Cardiff vs Everton August 31, 2013

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Cardiff City have gotten off to a solid start to their English Premier League season. Cardiff City won the Championship league last year and earned a promotion to England’s top football league. They have a tall order playing one of the England Premier League’s stronger clubs, Everton.

It was the result that nobody had predicted last weekend, as Cardiff City secured a 3-1 win in their first home Premier League game against 2011-12 league champions Manchester City.

The latest Cardiff v Everton odds with Paddy Power offering more than a hint in the betting value, with Malky Mackay’s side a very backable price for the home in of 9/4.

The Bluebirds will hope to emulate the performance they gave last weekend when Everton make the trip to the Welsh capital.

Malkay Mackay’s side came from a goal down to beat Manchester City 3-2 and they be looking for a second straight win against an Everton side that has yet to taste a league victory this season.

They were simply exceptional in their work on that occasion and, ultimately, were well deserving of their win. The tests come thick and fast in the Premier League, though, and this weekend marks the visit of Roberto Martinez's Everton side.

The Toffees have put in two strong-looking league performances thus far this campaign but have been forced to come away with a solitary point from both encounters. Martinez will certainly be hoping for more this weekend.

Change is already underway at Goodison Park, with Everton looking to retain possession much more this season than in previous years, while also creating plenty of chances. The cup victory over Stevenage in midweek perhaps offered a glimpse of the role Barcelona's on-loan attacker, Gerard Deulofeu, could play at Everton this year as well.

So far Cardiff City has won a home game, and lost an away game gaining 3 points in two games. That has them currently sitting at 11th in the table, or in the middle of the pack. It’s still very early in the season.

Date: August 31 Start Time: 10:00 a.m. ET
Venue: Cardiff City Stadium

Manchester City vs Hull City August 31, 2013

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After Manchester City was stunned by Cardiff City 3-2 last week, fans will be looking for a dominant effort as Manuel Pellegrini's crew hosts newly-promoted Hull City.

Manchester City will be pressed to prove that the loss to Cardiff was a blip on the radar and not something that is going to be a trend. Pointing to that possibility is that there were no signs of the malaise that struck Man City last week when they opened up their EPL campaign by toasting Newcastle 4-0.

With that 1-1 record, the clubs enter this match tied in the standings. Hull City impressed last week by beating Norwich City 1-0, and they played the majority of that match with just 10 men. That win followed a tough 2-0 loss to Chelsea and surely gave them some confidence.

Now this feisty group will try to steal at least a point on the road.

Manchester City have Matija Nastasic (ankle) back in contention, but captain Vincent Kompany (groin) and fellow defender Micah Richards (hamstring) remain sidelined.

Hull travel to Manchester with striker Yannick Sagbo ruled out through suspension.

Stephen Quinn (hamstring) could return for manager Steve Bruce, who is likely to ring the changes after making 11 changes for the Capital One Cup victory against Leyton Orient in midweek.

What they've said ahead of kick-off:

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini:
 "Set pieces are very important and we must learn from last week. It was a bad game for us in that way, but I we must improve for our next game.

"I think Hull have started well, they played very well against Chelsea. We will have to mark a very difficult team here also, so we will have to play very well."

Where: Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England

When: Saturday, Aug. 31 at 7:45 a.m. ET (12:45 p.m. BST)

Bayern Munich vs Chelsea August 30, 2013

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All eyes will be on Prague as Chelsea and Bayern Munich travel to the Czech Republic for the UEFA Super Cup.

The Super Cup features the winners of last year's Champions League and Europa League titles. Bayern beat Borussia Dortmund to win their fifth European Cup, while Chelsea became the first club to win the Champions League and Europa League back-to-back after their win over Benfica.

While Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho may respect each other for what they have achieved in the game, there is no love lost between the two.

They locked horns on numerous occasions while in charge of Spain's biggest two clubs, with both enjoying success.

However, it is the triumphs of two other managers that have resulted in them being involved in Friday's European Super Cup in Prague. Guardiola has inherited a Bayern Munich side that won the Champions League as part of a treble under Jupp Heynckes, while Mourinho has replaced interim boss Rafael Benitez at Europa League winners Chelsea.

