With the producing another sensational campaign at both ends of the table last season, England’s second-tier has cemented its spot as one of European football’s most exciting domestic leagues.

Watching the 2024/25 campaign officially get underway this weekend, all of the Championship’s heavy hitters will be looking to make their own early statements.

In what could prove to be yet another Championship rollercoaster ride this season, we have taken a look at who have been installed as the early title contenders.

Leeds

Suffering heartbreak at Wembley on May 16th as they suffered a 1-0 defeat against Southampton in last season’s play-off final, fans were clearly left frustrated by what they had billed as a real opportunity to book an immediate Premier Leag…

Luis Enrique said Kylian Mbappe is in a good state of mind to return to his Paris Saint Germain side ahead of Saturday’s Ligue 1 meeting with Toulouse.

The striker was absent from the squad for the opening-weekend goalless draw with Lorient following a tumultuous summer in which a dispute over his future left him training separately from the first team.

The 23-year-old has only a year to run on his current contract and has stated his reluctance to sign renewed terms, but has been brought back into the fold and is in line play on Saturday.

The Parisian squad to face Toulouse.

— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English)

The manager said he is happy to have a player of the World Cup-winner’s ability available as he looks to win the title in his fir…

Leicester City midfielder Andy King says his stunning Premier League triumph at club level gives him belief that Wales can spring a similar upset to win Euro 2016.

Claudio Ranieri s Foxes upset odds as high as 5,000/1 to secure Leicester s first top-flight title and turn English football on its head.

Wales will contest their first major international tournament since 1958 and, despite the presence of stars such as Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey, are not expected to trouble Europe s elite.

But Greece were shock winners of the European Championship in 2004 and King sees no reason why Chris Coleman s side cannot replicate those feats.

The whole Leicester thing has given everyone belief, King said.

You do not have to be France or Spain to win the Euro…

Switzerland booked their spot at Euro 2020 after cruising to a 6-1 win over Gibraltar at Victoria Stadium on Monday.

Their nervy 1-0 win over Georgia on Friday kept them top of Group D ahead of the final round of fixtures and they never looked in danger of relinquishing that position with a dominant display.

Cedric Itten – who scored the winner against Georgia – set them on their way after 10 minutes, with Ruben Vargas and Christian Fassnacht adding further goals after the interval.

The hosts pulled one back through Reece Styche in the 74th minute – just their third goal of the qualifying campaign – but Switzerland reasserted their superiority through Loris Benito, a second goal from Itten and a late strike from Granit Xhaka.

The result meant Vlad…

Best Odds: 3/5

Bookmaker:

Knowing that a single point will be enough to clinch a top-four return, Manchester United will welcome Chelsea to Old Trafford on Thursday night.

Manchester United

Starting with the hosts, while Manchester United might have opened May in the midst of a minor wobble, Erik ten Hag’s side have come roaring back over the past week. Last seen claiming a gritty 1-0 victory away at Bournemouth, the former Ajax boss knows that just a single point here would be enough to clinch a lucrative Champions League return. Now securing back-to-back Premier League wins for the first time since the start of April, United will be smelling the chance to make a real statement here. Relishing a return to Old Trafford on Thursday night, a huge part of the Re…

English football will hope a typically rousing weekend of Premier League action can take some of the sting out of the country s failure to win the right to stage the 2018 World Cup.

Thursday s FIFA ballot in Zurich and the subsequent revelation England had won just two votes, were a kick in the teeth for football s birthplace.

But the global appeal of the Premier League remains undimmed and this weekend is likely to witness another intriguing chapter in the title race, with just six points separating the top five ahead of the latest round of matches.

Manchester United s bid to maintain their position on the top of the Premier League with victory at Blackpool on Saturday however has been scuppered by the freezing temperatures in England.

United are two po…

Teenage Liverpool forward Ben Doak has been included in Scotland s 28-man preliminary squad for Euro 2024, with Stuart Armstrong and Che Adams also in despite fitness concerns.

Doak has never previously been called up to Scotland s senior squad, having won seven caps at under-21 level.

The 18-year-old made five appearances for Liverpool in all competitions in 2023-24, including four starts, and could now make his senior international debut when Steve Clarke s side face Gibraltar and Finland in pre-tournament friendlies next month.

Clarke must then cut two of the 28 players he has selected ahead of Scotland s trip to Germany, who they face in the opening game of the tournament on June 14.

Your 28-man provisional Scotland squad

Read more here: <…

Real Madrid are interested in signing Jamal Musiala from Bayern Munich in the summer of 2025, according to . The report has claimed that Madrid president Florentino Perez personally wants to bring Musiala to the Santiago Bernabeu, but Bayern do not want to sell the 21-year-old, who can operate as an attacking midfielder or as a winger.

Musiala is one of the best young players in the world and has been superb for Bayern over the years. The Germany international has been on the books of the German club since 2019 and has won the Bundesliga title four times.

Madrid are aiming to win the La Liga and the UEFA Champions League this season, while Bayern are looking to clinch the Bundesliga and become the champions of Europe. It will be interesting to see if Madrid are able to …

Best Odds: 2/5

Bookmaker:

Looking to sign off their Group F campaign with a final statement of intent, Portugal will meet Georgia at the Veltins Arena on Wednesday night.

Georgia

Starting with Georgia, while the Crusaders might be making their maiden appearance at a major tournament this summer, they have continued to receive a string of plaudits from across the continent. Already breaking a string of records this summer and backed by an emotional support back home, Willy Sagnol’s men will certainly be relishing a famous showdown against the former European champions on Wednesday night. Putting in another rugged performance over the weekend as they eventually snatched a 1-1 stalemate against the Czech Republic, Georgia still have a mathematical chance of book…

Marco Reus is available to make his debut for LA Galaxy as they look to consolidate their place at the top of the Western Conference when they take on Atlanta United.

The 35-year-old s signing until the end of the 2026 MLS season was confirmed last week after he brought the curtain down on a 12-year spell at Borussia Dortmund

Despite leaving Europe, Reus still holds ambitions of lifting silverware in the United States, with the Galaxy in a promising position as MLS returns following a break for the Leagues Cup.

The Galaxy are top of the Western Conference on 49 points, four behind East leaders Inter Miami in the race for the Supporters Shield.

In his introductory press conference, Reus said: I m here to help the team and to win championships. So that s th…