Tondela vs Aves Prediction & Match Preview

CD Tondela vs CD Aves
Portugal- Primeira Liga
Date: Thursday, 11 June 2020
Kick-Off at 21:15 UK/ 22:15 CET
Venue: Estádio João Cardoso (Tondela)

This is comparatively one of the low-profile matches set to take place this Thursday. Both these teams are among the bottom five teams in the table. The hosts are better compared to their visitors in terms of table-placement. Tondela is currently 14th in the table with 26 points from 25 matches. They need to get a major upgrade in attacking as they have only 20 goals in the games so far.

Aves is ready for the imminent relegation to the second division next season. They are at the bottom of the table with a mere 13 points. Needless to say, they are the worst defense in the competition but have scored 3 more than their upcoming opponents.

Tondela vs Aves: Head-to-head (h2h)

• The hosts have three wins and a loss against this opposition in their last 5 meetings.
• The Gold and Greens have kept three clean sheets during that spell.
• Fewer than 2.5 goals were scored in three of those 5 games across all venues.
• The visitors have three wins and a defeat in their last 5 trips to this ground.
• More than 2.5 goals were netted in three of those 5 recent games here.
• Only one team scored in three of those head to head games at this venue.
• Tondela is on a 6 match winless streak in the league.
• Aves is currently struggling with a 4 game losing streak in league matches.

Tondela vs Aves: Prediction

I am sure there will be every few goals in this matchup. The last two league fixtures for Tondela ended up as goalless draws. If they can stop Benfica from scoring, who is the best attack, at Benfica, then they can very well stop the last team in the table. Also, the visitors have not scored in three of their 4 previous league games.

Tondela will be high on morale after the result against the toppers. Even though they have lost some head to heads against Aves recently, currently Aves will not be much of a threat to them. So I am backing the hosts to win with only one team getting the goals.

Tondela vs Aves: Betting Tips

• Both teams to score: No @ 1.80 (4/5).
• Tondela to win @ 1.88 (7/8).

Belenenses vs Vitoria Guimaraes Prediction & Match Preview

Belenenses vs Vitoria Guimaraes
Portugal – Primeira Liga
Date: Thursday, 11 June 2020
Kick-Off at 19:00 UK/ 20:00 CET
Venue: Estádio Nacional do Jamor (Lisbon – Oeiras).

In yet another match under closed doors, Belenenses will host the Conquerors this Thursday.

The home team is on a purple patch after a string of disappointing results. But they are way below what we consider an average team.

They are 11th in the table with 12 defeats and only 8 wins in 25 matches. They are worse at home with 4 wins and 6 defeats in 12 matches here.

The visitors have done pretty well in matches on the road. They have managed to stay unbeaten in 9 of their 12 outings this season.

Guimaraes have a good record against this opposition in recent times, so we can expect them to triumph.

Belenenses vs Vitoria Guimaraes: Head-to-head (h2h)

• The visitors are on a 2 game win streak against this opposition.
• They scored 5 goals in both those wins, conceding only once.
• Both sides have 2 wins each in their 5 previous meetings across all venues.
• Fewer than 2.5 goals were scored in three of those 5 matches.
• The home team has an active 2 game-winning run against Guimaraes at this ground.
• Three recent head to head clashes here had less than 2.5 goals in total.
• Belenenses is on a 5 game unbeaten run in the league.
• Guimaraes is also unbeaten in their last 4 league matches.

Belenenses vs Vitoria Guimaraes: Prediction

The last two visits to this ground proved fruitful for the Conquerors. They have scored 10 goals in both of those games and conceded only once. They are on an unbeaten run with three wins and a draw.

All those three wins came against the team’s way below them in the table. The draw against giants- Sporting was the pick of the lot where they scored 2 past one of the strong defenses in the competition. So I think we can witness the visitors getting all three points.

The hosts have a problem in scoring goals just like they have problems in defense. They do not have a scoring average of at least a goal per match but have conceded way more than what they scored.

However, since they have an unbeaten run going on and a head to head streak at home, I am backing them to get goals.

Belenenses vs Vitoria Guimaraes: Betting Tips

• Guimaraes to win @ 1.73 (8/11).
• Both teams to score @ 1.80 (4/5).

Sevilla vs Real Betis Prediction & Match Preview

Sevilla vs Real Betis
Spain – LaLiga
Date: Thursday, 11 June 2020
Kick-off at 21:00 UK/ 22:00 CET
Venue: Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.

