Page 2 – The Pulse of Football

Jan

2026

Can Taty Castellanos and Pablo Felipe save West Ham’s season?

Six years ago, West Ham United found themselves on the brink of disaster. Having lost seven of their previous 10 matches, the Hammers had descended into the Premier League’s relegation zone. Desperate for a solution, they completed two signings in January’s final days, with Jarrod Bowen and Tomáš Souček arriving for a combined £41 million.

By Zach Lowy

The rest, as they say, is history: Souček helped shore up their porous midfield, Bowen delivered a consistent source of goals, and together, the duo transformed West Ham’s fortunes for the better. After narrowly avoiding the drop, they achieved back-to-back European qualifications before reaching the promised land with the 2022/23 UEFA Europa Conference League title, their first major trophy in 43 years.

Since that miraculous night in Prague, West Ham’s magical carriage has dilapidated into a pumpkin, finishing ninth in 2023/24 and 14th in 2024/25. Having parted ways with David Moyes in 2024, the East London side have since gone through Julen Lopetegui (22 games in charge), Graham Potter (25), and now, Nuno Espírito Santo (16). Santo’s position is becoming increasingly tenuous after a dreadful run that has seen West Ham lose five of its last six, the nadir coming in a 3-0 demolition at previously winless Wolves. Once again, West Ham find themselves in danger of going down, and once again, they’ve splurged on two January arrivals in order to ameliorate their fortunes. They’ve acquired Taty Castellanos from Lazio for an initial £26m, whilst they’ve also added Pablo Felipe from Gil Vicente for an initial £21.8m. Together, they’ll be looking to revitalize a West Ham attack that has failed to get the job done this season.

Born in Braga to former Porto player Pena, Pablo moved to his father’s homeland of Brazil and underwent an unsuccessful trial at Fluminense before returning to Portugal and ascending through the Famalicão academy. He registered four goals in 38 appearances before dropping to the Portuguese second tier, scoring once in 15 for Paços de Ferreira, followed by another loan to top-flight outfit Gil Vicente. Despite scoring just five times in 23 matches (three coming vs. Boavista), he convinced Gil to sign him on a permanent deal after going from their third-choice striker to their starter. Their intuition was proven correct; Pablo skyrocketed to the upper echelon of Liga Portugal’s strikers, racking up 10 goals in 14 appearances and spearheading the Roosters to the league’s top four, before making the move to England.

“Pablo must be the Gil Vicente player with the fastest and most remarkable evolution that I’ve ever witnessed,” stated @GilVicenteInfo. “He fit perfectly into César Peixoto’s system, assisting the team defensively with his pressing, whilst offensively, he enjoyed a massive improvement, especially in his shooting. Pablo has converted almost every opportunity he’s had, whether with his right foot, left foot, or head, and he’s stood out for his physical power and ability to play with his back to goal. He’s strong in associative play, often dropping deep or wide to create passing options, and his short strides and quick dribbles enable him to get past defenders and score goals.

He’s one of the best strikers to have ever played in Barcelos, even though he’s only had half a season with amazing numbers, and if he can continue developing, he can establish himself in the Premier League. However, I doubt that will happen now, because he needs time and patience to adapt, and at West Ham, and he won’t have the time, much less the patience, to develop – they need him to deliver immediately. It seems like a panic buy.”

*Pablo’s shot map in the Liga Portugal this season*

Whilst Pablo (22) has spent the entirety of his professional career in Portugal, Castellanos (27) grew up in Argentina and commenced his career in Chile and Uruguay before heading north and becoming New York City FC’s attacking talisman. Castellanos won the 2021 MLS Golden Boot with 19 goals and 8 assists, leading NYCFC to their maiden MLS Cup, before taking his talents to Spain and racking up 14 goals in 37 appearances for Girona (four of those goals coming vs. Real Madrid). This earned him a transfer to Lazio, where he showed plenty of promise but ultimately failed to cement himself as the heir to Ciro Immobile’s throne, scoring 22 goals and 16 assists in 98 matches in Italy.

*Caetellanos’ career summary since his breakout season at NYCFC*

“Taty Castellanos struggled mightily as a winger before becoming the default striker after our main No. 9 injured his knee,” stated NYCFC play-by-play announcer Glen Crooks. “Castellanos learned to be a striker, and he’s a success story as to how NYCFC morphed into the initiative of signing U22 players, developing them, selling them, and then building again. However, Castellanos needs a supporting cast around him…he’s not a guy who will entirely carry a team by himself. Back in 2021, nine of his 19 goals were assisted by Maximiliano Moralez. He can elevate his teammates in terms of what they’re capable of doing in front of goal, but there needs to be things happening around him. He’s not a one-man band, but his work ethic and what he does on the defensive side of the ball are almost as vital as what he does in the attacking framework.”

Whereas Castellanos was immediately thrust into the starting line-up on Tuesday, Pablo replaced Lucas Paquetá for the final half-hour and was shoehorned into an unnatural second striker role in their 2-1 defeat vs. Nottingham Forest. And whilst Pablo is enjoying an impeccable start to the campaign, Castellanos has scored in just two of his last 18 matches. Both are risky gambles for West Ham, who sit seven points away from safety, and who have not won a single match since November 8. If they fail to beat QPR in Sunday’s FA Cup fixture, then Santo could very well be West Ham’s fourth managerial casualty in 20 months.

