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      What happened to Chelsea right-back Branislav Ivanovic and where is he now?

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      BRANISLAV Ivanovic was recognised as one of the Premier League’s best defenders during his time at Chelsea.He left Stamford Bridge in 2017, but where did he go and what is he doing now?
      Branislav Ivanovic scored some vital goals form the right side of defence for Chelsea between 2008 and 2017
      What happened to Branislav Ivanovic?
      Branislav Ivanovic signed for Chelsea from Lokomotiv Moscow in 2008, making his Premier League debut at the start of the following season.
      Ivanovic introduced himself to the Chelsea faithful the following season, where, in a Champions League Quarter final against Liverpool, the Serbian scored two headed goals that helped Chelsea on their way to a 3-1 victory at Anfield.
      He was nicknamed “two goal” because of his exploits that night.
      Chelsea won the 2009 FA Cup, but it wasn’t until the following season where Ivanovic became a first team regular.
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      In the 2009/10 season, Ivanovic helped The Blues to the Premier league and FA Cup double, featuring in the PFA team of the year for his consistent performances.
      2010/11 saw Chelsea fail to regain the title, although Ivanovic was a consistent figure in the team from right back and centre back.
      The following season, a thunderous extra-time goal against Napoli helped Chelsea progress to the Champions League Quarter Finals 5-4 on aggregate, after trailing 3-1 from the first leg.
      An outstanding defensive performance from Ivanovic helped Chelsea beat Barcelona 3-2 on aggregate after a dramatic 2-2 draw at the Camp Nou.
      Most read in Football
      Despite this, Ivanovic was booked, and therefore suspended for the final, something he only found out when he was told by Geoff Shreeves in an interview after the game.
      Ivanovic got over the disappointment by helping Chelsea beat Liverpool 2-1 to lift the 2012 FA Cup at Wembley.
      He received a Champions League winners medal after Chelsea beat Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena to win their first European Cup.
      In the 2012/13 season, Ivanovic was infamously bitten on the arm by Liverpool striker Luis Suarez during a 2-2 draw at Anfield in April. Suarez received a 10 match ban for the incident
      The Serbian made his own mark on Chelsea’s European history, in the 2013 Europa League final against Benfica.
      With the scores locked at 1-1, Ivanovic looped an injury time header into the top corner to win the cup for The Blues, the first time they had won the trophy.
      The 2013/14 season saw Jose Mourinho return to Stamford Bridge, but Chelsea failed to bring home any silverware, finishing four points off of eventual champions Manchester City, and losing to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League semi final.
      Silverware returned to the West London club the following season, including a winning goal for Ivanovic in the second leg of the League Cup semi final against liverpool.
      Chelsea beat Tottenham 2-0 in the final for Mourinho’s first trophy of his second spell, and soon after won the Premier League, their first for five years.
      Once again a vital player for the club, Ivanovic’s form was recognised by his second inclusion in the PFA team of the year.
      The 2015/16 season was a low point in an otherwise great career, with Ivanovic unable to help Chelsea to any silverware or European football for the following season, finishing tenth.
      The season also saw the departure of Jose Mourinho. However, Ivanovic did make his 350th appearance for the club against Norwich at Carrow Road that term.
      The arrival of Antonio Conte saw Ivanovic’s role limited, as the Italian favoured Victor Moses on the right of defence.
      His last game for the club came against Brentford in January 2017, which saw him score and win a penalty on what was a fitting farewell.
      Ivanovic returned to Russia, joining Zenit Saint Petersburg, where he stayed for three-and-a-half years and was appointed club captain.
      He returned to the Premier League with West Brom for the 2020/21 season, but despite a 5-2 win against Ivanovic’s former club at Stamford Bridge, could not survive relegation.
      He retired soon after the end of his contract with The Baggies.
      Where is Branislav Ivanovic now?
      It is not known what Ivanovic is currently doing, but he has been seen at UEFA Champions League draws, where he has helped with the process on stage.
      He has also appeared in a viral video, where he shows off his private trophy room, which includes replicas of all the trophies he won during his stellar career.
      Read More on The Sun
      What is Branislav Ivanovic’s net worth?
      It cannot be confirmed what his net worth is, but according to Taddlr, Ivanovic is worth in excess of £20million.
      During his time at Chelsea, he is thought to have earnt over £100,000 a week. More

