We have a fairly varied FotMob Team of the Week with players from Luton Town, Everton and Brentford all making the XI. But who joins them and why did they make the cut for Matchday 32?
Dubravka kept a clean sheet as Newcastle United claimed a 1-0 win over Fulham at Craven Cottage. The 35-year-old was given a FotMob rating of 8.6 for his exploits between the sticks on Saturday afternoon. He may have only made four saves but the efforts had an Expected Goals on Target value of 1.06. The shot-stopper played a pivotal role in the Magpies picking up all three points.
Right-Back: Pedro Porro
The Spanish full-back impressed once again for Spurs. Porro scored the third and final goal for the hosts in a 3-1 win over Nottingham Forest to move into fourth position in the Premier League. The 24-year-old also carved out a chance for the hosts while winning 100% of his tackles and completing 91% of his attempted passes.
Centre-Back: Fabian Schär
Schar is the second Newcastle player to make the XI. The 32-year-old centre-back created a chance for Eddie Howe’s men against Fulham but his 8.1 rating was built around his defensive showing. The Swiss international made 13 clearances, recovered the ball on six occasions, and won 11 duels, the most of anyone on the pitch at Craven Cottage.
Centre-Back: Micky van de Ven
Van de Ven continued his fine form for Spurs. The young Dutch centre-back scored a goal, completed the most passes of anyone (66), finished with a 94% pass success rate and won the most duels (eight). The 22-year-old has really settled into life in the Premier League this season following his move from Wolfsburg.
Left-Back: Vitalii Mykolenko
The 24-year-old was busy for Everton in the 1-0 win over Burnley. Mykolenko created one chance and completed 81% of his attempted passes. However, he also attempted five tackles, two dribbles and won seven of his eight ground duels as the Toffees kept an important clean sheet in their fight for survival.
Midfield: Kevin De Bruyne
Back in the Manchester City starting XI following a mid-week rest, De Bruyne put in an all-star performance for the champions as they came from behind to beat Crystal Palace.
De Bruyne scored twice and claimed an assist in what was a 9.4 rated showing. The 32-year-old created four chances, three of which were classed as big chances, in what was a dominant display.
Midfield: Jordan Clark
Clark claimed an 8.8 FotMob rating after helping Luton Town pick up a vital win over Bournemouth. The 30-year-old midfielder scored the equaliser and was responsible for creating three chances in the 2-1 win. He also made 10 ball recoveries and finished with a 100% tackle success rate, as well as involving himself in 16 duels, in what was an all action display for the Hatters.
Midfield: Sergio Reguilón
Playing as a left sided midfielder, the Spanish full-back caught the eye in Brentford’s 3-3 draw with Aston Villa on Saturday. The on-loan Tottenham defender assisted two goals for the Bees and finished the game with a 100% duel success rate to earn himself a rating of 8.4. He was a constant threat for Thomas Frank’s side.
Attack: Ollie Watkins
Watkins now has 18 Premier League goals this season after netting a double in the draw with Brentford. The Aston Villa forward looked sharp having returned to the starting XI after sitting out the loss to Manchester City in mid-week. Not only was he a threat going forward, but he was also an asset for the Villans defensively, winning the most duels (seven) of anyone on the pitch.
Attack: Kai Havertz
Havertz is proving himself to be the main man for Arsenal. He scored and assisted in the 3-0 win over Brighton on Saturday evening. The Germany international created four chances at the Amex – the most of anyone – and was fouled a match-high four times. The former Chelsea man also won 100% of his tackles and 50% of his duels.
Attack: Clayton Morris
The match-winner for Rob Edwards’ side against Bournemouth. The striker found the back of the net in stoppage time to earn Luton all three points on Saturday. The No. 9 had five efforts against the Cherries and hit the woodwork. He also created one chance for a teammate and won six of his 11 duels.
(Images from IMAGO)
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There was another twist in the title race, Spurs displaced Aston Villa to move into fourth while two of the bottom three picked up points. It was a busy weekend in the Premier League. Here’s a look at the biggest talking points from across the English top-flight.
Crystal Palace stunned Manchester City at Selhurst Park when a rare John Stones error was capitalised on and Jean-Philippe Mateta gave the hosts the lead inside of four minutes.
Pep Guardiola’s side could’ve been rocked by the early goal. They weren’t.
It could’ve been a tricky situation for the champions. It wasn’t.
Kevin De Bruyne levelled things up with just 13 minutes on the clock and Rico Lewis struck early on in the second half.
