Luton Town’s season has not been disappointing judging by their standards. However, after a slow start, where they failed to pick a point in any of their first four Premier League games, they have picked themselves up and got a couple of wins under their belt, giving them a chance to fight for survival until the end of the season. Manager Rob Edwards has been trying his best to get his side going as they look to do the impossible at the end of the season.

Notable results for the Hatters include the win over Everton at Goodison Park to clinch their first win of the Premier League campaign before the win over Crystal Palace at home in their first win at home. Around that same time, they also drew with Liverpool at home before going ahead to beat Sheffield United and Newcastle United significantly to improve their fortunes on the Premier League log. At the turn of the year, the Hatters thrashed Brighton 4-0 before embarking on a run of winless results.

However, they keep scoring in a lot of games and failing to close out matches. Their run of 11 games without a win in all competitions came to an end when they came from behind to beat Bournemouth at home on Match Day 32. Luton Town’s cause has been helped by the point deductions received by Nottingham Forest and Everton. So, they still have a slight chance of making it out of the drop zone if they can secure some notable wins before this final game of the season.

On the other hand, Fulham’s season started on the best of notes with a 1-0 win over Everton at Goodison Park. A comprehensive 3-0 win over Fulham and a draw against Arsenal followed at the Emirates before a 5-1 bashing at the hands of champions Man City at the Etihad. The Cottagers returned to winning ways with an important 1-0 win over Luton Town before failing to win their next two Premier League games against Palace and Chelsea. After that, they only won one of their next five games to drop further down the table.

To round things up in 2023, Fulham lost two of their final three Premier League games with the only win coming against Arsenal at the Craven Cottage. Meanwhile, they had a good run in the Carabao Cup and got to the semi-finals of the tournament before they were thrown out of the competition by Liverpool. In their first PL game of 2024, they lost 1-0 to Chelsea and there will be the desire to build on some of the decent performances in recent weeks. The Cottagers have four wins in their past nine Premier League games and will be looking to finish the season on a high.

Fulham have done some giant-killing work in the Premier League all season. They defeated Manchester United 2-1 at Old Trafford through goals from Calvin Bassey and Alex Iwobi before thumping Tottenham 3-0 in March in the London derby. Marco Silva will be hoping Rodrigo Muniz and the rest of his squad can conjure something up in this trip to Luton.

Match tickets

The epic match at Kenilworth Road in Luton kicks off on Sunday, 19th of May 2024 at 15:00 UK Time.

The magnificent 11,500-capacity stadium is the place to be for this clash between the Hatters and the Cottagers.

Getting Luton Town vs Fulham tickets could take a lot of work given the standard of this game. Hence, you are advised to search ticket reselling sites should they be expectedly sold out on each club’s channels.

Team news

Line-ups

Luton Town have their injury issues that they are battling with the likes of Marvellous Nakamba out until the end of the season, Skipper Thomas Lockyer who had heart-related issues late last year is not expected back yet, Jacob Brown, Dan Potts, and Amari’i Bell are also not expected to feature in this game.

Striker Elijah Adebayo, Chiedozie Ogbene, Mads Andersen, Issa Kabore and Albert-Mboyo Sambi Lokonga should all recover from their respective injuries to be available for selection before this match.

Luton Town XI: Kaminski; Kaboré, Mengi, Hashioka; Onyedinma, Mpanzu, Barkley, Doughty; Clark, Townsend, Morris.

Coach Marco Silva does have a full complement of his squad with no major injuries ahead of this clash. He will also be pleased with the form of striker Rodrigo Muniz and midfielder Alex Iwobi. The likes of Palhinha and Pereira should also play a part in this encounter.

Fulham XI: Leno; Castagne, Adarabioyo, Bassey, Robinson; João Palhinha, Cairney, Andreas Pereira, Iwobi, Willian, Rodrigo Muniz

Prediction

Luton Town have returned to the Premier League for the first time in a long while and the return has not been really sweet as they currently hover around the drop zone. They might still be in the race for survival in the Premier League when this game eventually goes ahead.

Fulham have done well to finish mid-table for another season. However, the club might be looking towards one of the European places next season. So, finishing this campaign on a strong note would be the desire.

Luton Town 2-2 Fulham

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The 11th-ranked side in the world takes on the 44th in this Matchday 1 fixture and the excitement is palpable as this could end with a lot of goals scored.

All of the three previous meetings between Uruguay and Panama ended in a win for Uruguay without conceding a goal. Their most recent matchup in 2022 saw a 5-0 thrashing headlined by Edinson Cavani’s brace.

Uruguay are two-time World Cup winners and they have won the Copa America a joint record 15 times with their most recent title coming in 2011. La Celeste comes into the tournament with a lot of pedigree and talent on and off the pitch with Marcelo Bielsa at the helm.

The Argentine was appointed in May 2023 to become only the second non-Uruguayan manager to coach the national team, yet he led them to record-breaking wins against Brazil and his native country.

14 new players were called up for Bielsea’s first batch of friendly matches against Nicaragua and Cuba with veteran names such as Edinson Cavani, Fernando Muslera and Luis Suárez all dropped from the squad.

The tactician was indeed vindicated as he led the team to a 4-1 victory over Nicaragua and a 2–nil win in the latter game. Bielsa stuck to his big calls in the opening FIFA World Cup qualifier at home to Chile which ended in a 3–1 victory.

Another win against Ecuador followed and they drew 2-2 with Colombia thanks to Darwin Nunez’s late penalty equalizer. A historic victory was witnessed at Estadio Centenario when Uruguay defeated Brazil 2–0 to end their 22-year winning streak against them as well as hand the Samba Boys their first loss in qualifiers since 2015.

Lightning struck twice for Uruguay as they also defeated Argentina at La Bombonera the following month thanks to goals from Ronald Araujo and Nunez. This brutal defeat of the world champions was their first against Uruguay in 10 years and their first in 25 straight qualifiers.

