Bitesize Prediction: Santa Clara vs Oliveirense – 29/11/22

Manchester City overcame the dismissal of Rodri to beat Nottingham Forest 2-0 and maintain their perfect start to the new Premier League season.

Phil Foden gave City the lead in the seventh minute when he fired home from Rodri’s lay-off, before Erling Haaland headed in a second in the 15th minute from Matheus Nunes’ cross.

Midfielder Rodri was shown a straight red card soon after the restart for squaring up to Morgan Gibbs-White and putting his hands on the throat of the Forest midfielder.

Man City s unblemished start to the season continues

— Premier League (@premierleague)

The Spaniard’s three-match suspension is set to add to Pep Guardiola’s selection problems, with the City boss only able to name eight substitutes – two of them …

Erik ten Hag is happy to have  clarity on his managerial future with Manchester United, but insists he is fully focused on ensuring he leaves Ajax on a high note.

The Dutchman was confirmed as the Premier League outfit s next full-time manager on Thursday, succeeding interim boss Ralf Rangnick on a deal through June 2025.

It ends a lengthy courtship by the Red Devils to bring Ten Hag to Old Trafford, having parted ways with previous permanent boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in late 2021.

Speaking on his appointment, 52-year-old Ten Hag professed his delight to confirm the deal, but says he remains committed to bowing out with a third Eredivisie title in Amsterdam.

I m happy that it has been finalised and that it has been officially announced, Ten Hag told A…

Antoine Griezmann admits playing in front of a full stadium in sweltering conditions affected France in their surprise 1-1 Euro 2020 draw with Hungary on Saturday.

Barcelona forward Griezmann equalised 24 minutes from time in Budapest to cancel out Attila Fiola s first-half opener and salvage Les Blues a point in the Group F match.

Hungary were spurred on by a raucous crowd, with around 61,000 spectators in attendance thanks to an easing of coronavirus restrictions in the Hungarian capital.

France had to settle for a point that leaves them waiting on a place in the last 16 and Griezmann puts his side s disjointed display down to a couple of factors.

7 Antoine Griezmann’s equaliser for France was his seventh goal at the European Championships; only Crist…

Western Sydney Wanderers completed their fairytale run to the AFC Champions League final with a 2-0 win over Seoul on Wednesday.

Goals either side of the break from Mateo Poljak and the returning Shannon Cole completed the historic aggregate semi-final victory following a goalless first leg in South Korea.

It means the fledgling club founded in 2012 become only the second Australian side to make the continental decider, following on from Adelaide United in 2008.

Tony Popovic s side will face Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia over two legs in the final, with the first match in Sydney on October 25, followed by the second leg away a week later.

The Wanderers couldn’t have dreamed of a better start as Poljak scored his first Champions League goal inside the first t…

Enock Mwepu has returned to Brighton and Hove Albion as an academy coach two months after the discovery of a hereditary heart condition forced him to retire aged 24.

Mwepu, who was also captain of Zambia, fell ill while on a flight to join up with his national side during an international break earlier this season, subsequently spending time in hospital in Mali.

After undergoing further tests, it was determined Mwepu s illness was linked to a heart condition, which can worsen over time and be exacerbated by playing sport.

Mwepu outlined an intention to remain in the sport in some capacity when announcing the end of his playing career in October, and Brighton coach Roberto De Zerbi said the club would do everything we can to help him .

God’s plan and tim…

Lyon secured a record-extending eighth Women s Champions League title with a 3-1 victory over Barcelona on Saturday at the Allianz Stadium 

Defending champions Barca had only lost one competitive game all season but found themselves three goals down after first-half strikes from Amandine Henry, Ada Hegerberg and Catarina Macario. 

Blaugrana captain Alexia Putellas pulled one back just before the interval, but Lyon controlled the second half in Turin to ease to another European success. 

Lyon required just six minutes to take the lead as Henry scored an incredible solo goal, dancing inside from the left before firing a remarkable, long-range effort into the top-right corner. 

Jennifer Hermoso was denied by Christiane Endler as Barca looked to …

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes Mesut Ozil is in need of a boost to his confidence after his run without a goal extended after a 2-0 Premier League win at home to Hull City on Saturday.

The Germany international has not found the net since December 12 when he scored against Stoke City, Ozil making eight Premier League appearances since his last goal.

Ozil was lacklustre against Hull, spurning numerous chances to shoot, with Wenger believing the playmaker needs to score to provide an important shot to his confidence.

Maybe it s time for him to score a goal again, Wenger said after Arsenal bounced back from successive Premier League losses. 

He needs to find confidence again. He misses chances that don t look unfeasible for him.

I felt h…

Bastia have confirmed the signing of Brazilian striker Brandao from Saint-Etienne on one-year deal.

Brandao, who spent two seasons with his former employers, also has an additional one-year option in his contract.

The 34-year-old forward hit 16 Ligue 1 goals in his time with Saint-Etienne, with Bastia set to become the third club he has represented in the French top flight.

After leaving Shakhtar Donetsk in 2009, Brandao moved to Marseille, where he netted 16 goals in 65 league appearances, before loan stints at Cruzeiro and Gremio in the Brazilian Serie A.

A brief return to Marseille followed before the striker moved on to Saint-Etienne.

Brandao will join up with Claude Makelele s squad as they look to improve upon their 10th-place finish last se…

PSV could end a seven-year wait for their 22nd Eredivisie title this weekend, should results fall in favour of Phillip Cocu s side.

Cocu s men have been dominant this season, at one point stringing together a run of 16 wins and one draw from their 17 matches between early October and late February.

Defeats to Ajax and Feyenoord since then have delayed their charge slightly, but a favourable set of results in the 30th round of action would see the club take the title for the first tme since 2008.

Ahead of their home clash with PEC Zwolle on Friday, PSV enjoy a 10-point lead over nearest challengers Ajax, who have won the league in each of the past four seasons.

Should PSV take all three points against Zwolle, defeat for Ajax at relegation-threatened Herac…

England defender Danny Rose told his family not to come to Russia for the World Cup over concerns they may be racially abused.

The Russian Football Association was fined £22,000 by FIFA, after racist chants were directed towards black French players during a friendly between the two nations in March, a seemingly lenient punishment Rose labelled disgusting .

I am not worried about myself, Rose told Standard Sport. But I ve told my family I don t want them going out there because of the racism and anything else that may happen.

Rose, who will be competing at his first World Cup, revealed his family were heartbroken, but believes it is in everybody s best interests for them to stay away.

My dad s really upset. I could hear it in his voice. He said he may…