Can Pablo Felipe buck the recent trend of strikers who have struggled to adapt from Liga Portugal to the Premier League? Can Taty Castellanos shake off his recent woes in front of goal? West Ham will be certainly hoping so as they look to mastermind yet another escape from relegation and avoid dropping down to the Championship for the first time in 15 years.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every West Ham United game with FotMob – with in-depth stat coverage including xG, shot maps, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Can Taty Castellanos and Pablo Felipe Save West Ham’s Season

Jan

2026

The curious case of Harvey Elliott, a player in limbo

During the summer transfer window, Harvey Elliott was a player in demand. The creative forward had claimed the Player of the Tournament award at the 2025 U21 Euros having helped England retain their crown.

By Sam McGuire

Elliott netted in the quarter-final win over Spain, was the match-winner against the Netherlands in the semi-final and scored the opener against Germany in the final.

Having struggled to convince Arne Slot that he was an option for Liverpool during their title success last term, a move away from Anfield appeared to be a formality. Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, RB Leipzig and Fulham were all linked with the 22-year-old. On deadline day, though, a move to Aston Villa materialised out of nowhere. It was an initial loan move with an obligation to buy for £35million if the versatile midfielder appeared in a set number of matches, reported to be 10.

At a glance, it seemed like a bargain buy for Unai Emery’s side. Elliott, despite his tender years, was closing in on 100 Premier League appearances for Liverpool. He had experience in the Champions League and could play a variety of positions. For context, Nick Woltemade finished as the top scorer at the U21 Euros and he moved to Newcastle for an initial £65million.

Villa had the opportunity to sign the best player at the tournament for half the price.

Yet here we are in January and Elliott finds himself in purgatory.

He’s featured in just four Premier League matches for Villa this term and has a grand total of 97 minutes to his name since the switch to Villa Park. Emery has made it clear. He doesn’t intend to make Elliott’s move a permanent one meaning he can’t play the England Under-21 international so as to avoid paying the £35million fee.

The Villa boss acknowledged this at the start of the year.

“The problem we have with Harvey is that this year he is on loan, and in case he plays matches we must buy him,” said Emery. “We decided two months ago that we are not convinced to sign him, spending the money we would need to sign him.

“This is the only issue. He is training every day, always every day with very good behaviour and to help us in training sessions. This is not something good for him and good for us, but this is football and sometimes we must take some decisions which are not good for everyone.”

According to reports, Villa can’t cut short the loan without having to pay a fee to Liverpool. To further complicate matters, having already played for two clubs this season, Elliott can’t move to another European club this month. He can, however, move to MLS, with Charlotte FC allegedly keen on the left-footer. Elliott, though, isn’t wanting to move to the States at this stage of his career.

At a glance, his options are limited. When asked about Elliott ahead of the Arsenal match, Slot distanced himself from the player, saying: “He’s an Aston Villa player. So if you want to ask things about an Aston Villa player, you should ask Unai Emery.”

Villa don’t want him. Liverpool, seemingly, don’t want him back.

But the reigning champions could do with him right now. The Reds are struggling despite currently being on an eight-match unbeaten run in the Premier League. However, this has been made up of four wins and four draws. Slot’s side have dropped points against Leeds (twice), Sunderland and Fulham while narrowly beating the likes of Spurs, West Ham, Brighton and Wolves during this period.

Liverpool need a spark in attack, despite spending near £300million on attackers during the summer. Alexander Isak moved for £125million, Florian Wirtz cost £100million and Hugo Ekitike cost an initial £69million. Isak is out with a broken leg, Wirtz has just two league goals to his name and Ekitike is now struggling for fitness having played a lot of football due to the absence of the No. 9. Cody Gakpo has just returned from injury while Mohamed Salah is away at AFCON and there are still question marks over his future with the club following his blockbuster interview following the draw with Leeds.

At the time of writing, the Reds rank eighth for Expected Goals in the English top-flight. We’re 20 games into the season and Slot’s side have a goal difference of plus four. Whatever the reason for it, the Reds are struggling in the final third. The bench looks deprived of attacking talent and Elliott could well play a key role in getting this team into the Champions League next term.

Last season, in limited minutes, he had an xG per 90 average of 0.44 and an Expected Assists average of 0.16. He was creating 2.5 chances per 90 too in the Premier League. Liverpool are struggling against low blocks, why not look to give Elliott, someone who is brilliant technically and has the vision to spot a pass, the opportunity to pull some strings for the new signings?

A return to Liverpool suits everyone right now. Elliott gets more opportunities to play football ahead of a permanent move away in the summer. Villa free up a space in their squad and avoid having to sign a player they don’t want. And the Reds add depth to their team.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Jan

2026

Cameroon have become the team to watch at AFCON

Despite facing all sorts of drama in the build-up and changing coaches just weeks before the tournament, Cameroon have shown themselves to be one of the most exciting teams at AFCON.

