Arda Guler: Excelling despite limited game time at Real Madrid

Arda Guler: Excelling despite limited game time at Real Madrid

While Arda Güler has struggled for regular minutes within Carlo Ancelotti’s stacked Real Madrid side this season, the Turkish wonderkid’s impressively shone in his recent outings.


By Edward Stratmann


Handed some valuable starts against Leganes and Liverpool, plus producing the goods as a second-half substitute vs. Getafe, there’s been much to like about what he’s brought to the table in the absence of Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo (note: Rodrygo did make his return in the Getafe game).

Illustrating why he’s considered one of the hottest prospects in Europe, the 19-year-old’s technical wizardry, intelligent movement and game-changing capabilities have been evident.

“Arda has contributed a lot when it comes to creativity in the final third, he has been close to scoring goals, he has played a complete game,” explained Ancelotti after the Leganes victory.

“These are players that we can count on at this moment because the demands of the games are very high. We need everyone going forward.”

Eager to stamp his mark following an injury-interrupted first campaign with Los Blancos, where he still underlined his quality by scoring six LaLiga goals in just 373 minutes before shining for Türkiye at the Euros, he’ll be keen to keep up his momentum.

Such a master with the ball at his feet, the talent labelled the ‘Turkish Lionel Messi’ wreaks havoc on the dribble, with his razor sharp changes of pace and direction, crafty repertoire of manoeuvres to outfox foes, low centre of gravity and Velcro-like first touch and ball control ensuring he’s a handful for any defender.

Press resistant, excelling at weaving away from danger in close quarters and showing terrific awareness, it’s been hugely impressive watching him flex his muscles in this compartment.

Dangerous both when given time and space to surge ahead and in slower, methodical build-up, the man who relishes any 1v1 situation poses a massive threat no matter what scenario he’s confronted with.

Güler possession stats per 90, LaLiga 2024/25

Capable of operating centrally and out wide, the classy, balanced playmaker’s passing elevates his menace, with him parlaying vision, invention and execution brilliantly.

Composed under pressure and an instinctive reader of the play, this allows him to pinpoint colleagues with incisive through balls, penetrative line breaking passes, tidy interplay in confined zones and measured crosses, cutbacks and set pieces. 

Güler passing stats per 90, LaLiga 2024/25

Never afraid to shoot when in range, his aptitude in this regard definitely sets him apart from many younger players. Blessed with a powerful shot, but also capable of placing his strikes, Güler’s finishing is another key weapon in his arsenal.

Indeed, as can be seen in the graphic below from last season, and his 73% shot accuracy, 1.45 goals per 90, 0.35 expected goals per 90, 3.62 shots per 90 and six goals from 15 shots depicts his nuisance (even though this was from a relatively small sample size).

Güler shot map, LaLiga 2023/24

Quick to identify and exploit vacant spaces, his movement compounds issues for his adversaries, for he’s an expert at finding space in between the lines, in the half spaces and when venturing into the box.

Effectively targeting gaps either side of opposition backlines and shrewd at noticing when defenders are out of position or preoccupied, he duly pounces, which his 6.08 and 5.07 touches inside the opposition box from this and last season serves as a testament to.

The Ankara-born star on the rise has shown his willingness to contribute defensively as well, an area he’s constantly refining his craft in with every passing week on his way to winning 7.95 duels per 90 this campaign.

By the numbers, upon comparing him to teammate Brahim Díaz this season using FotMob data, and Güler admirably holds the ascendancy in a host of metrics such as shots per 90, shots on target per 90, XG per 90 and XA per 90.

Güler vs. Díaz player comparison, LaLiga 2024/25

Destined for a terrific future at the top level and boasting all the ingredients to develop into a truly world-class player, it appears the only things that could hinder him are injuries and securing game time in this fiercely competitive squad. 

“He has a great future if he stays healthy. What sets Arda apart from other young players is that he is open to learning. Since he arrived he paid a lot of attention to everything we did before and after training. There aren’t many players like that today,” insisted Real Madrid legend Toni Kroos to Sky.

“He really wants to learn and improve. His finishing and his left foot are incredible, we all noticed that from the first training session.”

Former Los Blancos coach and current Fenerbahçe boss in José Mourinho also offered some intriguing insights on the inordinately gifted phenom. “Arda is showing great personality and exceptional quality. To play at that club, personality is crucial. Players must internalise that they are good enough to play there. They can’t be afraid,” he stated to HT Spor.

“Ancelotti is a great coach to learn from. Playing for the Turkish national team and competing in major events like the Euro is also important for him to feel the responsibility of representing a great country.”

Growing all the time working under the exceptional Ancelotti and through training with a plethora of established aces at Madrid, he’s unquestionably in a tremendous environment to continue progressing.

Desperate to be more involved, there’s even been calls from Türkiye regarding their jewel’s lack of action, such is the concern at his predicament. Giants of the game in his homeland like Nihat Kahveci and Tayfun Korkat have expressed their worry and noted how detrimental spending too much time on the bench can be. They did, however, both praise his bravery and mental strength for taking on the challenge to join a powerhouse like Real Madrid.

“I pray for him to show his immense talent. He is a player of the highest calibre, and he thrives in leadership roles on the field. He needs to play more to develop. If Ancelotti gives him the continuity, he will progress spectacularly. It would have been easy for him to move elsewhere and become a figure, but he had the courage to stay, even though he knew it would be tough to secure a spot in the line-up,” commented Kahveci.

Still so young and with immense scope for improvement, only time will tell how his crusade unfolds. But if the determined Turk can keep grasping his chances with both hands then he’ll surely propel himself up the pecking order in his quest to contribute on a more frequent basis and fulfill his enormous potential.

