Page 22 – The Pulse of Football

Mar

2025

The French forward line: Didier Deschamps’ embarrassment of riches

Many viewed France’s failure at Euro 2024 as the end of an era, and it was in a sense. Antoine Griezmann called time on his international career two months later while Olivier Giroud was phased out as he made the move to Major League Soccer. Didier Deschamps, however, remained in place as manager.

By Graham Ruthven

Didier Deschamps’ 14-year tenure as Les Bleus boss will end after the 2026 World Cup despite pressure for him to quit earlier. Nonetheless, France’s national team is entering a new age and this is clearest in the attack. Indeed, Deschamps has a new-look forward line that could fire France to another World Cup.

Anyone who has watched Paris Saint-Germain recently will have had a hint of what France’s next generation of attack looks like. Bradley Barcola and Désiré Doué have given Luis Enrique’s team some homegrown energy this season, improving as PSG have grown into genuine Champions League challengers over the course of the campaign.

Of course, Deschamps views the game very differently to Enrique. France won’t play on the halfway line at the 2026 World Cup. They won’t look to control matches through possession because France have never played in this manner under Deschamps. Deschamps-ball is nothing like Lucho-ball.

However, France will still play in a way that gives Barcola and Doué plenty open space to attack. Barcola’s raw speed makes him a constant threat on the break while Doué has the technical ability to cut inside, link up and get into good goalscoring positions. Barcola is 22, Doué just 19. They have an extremely bright future for club and country ahead of them.

Michael Olise is another member of France’s next generation already making a profound impact at the elite level of the club game. The 23-year-old is enjoying an excellent first season at Bayern Munich, contributing 22 goal involvements (13 goals, nine assists) in all competitions for the Bavarians.

Olise is an all-round threat. He is Bayern’s top assist-maker this season. Meanwhile, only Harry Kane and Jamal Musiala have scored more goals than him. The former Crystal Palace winger has created more Big Chances (19) than any other Bayern player and is also a prolific dribbler (2.9 per 90 minutes).

This gives Deschamps a lot to work with. Olise has been most commonly used by Vincent Kompany on the right side of the Bayern Munich attack, but he is also comfortable in a central position. The 23-year-old could be a key part of France’s next generation as they move on from the era of Giroud and Griezmann.

Kylian Mbappé remains France’s main man up front. After a sluggish start to life at Real Madrid, he has reminded everyone of his match-winning quality recently, scoring 17 goals in his last 17 matches. With Los Blancos still in the Champions League after sweeping aside Manchester City and Atlético Madrid, Mbappé could end the season a European champion.

Deschamps-ball has always been good for Mbappé because of the space it affords him. This space allows him to stretch the pitch and make the most of his blistering pace. There also isn’t much expectation on the Real Madrid forward to press from the front because France don’t do much of that as a team.

Mbappé has long produced his best form for the national team and there’s no reason to believe that won’t continue to be the case even amid tension between the player and Deschamps. Mbappé confirmed “disagreements” between him and the France manager that came to a head last year, but is back in the squad.

Then there’s Ousmane Dembélé. Long written off as a waste of potential, something has finally clicked for the 27-year-old who has scored an incredible 22 goals for PSG since the turn of the year. Now being used in a central role at club level, Dembélé is finding that his natural ability with both feet allows him to be more influential.

Tactically, Deschamps might not be able to fit Mbappé and Dembélé into the same forward line, but he has the options to make France one of the most fearsome teams in the international game again. At Euro 2024, Les Bleus were confusingly lifeless in the final third. They were easy to play against as Spain dumped them out in the semi-finals. France have the talent to be much better at the 2026 World Cup.

This is without even mentioning the likes of Randal Kolo Muani, Christopher Nkunku, Marcus Thuram and Kingsley Coman, all of whom have the ability to impact matches at the elite level. France once again boast one of the deepest talent pools in the international game. They should be among the frontrunners in the USA, Canada and Mexico next year.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Mar

2025

Channeling Thomas Tuchel: 100 England fans pick their dream XI

We asked 100 everyday fans to pick their ideal England starting XI and we received 100 different teams.

By Mike Backler

Social Media. Pub. Phone-In. Tabloid. Town square. When it comes to England, no one’s ever happy. We want a team picked on form and not reputation. We want to do away with the big club bias. We want a never ending new dawn of young and hungry picked over tried and tested. We want two wingers. That’s a non-negotiable. We want pAsSiOn. We want the new, exciting one that hasn’t been picked and when he is, we want the next one.

But what does this mean when you put someone under the warm spotlight of picking an actual team? Do the compromises start creeping in?

We asked 100 England fans to pick their England X1 using the FotMob Lineup Builder. Here’s what we found.

Bellingham and who else?

