Europa League group stage: Man Utd to face Astana as Arsenal draw Frankfurt

Manchester United will face trips to Kazakhstan and Serbia in the Europa League, while 2018-19 runners up Arsenal were grouped with last season s semi-finalists Eintracht Frankfurt. 

United, Europa League winners in 2016-17, were placed in Group L in Friday s draw and will take on Astana, Partizan Belgrade and AZ.

Though a long trip to Kazakhstan for the Astana clash is far from preferable and Belgrade will prove a difficult place to visit, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer s side will be clear favourites to progress.

Arsenal were drawn in Group F, with Bundesliga side Frankfurt likely to present the biggest challenge to the Gunners, who must also take on Standard Liege and Vitoria Guimaraes.

The 2019/20 group stage draw!

Which games are you excited for? …

Kane´s 100 Premier League goals: The Opta breakdown

Harry Kane brought up a century of Premier League goals with a nerveless 95th-minute penalty in Sunday s 2-2 draw between Liverpool and Tottenham.

The Spurs star had missed from the spot just eight minutes earlier in a thrilling Anfield finale which also saw Mohamed Salah and Victor Wanyama score sensational goals.

Kane already has more Premier League goals to his name than any Spurs player.

With triple figures now in the bag, we analyse the Opta data behind Kane s ton

 

100 Harry Kane has scored 100 goals in the Premier League in just 141 appearances only Alan Shearer (124) reached the 100 goals in the competition in fewer games. Ton.

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe)

100 Kane is Spurs top-scorer in the Premier League. Teddy Sheringham (…

Real Madrid need the best Hazard – Benzema

Karim Benzema has urged Eden Hazard to make another story at Real Madrid, after the Belgium star impressed against Deportivo Alaves on Saturday. 

Hazard scored himself and also set up the first of two Benzema goals as Madrid eased to a 4-1 win over LaLiga strugglers Alaves, relieving some of the pressure on Zinedine Zidane, who was absent from the touchline after testing positive for COVID-19. 

Madrid had lost their previous two matches, against Athletic Bilbao in the Supercopa de Espana before going down to minnows Alcoyano in the Copa del Rey in midweek. 

Casemiro opened the scoring before Benzema struck either side of Hazard s third goal of the season in all competitions. 

Hazard, signed from Chelsea in 2019, has struggled for fo…

Prediction: Manchester City vs Dinamo Zagreb

Best odds: 8/15

Bookmaker:

Dinamo Zagreb travel to the north-west of England to face Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday evening in the second round of this season s Champions League Group C matches.

Manchester City

The Premier League champions have started the season relatively well, winning five of the seven league games so far and failing to beat only Tottenham Hotspur and Norwich City. However, they trail the leaders and Champions League holders Liverpool, who have managed to win all seven so far. Apart from that, they ve launched their Carabao Cup campaign with a 0-3 win over Championship side Preston North End. As for the Champions League, Pep Guardiola s team won their opening game away to Shakhtar Donetsk by the same scoreline, and they si…

Rumour Has It: Barcelona still covet Torres, Xavi could replace Koeman

Barcelona need to add some attacking options to their squad, particularly with the Lionel Messi era now over.

Ferran Torres is among those on their wish list. 

Will Manchester City let him go? 

 

TOP STORY – BARCELONA STILL COVET TORRES

Barcelona are not ready to give up on their pursuit of Manchester City forward Ferran Torres, the Sun reports.  

After being rebuffed in a previous overture for the 21-year-old Spain international, Barca are ready to try again next year.  

Torres has done them no favours with his impressive showing for Spain at Euro 2020, plus his in-form start to this season for City. 

Barcelona line up another Ferran Torres transfer move after Man City rejected summer offer

— The Sun…

Laporta doesn´t have my number – Luis Enrique not interested in Barcelona return

Luis Enrique has no interest in replacing Ronald Koeman at Barcelona while he is still under contract as Spain head coach.

Koeman is under growing pressure at Camp Nou following Wednesday s 3-0 defeat to Benfica, which makes it back-to-back defeats for Barca to begin a Champions League campaign for the first time ever.

The Catalan giants have now won just one of their past five matches in all competitions ahead of Saturday s trip to reigning LaLiga champions Atletico Madrid.

According to reports from Spain, Barca chiefs will consider replacing Koeman during the upcoming international break should they fall to another defeat this weekend.

Luis Enrique is rumoured to be one of the club s top choices to take over should Koeman leave, but the former Blaugrana…

Milan confirm Verratti interest; Chelsea and Man Utd want Son

AC Milan president Silvio Berlusconi has revealed that the Rossoneri are interested in signing Italy international midfielder Marco Verratti from Paris Saint-Germain, .

Verratti, 20, joined PSG on a five-year deal from Italian side Pescara Calcio in the summer.

Serie A leaders Juventus are also reportedly keen on the 20-year-old, who has previously publicised his desire to return to Italy.

Regarding the latest speculation linking Verratti with a move to the San Siro, Donato Di Campli, the Italy international s agent, said:  If that is the case then he ll have to talk with Paris Saint-Germain and he has an excellent relationship with PSG director Leonardo.

In my opinion, though, Marco will not be returning to Italy. He is a very important pl…

Premier League preview: Queens Park Rangers v Stoke City

Winning is the only way out for Queens Park Rangers as they prepare to host a struggling Stoke City outfit at Loftus Road on Saturday.

If QPR won all of their final five matches, that still would not take them to the safe target of 40 points with relegation likely to spell a sad end to their at times brave battle in the Premier League this season under Harry Redknapp.

However, they at least have an ideal chance for three points to keep their slim hopes alive, as Tony Pulis men are one of the most out-of-form teams in the league.

Sitting just three points above the drop, Stoke could find themselves in further trouble should they not take something from their trip to London as they have just one point and two goals to show for their past seven outings.

They…

Azpilicueta ´flattered´ by Barca interest but wants Chelsea stay

Cesar Azpilicueta says he is flattered by reported interest from Barcelona but wants to continue playing for Chelsea.

The Spain international has become a key figure at Stamford Bridge since moving from Marseille in 2012, this season switching from his natural full-back position to feature in a three-man defence.

While Azpilicueta s performances in both roles have led to speculation of a bid from LaLiga giants Barca, he is determined to simply carry on his current fine form for the Premier League leaders.

It s flattering to be linked to Barcelona: it means you re playing well, he told The Guardian. I wasn t hearing those sort of stories last season. That s a consequence of us being top of the Premier League, things are going well.

My objective since I a…

Valdes linked with Espanyol switch

Espanyol have made an approach to sign Manchester United goalkeeper Victor Valdes,.

The thirty-three year old is expected to leave Old Trafford in January after being frozen out by manager Louis van Gaal.

Newcastle United have also been linked with a move for the former Barcelona man, who has made just two appearances for the Red Devils since signing for them in January.

The North East outfit are on the lookout for a new shot-stopper after losing first choice Tim Krul for the rest of the season due to the Dutchman picking up a cruciate knee injury.

During his time at Barcelona, Valdes won a whole host of major honours including six league titles, two Copa del Reys and three Champions Leagues while internationally he was part of the Spain squads that …