A 3–0 home victory against Bolivia ended 2023 on a high but they will be cautious after registering a draw and a defeat against Basque Country and African champions, Ivory Coast.

Los Charruas will be looking to fly out of the blocks when Copa America kicks off and the game against Panama is a good opportunity to grab a statement win from the get-go.

Uruguay have recorded consecutive quarter-final finishes in the last two continental competitions while they also crashed out in the group stage of the 2022 World Cup. It is time for their new generation of stars to write their own story.

For Panama, this is just their second Copa America after attending the Centenario edition in 2016 and winning their first game against Bolivia. It is safe to say they are keen to outdo that previous record.

Los Canaleros came fourth at the CONCACAF Nations League finals in 2023 while they made a strong start to the Gold Cup later in June. After defeating Qatar 4-0 in the last eight, Panama got the better of the United States on penalties to book a place in the final against Mexico which they lost by a single goal.

Another run to a second consecutive Nations League finals was ended by a defeat to Mexico (again), but what it does is increase their belief that they can mix it with bigger teams in tournament football.

Panama must go into the tournament with a strategic tactical plan as they will be fighting for survival against powerhouses like the USA and Uruguay in Group C. Thomas Christiansen must also hope that one of the big teams falters in their campaign which could directly benefit his team’s chances of advancing to the next round.

Match tickets

This Copa America match-up takes place on Monday, 24 June 2024 with kick-off scheduled for 2 AM UK time. Match tickets are available for sale on the websites of both national federations as well as the tournament organizers so you can hurry to purchase yours.

The Hard Rock Stadium is the venue for this occasion and the fantastic scenery is set to add to the intrigue of this game that will surely have both sets of supporters very excited. The search for tickets might prove difficult given the high demand so we urge those still looking for Uruguay vs Panama tickets to make their search on a ticket resale site.

Team news

Uruguay had the likes of Matías Vecino, Facundo Torres, Ronald Araujo, Rodrigo Zalazar and Bruno Méndez all return to their clubs after the first match of their friendly series in March 2024. They hope to still have a fully-fit squad to choose from when the tournament nears.

Meanwhile, Panama has a complete squad with no injury worries.

Line-ups

Darwin Nunez is the spearhead of this Uruguay team with his tireless work rate and selfless presence up front. He will seek a goal early in this tournament and Panama must be wary of the pacy striker.

Uruguay: Rochet; Araujo, Gimenez, Caceres, Vina; Valverde, Bentancur; Pellistri, De la Cruz, Araujo; Nunez

Jose Luiz Rodriguez is a key man for Panama with his ability to pass with both feet and the technical quality he offers the team including his dribbling skills across the forward areas. His exceptional vision over long or short-range passes further amplifies his importance to the cause and the team would certainly be playing through him.

Panama’s 3-4-3 formation and the fact that members of their squad have played together for a long time could count in their favour in the USA this summer.

Panama: Mosquera; Escobar, Cordoba, Andrade; Blackman, Godoy, Carrasquilla, Barcenas; Fajardo, Diaz, Rodriguez

Prediction

Given their record against Panama and the impeccable history that precedes them in this competition, Uruguay should start their Copa America bid with a win and a clean sheet.

Indeed, a goal for the minnows would be seen as a notable achievement in itself. It is up to Bielsa’s men to get their campaign off to the right start, and their style of play would not be bearing any signs of relenting.

Uruguay 4-0 Panama

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Like last term, Forest started the season quite slowly as they lost two of their opening three games of the season, although they faced Arsenal and Manchester United throughout that period while beating Sheffield United at home for their first points of the season. A win at Stamford Bridge over Chelsea secured their second win before a 1-1 draw with Burnley at home then the poor form got elongated as they went five games without a win. However, a comprehensive 2-0 win raised the hopes of the fans but the barren form returned almost immediately. The Reds went seven games without a win and Steve Cooper was sacked as manager.

In came former Tottenham boss Nuno Espirito Santo and he has been able to help the team win two of his opening three games with the wins coming against Newcastle United and Manchester United. It was a relief to end 2023 in such a good mood and with 2024 now here, the team will be focused on beating the drop and garnering the necessary points to keep them in the Premier League. The Reds beat Newcastle away from home and did beat West Ham at their ground as well. Well, there is belief as we head into the final months of the season and they might just beat the drop come the end of the season.

Last summer, Manchester City said goodbye to several stars as part of their rebuild following a successful 2023. Riyad Mahrez left for Al Ahli, Aymeric Laporte for Al Nassr, Ilkay Gundogan and Joao Cancelo to Barcelona, and Benjamin Mendy for Lorient. Around the same time, youngster Cole Palmer went to Chelsea in a big money move.

Pep Guardiola went into the transfer market and got the following; defender Josko Gvardiol was signed from RB Leipzig, Matheus Nunes from Wolverhampton Wanderers, Jeremy Doku from Stade Rennes, and Mateo Kovacic from Chelsea. These signings have not particularly been superb, but City have been quite competitive this term and are in the run-in for the Premier League title.

On the pitch, the Citizens started the season by beating Burnley in the first game of the season thanks to goals from Haaland and Rodri. Afterward, they won their next five games against Newcastle, Sheffield United, Fulham, West Ham, and Nottingham Forest. However, their run was halted by Wolverhampton Wanderers. As usual, the champions dipped in form, suffering losses to Arsenal and Aston Villa and drawing against Liverpool, Chelsea, and Tottenham in their last seven games just before December. Guardiola’s team then built gradually on either side of a Club World Cup win to close the gap at the top of the Premier League log. At the turn of the year and as of the time of writing, the Citizens only dropped points to Chelsea at home. In past seasons, Manchester City always finished the season strongly and nothing short of that is expected here.

On the balance of things, it is expected to be an exciting match between two sides who play contrasting styles of football in the Premier League.

Match tickets

The epic match at City Ground in Nottingham kicks off on Saturday 27th April 2024, at 3 PM UK time.

