Month: May 2023

English DJ and Arsenal fan Joel Corry is aware the nerves will be kicking in when he takes to the Old Trafford pitch for Soccer Aid on June 11.

In an exclusive Q&A with LiveScore, the London-born musician talks through his love of football and names his dream five-a-side team.

What is more nervy, performing on stage or stepping out at Soccer Aid?

Stepping out at Soccer Aid! I have not played football since secondary school and I might be a bit rusty.

I am really looking forward to playing with my boy Tom Grennan, we just released a track together called Lionheart.

But [World XI captain] Usain Bolt is going to be there — I am definitely not marking him because I am not the fastest guy!

What made you fall in love with football?

I have been in love with football since I can remember. I grew up as a kid going to the park every single weekend and playing seven-a-side.

Every afternoon at school I would be playing football outside on the astroturf — I was football obsessed!

I remember watching the World Cups with my dad when I was really young and that was probably my first introduction to football.

Who was your football idol?

Ian Wright.

He was my favourite player for Arsenal growing up, number eight became my lucky number because of him.

What a legend, I love watching him on TV today as well because he is such a good pundit.

What would be your dream five-a-side team?

Peter Schmeichel in goal.

I am going to put Ian Wright in there, obviously, and I am going to include Cristiano Ronaldo — my favourite player of all time.

I feel like I need someone in defence, so I am going Ricardo Carvalho.

And I have to put Thierry Henry in there.

Who is your favourite player at the moment?

I said Ronaldo before and he is still playing — I am a big, big Ronaldo fan.

Everyone is always like: “Ronaldo or [Lionel] Messi?”

I am always Team Ronaldo — and I am wearing No7 [in Soccer Aid]!

So I need to step up and hit some free-kicks like Ronaldo.

What is your favourite Arsenal memory?

When we won the Double in 1997-98 and Tony Adams against Everton — I think it was 4-0 — scored in the match to win it for us.

I will never forget it because I was watching it at Hollywood Bowl and I saw it on TV and everyone was waiting for me to throw the ball.

But I said: “No I am watching the match.” 

It is up there with my best memories.

If you could pick one footballer to feature on your next release, who would it be?

I am going to say Jack Grealish.

Because I know he is into his house music and he loves a bit of DJing.

So maybe a collab with him, because it feels like a banger. JC, JG — it is going off already!

Which current manager would be the best tour manager?

Jurgen Klopp, because he looks like he is proper up for it.

I actually saw a video of him dancing to Head & Heart and he was proper having it.

So I think he would be good to have on tour. Jurgen, if it does not work out at Liverpool — hit me up!

Soccer Aid for UNICEF returns to Manchester this summer in one of this year’s most hotly anticipated events. Tickets are on sale now.

Newcastle have qualified for the Champions League for the third time in their history and the first in 20 years after securing a top-four Premier League finish.

Head coach Eddie Howe has joined an exclusive club alongside Kenny Dalglish, who guided the Magpies side he had inherited from Kevin Keegan into the competition for the first time in 1997, and Sir Bobby Robson, who matched his feat five years later.

Here, we take a look at how the club have fared on their previous encounters with Europe’s big boys.

Temuri and Tino

Full-back John Beresford was the unlikely hero as the Magpies secured a 2-1 qualifying round first-leg victory over Croatia Zagreb with a place in the 1997-98 Champions League group stage at stake.

And Georgia international Temuri Ketsbaia snatched the headlines in the return at the Maksimir Stadium when his strike in the last minute of extra-time secured a 2-2 draw on the night and a 4-3 aggregate win.

Dalglish’s men launched their Group C campaign in style when Faustino Asprilla scored a superb hat-trick in a stunning 3-2 victory over Barcelona, with Luis Enrique and Luis Figo on target for the visitors, but things went downhill from there.

A 2-2 draw with Dynamo Kyiv in Ukraine was followed by back-to-back defeats at the hands of PSV Eindhoven.

