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POSTECOGLOU FACES EASTER MONDAY CURSE AS STRUGGLING SPURS HOST FOREST'S HOLIDAY SPECIALISTS

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  April 21, 2025 The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will stage a fascinating Premier League encounter this Easter Monday as Ange Postecoglou's faltering side face a Nottingham Forest team with a remarkable historical affinity for holiday fixtures. Tottenham's season has spiraled into disappointment, with the North London club on course for their worst Premier League campaign in over two decades. Spurs have already suffered 17 league defeats this season – their highest tally since the 2003-04 campaign under David Pleat, when they lost 19 times. Postecoglou now joins an unwanted club alongside Osvaldo Ardiles (19 losses in 1993-94) and Gerry Francis (18 defeats in 1996-97) as the only Tottenham managers to lose 17 or more Premier League games in a single season. "We're obviously going through a difficult period, but I've never been one to lose faith in my process," Postecoglou told reporters on Saturday. "This is a long-term project, and these challenges are...

CAGLIARI HUNT FOR RARE VIOLA SCALP AS SARDINIANS AIM TO BUILD ON MONZA MOMENTUM

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  April 21, 2025 The vibrant Unipol Domus stadium in Sardinia will host an intriguing Easter Monday clash as a revitalized Cagliari welcome Fiorentina in a fixture that has historically favored the home side, despite recent trends suggesting otherwise. Claudio Ranieri's Cagliari enter the match with renewed confidence following their emphatic 3-0 victory over Monza in their last home outing. That result has given the Rossoblu a golden opportunity to secure consecutive home wins for the first time since October-November 2023, while also potentially achieving back-to-back home clean sheets for the first time since April 2017. "We've worked hard to rebuild our home fortress," said the veteran Italian coach. "The atmosphere at Unipol Domus gives us energy, and the players feel that responsibility to perform for our supporters. Against Fiorentina, we need to show the same determination we displayed against Monza." The Sardinians have reason to believe they c...

LIGHTS, SPEED, ACTION: JEDDAH PREPARES FOR FORMULA 1'S HIGH-OCTANE NIGHT SPECTACLE

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  April 20, 2025 The dazzling lights of the Jeddah Corniche Circuit will illuminate the shores of the Red Sea this Sunday as Formula 1 returns to Saudi Arabia for what promises to be one of the most exhilarating races of the 2025 season. The fifth round of this year's championship takes drivers to a venue that has quickly established itself as one of the most challenging and dramatic on the calendar. Since its introduction in 2021, the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix has delivered heart-stopping action, controversial moments, and racing that pushes both cars and drivers to their absolute limits. The 2025 edition looks set to continue this tradition as championship battles begin to take shape. "Jeddah is unlike any other circuit we visit," explains seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton. "The speed is incredible, the walls are unforgiving, and the concentration required is off the charts. One momentary lapse and your race is over – that's what makes it so demanding...

DERBY OF DESPERATION: STRUGGLING ST. ETIENNE FACE RESURGENT LYON IN CRUCIAL RHÔNE-ALPES CLASH

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  April 20, 2025 ST. Etienne - Lyon The Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium will crackle with tension this Sunday as two bitter rivals at opposite ends of the form table collide in the 125th edition of one of France's most storied derbies. While St. Etienne fight for their Ligue 1 survival, Lyon arrive with renewed confidence, creating the perfect backdrop for a potentially explosive encounter. Few regional rivalries in European football can match the intensity of St. Etienne versus Lyon. The historic Rhône-Alpes derby has seen Les Verts claim 43 victories against Lyon's 47, with 34 draws completing the balance sheet across all competitions. For Lyon, this fixture has particular defensive significance – they've kept 41 clean sheets against St. Etienne, more than against any other opponent in their history. The momentum heading into Sunday's clash clearly favors the visitors. Lyon have emerged as one of Ligue 1's form teams since Paulo Fonseca took charge in early February...

EASTER SUNDAY SHOWDOWN: DESPERATE EMPOLI HOST REJUVENATED VENEZIA IN CRUCIAL RELEGATION BATTLE

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  April 20, 2025 Empoli - Venezia The Stadio Carlo Castellani will host a crucial Easter Sunday relegation clash as struggling Empoli welcome a Venezia side fresh off their first win in 15 attempts. With both teams desperately fighting to avoid the drop, this historically high-scoring fixture could prove pivotal in the battle for Serie A survival. History suggests we're in for a goal-fest in Tuscany. In the nine previous encounters between these sides at Empoli's home ground across Serie A and Serie B, both teams have scored in every single match. These fixtures have produced a remarkable 35 goals at an average of 3.9 per game – making it one of the most reliable fixtures for entertainment in Italian football. Venezia hold an unusual distinction as one of Empoli's bogey teams. The Lagunari have never lost against the Tuscans in Serie A, with two wins and three draws from their five top-flight meetings. This psychological edge could prove crucial as both sides enter the ...

THE ULTIMATE HOCKEY SPECTACLE BEGINS: 16 TEAMS EMBARK ON THE JOURNEY FOR THE STANLEY CUP

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  April 19, 2025 Hold your breath – the most-watched hockey event of the year is finally here! The 2025 NHL playoffs kick off on Saturday, offering fans worldwide two months of intense battles, unexpected twists, and hockey magic at the highest level. From the opening face-off to the final siren – every game, every shift, and every goal counts. "The regular season and playoffs are two completely different worlds," says Connor Bedard, the star forward of the defending champions Florida Panthers. "In the playoffs, you must be prepared for absolute self-sacrifice. Every blocked shot, every board battle, every second on the ice decides whether you advance or your season ends." The Panthers enter the elimination rounds as the defending champions. The Florida team, led by captain Aleksander Barkov and last year's first overall draft pick Connor Bedard, will want to prove that last year's triumph was no fluke. Their journey to the Stanley Cup in 2024 wrote one ...

OFFENSIVE POWERHOUSE MEETS TEAM WITHOUT FIREPOWER: SPARTA HEADS TO FORTRESS OF DESPAIR

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  April 19, 2025 FK Pardubice - AC Sparta Praha The CFIG Arena in Pardubice will witness a duel on Saturday between two teams from opposite ends of the table. Home side FK Pardubice, who are already certain to participate in the relegation group, welcome Prague's Sparta, who are still fighting for a position guaranteeing European competition. The East Bohemian side is experiencing one of the worst seasons in their top-flight history. After 29 rounds, they have just 19 points, and it's already clear that this represents their lowest points tally after the regular season in the club's history. Their previous minimum of 24 points from the 2021/22 season will thus be negatively surpassed. Pardubice will also become the only team to participate in the relegation group in all of the last four seasons. "We realistically evaluated the situation a few weeks ago and know that a fight for survival awaits us after the regular season," admits Pardubice coach Jiří Saňák. ...