Verdict: Bernardo Silva to have over 0.5 shots on target

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Desperate to make up some ground in the Premier League title chase, Manchester City will welcome Crystal Palace to the Etihad on Saturday afternoon.

Manchester City

Starting with the hosts, managing to mount a crucial comeback away at relegation scrappers Luton last weekend as they eventually avoided what would have been an infamous banana skin, Manchester City will now be desperate to claim some domestic stability. However, despite eventually snatching a 2-1 victory away at Kenilworth Road, Pep Guardiola’s men are without a single win from any of their other previous four Premier League appearances. Opening this weekend’s fixtures sat four points adrift in the tit…

Luciano Spalletti has backed star Napoli pair Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to rise to the occasion as they prepare to face Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League last 16.

Osimhen and Kvaratskhelia have been two standout performers for Napoli this season, who boast a 15-point lead in Serie A and coasted through their Champions League group earlier this season.

Ahead of their first leg in Germany against the reigning Europa League holders, Spalletti heaped praise on both, as well as the club s decision-makers who brought them to Naples.

From the point of view of maturity, we can cite Osimhen s reaction to Sassuolo [on Friday] as an example [when he asked to come off after feeling a potential injury], he told reporters. As soon as he realised he ha…

Spain captain Sergio Ramos continued his incredible run of scoring form with another goal in his side s 4-1 win over Faroe Islands in Euro 2020 qualifying on Friday.

Ramos made it six goals in his last seven Spain appearances with a fifth-minute header in what was a routine win in Torshavn.

Jesus Navas then got in on the act and although Klaemint Olsen produced an unlikely response for the hosts, a bizarre own goal from Faroe Islands goalkeeper Teitur Gestsson restored Spain s two-goal lead in the 33rd minute.

Jose Gaya added his name to the scoresheet in the second half as Group F table-toppers Spain made it three wins from as many matches in their bid to reach next year s showpiece event.

122 Sergio Ramos has won 122 games for Spain, more than any other…

Joselu came off the bench to earn Newcastle United a 1-1 draw in a crucial Premier League relegation battle with bottom club Swansea City at St James Park.

Carlos Carvalhal has made a decent start to life with the Welsh club since taking over late last month and, despite his side having been on the backfoot for much of Saturday s contest, he appeared on course for a second win in three league games.

Jordan Ayew s header on the hour gave Swansea a surprise lead, punishing Newcastle for not capitalising on a host of opportunities to break the deadlock.

However, Swansea s advantage proved all too brief as Joselu, brought on for the profligate Dwight Gayle, levelled matters with a clever finish.

Rafael Benitez s men finished a largely entertaining encounter t…

Barcelona secured their place in the Champions League last 16 despite late drama in a 1-1 draw against Inter at a rain-soaked San Siro.

The Blaugrana looked set to register a fourth victory from four Group B matches when Malcom netted his first goal for the club seven minutes from time.

However, Mauro Icardi otherwise anonymous as Inter struggled to trouble Barca pounced to strike following a goalmouth scramble three minutes later, his goal crucial as Tottenham defeated PSV elsewhere.

Barca were still able to celebrate a place in the next round thanks to their superior head-to-head record against Inter, but this was a frustrating evening as they missed Lionel Messi s ruthless nature in the final third.

Leo
San Siro

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcel…

“I feel like everything I say will affect it in one way or the other, so I prefer not to answer. 

“I’m a happy man. I love the guys. Life is good in London and at this great club. That’s all I want to say.” 

Those are the words of Tottenham Hotspur defender Jan Vertonghen who continues to be hesitant when it comes to answering questions about his future. The Belgian’s current deal is set to expire during the summer transfer window and upon that happening, many are expecting him to test the waters elsewhere. 

Alas, after a questionable start to the campaign people are still undecided regarding whether or not Jose Mourinho will even want to feature him in his first team plans heading into next season and beyond. 

There’s a lot of uncertai…

Mauricio Pochettino accused his Tottenham players of failing to respect the plan in their Champions League draw with Olympiacos.

Having led 2-0 after half an hour in Athens, Spurs were pegged back to draw 2-2, allowing Bayern Munich to move top of Group B with a 3-0 win over Red Star Belgrade.

Harry Kane opened the scoring with a penalty 26 minutes in, which was the visitors first shot of a match in which they were second best.

Lucas Moura struck a fine second but Daniel Podence halved the deficit just before the interval and Mathieu Valbuena s second-half penalty sealed a point for the Greek side.

Pochettino was unhappy with Spurs display throughout the contest and felt they did not show anywhere near the level of effort they produced in last Saturday s …

John Stones believes he and his Manchester City team-mates are helping to bring some of Pep Guardiola s influence into England s World Cup campaign.

Stones produced arguably his finest display in international colours as England came through a bruising 1-1 draw against Colombia in Moscow on Tuesday before prevailing on penalties to book a quarter-final clash with Sweden.

Club-mates Kyle Walker and Raheem Sterling have been mainstays of Gareth Southgate s first-choice XI in Russia along with Stones, while City midfielder Fabian Delph has also featured and is back with the squad after returning home for the birth of his third child.

England fans looking for positive omens amid the growing wave of It s Coming Home optimism in their homeland might look to the identit…

Marcus Rashford has denied nonsense claims he is holding out for a huge £500,000-a-week deal to stay at Manchester United.

The England international, who has scored a career-best 27 goals in 44 games this campaign, is due to be out of contract at Old Trafford at the end of next season.

According to British publication the Daily Star, Rashford s United future is in limbo due to the ongoing sale of the club and his big wage demands.

However, the 25-year-old directly replied to the article on his personal Twitter page on Wednesday to deny that is the case.

Just before this one starts to do the rounds! It s complete nonsense, he posted. The club and make self [sic] have been respectful to one another, and that s how it will remain.

My focus is pur…

Barcelona are interested in signing Alessio Romagnoli from AC Milan in the summer of 2021, according to a report in . It has been reported that the Spanish and European giants are looking at the 26-year-old central defender as a potential replacement for Samuel Umtiti, whom they are keen on offloading.

Romagnoli has been on the books of Milan since 2015 and is a key figure in the team. The Italy international central defender is also the club captain, and his agent, Mino Raiola, has held talks with the Serie A outfit over a new contract, according to the report, which has added that the player is open to a move away.

According to , Romagnoli has scored one goal and provided one assist in 20 Serie A games and has made five starts and one substitute appearance in the Euro…