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Sky Sports pundit David Prutton believes that Aston Villa will get their Championship season off to a positive note when they face recently-demoted Hull City on Saturday.

The Midlands outfit have a tough opener as they face one of the clubs that dropped out of the Premier League last season.

Most would have expected the Villans to be in contention for promotion in the 2016-17 campaign, but they never really posed a serious threat.

Expectations will be high on Steve Bruce and his team this time around, especially because of the club’s transfer activity this summer.

The main arrival that stands out is John Terry, who ended his association with Chelsea before signing on the dotted line at Villa Park.

The ex-England international’s experience will be vital as he helps marshall the back line and keep the opponent’s goals at bay.

It is important for clubs to set the tone in the opening match, and Prutton believes that Villa will get the job done and claim a 2-1 victory in the 5.30pm kickoff.

He told Sky Sports:

“With Steve Bruce and John Terry leading them, Aston Villa should be right up there and they’ll want to show what they can do on opening day against a team that have just been relegated from the Premier League

“Hull have lost a fair amount of players and this might be a bit of a transition season for them. For me it’s a Villa win but a narrow one.”

Premier League duo Sunderland and Southampton are set to hold talks with free agent Martin Caceres, according to Italian outlet TuttoMercatoWeb.

What’s the word?

With Sunderland’s defence being incredibly porous this season and Southampton lacking options following the sale of Jose Fonte and Virgil Van Dijk’s injury, both Premier League sides are considering a move for free-agent Martin Caceres.

The Uruguayan international is reported to be flying to England to hold talks about joining a Premier League side, with both Southampton and Sunderland interested in his services- and he won’t cost either side a penny.

Without a club since leaving Juventus in the summer, where he enjoyed two loan spells before signing permanently for the Turin giants in 2012, Caceres has the experience to excel in the Premier League and he could be a huge addition.

Who needs him more?

Sunderland are undoubtably the side crying out for defensive reinforcements, although the club will be on a high after smashing four past Crystal Palace at the weekend and keeping a clean-sheet in the process. However, they remain rock-bottom of the Premier League.

The Black Cats face a huge test in the next six weeks with difficult games against Southampton, Everton and Manchester City, before three crucial clashes against Middlesbrough, Burnley and Watford.

If they were to have Caceres in their ranks, Sunderland’s chances of getting positive results from those six matches will receive a huge boost and their struggles to complete the necessary January signings mean that David Moyes’ side cannot afford to miss out.

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Manchester United legend Paul Scholes isn’t surprised by his former club’s exit from the UEFA Champions League following their 3-2 loss to Wolfsburg on Tuesday, according to reports from the Daily Mail.

The Red Devils needed a victory in Germany to ensure qualification to the knock-out phase but were unable to beat a defiant Wolfsburg side, who went top of the group while PSV Eindhoven leapfrogged Louis van Gaal’s men into second, sending them to the Europa League.

However, United legend Scholes revealed he is not surprise at all by their fate, given that his former side was extremely poor through all six group games.

“It doesn’t feel like a disaster for me because I’m not surprised,” Scholes said. “It’s a team that has been poor in almost every game in the Champions League, and it’s in a group that’s shocking really.

“You see these two teams (PSV and Wolfsburg) – will either of these get to the quarter-final? I wouldn’t have thought so. I think whichever teams these two get, they’ll get knocked out in the next round.

“United look like an average team and with an average team, you get average performances.”

The ex-England international went on to claim that Van Gaal is now under some intense pressure after spending over £250million on new players the past two summers.

“I’m sure Martial is going to be a brilliant player for United – the only thing he lacks is that killer instinct but there’s a chance that will come in years to come. But they shouldn’t be relying on a 20-year-old kid, especially when you’ve spent £250m.

“I think he’ll (Van Gaal) look at the injuries he had in this game and he’s not been in a great situation but you have to say the young players who played tonight did well.”

Man United will hope to turn their poor form around when they travel to Dean Court to face Bournemouth in a Premier League match this weekend.

