Everybody loves the passion involved in Premier League derbies and we’re taking a look at some of the local rivalries that will get pulses racing this season. Arsenal vs Tottenham will be the first to take place on September 1 and there are always fireworks when those north London foes meet.
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.
Nottingham Forest and Cardiff are both expected to be in the promotion mix this season but have made a slow start ahead of Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off. They were both beaten on the opening weekend and were knocked out in the first round of the EFL Cup so there is pressure on them to avoid a third straight defeat.
Birmingham finished 31 points below Brentford in the Championship last season but maintained a good head-to-head record against the Bees. City took four points from two tight tussles, having picked up a couple of draws during the previous campaign’s hard-fought encounters.
Aberdeen’s players appear to have come together through adversity and we’re backing them to battle for a draw at high-flying Hibernian. The hosts have only dropped two points from five Scottish Premiership matches but recent evidence suggests they may be flattered by a lofty position.
After being reduced to a fringe player at Manchester United, we’re tracking the latest Jesse Lingard transfer news to see if a move is on the cards. The 27-year-old has been at Old Trafford for all of his career but may now need to look further afield to receive more time on the pitch.
Hamilton ended a run of seven straight losses to Rangers when securing a surprise 1-0 Scottish Premiership success at Ibrox in March. In fact, the Accies have managed to score in three consecutive encounters with the Light Blues and are rated a value bet to keep that run going.
Celtic enjoyed a fine Champions League victory over KR Reykjavik in midweek and are also expected to ease past Dundee United in the Scottish Premiership. The Terrors have shown great spirit since returning to the top flight but we fear this clash may provide them with a reality check.
While the Premier League grabs the lion’s share of the football headlines in England, there are more than three times as many professional clubs below the top flight with stories of their own to tell. To celebrate those working away from the limelight, we’ve ranked the top 20 managers based on their achievements with EFL clubs.
Following his arrival at Camp Nou, bwin is offering a number of Ronald Koeman Barcelona odds on how he will fare in the hot seat. Quique Setien was sent packing after a humiliating 8-2 Champions League drubbing by Bayern Munich, having only succeeded Ernesto Valverde in January.
Scottish Premiership high-flyers Hibernian have found McDiarmid Park a happy hunting ground in recent years and can beat St Johnstone there again on Sunday. The Edinburgh outfit are unbeaten in their last five trips to this venue, picking up maximum points from the two most recent visits.
Aberdeen return to action for the first time since falling foul of coronavirus protocols and face a tricky trip to St Johnstone on Thursday. Saints have made a solid start to the new Scottish Premiership campaign, picking up four points from three away fixtures and only losing to Rangers.
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.
With the Catalan giants facing a rebuilding job, we’re tracking the latest Barcelona transfer news to see which signings may be heading to Camp Nou. An embarrassing 8-2 drubbing by Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals emphasised the need for fresh reinforcements.