By Neel Shelat

With less than a week to go before the start of the tournament, Cameroon seemed to be in chaos. They had submitted two different squad lists for the Africa Cup of Nations. One of them came from Marc Brys, the coach who had been dismissed by the FA just weeks prior, though he did not view the termination of his contract as legitimate. The other was from newly-appointed coach David Pagou, and featured notable omissions including André Onana as well as all-time second top-scorer Vincent Aboubakar.

Of course, it was the FA that won out eventually, but these events certainly did not serve as ideal preparation for the tournament. Having been drawn into a tough group alongside the defending champions Ivory Coast, many feared that the five-time champions might even face an early exit.

The Indomitable Lions proved the doubters wrong by coasting through the group with two wins and a draw before going on to knock a strong South Africa side out of the Round of 16, all while playing some entertaining football. As they gear up to take on hosts Morocco in the quarter-finals on Friday, one could argue that the tournament has already been a success for them.

A youthful core

Regardless of how much further Cameroon go in this tournament, they should definitely be pleased with how their youngsters have performed. They have the lowest average age based on minutes played in the tournament, having started at least five players aged under 23 in all but one game.

*Cameroon’s starting XI vs. South Africa*

Even at just 22 years of age, Carlos Baleba was one of the standout names in the Indomitable Lions squad going into his first AFCON. His qualities have been put to excellent use in Pagou’s new system, in which he is instructed to stay deep in midfield. His exceptional ground coverage and duel-winning make him a great shield for the centre-backs, and he has also shown some lovely forward passing when given more time and space. By all accounts, the Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder is set to be a key figure in his national team for years to come.

Closest to him tends to be Arthur Avom, who currently plies his trade in Ligue 1. The 21-year-old midfielder has more of a license to move up and down to connect play through the middle, so his link-up play and ball carrying have stood out more. The Lorient youngster also gets around a good deal defensively and does not mind getting stuck into challenges, so he forms a great partnership with Baleba.

*Avom’s player traits, based on performances in Ligue 1*

Samuel Kotto has looked solid at the heart of the defence while Junior Tchamadeu has worked hard to get up and down the right flank, but the revelation of the tournament has to be Christian Kofane. The teenage striker’s rise has been nothing short of meteoric; he hadn’t even made his senior debut this time last year!

After standing out for Spanish second division side Albacete in the second half of last season, Kofane earned a headline-making move to Bayer Leverkusen last summer. An injury to their lead striker presented him with a golden opportunity to get a string of starts, and he made the most out of it. The 19-year-old forward already has five goals and a couple of assists for his new club, earning him a ticket to Morocco ahead of veterans such as Aboubakar and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting.

Getting in the squad was impressive enough, but that was only the start of Kofane’s AFCON story. Although he was kept on the bench for the opener, he put together some impressive performances in the subsequent group games to get a start in the Round of 16. He repaid the coach’s faith by scoring the crucial second goal, besides doing a great job of leading the attacking line with his clever movement.

*Kofane’s shot map at his first major tournament*

An open tactical setup

Besides the young talent in the squad, Cameroon have been a great team to watch at this AFCON because of their style of play. Despite being thrust into the job with just days to go before the tournament, Pagou has devised and implemented a new tactical setup that is currently getting the best out of the players.

The Indomitable Lions used to favour a back four under their previous head coach, but have switched to a back three in Morocco. Their formation has been described as either a 3-5-1-1 or a 3-4-2-1, but the ideas behind it have remained similar in either case.

The trio of centre-backs offer good solidity at the back, with captain Nouhou Tolo on the left also enjoying some freedom to help progress the ball as well. Ahead of Baleba and Avom, Danny Namaso has proven to be a handy attacking midfielder with his ability to find space and receive the ball in pockets high up the pitch. The wing backs protect the flanks defensively while also going up to add width to the attack, allowing Bryan Mbeumo to drift inside and operate in the areas opened up by Kofane’s movement.

Cameroon have tended to make their games quite open with this setup, trusting the central midfielders to cover a lot of ground. They often step up to press their opponents and look to pose a direct threat if they manage to turn the ball over. They generally like to attack with speed as well, moving the ball forward quickly and looking to release the forwards into space.

While this approach is quite entertaining, it does leave Pagou’s side largely unable to control games. So, as they prepare for a big clash against one of the outright tournament favourites in Morocco, Cameroon will have to hope that their opponents are not able to stamp their authority too much and embrace the chaos instead.

(Images via IMAGO)

You can follow the Africa Cup of Nations on FotMob – with deep stats and players ratings. Download the free app here.

Jan

2026

Preview: Atletico meet Real in Supercopa Madrid Derby

Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid’s rivalry heads to Saudi Arabia, with the two sides going head-to-head in Jeddah for the Spanish Super Cup semi-final, with the winner going on to face Barcelona in the final.

By Matt Smith

Diego Simeone will be hoping for a repeat of the last meeting between the two teams, which saw Atlético secure a 5-2 win in LaLiga back in September.