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Rodri's late equaliser denied the Blues all three points at the Etihad Stadium, but their performance suggested they can compete with the very best

There have been encouraging signs for Chelsea in recent weeks, and Mauricio Pochettino saw plenty to like from his team as they battled to earn a 1-1 draw on the road at Manchester City that suggested they can compete with the Premier League's very best sides.

The Blues stood up well in the first half, and Nicolas Jackson really should have opened the scoring when he ran clean through on goal, only for Ederson to save at the Senegal striker's feet. Raheem Sterling, however, made no mistake when presented with a similar chance after Jackson played him in to put Chelsea up at the break.

Sterling was denied by Ederson shortly after half-time as Chelsea pushed for a second, but they were soon forced into defensive mode as wave after wave of City attacks pushed them back. Erling Haaland went close on more than one occasion, but the visitors largely held firm until Rodri fired home an equaliser with eight minutes left.

Pep Guardiola's side looked to force a winner, but Chelsea's defence stepped up to keep them out and maintain their decent run of results on the road.

GOAL rates Chelsea's players from the Etihad Stadium…

Getty ImagesGoalkeeper & Defence

Djordje Petrovic (7/10):

Looked shaky under the high ball and from set-pieces at times, but barely put a foot wrong otherwise. Tried to be smart with his distribution and made a fine save to deny Haaland in the second half.

Malo Gusto (6/10):

Given the tough task of marking Doku but put up a good fight against the pacey Belgian. Showed flashes of his ability going forward but was forced back more and more as the game wore on.

Axel Disasi (9/10):

A magnet to the ball inside the Chelsea box. Made countless superb headers and blocks to keep City at bay, and rightly celebrated them as if they were goals.

Levi Colwill (8/10):

Strong performance from the England international, especially when Haaland drifted onto his side. Superb block denied the Norwegian from close range midway through the second half.

Ben Chilwell (7/10):

Very good defensively as he coped against Foden and De Bruyne. Some poor passes out from the back when Chelsea had the chance to counter were the only black marks against him.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesMidfield

Moises Caicedo (5/10):

Struggled to keep the ball in midfield and was perhaps fortunate to avoid being sent off given the number of fouls he gave away, with a decent number in dangerous areas too.

Enzo Fernandez (8/10):

Quietly outstanding at the heart of the Blues midfield. Worked tirelessly to win the ball back and was always brave in possession as he looked to carry his team up the field.

Conor Gallagher (9/10):

Given the task of man-marking Rodri and was superb throughout in breaking up play and stopping the Spaniard dictating the tempo. It was telling that the City equaliser came seconds after Gallagher had been pushed further forward.

Getty ImagesAttack

Cole Palmer (7/10):

Couldn't dictate as he has tended to in recent weeks, but showed some nice touches out on the right. Played his part in Sterling's goal, and got back well to help Gusto in defending Doku.

Nicolas Jackson (6/10):

Lacks the quality that Pochettino would want from his No.9, and really should have opened the scoring himself before providing the pass for Sterling to net. Ran himself into the ground.

Raheem Sterling (7/10):

Started the game with some poor touches in dangerous areas, but eventually found his footing to open the scoring. Pressed well from the front before being replaced just after the hour mark.

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Getty ImagesSubs & Manager

Christopher Nkunku (4/10):

Really didn't offer much after replacing Sterling. Ran offside too often and struggled to keep the ball.

Trevoh Chalobah (5/10):

Brought on for his first appearance of the season and was the unlucky man whom Rodri's strike deflected in off.

Cesare Casadei (N/A):

On for Jackson for the final 10 minutes.

Mauricio Pochettino (8/10):

Not for the first time, got his tactics against Guardiola spot on as he put Gallagher on Rodri and played three quick forwards to hit City on the counter. Perhaps moved to a back-five too early and lost his attacking outlets, but this was another encouraging performance on the road.

Here's where you can watch Columbus Crew vs Inter Miami in MLS on TV or live stream.

Columbus Crew and Inter Miami square off at Lower.com Field on Saturday evening after both teams clinched hard-fought domestic cup victories in midweek.

