Bitesize Prediction: Catanzaro vs Palermo – 26/01/24

Tunisia coach Alain Giresse said his players are prepared for the Egyptian heat and are full of desire to go all the way at the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time since 2004 as they ready themselves to face Angola in their opening match.

The Carthage Eagles get their finals campaign underway at Suez Stadium in Ismailia on Monday with every reason to be confident after beating World Cup finalists Croatia 2-1 in their penultimate warm-up game.

Giresse s men are favourites to top Group E, which also features Mali and tournament debutants Mauritania, and the former France midfielder said he is satisfied with his players preparations.

We hope to make an exceptional Cup of Nations, he told reporters.

All players are motivated by the desire to negotiate …

Atletico Madrid are interested in signing Alexis Mac Allister from Premier League club Brighton and Hove Albion in the summer transfer window, according to . The report has claimed that the Seagulls are willing to sell the Argentina international midfielder and want as much as €75 million in transfer fees.

Mac Allister has been on the books of Brighton since 2019 and has really burst onto the scene this season. The 24-year-old played a big role for Argentina in their 2022 Qatar World Cup success. The midfielder has made 18 starts and one substitute appearance in the Premier League for Brighton so far this season, scoring five goals in the process.

Atletico are fourth in the La Liga table at the moment with 42 points from 23 matches, as many as 17 points behind leaders…

Carles Puyol has turned down an offer to become Barcelona s sporting director.

Club president Josep Maria Bartomeu revealed earlier in September that LaLiga giants Barca were in talks with Puyol over the former Spain defender taking up a position at Camp Nou.

Puyol played 593 matches in all competitions for Barcelona, while making 100 appearances for Spain, winning the 2008 Euros and 2010 World Cup.

He retired at the end of the 2013-14 season, having spent his entire club career with Barca.

However, the 41-year-old declined the chance to return to the club in a director capacity, stating personal commitments would prevent him being able to give his all to the job.

In recent weeks, different news about my possible incorporation at Barcelona as…

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Desperate to make up some ground in the Champions League chase this weekend, Manchester United will travel to Luton on Sunday afternoon.

Luton Town

Starting with the hosts, missing out on what they had billed as a golden opportunity last weekend as they eventually slumped to a costly 3-1 drumming at home against Sheffield United, Luton find themselves at the heart of a relegation scrap. While Rob Edwards’ side might have continued to receive plenty of praise since making their shock Premier League return this season, the Hatters currently find themselves holding just a single-point buffer from slipping into the drop zone. However, despite suffering a first defeat of 2024, Luton have shown some extended inconsistencies on home soil. W…

Stefano Pioli says Milan are fully focused on their Serie A clash with Empoli, and not distracted by their upcoming Champions League quarter-final against Napoli.

The Rossoneri host the runaway league leaders in the first leg on Wednesday, but face Empoli at San Siro on Friday prior to that huge encounter.

Milan sit third in Serie A after their impressive 4-0 win at Napoli on Sunday, though with Inter, Roma and Atalanta all within three points of them in a tight race for the top four.

Pioli stressed the need for humility against 14th placed Empoli as their league campaign remains important despite the upcoming glamour of the Champions League last eight.

It is crucial to stay in tension, he said at a press conference. Matches are won first with attitudes …

Freddie Ljungberg believes Arsenal now need to make a swift decision in their search for a new manager.

Arsenal slumped to a 3-0 defeat against Manchester City on Sunday, with Kevin De Bruyne playing the starring role with two excellent goals and an assist.

The Gunners have managed just one victory in 12 games across all competitions, with Ljungberg having overseen the last five matches on an interim basis following Unai Emery s dismissal.

However, the search for a new permanent boss does not appear to be nearing its completion, with reports suggesting City assistant Mikel Arteta is still a primary target, and Ljungberg has urged Arsenal to make a decision soon.

We all have to look in the mirror. What I felt is that the West Ham game [a 3-1 win for Ar…

Gangwon rallied from a half-time deficit to open the new K League season with an impressive 3-1 win, while newly promoted Busan I Park were beaten on Sunday.

Seoul finished third in the 2019 campaign and they took the lead at Gangwon, Park Dong-jin s deflected shot finding the net to put the visitors ahead at the break.

However, the hosts hit back in the second half, starting with substitute Kim Ji-hyun converting a cross to level. They then secured victory with two late goals, the first of them scored by Cho Jae-wan with a clever back-heeled finish.

Having created his side s second, Kim Seung-dae sealed the result less than a minute later, cutting inside onto his right foot to score with a low finish.

FT | 3-1

 A wild final five minutes sees G…

Leicester boss Dean Smith knows he will have fulfilled a “big ask” if he can guide his side to Premier League survival on Sunday.

The Foxes must beat West Ham at the King Power Stadium and hope Everton do not win against Bournemouth if they are to avoid relegation to the Championship.

Smith was parachuted into an eight-game SOS mission following Brendan Rodgers’ sacking at the beginning of April but has recorded just one victory from his first seven games and accepts that his side have not done as well as he thought they would.

The 52-year-old has experience of producing the great escape as he led Aston Villa to seven points from their final four games of the 2019/20 season to beat the drop and says something similar would be required.

Smith said: �…

Erik ten Hag has outlined his Manchester United vision on his first day in the job and warned the club s underperforming stars that good is not good enough .

The 52-year-old was announced as interim manager Ralf Rangnick s successor last month on a three-year deal with the option of a further 12 months.

After guiding Ajax to a third Eredivisie title in his four full seasons in charge, Ten Hag ended his contract with the Dutch giants early to start work with United ahead of schedule.

Ten Hag was in attendance for Sunday s 1-0 loss to Crystal Palace, which ensured United finished sixth in the Premier League and with their lowest-ever points tally.

United have not won the title since Alex Ferguson s final season in 2012-13, though they did finish as runners-…

Tuesday heralds the start of the Champions League quarter-finals and there are two mouthwatering clashes in store.

With the Premier League title surely wrapped up, Manchester City s attention turns to Borussia Dortmund and the formidable threat posed by Erling Haaland. 

The 20-year-old is in demand, with City one of the clubs reportedly interested in his services, and he could join an illustrious group of goalscorers if he finds the net at the Etihad Stadium. 

The other game sees a repeat of the 2018 final, with Liverpool travelling to face Zinedine Zidane s Real Madrid. 

The Reds have endured a torrid Premier League title defence, but a resounding win over Arsenal at the weekend could provide them with the impetus to produce an eye-catching result…