Former Manchester City striker Paul Dickov believes Pep Guardiola’s treble-chasers need to win the Champions League final next month to quieten their critics once and for all. 

"Until we’ve won it, everybody else is going to be pointing fingers at us, saying it’s the one trophy we haven’t won. 

"And I don’t think we’ll ever get a better chance than now. Not because it’s Inter Milan in the final but because of the form we’re in at this stage of the season.

"Twenty-three games unbeaten, we’re just blowing teams away at the minute, and though Inter will be tough, City have to be favourites. 

"Every City fan will be hoping this will be the year just so they can shut everyone up."

The Scot remains a firm favourite at the Etihad Stadium for scoring a crucial, last-gasp goal in a Play-Off final back in 1999 that hauled City out of the third tier, and clearly his two spells at the club have left a lasting impression, with the likeable 50-year-old now an ardent fan himself.

It’s why he bristles at the notion that City’s recent dominance of the Premier League has diminished its competitiveness.   

"I don’t think there has been a lack of competition in the Premier League at all.

"I do think it’s been a strange season, with the World Cup interrupting the momentum of a lot of teams, but you only have to look back six weeks ago to Manchester City being eight points behind, whereas Arsenal were absolutely flying. 

"What you have to do is just give City credit for being such a fantastic team because I genuinely believe the Premier League is the strongest it’s been in a long time.

"The competition is there but Manchester City, at this stage of the season, are like robots. They know what to do and they just churn out win after win after win, and nobody else can keep up with them."

It’s a relentless charge to the finish line that has become a trademark of the Blues under Guardiola but Dickov attributes this as much to the mentality of the players as the Catalan grandmaster.  

"They are so mentally strong. I was at the training ground last week and all the talk among the non-playing staff was about Real Madrid. All the talk on the playing side was focused only on Everton.

"That’s so difficult to do but these players have been here before. They’re serial winners. They know what it takes."

It helps too of course when you have a forward who scores 52 goals and counting across a single campaign.

From a striker’s perspective, what does Dickov think is the secret behind the Norwegian’s astonishing prolificacy? 

"He has got everything but what separates Erling (Haaland) from such a young age is his mentality.

"He never gets frustrated, he never gets his head down. He must make 12 to 15 runs a game, going in behind, without getting the ball. But he keeps believing he’s going to score, and he keeps making these runs.

"And they’re selfless runs for his team-mates. Look at last night, against Real Madrid. Erling hardly touched the ball but he occupied Militao and Aalaba so well.

"If he’s taking two players of the opposition away there are spaces for Ilkay Gundogan and De Bruyne and Jack Grealish to exploit.

"So as much as people talk about strikers being selfish, I really think he’s an unselfish player. That’s crazy to think when you acknowledge how many goals he’s scored this season."

While Haaland is fast-tracking a path to legendary status, buzzing around him, creating so many of his goals, is a midfielder who continues to mesmerize with his passing and artistry.

"For me De Bruyne is up there with the very, very best.

"There is always going to be that argument about Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard and all these wonderful players, but the scary thing about Kevin De Bruyne is that he just seems to get better and better. Just when you think he’s at his peak.

"Even six or seven years ago, when Pep came in, he was a world class player then and people were thinking that was his level. But he just keeps taking it to another level.

"His influence on the pitch is there for all to see and his work-rate is phenomenal. Pep likes a high press and nine times out of ten he sets that press off for the team.

"I don’t think this season, there has been a better player in Europe, if not the world. In terms of the Premier League he is the best."

Though Dickov has evidently enjoyed every minute of watching the Blues mount another title bid this season, it’s an enjoyment compromised by who they have gone up against. 

Aged just 16, he left Livingston, on the east coast of Scotland, to join Arsenal’s youth set-up, soon breaking through into the first-team, though his chances were limited with the club blessed at the time with the likes of Ian Wright and Paul Merson. 

Still holding a good deal for affection for his first club, does Dickov think they’ve been harshly judged for relinquishing their healthy lead late in the season?

"I feel a little bit sorry for Arsenal, with people calling them ‘bottlers’. It was only a couple of years ago City did this exact same thing to Liverpool and everybody then was saying how fantastic Liverpool had done to push City all the way.

"So I’d like to flip it around a bit and say how good it’s been from Arsenal’s point of view, to push one of the best Premier League teams we’ve ever seen all the way.

"If you sat any Arsenal fan down – and possibly even Mikel Arteta – and said they were going to push Manchester City until the last few weeks of the season, while qualifying for the Champions League, they would have snapped your hand off.

"People weren’t even talking about Arsenal getting top four so they’ve had a really, really good season.

"They should get a lot of credit for that and by having such a young squad they’re only going to get better from the experience they’ve gained."

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*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*

It is very easy to identify who has been the best centre back in the top-flight over the last five years or so. It is Virgil Van Dijk. Case closed.

Since joining Liverpool to the tune of £75m at the beginning of 2018, the Dutch defender has been a cornerstone on which the Reds’ successes have been built, by turns a leader and impenetrable presence.