And Michael Reiziger’s strike at the Nou Camp saw Barca — where Robson had been moved upstairs to make way for Louis Van Gaal — gain revenge before the adventure ended with a 2-0 home win over Dynamo.

Back to Barca

Kieron Dyer’s expert finish in Sarajevo and a 4-0 home win in which Alan Shearer scored the final goal saw Newcastle ease past FK Zeljeznicar to reach the competition proper for the second time in 2002.

Dynamo Kyiv ensured they got off to a disappointing start with a 2-0 away defeat and their hopes of emerging from Group E looked to be over when Feyenoord won 1-0 at St James’ Park before two Alessandro Del Piero goals handed Juventus a 2-0 victory in Turin.

However, Andy Griffin fired Robson’s side to victory over the Italians on Tyneside and Shearer’s penalty snatched a 2-1 win against the Ukrainians to set up a memorable night in Rotterdam.

Craig Bellamy struck late to claim a 3-2 win over Feyenoord and send his side through to the second group stage as the first side to make it after losing the first three games.

Their reward was a daunting draw which pitched them into battle with Inter Milan, Barcelona and Bayer Leverkusen.

Their hopes were dealt a significant blow by a 4-1 home defeat by Inter in which Bellamy was sent off and Shearer later suspended on video evidence after a clash with Fabio Cannavaro.

A 3-1 defeat in Barcelona rubbed salt into the wound and although they beat Leverkusen home and away — with Shearer plundering a hat-trick on Tyneside — and drew 2-2 in Milan, Barca’s 2-0 win at St James’ Park meant the quarter-finals were beyond them.

The one that got away

Having finished third in the Premier League at the end of the 2002-03 season, Robson and his players were anticipating a second-successive crack at the Continent’s biggest and best.

But after Nolberto Solano’s goal saw them return from Partizan Belgrade with a 1-0 win, they lost the home leg of their qualifying tie 1-0 and eventually went out on penalties.

Their consolation was a UEFA Cup run which was ended at the semi-final stage by Marseille striker Didier Drogba’s double.

Manchester United are thought to be the new leaders in the race to land Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar.

A summer of change is afoot at PSG, with legendary forward Lionel Messi expected to depart the French capital on a free transfer.

The big spenders are plotting a change of club strategy which will see them build their team around Kylian Mbappe for years to come — a decision that L’Equipe claim Neymar is far from sold on.

The 31-year-old remains the most expensive signing in football history having joined Les Parisiens from Barcelona for a whopping £200million back in 2017.

But though he has two years remaining on his current deal at the Parc des Princes, Brazil’s joint all-time top scorer is ready for a fresh challenge.

Club chiefs recognise that now represents their best chance of recouping a sizeable fee for their No10 and talks have begun with several parties, largely based in England.

Reports in France claim the Red Devils have already registered their interest, with Neymar’s international team-mate Casemiro said to be championing a move to Old Trafford.  

Chelsea are another club in the frame but appreciate a lack of Champions League football next term puts them in a difficult negotiating position.

It is thought United would prefer to initially take Neymar on loan, while PSG will push for a permanent sale.

In other news

Granit Xhaka says his Arsenal future will be decided before their final Premier League game of the season this Sunday, with the Evening Standard suggesting a £13m switch to Bayer Leverkusen has been agreed.

The Athletic say Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves is on the verge of sealing a dream move to Barcelona this summer.

Liverpool have thrown their hat into the ring for in-demand Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi, according to the Daily Mail.

Four people have been arrested in Spain under suspicion of hanging an effigy of Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior off a bridge in January.

An inflatable doll dressed in a Vinicius shirt was hung from the railings with a banner that read “Madrid hates Real Madrid” ahead of Real’s Copa Del Rey game with city rivals Atletico at the start of the year.

And Spanish police confirmed on Tuesday that four suspects had been apprehended.

They tweeted: “Arrested in #Madrid 4 people who allegedly hung a mannequin with the #Vinicius shirt on a bridge near the Ciudad Deportiva del @realmadrid.”

The arrests follow the latest racism scandal that has engulfed Spanish football, with Vinicius targeted by racist chants during Sunday’s LaLiga game with Valencia.

