Table of contents for 31-Dec-2019 in MATCH!

MARTIN ODEGAARD REAL SOCIEDAD & NORWAY It’s already a breakout season for Odegaard – he’s been one of the best players in La Liga! When his loan ends and he returns to Real Madrid, we predict that he’ll replace Gareth Bale and become a star for the Spanish giants! JADON SANCHO BORUSSIA DORTMUND & ENGLAND 2019 was a big year for Sancho, but there’s plenty more to come! If he leaves Dortmund, as expected, he’ll almost definitely break the transfer record for a British player, before heading to Euro 2020 as one of Gareth Southgate’s stars! TAMMY ABRAHAM CHELSEA & ENGLAND Tammy’s had to wait for his chance in Chelsea’s first team, but he’s grabbed it with both hands this season! In 2020, the striker will be right in the…

REAL MADRID are welcoming 2020 in style – their new fourth shirt has got an ultra-realistic golden confetti pattern! The Spanish titans are one of the most successful sides on the planet, and the new adidas jersey pays tribute to all of their past glory – and the trophies they hope to lift this year and in the future... FIERCE FOOTY! The 2020 Copa America is taking place in Argentina and Colombia next summer, so Nike have revealed the official match ball that the stars are gonna be busting net with! GROOVY GROUND! Italian team Fiorentina want to build anew stadium, and this design caught our eye… is it just us, or does it look a bit like a circus tent ! CHAMPION COLOURWAY! The 2019 Ballon d’Or winner, Lionel…

We’ve teamed up with our mates at MGA Entertainment to give away a bundle of The Hangrees to three MATCH readers! The LOL bundle, which includes three characters – Harry Plopper, Fartnite and Chew-Kaka – are parody toys from films, games and TV shows that poop slime. Crazy! To find out more about The Hangrees, or to follow the poop-tasic antics of the characters as they travel around the world making people laugh, visit thehangrees.mgae.com or follow @TheHangrees on Instagram! HOW TO ENTER! MATCHFOOTBALL.CO.UK Then click ‘WIN’ in the navigation bar on the MATCH website. Full T&Cs available online.…

ALEXANDER NUBEL SCHALKE ★ GK If you’re on the hunt for a new goalkeeper but don’t have tons of cash, Nubel’s perfect. The 23-year-old is already asolid shot-stopper that can kick-start counter attacks with both feet, and can reach an OVR of 86! ALEKSANDAR KOLAROV ROMA ★ LB The 34-year-old might not have much pace anymore, but he’s still got a wicked left foot. He’s super dangerous from the wing with 90 crossing, and also has 95 shot power, 86 long shots and 88 FK accuracy. Rocket! SERGIO RAMOS REAL MADRID ★ CB Although Real have tied Ramos down for another year in real life, you can still snap him up for free on FIFA – as long as you can afford his £200k-a-week wages! He’s the second best CB…

LUKA MODRIC Modric almost joined Inter last summer, but he looks sure to leave Real this year after the club failed to offer him a new deal. He could still move to Serie A, or be the star of David Beckham’s new MLS team Inter Miami! EDINSON CAVANI PSG have already signed Cavani’s replacement, Mauro Icardi, so their record goalscorer is ready to leave! Man. United and Atletico Madrid have been linked, or he could take over from Zlatan Ibrahimovic as LA Galaxy’s main man! TOBY ALDERWEIRELD We thought Alderweireld would be off last summer, but the CB had a one-year extension triggered at Spurs. Both he and Belgium teammate Jan Vertonghen can walk away in 2020, so Mourinho could be looking for a couple of new centre-backs soon! DAVID…

50 Alexandre Lacazette £46.5 million Lyon to Arsenal July 2017 Lacazette’s hero as a child was ex-Gunner Thierry Henry, so it was a dream come true when Arsenal signed him! The striker became the club’s record signing at the time, replacing Mesut Ozil, who joined from Real Madrid for £42.5 million in 2013! 49 John Stones £47.5 million Everton to Man. City August 2016 Chelsea tried hard to sign Stones in the summer of 2015, but Everton rejected three offers and the CB’s transfer request! They couldn’t turn down Man. City’s massive bid a year later, though – it was a record sale for The Toffees at the time! 48 Raheem Sterling £49 million Liverpool to Man. City July 2015 In April 2015, Razza turned down Liverpool’s offer of a…

