AEK is alone on top of the Super League table after beating Lamia on Sunday, while Olympiakos narrowly escaped a home loss to Asteras Tripolis. The weekend produced just six goals in seven games, with four of the goals coming from the penalty spot as Greek fans were treated to a diet of very poor soccer.
Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez has been linked with a winter window move away from the Emirates. The Chilean’s family is reportedly in London ahead of the likely move. The 29-year old is keen on moving to Manchester City to feature under former coach Pep Guardiola. However, there are strong indications that Manchester United want to wade into the deal.
The player is worth around £25-35 million as his deal with the Emirates is less than six months out. Guardiola want cover for the injured Gabriel Jesus, with Sergio Aguero the only option in centre forward. The Catalan manager is very open to the idea of a false nine, which he employed while at Barcelona. Sanchez fits this role very well but the deal depends on so many factors.
Hardly has there been a dull moment around the All Blacks this season, and that theme continues into the final test of the year with three significant starting changes and a new captain in Cardiff.
Sam Whitelock will lead the All Blacks for the first time after Kieran Read succumbed to a troublesome hip flexor issue that has plagued him for the past two weeks. In other news, Rieko Ioane has made a surprise recovery.
Fake brains reek off from starched white chef’s hat of Mitchell Drummond, and artificial blood stains doused on the front of his shirt as a secret tactic to be released against the All Blacks were exposed in London.
Just over a week later the halfback wore clobber more conventional for the debrief of another pre-game – except this was before his first appearance for the All Blacks against a French XV in their midweek match in Lyon.
The All Blacks and their coach, Steve Hansen, have been overlooked at next week’s New Zealand Rugby awards for the big prizes.
And is not the only one facing this, there was also no place for Beauden Barrett also among the player of the year contenders, despite that fact that he has taken home the men’s player of the year award at World Rugby’s awards earlier this week.