Everything you need to know about the weekend’s football, in 5 minutes

Everything you need to know about the weekend’s football, in 5 minutes

As you can imagine, we spend a lot of time scanning the upcoming football fixtures and we decided it was time to put that to good use – so here’s what you should look out for over the next few days.

? Your Friday Appetisers

Start as you mean to go on, by enjoying tonight’s best games from around the world, in the app.

There’s matches in nearly all of Europes’ top leagues including the likes of Ajax and Atlético, plus the small matter of Inter vs. Roma in Serie A!

Did you know… There have been 499 goals in Serie A meetings between Inter and Roma, and it could become the first fixture to reach 500 in competition history.

Plus in Africa, the CAF Champions League holders, ES Tunis have their first home game of this season’s competition – vs. JS Kabylie of Algeria.

? Saturday

This weekend’s main course doesn’t disappoint either.

??????? In England, the Manchester Derby headlines a day of intriguing fixtures, with Liverpool travelling to Bournemouth and Chelsea on the road at Everton.

?? There’s a huge game in the Bundesliga, as resurgent former giants, Borussia Mönchengladbach host perennial champions, Bayern München.

Did you know… Bayern have lost six of their 16 Bundesliga meetings against Gladbach since summer 2011 (W7, D3) – more defeats than against any other side.

?? And the big two in La Liga are both in action – Madrid kicking off the day’s action vs. Espanyol at lunchtime and Barcelona rounding off the day at home to Mallorca.

?? Elsewhere, the J-League comes to an exciting close.

Whilst not mathematically assured of the title, Yokohama F Marinos have a 3 point advantage over FC Tokyo – the team they face today!

We were denied a straight shootout for the title when FC Tokyo dropped points last weekend – but a massive swing in goal difference isn’t completely out of the question!

? Sunday

Get yourself out of bed on Sunday, because there’s plenty more football to be had!

And whilst we’ll have all the usual big leagues covered – why not look a little further afield for some drama!

?? There’s the final round of the mammoth 38-game season in the Brasileiro. Flamengo are already assured of the title, but there’s still all-important Copa Libertadores spots up for grabs and the small matter of deciding which 4 teams go down.

?? Here, in Norway we’re looking forward to the season finale – with FK Haugesund and Viking facing off in our big Cup Final.

??????? And if it’s a derby game you’re after – look no further than the League Cup Final in Scotland, as Old Firm rivals Rangers and Celtic contest that. Oomph!

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!

Posted by Bill Biss
? The Euro 2020 draw – check out the groups.

? The Euro 2020 draw – check out the groups.

Next summer’s Euros will be played across 12 host cities, beginning on June 12th, with the final at Wembley thirty-one days later on July 12th. Group F was the clear Group of Death from today’s draw — but remember, the four best third-placed teams go through to the round of 16. Sixteen teams can still qualify via the playoffs in March.

Posted by Curt Baker
? The Euro 2020 draw – check out the groups.

? The Euro 2020 draw – check out the groups.

Next summer’s Euros will be played across 12 host cities, beginning on June 12th, with the final at Wembley thirty-one days later on July 12th. Group F was the clear Group of Death from today’s draw — but remember, the four best third-placed teams go through to the round of 16. Sixteen teams can still qualify via the playoffs in March.

Posted by Curt Baker
This Week on Twitter: Maradona, subtle referees and bicycle kicks

This Week on Twitter: Maradona, subtle referees and bicycle kicks

Welcome to another round up of our favourite moments from the twittersphere.

This week we have been mainly enjoying:

Rosenborg’s Alexander Søderlund and his unorthodox reaction to receiving a red card .

This rather tender moment between Inter Milan’s Romelu Lukaku and Lautaro Martínez.

The referee who just couldn’t help herself.

A bicycle kick from the fifth tier of English football.

The full time whistle to end all full time whistles.

And who can forget Diego Maradona coaching from a throne in Argentina. Strong mood.

For more of this kind of thing, make sure you give us a follow on twitter!

Posted by Bill Biss
This Week on Twitter: Goalkeeper worldies, late winners & stewards breaking cover.

This Week on Twitter: Goalkeeper worldies, late winners & stewards breaking cover.

As always, we’ve been keeping our eye on the twittersphere for brilliant, and the less brilliant moments from the world of football.

Here are a few of our favourites this week, a week that could be renamed ‘When Goalkeepers Attack’:

The Ull/Kiss goalkeeper finally convincing the coach to let him take a freekick.

Konyaspor’s goalkeeper deciding he didn’t fancy playing after all…13 seconds in to the game.

The Boca Juniors steward who showed his true colours, celebrating with the River Plate players… since this went public, he’s been sacked by Boca, appeared on TV and consequently been offered a job by River!

Sacramento Republic’s brilliant late winner in the USL Championship Play-Offs.

Notodden FK proving not every team should play out from the back!

For more of this kind of thing, make sure you give us a follow on twitter!

Posted by Bill Biss
FA Cup First Round Draw in full

FA Cup First Round Draw in full

Monday night’s FA Cup First Round Draw saw 47 League One and League Two sides join 32 non-league sides who made it through the qualifying rounds.

