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We Predict… The 2018 UEFA Champions League Final
May 24, 2018 Icons.com
Cristiano RonaldoGareth BaleIscoJames MilnerJordan HendersonLiverpoolMarco AsensioMohamad SalahPredictionsReal MadridRoberto FirminoSadio ManeUEFA Champions LeagueWe Predict...
It's almost here. The countdown to the 2018 UEFA Champions League final is in its final stages and this year the anticipation could not be any higher. Kiev better brace itself, because when Real Madrid and Liverpool clash on Saturday evening, there's sure to be fireworks.
We know it'll be an exciting, enthralling and electric final. We know there's a good chance the match won't finish goalless. We know there's history to be made. But what we don't know – for certain, anyway – is exactly what will happen. But we can always guess. So, without further adieu…
Dan Jamieson, CEO
I'm with esteemed football writer Jonathan Wilson, who has argued that Real Madrid are a giant "sleep-walking into a hammering."
I'm a born and bred Scouser and a big Liverpool fan, so forgive me for any perceived bias, but I just think Real won't know what's hit them. Lots of teams press but Liverpool are on a different level. Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mané are clocked as two of the top even fastest players in European football and it's the Gegenpress that creates the chances rather than our more functional midfield. Marcelo will go walkabout, Sergio Ramos will push up too high and dive in too much, while Cristiano Ronaldo will get frustrated by a lack of service.
This is the end of the road for this great Real side but now the youngest, quickest and hungriest team they will have played will bring down the curtain on their regal rein. Exuberance triumphs over experience.
Score: Real Madrid 0-4 Liverpool
Man of the Match: Sir Bobby of Firmino.
Random prediction: After Madrid lose, they spend the summer trying to buy their conquerors.
Real are the dream opposition for Liverpool – ageing, slow, over-confident. Madrid may have the experience in finals like these but Liverpool will have the hunger. There will undoubtedly be some early jitters and the occasion might get to some of the Liverpool players (as it did in the first 20 minutes of the first leg against Roma) but when they get their first chance they will quickly see how easy it is to get at Madrid's defence.
Many of Liverpool's games are won in the middle of the pitch, where a dynamic trio dispossess their opposite numbers, and get it to that forward three at pace. Injuries mean they are without linchpin midfielders Emre Can and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain while Toni Kroos, Luka Modric and Casemiro will prove to be the hardest opposition Klopp's side have come up against. So, it will be up to Jordan Henderson, Georginio Wijnaldum, and the competition's leader for assists, James Milner, to control the game.
I expect a high-scoring match but those who doubt Liverpool's defensive qualities should re-watch the performances of Dejan Lovren and Trent Alexander-Arnold's against Manchester City in the quarter-final at the Etihad.
Man of the Match: James Milner.
Random prediction: Marcelo will misplace a pass that leads directly to a goal.
The final takes place at Kiev's Olimpiyskiy stadium on Saturday at 19:45 (GMT)
Alistair Hunter, Senior Editor
Liverpool have all the tools to stop Real Madrid but there's something about Zinedine Zidane's side in these finals that makes them seem unstoppable.
Call it experience, call it genuine star quality, call it luck, call it whatever you want – there's just something about them that has me believing that, especially if it goes beyond the 90 minutes, it's they who pull through. I have been lucky enough to have attended the last two finals so I have seen this in action.
But, on a more practical note, I believe it'll be Real's strength in depth that will prove a decisive factor. After all, however Zidane chooses to line up his side in Kiev, he'll have numerous options on the bench. One of Gareth Bale, Isco or Marco Asensio (or even all three) could be left out of the starting XI. Klopp doesn't have that luxury and the more this incredibly high-octane, end-of-season game wears on, the more likely it is that fresh legs make the difference.
Score: Real Madrid 3-2 Liverpool (AET)
Man of the Match: Cristiano Ronaldo.
Random prediction: Ronaldo will win and convert a first half penalty.
James Tildesley, Head of New Business
Much has been said about Real Madrid's weaknesses and, in particular, how Marcelo marauding forward would afford space to Liverpool's key threat, Mohamed Salah. But I don't think a team that has got itself to the final for a chance to win its third consecutive UEFA Champions League title could be that tactically naive.
