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FLAMENGO VS PENAROL
3.26
1x2: FLAMENGO WIN + 1ST HALF: UNDER 1.5
FLAMENGO VS PENAROL
3.26
1x2: FLAMENGO WIN + 1ST HALF: UNDER 1.5
MPETSHI PERRICARD VS HANFMANN
1.77
WINNER - MPETSHI PERRICARD
MPETSHI PERRICARD VS HANFMANN
1.77
WINNER - MPETSHI PERRICARD
JARRY VS KLEIN
2.04
WINNER - KLEIN
JARRY VS KLEIN
2.04
WINNER - KLEIN
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We are in the second round of the Chengdu Open in China. Two of the top seeds will play on the center court in the evening session. The talented Frenchman Mpetshi Perricard will square off with Hanfmann, and the Chilean Jarry will face Klein from Slovakia. Nicolas Jarry has not won a match on tour since May and is in desperate need of a victory.
Mpetshi Perricard is seeded 7th at the Chengdu Open and ranked 51st in the world. He defeated Sun Fajing from China in the first round, firing 34 aces and winning in three sets. The 21-year-old has only played 16 matches on the main tour in 2024, winning seven. He lost in the first round of the US Open and the Cincinnati Masters. Giovanni didn’t qualify for Montreal and was eliminated in the round of 16 in Washington. Wimbledon was a strong showing for him, where he reached the 4th round (lost to Musetti).
The German Yannick Hanfmann, 32 years old, got the better of Shintaro Mochizuki in the first round, winning in two sets. Hanfmann is ranked just inside the top 100 at 95th. He has played 37 matches on tour, winning 20. Last week, he won both of his Davis Cup matches but did not qualify for the US Open. He reached the semifinals in Kitzbuhel and the round of 16 in Gstaad, both on clay after Wimbledon. These two players have never faced each other before.
As one of the top four seeds at the Chengdu Open, Nicolas Jarry had a bye in the round of 32. Jarry is seeded 3rd and had a strong spring on tour but has struggled recently. The 28-year-old is ranked 28th in the world and has won 16 of the 34 matches he’s played on the main tour in 2024. Nicolas reached the final of the Rome Masters, losing to Zverev in straight sets. Since then, he has shockingly suffered six straight first-round exits at major events, including Roland Garros, Wimbledon, the Olympics, the two Masters in Montreal and Cincinnati, and the US Open. The big question going into this match is where Jarry stands in terms of confidence, as his last tour win came against Tommy Paul in the semifinals of the Rome Masters back in May.
Lukas Klein and Jarry have never faced each other. Klein defeated Walton in straight sets in the first round of the Chengdu Open. The 26-year-old is currently ranked 127th and has won six of the 15 matches he’s played on tour in 2024. Klein mostly competes on the Challenger tour and is known as one of the grinders in the tennis world. A win here would be a massive achievement for him, as he faces a player ranked 100 spots above him, especially considering Jarry’s shaky confidence.
Yesterday's "Value Bet" looked like it was going to hit within just a few minutes... But luck wasn’t on our side. Sudakov (4.00) missed his penalty!
It’s just a matter of picking ourselves up, not chasing losses, and continuing to search for value with discipline.
My "NAP of the day" is Florian Wirtz "Score or Assist" @2.00. Bayer Leverkusen went unbeaten in the Bundesliga last season. It's an incredible record considering the tough competition they faced. This season, they suffered their first loss early on, in the second round, but it was completely undeserved. They created plenty of chances. Keeping Florian Wirtz is almost a guarantee that they will have another strong season. He was directly involved in 37 goals last season and is involved in almost everything that happens in their attack. Feyenoord is a good team, but there's a difference between the Eredivisie (where 70% of the matches are relatively "easy") and facing top European opponents. They won't be able to stop one of the tournament's best players!
BRENDAN CHARDONNET (BREST) PLAYER CARD – ODDS 4.00 BREST VS STURM GRAZ... On a Thursday. Hmm... it feels more like a Conference League match, but that doesn't mean we can't find good bets. Brest is making their first appearance on the European stage, among the "elite" of Europe’s biggest clubs. Mr. Brest, captain Brendan Chardonnet, has been part of the journey from start to finish, and I just assume he’ll be leading from the front.
