The Pulse of Football

Nov

2025

Arsenal vs. Bayern could be the Champions League at it’s best

Arsenal and Bayern Munich are both enjoying excellent seasons with Champions League glory in their sights.

Arsenal and Bayern Munich both played like the champions of their respective leagues over the weekend. 24 hours after the latter put six goals past Freiburg in a 6-2 thumping to tighten their grip on top spot in the Bundesliga, the former claimed victory in the North London Derby to go six points clear in the Premier League.

Of course, Bayern already have the Bundesliga crown to prove their domestic dominance. Arsenal, on the other hand, are attempting to win the Premier League title for the first time since the days of Arsene Wenger. After years of development under Mikel Arteta, many believe this is finally their season.

It could be their season in Europe too. Arsenal have a perfect record in the Champions League, winning all four of their opening League Phase Fixtures. Bayern Munich have done the same, scoring 14 goals in the process. Wednesday’s meeting at the Emirates Stadium looks like being a clash between Europe’s two best teams right now.

Arteta and Vincent Kompany are two managers who want control above anything else, although the way Arsenal and Bayern Munich implement that control is rather different. While Kompany sets up his team to dominate the ball, Arteta puts just as much focus on his out of possession shape.

This isn’t to say that Bayern Munich neglect their defensive duties. In fact, only a handful of teams in the Champions League this season have won possession in the attacking third more times than the German champions. They press from the front and create opportunities from counter-pressing moments.

Arsenal, however, control games by covering space. Opponents have a tough time of playing through the double pivot of Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi and even if they are able to get through the Gunners have the Premier League’s strongest defensive line to put up another barrier.

Bayern Munich’s defensive barrier tends to be positioned on the halfway line. Last season, this was a problem. Champions League opponents were able to hit the Bavarians on the break, exploiting the space in behind Kim Min-jae and Dayot Upamecano. Inter Milan certainly did this as they knocked out Bayern in the quarter-finals.

This season, though, the space in behind the backline hasn’t been so much of a problem. Some of this is due to the additional protection now being offered in central midfield where natural number six Aleksandar Pavlović has made himself first-choice. Some of it has been down to the signing of Jonathan Tah whose positional sense is far superior to Min-jae’s.

Summer signings have also made an impact for Arsenal. Viktor Gyökeres has given them an orthodox attacking frontman, although the Swedish striker won’t face Bayern on Wednesday due to injury. Zubimendi has been an upgrade on Thomas Partey at the base of the midfield while Noni Madueke, Piero Hincapié, Christian Nørgaard and Cristhian Mosquera have all offered depth.

Eberechi Eze, however, is the new addition altering the landscape for Arsenal more than any other. The 27-year-old is an all-round creative threat, as he demonstrated by netting a hat trick in Sunday’s North London Derby. He can shoot, he can dribble, he can pass – Eze could prove to be Arsenal’s most significant signing in years.

*For more graphics like this – follow @fotmobapp on Instagram*

“Since the day that he came, he brought something else to the team,” said Arteta after Eze’s performance against Tottenham Hotspur. “So it’s a joy, it’s an aura that this team needed and hopefully it will give him a lot of confidence, to him and the team, that at any moment he can win us a game. And that’s the ability that he has and he certainly needs to fulfil that talent.”

Wednesday’s match could be decided by a variety of difference-makers. Harry Kane could add to his tally of 24 goals in all competitions. Bukayo Saka might find space and opportunity down the right side. Michael Olise could create something out of nothing. The game might be set up for Arsenal to convert yet another set piece play.

Arsenal and Bayern Munich could use the chance to size up each other ahead of a possible meeting further down the line in this season’s Champions League. Both teams are already all but assured of their place in the knockout rounds. Wednesday’s meeting could happen again later in the campaign.

The Champions League’s new format was designed to facilitate more matches between Europe’s best teams at an earlier stage. Wednesday’s game will be one to savour, and possibly one to learn something from if Arsenal and Bayern Munich are to clash again this season. This could be the Champions League at its best.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Nov

2025

Antoine Semenyo is a man in demand

Bournemouth are continuously being raided by some of the best clubs in Europe for their players.

By Sam McGuire

During the summer transfer window, they lost Milos Kerkez to Premier League champions Liverpool, Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain signed Illia Zabarnyi while Real Madrid won the race for Dean Huijsen amid interest from the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool. During the 2024 summer transfer window, the Cherries lost Dom Solanke to Spurs in what was a club record sale.

