The Pulse of Football

Apr

2026

FotMob Profile: Yan Diomande will be top of everyone’s wishlist this summer

Liverpool and several other clubs have been linked with the latest superstar to come off the RB Leipzig conveyor belt.

Yan Diomande just kept going and going. The opposition defence could only watch as the RB Leipzig teenager dribbled into the box before cutting back to guide a cultured finish into the far corner of the net. It was the sort of moment Bundesliga fans have come to expect from Diomande this season.

Only a handful of players have more Bundesliga goals and assists than Diomande this season and most of them play for Bayern Munich. The 19-year-old who was playing high school football in Florida only 18 months ago has been a breakout star in the German top division and others are paying attention.

*Shot map for Diomande’s goal vs. Frankfurt*

Liverpool, for one, are reportedly monitoring Diomande. The Anfield club could be in the market for a new right winger this summer with Mohamed Salah set to depart. Diomande could be Liverpool’s next big-money addition with RB Leipzig reportedly demanding as much as €100m for their prize asset.

Of course, it would be unrealistic to expect Diomande to compensate for the loss of Salah’s attacking output considering how many goals the Egyptian has scored over the years (257 goals in 439 games for Liverpool, to be precise). Nonetheless, Liverpool’s interest says something about the Ivorian’s potential.

Diomande’s future could be one of the sagas of the summer. Paris Saint-Germain have also been mentioned as possible suitors while Manchester United are apparently admirers. In fact, there is hardly a big European club that hasn’t been linked with the RB Leipzig winger this season.

*Diomande’s shooting stats in the Bundesliga*

It’s easy to see why Diomande has so many fans. Despite operating in a wide position, nobody has scored more league goals for RB Leipzig this season than the teenager. On top of this, only David Raum has created more Big Chances while Diomande leads the way for the number of dribbles per 90 (4.3).

In one-on-one situations, Diomande is excellent at beating a man. He is quick over the ground and also with the ball at his feet. However, the thing that makes Diomande stand out more than anything else is his final product and the sharpness of his decision making for someone still so young.

Lamine Yamal parallels have been unavoidable. That might be slightly hyperbolic considering all that the Barcelona youngster has already achieved, but anyone who has watched Diomane in the Bundesliga this season knows where the comparison comes from. The two teenagers see the game similarly.

*Diomande’s passing stats in the Bundesliga*

Having come so far in such a short period, there’s no reason to believe Diomande’s rapid rise will stop any time soon. 12 months ago, the winger was playing for Leganés B in the fifth tier of Spanish football. He had still to make his international debut and hadn’t yet appeared on the radar of most.

*Diomande’s possession stats in the Bundesliga*

Now, he is the name on the lips of countless sporting directors and managers across the continent who would like to add Diomande to their squads in the summer transfer window, although RB Leipzig are seemingly planning for the Ivory Coast international to still be their player next season.

“With such a young player that we just signed (from Spain’s Leganés last July), you can’t give him away after just one year,” said RB Leipzig sporting director Sebastian Schuppan when asked about Diomande’s future. “In recent years, RB Leipzig has worked out that even top players can certainly stay longer. As chairman of the supervisory board, I would say that he will still be there next season, even if an offer of €80million or €90m comes.”

Diomande himself added fuel to a growing fire of transfer speculation by admitting his father is a Liverpool supporter. “It was always his great wish to see me there someday because he loves the atmosphere at Anfield,” the winger told German newspaper BILD. “He always raved about Steven Gerrard.”

Liverpool’s transfer business last summer lacked focus. While marquee additions Hugo Ekitike, Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez may one day mesh to improve the Reds collectively, this season has proved there wasn’t a clear enough plan on how they would each be integrated.

With Salah departing at the end of the 2025/26 campaign, though, there would be an obvious place for Diomande in the Liverpool lineup. While Arne Slot’s future is the subject of much debate, the Merseyside outfit also broadly plays a style of football that would suit the youngster not lacking in personality on and off the pitch.

There will be other transfer sagas this summer. Elliot Anderson, Julián Alvarez, Anthony Gordon, Enzo Fernández and many other big names will move for big money, but Diomande’s future could be the most tantalising prospect of all. His suitors are already forming a line to make their pitch.

(Images from IMAGO)

You can follow every Bundesliga game on FotMob – with in-depth stat coverage, including xG, shot maps, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

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Apr

2026

Preview: Barcelona host Celta Vigo in midweek round

It’s all about the title run-in now for Barcelona after their disappointing quarter-final exit in the Champions League to domestic rivals Atlético Madrid and there’s no room to slip up in their last home match before El Clásico.

By Karl Matchett

Even with a six-point lead with seven games to play, Hansi Flick’s side won’t be taking too much for granted when it comes to LaLiga. Four of those fixtures are away from home and besides, there’s a potential bigger issue at play.