Sevilla has been in a wonderful form before lockdown and will probably carry their unbeaten streak in the last four games when they host Real Betis in their next clash in La Liga post lockdown.

• Sevilla form: 27 matches – 13 wins – 8 draws – 6 losses – 47 points.

• Betis form: 27 matches – 8 wins – 9 draws – 10 losses – 33 points.

Sevilla vs Real Betis Head-to-head (h2h)

• Only one of their recent five matches has ended in a draw.
• The host has recorded three of the last five wins.
• Their previous encounter gave a 1-2 away win for Sevilla.
• Both teams have scored in five of the prior six fixtures.
• The host has lost only one of their recent five games at home.

Sevilla vs Real Betis Match preview

Sevilla is unbeaten in their overall schedule for the last six fixtures across all major competitions.

Their previous encounter was on the road against Atletico Madrid, which ended in a 2-2 draw. It marked their fifth draw within the prior ten overall matches.

Betis will visit after a surprise turn over at home in their last clash in the league.

They defeated the La Liga giants Real Madrid with a 2-1 score on the board. Sadly, it was their only win in the past seven encounters in the campaign.

The host has slotted in 19 goals in their 13 appearances as the host. Meanwhile, Betis has scored only 11 goals in the same period in their away fixtures.

Based on their averages and recent h2h results, both sides have chances of shake the nets of their opponents in ninety minutes. Expect a tight encounter at Sevilla at the least.

Sevilla vs Real Betis Prediction

The game is mostly in the hands of the home team based on their first look in the league table as it stands, especially in their individual home and away records so far.

Having lost only one of their last ten home matches, Sevilla will have a slight edge as the host. Besides, the host has lost only two of their prior 13 attempts at home in the league.

In sharp contrast, Real Betis has only one win on the road from their 13 away fixtures. The visitor will be on the back of a five-game winless streak in their away records.

With this poor away form, the punters will be better off placing their bet upon Sevilla to win. If the punters feel risk in the 1.80 odds for the home win, draw no bet at 1.40 serves as the alternative.

Sevilla vs Real Betis Betting tips

• Sevilla to win @ 1.80 (4/5).

• Both teams to score @ 1.75 (3/4).

Thiago Silva mérite-t-il un hommage du Parc des Princes ?

Une page va se tourner au Paris Saint-Germain, avec le départ prochain de Thiago Silva. Le défenseur central brésilien, en fin de contrat avec les Rouge et Bleu, s'apprête à partir après huit ans passés en France, avec la possibilité de ne pas refouler la pelouse du Parc des Princes. Rien n'est encore officiel, mais tout porte à croire que l'idylle entre le Paris Saint-Germain et Thiago Silva est sur le point de s'arrêter. Le capitaine du club de la capitale se voit poussé vers la sortie, ce alors qu'il espérait prolonger un contrat devant s'achever au 30 juin. Le défenseur central de 35 ans sera amené néanmoins à disputer les dernières échéances de l'exercice 2019-2020, amputé par la crise sanitaire du coronavirus. Il a donc l'assurance de pouvoir porter, encore une fois, le maillot qu'il a endossé pour la première fois à l'été 2012. Mais dans quelles conditions ? Peut-être à huis-clos, et sur terrain neutre, lors des finales attendues de Coupe de la Ligue et de Coupe de France. Loin de France, aussi, en Ligue des champions, puisque la phase finale pourrait se dérouler au Portugal, à Lisbonne.

L'intérimaire Beckham y a eu le droit

«O Monstro» pourrait donc faire ses adieux à la formation francilienne sans avoir remis les pieds sur la pelouse du Parc des Princes. On imagine à quel point un homme aussi sensible que lui pourrait être touché par cette triste fin, même si soulever un, deux ou trois trophées serait un bien joli cadeau aux fans et au club. Mais quand l'intérimaire David Beckham ou l'arrogant Zlatan Ibrahimovic ont eu le droit à leur petit cérémoniel avant de plier bagage, qu'en sera-t-il de Thiago Silva ? A priori, le Sud-Américain a fait preuve de bien plus d'attachement au PSG que ses compères anglais et suédois. Leonardo et Nasser Al-Khelaïfi vont-ils dès lors organiser un hommage digne de ce nom pour un joueur qui va quitter Paris avec une kyrielle de titres domestiques ? Feront-ils l'impasse ? Après tout, le capitaine, s'il n'a jamais fait de vagues comme son compatriote Neymar a pu en faire, n'a aussi jamais su être la locomotive attendue, celui qui emmenait les autres vers le haut dans les grands rendez-vous.

