Page 22 – The Pulse of Football

Sep

2024

Europe beware, PSV are out to prove a point in the Champions League

There are dominant teams and then there’s PSV. Peter Bosz’s team have lost just one of their last 39 Eredivisie games.

Last season, PSV broke records as they won their first 17 league fixtures, leading many to question whether an unprecedented campaign would be on the cards. This season, the same questions are being asked after five wins from five games.

Remarkably, PSV kept almost all of their best players over the summer transfer window. Jordan Teze left for Monaco while Chucky Lozano will join San Diego in Major League Soccer early next year, but Bosz maintained the core of his record-breaking team and that continuity could make them even stronger this season.

In just five Eredivisie matches, PSV have found the back of the net 20 times. Lozano has scored four times while Guus Til has five goal contributions. PSV averaged 3.2 goals per game in the Dutch top flight last season and are on course to maintain that scoring ratio having quickly hit the ground running this season.

With Ajax in the middle of a rebuild and Feyenoord reeling from the departure of Arne Slot to Liverpool, the Eredivisie might as well declare PSV champions for a second successive season. It seems highly unlikely anyone will be able to keep pace with a team aiming to improve on last season’s tally of 91 points.

In the Champions League, though, PSV still have a point to prove. While Bosz’s team caught the eye in the group stage last season, only suffering one defeat to Arsenal as they finished second, they came unstuck against Borussia Dortmund in the last 16. A deeper run in Europe’s premier club competition is the target this season.

As a modern and dynamic team, there’s no reason to believe PSV can’t go far in the Champions League. While they used to play a more direct game under Ruud van Nistelrooy, Bosz has instilled a style of football that sits somewhere between Klopp’s ‘Gegenpressing’ and Pep Guardiola’s ‘Tiki-Taka.’

Under Bosz, PSV rank as one of the most successful pressing teams in any of the big European leagues. Their PPDA (Passes Per Defensive Action) of 9.2 is the lowest of any team in the Eredivisie, meaning they are the quickest to engage opposition teams when they have the ball. For context, Klopp’s Liverpool’s PPDA stood at 8.9 last season. That’s the level PSV are on.

In possession, PSV are similarly impressive. No team is averaging a higher share of the ball (74.9%) than the defending champions this season with Bosz’s side also accumulating more touches in the opposition box (269) than anyone else – for context, AZ Alkmaar are second in that metric with 161.

The control PSV have had in their matches so far this season has been unmatched, averaging 638.4 accurate passes per game. Jerdy Schouten and Joey Veerman give PSV so much security on the ball in the centre of the pitch with the latter frequently pushed high to increase his influence on the attacking play. This is reflected by Veerman’s record of four assists in just five games this season. Last season, he finished with 16 assists in 29 league outings.

Further forward, Luuk de Jong remains the focal point of the PSV forward line. At 34, the former Barcelona and Newcastle United striker is into the twilight of his career, but his effectiveness can’t be doubted. What’s more, Bosz has USA international and penalty box poached Ricardo Pepi as an option off the bench.

Johan Bakayoko was linked with a move away from the Phillips Stadion earlier this year with several Premier League clubs believed to be admirers of the 21-year-old, but PSV managed to keep hold of the player many consider to be their prize asset. Bakayoko’s ball-carrying ability and dribbling makes him a standout talent on the right side of PSV’s attack.

Ryan Flamingo is another high-potential asset currently at PSV that many believe is destined for the very top of the game. The 21-year-old joined in a €9m transfer from FC Utrecht this summer in a deal that could pan out as one of the biggest bargains anywhere in European football this season.

Indeed, Flamingo has given PSV another dimension playing out from the back. The Netherlands U21 international is averaging more accurate passes per 90 minutes (103.1) than any other PSV player this season and has forged a natural understanding with Olivier Boscagli in the centre of the defensive line.

PSV have been handed a challenging Champions League path which will see them face Juventus, Sporting CP, Paris Saint-Germain, Girona and Liverpool in the league phase. Nonetheless, the Dutch champions have shown enough to suggest they have taken another step forward since last season. They could prove this in the Champions League.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Sep

2024

Despite a disastrous domestic start, can Young Boys impress in Europe?