‘Can we have the old Jude Bellingham back?’ seems to be the consensus. Not the Bernabéu Bellingham. The free-scoring, Champions League-winning, El Clásico-owning, messiah-like Bellingham from the adverts. But the Dortmund Bellingham. The box-to-box dream. Combative, boundless energy, ballerina feet in the midfield minefields. The missing link who seemed to knit it all together between Declan Rice and the endless bounty of attacking options at England’s disposal.

100 out of 100 have him starting, but a surprisingly high 73 out of 100 have Europe’s foremost number ten playing in a deeper role, opening the door for England to include another attacking talent.

England’s most free-scoring tournament under Gareth Southgate, at Qatar 2022, kicked off with Bellingham in a deeper role. But does that Bellingham still exist? Does it make any sense to move a player who scores and creates so freely for Real Madrid into a more disciplined role? Is it naive to think he still has that discipline? With the current crop of centre midfielders available, is it a case of… who else?

*England’s starting XI vs. Iran, Qatar World Cup 2022*

There’s always the call for overhaul. To be brave and back the young Lions, but none of the new breed of centre midfielders seem to have fully earned our trust yet. Kobbie Mainoo looked assured at last summer’s Euros but a patchy season sees him only make 16 teams. It’s too early for Adam Wharton with 12 and despite impressive debuts, Curtis Jones makes just one team and Angel Gomes isn’t even considered.

Play two bl**dy wingers!

The English love a winger. Paint on their boots, rampaging up and down the line, turning a full back inside out and whipping the ball into the mixer. To pick a team with anything other than two natural wide men is, well, for want of a better word, woke. And with Bukayo Saka and Anthony Gordon in our ranks, it’s a no-brainer isn’t it? Well, no. Only eight from 100 people surveyed picked them together. The debate about the balance of the side rumbled on all last summer but it still seems fans aren’t sure what the solution is. Grealish, Rashford, Foden, Palmer, Rogers, Bowen, Eze, Gittens. All feature in that role across our 100 teams. It’s a problem England have been wrestling with ever since Ryan Giggs decided he was definitely Welsh. All while the rest of the world couldn’t care less about wingers. Here’s a fun fact: No one has ever won the World Cup with two out-and-out wide-men. Take a look.

It’s a joke!

If you want to feel loved and supported by English fans and media, the absolute best position is to not be picked. The clamour is real. From Jack Grealish in Euro 2020 through James Maddison, Phil Foden, Cole Palmer and now Morgan Gibbs-White. There was a period last season when, pumped up by a few decent displays, Rio Ferdinand claimed that James Ward-Prowse and Raheem Sterling should retire from England after being left out of the squad. In almost all instances, fast forward six months and the player in question is either no longer being mentioned, or they’re now the one the fans want dropped in favour of the new hot thing.

Our 100-strong focus group is an anti-hysteria machine. Gibbs-White may have received a late call up to Thomas Tuchel’s first England squad this week as a replacement but he made it into just two out of 100 teams. Morgan Rogers made 20, Phil Foden 44, Cole Palmer 80 and Bellingham made them all. So that would make Gibbs-White, excellent player that he is, fifth in the pecking order to play No. 10 for England. A season in the Champions League and he may just leapfrog a few. But for now, away from the Talksport reels with “Disgrace”, “Snub”, “Slams” and “Joke” in the title that they love to churn out every squad announcement, it kinda just makes sense doesn’t it?

*England’s starting XI vs. Spain, Euro 2024 Final*

Time for a new dawn!

The argument of form over reputation and of favouring players from big clubs will rear its head time and time again. But the thing about reputations, and shirts at the biggest clubs, is that you have to earn them.

The only area our 100 fans felt we needed real change was at full back and this is more out of necessity.

Trent Alexander-Arnold wins the right-back vote with 60 over veteran Kyle Walker, with 28. The left-back vote count reads like a sad election. Lewis Hall picks up 28 votes. Hapless Luke Shaw still gets 20. 18 year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly wins the day with 30 votes. Branthwaite, Colwill and Konsa fail to trouble the tried and tested Euros’ partnership at centre back.

In our survey’s ‘Most Selected XI’, Harry Kane and Rice make 98 teams. Saka, 96. Pickford, 92. Guéhi and Stones are the most selected defensive partnership with 84 and 72 picks, respectively.

Add Bellingham’s 100, Palmer’s 80 and with Foden’s 44 ousting Gordon’s 36 and you are getting dangerously close to the old guard of England’s Euro 2024 campaign.

So, after ONE HUNDRED different permutations it seems we don’t want a new dawn, we’re not that bothered about form over reputation, or big club bias, or giving youth a chance, or playing two wingers and we can’t agree at all on who should be starting. We just want to attack a bit more. Hear that Tommy!?

