Fixture difficulty: Which clubs have the toughest – and easiest – start to the new season?
The ‘big five’ European leagues have released their schedules for the 2021-22 season so we have analysed the fixture difficulty for them all. While every team has to play everyone else at some point, timing can be everything. A tough start can easily undermine a positive pre-season, while a gentle run of opening fixtures can provide the momentum necessary for a successful campaign.
Ballon d’Or odds: Messi could be in seventh heaven
Lionel Messi will look to extend his record of six Ballon d’Or titles when the annual football award returns. The 2020 award ceremony was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic but with football’s return to action, the 2021 edition will see the voting commence.
Cristiano Ronaldo transfer news: PSG swap deal mooted
We’re tracking the latest Cristiano Ronaldo transfer news and rumours to see whether the five-time Ballon d’Or winner could move this summer. Despite turning 36 in February, Ronaldo was the leading scorer in Italy’s top flight last season when bagging 29 Serie A goals for Juventus.
Euro stars: Who will sign them this summer?
With Euro 2020 now over, attention is shifting to the upcoming domestic football season but the competition’s impact may be felt here as well. Until the first ball of a new campaign is kicked, the attention of fans tends to be fixated on the transfer market, where the Euro 2020 stars will have drawn the attention of the game’s big spenders.
Lionel Messi transfer news: Where next if Barca talks collapse?
We’re tracking the latest Lionel Messi transfer news, rumours and odds for clues on where the Ballon d’Or winner could play this season. Messi is now a free agent after his contract at Barcelona expired and the club’s financial problems mean it is far from certain that they can find room within their salary cap to agree a new deal.
Harry Kane transfer news: Manchester clubs favourites to swoop
With Euro 2020 now over, attention will switch to the new domestic season and we’re tracking the latest Harry Kane transfer news to see which teams could make a move. The England captain enjoyed another impressive tournament as his four goals helped the team go agonisingly close to winning the Euros, with Kane threatening to repeat his Golden Boot success at the 2018 World Cup.
La Liga winner odds: Ancelotti tipped to resurrect Real
Real Madrid are 5/4 joint-favourites in bwin’s La Liga winner odds after bringing back Carlo Ancelotti for a second spell as head coach. The 62-year-old Italian led the Whites to Champions League glory in 2014 and returns following an 18-month stint in charge of Everton.
Rebuilding a footballing dynasty – and what happened next?
With several of Europe’s leading clubs in a transitional period this summer, we’ve taken a look at which past seasons have seen the biggest exoduses of title-winning players and how it affected each team’s performances in the following years.
La Liga predictions: Saturday treble from Spain’s top flight
We’re continuing our regular La Liga predictions with an 8/1 Saturday treble from the final round of fixtures in Spain’s top tier. A thrilling title race will be decided this weekend while a dramatic relegation battle has also gone right down to the wire.
Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid: Hosts to shade title tussle
Barcelona can leapfrog Atletico Madrid at the top of La Liga as a thrilling three-way title race looks set to go right down to the wire. Both of these teams and Real Madrid have been far from convincing of late but Barca’s big guns are at least firing and can help the Catalan giants to strike a blow here.
European Super League: Breakaway tournament collapses
The football world is in turmoil following a European Super League announcement which could shake up the very foundations of the sport. It is proposed the new competition will be a rival to the Champions League, with organisers claiming it will generate increased and guaranteed income for clubs involved.
Real Madrid vs Barcelona: ZZ men to top El Clasico rivals
El Clasico takes centre stage on Saturday night for what is turning out to be one of the most exciting La Liga title races in years. Both teams are bang in form but the Whites really imprresed in their Champions League win over Liverpool on Tuesday night and get the nod to come out on top again here.
Who are football’s highest-profile free agents this summer?
As the football season enters its final stretch, Europe’s top clubs will already be preparing their transfer plans for this summer. While there will undoubtedly be fierce bidding wars for the continent’s top talent, some of the biggest signings could well be free transfers.
Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid: Derby draw to suit leaders
Atletico Madrid have their sights set on a first La Liga title triumph since 2014 and can afford to settle for a draw with city rivals Real. Los Colchoneros are five points clear of the defending champions and Barcelona, plus they have played a game less than the perennial Spanish powerhouses.