Having won five of the last six Super League titles, Young Boys have established themselves as the dominant force in Swiss football in recent years. However, they have only reached the Champions League group stage three times in that time period and never gotten as far as the knockouts, but their fortunes might be changing on both fronts this season.

By Neel Shelat

There is no better way to describe Young Boys’ season so far than by using the phrase ‘contrasting fortunes’. On one hand, they find themselves at the very bottom of the Swiss Super League (12th from 12) as the only winless side in the country’s top two tiers. On the bright side, though, they have managed to qualify for the UEFA Champions League’s new league phase and even have good reason to be optimistic about their chances.

As a result, it is quite tough to ascertain the level of threat new head coach Patrick Rahmen’s position is under. Nevertheless, such a curious record definitely deserves closer inspection.

Disastrous start to the title defence

Young Boys are enduring their worst start to a league season in at least a century, so there really is no way to spin their domestic fortunes positively. Their position at the bottom of the actual table is hardly undeserved, as even the early xPoints standings suggest they would sit down in 11th, about where their performances should place them.

Worse yet, things are not going well for Rahmen’s side at either end of the pitch. They are among the worst teams in the league both in attack and defensively, so they desperately need to step up their game in every department.

The 55-year-old head coach’s tactics have not been appropriately suited to the Super League so far. He was hired on the back of a successful season with expected relegation-battlers Winterthur, whom he led to the Championship group with a fairly direct style of play. A similar approach has not translated too well at the Wankdorf Stadium, as Young Boys have become used to a much more possession-based style of play in their recent period of dominance.

As a result, YB have found themselves struggling to break down defensive blocks going forward and potentially overcommitting, leading to their defence being left exposed. This vicious cycle has seen them suffer a couple of big losses such as a four-goal thrashing at the hands of St. Gallen and 3-1 against Servette in Geneva. Their average of 16.5 shots conceded per match is the second-highest in the league, so they must tidy up in all aspects to bring it down.

Champions League-suited tactics

While Rahmen’s direct approach has led to Young Boys’ struggles in the league, there definitely is merit in sticking with it for the Champions League at least.

His team faced a very tough challenge to qualify as they played a Galatasaray side that registered over 100 points en route to the Süper Lig title last season. They managed to rise to the occasion and won 4-2 on aggregate, putting together a particularly impressive performance in an end-to-end second leg in Türkiye.

*Key stats and momentum, second leg vs. Galatasaray*

That is very much the blueprint that Young Boys should aim to follow in the Champions League group stage. They certainly have the players to continue executing this approach – particularly in attack where the likes of Silvère Ganvoula, Meschack Elia, Cedric Itten, Joel Monteiro and Ebrima Colley are all forwards who thrive in more transitional matches – so the right team selection and match-to-match tweaks will be key.

With all of that being said, it is worth noting that the biggest reason the Swiss Champions have a great chance to make their Champions League knockout debut this season has nothing to do with themselves directly. The new Swiss Model format will see as many as 24 teams advance, enabling some teams with below-average points tallies in the league phase to progress. As a result, Pot 3 sides like Young Boys – who typically would not have had a great chance to advance in the old group stage format – now find themselves in with a serious chance. In fact, many prediction models have suggested that as few as nine points from eight games could be enough to go through.

The element of luck in the draw remains a big factor, of course, and Young Boys have been fortunate in that aspect too. If we accept the nine-point cut-off, then YB surely must back themselves to accumulate the required tally in their matches against Shakhtar Donetsk, Red Star Belgrade, Celtic, Stuttgart, Aston Villa and Atalanta. They may endure a tough start as both Barcelona and Inter are among their first three opponents, but watch out for them to make a push for the knockouts in the second half of the campaign.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Sep

2024

Preview: Real Madrid vs. Stuttgart

Stuttgart make their return to the Champions League this week following an absence of 15 years, and they couldn’t have been handed a more daunting place to do so.

By Ian King

They return to European football’s premier competition with a trip to the Bernabéu to play Real Madrid in the first round of ‘Swiss model’ matches which have replaced the group stages from this year on.