To try the FotMob line-up builder yourself, open – this link – from a web browser or head to fotmob.com and look to the right of the page.

Mar

2025

Dan Burn is enjoying his moment

Dan Burn is currently living the dream. On Friday, the 32-year-old was called up to the England for the first time. Two days later, the near-hometown hero from Blyth scored in the Carabao Cup final to end Newcastle United’s 70-year domestic trophy drought. All this for a player who was in the lower leagues until fairly recently.

By Graham Ruthven

Dan Burn’s career path has been an unconventional one. Released by Newcastle at the age of 11, the defender joined Blyth Spartans while working part-time in a supermarket. From there he played non-league football for Darlington before a £350,000 transfer to Fulham. Loan spells at Yeovil Town and Birmingham City followed.

A meandering period saw Burn also play for Wigan and Brighton where he earned a reputation as a dependable, if somewhat unremarkable, performer. When Newcastle re-signed Burn in January 2022, most viewed him as a stop-gap solution as the Magpies fought against the threat of relegation from the Premier League that season.

Since then, though, Burn has proved his worth as an important part of Eddie Howe’s team. New signings have arrived at St James’ Park as part of Newcastle’s squad reconstruction under Saudi Arabian ownership, but the defender has kept his place in the lineup. Only Bruno Guimarães has played more league minutes than Burn this season.

There’s no getting away from the fact that Burn is an unusual player. At 6ft 7”, he has the natural frame of a central defender (or a goalkeeper), and has played the majority of his matches there for Newcastle this season. However, Burn has also show his quality at left back. That’s where he could play for Thomas Tuchel’s England in the upcoming games against Albania and Latvia.

Should Burn make the pitch in either World Cup qualifier, he would become the oldest England debutant since former-Bolton Wanderers striker Kevin Davies 15 years ago. It’s debatable whether when everyone is fit Burn should be part of the squad that goes to the 2026 World Cup, but there’s no doubt about his ability to perform in the short-term.

“I don’t care about people’s opinions – I know what I’m good at,” said Burn when asked about those who may question his place in Tuchel’s squad. “I feel like I have been doubted a lot over my career. Not many people at Darlington would have said I’d be sitting here doing a press conference for England, but as I said it has made me more resilient. I feel I deserve to be here.”

While Burn’s story is remarkable, the patronising tone with which some fans and pundits speak about him with is unwarranted. The 32-year-old will be more than comfortable against international opponents such as Albania and Latvia having held his own against Liverpool in a cup final just a few days ago. Burn is in the squad because he’s one of the best English defenders around.

Tuchel has also placed a focus on leadership since taking over as England boss. This is how he justified the inclusion of 34-year-old Jordan Henderson and it seems the former Chelsea and Bayern Munich manager sees Burn as another figure whose experience will help the team on and off the pitch.

“[Tuchel] wanted me to be in the squad to do what he felt my strengths are,” said Burn. “I thought I could offer just as much off the pitch as on. I feel I’m a leader off and on the pitch, and just sit into that role. It is going to be tough coming with all the international players, but that’s how I feel I can best help the team. He said I’ve been playing well for a long time, so obviously I’m not just coming in to be a cheerleader and help the boys out, I’m here to play.”

Burn’s call-up sets an important precedent for Tuchel at the start of his England tenure. It shows there is more than one pathway to international recognition. It proves to every eligible player that they will be given an opportunity should they work hard enough to climb the ladder like Burn has done over the course of his career.

Ultimately, Burn might be squeezed out of World Cup contention by the likes of Harry Maguire and John Stones who are currently sidelined through injury. In the present squad there is also stiff competition from Marc Guéhi, Levi Colwill, Ezri Konsa and Jarell Quansah for minutes in the centre of the defence not to mention Myles Lewis-Skelly and Tino Livramento who can play at left back.

Having been written off and doubted before, though, Burn knows what it’s like to defy expectations. This is something the 32-year-old has done over his entire career, from Blyth Spartans to winning the Carabao Cup with Newcastle. It should surprise nobody if Burns ends up going to the World Cup.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Mar

2025

Paris FC: Challenging the status quo in the French capital

Paris is not only a cultural hub in Europe but it’s also a hub for sporting talent.

By Ben Bocsák

It’s on the streets of Paris where some of the finest footballers of the modern generation had learned their trades.

At the 2022 Qatar World Cup, nine different national teams had at least one player in their squad who was born in Paris. The French national team had 11.

When it comes to football clubs, Paris Saint Germain is the dominant team in the region. They have won eight league titles in the last decade and continue to attract some of the world’s biggest stars.

