Page 136 – The Pulse of Football

May

2022

This Weekend: Champions League Final and Championship Play-Off

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Saturday

? Liverpool and Real Madrid will become the first sides to have met in three European Cup / Champions League Finals when their players take to the field at the Stade de France on Saturday night.

With that in mind there can be no forgetting that this is a clash between true European royalty. Real Madrid, with their 13 titles and 16 previous final appearances up against Liverpool who have six wins to their name and the experience of reaching this stage in three of the last five seasons. Even in the dugout we have Carlo Ancelotti looking to secure a record-breaking fourth title in what is his fifth final as a coach. And Jürgen Klopp looking to improve on his career record of one out of three possible wins.

Form-wise, Liverpool are unbeaten in 18 having recently won the FA Cup but did miss out on the Premier League title by a single point. Madrid have had a patchier run but that can probably be forgiven after they prevailed in that classic semi-final against Manchester City and lifted their 35th La Liga title with four rounds to spare.

?? In Australia, the A-League is set to conclude with the Championship Final between Premier Plate winners Melbourne City and relative upstarts Western United. The former are the defending champions and boast the league’s golden boot, Jaime Maclaren, in their ranks but they only finished the regular season four points clear of Saturday’s opponents.

Western United are playing just their third season as a club and they continued to upset the odds in the play-offs – ending the 16-game unbeaten run of Melbourne Victory at the semi-final stage. Serbian striker Aleksandar Prijović scored twice and provided an assist in that win so watch out for him.

Sunday

??????? Huddersfield Town and Nottingham Forest meet in what some say is the richest game in English football – the Play-off final that rewards the winner with a place in the promised land of the Premier League.

For Forest, it’s a chance to get back to where they feel they belong with the former European Champions having not played top flight football since 1999. Huddersfield’s one and only stint in the Premier League (under it’s current guise) came with a two-season spell between 2017 and 2019.

Their head-to-head record in the regular season reads one win each in the league with both sides winning away from home. They also met in the FA Cup Fifth Round in a game won by Forest.

? The U17 European Championships have been taking place in Israel over the past few weeks and the tournament reaches the semi-final stage on Sunday. Having won the last two editions that were run, in the pre-pandemic world of 2018 and 2019, Netherlands will no doubt start as favourites when they take on Serbia.

On the other side of the draw, France meet Portugal. This one may be too close to call after their respective victories over Germany and Spain in the last round.

If you want to follow any of the games mentioned above, click on the relevant link and tap the bell icon to receive all the key match updates.

Or join us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to discuss all the important football going on this weekend!

Cover Image from IMAGO

May

2022

??????? The Premier League Team of the Season

Our top-rated performers in England

This week we’ve been revealing our Team of the Season for each of Europe’s big five leagues across our social channels. It’s something that always causes plenty of debate so here are the ground rules: We take our list of the average FotMob player ratings for the season and work out a team with the top rated player in each position placed into a standard 4-3-3 formation. To qualify for the list the player must have featured in at least 50% of his side’s league games.

In England, that has produced the team you see below.

Only the top four sides in the final league standings are represented in our XI with Champions City and runners-up Liverpool clearly dominating our individual player ratings this season.

City’s midfield lynchpin Rodri came out with the best average – a 7.95 across his 33 appearances. An average that only just tops traditionally high-scoring stats man Trent Alexender-Arnold who ended with a career-high FotMob rating of 7.94.

Spurs pairing Heung-min Son and Harry Kane provided a grand total of 56 goals and assists between them this season meaning either one, or both of them, were directly involved in 81% of the goals Spurs scored. Which should justify their selection in our statistical-driven side!

If you disagree with our selections, we’ll see you in the comments!

May

2022

?? The Serie A Team of the Season

Our top-rated performers in Italy

In Italy, that has produced the team you see below.

This might be our most controversial selection of the week but perhaps the fact that only one of AC Milan’s championship winning squad features in the top 10 of our average ratings for Serie A supports the thinking that they are a team greater than the sum of it’s parts.

Theo Hernández is that Milan player, with teammate Mike Maignan consequently joining him in our side. The Frenchman has produced our best average rating for a goalkeeper across Europe’s top five leagues (7.03).

Due to the criteria laid out above there is consequently no place for the likes of Napoli’s Victor Osimhen (7.31) or Milan star Rafael Leão (7.51) which we know will surprise a few people. In fact, our ratings for Serie A appear low across the board with Sassuolo’s Domenico Berardi top-score of 7.81 falling below the best rated player in any of Europe’s other big leagues.

If you disagree with our selections, we’ll see you in the comments!

May

2022

?? La Liga Team of the Season

Our top-rated performers in Spain

In Spain, that has produced the team you see below.