The lowest ranked side in the draw, Chichester City, received a bye to the second round and £36,000 in prize money, due to Bury’s absence in the competition after they were expelled from the Football League. Chichester City play in the Isthmian League South East Division, the eighth tier of English football.

Notable fixtures include Sunderland hosting Gillingham, Portsmouth’s visit to Harrogate Town, Maldon & Tiptree heading away to Leyton Orient, and Dulwich Hamlet hosting Carlisle United.

Full draw below. All matches to be played 8-11 November.

Ipswich Town v Lincoln City

Oxford City v Solihull Moors

Crawley Town v Scunthorpe United

Harrogate Town v Portsmouth

Colchester United v Coventry City

Sunderland v Gillingham

Dulwich Hamlet v Carlisle United

Bolton Wanderers v Plymouth

York City v Altrincham

Chesterfield/Wrexham v Rochdale

Maidstone United v Torquay United

Leyton Orient v Maldon & Tiptree

Chippenham Town v Northampton Town

Haringey Borough/Yeovil v Hartlepool

Cambridge United v Exeter City

Stourbridge v Welling United/Eastleigh

Salford City v Burton Albion

Forest Green v Sutton United/Billericay

Bristol Rovers v Bromley

Ebbsfleet/Woking v Notts County

Walsall v Darlington

Nantwich Town v AFC Fylde

AFC Wimbledon v Doncaster Rovers

Hayes & Yeading/Poole v Oxford United

Shrewsbury Town v Bradford City

Grimsby Town v Newport County

Gateshead v Oldham Athletic

Mansfield Town v Chorley

Dover Athletic v Southend United

Tranmere v Wycombe

Carshalton Athletic v Boston United

Cheltenham Town v Swindon Town

Accrington Stanley v Crewe

Potters Bar/Barnet v Fleetwood Town

Macclesfield v Kingstonian

Maidenhead/Wealdstone v Rotherham United

Blackpool v Morecambe

MK Dons v Port Vale

Stevenage v Peterborough United

Posted by Curt Baker
This Is Why We Follow. A short film on supporting a grassroots club.

This Is Why We Follow. A short film on supporting a grassroots club.

This season, we are proud to support Hampton and Richmond Borough FC. The London club, powered by a passionate community of volunteers and supporters play in the National League South, the 6th tier of English football. As the 2019/20 season kicks off, we have produced this short film, with our friends at Mundial Magazine to introduce and celebrate the people who make this great club tick. This is about more than a shirt sponsorship, this is about supporting a club just like yours through the ups and downs, come rain or shine. Join us, and follow the journey by adding the club to your favourites in the app.

The 2018/19 HRBFC kit is available now. Get it here.

Posted by Curt Baker
10 reasons why we’re looking forward to the National League North and South this season

10 reasons why we’re looking forward to the National League North and South this season

  1. We have partnered with Hampton & Richmond Borough to become the proud sponsors of their brand new bespoke kits and we’ll be travelling to many games in order to showcase this brilliant league.
  2. Staying in the South, we’ll be interested to see how Bath City progress after fighting off interest in highly rated manager, Jerry Gill. Surely contenders for at least a consecutive play-off place.
  3. In one of the signings of the summer, Billericay lured centre-forward, Matt Rhead away from League 2 Champions Lincoln City. Despite now being 35, surely a drop of two divisions will mean goals galore for the big man.
  4. Can Dulwich Hamlet kick on after a year stabilising at this level, and with the security of starting the season back at their South London home?
  5. Havant & Waterlooville look favourites for an immediate return to the National League, and in manager Paul Doswell, they have a man that has seen it all in the non-league game.
  6. Moving North, congratulations to the Gateshead fans who saved their club from extinction! Just having a team to support should get them over the disappointment of relegation.
  7. Steve McNulty dropped out of league football and will be at a vital defensive cog if York City are serious about their expected title-push. The club want promotion in their final year at the historic, Bootham Crescent. 
  8. Spennymoor Town were somewhat of a surprise package last year. Now established as an attacking force in the division, they’ll have to cope with high expectations.
  9. Lee Clarke, so long a Premier League stalwart is back in his beloved North East, given the reigns at well supported, Blyth Spartans after some time out of management.
  10. Kidderminster Harriers are another side hoping to fly high, and with the second best kits (we’re biased!) in the league, they’ll look good doing it!
Posted by Curt Baker
? FotMob is sponsoring HRBFC. Here’s the first look at the kit!

? FotMob is sponsoring HRBFC. Here’s the first look at the kit!

We’re proud to announce that this season we are sponsoring London-based club Hampton & Richmond Borough FC. FotMob began life 15 years ago as a project to help us follow our local club – and partnering with HRBFC is a continuation of that passion for local, community-minded football.

Today, we can give you a first glimpse at the brand new, bespoke home and away kits that Hampton will be wearing this season in the National League South. The kit was designed by our good friends at MUNDIAL in collaboration with Kitlocker. 

Hampton and Richmond start their league campaign tomorrow, so be sure to add them to your favourites, and follow their games in the app. And if you’ve ever wanted some FotMob merch, this is your chance! 

Get your kit now!

Posted by Curt Baker