While it might be the World Cup final that takes center stage on Sunday, we also have a host of interesting fixtures from across Europe. On that note, for those of you looking to place a Sunday acca, we have found a handful of helpful tips that are worth keeping an eye out for.
Sunday December 18th
BST 11:30 Luton vs Millwall
While Luton might have opened the 2022/23 campaign with their sights set on claiming another stunning play-off spot, Sunday s hosts have shown some extended issues on either side of the World Cup s winter break. Marking their return to action last weekend with a last-gasp 2-1 loss away at Middlesbrough, the Hatters have recorded just a single win from any of their last seven Championship contests. Freefalling their way out the top-half of the …
Paris Saint-Germain attacker Angel Di Maria said it would be wonderful to play alongside Lionel Messi amid doubts over his Barcelona future.
Messi is out of contract at the end of the season and the superstar Barca captain has been heavily linked with Ligue 1 champions PSG and Premier League leaders Manchester City.
Barca – led by new president Joan Laporta – remain hopeful of re-signing the record six-time Ballon d Or winner, who has spent his entire senior career at Camp Nou.
Di Maria has played alongside Messi at international level for Argentina and the PSG star admitted he would love to join forces with his countryman at club level.
From my whole career, from everything I ve seen, I think Leo is from another planet, Di Maria told beIN SPORTS. To…
Kylian Mbappe clinched the World Cup Golden Boot with a dramatic hat-trick in Sunday s final, though his efforts were in vain as Lionel Messi s Argentina triumphed on penalties.
Mbappe entered Sunday s game level with Paris Saint-Germain team-mate Messi on five goals, and twice fell behind in his battle with the Argentina captain in a thrilling contest.
Messi became the first player to reach 20 World Cup goal involvements when he opened the scoring with a penalty following Ousmane Dembele s trip on Angel Di Maria, who then capped a flowing move to put Argentina 2-0 up.
However, Mbappe was gifted a route back into the battle atop the goalscoring charts with 10 minutes remaining, tucking a penalty home after Nicolas Otamendi fouled Randal Kolo Muani.
Mbappe…
European champions Italy are on a world record 37-game unbeaten streak, but they remain lodged at number five in the FIFA rankings.
The world governing body published its new list on Thursday and the only change in the top five saw England jump to third, nudging France down to fourth.
England were runners-up to Italy in the Euro 2020 final, losing on penalties at Wembley after a 1-1 draw, and two wins and a draw from World Cup qualifiers in September have seen Gareth Southgate s team edge ahead of Les Bleus.
It is the first time since 2012 that England have reached the top three, and third place remains the highest position they have achieved in the rankings.
Didier Deschamps France could only manage two draws and a win in this month s international br…
Divock Origi kept up his run of scoring against Everton as his late goal helped Liverpool claim a 2-0 win in the Merseyside derby.
The Reds were made to work hard by struggling Everton, who went into Sunday s match in the relegation zone after Burnley had defeated Wolves earlier on.
Liverpool are now back within a point of their Premier League title rivals Manchester City, while third-placed Chelsea moved five points clear of fourth-placed Arsenal with a last-gasp win over West Ham.
Brighton and Hove Albion and Southampton played out a 2-2 draw in the day s other game. Here, using Opta data, Stats Perform checks the best facts from Sunday s action.
Chelsea 1-0 West Ham: Pulisic spares Jorginho s blushes
Chelsea turned in a below-par per…
Real Madrid head coach Zinedine Zidane said neighbours Atletico Madrid are favourites to win LaLiga this season.
Madrid play host to unbeaten LaLiga leaders Atletico at Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano in Saturday s derby, with Diego Simeone s visitors holding a one-point advantage over Real Sociedad atop the table.
Defending champions Madrid are six points off the pace and Zidane believes Atletico are in the box seat to claim their first league crown since 2013-14.
Asked if Atletico are favourites for LaLiga glory, Zidane told reporters on Friday: Yes, for sure.
That s what they re showing on the pitch. They re doing things well and competing. They ve always been competitive and they re first right now.
What interests us is what we re going to do. It…
Cardiff say they have prepared “separate legal action” against Nantes over the Emiliano Sala transfer, with the matter now set to be resolved in the French courts.
The Swiss Federal Tribunal has ruled the Court of Arbitration for Sport does not have the power to deal with Cardiff’s claim for damages against Nantes.
Sala died when the light aircraft he was travelling in from France crashed into the English Channel in January 2019, two days after Cardiff had announced the signing of the 28-year-old Argentinian forward.
Swiss Federal Tribunal Decision | 09/05/23
— Cardiff City FC (@CardiffCityFC)
Nantes’ claim for the first six million euros (just over £5m) of the £15m transfer fee was upheld by CAS last August.
A statement from …
Gabriel Jesus has thanked everyone associated with Manchester City and says it is time to live a new dream after completing his move to Arsenal.
The Brazil international spent five-and-a-half years at the Etihad Stadium and scored 95 goals in 234 appearances for City in all competitions.
However, following the arrivals of Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez, Jesus has opted to depart the club in a deal worth a reported £45million.
Arsenal confirmed the signing of Jesus on a long-term deal on Monday, and the 25-year-old took to Twitter to pay his respects to City.
Thanks Man City and all the people who made this club my life for all these years, he said. Time to live a new dream!
Jesus becomes Arsenal s fourth signing of the window following the a…
Kepa Arrizabalaga made another blunder and Timo Werner missed a penalty but Tammy Abraham s hat-trick got Chelsea past Luton Town with a 3-1 victory at Stamford Bridge.
Abraham s quickfire double put Chelsea in control early in the FA Cup fourth-round tie on Sunday, as last season s runners up seemed to be heading for a comfortable success.
Yet Kepa, brought in as one of seven changes made by Frank Lampard from Tuesday s defeat at Leicester City, enabled Luton to haul themselves into the contest when he failed to keep out Jordan Clark s effort.
Abraham s third goal 16 minutes from time ultimately set up a fifth-round trip to Barnsley, though Werner s woeful run in front of goal continued when his late spot-kick was saved.
3 Tammy Abraham is the first …
With their ranks severely hit with injuries this season, Liverpool are working on signing a central midfielder in January, and according to , one of the names on their list is Konrad Laimer of RB Leipzig.
The 25-year-old, currently himself out of action with a syndesmotic ligament tear, is rated very highly, but Leipzig might be willing to do a cut-price deal in the winter as they otherwise face the prospect of seeing him leave for free at the end of the season, when his contract runs out. Apparently, he has decided against signing a new one and is interested in testing himself in the Premier League.
Laimer joined Leipzig in 2017 from RB Salzburg where he rose through the academy ranks, for a reported fee of €7 million. Liverpool, meanwhile, have a good relationship w…