The decider

Should Barcelona win their next three and the chasing Real Madrid do likewise – or they otherwise match each other’s points totals in that span – then the Camp Nou meeting of the pair on 10 May will not only be one of the most watched games of the season, but a potential title decider. If Barca win that encounter, they claim the title, on home soil and against their greatest rivals. Slip up beforehand though and open the door to a Real comeback, and Los Blancos will be able to barge through and reignite a title charge.

But Barca are 16 from 16 so far at home this term – keep that up here and it’s just a few more small steps and a third title in four seasons will be theirs!

Overdue return

It shouldn’t be expected to be a one-sided encounter, though, with Celta Vigo very much writing their own story this season. They sit sixth in the table, on the verge of their best domestic campaign in a decade. They also made the Europa League quarter-finals and look well-placed to qualify for European competition in back-to-back seasons for the first time in 22 years, since the side of Alexandr Mostovoi, Gustavo Lopez and Sylvinho.

They were in the Champions League that year, after finishing fourth in 2002/03 – and they were also relegated. Two decades on, Celta look ready to be a competitive team near the top once more.

Recent form

Just one defeat in 12 for Barcelona, but it was a damaging one in that first leg at home to Atlético. Since then they’ve won twice more.

Celta have hit a badly timed slump, losing four of their last five in all competitions, but their away form in LaLiga is the third-best of all clubs.

*Celta’s home and away record this season*

Team news

Barcelona remain without key forward Raphinha as well as Marc Bernal and Andreas Christensen, but the returns of Frenkie de Jong and Gavi give them midfield options.

For Celta, Carl Starfelt is a doubt and will be a big miss if he can’t play, but Javi Rodríguez is back from suspension. Forward Ferran Jutglà has seven goals this term – he scored once for Barca in LaLiga back in 21/22.

Key player

It’ll be interesting to see who is the starter up top to see out the season – Ferran Torres has two goals more than Robert Lewandowski though from 500 minutes more. Ferran’s 14 strikes come from a 12.4 xG, he averages 1.8 shots on target per 90 and he’s the more creative of the two as well. Three goals in his last two games means he’s on form.

*Barca’s top scorers in LaLiga this season*

Prediction

Barcelona to take another step towards retaining their title. Barcelona 2-0 Celta Vigo.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from LaLiga with FotMob this season – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

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Apr

2026

Preview: Manchester City eye top spot as they visit Burnley

Manchester City will return to the summit of the Premier League standings for the first time since Matchday 1 with a win against Burnley.

By Neel Shelat

A fair way to go yet in Manchester City’s title chase

Manchester City’s 2-1 win over Arsenal leaves almost nothing to separate the two title contenders, as they’ll be level on both points as well as goal difference if City win this game in hand by a single goal. That should set us up for a thrilling end to the season, which is sure to throw up more twists and turns along the way.

While City are in fantastic form having won 12 and drawn the remaining three of their last 15 domestic fixtures, they’ll have to do very well to keep up that pace until the end of May. They have a tough run of league fixtures against European contenders Everton, Brentford and Bournemouth coming up after an FA Cup semi-final at the weekend, so staying on pace to finish on 85 points will take quite some effort.

Relegation on the cards for Burnley

Burnley certainly have a lot of reasons to not look forward to this game. The Clarets will become the second team to be relegated from the Premier League this season if they lose this match, with their fate already all but mathematically confirmed. Worse yet, they’ll likely go down with a thrashing given their dismal head-to-head record against Manchester City.

City have won the last 14 meetings between these two sides with an aggregate scoreline of 51-3, while Burnley’s last win over them came way back in 2015. The Clarets haven’t put a goal past Pep Guardiola’s side’s defence at Turf Moor in the 2020s, so it’s safe to say that they are massive underdogs.

Team news

Burnley’s injury list includes forward Zeki Amdouni, midfielders Josh Cullen and Hannibal Mejbri, and defenders Connor Roberts and Jordan Beyer. Manchester United academy graduate Axel Tuanzebe’s status is doubtful due to an achilles tendon injury.

Manchester City will remain without defenders Joško Gvardiol and Rúben Dias, while Guardiola has also confirmed that Rodri will sit this game out after going off with a groin injury against Arsenal.

Key players

Martin Dúbravka is sure to have a particularly busy day in goal, so he’ll need to bring out the best of his shot-stopping to keep his side in the game for as along as possible, or at least keep the score down.

Jaidon Anthony scored the equaliser in the reverse fixture before his side ultimately went down 5-1, and he’ll be critical to their goal-scoring hopes again. James Ward-Prowse is the league’s leading creator from set-pieces since his Burnley debut in February, so he could provide an alternative.

Erling Haaland scored his first league goal in over two months on the weekend, so he’ll be hungry for more. Nico González will have an important role to play in midfield, while Rayan Cherki could well be the one to break the game open if it gets too tight.

Prediction

Manchester City have the attacking firepower to register a comfortable multi-goal win and go top of the league on goal difference.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Premier League with FotMob this season – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Apr

2026

FotMob Feature: Coventry City are back in the big time

“Twenty-five years is a huge amount of time. If you don’t bounce back, you feel like it’s never going to happen.”