Admittedly, I looked at Madrid against Bayern Munich and thought it to be promising for Liverpool and in the final Marcelo may well find himself out of position. However, I think mental strength will be a deciding factor and, given that Liverpool were rocked several times against Roma, I can see that coming to the fore again.
Man of the Match: Luka Modric.
Random prediction: Marcelo provides either the assist or a key pass for a Real goal while also being at fault for a Liverpool goal.
Cristiano Ronaldo is aiming to win his fifth UEFA Champions League title
Jamie White, Social Media Producer
Being a Liverpool fan, I have to have faith in the Redmen to bring home that trophy even if my head says Real Madrid will win.
Given their experience in winning this competition over recent years and considering the players they have at their disposal, it's hard look past the Spanish giants for a third straight title. Having said that, on our day, we can beat anyone and there can be no bigger or better occasion to prove that than this one. People talk up Liverpool's powerful attacking trio but its that leaky back line that will have to prove itself in limiting the damage caused by the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo. I think that, should the game go to extra time, Liverpool may run out of steam with their high-pressure tactics. Real's greater strength in depth will also play a key role in swinging the balance.
Random prediction: (Not so random) Dejan Lovren will drop a howler.
If you're looking for a defensive battle, this isn't the match for you. Expect both teams to constantly press, setting us neutrals up to enjoy a free-scoring affair. I'm a firm believer in the intangibles, with experience being top of the list.
I can't see Liverpool being intimidated by the occasion, but when that whistle blows, they'll line up opposite the side who have reigned over this competition for three of the last four years. That will bring a certain confidence to Real and will put them up early, making this less of a competitive match than most would want.
Score: Real Madrid 4-2 Liverpool.
Man of the Match: Can it really be anyone other than Cristiano Ronaldo?
Random prediction: Chelsea showed that if you smother Mo Salah, you smother and ultimately stop Liverpool. He may get his goal but expect the Egyptian's possession overall to be very limited.
So, that's what we think will go down in Kiev. But what do you think? Send us your predictions by getting in touch via our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages!
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Football's back! Six unmissable storylines to look out for in 2017-18
August 11, 2017 Icons.com
2018 FIFA World CupAntoine GriezmannArsenalBallon d'OrBayern MunichBrazilCarlo AncelottiChelseaCristiano RonaldoDele AlliEden HazardEl ClasicoEnglandFC BarcelonaFIFA World CupGareth BaleGianluigi BuffonHarry KaneJose MourinhoJurgen KloppLa LigaLionel MessiLiverpoolManchester CityManchester UnitedNeymar JrParis Saint-GermainPaul PogbaPep GuardiolaPhilippe CoutinhoPremier LeagueReal MadridRomelu LukakuSergio AgueroTottenham HotspurUEFA Champions LeagueWayne RooneyZinedine Zidane
At last, it's back! The real football has returned! From now until late May of next year, it's non-stop, full-on, unadulterated football and we at Icons.com could not be more excited.
After all, this season has the potential to be bigger, better and more exciting than ever. And not just in England. Let's not forget the thrills that await around the continent; in Spain, Germany, Italy and France, where the best footballers on the planet do battle in front of the biggest crowds for the right to claim the world's most coveted prizes.
In fact, with so much going on around the world on the opening weekend of the season, you could be forgiven for not knowing where to start or what to look out for. Well, it's lucky we're here then, isn't it? Here are six things you need to keep an eye on this season.
1. Bem-vindo Neymar Jr
So, it actually happened. With Neymar Jr's switch from FC Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain for €222million, world football's transfer record has been broken by a factor of two. Our office stopped in its tracks to watch – perhaps a little out of disbelief – as the mercurial Brazilian forward was presented in front of the world's media last week. With a glitzy unveiling in front of a sell-out crowd days later, the Parc de Princes has had more than a little Hollywood about it over the past month.
This season the 25-year-old will surely set his sights not only on a sweep of the domestic titles on offer at his new club but also a shot at one or both of the two individual honours that would certify his superstar status: the Ballon D'or and FIFA's The Best Award. Will the football gods also write a mouthwatering script that reunites him with Barça in the UEFA Champions League? It may be time to start warming those balls…
2. The main event
Speaking of the UEFA Champions League, this season's race for club football's most sought-after prize promises to be as thrilling as ever. Real Madrid made history at the end of last season as they became the first team to successfully defend their title but Zinedine Zidane and Cristiano Ronaldo aren't quite content with just two-in-a-row. The Spanish champions have won the famous tournament in three of the last four years and they've developed a taste for success.