He is also, in every sense, a thoroughly modern exponent of his craft but for all that the 6ft 5 colossus smoothly mops up danger and starts another attack with a sweeping cross-field pass, it is interesting to note what Erling Haaland said of him last year. He said Van Dijk was ‘bad and smart’.

Or, to put it another way, on his day he is a player that cannot be out-fought or out-thought. 

Yet it cannot be reasonably argued that the 31-year-old has retained his exceptional levels this season, at times visibly struggling, even prone to mishap, so if the question was tweaked to who is the best centre-back in the Premier League right now, would the Liverpool star be among the leading contenders, featuring highly in the football betting? 

In all likelihood, probably not. 

Arsenal’s William Saliba though, would have to be in the reckoning, the French stopper greatly impressing since returning from a steep learning curve in Ligue 1.

If a true indicator of a player’s worth is how much he is missed when injured it could be said that Saliba has been priceless to the Gunners this term, their form and title hopes notably slipping when the defender succumbed to a back problem mid-March. 

In his 27 league appearances, Arsenal picked up 2.4 points-per-game. In the nine fixtures he has missed to date that has plummeted to 1.6.

Yet, as intuitive as he is at reading the game, dealing with problems with the minimum of fuss, is it justified to place the 22-year-old ahead of his peers based on seven tremendous months? 

In the coming weeks, Saliba feels like a shoo-in for inclusion in the PFA Team of the Year. For this merit however, it’s close but no cigar.

What about then, John Stones, a nomination that will undoubtedly have eyes rolling from those who refuse to recognise his immense importance to an immense Manchester City side.

Simply by virtue of playing half of this campaign either at right-back or in a holding midfield role rules him out but still, his ball-playing attributes from the back and excellent shepherding of opposition forwards deserves a mention. As too does the following statement. 

If Stones was deployed further forward, he would become one of the best midfielders in Premier League history. There. It’s been said. 

Lastly, we come to Manchester United’s Lisandro Martinez who, like van Dijk on his arrival at Anfield, and Saliba in North London, has been pivotal to his team enjoying a significant resurgence. 

Combative and possessing the nous and ability to consistently nullify the great and the good, the Argentine has to be a shout, at least. 

Perhaps though, we’re looking at this all wrong? Perhaps we should be leaning on numbers to find the answers and crown the right man?

If so, the centre-back with the best statistical returns in 2022/23 is none of the talents name-checked above. Indeed, he wasn’t on our initial shortlist at all.

Step forward Brentford’s 29-year-old, former Dulwich Hamlet star Ethan Pinnock. The best Premier League centre-back around.

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*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*

After a decade of featuring heavily in our next Premier League manager to be sacked odds Manchester United finally have a coach who is taking the club in the right direction, laying the foundations for success over struggle. 

But now, for Erik Ten Hag and the Reds, comes a pivotal and defining summer, one that will see previously established names moved on, while a plethora of new signings are expected.

Who gets to remain at Old Trafford, and who gets to feign a smile as they hold aloft a Fulham shirt, will of course largely depend on how they individually fared across 2022/23. 

So, with that in mind, let’s rate all 20 United players who have made seven-plus league starts this term, beginning with perhaps the biggest puzzle of them all. 

David De Gea

Ten Hag recently insisted that he wanted De Gea to sign a contract extension and reportedly a deal is all-but-done, with the Spanish stopper agreeing to reduced terms.

For all that De Gea struggles with distribution and is prone to mishap, it simply made no sense allowing a keeper of his standing to depart on a free.

• Rating for 2022/23 - 5/10 STAY

Harry Maguire

Used sparingly throughout the campaign, and even over-looked for reimagined full-backs, Maguire continues to languish on the periphery.

Untrusted and shorn of all confidence, there will sadly be no redemptive second act to a disastrous move that garnered headlines for all the wrong reasons.

• 3/10 LEAVE 

Victor Lindelof

The Swede has served a purpose this season, impressing on the few occasions he’s been called on, most notably in recent weeks with Varane and Martinez unavailable. 

With Maguire and Eric Bailly both heading for the exit door, the 28-year-old will likely be retained as a fourth-choice centre-back.

• 6/10 STAY

Lisandro Martinez

Offering the United back-line some long overdue resilience, the Argentine has been a huge success since joining from Ajax and furthermore compliments Varane well. 

It feels like an awfully long time ago now when people were commenting on his height.

• 9/10 STAY

Raphael Varane

There is a caveat that accompanies the French defender and perhaps there always will be, that being an acknowledgement that he’s world class just so long as stays fit.

Twenty starts has been a decent return for a player long-blighted by injuries and his partnership with Martinez bodes extremely well for the future.

• 8/10 STAY

Diogo Dalot

Loved by fans for his passion, the defender’s versatility makes him a useful asset to the squad while some stand-out displays this season has seen his stock rise.

United are evidently in the market for a new right-back this summer but it won’t be the Portuguese international making way. His chances of firmly establishing himself as a starter however will only decrease.

• 7/10 STAY

Aaron Wan-Bissaka 

There is no questioning the 25-year-old’s defensive acumen. 1.9 tackles per 90 across 2022/23. 1.2 interceptions and 1.8 clearances. All his stats are up there with the best of them.