United’s 30,404-capacity stadium will be the venue for this clash between two teams with a different focus for the remainder of the season.

Getting tickets for the Nottingham Forest v Manchester City tickets could take a lot of work given the standard of this game. Hence, you are advised to search ticket reselling sites should they be expectedly sold out on each club’s channels.

Team news

Line-ups

Forest do have a long list of players available and fit for selection. Most of the players injured or that have spent significant time in the physio’s room this campaign, have found their way back. As of the time of writing, only Chris Wood remains out of the squad and should be back before the Reds host the Champions. Striker Taiwo Awoniyi was greatly missed in the latter part of 2023 but he is back to lead them to safety with his goals.

Nottingham Forest XI: Sels; Williams, Felipe, Murillo, Nuno Tavares; Dominguez, Danilo; Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Awoniyi

Just like the Reds, Manchester City do not have any major injury concerns since Kevin de Bruyne returned to the side after his long layoff. It is expected that everyone will play their part in this match including midfielder Rodrigo – who continues to make an impact in his defensive role – and remains an important player for Pep Guardiola’s side.

Manchester City XI: Ederson; Josko Gvardiol, Ruben Dias, Kyle Walker, John Stones, Rodrigo, Julian Alvarez, De Bruyne, Jeremy Doku, Erling Haaland, Phil Foden.

Prediction

The Reds know the focus is just to remain in the Premier League, so picking points against an opposition like Manchester City at this ground will be widely celebrated. Awoniyi can be relied upon for goals and they can also count on their fans to get them over the line.

As for Manchester City, they are in the run-in for the Premier League title. With that in mind, they cannot afford to drop points here and that will make this clash a tough contest.

Based on the above, it should be a cracker but Manchester City’s quality and desire should get them all three points.

Nottingham Forest 1-3 Manchester City

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After a season of making history by winning the treble, Pep Guardiola opted to make some changes to his squad. Key players like Riyad Mahrez left for Al Ahli, Aymeric Laporte to Al Nassr, Ilkay Gundogan and Joao Cancelo to Barcelona, and Benjamin Mendy to Lorient. Around the same time, youngster Cole Palmer went to Chelsea in a big money move.

As usual, the tactician went into the market to get players such as defender Josko Gvardiol was signed from RB Leipzig, Matheus Nunes from Wolverhampton Wanderers, Jeremy Doku from Stade Rennes, and Mateo Kovacic from Chelsea. These signings have not particularly been superb, but City have been quite competitive this term and are in the run-in for the Premier League title.

On the pitch, the Citizens started the season by beating Burnley in the first game of the season thanks to goals from Haaland and Rodri. Afterwards, they won their next five games against Newcastle, Sheffield United, Fulham, West Ham, and Nottingham Forest. However, their run was halted by Wolverhampton Wanderers. As usual, the champions dipped in form, suffering losses to Arsenal and Aston Villa and drawing against Liverpool, Chelsea, and Tottenham in their last seven games just before December. Guardiola’s team then built gradually on either side of a Club World Cup win to close the gap at the top of the Premier League log. At the turn of the year and as of the time of writing, the Citizens only dropped points to Chelsea at home. In past seasons, Manchester City always finished the season strongly and nothing short of that is expected here.

On the contrary, Luton Town’s season, judging by their standards, has not been bad either, and should they stay up, it will be considered a miracle. However, after a slow start, where they failed to pick a point in any of their first four Premier League games, they picked themselves up and got a couple of wins under their belt, giving them a chance to fight for survival until the end of the season. The club’s management stuck with manager Rob Edwards from the start of the season and it looks like a decision that could pay off at the end of the season.

Notable results for the Hatters this season include the win over Everton at Goodison Park to clinch their first win of the Premier League campaign before the win over Crystal Palace at home in their first win at home. Around that same time, they also drew with Liverpool at home before going ahead to beat Sheffield United and Newcastle United significantly to improve their fortunes on the Premier League log. Luton also beat Brighton 4-0 before playing out an entertaining 4-4 draw with Newcastle at St. James’ Park.

However, they travel to face Manchester City at Etihad, a place several teams have fallen this season, with the huge task of leaving the place without receiving a whitewash. On City’s part, confidence is currently high and they could go all out and win big in this particular fixture.

Match tickets

The epic match at Etihad Stadium in Manchester kicks off on Saturday 13th April 2024, at 3 PM UK time.

The magnificent 53,400-capacity stadium is the place to be for this clash between the champions and the survival-seeking side.

Getting tickets for the Manchester City v Luton Town tickets could take a lot of work given the standard of this game. Hence, you are advised to search ticket reselling sites should they be expectedly sold out on each club’s channels.

Team news

Line-ups

Manchester City do not have any major injury concerns since Kevin de Bruyne returned to the side after his long layoff. Goalkeeper Ederson, Manuel Akanji, Jack Grealish, John Stones, and Erling Haaland are some of those who have been in the physio’s room in recent times but all should be back for this clash with the Hatters. Rodrigo continues to make an impact in his defensive role and remains an important player for Pep Guardiola’s side.

Manchester City XI: Ederson; Josko Gvardiol, Ruben Dias, Kyle Walker, John Stones, Rodrigo, Julian Alvarez, De Bruyne, Jeremy Doku, Erling Haaland, Phil Foden.

Luton Town also have their injury issues that they are battling with the likes of Marvellous Nakamba out until April, Skipper Thomas Lockyer who had heart-related issues back late last year, and Mads Andersen who could be available before this clash. Former Chelsea man Ross Barkley will look to orchestrate things from the midfield alongside Arsenal loanee Albert Lokonga, while Elijah Adebayo will be tasked with the goalscoring.

Luton Town XI: Thomas Kaminski; Issa Kabore, Reece Burke, Tom Lockyer, Amari’i Bell, Ryan Giles; Chong, Albert Lokonga, Ross Barkley; Elijah Adebayo, Carlton Morris.

