England: Premier League Weekend Preview & Predictions

Saturday:
Bolton vs. West Brom
Everton vs. Portsmouth
Hull City vs. Wigan
Middlesbrough vs. Stoke
West Ham vs. Blackburn
Arsenal vs. Newcastle

Sunday:
Chelsea vs. Tottenham
Sunderland vs. Man City
Aston Villa vs. Liverpool

Graham Lister:
With defending champions Manchester United otherwise engaged on Uefa Super Cup duty on Friday night, it’s a case of while the cat’s away in the Barclays Premier League this weekend.

Lawro's Predictions

Nick Webster's Predictions

Sid Lowe in Spain

Signing after signing has eluded Madrid this summer and with rivals threatening to get their act together, expect a much closer title race.

Calderón feels the heat after summer of market failure

Spain: La Liga Weekend Preview: Matchday 1

¡Que bueno!


La Liga finally begins tomorrow!! Here's a preview.

Saturday
Espanyol - Valladolid
Valencia - Mallorca

Sunday
Athletic Bilbao - Almeria
Atletico Madrid - Malaga
Betis - Recreativo
Sporting - Getafe
Racing - Sevilla
Numancia - Barcelona
Osasuna - Villarreal
Deportivo La Coruña- Real Madrid

The Mill + ++ +++

Friday's Rumours

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THIS IS THE FINAL THE MILL UNTIL THE WINDOW RE-OPENS IN JANUARY. GOOD RIDDANCE!!

Uefa Super Cup Previews: Manchester United - Zenit St Petersburg

What: UEFA Super Cup
Who: Manchester United vs Zenit St Petersburg
When: Friday, 29 August, 2008, kick off 19:45 (BST)
Where: Stade Louis II, Monaco

Preview

Jonathan Wilson on Zenit's chances

Germany: Bundesliga Weekend Preview: Round 3

Following last weeks events, Round 3 of the Bundesliga is upon us with the pressure already mounting on a number of teams. Bayern Munich still await their first win, while Mönchengladbach seek their first points. Surprise package Hoffenheim sit on top of the table. Can it last? Goal.com previews all the weekend action.

Friday
Karlsruhe – 1.FC Köln

Saturday
Schalke – Bochum
Wolfsburg – Eintracht Frankfurt
Bayer Leverkusen – 1899 Hoffenheim
Energie Cottbus – Borussia Dortmund
Arminia Bielefeld – Hamburg
Borussia Mönchengladbach – Werder Bremen

Sunday
Bayern Munich – Hertha Berlin
VfB Stuttgart – Hannover

Italy: Serie A Weekend Preview: Round 1

The new Italian season is finally upon us, and Goal.com looks ahead to all the Serie A action in the opening round of the calendar...

Playing on Saturday 
Udinese v Palermo
Sampdoria v Inter Milan

Playing on Sunday
AC Milan v Bologna
AS Roma v Napoli
Atalanta Bergamo v Siena 
Cagliari v Lazio 
Catania v Genoa 
Chievo Verona v Reggina
Torino v Lecce 
Fiorentina v Juventus   

Roberto Gotta in Italy

The football fan always has to endure a hard time between the last competitive kick in June and the first meaningful matches deep into August, and in some countries it is worse than others.


Getting Back to Business

A Non-Italian's Serie A Preview 2008/09

Bobby McMahon:
Serie A kicks off this weekend and here is a quick preview of what might be in store with the dreaded prediction at the end.

Bradley names U.S. roster to face Cuba and T&T

The U.S. kicks off at 8 p.m. ET against Cuba at Estado Pedro Marrero in Havana, and the match will be shown live on ESPN Classic. Toyota Park will host its first ever World Cup qualifier when the U.S. takes on T&T on Sept. 10 at 8 p.m. ET, and the match will be shown live on ESPN2.


Article + Roster

2008 - 2009 Champions League: The Groups

A: Chelsea, Roma, Bordeaux, Cluj
B: Internazionale Milan, Werder Bremen, Panathinaikos, Anorthosis
C: Barcelona, Sporting Lisbon, Basel, Shakhtar Donetsk
D: Liverpool, PSV Eindhoven, Marseille, Atletico Madrid
E: Manchester United, Villarreal, Celtic, Aalborg
F: Lyon, Bayern Munich, Steaua Bucharest, Fiorentina
G: Arsenal, Porto, Fenerbahce, Dynamo Kiev
H: Real Madrid, Juventus, Zenit St. Petersburg, Borisov Automobile and
Tractor Electrical Equipment

Serie A Season Previews: Lazio & Roma

With an exciting new edition of Serie A now upon us, Goal.com looks at how each of the 20 clubs are shaping up.


