Juve announce media conference amid talk of Buffon, Barzagli renewals

Juventus have called a media conference for Wednesday amid speculation Gianluigi Buffon and Andrea Barzagli are to renew their contracts with the Serie A club.

Reports have indicated goalkeeper Buffon and defender Barzagli will sign deals with Juve until 2018.

Buffon s current contract with the club expires at the end of the 2016-17 season while Barzagli is out of contract at the conclusion of this campaign.

The pair will hold a news conference with chairman Andrea Agnelli at 14:00 local time (12:00 GMT).

. and to meet the media alongside Andrea Agnelli in Vinovo tomorrow at 14.00 CEST.

— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen)

Buffon has won seven Serie A titles and one Coppa Italia since joining Juve from Parma in 2001. He has also twice reach…

Prediction: Crystal Palace vs Fulham

Prediction: Match to end in 2-2 draw

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Crystal Palace and Fulham will lock horns with each other in the Premier League next week. The London derby between the Eagles and the Cottagers will be held at Selhurst Park and is scheduled to kick off at 3pm UK time next Monday (Boxing Day).

Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace are an established club in the Premier League and tend to finish in mid-table. That has been the case for a while, and it is not going to change anytime soon. The Eagles are 11th in the Premier League table at the moment with 19 points from 14 matches, 10 points behind London rivals and fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur (who have played 15 games) and six points above the relegation zone.

Palace’s last Premier Leag…

Argentina v Colombia: Los Cafeteros out to break semi-final hoodoo against Messi-inspired opponents

Colombia will look to pull off an upset and reach the Copa America final for the first time outside of their country when they take on a Lionel Messi-inspired Argentina on Tuesday.

Los Cafeteros have lost their six previous semi-finals at neutral venues in the competition, with their only two final appearances – in 1975 and 2001 – seeing them play at least one game on home soil.

Reinaldo Rueda s side beat Uruguay on penalties in the quarter-finals – David Ospina saving two spot-kicks in the shoot-out – following a goalless draw after 90 minutes.

A tough match with Argentina in Brasilia awaits and Rueda, who was only reappointed by Colombia in January, is happy with the progress made by his side in that short period.

We played a very collective ga…

Koeman, Van Dijk left frustrated over disallowed winner against France

Ronald Koeman and Virgil van Dijk believe Xavi Simon s disallowed goal should have stood after the Netherlands goalless draw with France on Friday.

The midfielder thought he had given his side the lead in the 69th minute after latching onto Memphis Depay s saved shot and picking out the bottom corner.

However, a lengthy VAR check saw the goal ruled out as Denzel Dumfries was judged to be blocking Mike Maignan from getting to it.

The Oranje were not happy with the decision at the time, and their ire continued into post-match, with a frustrated Koeman adamant they should have come away with all three points.

I think the position of Dumfries is offside, that s true, but he isn t disturbing the goalkeeper and when that happens, then it s a legal goal, Koeman…

Bender hopes to see Dortmund stars commit

Borussia Dortmund midfielder Sven Bender has reiterated his hope that the club can tie down their key performers to new contracts, a week after he agreed fresh terms.

Bender extended his contract until 2021 last week but Dortmund are yet to secure the long-term futures of Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Mats Hummels, Ilkay Gundogan and Marcel Schmelzer.

The quartet all see their contracts expire next year, with Bender stating after signing his new deal that he would be glad if some of my other team-mates would follow in the coming weeks .

And speaking to Kicker on Monday, he added: We didn t really discuss [my statement] in the dressing room.

I just wanted to say that we are a totally committed bunch of guys, and it s a whole lot of fun. I hope that it was food for …

En-Nesyri leaves Sevilla to join Mourinho at Fenerbahce

Youssef En-Nesyri has left Sevilla to join Jose Mourinho at Fenerbahce, the Turkish club confirmed on Thursday.

En-Nesyri, who scored 73 times in 196 appearances in La Liga for Sevilla, has signed a five-year deal for a reported €20million fee.

The 27-year-old had previously spent all of his professional career in Spain, enjoying spells at Malaga and Leganes before finding his best form with Sevilla.

En-Nesyri helped Los Nervionenses triumph in the Europa League on two occasions, scoring six goals across 15 appearances in those respective campaigns.

The Morocco international also played a pivotal role in the Atlas Lions semi-final run at the 2022 World Cup, netting twice in Qatar.

En-Nesyri s transfer to the 19-time Super Lig champions sees…

Barcelona Opta special: Setien struggles and Messi magic in 2019-20

Top of the table, sack your head coach, lose El Clasico, return to the top of the table.

It is hard to argue with where Barcelona stand as LaLIga s season pauses amid the coronavirus pandemic, although their means of staying on course for a ninth title in 12 seasons have often been unconvincing.

Here, we take a look back at the Opta numbers behind a campaign where Quique Setien has replaced Ernesto Valverde in the Camp Nou hot seat and many of the old certainties seem not to exist anymore.

Well, apart from one man s enduring brilliance.

by Leo Messi

VIDEO:

— FC Barcelona (from ) (@FCBarcelona)

WORST BARCA TEAM SINCE BEFORE GUARDIOLA

Barcelona s points haul of 58 from 27 games is enough for a two-point lead o…

Marcus Edwards’ reunion with Spurs could stir a sense of regret

Marcus Edwards will never forget his first meeting with Mauricio Pochettino. “Ah, it’s the best young player in the academy,” the then Tottenham manager said, and he watched how the attacking midfielder tried to conceal the surge of pride. “The one with the right foot …”

Er, hang on a second. “You mean the left?” Edwards replied.

“Oh, sorry. Wrong player,” Pochettino said, walking away.

The Argentinian left it for a while before he turned back. “Only joking.” Edwards would also break into a smile.

It was classic Pochettino, a genial ice-breaker undercut by mischief – one designed to establish a connection – and that early period of his S…

College Football Picks Against the Spread Week 13

data-mm-id=”_zngycjhu3″>Season Records: Koster 62-53; Giuffra 56-50; McKeone 55-60; Phillips 53-62Michigan (-8.5) at IndianaKoster: Sandwiched in between two rivalry games, this has all the makings of a trap game. The Hoosiers gave Penn State all it could handle in Happy Valley and can do some impressive things on both sides of the ball. Jim Harbaugh will have his team focused mentally and will get the victory, but it won't come easy. Indiana finds the backdoor here in the final seconds. Michigan 34, Indiana 27Giuffra: Indiana went toe-to-toe with Penn State last week, proving it's no longer a Big Ten pushover. But against Michigan’s improving squad, which is gearing up for its showdown with Ohio State next week, the Hoosiers will have more problems than answers. Michigan 3…

Aston Villa lose Douglas Luiz to Juventus as Barcelona confirm defender will return to Man City

Juventus have signed Douglas Luiz from Aston Villa on a busy day due to the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Regulations.

With clubs needing to comply with PSR and not make more than the permitted £105million loss over a rolling three-year period, June 30 was destined to take on special significance as it was the cut-off date between accounting periods.

had been prominent in recent days with various additions and departures, and 26-year-old Luiz’s stay in the West Midlands came to an end after five seasons and over 150 appearances.

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Juventus marked the signing on their club website by saying: “Douglas Luiz embarks on a new adventure with Juventus after five years with Villa, wh…