Going forward though, it’s a slightly different story, with Wan-Bissaka long felt to be offensively limited. A respectable bid is all it will take, presumably.

• 7/10 LEAVE 

Luke Shaw

Statistically, Shaw has been United’s sixth-best performer this past year, capping a career resurgence for club and country that is to be admired.

There is very little danger of the left-back departing this summer, not with Ten Hag being such a big fan. “He’s the example,” the Dutchman said at the start of 2023, referring to Shaw’s work ethic and leadership qualities.

• 8/10 STAY

Tyrell Malacia

Bought for £18m last summer, a fee that has proven to be somewhat of a bargain, Malacia never lets the side down and provides decent competition for Shaw down the left flank. 

A propensity to pick up cheap cautions needs to be eradicated but the best is still to come.

• 6/10 STAY

Fred 

Much-maligned by virtue of a pre-Casemiro midfield partnership with McTominay that came to symbolise United’s mediocrity, the Brazilian has carved out a niche as an impactful sub of late, brought off the bench on 21 occasions in the league alone.

Naturally, the former Shakhtar star won’t be content with that but unless he kicks up a fuss, United will carry on using him sparingly.

• 5/10 STAY 

Casemiro

It feels wrong to call Casemiro a revelation given his proven pedigree and substantial stature, but that’s exactly what he’s been for the Reds.

His clever passing and combative presence has transformed United’s engine-room, improving them immeasurably in the process.

• 10/10 STAY

Scott McTominay

It’s been a year of regression for the Scot, his influence overshadowed by Casemiro’s arrival and his performances declining as a consequence.

Finding himself over-run and by-passed at Newcastle last month may have made his manager’s mind up that he is dispensable should a chunky bid come in. Injuries haven’t helped.

• 5/10 LEAVE

Marcel Sabitzer

The Austrian clearly ‘gets’ what it means to play for Manchester United and, with his quality thrown in, that matters.

Yet a recent serious knee injury surely rules out any permanent deal being made for the Bayern loanee, especially as he turns 30 next spring.

• 7/10 LEAVE

Bruno Fernandes

The midfielder’s goals and assist tallies may be down from previous seasons but Fernandes’ creative importance to United is undiminished.

Quite simply, when he plays well, his team plays well, and this term the Portuguese schemer has been excellent far more than not.

• 8/10 STAY

Christian Eriksen  

The classy Dane gives United nuance and control and it’s no coincidence that they won only four of the ten games he missed to injury. 

What makes him such an invaluable asset is his ability to make those around him better.

• 7/10 STAY

Jadon Sancho

Still to ignite after his big-money move from Dortmund, if Sancho had arrived in the United set-up via another route – whether that be through the youth system or bought for a middling fee from a Championship side – there is no question his future would be in doubt this summer. 

As it is, the club are hardly going to give up on a £73m signing just yet while his considerable potential and ability should not be easily dismissed. It may still happen for him.

• 3/10 STAY

Antony

There are definite signs that the Brazilian winger is starting to come good, though his final ball continues to exasperate. 

This season was all about implementing his talent and personality into English football and benefiting from moments. Next term, consistency will be demanded.

• 6/10 STAY

Anthony Martial

It’s just not going to happen for the French forward is it? Each and every summer, United fans think ‘what if’ and each and every spring they look back on another season of injuries and inconsistency. 

The 27-year-old wanted to leave last year and got his wish via a loan spell at Sevilla. This time the decision won’t be of his own making.

• 5/10 LEAVE

Marcus Rashford 

United’s odds in the Premier League predictions would have been far lengthier were it not for Rashford’s goals this term, an outstanding return of 29 across all comps. 

As impactful from the left and down the middle, the England star has enjoyed a sparkling renaissance after enduring a sustained period of poor form.

• 9/10 STAY

Wout Weghurst 

The Burnley loanee has put in the hard yards and provided a structure to Ten Hag’s template but beyond that no goals in 15 league games means he will be a tricky quiz question in ten years’ time.

• 6/10 LEAVE

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*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*

Nobody expected Arsenal to be at the forefront of the Premier League title odds this season, to top the table from deep into August to the tail-end of April and do so with such style and conviction. 

The significant improvement we witnessed last term was down-played over the summer, most probably due to their late collapse that revealed there was still some work to do. 

Back then, the commanding centre-back partnership of Gabriel and Saliba could only be imagined, the latter finally assimilated into the squad after a successful learning curve in France.

In midfield meanwhile, the manner in which Partey, Xhaka and Martin Odegaard have superbly synched up and bossed centre-circles all campaign long has genuinely surprised, even if each individual player was rated highly.

It was only up front where excellence was anticipated, with Bukayo Saka on the cusp of superstardom while Gabriel Jesus looked to be a shrewd purchase.

Oh, and on the left there was Gabby Martinelli, a winger blessed with trickery and pace and always full of running. 

He could be pretty decent on his day, too.

In truth, the Brazilian was an after-thought when predictions were made for the forthcoming season.