In this article, they feature Lazio


In this article, they feature Roma

Rijkaard Made Me Play When I Was Unfit - Henry

Thierry Henry has revealed that Frank Rijkaard made him play for Barcelona even when he was not fit, but is now ready to show what he is really capable of of.

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Thursday's Rumours



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Bradley Dreams of England Move

Heerenveen and US international midfielder Michael Bradley has spoken out about his desire to one day play in the English Premier League, with Middlesbrough looking ready to pounce.

La Liga Season Preview: Villarreal

The Yellow Submarines may never have anticipated a season in their history as much as the one ahead. After the exploits of their fantastic second place finish last term, there is genuine optimism surrounding the club that may now have the capacity to mount a serious title challenge to dethrone Real Madrid.

England: News

Manchester City re-sign Wright-Phillips

Fowler refuses week-by-week contract from Rovers

Gerrard goes under the knife to fix his groin

Lee Young-Pyo leaves Tottenham for Dortmund

Champions League: Group Stage Set

Liverpool advance in extra time, Arsenal cruise, Fiorentina advance and a team from Cyprus makes history...
Round-Up



A night of frustration for Liverpool finally saw the Reds secure Champions League qualification. With only minutes separating the sides from penalties, Dirk Kuyt stole the win for the Reds.

Chelsea Begin Selling Robinho Shirts

As if to confirm that Robinho's transfer from Real Madrid to Chelsea truly is going ahead, the Chelsea Online Megastore has already begun taking orders for replica kits with the player's name on the back...

England: Carling Cup Wednesday Round-Up

After a thrilling Tuesday, there were no further Carling Cup second round upsets tonight. In some tasty-looking ties, Blackburn Rovers thrashed Grimsby, Fulham beat Leicester and Sunderland edged Nottingham Forest...

Champions League Qualifying: Wednesday's Preview

Five-time European champions Liverpool and 2006 runners-up Arsenal will Wednesday look to bolster their coffers by ensuring they reach the lucrative Champions League group stage.

Chelsea's Trash May be Milan's Treasure Again

Andriy Shevchenko's career in England was the ultimate symbol of Chelsea's bombast

Brazil Nuts as Knives Come Out For Dunga

A spiky manner and failure to win gold in Beijing could hasten Brazil's iconic manager towards the exit door.




A concerned Dunga...

Nemanja Vidic Puts Manchester United Future in Doubt

In a frank interview with a Russian football magazine, the Serbian defender said he was fed up with the climate in Manchester, adding that he had found it hard to adapt to life in England.




The view from Nemanja's flat...

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Wednesday's Rumours



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Lee Dixon's Tactical View

How Wigan managed to thwart Chelsea's midfield juggernaut.

Serie A Season Previews: Fiorentina & Juventus

With an exciting new edition of Serie A now upon us, Goal.com looks at how each of the 20 clubs are shaping up.

In this article, they feature Fiorentina
In this article, they feature Juventus

Champions League Tuesday Results

Wisla salvaged some pride with a close-fought win over a Barcelona side who lacked that touch of fluency required to get a result. Nonetheless the blaugrana stroll through to the next round...
Wisla Krakow 1-0 Barcelona (1-4 agg.)


Amauri had to rescue Juve and spare them some blushes after Artmedia took a shock lead early in the first half. The Bianconeri fought back to get into the game and they are safely through to the group stages following a 5-1 aggregate win over the Slovakian Champions...
Artmedia 1-1 Juventus

CONCACAF CL Round-Up: Revs And Chivas Fall, Cruz Azul Romp

On the opening night of the inaugural CCL, the MLS teams fail to get results on the road, while the lone Mexican side in action puts up six goals at home.




Joe Public

Uli Hesse-Lichtenberger in Germany

And, also, considering these people are Cologne fans. Because, like I said two weeks ago, they are stark raving mad.



The Cologne Paradox Part II

Chivas USA Old-timer Grabbing A New Lifeline

Zach Thornton’s return to an MLS starting lineup is giving hope to both his club and himself.

Serie A Season Previews: Milan & Inter

With an exciting new edition of Serie A now upon us, Goal.com looks at how each of the 20 clubs are shaping up.



