Football: Midweek Action

Premier League 
Palace vs Bournemouth
19:30

Burnley vs Man City
20:15

Ligue 1 
Angers vs Marseille
18:00

Bordeaux vs Nimes
18:00

Brest vs Strasbourg
18:00

Lyon vs Lille
20:05

Coppa Italia
Cremonese vs Empoli
14:00

Genoa vs Ascoli
17:00

Fiorentina vs Cittadella
20:00

Saturday's crop of matches

England
12:30 Tottenham vs Arsenal
15:00 Bournemouth vs Man City
15:00 Brighton vs Huddersfield
15:00 Man Utd vs Southampton
15:00 Wolverhampton vs Cardiff
17:30 West Ham vs Newcastle

Spain
12:00 Espanyol vs Valladolid
15:15 Villarreal vs Alaves
17:30 Huesca vs Sevilla
19:45 Real Madrid vs Barcelona

Germany
14:30 Frankfurt vs Hoffeinham
14:30 Hertha vs Mainz 05
14:30 Leverkusen vs Freiburg
14:30 Nurnberg vs Leipzig
14:30 Schalke vs Dusseldorf
17:30 M'gladbach vs Bayern

Italy
14:00 Empoli vs Parma
17:00 Milan vs Sassuolo
19:30 Lazio vs Roma

France
16:00 Caen vs PSG
19:00 Angers vs Monaco
19:00 Nimes vs Rennes
19:00 Reims vs Amiens

Scotland
15:00 Kilmarnock vs Motherwell
15:00 st. Mirren vs Livingston

Netherlands
17:30 Heracles vs Utrecht
18:45 Excelsior vs PSV
18:45 Vitesse vs NAC

Player Profile - Vinicius Junior

Vinicius Junior against Barcelona in 2019

Vinícius José Paixão de Oliveira Júnior was born on 12 July 2000 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 
He spent his youth career at Flamengo where he was promoted to their senior side in 2017. 

He made his debute for Flamengo on 13 May 2017 as an 82nd-minute substitute in a 1–1 draw against Atlético Mineiro.

He extended his contract with the club from 2019 until 2022, with a significant salary increase and a buyout clause increase from €30 million to €45 million

His first professional goal was against Palestino in a Copa Sudamericana. 
He made 37 appearances and scored 7 times for the Brazilian club. 
He signed for Real Madrid in a national record for an U-18 player, €45 million deal, which was made effective after his 18th birthday. 

The Vinicius deal to Real Madrid is the second most expensive sale of a player in the history of Brazilian football behind only Neymar.


After Madrid officially presenting Vinícius as a Real Madrid player on 20th July 2018, he made his debut on 29 September 2018, coming in as an 87th minute substitute in a goalless draw against Atlético Madrid.

Vinícius made his first start on 31 October in a 4–0 Copa del Rey away victory against Melilla

Vinicius playing for Brazil 

Vinicius Junior training at Real Madrid 

Fans reactions after the EL Clasico

Barcelona won the 2nd leg of the Copa del Rey semifinal after beating rivals Real Madrid 0:3 at the Bernabeu on Wednesday night.

After a 1:1 draw in the Camp Nou, Madrid couldn't capitalize on their away goal.

A brace from Luis Suarez and a Verane own goal helped sail Barca through to the final with a 1:4 win on aggregate.

Barca will face either Valencia or Betis in the final.

Here are some tweets from the El Clasico 

Football matches around the world

Wednesday 27 February 2019

English premiership

19:45 Arsenal vs Bournemouth 

19:45 Southampton vs Fulham 

20:00 Crystal Palace vs Man Utd 

20:00 Chelsea vs Tottenham 

20:00 liverpool vs Watford 

20:00 Man city vs West Ham 

Scottish premiership 

19:45 Aberdeen vs Hamilton 

19:45 Hearts vs Celtic 

19:45 Kilmarnock vs Motherwell 

19:45 Rangers vs Dundee 

19:45 St Johnstone vs Hibernian

Spanish Copa del Rey 

20:00 Madrid vs Barcelona 

France FA cup 

19:30 Rennes vs Orleans 

20:00 Lyon vs Caen 

Coppa Italia semi finals

20:00 Fiorentina vs Atalanta 

Real Madrid vs Barcelona (score prediction and lineups)

Madrid forward Vinicius Junior 

This is looking like Real Madrid's best chance at ending the season with a trophy. A win or a scoreless draw puts the club in the final. 

