Competition: Champions League
Market: Qarabag FK to win against Viktoria Plzen
Odds:

Azerbaijan Premier League side Qarabag FK welcome Czech Republic outfit Viktoria Plzen at the Tofiq Bahramov Stadium for the second leg of the third round of tonight’s Champions League qualifier, and could well come out on top to book their place in the playoffs.

After earning a credible draw in the away leg, Qarabag are in the driving seat to progress if they can deliver on home soil this evening. The hosts finished top of the Azerbaijan Premier League last season, and boasted a fantastic record in their own backyard – 18 games, 15 wins, 3 draws.

Conceding only six goals in 18 home games in their domestic league, while earning a clean sheet in the first leg, Qar…

England s international friendly against Italy will be a preview for the 2014 World Cup with both sides naming youthful squads for the clash.

The two teams last met in the quarter-finals of Euro 2012 with England losing 4-2 on penalties after scores were tied 0-0 at full-time.

Italy went on to lose 4-0 in the Euro 2012 final to Spain, but both nations will be showing off very different sides in Wednesday s friendly in Switzerland.

Player commitments to Italian clubs Juventus and Napoli for Sunday s Supercoppa match in Beijing has led Italy to naming eight uncapped players in their squad.

Additions to the side include teenagers Mattia De Sciglio, Mattia Perin, AC Milan forward Stephan El Shaarawy as well as 20-year-old Manolo Gabbiadini and Andrea Poli, …

Arsene Wenger s wish for a more upbeat start to the new year was fulfilled as his Arsenal side booked their place in the FA Cup fourth round with a 3-1 victory over Plymouth thanks to two goals from Robin Van Persie on Saturday.

The victory may not have been as slick as Wenger would have liked but anxious to avoid an embarrassing slip, the result at the Emirates Stadium was all that mattered to the Gunners manager.

Wenger admitted before the game that 2008 had been a miserable year for Arsenal. Serious injuries to key players reports of dressing room in-fighting and a failure once again to challenge for the Premier League title have created an air of uncertainty to the club

And Wenger s growing list of problems increased this week when he was forced to admit …

Paul Pogba remains on the sideline but not the outer at Manchester United.

The rumoured Real Madrid target reportedly hopes to leave Old Trafford in January after missing out on a move before the season started.

But it seems the Red Devils will resist all interest in their record signing when the transfer window opens.

TOP STORY – UNITED BLOCK POGBA S EXIT PATH

Five months after Mino Raiola confirmed his client s desire to depart, United remain resolute in their determination to keep star midfielder Pogba.

The 26-year-old failed to engineer a close-season exit and the Red Devils will again stand in the former Juventus star s way if he asks for a move in January, reports the Daily Mail.

Pogba has not played since September du…

Sergio Ramos questioned why VAR was not used to check two clear fouls on Raphael Varane in the penalty area during Wednesday s goalless Clasico.

In the first half at Camp Nou, Varane was caught by a high challenge from compatriot Clement Lenglet and then had his shirt pulled by Ivan Rakitic when competing for a corner.

Referee Alejandro Jose Hernandez Hernandez did not award a penalty and neither incident was checked using the VAR pitchside monitor midweek.

Madrid captain Ramos was left bemused as to why VAR did not intervene, having watched back the footage at half-time.

We saw them at the break and they look pretty clear. They re both penalties, but we can t change that now, he said to Movistar.

VAR is here to help. It s bad luck. On another…

Verdict: Half-Time Draw/Full-Time Barcelona

Best Odds:

Bookmaker:

Barcelona will be keen to put the Champions League disappointment behind them when they lock horns with Valencia in what’s likely to be one of the most interesting La Liga fixtures this weekend.  

Barcelona

Barcelona are bleeding following the devastating 3-0 defeat in Rome which saw Ernesto Valverde crash out of the Champions League in a remarkable fashion.

The Catalans were unable to preserve a huge 4-1 lead from the first leg at Camp Nou and ended up leaving the Europe’s elite competition on away goals. The loss in Italy saw the end of their 19-match unbeaten run and caused quite a havoc in the dressing room with Gerrard Pique reportedly questioning Ernesto Valverde�…

Mainz have agreed a deal to take Andre Ramalho on loan from Bayer Leverkusen with an option to buy.

Ramalho joined Leverkusen from Red Bull Salzburg in 2015 and made 25 appearances in all competitions for the club.

The Brazilian defender bolsters Mainz s squad ahead of their maiden Europa League campaign and follows Kyriakos Papadopoulos, who has moved to RB Leipzig, in sealing a temporary switch to a Bundesliga rival on Wednesday.

I am delighted to be at Mainz. I am convinced Mainz is the club for me and I want to prove myself here this season. We have a lot ahead of us, but I m sure that we will succeed and I will do my part, said Ramalho in an official club statement.

Andre has moved to on a year-long loan from . Welcome to Mainz!

— 1. F…

Defender David Luiz could be on the sidelines as defending Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain make the tricky trip to Rennes on Saturday.

The centre-back, who arrived in a big-money move from Premier League Chelsea in the transfer window, damaged knee cartilage while on international duty for Brazil against Colombia last Friday.

Having missed Brazil s meeting with Ecuador on Tuesday, he is now a doubt as PSG resume their domestic exertions at the Stade de Route de Lorient.

And, with a UEFA Champions League visit to Dutch champions Ajax coming just four days after PSG s visit to Brittany, it would be no surprise if coach Laurent Blanc decided to leave David Luiz out of the clash with last season s Coupe de France runners-up.

Should the Brazilian miss th…

Napoli on Thursday confirmed the appointment of Maurizio Sarri as coach of the Serie A club. 

The Naples-born 56-year-old has been charged with the task of replacing Rafael Benitez, who ended his two-year tenure at Stadio San Paolo last month before taking over at Real Madrid.

Sarri resigned as Empoli coach last week despite having two years left on his contract and was also linked with Milan, Sampdoria and Cagliari.

He masterminded Empoli s return to Serie A in 2013-14, and has impressed as the club retained its place, finishing 15th in the table at the end of the most recent campaign – eight points clear of danger.

Napoli tweeted: Napoli announces that the post of coach of the first team for the next season 2015/2016 will be entrusted to Mauriz…

Blackpool winger Tom Ince has rejected a move to Cardiff City, the Welsh club have revealed.

The 21-year-old has just one year remaining on his contract with the Championship side and was the subject of a successful bid from Cardiff last month.

However, the England Under-21 international has opted to turn down a switch, citing his desire to remain close to his newborn child.

Cardiff City Football Club can confirm that Blackpool midfielder Thomas Ince will not be joining the Bluebirds, a statement on the newly promoted Premier League outfit s website read.

Having agreed a fee with Blackpool FC towards the end of June and with the player and agent happy with personal terms offered, Blackpool manager and Thomas father Paul confirmed on Friday that due to the recent …