They simply go about unearthing new stars and entrusting Andoni Iraola to develop them. It’s why, despite such a huge turnover in personnel this summer, the Cherries are eighth in the Premier League, just two points off of a top four place and four points behind second-placed Chelsea.

You can’t just credit one player with being responsible for this impressive start to the campaign, but if you did have to single out someone this season, it’d be Antoine Semenyo.

His early season form has seen him alert a number of the Premier League big boys.

Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal, Spurs and Manchester United are all reportedly keen on the Bournemouth No. 24.

He’s started the campaign like a player who believes he’s ready to make that next step.

Semenyo has six goals and three assists across his 11 appearances. Only Erling Haaland (15) has more goal involvements in the Premier League this season and only three players have more goals than the Bournemouth man (six) – Danny Welbeck (seven), Igor Thiago (nine) and Haaland (14).

The former Bristol City winger has decent underlying numbers too, highlighting how much of a threat he is. At the time of writing, he ranks sixth for Expected Goals.

In many ways, this explosive start to the campaign shouldn’t come as that much of a surprise. Ever since the move to Bournemouth in January 2023, he’s been slowly scaling his threat.

During the 2023/24 Premier League campaign, his first full season in the English top-flight, he scored eight goals. Last term, he racked up 16 goal involvements in total. He’s on course to finish with a career high haul for the third successive year.

It is quite remarkable that prior to the switch to Bournemouth, his career best was eight goals in the Championship. While always looking dangerous due to his profile, there weren’t really any clear signs that he’d make the leap from goal threat to goal scorer.

*Player traits compared with similar players in Europe’s Top Five leagues*

He’s done just that though. And while, at first glance, the new contract in the summer was reward for his fine form, it was, in fact, more than that for the 25-year-old. Reports have recently emerged which revealed the versatile forward only signed an extension with the Cherries because it included a release clause.

Teams can sign him during the winter window for £65million. At the end of the season, the release clause drops.

That fee might seem a little steep but in the current market, clubs might actually be able to justify it. For starters, he’s extremely versatile and can play anywhere across the forward line. He doesn’t just do a job on either flank. He performs as well on the left as he does on the right due to his two-footed nature.

Though primarily right-footed, he’s not shy when it comes to using his left. In fact, his six goals this term are split perfectly between left and right-footed goals. Last season, he struck six on his right and five with his left. He’s as two-footed as you can be.

Semenyo also qualifies as a homegrown player under Premier League rules, a key element to consider when assembling a squad. In terms of profile, he’s fairly unique right now.

Semenyo is pace and power. He’s robust, aggressive and direct. A lot of the time now, due to the modern way of playing, attackers want ball to feet and they want to drop to receive possession. The Bournemouth star is the opposite of that. He’ll fight for direct balls played forward. He’ll put himself about and chase lost causes. He’ll also pick up possession and just carry the ball forward, regardless of whether there’s space ahead of him or an opponent.

The 25-year-old is an outball. He’s a pressure reliever.

He posts decent numbers when looking at successful dribbles (1.91 this term and 1.94 last season), duels won (over six since the start of 2024/25) and aerial duels won (over 2.3 this season). Not only can Semenyo carry the ball, he can also win it back for you too. Combine that with his goal threat – 0.42 xG90 this season and 0.28 last term – and you have a forward who is a genuine handful.

The Ghana international likely going to be the next Bournemouth export. He might be the best of the bunch.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Nov

2025

Preview: The top two go head-to-head as Arsenal host Bayern

Once upon a time this fixture seemed to happen with regularity in the Champions League – and Arsenal would inevitably leave each time with their tails between their legs. This time around it all looks rather different for the Gunners as Bayern Munich come to town as the competition’s top two teams so far.

By Karl Matchett

Domestic dominance and title talk

One measure of just how well Arsenal are set for the season ahead is to compare their domestic efforts to those of their midweek rivals. Bayern Munich have, for most of the last quarter of a century, been the utterly dominant side in German football. This campaign looks no different, well out in front as they already are, with a gap of six points back to second place RB Leipzig and zero defeats in their tally of games.