But should they be considered callow just because they haven’t played in this competition for some years? They ended last season in the Bundesliga above Bayern Munich as the runners-up to Bayer Leverkusen with a run of just one defeat in their last sixteen league matches and while this season started poorly, with a point from their first two matches, they’ve recovered since by easing through the first round of the DFB-Pokal and recording a convincing 3-1 win at Borussia Mönchengladbach last Saturday.

Coached by Sebastian Hoeneß, who’s the son of the former Stuttgart player Dieter Hoeneß and the nephew of the legendary Uli, this is no team of superstars, with the most familiar name being Deniz Undav, who signed a season-long loan from Brighton last summer, scored 18 goals in the Bundesliga, and made his signing permanent in August. They’re only in 10th place in the current table, but with only three games played so far that doesn’t necessarily tell us very much.

The array of platinum-plated superstars facing them is, following the arrival of Kylian Mbappé during the summer, more daunting than ever, but that’s not to say that Real Madrid have been particularly glittering so far. They’ve already picked up their first piece of silverware of the season by comfortably beating Atalanta to win the UEFA Super Cup in Warsaw last month, but their form in La Liga has been a little patchier.

They’ve only won three of their opening five games, with disappointing draws at Mallorca and Las Palmas in their first two away games. They’ve won their last two league matches, but that took two penalty kicks to get past Real Sociedad last Sunday; indeed, their last three goals have all come from the penalty spot. Almost entirely predictably, there have already been stories about the problems in combining Mbappé with Vinícius Júnior, but there’s a reason why Real are almost always favourites or second favourites to win this competition, and there have been few signs of that balance of power shifting.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Sep

2024

Preview: Milan vs. Liverpool

Liverpool travel to Milan this week to face off against the Rossoneri as the Champions League returns for the 2024/25 campaign.

By Sam McGuire

The new format for the competition won’t impact Matchday One. Every single team will want to start with a win.

And this is an intriguing match-up.

These two sides have a storied history in this competition. They are juggernauts of European football, but right now, both are a bit of an unknown. Both are under new management. Both are looking to bed in a new style of play. Both have had disappointing results this season. Both will want to make a good first impression in the Champions League with their new managers at the helm.

The Reds suffered their first defeat of the season on Saturday. They conceded their first goal of the Arne Slot era as Nottingham Forest rocked up to Anfield and claimed all three points. It brought Liverpool’s 100% record in the Premier League to an abrupt halt and, having seen how Slot struggled to manage the game, has heaped the first bit of pressure onto the Dutch tactician.

It doesn’t necessarily make this game a must-win but it is now very much a must-not lose match.

Milan, meanwhile, come into this game on the back of a 4-0 win over Venezia. It was their first win of the season. They have five points in Serie A having lost to Parma while drawing against Lazio and Torino. Interestingly, they are the joint-highest goalscorers in the Italian top flight under new boss Paulo Fonseca. The former-Lille manager was also believed to be on Liverpool’s shortlist as they assessed options following Jürgen Klopp’s departure. The Reds opted for Slot and Milan moved to bring him to Italy to replace Stefano Pioli.

They’re scoring goals but they’re also conceding goals. They have been breached on six occasions this term having conceded two goals in three of their four outings. They aren’t resolute defensively and they’ll have to be wary of this against a Liverpool side with seven goals in four games.

The Rossoneri had a good home record in Serie A last term, winning 12 of their 19 matches and losing on just three occasions. They were unlucky not to escape the Champions League group stage having finished level on points with PSG in a group containing the French giants, Borussia Dortmund and Newcastle United.

Both teams will want a good start in Europe and both managers will want to kick off their campaigns in the Champions League with a win. The pressure is on Liverpool but Milan have home advantage at the San Siro, let’s see if they can make it count.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Sep

2024

Bradley Barcola: Stepping up from PSG’s left flank

The development of football talent is an inexact science. We like to believe that prospects will progress in a linear manner and go from strength-to-strength each year, but the reality is that’s not always the case.

By Mohamed Mohamed

The development of young players can go in different directions, including periods of stagnation. Despite this, football clubs have become more and more aggressive in recent years towards acquiring youngsters in the hope that they’ll make the leap into stardom, at times paying a premium for any hint of potential during their early years.

