As Premier League action picks up following the international break, the focus shifts to Griffin Park where Brentford is set to take on Manchester United. Both teams have important reasons to secure points, setting the stage for an exciting match.

Brentford, currently in 15th place, is fighting to avoid relegation, while Manchester United, sitting in 6th place, is aiming for a top-four finish. Injuries have affected both teams, and recent form has been mixed, adding to the anticipation of what promises to be a dramatic and intense encounter with unpredictable twists.

Team News

Brentford is facing a challenging situation with key defensive players like Rico Henry and Aaron Hickey sidelined due to injuries, and uncertainty surrounding Ethan Pinnock's return. Sergio Reguilon's suspension only adds to their defensive woes, leaving them vulnerable at the back.

In contrast, Manchester United also has injury concerns but has a deeper squad to rely on. Even without some key players like Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez and others, the Red Devils are looking to utilize their resources effectively as they aim for a crucial victory on the road.

Team Form

Brentford form: Loss, loss, Draw, Loss, Loss

Man Utd Form: Loss, Win, Loss, Win, Win

Prediction and Insights

💰In the last five meetings between Brentford and Manchester United, Manchester United has emerged victorious in four matches, while Brentford has only won one. There have been no draws in any of their encounters.

💰On average, previous matches between Brentford and Manchester United have seen a total of 3 goals scored.

💰This season in the Premier League, Brentford have averaged 1.14 Points Per Game at home matches, while Manchester United have achieved an impressive 1.57 Points Per Game in their away games.

💰In their recent matches, Manchester United has performed well by securing 9 points in their last 5 games, whether playing at home or away. This averages out to 1.8 points per game. Notably, in 4 of these games, both teams have scored, making for an exciting watch. Manchester United has also found the back of the net 8 times in their last 5 fixtures.

💰In their last 5 games, Brentford has only earned 1 point, averaging 0.2 points per game. Interestingly, both teams scoring has occurred in 4 of these matches. Brentford has managed to find the net 6 times in their last 5 fixtures.

👉Find the Match Link here👈

8-times winners of the UEFA Women’s Champions League (UWCL), Lyon, will be looking to seal their place in the semi-final of this season’s competition by seeing out Benfica on Wednesday when they welcome the Portuguese giants to the Stade Gérard Houllier.

Last season’s quarter-finalists will be hoping to build on their 2-1 away win from the first leg of their quarter-final tie against Benfica last week when they face a Benfica side that has shown it’s not afraid to express itself against even the current holders of the competition, Barcelona Femenino.

Lyon Can Smell the UWCL Trophy is Close

The all-time winners of the UEFA Women’s Champions League (UWCL) can already smell the 2023/2024 trophy in the air and they will not be interested in losing that scent, especially after they have had a sniff with that first leg win over their opponents.

As it stands, Lyon have one foot in the semi-finals, and having had their path to the final already determined, they would know if they manage to get the job done against the Portuguese, their opponents in the semis will be their French counterparts, PSG.

That would likely motivate them a lot given just how much of an edge they have had over PSG in their previous meetings and also the bonus benefit of knowing they will not be facing the defending champions, Barcelona Femenino, in the semis.

Lyon, 7-0 winners of their last game in the French league over Lille, will be zooming their focus on that trophy and hope they can get the chance to extend their dominance over the UEFA Women’s Champions League.

Benfica Has Proven They Are Not Shy

Benfica, leaders in the Portuguese Women’s League and regulars in the UEFA Women’s Champions League for at least the past three seasons, have proven in this season’s competition that they can be bold.

That was the statement they made when they went toe to toe with Barcelona, the defending champions of the competition in their last group game, playing out an entertaining 4-4 draw with the two-time winners.

A result that ensured Benfica made history in Europe this season by becoming the first Portuguese team ever to reach the quarter-final stage of the UEFA Women’s Champions League.

The Portuguese champions will now head on their travels, where they have put together an 11-game unbeaten away run since losing 5-0 to Barcelona in November in the group stages, and their recent 4-1 league victory over Braga should boost their confidence ahead of the Lyon encounter.

Match Stats

Lyon hasn't lost in 32 matches and is unbeaten in 15 home games while Benfica is on an 11-game unbeaten away run since losing 5-0 to Barcelona in November 2023.

Lyon (W) have won the previous 3 matches against SL Benfica (W) beating them 5-0 twice, one at home and the other away, and 2-1 recently.

SL Benfica (W) have a good record of 5 undefeated games in their last 6 encounters in the UEFA Women’s Champions League.

There have been over 2.5 goals in 4 of Lyon’s last 5 games in all competitions while Benfica has seen over 2.5 goals in 3 of their last 5 games in all competitions.

You can check out the Lyon vs Benfica UWCL game on MSport here

The champions of the 2020 European Championship, Italy, will be looking to test their readiness for the difficult task of trying to defend their crown as current holders with a friendly against South American long-timers, Ecuador on Sunday night.