Arsenal might have a sole loss to their name – at reigning champions Liverpool, just before their implosion began – but other than that they have been consistent and impressive…and also have a six-point lead in the Premier League, back to Chelsea. They’ve even managed that after a game more than Bayern have played in the Bundesliga.

There have been 14 meetings between the Gunners and the Bavarian giants since 2000 in the Champions League, with the north London side winning only three of those encounters, the last over a decade ago. Since then Bayern have won 5-1 three times, while a draw between the sides in April 2024 was no real respite for the English side, since they lost the second leg and exited at the quarter-final stage accordingly.

While there’s no such stakes at play this time around, there certainly is every reason to think Arsenal are the better, more confident and more well-rounded team right now and that they might celebrate a long-overdue win against one of Europe’s top names.

Recent form

Arsenal have 13 wins and two draws since their only loss of the campaign – it’s about as consistent as you can get. Bayern won a massive 16 in a row before their first draw, then won again at the weekend. Relentless. In Europe, both teams are four wins from four so far and sit in the top two spots accordingly.

Team news

Viktor Gyökeres and Kai Havertz are both likely still out and Martin Ødegaard needs a check before he returns. Gabriel is also out for several weeks in defence.

For Bayern, Luis Díaz is out suspended and both Jamal Musiala and Alphonso Davies are long-term absentees.

Key player

If anybody is to upset the home side it’s almost certainly written in the stars that it will be an old enemy in former Spurs striker Harry Kane. He has 14 goals in ten league starts and five in four in Europe. It ranks him higher than 95% of European strikers for shots over the past year…and 100% for goals.

Prediction

A home win. Bayern are already in a decent spot so it won’t impact on going through, but it will send a message from the Emirates: Arsenal 2-1 Bayern.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Nov

2025

Preview: Real Madrid head to Greek champions Olympiacos in the Champions League

Xabi Alonso and Real Madrid are under pressure to end a run of three games in all competitions without a win.

By Graham Ruthven

Response required

Hired to carry Real Madrid into the modern age, Xabi Alonso is struggling to impose his own ideas and identity on a group of players that seems increasingly ill-suited to the new manager’s style of play.

Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Elche reflected everything Los Blancos have struggled to get a grip of this season. Indeed, Real Madrid were generally second-best and fortunate to salvage a point through Jude Bellingham’s late leveller.

Real Madrid struggled for control in and out of possession. They were wide open in defensive transition and failed to effectively press from the front. It was a long way from the Alonso-ball Bayer Leverkusen played.

Olympiacos will attempt to target some of these weaknesses although the Greek champions have struggled in the Champions League so far this season.

José Luis Mendilibar’s team have taken just two points from their opening four fixtures.

Key players

Ayoub El Kaabi will pose a threat for Olympiacos. The 32-year-old has netted 10 goals in 16 just appearances this season and will be a penalty box presence for the home team on Wednesday.

Former Wolves winger Daniel Podence is capable of influencing games at the highest level, although Fede Valverde could have that side of the pitch locked down for the Spanish champions.

Dani García is just one booking away from a suspension, but is still expected to face Real Madrid as someone whose experience could be key in the centre of the pitch.

Only Victor Osimhen has scored more goals in this season’s Champions League than Kylian Mbappé who will lead the line for Real Madrid. The Frenchman’s pace and directness means Olympiacos can’t afford to switch off at any moment.

*Champions League top scorers (prior to Tuesdays games)*

Bellingham registered a goal and an assist against Elche, but is facing questions over his wider role in Alonso’s team. He is expected to start in a hybrid number 10-number eight position.

Arda Güler has been installed as Real Madrid’s primary pace-setter this season. The Turkish international is averaging 2.6 key passes per game and will see plenty of the ball on Wednesday.

Dean Huijsen found the back of the net in the 2-2 draw against Elche and is an important part of how Real Madrid play out from the back. Meanwhile, Thibaut Courtois is arguably the best goalkeeper in the world. The Spaniards hope he’ll be quiet in Greece.

Team news

Alexandros Paschalakis and Konstantinos Angelakis are both missing for Olympiacos through injury. Otherwise the Greek champions have a fully fit and available squad to choose from.

Alonso could make wholesale changes to a team that struggled for a point away to Elche on Sunday with Vinícius Júnior, Eduardo Camavinga and Valverde all potentially in line for a start.

Dani Carvajal, Antonio Rüdiger, Éder Militão, David Alaba, Franco Mastantuono and Aurélien Tchouaméni are all either sidelined or will face a late fitness test.