Goals from De Bruyne and Erling Haaland in a four minute spell killed the game off before the 70th minute and though Odsonne Édouard scored a consolation, it was a resounding victory for the visitors.
The three points heaped pressure on Arsenal and Liverpool while the Eagles remain uncomfortably close to the relegation zone.
Villa salvage a point
It was a topsy-turvy game for Aston Villa at Villa Park on Saturday afternoon against Brentford.
Ollie Watkins, back in the team after missing the midweek game match against Manchester City, opened the scoring late in the first half to give the hosts the lead. Morgan Rogers then added a second just after the break to put Unai Emery’s side in a commanding position.
It looked fairly comfortable for the home side for the best part of an hour. And then it all went wrong.
The visitors hit three unanswered goals across a nine minute spell to turn the game on its head. Zanka, Bryan Mbeumo and Yoana Wissa found the back of the net for the Bees.
However, Thomas Frank’s side couldn’t see out the game and Watkins scored his second of the game, and his 18th of the season, with 10 minutes remaining to salvage a point.
With Tottenham’s win over Forest on Sunday evening, Villa now find themselves outside of the Champions League places having played a game more. Brentford, despite now being on a three match unbeaten run, are just four points above the drop zone.
Everton finally win
For the first time this year, Everton won in the Premier League.
It wasn’t a pretty game. It wasn’t necessarily a convincing performance by the hosts at Goodison Park, but Sean Dyche managed to get one over on his former employers on Saturday afternoon.
Burnley had more of the ball (63%) but struggled to create anything of note against a resolute Toffees team. Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored what turned out to be the winner in first half stoppage time.
Everton are now four points above the relegation zone and up to 15th. Burnley, however, remain 19th, five points off of 17th placed Nottingham Forest with time running out if they are to remain in the Premier League.
Arsenal reclaim top spot
The Gunners are relentless right now. They are once again leading the pack in the English top flight after a resounding 3-0 win over Brighton at the Amex. It is hard to see them relinquishing top spot now, especially in the form they are in.
Mikel Arteta’s men coasted to maximum points against Roberto De Zerbi’s side on Saturday evening. Bukayo Saka converted from the spot with 33 minutes on the clock. It was a deserved lead after carving out four big chances before the break.
Kai Havertz, who also claimed an assist, scored the second just after the hour mark before former Seagull Leandro Trossard added a third to cap off an outstanding showing by the Gunners. For context, they finished with an Expected Goals haul of 3.39 while limiting their hosts to chances with an xG value of 0.53.
Arsenal are joint-top with Liverpool but have a far superior goal difference (+51 to +42). The Gunners are just seven wins away from the Premier League title now.
Deja vu at Old Trafford
Manchester United and Liverpool played out an almost identical game at Old Trafford to their FA Cup encounter just three weeks ago.
The visitors looked confident and comfortable in the first half, carving out chance after chance but failing to put the game to bed. They went in at the break with a 1-0 lead, courtesy of Luis Díaz, but, in truth, it could’ve quite easily been 3-0.
Then, out of absolutely nothing, United found themselves level. Bruno Fernandes capitalised on a sloppy Jarell Quansah pass and outrageously lobbed Kelleher from just inside the Liverpool half. This woke Old Trafford up and the game was a lot more even after that.
In the 67th minute, youngster Kobbie Mainoo produced a moment of magic to put the hosts ahead, curling the ball into the far corner much to the delight of the home fans.
It appeared as though United might complete another smash and grab victory over Liverpool but an 84th minute penalty salvaged a point for the title hopefuls. Mohamed Salah scored his 17th goal of the season after Harvey Elliott was fouled by Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
(Cover Image from IMAGO)
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When history will look back on Alejandro Garnacho, the 2023/24 season will always be viewed as the campaign when the Argentine truly made a mark. After all, the teenager has witnessed impressive growth this season, proving that he is more than just the future of Manchester United.
It is fairly easy for Manchester United to get lured into comparisons with a certain Cristiano Ronaldo and despite similarities around how they broke through, Garnacho is becoming a man of his own in 2024. He has gone from being a scrawny teenager who wasn’t effective enough to be a starter to being an often-dominant presence in the wide areas whenever he features for Erik ten Hag’s side.
Still 19, Garnacho may yet not be entirely consistent but the season has seen him mature. He is offering the workrate of someone who wants to establish himself at the club while regularly showing a clean pair of heels to the opposition defenders to portray his impressive technical ability. When Mason Greenwood has essentially been excommunicated, Jadon Sancho has fallen out with the manager, Antony has constantly showed an inability to make an impact for the club and Marcus Rashford has witnessed a blip, the burden has fallen onto the explosive teenager to bear the burden of the club’s attack.