Prediction

This season, Manchester City started the season slowly, but they have recovered greatly. With the return of De Bruyne, the team could be functioning at its fullest once again. Their home advantage will also come into play in the game.

Luton Town are just hanging around and their survival in the Premier League depends on games like this, especially with the end of the season on the horizon. Meanwhile, if Manchester City are in their element, Luton Town would be lucky not to concede at least three goals.

Manchester City 3-0 Luton Town

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The Cherries were busy in the transfer market in a bid to strengthen their squad, recruiting the likes of Tyler Adams from Championship side Leeds, Hammed Junior Traorè from Sassuolo, Alex Scott from Bristol City, Milos Kerkez from AZ Alkmaar, Romain Faivre from Olympique Lyon, Justin Kluivert from AS Roma and Max Aarons from Norwich. Players who joined on loan include Enes Ünal from Getafe, Luis Sinisterra from Leeds, and Andrei Radu from Inter Milan.

In terms of departures, Bournemouth let some players leave on loan including Hammed Junior Traorè to SSC Napoli, Romain Faivre to FC Lorient, David Brooks to Southampton, Jaidon Anthony to Leeds, Joe Rothwell to Southampton, Kieffer Moore to Ipswich, Mark Travers to Stoke City, Jamal Lowe to Swansea, Emiliano Marcondes to Hibernian FC, James Hill to Blackburn, Gavin Kilkenny to Fleetwood and Will Dennis to Kilmarnock FC while Jefferson Lerma, Jordan Zemura and Jack Stacey sealed free transfers to Crystal Palace, Udinese Calcio, and Norwich respectively.

Crystal Palace added some new faces to their team throughout the transfer window, signing Matheus França from Brazilian club side Flamengo, Adam Wharton from Blackburn, Daniel Munoz from KRC Genk, English goalkeeper Dean Henderson from Premier League giants Manchester United, Rob Holding from Arsenal and Jefferson Lerma from Bournemouth on a free transfer.

The Eagles also let go of the likes of Luka Milivojevic, Jack Butland, Wilfred Zaha, and Vicente Guaita who left for Shabab Al-Ahli, Rangers, Galatasaray, and Celta de Vigo respectively on free transfers while Malcom Ebiowei and Luke Plange sealed loan moves to RWDM and Carlisle United respectively.

The Cherries are having a pretty decent season by their standards, gathering a total of 32 points from 27 games so far this season in the PL to sit in 13th place on the league standings. They are seven points shy of their 39-point tally from last season which saw them finish in 15th place with eleven games to go in the Premier League. Bournemouth have recorded 8 wins, 8 draws, and 11 losses so far this season, scoring 37 goals and conceding 49 goals which leaves them with a 12-goal deficit.

Andoni Iraola’s men seem to have hit a bad patch of form in recent weeks, managing just one win in their last five matches while drawing two and losing another two. A 3-1 loss to Fulham kicked off this rough patch followed by a 2-2 draw with Newcastle United at St James’ Park and another loss, this time to defending champions Manchester City. The Cherries got back to winning ways with a 2-0 win over league stragglers Burnley before playing out another 2-2 draw against bottom-feeders Sheffield United.

Crystal Palace have looked out of sorts so far in the Premier League this season. The league campaign is in its latter stages and the Eagles are yet to take off form-wise. Palace is in 14th place on the Premier League table with 29 points from 28 games, recording 7 wins, 8 draws, and 13 losses at the time of writing. They have scored 33 times this season, the second lowest by teams outside relegation waters and they have let in 48 goals, bringing their goal deficit to -15.

The Eagles have had to endure poor form for most of the season, their results in recent weeks being a fair reflection of how unstable their season has been. Their last five matches have ended in 1 win, 2 draws and 2 losses. A 3-1 defeat against Chelsea at Selhurst Park was responded to with a 1-1 draw against Brighton. Palace gave their fans something to cheer about as they beat relegation-embattled Burnley 3-0 at Selhurst Park before going on to lose 3-1 to Tottenham Hotspur and then playing a 1-1 draw with Luton Town.

Head-to-head records show that Bournemouth and Crystal Palace have played 14 matches between them. The Cherries have won 3 times (scoring 14 goals) while The Eagles have won 6 times (scoring 21 goals) with 5 draws.

Match tickets

The epic match at Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth kicks off on Tuesday, 2nd of April 2024 at 18:45 GMT.

The magnificent 11,379-capacity stadium will host this clash between the two teams trying to pull away from the bottom three.

Getting tickets for the Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace tickets could take a lot of work given the standard of this game. Hence, you are advised to search ticket reselling sites should they be expectedly sold out on each club’s channels.

Team news

Line-ups

Injury concerns for The Cherries include Ryan Fredericks (calf), Max Aarons (hamstring), Marcos Sensei (hamstring), Llyod Kelly (hip) and James Hill (ankle)

Bournemouth: Neto, Smith, Mepham, Zabarnyi, Kerkez, Christie, Cook, Semenyo, Kluivert, Tavernier, Solanke

The Eagles have a long list of injured players including Rob Holding (ankle), Nathan Ferguson (hamstring), Michael Olise (hamstring), Matheus Franca (groin), Marc Guehi (knee), Jesurun Rak-Sakyi (hamstring), Jeffrey Schlupp (strain) and Cheick Oumar Doucouré (Achilles tendon)

Crystal Palace: Johnstone, Ward, Andersen, Richards, Munoz, Wharton, Lerma, Mitchell, Ayew, Eze, Mateta

Prediction

Iraola’s Cherries play with controlled aggression and are defensively solid. By embracing counter-pressing, they harmonize with their opponents enabling them to match the play style of the opposition and level the playing field.

Meanwhile, out of possession, Crystal Palace play in a low block, looking to neutralize attacking threats from opposing teams. In possession, they build up from the back and look to make the most of their time on the ball.

