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.
Chelsea forward Michy Batshuayi admits he has been buoyed by the winning mentality at his new club.
The Belgium international joined the London club from Marseille this month on a five-year deal for a reported fee of €33.1million, and scored twice in a behind-closed-doors friendly with Atus Ferlach this week.
Chelsea endured a dismal campaign in 2015-16, failing to win a major trophy and finishing 10th in the Premier League, just a year after winning the competition under Jose Mourinho.
But Batshuayi is in no doubt that belief is growing over their prospects of a title tilt under new manager Antonio Conte.
It ended 8-0 to the Blues, with Pedro (2), Batshuayi (2) and Remy adding to our first half goals.
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC)
It…
Roma striker Pablo Osvaldo has hit out at the Premier League, branding the standard of football second-rate.
The former Espanyol man, who spent four years in Italy between 2006 and 2010 before returning from Spain last summer, came out fighting as he hit back at suggestions that Serie A is in decline.
Once the Premier League was the most beautiful in the world, the 26-year-old told Gazzetta dello Sport.
But I think now the football has become second-rate.
It s more fun to play in Italy where every game is a fight, rather than a tournament where the first few teams get an easy 30 points.
The Argentina-born forward did, however, have some positive words for English football, particularly by praising their hard-line stance on hooliganism.
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Neymar has denied a rivalry exists with Paris Saint-Germain team-mate Kylian Mbappe.
The pair are two of the most valuable players in the world and have accounted for nine of PSG s 14 goals over the past four matches in all competitions.
Head coach Thomas Tuchel applauded their partnership following the recent 3-1 win over Montpellier and both will need to shine if the Ligue 1 side are to achieve Champions League glory this season.
There have been suggestions that France international Mbappe, 20, has occasionally felt frustrated with perceived favouritism towards Neymar, but the Brazilian insists there is no hidden animosity in their friendship.
My relationship with Kylian is very good, Neymar told France Football.
We are good friends and help e…
Fabio Cannavaro has endorsed the capture of Gonzalo Higuain but says it will be difficult for Juventus to win the Champions League without Paul Pogba.
Juve spent big to recruit Higuain, last season s top scorer in Serie A, from Napoli as a replacement for striker Alvaro Morata, who was re-signed by Real Madrid.
But the departure of France international Pogba to Manchester United for a world-record fee has left a void in midfield that head coach Massimiliano Allegri may struggle to fill against top opposition, according to Cannavaro.
Juve certainly reinforced themselves they have a deep, complete squad and I think Higuain is stronger than Morata, but winning the Champions League is incredibly tough, ex-Bianconeri defender Cannavaro was quoted by Gazzetta dello Sp…
Thomas Hitzlsperger has pledged to show manager David Moyes and Everton supporters he warrants a long-term deal at Goodison Park.
The former Aston Villa and West Ham midfielder was available after being released by Bundesliga outfit Wolfsburg in the off-season and signed a short-term deal until January on Friday.
However, the 30-year-old midfielder has already set his sights on an extended stay at the club.
First of all my focus is on the short term, the former Germany international told the club s official website.
There are not many games between now and January but I want to stay beyond January because I enjoy it so much here.
I think it is in my hands. I will get lots of opportunities to show what I can do in training and hopefully I will …
Spain warned on Sunday there are plenty more victories left in them after setting a new world record by beating South Africa 2-0 for their 15th consecutive win.
Goals from David Villa and Fernando Llorente were enough to tame the Confederations Cup hosts late Saturday and ensure the European champions top their group.
Real Madrid target Villa broke the deadlock in the 52nd minute and Athletic Bilbao s Llorente sealed the win with 18 minutes left.
They now play the runner-up in Group B, likely Italy or Egypt, in the semi-finals in Bloemfontein next Wednesday.
The win meant Spain have posted 15 victories in a row, surpassing the old record of 14 held by Australia, Brazil and France.
They also matched the 35-match unbeaten streak held by Brazil bet…
It has been a record-breaking transfer window across Europe, and one that has thrown up more than a surprise or two on the continent with numerous big-name players making fresh starts.
While the likes of Robert Lewandowski, Sadio Mane, Erling Haaland and Gabriel Jesus have all made fast starts to life at their new clubs, for others their futures remain unclear heading into the final day of the window.
As any football supporter will know, some of the biggest deals can often be left to deadline day – and occasionally even after the cut-off point, as long as an agreement has been reached and ratified with the relevant authorities.
With less than 24 hours of the window to run across each of Europe s top five leagues, Stats Perform looks at the names that could yet…
411,563 fans, 32 goals, one hat-trick and not a goalless draw in sight.
The Premiership returned from its summer break over the weekend with ten lively games that will hopefully set the tone for the season ahead. The entertaining start saw Chelsea romp to a 4-0 victory over Portsmouth, while Manchester United could only draw with Newcastle at Old Trafford. New boys Hull City came from behind to beat Fulham 2-1, although fellow promoted sides Stoke City lost 3-1 to Bolton and West Brom got beaten 1-0 by Arsenal. Liverpool were thankful for a late Fernando Torres goal to secure a 1-0 win at Sunderland as were Blackburn, who beat Everton 3-2. Perennial underachievers Tottenham Hotspur again flatted to deceive, going down 2-1 to Middlesbrough while West Ham triumphed over Wigan by …
After a busy close-season in the transfer market, Manchester United are looking to mount a concerted Premier League title challenge as they bid to return to the summit of English football.
Under Louis van Gaal last season, United repaired some of the damage done during the ill-fated David Moyes era, achieving a top-four finish to qualify for the UEFA Champions League.
However, they were still a long way behind champions Chelsea, who won the title by eight points ahead of Manchester City and finished 17 better off than United.
Van Gaal has laid down a marker in the transfer window, though, with the arrivals of Memphis Depay, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Morgan Schneiderlin a signal of the Dutchman s intent.
Chelsea, meanwhile, have added goalkeeper Asmir Be…
Leicester City and Manchester United have agreed a reported £80million deal for the transfer of defender Harry Maguire, Foxes manager Brendan Rodgers has confirmed.
Maguire, 26, has been the subject of transfer speculation since the 2018-19 campaign concluded, with United and Manchester City said to have been leading the race.
But with City reportedly ruling themselves out a while ago, United have had a clean run and look to have finally got their man despite Leicester holding out for a massive fee which is expected to see Maguire become the world s most expensive defender.
Speaking after Leicester s 2-1 friendly win over Atalanta, Rodgers confirmed an agreement has been reached between the clubs following negotiations.
Rodgers told Sky Sports: Until it …