By Tom Hancock

Those were the words of chairman Doug King after Coventry City sealed their return to the Premier League after a quarter of a century away – and they must have been the thoughts of Coventry fans who’d seen their club go through the wringer since last playing top-flight football in 2001.

Bobby Thomas’ late goal against Blackburn Rovers on Friday night clinched the point Frank Lampard’s Coventry needed to confirm promotion from the Championship – only eight years after the Sky Blues had found themselves in the fourth tier of English football – before Tuesday’s 5-1 home thrashing of Portsmouth wrapped up the title.

Two relegations, three promotions and 17 managers later, Coventry are back in the big time, completing an epic story of survival and revival which once seemed so unlikely.

*Coventry were confirmed as champions with two games to spare*

During the 2019/20 season, Coventry, for the second time in less than a decade, found themselves in exile. Forced out of their own stadium, now known as the Coventry Building Society (CBS) Arena, by a dispute with their landlords, rugby club Wasps, the Sky Blues shared Birmingham City’s St. Andrew’s, having spent the 2013/14 campaign – their second following relegation to League One – playing home games at Northampton Town’s Sixfields Stadium under similar circumstances.

*Coventry dropped to the fourth tier as recently as 2017*

Despite effectively playing every game away in 2019/20, Coventry won promotion back to the Championship as champions as the League One season came to an abrupt end amid the onset of the pandemic. The Sky Blues were back at the CBS Arena for their Championship return – albeit the vast majority of the 2020/21 campaign took place behind closed doors due to Covid restrictions – though they only took ownership of the stadium in August last year, 20 years after leaving their old Highfield Road home – on what King called “a defining day” for the club.

There have been a number of defining days in Coventry’s recent history, and for Dominic Jerams, founder of independent Sky Blues website Sideways Sammy, two key ones came as the club were at their lowest ebb.

The first, says Jerams, was the 2017 EFL Trophy final in which Coventry beat Oxford United 2-1 – a bittersweet moment as they were heading for relegation to League Two but one which, Jerams reflects, made fans feel like the Sky Blues were no longer “fated to just keep on dropping and dropping” – a feeling reinforced by victory over Exeter City in the following year’s play-off final to secure an immediate return to League One.

It may have been relatively recently that Coventry came closest to the brink – in 2007, the club almost went bust before being bought out by hedge fund Sisu, whose ownership would represent the most tumultuous period in the club’s history – but, really, their decline pre-dates their relegation from the Premier League by quite some time.

“I think you might say they [Sisu] accelerated it,” notes Jerams, “but if you look at our history from the 70s onwards, we were in the top flight, but we were always scrapping to stay up and winning eight to 12 games a season and won the FA Cup [in 1987].

“There was a bit of a boost” after that FA Cup success, Coventry’s first major triumph, Jerams continues, “but [we] kind of returned to just circling the drain at the bottom of the Premier League and eventually it caught up to us.”

Indeed, Coventry’s average finish during their 34-year top-flight stay was 14^th, but they were, objectively, an established entity at the highest level; they recorded eight top-half finishes, peaking with sixth in 1969/70. The hope must be that, ultimately, they can become Premier League mainstays again – not that there’s any rush.

“I think the main thing is beat Derby’s record,” Jerams says, alluding to Derby County’s Premier League-low points tally of 11 back in 2007/08, “and pull off one or two big results against some of the big teams.

“I think most people are expecting us to battle against the drop; I’d be surprised if you could find a single Coventry fan who’d say, ‘We’re not just going to stay up; we’re going to push beyond that’.

“Realistically, we’re probably going to be relegated; I think most people are aware of that.”

*Coventry’s top scorers in the league this season*

Coventry’s first season back in the top flight ought to prioritise enjoyment over expectation, believes Jerams, who emphasises the importance of using their time there wisely in order to be able to mount another promotion push should they drop straight back down to the Championship.

Lampard’s Coventry have surged towards the title with the league’s best attacking and defensive records, scoring 90 goals – for which three players have accounted for almost half: Haji Wright (17), Brandon Thomas-Asante (12) and Ellis Simms (10) and conceding 44 – helped in no small part by having one of the second tier’s standout goalkeepers between the sticks: Carl Rushworth.

And while Coventry own their three leading goalscorers – Wright and Simms having arrived in the summer of 2023, Thomas-Asante a year later – Rushworth is poised to return to parent club Brighton, making that a key area to address during the upcoming transfer window.

*Rushworth has prevented more goals than any other Championship goalkeeper*

In Jerams’ eyes, it’s also a case of seeing whether the current crop of Coventry players “have played above their level” en route to promotion this term or whether they can adapt to the demands of Premier League football. With breaking the bank à la Sunderland unlikely, continuity could be of the essence – but “strengthening the backbone” of the side will be important.

