Barcelona defender Gerard Pique has revealed that he came close to walking away from football two years ago.
The Catalans endured a difficult campaign in 2013-14, finishing second in LaLiga to Atletico Madrid, who also knocked them out of the Champions League at the quarter-final stage.
A 2-1 defeat in the Copa del Rey final to Real Madrid had preceded their league disappointment, and head coach Gerardo Martino soon departed after less than a year in charge.
Pique s World Cup campaign in Brazil fared little better, as Spain were dumped out during the group stage following a 5-1 thrashing by Netherlands and a 2-0 loss to Chile.
And the 29-year-old has admitted that he nearly called time on his playing career as he felt that his passion for the sport had eb…
Manchester City crowned treble champions
While Pep Guardiola might have guided Manchester City on a major Premier League romp since arriving at the Etihad back in 2016, the former Barcelona boss had made it abundantly clear that European success was at the top of his priorities.
Publicly stating that his record-breaking tenure with the English giants would not be complete if he couldn’t guide City to a maiden Champions League crown, the Spanish tactician finally achieved arguably his greatest achievement back in June.
Pinching a 1-0 victory against Italian heavyweights Inter Milan out in Istanbul as they secured a 1-0 victory, Man City also made plenty of history.
Becoming the first Premier League club since their bitter local rivals Manchester United in 1999…
Like a little kid pushing broccoli around their plate, I’ve saved the grossest NFL betting preview for last.
The Houston Texans are bracing for a bad season. It’s not just the quality of the roster they’re rolling out, but all the baggage that comes along with it.
Deshaun Watson has gone from an MVP candidate to a reviled villain, accused of multiple sexual assaults which have made the disgruntled QB untradable. We do know Watson won’t be suiting up for Houston, one of the many reasons why Houston is point spread poison in 2021.
This is our 2021 Houston Texans NFL betting preview.
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Week 18 closes the book on the NFL regular season but before that story ends, there are plenty of twists and turns to come in these finales.
The last week of the schedule is always a tough one to navigate, especially when you’re planning which NFL Week 18 odds to bet now and which ones to bet later.
We know which teams are playing for playoff positions but what about the motivations of those teams not qualifying for the tournament? And as of this writing, the Week 18 schedule isn’t even set in stone with two Saturday slots to fill and a Sunday nighter. Oh yeah, and COVID.
It’s a bit of a crapshoot in Week 18, but we do our best with the spreads and totals to bet now and the NFL lines you might want to wait on.
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Week 15 of the NFL season offers us a fantastic AFC East matchup with the Miami Dolphins taking on the division-topping Buffalo Bills.
Snowy conditions are expected for much of the day but aren’t in the forecast during Saturday night’s game, which features a 42.5-point total.
Will wideout Stefon Diggs impact this important AFC East clash? Find out in our NFL prop picks below… and check out both our Stefon Diggs spotlight props and Dolphins vs. Bills picks for more.
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The Jacksonville Jaguars’ adventures across the pond continue on Sunday with a second straight London game — and I’m taking a closer look at the NFL odds for their tasty matchup against the Buffalo Bills.
The Jaguars may not have the British accent down pat yet, but they’ve been in the UK for more than a week and should head into this Week 5 odds battle with an edge on the Bills when it comes to travel and time zones.
Jet lag might be the only thing to slow down this Buffalo team after a 48-20 statement win over the Miami Dolphins last Sunday, and the Bills will be one of the popular NFL picks this weekend.
Read on for my favorite NFL player props for the Jaguars vs Bills. Be sure to also check out our Jaguars vs. Bills betting preview…
Things are looking very ugly in Kansas City right now after the Chiefs have dropped three of their last four and four of their last six. That includes last week, during which Mahomes just completed 61.4% of his passes and threw an interception en route to a 20-14 loss to the Raiders.
In Week 17 odds, they will host the Cincinnati Bengals, who are looking for revenge after getting bounced by the Chiefs in last year’s playoffs.
Can Mahomes and company finally turn things around or will the struggles continue for the two-time MVP and the Chiefs?
Continue reading as we break down Patrick Mahomes odds and offer our best free NFL picks and predictions for the Bengals vs Chiefs Week 17 matchup on Sunday, December 31st.
Be sure to also check out our Beng…
Welcome back, NFL! And perhaps more importantly, welcome back NFL odds!
Week 1 is almost entirely in the books, but we’ve got Aaron Rodgers’ return for the New York Jets against the San Francisco 49ers still on tap for Monday Night Football.
Lines for that game and all Week 1 matchups are moving daily, so I break down the latest news and notes for the NFL Week 1 odds.
NFL Week 1 Odds
Below are the live NFL odds for Week 1, available from regulated sportsbooks in your location.
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Steve Bruce has said he is determined to shed his tag as a firefighter after returning to management at West Brom following a draining spell in the north-east.
Bruce believes Newcastle supporters may look back on mid-table finishes during his reign differently in time, but after signing an 18-month contract at the Hawthorns his priority is to help a flailing team conquer the Championship by winning his fifth promotion from the division.
Bruce said a four-month break from the game allowed for a much-needed rest. He spent some time watching cricket in Dubai and was due to attend England’s three Test matches in the Caribbean next month, as well as go on safari in the Serengeti, but has cancelled those plans to return…
Paris Saint-Germain host Nimes in the first game of their title defence when the 2019-20 Ligue 1 season gets under way.
Thomas Tuchel s side who are seeking a third straight title in France then face Rennes, Toulouse and Metz in their other August fixtures.
Marseille s first league game under new coach Andre Villas-Boas comes at home to Reims. The first Classique of the season is hosted by PSG in October and the return game is set for late March.
Lille finished a distant second to PSG last term and their season starts at home to Nantes with games against Amiens, Saint-Etienne and Reims following in the opening month. PSG host Lille in November and the reverse fixture is set for January.
are stepping up their game in announcing their schedule for the 2…