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      Real Betis vs Man Utd: Red Devils look to seal Europa League last-8 spot after first leg demolition – stream, TV channel

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      MANCHESTER UNITED will be determined to put Sunday’s disappointment behind them in their Europa League last-16 second leg against Real Betis.The Red Devils were held to a 2-2 draw by relegation-battling Southampton at Old Trafford.
      Casemiro was shown a striaght red for his horror tackle on Carlos AlcarazCredit: Getty
      And to make matters worse, Casemiro was shown his second red card of the season which means he will miss FOUR of United’s upcoming matches.
      However, rules state that the Brazilian icon is available for the Europa League battle against Betis.
      This doesn’t bode well for the Spanish outfit who have a huge deficit to make up from the reverse fixture.
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      When is Real Betis vs Man Utd?

      Real Betis’ Europa League last-16 second leg against Manchester United will take place on Thursday, March 16.
      It is scheduled to get underway at 5:45pm UK time – 6:45pm local time.
      Benito Villamarin Stadium in Seville, Spain is the allocated arena for this contest and it can host around 60,721 supporters.
      Manchester United thrashed Betis 4-1 in the first leg.

      What TV channel is it on and can it be live streamed?

      Real Betis vs Manchester United will be broadcast LIVE on BT Sport 1 in the UK.
      Coverage is expected to commence from 5pm UK time – 45 minutes before kick-off.
      Subscription members of BT Sport can stream the entire action live via the BT Sport website or app.
      Alternatively, SunSport will have minute-by-minute coverage of the whole match including build up and reaction.

      What is the team news?
      Erik Ten Hag will be delighted to have Casemiro available to him despite the Brazilan’s red card offence against Southampton.
      However, Alejandro Garnacho (ankle) and Victor Lindelof (ill) could miss out.
      Most read in Europa League
      While Anthony Martial will still need to be assessed despite returning to full training.
      Anthony Martial is back in full trainingCredit: Getty
      Elsewhere, Manuel Pellegrini has no fresh injury concerns ahead of the second leg.
      But, the former Manchester City boss could be tempted to starting top goal scorer Borja Iglesias this time round.
      What are the odds?

      Real Betis to win 13/5
      Draw 12/5
      Man Utd to win 1/1

      *Odds courtesy of Ladbrokes are correct at time of publication More

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      Arsenal vs Sporting: Gunners put Premier League title charge aside as they eye Europa League last-8 spot – stream, TV

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      ARSENAL have been in tremendous form this season – but Sporting will be determined to throw a spanner in the works during their Europa League last-16 second leg.Three first half goals from Gabriel, Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard saw the Gunners blow Fulham away on the weekend.
      Arsenal annihilated Fulham on SundayCredit: Alamy
      It meant that Mikel Arteta’s men became the first team in football league history to win five consecutive away London derbies while keeping a clean sheet.
      However, the North London outfit will now need to put their Premier League title aspirations on hold as they look to overcome their Europa League first leg hiccup against Portuguese giants Sporting.
      And having only lost to twice at home all season, Arsenal are certainly favourites to progress to the quarter-final stage.
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      When is Arsenal vs Sporting?

      Arsenal’s mouth-watering Europa League second leg against Sporting will take place on Thursday, March 16.
      It is scheduled to get underway at 8pm UK time.
      Emirates Stadium in North London is the allocated arena for this fixture and it can host approximately 60,000 fans.
      The Gunners were held to a 2-2 draw when the sides met in the reverse fixture.

      What TV channel is it on and can it be live streamed?

      Arsenal vs Sporting will be broadcast LIVE on BT Sport 2 in the UK.
      Coverage is expected to commence from 7:15pm UK time – 45 minutes before kick-off.
      Subscription members of BT Sport can stream the entire action live via the BT Sport website or app.
      Alternatively, SunSport will have minute-by-minute coverage of the whole match including build up and reaction.