Their status at the pinnacle of French football looks uncontested at the moment but a noisy ‘neighbour’ in Paris FC is looking to knock them off their perch in the near future.

For a short period of time Paris FC and Paris Saint Germain had been one and the same after a merger in the 1970s. But this was short-lived. A bitter split occurred in 1972 when Paris’ mayor had an issue with the club being situated in the suburbs of Paris in Saint Germain-en-Laye.

The results of this saw Paris FC remain its status in the first division and hosting matches in the Parc des Princes meanwhile Paris Saint Germain were relegated to the third division.

This would prove to be bittersweet for the former. Paris FC struggled to maintain their competitiveness in the top-flight and were relegated just two seasons after the split. Coincidentally, the same season Paris FC were relegated, Paris Saint Germain were promoted to the top-flight having been buoyed by a new drive and determination to get back to ‘where they belong.’

Ultimately, this saw Paris Saint Germain reseize the Parc des Princes and their status as Paris’ ‘top’ football club.

Meanwhile, Paris FC have been cast into the shadows ever since. A brief foray in the top-flight offered some hope in the 1979/80 season but they were immediately relegated back to Ligue 2.

The subsequent decades have brought little hope for Paris FC. The club has spent most of the 1980s and 1990s in the third and fourth divisions of France playing in semi-professional and amateur leagues.

Since the 2000s though, Paris FC have started to emerge as a force again by investing in young players.

Instead of focusing on the first team, Paris FC has built one of the best developmental academies in France, harnessing the talent of the city.

Over the last decade Paris FC has produced the likes of Ibrahima Konaté, Rayan Aït-Nouri, Mathys Tel, Manu Koné, Loïc Badé, Axel Disasi and Nordi Mukiele who have all gone on to play at the very highest level of the game.

The money brought in through development transfer fees has given Paris FC a new resurgence.

In 2014/15, the club earned promotion back to Ligue 2 and have remained there ever since and this season they look to return back to the top flight since 1980.

But it’s off the pitch where the most interesting changes have occurred.

Earlier this season France’s wealthiest man Bernard Arnault bought a majority 52.4% stake in the club. He is the CEO of LVMH and has an estimated net worth of $170.8 billion according to Forbes. Alongside him, minority investors Red Bull have also put a 10.6% stake in the club and have added Paris FC to their extensive portfolio that includes the likes of RB Leipzig, Red Bull Salzburg and New York Red Bulls.

Red Bull’s football CEO, Jürgen Klopp, is also involved in the project and he has recently been spotted attending games in Paris.

Together the investment group has set some lofty ambitions.

In the press conference announcing his acquisition of the club last year Arnault even opened the doors to Paris FC bringing back former player Ibrahima Konaté in the future.

When asked about the possibility, he replied:

“The idea is to train young people, then, if a former member of the club’s training team wants to come and form the backbone of the club, why not?

“It’s a possibility, but not the group’s basic strategy.”

*Paris FC, soon to be PSG’s very noisy neighbours, literally*

Since then, Paris FC have also announced that from next season the club will be in very close proximity to Paris Saint Germain.

They will be moving to the Stade Jean-Bouin, currently being used by the Stade Francais rugby team which is literally just across the street from Paris Saint Germain’s home of the Parc des Princes.

With the club currently in third place in Ligue 2, just one point off an automatic promotion place, there is a strong possibility Paris FC will return to Ligue 1 after a long hiatus.

They are playing some attractive football, averaging the fourth highest goals (1.6) and the most possession (60.8%) in the league.

But while the signs are promising, these are early days at Paris FC. At the moment only three teams have an older average squad age in Ligue 2 than Paris FC. This is the antithesis of the club’s future vision. With Red Bull involved and strong academy foundations in place, Paris FC will look to build a young team in the same mould as RB Leipzig or Red Bull Salzburg or perhaps even closer to home – the current Paris Saint Germain team.

The ultimately goal is to become a true contender again and to reignite a fierce rivalry that has been dormant in the shadows for decades. If successful, Paris FC can challenge Paris Saint Germain’s hegemony and completely transform the landscape of French football.

These are lofty ambitions but with Arnault, Red Bull and Klopp involved – anything is possible.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 with FotMob this season – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Mar

2025

Premier League Team of the Week: Matchday 29

The FotMob Team of the Week for Matchday 29 is a little strange at first glance as it includes players who didn’t play a single minute of Premier League football this weekend.

By Sam McGuire

They’re included, however, because of their exploits when they starred for Liverpool in their rearranged tie against Aston Villa ahead of the Carabao Cup final. And the XI will be subject to change again, when Newcastle and Crystal Palace play their rearranged game in April.

So, with that in mind, here’s your FotMob Team of the Week, as it stands!