EMANUEL AIWU (STURM GRAZ) PLAYER CARD – ODDS 4.25 Emanuel Aiwum, a young center-back for Sturm Graz, loves to make tough tackles. We saw this often when he played in the Championship last season, where referees were more tolerant.
OTAR KITESHVILI (STURM GRAZ) SCORE OR ASSIST – 4.00 A player who is always involved in the action. He picked up ten yellow cards last season. The odds for SAC (score or assist combo) are 3.25—fair, but no value there. But getting 4.00 on "Score or Assist" feels completely illogical. We're talking about an explicitly offensive player who scored ten goals and provided seven assists last season!
Also, here’s a combo for some juicy odds… Mohamed Salisu will have a lot to handle tonight, and eventually, it may take some illegal methods to stop Lamine Yamal & Co. Conor Gallagher has been close to getting booked in La Liga but has managed to escape. Will he have the same luck when Atletico Madrid faces a counter-attacking Leipzig in the Champions League?
For the third time in the last four Copa Libertadores campaigns, Flamengo will take the stage in the quarter-finals, as they host Uruguayan side Penarol in the opening leg this Friday at Estadio do Maracana.
The Brazilian giants have faced a rough patch in recent league matches and will be eager to turn their fortunes around on the continental stage. Despite a 1-0 loss in their previous Libertadores fixture against Bolivar, Flamengo advanced to the quarter-finals with a 2-1 aggregate victory.
Penarol, on the other hand, faced Bolivian side The Strongest in the previous round and delivered a dominant 4-0 win in their first-leg home match. Despite losing 1-0 in the return leg, they had done enough to secure their place in the quarter-finals.
This marks the first time in over a decade that Penarol has reached this stage of the competition, and they will be hoping to make the most of their underdog status.
The Copa Libertadores quarter-final may bring back memories of the classic David vs. The Goliath clash, where the unexpected can tip the scales and decide the outcome of the match.
Between 2019 and 2022, Flamengo enjoyed a golden era, securing two Copa Libertadores titles and two Serie A championships. However, last season saw a slight dip as they finished fourth in the Brazilian league. Meanwhile, Peñarol, after clinching their 50th league title in 2018, have only won the championship once since then, making last year's second-place finish a commendable feat.
In the Copa Libertadores, Flamengo have been nearly unstoppable at home, winning all four matches at the Maracana without conceding a single goal. The Rio giants are also unbeaten in their last seven quarter-final games in this competition.
However, heading into this match, Flamengo could be without Nicolas de la Cruz and Michael due to thigh injuries, while Everton, Matias Vina, and Pedro are sidelined for the season with an Achilles tear, knee injury, and ACL issue, respectively.
FLAMENGO predicted lineup vs PENAROL: Rossi (GK); Varela, Bruno, Pereira, Lucas; Allan, Pulgar; Gerson, De Arrascaeta, Araujo; Pedro.
Uruguayan champions Peñarol enter this match as the clear underdogs, and they’ll likely adopt a more defensive approach to secure a result that keeps them alive for the second leg.
In their previous round, Peñarol made a couple of key adjustments between the two legs, bringing in Leo Coelho and Maximiliano Olivera for Lucas Hernandez and Jaime Baez. These changes paid off as the team secured their spot in the quarter-finals.
Crucial goals from Facundo Batista, Baez, Maximiliano Silvera, and Leonardo Fernandez in the opening leg of their Round of 16 clash ensured their progression and will give them hope of a strong performance in this high-stakes encounter.
PENAROL predicted lineup vs FLAMENGO: Aguerre (GK); Milans, Coelho, Mendez, Rodriguez, Olivera; Ramirez, Garcia, Batista, Darias; Silvera.
Friday’s clash will mark the fifth competitive meeting between Flamengo and Peñarol, with the Uruguayan side boasting an undefeated record in this fixture. Peñarol has claimed three wins and a draw in their previous encounters, a stat that adds an extra layer of tension to the matchup.
While Flamengo have struggled historically against Peñarol—failing to score in all four prior meetings, a run that dates back to 1982—they come into this game with strong form on home soil, unbeaten in their last seven matches at the Maracanã. This could be the edge they need, despite not having been at their absolute best in this year’s competition.
