SOCCER FOOTBALL 24H

Match Odds Plymouth, with a bigger fanbase on crowd averages, are the slight favourites for the 90-minute victory at  2.70 , with AFC Wimbledon at  3.10 . The draw is about  3.30 . Plymouth finished the League Two season six points above the Dons who didn't have the greatest record against fellow top seven teams, a combination of which seems to justify their bigger price than Argyle. But they showed great character to come back at Accrington and the second half of the season was when they came on strong. The historical fact that Plymouth have been to Wembley just once before, winning the 1996 Third Division playoff final, will have no bearing, especially when AFC Wimbledon, as a club, have a more recent playoff winning experience, albeit not at Wembley. AFC Wimbledon will be hoping to keep the defence, for whom  Paul Robinson  has been excellent, as tight as in six of their last eight matches, when they kept a clean sheet.  Dannie Bulman's  pres...

Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid Saturday 19:45  (Live on BT Sport Europe) Real   2.54 , Atletico  3.35 , The Draw  3.20 Match Odds Since 2001, 6/15 Champions League finals have gone to  extra-time . That too suggests the draw is generously priced at  3.20 . With both sides at full strength and bringing solid defences to this weekend's jamboree, we're expecting another close encounter. Low-scoring games (see below) are more likely to be drawn, so we're bracing for a 2016 Champions League final that's short on goals and long on duration. Over/Under 2.5 Goals Since April last year, there have been four  Madrid derbies . Between them, they've produced just four goals. Going back to February 2014 again, 8/12 meetings have ended with two goals or fewer, and  Under 2.5 Goals  is a firm favourite for this weekend. Method of Victory Instead of just backing the draw, back both teams to win on penalties to level stakes - both at 10.50 ...

Hull v Sheffield Wednesday Saturday 28 May, 17:00 Championship Play-Off Final, Wembley Match Odds The Tigers are  2.36  favourites with Wednesday available to back at  3.60  and the draw priced at 3.30 . Remember that these prices just apply to  90 minutes  and there is a separate market if you fancy backing either side to win in extra-time or on penalties. Over/Under 2.5 goals This makes the  1.59  about under 2.5 goals plenty  short enough  in the circumstances. That's not to say I don't expect a tight contest but I thought we'd see the same last year only for Norwich to race into a two-goal lead after just 15 minutes against Middlesbrough. Surprisingly, that one actually stayed like that for the rest of the game so unders did land but on this occasion with the prices on offer the market just  doesn't appeal . Recommended Bets Back Sheffield Wednesday to win promotion at   2.52  *best bet Back the draw ...

Taking advantage of their stay in Milan, Atletico Madrid directors held talks with their Inter counterparts regarding a move for Marcelo Brozovic. The Nerazzurri look resigned to the fact that one or two big name players will have to be sold this summer, and it appears the Croatian could be on his way out. Atletico are in Italy for their battle with Real Madrid in Saturday’s Champions League final, though it appears they also made time to discuss a potential transfer for Brozovic. Miguel Angel Gil is said to have met with Inter sporting director Piero Ausilio on Friday, with the Croatian midfielder the main topic of discussion. The news comes just a week after Brozovic’s agent made it clear that his client would happily stay at Inter, but only if his contract is improved. ''Marco is torn because he is happy in Milan and at Inter, but he wants to play in the Champions League,” Miroslav Bicanic told reporters. ''My opinion is that he would stay at Inter if t...

A turbulent week for Manchester United rounded off with some great news for supporters, as the Red Devils now look forward to next season with confidence. The win in the FA Cup final last week was marred by the sacking of Louis van Gaal 48 hours later and plenty has happened since then. With rumours rife and speculation flying everywhere, the club finally made the announcement everyone had wanted on Friday. With that in mind, here is a round-up of everything surrounding the club as we wrap up the business week. Manchester United confirmed the arrival of Jose Mourinho as their new manager on Friday. The 53-year-old signed a three-year deal with the option of a further year and admitted after he could not turn down such a massive club like the Red Devils. Manchester United created 312 chances in the league this season. Furthermore, Manchester United‘s executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has labelled Jose Mourinho the “best manager” in the game, after the arrival of the 53-yea...

Chelsea appear to have made contact with Juventus for the transfer of midfielder Paul Pogba, a player valued at around €100million by his current club, the news comes from the reliable GFFN. Pogba is of course in demand and is regarded as one of the best midfielders in Europe, and he is only 23. Pogba has developed very well in Serie A but it seems as if this summer he would like to move on. Barcelona and Real Madrid are two serious contenders, but the former has financial constraints that may restrict a big money move. Chelsea do not. Chelsea’s lack of Champions League status may come back to haunt them in this one though as there will be plenty of big name clubs with European status that have the money to attract Pogba. At this stage, Juventus surely seems a better destination for Pogba than Chelsea, who appear to view Radja Nainggolan as a more realistic central midfield addition. There no point in trying to portray the strengths of Pogba and how he would improve Chelsea, beca...