In 2021/22, he accrued 29 league appearances and posted double figures for goals and assist combined, but to many, if not most, he appeared to be a mercurial talent, too often veering from magnificent to anonymous in the blink of an eye. 

His was a back-story that greatly impressed, signing from the Brazilian fourth division for a mere £6m and arriving in London aged just 18 and barely speaking any English. 

But could, and would, Martinelli become a pivotal player in Mikel Arteta’s grand project? Or was he fated to be a peripheral presence, delighting us with his skills on sunny afternoons, only to fade from prominence when the going got tough and elite consistency was required.

The jury remained out.

Many months on and the verdict is now in and it’s unanimous. And Gabby Martinelli will never be an after-thought again. 

Still only 21 and with a development ceiling yet to be identified, the winger has been exceptional this term, tormenting full-backs and often proving to be the difference when Arsenal have been in need of a difference-maker.

Only five players have scored more pure match-winners across 2022/23 and pertinently all of them play as number nines. 

From out wide, with Arsenal looking to him mainly to create and assist, Martinelli has stepped up, providing a goal-threat at critical times, in crucial moments. 

Not that his strikes have been reserved only for late in games. Last October, Liverpool went to North London and with the Gunners now viewed as genuine contenders the pre-match narrative centred on their mental fortitude. 

The Reds had so often proven to be a painful nemesis. 

Yet just sixty-five seconds in, Martinelli raced through and slotted home. Displaying once again his new-found consistency, the Brazilian then put in an influential, Man of the Match performance.

All told, his 15 goals and five assists have been priceless, while 1.7 successful dribbles per 90 and 1.7 key passes have kept his side firmly in the Premier League betting to secure a famous league crown. 

Whether Mikel Arteta’s men go on to achieve this only time will tell, a commodity that the 21-year-old has plenty of. And it’s going to be fun seeing what he makes of it, this once peripheral bundle of potential who is fast becoming a bona fide superstar.

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The Premier League betting will be fascinating to behold this summer as we all gear up for another long and enthralling top-flight campaign. 

Already, Manchester City are odds-on favourites to secure another league crown and this hardly surprises given their recent dominance of domestic football.

Elsewhere, Arsenal are priced around the 10/1 mark, reflecting their outstanding year as Mikel Arteta’s vision bears fruit, and beyond the Gunners in quick succession are the usual suspects, Manchester United and Liverpool.

The newest, richest kid on the block, Newcastle United, are firmly in the reckoning too.

You may however notice an omission from this esteemed short-list and it’s an odd one when it’s acknowledged that prior to a disastrous 2022/23, Chelsea averaged a third place Premier League finish in the five years following their last title success in 2017.

This is a club that is typically uber-competitive at the highest echelon of the English game, one that has spent north of £560m in the last calendar year to ensure they are uber-competitive again.

Furthermore, this is a club under new ownership, a seriously ambitious consortium led by billionaire Todd Boehly who have no intention of standing still this summer to admire the sheer scale of their investment thus far.

To add to an already star-studded squad, Christopher Nkunku will join, the prolific French striker having agreed a pre-contract deal, while the Blues are being linked to all manner of exciting talent, from Lautaro Martinez to Romeo Lavia, to Wilfried Zaha. 

The feeling is that should everything begin to click at Stamford Bridge, their odds in the football betting may come tumbling down come the autumn.

Of course, such positivity ignores the elephant in the room, or more accurately the steaming pile of manure it has left behind in the form of Chelsea’s current, dilapidated campaign.

Some allowances were made for Thomas Tuchel’s sacking just six games in because new owners always tend to want their own man, but still by every conceivable metric it was a premature decision, made all the stranger after Boehly fully backed the German in the summer, bringing in a wealth of players considered a neat fit for Tuchel’s style of play.

At the time of his sacking, the Blues resided sixth, having picked up 10 points from a possible 18.

In came Graham Potter, the chief architect of a long-term project we were told, but the Brighton man struggled to carry sufficient weight at the helm with results suffering as a consequence.

Factor in also, Frank Lampard’s moribund spell as interim boss and that brings us to the present and a league table that makes for depressing, slightly surreal reading.

With less than a handful of fixtures remaining, Chelsea lie outside of the top ten, behind neighbours in Fulham and Brentford who they have long lorded over.

They have won less than a third of their games, and all season long they have committed to just three more shots on target to Everton and Leicester, both of whom languish in the drop-zone. 

This has naturally translated to a meagre tally in the goals for column, with Chelsea scoring an average of a goal per 90, almost half that of Liverpool’s total, who are also said to be enduring a season to forget. 

Indeed, to put their troubles into proper context, were it not for Tuchel’s 50% win ratio early into their campaign, Chelsea would be deep in the relegation mire right now. 

And yet. And yet.

While not for a moment down-playing the depths in which Chelsea have plumbed across their annus horribilis, even when entrenched in crisis they have been proficient at the back, blessed as they are with a roster of elite staff.

We'll keep working together. 💪 pic.twitter.com/TZRoH203Mg

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) May 7, 2023

Think Koulibaly and Silva with their world of experience and storied ability. Think Fofana and Badiashile, who combined cost over £100m and are destined to be defensive stalwarts at the Bridge for several years to come. 

