This week Gary Lemke has a look at how Manchester United need to lift the FA Cup to salvage their season, as the Hollywoodbets Sharks aim to lift the Challenge Cup.
WHY UNITED MUST WIN FA CUP
Old Trafford and The Etihad stadiums are separated by 7km but the two Manchester EPL clubs are worlds apart in terms of achievements in recent seasons. On Saturday however, both United and City make the 320km trip to London’s Wembley Stadium for the final of the FA Cup. United finished 8th on the final League table, with City crowned champions, but the side in red need to lift the famous trophy for a 13th time. Should City, who are favourites, add the FA Cup to their cabinet, United won’t be involved in any European action next season. It could also be the final game of manager Erik ten Hag’s tenure should things go pear-shaped.
Getting set for Wembley 🔜#MUFC || #FACup pic.twitter.com/XH2L2dgJFf
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) May 22, 2024
SHARKS LOOKING FOR A TROPHY
Rugby’s version of Manchester United, the Hollywoodbets Sharks, also get an opportunity to lift some silverware this weekend. They’ve been inconsistent, and somewhat disappointing, this season, but they’re favourites to win the European Challenge Cup on Friday night at English club Gloucester. On Saturday it’s the final of the “big daddy” competition up north, with Leinster hosting Toulouse in the European Rugby Champions Cup final.
DAILY NEWS A BIG JULY POINTER
The KwaZulu-Natal racing season is in full swing and Saturday sees two Grade 1 races – the pinnacle of the sport – being contested at Hollywooodbets Greyville. The R1.5-million Woolavington 2000 has attracted 14 fillies, while many will argue that the R2m Daily News 2000, with a field of nine three-year-old colts and geldings, is the main attraction. Favourite for that race is also the Hollywoodbets July favourite, Green With Envy. Tradition dictates that the winner of the Daily News 2000 goes on and has a huge say in the July. If Green With Envy wins this weekend, then his current July odds of 3/1 will immediately shorten.
Final Field betting for the Daily News 2000 (Gr1) and Tabgold Woolavington 2000 (Gr1) is now available!🏇#HWBTWT pic.twitter.com/dVEjsIpuTC
— Hollywoodbets (@Hollywoodbets) May 23, 2024
WILL IPL FINAL BE A RUN FEST?
The 74th match of a demanding Indian Premier League schedule signals the final of the world’s biggest T20 cricket franchise competition. The Kolkata Knight Riders were waiting to see who they’d come up against on Sunday, with the winner of Friday’s Sunrisers Hyderabad versus Rajasthan Royals progressing to the final. It’s worth noting that on the IPL table itself, featuring each team playing 14 matches in a round-robin format, KKR had finished first, followed by the Sunrisers and then the Royals. It’s worth noting that KKR only lost three games in getting to the final, one of which was against the Royals, off the last ball. Then, 223/6 played 224/8.
🎥 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝟏% 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 ❤️
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 23, 2024
They were down and out. But what followed next was a dramatic turnaround and comeback fuelled with belief and emotions 🙌
Well done, Royal Challengers Bengaluru 👏 👏 #TATAIPL | #RRvRCB | #Eliminator | #TheFinalCall | @RCBTweets pic.twitter.com/PLssOFbBvf
POLE MORE CRUCIAL THAN EVER IN MONACO
The jewel in the Formula One crown, the Monaco Grand Prix, takes to the streets of the principality this weekend. It’s the playground where the rich and famous and A-List celebrities descend on the venue. However, as a visual, the race is, simply put, boring. Often, the driver who secures pole position on the Saturday goes on to win on the Sunday. The streets are narrow, overtaking opportunities are few and far between. Pit stop strategies are crucial. The safety car comes into play. Of the current drivers, Lewis Hamilton is the most successful, winning the race three times. However, Max Verstappen has triumphed in two of the last three years. Plus, he’s won five of the seven GPs so far in 2024. But, the rain gods might well interfere, which makes grid starting positions more important than anywhere else.
The concentration levels required at Monaco are insane! 🤯#F1 #MonacoGP @LewisHamilton pic.twitter.com/Q5Dibgy1NB
— Formula 1 (@F1) May 23, 2024
FRENCH OPEN BECOMES MAIN FOCUS
Rafa Nadal has won 14 French Open singles titles but he won’t make it 15 when the second tennis Grand Slam of the year starts next week. The hope is that he gets an opportunity to give an extended farewell to the crowds who adore him and that he at least makes it into the second week. However, he has been drawn against No4 seed Alexander Zverev in the opening round, and he has never faced a tougher first-round match. Jannik Sinner would become men’s world No. 1 if he reaches the final, but a clay showdown between Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic is more likely. Strong candidates for the women’s final are Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka.
Welcome back, @RafaelNadal 👍🇪🇸#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/5FQMzRFy1F
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 20, 2024