Bournemouth 2-1 Crystal Palace

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De Rossi, who racked up 511 appearances for the club over 17 years, came aboard with little to no managerial experience — his only previous employment being the 4 months experience with Spal 2013.

Pitted against high-flying Brighton and Hove Albion from the English premier league, De Rossi will go toe-to-toe with his Italian counterpart whose daughters are best of friends.

After the draws, De Rossi commented “I doubt Roberto was very happy with the draw either. We got along well and we talked the first day, but that’s all. I always try to copy from the best and he is one of the best.”

European Backstory

Despite being one of the strongest teams in Italian football with many seasoned professionals donning her colours, Roma has had a below-par tale in continental inclinations.

I Giallorossi have only the recent UEFA conference league title to lay claim to in referred affairs. Under Jose Mourinho’s instructions, they went past Feyenoord Rotterdam in the final.

Nicolo Zaniolo calmly brought down Gianluca Mancini’s long ball and finished past a clueless Justin Bijlow to crown the Italian outfit as winners of the competition’s inaugural edition in 2021/2022.

Sitting as defending champions of the conference league, they earned automatic qualification to the 2022/2023 Europa League edition. With Jose Mourinho still at the helm, Roma cruised past the group stage and rounded up Salzburg, Real Sociedad, Feyenoord Rotterdam, and Bayer Leverkusen to set up a final affair with Sevilla.

The Spanish outfit being the most successful in the competition’s history took a 1-1 draw over 120 minutes and completed the tie with a 4-1 victory over penalties.

With seemingly underwhelming performances at this tournament, their best run besides the last campaign came in 2020/2021. Paulo Fonesca’s side, heavy on form in the tournament, lost to Manchester United 8-5 on aggregate.

AS Roma’s 2023/24 Europa League campaign

Roma’s group stage campaign featured Servette, FC Sheriff, and Slavia Prague. Tipped by many to be group leaders, Roma ended the phase in second place, 2 points behind Czech outfit Slavia Prague. A loss and draw in successive games to Slavia and Servette away in the Czech Republic and Switzerland respectively saw them drop costly points.

Settling in second place, they earned a tie with Dutch side Feyenoord Rotterdam in the playoff rounds.

The side they won the inaugural UEFA Conference league against in 2021/2022 and also defeated in the quarter-finals in 2022/2023 under Jose Mourinho.

With a change in managerial personnel, Feyenoord still incurred another damning defeat to the Italians. A 2-2 draw over both legs ended with the shootout going Roma’s way. Alireza Jahanbakhsh and David Hancko both missed to cancel out Romelu Lukaku’s earlier miss for the Italian side.

Roma have what it takes to beat Brighton – De Rossi

De Rossi took over where Jose Mourinho left off so far, recording only one loss in his start to life in the capital city. League leaders Inter Milan completed a 4-2 victory over the side while the ties to Hellas Verona, Salernitana, Cagliari, Frosinone, and Torino all ended in victories. De Rossi has declared their opponents as a very strong side but Roma certainly are no pushovers.

He claimed “Roma have nothing to fear, because we are every bit as strong.

“Maybe some games are easier to prepare than others and Brighton might cause me a few sleepless nights, but we have to find the right solutions.” Against the Brighton side, he’s described as strong and balanced with one of the best coaches in world football.

Daniele De Rossi has the services of veteran playmaker Paulo Dybala as well as summer signing Romelu Lukaku on loan from Chelsea. The former most recently got a hat-trick in the narrow 3-2 victory over Torino at the Rome capital.

On his hat-trick hero, De Rossi complimented “Champions are decisive in this sport and nobody can doubt that”.

I Gillorossi sit just outside the Champions League spots and would be eyeing Europa League victory as a more secured route to make it into next year’s event.

The double-legged affair

The first leg will take place at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome on March 7th and the return leg is scheduled for the AMEX exactly a week later. Roma tickets continue to sell fast ahead of the fixtures.

High-flying Brighton continues to make a statement in England as they attempt to secure another European campaign ahead of the coming season. In the current one, the Seagulls finished atop a supposed group of death featuring Olympique Marseille, AFC Ajax, and AEK Athens to earn a knockout berth.

The versed Roberto De Zerbi, now linked with jobs in Barcelona, Munich, and even Merseyside, will expectedly be on the best of his tactical onus as he attempts to get past his countryman.

With the pedigree of Jose Mourinho speaking for itself on the European stage, there’s much pressure on Daniele De Rossi to continue this upturn of form with a positive campaign for the rest of the tournament.

Anything short of a final berth might indeed be seen as a dent to the fine continental work the Portuguese gaffer put in over the last 2 seasons. Brighton and Hove Albion crashed out of the FA Cup to Wolverhampton Wanderers and this remains the only competitive inclination aside from the domestic league.

De Zerbi will be without the services of Kaoru Mitoma ruled out for the rest of the season and will be hopeful of the fitness of season top scorer Joao Pedro and the veteran James Milner.

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Well, their final match of this year’s tournament sees them take on a Scottish side that will be doing everything possible to ensure that they finish as high up on the log as they possibly can and avenge a home defeat against the Irish in 2023.

Many would believe that Scotland could be the dark horse in this year’s tournament after their impressive opening half against Wales in the first round. Running into a 27-0 lead after just 43 minutes away to the Welsh in Cardiff, Gregor Townsend’s charges were forced to hold on as Wales scored 26 unanswered points to just miss out on a miraculous comeback win.

Ireland on the other hand dealt with France in their opening clash, a match in which an extended period against 14 men meant they had no trouble securing the win, and they were extremely impressive in doing so.

The Irish have continued to impress during the tournament, and now the final hurdle lies ahead, as Scotland will prove to be a tough opponent to overcome.

Team News

There’s no doubt that with the final match of the Guinness Six Nations left, both Ireland’s Owen Farrell, as well as Scotland’s Gregor Townsend will select their strongest available squad for this clash.