Prediction

Olympiacos don’t lose many at home – in fact, they haven’t lost at home in any competition since March 2024 – but we think Madrid’s superiority will win out, narrowly: Olympiacos 0-1 Real Madrid.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Nov

2025

Preview: Liverpool face Eredivisie leaders PSV in the Champions League

Liverpool are once again hoping to use the Champions League as a springboard to get their 2025/26 campaign back on track as they host PSV Eindhoven at Anfield.

By Sam McGuire

Match context

The Reds started the season with seven wins from seven across all competitions. They went five for five in the Premier League, dominated Atlético Madrid in the Champions League and defeated Southampton in the Carabao Cup, all without really breaking a sweat.

Everything was expected to click for the Reds once new signings had bedded in.

Yet since that 2-1 win over Southampton in September, Arne Slot’s side have lost eight of 11 across all competitions. They’re already out of the Carabao Cup and find themselves 11 points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal.

Big money signings Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz are all struggling to perform for the Reds, Mohamed Salah isn’t being properly utilised while Dominik Szoboszlai, the team’s best player this term, is being used as a utility player by Slot.

PSV, meanwhile, are leading the way in the Eredivisie. A shock defeat in August to Telstar was nothing more than a blip. Peter Bosz’s side are first for average FotMob rating (7.28) and they top the charts for goals per match in the Dutch top-flight with 3.2.

In Europe, they haven’t quite been as dominant.

A loss to Royale Union Saint-Gilloise was followed up with a draw against Leverkusen. They then dismantled Serie A title holders Napoli 6-2 before only managing to draw with Olympiakos.

They seem to scale their game against better opposition and that should worry Liverpool.

Key Players

For Liverpool, it is probably former PSV star Cody Gakpo.

He divides opinion but he continues to be the only reliable threat in the attack for the Reds. The Dutch international leads the way for Expected Goals within the team this term. Gakpo scored when the two sides faced last season and with Wirtz carrying a knock, the likelihood is that the No. 18 gets the nod against his old team on Wednesday.

*PSV’s top scorers in the Eredivisie this season*

For the visitors, it’s tough to pick between Guus Til and Joey Veerman.

Til ranks second for goals in the Dutch top-flight this season with nine but he’s yet to get off the mark in Europe, though he does have an assist. Veerman, meanwhile, has been a creative force for Bosz’s men. He has six assists and five goals this term and assisted against Napoli.

Team News

The visitors are without Alassane Pléa and Ruben Van Bommel for the trip to Merseyside but otherwise Bosz has a full squad of players to pick from.

Liverpool are without Conor Bradley, Jeremie Frimpong and Giovanni Leoni. Wirtz could be back after missing the defeat to Nottingham Forest but Slot isn’t going to risk his No. 7.

Prediction

Surely Liverpool can’t lose another game. As Paul Joyce of UK newspaper The Times said on Monday, the pressure isn’t on Slot just yet but the team cannot keep losing. A win is desperately needed. A good performance is desperately needed. So, we’re going with a 2-1 Liverpool victory.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Nov

2025

Preview: PSG and Spurs meet for Super Cup reunion

Tottenham Hotspur looked as though they had secured the UEFA Super Cup back in August, only for a stunning PSG comeback to snatch the trophy from Thomas Frank. Now, Spurs will have the opportunity for revenge as the club travel to Paris to face the defending champions on Wednesday evening.

By Ross Kilvington

The pressure is increasing on Thomas Frank

Spurs’ 4-1 defeat to Arsenal on Sunday was their fourth in the Premier League this season. Indeed, Frank’s men have won just two league matches since September 13.

Scoring goals doesn’t seem to be an issue, with the club drawing blanks on just four occasions across their 19 matches this season.

Defensively, however, the North Londoners have conceded 20 goals in all competitions and the pressure is now on Frank to build some momentum over the next few weeks.

“I think it is extremely painful. I won’t talk away from that. It was a bad performance,” said the Dane after another derby defeat.

“It was completely the opposite of what the intention was when we came here. We can only apologise to the fans for the performance.”

A clash against the reigning French and European champions is the last thing the supporters want, that’s for sure.

PSG are struggling for consistency

Many felt after European success last season, Luis Enrique’s side would somehow get even better this term.

