Which clubs will suffer most during the Africa Cup of Nations?
The 2021 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off on January 9 in Cameroon, with the final almost a month later on February 6. With African players fulfilling key roles at many top European clubs, whose domestic seasons will continue during the tournament, some absences will be keenly felt.
What does it take to manage a top football club?
We’ve assessed the top football managers to see what it takes to be successful at one of Europe’s major clubs. Our great infographic looks at age, experience, past playing ability and local knowledge of major leagues and their current employers.
Borussia Monchengladbach vs Bayern Munich: Foals can compete
Bundesliga action is back on Sky Sports this term, starting with an intriguing contest between Borussia Monchengladbach and Bayern Munich. The visitors are hot favourites to claim a 10th straight title triumph, but have lost at Borussia-Park for the last two seasons.
Borussia Dortmund vs Eintracht Frankfurt: Hosts appeal
Dortmund finished last season in great form and can pick up where they left off by beating Frankfurt in their Bundesliga opener. Both teams have had managerial changes and the hosts look to have adjusted better, judged on a 3-0 cup victory at Wehen-Wiesbaden.
Fixture difficulty: Which clubs have the toughest – and easiest – start to the new season?
The ‘big five’ European leagues have released their schedules for the 2021-22 season so we have analysed the fixture difficulty for them all. While every team has to play everyone else at some point, timing can be everything. A tough start can easily undermine a positive pre-season, while a gentle run of opening fixtures can provide the momentum necessary for a successful campaign.
Ballon d’Or odds: Messi could be in seventh heaven
Lionel Messi will look to extend his record of six Ballon d’Or titles when the annual football award returns. The 2020 award ceremony was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic but with football’s return to action, the 2021 edition will see the voting commence.
Euro stars: Who will sign them this summer?
With Euro 2020 now over, attention is shifting to the upcoming domestic football season but the competition’s impact may be felt here as well. Until the first ball of a new campaign is kicked, the attention of fans tends to be fixated on the transfer market, where the Euro 2020 stars will have drawn the attention of the game’s big spenders.
Bundesliga winner odds: Nagelsmann eyeing perfect 10
Bayern Munich are red-hot favourites at 1/6 to claim a 10th straight German title under new boss Julian Nagelsmann in bwin’s Bundesliga winner odds. The Bavaria-born 33-year-old earned rave reviews for his work with Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig.
Rebuilding a footballing dynasty – and what happened next?
With several of Europe’s leading clubs in a transitional period this summer, we’ve taken a look at which past seasons have seen the biggest exoduses of title-winning players and how it affected each team’s performances in the following years.
European Super League: Breakaway tournament collapses
The football world was briefly in turmoil following a European Super League announcement which threatened to shake up the very foundations of the sport, but those plans have collapsed. It was proposed that the new competition would be a rival to the Champions League, with organisers claiming it would generate increased and guaranteed income for the clubs involved.
Who are football’s highest-profile free agents this summer?
As the football season enters its final stretch, Europe’s top clubs will already be preparing their transfer plans for this summer. While there will undoubtedly be fierce bidding wars for the continent’s top talent, some of the biggest signings could well be free transfers.
Analysis: Ten footballers who could suffer from burnout this season
With football now back under way across Europe, the continent’s top clubs can once again focus on the long term. Unfortunately the compressed post-Covid schedule and looming international commitments could lead to their star players tiring during the campaign and suffering from burnout.
Dayot Upamecano transfer news: Gunners favourites to swoop
After watching him star in RB Leipzig’s Champions League run, we’re tracking the latest Dayot Upamecano transfer news to see which teams are chasing the young defender. Arsenal and Bayern Munich head the betting on where he could finish up at the end of the current window.
Bayern Munich vs Eintracht Frankfurt: Holders march on
Bayern Munich’s quest for a German double this season continues with a DFB Pokal semi-final against Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday evening. Hans Flick’s side have extended their lead at the top of the Bundesliga to seven points since resuming their campaign after the coronavirus shutdown, while they have also won this cup nine times in 17 seasons.