Wow!!! What an unbelievable week of footie. There is so much to get into this week, and we have arrived at the business end of the football calendar. Reminder: Get those referrals in; you don't want to miss out! Click the personalized referral link below, send it to a few friends, and as they signup you'll get another point on the board. First to 10 referrals gets a free 21/22 jersey of their choice!

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Let's get straight into it.

ICYMI (In Case You Missed It)

🇪🇸 They couldn't do it again... They wouldn't do it again... Could they?! THEY DID!!! Real Madrid somehow, someway, pulled the cat out of the hat once again at the Bernabéu this week. Down 1-0 in the game and 5-3 on aggregate, they found two goals in three minutes with no time left to spare. The goals came out of nowhere courtesy of 21-year-old substitute Rodrygo; the second of which is shown here and brought the tie to extra time.

Manchester City were no doubt the better side over two legs, and you have to feel for them––they were through, they were into the final, it was over. Football is a game shaped by the managers and decided by the players. Ultimately, Pep got it right over two games, but nothing short of majestic Madrid magic flipped the script in the blink of an eye. Two goals from nothing, from nowhere. A penalty won and then finished by the main man, Karim Benzema, put Manchester City to the sword in extra time.

It was one of the great Champions League ties ever, finished in a way that only maintains its status as such. And think of how they got here? Beat PSG in a second leg comeback, beat Chelsea in a second leg comeback. Then they go out and knockout the tournament favourite and possible best team in the world with what can only be told as a miracle. It's the best route to a final we've ever seen and maybe will ever see again. Something about Real Madrid and the Champions League... Will City ever lift the trophy?

🇪🇺 Next up for Real Madrid in the final: Liverpool. After a brief scare in the first half, Klopp's men were too much for Unai Emery's side in the second half. From 2-0 down, they came back to win comfortably 3-2 and 5-2 on aggregate. Liverpool move on to their third Champions League final in five years, and are still fighting for the unprecedented quadruple––with an FA Cup final against Chelsea on the horizon. A quick word of praise for Villarreal, who weren't supposed to be here. They have a payroll less than Burnley's, and a stadium smaller than Chicago Fire's... Well done just to get here.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Rangers!!! A European Cup Final!!! What a story... After Steven Gerrard left the club mid-season, Gio van Bronckhorst has lead Rangers to the Europa League Final after beating Leipzig 3-1 at Ibrox on Thursday. They will face Frankfurt in the final.

🇪🇺 José Mourinho has tear ducts? It's been a tumultuous few years for the Special One, but he let it all out after Roma saw off Leicester City in their Europa Conference League semi-final tie. Roma will play Feyenoord in the final, who themselves have made an incredible run to make it to Albania.

🇪🇸 In addition to reaching the Champions League final, Real Madrid clinched the La Liga title after beating Espanyol 4-0!

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 They're baaaack! Bournemouth defeated Nottingham Forest to seal their place in the Premier League for the 22/23 season. They join Fulham as the second automatically promoted team, while the playoffs are still yet to take place. Fantastic to see David Brooks in the stands as well, who this week announced a complete remission of his cancer!

Quiz Of The Week

What Ivory Coast born player started at centre back for Barcelona in the 2009 Champions League final win over Manchester United?

Scroll to the bottom for the answer...

Title Race vs Top 4

Saturday 2:45 PM ET –– Liverpool (-225) vs Tottenham (+600)

The games keep coming thick and fast for Liverpool, every weekend, every midweek. Another game in the title race comes Saturday, and they know they essentially have to win every game to have a chance of taking home the PL title this season.

Now, the odds favour Liverpool heavily in this game at Anfield, but let's not just assume they'll take home three points easily. Remember, the reverse fixture ended 2-2, and Tottenham have their own title-of-sorts to play for: a top four finish. Liverpool also had to play midweek (again) where Tottenham did not.

Expect Klopp to use some rotation in this game, but the usual suspects will remain in the team. As for Conte and Tottenham, can they do what almost no one can: go to Anfield and get something?

El Derbi

Sunday 3:00 PM ET –– Atlético Madrid (+110) vs Real Madrid (+250)

With Real Madrid's season shaping up quite nicely, it's far more frantic for Diego Simeone and his troops. Atléti are currently scrapping to hold on to their fourth place birth and hold a Champions League spot for next season.

Real Madrid, meanwhile, have not only booked their place in the Champions League final but have also wrapped up the league title as well. Ancelotti's men may be gassed after another absolutely grueling midweek 120 minutes of hard graft. Perhaps this is why the bookies like Atléti in a prediction that does surprise the eye.

A Word on Mino Raiola

Mino Raiola was loved, hated, but always talked about in the world of football. Raiola unfortunately passed away this week after an ongoing battle with an unspecified illness. Raiola is widely known as the super agent that has helped administer the rise of massive transfer fees in club football. He's set out to take care of players financially in ways that were unprecedented just a decade ago, and went head on with UEFA and FIFA in the process.

If you've ever wondered why your club is paying huge sums for players these days, you can't tell the story without mentioning Mino Raiola's name. He represents some of the biggest stars in the world: Paul Pogba (who he administered a world record transfer fee for when he moved to Manchester United), Zlatan Ibrahimović, and Erling Haaland are just a few of the names he represented.

Raiola was known for demanding large agency fees on top of transfer fees, often irking clubs and fans alike. But whatever the case, he was an innovator, and the players he represented adored him––just take to social media to see as much. Rest in peace, Mino.

Dan & Billy's Betting Picks

Dan's Picks: I hit on two of my three picks last week, but blew the lock of the week. I'm not sure who put it in my head (Billy), but Wolves beating Brighton just wasn't on the cards.

I'm back with another Premier League full English this week. Let's make some money. Even though West Ham are crushed after exiting the EL and are probably very tired, taking anyone to beat Norwich at (-115) is a safe bet in my books. Let's have Spurs just cover +2 (-165) against Liverpool, an achievable task I think. And let's round out with Brentford at home beating Southampton and even getting a little plus money out of it (+115).

Billy's Picks: "Why do I feel like all these are going to lose?" I said that last week. Thankfully, my Palace value play saved the day and your utilities bill.

I have a weird feeling on this Atléti game, just based on the skewed odds, that they will certainly win this game. And I've never been wrong before. Get them at (+110) at home. I absolutely love Palace again (-150) to beat Watford at home this weekend––my lock of the week. I also like a prop: Demarai Gray anytime goalscorer against Leicester this weekend at (+280). Watch that one fly and come back next week asking for more.

Goal Of The Week

The scoop pass from Matić, the first touch and finish from Ronaldo. Another piece of magic from the 37 year-old. A free plug for Fisher Investments too.

Red Card Of The Week

It's a straight red for our old friend David Moyes. The Scottish manager let his frustrations out on the ballboy and was sent off for his troubles.

Quiz Answer: Yaya Touré! Has he cursed Manchester City since? Maybe Pep should give him a call...

Have a great weekend and continue to spread the Straight Red love if you want a chance to win a jersey of your choice!