Page 23 – The Pulse of Football

Apr

2025

Lewandowski and Mbappe’s hunt for goals could determine the Spanish title race

Barcelona and Real Madrid’s LaLiga title race is being defined by the goals of two relentless goalscorers chasing their own personal accolade.

By Graham Ruthven

Less than 24 hours after Kylian Mbappé had scored twice in Real Madrid’s 3-2 win over Leganés, Robert Lewandowski responded with a brace of his own. It’s been like this all season. While Lewandowski and Mbappé started the 2024/25 campaign with question marks against them for different reasons, both forwards can’t stop finding the net.

It’s an individual duel that is reminiscent of the peak Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo days when the pair dominated Spanish and European football. The rivalry between Barcelona and Real Madrid was defined by the goalscoring exploits of the two best players in the world for years. They drove each other on.

Between 2010 and 2021, the Pichichi (the award handed to LaLiga’s top scorer every season) was shared exclusively between Messi and Ronaldo. Now, Lewandowski and Mbappé are the ones scoring goals for fun, certainly in the case of the former who remains one of his generation’s best finishers even at the age of 36.

*Lewandowski’s shot map, LaLiga 2024/25*

Lewandowski and Mbappé aren’t quite putting up peak Messi or Ronaldo numbers – it’s worth remembering Messi scored 60 goals in all competitions in the 2011/12 season while Ronaldo scored over 50 for three seasons in a row around the same time – but they are very much providing the cutting edge as this season’s Spanish title race comes to a head.

There’s just three points between Barca and Real Madrid at the top of LaLiga. Until recently, Atlético Madrid were also part of the title equation. A run of just three wins in 10 leagues match, however, has seen Diego Simeone’s team drop off the pace. It would take a monumental effort for Atleti to claw back a nine-point deficit at this stage.

And so the race between Spain’s top two could come down to goals – who can score the most. Both Barcelona and Real Madrid are far stronger in the attack than they are at the back. They have made the bet that no matter how defensively vulnerable they are, Lewandowski and Mbappé will get them out of trouble.

As a strategy, it’s working out well for both. Lewandowski is currently leading the Pichichi pursuit with 25 goals in just 28 games. Impressively, the Polish striker is only slightly out-performing his Expected Goals (xG) of 24.0 for the season, suggesting he is converting at a sustainable rate. His goalscoring stands a good chance of continuing until the end of the season.

Mbappé’s xG for the season stands at 19.5 from which he has found the back of the net 22 times. There were questions over how Carlo Ancelotti would integrate the Frenchman into his forward line, but Mbappé has provided an emphatic answer time and time again. He is now Los Blancos’ main man in the final third.

“It’s difficult to compare different players,” said Ancelotti when asked if Mbappé could become one of Real Madrid’s best-ever players after matching Ronaldo’s tally of 22 goals in his first season at the club. “What I can hope for is that Mbappé can achieve what Cristiano Ronaldo achieved at Real Madrid. I think he has the possibility to do it. If he does that, he’ll be a legend at Real Madrid like Cristiano Ronaldo is.”

Of course, Mbappé and Ronaldo are very different players, as are Mbappé and Lewandowski. While the Frenchman likes to make cutting runs across the pitch from a starting position on the left, the Pole is more of a penalty box poacher. Either way, Lewandowski and Mbappé are perfect for their respective teams.

Barca are quite simply the most exhilarating team in Europe right now. Between Lewandowski, Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, Dani Olmo, Pedri and the rest, the Catalans boast an electric frontline. Hansi Flick has reinvigorated a team that had lost its way under Xavi Hernández. Barcelona play on the edge at times, but the results speak for themselves.

Real Madrid aren’t quite so clear in their identity, but have the talent to decide a match at any given moment. Mbappé has found his best form despite missing more Big Chances (22) than any other player in LaLiga this season. As good as 26-year-old has been in his first season in Spain, it’s scary to consider he could get even better as he grows more comfortable.

Ultimately, the finale of the 2024/25 campaign won’t be remembered for the player that lifts the Pichichi, but the team that clinches the title itself. That’s what really matters to Barcelona and Real Madrid. Nonetheless, Lewandowski and Mbappé are providing the firepower in the never-ending war between Spain’s two biggest clubs.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from LaLiga on FotMob – with in-depth stat coverage including player ratings. Download the free app here.

Apr

2025

Preview: Everton aim to dent Liverpool’s title hopes in the Merseyside Derby

Liverpool’s lead at the top of the Premier League table is now down to single digits. Arsenal’s 2-1 win over Fulham on Tuesday night means the Reds find themselves just nine points clear at the summit, albeit with a game in hand over their title rivals.

By Sam McGuire

The Merseyside derby presents Arne Slot’s side with the opportunity to, once again, move 12 points clear with just eight games left to play.

Everton have already dented their neighbour’s title hopes this season. They’ll be hoping to repeat the trick at Anfield on Wednesday evening.

*The last Merseyside Derby at Goodison Park*

Are the Liverpool wheels falling off?

Liverpool are unbeaten in the Premier League since September. They have the best home record in the English top flight with 11 wins from 14 matches and that sole defeat against Nottingham Forest. They’ve varied dominant showings with grinding out results when it matters. They’ve shown they have the resilience of champions.

Their healthy lead at the top should be enough to get them over the line and if they fail to lift the Premier League title in May, it will have been a dramatic decline never seen before.

All things point to the Reds claiming their 20th league title. But there’s something niggling away in the background.

