Category Archives: competition

competition, football, soccer, sports, team

Porto vs Benfica Prediction and Betting Tips | October 5th 2025

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Porto will welcome arch-rivals Benfica to the Estadio do Dragao in the Primeira Liga on Sunday in what promises to be an exciting clash between two of Portuguese football’s giants.

**Current Form and Standings**

The hosts, Porto, have maintained a perfect start to their league campaign, boasting a 100% record and sitting comfortably atop the league table. In fact, the Dragoes have preserved this flawless form across all competitions this season. They secured a dominant 4-0 away victory at Arouca on Monday, followed by a 2-1 home win over Crvena zvezda in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday.

Benfica, also known as the Aguias, have enjoyed an unbeaten run in the league as well, winning five of their seven matches. Their latest league outing saw them edge past Gil Vicente 2-1, courtesy of a brace from Vangelis Pavlidis. However, their Champions League campaign recently hit a snag with a narrow 1-0 defeat away to Chelsea on Tuesday.

**Porto vs Benfica Head-to-Head and Key Statistics**

This fixture, famously known as O Clássico, has been contested 257 times across all competitions. Porto holds a slight edge in the historical head-to-head record with 102 wins, while Benfica have won 93 times, and 62 games have ended in draws.

Last season, Benfica completed a league double against Porto, winning both home and away matches convincingly with 4-1 scorelines. This season, Porto leads the league’s goalscoring chart with 19 goals scored and only one conceded. Benfica, on the other hand, have conceded four goals so far, with three of those coming at home.

When it comes to home and away records this season, Porto has maintained a 100% record at Estadio do Dragao, keeping clean sheets in all matches. Benfica have also remained unbeaten away from home in the league, winning all three away games and keeping two clean sheets.

Interestingly, their last eight league meetings have produced decisive results, with each side claiming four wins. Benfica has won four of their last five encounters against Porto, showcasing their competitive edge in recent fixtures.

**Team News and Player Updates**

Porto will be bolstered by the return of Samu Aghehowa, who was rested against Crvena zvezda due to a minor knock. Pepe, who started on the bench recently, is also expected to return to the starting lineup.

Benfica, however, face challenges due to a viral outbreak impacting several players and staff, which could see manager Jose Mourinho missing key first-team players. Notably, Mourinho has yet to secure a victory against his former club at Estadio do Dragao, adding an intriguing subplot to this high-stakes encounter.

**Match Prediction**

Porto currently enjoys better form and squad availability compared to Benfica. With their strong defensive record — having conceded just two goals in nine games across all competitions — and potent attacking prowess, the Dragoes look poised to claim a vital home win.

Despite Benfica’s resilience and past successes in this fixture, their ongoing injury crisis might hamper their effectiveness. Porto’s recent home wins against the visitors have often featured three goals apiece, and this match is expected to be competitive and entertaining.

We predict a closely fought game with Porto edging Benfica by a 2-1 margin.

**Prediction:** Porto 2-1 Benfica

—

**Porto vs Benfica Betting Tips**

– **Tip 1:** Result — Porto to win
– **Tip 2:** Goals Over/Under 2.5 — Over 2.5 goals expected
– **Tip 3:** Both teams to score — Yes
– **Tip 4:** At least one goal to be scored in the second half — Yes

—

This showdown between two Portuguese titans is sure to captivate fans and could prove decisive in the race for the Primeira Liga crown. Stay tuned for what promises to be a fantastic O Clássico at Estadio do Dragao!
https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/porto-vs-benfica-prediction-betting-tips-october-5th-2025

competition, golf, scotland, sports, tournament

Alfred Dunhill Links Championship 2025 Round 2 tee times and pairings explored

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The 2025 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship is currently underway in Scotland. Following the completion of the first round, Ryan Brehm, Matthew Jordan, and Darius Van Driel share the top spot on the tournament leaderboard.

The second round of the championship is set to commence on October 3. Players will tee off from three different courses: the Old Course at St. Andrews, Carnoustie Golf Links, and Kingsbarns Golf Links.

