Kallithea vs Larisa - Cup

Season-defining implications hang over this Cup clash at the home ground, where Kallithea host Larisa on August 17, 2026 knowing the result could shape the run-in for both clubs. It has not been a daunting fixture list but there are signs that Mourinho has found a way to get the best from an increasingly stacked Madrid squad.

The two sides arrive with plenty to prove, and the Cup contest at the home ground offers a chance to lay down a marker. The hosts will be looking to find their rhythm and put a run of results together. Larisa will travel with intent, knowing that a positive result here could kick-start their campaign. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Elsewhere, there was a useful win for Atletico Madrid to end Sevilla's unlikely winning run.

Set-piece efficiency could prove the difference on the night. Both Kallithea and Larisa have invested time in dead-ball situations this season, and a single corner or free-kick may settle it. Speaking on his YouTube Ferdinand said: "If I’m Manchester United right now I say press the green button and buy him, take him, right now.

Individual moments of quality could tip the balance. Both sides possess players capable of producing something out of nothing, and a single flash of brilliance may be all that separates them. Set-piece specialists and aerial threats on both sides mean dead-ball situations could carry outsized importance. Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has been praised by defender Josko Gvardiol for his early sessions with the team.

Without the market to lean on, the contest feels genuinely open — and the outcome may come down to which side handles the occasion better. With the sides so closely matched, a 1-1 stalemate looks the most likely way this one ends. The result at the home ground could resonate well beyond matchday in the Cup picture. Joe Gomez is expected to miss the start of Liverpool's Premier League campaign through injury - but it is not likely to impact the Reds' transfer plans.