Flamengo have won three of their last five outings, while Peñarol has only managed two wins in their recent five matches. The last time these two met in the 2019 Copa Libertadores, the game ended in a 0-0 stalemate, but Flamengo will look to break their scoring drought and assert themselves in this crucial quarter-final leg.
With Flamengo’s home advantage and Peñarol’s defensive resilience, expect a hard-fought contest, but the Rio giants will likely edge out a narrow victory in the opening leg.
We believe the numbers are in favor of a Flamengo victory.
Both in the match and in the first half.
As Feyenoord prepare to host Bayer Leverkusen at De Kuip, both teams have plenty to prove as they kickstart their 2024/25 UEFA Champions League campaigns. The matchup offers an intriguing mix of tactical nuances, key player battles, and the quest for momentum in what has already been an unpredictable season for both clubs.
Feyenoord enter this game coming off a mixed start in the Eredivisie, where they’ve struggled to find their rhythm under new coach Brian Priske. Although they clinched the Johan Cruijff Schaal with a hard-fought win over PSV Eindhoven on penalties, their league form has been inconsistent. With just one win in their first four games (W1 D3), the Dutch giants are currently sitting in eight place, far from the form that saw them secure second place last season. In mind of their rocky start and now being faced against Bundesliga champions Feyenoord will have to look deep and find their form from last season to compete.
Bayer Leverkusen, meanwhile, are coming off a historic Bundesliga-winning season. Under the guidance of manager Xabi Alonso, Leverkusen dominated domestic football last year, almost going undefeated and adding the DFB Pokal to their trophy haul. This season after three games they are sitting fifth (W2 L1). After a loss to RB Leipzig where they were 2-0 up coming into extra time in the first half but after a goal in the last seconds of the said half Leverkusen completely lost control. In the second half they did not show their late game prowess that they had last season and ultimately lost 3-2.
Injuries to Feyenoord key players Calvin Stengs and Quilindschy Hartman could complicate things, limiting Priske's options and forcing him to rely on depth players to fill the void. Santiago Gimenez is probably starting up top with him having two goals and one assist in four games he is sure to contribute. Defender Gernot Trauner got injured in the Euros but is expected to make the bench.
Leverkusen are not concerned on the injury front and should start more of the same XI as they did last game against Hoffenhiem with Frimpong making a start instead of Tella.
Feyenoord possible starting lineup: Wellenreuther, Lotomba, Beelen, Hancko, Smal, Timber, Zechiel, Nieuwkoop, Nadje, Paixao, Gimenez
Bayer Leverkusen possible starting lineup: Hradecky, Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapie, Frimpong, Andrich, Xhaka, Grimaldo, Terrier, Wirtz, Boniface
In another exciting clash in the Champions League, Atalanta welcome Arsenal to Bergamo. The Europa League champions Atalanta are against Premier League power house Arsenal. With Atalanta being ninth this season they are looking to find momentum elsewhere instead of the Serie A meanwhile Arsenal are second looking to keep their from.
Atalanta under Gian Piero Gasperini are having a tough time with only recording two wins in four games. With new stadium Atalanta hopes to bring new results and rekindle their form in UEFA competitions. Having knocked out Liverpool in their last Europa League campaign Atalanta is not unfamiliar with Premier League top teams. But with a different look to the team and new management we will see if Atalanta can keep up.
Arsenal, on the other hand, have been one of the Premier League’s standout performers. Mikel Arteta’s side has yet to taste defeat this season, thanks to a balanced approach between a solid defense and a fluid, creative attack. New signings Declan Rice and Kai Havertz have slotted in well, adding depth to a team already brimming with talent. With a record of (W3 D1) after a 1-1 outing against Brighton at home Arsenal picked themselves up and beat Tottenham away 1-0 giving them second place after four games.
With Odegaard out with a ankle injury Arsenal are without midfield magician and are looking to Trossard to fill the void. New signing Merino not seeing the field after picking up a shoulder injury in his first training session he is not expected to make an appearance. Kieran Tierney, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Oleksandr Zinchenko are all out with injury but Gabriel Jesus seems to be back after being a late substitute against Spurs.