Down the flanks, Reece James and Ben Chilwell can each excel for club and country if injuries can be avoided while in midfield Kante, Kovacic and Fernandez would individually walk into any Premier League side and improve them immeasurably.

Let’s not forget either that the latter set Chelsea back a British transfer record fee. He has shone in his opening months on our shores but the best is yet to come.

Up front, well now we admittedly encounter some pushback because Raheem Sterling is clearly not the answer, a once impactful winger whose career trajectory is on the decline.

Pulisic, Harvertz and loanee Joao Felix meanwhile are very much of a like, supremely gifted on their day but focal points they are not. That’s where Nkunku comes on, or for that matter, Martinez.

With a brilliant targetman to feed off, Chelsea’s attack suddenly makes sense. Suddenly it can thrive. 

In the days ahead, Maurico Pochettino – a superb coach with a point to prove in the Premier League - is expected to be announced as Chelsea’s next manager and what he’ll inherit is a squad capable of winning a title.

The rest, from the outside looking in, is just possibility and jigsaw pieces arranged in the right places. 

The Blues have suffered a nadir in modern times, no question about it. But they can be a force to be reckoned with again next term. Just you watch.

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*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*

This feels like a huge summer for Manchester United with Erik Ten Hag looking to move on some established players and bring in talents who better align with his footballing mandate. 

Top of the Dutchman’s shopping list, his name underlined and bolded, is reputedly Harry Kane, the Spurs ace set to arrive at Old Trafford prior to 2023/24 for a considerable sum.

In the departure lounge meanwhile, Anthony Elanga, Eric Bailly and Donny van der Beek are all near-certs to leave but unquestionably the biggest headlines will accompany the likely exit of another English Harry, a player who became the world’s most expensive defender on joining United in July, 2019. 

What a fall from grace it’s been since. 

Indeed, it is interesting to revisit that period and acknowledge the Harry Maguire that the Reds signed, as opposed to the much-maligned and marginalised figure he has become. 

Four years ago, the Yorkshireman was held in extremely high regard, his signature chased by both Manchester giants, with City eventually dropping out when Leicester played hard-ball.

Just twelve months earlier, Maguire had played a pivotal role in England reaching a World Cup semi-final, completing a successful campaign that saw him secure Leicester’s Player of the Year merit.

Granted, his form tailed off thereafter but with so much transfer speculation surrounding the defender that was to be excused. 

He was ‘an elite player’, according to his former team-mate Michael Dawson, speaking to the BBC in the week his £80m transfer was confirmed ‘One day you will see him being a captain of Manchester United’. 

These words were prescient, with Maguire attaining the armband, just six months later, but really, if we’re being blunt about matters, that’s about the only projection of his career-defining move that has been realised. 

Because elsewhere, a series of poor displays for an immensely high-profile club saw Maguire become short-hand for United’s failures. 

Weighed down by his hefty price-tag and exposed too often by a malfunctioning midfield, the centre-back flailed, routinely caught out of position and prone to mishap, and as United’s odds each season in the Premier League betting became ever-more-distant so too did Maguire’s reputation plummet.

Online, he became a figure of fun, mocked by rival supporters, while the situation took a much darker turn last year when a bomb threat was delivered to his family home. 

Shorn of all confidence, Maguire made 16 individual errors last term that, directly or otherwise, resulted in goals conceded. 

Enter Erik Ten Hag, but any notion that the Dutchman’s appointment might signal a second act for the struggling stopper was soon dispelled when United shelled out just shy of £50m for Lisandro Martinez to partner a fit-again Raphael Varane. 

All season-long, Maguire has made a grand total of seven league starts with a recent injury crisis at the back leading to Ten Hag overlooking his club captain, instead reimagining Luke Shaw from his full-back berth.

Ironically, any interest in the 30-year-old was rebuffed by United last January but that was purely due to numbers, to wanting him available to them if needs must.

But with a full window ahead, and United looking to establish themselves once again in the Champions League betting, an extended loan deal surely beckons, for a player who once promised the world.

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*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*

AC Milan vs Inter Milan Preview

It’s great to see these two behemoths of European football in the Champions League semi-final stage and a mouth-watering double header awaits.

The San Siro will host both matches and home advantage will count for very little, though AC Milan are the designated home side for the first leg.

Both clubs have failed to inspire confidence in Serie A predictions this season but it has been a fantastic campaign for fans across the city when it comes to the Champions League.

Italy will be represented in the Champions League final for the first time since 2016/17 and the jury is out on which Milan side will advance to the showpiece.

History is well and truly on the side of AC Milan. The Rossoneri have advanced to the next round on both occasions when the Milan clubs have been matched up.

However, there’s no time like the present and Inter are arguably better placed to prevail. It won’t be straightforward but the Nerazzurri are the stronger of the two teams.

Inter head into this fixture off the back of five wins in a row in all competitions and it would be fair to say that confidence is high in that camp.