On Friday, pairs including Ewen Ferguson and Wenyi Ding, as well as Mikael Lindberg and Richard Sterne, will start their rounds at 9:00 AM local time from tees 1 and 10 at St. Andrews. Meanwhile, Yurav Premlall and Alexander Levy will tee off at 9:00 AM local time from Carnoustie Golf Links.

### Second Round Tee Times and Pairings – Old Course at St. Andrews (Local Time)

**Tee 1**
– 9:00 AM: Ewen Ferguson, Wenyi Ding
– 9:11 AM: Angel Hidalgo, Zander Lombard
– 9:22 AM: Pablo Larrazabal, Angel Ayora
– 9:33 AM: Nathan Kimsey, Sam Bairstow
– 9:44 AM: Aaron Cockerill, Matthias Schwab
– 9:55 AM: Conor Purcell, Jens Dantorp
– 10:06 AM: Ryan Van Velzen, Matthew Southgate
– 10:17 AM: Joe Dean, Taichi Kho
– 10:28 AM: Darius Van Driel, Tom Vaillant
– 10:39 AM: Brandon Robinson Thompson, Joel Moscatel
– 10:50 AM: Anthony Quayle, David Puig
– 11:01 AM: Louis Albertse, Francesco Laporta
– 11:12 AM: Ryan Brehm, Frederic Lacroix
– 11:23 AM: Danny Willett, Matthew Baldwin

**Tee 10**
– 9:00 AM: Mikael Lindberg, Richard Sterne
– 9:11 AM: Jorge Campillo, Ricardo Gouveia
– 9:22 AM: Phoenix Campbell, Harrison Crowe
– 9:33 AM: Jeong Weon Ko, Joel Girrbach
– 9:44 AM: George Coetzee, Ben Schmidt
– 9:55 AM: Fabrizio Zanotti, Matt Jones
– 10:06 AM: Simon Forsstrom, Jeff Winther
– 10:17 AM: Ryggs Johnston, Kiradech Aphibarnrat
– 10:28 AM: Calum Hill, Freddy Schott
– 10:39 AM: Martin Trainer, Alfredo Garcia-Heredia
– 10:50 AM: Tapio Pulkkanen, Guido Migliozzi
– 11:01 AM: Herman Loubser, Jasper Stubbs
– 11:12 AM: Oliver Lindell, Brandon Wu
– 11:23 AM: Marcus Kinhult, Shubhankar Sharma

—

### Second Round Tee Times and Pairings – Carnoustie Golf Links (Local Time)

**Tee 1**
– 9:00 AM: Yurav Premlall, Alexander Levy
– 9:11 AM: Laurie Canter, Brandon Stone
– 9:22 AM: Adrian Meronk, Sean Crocker
– 9:33 AM: Yannik Paul, Daniel Brown
– 9:44 AM: Clement Sordet, Alejandro Del Rey
– 9:55 AM: Callum Tarren, MJ Maguire
– 10:06 AM: Brendan Steele, Marcus Armitage
– 10:17 AM: Dylan Frittelli, Tom Mckibbin
– 10:28 AM: Manuel Elvira, Matthew Jordan
– 10:39 AM: Ross Fisher, Rafa Cabrera Bello
– 10:50 AM: Bernd Wiesberger, Troy Merritt
– 11:01 AM: Dylan Naidoo, Martin Vorster
– 11:12 AM: Kazuma Kobori, Corey Lamb
– 11:23 AM: Elvis Smylie, MJ Viljoen

**Tee 10**
– 9:00 AM: David Micheluzzi, Marcel Schneider
– 9:11 AM: Frederik Kjettrup, Nikhil Rama
– 9:22 AM: Nicolai Von Dellingshausen, Daniel Young
– 9:33 AM: Jonathan Broomhead, Jack Senior
– 9:44 AM: Adrian Otaegui, Kerry Mountcastle
– 9:55 AM: Caleb Surratt, Scott Jamieson
– 10:06 AM: Andrea Pavan, Robin Williams
– 10:17 AM: Callum Shinkwin, Thomas Pieters
– 10:28 AM: John Paterson, Luis Carrera
– 10:39 AM: Todd Clements, Sebastian Soderberg
– 10:50 AM: Maximilian Kieffer, Jordan Gumberg
– 11:01 AM: Jordan Doull, Davis Bryant
– 11:12 AM: Gavin Green, Andrew Wilson
– 11:23 AM: Richard Mansell, Michael Hollick