Atalanta are without Scamacca and Scalvini with Toloi and Godfrey missing the Fiorentina game due to injury. In good news, Kolasinac is back with Djimsiti in defence with striker Zaniolo appearing on the bench last game.
Atalanta BC possible starting lineup: Carnesecchi, Djimsiti, Hien, Kolasinac, Bellanova, Ederson, De Roon, Ruggeri, De Ketelaere, Lookman, Retegui
Arsenal possible starting lineup: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber, Partey, Rice, Saka, Trossard, Sterling, Havertz
Fabio Fognini is the biggest star of the evening session at the Chengdu Open in China. Fabio will square off with Roman Safiullin from Russia in the first round of the event. So will Borna Coric from Croatia and Aleksandar Vukic from Australia.
This is a first-round matchup between two players just ranked inside the top 100. Vukic is at number 92, and Coric at 97. Coric from Croatia has been struggling on the court lately. Coric and Vukic have played each other once on the ATP Tour at Canada Masters 2023, and Vukic won the match comfortably in straight sets (6-2, 6-3). Borna has played 28 matches on the tour in 2024 and won 11 of them. He lost in the first round at the US Open, and the Chengdu Open is his first event since then. He reached the round of 16 at Winston-Salem, didn’t qualify for the Cincinnati Masters, and lost in the second round in Montreal. Borna also lost in the first round in both Washington and Atlanta. In other words, Borna needs to win some matches starting as soon as possible. Borna’s highest ranking ever was at the 12th position in November of 2018.
Aleksandar Vukic from Australia has played 38 matches on the ATP tour in 2024, and Vukic has won 16 of them. Vukic has not played since the US Open, where he lost in the first round to Purcell. He reached the round of 16 in Winston-Salem, didn’t qualify for the Masters in Cincinnati nor the Masters in Canada. He lost his only match in Washington to Kokkinakis and Bellucci in Atlanta. So here we have a match with two players in desperate need of a win.
Fabio Fognini has not played that much on the ATP tour in 2024. In total, the Italian has played 20 matches and won 11 of them. He is currently ranked at the 79th spot in the world. His highest ranking ever was at the 9th position in the summer of 2019. Fabio has won nine titles in his career to date. At this point, Fabio is 37 years old, just like Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray. The three of them were born within a week in May 1987. Fabio lost in the first round of the US Open to Machac. He played mostly on clay during the summer, reaching the round of 16 in Umag and losing to Tsitsipas in the quarterfinals in Gstaad. Fabio also reached the third round at Wimbledon (lost to Bautista-Agut).
The 27-year-old Roman Safiullin from Russia is ranked at the 56th position in the world. Roman has played 32 matches on the tour in 2024 and won 12 of them. His highest ranking ever was at the 26th spot at the start of 2024. He lost in the second round of the US Open to Arnaldi, fell to Eubanks in the round of 16 in Winston-Salem, and won the challenger in Cary (def. Bellucci in the final). Safiullin lost in the first round of the Canada Masters to Davidovich-Fokina.
An electrifying all-Brazilian showdown awaits as fierce rivals Botafogo and São Paulo face off at Estádio Nilton Santos for the first leg of their Copa Libertadores quarter-final on Thursday morning. Both teams are in scintillating form, making this an exciting clash between two skilled adversaries.
Botafogo have been the talk of the season, continuing their remarkable rise by not only reaching the top eight of South America’s premier tournament but also dominating the domestic league. Their impressive run saw them eliminate the defending champions Palmeiras in the round of 16, a feat that has only fueled their momentum.
On the other side, São Paulo have also shone brightly in this year’s competition. They topped Group B with a strong 13-point haul, winning four of their six group-stage matches. After dispatching Uruguay’s Nacional in the previous round, São Paulo arrive with confidence and a desire to spoil Botafogo’s party.
Both teams are flying high, making this quarter-final a highly anticipated contest between two ambitious squads. Expect a hard-fought battle as these Brasileiro giants go head-to-head for a spot in the semi-finals.
Botafogo's remarkable season continues as they lead the charge in their domestic league, showcasing impressive growth year after year.
A major factor behind their success under the guidance of former Braga coach Artur Jorge has been their lethal attack, racking up 45 goals in the Brasileiro – the highest tally in the division this season.