Meanwhile, Milan have been inconsistent – winning three of their last eight games. That doesn’t tell the whole story though as they are unbeaten in nine matches.

With that in mind, we can expect a tight contest at the San Siro. Football betting odds for a low scoring game are well worth checking out, under 2.5 goals looks likely.

For me, I fancy Inter to get the job done over two legs and they can snag a first leg lead if everything goes to plan. Without a doubt, they are the more ‘complete’ Milan side.

My best bet of this game is for Inter to win to nil. It could be cagey, it might even be a bit tedious at times but I won’t mind as long as the Nerazzurri get the win.

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Bet on Inter with 888Sport

Inter Milan are one of the most successful clubs in Italian football and sports betting punters will be keen to back the Serie A giants throughout the 2022/23 season.

Could we see Inter win the Serie A title once again? Join us here at 888sport for our Inter predictions and previews this season as the Nerazzurri look to regain top spot in Italy’s premier division.

Inter Club History

Inter was formed in 1908 after a group of players from the Milan Cricket and Football Club – now officially known as AC Milan – wanted the club to accept more foreign footballers.

According to the history books, the first Inter club captain was Swiss native Hernst Marktl and he is an iconic figure in their long and illustrious history.

Just two years later, Inter won their first Italian title. Since then, the club have tallied 18 league titles and those who bet on football will remember the glory years in the mid-2000s.

Inter Milan won five consecutive titles during their golden era, culminating in the Nerazzurri becoming the first Italian club to capture the Serie A, Coppa Italia and Champions League treble.

Inter and local rival AC Milan share the San Siro Stadium – one of the most prestigious stadiums on the planet.

The venue opened in 1926 and Inter beat AC Milan 6-3 in the first game to be played there – just one year before club legend Giuseppe Meazza made his debut in the blue and black.

In 1979, Meazza sadly passed away and the stadium was officially renamed in his honour. However, most fans of European football continue to know to the ground as San Siro.

Inter Honours List

• Serie A: 1909–10, 1919–20, 1929–30, 1937–38, 1939–40, 1952–53, 1953–54, 1962–63, 1964–65, 1965–66, 1970–71, 1979–80, 1988–89, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2020–21

• Coppa Italia: 1938–39, 1977–78, 1981–82, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2021–22

• Supercoppa Italiana: 1989, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2021

• UEFA Champions League: 1963–64, 1964–65, 2009–10

• UEFA Europa League: 1990–91, 1993–94, 1997–98

• Intercontinental Cup: 1964, 1965

• FIFA Club World Cup: 2010

Inter Competitions This Season

The 2022/23 season saw Inter Milan competing on multiple fronts, with the Nerazzurri fighting it out in Serie A, Coppa Italia, Supercoppa Italiana and the UEFA Champions League.

Having finished second in the Serie A table last term, Inter will be looking to get their hands back on the Scudetto crown and Simone Inzaghi’s side will be popular in Serie A predictions this season.

Inter reached the last-16 stage of the Champions League and it would be a dream come true for fans of the Serie A giants if they are able to lift Europe’s elite club trophy for a fourth time.

The 2022/23 Supercoppa Italiana takes place in mid-January and sees Inter doing battle with local rivals AC Milan, though that fixture is due to be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

If you enjoy looking at Serie A odds and betting on Italian football, do so here at 888sport – and you can find Inter predictions and tips for every Nerazzurri match here.

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*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*

 

AC Milan vs Inter Milan Preview

It’s great to see these two behemoths of European football in the Champions League semi-final stage and a mouth-watering double header awaits.

The San Siro will host both matches and home advantage will count for very little, though AC Milan are the designated home side for the first leg.

Both clubs have failed to inspire confidence in Serie A predictions this season but it has been a fantastic campaign for fans across the city when it comes to the Champions League.

Italy will be represented in the Champions League final for the first time since 2016/17 and the jury is out on which Milan side will advance to the showpiece.

History is well and truly on the side of AC Milan. The Rossoneri have advanced to the next round on both occasions when the Milan clubs have been matched up.

However, there’s no time like the present and Inter are arguably better placed to prevail. It won’t be straightforward but the Nerazzurri are the stronger of the two teams.

Inter head into this fixture off the back of five wins in a row in all competitions and it would be fair to say that confidence is high in that camp.

Meanwhile, Milan have been inconsistent – winning three of their last eight games. That doesn’t tell the whole story though as they are unbeaten in nine matches.

With that in mind, we can expect a tight contest at the San Siro. Football betting odds for a low scoring game are well worth checking out, under 2.5 goals looks likely.

For me, I fancy Inter to get the job done over two legs and they can snag a first leg lead if everything goes to plan. Without a doubt, they are the more ‘complete’ Milan side.

My best bet of this game is for Inter to win to nil. It could be cagey, it might even be a bit tedious at times but I won’t mind as long as the Nerazzurri get the win.

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AC Milan silenced their critics in 2021/22 as they lifted the Serie A title for the first time in over a decade but can they defend the Scudetto crown this season?

If you bet on football regularly, you’ll know all about Milan and their illustrious history. Here, we’ll be providing Milan betting previews on every Rossoneri fixture.