The two fierce rivals will play twice this week, first on Wednesday in the Copa del Rey and then again on Saturday at Santiago Bernabeu in the league. 

Real Madrid holds a slight advantage over Barca following a 1:1 draw in the first leg at the Camp Nou.  

The last time Real Madrid played El Clasico at home without Ronaldo was on May 2, 2009. Barcelona won that match 6-2, with braces from Lionel Messi and Thierry Henry.

Barcelona and Real Madrid have never played to a 0-0 draw as the Cope del Rey history tells us  

27 February 2019 
20:00 GMT

What you need to know about the big game - Chelsea vs Tottenham

Chelsea defender Emerson

After Sunday's impressive cup final against Man City, Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri believes his side is improving but need to find consistency against next opponent Tottenham at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea began the season with an 18 match unbeaten run which was halted by Tottenham in November.

Both teams would try to bounce back from the defeats they suffered in their last outings.

Chelsea will be looking to finish the season in the top 4 while Tottenham still hopes a win at Chelsea will keep them in contention for the premier league trophy.

27 February, 2019
20:00 GMT

Build up to the big game - Lazio vs Milan

Milan defeated Napoli by 3 goals to nil in their quarterfinal game. 

After an intensed 1:1 quarterfinal game against Inter which saw Lazio player Radu being sent off in the extra time. Lazio won 3:4 on penalties.

Ciro Immobile is Lazio's top scorer with 4 goals. 

Piatek has 2 goals for Milan. 

Both teams face each other for a place in the final which will take place on 15 May 2019.

Winner from this match will face either Atalanta or Fiorentina in the 2nd semifinal match tomorrow 27 February.

A brief history about Coppa Italia
Juventus is the competition's most successful club with 13 wins, followed by Roma with 9. Juventus has contested the most finals with 18, followed by Roma with 17 finals. The winner automatically qualifies for both the UEFA Europa League group stage and the Supercoppa Italiana the following year.

Current champion: Juventus F.C. (13th title)

Most successful club(s): Juventus (13 titles)

Alex Sandro to Chelsea in January

Chelsea are reportedly maintaining their interest in Brazil international Alex Sandro whom they hope to pursue from Juventus during the winter transfer window.

The 26-year-old has been a vital player in the Bianconeri ranks helping them to two Serie A crowns in his past two seasons in Turin.

Antonio Conte's side failed with multiple attempts to land the left-sided defender in the summer, and according to The Mirror, they will try again for his signature in the New Year.

The Premier League holders are prepared to make a £60m bid for Sandro in January as they seek to find a suitable competitor to Marcos Alonso for the left wing-back spot.

Conte has been constantly linked with a return to his native Italy, but the Blues' hierarchy are doing their best to prolong the 48-year-old's stay at Stamford Bridge.

The former Italy coach was rewarded with an improved deal earlier in the summer, but he refused to extend his contract beyond the summer of 2019.

Legendary striker Alan Shearer to inspire England's final push towards World Cup qualification.

Gareth Southgate has turned to legendary striker Alan Shearer to inspire England's final push towards World Cup qualification.

Manager Southgate is set to unleash an attacking quartet of Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling, Marcus Rashford and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain as he looks for the win over Slovenia that will book a place at Russia 2018.
And the 47-year-old has enlisted the help of his old international team-mate Shearer, who scored 30 times in 63 games for his country.

The former Newcastle forward met the squad on Tuesday and Kane, who captains England, said: 'He came in and spoke to the lads. It was great to hear from him.
'The lads were attached to him telling the stories about England and his career, what he'd come through, the ups and downs.
'It was great to hav
e an England legend come in with his experience.'