Neutrals will be hoping for a repeat of the last meeting in this competition, where an eight-goal thriller was played out, with Real Madrid securing a 5-3 victory back in 2024.

Team news

Atlético will be without both Clément Lenglet and Nicolás González for this one, while Pablo Barrios is a doubt after he was substituted due to injury last time out.

As for Madrid, Kylian Mbappé remains on the treatment table, while Éder Militão is also out. Brahim Díaz is currently enjoying himself and leads the race for the golden boot at the African Cup of Nations with Morocco, but Trent Alexander-Arnold could return, as he’s been named in the squad following his injury.

Simeone’s defensive solidity continues

No team in LaLiga has conceded fewer goals per 90 minutes than Atlético Madrid (including Real Madrid) this season, Simeone will be hoping for a little more in terms of attacking output ahead of the second half of the season, but he’ll have minimal complaints with his side defensively.

Atlético are preparing to face one of the best attacking sides in Europe in this clash, but they more than held their own in the last meeting. It’s been an impressive few months for Simeone’s side, losing just twice since 21st October.

Real Madrid bouncing back

It’s safe to say it’s not been a perfect season for Madrid, particularly in LaLiga where they sit four points behind Barcelona. Xabi Alonso’s side have started to turn a corner in recent weeks, winning four games on the bounce in all competitions.

The loss of Mbappé was expected to hurt Madrid, considering the phenomenal impact he’s made this season in terms of goal contributions, but it certainly didn’t seem that way last time out. Madrid secured a comfortable 5-1 victory over Real Betis, with Mbappé’s replacement stealing the headlines…

Garcia steps into Mbappé’s shoes

Many Real Madrid supporters will have been worried when it was confirmed that Mbappé was going to be on the sidelines this month, but his replacement has slotted in seamlessly. Gonzalo García made just his second league start of the season last time out, and Alonso couldn’t have asked for more.

The 21-year-old his a hat-trick in Mbappé’s place, helping Madrid secure a 5-1 victory. You’d imagine he’s done enough to keep his place in the starting XI, and he’ll be hoping to put his name up in lights once again.

Prediction

It’s a difficult game to predict, with local rivalry games often throwing up surprises. Despite García’s impact last time out, it could be tough for Alonso’s men without Mbappé. We’re going for a 2-1 win to Atlético.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Jan

2026

Preview: League leaders Arsenal host defending champions Liverpool

Arsenal’s first home match of 2026 sees them welcome Liverpool to the Emirates Stadium on Thursday night.

By Neel Shelat

Arsenal hoping to continue stellar home form in 2026

Arsenal’s comprehensive win over Aston Villa last week extended their mightily impressive record at the Emirates Stadium to 14 wins, two draws, and zero losses since May 2025. The Gunners have now picked up 28 out of a possible 30 points at home in the Premier League this term.

Including their penalty shootout victory over Crystal Palace in the EFL Cup, Mikel Arteta’s side have emerged victorious after all seven matches in the last four weeks, showcasing great consistency through the busiest period of the season.

Liverpool enduring another slump

Although Liverpool are currently on a nine-match unbeaten run, they’re definitely not heading into this game in the best of shape. The dramatic conclusion at Craven Cottage on the weekend made it two consecutive draws for the Reds, leaving them with just four wins since the start of December.

The lack of attacking endeavour displayed by Arne Slot’s side has become a real source of frustration for fans in recent weeks, but their defence has also been far from solid.

Worse yet, the Dutch coach’s task is being further complicated by a number of key absences.

Team news

Arsenal are almost back to full strength after dealing with long injury lists for the last couple of months. Their only expected absences are Cristhian Mosquera and Riccardo Calafiori in defence, as well as teenage midfielder Max Dowman.

Liverpool, meanwhile, are particularly depleted in the attacking department. Hugo Ekitike’s minor hamstring issue left them without a recognised striker in the last game, with Alexander Isak set to be out for a few months following his leg fracture against Tottenham. The Frenchman is a major doubt for this match as well, while Mohamed Salah remains unavailable as his Egypt side have advanced to the AFCON quarter-finals.

The Reds’ lack of depth at centre-back has been a concern all season, and they will once again have to rely on Ibrahima Konaté and Virgil van Dijk to see out the full 90 as Giovanni Leoni and Wataru Endo remain out.

Key players

Gabriel will fancy his chances of scoring in a third consecutive match since Liverpool’s record of 13 goals conceded from set-pieces is the joint-worst in the league. No team has scored more than Arsenal’s 12 goals from such situations, so Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice’s deliveries could prove just as crucial as their contributions from open play.

Alisson will surely be tested between the sticks, but Liverpool will be keen to pose an attacking threat themselves. Florian Wirtz has been on the scoresheet in three of their last four matches, while Arsenal will certainly also be aware of Dominik Szoboszlai’s threat after his stunning strike in the reverse fixture.

Prediction

Arsenal should have enough quality to largely control proceedings, keep a clean sheet and win by a one or two goal margin.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Jan

2026

AFCON 2025 Quarter-Finals Preview: Cameroon vs. Morocco headlines four blockbuster clashes

All the favourites have advanced to the quarter-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in what is a pretty rare occurrence at the tournament. As a result, we will be treated to some huge fixtures from here on in.