In the Copa Libertadores, Botafogo have relied heavily on Junior Santos, who has been sensational with nine goals in just 12 games. Notably, he netted four in a single match against Aurora during the qualifiers. Unfortunately, a broken ankle sustained in July has sidelined Santos, and he’s likely to miss the rest of the season.
In addition to Santos, Botafogo could be without as many as seven key players, including Carlos Eduardo, who is also expected to miss the remainder of the campaign due to a thigh injury.
BOTAFOGO predicted lineup vs SAO PAULO: Victor (GK); Ponte, Bastos, Barboza, Cuiabano; Gregore, Freitas, Henrique, Savarino, Almada; Jesus.
São Paulo have made an impressive return to the Copa Libertadores after a two-year absence, finishing top of their group with a strong 4-1-1 record. They followed that up with a solid 2-0 aggregate win over Uruguayan side Nacional in the round of 16.
Domestically, São Paulo are also having a steady season, currently sitting fifth in the Brasileiro Serie A. They ended a three-match winless streak over the weekend with a 1-0 away victory against Cruzeiro, getting their campaign back on track.
However, injuries have been a concern for São Paulo, with six key players on the sidelines. Long-term absentees Pablo Maia and Alisson have been out since April and July, while Rodrigo Nestor is doubtful after missing the last two games with an ankle sprain. Additionally, Patryck (shoulder), João Moreira (thigh), and Ferreirinha (hamstring) are all expected to remain out until next month.
SAO PAULO predicted lineup vs BOTAFOGO: Rafael (GK); Rafinha, Arboleda, Franco, Welington; Gustavo, Lizeiro; Rato, Neves, Moura; Calleri.
The stage is set for an exciting clash as two Brazilian giants, Botafogo and São Paulo, face off in the Copa Libertadores quarter-final at Estádio Nilton Santos. With São Paulo boasting 18 wins from the last 39 encounters, they hold a slight historical edge, while Botafogo have claimed victory 11 times, and 10 matches have ended in draws.
However, recent form favors Botafogo, especially on home soil. The hosts have been rock-solid at Estádio Nilton Santos, going unbeaten in their last six home games and scoring two or more goals in eight of their past ten. Their impressive home form has been a key factor in their title challenge this season.
São Paulo, on the other hand, have struggled away from home, failing to win eight of their last nine matches across all competitions. With four losses and four draws since mid-July, their road form leaves much to be desired.
Adding to the tension, Botafogo are unbeaten in their last six meetings against São Paulo, although the last two encounters ended in draws. With Botafogo’s dominant home form and São Paulo’s shaky away performances, the odds seem to tilt in favor of the home side.
Our prediction: Botafogo to win and continue their remarkable run.
A rematch of the 2023 final in Istanbul. There, Man City came out on top, thanks to Rodri (who makes his return to the starting lineup tonight). Pep Guardiola has all his key players available. A powerhouse starting eleven – and plenty of options on the bench. There will be enough strength to attack from kickoff to the final whistle.
Inter is one of the few teams that will head to the Etihad with more than just "0–0 in mind." They'll, of course, be cautious but are guaranteed to push forward when the opportunity arises. Mkhitaryan, Calhanoglu, and Barella will pull the strings in midfield. On the wings, there are lungs and crosses from DiMarco/Dumfries. And up front, Thuram will "chase every ball," while Lautaro Martinez will attract defenders and be ready in the box.
I’d be very surprised if these two teams don’t manage to generate at least nine corners.
Bologna has suffered significant player losses, primarily the duo of Calafiori and Zirkzee, and has also lost their skilled and popular coach Thiago Motta, who is now with Juventus. The team is dealing with some injuries, and Lewis Ferguson is expected to be unavailable, which is a crucial loss. Bologna has started the Serie A season with a record of 0–3–1. So, should they really be considered heavy favorites as they enter the Champions League for the first time in ages? My answer: Not really.
Shakhtar Donetsk is accustomed to being on the big European stage, but currently, the conditions are far from ideal. Still, I believe they are being somewhat underestimated tonight. On the injury front, everything looks good. Although they are playing away, I actually think it could be a boost for them to finally play in front of full stands again, something they haven't been spoiled with in these dark times.