In this article, they feature Milan

In this article, they feature Inter

Raphael Honigstein in Germany

Repeated success has more than vindicated the professorial methods of Hoffenheim coach Ralf Rangnick.



Rangnick disproves the doubters as Hoffenheim scale new heights

Tim Vickery in South America

Brazil Require Style Re-Think

Serie A: the retirement home for Europe's ageing footballers

In the years when the first Italian imports began to flock to England - with Gianluca Vialli, Roberto Di Matteo and Gianfranco Zola blazing a trail towards Stamford Bridge while Fabrizio Ravanelli, improbably, beat a path to the Riverside - their compatriots would dismiss the Premier League as a retirement home for ageing footballers or a get-rich-quick scheme for those who lacked ambition.





Shevchenko studies the pitch...

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Tuesday's Rumours


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Champions League beckons for Europe’s big guns

Barcelona, Juventus and Arsenal should all stroll into the Champions League group stage this week but there could be a nasty surprise in store for Liverpool. Barcelona, European champions in 2006 with their victory over Arsenal in the Paris final, were 4-0 winners over Wisla Krakow two weeks ago in the first leg of their third qualifying round tie.
Preview


Today's Matches:
Artmedia Petrzalka vs. Juventus
Panathinaikos vs. Sparta Prague
Wisla Krakow vs. Barcelona

Italy: Mourinho and Ronaldinho Set to Spice Up Serie A

Jose Mourinho’s arrival as Inter coach and AC Milan buying Ronaldinho should add extra flair to Serie A this season and prompt a more exciting title race.

The Berbatov Saga Continues

Spurs say £30m for Berbatov or we stick him in the reserves




Kevin McCarra:
Spurs score an own goal with their principled stand

Fletcher's strike shakes the ring rust off United

Portsmouth 0 - 1 Manchester United

Americans in England: Big Wins and Losses

A light load for the Americans in England this week, but a big win for Fulham puts Clint Dempsey's side in good stead, says Goal.com's Matthew Braine.




Jay DeMerit, Watford
DeMerit’s Hornets fell to Nottingham Forest, 3-2, on Saturday in heartbreaking fashion. Watford equalized twice, only to come up short in the end. The American captain has led his squad steadily early on, but they need to start attacking without getting caught in the back. After scoring just one goal in their first two matches and conceding zero, the Hornets simply could not keep their back line together on Saturday.

Rivaldo quits AEK Athens to head to Uzbekistan

Rivaldo has rocked AEK Athens by telling the club he is leaving to take up a lucrative contract with Uzbekistan outfit FC Bunyodkor.








Lucrative Contract = Lifetime Supply of Uzbek "Super Bagels"

CONCACAF Champions League Set to Debut

In terms of supremacy among soccer clubs, the UEFA Champions League is the big fire that sucks all the oxygen from the room.

Everyone else is left to emulate the powerful patriarch of continental championships.

A Crucial Week for Spurs

Steve Wilson: I was commentating at White Hart Lane on Saturday as Spurs lost to Sunderland and after a thoroughly depressing day for the club you have to conclude that the next week could be the most crucial of their season.

EPL Monday Night Football: Portsmouth vs. Manchester United

Preview



Fergie:
Victory vital before the break

Spain and Italy: Pre-season Cups

Nine-man Real Madrid earned an unlikely 4-2 comeback victory over Valencia at home to win their eighth Spanish Super Cup at the Bernabeu on Sunday.



Inter Milan beat AS Roma 6-5 on penalties to win the Italian Super Cup on Sunday following a 2-2 draw in Jose Mourinho's first competitive game in charge of the Italian champions.

The Big Interview: Cesc Fabregas

Amy Lawrence interviews the Spain and Arsenal midfielder.

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Monday's Rumours


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Characters will be crucial as the transfer-window guillotine falls

The weekend's action showed that several Premier League managers desperately need to add to their squads before September 1.

Germany: Bundesliga Reflections

Reflections

England: Premier League Match Reports + Weekend Wrap

Liverpool needed a late Gerrard strike to oust Boro at Anfield, Fulham claimed a historic win over a poor Arsenal side at Craven Cottage, a Deco free-kick doomed Wigan at the JJB, Elano led Manchester City to a 3-0 win over West Ham at Eastlands, Blackburn and Hull drew, a Michael Owen goal propelled Newcastle to victory over Bolton, Stoke beat Villa, Tottenham lost at home to an inspired Sunderland side, and Everton won away to West Brom. Manchester United are at Fratton Park to face Portsmouth today.


Reports

Wrap