The Brazil international threatened to leave the pitch in the second half after being subjected to alleged monkey chants at the Mestalla.

His club Real Madrid said the abuse constitutes a “hate crime” and filed a complaint with the Spanish State Attorney General’s Office and Vinicius himself has highlighted what he describes as “continuous episodes spread across several cities in Spain”.

Valencia confirmed police had identified a fan who made racist gestures at Vinicius and that individual faces a lifetime stadium ban from the Mestalla.

Vinicius tweeted on Monday night: “Every round away from home is an unpleasant surprise. And there were many this season. Death wishes, hanged doll, many criminal screams… All registered.

“But the speech always falls on ‘isolated cases’, ‘a fan’. No, these are not isolated cases. They are continuous episodes spread across several cities in Spain (and even in a television programme).

“The evidence is there in the video. Now I ask: how many of these racists had names and photos exposed on websites? I answer to make it easier: zero. None to tell a sad story or make those fake public apologies.

“What is missing to criminalise these people? And punish clubs sportingly? Why don’t sponsors charge La Liga? Don’t televisions bother to broadcast this barbarity every weekend?

“The problem is very serious and communications no longer work. Not blaming me to justify criminal acts either. You are not football, you are inhuman.”

LaLiga president Javier Tebas responded to an earlier Vinicius post, in which the Brazil international said racism was “normal”, by accusing the forward of “criticising and insulting” the league.

In another tweet on Monday, Tebas said: “Neither Spain nor @LaLiga are racist. It is very unfair to say this.

“How @LaLiga we denounce and fight racism with all rigidity within our competences. This season there were 9 cases of racist insults (8 of them for insults against @vinijr)

“We always identify the violators and take the complaint to the legislating bodies. It doesn’t matter that they are few, they are relentless.

“We cannot allow the image of a competition that is about the symbol of peoples union to be tarnished, where more than 200 players are of black origin in 42 clubs that receive in each round the respect and affection of the fans, being the racism an extremely specific case (9 complaints) that we are going to eliminate.”

– Inter have won eight of their last 10 games and are the Coppa Italia holders 
– Fiorentina snapped a 13-game winless run against Inter with a 1-0 win in April 
– Recommended bet: Inter to win by a one-goal margin

Both Inter and Fiorentina are eyeing a domestic-European cup double this season, the first part of which can be completed on Wednesday night when they clash in the Coppa Italia final.

Inter will face Manchester City in the Champions League final on June 10, a contest they are significant underdogs to win.

The shoe is on the other foot for the Coppa Italia final, where the cup holders are evens with LiveScore Bet to retain the trophy they won via a thrilling 4-2 win over Juventus last season.

Meanwhile, Fiorentina have a date with West Ham in the Europa Conference League final to look forward to and they would love to go into that game on June 7 having lifted their first piece of domestic silverware in 22 years.

Team news

Inter are reportedly set to start skipper Samir Handanovic in goal with the Slovenian shot-stopper having had to play back-up to Andre Onana for much of this season.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan is unlikely to feature for Inter after suffering a thigh injury in the Champions League semi-final second leg win over AC Milan with his place likely to go to Marcelo Brozovic.

Fiorentina boss Vincenzo Italiano has the luxury of a fully fit squad and rested the majority of his first-choice players for the weekend draw with Torino.

The likes of Arthur Cabral and Nicolas Gonzalez, whose brace sent Fiorentina to the Europa League final, are expected to return to the line-up for Wednesday’s clash at the Stadio Olimpico.

The stats

This will be the first Coppa Italia final between the two sides with Inter heading into the game having won five of their last seven final appearances.

Fiorentina lost their last final to Napoli in 2014 and have not lifted the trophy since beating Parma in 2001, which was played over two legs.

Inter lost to Napoli at the weekend but had won their previous eight games, keeping six clean sheets in that run.

Inter have seen off Parma, Atalanta and Juventus to reach their 15th Coppa Italia final, with all four games going under 2.5 goals.