Grand leader ou usurpateur ?

Au contraire... Bien souvent, Thiago Silva a manqué à l'appel, au propre comme au figuré, quand un grand leader était attendu, notamment en Ligue des champions. Un constat qu'il a aussi permis à ses détracteurs de vérifier en équipe nationale, lors du Mondial 2014 notamment. Au final, que retiendront les supporters du Paris Saint-Germain de ce numéro 2, qui a un temps été décrit comme le meilleur défenseur central de la planète ? Ont-ils seulement envie de lui rendre hommage avant de le voir partir sous d'autres cieux ? Une chose est sûre, si cérémonie d'adieu il y a, des larmes couleront, à n'en pas douter.

Juventus-Milan alle porte, il ministro Speranza: "Orientati ad autorizzare le gare"

Venerdì 12 giugno riparte il calcio italiano. Juventus e Milan, infatti, scenderanno in campo allo Stadium per la prima semifinale di ritorno di Coppa Italia, con Napoli e Inter al San Paolo il giorno dopo e la finalissima del torneo prevista mercoledì 17. Tutto pronto, in teoria.

Sì perchè lee dichiarazioni del ministro della salute Roberto Speranza durante intervento al Senato sul contenuto dei provvedimenti di attuazione delle misure di contenimento della diffusione del nuovo coronavirus ha fatto largamente parlare nei social, e non solo.

Speranza, ha infatti evidenziato come a circa 48 ore dalla gara tra Juventus e Milan il governo "sia orientato ad autorizzare le gare":

“Il 20 ed il 21 giugno riprende il campionato di serie A a porte chiuse, ma siamo già orientati ad autorizzare le semifinali e la finale di Coppa Italia che si disputeranno rispettivamente il 12, il 13 ed il 17 giugno prossimi”".

Dichiarazioni che hanno fatto storcere il naso a molti, ma specificatamente fatte perchè fino al 14 giugno, in teoria, non è possibile disputare gare sportive: il vecchio decreto governativo, infatti, prevderà una deroga per poter iniziare già il 12 e il 13.

Le due gare sono state già organizzate in toto e l'orario da parte della Lega di Serie A è stato ufficializzato proprio nella giornata odierna: sia la prima gara tra Juventus e Milan, sia la seconda che vedrà Napoli e Inter a confronto dopo l'1-0 dell'andata, si giocheranno alle 21.

Arriva il Milan, Maurizio Sarri avverte i suoi

Ai microfoni di Sky Sport Maurizio Sarri ha voluto avvertire i suoi in vista della gara di Coppa Italia contro il Milan.

"Le partite con il Milan sono sempre state difficili, è un avversario che a noi crea delle difficoltà. Il risultato dell’andata non ci garantisce niente, è una partita con un risultato ancora apertissimo".

"Ricominciare con la Coppa Italia ci permette di focalizzare le motivazioni su un obiettivo alla volta, essendo ancora in corsa su tre fronti" ha concluso il tecnico bianconero.

Coppa Italia e sprint Champions, il patto di De Laurentiis con la squadra

Un patto per il finale di stagione, per puntare a mettere in bacheca la Coppa Italia e conquistare un posto in Europa per il prossimo anno. È questo il quadro che emerge dopo la visita del presidente del Napoli Aurelio De Laurentiis a Castel Volturno, dopo oltre tre mesi di assenza per la pandemia covid19. A tre giorni dal ritorno in campo contro l'Inter, il patron è tornato a incontrare la squadra e il tecnico Gattuso, instaurando un clima sereno. De Laurentiis, arrivato a Castel Volturno verso le 11.30 con l'ad Chiavelli, ha preso un caffè e si è trattenuto circa mezz'ora con la squadra, assicurando che verranno pagati gli stipendi sospesi nel periodo del covid19, mentre non è stato toccato l'argomento della multa per aver rifiutato il ritiro: quello è un tema su cui il patron non vede motivo per ripensarci e d'altra parte anche in calciatori azzurri hanno in qualche modo metabolizzato di aver fatto degli errori.

