The Australian Open draws to a close this week, with bookmaker covering all the action right up to the hotly anticipated Men’s Final on Sunday. For the first time in almost 40 years, Britain will be represented in both the Men’s and Women’s semi-finals of the Open, with John Lloyd and Sue Barker the last to achieve the feat in 1977.
There’s no doubting that Andy Murray will be desperate to add another trophy to his cabinet after failing to lift the Australian Open trophy in four finals in the last six years and British tennis fans will be hopeful of witnessing the Scotsman scoop another Grand Slam. Conversely, breakout starlet Johanna Konta was not on anyone’s radar going into the tournament and seems elated to have reached this stage of the prestigious competition having never qualified for the event previously. Regardless of the outcome, stay tuned to bookmaker to watch all the action unfold as the first Grand Slam of the year is decided!
As always, there’s a mouth-watering selection of European football available to customer this week, the highlight of which is arguably a top of the league clash between Barcelona andAtlético Madrid in La Liga. Both teams go into the encounter on 48 points, separated only by goal difference, making this match one that could prove pivotal in the title race. Barca are in phenomenal form this season, and some are already predicting another treble-winning year for the Blaugrana, which would see them become the first team in UEFA history to record back-to-back trebles.
Moving over to Germany, Bayern will be looking to continue the form that has seen them lose just once in their last 18 league games whilst second-placed Borussia Dortmund will be eager to ensure that the Bavarians do not extend their eight point lead any further. Munich face 17th placed Hoffenheim, who have recorded a solitary win in their last 10 league games and with free scoring Poland striker Lewandowski leading the line, it could be another convincing win for the Bavarians. Dortmund will host 10th placed Ingolstadt and Thomas Tuchel will be eager to secure another three points as BVB continue their impressive recovery in the post-Klopp era. African Player of the Year, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will be eager to get on the scoresheet again this weekend and the Gabonese hitman is in sensational form for Borussia of late, having scored 18 goals in 17 appearances in the Bundesliga this season.
The weekend’s action culminates in the Derby di Milano, and despite a decline in recent years, the derby remains one of the most fierce historic rivalries in world football and the San Siro will be in a frenzy as the Rossoneri line up against the Nerazzurri on Sunday afternoon.