Fiorentina, who drew with Torino at the weekend, saw off Sampdoria, Torino and Cremonese to reach this stage.

Prediction

Both meetings between these sides this season were settled by one-goal margins and it is Inter who look the more likely to repeat that trick based on recent showings.

Simone Inzaghi, who has coached Inter and Lazio to Coppa Italia success in the last four years, has his side well set-up and they had been in excellent form before the loss to Napoli.

Recent Coppa Italia finals have had a tendency to be tight with four of the last eight going to extra time.

Inter may well make the breakthrough before then given their in-form strikeforce of Romelu Lukaku, Edin Dzeko and Lautaro Martinez but are unlikely to run away with the final.

Fiorentina have shown plenty of grit and fight this season, contributing to them being no strangers to narrow losses with their last seven defeats in all competitions coming by a one-goal margin.

Meanwhile, all four of their previous losses to Inter in the Coppa Italia were also by a single goal.

Back Inter to win by one goal at 11/5 with LiveScore Bet

Win big with LiveScore 6!

Fancy winning up to £100,000?

Simply predict six correct scores from the weekend action for your chance to win, with consolation prizes also on offer if you go close.

Play LiveScore 6 for free this weekend (18+, UK only). Click here for details on how to get involved.

Laura Coombs says it would be “the stuff of dreams” if her England renaissance continues with a place in the squad for this summer’s World Cup.

The Manchester City midfielder, 32, returned to the international fold when she was called up by Lionesses boss Sarina Wiegman in February.

That was her first involvement since a training camp in 2020 under Phil Neville and she had not played for her country since winning the two caps she had to her name in 2015 under Mark Sampson.

Coombs subsequently played twice at the Arnold Clark Cup and was then included in Wiegman’s squad for April’s matches against Brazil and Australia, for which she was an unused substitute.

On the possibility of being part of the group for the World Cup campaign in Australia and New Zealand, which is due to be named a week on Wednesday, Coombs said: “It would be the stuff of dreams, to be honest.

“It would just make everything feel worthwhile up to this point and it was all for a reason.”

Coombs said shortly after her February recall that she had not given up on England before hearing from Wiegman but “didn’t really think about the international stage any more”, admitting it had been a shock.

On that subject, she added: “I felt, even though I was playing well, Sarina was maybe opting for a young squad, bringing players in with less experience and building for the future.

“So it was a surprise, but I was over the moon to be back involved, and to be back in an England kit has given me more motivation for the future, for sure.”

While 2022-23 has been a mixed bag for Gareth Taylor’s City, who look set to miss out on the Champions League places in the Women’s Super League, Coombs individually has had what she regards as the best season yet of her lengthy career.

The former Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool player said: “I think so. Obviously every season has highs and lows and I think maybe since Christmas I probably haven’t been quite as consistent as I would like.

“But definitely I’d say it’s my best season to date just in terms of minutes and influence on results and performances. I’m happy with it, I still would like some more goals and assists potentially next year, but I’m happy with the start.”

Sunday’s shock defeat at Valencia saw Real Madrid end Matchday 35 in third place, so it is vital they return to winning ways against city rivals Rayo Vallecano.

Atletico Madrid will be tough to shift from second spot as Diego Simeone’s men play relegation-threatened Espanyol.

Barcelona also take on a side in the drop zone when they travel to out-of-form Real Valladolid this evening.

Elsewhere, fellow strugglers Cadiz and Getafe face tricky trips to Villarreal and Real Betis respectively — two teams who look set for Europa League qualification.

Game of the week: Real Madrid vs Rayo Vallecano (Wednesday, 6.30pm)

Three losses in five LaLiga matches have seen Real drop to third in the table.

Though that position still guarantees a spot in next season’s Champions League, finishing below neighbours Atleti would be a bitter pill to swallow for Los Blancos supporters.

The latest defeat for Carlo Ancelotti’s outfit came against Valencia, when a 1-0 reverse was marred by racist chanting aimed at Vinicius Junior — who also received a red card in the game’s closing stages.

