The weekend soccer slate shifts to the United States as parity in Major League Soccer continues to stick out like a sore thumb. Going into the third week of the season, only four teams have won their first two matches so far. Will they be able to continue the good races or will they join others who have lost points? Tottenham will also travel to Old Trafford and will be hoping to win their third game on the rebound instead of returning to their rollercoaster form this season as we finish with Serie A and their race wide open for the scudetto.

Here’s what we’re looking at this weekend:

5. New York Red Bulls vs Minnesota United

Dated: Sunday March 13 | Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Direct: ESPN+
Caesars Sportsbook odds: New York -150; Draw +280; Minnesota United +440

Why watch: The Red Bulls are one of four remaining teams to have won their first two league games to start the season, but hosting the Loons will be a test to see what they are made of. Lewis Morgan is fresh off a hat trick against Toronto and summer signing Luquinhas has arrived. They’re a team that could improve between now and the season, but containing the attack led by Franco Fragapane and Emanuel Reynoso will be a tough test for the defense even with Aaron Long back in the fold. The Loons have drawn their first two games despite attacking too well to be limited to one goal per game.

4. Torino vs Inter Milan

Dated: Sunday March 13 | Time: 3:45 p.m. ET
Direct: Paramount+
Caesars Sportsbook odds: Torino +440; Draw +275; Inter-150

Why watch: Inter Milan will look to hold their heads high despite being eliminated in their Champions League win at Anfield over Liverpool as the focus shifts to winning a second scudetto in a row. The Serie A title race is tight with AC Milan, Inter and Napoli separated by just three points. If one of them slips, Juventus are waiting to pounce. The midfield duo of Hakan Calhanoglu and Nicolo Barella will be tough for Torino to deal with, but they have one of the best defensive records in the league when it comes to battling the Nerazzurri. Allowing just 28 goals, Torino has the fourth-best defensive record in Italy and is the only team with less than 30 goals allowed to not feature in the top five due to their lack of goalscoring. Can they get a signature win to end their bad form streak?

3. Chelsea v Newcastle United

Dated: Sunday March 13 | Time: 10:00 a.m. ET
Direct: peacock
Caesars Sportsbook odds: Chelsea -300; Draw +400; Newcastle +900

Why watch: While the potential sale of Chelsea and the looming problems with travel to away games grab the headlines, there are still football games to play. Meanwhile, Eddie Howe threatened relegation as Newcastle United climb the table with three rebound wins. Up to 14th in the league they are pretty much safe and that is with Allan Saint-Maximin who has missed the last few games with muscle injuries. This is a game where if Chelsea slip up, Newcastle can make them pay unlike the Norwich side who Chelsea knocked out in midweek.

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2. Seattle Sounders vs. LA Galaxy

Dated: Saturday March 12 | Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
TV: Fox | Direct: fuboTV (Try for free)
Caesars Sportsbook odds: Seattle Pollsters +118; Draw +230; Los Angeles Galaxy +245

Why watch: Two teams that should be near the top of the Western Conference face off. While the Sounders struggle with injuries to Nicolas Lodeiro, Will Bruin and Raul Ruidiaz, they managed to dismantle Leon at home in the Concacaf Champions League. Meanwhile, the Galaxy left him late in their opening two matches as their defense gave them a win at every opportunity. Raheem Edwards is proving to be a fine addition to Greg Vanney’s squad, but can they use form to their advantage to open up an early points gap on the Sounders?

1. Manchester United v Tottenham

Dated: Saturday March 12 | Time: 12:30 p.m. ET
Direct: peacock
Caesars Sportsbook odds: Manchester United +115; Draw +245; Tottenham+235

Why watch: Two teams that have not fared well against top opponents meet in a critical clash to determine the race to the Premier League‘s top four. Antonio Conte is blackmailing Tottenham with nine goals scored in his last two matches, but things are set to be a little tougher against Manchester United even after the side fell flat in a 4-1 derby against Manchester City. Cristiano Ronaldo will be fit and available this weekend, but that could prove a distraction for United given he has just one goal in eight Premier League appearances this calendar year.