Having done barely enough to secure their qualification for the next edition of the competition in Germany by finishing 2nd thanks to a better head-to-head record over Ukraine in the qualifying group, Italy now has to face the hardest part, defending the crown.

Ecuador too, on the other hand, will be hoping to use this game as a litmus test for their readiness towards the biggest international tournament in South America and a trophy they have never won, the Copa America.

New Boss, Luciano Spalletti Looks Poised for the Task

The former Napoli manager and the man to have led the Naples club to their first league title in years, Luciano Spalletti, looks very ready for the huge task of defending the Euros.

The manager knows first-hand what it is to lead a side to glory. He has done it several times in his club career with AS Roma and Zenit St, Petersburg and he looks to do it again.

Having had to replace fellow compatriot Roberto Mancini as the Italian boss with six games still to go in the qualifiers for the tournament, Spalletti led the rather young and new-looking Italy side to the finish line with 3 wins, 2 draws and a single defeat to England.

Since then he has beaten another South American side, Venezuela, 2-1, and is looking to make Ecuador the next side he has overcome on his list.

With two more friendly matches lined up before Italy’s opening game of the tournament against Albania, Spalletti with his young Italian side will have to take full advantage of the opportunity these games provide them.

Ecuador, Having Been World Cup Tested, is Looking Good

Ecuador was at the last FIFA World Cup as the only nation to join the traditional ones representing South America on the world stage, (Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay) ahead of Chile, Costa Rica, Paraguay etc.

As a matter of fact, they made the world tournament ahead of Italy, their opponents, and all that was due to their hard work and progression over the past few years.

As we speak, they are ranked 5th, ahead of Brazil, Paraguay, Chile, Bolivia and Peru in the ongoing World Cup qualifications for the next edition.

Led by Spanish manager, Felix Sanchez, the Ecuadorians are currently on a 6 game-unbeaten run that includes a victory over Uruguay and a draw with Colombia in the World Cup Qualifiers with their last defeat a 1-0 loss in the same competition against World Champs, Argentina.

Match Stats

Italy are unbeaten in 4 home games while Ecuador haven't lost in 6 matches.

The last time the two sides met was in the 2002 FIFA World Cup with the Italian running out 2-0 winners.

Italy have conceded 6 goals and scored 12 in their last 5 games while Ecuador have conceded just 1 goal and scored 5 in as many games.

You can check out the Italy vs Ecuador friendly game on MSport here:

https://www.msport.com/ng/web/sports/Soccer/International_Int__Friendly_Games/Italy_vs_Ecuador/sr:match:47748429?k=Italy?EMA

A Spanish national team, which has seen some quiet finally after news of Real Madrid winger, Brahim Diaz’s nationality switch to Morocco broke, is set to test its squad before the start of the Euros against South American giants, Colombia on Friday night.

For the Colombians, too, this game presents them with an opportunity to see first-hand what they are capable of against top-ranked teams in Europe before they try to win their first Copa America title since 2001 later this year when the tournament starts in June.

Spain’s Young Talents like Nico & Yamal, to Justify Their Euros Inclusion

Spain has three friendly matches lined up before the start of the European Championship in Germany in June, i.e. this one, another against Brazil, and the final one against Albania, and all these games are to help manager Luis de la Fuente choose his final 23-man squad.

While there are some names like the proven old guard that might be guaranteed for the tournament, for the young lads, some if not all, might have to use these games to show the manager that they can offer something at the tournament.

While of Spain’s young core, Barca pair of Pedri and Gavi seem guaranteed starters, with Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams now gradually establishing himself as one too, there are others like Pau Cubarsi, Alex Baena, Yamal, Ohain Sancet, Martin Zubemendi and Daniel Vivian, all with less than 5 caps for the senior national team will have to prove themselves.

Called up for these friendlies, they would all be hoping to use these games, especially with Pedri and Gavi absent through injuries, to try to impress the manager and their senior teammates ahead of their first game of the Euros against Luka Modric’s Croatia in June.

Colombia Have an Unbeaten Run to Protect

While Spain comes into this friendly on an eight-game winning run, Colombia come into this one unbeaten in their last 19 matches in all competitions, with their last defeat being a 1-0 loss to Argentina in February 2022.

Aside from that, Nestor Lorenzo's side is on a four-game winning run in all competitions, including a 2-1 success over Brazil in November, with their last two matches being friendlies, where they beat Venezuela 1-0 and Mexico 3-2 in their final two games of 2023.

So if it is a test Spain wants, they will have one against this Colombian side, who have shown they will provide stern competition for Spain in West Ham’s London Stadium on Friday.

Match Stats

• Spain hasn't lost in their last 8 matches in all competitions, while Colombia haven't lost in their last 19 matches in all competitions.
• Spain and Colombia have met twice only in the past, all in friendlies with Spain winning 1-0 when the two met in 2011 and drew 2-2 in 2017.
• Spain have scored 15 goals in their last 5 games in all competitions while conceding just 2. Colombia on the other hand, have scored 6 and conceded just 3.

You can check out the Spain vs Colombia friendly game on MSport here.