Barcelona draw group-stage blank for first time in five years

Market: Hull win

Odds: 1/2 @

Two sides who find themselves battling it out at opposite ends of the Championship table, Hull will welcome Rotherham to the MKM Stadium on Tuesday night.

Starting with the hosts, mounting a stellar second-half comeback away at Swansea over the weekend as they eventually snatched a 2-2 draw, Hull have continued to gain a string of plaudits from across the Championship this season. Already cementing their spot as one of the surprise packages, the mood in Liam Rosenior’s camp appears to be at a red-hot high. With some around the MKM Stadium now dreaming of the chance to mount a genuine play-off charge in 2024, the former Derby coach should be smelling a golden opportunity here. Signing off October with a stellar 1-0 victory against P…

Pep Guardiola has called on Manchester City s supporters to back his side when they are enduring tough moments.

Premier League champions City were back somewhere close to their brilliant best on Saturday as Kevin De Bruyne inspired a 3-1 comeback win against Leicester City – Riyad Mahrez and Gabriel Jesus on target either side of Ilkay Gundogan s first-half penalty.

However, they remain third in the table behind Leicester and 11 points shy of runaway leaders Liverpool having played a game more.

It is a situation somewhat different to the one enjoyed at the Etihad Stadium over the course of back-to-back title wins and a cumulative total of 198 points.

The Leicester game was the first of four home fixtures in a two-week period for City, who also face Man…

Aston Villa are interested in signing Tammy Abraham from Premier League rivals Chelsea in the summer transfer window, according to . It has been reported that the Villans want to secure the services of the 23-year-old on a loan deal.

Chelsea would prefer to sell Abraham to sending the England international striker out on loan. The 2021 Champions League winners value the youngster at £40 million. London rivals Arsenal are claimed to be keen on securing the services of the striker.

Abraham struggled for playing time at Chelsea last season after Thomas Tuchel replaced Frank Lampard as the club’s manager. The striker made and 10 substitute appearances in the league, scoring six goals and providing one assist in the process. Araham also made three starts and two substitu…

Atletico Madrid winger Yannick Ferreira Carrasco is eager to sign a new contract to keep him at the club beyond 2020.

The Belgium international, who joined from Monaco in July 2015, has established himself as a key component of Diego Simeone s side and scored his first goal of the season to give Atletico a 1-0 Champions League win over Bayern Munich last month.

Reports in England have suggested Chelsea are keen to strike a deal to sign the 23-year-old, who is understood to have a release clause of close to €40million in his contract.

But Carrasco claimed he has no interest in offers from elsewhere and wants to prolong his stay with Atleti beyond the expiry of his deal.

I m already here until 2020 and hopefully I can be here longer, he said. I m really …

A lawyer representing Antoine Griezmann has arrived at LaLiga headquarters to pay his Atletico Madrid release clause and start the process of his move to Barcelona.

A man identified as the France star s solicitor was filmed by Cope arriving at the league s offices in Madrid around midday on Friday.

Atletico are expected to make an announcement later to confirm the €120million buyout clause has been deposited, thereby releasing Griezmann from his contract.

The forward is then likely to finalise a move to Barca in the coming hours, with reports in Catalonia suggesting he will be presented at Camp Nou as early as Sunday.

Griezmann has long been expected to join the LaLiga champions despite signing a new Atletico contract after rejecting Barca advances last…

Pep Guardiola believes he should shoulder the blame for Manchester City s struggles earlier this season.

City can move to within a point of Liverpool if they beat Brighton and Hove Albion at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday the first of two games they have in hand on the reigning champions.

Guardiola s side have been bolstered by a 13-match unbeaten run, spanning four competitions, and the sort of consistency that appeared beyond them as they spluttered through the opening weeks of 2020-21.

Still nursing the hangover from a humbling 3-1 Champions League quarter-final defeat at the hands of Lyon in August, they won only three of their opening eight Premier League games this term.

Recent victories over Chelsea in the top flight and Manchester United in the E…

LOS ANGELES (Oct 30)

The LA Galaxy and AC Milan announced an agreement late today which, among other things, will send England star David Beckham to the Italian club beginning January of next year.

In accordance with the new agreement Beckham will continue to practice and play with the MLS club for the 2009 season (not concurrent with European season).

Beckham has been a member of the Galaxy of MLS since January of 2007, and competed for the club in the past two seasons.

Despite setting records in the league for transfer fee and compensation, Beckham s two seasons with the Galaxy have produced just 5 goals and 10 assists. The Galaxy have also failed to make the league playoffs in both years.

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Hatem Ben Arfa has described Newcastle as a beautiful club and claims everything is in place for them to win silverware.

Hatem Ben Arfa has described Newcastle as a beautiful club and claims everything is in place for them to win silverware.

The Frenchman has become a key member of Alan Pardew s squad since signing from Marseille for five million pounds in 2010.

Ben Arfa has not played since December due to a hamstring injury but is set to make an imminent return to action and has declared himself excited for the future at St James Park.

I d love to win titles, silverware, he told The Times. To give everything I can so that at the end of my career I can look back and have no regrets.

Why not here? It s a beautiful club. There s everything her…

David Moyes has completed his eighth Sunderland signing of the transfer window with the loan acquisition of Manchester City defender Jason Denayer.

The 21-year-old has yet to make a senior appearance for City since graduating from their youth academy in 2014, instead being sent out on loan.

He has spent time with both Celtic and Galatasaray in the past two campaigns, winning the league and cup double during his time in Scotland.

His long wait for a Premier League appearance looks set to be over, though, with his season-long move to the Stadium of Light.

Denayer is the second new arrival on Wednesday following Didier Ndong s transfer from Ligue 1 club Lorient.

The Belgium international is the fifth defender acquired by Moyes since replacing Sam All…

West Bromwich Albion have rejected an improved bid from Tottenham Hotspur for striker Saido Berahino, .

The North London club, who saw an £18m offer for the England U21 international turned down earlier this month, have now had a £22m bid rebuffed by the Midlands outfit, who have no intention of selling.

Baggies manager Tony Pulis left Berahino out of the match-day squad for Sunday’s defeat to Chelsea, and the club have rejected the striker’s request to be transfer listed.

Since making his senior debut in 2013, the 22 year old has racked up eighty-three appearances for the club in all competitions, scoring twenty-nine goals.

He received his first senior England call up back in November though he is yet to make his debut for Roy Hodgson’s side…