Real Madrid dominate our list of top performers in La Liga and consequently five of Carlo Ancelotti’s most trusted players feature in our side. In fact, if it wasn’t for the likes of Barcelona’s Jordi Alba and Ousmane Dembélé breaking up our top 10 there would be room for more!

Karim Benzema scored the most goals (27), bagged the second most assists (12) and led virtually all of our attacking stats for the league this season. All of that has given him a an average rating of 8.03 across 32 appearances.

The most hotly contested places in our team came at centre-back with the ratings of five players split by just five decimal points between 7.28 and 7.32. Éder Militão and Valencia’s Gabriel Paulista consequently got the nod with their averages just outdoing Jules Koundé (7.29), Iñigo Martínez and Ronald Araújo (both 7.28).

If you disagree with our selections, we’ll see you in the comments!

May

2022

?? The Bundesliga Team of the Season

Our top-rated performers in Germany

In Germany, that has produced the team you see below.

Champions Bayern München provide the majority of the side with outgoing striker Robert Lewandowski, Joshua Kimmich, CANMNT star Alphonso Davies and Dayot Upamecano all featuring. And it’s Lewandowski who topped our average ratings – as he has done every season since 2018/19. This time his record of 38 goal and assists helped to produce an average of 8.04 across 34 games played.

FotMob favourite and City-bound Erling Haaland makes the side for a second season in a row and there’s also a first inclusion for Florian Wirtz – Bayern Leverkusen’s much-talked about breakout star.

Continuing a trend you’ll see around the leagues our best performing goalkeeper comes from a side that did not feature in the top six of the table. Mainz’s Robert Zentner is our selection with his average of 6.65 just beating Bochum’s Manuel Riemann (6.64) and the likes of Manuel Neuer (6.61) and Yann Sommer (6.44).

If you disagree with our selections, we’ll see you in the comments!

May

2022

This Weekend: The FA Cup Final(s) and the race for European places

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Saturday

? The Final of the 141st edition of the English FA Cup takes centre-stage this weekend with Chelsea lining up against Liverpool at Wembley Stadium. The Reds are, of course, still hunting a possible quadruple whilst the Blues are looking to salvage something from what has been a chaotic season off the pitch.

The occasion also marks the 150th anniversary of the World’s oldest tournament and Chelsea would love to end their two-season run of losing in the final. A win for Thomas Tuchel’s side would be the ninth in their history but defeat would see Liverpool draw level with them on eight.

??????? Back in English league action, the three divisions below the Premier League are now in to the play-offs. And the day’s main focus will be the semi-final, first leg between Sheffield United and Nottingham Forest. Both are former top flight sides desperate to get back in the big time – Forest in particular having last been relegated way back in 1999.

?? We’ve reached the final round of the Bundesliga, with all 10 games kicking-off at the same time on Saturday afternoon. First, second and third may already be decided but we still have a two-way battle for the last Champions League place. And consequently, two other clubs waiting to see if they can earn a place in UEFA’s other major tournaments.

RB Leipzig are in the box seat and a point, away at Arminia, would be enough for them to take fourth. Freiburg go to Leverkusen (already guaranteed third) with the aim of at least maintaining their position in the Europa League spot. Union Berlin (home to Bochum) hold the Europa Conference League place but FC Köln (away at Stuttgart) will be looking to capitalise on any slip-ups above them.

For their part, champions Bayern travel to Wolfsburg whilst Borussia Dortmund end their campaign at home to Hertha.

?? It’s a similar story in France’s Ligue 1 where Marseille can claim the second automatic Champions League place with a win at Rennes in their penultimate game of the season.

L’OM currently hold a three point advantage over Monaco, who in turn, are in danger of being caught by the sides directly below them – Nice and Rennes. The team who finishes third will go in to the Champions League qualifiers, with the others dropping in to the Europa and Europa Conference Leagues.

Monaco play mid-table Brest. And Nice entertain Lille – coach Christophe Galtier’s former club. Unsettled champions PSG end with a trip to Montpellier.

? Saturday should also see the CAF Champions League’s record winners, Al Ahly, reach yet another final in the competition. Led by South African coach Pitso Mosimane – the Egyptian giants are four goals up going into the away leg of their semi-final at Algerian side ES Sétif.

Al Ahly have lifted the title in both of the last two years and they’ll relish the chance of an unprecedented hat-trick against the victors of the other semi-final between Petro Atlético and Wydad Casablanca.

Sunday

?? The Champions League places are already decided in Serie A so it’s a good job we’ve still got a bonafide title-race to get excited about! With two games to go Milan lead arch-rivals and defending champions Inter by two points.

Inter – who lifted the Coppa Italia with a dramatic extra-time victory over Juventus, in midweek, therefore need to win their game against Cagliari to take the title to the final round. That might not be an easy task with their opponents looking to claw their way out of the relegation zone.