Coventry will also embark on their Premier League survival quest with a manager few were exactly keen on at the outset – not least because of the popularity of the man he replaced in the dugout.

Mark Robins’ second spell in charge of the Sky Blues lasted more than seven years, during which time he won the EFL Trophy, League Two play-offs and League One title, as well as reaching the 2023 Championship play-off final – where Coventry lost agonisingly on penalties to Luton Town. But a slow start to the 2024/25 season proved terminal for the universally popular Robins, who was sacked that November.

More than a few eyebrows were raised when Lampard was appointed as Robins’ successor, with a sense that King might have gone for a ‘name’ rather than someone with a more proven Championship track record – but, as Jerams acknowledges, it’s proved to be a masterstroke on the chairman’s part. And Lampard has just pulled off a masterstroke of his own by taking Coventry up automatically – having suffered Championship play-off final heartbreak as Derby boss seven in 2019.

“To go and get promotion automatically as a non-parachute [payment] team with three games to go…these boys have managed to achieve something special and unique,” Lampard enthused after the decisive draw with Blackburn, as well as praising the “incredible job” Robins did to give Coventry a platform for promotion.

The Sky Blues’ only previous promotion to the top flight came under the manager who introduced their now iconic kit colours, the inimitable Jimmy Hill – whose statue stands outside the CBS Arena, his welcoming gesture beckoning you into the stadium.

Coventry won’t want their ground to be too welcoming a place as they bid to stay up and take a few scalps along the way, but the feelgood factor the late Hill instilled at the club – and in the city – is well and truly back.

(Images from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the EFL on FotMob – with in-depth stat coverage, including xG, shot maps, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Apr

2026

Legia Warszawa: Poland’s most successful club on the brink

For those that haven’t paid much attention to the Polish Ekstraklasa this season, it’s been a wild ride. With just three games remaining, there are seven clubs that could STILL win it. The biggest story of the season, though, is happening at the other end of the table.

By Alex Roberts

Legia Warszawa, Poland’s most successful club with 15 titles under their best, are bang in trouble. Now, we’re not talking ‘Tottenham trouble’, Legia aren’t in the relegation zone, but they’re currently only three points above the bottom three.

Looking at the underlying numbers, they’re not great, but they’re not relegation fight bad. Legia tend to dominate games, averaging 53.7% of possession per 90 minutes, they’ve kept the fourth most clean sheets (8), and have the seventh highest xG (41.6).

According to Polish football expert Michał Zachodny, though, it’s not that black and white. “The most important thing is that Legia’s problems are not strictly tactical. This might be one of the issues, like defending at set pieces and crosses, but in general I would say that what’s happened behind the scenes during the season has destabilised the squad on the pitch.”

*Just four points separate mid-table to the relegation zone in the Ekstraklasa*

“To keep it brief: Edward Iordanescu was appointed [as coach] very late in the summer, so future planning and transfers were put on hold. Until at the end of the transfer window Legia made changes which he didn’t like, causing him almost to walk out to show how unhappy he was.

“Then Legia were finally forced to let him go, yet they failed to sign a permanent replacement for almost two months, leaving an unsettled team in the hands of inexperienced interim coach, Iñaki Astiz, who didn’t even want the job.

“He had one of the smallest staff to help him, while they were playing twice a week. Hence they recorded the longest streak without a win in Legia’s history. It wasn’t until the winter when Legia appointed the long-sought after Marek Papszun as a permanent manager.

“He brought a clear plan, structure and know-how, but was not supported with new signings, bar two players – a back-up goalkeeper and an inexperienced striker from the lower Leagues. Given how many injuries and the level of problems the team had when he took over, he is doing quite well.”

*Papszun has overseen one defeat since coming in*

Constantly chopping and changing is very rarely a good thing in football. Legia’s big issues stem from the owner, Dariusz Mioduski. The businessman took over in 2017, and since then, the club have had 11 different managers, although Aleksandar Vuković has been appointed twice.

Decisions have felt rushed, too emotional for a club that should be qualifying for European football at a minimum. Coaches have been given limited time, squads were reshaped repeatedly, and a long-term identity has never truly developed.

Zachodny said in no uncertain terms that the responsibility for Legia’s troubles belongs to Mioduski. “Frankly, all of it. Since the sacking of Jacek Magiera [in 2017], there has been constant change and chaos.

“To be precise, Legia found themselves in a relegation battle again, just a couple of years after Mioduski’s decisions almost brought them down, only for another interim coach, albeit one with more experience than Astiz, to save them.

“Legia are constantly changing philosophies, changing sporting directors and structures, developing only theoretically, growing financially, yet without a significant rise in quality on the pitch.

“They are still able to sell their youth products, but this almost happens by accident, as it seems there is no plan to promote them. And if you look at the managers they’ve signed, they almost seem like twist after twist, with no sense of a greater plan.

“As the league itself grows, other teams have become more competitive and there is a need to use your wealth to your advantage. Legia are doing almost the opposite. As if there was an internal willingness to keep the club in chaos.”

