Prediction: Turkey vs Azerbaijan

Best Odds: 10/11

Bookmaker:

Getting their preparations underway ahead of this summer s European Championships, Turkey will welcome Azerbaijan to Alanya for a friendly showdown on Thursday evening.

Turkey

Starting with the hosts, while Turkey might have enjoyed a stunning start to their World Cup qualifying campaign, Şenol Güneş side will be desperate to prove their collapse against Latvia was just a minor blip. Shocking many across Europe as they threw away the lead twice and eventually had to settle for a stunning 3-3 draw on home soil, the one-time Trabzonspor boss has still seen his squad gain plenty of plaudits over the past two years. Laying down what was the most eye-catching of markers as they opened their Group G campaign with a 4-2 win against Holla…

Barcelona could not compete financially with Chelsea for Koulibaly, says De Laurentiis

Barcelona could not compete financially with Chelsea for the signing of centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly, according to Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis.

Chelsea confirmed the signing of Koulibaly last weekend in a deal worth a reported £33.8million (€40m), bringing an end to the defender s eight-year stay in Naples.

LaLiga heavyweights Barca, whose financial problems have been well documented over the past year, also had an interest in the Senegal international.

However, De Laurentiis claims the Catalan club could not meet Napoli s valuation for Koulibaly, who was into the final year of his contract at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

Barcelona had come in, but they didn t have the money because they are in debt, he told Radio Kiss Kiss. Then Chelse…

Southampton 1-4 Manchester City: Three Things We Learned

Manchester City tore through Southampton yesterday as they continued their push for another Premier League title.

In another David vs Goliath type of battle, City were able to get the best of Southampton on the south coast last night. It was a pretty tight encounter for the majority of the first half but once City were able to get their noses in front, they didn t look back.

Today, we ll be taking a look at a few of our big takeaways from the game.

Haaland is terrifying

Erling Haaland scored a brace, with one of his goals being a bicycle kick, to take his Premier League total to 30 goals for the season. In addition to that, he has scored 44 goals in all competitions. That s the kind of form that is enough to strike fear into the heart of just about anyone, as t…

Former Man Utd goalkeeper Romero joins Venezia

Venezia have announced the signing of former Manchester United goalkeeper Sergio Romero on a free transfer.

Romero ended his six-season stay in Manchester when his contract expired at the end of last season and was a free agent until joining the newly promoted Serie A side, who fended off competition for his signature from fellow Italian outfit Spezia.

The 34-year-old is Argentina s all-time most-capped goalkeeper but did not play a single minute for the Red Devils last season, last featuring in 2019-20 as United s cup shot-stopper, making 17 appearances across all competitions before losing his place when Dean Henderson returned from his loan spell at Sheffield United.

Romero has experience in Serie A, joining Sampdoria in 2011 before his move to Manchester fo…

Euro 2016 Qualifying Review: Spain rout Macedonia, England down Switzerland

Spain s Euro 2016 qualifying campaign began with a 5-1 drubbing of Macedonia, while England overcame a stern test in Switzerland on Monday.

David Silva was the star man for the reigning European champions as they brushed aside minnows Macedonia in the Group C clash at the Estadio Ciudad de Valencia.

The Manchester City schemer played a part in three of his side s goals, first winning the penalty from which Sergio Ramos dinked home the opener.

Valencia striker Paco Alcacer then grabbed a debut goal at the home of rivals Levante to make it 2-0.

Agim Ibraimi s penalty halved the deficit by scoring from the spot, but Sergio Busquets maiden international goal in his 69th appearance on the stroke of half-time re-opened Spain s two-goal lead.

Silva was r…

Kovacic to miss Euro 2016 qualifier

Croatia chief national team medic Boris Nemec revealed a cruciate knee ligament injury has ruled star midfielder Mateo Kovacic out of action.

Kovacic was expected to play a big part for Group H leaders Croatia against third-placed Norway in Euro 2016 qualifying in Zagreb on Saturday.

But the sought-after Inter player, who has been linked with Premier League outfit Liverpool this week, will miss the qualifier in the Croatian capital.

I saw Kovacic. He has a cruciate knee ligament injury, Nemec told 24sata.hr.

He still feels a lot of pain and there is absolutely no chance he ll be able to play against Norway.

Croatia top the group ahead of Italy on goal difference after four matches, while Norway are a point off the pace.

Wolves linked with West Ham striker Michail Antonio

Wolverhampton Wanderers are interested in signing Michail Antonio from Premier League rivals West Ham United in the January transfer window, according to . The well-known and well-respected journalist has claimed that Wolves would be keen on securing the services of Antonio if he became available.

Antonio has been on the books of West Ham since 2015 and has established himself as an important player for the Hammers. The 32-year-old has made seven starts and 10 substitute appearances in the Premier League for West Ham so far this season, scoring two goals and providing one assist in the process.

https://twitter.com/alex_crook/status/1612925781273120769

Wolves are second from bottom in the Premier League table at the moment with 14 points from 18 matches, while We…

Solskjaer insists he can turn around Man Utd fortunes after ´big step back´ against Man City

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer remained defiant he can turn around Manchester United s awful form despite the big step back of their derby defeat.

The Red Devils were brushed aside 2-0 at Old Trafford by Manchester City on Saturday, Bernardo Silva scoring after Eric Bailly s own goal.

The defeat was United s sixth in their past 12 games in all competitions and their eighth at home in 2021, a number they last endured back in 1989.

They have also gone without a clean sheet in 14 consecutive home matches for the first time since the 1950s, while they have let in 11 at home in the top flight in 2021-22, their worst such return over the first six games of the season since 1976.

It was the manner of United s loss that was particularly damaging, even though the scoreline …

Hakimi´s agent denies PSG talks as Chelsea reportedly join chase for Inter star

Achraf Hakimi s agent Alejandro Camano said there is no agreement with Paris Saint-Germain over a move from Serie A champions Inter to the Ligue 1 giants.

Hakimi helped Inter to their first Scudetto in 10 years this past season but the Morocco international has been heavily linked with PSG amid the club s financial problems.

With Inter trying to cut costs as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, Hakimi, Romelu Lukaku, Lautaro Martinez and Alessandro Bastoni could be sold following Antonio Conte s departure.

PSG reportedly had a €60million offer rejected by Inter – who are holding out for at least €80m – but Camano denied there have been talks with the French powerhouse.

There are no negotiations with PSG, there s nothing in it at the moment, Cama…

Manchester City 0-0 Sporting CP (agg 5-0): Cruise control as Guardiola´s men stroll through

Manchester City sauntered through to the Champions League quarter-finals as Wednesday s second leg against Sporting CP proved entirely academic, a 0-0 draw sealing a 5-0 aggregate win.

Armed with their handsome lead from the first leg in Portugal, City barely got out of first gear and nor did they need to.

Gabriel Jesus had a goal disallowed for a tight offside, and Riyad Mahrez saw a shot blocked as City went close to a late winner.

Even Scott Carson, the rarely seen reserve goalkeeper, got a run-out for the last 17 minutes, pulling off a fine save to deny Paulinho and taking a whack for his efforts.

FULL TIME | Goalless on the night but our five goals in the first leg means we re through to the quarter-finals 

 0-0  

— Manchest…