So far, it hasn’t exactly transpired. They might well be top of the Ligue 1 table, yet the club are just two points clear of both Marseille and Lens, having drawn three and lost one of their 13 league games.

PSG have been better in the Champions League, recording a stunning 7-2 victory over Bayer Leverkusen in October, along with defeating Barcelona and Atalanta.

Last time out, however, Enrique’s side lost to Bayern Munich and they will be determined to get back to winning ways against Spurs.

Team news

Enrique will be without right-back Achraf Hakimi after he suffered an injury against Bayern in the last Champions League match.

Elsewhere, Désiré Doué and Ousmane Dembélé are also unavailable, but the manager will certainly be ready to unleash Bradley Barcola and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia against Spurs.

Brennan Johnson is suspended for this clash after receiving a red card against FC Copenhagen last time out.

Spurs are in the midst of an injury crisis at present, with James Maddison, Radu Drăgușin, Dominic Solanke, Kota Takai, Dejan Kulusevski, Mathys Tel and Yves Bissouma all still absent.

Ben Davies could make a return to the squad for the midweek clash.

Prediction

Spurs have largely been a better side while playing away from home this season, but a trip to the Parc des Princes, especially after a 4-1 humbling against Arsenal, will be a step too far for Frank and his side.

Expect PSG to control the game from the beginning and secure a straightforward three points to further boost their chances of making the top eight.

We at FotMob predict a 3-0 victory for the home side on Wednesday evening.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow all the games from the Champions League on FotMob in the 2025/26 season – with in-depth stat coverage, including xG, shot maps, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Nov

2025

Preview: Manchester City looking for result against Champions League strugglers Leverkusen

Man City are looking to bounce back from a disappointing defeat against Newcastle United in the Premier League at the weekend as they host Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League.

By Matt Smith

Leverkusen, now managed by former Denmark coach Kasper Hjulmand, have won their previous three games in all competitions, including a 1-0 victory over Benfica in Europe. This is the first meeting between the two sides in this competition, in a game where Man City will be hoping to climb to the top of the table.

Team news

Man City will be without midfield duo Rodri and Mateo Kovačić for this one, with both players remaining on the treatment table once again. Pep Guardiola could have a fully fit squad to choose from other than that, but the same can’t be said for Leverkusen heading into this game.

Hjulmand will be without a host of players, including Robert Andrich and Edmond Tapsoba, who are both suspended. Equi Fernández and Exequiel Palacios are also injured, leaving Leverkusen short of options in the middle of the park. Arthur, Lucas Vázquez, and Janis Blaswich could also miss out.

City yet to click in final third

Man City are yet to fully click in the final third in the Champions League, which might sound crazy considering they’ve won three out of four of their games so far this season, drawing once.

Guardiola’s side have scored 10 goals in the competition so far this season, but they’ve only produced 7 xG, ranking them 13th in the Champions League. They’ve also created just 12 big chances, so it’s scary to think how strong they could be if they start producing more chances in the final third over the coming weeks and months. It’s a real opportunity for the Citizens to go top of the table, bouncing back from their Premier League disappointment this weekend.

Leverkusen struggling at both ends

Leverkusen have found it difficult in the Champions League this season, despite an impressive result in the competition last time out. So far, they’ve averaged 2.5 goals conceded per game, which is going to make it incredibly difficult for them to advance into the next round.

The Bundesliga outfit currently sit in 21st position in the table, picking up five points from four games. As it stands, they will advance into the round of 16 playoffs, but that’s far from guaranteed, and they could drop out this week if results don’t go their way.

Foden flourishing in Europe this season

Erling Haaland is, understandably, taking a lot of the plaudits this season, which is nothing unusual. One player who has started to look like he could be getting back to his best is Phil Foden, and he’s flourished in the Champions League particularly.

*Best FotMob rated players in the Champions League*

The England international has been City’s highest-rated player this season, winning player of the match twice, ranking fifth in the whole competition. With three goals and assists combined including a brace last time out, Foden could be the player to watch in this one.

Prediction

Especially on their own turf, it’s difficult to see past a Man City win in this one. We’re going for a 3-1 victory to the English side.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Nov

2025

Preview: Chelsea face Barcelona in Stamford Bridge throwback

It’s been one of the best matchups in the modern Champions League era, producing some of the competitions most memorable and dramatic moments. Chelsea host Barcelona for the first time in nearly a decade.