The hosts are seeking to return to winning ways in MLS, while the visitors hope to avoid a sixth consecutive league setback.

▶ Watch every MLS match, including the playoffs, here

With a 1-0 victory over Indy Eleven on Wednesday, Columbus Crew advanced to the round of 32 of the US Open Cup.

The lower league opponents appeared to be dragging Wilfried Nancy's team into extra time until Mohamed Farsi broke the tie with seven minutes of normal time remaining.

Prior to that, the Black and Gold were defeated 1-0 by Charlotte FC, dropping them to fifth position in the Eastern Conference.

Inter Miami defeated local rivals Miami FC on penalties in Thursday's US Open Cup match at the Riccardo Silva Stadium.

This followed the Herons' 1-0 loss to the Houston Dynamo, who currently lie bottom, albeit with a game in hand on the three sides just above them.

Following their first away victory in seven attempts last time out, the visitors will look for consecutive wins against enemy territory for the first time since October.

GOAL brings you everything you need to know about where to watch the game on TV and how to stream it online.

• Columbus Crew vs Inter Miami date & kick-off time

  Game:	Columbus Crew vs Inter Miami
  Date:	April 29, 2023
  Kick-off time:	7:30 pm ET / 12:30 am BST (Apr 30)
  Venue:	Lower.com Field

  Columbus Crew and Inter Miami face off at the Lower.com Field on the 29th of April. The kickoff for the game is set for 7:30 pm Eastern Time (ET), or 12:30 am BST (Apr 30).

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• Where to watch Columbus Crew vs Inter Miami on TV & how to stream it

  Fans in the United States and across the world can watch the MLS with Apple TV MLS Season Pass.

  Country	TV channel	Live stream
  US	N/A	Apple TV
  UK	N/A	Apple TV
  India	N/A	Apple TV

  • Check out GOAL's football on UK TV guide
  • Check out GOAL's soccer on U.S. TV guide

• Team news & squads

  Columbus Crew team news and squad

  The injury concerns revolve around Kevin Molino, Eloy Room, Luis Diaz and Josh Williams who will miss the clash.

  Columbus Crew possible XI: Schulte; Vallecilla, Degenek, Moreira; Sands, Zawadzki, Morris, Farsi; Zelarayan, Matan; Ramirez

  Position	Players
  Goalkeepers	Schulte, Bush
  Defenders	Moreira, Quinton, Farsi, Yeboah, Hughes, Zawadzki
  Midfielders	Nagbe, Morris, J. Morris, Medranda, Parente
  Forwards	Matan, Hernandez, Arfsten, Russell-Rowe

  Inter Miami team news and squad

  Inter Miami will be without Robbie Robinson and Leonardo Campana due to calf strains, Edison Azcona with a sore hamstring, and Ian Fray and Noah Allen because of knee injuries.

  Inter Miami possible XI: Callender; Neville, Miller, Sailor, McVey; Mota, Arroyo; Stefanelli, Cremaschi, Taylor; Borgelin

  Position	Players
  Goalkeepers	Callender, Marsman
  Defenders	Negri, McVey, Yedlin, Kryvtsov, Sailor
  Midfielders	Mota, Gregore, Pizarro, Ulloa, Jean, Duke, Cremaschi, Neville, Duke
  Forwards	Martinez, Lassiter

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• Useful links

  Live football on UK TV

  Live soccer on U.S. TV

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MatériaMais Notícias

Um dos jogadores mais experientes do Cianorte, o lateral Danilo Báia segue aguardando o retorno do Campeonato Paranaense para buscar o seu segundo título da competição. Satisfeito com a campanha que o clube do interior realizou na primeira fase, o atleta comentou os efeitos da interrupção do campeonato para a equipe.

– Nós vínhamos muito bem. Vencemos os últimos três jogos, nos classificamos antecipadamente e jogando um grande futebol. Entretanto essa parada é um fato e não podemos ignorá-lo. Seguimos mantendo não apenas a nossa forma, como também a vontade de fazer história no torneio – declarou.