ALL-PREM CLASH! LIVERPOOL V EVERTON One fixture grabbed the headlines as soon as the draw was made – the Merseyside derby! These two have faced each other in the cup more than any opponent, and this is their 25th meeting in the comp! Liverpool have lost seven of those but, with big PL games v Tottenham and Man. United still to come in January, will Jurgen Klopp rest some of his regulars MATCH VERDICT The Reds thrashed Everton in the Prem in December, but this should be closer! ONE TO WATCH! ARSENAL V LEEDS Promotion-chasing Leeds are licking their lips at the chance to take on one of the PL big boys, and their energetic and high-pressing style is sure to put The Gunners’ shaky defence under big pressure! The…

PhantomVNM The purple sole and Swoosh on the Venoms shimmer and shine as you look at them from different angles, which is probably a huge distraction for defenders when you weave your way towards them with the ball! Price: £219.95 store.nike.com Mercurial Superfly Both silos are wrapped in a ‘Desert Sand’ and ‘Psychic Purple’ colourway, but there are also pops of vibrant green on the sole of the Mercurials! As always, you can get the high-collared Superflys, like these, or the low-collared Vapors! Price: £229.95 store.nike.com Lille Anniversary Shirt To mark French side Lille’s 75th anniversary, New Balance have created this limited-edition jersey! There’s a return to the classic V-pattern on the front, and the team’s very first club crest! Price: TBC newbalance.co.uk AC Milan Anniversary Shirt Lille aren’t the…

Harry the Hulk! We’re not sure if Maguire got his head on the ball or on the Villa defender! Crazy Christian! Pulisic has been watching too much American football! Cold Trafford! You know it’s winter when… Robbo’s run! Robertson’s discovered a new way of dribbling… Gigantic guff! What do they eat as pre-match meals over in Portugal? Trollin’ Todd! Anyone know who Cantwell’s sticking his tongue out at? Perez Potter! Forget Harry Potter, Ayoze has got mad floating tekkers! Hungry Xhaka! How big do you want your bread roll, Granit? Bad breath klaxon! Did Mendy forget to brush his teeth? Merry Muller! Thomas Muller got exactly what he wanted for Xmas!…

FACTFILE Age: 27 Position: Att. midfielder Club: Birmingham Country: England HER STORY… Lucy started at Sunderland – the club that also produced Steph Houghton , Jill Scott, Lucy Bronze and Jordan Nobbs! Staniforth was a first teamer by 16, and played a key role in reaching the 2009 FA Cup final! After spells with Notts County, Bristol City and Liverpool, she went back to Sunderland in 2016. Within a year she’d been named club captain, and won the side’s Player Of The Year award in her second season! A move to Birmingham in 2018 led to an England call-up. She scored on her debut in Kazakhstan, busted net in the SheBelieves Cup and went to last summer’s WWC! HER STYLE… She loves setting people up – she was Birmingham’s most…

Use these three clues to name the mystery superstar! I play as a central midfielder for Champo club Blackburn! My birthday’s on New Year’s Eve! Wish me happy birthday, then! My initials are B.D. and I wear the No.23! Have you guessed me? TRANSFER TRACKER!  Name the teams Britt Assombalonga’s had permanent spells at during his epic career! SPORT SWITCH!  Which Fulham star has some sizzling squash skills? THE NICKNAME GAME! Match these League Two teams to their wicked nicknames! GROUNDED!  Which Championship club plays at this awesome ground? Which Ligue 1 baller is appearing in Jumanji: The Next Level? SPOT THE BALL!  Mark where you think the ball is in this action pic! GUESS THE WINNERS ! Name these October Player Of The Months! FOOTY MIS-MATCH Spot the…