Market: Burnley to beat Leicester

Odds: 

Two teams that are directly battling it out for Europa League football next season, a resurgent Burnley will look to carry on their recent form.

For Sean Dyche s Burnley side, while the Clarets may have struggled at the turn of the New Year, Burnley are heading towards a record-breaking finish in the Premier League and have now embarked on a four-match winning run. Sat four points over their opponents on Saturday afternoon, the Clarets recent form can be put down to the recent form of forward Ashley Barnes who now has four goals in his last five games. Burnley also boasts a stellar record over the Foxes, Burnley have only been beaten by Lecister once in 12 attempts, a run stemming back to August 2010.

As for Le…

Former Argentina international Hernan Crespo insisted disgruntled attacker Lionel Messi has been unfortunate not to have won a major trophy with the South American giants.

Messi dropped a bombshell following Argentina s shoot-out defeat to Chile in last month s Copa America Centenario decider, announcing his plan to retire from international football.

The 29-year-old and five-time Ballon d Or winner the nation s all-time leading goalscorer was visibly dejected post-match after missing a penalty as he suffered a fourth loss and third in succession in a major final with Argentina.

Regardless of whether or not Messi follows through in retiring, Crespo believes Argentina are on track to end their 23-year wait for a major title.

The Argentina national team is…

After making an immediate impact as caretaker manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has taken over the reins at Manchester United on a permanent basis.

Since replacing Jose Mourinho in December, the Norwegian has wasted little time revitalising the dynamic attacking play that characterised so much of legendary manager Alex Ferguson s time at the club – something that had been sorely missing since the Scot retired in 2013.

Ferguson, who won 65.2 per cent of his 810 Premier League games in charge, had appeared to leave the Red Devils in a healthy state, having just won the title by 11 points, but a series of managers have found stepping into his shoes a thankless task.

Here, we take a look at the men who have been in the Old Trafford hot seat since Ferguson s departure…

Atletico Madrid talisman Antoine Griezmann is more difficult to defend against than Lionel Messi, according to Sporting CP head coach Jorge Jesus.

Sporting visit the Wanda Metropolitano in the first leg of the Europa League quarter-finals on Thursday, with both clubs looking to salvage continental campaigns stunted by Champions League group-stage exits.

Jesus side finished third in a tough Group D topped by Barcelona, although the use of man-marking tactics proved effective in keeping Messi scoreless over two meetings.

However, the Sporting boss is adamant that approach would prove ineffective against the in-form Griezmann, who has netted 10 goals in his last seven club appearances.

I think [we will not use the same method] because Messi is very differ…

German international turned professional wrestler Tim Wiese claims he is fitter now than when he played regularly in the Bundesliga.

The former Kaiserslautern, Werder Bremen and Hoffenheim goalkeeper retired in 2014 and has since pursued a career in professional wrestling. 

He also won six caps for Germany between 2008 and 12.

He is due to make his in-ring WWE debut No
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v. 3 in Munich after being invited to join a training camp earlier this year. 

Wiese says he trains for up to four hours a day to maintain his physique. 

As a goalkeeper, you only have to walk around a bit in the workout, Wiese told Bild.  But the weight is much bigger in wrestling, moving 120 kilos is more strenuous than 90.

He already sounds at home in …

Marseille will hope their Europa League final clash with Atletico Madrid on Wednesday brings to an end a sustained period of underachievement for what many would consider a sleeping giant of European football.

As a club, Marseille are no strangers to European finals, having won the Champions League in 1992-93, two years after finishing runners-up.

They also reached the final of the Europa League in its former guise as the UEFA Cup in 1999 and 2004, losing on both occasions.

However, before this season, Marseille have had a minimal impact on European competitions in the interim, with a quarter-final spot in the 2011-12 Champions League the best they have mustered.

They are once again on the verge of bringing a European trophy back to the Velodrome, but, as…

England manager Sarina Wiegman believes Beth Mead has “shown enough” to earn her recall to the squad for the Lionesses’ final Nations League fixtures.

It is a welcome return to the international fold for the 28-year-old Arsenal forward, who resumed club action last month after suffering an ACL injury last November and has now earned an England call-up for the first time in over a year.

Tottenham midfielder Grace Clinton and Manchester City goalkeeper Khiara Keating retain their places in the Lionesses’ 23-player squad, having received their first senior call-ups in October.

England play their final two games of the year, starting with the Netherlands at Wembley on December 1 before facing Scotland at Hampden Park four days later and Wiegman is delighted t…

Julian Nagelsmann has challenged Bayern Munich to send a message to their Champions League rivals by completing a group-stage double over Barcelona.

Hosts Barcelona are staring at elimination ahead of Wednesday s Group C clash at Camp Nou, where even victory might not be enough to keep them in the hunt for a last-16 spot – they need Viktoria Plzen to cause a shock against Inter in the other group game.

Bayern, however, are determined to take all three points, and head coach Nagelsmann said on the eve of the game his players should ignore the issues affecting their opposition.

We re already through to the next round, he said. To be honest, it s not important to me who else gets through. The only thing that matters to me is that we finish first.

We have…

Would a loan move be a good choice for Wilshere? / Image via herald.ie

Once the most exciting prospects in English football, the 24-year-old Arsenal midfield Jack Wilshere is in a moment that could be a defining one to his entire professional career.

Plagued by injuries and beleaguered by the impetuous pressure from the stands, Wilshere could be on the move out of Arsenal as Arsene Wenger is keen to help the midfielder revive his career.

Loan Out

Just 48 hours before the transfer window closes, Premier League side Arsenal have made it clear that their prized asset Jack Wilshere will be available for a loan in order to get first-team football and get his career back on track.

The England midfielder has struggled to cement a first-team place with both clu…

Lionel Messi is one of the most gifted athletes in history, believes former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola.

The current Manchester City manager won a trio of LaLiga titles and lifted the Champions League twice with a Messi-inspired Barca team between 2008 and 2012.

Messi is reportedly close to signing a new long-term contract at Camp Nou and Guardiola said the way the Argentina international handles an extreme level of expectation places him among history s sporting elite.

He is one of the most privileged, gifted athletes of all time, Guardiola told Catalunya Radio.

I would like to enter his brain and find out how he can withstand the pressure like he has, with both Barcelona and Argentina on his back.

The whole world expects him to score three…