—

### Second Round Tee Times and Pairings – Kingsbarns Golf Links (Local Time)

**Tee 1**
– 9:00 AM: Richie Ramsay, Benjamin Hebert
– 9:11 AM: Ian Snyman, David Ravetto
– 9:22 AM: Hamish Brown, Keenan Davidse
– 9:33 AM: Thomas Aiken, Tyler Hodge
– 9:44 AM: Oliver Wilson, Jayden Schaper
– 9:55 AM: Casey Jarvis, Rupert Kaminski
– 10:06 AM: Rory Franssen, Deon Germishuys
– 10:17 AM: Nacho Elvira, Wilco Nienaber
– 10:28 AM: Masahiro Kawamura, Jannik De Bruyn
– 10:39 AM: Connor Syme, Julien Guerrier
– 10:50 AM: James Conran, Daniel Hillier
– 11:01 AM: Niklas Lemke, Grant Forrest
– 11:12 AM: Jacob Skov Olesen, Dale Whitnell
– 11:23 AM: Joost Luiten, Dan Bradbury

**Tee 10**
– 9:00 AM: Matt Fitzpatrick, Louis Oosthuizen
– 9:11 AM: Tony Finau, Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen
– 9:22 AM: Padraig Harrington, Bubba Watson
– 9:33 AM: Aldrich Potgieter, John Parry
– 9:44 AM: Patrick Reed, Tommy Fleetwood
– 9:55 AM: Robert Macintyre, Eddie Pepperell
– 10:06 AM: Jordan Smith, Tyrrell Hatton
– 10:17 AM: Joakim Lagergren, Kristoffer Reitan
– 10:28 AM: Lucas Bjerregaard, Nicolas Colsaerts
– 10:39 AM: Dustin Johnson, Marco Penge
– 10:50 AM: Harry Hall, Brooks Koepka
– 11:01 AM: Martin Kaymer, Adrien Saddier
– 11:12 AM: Peter Uihlein, Haotong Li
– 11:23 AM: Cam Smith, Alex Fitzpatrick

—

Stay tuned for more updates as the tournament progresses and players compete across these iconic Scottish courses.

—

**About the author**
_Pravashis Biswas_
Pravashis Biswas is a passionate golf writer for Sportskeeda, combining his love for the sport with a strong academic background. Holding a postgraduate degree in Physics from St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata, his interest in golf was inspired by the physics of the golf ball’s flight, comparing it to fullerene structures.

With experience as an entertainment and sports content writer, Pravashis brings a meticulous and creative approach to his craft. He leverages tools like the GLF app and trusted platforms such as Golf.com and the BBC to provide accurate and engaging content.

A fan of Tiger Woods, Pravashis draws inspiration from the golf legend’s contributions and enduring wisdom. Outside writing, he enjoys video editing and following WWE and MMA, hobbies that complement his dynamic storytelling.

Pravashis aspires to cover major golf events like the PGA Tour, delivering insightful perspectives on the evolving landscape of golf while enriching the global golfing narrative at Sportskeeda.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/golf/news-alfred-dunhill-links-championship-2025-round-2-tee-times-pairings-explored

competition, football, match, premier league, sports

Late Eddie Nketiah winner sees Crystal Palace end Liverpool’s unbeaten start

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Liverpool were given a taste of their own medicine by Crystal Palace as Eddie Nketiah’s last-gasp winner wrecked their 100 per cent start to the season. The Eagles snatched a deserved 2-1 victory with the final kick of the match, just after Federico Chiesa thought he had rescued a point for the champions.