Honorable Mentions

(all US/Eastern times)

Friday March 11: A game to follow in…

• Spain: Atletico Madrid vs Cadiz, 3 p.m. (ESPN+)
• France: Lille vs Saint-Etienne 3 p.m. (beIN Sports and fuboTV — Free trial)
• Argentina: Arsenal v Velez Sarsfield, 5:15 p.m. (Paramount+)

Saturday March 12: A game to follow in…

• MLS: DC United vs. Chicago Fire, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
• England: Brighton v Liverpool, 7:30 a.m. (Peacock)
• Spain: Villarreal v Celta de Vigo, 12:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
• Italy: Sampdoria v Juventus, 12 p.m. (Paramount+)
• Germany: Hoffenheim vs. Bayern Munich, 9:30 a.m. (ESPN+)
• France: Troyes vs Nantes, 3 p.m. (beIN Sports and fuboTV — Free trial)
• Argentina: Sarmiento vs. Newell’s Old Boys, 5:15 p.m. (Paramount+)

Sunday March 13: A game to follow in…

• MLS: Atlanta United vs. Charlotte, 4:30 p.m. (FS1 and fuboTV — Try it for free)
• England: West Ham United vs. Aston Villa, 10 a.m. (US and fuboTV – Try Free)
• Spain: Barcelona vs. Osasuna, 4 p.m. (ESPN+)
• Italy: Udinese v Roma, 1 p.m. (Paramount+)
• Germany: Bayer Leverkusen vs. Cologne, 10:30 a.m. (ESPN+)
• France: PSG vs Bordeaux, 8 a.m. (beIN Sports and fuboTV — Try for free)
• Argentina: Estudiantes vs. Boca Juniors, 8:30 p.m. (Paramount+)

Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski’s contract expires in the summer of 2023 and speculation is rife over the Polish international’s future. Reports that a Premier League transfer has been announced for the 33-year-old striker have alerted several clubs, including Arsenal, who are desperate to sign a new No.9.

Meanwhile, former England footballer Peter Crouch has delivered his verdict and said he would like to see Lewandowski play in the Premier League. Crouch’s comments came as he discussed Bayern’s failure to tie Lewandowski to a new deal on BT Sport, following the Bundesliga giants’ 7-1 win over RB Salzburg in their last-16 second leg Champions League final on Tuesday.

Lewandowski netted a hat-trick on 23 minutes in the clash at the Allianz Arena to make Champions League history. After converting from the penalty spot twice, in the 12th and 21st minutes, the prolific Poland international then netted a screamer two minutes later to complete a record hat-trick.

Also read: Lewandowski shoots record Champions League hat-trick; Bayern Munich fans hail heroism

Peter Crouch said, in a post-match chat on BT Sport, “It sounds ridiculous. I don’t know what else they (Bayern) want. I know he’s approaching 34, but he still looks like a machine. eats well, he lives decent, he looks fit and the numbers are absolutely ridiculous.”

“Who are you going to go out and sign to get those kind of numbers? I know there’s been talk of (Erling) Haaland if you obviously want longevity, but it’s going to cost you a hell of a lot of money,” Croupton added.

“I would love to see him (Lewandowski) in the Premier League,” admitted the former England international.

“If I’m Bayern, you try to tie it up as quickly as possible,” Crouch concluded.

Lewandowski’s three goals against Salzburg came just a minute earlier than former record holder Marco Simone, who achieved the feat in 24 minutes of AC Milan’s 2-1 loss to Rosenborg in 1996.

Tuesday’s hat-trick was the latest highlight of another jaw-dropping season for the Pole, taking his tally to 42 goals in 35 appearances.

Last updated on Mar 9, 2022 at 11:24 a.m. IST

Impressive winners of Borussia Dortmund in the knockout stages, Scottish champions Rangers host Serbian counterparts Crvena zvezda in the round of 16 first leg of the UEFA Europa League, a stage of the competition from which the Glasgow side have been knocked out each times. of the last two seasons.

• Rangers clinched a place in the UEFA Europa League knockout stage with one game to spare, finishing second behind Lyon in Group A on eight points, before beating Dortmund 6-4 on aggregate (4-2 a, 2-2 h) with Captain James Tavernier. scoring three of their goals in the tie.

• Crvena zvezda topped Group F in the autumn ahead of Braga, Midtjylland and Ludogorets but as section winners with just six goals – the same number Rangers managed in Group A. That was the first time the Belgrade team had ever finished first in a European group.

Rangers vs Crvena zvezda: the latest match news

Previous meetings
• Rangers and Crvena zvezda have already played three times in UEFA competition, with the Scottish side having the advantage with two aggregate wins against one.

• A play-off in London was needed to separate the teams when they first met, in the 1964/65 European Cup preliminary round, after Rangers won the first leg 3-1 in Glasgow and Crvena zvezda s won 4-2 in Belgrade. to return to. With no away goals rule in place, the Scottish side qualified after winning the extra game 3–1 at Arsenal’s Highbury.

• The teams only met in the second round of Crvena zvezda’s triumphant 1990/91 European Cup campaign, with Darko Pančev scoring in both matches as the Belgrade side went on to a 3-0 home win with a 1-1 draw in Glasgow.

