Prediction: SC Internacional to win 2-0

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Gremio and SC Internacional will lock horns with each other in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A this weekend. The match between Renato Portaluppi’s side and Eduardo Coudet’s team will be held at Arena do Grêmio and is scheduled to kick off at 9:30 pm UK time on Saturday.

Gremio

Gremio are one of the most well-known and most well-supported clubs in Brazil, but they are having a tough time at the moment. Imortal Tricolor had a very good 2023 campaign, but things are going rather badly for them right now. 

Tricolor dos Pampas finished second in the 2023 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A and won the 2024 Campeonato Gaúcho campaign. Renato Portaluppi’s side are second from bottom…

Nuno Espirito Santo hailed the importance of Morgan Gibbs-White after he inspired Nottingham Forest to a vital 3-1 win over Fulham.

Gibbs-White put in a virtuoso display in a golden first half which saw Forest cruise into a 3-0 lead.

After setting up Callum Hudson-Odoi’s opener, he watched as Chris Wood made it 2-0 before completing the scoring with a fine finish on the stroke of half-time.

“Morgan is a very special player for us,” the Portuguese said.

“Very important, talented, the work rate on the pitch, but to allow Morgan to have these moments a lot of things happen behind, hard work by the boys and this is very important.”

That sublime opening 45 minutes laid the foundations for just a second league win of 2024 for Forest and the fi…

Paris Saint-Germain will be expected to make a winning start to their Ligue 1 title defence, while each of the newly promoted teams will receive a tough examination of their credentials on the opening weekend.

It may not be clear who will be managing PSG when the new season starts, but PSG know the identity of their opponents, with the champions set to travel to face Clermont Foot on the weekend of August 6 and 7.

That same weekend will see Auxerre, the 1995-96 champions back in the top flight after 10 seasons in the second tier, visit the team PSG deposed, Lille.

Toulouse are back after two seasons away and will open their campaign at home against Nice, who finished fifth last season.

Fellow new boys Ajaccio, playing at this level for the first time sinc…

Seattle Sounders face Los Angeles FC on Saturday in what Brian Schmetzer has described as a game between two of the biggest clubs in MLS.

Reigning MLS Cup champions LAFC head to Lumen Field with two wins under their belt from their two games this season – they are second in the Western Conference, one place ahead of Seattle, who are also on six points but lost at FC Cincinnati last time out.

LAFC were beaten by Alajuelense in the CONCACAF Champions League on Wednesday but have still progressed in that competition thanks to a 3-0 win in the first leg.

And Schmetzer knows the Sounders will have to be at their best to end LAFC s winning start to the MLS season.

This feels like a game between two of the biggest clubs in the league, said Schmetzer.

…

UEFA has reaffirmed its commitment in placing safety and security at the centre of its organisational plans for Euro 2016 following Tuesday s attacks on Brussels.

Thirty-four people have been killed, according to the latest official figures, after two bombs were detonated at Zaventem Airport and a further device went off at Maelbeek metro station in the Belgian capital.

It has brought safety and security at Euro 2016 into sharp focus with the tournament set to kick-off in France in a little over two months time.

UEFA say the SAS venture they set up alongside the French Football Federation is continuing to work to ensure a safe event for players and spectators alike.

A UEFA statement released on Tuesday read: Following today s events in Brussels, …

Barcelona are back; back in form, back in the Champions League places in LaLiga and back looking forward to facing neighbours Espanyol again.

After a 4-2 win against Atletico Madrid last time out, following a transfer window widely considered to be a success, the Blaugrana are on the up.

Still a huge 15 points off the pace set by bitter rivals Real Madrid, there will be no title tilt, but Barca can this week focus on their local foes.

A few short weeks ago, Espanyol might have wondered if this could be their opportunity to turn around a dismal run in their biggest fixture.

Now, Xavi – whose coaching career at Barca began with a 1-0 home win over Espanyol – takes his team to Cornella-El Prat with the players full of confidence, as Stats Perform finds.<…

Lionel Messi says Diego Maradona would be super happy after he overtook the late Argentina great as his country s most capped player at a World Cup.

Paris Saint-Germain superstar Messi played a full part in Wednesday s 2-0 win over Poland that secured Argentina top spot in Group C and a last-16 tie with Australia.

Messi, who had a penalty saved by Wojciech Szczesny with the game level, was making his 22nd appearance in the competition – one more than his former coach Maradona.

I only learned about this record recently, Messi said when told about his latest achievement. It s a pleasure to be able to continue achieving these kinds of records.

I think Diego would be super happy for me because he s always showed me a lot of affection. He was always happy …

Best Odds: 4/5

Bookmaker:

Two sides who will turn their attention back to Champions League qualifying duties on Tuesday evening, Molde will travel to Finland when they meet HJK for their first-leg showdown.

Starting with the hosts, while HJK might have extended on their Champions League qualifying adventure last week as they eventually clinched a nail-biting 3-2 aggregate win against Larne, it is fair o say that the Finnish outfit are seeking some recent stability. Although Toni Korkeakunnas men might have claimed a crucial 1-0 victory at home against Llves, that is only the second win that the Klubi have mustered from their last six appearances within 90 minutes. Largely crashing back down to earth since returning from June’s international break, the Helsinki…

The Republic of Ireland head into their daunting Euro 2024 qualifier clash with France without the man the nation had hoped might inspire a fightback.

Stephen Kenny will send his troops into Group B battle with the World Cup runners-up at the Parc des Princes on Thursday evening with in-form Brighton striker Evan Ferguson a frustrated by-stander after a knee injury forced his withdrawal from the squad, just as Ireland’s fledgling campaign reached crunch-point.

Here, the PA news agency takes a look at some of the talking points surrounding a crucial fixture in Paris.

Evan help us

Ferguson’s absence leaves Kenny facing a rethink after integrating the 18-year-old into his starting line-up in recent games. His two goals in six senior appearances to date – as w…

Carlo Ancelotti is not concerned by Real Madrid s struggles in front of goal and is confident Karim Benzema will soon get back to scoring ways.

Madrid failed to register a single shot on target in Thursday s 1-0 Copa del Rey semi-final first-leg loss to Barcelona – the first time that has happened in a home game since 2010.

Los Blancos managed seven attempts on target in their most recent LaLiga outing, but they found the net from just one of those in a 1-1 draw against Atletico Madrid.

Benzema played a full part in both games without scoring, but his mini drought was preceded by a two-goal showing in Madrid s stunning 5-2 Champions League win at Liverpool.

The former France international has 18 goals in 26 appearances this season, and Ancelotti defende…