Atletico Madrid face a nervous shootout against Red Bull Salzburg next week to reach the UEFA Champions League knockouts after they could only draw 1-1 with a much-changed Bayern Munich side on Tuesday evening.
Joao Felix gave the hosts the lead midway through the first period as he clinically converted Marcos Llorente s low cross, a lead they held until the 86th minute of the game. Thomas Muller was the catalyst as he was fouled by Felipe in the box and then converted from the penalty spot to ensure the teams claimed a share of the points.
Here are three things we learned from Madrid:
Felix reaching potential
After a somewhat indifferent first season with Atleti following his big money move from Benfica, young winger Joao Felix now certainly looks to be a £12…
While the likes of Premier League giants such as Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea might have headed off to the United States for their pre-season preparations, a host of European heavyweights are enjoying their summer camps across the globe.
With PSG and Inter Milan set to meet for a lively affair in Tokyo, we have another stacked set of friendly showdowns on Tuesday.
Watching the likes of Celtic also sign off their pre-season adventure in midweek, we have taken an in-depth look at a pair of Tuesday’s friendly battles.
PSG vs Inter Milan
Date: Tuesday, August 1st
UK Start Time: 11:00
Venue: New Nacional Stadium, Tokyo
While PSG might have eventually breezed their way to yet another Ligue 1 crown last season without breaking much of a sweat, it…
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp praised Manchester City counterpart Pep Guardiola for taking on the challenge of managing in the Premier League.
After successful spells at Barcelona and Bayern Munich, Guardiola opted to join City ahead of the 2016-17 season.
A mixed start to the campaign sees his team sitting third in the table, a point behind Saturday s opponents Liverpool.
Klopp hailed Guardiola for choosing a challenge like City despite having other, and easier, offers.
He came here with open eyes. He could have had easier jobs in easier leagues, that is for sure, the German told UK newspapers ahead of the clash at Anfield.
He could have gone anywhere but he wanted to come here. He was probably 100 per cent aware of the big challenge.
He…
Competition: Scottish Premiership
Market: Celtic to win against Rangers
Odds:
Glasgow Celtic welcome fierce rivals Glasgow Rangers to Celtic Park for the first Old Firm derby in the Scottish Premiership since 2012. The current top-two square off in the division, in a game which could either see Celtic open up a gap at the summit with a game in hand or put Rangers top of the pile this weekend.
Celtic are currently top of the Scottish Premiership with nine points from their first three games, having beaten Hearts, St Johnstone and Aberdeen, scoring more than three goals per game on average so far. They’ve played a game more than the sides around them in the table, meaning they could be four points clear at the top with a game in hand with a win over Rangers …
Bookmaker:
AS Monaco and Olympique Lyon have been awarded the honour of opening the 2019/20 Ligue 1 season when they face each other in the first round on Friday evening at the Stade Louis II, in what should be an exciting contest between two teams that are usually close to the top of the table in France.
AS Monaco
As already said, these teams are usually close to the top of the table, but Monaco endured an uncharacteristically torrid 2018/19 season and narrowly avoided relegation, finishing 17th with a lousy total of 36 points to their name. The team that won the title in 2016/17 is all but gone, and even though they made a lot of money from the sales of those players, they haven t been able to replace them on the pitch properly.
The man in charge of that team…
Gonzalo Higuain feels Juventus are very similar to Real Madrid when it comes to their winning mentality, but he is not impressed with the critical attitude of fans at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Higuain scored 122 times for Madrid between 2007 and 2013, but he was regularly criticised for his profligacy in front of goal.
He eventually left the Bernabeu for Napoli in July 2013, where he would instantly become a key figure, earning himself a move to Juventus ahead of the 2016-17 campaign.
Juventus are very much like Real Madrid, they prepare you to win, Higuain told Onda Cero.
But the fans at Juventus are not as demanding as those at Madrid.
It is not part of Juve fans culture to whistle their own players.
Nevertheless, Higuain has fond mem…
According to , Queens Park Rangers are interested in signing Charlie Austin from West Bromwich Albion in the January transfer window. It has been reported that Austin is in advanced talks with his former club QPR over a move to the London outfit this month.
Austin is out of contract at West Brom at the end of the season and is struggling for playing time at the Baggies at the moment. The former Southampton striker has played just 134 minutes in the Premier League so far this season, while during the 2019-20 campaign, he scored 10 goals and provided two assists in 18 Championship starts for the Baggies, according to .
QPR are struggling in the Championship at the moment and are in real danger of going down to League One. Rangers are just two points abovee and have scored…
France warmed up for a tough Euro 2020 qualifying trip to Turkey by easing to a 2-0 friendly win over Bolivia in Nantes on Sunday.
Thomas Lemar and Antoine Griezmann scored first half-goals as the world champions made light work of a side that has won just once since September 2017.
The South Americans, who now head to Brazil to contest the Copa America, had goalkeeper Carlos Lampe to thank for keeping the margin down in a one-sided affair.
France s frustrations going forward were compounded by the loss of Kylian Mbappe to an ankle knock late in the first half, an unwanted concern ahead of Saturday s crunch Group H clash in Konya.
The gulf in class was clear from as early as the fifth minute, Lemar collecting Griezmann s pass and lifting a deft finish ov…
Adrien Rabiot believes that France s inexperienced midfield can be a positive force , following an impressive showing in the opening fixture against Australia.
Didier Deschamps defending champions were ravaged by injury issues in their build-up to the World Cup in Qatar, with midfield duo Paul Pogba and N Golo Kante among those being forced to watch on from home.
That pairing played an integral part in France s success in Russia four years ago, leaving a high bar to Rabiot and Aurelien Tchouameni, who started in the win against the Socceroos.
Both impressed with their performance, Rabiot scoring France s equaliser on the way to a 4-1 win, and he feels the youthfulness of the side can provide a boost.
I don t listen or read what is being said. Our midfiel…
Barcelona boss Xavi has revealed he was offered a role as part of Brazil s backroom team ahead of the World Cup, but turned it down to hold out for the top job with the Blaugrana.
The former Spain international succeeded Ronald Koeman last year in charge at Camp Nou, and has helped to revive fortunes at the Catalan side since his arrival.
Though his team have slipped into the Europa League for a second season running, they remain competitive in the domestic top-flight, sitting two points ahead of rivals Real Madrid at the World Cup break.
Xavi has revealed he was approached by Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) president Rogerio Caboclo over a role with the Selecao during his time in charge at Al Sadd, but that he turned them down to hold out for Barca.
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