• The most recent encounter, however, belonged to Rangers, as they eliminated Crvena zvezda from the 2007/08 UEFA Champions League third qualifying round, Nacho Novo’s 90th-minute goal in the first leg at Ibrox s ‘proving to be the only goal of the meeting. . Walter Smith’s side would end this European campaign as UEFA Cup runners-up.

• Rangers’ only other UEFA game against a Serbian opponent was a 2006/07 UEFA Cup group game at home to Partizan, which they won 1-0 thanks to an Alan Hutton goal for reach the knockout stage. They are therefore undefeated at home by the Serbian visitors (W3 D1).

• Crvena zvezda’s all-time home and away record against Scottish opponents is W2 L3. Beaten by Celtic in the 1968/69 European Cup second round (1-5 a, 1-1 h), they beat Hearts on away goals in the Cup Winners’ Cup qualifying round European 1996/97 (0-0h, 1-1y). They still have to win in five trips to Scotland (D2 L3).

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Form Guide
Rangers
• Unbeaten champions Scotland in 2020/21 as they won a record 55th domestic league title, Rangers also made 13 appearances in the UEFA Europa League, progressing from the second qualifying round to the round of 16, where their journey ended with Slavia Prague (1-1 a, 0-2 h).

• Rangers returned to the UEFA Champions League for the first time in a decade this season but lost both third qualifying round matches 2-1 to Malmö and were therefore transferred to the UEFA Europa play-offs League, where they edged out Alashkert to reach the final. group stage for the fourth consecutive season. Although they lost their first two group games – against Lyon (0-2 h) and Sparta (0-1 a) – they remained unbeaten thereafter, taking four points from Brøndby (2-0 h, 1-1 a) and taking second place. place with a 2-0 victory over Sparta at Ibrox on matchday five in their first game under new manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst, who had replaced Steven Gerrard.

• This is Rangers’ fourth appearance in the UEFA Europa League round of 16, and their third in a row, a record. However, in the previous three campaigns they failed to qualify for the quarter-finals, coming out at PSV Eindhoven in 2010/11 (0-0 a, 0-1 h), at Bayer Leverkusen in 2019/20 (1-3 h, 0-1 a) and Slavia last season. They are therefore yet to win a game at this stage of the competition, scoring just two goals and losing all three home games.

• The Glasgow giants have lost just five of their last 31 European home games (W19 D7), although three of those defeats have come in the last seven – against Slavia, Malmö and Lyon. In the UEFA Europa League knockout stage, their record at Ibrox is W2 D2 L3, with all three eliminations all triggered by those home defeats.

Crvena zvezda
• A fourth consecutive Serbian SuperLiga title for Crvena zvezda in 2020/21, and second under manager Dejan Stanković, was completed with a first victory in nine years in the Serbian Cup. The club’s first domestic double since 2006/07 capped a season in which they also played a dozen games in Europe, reaching the knockout stages of the UEFA Europa League, where they lost goals at the outside against AC Milan (2-2 h, 1- 1a).

• This season’s bid to return to the UEFA Champions League group stage, where Crvena zvezda played in the 2018/19 and 2019/20 seasons, was thwarted by Moldovan champions Sheriff in the third qualifying round after that the Belgrade team had eliminated Kairat Almaty. CFR Cluj were then convincingly beaten in the UEFA Europa League play-offs to secure Crvena zvezda’s third appearance in the group stage. After advancing as runners-up in each of their two previous campaigns, in 2017/18 and 2020/21, they clinched top spot in Group F on 11 points with a 1-1 draw against second-placed Braga. the 6th day.

• This is the Belgrade side’s first appearance in the UEFA Europa League Round of 16. They lost in the Round of 16 to CSKA Moskva (0-0h, 0-1a) in 2017/18 and to Milan last season. It is the club’s biggest advancement in a UEFA competition for 30 years.

• Crvena zvezda have lost just two of their 11 away matches in the UEFA Europa League proper (W3, D6), conceding just six goals in the process. Despite being beaten on the road in both UEFA Champions League qualifiers this season, they are unbeaten in seven away matches in the UEFA Europa League, including this season’s fixtures at CFR (2 -1), Ludogorets (1-0), Midtjylland (1 -1) and Braga.

UEFA Europa League squad changes
Rangers
In: Amad Diallo (Manchester United, loan), Aaron Ramsey (Juventus, loan), James Sands (New York, loan)
Outside: Juninho Bacuna (Birmingham City), Ianis Hagi, Filip Helander, Nathan Patterson (Everton)

Crvena zvezda
In: Nemanja Motika (Bayern Munich II), Ohi Omoijuanfo (Molde), Cristiano Piccini (Valencia)
Outside: Miloš Degenek (Columbus Crew), Lois Diony, Marko Lazetić (AC Milan), Njegoš Petrović (Granada)

Links and stories
• Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor, who made his 100th appearance in UEFA club competition in the first leg against Dortmund, kept a clean sheet in both games for the Ibrox club by beating Crvena zvezda in 2007/08 UEFA Champions League qualifying.