Legia fans aren’t known to be cool, calm, and collected. They have some of the most intense ultras in Europe, in 2023, they were banned from selling away tickets for five European games after clashes at Aston Villa.

Over the past few years, they’ve seen their club develop into a selling one. Last summer they lost promising youngsters Maxi Oyedele and Jan Ziółkowski, and previously the likes of Ernest Muçi, Maik Nawrocki, and Bartosz Slisz.

Some may say that this is the nature of the beast. Once a club from one of Europe’s bigger leagues comes calling, it would be hard for Legia to keep their stars. The problem is that the club need to make sure they’re replaced.

Zachodny confirms the fans are far from happy. “They’re quite furious at the club’s transfer policy, seeing these sales as a means to balance the books, not use the money to strengthen the squad.

“There were protests last summer because of the lack of transfer activity, only for them to stop when Mileta Rajović was signed for a record-breaking fee [€3m] and he has proved to be one of the worst signings of the season.

*Only Rajović has scored more than two league goals for Legia this season*

“Funnily enough, Legia have the highest wage bill in the league, but the quality simply isn’t there.

“So, even though Legia signed a couple of players for the final stages of the season, almost none of them are now a vital part of the starting line-up – bar one, which, ironically, is Rajović. And the only reason he’s playing is because Papszun doesn’t have any other option as a striker.”

Despite all of their troubles domestically, Legia have had some good moments on the continent. Last season, they faced eventual winners Chelsea in the Europa Conference League quarter finals, beating them 2-1 in the second leg.

This season wasn’t quite as successful as they bowed out after the league phase, but a 2-1 win over Shakhtar Donetsk should be celebrated. Now, with qualification for any European competition looking unlikely, Legia will have to take a major financial hit on the chin.

According to the club, in 2024/2025, Legia had a 13% decline in revenue to roughly €54.3 million. Now, they maintain they’re still in a healthy financial position but missing out on at least the Conference League will add up.

For reaching the league phase, Legia would earn €3.17 million, and once it kicks off, they would get €400,000 per win, €133,000 per draw, an extra €400,000 for a top eight finish, or €200,000 for a place in the play-offs. That isn’t an insignificant amount of money.

A lack of European football would be a big issue, and Zachodny agrees. “It would be a big problem, one that would hurt their business in the summer. Legia is a club that includes reaching the league stages of European competitions in their budget plans.

“Without it, they might be forced to sell several players, refrain from renewing contracts with those who are at the end of their current deals (and there are a lot of them in the starting line up). All in all, it will definitely make Papszun’s job all the more difficult.”

Ultimately, barring a truly catastrophic last few games, Legia will probably be fine. They can even still finish in those European spots due to the condensed nature of the league standings – even if a LOT of things would need to go their way. A midtable finish is the most likely outcome.

Zachodny reckons Legia will stay up too, but the warning signs are there, and if things don’t change, it could get worse. “I don’t think they’ll go down. What Papszun has done already is to make them tough to beat.

“It’s not impossible, but they’re better organised, they are leaking goals only at defensive set pieces, while steadily creating more chances and playing with more intensity. Relegation for Legia would be the greatest shock Polish football has ever seen.

“And yet it feels like that, under the current presidency, it’s a disaster just waiting to happen.”

(Images from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Ekstraklasa on FotMob – with in-depth stat coverage, xG, and player ratings, where available. Download the free app here.

Add FotMob as a preferred news source on Google by clicking – here.

Apr

2026

Preview: Madrid in midweek action against Alaves

Real Madrid host Deportivo Alavés on Tuesday evening as they look to rescue their chances of lifting the title in LaLiga.

By Matt Smith

Álvaro Arbeloa’s side sit nine points behind Barcelona as it stands, and they’ll need their LaLiga rivals to slip up drastically in order to leapfrog them into first place.

When these two sides met back in December, it took a late Rodrygo winner to secure a 2-1 victory for Madrid.

Team news

Real Madrid will once again be without both Thibaut Courtois and Rodrygo due to injury.

Raúl Asencio also joins the injury list after being diagnosed with gastroenteritis recently.

Alavés remain without Carlos Protesoni due to injury, but other than that, they should have a fully fit squad travelling to Madrid.

They will be without Abde Rebbach, however, as he will serve a suspension after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season last time out.

The form of champions?

It’s been a dismal last few weeks for Real Madrid, capped off by being knocked out of the Champions League by Bayern Munich. The second leg defeat made it four games without a victory in all competitions for the Spanish side, who will be wanting for the season to end.

It’s certainly not the form of champions, and they can have few complaints if Barcelona are confirmed winners in the next few weeks. Madrid haven’t been clinical enough in front of goal, scoring 65 times compared to Barcelona’s 84.

Old school Alavés

Alavés have picked up some impressive results of late, and are unbeaten in their previous four games. Alavés favour an old-school-style, with only Getafe making more tackles than them in LaLiga this season.

