The NFL season is waning fast, as the calendar has flipped to December. Dreams will be crushed and realized in the regular season’s stretch run, those of bettors included.
Let’s try to get lucky in Week 13 and hitch our wagon to the Commanders and Chiefs in both of these parlay plays. I’ll attack those two games in two different ways, as I outline below.
Jose Mourinho will be hoping more sincere congratulations are in order when Chelsea visit Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League.
The Portuguese cut a frustrated figure as he witnessed his Chelsea side lose ground in the Premier League title race in a 2-1 setback to Sunderland on Saturday, a defeat that saw Mourinho s 77-match unbeaten league run at Stamford Bridge come to an end.
Following that disappointment, Mourinho s post-match press conference had a somewhat sarcastic feel to it, as he offered congratulations to official Mike Dean who had awarded Sunderland a controversial penalty that was converted by former Chelsea forward Fabio Borini as well as Mike Riley, the general manager of the Professional Game Match Officials Board, which is responsible for appointing …
Lille coach Rudi Garcia is eager to see his side finish their poor Champions League campaign on a high against Valencia on Wednesday.
The French side are certain to finish bottom of Group F after winning just one of their first five games.
But despite having nothing but pride to play for, Garcia said he wanted Lille to finish their European adventure successfully.
We will try everything to end on a good note in this season s Champions League. There is no mathematical issue with regards to us and qualification, Garcia said.
But we are at home and we have to give everything to end with a good result, at least for our fans.
It also allows us to face one of the best teams in Europe – Valencia FC. So that s our goal for tomorrow – try to play …
Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso said Sunday night s Euro 2008 win over Germany was just as good as the Reds dramatic Champions League victory over AC Milan in 2005.
The 26-year-old played a key role in the 1-0 win over Joachim Loew s Germany team to claim Spain s first European title since 1964.
He said the win in Vienna was just as good, if not better as Liverpool s dramatic fight back from 3-0 down to level the 2005 Champions League final 3-3 before they won the title on penalties.
I don t know if it is bigger than that win, but it is definitely one of the happiest moments of my career, said Alonso.
It is a moment to savour, just like it was in the Champions League final.
Three years ago, Alonso played a crucial role as Liverpool complet…
Yaya Toure believes Manchester City must become more inventive to retain their English Premier League trophy.
The 2011/12 title winners traded blows with rivals Manchester United throughout the campaign before being crowned winners with virtually the last kick of the season, but now trail Alex Ferguson s side by four points.
Ivory Coast international Toure thinks Roberto Mancini s men must work hard on new systems and tactics to keep opponents guessing, or run the risk of teams identifying City s weaknesses and exploiting them.
Whereas perhaps we caught a lot of teams by surprise last season, this year our opponents know how we play, he told The Sun.
Sometimes we have to change our system to try to break teams down. The other teams and players can anal…
Wout Weghorst claims he was trying to wind up Virgil van Dijk by touching the This is Anfield sign before Manchester United s 7-0 humiliation at Liverpool.
Sunday s thrashing was United s joint-worst defeat in their history, as Erik ten Hag s side conceded six second-half goals to completely collapse at the home of their fierce rivals.
Following the drubbing, a video circulated of Weghorst touching the famous sign in the tunnel of Anfield, sparking fury from United fans.
Weghorst, who has scored just once in 14 appearances since signing on loan from Burnley in January, says he was simply trying to get under the skin of Netherlands team-mate Van Dijk.
Normally I never react on media topics, but for this one it s worth it because you amazing United fans ar…
Dynamo Kyiv boss Mircea Lucescu expressed outrage after fans of opponents Fenerbahce sang the name of Vladimir Putin in Wednesday s Champions League qualifier.
Lucescu boycotted the post-match news conference in protest, with the chants beginning after Oleksandr Karavayev gave the Ukrainian visitors a decisive 2-1 lead in the second leg in Istanbul.
The goal came in the 114th minute, after the teams were level at 1-1 at the end of normal time, and it proved to be a match-winner. It was enough to give Dynamo a 2-1 aggregate victory, carrying them through to the third qualifying round, where they will face Sturm Graz of Austria.
According to Ukrainian news outlet Expres, Lucescu told broadcasters: We cannot accept the behaviour of the fans. I did not expect s…
Juventus striker Simone Zaza has stressed his desire to remain at the club next season, despite seeing first-team opportunities limited in 2015-16.
Zaza is currently with Italy at Euro 2016, coming off the bench in Friday s 1-0 victory over Sweden in Toulouse, and is expected to start as Antonio Conte s men round off Group E against Republic of Ireland on Wednesday.
And the former Sassuolo man, who made just five league starts last term, insists his focus remains on helping his country for the time being.
I hope to play more next year, but I m aware that this was my first year with a big team, he said. I ll assess my future after the Euros, but I hope to remain in Turin.
I feel happy on a personal level, but not 100 per cent because I think I can g…
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang says it has been his dream since he was a kid to play in Spain as his Borussia Dortmund future remains up in the air.
Aubameyang has been linked with a move away from Dortmund, with several European powerhouses reportedly interested in the Gabon international.
The 27-year-old scored 39 goals in all competitions in 2015-16, helping Dortmund qualify for the Champions League after missing out the previous year under Jurgen Klopp.
While he has stated his intentions of playing in Spain in the past, Manchester City are reported to be heavily interested in the star forward.
But after visiting the small town of El Barraco from where his mother and her family originated Aubameyang reiterated his desire to play in the country in th…
Spain midfielder Xavi is determined to do well at Euro 2012 for his injured Barcelona team-mates David Villa and Carles Puyol.
Both Puyol and Villa formed an important part of the Spain squad which won the 2010 World Cup but have missed the tournament in Poland and Ukraine due to injury.
However, Xavi is hopeful of bringing the injured pair happiness with Spanish success at the continental event.
Puyi is a leader, a winner. And Villa is our historic goalscorer. But they are not here. We ll try and give them some joy, Xavi told TVE.
They are two champions, but injuries are part of football, too. Their replacements are giving their all for the team.
The influential midfielder also insisted he enjoys a good relationship with Real Madrid goalkeep…
Scotland manager George Burley says his team are united in their quest to make a positive start to World Cup qualification in their match against Macedonia.
The Scots travel to Skopje for their opening Group Nine match on Saturday with several key players missing due to injury.
Burley was already missing captain Barry Ferguson and Alan Hutton with long-term injuries.
But over the past few days Garry O Connor, David Weir, David Marshall, Callum Davidson, Kevin McNaughton and Kevin Thomson have also all pulled out with a variety of ailments.
The manager has drafted in Rangers defender Kirk Broadfoot, Hearts midfielder Michael Stewart and Aberdeen goalkeeper Jamie Langfield to replenish the squad, which is placed 16th in the latest world rankings one pl…