It’s not only about securing that final win of the tournament, but it’s the pride in having bragging rights over your neighbor. Ireland has done well through this tournament in dealing with the loss of retired flyhalf and skipper Johnny Sexton. Peter O’Mahony, taking over the captaincy reigns from Sexton has led the side with aplomb while Jack Crowley has down well in the No. 10 jersey.

Scotland will still be seething from their controversial loss to France in round 2, and who knows what would have happened had the try they thought they had scored that would have given them a win stood.

Their talisman at flyhalf, Finn Russell is sure to start bar injury, and he will be looking to get one over the Scots.

Ireland’s Guinness Six Nations squad

Forwards: Ryan Baird (Leinster), Finlay Bealham (Connacht), Tadhg Beirne (Munster), Jack Conan (Leinster), Caelan Doris (Leinster), Tadhg Furlong (Leinster), Cian Healy (Leinster), Iain Henderson (Ulster), Ronan Kelleher (Leinster), Jeremy Loughman (Munster), Joe McCarthy (Leinster), Peter O’Mahony (Munster) (captain), Tom O’Toole (Ulster), Andrew Porter (Leinster), James Ryan (Leinster), Dan Sheehan (Leinster), Tom Stewart (Ulster), Nick Timoney (Ulster), Josh van der Flier (Leinster).

Backs: Bundee Aki (Connacht), Harry Byrne (Leinster), Craig Casey (Munster), Jack Crowley (Munster), Ciaran Frawley (Leinster), Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster), Robbie Henshaw (Leinster), Hugo Keenan (Leinster), Jordan Larmour (Leinster), James Lowe (Leinster), Stuart McCloskey (Ulster), Conor Murray (Munster), Calvin Nash (Munster), Garry Ringrose (Leinster), Jacob Stockdale (Ulster).

Scotland squad for the 2024 Guinness Six Nations

Forwards: Ewan Ashman (Edinburgh Rugby) Josh Bayliss (Bath Rugby), Jamie Bhatti (Glasgow Warriors), Andy Christie (Saracens), Luke Crosbie (Edinburgh Rugby), Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors), Jack Dempsey (Glasgow Warriors), Rory Darge (Glasgow Warriors), Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby), Richie Gray(Glasgow Warriors), Matt Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors), Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors), Alec Hepburn (Exeter Chiefs), Will Hurd (Leicester Tigers), Johnny Matthews (Glasgow Warriors), WP Nel (Edinburgh Rugby), Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh Rugby), Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh Rugby), Sam Skinner (Edinburgh Rugby), George Turner (Glasgow Warriors), Glen Young (Edinburgh).

Backs: Adam Hastings (Gloucester Rugby), Ben Healy (Edinburgh Rugby), George Horne (Glasgow Warriors), Darcy Graham (Edinburgh Rugby), Rory Hutchinson (Northampton Saints), Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors), Blair Kinghorn (Toulouse), Stafford McDowall (Glasgow Warriors), Harry Paterson (Edinburgh Rugby), Ali Price (Edinburgh Rugby), Cameron Redpath (Bath Rugby), Arron Reed (Sale Sharks), Kyle Rowe (Glasgow Warriors), Finn Russell (Bath Rugby), Kyle Steyn (Glasgow Warriors), Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors), Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh Rugby), Ben White (Toulon).

Match Tickets

Ireland vs Scotland tickets will be in very short supply for this final encounter for both sides in the Guinness Six Nations. Irish tickets will quickly be snapped up by home fans considering this is the match in which they are likely to be crowned the champions of the tournament for a second season in succession.

There will be lots of fans making the short trip from Scotland as well, so Scottish tickets for their supporters will be scarce too. Already, tickets from the official channels are not available, they have all been sold out. Even hospitality package deals that include one or two nights of accommodation as well as tickets to game aren’t available anymore.

For those still hoping to secure tickets for this critical encounter, the only way you might have a little luck finding them is on ticket reselling websites, or perhaps at the stadium on the day of the match.

Prediction

Along with France against England, this match is the two best picks of the final weekend. Ireland at home will be brimming with confidence, cheered on by thousands of their adorning fans looking for some reprieve after their quarter-final loss at the Rugby World Cup.

And although a Guinness Six Nations win isn’t quite at the level of that prestigious event, it will take away the pain of their loss to the All Blacks at a tournament where many thought either they or France, the two form teams in the world at the time, would be crowned world champions.

After defeating France in their opening match at this year’s Guinness Six Nations tournament, Ireland had already put one hand on the trophy. Farrell’s charges have never left complacency to slip in in their following fixtures, which easily could have happened, and now, facing a dangerous Scottish side in their last game, they will know that they will have just one final hurdle before they can celebrate.

Scotland has the potential to break Irish hearts, there is no doubt about that. This is a team that has a forward pack capable of taking on the best (just ask the Springboks after the first half of their pool game at the World Cup.) Their backs are dangerous too, and they are not scared to run the ball from anywhere on the field.

Yes, they could beat Ireland, but to be fair, Ireland has enough left in the tank and will want a second Guinness Six Nations trophy in a row to see off whatever the Scots bring to Aviva Park on the day.

It’s going to be a close one, but Ireland will prevail and probably by less than 10 points in a low to mid-scoring match.

Ireland 19-13 Scotland 

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Ireland, right at the summit of the log, will have to overcome a determined England side that could cause them problems, especially in front of 80,000 fans packed into Twickenham. It’s a daunting venue, and if England can get a good start, Ireland will have their work cut out for them.

However, after dispatching France in the opening round in what they would have seen as their most difficult game in the tournament, Ireland are on somewhat of a high, despite the disappointment of losing to the All Blacks in the quarter-final of last year’s Rugby World Cup.

Andy Farrell’s charges are looking to win their second Guinness Six Nations in a row, a feat they last managed in the 2014 and 2015 tournaments. It’s something they’ve only ever done on three occasions before and will put them on course to secure their first-ever hat-trick of tournament wins in 2025.