Not just that, Rasmus Højlund has also sometimes faced minor injury issues and Anthony Martial is already ruled out for the season. Garnacho (and Rashford) has, in this time, been United’s most available and most able presence to create and potentially score goals.
That was seen during United’s dramatic 4-3 win over Liverpool in the FA Cup recently. Garnacho played the entirety of the 120 minutes and put in a spectacular show, creating Amad Diallo’s dramatic winner by showing incredible composure in the final third when the clock was ticking down. It was an image that could define his career too as despite being debilitated and having his shorts drenched in the Old Trafford mud, he came up with the goods when it truly mattered.
He created the most number of chances and took the most number of shots, as he covered half the pitch to set up the winner. It was a reflection of how far the teenager has come from last season, when his major contributions had come from the bench. The assist against Manchester City and the vital goal against Fulham is a stark indicator of that.
The teenager’s defensive improvement has been rather major. He seems extremely keen on pressing high up the pitch, winning the ball back and restarting attacks, winning more duels and showcasing the amount of tenacity that would impress Ten Hag.
This season, he has won about 41 percent of all his duels and has won 66.7 percent of all his tackles, while winning a little under five duels per 90 minutes.
This wasn’t the case last season, when the defensive numbers were low and he only usually came on late in games when United needed goals and the opposition was pinned back.
He is involving himself in more duels on the pitch and the numbers from last season show that. It doesn’t just suggest that he’s become much more keen to fight it out when the going gets tough, but also that he is more than just a flair player. He is evolving into a bulldog on the pitch, who comes up with these glints of magic like a vulture snatching away prey.
Those glints of magic have often carried United through at vital points in games. There are tactical and fitness issues at United that need addressing, but Garnacho’s abilities have often made up for those.
For a long while, United weren’t (perhaps still aren’t) focused on controlling possession and they relied on going long from the back due to injuries to their best ball progressors (Luke Shaw and Licha Martínez). This negatively impacted how much ball Garnacho and Rashford could have, as they had to rely on winning second balls before launching attacks (a reason why Garnacho’s defensive numbers have risen).
But Garnacho has made sure that he has taken his chances at important points. His brace against Aston Villa, for example, came when United found themselves 2-0 down at halftime and against an Unai Emery side that was maintaining a reliable higher defensive line. But Garnacho, along with Rashford and Højlund, ripped through the Villa backline constantly, going past defenders and regularly finding teammates in behind.
It was a performance worth remembering. His overhead kick against Everton will be reminisced for a long, long while. But it is very easy to forget that the performance from United was a lacklustre one and if not for Garnacho’s sparkling strike, things may have been different. It was something that history will look back on when Garnacho potentially achieves greatness.
The Argentine sensation was impressive in the 2-1 win over Chelsea as well, assisting Scott McTominay’s late winner.
Garnacho played 27 accurate forward zone passes, which was the second best in the entire game.
He also attempted more dribbles than anyone else, being tied with Antony and Cole Palmer at the top to somewhat chisel through a Blues midfield and backline.
Garnacho also grabbed a brace against West Ham in a game that saw the club’s fans savour an iconic picture involving the ex-Atletico Madrid youngster, Højlund and Kobbie Mainoo. The Argentine was perhaps at the centre of it, racking up the highest Expected Assists tally for Ten Hag’s side in what would be seen by neutrals as a dominant performance by United when it was not, as the Hammers had enough chances to potentially get something from the game when it was 1-0.
Thanks to Garnacho and some poor finishing from West Ham, United did get a win.
The 19-year-old still needs another phase of evolution and it perhaps will come next season. One can’t describe him as a natural creator, as he is still somewhat found wanting when operating against a deeper defensive line. He is more of a volume shooter or someone who relies on volume instead of precision in the final third and he thrives against higher defensive lines or during transitions.
Comparisons with a certain Khvicha Kvaratskhelia are rather accurate because of how they like going past players with a clean pair of heels and constantly attack half spaces once they receive the ball. But the Georgian is arguably much more decisive in the final third and Garnacho’s next phase will be about reaching there and being consistent at that.
Having said that, this season will always be looked back on a phase in Garnacho’s career where he matured not just as a player but as a character as well, where he has been relied more by a manager who trusts him to make an impact in every game. Things will now only get better.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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Second in the table, two points off your biggest rivals, just seven matches left to play…and the theme dominating a club’s next course of action is not how to finish the campaign perfectly, but a potential departure from the country’s top division. So incensed have been Fenerbahçe at the treatment they perceive to have received this term that they gave their supporters, their members, the chance to vote to exit the league – and though that incredulous path has been averted, it may only be temporarily.