In Bradley Barcola, we have an example of someone who might be having something of a meteoric rise. He’s had a fascinating start to his career for someone who only recently turned 22-years-old. Rewind the clock back to January 2023, and he was barely getting playing time for Olympique Lyonnais, to the point of reportedly seeking a loan move away from the club. In less than two years, he’s gone from an interesting young talent to a budding star who might be on the verge of making that vaunted leap into superstardom, something that could turn around both the fortunes of himself, and Paris Saint-Germain.

Barcola looks the part of the modern-day winger, largely operating on the touchline and looking to stretch the opposition’s backline. He’s a heavy volume dribbler at a decent success rate, with 2.95 dribbles per 90 in Ligue 1 in 2023-24 at a 50.5% success rate. Barcola’s style of dribbling is fascinating, because while he’s an impressive athlete, he doesn’t have an overwhelming first step. Rather, he utilizes feints and quick ball rolls in combination to get his opponent off balance. It’s the 2^nd and 3^rd step where the explosion really shows itself. One could classify his dribbling style as more of a reactive style than proactive. His goal vs Le Havre as a substitute was a nice example of how effective his style of dribbling can be, especially during transitions.

Barcola’s dribbling helps him get access to dangerous areas for creating chances, including those valuable cut-backs which the best clubs regularly manufacture. The output is quite impressive, whether it be assists (0.38 per 90 in 23-24) or expected assists (0.25 per 90). Some of that is boosted through taking advantage of transition opportunities. He makes the basic reads you’d expect from him against a low block, but the high-end inventive passes aren’t quite there yet in his repertoire. In that sense, it’s fair to argue that his output perhaps overstates how good of a playmaker he is right now.

Without the ball, Barcola shows some inventive moments despite his wide positioning. He’s comfortable utilising quick 1-2 combinations to take advantage of aggressive man-marking. His recent goals vs Montpellier and Lille showed how impactful that type of movement can be, especially during transitions. On occasion, he can attempt diagonal runs towards the middle against the blindside of the fullback. When moving into the left half-space, he could be more aggressive at making straight-line runs.

Looking at Barcola’s shot chart from last season, it somewhat resembles what you would expect from a touchline winger. Most of his shots come from the wide left zone of the box, which tend not to be of the highest quality unless it’s during fast breaks. In those tight areas, he has different finishes he’ll attempt, including toe punt shots and the trademark Thierry Henry-like finish. Some of his off-ball strengths, along with playing for a super team, means he doesn’t have to resort to a ton of long-range opportunities. 27 of his 33 shots in Ligue 1 last season were inside the box, although the lack of shots in the central zone led to having an expected goal per 90 rate of 0.25, a good but not great rate compared to others at his position.

It’s been fascinating to see Barcola assume a larger role in attack this season. His shots per 90 have nearly doubled to over four at a non-penalty xG of 0.94, although the sample size is quite small at just over 200 minutes. There was a lot of intrigue around how PSG would look like in the post-Kylian Mbappé era, and so far, they’ve won all four of their league matches with a +13 goal differential. The next few matches will bring a stiffer test for this remodeled PSG side, particularly with Champions League bouts vs Girona and Arsenal. Barcola maintaining this level of production will be key to whether they’re seen as real contenders for the European crown.

Since the calendar turned to 2024, Barcola has nine goals and seven assists in just over 1800 minutes of competitive action, an impressive return for almost any player, let alone one at his age. He’s seemingly growing in confidence with every match, and is continuing to evolve physically. The early 20s is where we expect young attackers to make the leap, and Barcola looks to be right on schedule. If this form continues, it won’t be long before we start talking about him as one of the better players in European football.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every match from Ligue 1 and the Champions League live with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage, xG and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Sep

2024

The top performances in MLS, Matchday 32

Our Major League Soccer expert James Nalton picks the standout players from the latest round of games in MLS, including his two votes for the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) MLS Player of the Matchday.

By James Nalton

The Top Two

9.3 FotMob rating: Lionel Messi, Inter Miami

Major League Soccer’s marquee player had not played a game in the league since June 1.

A call-up to the Argentina squad for the Copa America and an ankle injury suffered during that tournament kept Messi out for the entire Leagues Cup campaign and a run of nine MLS games.

Inter Miami won eight of those nine games without Messi, and he returns to a team cruising to the Supporters’ Shield title even in his absence.