Meanwhile, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United are back, adding three previous winners and two of the competition's most storied teams to the mix. Jurgen Klopp and Jose Mourinho have a great knack of inspiring magic on European nights but can the trophy really return to the North West as early as this season?
Not if the rest of Europe has something to say about it. A certain aforementioned Brazilian seems dead-set on making his mark at PSG but to get to Kiev they may have to return to the scene of last season's most remarkable tie: Camp Nou. All this while Carlo Ancelotti plots Bayern Munich's return to the European throne and Gianluigi Buffon prays for one last shot at the trophy that has always eluded him.
As an official UEFA licensee, Icons.com is the proud home of official UEFA Champions League signed memorabilia.
3. A six-horse race
The Premier League is getting stronger in competitive terms, there's no doubt about that. Almost all of the world's best managers are taking charge of talented, hungry and exciting teams in England's topflight and that means the title could go almost anywhere.
In Manchester, Pep Guardiola is building an attack-minded team at City with the signing of Monaco's Bernardo Silva to add to Sergio Aguero's goals, while United have a new hitman in the form of Romelu Lukaku. Liverpool are still a side of pure pace up front and should be an entertaining watch considering their attacking prowess.
Meanwhile, in London, Antonio Conte has one of the world's most exciting attacking midfielders in Eden Hazard and Mauricio Pochettino will just be happy that both Harry Kane and Dele Alli (see below) have gone the summer without their heads being turned. Arch-rivals Arsenal have satisfied the wishes of their fans with the purchase of Alexandre Lacazette and the retention of Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil (at the time of writing, anyway). So, who exactly is supposed to be the frontrunner here?
Find out who we fancy to come out on top in our special 2017-18 season predictions blog.
4. Dele's big year
The breakout season is history, the sophomore slump was nowhere to be seen. Now the most exciting young talent at both Tottenham Hotspur and England can stretch his legs and really show us what he's got. Gunning for a hat-trick of PFA Young Player of the Year awards – and perhaps the main gong too – Dele Alli faces a season of much promise.
Playing in front of potentially 90,000 fans at Spurs' temporary home of Wembley Stadium won't faze the England regular, nor will the prospect of a second season in the UEFA Champions League group stages. In fact, knowing the boy-wonder personally from our signing sessions, we're not sure exactly what could faze him, if anything. Here is a confident 21-year-old who has the world at his feet. Which reminds us, isn't there some sort of big international tournament coming soon?
We are immensely proud to have an official contract with Tottenham and England sensation Dele Alli. For exclusive signed products, visit Icons.com today.
5. All the world's a stage
Ah, yes, the FIFA World Cup. Next summer sees the return of the biggest football tournament on the planet and with potentially one last chance at winning that most coveted trophy, the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo will be desperate to deliver glory to their respective countries. Neymar Jr, Philippe Coutinho, Paul Pogba, Antoine Griezmann and Dele Alli will be among the young but established stars hoping to capture the world's attention and with the talent on offer it promises to be a tournament full of drama.
Whisper it but England look to be stronger than in recent years with Wayne Rooney surely determined to bow out of international football on a high alongside a stellar mix of young and experienced players mostly plying their trade in the Premier League.
Capture the spirit and excitement of the FIFA World Cup with officially-licensed FIFA World Cup signed memorabilia, exclusive to Icons.com.
6. La Liga's on a knife-edge
Madridistas could be forgiven for still being a little hungover when their domestic season starts with a Supercopa Clasico on Sunday evening. Last season, Real won their first league title since 2012 and became the first team in history to retain the UEFA Champions League. Their supremacy is currently unquestioned but this season their hated rivals will want revenge.
Lionel Messi's ultra dramatic, last-gasp winner in the sides' pulsating encounter at the Bernabeu merely fanned the flames that could well spark all-out war this term. Barça haven't experienced for years the upheaval they've suffered over the past few months with Neymar Jr gone and now a new man at the helm. Who knows how Ernesto Valverde plans to stop the Zidane juggernaut?