• Crvena zvezda Austrian international defender Aleksandar Dragović was part of the Leverkusen side that eliminated Rangers from the UEFA Europa League two seasons ago, starting the first leg at Ibrox and coming off the bench in the second leg.

• Aleksandar Katai, who converted crucial penalties for Crvena zvezda in both group games against Braga, also found the net for Serbia against Scotland in the UEFA EURO 2020 play-off penalty shoot-out, where Scotland, with Ryan Jack of Rangers, won 5-4 in Belgrade.

• Rangers midfielder Scott Arfield and Crvena zvezda goalkeeper Milan Borjan both played international football for Canada.

• Opposing managers Van Bronckhorst and Stanković met for the Netherlands and Serbia and Montenegro respectively in a group stage match at the 2006 FIFA World Cup, with the Oranje winning 1-0 in Leipzig. Both players have won over 100 caps at senior international level (Van Bronckhorst 106, Stanković 103).

• Rangers are in the last 16 of the UEFA Europa League for the third successive season. Only one team, Sevilla (2013/14–2015/16), have already scored the treble.

• Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos’ goal in the first leg against Dortmund was his 31st in all rounds of the UEFA Europa League, qualifying included, making him the third-highest all-time goalscorer in the league UEFA Europa League and UEFA Cup combined – level with Radamel Falcao and Aritz Aduriz and behind only Henrik Larsson (40) and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (34).

• Rangers and Crvena zvezda are the only two defending domestic champions to make the UEFA Europa League Round of 16 this season. The Serbian club is one of three national cup winners on the pitch, along with Barcelona and Braga.

• Crvena zvezda are one of three former European Cup/UEFA Champions League winners involved in the UEFA Europa League Round of 16, along with Barcelona and Porto.

• Serbia have a club in the UEFA Europa League Round of 16 for the first time, making them the 23rd nation represented at this stage of the competition.

• Rangers and Crvena zvezda currently sit second in their domestic league standings behind their arch-rivals, the first three points behind Celtic, the bottom two behind Partizan.

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In a bid to launch his career, Pablo Mari traveled to where he believes the best defenders are created. The 28-year-old left Arsenal and the Premier League on loan last month to join Udinese until the end of the season, seizing the opportunity to experience Serie A for the first time.

“In Italy, we see that’s where the best centre-backs in the world are born,” Mari told ESPN. “For me, that’s my field. In the end, I’m a central defender, I’m a tactical player so for me playing in Italy is a pleasure.

“When I was really, really young, the players I watched were [Alessandro] Nesta, [Fabio] Cannavaro. Now you look [Giorgio] Chiellini, [Leonardo] Bonucci: they are more or less the best central defenders in the world. Of course you have [Virgil] Van Dijk, Sergio Ramos, [Gerard] Prick. Getting to this level is [Matthijs] De Ligt, we now have very good centre-backs playing in Italy.

“I don’t like to compare their appearance and my appearance, but of course you can take something that they do very well and you can put it in you and try to be like you. They are more or less the center – the backs that I like to be when I grow up.”

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Now is the time for Mari to grow up too. The Spaniard speaks to ESPN via Zoom from Bruseschi’s training base in Udinese, where the staff were impressed with his professionalism, a feature that helped him secure this transfer in the first place.

Mari originally signed for the Gunners from Brazilian club Flamengo in January 2020 before making a permanent transfer worth £7million in July of the same year. A combination of COVID-19, injuries and the subsequent arrivals of Gabriel from Lille and Ben White from Brighton & Hove Albion has limited Mari to just 14 Premier League starts, the last of which came in August as Arsenal lost 2-0 at home to Chelsea. .

Although Mari became a peripheral figure as the January transfer window opened, his departure grabbed headlines as it came amid a row over Arsenal’s successful postponement of the derby of January against Tottenham Hotspur due to a lack of available players. However, Mari reveals the move had been discussed much earlier, the product of a conversation he initiated with Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta.

“In the winter, we made engagements together,” Mari said. “I explained to him my situation, my feelings. I haven’t played in the last six months. [He said] the plan over the next six months until June will be the same. I can play, of course, because maybe other central defenders get injured, there can be a red card or yellow cards, but it will be one, two, maximum three or four games. In the end, I don’t want that for me.

