Despite the title race in the Premier League already being decided, and the ones in Spain and Italy seemingly sorted also, unless Real Madrid and Juventus bottle it, there’s still plenty to look out for between now and the end of the season.
The race for a Champions League place in both England and Spain is entering an exciting final stretch, while matters at the wrong end of the table are still very much up in the air.
Who knows what will happen between now and the end of the season. The only thing guaranteed is that there will be plenty of drama along the way.
Friday 3rd July Bronze Match Day Winners:
- Star Player – Alvaro Morata (2p)
- Top Defender – Kieran Trippier (2p)
- Top Midfielder – Koke (2p)
- Top Forward – Alvaro Morata (2p)
- Media – Bruno Fernandes (3p)
Saturday 4th July Gold Match Day Winners:
- Star Player – Juan Cuadrado (8p)
- Top Defender – Cesar Azpilicueta (8p)
- Top Midfielder – Juan Cuadrado (8p)
- Top Forward – Willian (8p)
- Media – Mason Greenwood (3p)
Sunday 5th July Gold Match Day Winners:
- Star Player – Erick Pulgar (8p)
- Top Defender – Sergio Ramos (8p)
- Top Forward – Lorenzo Insigne (8p)
- Media – Mason Greenwood (3p)
England’s Future Looks Very Bright
The future of English football looks extremely bright if performances across the weekend are anything to go by, especially at the so-called bigger clubs in the division.
Mason Greenwood (9.46) starred for Manchester United with a well-taken brace against Bournemouth in their 5-2 win, taking his league tally to eight for season. It caught the headlines as you would imagine, with him earning Media Dividends for both Saturday and Sunday, while in the last week his Share Price has risen by an astonishing 3.13.
Elsewhere, there were first Premier League goals for both Bukayo Saka (4.26) and Curtis Jones (3.37), with the pair rising by 79p and 26p respectively.
Even in the Championship, Rhian Brewster (2.18) is showing what he is capable of whilst out on loan from Liverpool, as he leads Swansea’s promotion push. He netted his eighth league goal for the Swans, with his price in the last week rising by a tidy 8p.
Phil Foden (7.97) has already shown what he is capable of since the restart with three goals and an assist in the league, which has seen his price rise by 1.31 in the last week, while the likes of Jadon Sancho (14.00), Trent Alexander-Arnold (10.30) and Marcus Rashford (7.82) are already established names and are still only 20, 21 and 22 to name but a few.
With Euro 2020 being postponed until next year, it gives players who were set to miss out this season the opportunity to stake a genuine claim to be included in Gareth Southgate’s squad in a year’s time.
Double Figures for Sergio Ramos
It’s a rare occurrence for a defender to reach double figures for a season in terms of goals scored, never mind a centre-back.
That’s a feat however that Sergio Ramos (1.09) has managed to achieve this season, as he converted from the spot against Athletic Bilbao over the weekend for his 10th La Liga goal of the season in a 1-0 win.
It was an important win to keep momentum at the top of the table as they look to fend off the challenge of Barcelona for the title, while for Ramos, the win also coincided with him taking home Sunday’s Top Defender Dividends.
In the last week he has risen by 14p, and while many will say it’s easy to reach that figure as a penalty taker, they still have to be converted, which the Spaniard is making a habit of.
Landmarks for Club Legends
It’s not often that Jamie Vardy (1.11) and Gianluigi Buffon (0.34) will appear in the same sentence, but the pair reached notable landmarks over the weekend.
Having been stuck on 99 Premier League goals for what seemed like an eternity, Vardy finally joined the 100 club with a brace against Crystal Palace, becoming the 12th-fastest player to reach that landmark in the competition’s history.
When you also see the names he is amongst, it heightens the already-terrific achievement even further, as he sets his eyes on the Premier League Golden Boot come the end of the campaign.
In Serie A, a rare start for Buffon in the Juventus goal proved to be a historic one, as his 648th appearance in the competition saw him break Paolo Maldini’s record and become the league’s all-time top appearance holder.
Memphis Depay Set for a Premier League Return?
Memphis Depay (4.71)’s time at Manchester United was not a memorable one, but it is a credit to the Dutch international that he managed to get his career back on track following a move to Lyon.
53 goals and 42 assists for the French club in 133 games demonstrates he is a top player able to play anywhere across the forward line, with recent reports suggesting his set for a second crack at things in England.
A move to Arsenal has been touted in the column inches as a replacement for either Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang or Alexandre Lacazette were they to depart, as Mikel Arteta looks to stamp his mark at the Emirates ahead of his first full season in charge.
Depay has risen by 17p in the last week, and with Lyon set to be without Champions League football next season, it could mean a move for one of their prized assets.
Dominik Szoboszlai | A Man in Demand
Finishing with a look at one of the hottest talents in world football currently, Dominik Szoboszlai (2.42) is enjoying a fabulous season with Red Bull Salzburg in Austria.
The 19-year-old finished his season with a converted penalty and an assist in a 3-0 win over LASK for the already-confirmed champions, as Europe’s elite circle for the Hungarian starlet.
He was confirmed as the league’s Player of the Season recently, following a league campaign that saw his net nine goals and provide 14 assists, in what could be his final season in Salzburg.
Szoboszlai, who has risen by 48p in the last month, has already been linked with the like of AC Milan and Arsenal, but don’t be surprised to see clubs competing in the Champions League register an interest, such is his talent.