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We Predict… The 2017-18 Season
2018 FIFA World CupAC MilanAlvaro MorataAntonio ConteArsenalArsene WengerAS MonacoBrighton & Hove AlbionBurnleyCelticChelseaCristiano RonaldoCrystal PalaceDele AlliEden HazardEvertonFA CupFC BarcelonaFIFA World CupGabriel JesusGareth BaleHarry KaneHuddersfield TownJavier HernandezJose MourinhoJurgen KloppLeague CupLeicester CityLionel MessiLiverpoolLyonManchester CityManchester UnitedMauricio PochettinoNewcastle UnitedNeymar JrParis Saint-GermainPep GuardiolaPredictionsPremier LeaguePreviewsRafael BenitezReal MadridRomelu LukakuSergio AgueroSouthamptonStoke CitySwansea CityTottenham HotspurUEFA Champions LeagueUEFA Europa LeagueVillarrealWatfordWayne RooneyWe Predict...West Bromwich AlbionWest Ham United
So, here we are again. When Leicester City travel to Arsenal on Friday night to open the 2017-18 Premier League season, it'll be the first of 380 league matches that stretch over ten months and determine the fates of twenty topflight clubs. Win roughly 25 of your 38 matches and you'll be in with a shout of the title; avoid losing more than 20 times and you should, in theory, stay up. It's as simple as that, right?
Well, not quite. This is, after all, one of the most unforgiving leagues in all of world football. It's a division in which the title defence of the two previous champions ended in finishes of 10th and 12th respectively. Where a team with five UEFA Champions League winners amongst its ranks could only muster a measly 13th place in 2016-17. And where a side who finished some 32 points shy of last season's champions have spent nearly £100million on new recruits over the summer.
This is indeed a brutal league. But that's exactly why it attracts the biggest audiences, a number of the biggest stars and most certainly the biggest names in management. For the likes of Mourinho, Conte, Pochettino, Klopp, Wenger and Guardiola, this weekend's action offers the potential first step towards the ultimate glory. But to whom the trophy will go is anyone's guess.
Giving it our best shot, we, the staff and partners of Icons.com, are back again to answer (or at least attempt to answer) the burning questions on everyone's minds ahead of the big kick-off. But don't just take our word, get involved on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages by giving us your predictions for the season ahead. You can hardly do much worse.
And, of course, be sure to check out our fantastic range of signed items from Premier League stars past and present – available right now on Icons.com.
It's make or break time for Pep Guardiola in Manchester
Premier League winners: Manchester City
Top four: Chelsea (2nd), Liverpool (3rd), Arsenal (4th)
Relegated: Huddersfield Town, Watford, Brighton & Hove Albion
Overachievers: Everton – The Toffees have spent big but have invested well this summer. Wayne Rooney's return brings valuable experience to a dressing room packed with new and exciting faces.
Underachievers: Arsenal – Last year I predicted that because the Gunners had spent nothing they would falter. This year, despite the purchase of Alexandre Lacazette, the same problems will persist. Wenger should have left years ago.
Golden Boot: Sergio Aguero (Manchester City)
Signing of the season: Ederson (Manchester City) – The Brazilian youngster is an improvement on former keepers at the Etihad.
FA Cup winners: Chelsea
League Cup winners: Liverpool
UEFA Champions League winners: FC Barcelona
UEFA Europa League winners: AC Milan
Random prediction: Lionel Messi will become only the fifth player ever to have won five Pichichi trophies after he finishes the season as La Liga's top scorer.
Top four: Liverpool (2nd), Chelsea (3rd), Manchester United (4th)
Relegated: Brighton & Hove Albion, Watford, Huddersfield Town
Overachievers: West Ham United – The Hammers have finally bought a striker with bags of Premier League experience.
Underachievers: Southampton – After years of gradual progress, decline will finally set in at St Mary's.
Golden Boot: Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City)
Signing of the season: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) – I always go for Liverpool's big money signing…
League Cup winners: Tottenham Hotspur
UEFA Champions League winners: Liverpool. Come on, we can all dream!
UEFA Europa League winners: Manchester United will retain the trophy after dropping out of the UEFA Champions League at the group stages.