      What is the team news?
      Mikel Arteta will be delighted to almost be at full strength with only Eddie Nketiah and Mohamed Elneny unavailable for the Sporting clash.
      Furthermore, the Arsenal boss could be tempted into providing Gabriel Jesus with his first start since November following his 11-minute cameo against Fulham.
      Most read in Europa League
      Gabriel Jesus made his long-awaited return against FulhamCredit: Alamy
      Meanwhile, Ruben Amorim will be sweating over the fitness of Antonio Adan and ex-Gunners full-back Hector Bellerin who need assessments before the huge Europa League contest.
      Furthermore, Captain Sebastian Coates and Hidemasa Morita are ruled out through suspension.
      However, Daniel Braganca could return to the fold as the midfielder is back in full training.
      What are the odds?

      Arsenal to win 4/11
      Draw 15/4
      Sporting 15/2

      To qualify

      Arsenal 2/13
      Sporting 4/1

      *Odds courtesy of Ladbrokes are correct at time of publication More

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      in Motorsport

      Who is Sky Sports F1 presenter Natalie Pinkham?

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      NATALIE Pinkham has been a stalwart of Sky Sports’ F1 coverage for over 10 years.Here, we take a look at her career, and how she got into working on F1.
      Natalie Pinkham has been part of Sky Sports F1 coverage for over 10 years
      Who is Sky Sports F1 presenter Natalie Pinkham?
      Natalie Pinkham is a television presenter, originally from Buckinghamshire, England.
      She was born on September 20, 1977, and is a pit lane reporter at grand prix races for Sky Sports F1.
      As well as this, Pinkham has presented coverage on a number of different sports.
      This includes The Isle of Man TT and the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
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      She also presented the segment Blues News for Chelsea FC, and has hosted over 200 episodes of her podcast titled In The Pink.
      In the podcast, she interviews a range of different people, looking at their lives and careers, including Damon Hill and Sir Chris Hoy.
      Pinkham studied politics at the University of Nottingham before moving into television.
      Is Natalie Pinkham married and does she have any children?
      Pinkham is married to Owain Walbyoff, who is Managing Director at Endemol Games.
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      The pair were engaged in November 2010, and married in July 2012.
      Together, they have two children, a son named Otto, born in January 2015, and a daughter named Willow, born in June 2016.
      How did Natalie Pinkham get into F1?
      In December 2011, it was confirmed that Pinkham would begin working with Sky Sports for the 2012 F1 season.
      She had previously covered the sport for BBC Radio 5 Live’s commentary team as a pit lane reporter for the 2011 season.
      In 2013, she replaced close friend Georgie Thompson as host of The F1 Show, and in the following years has established herself as a vital part of their coverage.
      In 2021, Pinkham became the first woman to commentate on a Formula One session on British television when she led Sky’s commentary of first practice at the 2021 Bahrain Grand Prix, working alongside Karun Chandhok and Jenson Button.
      She also conducts interviews in the pit lane with drivers and others involved in the teams.
      What is Natalie Pinkham’s net worth?
      While it cannot be confirmed exactly, Pinkham’s net worth is estimated to be over £1million.
      Pinkham is believed to have a salary of over £100,000 a year. More

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      in Soccer

      Who is Dave Brailsford, what’s Sky’s ‘marginal gains’ philosophy and how does he know Sir Jim Ratcliffe?

