Bitesize Prediction: Leeds vs Sunderland – 09/04/24

UEFA has confirmed format changes to both the Nations League and qualifiers for the European Championships and World Cup.

The changes to the Nations League, which began in 2018, include an additional knock-out element, with League A group winners and runners-up taking part in two-legged quarter-finals.

Teams that finish third in League A and League B will face off against the runners-up of League B and League C in two-legged promotion/relegation play-offs.

Changes to qualifying for European Championships and World Cups will now see 12 groups of either four or five teams drawn, with group winners qualifying and runners-up either also qualifying or entering play-offs.

The introduction of the UEFA Nations League was a success story, replacing friendly games…

European champions Chelsea kicked off their Premier League campaign with a routine 3-0 win over London rivals Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

Three days after winning the UEFA Super Cup on penalties against Villarreal, adding to May s Champions League triumph, the Blues dominated against Palace from start to finish.

Christian Pulisic was brought into the side as one of five changes from that midweek cup win and scored before half-time to add to Marcos Alonso s 27th-minute opener.

Palace s first game under Patrick Vieira went from bad to worse as Trevoh Chalobah marked his league debut for Chelsea with a superb goal, giving the returning home fans plenty of reason to celebrate.

Made in Cobham.

3-0 

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC…

Borussia Dortmund s Marco Reus became the club s first player in over five years to register five direct goal involvements in a single Bundesliga game, as he starred in Sunday s drubbing of Borussia Monchengladbach.

With leaders Bayern Munich having beat Greuther Furth 4-1 earlier on, Dortmund responded with a 6-0 thrashing of coach Marco Rose s former team at Signal Iduna Park.

It ensured BVB kept within six points of the champions, while also saw them get back on track after Thursday s humbling Europa League defeat to Rangers.

Reus, who had just one shot and failed to create a chance against Rangers, was the star of the show, scoring twice and assisting three other goals against his former team.

The Germany forward, who scored 36 Bundesliga goals for G…

Xavi described Barcelona s 2-1 win over Clasico rivals Real Madrid as a very important victory for us as his team roared 12 points clear at the top of LaLiga.

A first league title since 2018-19 is within Barcelona s grasp now, with a dozen matchdays remaining and no end in sight to their dominance.

A 22nd win from 26 games in this season s championship was hard-earned at Camp Nou, where a freak own goal from Ronald Araujo gave Madrid a ninth-minute lead.

Barcelona s equaliser could hardly have been better timed, coming just before half-time from Sergi Roberto, who was given the nod to start in midfield ahead of Franck Kessie.

That gave Barcelona a huge lift to take into the interval and they struck at the death in the second half too, with substitute Kess…

Sarina Wiegman is absolutely happy with England s progress ahead of the Women s Euro 2022, but she did not see a stunning 5-1 defeat of the Netherlands as cause to get carried away.

England have never lost back-to-back matches against the Oranje, yet their previous meeting had been a crushing 3-0 reverse in the Euro 2017 semi-finals.

Wiegman was in the Netherlands dugout on that occasion, guiding her country to a home tournament success.

That is now her aim with the Lionesses, and Friday s victory at Elland Road surely laid down a marker, with Beth Mead scoring twice – either side of goals from Ella Toone and Lauren Hemp – after Lucy Bronze had cancelled out Lieke Martens opener.

England are yet to lose in their 13 games under Wiegman, scoring 80 time…

Verdict: Both teams score

Best odds:

Bookmaker: 

AS Roma travel North of Italy for the fiery match against Udinese hoping for a win that will keep them in the top 4 fight for a much-needed return to the Champions League next season. The game will be played at Friuli Stadium where local fans will cheer for their favourite team s mandatory victory given the imminent relegation danger.

Udinese

Udinese is going through a difficult period with results far below expectations that have taken the team into a dangerous zone. With seven rounds left to play and a difficult schedule ahead, the hosts need a win against AS Roma to move away from the red-hot drop zone.

Despite facing accessible opponents like Sassuolo and Torino, Udinese has only picked up on…

According to Fabrizio Romano, Real Madrid and Eduardo Camavinga are on the verge of reaching an agreement over a new contract.

Camavinga joined Los Blancos from Rennes in 2021 for just over €30 million, and since then, he s made a total of 107 appearances for the club, winning the Champions League in 2022, followed by the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup. He also helped the team land the La Liga title that year, as well as the Spanish Super Cup and the Copa del Rey last season.

The 20-year-old midfielder, who has proven useful even as a left-back, is already under contract at Real until the summer of 2027. However, the Spanish giants feel he deserves to be rewarded for his contribution to Carlo Ancelotti s side. Therefore, the new deal will include a pay ris…

Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi insists the upcoming clash against Manchester City on Saturday afternoon is “bad news” despite the Premier League champions’ recent form.

The Seagulls are aiming to break their recent run of four games in all competitions without a victory, but in their way stand Pep Guardiola’s side.

City have been going through a tough spell themselves, according to their lofty standards, losing three of their last four matches in all competitions, but return to the Etihad Stadium where they have a 100 per cent record so far this season.

Setting our sights on City…

— Brighton Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC)

Asked whether it is a good time to face the treble winners, De Zerbi admitted the opposite.

He told a pr…

Lionel Messi s days at Barcelona appear to be numbered, with the club captain and talisman heading into the final six months of his contract. 

As such, he can begin discussions with other clubs ahead of a potential free transfer once his contract expires on June 30. 

Messi, 33, set things in motion back in August when he rocked world football by publicly confirming his desire to leave the only club he has ever represented as a professional, and with whom he has won everything. 

Barca s surrender to Real Madrid in LaLiga s title race and the 8-2 thrashing at the hands of Bayern Munich in the Champions League appeared to be the final straw for Messi earlier this year, though the departure of president Josep Maria Bartomeu might have improved the club s chance…

Newcastle frontman Allan Saint-Maximin was missing from the party which headed to Glasgow for Tuesday night’s friendly against Rangers amid speculation he could leave the club this summer.

Rumours have suggested the 26-year-old Frenchman, who joined the Magpies in a £16million move from Nice in August 2019, is a target for a Saudi Pro League club with some reports naming Al-Ahli as potential buyers.

The PA news agency understands Saint-Maximin, who earlier this summer posted a message on social media in which he said he was “entering a turning point in my career and I will give everything until the end to achieve my dreams”, will not be involved at Ibrox as his future is thrashed out.

Newcastle, who are 80 per cent owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investme…