But Real will fancy their chances of bouncing back on home soil when they face a Vallecano side that are lodged firmly in mid-table and have lost each of their previous two outings.

Real Valladolid vs Barcelona (Tuesday, 9pm)

Barcelona wanted to celebrate their LaLiga triumph in style on Saturday, so a 2-1 home loss to Real Sociedad will have been something of a disappointment.

Luckily, a trip to the Estadio Jose Zorrilla offers the perfect opportunity to right that wrong.

Valladolid are on a woeful run of form after losing five league matches in succession, leaving them inside the division’s bottom three ahead of this gameweek.

The margins are remarkably fine at the bottom, though, with only goal difference separating the hosts from 17th-placed Getafe — so Paulo Pezzolano’s unit will be fighting for their lives in tonight’s match-up.

Espanyol vs Atletico Madrid (Wednesday, 9pm)

Atleti are in pole position to finish as the capital’s highest-ranked club but Wednesday’s visit to Espanyol represents a potential banana skin.

The Barcelona-based side could climb out of the relegation zone with a victory after securing a morale-boosting 2-1 triumph at Rayo Vallecano on Matchday 35.

And Atleti’s previous meeting with the Catalans will serve as a warning to Simeone’s troops. They were only able to draw that contest 1-1, despite the visitors playing with 10 men for over an hour.

Yannick Carrasco may be key to avoiding a repeat of that outcome, having registered three goal contributions in his last three matches — and eight since April — despite featuring at left-back for the majority of those fixtures.

Villarreal vs Cadiz (Wednesday, 6.30pm)

Villarreal sit five points behind fourth-placed Sociedad with three games to play as they face Cadiz looking to keep their faint hopes of Champions League qualification alive.

A Europa League finish appears a more likely outcome for the Yellow Submarine despite their impressive recent run of four wins and a draw in five matches.

Opponents Cadiz are also in reasonable form after winning two of their last four, though they are still just three points above the relegation trapdoor.

The Andalusians will need to be particularly wary of Nicolas Jackson, who has hit a hot streak in recent weeks — he boasts a remarkable six goals and two assists in his previous five games.

Real Betis vs Getafe (Wednesday, 9pm)

Betis could secure a top-six spot with the right set of results this week — but Getafe’s situation is far more precarious.

A defeat in Seville, coupled with positive results for either Valladolid or Espanyol, would see Jose Bordalas’ outfit dragged into the bottom three.

The Azulones have really struggled in the final third this term, as evidenced by their paltry expected goals (xG) total of 34.32. Only Mallorca (33.61) have a worse record for that metric.

Top scorer Enes Unal (14) is Getafe’s biggest goal threat, though he has found the net just once in his last eight LaLiga matches.

The week’s other games

Celta Vigo vs Girona (Tuesday, 6.30pm) 

Real Sociedad vs Almeria (Tuesday, 6.30pm) 

Elche vs Sevilla (Wednesday, 6.30pm) 

Mallorca vs Valencia (Thursday, 6.30pm) 

Osasuna vs Athletic Bilbao (Thursday, 8.30pm)

Follow each game with our unbeatable live scores service. Simply tap the Scores tab on the web or download the LiveScore app from the App Store for iOS devices or Google Play for Android.

Manchester United are reportedly ready to part ways with forward Anthony Martial. According to The Sun, the club’s hierarchy are ready to consider offers for the 27-year-old Frenchman, who has scored just eight goals in 27 appearances this season.

The Daily Mail says Liverpool are the latest club to join the growing list of suitors for Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi. Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham are all believed to be interested in the 22-year-old England international, but his valuation of as much as £50million could prove a significant obstacle for any deal to get across the line.

Arsenal have set a £26m price tag on striker Folarin Balogun, according to the Daily Express. Citing Calciomercato, the paper says AC Milan have made the 21-year-old American their primary transfer target this summer, while RB Leipzig are also weighing up a potential move.

And The Sun says Manchester United are in the process of trying to make a deal for 26-year-old South Korea defender Kim Min-jae, who has helped Napoli win the Serie A title this season.