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      SIR DAVID BRAILSFORD could be brought in by Sir Jim Ratcliffe should his Manchester United takeover bid be successful, according to reports.The current manager of Team Sky led Great Britain to an astounding 14 Olympic medals in Beijing back in 2008.
      Dave Brailsford became manager of Team Sky in 2010Credit: PA:Press Association
      Who is Dave Brailsford?
      The 59-year-old began his long career in cycling competing in amateur racing in France for four years.
      Brailsford was initially introduced to British Cycling as an advisor in 1997.
      He swiftly moved his way up the ladder to become programme director and eventually performance director in 2003.
      Team GB won two gold medals in cycling at the 2004 Olympic games, and that success continued to grow in 2008 and 2012 under Brailsford.
      In 2010 he was scouted as Team Sky’s manager – eventually resigning from Team GB in 2014.
      Brailsford with Team Sky’s Chris FroomeCredit: Getty – Contributor
      What is the Team Sky manager’s ‘marginal gains’ philosophy?
      The two-time Sports Personality of the Year Coach Award winner is famous for reinventing British cycling – focusing on technology and psychology.
      He also developed a ‘marginal gains’ philosophy for British Cycling.
      In 2012 he explained: “The whole principle came from the idea that if you broke down everything you could think of that goes into riding a bike, and then improved it by 1%, you will get a significant increase when you put them all together.”
      Team Sky boss Sir Dave Brailsford gives evidence at inquiry into doping in cycling
      latest in cycling
      How does Sir Jim Ratcliffe know Dave Brailsford?
      According to reports from The Times, Ratcliffe is confident that his bid to take over the Red Devils will be successful.
      The billionaire is keen to add Dave Brailsford to his team should he take over at Old Trafford as he looks to build a world-class line-up behind the scenes.
      Brailsford has a remarkable record at improving sports teams over the years, with the most obvious improvements coming in British Cycling.
      The pair have already worked alongside each other in the past, back in 2019 they partnered up following Ineos’ takeover of the Sky cycling team.
      Sir Jim Ratcliffe (L), Chris Froome (C), David Brailsford (R)Credit: GETTY
       What did Dave Brailsford said about the Bradley Wiggins controversy?
      Team Sky were recently cleared of an investigation into the contents of a jiffy bag carried by cyclist Bradley Wiggins.
      A suspect package was sent to Sky in 2011 to treat Wiggins, but UKAD recently confirmed no sufficient evidence of the contents of the bag was found.
      Brailsford backed his rider throughout the saga, in 2016 he told the Guardian: “There’s a rider, there’s a doctor. They agree to visit a consultant. The consultant’s report is pretty categorical in saying there is an issue here and I recommend the following medication.
      “That then goes to the anti-doping authorities. They say yes, we agree with this. Or they can say no. There are different steps to this process that should give us confidence. I believe in that process. I still do.”
      The Sky duo together in Italy in 2011Credit: Getty – Contributor
      Dave Brailsford : Team Sky ‘100% clean’ amid Bradley Wiggins controversy
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      Real Madrid vs Liverpool: Live stream, TV channel, team news and kick-off time for Champions League last-16 second leg

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      LIVERPOOL have it all to do is they take on Real Madrid in their Champions League last-16 second leg. The Reds were beaten 5-2 in shocking fashion two weeks ago in the first leg at Anfield.
      Vinicius scored twice in Real Madrid’s 5-2 win over LiverpoolCredit: Getty
      Jurgen Klopp’s side led 2-0 and were flying high in the first half before numerous defensive lapses stunted their progress.
      A win for Real would make it their fourth consecutive success over Liverpool in the competition, following the 2018 final, 2021 quarter-finals and the 2022 final.
      Liverpool, however, have made a habit of mustering miraculous comebacks in the Champions League.
      And they’ll be full of belief that they can do it all again as they travel to the Bernabeu.
      Champions League
      When is Real Madrid vs Liverpool?

      Real Madrid’s clash with Liverpool will take place on Wednesday, March 15.
      The match will get underway at 8pm UK time.
      The Santiago Bernabeu will play host.

      What channel is it and can it be live streamed?
      Real Madrid vs Liverpool will be shown live on BT Sport 1 and BT Sport 1 HD.
      You can live stream the action on the BT Sport app, which is available for download onto your mobile or tablet device.
      Team news
      Real Madrid are going to be without David Alaba and Ferland Mendy in the home leg.
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      But Real will still be close to a full strength side, with Vinicius Jr and Karim Benzema both set to star up front for Los Blancos.
      Liverpool will have to make do without Thiago Alcantara and Luis Duiz still, but they do have Ibrahim Konate back for the second leg.
      Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo are also set to start alongside Mohamed Salah in Liverpool’s usual three-pronged attack.
      Odds

      Real Madrid – 13/10
      Draw -13/5
      Liverpool -9/5
      Real to qualify – 1/100
      Liverpool to qualify – 16/1

      *Odds courtesy of Ladbrokes and correct at time of publication. More

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      Why will Casemiro miss four games for Man Utd?