Since losing in the Community Shield to Palace, Liverpool had won all seven of their matches this season, clinching victory in six of them in the 83rd minute or later. But it was substitute Nketiah who produced the last-gasp heroics, prompting Palace’s usually reserved boss Oliver Glasner to charge down the touchline in celebration.

Palace took the lead early when Ismaila Sarr struck in the 10th minute. The goal came after Tyrick Mitchell and Yeremy Pino broke down the left, resulting in Palace’s first corner. Daichi Kamada swung in the cross, and Marc Guehi — who would have been playing for Liverpool if the Reds had secured his transfer on deadline day — challenged Ryan Gravenberch at the far post. It was Reds midfielder Gravenberch who inadvertently headed the ball back into his own six-yard box, where Sarr was on hand to lash it home.

Liverpool responded quickly by winning a free-kick on the edge of the Palace area, but play was delayed for six minutes due to a medical emergency in the Arthur Wait stand. When Mohamed Salah finally stepped up, his shot hit the defensive wall, and Gravenberch’s fierce follow-up was superbly tipped onto the near post by Palace keeper Dean Henderson.

Liverpool’s goalkeeper Alisson Becker was by far the busier keeper throughout the match, keeping his side in it by denying Pino, Daniel Munoz, and Jean-Philippe Mateta in quick succession. Defender Ibrahima Konate, in particular, endured a torrid time at the back, which was compounded when he pulled back Mateta to earn a booking. This display highlighted exactly why Reds boss Arne Slot pushed hard to land England defender Guehi.

Konate probably should have equalised with a free header from Dominik Szoboszlai’s corner, but the ball flew inches wide. Palace twice came agonisingly close to doubling their lead in first-half stoppage time. First, a slick counter culminated in Mateta curling his shot against Alisson’s far post, then the French striker blazed a volley over from eight yards before the break.

After the break, Munoz just failed to convert Pino’s cross at the far post, before Alisson came out quickly to block Mateta again. Liverpool should have been level on the hour mark, but Florian Wirtz side-footed Szoboszlai’s cross straight at Henderson.

Then came what should have been Alexander Isak’s big moment. The £130 million striker raced onto a ball played in behind, jinked past Chris Richards, only to stab his shot wide.

However, with three minutes left, the ball found Chiesa in the area, and the Italian volleyed home. The goal survived a VAR check for handball by Salah, providing Liverpool with hope.

Yet Nketiah had the last word, tucking the ball away at the far post with another VAR check for offside adding to the late drama — which this time did not go Liverpool’s way.
https://www.breakingnews.ie/sport/late-eddie-nketiah-winner-sees-crystal-palace-end-liverpools-unbeaten-start-1811933.html

competition, events, reactions, sports, tennis

“Alexander Zverev says, ‘No, f**k that bro'” – Andy Roddick reacts to German ignoring Carlos Alcaraz’s advice during devastating Laver Cup loss

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The 2025 Laver Cup saw Team Europe, featuring World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz, No. 3 Alexander Zverev, and No. 12 Casper Ruud, lose the title to Team World. Team World’s lineup included No. 5 Taylor Fritz, Alex de Minaur, among others. The eighth edition of the Laver Cup was held at the Chase Center in San Francisco, United States, from September 19 to 21, 2025.

Team World, captained by Andre Agassi, secured its third Laver Cup title by defeating Team Europe in a highly competitive showdown.

### Andy Roddick Reacts to Zverev Ignoring Alcaraz’s Advice

During a recent episode of the podcast *Served with Andy Roddick*, hosted by Jon Wertheim and Mike Hayden, tennis legend Andy Roddick shared his thoughts on Alexander Zverev choosing not to follow Carlos Alcaraz’s in-match advice during the tournament.