By Neel Shelat

🇲🇱 Mali vs Senegal 🇸🇳

Mali are the only team standing that remain winless, having drawn all four games en route to the quarter-final! They might well have to repeat the trick in Tangier, where they will take on a Senegal side that has not tasted defeat in their last 26 competitive matches.

The Lions of Teranga are unbeaten in 15 AFCON fixtures and will be the favourites in this one, but their Round of 16 showing against Sudan was not entirely convincing. They conceded early on and did not really dominate until after scoring the equaliser, still continuing to give up a couple of presentable chances. Their superior quality both in the XI and off the bench comfortably got them over the line in the end, but a better defensive unit would likely have given them a much tougher time.

Tom Saintfelt’s side will surely feel they are capable of doing just that after their hard-fought win over Tunisia in the Round of 16. The Eagles were reduced to ten in under half an hour, but gave up very few noteworthy chances in the subsequent 90+ minutes. They even managed to score a last-gasp equaliser after conceding what seemed to be a late losing goal, going on to complete a comeback victory in the penalty shoot-out.

Tunisia’s lack of creativity did make the task easier for Mali, but they can also take some encouragement from their 1-1 draw with Morocco in the group stage. Saintfelt has certainly made his game plan of crowding out the midfield clear in both games, so the onus will be on Senegal to find a way to break through without getting hit too hard on the counter.

🇨🇲 Cameroon vs Morocco 🇲🇦

The hosts feature in what promises to be the most exciting match of the round, though Cameroon’s presence is just as big a factor.

The Indomitable Lions might well have been bracing for a disappointing tournament after a lot of off-field drama in the lead-up, but they have instead already made it something of a success. New head coach David Pagou has fielded the youngest side in the tournament based on average age, with the likes of Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba and teenage striker Christian Kofane playing starring roles.

Perhaps partly as a result of their youthfulness, Cameroon have also arguably been the most exciting team to watch at the tournament. Their games have tended to be quite open and end-to-end, enabling them to pose a good attacking threat but also leaving them exposed at the back.

Morocco will be keen to capitalise on this by putting their forward in the right positions to make a telling impact. Brahim Díaz has been the star of the show, having scored in all four matches so far in his debut AFCON campaign.

The return of Achraf Hakimi further bolsters the Atlas Lions’ right flank in the knockouts, so Cameroonian captain Nouhou Tolo is sure to have a tough time on the left of their back three.

The role of the crowd at the Prince Moulay Abdallah Stadium will be interesting to observe once again. Morocco were perhaps a bit overawed by the occasion as they got off to a bad start against Tanzania in the last game, but they soon managed to establish control and expertly saw out the win after breaking through. A stronger opponent like Cameroon could well profit from a nervous atmosphere.

🇩🇿 Algeria vs Nigeria 🇳🇬

Nigeria strengthened their case for being the best team at AFCON 2025 so far with a commanding 4-0 win over Mozambique in the Round of 16. The only blemish in an otherwise spotless performance was an on-field argument that star forwards Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman seemed to have, though that only seems to have been a momentary issue in the heat of battle.

Both of them – and indeed the rest of the attack – have been in fine form throughout the tournament as the Super Eagles lead the scoring charts with 12 goals. Lookman alone has played a part in over half of those as he makes a serious case for player of the tournament.

Éric Chelle’s side have looked quite well-balanced on the whole, with Alex Iwobi proving to be a particularly important figure thanks to his passing from midfield. They are sure to face their toughest examination now, though, as they come up against the only other team to have won every match so far.

Algeria’s strength lies in their defence; they are the only team apart from the hosts to have conceded just one goal. They also have the lowest xG conceded tally among all participants despite spending around 500 minutes on the pitch, having gone to extra time against DR Congo.

The Fennecs’ attack has had a tougher time against the more stubborn defences, but they can count on their strength in depth to make the difference. Extra time substitute Adil Boulbina scored a stunning winner last time around, while Anis Hadj Moussa also looked lively after taking the place of Riyad Mahrez. Key midfielder Ismaël Bennacer picked up an injury in that match, so that might be Vladimir Petković’s biggest concern ahead of the quarter-final.

Regardless, a close contest promises to be in the offing in Marrakesh.

🇪🇬 Egypt vs Ivory Coast 🇨🇮

Arguably the biggest match of all on paper sees record champions Egypt face the current title holders from the Ivory Coast.

It would be fair to say that the last edition’s hosts have produced the more convincing performances so far in the tournament. Emerse Faé’s side can certainly take a lot of encouragement from their comfortable 3-0 win against a tricky Burkina Faso in the last round, in which Amad starred with a goal and assist. Yan Diomande also continued to impress on the other wing, so Egypt will certainly have to work hard to come up with a plan to contain those two.

The Pharaohs tend to adopt a more counterattacking approach in such big games, so they will once again rely on the quality of Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush to make the difference. However, they can struggle to take charge and impose themselves on games, as demonstrated by their close Round of 16 tie against Benin.