Milan‘s game against Atalanta comes earlier in the day so the Rossoneri will be going all out for the three points that’ll edge them closer to a first Scudetto since 2011.

??????? There’s also two games to play for the majority of sides in the Premier League. And plenty left to decide – the title, the fourth Champions League place, the other UEFA qualification spots plus the last of three relegation places.

Sunday is consequently a busy day with seven fixtures lined up. Manchester City can take a six point lead at the top should they beat West Ham – that would leave Liverpool playing catch-up with their penultimate game coming at Southampton on Tuesday.

The other key games come at fifth placed Spurs who face relegation-threatened Burnley. And then the matches that involve the other two sides battling to avoid the drop – Leeds host Brighton whilst Everton entertain Brentford.

? Staying in England, it’s also FA Cup Final weekend in the Women’s game. Chelsea take on Manchester City with the sides having just finished the WSL season in first and third place, respectively.

Chelsea then, are on for a double (or a triple of sorts – should their men’s team lift the trophy a day earlier). The same could be said for City as they also earned the League Cup title back in March.

Emma Haye’s Chelsea won this final last season with City triumphant the year before and with over 50,000 tickets sold for the game at Wembley, we should be in for a cracker.

?? In La Liga, Sunday’s biggest game comes between the sides sitting third and fourth in the table. Atlético Madrid locked down their place in next season’s Champions League with their midweek win at Elche but opponents Sevilla still need the points to secure their entry.

Sevilla’s arch-rivals Betis are the side lurking just below, looking for any chance to leapfrog them – starting with a positive result in their game against Granada.

Elsewhere, don’t expect champions Real Madrid to ease up ahead of their appearance in the Champions League Final when they take on Cadíz. Carlo Ancelotti’s men smashed six past Levante on Thursday evening and looked hungry for more! And finally, Barcelona can guarantee a runners-up finish by beating Getafe.

?? Lastly, this preview would be lost without mention of at least one major derby from off the beaten track. And this weekend it’s a big one with the final of the Bulgarian Cup coming between Levski Sofia and their cross-city nemeses CSKA Sofia. The latter are now led by Alan Pardew who infamously enjoyed a dance on the touchline during a similarly big final with Crystal Palace.

If you want to follow any of the games mentioned above, click on the relevant link and tap the bell icon to receive all the key match updates.

Or join us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to discuss all the important football going on this weekend!

Cover Image from IMAGO

May

2022

This Weekend: The FA Cup Final(s) and the race for European places

The best action to follow this weekend

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Saturday

For their part, champions Bayern travel to Wolfsburg whilst Borussia Dortmund end their campaign at home to Hertha.

?? It’s a similar story in France’s Ligue 1 where Marseille can claim the second automatic Champions League place with a win at Rennes in their penultimate game of the season.

Monaco play mid-table Brest. And Nice entertain Lille – coach Christophe Galtier’s former club. Unsettled champions PSG end with a trip to Montpellier.

Sunday

Milan‘s game against Atalanta comes earlier in the day so the Rossoneri will be going all out for the three points that’ll edge them closer to a first Scudetto since 2011.

Emma Haye’s Chelsea won this final last season with City triumphant the year before and with over 50,000 tickets sold for the game at Wembley, we should be in for a cracker.

Sevilla’s arch-rivals Betis are the side lurking just below, looking for any chance to leapfrog them – starting with a positive result in their game against Granada.

If you want to follow any of the games mentioned above, click on the relevant link and tap the bell icon to receive all the key match updates.

Or join us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to discuss all the important football going on this weekend!

Cover Image from IMAGO

May

2022

This Weekend: Coupe de France Final, Madrid Derby and final day intrigue

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Saturday

??????? Four of the top six in the Premier League are in action, with Liverpool vs. Spurs, perhaps the pick of the fixtures. The Champions League finalists won’t be able to rest on their laurels, following their exploits at Villarreal – not with Spurs still chasing a qualification spot in next season’s competition.

Third-placed Chelsea entertain Wolves whilst Manchester United visit Brighton, in a late kick-off.

For the sides at the bottom, only a win at Crystal Palace will keep Watford mathematically safe – but even then, other results could see them relegated on Sunday. The resurgent Burnley will also be looking for maximum points, at home against Aston Villa.

? Fans of nail-biting, final day drama might be interested in following proceedings a little further down the English pyramid. The state of play in League 2 means we go in the last round of games with virtually everything still to be decided.

Two sides – Exeter and Forest Green are vying for the title. Any one, of another five teams can claim the third automatic promotion spot, whilst every team from third (Northampton) down to ninth (Tranmere) could still end up in the play-off positions.