Roddick said,
“I think it’s interesting also Carlos (Alcaraz) comes over and he could tell Zverev (Alexander) like, ‘Oh, I would hit a forehand 110 and then I would hit a drop shot floater.’ And then Zverev goes, ‘No, f*** that, bro.’ Casper (Ruud), I don’t know that I have that one, Carlitos. Can we get Casper over here? He kind of resides. Yeah, there’s a hugging the baseline deficit with Casper also.” (30:26 onwards)

He continued,
“Can you come here and tell me what you would do? But I think that’s the magic of it, right? Like I don’t know that I would automatically source the opinion of the best player, right? Because maybe the way they view it is more difficult.”

### Alexander Zverev’s Career and Upcoming Tournaments

Throughout his impressive career, Alexander Zverev has won 24 ATP Tour singles titles and two doubles titles.

Next up, the German star is set to compete at the 2025 China Open, an ATP 500 event taking place at the National Tennis Center in Beijing from September 25 to October 1, 2025. Zverev is seeded second for the tournament, with Jannik Sinner opting not to participate.

This edition marks the 24th men’s China Open, with defending champion Carlos Alcaraz looking to retain his title.

In the round of 32, Zverev will face former Italian player Lorenzo Sonego. Additionally, in the men’s doubles category, Zverev will team up with Brazilian Marcelo Melo. The pair will take on Cameron Norrie and Yunchaokete Bu in the first round.

Stay tuned for more updates on Zverev’s performance and the latest tennis news.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/tennis/news-alexander-zverev-says-no-f-k-bro-andy-roddick-reacts-german-ignoring-carlos-alcaraz-s-advice-devastating-laver-cup-loss

competition, cricket, injury recovery, sports, team

From Test pain to T20 gain: Jordan Cox’s comeback

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By Rajdeep Saha | Sep 22, 2025 | 01:13 am

**England’s Jordan Cox Opens Up About Injury Setback and Triumphant Comeback**

England cricketer Jordan Cox has opened up about his struggle to cope with an injury that denied him a Test debut last December. Despite this setback, Cox was determined not to let his white-ball comeback follow a similar fate.

### Setback: Missed Test Debut Due to Thumb Injury

Cox was initially set to feature in a three-match Test series against New Zealand last December. However, his plans were disrupted when he broke his thumb during net practice. This unfortunate injury paved the way for Jacob Bethell, whose impressive performances have seen him advance across all formats.

Reflecting on the missed opportunity, Cox admitted it was “really hard” to have his chance taken away.

### Resilience: Determination Leads to T20 Success Against Ireland

Despite his earlier injury, Cox was determined not to let another opportunity slip through his fingers. During England’s match against Ireland in Malahide, he suffered a knee scare while attempting a catch but was adamant about batting.

“There was no chance I wasn’t going to bat because I might have to wait for another two years,” Cox told Sky Sports News.

His determination paid off as he scored a fiery 55 runs off 35 balls, including 4 fours and 4 sixes. Coming in at number 4, Cox’s knock helped England chase down Ireland’s total of 154/8 in 20 overs, leading to a six-wicket victory. This win also sealed the T20 series in England’s favor, 2-0.

### Comeback: Oval Invincibles Star Ready for the Next Challenge

Cox rebuilt his confidence over the summer with a stellar performance for Hundred champions Oval Invincibles. He finished as the tournament’s leading run-scorer with 367 runs and hopes to carry the momentum into future matches.

“I seem to do well when I’m in that Oval shirt, so why not try and do it everywhere?” he said.

Looking ahead, Cox is eagerly anticipating England’s next white-ball tour against New Zealand in October, hoping to continue his impressive form on the international stage.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/sports/cox-opens-up-about-his-struggle-with-test-debut/story

competition, family-friendly, golf, rivalry, sports

Rory McIlroy fires back at Bryson DeChambeau’s trash talk ahead of Ryder Cup

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Rory McIlroy has never shied away from trash talk during a Ryder Cup, and with the tournament at Bethpage Black this week, he has started again. McIlroy, who will star for Team Europe, took aim at one specific Team USA player: Bryson DeChambeau.

Earlier this summer, DeChambeau said he looked forward to talking some smack to McIlroy at the Ryder Cup. However, McIlroy brushed it off.