Goalkeeper: David Raya

Raya got the nod in the FotMob Team of the Week for Matchday 29 following his performance in Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Chelsea. The former Brentford shot-stopper made two saves as the Gunners cut the lead at the top of the Premier League to 12 points. His showing earned him a FotMob rating of 8.3 having also acted as a sweeper three times and recorded eight recoveries.

Right-Back: Trent Alexander-Arnold

Alexander-Arnold put on quite the show against Aston Villa. The right-back scored the equaliser for the Reds, albeit the effort was deflected past Emiliano Martínez. But he caught the eye as a creator too. He carved out four chances against the Villans at Villa Park. The No. 66 won 100% of his tackles and 50% of his duels to round out an impressive 66-minute cameo.

Centre-Back: Nikola Milenković

Milenković had the least number of touches (37) of anyone to play 90 minutes in Nottingham Forest’s 4-2 win over Ipswich Town. But he certainly made those touches count. He scored and assisted as Nuno Espírito Santo’s side opened up a six point advantage between themselves and fifth-placed Manchester City. He completed 81% of his passes, won two of his four tackles and cleared the ball on nine occasions. The former Fiorentina man was flawless in duels, winning all five.

Centre-Back: Ibrahima Konaté

Konaté completed 90% of his attempted passes against Unai Emery’s men back in February. The France international also created a chance, just to hammer home the idea he’s improved as a ball-player this season, as well as completing 100% of his attempted dribbles. He won all four of his tackles, cleared an effort off the line and made two recoveries. Konaté also won seven of his eight ground duels and one of his two aerial duels at Villa Park.

Left-Back: Antonee Robinson

Robinson was in fine form as Fulham claimed a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace. He didn’t add to his assists haul for the season but he did complete the most dribbles of anyone in the match (three) while also completing 84% of his passes. The left-back won four of his six attempted tackles, made three interceptions and won 11 of 14 duels in what was a dominant showing, with and without the ball.

Midfield: Bruno Fernandes

Fernandes followed up his Europa League hat-trick with a Man of the Match performance in Manchester United’s win over Leicester City. He finished the game with a goal and two assists having created six chances (the most of any player on the pitch) on his way to a FotMob rating of 9.6. He also had a 100% success rate with dribbles and was accurate with six of his nine attempted long passes. He won three of four tackles, recovered the ball 16 times and won six of 10 duels. It was some performance from the United skipper.

Midfield: Christian Nørgaard

Nørgaard was the match-winner for Brentford as they claimed a shock win over Bournemouth on Saturday evening. The 31-year-old completed the comeback victory for the Bees to cap off a fine individual showing. Nørgaard created two chances, won the most tackles (four), won seven of eight duels and recovered the ball on 11 occasions at the Vitality Stadium.

Attack: Anthony Elanga

Elanga continues to catch the eye for Nottingham Forest. The 22-year-old scored twice in the 4-2 win over Ipswich Town, scoring with the only two shots he had in the game. He’s now on five goals and eight assists for the campaign. Elanga was barely involved, attempting just 15 passes during his 67 minutes on the pitch. But he made his moments count.

Attack: Jean-Ricner Bellegarde

Bellegarde played his part for a Cunha-less Wolves side. Deployed as an attacking midfielder behind Jørgen Strand Larsen, the 26-year-old assisted two goals. His performance could best be described as impactful. He wasn’t tight in possession, completing just 61% of his passes, but he finished the game having created two chances and adding two assists to his haul for the campaign. He didn’t complete a single dribble, but did win 50% of his tackles as well as seven of his nine duels. Bellegarde did what was needed to help his side get over the line.

Attack: Mohamed Salah

It was a standard showing for Salah at Villa Park back in February. He grabbed yet another goal and another assist to add to his ridiculous haul this season. The Liverpool No. 11 carved out two chances against the Villans, had nine touches in the penalty area, attempted four dribbles and earned himself a FotMob rating of 8.4, the highest of the match. For others, this would be one of their standout weeks of the season. For Salah, it was a normal week in what is becoming a record-breaking campaign.

Attack: Jørgen Strand Larsen

The Wolves forward also stepped up in the absence of Matheus Cunha. The 25-year-old was the match-winner for Vítor Pereira’s side as they opened up a nine-point advantage over the relegation zone with a 2-1 win over Southampton. Strand Larsen scored twice, remarkable when you consider he had just two shots during the 90 minutes against the Saints. He was clinical for Wolves as they won what was tipped to be a huge six-pointer. He was also a bit of a brute in the air, winning four of his five duels. All in all, it was a positive showing by the Norwegian No. 9.

(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.

Mar

2025

Preview: Inter Miami travel to Eastern Conference rivals Atlanta United

Lionel Messi is back in action ahead of Inter Miami’s trip to Atlanta on Sunday, where he could be in line to make his first MLS appearance since February.

By James Nalton

The Messi question

Lionel Messi hasn’t featured in an MLS match since February 22nd when he played the full 90 minutes in the season opener against New York City.

He has since missed the wins against Houston Dynamo and Charlotte FC, as well as the first leg of their Concacaf Champions Cup last 16 tie against Jamaican side Cavalier.

He did return for the second leg against Cavalier in Kingston on Thursday night, coming off the bench in the second half and scoring in the final minutes of the game to give Inter Miami a 4-0 aggregate victory.

With Miami already in charge of the tie, this could be seen as a move by head coach Javier Mascherano to get Messi back in the groove ahead of making an appearance against Atlanta United on Sunday.

An (unexpected?) resilience

Inter Miami’s recent image is one of flamboyant, big-name signings and individual star performances, but throughout their Messi-era they have also had to rely on hard-fought narrow victories.

These types of performances have been required in most games so far this season, having had a player sent off in all three of their MLS matches so far in 2025.

Two of those red cards came in the first half, but they still managed to claim points in those games — a 2-2 draw against New York City in the season opener, and a 1-0 win against Charlotte last weekend.

Mascherano is still a relative unknown quantity as a coach, but this ability to win ugly and without Messi has been promising for Miami’s chances come the playoffs at the end of the season.

Tadeo Allende’s impact

Mascherano has to take some credit for Inter Miami’s resilient start. But the team has been helped by very useful performances from some new players.

We picked out Telasco Segovia as a player to watch ahead of the game against Houston, and he has certainly lived up to that billing, scoring twice in a 4-1 win in that game, but the other standout attacker in Messi’s absence, aside from Luis Suárez, has been new signing on loan from Celta Vigo, Tadeo Allende.

The 26-year-old Argentine has scored in both his MLS starts, including netting the all-important goal in the win against Charlotte, and has also scored twice in the Champions Cup.

Playing from either flank, he has the highest average FotMob rating of any Miami player not named Messi or Suárez.

What about Atlanta?

With a new head coach, the return of a club legend, and a league record signing, Atlanta have stated their intention to challenge Inter Miami for MLS honours this season.

Ex-Celtic manager Ronny Deila arrived as the team’s new head coach having won the MLS Cup previously with New York City FC, Miguel Almirón returned to the side where he made his name before joining Newcastle, and Emmanuel Latte Lath joined from Middlesbrough for a reported £22.5m — the highest transfer fee ever paid by an MLS team.

Atlanta are still trying to get all these new parts to click and have only won one of their three games this season, but their intention of challenging at the top is clear.

Having knocked Inter Miami out of the playoffs in an upset last season, they will be looking to do something similar in 2025.

Prediction

A 2-2 draw. With no more Champions Cup games until April, Inter Miami can focus solely on MLS, but Atlanta will be up for this game, as will their fans in the Mercedes-Benz stadium, which should be rocking for such a big match.

(Cover Image from IMAGO)

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

Mar

2025

Preview: Ruud van Nistelrooy’s Leicester face former club Manchester United

Leicester City’s great escape must begin against Manchester United on Sunday if they are to stand any chance of avoiding relegation back to the Championship.

By Graham Ruthven

Foxes never quit

Sitting nine points from safety in the Premier League table, Leicester City can’t wait any longer to make their great escape from relegation trouble starting with this weekend’s home match against Manchester United.

Ruud van Nistelrooy’s team enter Sunday’s game in dreadful form. Leicester have lost their last six games in-a-row in all competitions with even bottom-of-the-table Southampton in better form than the Foxes.

However, they say ‘Foxes never quit’ at the King Power Stadium and so there remains a belief around the club that Leicester can secure their Premier League survival even if others have lost faith.

Manchester United, meanwhile, are making tentative steps forward under Rúben Amorim. Indeed, the Red Devils are unbeaten in their last three league games and are fresh from having made the Europa League quarter-finals on Thursday.

Another win over Leicester this weekend would represent yet more progress for United after a big week of off-the-field news which saw the club announce plans for a new stadium.

Key players

Jamie Vardy has scored six times in 18 games against Manchester United over the course of his career and, even at the age of 38, will give Leicester threat in behind on Sunday.

Bobby De Cordova-Reid was the last player to score for Leicester, and that came against Manchester United in the FA Cup. However, the Jamaican started on the bench against Chelsea in the Foxes’ last fixture.

Van Nistelrooy needs much more out of his attacking line for Leicester to stand any chance of pulling themselves out of danger. The likes of Patson Daka, Bilal El Khannouss and Vardy must step up.

Bruno Fernandes remains United’s most consistent difference-maker, as demonstrated by his hat trick in the Europa League victory over Real Sociedad during the week. The Portuguese will be a goal threat at the King Power Stadium.

Joshua Zirkzee continues to grow in stature and is expected to start in the Manchester United forward in the number 10 position Amorim has used to get more out of the Netherlands international.

Ayden Heaven could keep his place in the lineup after impressing off the bench against Arsenal last weekend and from the start against Real Sociedad. The teenager already looks the part as a member of Amorim’s back three.

Team news

Abdul Fatawu is the only player still sidelined for Leicester City with Ricardo Pereira and Harry Souttar both available for selection again after a period out through injury. Odsonne Édouard, however, is also a doubt for the home team this weekend. Otherwise, van Nistelrooy has a full squad to choose from.

United still have a long injury list to contend with. Indeed, Amad Diallo, Lisandro Martínez, Mason Mount, Luke Shaw, Kobbie Mainoo and Jonny Evans are all sidelined while Harry Maguire, Leny Yoro and Manuel Ugarte are all carrying knocks.

Prediction

With United enjoying a better period of late and Leicester’s problems compounded by Wolves’ win, on Saturday, which extended the gap between themselves and safety, we have to go with an away win: Leicester 0-1 Manchester United.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Mar

2025

Preview: Celtic vs. Rangers meet for final Derby of the season

Celtic can take another step towards the Scottish Premiership title with an Old Firm Derby victory over Rangers on Sunday.

By Graham Ruthven

Bragging rights

The Scottish title race is over. There was never really one in the first place. Celtic will stroll to their fourth successive Scottish Premiership title no matter what unfolds against Rangers on Sunday. Old Firm derbies, however, always matter. Rangers won’t win the title on Sunday, but they could win bragging rights, and in Scotland they’re sometimes worth more.

16 points divide Glasgow’s big two at the top of the table and not even that fully illustrates the advantage Celtic currently hold over Rangers. Brendan Rodgers’ side lost the last derby, but that was something of an anomaly. Before that, Celtic swept aside their rivals in a 3-0 victory at Celtic Park and overcame Rangers in the Scottish League Cup final.

Interim manager Barry Ferguson has been hired to point the Ibrox club in the right direction again, something he did by guiding his team past Fenerbahçe into the Europa League quarter-finals. However, 120 minutes of gruelling continental action will have taken it out of Rangers. That could be a factor on Sunday.

On the balance of what we have seen in the Scottish Premiership, Celtic should coast to three points this weekend, but as the last meeting between these two rivals showed (when Rangers won 3-0) logic doesn’t always shine through on derby day.

Key players

Celtic will look to dominate possession in the centre of the pitch meaning Callum McGregor will be a key figure for the home team. Reo Hatate will also give the Hoops creativity in midfield with Arne Engels expected to complete the central unit.

Daizen Maeda will lead the line for Celtic with the Japanese forward frequently a thorn in the side of James Tavernier. Rodgers could opt for Adam Idah as a more orthodox centre forward, but Maeda’s pace gives Celtic a different dimension in the final third.

At the back, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Auston Trusty will give Celtic a sound defensive foundation with Alistair Johnston a funnel into the attack down the right side.

Rangers’ strategy could see them play on the break like they did to great effect in the away victory over Fenerbahçe last week. This would put the onus on Václav Cerny and Cyriel Dessers to carry the attack in open space.

There will be pressure on the likes of Jack Butland and John Souttar in front of him to keep the Celtic forward line at arm’s length. Meanwhile, Tavernier is always a threat from set pieces.

Team news

Both Celtic and Rangers will have a relatively clean bill of health for Sunday’s Old Firm Derby.

Paulo Bernardo and James Forrest are both injury doubts for Celtic while Robin Propper is also carrying a knock for Rangers although it’s not known yet if the latter will have any fresh injuries after Thursday’s penalty shootout win over Fenerbahçe.

Rodgers’ biggest decision concerns who will start for Celtic at left back although Jeffrey Schlupp appears to have the edge over Greg Taylor at the moment.

Prediction

Celtic need less than a handful of wins to confirm the title, so a victory here, against the only side who can mathematically catch them would virtually secure that fourth straight league triumph. For that reason, we think Celtic will be going all out for the win: Celtic 2-0 Rangers.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Mar

2025

Preview: London rivals meet in top four clash as Arsenal host Chelsea

Arsenal should have enough about them to see off an injury-ravaged Chelsea.

By Ian King

Out of sorts in the league?

It was all so different for Arsenal at the start of February, basking in the glow of a 5-1 win against Manchester City which seemed to make a mockery of all that talk about how they should have signed a striker in the January transfer window.

But that was then. Arsenal have won one of the Premier League matches they’ve played since (and that was away to The Free-Fallin’ Leicester City), and they’ve failed to win their last three, scoring one goal in the process.

Chelsea also recently had a run of one win in four games but they’ve picked up in their last two, although the fact that these came against Leicester and Southampton casts doubt over whether this can realistically be called a ‘revival’ or not just yet.

Recent H2H not good viewing for the Blues

Chelsea’s record in this fixture in recent years has been pretty terrible. The two clubs have met eleven times over the last five years and Chelsea have only won once. Earlier this season they drew 1-1 at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea supporters looking for something positive to bring into this game can hold onto the fact that they have the biggest win in this fixture, a 6-0 rout at Stamford Bridge back in March 2014.

Key players

Arsenal’s only goalscorer over their last three Premier League matches has been Declan Rice, who scored an outstanding equaliser at Old Trafford last weekend. There are still goals to be found from midfield if the attacking players are struggling. For Chelsea, Cole Palmer has been going through a bit of a dip of late, best evidenced by his recent penalty miss against Leicester. Chelsea need him firing on all cylinders if they’re to get much from this match.

Team News

A 7-1 win in the first leg of their Champions League tie against PSV afforded Mikel Arteta the luxury of making seven players from the team that drew at Manchester United last weekend. Expect the majority of them to return.

Arsenal have no fresh injuries, but their list of long-term absentees was already long enough. Gabriel Martinelli was on the bench at Old Trafford last weekend but could start this one. Raheem Sterling is ineligible to play against his former club.

Marc Guiu, Nicolas Jackson and Chukwunonso Madueke will all be missing for Chelsea. Reece James and Cole Palmer have both been ill, while Malo Gusto picked up a slight injury but could also be in their squad. Romeo Lavia’s return from injury is also due soon.

Prediction

With Manchester City stumbling at Nottingham Forest last weekend Chelsea clambered up to fourth spot in the Premier League, but whether they can stay there is another matter. Arsenal should probably give up on hoping that Liverpool completely implode at the very top of the table, though they do need to just keep grinding out those wins. This one may not be a classic, but I’d still favour a narrow 2-1 win to Arsenal.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Mar

2025

Preview: Atlético Madrid and Barcelona return focus to LaLiga

Just one point separates third-placed Atlético Madrid from league leaders Barcelona before they do battle in the last LaLiga fixture before the final international break of the season.

By Neel Shelat

No time for Atlético to lick their wounds after midweek heartbreak

Atlético Madrid suffered yet another Champions League defeat to crosstown rivals Real Madrid in particularly heartbreaking fashion on Wednesday night. After a spirited performance at the Metropolitano to win 1-0 on the night and take the tie to extra time and penalties, a cruel twist of fate saw Julián Alvarez slip just as he took his shot. Although the ball went in, VAR noticed a minute double-touch and had to classify the effort as a miss. Marcos Llorente failed to hit the target when he later had the chance to level it up, and Jan Oblak could not keep out Antonio Rüdiger’s winner despite getting the best part of a hand to it. Once again, it was just not meant to be for Atléti in the Euroderbi.

But, such is the nature of the elite level of football that they have no time to dwell on what might have been. Diego Simeone was seen encouraging his players and rallying the crowd to get behind them post-match, so he surely understands the importance of staying motivated and fighting tooth and nail until the very end.

Atlético making the Metropolitano a fortress

Indeed, Atlético Madrid have built much of their success so far this season on home turf. They are on a 13-match unbeaten run at the Metropolitano that stretches back to last November, with results including wins against tough opponents such as Bayer Leverkusen and Athletic Club. In fact, Atléti are the only team to remain unbeaten at home in the current LaLiga season.

Barcelona stand in Atléti’s way for both domestic titles

Atlético Madrid can now only compete for the league and cup, where Real could well dash their hopes again. First up, though, Los Colchoneros must overcome Barcelona in both competitions. They have already defeated the Catalans in the reverse league fixture with a dramatic stoppage-time winner that propelled them to the top of the standings at the turn of the year. They put up another late show last month to draw 4-4 in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final, which will be decisively settled early next month.

A clash of different tactical styles

Atlético Madrid and Barcelona are sure to adopt very different approaches in this match, just as they have done all season. The hosts’ gameplan is sure to centre around defensive solidity and keeping things tight at the back, whereas Hansi Flick’s side will be much more attack-minded and take bigger risks along the way.

Their two previous encounters this season showed just how differently their matches can turn out. We could very easily get a high-scoring thriller if Atléti are forced out of their shell, but a much quieter game with a couple of decisive moments is just as likely.

Prediction

Only one side has scored in these teams’ last five meetings at the Metropolitano, but that streak could well end on Sunday. The score could be almost anything, but we’ll go for a 2-2 draw.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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