Random prediction: Barcelona will improve despite the departure of Neymar Jr. They'll wrestle the Spanish title back from Real Madrid.
Wayne Rooney has returned to Everton – could his experience bring success to Goodison?
Premier League winners: Manchester United
Top four: Manchester City (2nd), Chelsea (3rd), Tottenham Hotspur (4th)
Relegated: Brighton & Hove Albion, Swansea City, Huddersfield Town
Overachievers: Chelsea – A paper thin squad coupled with the return of UEFA Champions League football should make life tough for the Blues but Eden Hazard will keep them winning.
Underachievers: Manchester City's backline – Pep's back four will improve on last season but they'll still leak plenty of goals.
Golden Boot: Romelu Lukaku (Manchester United)
Signing of the season: Nemanja Matic (Manchester United) – The Serbian will make a big difference for United but if Liverpool can sign a central defender the title is in the bag.
FA Cup winners: Liverpool
UEFA Champions League winners: Paris Saint-Germain – Neymar Jr will take the Parisians that one step further they need this year.
UEFA Europa League winners: Villarreal – Though Arsenal will surely walk it if only they try.
Random predictions: Dele Alli's rise to superstardom continues, earning him a big money move at the end of the season for, let's say, £200million. From March onwards, a number of players will feign and/or elongate injuries in order to be fresh for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. One of Nathan Redmond or Tom Davies sneaks onto England's plane for Russia.
Top four: Manchester United (2nd), Arsenal (3rd), Chelsea (4th)
Relegated: Burnley, Huddersfield Town, Stoke City
Overachievers: Newcastle United – The Rafa Revolution rolls on. In fact, he even manages to take a handful of points from former employers Liverpool and Chelsea.
Underachievers: Stoke City – Mark Hughes wins the sack race feeling the absence of the brilliant Marko Arnautovic. The rest of the bottom half chews them up and spits them out.
Golden Boot: Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur)
Signing of the season: Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City) – Manchester City fans will thank their lucky stars for that buy-back clause as the exciting young forward links up with Jamie Vardy to devastating effect.
FA Cup winners: West Ham United – Slaven Bilic's side overcome Championship opposition in the Final.
League Cup winners: Cambridge Unit- ah, no, we're out already. Okay, let's go with Manchester City.
UEFA Champions League winners: Real Madrid – No-one thought back-to-back titles could be done. Why can't they make it three-in-a-row with Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale at the top of their game?
UEFA Europa League winners: Lyon – The French side weren't too far off last season and this year the Final takes place in their own back yard.
Random prediction: A goalkeeper will get on the scoresheet at some stage this season. Liverpool sacrifice the topflight for a deep run in the UEFA Champions League as they reach the semi-finals. Cambridge United win automatic promotion from League Two.
Icons favourite Dele Alli: world football's next £200million player?
Joe Turnbull, Editorial Intern
Top four: Liverpool (2nd), Tottenham Hotspur (3rd), Manchester United (4th)
Relegated: Brighton & Hove Albion, Stoke City, Huddersfield Town
Overachievers: Newcastle United – Rafa Benitez is experienced at Premier League level. I wouldn't bet against him taking the Toon into the top ten.
Underachievers: Chelsea – Friction between Antonio Conte and the board will be their downfall. New boy Alvaro Morata won't click and injuries will deplete their squad, leaving the Stamford Bridge side languishing in sixth.
Signing of the season: Romelu Lukaku (Manchester United) – Though he cost a lot of money, the Belgian brings guaranteed goals. Lukaku is a fantastic player who will step up to the plate and may even give Jose a long run in the UEFA Champions League.
UEFA Champions League winner: Bayern Munich
UEFA Europa League winner: AC Milan – After the summer the Rossoneri have had, it's difficult to see past them. The English clubs will represent themselves well.
Random prediction: Neymar Jr carries Paris Saint-Germain all the way to the Final but they come up just short to Carlo Ancelotti's men.
Matt Sheppard, Editorial Intern
Premier League winners: Chelsea
Top four: Manchester City (2nd), Arsenal (3rd), Tottenham Hotspur (4th)
Overachievers: Newcastle United – Rafa will finally get to show exactly why he decided to stick by the Toon Army following their relegation the season before last.
