football officials at a luxury Zurich hotel as part of an investigation into allegations of criminal misconduct, bribery and corruption. The officials were gathered for FIFA s annual congress.
A raft of governance reforms have followed and FIFA has worked to co-…
The second semi-final saw a Russian side who had comprehensively outplayed Holland take on a Spanish side who had comprehensively outplayed Italy. The prize being the opportunity to take on the Germans in Sunday s final.
The first half was fairly even with Russia just shading the possession. Spain lost David Villa to injury towards the end of the half and he was replaced by Arsenal s Cesc Fabregas.
Early in the second half Xavi opened the scoring for Spain and from that moment on there was only ever going to be one winner. For the rest of the game Spain dominated, playing some exquisite football and leaving the Russians chasing shadows. Further goals from Guiza and Silva sealed a 3-0 win that did not flatter a scintillating Spain side.
For this fifth article in …
Liverpool claimed their sixth European Cup after a 2-0 victory over Tottenham in the Champions League final in Madrid, on this day in 2019.
Jurgen Klopp’s men returned to the big stage 12 months after they had lost 3-1 to Real Madrid in the 2018 final in Kiev, determined to go one better.
They did so still reflecting on a remarkable Premier League season during which they had finished on 97 points, yet still narrowly missed out on the title to Manchester City.
CHAMPIONS OF EUROPE.
— Liverpool FC (@LFC)
The intervening three weeks had given them time to reflect upon on a near miss, but also to prepare for their showdown with Spurs after both had negotiated a path to Madrid in thrilling fashion.
Liverpool had looked to be heading out …
The 0-3 Colts travel to Hard Rock Stadium to face the 1-2 Dolphins, with both teams currently underperforming the expectations that they had at the start of the season.
Is it too soon to call this an elimination game? It’s going to be difficult for the losing team to work their way back into playoff contention.
As always, you can’t bet on the NFL without first reading our free NFL betting picks and predictions for the Indianapolis Colts at Miami Dolphins.
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When you write a weekly piece called “NFL Underdogs”, your anticipated Super Bowl bet is typecast worse than Samuel L. Jackson.
“You must love the Bengals, eh?”
No, Shawn, I don’t. You jerk.
That’s right, after 18 weeks and three rounds of postseason pups, I’m done taking the points and riding with the Los Angeles Rams as 4-point favorites in our Super Bowl picks.
It’s a heel turn normally seen in professional wrestling, but it doesn’t mean I’m bailing on backing every Super Bowl underdog. Given the massive menu of Big Game betting options, there are several alternative Super Bowl odds and Super Bowl player prop markets promising plus-money payouts — or underdogs — in terms o…
The Kansas City Chiefs host the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Championship game, in a rematch of last year’s thriller. As good as these sides have looked this season, both have weaknesses. Cincinnati’s offensive line struggles to protect Joe Burrow at times, while Kansas City’s stop unit has been a sieve in the red zone.
I’m trying to take advantage of those areas by backing a Chiefs pass rusher and betting on Ja’Marr Chase to hit paydirt. Here are my best free NFL player props for the Bengals vs. Chiefs on January 29.
For more great NFL bets, check out Jason Logan’s Bengals vs. Chiefs picks and predictions and our Ja’Marr Chase Player Spotlight by Jared Hochman!
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The Philadelphia Eagles are coming off their first loss of the season in an upset to the New York Jets. Now they must bounce back as Week 7 odds favorites on Sunday Night Football against the explosive Miami Dolphins.
NFL odds are favoring the Eagles by just under a field goal, and I like their chances for redemption behind the play of Jalen Hurts.
We take a closer look at the Jalen Hurts odds and give our best free NFL picks for Dolphins vs. Eagles on October 22. Be sure to keep up to date on the Sunday Night Football odds and check out our Dolphins vs. Eagles predictions, along with our SNF player prop picks.
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C.J. Stroud odds are a popular item as the Houston Texans try to open the NFL Wild Card Round on Saturday afternoon by springing a home upset against Joe Flacco and the Cleveland Browns.
While the Texans get a home game, they’re Wild Card odds underdogs against the Browns, who finished the year 11-6, while Houston won the AFC South with a 10-7 record. Stroud will have to match his best form this season to keep Houston’s NFL odds to win the Super Bowl alive, which comes across in my NFL player prop picks for the Texans rookie quarterback.
If you’re looking for more analysis of this matchup, check out Covers’ Browns vs. Texans picks and predictions, as well as our Browns vs. Texans props for this Wild Card battle.
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Week 3 of the NFL season kicked off with a TNF matchup between the Patriots and Jets.
I expected it to be a boring game where both teams trusted things that were safe and reliable. Instead, we had two pass-happy game plans that, well, worked out for the Jets.
That game also serves as an inspiration for my NFL player prop picks this week, as I was planning on taking the trustworthy names and players… but have since made an audible and am going to focus on some big (and little) names across various passing games.
So my NFL picks this week are backing one of the most reliable QBs in the league, two one of the most explosive WRs around, and an emerging positional matchup that might become a weekly auto-bet.