Pellegrini almost took charge at Barcelona

Market: Central Coast Mariners win

Odds: 1/2 @

Looking to move within touching distance of the AFC Champions League spots on Tuesday morning, Central Coast will host local rivals Newcastle Jets.

Starting with the hosts, while Central Coast might have struggled with their consistency at the back end of the campaign, they will be boosted by their display last week. Coming from a goal down to grab a deserved 2-1 victory against Macarthur, Alen Stajcic s side have proven that their close-fought 1-0 loss against runaway leaders Melbourne City was just a minor blip. Rightfully smelling a golden chance when The Jets come to town on Tuesday morning, Central Coast know that victory will move them within touching distance of the top-two. Showing a string of improvements t…

Liverpool are increasingly confident of signing Mason Mount from Premier League rivals Chelsea in the summer transfer window, according to . Mount is out of contract at former Premier League and UEFA Champions League winners Chelsea in the summer of 2024, and talks between the England international midfielder and the Blues are not going well at the moment.

Mount is now reportedly highly likely to join Liverpool, who are on the hunt for young and dynamic midfielders. The 24-year-old is not having the best of times at the moment, but the Chelsea midfielder is one of the best in his position in the Premier League.

The Englishman has made 20 starts and three substitute appearances in the Premier League for Liverpool so far this season, scoring three goals and providing two …

Cristiano Ronaldo declared himself pleased with his very good first season at Juventus after helping his side to the Serie A title.

The 34-year-old joined Juve from Real Madrid last year in a deal worth €112million and has marked his debut campaign at the Allianz Stadium by scoring 26 goals in all competitions, 19 of those in the league.

Despite the five-time Ballon d Or winner s arrival in Turin, Juve fell short in the Champions League once again as they suffered a shock quarter-final loss to Ajax this week.

Ronaldo sees 2018-19 as a successful campaign overall, though, capped by confirmation of an eighth Scudetto in succession with Saturday s 2-1 win over Fiorentina, adding to their Supercoppa Italiana triumph against AC Milan in January.

Let s get th…

In a showdown between two Italian icons on Sunday night, Roma sprung a real upset at the Stadio Olimpico as they claimed a gritty 1-0 victory against Juventus.

While Jose Mourinho s side might have come under scrutiny for their infamous 2-1 loss against Cremonese last weekend, the Giallorossi came roaring back as defender Gianluca Mancini bagged a famous winner.

Sending the home support into overdrive as the Italian international powered home just eight minutes after the half-time break, Roma also handed Juventus European dreams what could be a critical blow.

Although the Old Lady might have traveled to Rome on Sunday night in the midst of a seven-match unbeaten run across all competitions, Massimiliano Allegri s side will feel like they missed out on a potentia…

Albania boss Gianni De Biasi has urged his players to be on high alert to stop Switzerland star Xherdan Shaqiri.

The Stoke City forward admitted on Friday that he expects the Euro 2016 opener to be an emotional encounter, given that he is one of a number of players who holds dual nationality between the two countries.

Shaqiri enjoyed a mixed campaign with Stoke in 2015-16, with some superb performances undermined by inconsistent form and some niggling fitness problems.

De Biasi, however, says he has seen enough of the former Bayern Munich man to understand the threat that he poses.

I think great players can settle matches. Games are pretty tight but it comes down to fine margins, he said on Friday.

Shaqiri s a player with great ability, he can …

In what will go down as arguably the greatest achievement in sport, Leicester City have been crowned Premier League champions.

From 5000-1 outsiders after almost being relegated in 2014-15, Leicester remarkably sealed the title thanks to Chelsea s 2-2 draw at home to second-placed Tottenham on Monday.

Leicester seven points clear atop the table with two matches remaining upstaged cashed-up Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United to etch their names into footballing folklore.

And the plaudits followed late on Monday as past and present players, as well as clubs across the globe, joined in the celebrations with Claudio Ranieri s men.

Leicester City have won the Premier League. The biggest sporting shock of my lifetime, and it s only my team.…

Wigan manager Roberto Martinez said defender Adrian Lopez could make a big impact on the 2012-13 Premier League season.

Lopez joined the Lancashire outfit from Deportivo La Coruna at the end of 2010 on a short-term deal, and saw his stay extended after impressing in the early stages of his career in the North West.

The centre-half opened the 2011-12 campaign in the starting line-up but gradually fell down the pecking order after Paraguaya international Antolin Alcaraz regained full fitness.

However, he returned for the Latics final day victory over Wolves, and Martinez who looks set to stay as the club s manager after Liverpool opted to appoint Brendan Rodgers thinks Lopez can put himself in contention for a first-team spot.

He told the Wigan Evening Po…

12th June 2012

Netherlands have made life really difficult for themselves by losing the opening game to Denmark and Oranje are now in a position that they need a victory over one of the tournament favourites. Germany may not have been at their best against Portugal, but the main goal was achieved and die Mannschaft now have a huge psychological advantage over their arch rivals.

The 2010 World Cup runners-up had high hopes before the start of the European Championship and they believed an opening victory over Denmark would give them a much needed boost, just like it had been the case in South Africa. Oranje indeed dominated the game and created a number of clear-cut chances, courtesy of brilliant Wesley Sneijder, but Robin van Persie, Arjen Robben and Klaas Jan Huntelaar…

Mesut Ozil says he followed his heart when pledging the next three-and-a-half years of his career to Arsenal by signing a new contract.

The Germany international had long been linked with a move away from north London, speculation going into overdrive after he entered the final year of his previous deal in July 2017.

Manchester United and Barcelona had been touted as potential destinations for Ozil, and reports of a reunion with Jose Mourinho his coach at Real Madrid increased around the turn of the year.

But the 29-year-old committed his future to the Gunners on Thursday, agreeing terms which are understood to tie him to the club until the end of the 2020-21 season.

Although media rumours often left Arsenal supporters fearing Ozil would follow a simila…

Mohamed Salah is targeting collective and individual glory as he aims to deliver silverware for Liverpool and beat Harry Kane to the Premier League Golden Boot.

The Egyptian has been in red-hot form this season, netting 21 goals in 25 top-flight appearances, including a brace in Sunday s dramatic 2-2 with Kane s Tottenham.

Kane netted a stoppage-time penalty at Anfield having seen an earlier spot-kick saved to take his league tally for 2017-18 to 22 from 25 matches.

With Manchester City s Sergio Aguero (17) third on the list of Premier League goalscorers, Salah and two-time Golden Boot winner Kane appear set to battle it out over the final dozen games.

He [Kane] is a great player, in the last two years he has already been the top scorer, Salah told Marc…