“I think the only way he gets attention is by mentioning other people,” McIlroy told The Guardian in an interview over the weekend. “That is basically what I think of that. To get attention he will mention me or Scottie [Scheffler] or others.”

The rivalry between McIlroy and DeChambeau has grown since their showdown at the Masters in April, where McIlroy won his first green jacket to complete the career Grand Slam. During that round, McIlroy was paired with DeChambeau, who struggled at Augusta National.

Afterward, DeChambeau told reporters he never spoke to McIlroy during the final round and found it odd. McIlroy, however, saw it differently. “I’m not going to try and be his best mate out there,” he said at the PGA Championship.

The feud reignited at the 2024 U.S. Open, where DeChambeau prevailed after McIlroy’s final-round collapse at Pinehurst No. 2. McIlroy’s outspoken opposition to LIV Golf, where DeChambeau now plays, has also fueled tension between the two stars.

That sets the stage for this week at Bethpage Black, where trash talk is expected both on the course and among the fans. The venue is anticipating about 50,000 spectators per day during the three-day tournament.

For more sports coverage, visit FoxNews.com.
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/rory-mcilroy-fires-back-bryson-dechambeaus-trash-talk-ahead-ryder-cup

athletics, competition, events, sports, tennis

Hangzhou Open 2025: Alexander Bublik vs Aleksandar Vukic preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds, and pick

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Match Details

  • Fixture: (3) Alexander Bublik vs Aleksandar Vukic
  • Date: September 20, 2025
  • Tournament: Hangzhou Open 2025
  • Round: Second Round (Round of 16)
  • Venue: Hangzhou Olympic Sports Expo Center, Hangzhou, China
  • Category: ATP 250
  • Surface: Hard
  • Prize Money: $1,019,185
  • Live Telecast: USA Tennis Channel | UK Sky Sports | Canada TSN+

Alexander Bublik vs Aleksandar Vukic Preview

Third-seeded Alexander Bublik will face Australia’s Aleksandar Vukic in the second round of the 2025 Hangzhou Open on Saturday, September 20.

Having previously struggled for motivation, Bublik has hit a rich vein of form following his maiden Major quarterfinal run at the French Open. Currently ranked World No. 19, he has won 16 of his last 19 matches on the ATP Tour, capturing three titles in the process.

Having received a first-round bye in Hangzhou, the 28-year-old will be eager to pick up his first hardcourt title since winning the 2024 Open de Sud France last February.

Vukic, meanwhile, has not enjoyed the same level of success as Bublik recently, as reflected in his 10-23 win/loss record on the ATP Tour this year. Before this week, the 29-year-old had dropped his last five hardcourt main draw tour-level matches, including a first-round exit at the US Open.

However, that did not deter World No. 93 Vukic, who fought hard in his first-round match at the Hangzhou Open on Friday, defeating former World No. 7 David Goffin 6-4, 1-6, 6-1.

Head-to-Head

Vukic holds a slight edge over Bublik with a 2-1 lead in their ATP Tour head-to-head meetings. The Australian defeated his younger rival in their only tour-level hardcourt encounter at the 2022 Adelaide International 2.

Notably, Bublik won their most recent match on the hardcourts of the Phoenix Challenger; however, this does not count towards their official ATP record.

Odds

All betting odds sourced from BetMGM.

Prediction

Bublik’s game has been flowing freely in recent months, making him one of the most dangerous players on the ATP Tour. When he’s on, his serves and forehands consistently find the court for winners.

Although standing at 6’5″, Bublik’s movement can be somewhat sheepish, but his anticipation and court IQ allow him to maintain solid footing during longer rallies.

Vukic does not possess the same level of power as Bublik but compensates with impressive footspeed. However, simply chasing down balls and hoping for errors is not an effective strategy against a shotmaker of Bublik’s caliber — especially on the fast hardcourts of Hangzhou.

Pick: Alexander Bublik to win in straight sets.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/tennis/hangzhou-open-2025-alexander-bublik-vs-aleksandar-vukic-preview-head-to-head-prediction-odds-pick