Best Odds: 4/11

Bookmaker:

Two sides who are in pole position to book a spot at this year s World Cup Finals, Mexico will welcome the USA to the Estadio Azteca in the early hours of Friday.

Mexico

Starting with the hosts, after suffering that heartbreaking last-gasp defeat in the Gold Cup Final against the USA seven months ago, there is no doubt that Mexico will be seeking some revenge here. However, while Gerardo Martino s side might have endured a tricky end to 2021, the former Barcelona boss has still seen his side largely impress over recent years. Sat in pole position to book an automatic spot at this year s World Cup and holding a four-point buffer over the chasing pack, the Tricolor were last seen on February 3rd claiming a deserved 1-0 win against Panam…

Liel Abada thanked all the Celtic fans who stood by him during a “very difficult” period after sealing his move to Major League Soccer.

The Israel international finalised a permanent transfer to Charlotte FC on Thursday night after his hugely-successful spell in Glasgow came to a premature end amid pressure in his homeland to move on in response to displays of support for the Palestinian people among Celtic supporters.

The winger made 112 appearances for Celtic after joining in the summer of 2021 – winning five major trophies – and netted his 29th and final goal against Aberdeen in the second game of this season.

A thigh injury suffered on international duty in September kept him out for the best part of four months but Abada did not return the same playe…

Football’s independent regulator will have the power to settle the ongoing row over financial distribution between the Premier League and the EFL.

The Government has long warned the football authorities the regulator would have ‘backstop powers’ to intervene and those powers will be confirmed on Tuesday when the Football Governance Bill is introduced to Parliament.

“These powers mean that if the leagues fail to agree on a new deal on financial distributions, then the backstop can be triggered to ensure a settlement is reached,” a Government announcement on the Bill said.

ICYMI – this week Labour has said it will prioritise delivering a new independent regulator for football if the Government fails to do so before the next election

— The FSA …

A quiet January transfer window in the Premier League is a short-term blip rather than the start of a new trend, according to leading finance company Deloitte.

English top-flight clubs spent just £100million, down from a staggering £815m last January and an average of just over £319m since the 2016-17 season, when the value of domestic television rights first jumped past £5billion for a three-year cycle.

The threat of sanctions under the league’s profit and sustainability rules, with Everton already docked 10 points this season, has been cited as a potential reason – though spending over the full season still hit £2.4bn, second only to last season’s £2.7bn.

Calum Ross, assistant director in Deloitte’s Sports Business Group, told the PA news agency: …

Mario Balotelli finished the Turkish Super Lig season in stunning fashion with the first five-goal haul in Adana Demirspor s top-flight history.

Ninth in the table heading into Sunday, Balotelli s ADS had little to play for against already-relegated Goztepe but put on a show.

Vincenzo Montella s side ran out 7-0 winners, with Balotelli hitting five to finish the season on 18 league goals – behind only Kasimpasa s Umut Bozok (20).

The Italy international s outstanding display represented a club first, while Alex in May 2011 had been the last Super Lig player to net five in a match, for Fenerbahce against Ankaragucu.

5 Mario Balotelli is the first player since Alex de Souza (2011) to score five goals in a single Süper Lig game, becoming the first player…

Market: Roma win

Odds: 1/2 @

Turning their attention back to Coppa Italia duties on Thursday night, Roma will welcome Genoa to the Stadio Olimpico.

Starting with the hosts, mounting what was a stellar late comeback away at AC Milan last weekend as they eventually snatched a 2-2 draw, Roma will be looking to use that flurry as a platform to build on. Marking their return from the World Cup s winter break with a 1-0 victory at home against Bologna on January 4th, Jose Mourinho s men will be hoping to find some stability in 2023. Although the Italian giants might have only claimed a single win from their last five domestic matchups on either side of the World Cup break, the former Chelsea boss should be smelling the chance for his side to pick up a Coppa Italia adv…

Carlo Ancelotti is hopeful Karim Benzema will be fit to feature for Real Madrid in the Club World Cup final.

Last year s Ballon d Or winner Benzema did not travel to Morocco earlier this week for the tournament, having sustained a hamstring injury.

However, Ancelotti confirmed after Madrid beat Al Ahly 4-1 in Wednesday s semi-final that the 35-year-old will travel out to train with his team-mates on Friday.

Benzema will be joined by Eder Militao, though Ancelotti – who confirmed Marco Asensio and Dani Carvajal were kept on the bench against Al Ahly due to issues with their fitness – harbours more doubts over the defender s possible contention for Saturday s clash with Al-Hilal.

They are not fully recovered, Ancelotti told reporters of Benzema and Mil…

Manchester City are interested in signing Alex Baena from Villarreal, according to . The report has claimed that City manager Pep Guardiola personally wants to sign Baena, adding that Atletico Madrid are also keen on the Spain international.

Baena is 23 years of age and can operate as an attacking midfielder or as a winger. The youngster has been on the books of Villarreal since 2011 and has established himself in the first team since coming through the Yellow Submarine’s youth academy.

The Spain international has made seven starts and one substitute appearance in La Liga for Villarreal so far this season. He has scored one goal and given five assists in those games. Baena scored two goals and provided 14 assists in 33 La Liga starts and scored two goals and gave thre…

Bukayo Saka struck against Aston Villa on Saturday to bring up Arsenal s 2,000th goal in the Premier League.

The England international rifled in a low 20-yard strike to give the Gunners a 1-0 lead in the 30th minute.

Arsenal become only the third team to hit the milestone in the competition after Manchester United and Liverpool. Jurgen Klopp s side managed the feat in last week s win against Brighton and Hove Albion.

2,000 Bukayo Saka’s opener was Arsenal’s 2,000th goal in the Premier League with the Gunners becoming the third side to reach this milestone after Man Utd (currently 2176 goals) and Liverpool (currently 2002 goals). Landmark.

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe)

Mikel Arteta s Arsenal, who are aiming to secure Champions League qualificatio…

A superb Rodrygo strike was enough for a much-changed Real Madrid side to see off fourth-tier Cacereno on Tuesday and secure their place in the Copa del Rey round of 16.

Plying their trade in the Segunda Federacion, Cacereno more than held their own as the the European and LaLiga champions were unconvincing with Carlo Ancelotti having made nine alterations following the victory over Real Valladolid on Friday.

But in the 69th minute, Rodrygo jinked onto his right foot before arrowing into the top-right corner and that proved be enough to see Madrid through.

Madrid s hopes of winning a 20th Copa del Rey, and their first since the 2013-14 campaign, remain alive but they made hard work of the victory.

It took until the 16th minute for the first shot on target…