Pjanic targeting big things with Juventus

Market: Both teams to score

Odds: 3/5 @

In what could prove to be a lively affair from Coopers Stadium on Friday morning, Adelaide will host Melbourne City when this weekend s A-League fixtures get underway.

Starting with the hosts, mounting a dramatic late comeback away at Melbourne Victory last weekend as they eventually snatched a 1-1 draw, Adelaide are enjoying what has been an eye-catching flurry. Currently sat with just their goal difference keeping them from breaking into the AFC Champions League spots, Carl Veart s side are now unbeaten in each of their last seven A-League appearances a run that stems all the way back to January 6th. Putting in what was a remarkable display a fortnight ago as they played out a 4-4 draw at home against Western Sydney, the…

Giannis Antetokounmpo and his brothers are among a new set of minority investors to acquire a stake in Major League Soccer side Nashville SC.

The two-time NBA MVP, alongside his Milwaukee Bucks team-mate Thanasis and other siblings Kostas and Alex, are the latest sports stars to buy into an MLS outfit.

The terms of the stake acquired by the quartet, who are joined by Nashville Predators forward Filip Forsberg in becoming investors into the Tennessee franchise, has not been disclosed.

In a statement, Giannis confirmed his excitement to come on board with the team, who finished fifth in the Western Conference last season before a first-round playoff exit to LA Galaxy in the MLS Cup.

My father was a professional soccer player, and it was the first sport I f…

Kalidou Koulibaly is a potential star of the summer transfer window. Napoli defender is doing brilliantly for the Partenopei in recent years and with Napoli seemingly becoming Italy s second club that is nowhere near winning the title and after crashing out of Europa League in quarterfinal at the hands of Arsenal, the rumours of his potential move are circulating even more.

Numerous clubs were mentioned to be interested in the Senegalese centre-back, with Manchester United the most prominent of them. The Devils are in desperate need of a centre-back for some time now and in Koulibaly, they would get a world class player. However, the player does not seem to want to go to England right now.

Why? I grew up in this league. It s the league that made me the player …

Barcelona boss Xavi insists he was not trying to send any message to Frenkie de Jong by playing him out of position in defence after being subbed on at half-time in their 1-0 friendly win against Real Madrid.

De Jong, 25, has been at the centre of Barcelona s transfer discussions this off-season, with the widespread belief that the club must sell him to balance their books after expensive moves for Leeds United winger Raphinha and Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski.

The Dutch international is not totally inexperienced in defence, but he is undoubtedly more comfortable in the centre of midfield, but with plenty of competition for that position, Xavi said he was simply taking advantage of De Jong s versatility.

No, I didn t send any messages, he said. I thin…

Jeremy Toulalan has left Bordeaux, the former France international cancelling his contract at the Ligue 1 club on the same day Jocelyn Gourvennec left his role as head coach.

Gourvennec departed on Thursday following a 2-0 defeat at home to Caen Bordeaux s seventh loss in their last eight matches in all competitions with Eric Bedouet put in temporary charge.

Toulalan, a two-time Ligue 1 champion with Lyon, signed for Bordeaux at the end of his Monaco contract in June 2016.

The 34-year-old requested an early end to his Bordeaux deal following Gourvennec s exit, with the club agreeing to let him leave.

Whatever Jeremy decides to do next, everybody here at the club wishes him all the best, Bordeaux said in a statement.

The image which will remain o…

Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk has warned his rivals that his side intend to play attacking football at Euro 2012.

The Dutch were heavily criticised for a circumspect approach at the 2010 World Cup, but Van Marwijk has made it clear that Oranje always look to go on the offensive against their opponents.

We want to attack, but it has to be done in a responsible way. And sometimes you do it in a more attacking way than other times, Van Marwijk said.

We could put a little accent on attack, or play in a more defensive way.

At the World Cup, we played large parts of games in our opponents half. That means you need to be very patient, because if you force yourself too much – and we know the level of football at the Euros – then you know you will fac…

Netherlands great Johan Cruyff believes Spain s Euro 2012 campaign could be derailed by the rivalry between Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Since Jose Mourinho became coach at the Santiago Bernabeu in May 2010, the two clubs Clasico clashes have produced a number of vicious spats between the players and coaching staff.

And Cruyff, who spent five years at Camp Nou as a player and eight years as head coach, believes the bitterness between the two camps could be detrimental to Spain s chances of retaining their Euro crown.

Spain have a very good team, but coach Vicente del Bosque has his hands full with the large wedge that Jose Mourinho drove between the Real Madrid and Barcelona players, he told De Telegraaf.

There is no favourite, there are many strong team…

Antoine Griezmann will leave Atletico Madrid this summer and Barcelona are prime favourites to get him. A release clause of 125 million euros needs to be activated for that to happen and Blaugrana seem eager to do so. But Xavi Hernandez, the club legend, has a different point of view. Former Barcelona player says that he could see this potential transfer doing more harm than good for his old club.

“I understand it hurt what he did last summer [not joining Barcelona]. If the reason for the rejection [from Barca players] was only a footballing issue, I’d speak with the dressing room to make them see he’s a player who can bring something. We have to see, however, who is signing him? The sporting director? [Ernesto] Valverde? The president?

Xavi continued ab…

Everton really want to keep Richarlison at the club. After another good season from the Brazilian under Marco Silva, the Toffees want to do everything in their powers to keep the player at the club and the latest reports about his price-tag are telling exactly the same story.

According to The Sun, Everton have put an eye-watering £100m price-tag on the Brazilian forward amid links to Manchester United and Barcelona. The former Watford winger is 22 years old and he hit 13 Premier League goals in 35 appearances this season. As a result of that, he has been linked with a move away from Goodison Park, but it looks like Silva and director of football Marcel Brands both want to prevent that from happening.

The Toffees are therefore not keen to let him leave for che…

Stevan Jovetic has been left out of Manchester City s UEFA Champions League squad, but Manuel Pellegrini says he has a future.

Manuel Pellegrini insists Stevan Jovetic s days at Manchester City are not necessarily numbered, despite his UEFA Champions League omission.

The Montenegro striker was dropped from City s squad for the latter stages of Europe s premier club competition on Thursday, with January signing Wilfried Bony taking his place.

Jovetic s City career has never really taken off following his move from Fiorentina in July 2013, but Pellegrini says the 25-year-old can still have a future with the Premier League champions.

He said: I don t think that one thing is linked with the other,

It s very important for Stevan to try to play n…