Quique Sánchez Flores’ side like to get the ball out wide as much as possible, delivering into the box to try to create chances. Only Atlético Madrid have produced more accurate crosses than Alavés in LaLiga this term.

Their recent form sees them sitting just outside the relegation zone by one point, so they’ll be desperate to come away with something from this one.

Arda Güler the man of the moment

One player who was perhaps unfortunate to be on the losing side against Bayern Munich was Turkish star Arda Güler. The 21-year-old struck twice in Munich, while he was also sent off after the full-time whistle.

*Güler’s passing numbers are some of the best in LaLiga*

Güler isn’t a guaranteed starter for Madrid, but his performance against Bayern might lead to Arbeloa playing him from the beginning against Alavés. The Madrid boss will be looking for inspiration from somewhere, and Güler could be the man to produce.

Prediction

Despite Madrid’s inconsistent form of late, it’s difficult to see them not securing all three points in such a crucial game if they want to stand a chance of winning the title.

We’re going for a 2-0 victory for Arbeloa’s side.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from LaLiga with FotMob this season — featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Add FotMob as a preferred news source on Google by clicking – here.

Apr

2026

Preview: Liam Rosenior takes Chelsea to in-form Brighton

Brighton have defeated Chelsea in each of their last three meetings, including the reverse fixture back in September.

By Filip Mishov

Chelsea need to stop the rot if Rosenior wants to save their season

Brighton & Hove Albion’s resilience was on full display once again as Georginio Rutter scored a stoppage-time equaliser at Tottenham Hotspur over the weekend, extending their impressive four-match unbeaten run (3W, 1D) in the Premier League. Now, Fabian Hürzeler’s squad sit ninth and just a point off top six with five rounds to go, and the Seagulls’ ultimate aim will be to secure a return to European football for next season.

Fittingly enough, it’s sixth-placed Chelsea who are visiting the Amex Stadium on Tuesday.

The out-of-form Blues appear to be in free fall having not scored a single goal in their last four league games (360 minutes), with Manchester United the latest side to beat them on Saturday night.

Liam Rosenior‘s underperforming squad are in danger of slipping away from the top five with seven points now separating them from the Champions league places.

Key players

Jan Paul van Hecke is developing into one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League with the Netherlands international establishing himself as a mainstay in Brighton’s defence during the past three seasons. The talented defender is the highest-FotMob rated player in the squad (7.17), and the Dutch’s numbers stand up, with the 25-year-old leading the team in terms of accurate long balls per 90 (3.6), clearances per 90 (5.3) and blocks per 90 (0.9).

Enzo Fernández returned to the starting XI at the weekend and the Argentine’s performance was one of the few bright spots in the defeat to United. The fiery midfielder was the squad’s highest-rated player at Stamford Bridge and continues to be their top performer in the league (season average FotMob rating 7.3). Whether or not there is a move to Real Madrid on the horizon, Rosenior is in no position to ignore his importance to the team given the fact that Enzo is Chelsea’s leading chance creator (56) and only João Pedro has more goals + assists than him this season (19 to Fernández’s 11).

Team news

Diego Gómez landed awkwardly and sustained a knee injury at Spurs, and although Hürzeler eased any fears about him suffering a long-term injury, the Paraguayan will miss the match, joining Adam Webster, James Milner, Solly March and Stefanos Tzimas on the sidelines. Lewis Dunk is, however, available again after serving a two-match suspension.

João Pedro missed the last match through injury, but the Brazilian has returned to Chelsea’s first-team training, meaning they’ll make a ‘late call’ on including the former Brighton forward in the matchday squad. availability. Estêvão is now injured and no one from the other long term absentees (Filip Jörgensen, Levi Colwill, Reece James, Jamie Gittens) looks set to return in midweek.

Prediction

Brighton have the third-best defensive record (conceding just 39 goals) but also the second-worst offensive record (scoring 45 goals) of the teams in the top half of the table, while Chelsea are on their worst league goal drought since 1998. A goal fest is not, therefore, on the cards, but I expect the formidable Seagulls to continue their unbeaten run and quite possibly get a result that would take them above Chelsea in the standings.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Apr

2026

The MLS Wrap: Another Messi-assisted record and moment of magic

Another record crowd turned out to see Lionel Messi, as Timo Werner got his first MLS goal and some unlikely teams impressed, or continued to impress in Matchweek 8.

By James Nalton

Messi magic at Mile High

Colorado Rapids celebrated the 30th anniversary of their first-ever home game in MLS by shifting their game against Inter Miami to Empower Field at Mile High, the home of the Denver Broncos NFL team.

The Rapids first season in MLS was played at the original Mile High Stadium in Denver, but since 2007, they have played at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, their soccer-specific home in Commerce City.

They expected a turnout of over 70,000 for this weekend’s game, with the eventual attendance coming in at a franchise record of 75,824. It’s the second-highest attendance in MLS history, and the third “Messi game” in the all-time top five MLS record crowds.