LEGGI ANCHE Gattuso e ADL faccia a faccia: colloquio di un'ora con la squadra

Per il resto tutto liscio verso il rinnovo per pedine importanti come Mertens, Zielinski e il tecnico Gattuso, mentre resta aperta una porta di trattativa con José Callejon, che è in scadenza ma dialoga ancora con il club sulla possibilità di restare. Il patto è ora sportivo: De Laurentiis nell'incontro a cui erano presenti anche il ds Giuntoli e il tecnico Gattuso, ha spinto la squadra a chiudere al meglio la stagione, provandoci anche al Camp Nou in Champions League. Atmosfera serena, quindi, nel gruppo guidato da capitan Insigne, che è pronto a tornare in campo. Venerdì si terrà l'allenamento al San Paolo per riassaggiare quell'erba e metabolizzare anche il silenzio dello stadio nel match di Coppa Italia a porte chiuse. Un'atmosfera insolita a cui ci si dovrà abituare. Giuntoli, intanto, continua a guardare al futuro. Secondo El Mundo Deportivo, il ds azzurro avrebbe messo gli occhi su Ferran Torres, ventenne ala destra del Valencia dotata di grande talento. Il ragazzo ha un contratto con una clausola da 100 milioni ma il club spagnolo potrebbe essere incline a trattare un prezzo ragionevole: Torres è però uno degli esterni giovani più osservati e il Napoli potrebbe trovare non poca concorrenza. Ma il club azzurro sa guardare anche al passato e oggi ha fatto gli auguri di compleanno su Twitter a Carlo Ancelotti, il tecnico esonerato a gennaio dopo una partenza di stagione fallimentare. 

Juninho : « Un manque de leaders dans l'effectif »

Pétard fouetté signé Juni.

À l'occasion d'une conférence de presse de l'OL durant laquelle la recrue Tino Kadewere a officiellement été présenté et Aulas a dit tout le bien qu'il pensait du verdict du Conseil d'État, Juninho a lui distribué les bastos. « Il faut changer l'équilibre de l’équipe, l’état d’esprit, a lâché le directeur sportif lyonnais. Si les joueurs ne sont pas contents d’être là il faut qu’ils partent, la saison n'a pas été idéale et on veut faire quelque chose de meilleur l'an prochain. [...] On a un effectif de qualité, mais nous n'avons pas réussi à créer un état d'esprit idéal cette saison, notamment à domicile où on a laissé passer des points qui nous auraient permis de ne pas terminer septièmes. Il existe peut-être un manque de leaders dans l'effectif. L’année dernière en arrivant j’ai rencontré certains joueurs qui n'étaient pas contents d’être là, j’étais surpris. [...] Ces joueurs-là, s'ils ne sont toujours pas heureux, doivent partir. »

Il est vite temps de tourner la page 2019-2020 du côté du Rhône.

Macron veut que le football reprenne vite et avec du public, explique Le Graët

Après sa rencontre avec Emmanuel Macron à l'Élysée, mercredi, Noël Le Graët a déclaré à L'Équipe que le chef de l'État était favorable à ce que les matchs de football fassent "vite" leur retour avec du public.

"Si l'épidémie de coronavirus continue à diminuer, j'ai bon espoir que dès les premiers matches, il puisse y avoir du public dans les stades". Noël Le Graët a exprimé, auprès du journal L'Équipe, un sentiment optimiste pour le football français au soir de sa rencontre avec Emmanuel Macron à l'Élysée. Le président de la République a reçu mercredi soir le président de la Fédération française de football pour discuter de la reprise économique du secteur.

Selon Noël Le Graët, le chef de l'État est ouvert à un retour rapide des supporters dans les stades: "Il veut faire en sorte que le football reprenne vite et avec des spectateurs. Il va consulter des experts médicaux. (...) Il y a une chance si l'épidémie de Covid-19 continue de diminuer. Si ce n'est pas le cas, je comprendrai très bien que ce ne soit pas possible".

Maracineanu évoquait une jauge à 20.000 personnes

Le patron du football français avait partagé, la veille dans Le Figaro, sa volonté d'aller au-delà de la jauge de 5.000 personnes maximum actuellement fixée par le gouvernement pour éviter la propagation du coronavirus lors de manifestations sportives ou culturelles. Roxana Maracineanu, ministre des Sports, avait déclaré lundi qu'elle n'écartait pas l'idée que les finales de la Coupe de France et de la Coupe de la Ligue puissent avoir lieu avec 20.000 spectateurs en tribunes.

