Sports

Best odds: 23/10

Bookmaker:

Benfica will be looking to extend their winning streak to five games across all competitions when they host Atletico Madrid at Estadio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

Since making a managerial change last month, the Eagles have found their form, while Atletico Madrid continue their journey under long-serving coach Diego Simeone, aiming to maintain their competitive edge in Europe s top competition.

Benfica

After a disappointing 1-1 draw against Moreirense on August 30, Benfica parted ways with Roger Schmidt. Since then, the team has flourished under new coach Bruno Lage, winning all four of their matches across the Primeira Liga and Champions League.

Most recently, Benfica deliver…

Fran Alonso declared himself a Celtic fan for life after leaving his role as the Parkhead club’s women’s team manager.

The Spaniard, who joined the Hoops in January, 2020 from Lewes FC women, will join Houston Dash FC in the USA’s National Women’s Soccer League, as head coach.

Alonso told Celtic’s official website: “I was not born a Celtic supporter but I will definitely die as one and I will support Celtic for the rest of my life.

“The club, the team, the people and the Celtic community has been everything to me during the past four years and has lit up my life. It has been a wonderful adventure.

“The values, the spirit and the ethos of the club has been everything to me and I am so proud to have held the position of Celtic manager.

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The Champions League s round-of-16 first legs conclude on Wednesday with the competition s most decorated club in action.

Real Madrid, who have been crowned champions of Europe 13 times, face an eye-catching Atalanta side in Italy.

With their LaLiga title hopes boosted by rivals Atletico Madrid s recent blip, Zinedine Zidane s men go into the match on a four-game winning streak.

That pales next to Manchester City s stunning 18-game winning run, with Pep Guardiola s charges facing a trip to Borussia Monchengladbach.

Using Opta data, we take a closer look at both matches.

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague)

Atalanta v Real Madrid: Another Italian job for Los Blancos?

Real Madrid head to Atalanta with fond mem…

Real Sociedad have won their first Copa del Rey since 1987 after Mikel Oyarzabal s second-half penalty secured a 1-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao in what was the first ever final between the two great rivals in their current guises.

Played 350 days later than initially scheduled due to the coronavirus pandemic, La Cartuja in Seville played host to one of the most significant finals in the competition s history and La Real came out on top in the long-awaited encounter.

In what was the first all-Basque Copa del Rey showpiece since 1927, it was perhaps fitting that someone who has played for both teams was central to the match s major moment of contention, as Inigo Martinez was sent off for the concession of a penalty, only to be hauled back on following a VAR check.

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Hugo Lloris told France to put the euphoria of their World Cup triumph firmly behind them following another disappointing performance against Ukraine.

Les Bleus were held to a 1-1 draw in Kiev on Saturday in their latest qualifier for Qatar 2022, meaning they have now drawn five matches in a row for the first time in their history.

Anthony Martial s first international goal in five years cancelled out Mykola Shaparenko s excellent opener but, despite having 61.5 per cent of the ball, Didier Deschamps men could not create enough meaningful chances to find a winner.

Substitute Moussa Diaby hit the post, but only five of France s 16 shots were on target, as they made it five games in a row in Kiev without a victory.

Lloris thinks his side need to put their 2…

Xavi believes Lionel Messi could finally get his hands on the World Cup in Qatar, tipping Argentina alongside Brazil as favourites to land the trophy.

The closest Messi has come to being a World Cup winner was when Argentina were beaten by Germany in the 2014 final.

His unprecedented seven Ballon d Or successes underline Messi s individual greatness, but he is missing the most valued team prize of all.

Winning the Copa America with Argentina last year gave him a first major title in senior international football, with Argentina getting the better of Brazil at the Maracana in the final.

Now, at the age of 35, and in his final World Cup, Argentina captain Messi goes again, with former Barcelona team-mate Xavi strongly rating the Albiceleste s chances.

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Best Odds: 3/4

Bookmaker:

Looking to pick up some pre-Euro 24 momentum on Monday night, England will welcome Bosnia Herzegovina to St. James’ Park.

England

Starting with the hosts, while England might have suffered Wembley heartbreak at the hands of Italy three years ago, Gareth Southgate’s men are pencilled in as a standout contender this summer. Arriving in Germany this month with their sights firmly set on securing a first piece of international silverware since their World Cup success way back in 1966, this current crop of Three Lions stars are regarded as a real golden generation. Unbeaten in all of their eight Euro 24 qualifying appearances last year, Southgate’s men have plenty of expectations on their shoulders. However, last seen settling for an …

Luka Modric believes club team-mate Rodrygo will get stronger following his crucial penalty miss in Croatia s World Cup quarter-final victory over Brazil.

Rodrygo was one of two players to fail from 12 yards along with Marquinhos as the Selecao were beaten 4-2 in the shootout following a 1-1 draw at Education City Stadium.

Modric knows how his 21-year-old Real Madrid team-mate feels. The midfield maestro was only a year older when he missed his spot-kick in Croatia s quarter-final defeat by Turkey at Euro 2008.

Despite the disappointment, the Vatreni captain is confident Rodrygo will benefit from the ordeal, telling reporters: I m sure he ll gain more experience and strength to continue. He will get stronger with all this.

It can happen to anyone. We mu…

Bayern Munich coach Niko Kovac warned Niklas Sule against rushing his comeback from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in order to feature for Germany at Euro 2020.

Sule, 24, went into a challenge with Augsburg s Florian Niederlechner in the early stages of Saturday s 2-2 draw in Bavaria and tore his ACL.

He underwent surgery the following day and is expected to miss the remainder of the season, while Bayern president Uli Hoeness said Sule can forget the Euros, that s all nonsense .

Nevertheless, with more then seven months to go until Euro 2020 begins on June 12, some have suggested he could yet be of use to Joachim Low in the tournament.

Kovac urged him to be careful to not rush his rehabilitation, however.

Speaking ahead of Bayern s Champions Le…

Southampton have completed a £12.8million move to bring Sporting CP midfielder Mateus Fernandes to the Premier League.

Fernandes, who has been capped seven times by Portugal at under-21 level, spent the 2023-24 season on loan at Estoril, making 28 Primeira Liga appearances and scoring once.

The 20-year-old, who came through Sporting s youth system, has penned a five-year deal with Southampton, who began their Premier League campaign with a 1-0 defeat to 10-man Newcastle United.

Fernandes is the 14th arrival at St Mary s since their promotion back to the top flight, with Flynn Downes, Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Cameron Archer among their more expensive acquisitions.

I m very happy to be here, it s a dream come true to come to England and play in the Pre…