“[Arteta] was a very, very, very good person at that time. He told me “whatever you need, you deserve it”. You were a professional player until the end and you deserve it so anything I can help you with, I will.’ I’m so happy to hear that from a coach because it wasn’t an easy time for me.”

It is a measure of Arteta’s coaching skills that he is praised by those above and below him at Arsenal, but quite another when a player who has found playing time if hard to find remains enthusiastic in its praise.

“I have to say he’s one of the best coaches in the world because when he makes the game plan… I never see him like that,” Mari said. “How he finds solutions for us and makes the game easier: I’ve never seen anything like that. It means he’s an amazing coach. Giving you the tools to play a game easier is amazing because when you go out on the pitch you already have in mind the kind of things you need to do to play easily.”

So how did he help Mari specifically? “He gave me the tool that if I can take three or four seconds before the ball comes to me, I will have those three or four seconds to think about the next action,” he continued. “For me, that was key because I have the time [now]. He was the only coach who gave me this tool and made football easier.

“I play more easily and I can see another type of option that before I never saw because before I never had time with the ball. So now, in this moment, I put in my head another level because of [Arteta].”

There is no option or obligation to sign Mari permanently in the deal between Arsenal and Udinese, so he will return to north London this summer regardless of his performance in the coming weeks. His existing contract with the Gunners expires in 2024: given the strength of his relationship with Arteta, could he still be a success at Arsenal under his fellow Spaniard?

“For me, of course, it’s possible,” he said. “I never close that door. It continues to be my dream, to play for a big club in the world and for Arsenal of course. I played there for two years, I have another two [on my] Contract.

“Of course it would be my dream. But in the end, I don’t know. I don’t know what will happen tomorrow, I can’t predict what will happen next year. Is he there? Yes Of course. I would like to be there? Yes, of course, but I don’t know what will happen. I want to focus on now, in the present, on what I can do now to enjoy football again and to feel like a professional footballer again.”

Mari’s journey has been complicated. Born in Almussafes, a small town just over 20km south of Valencia on the east coast of Spain, he almost gave up football at “around 11 or 12” after a growth spurt that left him grows about five inches in one summer.

“More than the impact of the rapid growth, it was the pain I had at that time because in my hips it was cartilage, not bone,” he said. . “Every time I came back to play football with my colleagues in the team, when I shot, I broke a bit of that cartilage.

“I remember the last time I had the injury – because it happened four or five times – I said to my dad ‘this is the last time I have this injury. If I start again, I quit football because I can’t take this pain every day. And that was the last time. He never came back.”

He joined Mallorca as a teenager with the advice of his parents ringing in his ears, words that served him well in later years. “I was 13 when I said to my parents, ‘Goodbye, I’m going to another town to play football’,” he continued. “They said ‘Yeah, go ahead, be happy, enjoy…but if you decide to go that route, you have to be a pro from now on. Never give up. In the times when you’re on top and the times when you’re down, you gotta fight, you gotta be professional, you gotta work hard every day.'”

Mari is a Mallorca academy graduate but has only made two senior appearances. Three years at Gimnastic de Tarragona followed before joining Manchester City in 2016, never to play a game for the club or even meet Pep Guardiola. Loan spells at Girona, NAC Breda and Deportivo La Coruña preceded a move to Flamengo in 2019, where he became the first Spaniard to win the Brazilian title and Copa Libertadores. It was there that he caught the eye of Arsenal’s technical director, Edu, who brought him to the Emirates Stadium.

However, Mari’s career at Arsenal failed to take off. The COVID-19 pandemic was a factor: the Gunners won their first two games with Mari in the squad, an FA Cup fifth round tie at Portsmouth and a Premier League home game against West Ham United , before the pandemic brought English football to a standstill in March 2020. He started the first game after the restart, at Manchester City, but suffered a serious ankle injury which ruled him out for almost six month. Gabriel and White, a £50m summer arrival from Brighton, have since usurped him in the pecking order.

Arteta could have kept it, but he chose to reward Mari’s dedication and ‘never give up’ mentality. A fifth loan spell, this time at Udinese, offers a new challenge.

Going on loan is not easy because you have to adapt very quickly to be part of this club, quickly,” he said. “Of course the people around you, they help you in that. Here I am so happy that the club, the coach, the staff, the teammates, they are so friendly and they help me from the first day until now and hopefully until the end of the season. You’re growing as a person, more than a player, and that’s a very good thing for the rest of my life.”

Mari has made four appearances for Udinese so far, including in Friday’s 1-1 draw with AC Milan and, as he prepares to turn 29 in August, Mari feels he is now ready to peak.