England continue to transition following last year’s World Cup and are without former skipper and flyhalf Owen Farrell, who has decided to take a break from international rugby for mental health reasons. Farrell’s absence has allowed George Ford to step up and show just how talented he is.

One thing you can be sure of is that Twickenham will be humming as both teams lay it on the line in search of victory. It promises to be a clash of epic proportions and one that fans of both sides always look forward to in the Guinness Six Nations.

Team News

You can expect that both coaches will opt for full-strength teams for this encounter. The main reason for this is that the match comes on the back of a two-week break in the tournament.

Unless there are injuries to deal with, Ireland will surely go with much the same team that defeated France in the opening round, or as close to it as possible.

Expect George Ford to start at flyhalf for England to provide a steady game from the pivot and to go for the goal should the home side get any penalties within kicking range. One area that England can bother Ireland is at the rucks, especially if they pick Tom Curry on the flank. Curry is a pilferer of note and a real nuisance at the breakdown. In fact, England’s pack could be a threat to Ireland on the day and that’s something that the visitors will have to be very wary of.

England’s Guinness Six Nations Squad

Forwards: Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers), Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers), Alex Coles (Northampton Saints), Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks), Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins), Ben Curry (Sale Sharks), Theo Dan (Saracens), Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins), Ben Earl (Saracens), Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears), Jamie George (Saracens) – captain, Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers), Nick Isiekwe (Saracens), Maro Itoje (Saracens), Joe Marler (Harlequins), Beno Obano (Bath Rugby), Tom Pearson (Northampton Saints), Ethan Roots (Exeter Chiefs), Will Stuart (Bath Rugby), Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby).

Backs: Oscar Beard (Harlequins), Danny Care (Harlequins), Elliot Daly (Saracens), Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints), Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter Chiefs), George Ford (Sale Sharks), Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints), George Furbank (Northampton Saints), Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby), Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints), Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks), Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Fin Smith (Northampton Saints), Marcus Smith (Harlequins), Ben Spencer (Bath Rugby), Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers).

Ireland’s Guinness Six Nations squad

Forwards: Ryan Baird (Leinster), Finlay Bealham (Connacht), Tadhg Beirne (Munster), Jack Conan (Leinster), Caelan Doris (Leinster), Tadhg Furlong (Leinster), Cian Healy (Leinster), Iain Henderson (Ulster), Ronan Kelleher (Leinster), Jeremy Loughman (Munster), Joe McCarthy (Leinster), Peter O’Mahony (Munster) (captain), Tom O’Toole (Ulster), Andrew Porter (Leinster), James Ryan (Leinster), Dan Sheehan (Leinster), Tom Stewart (Ulster), Nick Timoney (Ulster), Josh van der Flier (Leinster).

Backs: Bundee Aki (Connacht), Harry Byrne (Leinster), Craig Casey (Munster), Jack Crowley (Munster), Ciaran Frawley (Leinster), Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster), Robbie Henshaw (Leinster), Hugo Keenan (Leinster), Jordan Larmour (Leinster), James Lowe (Leinster), Stuart McCloskey (Ulster), Conor Murray (Munster), Calvin Nash (Munster), Garry Ringrose (Leinster), Jacob Stockdale (Ulster).

Match Tickets

Twickenham will be packed to the rafters for this critical Guinness Six Nations clash with Ireland sure to be closing in on another successful tournament and hoping to claim their second trophy in a row.

To be one of the 80,000 fans hoping to catch a glimpse of this much-anticipated match, you’d have to have secured your England vs Ireland tickets extremely early as this is always an encounter that sells out quickly.

Various ticket reselling sites on the internet have limited supply, but you will have to act quickly if you want to get to Twickenham on the day and see two top northern hemisphere teams battle it out.

Take your time, do your research and if you act quickly enough, you can still secure some tickets that won’t break the bank!

Prediction

After the 2023 Rugby World Cup, and although they surprised many with how far they managed to go in the tournament (a one-point semi-final loss to South Africa), England remains a team in transition.

Yes, there are still a number of old hands wearing the red rose on their chest, but losing their Farrell couldn’t have been easy leading into the Six Nations. That said, they’ve done well in the tournament so far, but a match against log leaders Ireland, a side that looks likely to win the tournament, is the real acid test.

Can England win? Anyone side can beat another on their day. They have one thing in their favour, and that’s Twickenham. Playing at home will be a real fillip for Steven Borthwick’s charges, and they will give Ireland a good run for their money.

They won’t win, however. Ireland currently has too many guns for England and even though they’ve lost Sexton, their side is extremely experienced and knows how to grind out a victory (just not in the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals.)

Ireland 22-12 England 

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1. Augusta National Golf Club, Georgia

This Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts course was designed by Jones and Alister MacKenzie. The course is home to one of the professional golf world’s biggest and most iconic major men’s golf tournaments, known as the Masters Tournament. The course also co-hosts the Augusta National Women’s Amateur and one of its biggest accolades is being named the #1 course in Golf Digest’s list of America’s 100 greatest courses back in 2009.

2. THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass, Florida

The entire concept behind this Florida course was developed to provide a permanent hole to THE PLAYERS Championship, with the bonus of the perfect on-site spectator experience. At least, that’s what former PGA TOUR Commissioner, Deane R. Beman, had in mind when she called Pete Dye in 1980 to help make her dreams a reality. This course, which is home to one of golf’s most recognized holes (the legendary 17th), has a completely balanced layout for all styles of play.

3. The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island, South Carolina

Pete Dye’s PGA-standard Ocean Course at Kiawah Island is both the #4 Public Golf Course in the U.S. and 25th place when it comes to the 100 Greatest U.S. Golf Courses, at least according to Golf Digest. This could be because this course boasts the most seaside holes in the Northern Hemisphere, or it could be because of the big role that the wind plays here.

The wind decides how you play and you can experience up to an 8-club difference depending on its direction and speed. So, don’t forget to bring your best set, which should be protected during your travels. Remember, a hard-shell golf travel bag is better for long trips.

