Ethiopia will look to book their spot in the FIFA World Cup qualifying play-offs when they face South Africa at home on Sunday.
The unbeaten side will win the Group A in the CAF qualifying section if they beat their opponents in Addis Ababa but, with South Africa poised just two points behind them, victory will not come easily.
Ethiopia come into the game on the back of an impressive run of form in qualifying after winning their last three fixtures.
However, South Africa have also not been beaten so far and enjoyed a comfortable 3-0 victory over the Central African Republic last week.
When the teams met in the reverse fixture in Rustenburg just under a year ago, they shared the points with a 1-1 draw after Katlego Mphela scored in the 78th minute to ca…
that Liverpool are keeping close tabs on Twente striker Luc Castaignos as they look to bolster their attacking options.
Brendan Rodgers has one of the best attacking partnerships at his disposal, but he clearly lacks cover for the likes of Suarez and Sturridge.
It is for that reason that the Reds boss is considering a January move for Twente starlet Luc Castaignos.
Liverpool missed out on the Dutch forward in the summer of 2011, when he opted to sign for Inter Milan, but the youngster quickly returned to Eredivisie following a disappointing spell at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza.
Castaignos has since kick-started his career with the Tukkers, scoring 21 goals in 53 league matches, and is now being tipped to leave his current employers for greener pastures.
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According to Tuttosport, Inter Milan could turn their attention towards Ilkay Gundogan if they re unable to land their main target Luka Modric. The Croatian midfielder has been linked with Inter for quite some time now, although Real Madrid made it pretty clear that it would take an extraordinary offer to lure him away from the Bernabeu.
Gundogan, on the other hand, could be available for around €40 million if Inter commits to the idea of bringing him to the San Siro. The 27-year-old would be viewed as someone who could add some consistency in the middle of the park for the Italian club, as they prepare to return to the UEFA Champions League after sealing their place in the competition last season.
Gundogan has been with City since 2016 when he made the jump over from…
Newcastle United have the signing of Fabian Schär from Deportivo La Coruna.
The defender goes to the North-East of England having signed an initial three-year deal and becomes the Magpies fourth addition this season, following permanent deals for goalkeeper Martin Dubravka and midfielder Ki Sung-yeung, as well as the arrival of Chelsea attacker Kenedy on loan.
Schär only arrived to Deportivo last summer and made 27 appearances for them during 2017/18, scoring two goals along the way. Before that, he had spells with Swiss clubs Wil (three years) and Basel (also three years), and German outfit Hoffenheim (two years). He s been capped 42 times for Switzerland so far, and he caught the eye of several suitors with good performances at the World Cup.
Manager Rafa …
Gary Neville expects Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov to play a crucial role in his side s push for Premier League and Champions League glory after the Bulgarian scored twice in the champions 4-0 win at Bolton.
With England forward Wayne Rooney rested for Saturday s trip to the Reebok Stadium to allow him time to recover from a bruised foot, Berbatov was drafted in as United s lone attacker and responded with a superb display.
Berbatov has rarely hit peak form since his 30.75 million pounds switch from Tottenham in August 2008, but he is beginning to look the part at last and scored twice in a league game for the first time since his move.
Berbatov s lacklustre contribution has often been derided, but now it appears United s fans are starting to unders…
Massimiliano Allegri became the 16th coaching change of the season in Serie A s 20-team league as he was fired by minnows Cagliari on Tuesday only two months after he had been voted coach of the 2008/09 season by his peers.
Allegri has been replaced by youth team coach Giorgio Melis.
The 42-year-old who received 40percent of the vote fromn his fellow coaches for the coach of the year award was almost two years into a three-year contract but was seen as one of the bright young prospects in the top flight.
In his first Serie A job, he guided Cagliari to an impressive ninth place finish last season and for large parts of this term they were challenging for European qualification.
But they had not won in their last nine games and Cagliari released a brief st…
Quique Sanchez Flores has stressed Watford have a score to settle when they take on Norwich City at Vicarage Road in the Premier League on Saturday.
The Hornets, who ran out 3-2 winners at Aston Villa last weekend, were beaten twice by this weekend s opponents in the Championship last term, losing 3-0 both at home and away.
Flores men go into Saturday s encounter as slight favourites, though, and Flores is eagerly anticipating the visit of Norwich, even if he realises Alex Neil s side will pose a stern test.
We know about the history last year for Norwich against Watford, they won at home, they won away. They have a very good team and they played very well last year in the Championship, so we respect this team a lot, Flores told Hornets Player.
We …
Stuttgart have announced the signing of Julian Green from Bayern Munich on a three-year deal.
The United States international has joined the 2.Bundesliga promotion hopefuls for an undisclosed fee after making only two DFB-Pokal appearances under Carlo Ancelotti this season.
I came to FC Bayern into their Under-15s and I dreamed of becoming a professional. And I did that, Green, who will wear the number 37 shirt, told Stuttgart s official website.
Over the past three years, I ve built up a lot of experience. That was good and I m grateful for that.
I ve seen all their games over the last month and I think I m in good hands with VFB, and I can set new goals for myself.
This is a great club. I m looking forward to the challenge, the new city and …
Market: Monaco win
Odds: 1/2 @
Two sides who turn their attention back to Coupe de France duties in midweek, Monaco will welcome Metz to the Stade Louis II on Tuesday evening.
Starting with the hosts, marking their return from March s international break over the weekend, Monaco really couldn t have picked up a better result in preparation for their midweek meeting. Welcoming Metz to the Stade Louis II while on Ligue 1 duties, Les Monégasques picked up a thumping 4-0 win on home soil and the mood in their camp should be at a real high. Really finding their feet since bringing in former Bayern Munich boss Niko Kovač, the resurging French giants sit in pole position to secure a European return this season. With some even in their camp still believing that they c…
Barcelona have confirmed that Arthur Melo will leave the club after seeing out the remainder of the 2019/20 campaign. Arthur is set to sign for Italian champions Juventus for a fee believed to be worth around €72 million, including €10 million in potential add-ons.
The expectation is that Miralem Pjanic will be heading in the opposite direction, in a swap deal that could serve as the first of many big deals both in and out of the Nou Camp during the summer transfer window.
Of course, the actual start date of the summer window still remains to be seen across Europe, with all leagues being set to finish at different times.
In regards to Arthur, though, this is a move that has been in the making for quite some time now. While he had his moments with Barca, the …