Page 185 – The Pulse of Football

May

2018

Luzhniki Stadium

Located in Moscow
Opened in 1956
81,000 capacity

Luizhniki Stadium has hosted the Summer Olympics, the Champions League Final, and now, the World Cup Final. Renovations made for this summer include removing the athletics track to move the stands closer to the pitch, preserving its historical facade, and adding additional seating. In addition to the Final, Luzhniki Stadium will host a semi final match, a round of 16 match, and Russia v Saudi Arabia, Germany v Mexico, Portugal v Morocco, and Denmark v France in the group stage.

May

2018

Nizhny Novgorod Stadium

Located in Nizhny Novgorod
Opened in 2018
44,899 capacity
Home of FC Olimpiyets Nizhny Novgorod

Nizhny Novgorod Stadium is newly-built for the World Cup and features a semi-transparent facade that gives the arena an airiness. It will be the site for Argentina v Croatia, Switzerland v Costa Rica, England v Panama, and Sweden v South Korea in the group stage, along with a Round of 16 and quarter final match.

May

2018

Kazan Arena

Located in Kazan
Opened in 2013
45,379 capacity
Home of Rubin Kazan

Kazan Arena boasts a massive LED facade that is the largest on a football stadium in Europe. It will be the host venue for France v Australia, Iran v Spain, Poland v Colombia, and South Korea v Germany in the group stage, plus a round of 16 match and a quarter final match.

May

2018

Fisht Stadium

Located in Sochi
Openedin 2014
41,220 capacity

Fisht Stadium was built in 2014 for the Sochi Winter Olympics and Paralympics and hosted the opening and closing ceremonies. It will host one quarter final match, a round of 16 match, and Germany v Sweden, Portugal v Spain, Australia v Peru, and Belgium v Panama in the group stage.

May

2018

Volgograd Arena

Located in Volgograd
Opened in 2018
45,568 capacity
Home of FC Rotor Volgograd

Volgograd Arena is located on the banks of the Volga River in Volgograd, a city home to over one million people. It will host Saudi Arabia v Egypt, Nigeria v Iceland, Japan v Poland, and Tunisia v England in the group stage.

May

2018

Kaliningrad Stadium

Located in Kaliningrad
Opened in 2018
35,212 capacity
Home of FC Baltika Kaliningrad

Kaliningrad Stadium is located on Oktyabrsky Island and was newly built for the World Cup. It is situated just 45 km from the Polish border and is the furthest-west World Cup venue. It will host Croatia v Nigeria, Serbia v Switzerland, England v Belgium, and Spain v Morocco in the group stage.

May

2018

Weekend Brief: El Clásico, relegation fights, and Champions League qualification

What to Watch for this Weekend

England | Promotion hopes and relegation fears. West Brom’s relegation is all but certain, despite a resurgence under caretaker manager Darren Moore. If they fail to beat Spurs on Saturday, relegation will be official. Joining them will likely be Stoke City as a loss against Crystal Palace on Saturday would mathematically send them down to the Championship. That would realistically leave West Ham, Huddersfield, Swansea, and Southampton fighting to avoid the final relegation spot.

In the race for the final Champions League spots, Chelsea almost certainly need to beat Liverpool on Sunday to keep their hopes alive. A loss against Liverpool and a Spurs win would confirm they miss out – with the final top four being Man City, Man United, Liverpool and Spurs.

We’ll know one more future EPL team on Sunday, as the final regular season matches in the Championship kickoff simultaneously at 12:30 CET. A win for Cardiff City against Reading would see them capture the second automatic promotion spot after Wolves. However, a loss or draw, with a Fulham victory against Birmingham City would see Fulham grab the automatic promotion spot and send Cardiff City into the four team promotion playoffs. Promotion to the EPL is estimated to be worth at least £200m.

Spain | El Clásico closes out the weekend. Barcelona have already wrapped up the title, but they’re still chasing the first undefeated season in La Liga history. Real Madrid will relish a chance to end that dream on Sunday.

Germany | Dortmund look to book Champions League spot. Borussia Dortmund never came close to putting in a title challenge this year (they’re 26 points behind Bayern), but a win on Saturday against Mainz would confirm their spot in the Champions League and allow them to begin focusing on next season.

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May

2018

Ekaterinburg Arena

Located in Ekaterinburg
Opened in 1953
35,696 capacity
Home of FC Ural

Ekaterinburg is Russia’s fourth most populous city and the eastern-most host city for the World Cup. Its namesake arena will host Egypt v Uruguay, France v Peru, Japan v Senegal, and Mexico v Sweden in the group stage.

Apr

2018

Weekend Brief: Wenger visits Old Trafford, Serie A gets serious, Barcelona title looms

What to Watch for this Weekend

England | Wenger farewell tour visits Old Trafford. Manchester United’s home has been the scene for some of Arsene Wenger’s most memorable moments (the image of him being sent to the stands miming “Where do I go?” is certainly among them). Sunday will be his last visit as Arsenal manager and the first opportunity for Alexis to face his former club.

The EPL could confirm its first relegated club of the season on Saturday, with West Brom going down if they fail to beat Newcastle. At the opposite end of the table, Man City could reach 100 goals if they score two against West Ham on Sunday, becoming the fourth squad to do so in the modern Premier League. More milestones could be reached as Mo Salah’s next goal would set the record for most goals in a 38 game EPL season. Liverpool play Stoke City (who’ve allowed the most goals in the league) on Saturday.

Italy | Derby d’Italia has title implications. Napoli’s 90th minute winner away to Juventus last weekend has made Serie A the league to watch to the finish line. With Juve’s lead down to a single point, their trip to face Inter Milan in the Derby d’Italia on Saturday has new importance. A loss, and they could be down two points to Napoli with a trip to face Roma still to come. Napoli’s run-in is simpler, with their toughest test coming on Sunday away to Fiorentina, who have kept clean sheets in four of their last five home games (but conceded four to Lazio in the fifth).

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Spain | Barcelona could be crowned as champions. Barca need just a draw on Sunday against Deportivo La Coruña to confirm their cup and league double. It would mark their seventh title in ten seasons as they look to complete the first unbeaten season in La Liga history.

Scotland | A potentially historic Old Firm Derby. Celtic could clinch their seventh consecutive Scottish Premiership title at home to eternal rivals Rangers on Sunday. Manager Brendan Rodgers hasn’t lost in 10 meetings with Rangers.

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