Bitesize Prediction: Cincinnati vs Charlotte – 14/07/24

Saudi Arabia remain top of World Cup qualifying Group B after they held second-placed Australia to a goalless draw in a feisty contest at the Western Sydney Stadium.

Playing their first home game since October 2019 and backed by an expectant crowd in driving rain on Thursday, the Socceroos were devoid of quality in the final third as they had to settle for a point.

Herve Renard s men lost their 100 per cent record, but remain three points clear of Australia and on course to secure their place in the World Cup in Qatar next year.

The Socceroos missing Tom Rogic, Aaron Mooy and Adam Taggart made a strong start but lacked a cutting edge as Ajdin Hrustic was off target before Awer Mabil fired wide.

Graham Arnold s side continued to dictate the play after the …

European champions Italy missed out on automatic qualification for the 2022 World Cup as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Northern Ireland.

Jorginho s penalty miss against Switzerland last time out meant Italy headed into their final Group C game at Windsor Park level on points with the Swiss, ahead only on goal difference.

And while Switzerland managed to beat Bulgaria on Monday, Italy were frustrated by Ian Baraclough s side in Belfast.

A star of the Euro 2020 success, Federico Chiesa went closest to breaking the deadlock for Roberto Mancini s side as Italy – who failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup – had to settle for a place in the play-offs.

Lorenzo Insigne s sublime pass put Giovanni Di Lorenzo through inside the opening 10 minutes, th…

Argentina are one of the first options on everyone’s mouth when talking about some of the biggest countries in the world when it comes to footballing history. La Albiceleste have won the World Cup twice, reached the Finals in 1990 and 2014, and currently own the best player in the world in Lionel Messi. With that track record, what could possibly go wrong?

Well a lot of things. First of all, La Albiceleste have not won a title since the 1993 Copa America. And they have been on a negative run of results in recent years. They lost the 2014 FIFA World Cup Final against Germany, and both the 2015 and 2016 Copa America Finals against Chile through penalties. Plus, they couldn’t lift any title despite having a star-studded squad with names such as Messi, Gonzalo Higuain, Sergio A…

In what was billed as a battle between two of Europe s heavyweights on Tuesday night, Real Madrid signed off their Group D adventure with an eye-catching 2-0 win against Inter Milan.

While the Spanish giants might have been forced to play their midweek meeting in front of a marginally full Bernabéu, Los Blancos found the net on either side of the break to wrap up a dominant group stage run.

Managing to make it back-to-back victories against the defending Italian champions after landing a 1-0 win at the San Siro back in August, we have taken a look at the main talking points following Tuesday s victory in the capital.

Los Blancos go marching on

Already booking their spot in the knockout stage of this year s Champions League with time to spare, it was clear that…

Competition: Premier League

Market: Everton to beat Newcastle

Odds:

The Premier League returns almost immediately after yet another enthralling round of games at the weekend. The league table has continued to mutate, and it will do so further with another cluster of matches in midweek, as the busy festive period begins to gather pace. With this in mind, rejuvenated Everton travel to face Newcastle on Wednesday.

Newcastle have been struggling massively this season and they are in danger of letting their good start come to nothing. After 16 games they find themselves in 16th-place in the league with 15 points, just two clear of the relegation zone. They have taken just one point from a possible 15 in their last five games, which has seen the pres…

Matthijs de Ligt s protracted move to Juventus has finally been completed, with the defender becoming one of football s priciest teenagers.

The Ajax captain will play for the Serie A champions next term after Juve saw off competition from clubs including Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona and Manchester United.

De Ligt s star rose last term with Ajax reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League, as well as claiming a domestic double under coach Erik ten Hag.

But he now faces justifying a fee of €75million, rising to €85.5m, that makes him the most expensive under-20 defender of all time. Omnisport takes a look at the 10 biggest teenage transfers and how they fared.

 LIGTS  | Matthijs de Ligt officially signs for Juventus! 

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Gareth Bale should leave Real Madrid and move back to the Premier League, according to his former Tottenham team-mate Dimitar Berbatov.

Bale has endured another injury-hit season at the Santiago Bernabeu, but he came off the bench to score a winning penalty against Levante on Sunday.

The Wales forward did not celebrate and shrugged off Lucas Vazquez s attempted hug, although Santiago Solari insisted he was happy to see Bale s anger at having to settle for a cameo role.

And Berbatov, who spent the 2007-08 season with Bale at White Hart Lane, believes that the 29-year-old should now be looking to make a return to English football, adding that he seems to be a scapegoat for Madrid s issues.

Another rumour doing the rounds this week has been a Premier L…

Paris Saint-Germain will struggle to fight back against Real Madrid in the Champions League due to the LaLiga side s threat on the counter-attack, according to Andre Villas-Boas.

PSG led at the Santiago Bernabeu through Adrien Rabiot s goal, but Cristiano Ronaldo struck a brace before Marcelo wrapped up a 3-1 first leg victory for Madrid to give Zinedine Zidane s men a two-goal lead to take to the French capital.

Neymar is an injury doubt for the March 6 return match after the Brazilian sustained an injury to his right ankle during a Ligue 1 win over PSG s rivals Marseille on Sunday, although coach Unai Emery is optimistic the world s most expensive player will be passed fit.

Regardless of whether Neymar is able to play, former Chelsea, Tottenham and Zenit coach …

All eyes were on Old Trafford for Saturday s Manchester derby, though the 0-0 draw was ultimately a rather duller affair than many expected.

But at the very least, the draw actually took them a point closer to one of the title favourites in Chelsea, who suffered a shock defeat to an Everton side who had been struggling badly in recent weeks.

Newcastle United piled on the misery for West Brom with a late winner, while Aston Villa claimed a trademark – yes, that s right, and you ll soon understand why – victory at Wolves to continue their fine campaign.

Here is the pick of the Opta facts from Saturday s action in the Premier League.

3 Manchester United have failed to score in three home league games this season, one more than in the whole of the 2019-20…

Ben Davies is in advanced negotiations with Tottenham Hotspur over a new contract, according to the Telegraph.

The Wales International, who moved to the North London club from Swansea City in the summer of 2014 is in talks over a fresh deal which would see him committed to Mauricio Pochettino s side for another five years.

Over five seasons, Davies has racked up one hundred and sixty-eight appearances in all competitions in all competitions, scoring four goals.

He played forty times last term, but was an unused substitute in last month s Champions League final defeat to Liverpool.

Internationally, he has been capped forty-six times for his country and was an ever present as they reached the semi-finals of the 2016 European Championships in France.