Neymar: Manchester United are weighing up an approach for the 31-year-old Paris St Germain forward, L’Equipe reports.

Declan Rice: Sky Sport Germany says Bayern Munich view the 24-year-old West Ham midfielder as a primary target for the summer transfer window.

Ilkay Gundogan is determined not to lose momentum as Manchester City aim to close out the season by winning the treble.

City claimed the first of the three trophies they are chasing by winning the Premier League title over the weekend.

Their sights are now set on adding the FA Cup and Champions League but, before they can switch thoughts fully to their two finals next month, they have to complete the league programme.

City, who are unbeaten in 24 games, wrap up their Premier League campaign by travelling to Brighton on Wednesday and Brentford next Sunday and Gundogan is wary of easing up in those matches.

The City captain said: “We haven’t lost any games for so many weeks and that’s the standard that we have to set for ourselves.

“We do nothing different – we do the same things that we’ve done in the last few weeks and hopefully it can be a really special end to the season.

“I love the club and being part of this amazing team.

“Obviously, we want to finish the season with two more trophies. We have two more big finals, and the last two games of the Premier League season are going to be preparation for that.

“We don’t want to drop anything. I would love to lift two more trophies.”

The ultimate success of City’s season will now be defined by the FA Cup final, in which they face Manchester United on June 3, and the Champions League final against Inter Milan the following week.

After a strong run throughout the spring – capped by magnificent performances in crunch games against title rivals Arsenal and then Real Madrid in the Champions League – the focus is strong.

Kevin De Bruyne, who like Gundogan is now a five-time Premier League winner, said: “We like to win, and we’re never bored of it. We’ve won a lot in the past but we want to win again and again.

“We keep on working. We enjoy the games against Brighton and Brentford and prepare for United and Inter and hopefully we can do something special.

“Everybody wants it. We know we need to win two games, but they are hard games, and we need to prepare ourselves the best as possible and hopefully we can win them.”

Midfielder Rodri is confident City can achieve their goal.

He said: “We know there is a long way to go with two big finals and we have to prepare good.

“We can do it. We believe in ourselves. We have been working to arrive in these moments and we are prepared.”

Jimmy Jeggo believes Hibernian can recover from Sunday’s setback against Rangers to keep themselves in contention for a European place.

The Hibees had not lost in four games before the 3-1 cinch Premiership defeat to the Light Blues where goals from Gers skipper James Tavernier, Ianis Hagi and Todd Cantwell rendered Paul Hanlon’s added-time header as a consolation.

Lee Johnson’s side are in fifth place – two points ahead of St Mirren, four points behind Hearts and six behind Aberdeen – with European places potentially available up to fifth place in the league as long as champions Celtic beat Inverness in the Scottish Cup final.

Hibs finish the campaign with two tough matches, at home to Celtic and away to Edinburgh rivals Hearts and Jeggo remains positive.

The 31-year-old midfielder, who signed from Belgian club Eupen in January, said: “There were positives but there are still a lot of things we need to improve when it comes to these types of games to get a little bit closer.

“But we are at that stage in the season where we need results.

“We are still in with a chance of European football, which is our aim. It is about taking the positives from Sunday, looking at the things we need to improve on and then taking them into the game on Wednesday night, which will be a similar game.

“We know where we are as a team and we want to keep building.

“We feel that over the last couple of weeks we have taken a step forward and it is about continuing that.

“It is that time of the season where there is no point getting too down about things.

“We know we have to go out there in the next couple of games and do a job. We know it is going to be difficult, but we are ready for that.

“There is still an overriding sense of confidence in the team that we can do what we need to do to get a European place.

“A club like Hibs has to be in Europe. We are all well aware of the expectation.

“As players, that’s where we want to be. We know there are two really big games coming up and it is going to be difficult.

“But the gaffer is clear. We are building and there is another window coming up and all that kind of stuff.

“It is a big advantage to the club having European football and also for us as a team. It provides us with more challenges to grow and more challenges to get better.”