Footballer, phenomenon, fragrance… Zlatan Ibrahimovic is many things to many people. The A-Zlatan takes Ibraphiles beyond the sidebar of shame quotes even the average budgerigar is bored of repeating, deep into the make-up of the newly-minted Manchester United man.
Will new Uefa president Ceferin come good on his election pledges?
Aleksander Ceferin has been elected as the new president of Uefa, completing a remarkable ascent from relative obscurity to the top of European football in just six months. The 48-year-old lawyer, who has been president of the Slovenian FA since 2011, succeeds Michel Platini. Little is known about Ceferin, although … Read more
Sorry Leicester, Man City, Arsenal and Tottenham! Premier League’s wealth injection unlikely to buy Champions League success
The almighty spending power of the Premier League in the wake of its recent enormous TV rights deal was evident in the recently closed summer transfer window, when its clubs spent near three times as much as their La Liga and Bundesliga counterparts. However, recent history suggests that it would … Read more
One of Arsenal man’s 22 suitors stands out head and shoulders above all others
The news that Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere is available on loan has sparked a stampede for his signature, with the Mirror reporting 22 clubs have made enquiries about borrowing the 24-year-old. Crystal Palace, Watford, West Brom and Bournemouth are among his Premier League suitors, while Valencia, Roma and Juventus have … Read more
How will English clubs fare in the Champions League group stage?
The Champions League draw has been extremely kind to the four English clubs, and despite Man City’s eye-catching trip to Barcelona there are few matches that should trouble any of Leicester, Tottenham, Man City, or Arsenal. The Gunners must face PSG in Group A but will not be too concerned … Read more
Casemiro’s message to Real Madrid fans ahead of Champions League Final
Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro has called upon Los Blancos’ fans to be at their most passionate during the Champions League Final at San Siro, on Saturday.
The Brazilian hailed the Madridistas’ contribution to the Santiago Bernabeu victories over Wolfsburg and Manchester City that booked their place in Milan during an interview for bwin’s Extra Time segment.
Having nailed down his place in the Real squad this season after an impressive loan campaign at Porto in 2014/15, the 24-year-old is utterly committed to pulling off the club’s second victory in three seasons.
Zinedine Zidane’s men are 29/20 for victory in normal time, with the draw 21/10 and a win for Atletico Madrid 21/10.
Meanwhile, Los Blancos are 3/4 to lift the Champions League by any means, while Atleti are 11/10 to do.
One of the principal figures standing in the way of Casemiro and his colleagues is that of Los Colchoneros’ goalkeeper Jan Oblak.
The Slovenian stopper kept a stellar 24 clean sheets in 38 Primera Division games this term, but the Real midfielder is confident that he will be beaten, telling Extra Time:
“Cristiano [Ronaldo], [Gareth] Bale, [Karim] Benzema…and all our players are there to score. I’m sure they will score against him [Oblak].”
The trio are 13/10, 9/4 and 2/1 to find the net any time during the opening 90 minutes respectively in Milan, with the Frenchman the most recent Merengue to notch against Diego Simeone’s side.
Man Utd, Liverpool and West Ham top English producers of Champions League winners
In all of Europe, just three clubs’ youth systems have produced more winning starters in Champions League finals than Manchester United. The Red Devils have nurtured double the amount of talent to make the 24 past victorious XI’s of any other English side in the competition’s history. Liverpool and, in … Read more
Why Atletico Madrid’s youth policy gives them a Champions League edge
When the city of Madrid takes its footballing rivalry to Milan for the Champions League final, it’ll be billed as Real’s flair against Atletico’s workmanlike organisation. A lavishly assembled and widely-recognised squad, playing in white will take on a group of relatively unheralded players in red stripes, who cost far … Read more
Guardiola trend shows why you have to back Atletico Madrid in Champions League
Pep Guardiola won’t get a heroic send off from Bayern Munich, with Atletico Madrid denying him the chance of a first Champions League final with the German outfit. This was the third season in a row the Bundesliga champions had been knocked out at this stage, with all of them … Read more
Ballon d’Or odds suggest Liverpool legend can cleave Messi/Ronaldo duopoly
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have had the Ballon d’Or on lockdown since 2008, landing the award for the finest player on earth eight times between them. But that could all be set to change this year, with Messi’s teammate and former Liverpool legend Luis Suarez throwing down a credible … Read more
Why Arsenal should field team of sacrificial lambs at football’s greatest slaughterhouse
If Arsene Wenger is to prevent the total implosion of a season that had promised so much more than simply the retention of the top-four cup, then Arsenal must win the Premier League title. To this end, drawing a line through the Gunners’ hopeless task in the Champions League is … Read more
The Betting Figures Behind E-Sports: More wagers will be placed on League of Legends than Champions League
With astronomical attendance figures and constantly growing, seven-figure prize pools, E-Sports, or competitive computer gaming, is rapidly carving a reputation as the world’s fastest growing sport. So much so, that betting turnover on League of Legends has eclipsed Champions League winner market takings so far in 2016.
Ten precedents that show Arsenal can still qualify for the Champions League knockouts
Arsenal’s chances of qualifying for the next stage of the Champions League appear remote ahead of their group stage double header against FC Bayern Munchen. They are pointless after two games, with back-to-back encounters against a side that has eliminated them from the competition in two of the last three … Read more