Germany striker Mario Gomez was both goal scorer and provider as VfB Stuttgart came from behind to beat Karlsruhe 3-1 at home on Sunday to go third in the Bundesliga as Schalke 04 finish the weekend top of the table.
The shock of the weekend was defending champions Bayern Munich s 5-2 defeat at home to Werder Bremen on Saturday their first league defeat of the season which saw the German giants drop from second to eighth.
Gomez led Stuttgart s recovery after they fell behind when Karlsruhe striker Sebastian Freis had a free header in the penalty area on eight minutes.
Gomez, who is rediscovering his form after a poor Euro 2008, set up the equaliser for midfielder Sami Khedira on 22 minutes and then put his side ahead on 68 minutes to claim his third goal in f…
Market: Dynamo Dresden win
Odds: 21/20 @
Looking to extend on their recent third-tier flurry on Monday night, Dynamo Dresden will make the trip to a struggling Ingolstadt.
Starting with the hosts, putting in another nightmare display last time out as they eventually fell to an action-packed 3-2 loss away at Mannheim, Guerino Capretti s men are enduring an extended blip. Only continuing to freefall down the Bundesliga 3 standings, the Bavaria-based outfit have now lost each of their last three straight appearances. Likewise, along with putting just a single point on their board since back on February 18th, the one-time Dynamo Dresden boss has seen his side show some rather glaring defensive issues. In fact, on a run that is highlighted by a 4-1 drumming at the ha…
Zlatan Ibrahimovic could make a sensational return to international football at the World Cup after admitting he misses playing for Sweden.
Ibrahimovic announced his retirement from the national team after Euro 2016, when he failed to score in any of Sweden s three group games as they made an early exit.
The 36-year-old moved to Manchester United weeks later and enjoyed a profitable first campaign at Old Trafford with 28 goals in all competitions.
However, his season ended prematurely after sustaining a knee injury in the Europa League.
Ibrahimovic vowed to return and, after signing a new deal at United, he was back in action in November, although he has been a more peripheral figure this season.
Further problems with his knee have limited him t…
Bundesliga side Schalke 04 are keen on signing the Juventus loanee Marko Pjaca on a permanent deal this summer, German media are reporting.
The Croatia international’s loan spell is set to end at the end of the season but he’s done more than enough to prove his worth to the German side who are happy to keep him past the expiration point.
Pjaca managed only five Bundesliga appearances for Schalke this season but he scored two goals for his club, including a match winner in a 1-0 triumph over Hertha Berlin last time out.
The 22-year-old was shipped out to Germany to get back to full fitness following a serious injury which prevented him from showing his worth at Juventus where he only made 14 Serie A appearances since his arrival from Dinamo Zagreb ahead of th…
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Daniel Sturridge and Joe Hart have pulled out of England s squad for Wednesday s friendly with Italy due to injury.
Arsenal midfielder Oxlade-Chamberlain, who made his first England appearances this year ahead of Euro 2012, has been forced to pull out due to an ankle problem.
Chelsea striker Sturridge cited a toe problem, while Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart withdrew with a back complaint.
City defender Joleon Lescott has thus far been the only replacement named by England manager Roy Hodgson.
Hodgson s squad for the friendly in Bern, named on Friday, had an experimental flavour to it with many regular players omitted in favour of giving the likes of Ryan Bertrand, Steven Caulker and Jake Livermore their first international …
Bundesliga champions Borussia Dortmund have confirmed they have received a number of enquires from clubs interested in star forward Robert Lewandowski.
The Polish international has established himself as one of the most prolific strikers in Europe and he was paired with a number of high-profile sides this summer.
Borussia Dortmund chiefs have been adamant they are not interested in selling the player and they have yet to change the stance.
However, club sporting director Michael Zorc has revealed several clubs have made official enquires about Lewandowski.
There have been enquiries from several clubs, Zorc was quoted as saying in Bild. Our position has not changed since March, Lewandowski still plays at Dortmund.
The 24-year-old joined Borussia…
Best Odds: 4/7
Bookmaker:
With a spot in the semi-final of this year s EFL Cup up for grabs on Tuesday night, Manchester City will make the trip to a struggling Arsenal in midweek.
Arsenal
Starting with the hosts, while Mikel Arteta might have praised his side s display away at Goodison Park over the weekend, it was another evening to forget for the Gunners. Firmly finding themselves at the heart of a growing crisis, the North London outfit were hit with a 2-1 defeat against Everton on Saturday and the pressure is firmly on Arteta s shoulders. Remarkably looking over their shoulder at the drop zone and managing to collect just 14 Premier League points since opening the 2020/2021 campaign, Pep Guardiola s former right-hand man finds his squad enduring their wors…
While Liverpool might open Christmas Day sitting at the top of the Premier League table, there is no doubt that fans around Anfield would have been concerned by Mohamed Salah s recent comments about his future on Merseyside.
Despite coming off the bench and bagging himself a brace in the Reds stunning 7-0 romp away at Crystal Palace over the weekend, the Egyptian ace is rumoured to be eyeing a potential move away from the Premier League.
gave an exclusive interview to Madrid-based newspaper AS at the weekend in which he expressed his admiration for both Real Madrid and Barcelona, fuelling speculation around his long-term future.
Also admitting that he was disappointed to have not been named captain against Midtjylland on Champions League duties, Salah has score…
Cristiano Ronaldo s stoppage-time penalty saved holders Real Madrid from a stunning Champions League exit against Juventus, the holders progressing 4-3 on aggregate after a night of high drama at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Juve seemed set to match the heroics of fellow Serie A side Roma against Barcelona at the Stadio Olimpico 24 hours earlier after surging into a 3-0 lead in the Spanish capital, only for Lucas Vazquez to draw a foul in the box and Ronaldo to settle the contest from the spot.
That came after lengthy delay in which Gianluigi Buffon saw red for dissent at the decision – the veteran goalkeeper s first dismissal in his 117th, and likely final, outing in the competition.
Mario Mandzukic s first-half brace, both headed efforts, sparked life into a c…
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has again teased fans over the prospect of him taking part in the World Cup, even though Sweden head coach Janne Andersson insists the enigmatic striker is not in his plans.
Sweden s all-time leading goalscorer retired from international football after his country bowed out in the group stage of Euro 2016.
A play-off win over Italy in November saw the Scandinavian nation battle their way to Russia 2018 in the absence of their former talisman, who is enjoying a new lease of life after joining LA Galaxy from Manchester United.
Ibrahimovic, 36, suffered cruciate knee ligament damage last April and found himself on the periphery at Old Trafford this term, but has scored three times in as many MLS appearances.
Asked by reporters in Los Ang…