By Alex Roberts

Both sides have had their ups and downs in Europe’s elite club competitions so far this season, with unexpected draws against Club Brugge and Qarabağ in the previous round of fixtures in need of rectifying on Tuesday.

Whichever side wins this one will be handed a major boost in their pursuit of a top eight finish, avoided a potentially devastating play-off clash and earn a place in the round of 16.

Lamine Yamal vs Estêvão

Estêvão has only been at Chelsea for around six months, but his influence on and off the pitch has been tremendous. The Stamford Bridge faithful are already mentioning him in the same breath as Barcelona’s very own teenage saviour.

Yamal is obviously a little further ahead in his development considering he finished second in football’s biggest popularity contest earlier in the year (the Ballon d’Or), but Enzo Maresca continues to manage Estêvão’s minutes perfectly.

It’s unlikely that Estêvão will get the nod over Pedro Neto, who has been one of Chelsea’s best players this season, for such an important game. Still, this feels like a rivalry we’ll be talking about for years to come.

There should be goals

Both Chelsea and Barcelona are probably the best attacking sides in their respective leagues. Maresca’s side lead the way in terms of xG (22.5), shots on target per 90 (5.6), and big chances created (39), in the Premier League.

As for Hansi Flick’s lads, they top the charts for goals per match (2.8), shots on target per match (8.0), and big chances created (50) in LaLiga, although you could argue the standard of the division means they are facing some lower quality sides on a more regular basis.

These two teams have been incredibly impressive in front of goal this season, but at the other end of the pitch they’ve had their struggles, so expect plenty of chances and hopefully plenty of goals.

Team news

Maresca appeared to rest a few big names in Chelsea’s 2-0 Premier League win over Burnley on Saturday, so expect Moisés Caicedo, Alejandro Garnacho, and Wesley Fofana to come back into the starting 11 for this one.

Chelsea fans were anxious when Reece James was brought off at half time, but Maresca has since confirmed that there was no injury, and he’s in the frame to start.

They will be without star man Cole Palmer, however, after the talismanic number ten fractured his toe while at home. Roméo Lavia (thigh), Dário Essugo (thigh) and Levi Colwill (knee) are also still sidelined.

Marcus Rashford’s return to England has been thrown into doubt due to an illness, but luckily for Barcelona, they have Raphinha back from a hamstring injury.

Frenkie de Jong is back after serving a domestic suspension, but Pedri (hamstring), Gavi (knee) and Marc-André ter Stegen (back) are all out.

Prediction

As we said, there should be plenty of goals in this one, but there really isn’t that much between the two sides, and the home advantage will certainly help Chelsea, so we’re going with 2-2.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Nov

2025

Preview: Monday Night Football from Old Trafford

Manchester United host Everton at Old Trafford on Monday night as Ruben Amorim’s side look to continue their unbeaten run.

By Matt Smith

The Toffees picked up an impressive 2-0 victory at home to Fulham last time out, while the Red Devils secured a point thanks to a late equaliser against Tottenham in their previous game.

The last competitive meeting between the two sides ended in a stalemate, with Bruno Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte both scoring in the second half to overturn a 2-0 deficit.

Team news

United will be without Benjamin Šeško after he picked up a knee injury against Tottenham last time out, while Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martínez are also likely unavailable. Matheus Cunha picked up an injury in training at the weekend, so he’s a doubt for the home side.

David Moyes recently confirmed that Merlin Rohl had undergone a minor surgery for a hernia problem, so he’s set to be on the treatment table for the next few weeks. Jarrad Branthwaite and Nathan Patterson remain out.

Man Utd struggling to convert

Producing opportunities hasn’t been an issue for United this season, but they might feel that they could be battling in the European places if they were a little more clinical in front of goal. The Red Devils have produced 5.1 shots on target per match, more than high-flying Arsenal, but they’ve converted just 12% of them.

*Shots on target per 90 in the Premier League*

Amorim has been looking to find a solution with Cunha regularly playing in a centre-forward role, but there’s a chance he is forced to deploy someone like Joshua Zirkzee, with Cunha a doubt and Šeško injured. There have certainly been signs of improvement for United this season, but they are far from perfect.