The Reds lost back-to-back matches prior to the international break. Paris Saint-Germain, at Anfield, knocked Liverpool out of the Champions League on penalties. Newcastle United then ended a 70-year wait for a trophy by beating Slot’s men in the Carabao Cup final.

The last time Liverpool put in a performance of champions was back in February when they swept Newcastle aside at Anfield. The longer the poor performances last, the smaller their lead at the gap will become.

This is a big one for the Reds. Bigger than people realise.

Sticky Toffees

If you’re a glass half full type of person, you’ll say that Everton are unbeaten in six.

If you’re a glass half empty kind of person, you’ll point out the Toffees have just one win in their last six in the Premier League.

David Moyes’ side are draw specialists. They’ve drawn three of their last four 1-1. During this six game spell, they’ve also picked up two 2-2 draws – this includes the game against Liverpool at Goodison Park.

Everton have been difficult to beat. With a bit more quality in attack, a number of these draws would likely have been turned into wins. The Blues are without key attackers in Dwight McNeil, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Iliman Ndiaye.

Here’s the thing though, they don’t need a win at Anfield. Everton are well clear of the dropzone – 17 points to be exact. They aren’t going to claim a European spot either. They have the luxury of just existing for the final nine matches and ruining the hopes and dreams of other teams, starting with Liverpool.

If they avoid defeat, they, once again, dent Liverpool’s title hopes. And that will be seen as a win by the blue half of Merseyside.

Mo Salah farewell tour continues

Latest reports seem to suggest Salah is interested in moving to Saudi Arabia when his contract expires at the end of the season.

If this is to be his last campaign in the English top-flight, he’s going out on a high.

He’s currently tied for the most goal involvements (44) in a 38-game season and there are still nine matches remaining. He’s just three goal involvements shy of the all-time Premier League record of 47 (recorded by Alan Shearer and Andrew Cole back when it was a 42 game season).

The Liverpool No. 11 looks destined to shatter that record. He could also become the first player since Thierry Henry to record 20+ goals and 20+ assists in a single campaign. And he’s doing this at the age of 32 while his time at Anfield is supposedly winding down.

If this is to be his last Merseyside Derby, he’s going to want to go out on a high.

The battle of the injuries

Liverpool are without a host of defenders for this clash.

Trent Alexander-Arnold is still ruled out with an ankle injury. Joe Gomez and Conor Bradley are both missing with hamstring injuries, though the latter is back training but this game has, according to reports, come too soon for the Northern Ireland international.

Slot’s options are limited, so Jarell Quansah will likely operate as a makeshift right-back once again.

Everton, meanwhile, are without attackers. Calvert-Lewin, Ndiaye and McNeil will all miss out, meaning Moyes can’t exactly tinker with his final third options. Will he be able to put out an attack to trouble Liverpool’s weakened backline or will the likes of Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté be enough to nullify whatever Everton can put together?

Prediction

If Liverpool want to win the title, this is a game they have to win. They’re going to want to put in a good showing as a reaction to the disappointments prior to the international break, so we’re going with a 2-1 win for the hosts.

(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.

Apr

2025

Preview: AC meets Inter in a Coppa semifinal edition of the Derby della Madonnina

Wednesday’s Derby della Madonnina will pit two historic rivals against each other with AC Milan and Inter in contrasting form.

By Graham Ruthven

Rivals by name only

Sérgio Conceição has only been at AC Milan for three months, but there is already a sense that the 50-year-old is losing his grip of the job. The Rossoneri are struggling badly for consistent form and everyone associated with the San Siro club is under pressure.

Sunday’s defeat to Napoli exposed many of the issues being suffered by Conceição’s team. AC Milan are struggling to get the best out of their attack. Christian Pulisic was anonymous against Napoli. So too was João Félix.

Defensively, AC Milan were all over the place and struggled for any sort of structure or shape in transition. This is something Inter could lay bare such is the speed and directness they have in attack.

Inter have no such problems. Simone Inzaghi’s side are on a five-game winning run in all competitions. They are top of Serie A and are shaping to be Champions League contenders. The Nerazzurri are currently the dominant force in the rivalry.

A place in the Coppa Italia final is on the line and Wednesday’s first leg will set the tone for what could be a memorable tie.

*AC Milan are unbeaten in the three previous derby games played*

Key players

Conceição has a number of decisions to make with his lineup. Santiago Giménez came off the bench against Napoli to make an impact and could start ahead of Tammy Abraham.

Luka Jović is another who could be rotated into the team with Álex Jiménez a possible option at right back over Kyle Walker who has still to find his best form since making the January move to San Siro.

Pulisic could be a difference-maker for AC Milan. However, the USA international has recently been a shadow of the player he was in the first half of the season.

With Lautaro Martínez out through injury, it will be on Marcus Thuram to lead the line for Inter in Wednesday’s Coppa Italia semi-final. The Frenchman has scored 16 goals in all competitions this season.

Inter’s midfield of Nicolo Barella, Hakan Çalhanoğlu and Henrikh Mkhitaryan will look to control the derby in the centre of the pitch. Meanwhile, Denzel Dumfries is a funnel into the attack down the right side.

Team news

Ruben Loftus-Cheek underwent appendix surgery over the weekend and will miss Wednesday’s derby encounter while Emerson Royal is still sidelined with an injury.

Yunus Musah missed Sunday’s league match against Napoli through suspension and is available again to face Inter in the Coppa Italia. The American could come into the midfield unit to provide some energy.

Martínez suffered a hamstring string on international duty with Argentina. In his absence, Inzaghi faces a choice between Joaquin Correa, and Marko Arnautović alongside Thuram with Mehdi Taremi struggling with illness.