Real Madrid 21/20 to beat Galatasaray to nil in Wednesday’s Champions League contest

Hertha Berlin coach Pal Dardai claims Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich benefited from the Bayern bonus in rescuing a 1-1 draw in the German capital on Saturday.

Robert Lewandowski levelled with the last kick of the game to earn a point following a below-par display from the defending champions.

However, that goal came after the allotted five minutes of stoppage time had elapsed, prompting angry clashes between the two sets of players.

And Dardai says his team had every right to feel aggrieved.

First of all, I have to say that my team were outstanding, he told Sky. We also had plenty of opportunities to score the second goal, but we did not manage to do it.

Unfortunately there was so much stoppage time. That is the Bayern bonus.

It s n…

Former Barcelona right-back Juliano Belletti has hailed Neymar s finishing and believes the Brazil international will only get better playing alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.

Neymar has developed into a key figure at Camp Nou since joining the club from Santos in 2013 and made the FIFA Ballon d Or podium for the first time in his career following some fine performances in 2015.

Belletti is impressed with his compatriot s efforts for Barca over the past two-and-a-half seasons, but has stressed the presence of Suarez and Messi in the Blaugrana s final third has also played a big role in the 23-year-old s success.

Neymar can improve even more. At the moment, apart from his great individual performances, Suarez and Messi are helping him a lot, Belletti told …

AS Roma hotshot Cengiz Under has emerged as a January transfer target for both Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.

The 20-year-old Turkish winger joined AS Roma from Turkish side Basaksehir ahead of the 2017/18 season and went on to establish himself as one of the biggest prospects in European football.

The young Turk has attracted plenty of interest from around the globe thanks to his impressive performances at AS Roma and the most recent reports have it that Bundesliga heavyweights Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund would be keen to make a move for him this winter.

Italian media claim that the reigning champions are prepared to fork out €60 million for Under which would see them break the record by almost €20 million Bayern paid to bring Corentin Tolisso…

Market: Both teams to score

Odds: 10/11 @

Facing what could be a season-defining Premiership showdown on Sunday lunchtime, Celtic will travel to Tynecastle when they meet Hearts.

Starting with the hosts, enjoying what has been another eye-catching domestic romp this season, it is no secret that the Jambos have their sights firmly set on securing another European finish in 2024. While Steven Naismith’s men might have been disappointed earlier in the week as they eventually had to settle for a 1-1 stalemate against Hibernian, the Edinburgh-based outfit have lost just one of their previous 14 appearances across all competitions. With that extended flurry stemming all the way back to a 2-1 defeat away at Aberdeen back on December 9th, Hearts will also be excited b…

Philippe Coutinho is unsure what his future holds ahead of his return to Barcelona from Bayern Munich.

Coutinho completed his loan spell at Bayern by winning the Champions League title after a 1-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the final on Sunday.

The Brazil international is expected to make a permanent move from Barcelona this close season, the former Liverpool star linked with a return to the Premier League.

Coutinho, who came off the bench against PSG, said he was eager for a strong 2020-21 season – but he is unsure where that will be.

I haven t thought about this. I have to go back and I want to work hard to have a great year, he told Movistar+.

I don t know if [it will be] in Barcelona.

As Barca finished 2019-20 trophy-less…

Alberto Zaccheroni is eager to see the improvement Japan have made since last year when they open their FIFA World Cup campaign on Saturday.

Japan featured at the Confederations Cup last June after winning the 2011 Asian Cup but they failed to win a game in Brazil.

The Asian champions were beaten by host nation Brazil (3-0), Italy (4-3) and Mexico (2-1).

Japan are now back in Brazil a year later and Zaccheroni said he believes his team have matured on the eve of their Group C clash against Ivory Coast.

I don t like to make proclamations, I m a man who has his beliefs, said the Italian. I believe the team has improved.

In the last important competition, the Confederations Cup, we failed the maturity test.

Since then, 12 months have gone, in the meantim…

Benfica boss Jorge Jesus has added fuel to speculations linking star forward Rodrigo Moreno with a summer switch to Liverpool.

The talented footballer was recently purchased by an investment fund, and he is widely tipped to leave Estadio da Luz at the end of the season.

Following some very good displays in Primeira Liga and Europa League, Rodrigo has been linked with Premier League giants Liverpool.

And speaking after the Europa League clash against Tottenham, Jorge Jesus has all but confirmed the transfer talk.

It s normal. Every Benfica player is in a big window, Jesus told reporters. The league is full of high quality players so it s normal for other clubs to be interested. Rodrigo is going through a good moment.

Rodrigo Moreno Machado joine…

Two of the Premier League s form sides meet on Saturday when AFC Bournemouth host Crystal Palace, and Eddie Howe is delighted by the way his team have handled life in the top flight.

Famous wins over Chelsea and Manchester United were followed up by a victory over West Brom, results that see Bournemouth unbeaten in five games and up to 14th in the table, four points clear of the bottom three.

Howe has been impressed by how his players have remained level-headed in their approach through good and bad times this season ahead of the match against Palace.

I would say we have been pretty consistent I wouldn t say the spirit is any higher than it has been at any other time, he said at his pre-match media conference.

People may find that hard to believe, b…

Keylor Navas will never be good enough for Real Madrid / Image via bluemaize.net

 
He cried himself to sleep on the transfer deadline day in 2015, disappointed that his efforts were never quite appreciated at Santiago Bernabeu.

But waking up the very next morning to the news that David de Gea’s agreed transfer to Real Madrid collapsed because of the papyrology and missed deadline, Costa Rica international goalkeeper decided to turn the new page and work harder than ever to prove his worth to the Real Madrid hierarchy.

The 30-year-old shot stopper signed a six-year contract with Real Madrid in 2014 which was the biggest prize and acknowledgment of his fantastic FIFA World Cup in Brazil, when Navas kept three clean sheets in five matches and dazzled with a string…

Mauricio Pochettino will be without Neymar and Leandro Paredes for Paris Saint-Germain s Champions League clash with RB Leipzig on Tuesday as his list of absent players continues to grow.

Brazil star Neymar returned from the international break with an adductor issue after impressing with a goal and two assists in a 4-1 win over Uruguay.

Paredes, meanwhile, was replaced in the second half of Argentina s 1-0 victory against Peru due to a problem in his right quadriceps and will also be unavailable.

The pair join Sergio Ramos – who is still yet to make his PSG debut – on the injury list, while Angel Di Maria is suspended and Mauro Icardi is a doubt after missing training due to personal issues.

The priority is always the health of the players,  Poche…