Though Philadelphia Union opened the scoring through Mikael Uhre, Messi went on to score twice and assist another in a 3-1 win that maintained Miami’s dominance at the top of the points table and the Eastern Conference.

A right-footed finish to equalise, an effortless left-footed goal after he somehow managed to find space on the penalty spot, and an assist for Luis Suárez marked his return in style.

Inter Miami will now be looking to break the regular season points record in MLS which currently stands at 73, achieved by New England Revolution in 2021. Win four of their last five games, and they will break it.

With Messi returning to a team that was already in good form, it could be a formality.

9.6 FotMob rating: Riqui Puig, LA Galaxy

The Los Angeles derby, El Tráfico, rarely disappoints. This weekend’s edition was no exception as a goal-filled game saw LA Galaxy run out 4-2 winners against LAFC.

LAFC had taken a 2-0 lead within 15 minutes, but it led to a convincing second-half comeback for the home side that made the win even sweeter for Galaxy fans.

Along with two-goal hero Dejan Joveljić, Riqui Puig was the standout player in the comeback, taking control of the game from midfield.

He finished it having had 140 touches — more than double that of any LAFC player.

Within all of this were two assists and a goal. Although the first assist was more about the brilliant strike from Edwin Cerrillo and the second may have been a shot turned in by Joveljić, he still made things happen.

Puig completed 104 of 119 passes (87%), created seven chances, completed three dribbles, and won 9/12 ground duels.

His goal was aptly passed into the net from the edge of the area, just inside the post.

LA Galaxy’s win was not an isolated derby success. It also affects the league table and it consolidated their place at the top of the Western Conference ahead of their local rivals.

Three more standout performers

9.1 FotMob rating: Ryan Gauld, Vancouver Whitecaps

Gauld is regularly among the best players in MLS on any given weekend and features once again in Matchday 32 with a FotMob rating over nine.

Only the Galaxy’s Riqui Puig and Evander of Portland Timbers have higher average ratings than Gauld in MLS this season (Messi will be top once he plays enough games to qualify for the list).

In Vancouver Whitecaps’ solid 2-0 win against San Jose Earthquakes, Gauld assisted both goals, created six chances, and completed 44 of 48 attempted passes (92%).

The first assist came via a corner kick for Fafà Picault to head home, while Vancouver’s final goal was a work of art in open play.

Pedro Vite and Gauld combined before Gauld set up his compatriot Stuart Armstrong for his first MLS goal.

The Whitecaps sit in a good spot in the Western Conference and are still in with a chance of finishing second behind LA Galaxy.

8.9 FotMob rating: Dorde Mihailović, Colorado Rapids

Colorado Rapids have emerged from a successful Leagues Cup campaign as one of the form teams in MLS.

Rather than be a mid-season distraction, Leagues Cup triumphs against Mexican opposition and qualification for the Concacaf Champions Cup by winning the third-place game has given momentum to Chris Armas’s side.

They have won both games since the return of MLS, including this latest one by two goals to one against Portland Timbers.

There is a tight race in the West below LA Galaxy, and this win against another team in the mix moved the Rapids up to third in the table.

In Mihailović they have their star Designated Player. He assisted both goals and created a total of six chances.

The Rapids hope this kind of creativity will continue in open play and from set pieces for the remainder of the season.

“We know it’s tight and we’re well aware of what’s behind us, but we’re looking forward and in the standings, we’re looking up,” said Armas.

“We cannot operate in a way where we play fearfully and play not to lose. We have a lot of belief.”

8.7 FotMob rating: Facundo Torres, Orlando City

A theme of several of these standout performances has been attacking players completing passes with precision in difficult areas.

Torres was among the best in this regard, only misplacing two passes all game for a pass success of 95%. This included completing three out of three long balls.

He then emphatically dispatched a penalty at the end of the first half which made sure of the win for his team.

Orlando went on to score a third through Duncan McGuire in the second half, in which Torres also played a part earlier in the move.

It was a statement win for Orlando as they are among several teams fighting for that fourth spot for some home advantage going into the Eastern Conference playoffs, behind the top three of Miami, Columbus Crew, and FC Cincinnati.