Everton blunt in front of goal

Everton’s production in front of goal is that of a relegation-threatened side this season. The Merseyside club have scored just 1.1 goals per game, ranking them 18th in the Premier League table. Moyes’ men have been creating more chances under him this term, predominantly due to the form of Iliman Ndiaye and Jack Grealish.

Luckily for Everton, they’ve conceded just 1.2 goals per game, but they’ll have to start producing in the final third if they want to climb the table. A win would see Everton climb above Liverpool for the first time this season.

Mbeumo to take the responsibility

If Cunha is unavailable, there will be a lot of responsibility on the shoulders of Bryan Mbeumo in the attack. No player has scored more for United than the Cameroonian international this season, finding the back of the net four times in his last four games.

It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Amorim deploy him in a false nine role if Cunha is out. With Šeško also on the treatment table, that leaves United with just Zirkzee as a natural striker, but Amorim clearly doesn’t fancy the Dutch forward.

Prediction

Moyes’ record against the bigger sides hasn’t been great in his career, so we’re going for a 2-1 win to United at Old Trafford.

(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.

Nov

2025

Preview: Inter Miami face FC Cincinnati in Conference Semi

Inter Miami’s quest for a coveted MLS Cup continues in Ohio this weekend, where they travel to face Eastern Conference regular season runners-up FC Cincinnati.

By James Nalton

Were the regular season tables sorted on goal difference, Inter Miami would have hosted this game in Fort Lauderdale, but MLS uses wins before goal difference in its tiebreakers, and Cincinnati had one more victory.

Those narrow margins separating the two in the league table are also an indication that this will not be an easy game for Javier Mascherano’s side.

Messi returns to the scene of semifinal heroics

Inter Miami don’t have the best head-to-head record against Sunday’s opposition in recent years.

They have only defeated FC Cincinnati once in five games in MLS play since the arrival of Messi, Luis Suárez, et al — a 2-0 win at home in August 2024, which was a game Messi missed through injury.

Messi himself has never tasted victory in MLS against the team from Ohio, but he does have a memorable moment against them in knockout competition, which could bode well for Sunday.

Back in 2023, before MLS started to controversially exclude its top teams from the nation’s domestic cup competition, Messi inspired Inter Miami to a comeback against FC Cincinnati in the US Open Cup semifinal.

It remains one of the highlights of Messi’s time in US soccer to date, as two brilliant assists brought his team back from 2-0 down before they triumphed on penalties with Messi himself scoring the opening spot kick.

He’ll be looking to do the same in this conference semifinal, but will be hoping that it’s more straightforward and that no dramatic comeback is required on this occasion.

The Suárez conundrum

With Suárez back from suspension, he will likely be in the starting lineup alongside Messi, but some Inter Miami fans are beginning to suggest that the team might be stronger without him in the XI.

The Uruguayan’s output has still been good in 2025, as he scored ten goals and made ten assists in the regular season, though it is down on last season’s impressive return of 20 goals in 27 games.

The convincing 4-0 win in game three of the first round best-of-three against Nashville came with Suárez suspended for violent conduct in the previous game.

Such performances in his absence, where younger players come in in his stead, inevitably lead to suggestions that the additional energy gives Miami a better chance.

Suárez, however, retains the intelligence that saw him become one of the top strikers in the world, if not the physical attributes, and Messi would likely prefer him in the team than out of it.

Opposition watch: FC Cincinnati and Evander

In any other year, the performance of Cincinnati’s Brazilian attacking midfielder Evander would be considered an all-timer.

His 32 goals and assists combined in the 2025 regular season would have put him sixth on the league’s all-time list for this statistic, but this year saw several remarkable performances in this regard.

Messi recorded the most ever with 45 (per the global definition for assists — MLS includes some second assists, which puts Carlos Vela’s 2019 season top), while the league’s 2025 Newcomer of the Year, Anders Dreyer of San Diego FC, finished the regular season with 36.

This puts Evander eighth on the all-time list for this stat, but this kind of output nevertheless shows that Cincinnati themselves have a potential MLS all-timer on their hands, if he can maintain such a level.

Knocking Inter Miami and Messi out of the playoffs at home in Ohio would certainly contribute to that.

Prediction

With Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba retiring at the end of this season, Inter Miami need to win if they’re to give them the sendoff expected of the club, which is an MLS Cup win. With so much on the line, these experienced Miami stars should get the job done, but it won’t be easy.

(Cover Image from IMAGO)

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