Georgiy Sudakov is being watched by almost all the major clubs in Europe. Barcelona has shown interest, but according to Ukrainian media, they can't afford Shakhtar's high price tag. Sudakov is both a playmaker and a goalscorer in one package. When looking at Player Props/Goalscorer markets, having the team's first-choice penalty taker is also a significant advantage. @4.00 looks very interesting.
Maxim De Cuyper – An extremely productive left-back (more like a typical winger). Skilled at joining attacks, good at combining plays, and has insanely accurate crosses.
Federico DiMarco – Wing-back for Inter. Handles most of the team’s corners and free kicks. There are many strong aerial players to aim at. Manchester City has very few weaknesses, but they do actually lose more aerial duels than they win.
The Copa Libertadores heats up with an all-Brazilian quarter-final clash on Thursday night as defending champions Fluminense face off against Atletico Mineiro at Estadio Maracana.
Fluminense are aiming to become only the second team in two decades to successfully defend their Libertadores title. Despite a tough domestic season, they performed well in the group stage, collecting 14 points and advancing past Grêmio in the Round of 16 with two 2-1 wins before edging out on penalties.
Atlético Mineiro also showed their strength in the tournament, winning five out of six group-stage games. They secured a tight 1-0 win at home after a 1-1 draw away to eliminate San Lorenzo in the Round of 16.
Following their historic Copa Libertadores triumph last season, Fluminense have struggled to maintain the same level of performance, particularly in their domestic league campaign.
New coach Mano Menezes was brought in to steady the ship, and his impact has been noticeable, securing seven wins, four draws, and five losses in his first 16 games.
However, Fluminense will be missing key players for this crucial first-leg quarter-final, with Lele, Diogo Barbosa, and Ignacio all sidelined due to injuries.
FLUMINENSE predicted lineup vs ATLETICO MINEIRO: Fabio (GK); Xavier, Silva, Santos, Marcelo; Bernal, Nonato, Ganso, Serna; Arias, Elias.
Atletico Mineiro also made a coaching switch this season, parting ways with Luiz Felipe Scolari and bringing in Argentine coach Gabriel Milito to lead the team.
In the group stages, Mineiro recorded three wins, a draw, and two losses, securing their place in the knockout rounds alongside Athletico Paranaense. They then edged past San Lorenzo with a narrow 1-0 victory in the home leg of their round of 16 matchup.
For this quarter-final, Mineiro will be missing four key players: Matias Zaracho, out for the season after hernia surgery, along with Alisson (hamstring), Eduardo Vargas (calf), and Otavio (shoulder), though Otavio is expected to return for the second leg.
ATLETICO MINEIRO predicted lineup vs FLUMINENSE: Everson (GK); Saravia, Battaglia, Alonso, Arana; Vera, Franco, Scarpa, Bernard, Gomes; Deyverson.
Fluminense have had the upper hand against Atlético Mineiro in this year's domestic league, claiming four out of six possible points. Their recent encounters have been evenly matched, though, with both sides winning two games each and drawing twice in their last six meetings since June 2022.
Interestingly, those matches have been goal-filled affairs, with 20 goals shared evenly between them—10 for Fluminense (Tricolor) and 10 for Atlético Mineiro (Galo), averaging 3.33 goals per game.
Their most recent clash was on August 25, 2024, when Fluminense secured a solid 2-0 away victory in Serie A. Despite dominating possession with 60% and firing 19 shots, Atlético Mineiro failed to register a single shot on target. Meanwhile, Fluminense capitalized on their chances, scoring through Kevin Serna in the 23rd minute and Jhon Arias in the 59th, sealing the win.
With this backdrop, Thursday’s Libertadores quarter-final clash promises to be another tightly contested affair, where both teams will aim to outdo each other, given their balanced history.
We’ve got a true blockbuster in the Champions League tonight when Manchester City hosts Inter from Milan. We should not expect 11 goals like in yesterday’s game between Bayern and Dinamo. We’ve also got Bologna, debutants in the competition, against Shakhtar Donetsk.