Torres roaming from the right wing to the centre, was at the heart of it.

(Cover Image from IMAGO)

You can follow every match from MLS live with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage including shot maps, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Sep

2024

Premier League Team of the Week: Matchday Four

At this point, this feature should be called Erling Haaland and Friends.

By Sam McGuire

The Manchester City forward is, once again, in the FotMob Team of the Week following his goalscoring exploits for the reigning champions. They’re now the only team in the English top-flight with a 100% record and it is largely because of his many, many goals this season.

But who joins the powerhouse No. 9 in the XI and why?

Goalkeeper: Arijanet Muric

The Ipswich Town shot-stopper was put to work against Brighton. The 25-year-old, who signed from Burnley in the summer, made six saves as the Tractor Boys picked up a point away to the high-flying Seagulls. Muric faced shots with an Expected Goals value of 2.45 as the hosts peppered the away side’s goal. His exploits between the sticks earned him a FotMob rating of 9.3.

Centre-Back: Fabian Schär

The Newcastle United centre-back scored an important goal against Wolves, netting an equaliser late on. The Magpies then used this as a platform to go on and win the game. The Swiss defender completed 86% of his passes, made seven clearances and won five of his eight duels.

Centre-Back: Matthijs De Ligt

After a forgettable international break away with the Netherlands, De Ligt bounced back with Manchester United, putting in an impressive display away at Southampton. The 25-year-old scored the opener for the Red Devils to set Erik Ten Hag’s side on their way. He also completed 92% of his passes, cleared a shot off of the line and won 100% of his aerial duels.

Centre-Back: Gabriel

The Arsenal centre-back scored the winning goal in the North London derby. Gabriel escaped Cristian Romero to power home a header in the second half in what was the only goal of the game. He was at his resolute best, making eight clearances and winning two of his three ground duels. The Brazil defender was dribbled past on just one occasion as the Gunners secured all three points to extend their unbeaten run in the Premier League this term.

Midfield: Tyrick Mitchell

The Crystal Palace wing-back caught the eye against Leicester City. He claimed an assist with one of four chances that he created. Of those, two were classed as big chances. The 25-year-old attempted three dribbles and completed 49 of his 63 attempted passes. He also won 100% of his aerial duels to round off a solid performance for the Eagles.

Midfield: Wilfred Ndidi

Ndidi starred for the Foxes in their 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace. The 27-year-old midfielder claimed two assists having carved out four chances. He finished with three big chances to his name. Ndidi didn’t shirk his defensive responsibilities either, recovering the ball on seven occasions while involving himself in 19 duels on the day.

Midfield: Dwight McNeil

McNeil, somehow, ended up on the losing side on Saturday evening. The Everton midfielder finished with two goal involvements having scored the opener and assisted the second for the Toffees, putting in an unbelievable cross for Dominic Calvert-Lewin to nod home. He created the most chances (four) of any player on the pitch and finished with two big chances created. The 24-year-old completed 100% of his tackles but struggled in duels, winning just one of four. His offensive output played a big part in his 8.3 FotMob rating.

Midfield: Mario Lemina

Lemina put in a Player of the Match showing for Wolves but also ended up on the losing side. The 31-year-old skipper scored the opener, carved out two chances and one big chance as the hosts let a 1-0 lead slip against Newcastle United. Lemina completed 100% of his dribbles, 100% of his tackles, made two interceptions, six recoveries and came out on top in five of seven duels.

Attack: Ollie Watkins

Watkins played 84 minutes for Villa in their 3-2 win over Everton. The England international scored two goals and carved out one chance for the Villans. What makes this output even more remarkable is the fact he attempted just six passes and had 19 touches. He was barely involved in the game but he made it count when he did get the ball. To go with his two goals, the 28-year-old missed two big chances. His performance at Villa Park earned him an 8.9 rating.

Attack: Erling Haaland

Another game, another two goals for Haaland. The two-time Premier League Golden Boot winner scored twice to make it nine goals in four outings this term. The 24-year-old was the match-winner for City, scoring what turned out to be the winner for the champions as early as the 32nd minute. The No. 9 had as many shots (six) as he had completed passes. It was yet another quintessential Haaland showing. He wasn’t involved much in the build-up but he was the difference-maker in the final third for the reigning champions.