“For a centre-back, I’m going to be in the best moment of my career because when you’re young, maybe physically you’re really good but you don’t have the mentality to be ready,” he said. “I’m in balance, I have both very good things. Even at 29 I think I’m still young for a centre-back, but I’m in a good moment.

“I’m so happy with the new things that are coming and I think I’m ready to take it. At the moment, [my ambition] is to give everything I have inside, try to do my best to help the club and the team. After that, anything can happen. I don’t set a limit. The worst thing you can do is set a limit.”

After ending their seven-game winless streak, Venezia will host Genoa at Stadio Pierluigi Penzo on Matchday 26 of the Italian Serie A on Sunday.

The visitors, on the other hand, have not tasted victory in any of their last nine games in all competitions and will be looking to end this drought.

Venezia finally gave their fans something to cheer about by securing a 2-1 away win against Torino.

Prior to that, they were on a seven-game losing streak, drawing two and losing five during that time.

With 21 points from 24 games, Venezia are currently 18th in the Serie A standings, but one game less.

Genoa, on the other hand, were involved in a share of the spoils for the third game in a row last time out as they played out a 1-1 draw with Salernitana.

They have now failed to win any of their last nine games in all competitions, claiming five draws and losing four in that span, including a 3-1 loss to AC Milan in the Coppa Italia.

Genoa are currently second from the bottom of the table, two points above Salernitana, who have two games in hand.

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Venezia vs Genoa head to head

Genoa have been utterly dominant in this game’s history, claiming four wins in the last nine encounters between the teams. Venezia are yet to taste victory in this match, while five matches have ended.

Venice Form Guide: LDLLW

Genoa Form Guide: LLDDD

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Venezia vs Genoa Team News

Venice

The hosts will take to the pitch without Arnor Sigurdsson and Sofiane Kiyine, who are recovering from injuries. Gianluca Busio and David Okereke are both suspended and out of the running for Venezia.

injured: Arnor Sigurdsson, Sofiane Kiyine

Suspended: Gianluca Busio, David Okereke

Genoa

The visitors remain without the services of Mattia Bani, who has been sidelined with a thigh injury.

injured: Mattia Bani

Suspended: Any

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Venezia vs Genoa Predicted XI

Venezia Predicted XI (4-3-3):Luca Lezzerini; Ethan Ampadu, Mattia Caldara, Michael Svoboda, Ridgeciano Haps; Tanner Tessmann, Domen Crnigoj, Michael Cuisance; Dennis Johnsen, Mattia Aramu, Thomas Henry

Genoa Predicted XI (4-3-3): Salvatore Sirigu; Silvan Hefti, Nikola Maksimović, Zinho Vanheusden, Johan Vásquez; Manolo Portanova, Milan Badelj, Stefano Sturaro; Caleb Ekuban, Mattia Destro, Kelvin Yeboah

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Venezia vs Genoa Prediction

Venezia will approach Sunday’s game with renewed confidence after their win over Torino. However, we expect the loot to be split in this one, with both sides settling for one point each.

Prediction: Venezia 1-1 Genoa

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Liverpool take on defending Serie A champions Inter Milan in a UEFA Champions League Round of 16 series that combines two historically successful European clubs.

The Reds are six-time winners of the competition, lifting their last trophy in 2019 when they beat Tottenham in all of England’s finals.

They have enjoyed mixed success against Italian clubs in recent years, having faced an Italian side in every Champions League year since the 2017-18 season.

Below is a ranking of Liverpool’s top five wins against Italian sides in the club’s history. We’ll see if the Inter Milan-Liverpool Round of 16 battle makes the difference.

5. Liverpool 1-0 Napoli (2019)

Perhaps not the most iconic European night at Anfield, but very important and underrated nonetheless. Liverpool hosted Napoli for the final match of the 2018-19 group stage requiring a clean sheet victory, or a win by two clear goals to reach knockouts.

Part of a dangerous group that saw French pivots PSG, Napoli and Red Star Belgrade’s surprise package; Liverpool had faltered, losing to all three teams.

Facing Napoli was no easy test, but Liverpool registered 23 shots on the night and dominated the proceedings. Mohamed Salah’s individual brilliance gave Liverpool the lead, after a dazzling run past Kalidou Koulibaly that saw him score from a tight angle.

Napoli didn’t pose a real threat until added time. When, in the dying minutes of the game, a cross found its way to Arkadiusz Milik from five yards out and the Napoli striker looked set to break Liverpool’s hearts. After a brilliant first touch, he shot straight at Alisson, who had rushed to close the angle.

Not a vintage night at Anfield, but that moment from their Brazilian keeper secured their qualification for the knockout stages. That save is now considered invaluable, given that Liverpool won the trophy some six months later.