AC Milan Club History

Founded in 1899, AC Milan is a club steeped in history. Englishman Alfred Ormonde Edwards was the club’s first official president but it wasn’t long before controversy struck.

Milan survived a split in 1908, with a group of players deciding to leave and create a new club – now known as Inter Milan.

Inter and AC have competed against each other over 100 times, with the Milan derby earning the title “Derby della Madonnina” after the status of the Virgin Mary at the nearby Cathedral.

Nowadays, the two clubs share the San Siro but AC Milan actually played at five different stadiums before moving to their current home in 1926.

Milan have paid tribute to two of their greatest ever players by retiring jersey numbers; the number 6 shirt worn by Franco Baresi and the number 6 shirt owned by Paolo Maldini.

Both players dedicated around 20 years of service to the club and their legacy as Milan legends is firmly entrenched in the club’s annals.

One of the biggest clubs in the world, AC Milan became the most successful European team in the history of international football when they won the FIFA Club World Cup – their 18th major trophy in international competition.

Milan Honours List

• Serie A: 1901, 1906, 1907, 1950–51, 1954–55, 1956–57, 1958–59, 1961–62, 1967–68, 1978–79, 1987–88, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1995–96, 1998–99, 2003–04, 2010–11, 2021–22

• Serie B: 1980–81, 1982–83

• Coppa Italia: 1966–67, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1976–77, 2002–03

• Supercoppa Italiana: 1988, 1992, 1993, 1994, 2004, 2011, 2016

• Champions League: 1962–63, 1968–69, 1988–89, 1989–90, 1993–94, 2002–03, 2006–07

• European Cup Winners' Cup: 1967–68, 1972–73

• UEFA Super Cup: 1989, 1990, 1994, 2003, 2007

• Intercontinental Cup: 1969, 1989, 1990

• FIFA Club World Cup: 2007

Milan Competitions This Season

Like arch rivals Inter, Milan started the 2022/23 season competing in four tournaments: Serie A, Coppa Italia, Supercoppa Italiana and the Champions League.

The main aim this campaign will be to retain the Scudetto title, though Milan are likely to face stiff competition from the likes of Inter, Juventus and Napoli throughout 2022/23.

The Coppa Italia is Italy’s equivalent of the FA Cup and is undoubtedly one of the most prestigious cup competitions in world football.

Can Milan lift the famous trophy for the sixth time? It would be foolish to back against them in the sports betting markets for that particular competition.

A Supercoppa Italiana bonanza awaits as Milan and Inter do battle in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A win for the Rossoneri will cement their status as the team to beat in Italy’s fashion capital.

Last but not least, we have the Champions League. At the time of writing, Milan have navigated their way to the knockout stages of the competition and Tottenham Hotspur are next up.

Can we see Milan scale the heights of Europe’s elite club competition once again? Those into Serie A predictions will be hoping to see the red and black advance deep into the tournament. 

Follow 888sport this season for the latest predictions, previews and betting tips on Milan fixtures.

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*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*

 

Terroni. That’s what the inhabitants of Naples are called by the rest of Italy, regions that include the affluent and cosmopolitan Milan, with its two behemoth football clubs that have won a combined 38 Scudettos, not to mention ten European Cups. 

It’s a derogatory term used in Turin too, a city whose landscape is dominated by the imposing Allianz Stadium, home of Juventus. The Zebras have won the league 11 times since 2000 and countless times before. 

These three clubs lie at the very heart of world football’s establishment. They always have the best players, most often bought, not nurtured.

They always grab the headlines and get the girl. And so their fans look down – figuratively, and literally when purveying a map – to the impoverished environs of Naples and its neighbouring towns and dismiss them out of hand.

Napoli Defy Odds

They are ‘terroni’, a word that faithfully translates as ‘southerners’ but the location is redundant in this instance. It more accurately means ‘underclass’. It more accurately means ‘peasants’.

Last summer, these southern peasants sold their defensive rock Kalidou Koulibaly and their midfield maestro Fabian Ruiz while reluctantly conceding too that age had finally caught up with their goal-scoring legends, Lorenzo Insigne and Dries Mertens.

Between them, these lethal hit-men had fired over 200 goals for Gli Azzurri but both were let go.

Understandably then, after several years of knocking at the scudetto door, with four runner-up finishes in the last 10 years under Benitez, Sarri and presently Luciano Spalletti, not a great deal was expected of Napoli this season.

They were a fading force. Their hopes of replicating their incredible glory days back in the late Eighties all-but-gone.

Players Step Up

Only then striker Victor Osimhen came to the fore like never before, notching 22 goals in 27 appearances across 2022/23. At the back, their £18m summer singing Kim Min-jae has been little short of magnificent.

Down the left flank meanwhile, we have witnessed one of the most exciting announcements of genius in recent times, with Georgian Khvicha Kvaratskhelia bamboozling full-backs and spell-checkers alike. The 22-year-old has been a revelation.

Looking complete and exhilarating from the off, Spalletti’s men quickly became a prominent fixture in the Serie A betting and led from the front from early September on.