Matters came to a head last month. Fenerbahçe beat Trabzonspor – third in the table but a whopping 30 points back from Fener in second – late on and then, shortly after the whistle, Trabzonspor fans entered the pitch and proceeded to run towards some Fener players, attacking some of them along the way.
With two or three players pushing back at those attacking them, the Turkish Football Federation reported a total of five individuals from the club to the authorities, leaving Fenerbahçe incensed that they had been punished for Trabzonspor failings.
As a result, the board opted to give members the chance to vote to leave the Süper Lig – but they opted against, with the club saying the option was now off the table until the end of the season at least.
With that out the way, focus must return to on-pitch matters and the realisation that a 20th title is still in their grasp – which would see them close in on Galatasaray’s record of 23, rather than letting their rivals extend it. Notably, it would also be a first league title in a full decade for Fener, who have finished runners-up four times since their last championship triumph back in 2014.
While nobody can come close to Fenerbahçe’s 23-times status as runners-up, that’s not one record they want to keep adding to.
Which means a massive end-of-season run is required – easier said than done when their very next fixture pits them against Galatasaray, in the Turkish Super Cup. Fireworks happen in those fixtures anyway; the spectre of silverware and off-pitch arguments is hardly likely to lighten the mood.
Beyond that, Fener are still in the hunt for European silverware too, up against Olympiacos in the Europa Conference League.
But in seven remaining league fixtures, five are not just must-win, but absolutely should-win. Five are against teams currently placed between bottom of the table and tenth. Given one defeat in their league campaign so far, it would be a shock if Fenerbahçe dropped points against any of them.
And then the two remaining fixtures: home to Besiktas, usually a top-three rival but this year fourth and trailing by a massive 35 points…and away to Galatasaray, on the penultimate week of the campaign.
Needless to say, that’s expected to be when the title can be won and lost, when the hardships, frustrations or injustices of a season must be overcome.
Away from home it might be, but there’s still reason to believe that they can overhaul the gap if it’s still two points at that time, or perhaps merely hold a lead of their own if results in the meantime go their way.
Across the course of the campaign, Gala edge clean sheets and possession but Fenerbahçe have a better expected goals rate, far more actual goals scored, the most touches in the opposition penalty box, the league’s top goalscorer in Edin Džeko, the player with the best goals per 90 contribution in Michy Batshuayi and the player with the most big chances created in Dušan Tadić.
For those of a more meddlesome mind, they’ve also won the most penalties, but perhaps we shouldn’t go there.
Against all that, is Galatasaray’s mighty home record. Played 16, won 16, conceded just 12. They have been utterly untouchable domestically – yet Fenerbahçe are within a whisker of being so on their travels, winning 14 and drawing one of 15.
It tees the fixture up as the perfect title-decider-in-waiting…should Fener not implode in the meantime and lose their way, either after the off-pitch focus or whatever madness transpires in the Super Cup.
Now that the vote is done and Fenerbahçe are remaining in the Süper Lig, 19 May should, perhaps, be marked in the calendar as the day when the real stand-up-and-be-counted must take place. Given what’s at stake and the history between the clubs, the Turkish Federation might just need to be on standby once more then, too.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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Four miles is all that separates Celtic Park in the East End of Glasgow and Ibrox in Govan. It is impossible to avoid the spectre of Celtic and Rangers in Scotland’s biggest city, but the two rivals have been kept apart in the Scottish Premiership table for the last 13 years. Indeed, the 2010/11 season was the last time Scotland witnessed a genuine title race.
Back then, one point was all that divided the pair and there’s a growing sense this season’s title race could be decided by a margin just as narrow. Celtic have a one-point advantage at the top of the Scottish Premiership while Rangers hold a game in-hand. The situation, however, could change after this weekend’s Old Firm derby.
Sunday’s match at Ibrox promises to be the most meaningful league meeting between Celtic and Rangers in over a decade. The stakes couldn’t be any higher. No trophies will be handed out at full time, but the outcome of this derby could have a big bearing on the tightest Scottish title race in recent memory.
Celtic are the defending champions and table-toppers, but this season has been a slog for Brendan Rodgers’ team. The drop-off from Ange Postecoglou has been stark with the Hoops frequently lethargic in a number of their performances. Rodgers himself has reflected this with the Northern Irishman a seemingly detached and disinterested figure at points.
