None of us truly know where this life is going to take us, and what highs and lows we will experience along the way.

That is especially true for anyone associated with Rangers Football Club if you had told them after the 2008 UEFA Cup final they would next reach another European showpiece 14 years later.

As the Gers players trudged off the field at the Etihad Stadium having been thoroughly outplayed by Zenit, the disappointment was tempered with a belief that at least this was a team that had made a final and may have been on the way to more.

It took nearly a decade and a half, but on Wednesday they find themselves heading to Spain to line up opposite Eintracht Frankfurt to contest the Europa League final.

Here, Stats Perform takes a look at how Rangers g…

Lionel Messi has Le Classique on his mind, not El Clasico. Cristiano Ronaldo faces the daunting challenge of trying to out-match Mohamed Salah, arguably the best forward in the world at this moment.

This Sunday is one of those remarkable days in European football, with Messi and PSG heading to Marseille for a Velodrome battle, while Ronaldo and Manchester United tackle Liverpool.

Sunday also sees Barcelona and Real Madrid clash at Camp Nou, in LaLiga s first Clasico since Messi followed Ronaldo by bidding Spain farewell.

It is one of those quietly momentous moments in sport. The recent US Open tennis tournament happened without Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, and now a Clasico in Spain s post Messi and Ronaldo era is upon us.

Using Opta data, Stats Perf…

As the likes of Arsenal and Manchester City steal centre stage throughout Saturday afternoon, we have a stacked European schedule on the cards.

With a full fixture list from the likes of La Liga and Bundesliga, there are plenty of intriguing betting markets that are available.

Ahead of a heavyweight Saturday schedule, we have found a trio of betting markets that are worth keeping an eye out for this weekend.

Saturday, May 4th
BST 14:30 Werder Bremen vs Borussia Monchengladbach

Although Werder Bremen might have opened the New Year looking over their shoulder at a looming relegation scrap, the River Islanders have skyrocketed themselves away from the drop zone. Last seen putting in a stunning performance as they stormed their way to a 3-0 romp away at A…

The Football Association has set an August 2024 target for the Women’s Super League and Championship to operate under an independently club-owned, club-run structure, the PA news agency understands.

Plans for the top two flights of English women’s football to shift out from under the current direct FA management model have been in the works for some time.

The move will follow a series of consultations with a working group of 10 WSL and Championship executives, chaired by Arsenal chief executive Vinai Venkatesham, established to steer the next phase of the professional women’s game.

Baroness Sue Campbell, the FA’s director of women’s football, said: “I honestly feel we’ve made incredible progress. There’s been a real acceptance that the women’s g…

B.J. Callaghan is desperate for Nashville SC to build on his first win at the helm when they host the Chicago Fire in MLS on Wednesday.

Nashville lost nine of 10 games – going down in a penalty shoot-out after drawing the other – either side of Callaghan s appointment, but they finally turned the corner on Saturday.

Goals from Alexandre Muyl and Hany Mukhtar fired them to a 2-0 win over Atlanta United, and Callaghan sees Wednesday s clash with Chicago – who are level with

Nashville in the Eastern Conference standings – as an opportunity to build some momentum.

We were pleased with the performance we had, we ve talked about having consistent performances and stacking them up, Callaghan said.

It s a quick turnaround, so everything we ve be…

Captain Virgil van Dijk said Netherlands would enjoy the moment after qualifying for Euro 2020.

The Dutch ended their self-inflicted exile from major tournament football, having failed to reach Euro 2016 or last year s World Cup, when a 0-0 draw away to Northern Ireland secured a top-two finish in Group C.

Netherlands were without the injured Memphis Depay and carried little threat up front in his absence, while Northern Ireland s Steven Davis missed a first-half penalty that would have ramped up pressure on Ronald Koeman s men.

But in the end the visitors secured the primary objective for the night the certainty they will be in next summer s 24-team European Championship.

Van Dijk, who won the Champions League with Liverpool last season, told Dutch b…

England s bid to win the 2018 World Cup moves into top gear in Zurich next week.

The battle to secure votes ahead of the final decision on December 2 sees five former England internationals Sir Bobby Charlton, Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer, Andy Cole and John Barnes join a 30-man party, led by Football Association president Prince William.

Prime Minister David Cameron, England boss Fabio Capello and ex-captain David Beckham are also in the delegation.

England chief executive Andy Anson said: We have said throughout the process that this bid has the backing of the whole country and the nature of this line-up confirms that point.

Next week is clearly critical because it is our last chance to convince the Fifa executive committee members who are voting tha…

Marcus Rashford and Jordan Henderson have been omitted from Gareth Southgate s 33-man preliminary squad for England s Euro 2024 campaign.

Rashford scored 30 goals in all competitions for Manchester United in 2022-23 and has been a fixture in Southgate s England squads, but a dismal 2023-24 campaign has led to him being overlooked.

He scored seven goals in 33 Premier League appearances this season, making it his second worst campaign since netting five times as a teenager in 2016-17. He scored just four times under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick in 2021-22.

Newcastle United s Anthony Gordon has benefitted from Rashford s drop-off, receiving the call-up ahead of June s warm-up friendlies against Bosnia and Herzegovina and Iceland.

Henderson, meanwhi…

Niclas Fullkrug is ready to embrace his role as Germany s second-choice striker behind Kai Havertz, and use it as motivation at Euro 2024.

Julian Nagelsmann confirmed Havertz will lead the line at the tournament for the hosts, who begin their campaign against Scotland in Group A on Friday.

Despite playing five fewer games (46), Fullkurg scored more goals (16 to 14), created more assists (11 to seven), recorded a higher xG (19.18 to 14.79) and a higher shot conversion rate (16.67 per cent to 15.22 per cent) than the Arsenal forward in 2023-24.

But the 31-year-old, who discussed the situation with Nagelsmann, fully respects his coach s decision, and welcomes the opportunity to fight for his place.

The lads are back

DFB/ Philipp Reinhard

…

Rasmus Hojlund’s goals against Luton on Sunday made him the youngest player ever to score in six consecutive Premier League games.

The 21-year-old Manchester United striker broke Joe Willock’s record and here, the PA news agency puts his achievement in context.

Six of the best

Hojlund’s scoring run began with the winner against Aston Villa on Boxing Day. That was his first-ever Premier League goal, having failed to score in his first 14 appearances, but he has not let up since.

He opened the scoring after three minutes in a 2-2 draw with Tottenham, netted against Wolves, West Ham and in the return fixture with Villa and then scored twice in the first seven minutes in the win over Luton.

Aged 21 years and 14 days, he is 260 days younger than Willock…