Italy head coach Roberto Mancini said Portugal are stronger with Cristiano Ronaldo, though the European champions are still a great team without their star captain.
Ronaldo will miss Portugal s Nations League opener against Italy in Lisbon on Monday after the five-time Ballon d Or winner opted to skip this month s internationals.
The 33-year-old forward – who is yet to open his account for Serie A champions Juventus since arriving from Real Madrid – is Portugal s most-capped player and all-time leading scorer with 85 goals in 154 appearances.
While Portugal felt Ronaldo s absence in a 1-1 friendly draw against Croatia, Mancini is not taking the Euro 2016 winners for granted.
Portugal won the last European Cup. They are stronger when Ronaldo is playin…
Market: Rayo Vallecano win
Odds: 11/10 @
Looking to make an immediate return to winning ways this weekend, Rayo Vallecano will welcome Espanyol to the Estadio de Vallecas on Sunday lunchtime.
Starting with the hosts, coming off the back of a downbeat display last weekend as they suffered a 3-1 loss at the hands of Real Betis, Vallecano will be glad to make a return to home soil here. With their sights firmly set on clinching an eye-catching top-half finish in 2023, Andoni Iraola’s men have impressed many across La Liga this season. Smelling the chance to claim an immediate boost on Sunday lunchtime, there is no doubt that Los Franjirrojos have certainly shined in front of their own supporters. Last seen at the Estadio de Vallecas picking up a 2-1 win against V…
Real Madrid say racism directed at Vinicius Junior constitutes a ‘hate crime’ and have filed a complaint with the Spanish State Attorney General’s Office.
Brazil forward Vinicius was the subject of an alleged racist attack during Real’s 1-0 LaLiga defeat at Valencia on Sunday.
The game was paused after the break as Vinicius pointed out to the referee those who were allegedly abusing him in the stands at the Mestalla – and the 22-year-old later took to social media to say racism is ‘normal’ in LaLiga.
Official Announcement.
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden)
“Real Madrid CF shows its strongest revulsion and condemns the events that took place yesterday against our player Vinicius Junior,” the club said in a strongly-worded stat…
Chelsea can send a clear signal of intent by beating Tottenham on Saturday to move seven points clear at the top of the Premier League.
With Arsenal and Manchester City in FA Cup action this weekend, and second-placed Liverpool not playing in the league again until next Sunday, Jose Mourinho s side have the opportunity to build a strong lead at the summit.
The omens are certainly on the hosts side, as Tottenham have not won at Stamford Bridge in any competition since February 1990 a run that stretches over 26 matches.
Chelsea, who are unbeaten in 74 home league games under Mourinho, also boast the best home record in the Premier League this season, with 38 points from a possible 42, but Spurs can point to having taken more points (29) on the road than any of their riva…
West Ham United are closing in on the signing of Queens Park Rangers midfielder Joey Barton, .
The thirty-two year old was not in QPR’s squad for their 2-0 defeat at Charlton Athletic, and is set for an imminent move away from Loftus Road.
Barton racked up eighty-four appearances for the Hoops, scoring six goals though he spent the entirety of the 2012/13 campaign on loan at Olympique Marseille.
He began his career with Manchester City, spending five seasons in their first team before moving to Newcastle United in 2007 and then on to QPR in 2012.
Internationally, he won his one and only senior England cap in a 1-0 friendly defeat to Spain in February 2007.
West Ham secured one of the most surprising results from the opening weekend of the…
Verdict: Home win
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Matchday 31 in La Liga will feature one of the most intense rivalries in the country, as Real Madrid will host Atletico Madrid in a pivotal match for both clubs. Los Merengues are coming off a 4-2 win over Leganes away from home, while Los Colchoneros secured their fifth straight win after defeating Real Sociedad 1-0 at home. Zinedine Zidane s boys will look to inch closer to the league title, while Diego Simeone s side will try to upset their bitter rivals in front of their own crowd.
Real Madrid
As mentioned above, Real Madrid are coming off a 4-2 win over Leganes. Alvaro Morata starred in that game with a hat-trick, but the Spaniard is likely to return to a substitute role for this contest considering Cri…
Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri is set to make major changes to his starting line-up for the Serie A match at Pescara on Saturday after the Italian champions famous victory over Barcelona.
The top-flight leaders are away to bottom-of-the-table Pescara in a key match, with Roma sitting only six points behind them with seven matches to play in the Scudetto race.
But with a trip to Camp Nou coming up next Wednesday and Juve on the brink of a Champions League semi-final spot after winning the first leg of their last-eight tie 3-0 in Turin, Allegri is ready to prioritise Europe.
The lads entertained everyone in the stadium and got a good result, Allegri said in his Barca post-match media conference.
There were a lot of expectations around this side to see…
Galatasaray are interested in signing Cristiano Ronado from Manchester United in the January transfer window, according to . The report has claimed that Turkish giants Galatasaray have already made contact with Ronaldo’s camp and have told them that they are keen on securing his services after the 2022 World Cup finals in Qatar.
Ronaldo is out of contract at United at the end of the season, and it is unlikely that the Portugal international will stay at Old Trafford beyond next summer. The former Real Madrid and Juventus star is struggling for playing time at the moment and does not seem to be in manager Erik ten Hag’s immediate plan.
The 37-year-old has made one start and five substitute appearances in the Premier League for the Red Devils so far this season. Ronal…
Western United all but sealed their place in the A-League Finals as Besart Berisha scored twice in a 2-0 win at Perth Glory.
Three points took United playing their debut season into the top six ahead of Adelaide United on goal difference.
With Adelaide having completed their regular season, Mark Rudan s sixth-placed side need only collect a point or avoid a 15-goal swing in their remaining two matches.
They could yet climb as high as third, leapfrogging Wednesday s fifth-placed opponents Perth in the process, with Berisha in inspired form.
His goals were slightly fortuitous, the first ricocheting in as Liam Reddy flapped at a cross, with the second a penalty early in the second half, but the veteran forward posed a threat throughout.
Team
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LONDON (AFP) – English striker Matt Derbyshire has joined Birmingham City on a season-long loan from Olympiakos, the Premier League club announced on their website on Monday.
The 24-year-old frontman has signed up for the season with the possibility that the deal could be made permanent at the end of the 2010-11 campaign, read a statement on the Birmingham website.
Derbyshire began his professional career with hometown club Blackburn Rovers before joining Olympiakos on loan in January 2009.
The former England Under-21 international signed a four-year contract with the Greek giants later that year, having scored a crucial late equaliser in Olympiakos s Greek Cup triumph over AEK Athens in the 2008-09 season.
Birmingham began their Premier League campai…