Germany left-back Raum joins Leipzig from Hoffenheim

The footballing action continues this weekend with a glut of games for the fans to enjoy. Teams can now see the end of 2017, and while they will be desperate to start 2018 with a win, they will want to end the current year in style by taking all three points. With this in mind, we have tracked down a number of interesting bets for you to take a look at.

Saturday 30th December

11:30 BST Fiorentina vs AC Milan

Serie A continues with a proper clash in midtable as Fiorentina and AC Milan lock horns. Fiorentina have been in good form this season winning seven games, while they have scored 27 goals and conceded 19 times, resulting in the side taking 26 points from their 18 games. AC Milan have been struggling massively this season as they have fallen down to 11th in the tabl…

Massimiliano Allegri insists Wojciech Szczesny is the heir to Gianluigi Buffon at Juventus, despite the veteran goalkeeper suggesting Gianluigi Donnarumma should join the club from AC Milan.

Former Arsenal and Roma keeper Szczesny moved to Turin during the close season and is enjoying a run in the first team due to a calf injury suffered by Buffon.

The 39-year-old is expected to retire at the end of this campaign, with Szczesny in prime position to take his place as Juve s number one.

In an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport, Buffon said he would advise teenage international colleague Donnarumma that joining Juventus is never wrong .

Speaking at a news conference ahead of Wednesday s Coppa Italia quarter-final against neighbours Roma, Allegri avoided suc…

Valentino Rossi revealed he suffered clutch problems before crashing out of the Grand Prix of the Americas on Sunday. 

Rossi started from third place in Austin but quickly dropped down the field to sixth before losing the front of his Yamaha at turn two a few laps in. 

It was Rossi s first retirement since September 2014 at the Aragaon Grand Prix and the Italian said he was suffering mechanicals problems before crashing out on Sunday. 

Fortunately I’m OK, because that corner is quite fast, the seven-time premier class champion said after the race. It was a good crash.

Unfortunately I burned the clutch at the start, and I had a lot of problems in the first two laps, because the clutch slipped a lot, so I have to say half throttle on the straight �…

Verdict: Both teams to score – yes

Best Odds:

Bookmaker:

London rivals Arsenal and Chelsea kick off 2018 with a bang as they lock horns in first of their three clashes scheduled for January. Before they square off in a two-legged Football League Cup semi-final tie, Gunners and Blues will collide in a most important fixture of the three, however.

Arsenal

Gunners’ frustrating draw at West Bromwich on Sunday left them three points behind the Champions League spots and Arsenal will, without a doubt, be highly motivated to close the gap to the top four on Wednesday.

Arsenal will be extremely keen to bounce back from the WBA setback they have blamed referee Mike Dean for, following his decision to award a controversial penalty on Calum Chambers’…

Former France international David Ginola said Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasri deserved to be in their country s World Cup squad.

Ginola, who earned 17 caps for Les Bleus from 1990-1995, said the controversial Nasri should have been picked by manager Didier Deschamps, despite his turbulent history in the national team.

Nasri was banned for three matches following a verbal tirade after the nation s Euro 2012 exit.

Ginola said Deschamps decided against bringing Nasri into the camp due to his disruptive past.

I don t think it is an exclusion, word is too strong, said the 47-year-old.

There s been talk about that Samir had some problems with the national team, I guess it s not anything to do with the fact he is a good player, a great player.

He has …

Victor Valdes has informed Barcelona he will not renew his contract when it expires in 2014, according to the player s representatives.

Camp Nou chiefs held talks with agents of the Spain international on Thursday and the Catalan club had hoped to persuade the goalkeeper to extend his lifelong association with the club.

However, it now appears certain the 31-year-old will leave at the end of next season following the release of a statement on Thursday evening.

Victor Valdes agents have told Barcelona, in the meeting held this afternoon, of the irrevocable decision from the player not to renew his contract, thus avoiding discussing future wage issues, his representatives told Spanish news agency EFE.

Valdes contract expires in June 2014, and he could wel…

Market: Famalicao draw no bet

Odds: 3/5 @

Looking to make an immediate return to winning ways on Monday night, Famalicao will welcome Casa Pia to the Estadio Municipal de Famalicao.

Starting with the hosts, while Famalicao might have been last seen slumping to a 2-0 loss at the hands of a high-flying Benfica, Joao Pedro Sousa s men should be smelling the chance to find an immediate response here. Looking to try and claim another top-half finish in 2023, Vila Nova will be glad to make a return to home soil on Monday night. Collecting six points from their last three Primeira Liga matchups, the Whites have continued to shine at the Estadio Municipal de Famalicao. Last seen in front of their own supporters picking up a 1-0 victory against Portimonense on February 2…

Burkina Faso s finishing was again criticised by coach Paul Put as the 2013 finalists edged closer to Africa Cup of Nations elimination

Burkina Faso coach Paul Put bemoaned familiar failings after the 0-0 draw with Africa Cup of Nations hosts Equatorial Guinea.

As in their opening defeat to Gabon, the beaten 2013 finalists created plenty of chances but were unable to find the net leaving their hopes of progressing from Group A hanging by a thread.

Alain Traore struck the post twice in the first half but joined Jonathan Pitroipa in spurning opportunities to break the deadlock after the interval, when Equatorial Guinea spurred on by a vocal home crowd grew in confidence and threatened to snatch victory.

Put rued his player s profligacy after the 2-0 reve…

Manchester United beat Leicester City 3-1 in the Premier League on Saturday, making amends for their 5-3 defeat earlier in the season.

Manchester United avenged their humiliating defeat to Leicester City earlier in the season by recording a 3-1 victory over the Premier League s basement club.

Louis van Gaal s side were beaten 5-3 at the King Power Stadium in September, but they never looked in danger of suffering a similar fate at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Robin van Persie opened the scoring with his first goal in five matches in all competitions a well-taken 27th-minute effort following a teasing ball over the top from Daley Blind.

That strike was swiftly followed by Radamel Falcao s bundled second, before Wes Morgan sent the ball beyond his own goalke…

Hugo Almeida has revealed he will lead the line for Portugal in Wednesday s Euro 2012 semi-final clash with Spain.

Almeida, who plays for Besiktas, made his first appearance at the European Championship when he replaced the injured Helder Postiga against the Czech Republic in his team s 1-0 quarter-final win.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored the decisive goal and Almeida said he would be happy to see the Real Madrid star receive the attention of the Spanish defence at the Donbass Arena.

Cristiano, being the best player in the world, has just been outstanding, Almeida told Goal.com. He is having a great tournament and it does not bother us if they talk about him. We are a unit and as a unit we are playing very well.

They also have to be worried about us. Portu…