*Egypt needed extra-time to take the game away from Benin*

The Ivory Coast can expect to be allowed to keep a good deal of possession, so their midfielders could well hold the key in deciding which way the match swings. Teenager Christ Inao Oulai kept his place in the lineup against Burkina Faso thanks to his secure ball progression, providing good balance alongside Franck Kessié’s final third threat and Ibrahim Sangaré’s defensive solidity. Egypt may well have a tough time if that trio are on their A game.

(Images via IMAGO)

You can follow the Africa Cup of Nations on FotMob – with deep stats and players ratings. Download the free app here.

Jan

2026

Eli Junior Kroupi and the best per 90 stats in the Premier League

It’s been a while since the Premier League has had a ‘baby faced assassin. First it was Ole Gunnar Solskjær, then Javier Hernández and Jermaine Defoe, although the latter deserves more credit than that. Now, it’s Bournemouth’s Super Sub Eli Junior Kroupi.

By Alex Roberts

Admittedly, not all of the 19-year-old’s goals have come from the bench, but a truly ridiculous six in 510 Premier League minutes certainly puts him alongside the others in that deadly category.

Like Brighton and Brentford, Bournemouth are very intentional with their recruitment, a £12 million fee may not seem like much to bigger clubs, but the South Coast club wouldn’t have spent the money if they didn’t believe in his potential.

Coming through the youth ranks at Lorient, Bournemouth made their move in January 2025, reportedly beating Chelsea, who else, to his signature. He had 10 goals in 19 games over the first half of the season, and staying in France on loan for the second, he ended the campaign with 23 in 32.

Standing at 5’10” with a relatively skinny build, Junior Kroupi shouldn’t be considered a traditional number nine, but then again, there aren’t really that many in the Premier League beyond Erling Haaland and Igor Thiago.

Back in France, he was often played on the left wing, naturally drifting inside, not unlike a certain Real Madrid superstar, according to former teammate and ex-Chelsea midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko, who played with him at Lorient.

Speaking after Lorient’s 3-3 draw with Lyon back in 2023, in which Junior Kroupi scored a brace, Bakayoko didn’t hold back in his praise telling Ligue1.com: “He’s a phenomenon. He reminds me a little of Kylian Mbappé in terms of the maturity of his game. He already has good stats for a youngster his age.”

Junior Kroupi became the club’s youngest ever Ligue 1 scorer in 2023/24, his first full season of senior football, ending the campaign with five goals and three assists in 31 appearances, earning widespread acclaim despite Lorient’s relegation.

He’s matured even more since then. Watching him play, it’s clear that finishing is the best aspect of his game. Striking the ball with his instep, his shots generate a LOT of power, with a knack for finding corners beyond the reach of opposition goalkeepers.

*Junior Kroupi’s shot map in the Premier League this season*

Taking a close look at where his goals have found the back of the net, all six of his Premier League strikes have been into a corner. Close range, mid range, long range, it doesn’t matter, he’s finding the back of the net.

So, let’s take a closer look at some of his goals. From close range, there is his 93rd-minute equaliser against Leeds, when, you guessed it, he came off the bench. Bournemouth delivered a free kick into the box, Marcos Senesi nodded it on, and Junior Kroupi fired the ball beyond Karl Darlow to break some Elland Road hearts.

From mid-range, we can look to the mental 4–4 draw with Manchester United just before Christmas. After collecting the ball from Álex Jiménez via slight deflection, Kroupi showcased that finishing we were talking about to slot the ball into the bottom left corner.

Finally, we only need to go as far back as the 3-2 defeat to Arsenal on Saturday for a beautiful long-range goal. Hitting it with his instep, he didn’t give David Raya, arguably the best ‘keeper in the league, a chance.

All of this is amazing, but we’re going to have to put our statistics hat on an potentially rain on the parade. Six goals in 510 Premier League minutes is an anomaly, and with Bournemouth tumbling down the table, it may not even matter.

*Junior Kroupi’s shooting stats per 90 in the Premier League*

Averaging 1.06 goals per 90 minutes, he’s even more prolific than everyone’s favourite Norwegian robot, but is it sustainable? Kroupi Junior is massively overperforming in front of goal, with his six goals coming from an xG of 2.94.

Those are numbers that would make 2024/25 Bryan Mbeumo blush, and he’s one of the league’s biggest xG over performers. Unless your name is Lionel Messi, and you’re a complete statistical anomaly in every sense of the word, it’s unlikely Junior Kroupi will be able to keep it up.

The young striker isn’t the entire answer to Bournemouth’s miserable form, they haven’t won any of their last 11 Premier League games, but Andoni Iraola admitted he needs to find a way to give him more minutes.

After the defeat to Arsenal, the Spaniard said: “In games where we put him straight away as a nine, also we haven’t had the best of the results and he’s a player that his finishing is very, very good and we have to find, I have to find a way, where he can give us more things because when we play with two strikers, I feel like we lose also the control a little bit of the games.”

Bournemouth had to deal with a similar situation last season, at the other end of the pitch. Dean Huijsen burst on to the scene after a couple of injuries gave him the opportunity to make an impression.