Attack: Amad

Amad Diallo got the nod ahead of Alejandro Garnacho for Manchester United’s game against Southampton and he made the most of it. The versatile attacker assisted a goal and carved out six chances for the Red Devils in the 3-0 win. The 22-year-old won three of his four tackles, won four of his seven ground duels and had a 100% success rate in aerial duels. It was an utterly devastating display and one that should see him retain his place in the starting XI next time out.

(Images from IMAGO)

You can follow every match from the Premier League live with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage, xG and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Sep

2024

Preview: Tottenham Hotspur vs. Arsenal

Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham host North London rivals Arsenal in what will be the headline clash of Matchday Four in the Premier League.

By Kaustubh Pandey

Both sides return to action after the international break still smarting from their latest results in the league. Arsenal dropped points to Brighton a couple of weekends ago and Spurs lost to a late-ish Alexander Isak goal at Newcastle United despite putting in a decent performance in attack.

It is off-field suspensions and injuries that will certainly encourage Spurs, as Arsenal will be without the injured Martin Ødegaard and the suspended Declan Rice. Mikel Merino is also ruled out and it remains to be seen whether Riccardo Calafiori will be fully fit after picking up an injury for Italy during the international break.

Another positive for the Lilywhites is that Dominic Solanke will be back in action after an injury lay-off and he will be looking to get himself off the mark for his new club. Micky van de Ven did pick up a knock in the loss on Tyneside but he has been passed fit for the derby.

Barring that, recent history does favour Arsenal and they will take confidence from that.

Mikel Arteta‘s side have won the last two derbies at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and are unbeaten in four games against their rivals. Postecoglou is also yet to win against Arsenal but he did see his side put in a decent performance in the 2-2 draw at the Emirates last season.

One big red flag for Spurs is their transitional defending, which was a problem against Newcastle and caused many issues last season, as teams could get at them on the counterattack.

Arsenal will look at that aspect keenly, as they may cede possession to Spurs whenever they can due to the injuries and absences in the matchday squad. This could play out well for in the Gunners, who can then expose their rivals on the break.

Having said that, Spurs do typically create a lot of chances in each game – they’ve missed seven from 10 chances categorised as ‘Big Chances’ so far this season. The lack of a finishing touch has let them down, something they’ll be looking to correct in what is one of the biggest games of the campaign.

All that, though, is simply the on-paper talk and as is often the case on Derby day, things tend to happen on instinct and momentum dictates results. Both teams will likely create their fair share of chances and it will all be about who can convert the most on the day.

(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.

Sep

2024

Preview: Girona vs. Barcelona

It has been a perfect start to the 24/25 campaign for Hansi Flick, his short stint at Barcelona so far suggesting that he is rather more suited to club coaching than sporadic international involvement with his players.

By Karl Matchett

Moving on from his debacle at Germany, the new Camp Nou boss has won four from four in LaLiga this term to sit four points clear already – but an intriguing next test awaits.

While it’s after the October international break that Barcelona’s fixture list really cranks into high gear – they’ll face Sevilla, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and the derby against Espanyol in a row following that – they return to domestic action now against last season’s surprise package Girona, who finished third, only a handful of points behind the Catalan club themselves.

For Girona, as expected, they lost a few players over summer and the start to this term has been a little fragmented as a result: last year’s goal machine Artem Dovbyk has gone to Roma, midfielder Aleix García to Bayer Leverkusen and their on-loan winger Savinho is now with Man City. Even so, despite defeat at Atlético Madrid they have looked strong, hammering Osasuna and winning at Sevilla in impressive fashion.

Head coach Míchel Sánchez has them playing a familiar way and when Yangel Herrera is back to full fitness, they retain a strong, mobile, technically excellent midfield. Even so, and while they can cause problems of their own, early-season Barcelona looks a slick machine which might be too strong for them going forward.

Lamine Yamal and Raphinha have started the campaign well. Dani Olmo, now in the lineup and central to their buildup play, is immense – he could be set to be one of the league’s very best this season, his first back in his home nation since leaving at 16 years old. And while Robert Lewandowski is clearly past his peak, he may be rejuvenated with better buildup behind him and a manager who knows him well – four in four so far for the Pole.