Fans turned out in their numbers for the anniversary, but, in truth, they were mostly there to see Lionel Messi.

The latest Messi League Soccer occasion even overshadowed the big news of Javier Mascherano resigning as Inter Miami head coach last week.

The idea that the majority of this crowd were there to see Messi was reinforced when he scored. His second goal, especially, was cheered by the crowd, providing the surreal experience of an away team’s go-ahead goal being celebrated.

Rapids fans had a couple of goals to cheer in the second half, and their team deserved at least a draw, but that magical Messi strike saw Miami leave with a 3-2 win.

Werner gets his goal

Timo Werner has impressed in bursts so far since his move to San Jose Earthquakes, and it was a particularly impressive burst that led to his first goal for his new club.

The clip of Werner breaking through the Los Angeles FC defence almost looked sped up, as he zoomed past opposition players to put himself in a great position to score.

The German’s settling-in period has been helped by the fact that the Earthquakes have been impressive whether he has played or not. Indeed, they were already a goal up versus LAFC through one of the Matchweek’s standout players, Ousseni Bouda, before Werner added the second.

San Jose are the in-form team in MLS, having won their last four games in a row. Long-time followers of MLS may have to read that sentence back to double-check its comtent, as this is a surprise statement given their form in recent years.

And wins don’t come much bigger than against an LAFC side who have looked like one of the best teams on the continent this year. The Earthquakes shrugged them aside with apparent ease, and the team that finished 20th overall in 2025 look to have improved dramatically in 2026, with Werner playing a big part in their statement of intent, and now on the field, too, with his first goal.

Real standout players

Two players earned FotMob match ratings well into the nines this week, and their respective teams deserve plenty of praise for their performances in Matchweek 8.

Prince Owusu registered three assists plus a goal of his own from the penalty spot as CF Montréal shocked New York Red Bulls with a 4-1 win at the Stade Saputo.

It gave Montréal their first home win of the season and some encouragement that they are capable of lifting themselves out of the lower reaches of the MLS table under interim head coach Philippe Eullaffroy.

Real Salt Lake have no such confidence issues this season, and a headed brace plus an assist from Sergi Solans gave them a 4-2 win against San Diego, which stretched their unbeaten run to six games, made up of five wins and a draw.

Solans is quietly one of the most impressive players in the league this season, and it’s worth keeping an eye on the Spaniard, who made his way to this level through the US college system and amateur leagues.

Roldan reinforces his USMNT importance

Between now and the World Cup squad announcements on May 26, there will be plenty of speculation as to the makeup of Mauricio Pochettino’s United States roster, not least around which MLS players will be involved.

One MLS player who has been regularly involved in Pochettino’s team of late is Seattle Sounders midfielder Cristian Roldan, who has not only been a useful squad option but also a player who can knit the various strands of the group together off the field.

For Seattle this weekend, he showed his importance on the field with two goals from the same set-piece move in an impressive 4-1 win against St Louis City.

He has featured in every USMNT friendly since the 2025 Gold Cup, having not featured in the squad since the previous Gold Cup in 2023.

Maybe Pochettino has realised he needs more leaders in the dressing room, and Roldan is the type of player who can contribute in a tournament even if he is not playing games.

Though Roldan might be one of those players left out of many USMNT World Cup roster projections, he could be one of Pochettino’s key selections.

Nashville Cats

It’s been a big year for Nashville so far, as the team from Tennessee continue to impress both domestically and on the continent.

They caught the eye early on in the year thanks to the goalscoring of English centre-forward Sam Surridge, but they’ve progressed well as a team since then.

The 2025 US Open Cup champions recorded one of the biggest results in club history when they defeated Mexican giants Club América in the Concacaf Champions Cup last week. In doing so, they became the first MLS team to win a match at the famous Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, and the goal they scored in the Mexican capital gave them a 1-0 aggregate win across the two legs.

It doesn’t get more impressive than that, but following up an away match in the Champions Cup with a win in MLS can be just as difficult, and they managed it with a 2-0 win in Atlanta on Saturday night.

Nashville are looking like genuine contenders on multiple fronts this season, and it’s Tigres up next in the Champions Cup.

(Cover Image from IMAGO)

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Apr

2026

Preview: Everton host Liverpool in first Merseyside Derby at the Hill Dickinson

For the first time in a while, the two Merseyside clubs go head-to-head, where they could be battling to finish in a similar position in the Premier League.

By Matt Smith

If the Toffees win, they go within just two points of their rivals and are in contention for a spot in the Champions League.

In this fixture last season, at Goodison Park, Everton secured a 98th-minute draw as James Tarkowski volleyed home an equaliser.

Team news

It was a positive press conference from David Moyes this week as he discussed team news ahead of the game. The Everton boss should have a fully fit squad, barring Jack Grealish, with Carlos Alcaraz now ready to be involved.