Now, the centre back is living the dream at Real Madrid, although a recent injury has seen him miss the past month or so. Junior Kroupi can look to that as a potential pathway, it may not be the Spanish giants, but it feels like just a matter of time before one of the big boys come calling.

For the time being, he just needs to keep doing what he’s doing. He’s in striker flow state, an incredibly rare vein of form where everything he touches turns to gold. It may not be forever, but we should enjoy it while it lasts, and Bournemouth need to learn how to make the most of it.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Premier League on FotMob – with in-depth stat coverage, xG, and player ratings, where available. Download the free app here.

Jan

2026

Joan Garcia is Barcelona’s next World Class Goalkeeper

Joan García’s performance against his former club made a statement about the quality of Barcelona’s new first-choice goalkeeper.

By Graham Ruthven

Had it not been for Joan García, Espanyol might have dented Barcelona’s title hopes in Saturday’s Derbi Barceloni. Up against his former club, the 24-year-old goalkeeper produced the performance of his career to date, pulling off several stunning saves to somehow keep a clean sheet.

García was the biggest difference between the two rivals. There was one save from Roberto Fernández in the opening 10 minutes which led to the Barca goalkeeper pushing Gerard Martín into a block when Espanyol might have otherwise found the back of the net on the rebound.

There was another fingertip save from a Pere Milla header and a one-on-one stop against Fernández when he scooped the ball away on the ground. For good measure, García denied Carlos Romero in the second half, pushing a shot around the far post when many expected the net to bulge.

It was a performance that proved why Barcelona signed García in the first place. Having a goalkeeper as good as the 24-year-old has elevated Barca’s overall level, giving them a stronger safety net at the back when they certainly needed one last season. As a last line one defence, García is about as effective as they come.

“The first thing I have to do is thank Joan García,” said Hansi Flick following García’s Man of the Match performance in Barcelona’s 2-0 win over Espanyol. “He is one of the best goalkeepers in the world. We suffered, but we took the three points and that is the message we send to LaLiga.”

Flick is right to hail García as one of the best in the world. His rise has been a rapid one, but the 24-year-old has proved his worth to Barcelona since joining in the summer, even accounting for a spell on the sidelines through injury. García’s heroic derby display was simply further confirmation of what had already been witnessed this season.

García’s save percentage of 78.6% currently stands as the highest in LaLiga this season. Of Spain’s top four teams, Barcelona have conceded the highest xG. Flick’s team are capable of out-scoring any opponent, but their high-risk approach comes at a cost. The Catalans allow a lot of opportunities against them.

That is even truer this season than it was last. Flick’s high line has been the subject of much discussion since he took over as Barcelona boss in the summer of 2024, but its effectiveness was clear in the number of times it caught opponents offside. Kylian Mbappé probably still has nightmares about the Clásico he was caught offside eight times in last term.

This season, though, the offside trap has been less effective. Opponents are timing their runs from deep better while the loss of Iñigo Martínez to the Saudi Pro League destabilised the Barcelona backline. Four teams in LaLiga have a better defensive record than Barca this season. They would have conceded even more goals without García.

“The great teams have the best goalkeepers, and he is one of them,” continued Flick, further highlighting García’s brilliance. It’s not just his shot-stopping ability that makes him a standout, but how comfortable he is on the ball. In that sense, Garcia is following in the footsteps of Victor Valdes and Marc-André ter Stegen.

He could follow in the footsteps of Iker Casillas as a World Cup-winning goalkeeper too. Spain will be among the favourites to go all the way in the USA, Canada and Mexico this summer having won Euro 2024 and García could force his way into Luis De La Fuente’s national team before then.

De La Fuente has so far favoured Unai Simón as his number one with David Raya as his back-up. Neither, however, have the potential of García, a goalkeeper tailor-made for the modern game. If he is perfect for Barcelona, why wouldn’t he be perfect for Spain? Especially when Simón remains error-prone.

Before the World Cup, García can become a Spanish title winner. Barcelona hold a four-point advantage at the top of LaLiga and appear to be in a better place than either Atlético Madrid or Real Madrid, both of whom are struggling for a coherent playing style and consistent form.

In the Champions League, Barca haven’t fared as well. The Catalans have suffered disappointing results against Paris Saint-Germain, Club Brugge and Chelsea and are slumped down in 15th place in the League Phase table. Nonetheless, Barcelona can’t be discounted as potential European champions.

García will never be the most eye-catching of Barcelona players when he shares a pitch with Lamine Yamal, Pedri and the club’s other superstars further forward. In terms of importance, though, the 24-year-old is now a central pillar of Flick’s side. There will be more performances like the one he produced against Espanyol.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Jan

2026

Preview: Manchester City face midweek Brighton test

It’s the mid-season grind now as far as the Premier League goes and for title hopefuls like Manchester City, only consistency in winning matters. Hosting a leaky Brighton defence should help.

By Karl Matchett

A drought!