Yet opportunity for Girona comes in Barcelona’s absentees, particularly in midfield. Olmo got a knock with Spain last week and though he could still play, Gavi remains out and Marc Bernal will miss the season. Frenkie de Jong, Fermín López and Andreas Christensen are all still missing, too.

There’s not too much scope for rest and rotation in the centre as the matches start to come thick and fast for Barcelona in Europe this coming week – but Girona’s success last year means they must deal with that additional load, too. It’s fascinatingly poised to reveal where both these sides really are.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Sep

2024

This season could be massive for Newcastle’s Alexander Isak

Alexander Isak has already made his mark in the Premier League at Newcastle United but with his stock continuing to rise, this season could be the most important one of his career so far.

By Kaustubh Pandey

In a way, Alexander Isak was destined to come this far in his career. Even though he crossed the ten-goal mark only once in three seasons at Real Sociedad and found the back of the net only six times in his last campaign at La Real, the Swede always had a raw talent.

The first time he caught the global eye was at EURO 2020 and he did that without even scoring, grabbing two assists in four games and showing glimpses of being a technically gifted forward despite his tall 6’3” frame. He was already showing all of that for Real Sociedad at club level during that period and it seemed like it was only a matter of time before it came to the fore on a consistent basis.

*Isak shooting stats per 90, Premier League 2022/23*

At Newcastle, that is exactly what has happened. Despite having his first season curtailed due to injury, the Swede got ten goals at the rate of 0.59 goals per 90 minutes.

He bettered that tally last season, when he banged in 21 Premier League goals at the rate of 0.83 goals per 90 for Eddie Howe‘s side, showing exactly how far he had come under the Englishman, whose system seems to bring the best out of the Sweden international.

*Isak shooting stats per 90, Premier League 2023/24*

It shouldn’t escape our attention that the 24-year-old had arrived at the club for a fee of £63m, which was Newcastle’s record transfer at that point. That pressure never held Isak back and despite the threat of recurring muscle injuries, he has managed to succeed and has become a fan favourite that many other clubs would gladly want in their side.

One thing is for certain though – Isak’s charm doesn’t just lie in goalscoring. Granted, he is very reliable when it comes to finding the net, but he is more than that. He offers an ability on the ball which helps those around him and he is always keen on taking a defender on and beating him. That skillset is quite rare for a forward who is as tall as Isak, but is fairly reminiscent of another ex-Sweden hero – Zlatan Ibrahimović.

Howe’s system relies on pressing high up the pitch and Isak keenly does that, while also showing an incisive nature in the wide channels, where he links up with teammates very well and makes the runs that stretch the opposition.

He is constantly prowling around the final third and that benefits him a lot, making sure that he is regularly amongst the goals. Having said that, a strong case can be made of the fact that Isak offers way more in and out of possession than the likes of Ivan Toney or even Tottenham’s big-money signing Dominic Solanke. He probably offers more than Arsenal’s Gabriel Jesus and if not for Erling Haaland, he could probably walk into the current Manchester City setup as well.

Players of this ilk offer incredible value to all kinds of systems and considering how Isak has overperformed on his xG reliably in his two seasons at St James Park, referring to him as a pretty good finisher is a safe assumption to make.

He scored against Tottenham in Newcastle’s last game before the international break, while impressing once again with his overall approach, then added three goals in two appearances for Sweden in the Nations League. And that tally will only increase as the weeks go by and the season wears on. In the long run, that might spell danger for Newcastle, especially if they fail to make qualify for Europe and their well-documented PSR issues come to the fore again.

Isak could easily fetch close to or over €100m for Newcastle and help them make a solid capital gain on what they initially signed him for. And the club have a recruitment structure in place which would ensure a suitable replacement is found.

Another impressive season will catapult Isak’s reputation into the orbit, showing how he has now adapted to four different countries in what is a pretty young career. He won’t just solve a side’s problems in the present but would also guarantee them goals for the next few years as well.

Injuries might be a bit of an issue but if the ex-Borussia Dortmund man can stay away from those, nothing really can stop him from flying.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Premier League on FotMob – with deep stats, xG, and players ratings. Download the free app here.