Liverpool suffered a crucial blow this week as it was confirmed that Hugo Ekitike would miss the remainder of the season due to injury. Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni, Wataru Endo, and Alisson Becker remain out, while Arne Slot also confirmed that Joe Gomez would be unavailable.

Everton’s high press could hurt Liverpool

Moyes has to decide whether he wants his side to sit back and absorb pressure, or press high up the pitch to try to win the ball back. Liverpool struggled at times against PSG during the week when the French outfit applied pressure when the Reds tried to build out, and that could be key for Everton this weekend.

Only four sides in the Premier League have won possession in the final third more than Everton this season. Slot might be expecting the Toffees to sit deeper, but there’s every chance Everton look to take the game to them in front of their home crowd.

Who’s going to pounce in the box?

It’s been a difficult season for Liverpool, struggling to replicate the heights of their previous campaign. Plenty has gone wrong, but there’s no doubt they are getting the ball into the right areas.

No side has more touches inside the opposition box, but without Ekitike and Alexander Isak not being fully fit, who is going to be pouncing in the area? Liverpool fans will be hoping Isak is ready to start firing, but Slot has already confirmed he’s not ready to play 90 minutes.

Rio vs O’Brien

The most interesting match-up could be Rio Ngumoha against Jake O’Brien. Rio has started two of Liverpool last three Premier League games, scoring against Fulham last time out, and there’s every chance Slot hands him another start.

His pace and trickery could be key for Liverpool, and he’s up against O’Brien, who couldn’t be more of an opposite physical profile, standing at almost two metres tall. O’Brien is no slouch when it comes to a foot race, either, so it could be an interesting battle.

Prediction

The Merseyside derby is always a cagey affair, and we’re expecting no different this weekend. Everton are unbeaten in the last three meetings on their own turf, so we’re going for a 1-1 draw.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Premier League with FotMob this season — featuring deep stats coverage, xG, physical metrics, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Apr

2026

Preview: City meet Arsenal in title showdown

Sunday’s result at the Etihad Stadium could have a big bearing on the outcome of an increasingly tight Premier League title race.

By Graham Ruthven

Season-defining

Even as top-of-the-table clashes go, Sunday’s encounter between Manchester City and Arsenal deserves a big billing. It could be a season-defining match for both teams.

What once looked like Arsenal’s title now appears to be slipping from the grip of Mikel Arteta and his players. The Gunners have won just one of their last five fixtures in all competitions and can ill-afford another defeat after last weekend’s damaging home loss to Bournemouth.

City, on the other hand, have won five of their last seven in the league including a statement victory away to Chelsea last weekend. Pep Guardiola has the scent of another title in his nostrils.

Manchester City are unbeaten in their last 11 home matches against Arsenal in all competitions and haven’t lost to anyone at home in the league since the opening day of the season.

Momentum seems to be with Guardiola’s team even if Arsenal still hold a six-point advantage at the top of the table. A City win might make them favourites to win a seventh Premier League title in nine years.

Key players

Rayan Cherki embodies the difference between City and Arsenal at the moment. While the Gunners are struggling for open play creativity, the French playmaker is producing assists for fun as the chasers close the gap on the leaders.

Indeed, Cherki has registered 10 Premier League assists this season despite starting just 15 matches. He is the creative force pushing Manchester City forward in the title race.

Erling Haaland has scored more goals than any other player in the Premier League this season, but has drawn a blank in six of his last eight outings for City. His goalscoring hasn’t been as consistent as in previous seasons.

Jérémy Doku is averaging more successful dribbles per 90 than any other player in the Premier League and will be a threat in the wide areas against Arsenal.

Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi will be tasked with controlling the centre of the pitch for the visitors to the Etihad Stadium with the former particularly impressive in Arsenal’s mid-week Champions League performance against Sporting CP.

Arteta has a decision to make over the identity of his centre forward with Viktor Gyökeres and Kai Havertz capable of playing that position, albeit in a very different way.

Arsenal’s title challenge has been based on defensive solidity, making Gabriel Magalhães and William Saliba central to the Gunners’ chances of leaving the Etihad Stadium with a positive result this weekend.

The Gunners have kept more clean sheets than any other Premier League side this season with David Raya another Arsenal player who must find top form against City.

Team news

Nico O’Reilly came off with a muscle injury against Chelsea and is a doubt to feature in Sunday’s top-of-the-table clash meaning Guardiola might be forced to reshuffle his defensive line.

Joško Gvardiol is still sidelined with a long-term injury while Rúben Dias and John Stones are concerns ahead of this weekend’s meeting with Arsenal.

Arsenal also have several injury doubts with Riccardo Calafiori, Noni Madueke, Martin Ødegaard, Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber all carrying knocks at the moment. Ødegaard and Saka’s fitness is of particular concern.

Prediction

We’re predicting a serious shake up in the title race, and an impetus changing home win for Pep Guardiola: Man City 3-1 Arsenal.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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