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      MANCHESTER UNITED drew 0-0 with Southampton earlier today in an uninspiring performance at Old Trafford.But Casemiro’s sending off midway through the first half certainly didn’t help their case.
      Caemiro was in tears following his sending off against SouthamptonCredit: AP
      United were looking to bounce back in the league following their 7-0 drubbing at the hands of Liverpool last week.
      But they were unable to as relegation-battling Southampton proved to be a sterner test than expected.
      Armel Bella-Kotchap in particular was brilliant for the Saints on a day where a point could prove vital come the end of the season.
      But the story of the day was Casemiro’s red card for his tackle on Carlos Alcaraz.
      Why will Casemiro be suspended for four games?
      In the 34th minute of the game between United and Southampton, Casemiro was sent off for his challenge on Alcaraz.
      The Brazilian midfielder went for the ball but his foot followed through and caught Alcaraz on the shin with his studs.
      Originally, Casemiro was given a yellow card, but after a VAR review, the colour was changed to red.
      The former Real Madrid man left the pitch inconsolable and in tears.
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      And now he will miss FOUR games rather than the usual three for a red card.
      Casemiro went studs up on Southampton star Carlos AlcarazCredit: AP
      That is because it is Casemiro’s second red card of the season, following his red against Crystal Palace earlier this year.
      Casemiro was sent off against the Eagles for grabbing Will Hughes’ throat during a scuffle, and he subsequently missed games against Leeds (two games) and Leicester.
      But because Casemiro has picked up his second of the season, the usual punishment will be extended by one game to four.
      The 31-year-old will now miss games against Fulham in the FA Cup and Newcastle, Brentford and Everton in the Premier League. More

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      Man City vs RB Leipzig: Guardiola’s side look to get past Germans to reach Champions League quarter-finals – stream, TV

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      MANCHESTER CITY host German side RB Leipzig in the second leg of their Champions League Round of 16 tie.The English Champions will be hoping to win their first Champions League crown this season after coming close in previous years.
      Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola reacts after losing the UEFA Champions League final against Chelsea in 2021Credit: EPA
      In the first leg, it ended all square, a header from Josko Gvardiol cancelled out Riyad Mahrez’s first-half strike.
      Leaving the tie still firmly in the balance at the Etihad, as City look to put previous Champions League disappointment to the back of their minds.
      Riyad Mahrez putting Man City ahead in the first legCredit: EPA
      City are in good form after beating a stubborn Crystal Palace 1-0 on Saturday, keeping them just behind Arsenal, who are top of the Premier League table.
      The same can be said for Leipzig, who have won two of their three games since the first leg, with a defeat against high-flying Dortmund sandwiched in between thier two wins.
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      When is Man City vs RB Leipzig?

      Man City vs RB Leipzig is on Tuesday, March 14.
      Kick-off is at 8pm UK time.
      The Etihad will play host.

      What channel is Man City vs RB Leipzig on?

      Man City vs RB Leipzig will be shown live on BT Sport 1.
      Coverage gets underway from 7pm UK time.
      Alternatively, you can keep up to date with all the action from the Ethihad by following SunSport’s live blog.

      Can I stream Man City vs RB Leipzig FREE?

      You can live stream Man City vs RB Leipzig for free via the BT Sport app, providing you are a subscriber to BT Sport.
      The BT Sport app is available to download for free on your mobile or tablet device.

      What is the latest team news?
      Pep Guardiola will be hoping that his side came through the Crystal Palace game on the weekend unscathed.
      Most read in Football
      Phil Foden played 60 minutes after he recovered from a foot problem.
      Kevin de Bruyne only managed 15 minutes from the bench on Saturday, so he will be chomping at the bit to return to the City eleven.
      For Leipzig they have had illness thought-out their squad over the past week, with Konrad Laimer, Andre Silva, Dominik Szoboszlai and Timo Werner all suffering.
      Dani Olmo returned to first-team training last week and featured from the bench in the 3-0 win against Monchengladbach on the weekend.
      Christopher Nkunku is likely to be out of action after suffering a minor thigh strain.
      Goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi is still out long-term after he tore his ACL in October.
      Odds

      Man City – 4/11
      Draw – 19/5
      RB Leipzig – 7/1

      *Odds courtesy of Ladbrokes and are correct at the time of publication. More