Market: Slovenia double chance

Odds: 8/15 @

Looking to make it three qualifying victories on the bounce this weekend, a high-flying Slovenia will travel to Finland on Friday evening.

Starting with the hosts, last seen drawing a line under their nightmare rut as they claimed a gritty 1-0 victory away against Northern Ireland, it is no secret that Finland are seeking some much-needed stability. Opening their qualifying adventure with a routine 3-1 drumming at the hands of Denmark, the Eagle Owls are tipped as a huge underdog pick to clinch a route out of Group H. Mustering just a pair of wins from any of their previous 10 appearances across all competitions a run that stems back to June 2022 Markku Kanevra’s side have also gained a reputation for their continued…

Aaron Ramsey is taking a step down by leaving Arsenal for Juventus, former Gunners goalkeeper David Seaman has suggested.

Wales international Ramsey is set to complete a free transfer to the Serie A champions at the end of the season, having agreed to a contract that, according to some reports, will see him earn £400,000 per week.

The 28-year-old, who could miss the rest of 2018-19 due to a hamstring injury, has won three FA Cups since joining the Gunners in 2008, but a shot at the Premier League title has rarely looked likely.

However, Seaman still believes the Londoners are a bigger club than Juve, who have won eight consecutive league titles in Italy and have reached the Champions League final twice in the past four years.

Arsenal will remember Aaron…

Kevin van Veen revealed Motherwell fans have given him “the chills” with their support during his record-breaking season in front of goal.

The 31-year-old Dutch striker, who signed from Scunthorpe in 2021, scored 29 times for the Steelmen to help them secure seventh place in the cinch Premiership.

Van Veen scored for the 11th successive game during Well’s 3-2 win over Dundee United on Sunday to beat the post-war record set by former Celtic striker Mark Viduka and also break a Motherwell club record set by Hugh Ferguson that had stood for 103 years.

While his future is subject to speculation as his contract is up this summer, he told Motherwell’s official Twitter account how appreciative he is of the Fir Park fans.

He said: “I will remember this …

The Women’s Super League returns post-winter break as the season’s 11th round of matches takes place across Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Here, the PA news agency looks at some of the key talking points heading into the resumption.

Kerr-less Chelsea

Chelsea Football Club can confirm striker Sam Kerr has sustained an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury during our warm weather training camp in Morocco.

— Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW)

A major piece of news during the WSL hiatus was that Chelsea will have to continue their bid for a fifth successive title without star striker Sam Kerr after the Australian suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury. The Blues, currently leading by three points in what is their final season before United States-b…

West Ham have reached an agreement with Jarrod Bowen over a new contract, according to multiple sources. This development comes in the wake of the winger being recalled to the England national team by Gareth Southgate.

Bowen s current deal with the Hammers expires in 2025, but despite the reported interest from several top clubs in the Premier League in his services, the 26-year-old is obviously determined to stay at the London Stadium for the foreseeable future and continue his role in the project under David Moyes.

EXCLUSIVE: Jarrod Bowen agrees new long term deal at West Ham. It’s all done, one more excellent news for the winger after England NT call.

Bowen wanted to stay as key part of the project. Jarrod said yes to final proposal.

— Fabrizio…

Aston Villa forward Rachel Daly has been handed a three-match suspension after admitting a charge of violent conduct, the Football Association has announced.

The England international appeared to catch Bristol City midfielder Amy Rodgers in the face with her arm late in the first half of Villa’s 2-2 Women’s Super League draw with the Robins at the Poundland Bescot Stadium on Saturday.

A statement from the FA said: “Rachel Daly has been suspended for three matches following Aston Villa Women’s game against Bristol City Women in the Women’s Super League on Saturday February 3.

Statement on Rachel Daly.

— Aston Villa Women (@AVWFCOfficial)

“Her behaviour during the 39th minute wasn’t seen by the match officials at the time, but it w…

Chelsea are interested in signing Wolverhampton Wanderers left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri, according to . The report has claimed that former Premier League and UEFA Champions League winners Chelsea want to add a new left-back to their squad in 2024, and that Ait-Nouri is one of the players on their radar.

Ait-Nouri had a loan spell at Wolves from Angers in 2020-21 before making the move to the Wanderers permanent. The 22-year-old has since been a superb player for Wolves and is one of the better left-backs/left wing-backs in the Premier League. The Algeria international has made 11 starts and one substitute appearance in the Premier League and has made one start and one substitute appearance in the Carabao Cup.

Chelsea are 10th in the Premier League table at the moment with 1…

Tottenham head coach Jose Mourinho hit out at Antonio Conte for speaking publicly about Inter s pursuit of Christian Eriksen.

Eriksen, 27, is out of contract at Tottenham at the end of the season and has been heavily linked with a move to the Serie A side.

Mourinho reignited his feud with Conte as speculation continues over Eriksen, criticising the Inter boss for discussing the midfielder publicly.

Conte is reported to have said: Eriksen? We have to go to people who have already had a career, who are at the end of their contracts.

I think Antonio, I think Antonio. I think it was publicly. He is very positive that Eriksen is coming to Inter, Mourinho told UK newspapers when asked who from Inter had been quoted about the Dane, via The Guardian.

W…

Market: Over 1.5 goals

Odds: 4/9 @

Two sides who have their sights firmly set on securing a Segunda play-off ticket this season, Real Valladolid will welcome Eibar to the Estadio Jose Zorrilla on Sunday afternoon.

Starting with the hosts, making an immediate return to losing ways last weekend as they eventually fell to a 2-0 loss at the hands of Ferrol, Real Valladolid have seen their play-off dreams take a real dent. Despite flying out of the traps when opening up the 2023/24 campaign, Paulo Pezzolano’s men have continued to struggle with their consistency over recent times. Getting March underway with a 2-1 loss against Andorra, the Pucelle have recorded just a trio of wins from any of their previous 12 straight Segunda appearances. With that extended rut st…

Carlo Ancelotti is the new head coach of Real Madrid after Florentino Perez attracted the Italian from Everton.

Ancelotti dramatically jumped to the front of the queue for the job when it had looked as though Raul and Mauricio Pochettino were the main contenders.

His appointment means a return to the club that sacked him six years ago, with Perez having been head of the board that reached that decision at the end of the 2014-15 season.

Perez said at the time he had a good personal relationship with Ancelotti, and that will have been a factor in bringing the veteran coach back to the Spanish capital.

Ancelotti could not deliver a LaLiga title during his previous two-year stint, but he helped Madrid win the Champions League in 2014 the 10th time in the…