It says a lot about how lethal he was earlier that he’s still five goals clear in the golden boot race, but Erling Haaland hasn’t scored for three games now and City could probably do with him rediscovering that clinical edge. He came close against Chelsea more than once, hitting the post in particular, but when it comes right down to it, it’s his goals which will likely prove the difference between whether City can catch Arsenal in the title race or not. When he’s plundering one or two a game, it means Pep Guardiola’s team almost certainly win. Without them, the fine margins – as the late concession of a goal against Chelsea highlight – in football mean dropping points is always a possibility.

City have created the most big chances this season, completed the most passes, scored the most goals and kept the joint-most clean sheets, but that hasn’t translated to the most points and they trail the Gunners by six points just past the halfway stage.

Reckless or ambitious?

As for the Etihad visitors, Brighton are a fun team to watch without question, but an erratic one. They seem caught between going all-out as an attack-minded team and trying to balance the number of youthful prospects in the side with some experienced and more steady heads – it’s a little chaotic overall as they are very much a ‘home’ team: only one defeat in ten at the Amex, but only two victories from ten on the road.

Recent form

Ten unbeaten in all competitions for Manchester City, a run of eight straight victories and then two draws of late. Brighton were on a run of six without a win until beating Burnley last time out. Albion have also conceded six in their last three away league games and haven’t won back-to-back matches since November.

Team news

Further emphasising the need for City to fire in attack are a spate of defensive injuries, which now sees Joško Gvardiol and Rúben Dias added to John Stones and the absent Rayan Aït-Nouri.

Omar Marmoush is also still away with Egypt. Mateo Kovačić is a long-term absentee but Rodri is back in action. Carlos Baleba is away at AFCON too for Brighton, with Yankuba Mintah likely to miss out, while Stefanos Tzimas is definitely out.

Key players

Rayan Cherki has been outstanding recently and although he’ll likely be rested sooner or later, with Savinho a doubt, Antoine Semenyo not having signed yet and both Oscar Bobb and Marmoush unavailable, he could be required to continue. Over the last year he’s ahead of 99% of European midfielders for chances created and all 100% for touches of the ball. In the Premier League this term he’s top for assists, xA per 90 and big chances created.

*Rayan Cherki’s passing numbers in the Premier League this season*

Prediction

Might be more chances and goals than you’d expect as Brighton look to make a match of it, but firepower will win out: Man City 4-2 Brighton.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Jan

2026

Preview: Barcelona meet Athletic Club in Supercopa semifinal

LaLiga leaders Barcelona have won an impressive nine league games in a row – yet Hansi Flick knows there are things to work on in the wake of a late derby win over Espanyol. The Supercopa offers a chance to hone matters against a struggling Athletic Club.

By Karl Matchett

Comebacks vs. consistency

Despite 16 wins out of a possible 19 this term, Barcelona are only four points clear of Real Madrid – such is the need to be relentless in the manner of victory to claim the title in Spain’s top flight. While the three points keep coming, Flick and his team know there’s little margin for error…and the worry will be that, too often of late, Barca have had to do it the hard way. Near the end of November, this exact fixture was played out in LaLiga and Barcelona won 4-0. Thereafter, they had to win from behind in their next three, before needing late winners in two of the most recent three. Control has been lacking too often, so Flick will want to see an improvement on that score in the Supercopa.

Even played out in the still-strange environment of Jeddah (or ‘the s**t environment’, as Athletic Club captain Iñaki Williams said), Barcelona will feel they have the early upper hand in this four-team tournament, given the other semi-final is the Madrid derby, Real v Atlético.

With the final set for Sunday, the Catalan outfit will no doubt be hoping that they can have one, rather than two, demanding fixtures to get through, rotate the team a little if necessary and emerge by retaining the trophy they won last year. The chances of that are boosted by their Basque opponents’ struggles of late.

Trying times

Ernesto Valverde’s team won the opening three league matches of 2025/26, but since then it has been a dismal campaign. Take only points won after that August run – so from 1 September – and Athletic are only just hovering outside LaLiga’s relegation zone, a more than four-month stretch which at this point is more than just bad form, it’s quickly becoming a forgettable season, despite still sitting in eighth.

As for any hopes of a shock triumph in this cup, the squad will be keenly aware that following that heavy loss at Barcelona, they also lost 3-0 to Real Madrid soon after. A victory over Atlético provides at least some confidence – but they look woefully undercooked right now.

Barcelona have seven straight wins in all competitions against two wins from the last nine for Athletic. PSG, Sevilla, Real Madrid and Chelsea remain the only teams to beat Barcelona so far this season.

Team news

Barca are without Andreas Christensen, Gavi and Ronald Araújo.

Athletic are missing Yeray, Aymeric Laporte, Yuri Berchiche and Beñat Prados.

Key player

With three goals and three assists in his last eight league games, Lamine Yamal looks like he’s gearing up again. Over the last year he’s in the top two percentile in Europe for touches, top 9% for goals for players in his position, and simply top for shots taken!

Prediction

A “home” win without too much concern this time – and another failure to find the net for the Basque outfit: Barcelona 3-0 Athletic Club.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from this week’s Supercopa tounament with FotMob – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.