Underachievers: West Ham United – There's lots of hype around the Hammers' big-name signings but most of them will prove well past their sell-by date.
Signing of the season: Bernardo Silva (Manchester City) – The Portuguese international will form a partnership with Kevin de Bruyne that turns into quite something.
FA Cup winners: Arsenal
League Cup winners: Manchester City
UEFA Champions League winner: Real Madrid
UEFA Europa League winner: AC Milan
Random prediction: Pep Guardiola will resign at the end of the season, following a failure to land the league or UEFA Champions League. Nathaniel Chalobah will be on that plane to Russia next year.
Italian giants AC Milan are well fancied for UEFA Europa League glory
Premier League winners: Arsenal
Top four: Chelsea (2nd), Manchester City (3rd), Liverpool (4th)
Relegated: Burnley, Swansea City, Huddersfield Town
Overachievers: Arsenal – Without the distraction of trying (and repeatedly hopelessly failing) to win the UEFA Champions League, the Gunners focus on domestic matters. Momentum stays with the team early in 2018 when they would usually falter.
Underachievers: Manchester United – Mourinho has made a number of big money signings but The Special One will be unable to get the team to gel. Without a trophy, Jose gets grumpier by the day.
Golden Boot: Alvaro Morata (Chelsea)
Signing of the season: Sead Kolasinac (Arsenal) – In a time when we have £200million players, Wenger still finds a bargain in this free transfer.
UEFA Champions League winner: FC Barcelona
UEFA Europa League winner: Villarreal
Random prediction: Arsene Wenger will call it a day having finally won the league, bowing out on a high. (I'm going to keep predicting this each year until it's true!)
Harm Jan Deuring, De Hand van Maradona
Top four: Manchester United (2nd), Tottenham Hotspur (3rd), Arsenal (4th)
Relegated: Brighton & Hove Albion, Burnley, Watford
Overachievers: Huddersfield Town – The Terriers do what many believe to be impossible: they avoid relegation.
Underachievers: Chelsea – Morata for Diego Costa is a mistake while Eden Hazard will be sorely missed during the opening weeks of the season. Liverpool will also struggle under the weight of their busy schedule.
Golden Boot: Romelu Lukaku (Manchester United) and Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) share the honour.
Signing of the season: Nemanja Matic (Manchester United) – The Serbian is the missing link in Jose's midfield. Tottenham's first signing of the season will be a close second – whoever it may be!
League Cup winners: Surprisingly, a side outside the top six!
UEFA Europa League winner: AS Monaco
Random prediction: Alexis Sanchez will stay at the Emirates but will have a disappointing season. No-one in the Manchester United squad will be banned for more games than Jose Mourinho himself.
Is this the year Arsene Wenger finally wins back the Premier League title?
Top four: Manchester City (2nd), Chelsea (3rd), Arsenal (4th)
Relegated: Brighton & Hove Albion, Huddersfield Town, West Bromwich Albion
Overachievers: Crystal Palace – Frank de Boer guides the Eagles to a nice finish alongside the big boys.
Underachievers: Tottenham Hotspur – The Wembley hoodoo comes for Spurs again.
Signing of the season: Javier Hernandez (West Ham United) – The Mexican is an absolute steal for what he'll do on the pitch and pure highway robbery for what he'll do for the club in the North American market.
FA Cup winners: Manchester City
League Cup winners: Everton
UEFA Champions League winner: Chelsea
UEFA Europa League winner: Celtic
Random prediction: My prediction that Dortmund's Christian Pulisic would move to the Premier League didn't come true in 2016-17 but he will crush it in Germany this season, becoming one of the darlings of the 2018 FIFA World Cup. That move to England will be a superstar signing come the summer of 2018.
So, that's what we think will go down during this season's Premier League campaign. But what do you think? Send us your predictions by getting in touch via our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages!
For our full range of Premier League signed products check out icons.com now!