4. Liverpool 2-1 Juventus (2005)

Facing star-studded Juventus, Liverpool hosted the Italian giants at Anfield for the first leg of their 2004-05 Champions League quarter-final series.

The likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Fabio Cannavaro, Gianluigi Buffon, Pavel Nedved and Alessandro Del Piero were edged out in a 2-1 win at Liverpool that gave the Reds a slim advantage going into the second leg.

Centre-back Sami Hyppia got Liverpool off to a great start with a fine left-footed finish from a corner, and that was followed by a superb long-range strike from Spaniard Luis Garcia 15 minutes later.

The Italian side pulled back a goal through Cannavaro, then hit the post and saw a seemingly legitimate goal ruled out for offside that would surely have been ruled out these days by VAR.

Liverpool held on after a 0-0 draw in the second leg. That series injected Liverpool with the belief to beat domestic rivals Chelsea in the semi-finals and go all the way after another epic showdown against another Italian side (more below).

3. Liverpool 5-2 AS Roma (2018)

It stands out as one of the most impressive semi-final first-leg wins in Champions League history. AS Roma arrived at Anfield for the first leg of the 2017-18 semi-finals after an iconic late victory against FC Barcelona.

Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah was a former Roma player himself but showed them no remorse by scoring twice and assisting twice in a dazzling performance on the big stage.

The Reds took a 2-0 lead at half-time thanks to an unstoppable strike from outside the box from Salah. He then raced on the counterattack to chip away future Liverpool keeper Alisson Becker, in a brilliant move.

By the 68th minute, Liverpool were leading 5-0 and fans were already booking their tickets for the final in Kyiv. Roma then hit back with two late goals, but the damage was already done in a scintillating and mind-blowing half hour.

2. Roma 1-1 Liverpool ap (1984)

Liverpool won their fourth European Cup in the 1983-84 season when they beat AS Roma on penalties at their home ground at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico in a historic victory for the English side.

Having won three European Cups in the previous seven years, including three in five seasons between 1976 and 1981, Liverpool were at the forefront of European football and arrived in Rome hoping to add another European title to its growing collection.

For Roma, it was their first appearance in a European Cup final.

Phil Neal gave the England side a dream start after just 14 minutes, but the home side fought back just before half-time with a superb looping header from Roberto Pruzzo minutes before half-time.

Penalties were needed to separate the two sides, and Liverpool got off to a nightmarish start as Steve Nicol fired on first down. Thankfully, Bruno Conti returned the favor to keep Liverpool in the shootout.

It was striker Francesco Graziani who, surprisingly, also took the shot before Alan Kennedy came home to secure a famous European Cup for the Reds.

1. Liverpool 3-3 AC Milan AET (2005)

What is considered one of the most famous Champions League finals of all time saw Liverpool as strong underdogs when they faced mighty AC Milan in Istanbul in 2005.

Liverpool finished fifth in the Premier League that season, while Milan boasted one of the best starting XIs in Champions League history, with most players going down in footballing history as legends Game.

The Italian side quickly prevailed in the match, scoring after just 50 seconds as Milan took a 3-0 halftime lead.

After one of Steven Gerrard’s most important goals as Liverpool captain, strikes from Vladimir Smicer and Xabi Alonso pulled Liverpool from the brink to force extra time in a stunning turnaround.

After holding out for another half an hour, Liverpool goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek was the hero, twice saving Ukraine leader Andriy Shevchenko from close range in the dying minutes of extra time as penalties loomed.

With both teams missing penalties, Liverpool were leading 3-2 when Shevchenko stepped in for Milan. But his weak penalty was saved by Dudek to hand Liverpool their fifth European Cup in one of the most dramatic finals in football history.

AC Milan closed the gap at the top of the Serie A table with a 2-1 win over league leaders and city rivals Inter, while Juventus climbed into the top four with a 2-0 victory over Hellas Verona.

Napoli beat Venezia 2-0, Cagliari secured a surprising 2-1 win over Atalanta and Lazio secured a 3-0 win over Fiorentina.

Elsewhere, Sampdoria crushed Sassuolo 4-0, Udinese picked up a late win over Torino and Salernitana drew 2-2 with Spezia.

Let us know your thoughts on the Team of the Week for Matchday 24 of the 2021/22 Serie A season, which unfolds in the usual 3-4-3 formation!

Mike Maignan – AC Milan (3 Team of the Week appearances)

Goalkeeper Rossoneri was in inspired form, limiting Inter to just one goal despite an abundance of chances.

Raoul Bellanova – Cagliari

Isolani’s rear winger put in a superb performance on the right flank. His direct run caused problems for Atalanta and he provided the cross for Gaston Pereiro to score the winner.

Rodrigo Becao – Udinese

A great defensive performance from the Brazilian and he was effective in his distribution from the back as well.

Matteo Lovato – Cagliari

A superb performance from the young defender. The Atalanta players struggled to get past him and he notably canceled out the attacking threat of La Dea striker Luis Muriel.

Antonio Candreva – Sampdoria (6 apps)

The veteran midfielder scored from the penalty spot with an exquisite chip and he also provided two assists in Il Doria’s emphatic win over Sassuolo.

Sergej Milinkovic-Savic – Lazio (3 apps)

Excellent in his catches of the ball and in his passes. The Serbian midfielder also opened the scoring with a well-timed run and a fine finish.

Stanislav Lobotka – Napoli (2 apps)

Impressed with his ability to win possession in midfield as well as his distribution. Completed 95 passes with a success rate of 94%.

Simone Verdi – Salernitana

The Italian winger was making his first appearance for the southern Italian club and he scored from two superb free-kicks in the draw against Spezia.

Gaston Pereiro – Cagliari

Although not a natural striker, the Uruguayan midfielder had to operate as a lone striker and it turned out to be a successful decision. Scored twice in the second half against Atalanta, and also forced Juan Musso into a foul which ultimately saw the Argentine goalkeeper sent off.

Olivier Giroud – AC Milan (2 apps)

The former Arsenal and Chelsea striker was a peripheral figure in the first half against Inter but became a derby hero for the Rossoneri with a second-half brace.

Dusan Vlahovic – Juventus (6 apps)

Provided an attacking reference point for the Bianconeri and opened the scoring against Hellas Verona with a delicious lob.

Wolfsburg midfielder Aster Vranckx is reportedly interested in playing for Chelsea one day as he is a ‘big fan’ of the Blues.

The Belgian wonderkid has impressed in the Bundesliga, recently winning a brace for his side against Greuther Furth.

According to Bild via Sport Witness, Vranckx wants to play for Chelsea one day.

Former Serie A referee Paolo Casarin believes Marco Guida did a great job officiating the Milan derby between Inter and AC Milan last night.

Writing in his column in today’s print edition of Milan’s Corriere della Sera, the former referee suggested that Guida made the important decisions right and took charge of the game with authority.

Guida didn’t have too many decisions to make, although there was some controversy surrounding his decision to play in the build-up to Milan’s equalizer, and he also handed Theo Henrnandez a red card in the last seconds.

However, in Casarin’s view, the official did a good job of keeping the pace of the game at a good level and communicating with the players.

Casarin felt that “the match was hard fought and nervous, with an Inter goal disallowed due to Perisic being offside”.

He went on to say that the game had a “yellow card for Romagnoli, nice saves from Maignan who can’t do anything about Perisic’s shot in the 38th minute.”

“Guida was always in a good position to assess situations,” he added, “and on several occasions he decided to whistle the tackles or let play continue, and the players always seemed to be on board with the decision. of the referee.”

“However, there were sixteen fouls called in the first half,” said the former referee. “Milan launched the attack for their equalizer after a call from the official.”

He also mentioned that there was a “chaotic final with a red card for Theo. Guida’s refereeing was worthy of a top international referee.

CalcioMercato have revealed that AC Milan representatives will meet Tottenham Hotspur today to discuss a potential deal for Japhet Tanganga.

In the absence of Eric Dier and Cristian Romero in recent weeks, Tanganga has been given plenty of minutes by Antonio Conte.

Despite Dier’s return to the starting XI against Chelsea on Sunday, Tanganga retained his place in the squad, playing at right-back in a back four.

However, Sky Sports revealed in their live transfer blog (18/1 at 18:04) that the Spurs academy graduate is worried about his chances of getting playing time once Dier and Romero are back to full fitness.

Athleticism reported last week that Milan were one of several clubs to have expressed an interest in signing Tanganga on loan, but added that Spurs were reluctant to let him go.

According to the Italian journalist Daniele LongoMilan have also contacted the Tottenham defender’s representatives over a January move.

Calcio Mercato have now revealed that the Rossoneri will try to go ahead with a move for Tanganga today. The report explains that Milan will meet Spurs to see if there is ‘room for the operation to continue’.

This was also supported by Charlie Ecleshare, who added that Spurs would prefer an option to buy attached to any loan while Milan want a direct loan deal.

Boosts web opinion

I would be surprised if Spurs let Tanganga go without bringing in defensive reinforcements. As things stand, it seems unlikely that Tottenham will sign a centre-back before the window closes. So, I expect Tanganga to stay at least until the summer even though Conte doesn’t see the 22-year-old as part of his long-term plans.