Enquanto cidadão, Danilo é contundente sobre a gravidade do problema que assola o mundo atualmente. Segundo ele, a consciência individual será decisiva para que a população brasileira sofra o menos possível com a pandemia do coronavírus.

– Trata-se de um momento seríssimo. Os esforços de todos devem estar voltados para que possamos minimizar os efeitos dessa pandemia. Se cada pessoa cumprir o seu papel de forma responsável, todos serão beneficiados -definiu.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Palmeiras mantém o interesse por Rony, mas diante do impasse com o Athletico já se mostra pessimista e busca outras opções no mercado. Recentemente, a diretoria entrou em contato com os empresários de Keno, que jogou no clube entre 2017 e 2018. A negociação, contudo, não avançou.

A tendência no momento é de que Keno permaneça no Al-Jazira, dos Emirados Árabes. Além do Verdão, o Grêmio também procurou o jogador de 30 anos de idade e que recebe um alto salário.

Dono de 84 partidas e 19 gols pelo Verdão, Keno é constantemente pedido pela torcida. Já no fim de 2018, o clube buscou informações sobre o ex-camisa 11, mas considerava impossível repatriá-lo – ele foi vendido no meio de 2018 por 10 milhões de dólares (R$ 37,8 milhões na época) ao Pyramids FC, do Egito.

No segundo semestre de 2019, o atacante foi vendido ao Al-Jazira – no Pyramids, Keno havia feito 10 gols e deu sete assistências em 33 partidas.

Rony, de 24 anos de idade, é o principal alvo do Palmeiras, mas vive longo imbróglio com o Athletico. O clube, inclusive, reintegrou o jogador ao elenco nesta quarta. No Verdão, a percepção é de que o jogador renovará com o Furacão e terá garantido que, no futuro, conseguirá 50% do valor de uma transferência.

Diante da indefinição entre o estafe do atacante e o Furacão, o Verdão passou a mapear opções fora do Brasil e não descarta buscar outro nome até o fim desta janela para o ataque.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasPalmeirasDesejado pelo Palmeiras, Rony é reintegrado ao elenco do AthleticoPalmeiras05/02/2020PalmeirasSem Ramires e Bruno Henrique só na areia: a manhã desta 4ª no PalmeirasPalmeiras05/02/2020PalmeirasTalisca diz que não deseja sair da China e nega conversa com VerdãoPalmeiras05/02/2020

A percepção no Palmeiras é de que a possibilidade maior no momento é de Rony renovar com o Athletico. O Furacão deve se aproximar dos valores oferecidos pelo Verdão e não descarta, enfim, garantir os 50% de uma negociação futura após este novo contrato. https://t.co/rksKwbKeaL

— Thiago Ferri (@b_ferri) February 5, 2020

The last time South Africa were in Nagpur they lost a Test in three days and with it their No 1 status, but they are pleased to be back with West Indies their next World Twenty20 opponents

Firdose Moonda23-Mar-2016Given what happened to South Africa the last time they were in Nagpur, in November 2015, you would think it is the last place they would want to return to. Especially so soon. But you would be wrong.”That was a Test match and this was T20 cricket. It’s a totally different format,” said Imran Tahir, who was part of the South Africa side that lost by 124 runs and in so doing lost the series and their No.1 ranking. “And if you look at our record in T20 cricket, we’ve been pretty solid and playing really good cricket for the last year and a half. That gives us a lot of confidence.”Even those who were on the trip, like coach Russell Domingo, are not haunted by the ghosts of four months ago. “At least the Test match was only three days so the memories don’t last too long,” Domingo joked, preferring to remember a happier time in Nagpur in 2011. “South Africa played a World Cup game here and chased 300 against India. Some of the guys from then are in this squad so there are some good memories.”South Africa’s attack have had their fill of the batsmen-friendly Wankhede and would prefer something that does not work against them as much. Nagpur’s deck does not immediately resemble their kind of surface and Domingo has even used the loaded word “interesting” to describe it. He hopes South Africa will have an advantage because of one man. “Imran Tahir on good wickets is a handful. Hopefully on a wicket that assists him, he will be a matchwinner,” Domingo said.Tahir himself did well to brush off any added expectation, especially in the absence of South Africa’s part-time spin option JP Duminy, who has been ruled out through injury. “There is no pressure on me. We’ve got players in the squad who can cover him,” he said.Aaron Phangiso seems certain to get a game, his first since he remodelled his action after it was declared illegal and he will be battling nerves of his own. Not only will Phangiso be playing international cricket for the first time in five months but he will have to do it against a line-up that will include Chris Gayle.Domingo had some calming words for his left-arm spinner, based on the conditions. “West Indies are probably the most powerful batting unit in the world in terms of six hitting but this is a big field and this slow wicket might nullify that strength,” he said. “We’ve got no issues with the wicket. We’ve got two world-class spinners in Imran Tahir and Aaron Phangiso. And we would much rather play West Indies here than in Mumbai.”