Bologna hasn’t played at the highest level of European club competition since 1964. This is their first time ever in the Champions League, a long 60-year wait! Bologna is the 11th Italian club to enter the Champions League. Thiago Motta is no longer Bologna’s manager (he’s at Juventus now). They also lost key players Calafiori in defense and Zirkzee up front. Vincenzo Italiano is the new manager, having joined from Fiorentina. Bologna has played four Serie A matches this season, with three losses and one draw. They played Como away this weekend, securing a 2-2 draw after being down 0-2, marking their first Serie A point of the season.
Bologna will face a very experienced Shakhtar Donetsk, who have participated in the Champions League 14 times in the last 15 seasons. Shakhtar’s manager, Marino Pusic, led them to a domestic league title last season, although they’ve had a slow start this time around. They did win their last league fixture, defeating Lviv 5-2, with Bondarenko scoring a hat trick.
Bologna will welcome back Ndoye, Holm, and Erlic after their recent injuries. Cambiaghi, Ferguson, and El Azzouzi will miss the match. Shakhtar’s striker Marion Gomez returns to the starting lineup.
Bologna: Skorupski; Posch, Beukema, Lucumi, Miranda; Freuler; Orsolini, Aebischer, Moro, Ndoye; Castro Shakhtar: Riznyk; Konoplya, Franjic, Bondar, Pedrinho; Bondarenko, Kyrskiv, Sudakov; Zubkov, Sikan, Kevin
Both clubs have started their domestic league seasons in splendid fashion. Manchester City has won all four of their Premier League fixtures so far. This weekend, the Citizens defeated Brentford 2-1. Erling Haaland has started strong, scoring nine goals already. Inter needs to be wary of the constant threat Haaland brings to any defense. These two clubs met in last season's Champions League final, with City winning 1-0 thanks to a Rodri goal. Pep Guardiola’s side is expected to win at the Etihad Stadium tonight. The Citizens are undefeated in 23 straight Champions League matches and won the treble last season.
Inter has not forgotten their loss in the final and would love to avenge it. So far, Inter has two wins and two draws in Serie A this season. They drew 1-1 against Monza this weekend and sit two points behind Udinese at the top of the Serie A table. There are speculations that Simone Inzaghi might bench Lautaro Martinez, but that seems unlikely. Thuram is the only player in Inter’s squad to have scored more than one goal this season.
Marko Arnautovic and left-back DiMarco will miss the match for Inter, as will Tajon Buchanan. Nathan Ake is out for City.
City: Ederson; Lewis, Stones, Dias, Gvardiol; Rodri, Kovacic; Bernardo, De Bruyne, Grealish; Haaland Inter: Sommer; Pavard, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Augusto; Thuram, Martinez
The ATP tour will be in China for the next couple of weeks. Two different ATP 250 events start in China today, followed by the Beijing ATP 500 and then the Shanghai Masters. We’ve got two predictions ready for you from the Chengdu Open. Musetti and Bublik are the two top seeds at the event.
Adam Walton from Australia and Lukas Klein from Slovakia will play each other for the first time in the opening round of the Chengdu Open. Walton is ranked 94th in the world and hasn’t played since his first-round loss at the US Open to Muller. He also lost in the first round at Winston-Salem, didn’t qualify for the Cincinnati Masters, lost in the first round in Washington, and reached the round of 16 in Atlanta as a qualifier. Walton has played 13 matches on the main tour in 2024 and won only three. The 25-year-old turned pro in 2022 after playing college tennis in Tennessee. Lukas Klein, ranked 127th, lost in the US Open qualifiers and played Davis Cup last week, losing both matches to Marterer and McDonald. Klein has mostly competed on the Challenger tour in 2024, winning 6 and losing 9 matches on the main tour.
Lorenzo Sonego, the 29-year-old Italian, is seeded 6th at the Chengdu Open. Sonego is ranked 50th and has played 40 matches on the ATP tour in 2024, winning 18. He hasn’t competed since his first-round US Open loss to Tommy Paul. Sonego won the Winston-Salem title just before the US Open, beating Alex Michelsen in straight sets. That was his only title this season. Sonego is known for his big plays, though his accuracy isn’t always spot on, but he has a solid serve. He has faced Japan’s Taro Daniel once before, winning that encounter. Daniel, ranked 90th, hasn’t played since the US Open, where he also lost in the first round in five sets to Schoolkate from Australia. It’s been a rough season for Daniel, with eleven consecutive first-round exits on the ATP tour.