Both Guardiola and Mourinho are unbeaten in competitive contests so far in their new roles, although their sides did only pick out draws last time out against Freiburg and Manchester United respectively.

German champions Bayern could be without vice-captain Bastian Schweinsteiger against the Blues after the midfielder picked up an ankle complaint against Frieburg.

Guardiola, though, is expected to recall Franck Ribery, Arjen Robben and Mario Mandzukic to his starting lineup.

Meanwhile, having started the game against Man United without a recognised centre-forward, Mourinho is believed to be considering using Fernando Torres from the outset.


Bayern: Neuer; Alaba, Dante, Van Buyten, Lahm; Kroos, Schweinsteiger; Robben, Gotze, Ribery; Mandzukic

Chelsea: lineup Cech; Ivanovic, Terry, Cahill, Cole; Lampard, Ramires; Hazard, Oscar, Mata; Torres

Bayern are coming off a 1-1 draw with Freiburg on Tuesday. The players are still getting used to playing under Pep Guardiola. His system at Barcelona was very intricate, and it takes a lot of time for players to master it.

When: Friday, August 30, at 2:45 p.m. ET (7:45 p.m. BST)

Where: Eden Arena, Prague, Czech Republic

Real Madrid vs Deportivo La Coruna August 29, 2013

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The 68th installment of the Teresa Herrera Trophy will be an exciting match for Deportivo La Coruna, as the hosts will face Real Madrid.

The club, which was relegated a season ago after finishing 19th on the table with 35 points, is no stranger to Los Blancos. Real Madrid won the two La Liga matches between the clubs by a combined score of 7-2 last season.

Deportivo La Coruna will hope to keep things a bit closer than that on Thursday evening. Let's break this one down. 

El trofeo Teresa Herrera asoma ya tras la esquina. Otrora uno de los momentos clave del verano futbolístico, uno de los mejores torneos veraniegos del mundo, por sus brazos han pasado el Santos de Pelé, el Benfica de Eusebio, el Real Madrid de Di Stéfano, o el Barcelona de Johann Cruyff, entre otros muchos equipos históricos del momento. Es el decano de los grandes en España, uno de los que más lustre guardaba en estos casi 70 años de vida, y aunque hoy sus laureles han perdido buena parte del verde que lo hacían relucir, esa gigantesca réplica de la Torre de Hércules todavía guarda gran magnetismo para los que tienen la posibilidad de levantarla. Este jueves, concretamente, el propio Deportivo de La Coruña y el Real Madrid de Carlo Ancelotti, a partir de las 19:00.

When: Thursday, August 29 at 4:30 p.m. ET (9:30 p.m. BST)

Where: Riazor Stadium, Coruna, Spain

El que parece que finalmente sí estará será un Cristiano Ronaldo que no acudirá al sorteo de la fase de grupos de la Champions League, como nominado a Mejor Jugador 2012-13. Difícil era que fuera el elegido entre Leo Messi y Franck Ribery, que ganaron muchos más títulos que el madridista, de ahí la priorización escogida entre los dos eventos. Bien para el Real Madrid, que tendrá a su Hércules particular de su parte.

Tottenham vs Dinamo Tbilis August 29, 2013

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The English side Tottenham Hotspurs  is hosting the Georgian side Dinamo Tbilisi in the second round of a playoff  for the prestigious UEFA’s Europa League tournament. The winner of this home-and-away series determined on an aggregate score will advance to the next stage of the tournament.

Tottenham will look to punch their ticket to the Europa League group stage with a good result against Dinamo Tbilisi.

Spurs traveled to the Dinamo Arena and notched a 5-0 win. That makes their job pretty easy in the second leg, as they could lose 4-0 and still advance to the next round.

Tottenham have taken the full six points from their first two Premier League matches. However, their performances haven't been great, and it's obvious Spurs need more time on the pitch to really hit their stride.

Here's a preview for this Europa League clash.

When: Thursday, August 29, at 3:05 p.m. EDT; 8:05 p.m. BST

Where: White Hart Lane, London, England

The Europa League is considered the most second prestigious soccer tournament in Europe behind the Champions League. Think NIT tournament to the NCAA tournament in men’s college basketball.

Start Time: 3:05 pm ET
Location: London, England
Stadium: White Hart Lane