4. The Stadium Course at TPC Scottsdale, Arizona

While this course doesn’t offer any golf packages like other popular golf courses in Arizona, it’s still a must for your bucket list. This course is home to the PGA Tour stop that attracts the biggest crowd year after year, to such an extent that it creates the largest crowds of any golf event. Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish are behind this design that is now home to the WM Phoenix Open and the famed 16th hole is known for its transformation into The Coliseum during tournaments.

5. TPC Deere Run, Illinois

This course, designed by D.A. Weibring, is home to the iconic John Deere Classic. The course features traditional PGA Tour features with the bonus of a Mississippi River Valley backdrop. The natural features of the original Arabian horse farm remain completely untouched while the hardwood trees and elevation changes contribute to a playable yet challenging experience.

6. Pebble Beach Golf Links, California

If you’ve ever played this course, you can proudly check ‘Play the No. 1 Public Golf Course in America’ off your bucket list. Not only has the course hosted more US Opens than any other course over the last 50 years, but it’s also set to host a further eight major championships and tournaments in the future. What’s more, the course features a total of 9 holes situated directly above the Pacific surf.

7. The Donald Ross Course at French Lick, Indiana

The Donald Ross Course, named after the course’s legendary architect, arose from the ashes back in 1917. Today the course is home to 80 deep-faced bunkers that are classic elements of Donald Ross’ design style. These bunkers provide the level of challenge that this course offers, while the greens are described as “some of the most radically shaped and contoured in golf.” Since 2011, this course has been named the No. 2 public course in Indiana by Golfweek every year.

8. The Torrey Pines South Course, California

The South Course, Torrey Pines’ longer challenging option, was designed by William Bell Sr. in 1957. Since then, the course has seen two upgrades and renovations by Rees Jones, once in 2001 and once in 2019. These renovations brought along a longer and tougher layout, which is perfect for the yearly Farmers Insurance Open PGA Golf Tournament, which has been hosted here since 1952.

9. Harbour Town Golf Links, South Carolina

With not one, but two legends at the steer of this course’s design, it’s no surprise that Harbour Town at The Sea Pines Resort on Hilton Head Island is one of the PGA Tour’s most celebrated courses. Pete Dye and Jack Nicklaus designed this course to force you to play with your imagination rather than your strength, which is why it has hosted the RBC Heritage since 1969.

10. The Champion Course at PGA National Resort, Florida

The PGA National Resort is home to 6 championship courses but the real champion is the accurately named Champion Course. Known as one of the most challenging stops on the entire tour, the course is home to The Bear Trap, often referred to as “one of the toughest stretches in golf.” Tom and George Fazio are behind the original design, while Jack Nicklaus made some changes to create the course that’s now home to the PGA Tour’s Honda Classic.

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1. The Everest

The Everest stands as a pinnacle of Australian horse racing, where speed and skill converge at Royal Randwick in Sydney. This high-stakes sprint race isn’t just about swift runners; it’s a canvas for calculated bets. Punters looking to bet on The Everest find themselves in a realm of heart-stopping action, combing through form guides and expert insights to maximise their chances.

2. Melbourne Cup Tips

The Melbourne Cup, an event etched into the fabric of Australian culture, is a blend of tradition, glamour, and relentless competition. Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne hosts this iconic race, often stopping the nation in its tracks. For those seeking to partake in the excitement and wagering, Melbourne Cup tips are invaluable. With a 3200-meter challenge that tests both horse and jockey, punters dissect every detail to make informed bets.

3. Cox Plate

Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne comes alive with the thundering hooves of horses competing for the Cox Plate. Known as the “weight-for-age championship of Australasia,” this race invites the best of the best to vie for victory. As night descends, the atmosphere becomes electric, and bettors seize the opportunity to engage in thrilling wagers under the stars.

4. Golden Slipper Stakes

Rosehill Gardens in Sydney hosts the Golden Slipper Stakes, a stage where juvenile contenders make their mark. This richest two-year-old race worldwide offers a glimpse into racing’s future stars. For punters, the quest for profitable bets involves unravelling the promise and potential of these young athletes, transforming their insights into successful wagers.

5. Caulfield Cup

Caulfield Racecourse’s illustrious Caulfield Cup adds an element of weight and tactics to the racing equation. With a handicap format and a challenging distance, this event demands meticulous evaluation. As the contenders bear the weight of expectation, punters engage in their own calculations, determining where to place their bets based on thorough analysis.

6. Queen Elizabeth Stakes

Royal Randwick’s Queen Elizabeth Stakes, a jewel in The Championships, offers a platform for stayers to shine. The weight-for-age format evens the field, emphasizing skill and form. Punters intrigued by the allure of betting on the Queen Elizabeth Stakes scrutinise past performances, surface preferences, and prevailing conditions to predict the outcome.

7. Victoria Derby

Flemington Racecourse welcomes the prestigious Victoria Derby, a showcase of three-year-old talent during the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival. The 2500-meter journey tests both class and endurance. Bettors who indulge in strategic wagers analyse pedigrees, recent performances, and jockey choices to gain an edge.

Conclusion

Australia’s horse racing scene isn’t just about the races themselves; it’s a world of calculated risks and strategic decisions. Whether you’re a seasoned punter or just dipping your toes into the waters of horse racing wagering, these seven events provide a canvas for excitement and intrigue. From the frenzied pace of The Everest to the strategic brilliance of the Melbourne Cup, each race offers a unique avenue for bettors to engage, analyse, and ultimately revel in the glory of their predictions. So, get ready to bet on The Everest and seize the chance to uncover exhilarating Melbourne Cup tips that might just lead to your next big win.

Betting with a licensed and respected online bookmaker is crucial. Palmerbet is an Australian owned and operated bookmaker with three generations of racing experience. They offer great odds and racing promotions. Visit Palmerbet.com and start betting with them today.

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