HJK Helsinki v HIFK Thursday May 26, 16:30 There are a few ways you could play this. You could back the in-form hosts to win at  1.54 , a decent play given that they have won their last four games, and have a 100% home record. If there was some liquidity in the  Asian Handicap  market, I'd have a crack at backing the hosts -1.0 or -1.5. However, with no money currently in that market, we have to look elsewhere. You could back Over 2.5 Goals  at  1.75 , which has paid out in seven of HJK's ten games, including the last four. I'm looking at backing  Both Teams To Score  at  1.87 . Both teams have netted in seven of HJK's league games, and six of HIFK's nine outings. Recommended Bet Back Both Teams To Score at   1.87

Arsenal have confirmed the signing of Switzerland midfielder Granit Xhaka from Borussia Monchengladbach. Sky sources reported at the weekend that Xhaka was in the process of completing the move for a fee in the region of £30m - Arsenal's third-most expensive transfer. Xhaka subsequently completed his medical and will join up with his new team-mates after Euro 2016, where he is expected to star for Switzerland. The 23-year-old has been among the outstanding central-midfield performers in the Bundesliga in recent seasons. Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger said: "Granit is an exciting young player, already with good Champions League and Bundesliga experience. "We have been watching him for a long time now and he is a player who will add quality to our squad.

Mario Balotelli is set for a return to Liverpool after AC Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi revealed the striker is among a host of departures at the club. Balotelli joined Milan on a season-long loan in August last year but endured a disappointing campaign at the San Siro, scoring just once in 20 Serie A appearances. The 25-year-old, who still has two years left on his Liverpool deal, admitted in April he does not want a return to Liverpool at the end of the season. Milan finished seventh in Serie A this season, with coach Sinisa Mihajlovic sacked and replaced by Cristian Brocchi a month out from the end of the campaign. And Berlusconi confirmed there would be a big clean-out at the club in the summer, with Balotelli just one of several players heading for the exit door. "There are many departures in sight, and Mario is one who will end his contract with us," the 79-year-old told Telelombardi. "There is also [Philippe] Mexes, Alex, [Kevin-Prince] Boateng and o...

The Real Madrid forward was forced out of a training session – attended by the media – on Tuesday after collapsing to the floor following a challenge with reserve goalkeeper Kiko Casilla. Ronaldo was seen throwing a water bottle to the ground in anger as he hobbled off the pitch to the changing rooms. However, the 31-year-old insisted the problem was nothing more than a dead leg. "I am fine. I had a little problem in training, a dead leg as they say here, but tomorrow [Wednesday] or the next day I will be fine. It was a minor scare, a knock," Ronaldo told the media. Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane is already without defender Raphael Varane, who has been ruled out of Euro 2016 due to a thigh injury.

New Chelsea boss Antonio Conte will only link-up with the Blues after Euro 2016. but he is already being linked with a host of transfer targets. The former Juventus manager has a big task ahead as he looks to get the club back to the top of the Premier League after an awful season. A number of top players from Serie A and the rest of Europe are being linked with moves to west London, with the biggest stories rounded-up below. Chelsea believe Roma's Radja Nainggolan wants to join this summer and the Blues are prepared to offer Roma's Radja Nainggolan £100,000-per-week on a five-year deal as they step up their interest in the Belgian. The midfielder is one of Antonio Conte's primary targets but the Giallorossi want in excess of £31 million for Nainggolan, who scored six league goals this season. (London Evening Standard)

Romelu Lukaku wants to go back to Chelsea this summer, sources close to the player have told ESPN FC, with the Blues already favourites for his signature if he leaves Everton. Lukaku, 23, said recently that he has made up his mind over his future and wants to move to a higher-profile club in order to take the next step in his career, after scoring an impressive 61 goals in 127 games during three fine personal seasons at Goodison Park. The Belgium international left Chelsea after three years mostly spent out on loan at West Brom and Everton before joining the Toffees for £28 million in 2014. But the club finished 12th this season and missed out on Europe once again, and Lukaku now believes he can command a regular place in Antonio Conte's side. Despite interest from several clubs around Europe, including Manchester United, Lukaku is a life-long Chelsea fan and it has long been his ambition to emulate his hero Didier Drogba as a club legend. The 2014-15 Premier League champ...

Ronaldo, who has struggled with a thigh injury throughout the current campaign, was helped off the training pitch on Tuesday after appearing to injure his calf after competing for a ball with reserve goalkeeper Kiko Casilla. This sparked fears that Real may be without their talisman for the European finale, but the Portuguese has dismissed such suggestions. "I am fine. I had a little problem in training, a dead leg as they say here, but tomorrow [Wednesday] or the next day I will be fine. It was a minor scare, a knock," he said. The injury worry came days after Ronaldo sat out a practice match in Italy, but despite this, the forward believes he is fitter than when the two clubs faced off in the Champions League final two years ago. "I believe I'm in better shape," he said. "I've had a slight problem but it's normal as I have been the most used player in the team. "I think this is the season where I have played the most minutes. Besi...