Par ailleurs, Emmanuel Macron et Noël Le Graët n'auraient pas abordé le sujet de la fin anticipée de la saison 2019-2020 de Ligue 1, qui a fait l'objet mardi d'une ordonnance du Conseil d'État. Cette décision a validé l'arrêt du championnat, tout en suspendant les relégations du Toulouse FC et de l'Amiens SC.

Ein bisschen Dusel: Lewandowski schießt die Bayern nach Berlin

DFB-POKAL: BAYERN MÜNCHEN STEHT IM FINALE (PHOTO BY FIRO/FIRO/SID/)

Erst dominant, dann leichtsinnig, am Ende aber erfolgreich: Bayern München hat dank Stürmerstar Robert Lewandowski zum dritten Mal nacheinander das Endspiel um den DFB-Pokal erreicht. In einer Neuauflage des Finales von 2018 besiegte der Rekordmeister und Rekordpokalsieger seinen damaligen Bezwinger Eintracht Frankfurt mit 2:1 (1:0) und strebt auf dem Weg zu einem möglichen Triple am 4. Juli im Olympiastadion von Berlin zunächst nach seinem mittlerweile 13. deutschen Double. Gegner wird dann Bayer Leverkusen sein. Vergangenen Samstag siegten die Bayern bei der Werkself mit 4:2.

Der Siegtreffer von Lewandowski (75.) bedurfte wegen einer vermeintlichen Abseitsstellung erst der Überprüfung von Bibiana Steinhaus im Kölner Keller. Zuvor hatten die Münchner freilich alle Chancen, das Spiel vorzeitig zu entscheiden: Nach dem Führungstor von Ivan Perisic (14.), der den angeschlagenen Serge Gnabry ersetzte, versäumten sie es, schon in der starken ersten Halbzeit für die Entscheidung zu sorgen. Dem eingewechselten Danny da Costa (69.) gelang gegen ein wenig zu sorglose Bayern beinahe folgerichtig der Ausgleich – weckte die Gastgeber aber wieder auf.

Der FC Bayern greift somit eine Woche nach dem letzten Bundesliga-Spieltag und seiner vermutlich 30. Meisterschaft nach dem 20. Pokalsieg. Im Vorjahr hatten die Bayern mit Trainer Niko Kovac durch ein 3:0 gegen RB Leipzig ihr zwölftes Double gewonnen. Kovac war im Jahr zuvor noch Trainer der Eintracht beim sensationellen 3:1 gegen die Münchner gewesen, er verdarb damit auch Jupp Heynckes dessen letztes Spiel als Trainer. Nach dem 1:5 beim Bundesliga-Spiel Anfang November in Frankfurt wurde Kovac dann allerdings bei den Bayern entlassen.

Zweieinhalb Wochen nach dem 2:5 in München gerieten die Frankfurter gegen wie zunächst aufgedrehte Bayern erneut früh unter Druck – und auch in Rückstand. Erst köpfte Dominik Kohr nach einem Eckball einen Kopfball des überragenden Thomas Müller in höchster Not von der Torlinie (6.), Lewandowski traf kurz darauf einen Meter vor dem leeren Tor nach einer Hereingabe von Müller aus unerfindlichen Gründen den Ball nicht (8.). Nach Vorarbeit von Vorlagenkönig Müller köpfte dafür dann Perisic freistehend zur Führung ein.

Frankfurt konnte nur reagieren, zu druckvoll, zu zielstrebig, zu schnell war das Spiel der Bayern über weite Strecken. Und bereits zur Halbzeit hätte die Begegnung entschieden sein können. Der flinke Coman allerdings brachte wie zuvor Lewandowski das Kunststück fertig, das leere Tor nicht zu treffen (25.). Kurz darauf parierte Frankfurts Torhüter Kevin Trapp einen Schuss von Lewandowski großartig (31.). Angriffe der oft viel zu ungenau passenden Frankfurter waren dagegen eine Seltenheit und zugleich eher harmlos.

Vom erhofften Sahnetag war der fünfmalige Pokalsieger Frankfurt lange weit entfernt, erkannte jedoch seine Chance, als die Bayern in der zweiten Halbzeit von Sturm und Drang auf konzentrierte Kontrolle umschalteten. Der Ausgleich durch da Costa war überfällig – er schärfte den Münchnern aber wieder die Sinne.