?? In La Liga, with the title already gone, Barcelona will be looking to sure up their position in second place. But they’ll have to do so away, at Betis on Saturday night – a side with aspirations of breaking in to the top four before the season ends.

?? Ligue 1 takes a back seat this weekend, as we look forward instead, to the final of the Coupe de France. And in Nice and Nantes, we have two unlikely finalists. Positioned fifth, and ninth in the league respectively, neither side have made the final since Nantes won the tournament back in 2000. Nice’s last appearance came back in 1997.

A day in the spotlight beckons then, for one of the country’s sleepier giants.

?? It’s the penultimate weekend of the Portuguese season – and we’re in for a treat, with O Clássico scheduled for Saturday night. Benfica host national rivals Porto, with the latter looking for the point they need to win their 30th league title (Benfica lead the all-time list with 37).

The Dragões will feel they should be home and dry by now. But a first league defeat of the season, against Braga two weekends ago has delayed matters. That ended an unbeaten league run that went all the way back to October 2020!

? The CAF Champions League follows UEFA’s lead, and reaches the semi-final stage this weekend. Egyptian giants, and two-time reigning champions, Al Ahly meet ES Sétif in the first leg of their tie in Cairo. And Moroccan super club, Wydad – runners up in 2019, must go to relative upstarts, Petro Atlético. Angola’s most successful club have never made it this far in the competition.

Sunday

?? The Madrid Derby is this weekend’s headliner in La Liga, with last season’s title winners taking on the newly-anointed 2021/22 champions, from across the capital.

It’s been some week for Real Madrid. Having celebrated lifting the league trophy last Saturday, they backed that up with a comeback for the ages, against Manchester City in the Champions League. Bookending that, by winning in the Wanda Metropolitano would just be the icing on the cake. But don’t expect Diego Simeone’s side to roll over – the home side still need to secure their Champions League spot for next season.

??????? Premier League leaders, Manchester City now have to pick themselves up after that dramatic defeat – in time to face Newcastle United on Sunday. They’ll be playing catch-up too, with any points Liverpool pick up on Saturday meaning they’ll have slipped off top spot.

Similarly, West Ham – who missed out on a place in the Europa League Final on Thursday night are also in action, away at relegated-Norwich. In the day’s other games, fellow strugglers Everton and Leeds will be looking to better each other’s results at Leicester, and Arsenal respectively.

? There’s another day of drama in England as the WSL reaches its final round of games. In fact, there are two intriguing mini-battles to watch out for.

Defending champions Chelsea lead London rivals, Arsenal by a single point. Slip up, at home to Manchester United and Arsenal could steal the title with a win – in their game at West Ham.

For their part, United are vying for the third Champions League spot with their City neighbours. City have the upper hand in this one though, leading by two points, with mid-table Reading their final opponents.

?? At the time of writing, Milan have a two point lead in Serie A but that picture could easily have changed by the time they travel to Verona, on Sunday. Second-placed Inter play on Friday evening and will be confident of getting a result, at home against Empoli.

Milan though, are unbeaten in 13 league games and despite not being at their fluent best, they’re dragging out results. Last week’s win over Fiorentina, thanks to a late goal from Rafael Leão, being a case in point.

?? The Belgian title race is particularly poised, so we thought we’d highlight it this weekend as the top two – Union St. Gillioise and Club Brugge, prepare for back-to-back showdowns within the space of four days.

Union, who are enjoying a fairytale return to the top flight after 48 years away (!), lead last year’s winners by three points and it’s at their ground that the two meet first, on Sunday. They then go again on Wednesday night. A double win, for either side would pretty much decide who gets their hands on the title.

If you want to follow any of the games mentioned above, click on the relevant link and tap the bell icon to receive all the key match updates.

Or join us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to discuss all the important football going on this weekend!

Cover Image from IMAGO

May

2022

This Weekend: Coupe de France Final, Madrid Derby and final day intrigue

The best action to follow this weekend

If you would like to receive this weekly preview direct to your inbox, sign up to our FREE mailing list by clicking here.

Saturday

Third-placed Chelsea entertain Wolves whilst Manchester United visit Brighton, in a late kick-off.

A day in the spotlight beckons then, for one of the country’s sleepier giants.

Sunday

?? The Madrid Derby is this weekend’s headliner in La Liga, with last season’s title winners taking on the newly-anointed 2021/22 champions, from across the capital.

? There’s another day of drama in England as the WSL reaches its final round of games. In fact, there are two intriguing mini-battles to watch out for.

Defending champions Chelsea lead London rivals, Arsenal by a single point. Slip up, at home to Manchester United and Arsenal could steal the title with a win – in their game at West Ham.

If you want to follow any of the games mentioned above, click on the relevant link and tap the bell icon to receive all the key match updates.

Or join us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to discuss all the important football going on this weekend!

Cover Image from IMAGO