Famous and impressive wins were secured in Milan, Rome and Turin. Goals were racked up at a rate of knots – or at least by Serie A standards – while at this late juncture they’ve been breached at the back every 129 minutes all campaign long.

A Dream Achieved

And on Thursday evening, by drawing away to Udinese, this mad, brilliant, vibrant, scary football club attained their first league title for 33 years, sparking celebrations usually reserved for the end of films that see aliens vanquished and humanity saved. 

But this is not about the city-wide firework displays, the colour and the carnival. It is not even about the legacy of Diego Maradona, whose anarchic spirit is imbued in Naples’ brickwork and soul. 

This season, Napoli were also strongly backed in the Champions League betting only to succumb at the quarter-final stage, their luminous artistry fatigued. But should they retain their key personnel, they’ll be back, topping Serie A predictions, and taking on the continental establishment. 

This is a great team, one that seemingly sprang from nowhere. And that gives sincere hope for every one of us peasants out there.

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Sevilla vs Real Madrid Tips

Real Madrid head to Seville for what looks like a difficult clash and many Los Blancos fans will just want the season to end now.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side showed battling qualities to get past Rayo Vallecano in midweek but the manner of that victory was concerning.

While Real have cruised like a Rolls Royce in recent years, they’ve stuttered over the finish line this campaign and are likely to have little to show for their season’s work.

Sevilla have a Europa League final to prepare for but that doesn’t mean that the hosts won’t be taking this game seriously – after all, they’re playing against Real Madrid.

The home side have enjoyed great success in recent months and it wouldn’t be a huge shock to see Sevilla claim three points in what should be an exciting contest.

The visitors are involved in a battle to finish second behind Barcelona and the pressure is on Real to fend off Atletico Madrid over the final two matchdays.

This is a potential banana skin for the Spanish giants though and I’ll be backing Sevilla to spring a shock. The La Liga betting price on a home win is certainly very appealing.

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Bet on Real Madrid with 888Sport

Will Real Madrid win yet another Champions League title in 2022-23? 

888Sport provides all the latest Champions League outright odds, La Liga tips and Copa del Rey markets to wager on Los Blancos during the 2022-23 campaign.

Real Madrid Club History

Real Madrid were founded in 1902, and has been a stalwart of La Liga betting, having been a founding member.

Los Blancos, a nickname inspired by their iconic white home kits, have never been relegated, and boast a tally of 35 La Liga titles, which is an all-time record.

They also have won the most European Cup/Champions League titles with the most recent coming in 2022. 

The club’s first league titles came in the 1930s, but it was the 1950s and 1960s when Real established itself as a true powerhouse.

The club from the capital won numerous domestic and continental honours during the period, and was home to some of the era’s greatest players including Alfredo Di Stéfano and Ferenc Puskás.

Those standards have been maintained ever since. Since 1953, Real have never been longer than six years without a La Liga title, and their lengthiest spell without a Champions League or European Cup was between 1966 and 1998.

Even then, they lifted back-to-back UEFA Cups in the 1980s.

The turn of the millennium saw Florentino Perez take charge, ushering in the first Galácticos era. Perez brought in one big star per year, an approach he mirrored during his second stint in 2009.

The first period led to the signings of Luis Figo, Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham and many others. The second was headlined by Ballon d’Or winners Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Real Madrid Honours List

• La Liga – 1931-32, 1932-33, 1953-54, 1954-55, 1956-57, 1957-58, 1960-61, 1961-62, 1962-63, 1963-64, 1964-65, 1966-67, 1967-68, 1968-69, 1971-72, 1974-75, 1975-76, 1977-78, 1978-79, 1979-80, 1985-86, 1986-87, 1987-88, 1988-89, 1989-90, 1994-95, 1996-97, 2000-01, 2002-03, 2006-07, 2007-08, 2011-12, 2016-17, 2019-20, 2021-22

• Copa del Rey – 1905, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1917, 1934, 1936, 1946, 1947, 1961-62, 1969-70, 1973-74, 1974-75, 1979-80, 1981-82, 1988-89, 1992-93, 2010-11, 2013-14

• European Cup/Champions League – 1955-56, 1956-57, 1957-58, 1958-59, 1959-60, 1965-66, 1997-98, 1999-2000, 2001-02, 2013-14, 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18, 2021-22

• UEFA Cup – 1984-85, 1985-86

• Club World Cup – 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018

Real Madrid Competitions This Season

When it comes to placing a bet on football, Real Madrid have a wide variety of competitions to delve into. 

As Champions League winners in the past season, Real competed in the UEFA Super Cup on 10th August. They won the encounter 2-0 against Eintracht Frankfurt.

Potentially, Real will also compete in the Club World Cup in February 2023.

Their defence of the Champions League got off to a good start as they topped their group ahead of RB Leipzig, Shakhtar Donetsk and Celtic. They will meet Liverpool in the last 16. 

Real Madrid won La Liga for a 35th time in 2021-22, and will be looking to defend their crown in 2023. Their Copa del Rey campaign will begin at the round of 32 due to their involvement in the Supercopa de España.

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*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*