More recently, though, Celtic have started to find their best form again. Cameron Carter-Vickers and Reo Hatate have returned from injury to steady the side. Callum McGregor is also expected to be fit enough to start Sunday’s match at Ibrox after a period on the sidelines which saw him miss out for Scotland in last month’s international window.
Rodgers has finally grasped how to utilise Kyogo Furuhashi to the best of the Japanese forward’s elite level abilities. Previously, Furuhashi was being asked to drop deep and link the play. Now, Rodgers is asking him to make runs behind the opposition defence and find good positions to finish opportunities. This is how Postecoglou used him.
Nicolas Kühn is starting to find his feet as a Celtic player after signing in January while Adam Idah has given Rodgers the attacking focal point he lacked in the first half of the season. It has taken longer than perhaps it should have, but Rodgers is finally getting to grips with the characteristics of his squad.
Under Philippe Clement, Rangers have been the more consistent of the two teams. Indeed, the Belgian has lost just two of the 20 Scottish Premiership matches he has taken charge of since his arrival at Ibrox in October. One of those defeats, however, came against Celtic in Clement’s only Old Firm derby to date.
Few expected Clement to turn around an ailing Rangers team so quickly. Under Michael Beale, the Ibrox outfit lacked direction. Many supporters believed they lacked talent after a less-than-convincing summer transfer window. Clement, however, has managed to get a tune out of the players he inherited, none more so than Cyriel Dessers.
After an underwhelming start to life in Scotland, Dessers now has 17 goals to his name (13 in the league). The Nigerian is still more wasteful than many supporters would like, but Rangers have finally activated Dessers’ finishing instincts. His goals could be key in pushing Rangers over the line in the title race.
John Lundstram has also enjoyed a resurgence in form under Clement while the January additions of Mohamed Diomande and Fabio Silva have given Rangers a different dimension. Colombian winger Oscar Cortes also made an immediate impact before suffering an injury that could sideline him until the end of the season.
This final two months of the Scottish Premiership campaign promises to be so compelling because Celtic and Rangers are both flawed. No matter what happens at Ibrox on Sunday, there will be twists and turns before the end of May just as there has been over the course of the season so far.
Nonetheless, Sunday’s derby will be a spectacle unlike anything else seen in Scottish football for a long time. It will be thrilling for the neutral – and nerve-wracking for anyone associated with Celtic or Rangers. Old Firm derbies always matter, but this weekend’s could matter that little bit more.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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Leeds and Leicester have been the headline grabbers in the Championship for much of the past few months, but earlier in the campaign it was Ipswich Town who led the way, storming to a lead at the top in their first season as a second tier team for five years. While their early lead evaporated, a recent return to form and a three-game winning streak means they’ll head into the local derby, away to Norwich City, top of the table by a point – and looking to harm the play-off ambitions of their rivals as much as push their own claims for automatic promotion spot to the Premier League.
Local rivalries don’t usually need more than geographical proximity to matter. But there’s every chance that the Tractor Boys in particular see this game as meaning more, being a chance to heal an old wound in particular.
Rewind the clock almost a full decade and in 2014/15, Ipswich and Norwich both finished in the play-off spots, both looking to book a return to the top flight. They met in the semis; the first leg finished 1-1 and the second leg was the same scoreline after an hour – but two more strikes for the Canaries sent them through to Wembley and, ultimately, up into the Premier League.
As Norwich have spent most of the last decade or so bouncing between the top two tiers, that was the first time in a while that Ipswich had threatened to oust them as the power in the East; they’ve not since finished in the top six in the Championship and within four seasons were relegated. When the teams met in December, indeed, it was the first derby fixture in very nearly four years.
All of which makes this clash far more pertinent for both. Ipswich have promotion in their sights once more, and not just through the playoffs – they want silverware to go with the celebrations. And Norwich, after an abject start, have the playoffs very much in their sights: they sit sixth with a four-point buffer to the nearest club beneath them, although David Wagner’s Canaries have also played at least one match more than everyone around them.
With only six matches remaining for both these clubs, any slip-up now, any dropped points, could prove enormously costly.
Ipswich, 23 points better off than Norwich and with one of the best away records in the second tier, will start the game as favourites. But at this level, good away form merely means winning as many as you don’t win: 11 victories for the Tractor Boys, compared to nine non-wins. It’s a tough league to triumph on the road in, so that’s a very good strike-rate. On home soil then, necessarily, an excellent record is required to break into the top few sides in the league – and here is where Norwich excel.
Two months ago this column – here – made note that in a race between at least nine clubs, Norwich should be considered favourites for one of the two likely available playoff places – largely on account of their capacity to win at Carrow Road. Since then they have rattled off a further five straight wins at their stadium, making it seven in a row altogether and 10 wins from the last 13.
That equates to the third-best home record in the league – only Leeds and Ipswich themselves have more wins, more points at home – and means they’ve taken half a dozen points more there than Ipswich have on the road.
Then there’s the Josh Sargent factor. The American forward is a man in form for Norwich, top of the Championship charts for shots on target per 90 (1.8) and second behind only Jamie Vardy (0.95) for goals per 90 (0.93) this term. And in supply terms for him, Gabriel Sara is third in the Championship with chances created (102) and the only Ipswich player who can match that is Leif Davis (106) – with a large percentage of his from set plays.
In that particular battle, Davis leads the assists 16 to 11, but Sara has created one big chance more (14-13) and edges the xA per 90 too (0.26 – 0.25).
At the same time, it’s perhaps worth noting that Norwich goalkeeper Angus Gunn has a 68% save rate for the campaign, while Ipswich’s No.1 Vaclav Hladky is again somewhat lower, 66% – and with nine goals more conceded.
Three points in this game will put either side within touching distance of their primary objective for the entire year. A late collapse can still happen, but boosted by such a result would be improbable. It would also, of course, hamper their rivals in doing the same. The 2024/25 Premier League might yet see both Anglian clubs involved, for the first time in nearly 30 years. But 90 minutes at Carrow Road this weekend could determine which one has the biggest shot – and the bragging rights of the east.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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There were numerous storylines unique to US soccer and to this competition, as the first two rounds proper played out.
As there is no promotion and relegation in US soccer, the Open Cup is unique in that it is open nationwide to teams from up and down the divisions.
It is also unique in that it is over 100 years old, benefitting from the fact it was able to continue with amateur teams amid a turbulent professional soccer landscape in the US, which has only settled this century – relatively recently in world football terms.
This year, MLS has controversially withdrawn all but eight of its teams, replacing the majority of the others with reserve sides from MLS Next Pro. This has affected the dynamic of the early rounds of the cup.
That decision from US Soccer’s only Division 1 sanctioned league in the men’s game has been part of the narrative of the 2024 tournament.
Below are a few more stories that caught the eye in the second round.
A Mexican restaurant progressed to the third round
“They were beaten by a burrito joint!” Came the barbs aimed at El Farolito’s recent opponents.
Being referred to simply as the burrito joint team could potentially be viewed as belittling El Farolito’s achievements on the field, but it is something the San Francisco-based amateur team has embraced.
They are, after all, named after the chain of Mexican restaurants in the city founded by the late Salvador Lopez, who started the amateur football team of the same name in 1985. There is something to be proud of in the club’s name and its origins.
They actually won the Open Cup in 1993, too, in the pre-MLS days when the team were temporarily known as CD Mexico.
In a world of more established and stable pro soccer following the invention of MLS in the mid-nineties, it is unlikely that a team such as El Farolito will lift the cup again, but that doesn’t stop them from competing in it and adding to the tournament’s charm
Their second round win against professional USL League One side Central Valley Fuego on Tuesday night followed a first round win against the reserve side of MLS team Portland Timbers.
Their progress has really caught the imagination of the game’s storytellers and provided some cup magic.
Union Omaha defeat Des Moines ex-pro All-Stars
The timing of the early rounds of the US Open Cup is not great for many amateur teams who don’t usually fill and finalise their squads until May.
With so many spaces in their teams and holes in their rosters, these clubs sometimes have to get creative in order to field a team so they can play these games.
Few did this more notably in the early rounds of this year’s cup than USL League Two side Des Moines Menace.
The side from Iowa drafted former US international Sacha Kljestan for their first round game against Capo FC, which they won on penalties.
He was joined in the second round by former LA Galaxy defender AJ DeLaGarza and three-time Open Cup winner and English FA Cup winner Roger Espinoza.
Their second round opponents, Union Omaha of League One played on this on social media, describing their opponents as MLS retirees as the team from neighbouring Nebraska ran out 3-1 winners.
The recruitment of such players has attracted a lot of attention to the Des Moines club, and to the cup as a whole.
New York City reserves impress in Hudson River Derby II
New York City FC’s reserve team showed the first team how it’s done with a win in the reserves version of the Hudson River Derby.
They defeated New York Red Bulls reserves 4-2 thanks to a hat-trick from Jonathan “JJ” Jiménez and promising 20-year-old Malachi Jones.
The game was played at Belson Stadium, where the New York City first team played an Open Cup game in 2022, and is built on a platform on top of garages.
Taylor Swift features 235 times in Richmond, Virginia
Every game in the first two rounds of the US Open Cup has been streamed via the websites of US Soccer, MLS, and USL.
The more relaxed, less corporate nature of the cup can be felt in its coverage, and it’s given commentators a certain amount of freedom, too.
This was something Mike Watts and Devon Kerr took full advantage of as they commentated on the game between Richmond Kickers and Maryland Bobcats on Tuesday night.
By the end of the game, the pair had incorporated the names of 235 Taylor Swift song titles into their call of the game!
Swift’s relationship with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce boosted the already high profile of the NFL. Maybe the mention of her songs during one game could do the same for the Open Cup…
The game is still available to watch back on YouTube, though viewers outside the US will need a VPN to access it.
MLS [Next Pro] upsets
The refusal of MLS to field all of its teams in this year’s competition has made the MLS Next Pro teams a new target for lower league opposition.
El Farolito’s defeat of Portland Timbers II in the first round was one of the more celebrated upsets.
In the second round, the brilliantly named Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC defeated Colorado Rapids reserves.
New York City II showed there is some interest and value in these youth/reserve teams entering the competition, and their presence has added a new dynamic to the early rounds.
This isn’t to say MLS withdrawing the majority of its teams from the tournament is a good idea — it’s not an arrangement that should be allowed to be permanent — but the magic of the cup lives on regardless.
In this weekend preview we summarise the best five games to follow on your match feed. And make a couple of suggestions for matches that you may otherwise miss.
After a hectic midweek round of top flight action in England – reviewed here – we’re straight back to it for another full set of fixtures over the weekend. For Liverpool, that means a renewal of their old rivalry with fellow North West giants, Manchester United.
The game, at Old Trafford, takes place on Sunday, at a time when Liverpool’s current status as league leaders is likely to have changed again. This is due to both Man City and Arsenal playing their games on Saturday. City go to Palace while the Gunners head to Brighton for the evening kick-off.
In March, these two played out one of the most memorable FA Cup games of recent times – with Manchester United winning 4-3 after extra-time thanks to a last gasp winner from Amad Diallo that was clocked in at 120+1′.
Since then, United have dropped five points across two league games in similar fashion. First, they conceded a stoppage time equaliser in last weekend’s draw at Brentford, and then they conceded two stoppage time goals to turn a 3-2 lead in to a 4-3 defeat at Chelsea on Thursday.
Liverpool have perhaps had the easier fixtures, but they’ve beaten both Brighton and Sheffield United in their consequent games, with both coming at Fortress Anfield, where they haven’t been beaten in the league since October 2022.
LaLiga is on hold in Spain this weekend, with the calendar blanked out in favour of promoting the final of what is the 122nd edition of the Copa del Rey.
Taking place in Seville, Basque side Athletic Club face RCD Mallorca from the Balearic Islands on Saturday night. Two unlikely finalists you might think, with them sitting fifth and 15th in the league, but only if you don’t know your history!
Athletic Club haven’t won the Copa for 40 years but this is still their 40th appearance in the final, with only Barcelona have played in more (42). And while they haven’t won it since 1984, they have featured in six finals since then, with the latest being a 4-0 defeat to Barcelona back in 2021.
For manager Ernesto Valverde, who is in his third stint with the Bilbao side, a piece of silverware would really mark a significant moment in the club’s history, coming as it would on the back of a successful upturn in their fortunes this season.
On the other side of the coin, Mallorca will be playing in their first final since they lifted the trophy in 2003. Having spent a number of years outside the top flight, and even falling as far as the third tier in the intervening period, a trophy win would also be hugely important for them. And it should give them the impetus to secure their league status with only six points separating them and the drop zone as things stand.
The Rome Derby, which takes place on Saturday comes at an interesting time for both clubs from Italy’s capital. Roma changed manager in January, and Lazio followed suit in March. So this will be the first chance both sets of fans will get to gauge each other at the beginning of their collective new eras.
Roma have been transformed by the return of former club captain and fan favourite, Daniele De Rossi. And likewise, he has seemingly been inspired by the challenge having failed to leave a lasting impression in his previous coaching role at SPAL. With their form having stagnated under José Mourinho, Roma have consequently won nine of De Rossi’s 14 games in charge, averaging 2.1 points per game. They now sit fifth in the Serie A table, five points down on the Champions League places (as it stands), and six points above their rivals, who sit seventh.
Former Croatia international Igor Tudor was chosen as the permanent replacement for Maurizio Sarri, who’s frustrations with Lazio’s board ultimately led to his resignation. Having finished as runners-up last season, Sarri was looking for some serious investment to build on that. That was not forthcoming, and the Biancocelesti have struggled for form.
Tudor took charge of his first match last weekend, and the new manager bounce was in full effect as Lazio beat Juventus 1-0, at the Olimpico. Tudor was then brought back down to earth on Tuesday, and by the same opposition! Juventus won 2-0 in what was the first leg of a semi-final in the Coppa Italia.
One game not to missed from your matchfeed on Sunday is the meeting between Glasgow’s Old Firm in Scotland. Here, we have one of the most intriguing title races we’ve had for years, with Rangers having been transformed by mid-season managerial appointment Philippe Clement, and Celtic faltering intermittently under the stewardship of the returning Brendan Rodgers.
That said, Celtic do currently lead the table, but they only have a one point advantage and have played a game more than their cross-town rivals. The latest setback for the Hoops came with defeat to Hearts in early March but they have won each of their league games since then, conceding just once in the process.
Rangers failed to capitalise on that rare Celtic slip-up as they too suffered defeat in the same round of games. That was only their second in the league since Clement was appointed back in October – the other being the last derby, which finished 2-1 win to Celtic at the end of December.
Since losing to Motherwell, in March, Rangers have beaten Hibs in both the Cup and the league, but were also knocked out of the Europa League by Benfica over two legs.
With the league split still to come, whoever comes out on top in Sunday’s game will likely take a significant advantage in to the final portion of the campaign.
With almost every other game in this week’s preview being a derby, a title decider, or both, we still wanted to point you in the direction of runaway Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen. Their game against Union Berlin on Saturday is neither, but it at this point in the season, every game is virtually a final for Xabi Alonso’s side as they close in on what will be their first ever league title.
A treble isn’t out of the question either, as in the week, Leverkusen took their unbeaten run to 40 games as they thrashed Fortuna Düsseldorf to reach the actual final of the DFB Pokal. Plus there’s the quarter-final against West Ham in the Europa League to come.
With seven league games to go, Leverkusen hold a 13 point lead over Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga table. For their part, Union have recovered from a disastrous first half of the season and now sit 12th, 10 points clear of the automatic relegation places.
Plus two further suggestions from a little deeper in your match feed…
If you think that this fixture has come up a lot recently, you would be right. The two Lisbon giants completed a two-legged semi-final in the Taça de Portugal on Tuesday night, with Sporting eventually triumphant 4-3 on aggregate following a 2-2 draw, at Benfica’s ground in the second leg.
But now, the two reunite in the league back at Sporting’s Estádio José Alvalade for an all-important top of the table clash on Saturday night. Just a point separates the two, with Sporting currently in pole position, and with a game in hand. Porto are a distant third so to all intents and purposes, this could well be the title decider.
Both have lost just twice in the league all season – one of Sporting’s came in the reverse derby fixture, with Benfica winning that one 2-1 back in November. Sporting have been scoring more freely, averaging 3 goals per game to Benfica’s 2.3 but it’s Benfica’s defence that’s been more resilient. They’ve conceded just 21 goals, five of which came in a single, miserable defeat at Porto, their other big rivals. Anything similar here, after the cup exit would be disastrous for their season.
In MLS, we’ve reached Matchday 8 in the 2024 season and that means that it’s time for the first edition of El Tráfico, the derby between Los Angeles FC and LA Galaxy. Despite the relative youngness of this particular rivalry, this is a game that is gaining notoriety, with animosity between the two sets of supporters, and some memorable, high-scoring clashes having taken place in recent seasons.
The Galaxy, historically, have held the slight upper hand in these meetings, and that’s despite LAFC’s dominance in the league’s Western Conference since they joined the league back in 2018. But on current form, it’s the Galaxy who have had the better start to the campaign – in fact, they lead the standings, and remain unbeaten with three wins and three draws. LAFC sit ninth having won two, drawn one, and lost three.
Last year, the four meetings between the sides across league and cup averaged four goals per game.
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As part of our new collaboration with our friends at FC Quiz, we’ll be posting a regular Premier League quiz every Friday. Can you top the leaderboard?
(Cover image from IMAGO)
You can play more football quizzes like this one at fcQuiz.
As part of our new collaboration with our friends at FC Quiz, we’ll be posting a regular Premier League quiz every Friday. Can you top the leaderboard?
(Cover image from IMAGO)
You can play more football quizzes like this one at fcQuiz.