Icons Weekend Football Preview: Barcelona Out To Extend Unbeaten Run; Aguero In Top Of The Table Clash
Andrés IniestaBarcelonaCristiano RonaldoGareth BaleIcons Weekend Football PreviewJames RodriguezJuan MataLionel MessiLiverpoolLuis SuarezManchester CityManchester UnitedNeymar JrPhilippe CoutinhoReal MadridSergio AgueroTottenham HotspurWayne Rooney
It's almost the weekend! And that means, as always, there's a full card of top class football to look forward to. Football that involves our Icons doing what they do best – being iconic. So who's playing where and when? With a run-down of what our friends are up to this weekend, it's the Icons Weekend Football Preview…
Don't forget to let us know who you'll be supporting by getting in touch with our social media team. Find them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and let them know how your favourite Icon has gotten on over the course of the weekend. Let's get started!
Sunderland vs Manchester United
Wayne Rooney and Juan Mata travel to Wearside to take on Premier League strugglers Sunderland this weekend and we're confident that at least one of them will be on the scoresheet during Saturday's early kick-off. Rooney has scored three goals in United's last two matches against the Black Cats, while Mata has scored twice in their last three meetings. Louis van Gaal's side will arrive at the Stadium of Light hoping to keep up their good form and a win here will keep the Red Devils in touch with the top four – at least two of whom are guaranteed to drop points on Sunday.
Details: Premier League, Stadium of Light, Saturday 12:45pm, BT Sport 1 HD
Real Madrid vs Athletic Bilbao
Real Madrid have scored 19 goals in five games since Zinedine Zidane took charge and a whopping 16 in three home games at the Santiago Bernabeu and with Gareth Bale nearing a return to full fitness it'll be down to Cristiano Ronaldo and James Rodriguez to continue the scoring in this deceptively tricky clash against sixth-placed Athletic Bilbao. Ronaldo will no doubt be in the mood, having picked up the Pichichi Trophy for finishing last season as the league's top scorer during the weekend. How many will he and Real get this weekend?
Details: La Liga, Santiago Bernabeu, Saturday 3pm
Philippe Coutinho scored a wonderful free-kick midweek as Liverpool were knocked out of the FA Cup against West Ham United but, despite defeat, Jurgen Klopp's young side looked strong and can take plenty of positives into this match at bottom of the table Aston Villa. Klopp will look to Coutinho for more magic this weekend and the Kop boss was full of praise for his Brazilian star recently. "I don't know many teams who he can't play for," Klopp said of Coutinho. We can't think of many either!
Details: Premier League, Villa Park, Sunday 2:05pm, Sky Sports 1 HD
Manchester City vs Tottenham Hotspur
Two of the Premier League's most deadly strikers will face off at the Etihad on Sunday afternoon as Harry Kane and his Tottenham side travel to face Sergio Aguero and Manchester City in this mouth-watering top of the table clash. Aguero has scored six in his last four league games and Kane is on form too, with four in his last four Premier League outings, so expect goals from this match – one that could go a long way in deciding where the Premier League trophy ends up come May.
Details: Premier League, Etihad Stadium, Sunday 4:15pm Sky Sports 1 HD
Barcelona vs Celta Vigo
Luis Enrique's Barcelona broke a club record on Wednesday with a 1-1 draw in the Copa del Rey at Valencia. The draw not only sealed their place in history – with the team reaching a record 29 consecutive games unbeaten in all competitions – but also the final of the Copa. Superstars Lionel Messi, Neymar Jr, Luis Suarez and Andres Iniesta were all rested for that game so we expect that foursome, fresh and on form, to come into this match against an overachieving Celta Vigo side eager to extend their lead at the top of the table.
Details: La Liga, Camp Nou, Sunday 7:30pm, Sky Sports 1 HD
Who will you be watching this weekend? Let us know!
He's Back! Gareth Bale Signs For Icons.com Again
June 16, 2015 Icons.com
AutographFootballGareth BaleMemorabiliaReal MadridSigned MemorabiliaSigned ShirtsSigning SessionSportSports MemorabiliaWales
Icons met Gareth Bale for the fourth time for an exclusive signing session. This time in lovely Cardiff whilst he was on international duty with Wales.
Icons were given a hospitable welcome by the Welsh FA before meeting with an equally friendly Gareth. Bale signed a collection of Real Madrid, Spurs and Wales shirts for Icons, as well as his latest Adidas boot. Just a few days after our signing session, he scored the winning goal for Wales against Belgium and brought his country a step closer to qualifying for EURO 2016.
Do not forget to watch our special Gareth Bale signing video: