2016 Cheltenham: Un De Sceaux is 12/1 to Win Champion Chase

Robert Lewandowski has returned to full Bayern Munich training after recovering from knee ligament damage.

Bayern s superstar striker has not played since Poland s 3-0 World Cup qualifying win over Andorra on March 28.

But after nearly a month out, the club confirmed on Wednesday Lewandowski completed the majority of full training , with coach Hansi Flick optimistic he could feature at Mainz on Saturday.

Bayern also had Serge Gnabry, returning from coronavirus, and Corentin Tolisso, out since February with a thigh injury, back in light training.

The defending Bundesliga champions can clinch another title this weekend and would be delighted to welcome back Lewandowski.

Despite missing several weeks, the 32-year-old still leads all players in Europe…

On August 9, 2016, Manchester United completed a deal that was expected to transform them back into title regulars.

Paul Pogba – who had left United in 2012 – arrived in an £89.3million (€105m) deal from Juventus, a then-world record transfer fee.

Five years on, Pogba seems to be at something of a crossroads in not just his United career, but as a player altogether.

Like in 2016, Pogba heads into the 2021-22 season on the back of an impressive European Championship with France.

Unlike in 2016, Les Bleus failed to go deep in the competition, dropping out in the last 16 stage to Switzerland.

That game in June perhaps provided the perfect summary of Pogba the player. A global superstar in his own right, the 28-year-old has perhaps never hit …

Jesus Navas says years of covering for Dani Alves at Sevilla made it easy for him to become a full-back for Manchester City.

Having spent his earlier career as a winger, Navas was deployed as an emergency right-back in Pep Guardiola s first season in charge at the Etihad Stadium due to injuries.

Navas returned to Sevilla after the 2016-17 season and has mostly been used in defence for club and country since, including in all four LaLiga appearances this season and the 2-1 Euro 2020 qualifying win over Romania on September 5.

The 33-year-old says it was a natural progression for him to become a defender, partly because of his experience of covering for the marauding Dani Alves during the Brazilian s time at Sevilla between 2002 and 2008.

There were player…

Thick and fast come the questions and concerns for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, with the latest exhibition of Manchester United s apparent mediocrity coming in a 1-0 home defeat to Arsenal in the manager s 100th match at the helm.

Sunday s result means United have gone winless in their first four home matches of a domestic league campaign for the first time since 1972-73, with the Red Devils form showing signs of trouble even before Arsenal s latest visit.

But the manner of United s performance in contrast to that of Mikel Arteta s Gunners will arguably provide the greatest concern, with Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba once again seemingly unable to co-exist effectively.

United came into the contest on a temporary crest of positivity following their 5-0 demolition of RB …

Prediction: Both Teams To Score and England to Win

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England will be aiming to continue their perfect start to the latest UEFA Nations League campaign on Tuesday evening as they take on Denmark.

Having snatched a dramatic late win against Iceland last time out, the Three Lions now have to chance to make it back-to-back wins in Copenhagen. Meanwhile, the hosts will be looking to bounce back from the loss that they suffered against Belgium at the weekend.

Denmark

It was always going to be tough for Kasper Hjulmand s men to get anything against a Red Devils side who are fancied to win the UEFA Nations League next year. The Danes gave them a tough match but in the end, goals from Jason Denayer and Dries Mertens were enough to claim …

Lionel Messi stared at the Anfield turf as bedlam broke out around him, helpless and alone. Somehow – improbably – it had happened again.

Liverpool s incredible 4-0 semi-final win on Tuesday means they have the chance to become the kings of Europe for a sixth time, while arguably the greatest footballer of all time must continue to wait and strive for his fifth Champions League success.

There was a time when everything in this competition seemed ludicrously easy for Messi and his gilded contemporaries at Barcelona. They were a team who won adoration on their way to final victories over Manchester United.

The only problem with capturing the collective imagination is it means everyone is paying attention.

From Rome to the world

When Messi and si…

Antoine Griezmann declared I m back to Atletico Madrid s supporters after returning to training for the first time since re-joining from Barcelona.

The France forward made the switch to LaLiga s champions on loan for the 2021-22 season, with the option for either club to extend for a further year.

Less than 24 hours after scoring twice in Les Bleus’ 2-0 World Cup qualifying win over Finland on Tuesday, Griezmann was back in training with Los Rojiblancos.

The 30-year-old delivered a personalised message via the club’s official Twitter account, saying: Hello Atleti fans, I m back.

— Atlético de Madrid (@Atleti)

Griezmann scored 133 goals in 257 appearances during his first spell with Atletico between 2014 and 2019, before departing…

Premier League champions Liverpool have signed centre-back Ben Davies from Preston North End for a deal reportedly worth £1.6million.

The 25-year-old has signed a long-term contract with Jurgen Klopp s side and could make his debut against Brighton and Hove Albion on Wednesday. 

Davies made his Preston debut in January 2013 before spending time on loan at York City, Tranmere Rovers, Southport, Newport County and Fleetwood Town. 

He cemented his place in the Lilywhites  first team during the 2017-18 campaign, making 35 appearances across all competitions. 

Davies went on to make a further 98 appearances for Alex Neil s side, 19 of which came this season. 

I m obviously delighted to be here, he told Liverpool s official website. It s a…

Toni Kroos had a friendly prod at Manchester City and Sergio Aguero after the Premier League club unveiled a statue in honour of their former striker.

Aguero, who left City last year and has since retired due to a heart condition, is the club s record goalscorer. 

On the 10th anniversary of Aguero s last-gasp, title-clinching winner against QPR back in 2012, City unveiled a statue of Aguero s famous celebration.

However, the statue arguably looks more like Real Madrid midfielder Kroos, who picked up on that resemblance.

Sure? Kroos tweeted in response to a tweet from BBC Sport journalist Simon Stone, which included a photo of the statue.

It would not be the first time a statue of a player has drawn some ridicule – Cristiano Ronaldo, anyone? �…

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has controversially suggested the club will not sign African players unless they make agreements not to play in the Africa Cup of Nations.

Last season, Napoli were without Cameroon international Andre-Franck Zambo Anguissa and Senegal defender Kalidou Koulibaly during their participation in Africa’s showpiece tournament, the latter of whom went on to win the tournament and has since departed Naples for Chelsea.

Striker Victor Osimhen could have been another player to travel to the tournament in Cameroon to play for Nigeria, but an injury ruled him out.

The next AFCON is due to be played in the Ivory Coast in 2024, and De Laurentiis says the club would want some sort of commitment from any player joining Napoli that they wo…