Shahryar Khan, chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), has said that the board is in talks with Zimbabwe Cricket over a limited-overs bilateral series in May that could be held in Lahore and Karachi, pending security clearance

Umar Farooq20-Apr-2015Shahryar Khan, chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), has said that the board is in talks with Zimbabwe Cricket over a limited-overs bilateral series in May that could be held in Lahore and Karachi, pending security clearance. Khan claimed that the ICC had refused to release its officials for the series but, under a “special dispensation”, will allow the PCB to host the series with “non-neutral match officials”.Pakistan has not hosted an international game since the attack on the Sri Lanka team bus in March 2009. If the tour goes ahead, Zimbabwe will be the first Test-playing nation in six years to visit the country. Two Associate countries, Kenya and Afghanistan, have toured Pakistan recently but the impact of those tours was not strong enough to help the PCB convince other Test nations.Khan said he met with his Zimbabwe Cricket counterpart, Wilson Manase, in Dubai on the sidelines of the ICC board meeting. “He (Zimbabwe Cricket president) said that they would come to Pakistan but for a very short period,” Khan said. “They are sending a security team to assess the situation.”Lahore and Karachi are being considered for the series but there is some doubt over hosting games in Karachi. The distance between the national stadium and the hotel is very long so we are hoping to host them at the south end (DHA area) where Pakistan had hosted a test in 1992. But we have to get the venue approved by the ICC.”Pakistan has been a no-go country for international cricket with major teams refusing to tour due to security concerns. With improved security in recent times, the PCB decided to revive its efforts to invite teams though the focus, at present, is on low-profile teams. Ireland was the first major Associate team to engage with the PCB for a tour but talks were put on hold in June last year, following terrorist attacks on the Karachi airport.Kenya toured Pakistan last year in November for a series of five one-dayers against Pakistan A at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

Assam regained some pride with a powerful batting display led by a century from Gokul Sharma to drawn the first quarter-final in Indore, but Karnataka got through to the semi-final on the back of a massive first-innings lead

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Feb-2015
ScorecardFile photo: Arun Karthik fell six short of a sixth first-class century•PTI Assam regained some pride with a powerful batting display led by a century from Gokul Sharma to draw the first quarter-final in Indore. However, Karnataka’s march into the semi-final was almost academic after they had gained a massive first-innings lead, which had helped them set an improbable target of 683.Assam would have wanted significant improvement from their 185 all out in the first innings. And they got it as the top order produced the team’s best second-innings display in over six years – 338 for 4, at a run-rate of nearly four.Gokul was the only one to convert a start into three-figures – his 127 came off 191 balls and had 19 fours – but opener Pallavkumar Das’ rapid half-century had set up a platform and KB Arun Karthik’s 94 off 138 balls had kept up the momentum.Assam hit 51 boundaries in the 88 overs, although only 54 was bowled by Karnataka’s frontline bowlers. Shreyas Gopal, the legspinning-allrounder known more for his batting, did the bulk of the work but his 25 overs cost 109 runs.