Rode: „Heute war die Chance zum Weiterkommen da!“

ENTTÄUSCHTE GESICHTER BEI DER EINTRACHT NACH DEM HALBFINAL-AUS. FOTO: GETTY IMAGES

Vor allem dank einer sehr ordentlichen zweiten Hälfte ging das Team von Eintracht Frankfurt nach der 1:2-Niederlage im DFB-Pokal-Halbfinale beim FC Bayern München erhobenen Hauptes aus der Allianz Arena. Am Ende überwog aber durchaus auch der Frust über eine verpasste Chance.

In der ersten Hälfte sah es zwischen dem FC Bayern München und Eintracht Frankfurt lange nach einer klaren Angelegenheit aus. Doch der deutsche Rekordmeister konnte zur Halbzeit nur einen knappen 1:0-Vorsprung in die Kabine bringen und leitete so die Aufholjagd der Hessen ein. „Wir kämpfen uns zurück ins Spiel, schießen den Ausgleich und spielen phasenweise gut. Das 2:1 war ein kleiner Nackenschlag“, analysierte Eintrachts Mittelfeldmann im Anschluss die zweite Hälfte auf Sky. 

Mutmacher für das Saisonfinale

In der Folge sei es schwer gewesen nochmal zurückzuschlagen: „Die Bayern haben sich dann gefangen und defensiv besser gestanden. Wir haben heute einen guten Fight geliefert. Heute war die Chance zum Weiterkommen da“, resümierte Rode. Die Leistung nach dem Seitenwechsel mache vor allem Hoffnung für das Saisonfinale in der Liga: „Wir haben noch vier wichtige Spiele in der Liga. Gerade nach dem Heimspiel gegen Mainz war es wichtig eine Antwort zu geben. Das haben wir gemacht.“

Everton to host Liverpool in potential title decider at Goodison

David Blunsden via www.imago-images.de

Liverpool's clash with Everton on June 21 will be played at Goodison Park after Liverpool City Council gave the go-ahead for both sides to complete their remaining Premier League fixtures at home.

Victory at the home of their Merseyside rivals would see Liverpool clinch a first league title in 30 years if Manchester City lose at home to Arsenal on June 17.

That had led to concerns that fans could congregate around both clubs' grounds in the city in breach of coronavirus restrictions.

Goodison is less than a mile from Liverpool's Anfield stadium.

However, a meeting between the council, police, clubs and fans' groups on Wednesday agreed to allow the match to proceed in Liverpool rather than at a neutral venue.

"We are satisfied that the considerable evidence and guidance provided by the government, Everton and Liverpool football clubs, public health colleagues and Merseyside Police will ensure that the outstanding fixtures for the 2019/20 Premier League season can be safely and securely played at both Goodison Park and Anfield," said Wendy Simon, deputy mayor of Liverpool, who chairs the Ground Safety Advisory Group.

Liverpool said further discussions this week will "provide clear and regular updates for supporters throughout this process".

Should City not drop points against Arsenal or Burnley in their first two games back, Liverpool could win the title on home soil at Anfield against Crystal Palace on June 24.

Schalke's US player McKennie slams 'racist' Trump

Poolfoto via www.imago-images.de

Schalke's American midfielder Weston McKennie has accused Donald Trump of being a racist and criticised the US president for his behaviour following the death of George Floyd, which has sparked protests around the world.

"In my eyes, he can be called racist," McKennie, a 21-year-old US international, said in an interview with German magazine Sport Bild.

"I don't think Trump is the right man for the job of president.

"I don't think he understands his responsibility to the entire country.

"I think he's ignorant. I don't support him one bit. I don't think he's a man of his word."

Floyd, who was buried on Monday, died when a white policeman kneeled on his neck in Minneapolis, Minnesota, at the end of May. The death, caught on video, has sparked waves of protests in cities across the US and around the world.

Trump has adopted a tough approach to putting down the protests in US cities and he voiced his support for the police at a round table on law enforcement at the White House on Monday.

McKennie, who was born in Texas, wore an armband demanding "Justice for George" in Schalke's first league game following the death of Floyd.

French player Marcus Thuram and England international Jadon Sancho also called for justice for Floyd after scoring goals in the Bundesliga.

Last weekend, some German league clubs, including Schalke, showed solidarity with the global protests by dropping to one knee before their matches.

McKennie said he feels it is important for sportsmen and women to draw attention to the Black Lives Matter movement, which has also been supported by a host of US sports stars.

"Basically, it's important that we athletes are also committed to the fight against racism, because we have the exposure," he said.

"That's why it's up to all of us."