Rivals Manchester City and Manchester United clash in the FA Cup final this weekend.
Here, the PA news agency looks at some of the key talking points ahead of the Wembley encounter.
The treble
City head to Wembley hoping to complete the second leg of a glorious treble. The Premier League title is in the bag and the Champions League final against Inter Milan is still to come. Adding spice to the occasion is the fact that United are the only other English club to have achieved this feat, back in 1999. Their fans would certainly love nothing more than to stop their neighbours emulating them.
Champions League final influence
It will be interesting to see how much of a bearing the Champions League final has on City manager Pep Guardiola’s selection. The European c…
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers enjoyed seeing Buckie Thistle players celebrate getting paired with his side in the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup draw – but he will otherwise treat them like any other opponent.
The Highland League side are set for the biggest game in their history when they travel to Glasgow for Sunday’s fourth-round tie.
Footage emerged of the players on a night out reacting to the draw 24 hours after they beat Broxburn Athletic on penalties in the third round despite getting two men sent off.
Rodgers told Celtic TV: “For me it’s never mattered who the opponent is, we always prepare exactly the same and go through it with great detail.
Buckie Thistle players celebrate drawing Celtic in the Scottish Cup
— Fitba Patter (@Fitb…
England have requested to go through qualification for Euro 2028, with their joint hosting as part of a UK and Ireland bid set to be rubber-stamped by UEFA on Tuesday.
The five-nation bid will make its presentation to UEFA’s executive committee on Tuesday morning but is unopposed to host the tournament in five years’ time, with Turkey having withdrawn its candidacy last week to focus on a joint bid for the 2032 finals with Italy.
UEFA has reserved two ‘safety net’ host-nation berths should any of the five UK and Ireland bidders not qualify on merit, but the Football Association is understood to have already told UEFA that England are keen to go through qualification.
Joint statement with the , , and
— The FA (@FA)
The FA is keen to k…
Best Odds: 7/10
Bookmaker:
Two sides who have their sights set on punching a Champions League ticket this season, Nice will welcome Monaco to the Allianz Riviera on Sunday night.
Starting with the hosts, while Nice might have opened up the 2023/24 campaign in the midst of a public struggle, the Eaglets have come roaring back in some style. Continuing to skyrocket their way up the Ligue 1 standings, Francesco Farioli’s side sit firmly in the driving seat to punch a Champions League ticket this season. With the mood around the Allianz Riviera at a red-hot high, Nice have lost just one of their previous six showdowns against top-flight opposition. Last seen earlier in the week extending on their Coupe de France adventure as they secured a stellar 4-1 romp away at…
Bruno Fernandes believes Manchester United teenager Alejandro Garnacho has the potential to become “something special in the world of football”.
Acquired from Atletico Madrid in 2020, the 19-year-old forward starred in last year’s FA Youth Cup triumph and has gone on to establish himself as a first-team regular at Old Trafford.
Garnacho enjoyed the finest moment of his nascent career at Everton on Sunday, showing outstanding ingenuity and technique to thunder home an outrageous overhead kick just 133 seconds into a 3-0 win.
The Argentina international followed his jaw-dropping goal-of-the-season contender by replicating former United great Cristiano Ronaldo’s celebration after an effort his idol would have been more than proud of.
Good morning.
Zinedine Zidane insists Gareth Bale is not a trouble-causer at Real Madrid, with the coach adamant he will always back his players.
Bale has become a target of vitriol from Madrid s fans and sections of the Spanish media in recent seasons, with the Wales forward – who has also struggled with injuries – having often fallen down the pecking order.
The 30-year-old also incurred the wrath of the local press and Los Blancos support when he celebrated with a flag bearing the message WALES. GOLF. MADRID IN THAT ORDER following Wales qualification for Euro 2020.
Having scored in Madrid s 3-1 Copa del Rey win over Unionistas de Salamanca on Wednesday, Bale will not be available for Sunday s LaLiga encounter with Real Vallodolid due to an ankle injury.
But, …
Market: Gateshead win
Odds: 3/4 @
Desperate to shore up their spot in the National League play-off chase, Gateshead will host Hartlepool on Tuesday night.
Starting with the hosts, only continuing to gain a string of plaudits from across the National League this season, Gateshead are sat in the driving seat to punch a shock play-off ticket in 2024. With the mood in their camp at a real high, the Tynesiders will know the importance of making another statement here. Putting in an action-packed performance over the weekend as they secured a 3-2 victory away at Altrincham, interim boss Rib Elliot should find the mood in his camp at a red-hot high. Punching their spot in the semi-finals of this year’s FA Trophy earlier in the month as they secured another 3-2 win ag…
Lucas Vazquez has committed his future to Real Madrid, with the winger penning a three-year deal to remain at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Carlo Ancelotti was appointed as coach for a second stint in charge of Madrid earlier this week, and one of the first moves he reportedly signed off on was the new contract for Vazquez.
The 29-year-old Spain international, who plays predominantly on the wing but was also used as a full-back in 2020-21 by Zinedine Zidane before a knee injury ended his campaign, and his chances of making Luis Enrique s squad for Euro 2020.
Vazquez s deal had been due to expire at the end of June, but he has now agreed to remain with Los Blancos through to June 2024.
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden)
Having come through M…
Best odds: 15/19
Bookmaker:
Southampton and West Bromwich Albion will face each other on Friday evening at St. Mary s with their Championship playoff semi-final tied at 0-0 after the first leg, played at The Hawthorns on May 12th.
Both teams enter the second leg at the south of England on the back of unbeaten runs in their last two matches. Southampton triumphed previously away to Leeds United, while West Brom smashed three unanswered goals at home against Preston North End.
Southampton
After defeating Leeds at Elland Road on the final day, Southampton traveled to The Hawthorns on Sunday, aiming to secure a second notable away win in a row.
Although Russell Martin s side did not leave the West Midlands with a first-leg advantage, they managed to…
Market: Leuven win
Odds: 11/10 @
Simply looking to sign off the 2023/24 campaign with a flurry on home soil, Leuven will welcome Westerlo to the King Power on Saturday night.
Starting with the hosts, while Leuven might have signed off April with a routine 3-0 drumming at the hands of KV Mechelen, Oscar Garcia’s men have continued to shine since returning from March’s international break. Opening May with a stellar 3-1 romp at home against St. Liege, the one-time Brighton boss has seen his squad lose just one of their previous eight Pro League appearances. Mustering seven point from their last three top-flight showdowns, the Whites will certainly be smelling the chance to make a final weekend statement. Pencilled in as a standout contender here, Leuven will …