Messi: Off-field relationship with Neymar and Suarez key

Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi says his relationship with Luis Suarez and Neymar off the pitch is the reason for the their sensational form on it.

This season, the trio have played a huge part in Barcelona s La Liga and Copa del Rey successes, as well as their march to the UEFA Champions League final.

A staggering 120 goals have been scored between them in all competitions, a record in Spanish football.

Messi has once again led the way with a return of 58 and he is relishing his link-up with Suarez and Neymar.

We get along with each other really well, not only on the field but also off it, he said in an interview with UEFA. 

I think that if you get along well off the pitch, this makes things easier on the pitch.

Barca are just o…

Midtjylland v Manchester United: Fellaini insists Europa League test will not be taken lightly

Marouane Fellaini insists Manchester United will not take Midtjylland lightly in the first leg of their Europa League last-32 clash on Thursday.

Louis van Gaal s side were drawn against the Danish title-holders after dropping out of the Champions League group stage in December, with defeat to Wolfsburg on matchday six ending their involvement in Europe s top competition.

The draw was considered by many to be kind on the 20-time English champions, with Midtjylland having conceded more goals (12) than any other side to make it through the Europa League groups something they have done for the first time in their history this season.

According to Fellaini, United are fully prepared for a difficult game in Herning as they look to become the fifth team to win both of E…

Bitesize Prediction: Bulgaria vs Montenegro – 24/03/23

Market: Bulgaria draw no bet

Odds: 20/21 @

Hoping to get their Group G campaign off with a statement on Friday evening, Bulgaria will welcome Montenegro to the Huvepharma Arena in Razgard.

Starting with the hosts, although Bulgaria might have eventually missed out on the chance to claim a Nations League promotion last year, the Lions are enjoying what has been an eye-catching flurry over the past nine months. Although Maiden Krstajic’s men might have been last seen signing of 2022 with a 0-0 stalemate away at Luxembourg in a friendly showdown, the Whites are in the midst of a six-match unbeaten run across all competitions. Likewise, with their recent resurge highlighted by a rugged 1-0 victory away at North Macedonia back on September 26th, Bulgaria have also …

Ronaldo is ´best of the humans´ but not as good as Messi – Pique

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique says that Real Madrid rival Cristiano Ronaldo is the best of the humans , but remains off the level of his team-mate from another planet Lionel Messi.

Messi and Ronaldo are regarded as the two finest current footballers on the planet and have shared the last eight Ballon D Or awards between them, the Barca star taking his fifth earlier this year.

Ronaldo hit the winner in Saturday s Clasico, after Karim Benzema cancelled out Pique s opener, but Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar s excellence means Barca remain seven points clear of third-placed Madrid in La Liga.

Pique played with Messi in Barcelona s La Masia academy before linking up with Ronaldo at Manchester United, winning a Premier League and Champions League double in 2007-08.

´I think he will stay in the end´ – Bologna coach confident in keeping Man Utd target Arnautovic

Bologna coach Sinisa Mihajlovic has joined the club s sporting director Marco Di Vaio in suggesting 33-year-old Manchester United target Marko Arnautovic will remain in Italy this season.

Arnautovic arrived at Bologna ahead of the 2021-22 campaign after three years with Shanghai Port in China, and it proved to be a savvy move from the Serie A side as he netted 15 goals in 34 appearances – eight more goals than any of his teammates.

Speaking before Bologna s Coppa Italia clash against Cosenza, Di Vaio said Arnautovic is at the centre of what he is trying to accomplish this season, and that it s not a question of money, it s priceless for what it represents for us before adding he has no market value .

After the match, Mihajlovic told the media he believes the cl…

Solskjaer unsure of Fellaini future amid CSL speculation

Manchester United caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer does not know what the future holds for Marouane Fellaini as the midfielder continues to be linked with a move to China.

Fellaini is reportedly set to swap the Premier League for the Chinese Super League – Shandong Luneng believed to be the 31-year-old s next destination.

The Belgian was trusted by former United boss Jose Mourinho and his predecessor Louis van Gaal, having followed David Moyes to Old Trafford from Everton in 2013, however, his days in Manchester appear numbered.

Asked if there was an update on Fellaini s future following Tuesday s last-gasp 2-2 draw at home to Burnley, Solskjaer told reporters: To be honest, no.

I ve been busy all day, so I don t know the latest update on that on…

AS Roma ace Paulo Dybala offered to Manchester United

AS Roma attacker Paulo Dybala has been offered to Manchester United in the summer transfer window, according to . The report has claimed that Dybala, who can operate as an attacking midfielder or as a forward, is available for United for a release clause of £10.5 million. The Red Devils have yet to make a decision.

Dybala has been on the books of AS Roma since the summer of 2022 when he joined on a free transfer after leaving Serie A rivals Juventus. The Argentina international, who won the 2022 Qatar World Cup finals, has done well for Jose Mourinho’s side this campaign.

The 29-year-old has made 20 starts and three substitute appearances in Serie A for AS Roma this season, scoring 11 goals and providing six assists in the process. Dybala has also made seven starts a…

Prediction: Liverpool vs Bournemouth

Best odds: 10/11

Bookmaker:

Liverpool are set to welcome Bournemouth, freshly returned to the Premier League, to Anfield on Saturday afternoon, in what will be a match within the fourth round of the 2022/23 season in the English top flight.

Liverpool

Things haven t exactly gone to plan since the start of the season for Liverpool. They re yet to feel the joy of winning, and not many would ve expected that given that their first three opponents were Fulham, Crystal Palace and a severely shaken Manchester United.

Nonetheless, they drew 2-2 at Craven Cottage and 1-1 against Palace at Anfield, losing Darwin Nunez to a red card in that match, and finally lost what s frequently seen as the biggest game in English football 2-1 at Old Trafford. They started that…

Aubameyang gets Xavi nod: Barcelona new boy makes first start since facing Man Utd in December

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was handed a first start for Barcelona as Napoli arrived at Camp Nou on Thursday.

For the Europa League play-off first leg, former Arsenal striker Aubameyang was selected along with Ferran Torres and Adama Traore in a three-man frontline.

All three recently left the Premier League behind to join Barcelona, with former Manchester City man Torres and ex-Wolves forward Traore having already started for Xavi s team.

Aubameyang was named to start a first-team game at club level for the first time since he lined up for Arsenal against Manchester United on December 2.

He fell out of favour at Arsenal as his relationship with manager Mikel Arteta disintegrated, leading to the new start in Spain.

Head coach Xavi said of the Gabo…