Prediction: Espanyol vs Getafe

Best odds: 153/100

Bookmaker:

Espanyol and top-tier side Getafe are set to clash at Stage Front Stadium on Saturday evening, aiming to secure a spot in the last 16 of the Copa del Rey.

Espanyol have experienced a string of draws in their recent La Liga 2 fixtures, marking a peculiar phase for the team. Meanwhile, Getafe s form in La Liga has hit a rough patch following a previous winning streak.

Espanyol

Espanyol concluded their 2023 calendar with a thrilling six-goal draw against Burgos at Stage Front Stadium in La Liga 2 on December 19. Sergi Gomez, Javi Puado, and former Barcelona forward Martin Braithwaite were among the scorers in the exciting contest.

In their recent league outings, the hosts have managed three consecutive draws. Their mos…

Aguero to decide future – Guardiola

Sergio Aguero is about to enter the final 18 months of his contract with Manchester City, and manager Pep Guardiola was asked about the situation.

As Guardiola pointed out, the Argentine forward has been one of the most important player at the club in the last decade, and his goal against Queens Park Rangers in 2012 that won them the Premier League was probably a huge turning point, a catalyst to the subsequent successes. The boss is aware that Aguero as such will be impossible to replace, once the time of his departure comes.

There is, of course, Gabriel Jesus to fall back on and Guardiola says another striker will be coming in if Aguero leaves, but it will take a lot for any other player to deliver such impact at the club as Aguero has done.

The Catalan tactic…

Inter 2-1 Bayer Leverkusen: Lukaku sets Europa League record as Nerazzurri seal semi-final spot

Romelu Lukaku and Nicolo Barella were on target as Inter saw off Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 to reach the Europa League semi-finals.

Inter led 2-0 inside 21 minutes at Merkur Spielarena in Dusseldorf – Barella opening the scoring before Lukaku squeezed in a record-setting goal.

Leverkusen star Kai Havertz pulled one back three minutes later, with VAR then denying Lukaku – the first player to score in nine successive UEFA Cup or Europa League games – the chance to double his tally from the spot, a fate he would suffer again in second-half stoppage time.

Alexis Sanchez went close to marking his first appearance since signing permanently for Inter with a goal midway through the first half, but the Nerazzurri s blistering start ultimately proved enough to book t…

Bubista taking nothing for granted as Cape Verde face Mauritania in last 16

Cape Verde coach Bubista is taking nothing for granted when they face fellow underdogs Mauritania in the last 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations.

Both countries were surprise qualifiers from the group stage, with Cape Verde beating Ghana and Mozambique and earning a draw with Egypt.

Mauritania, meanwhile, finished third in Group D courtesy of a shock win over Algeria.

Bubista, speaking at his pre-match press conference, said: “Mauritania is a difficult opponent. This team showed cohesion and quality.

“Their victory against Algeria was well deserved. They have a solid defence. This is going to be a very tactical encounter and we will have to play our cards well and not falter.”

FULL-TIME!

The Blue Sharks put on a show and defeat Mozambi…

Tuchel tells Chelsea to prove Norwich thrashing was not a one-off

Thomas Tuchel wants Chelsea s players to continue proving their quality after watching them run riot against Norwich City.

Shorn of the injured Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner, Chelsea made light work of lowly Norwich at Stamford Bridge, with Mason Mount scoring a hat-trick in a 7-0 win.

It was the fourth time Chelsea have won a Premier League game by seven or more goals and the first time since December 2012 against Aston Villa (8-0), with only Manchester United netting seven or more goals in more Premier League games.

Mount opened and rounded off the scoring, with strikes from Callum Hudson-Odoi, Reece James, Ben Chilwell and an own goal from Max Aarons wedged in between.

Chelsea s win lifted them four points clear at the top for at least a few hours, a…

Messi ´reign of terror´ to blame for Griezmann struggles, says forward´s former advisor

Antoine Griezmann has struggled at Barcelona due to the reign of terror presided over by Lionel Messi, according to the France star s former advisor.

Griezmann, a €120million signing from Atletico Madrid last year, has found it difficult to hit top form alongside Messi at Camp Nou.

The forward, who missed a penalty against Real Betis last week before scoring in Barca s 5-2 victory, has just two goals, one assist and four chances created to his name in seven LaLiga appearances this season.

Griezmann has previously insisted there are no problems between him and Messi but Eric Olhats, the player s former representative, feels it is telling that the six-time Ballon d Or winner does not say the same in public.

Speaking to France Football, Olhats even suggest…

Barcelona dealt injury blow with Olmo out for five weeks

Barcelona confirmed that Dani Olmo has been sidelined for up to five weeks with a hamstring injury.

The 26-year-old appeared to suffer muscle discomfort after scoring in Sunday s 4-1 league win at Girona and was substituted in the 61st minute.

Olmo, who signed from RB Leipzig for €55million, missed the first two games of their season due to registration issues but has played in all three since.

He has netted three goals in those appearances, with only Robert Lewandowski netting more so far (four).

Olmo s injury is a blow to Hansi Flick s side as they begin their Champions League campaign against Monaco on Thursday, having already made a perfect start to LaLiga, with five wins from five.

The Spaniard is set to miss at least six games up to the Oc…

Andreas Christensen to leave Chelsea for Barcelona?

Andreas Christensen has decided to leave Chelsea and join Barcelona in the summer transfer window, according to . The Denmark International central defender is out of contract at defending European champions Chelsea at the end of the season, and he will reportedly move to Barcelona on a free transfer in the summer of 2022.

Christensen has been on the books of Chelsea since 2012 and is now part of the first team at Stamford Bridge. The 25-year-old central defender has made 12 starts and two substitute appearances in the Premier League, and has scored one goal and provided one assist in six Champions League games for Thomas Tuchel’s side so far this season.

Chelsea are third in the Premier League table at the moment with 50 points from 25 matches. Meanwhile, Barcelona a…

Kuyt ´amazed´ by high levels of Liverpool and Man City

Former Liverpool forward Dirk Kuyt has said he finds the high levels reached by the Reds and Premier League title rivals Manchester City amazing .

Kuyt played for Liverpool between 2006 and 2012, winning the EFL Cup in his final season at Anfield.

However, having already secured the same trophy this season, Liverpool have three more titles in their sights as they look to complete an unprecedented quadruple.

Liverpool sealed a place in the FA Cup final against Chelsea after beating City 3-2 at Wembley last week, have a Champions League semi-final against Villarreal on the horizon, and sit just a point behind Pep Guardiola s team in the race for the Premier League title.

Speaking to Stats Perform, Kuyt praised the levels of both title rivals, saying:  …

Conte: Inter is the most difficult challenge of my career

Antonio Conte acknowledges he has become a pain in the a** as he attempts to guide Inter to their first trophy in a decade.

Ahead of hosting Genoa on Sunday, Inter top Serie A after 23 games – their derby victory over Milan last week moving them four points clear of their city and title rivals.

Inter – who finished second in Serie A behind Juventus in Conte s debut season – last won a trophy in 2010-11, clinching their seventh Coppa Italia trophy.

The Nerazzurri have already seen two opportunities for silverware slip from their grasp this campaign, finishing bottom of their Champions League group and exiting the Coppa Italia in the semi-finals.

With Milan facing a tough trip to Roma and Juve further off the pace, Inter have the chance to consolidate…