If he can’t, it’s not all bad, for there’s plenty of clubs waiting to snap up the talented Güler if things don’t work out in Madrid. He’s just that good.


(Cover image from IMAGO)


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

Posted by Bill Biss
Preview: Real Madrid get back to domestic action against neighbours Getafe

Preview: Real Madrid get back to domestic action against neighbours Getafe

Real Madrid made unwanted history on Wednesday evening in the Champions League. The 2-0 defeat to Liverpool was the first time the club had lost three matches in the group stage of the competition in their history.


By Ross Kilvington


They currently occupy 24th place in the convoluted Champions League table having accrued just six points from 15. But, despite the erratic form in Europe, Madrid do head into the clash against Getafe with a decent domestic record, as you might expect.

A victory will get Los Blancos back on track, but can their opponents take advantage of their midweek failure?

The injury situation

Madrid lacked something in the final third at Anfield, missing two big chances while finishing the match with an xG of 1.24.

It was evident that Carlo Ancelotti was missing Rodrygo and Vinícius Júnior, who could both miss the clash against Getafe. And potentially the next 2-3 weeks also. Rodrigo has, though, reportedly returned to full training.

Los Blancos’s injury list just keeps growing. Dani Carvajal and David Alaba are both recovering from Cruciate ligament injuries, while Éder Militão suffered a serious injury at the start of November, keeping him out for the rest of the season.

The treatment room isn’t as busy at Getafe, with the club having much better luck with regards to injuries this season.

Real will aim to continue their fine form against Getafe

Since the start of the 2022/23 campaign, Madrid have won all four league meetings with Getafe, scoring six times and conceding just once.

Indeed, you have to go back to January 2022 for Getafe’s last victory against Ancelotti’s men. On that occasion, Madrid were by far the better side, recording 15 shots and having 74% possession throughout the tie, but a goal from Enes Ünal (now at Bournemouth) after just nine minutes condemned the side to an unlikely defeat.

The last time Getafe won at the Bernabéu? August 2012, when a certain José Mourinho was in charge. Given the Jekyll and Hyde nature of Madrid’s performances lately, this 12-year wait could, in theory, end on Sunday.

Key players

Kylian Mbappé will again be under the spotlight. The Frenchman hasn’t quite settled in as many expected at the Bernabéu, scoring nine goals across 18 matches, a far cry from his scoring exploits at PSG.

Against Liverpool, he missed a penalty, created zero chances and succeeded with just 50% of his dribble attempts. Ancelotti will be hoping the former PSG star can put this poor showing behind him, hopefully by adding to his seven LaLiga goals already this term.

Mbappé shot map, LaLiga 2024/25

Jude Bellingham scored in the home clash against Getafe last season and given he has netted in the previous two league matches for the club, it looks as though the Englishman is once again hitting his best form.

After a poor start, Getafe have now won their previous two matches heading into the encounter with big city rivals Madrid and they could prove difficult to break down.

Their 11 goals conceded in LaLiga this season means they actually have the joint second-best defensive record in the top flight.

Getafe’s attacking threat will come from centre-forward Bertuğ Yıldırım and midfielder Mauro Arambarri, who have scored three and four goals respectively this season.

Prediction

Although Getafe are hovering just above the relegation zone, this will be no easy task for Madrid, especially considering the away side’s impressive defensive record.

Despite this, Ancelotti will be determined to bounce back from a third straight Champions League defeat.

Los Blancos will win, but it could be closer than many anticipate. Final score: Real Madrid 2-0 Getafe.


(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.

Posted by Bill Biss in Preview, Real Madrid, SendAsPush, team_8633, World News
Preview:

Preview:

If there is one thing that Tottenham have been consistent of this season, it is being largely inconsistent. For every league win, a defeat is seemingly lurking around the corner and after carrying out a 4-0 demolition job of Manchester City last Saturday, that may not bode well for the weekend.


By Dan Tracey


It’s a frustrating flip flopping of results that Fulham will look to take advantage of on Sunday. But the Cottagers do suffer from a similar complex, and even after taking an early advantage at home to Wolves last weekend, it was still Gary O’Neil’s men who left Craven Cottage with maximum points after a resounding 4-1 away win. 

The Form Guide

A look at Tottenham’s last seven league outings has seen them win four and lose the remaining three. At no stage during this run have they suffered back-to-back defeats or picked up successive wins and they also failed to pick up maximum points in Europe after Thursday’s 2-2 draw with Roma. 

As for opponents Fulham, they make the short trip across the capital having seen their bid to earn three successive league wins ended by that Wolves game. They started the weekend sitting ninth in the table and although three places behind Spurs (before a ball is kicked), they are only a point further back.

Potential protagonists

As Son Heung-min starts to step into veteran status and can no longer be guaranteed a full 90 minutes playing time, the supporting cast of James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski will be on hand to not only score but to also create for the likes of Brennan Johnson and Dominic Solanke.

Spurs goal contributions, Premier League 2024/25

Fulham’s wide options, Alex Iwobi and Adama Traoré will be tasked with causing Tottenham’s full backs plenty of anguish and by drawing their opponents into uncomfortable areas of the pitch, it will allow the impact players like Emile Smith Rowe and Raúl Jiménez the opportunity to get on the scoresheet. 

Who’s in and who’s definitely out  

The big injury news coming out of the Tottenham camp will be the long-term absence of keeper Guglielmo Vicario and with Fraser Forster the only other senior shotstopper on Spurs’ books, the former Celtic man will keep his place between the sticks after starting against Roma on Thursday. Nominally the Cup keeper these days this will mark a first Premier League start since the 2022/23 season.

Fulham’s only major injury concern is Harrison Reed’s long-term rehabilitation from recent knee surgery. His absence aside, the Cottagers enter Sunday with a clean bill of health. 

Prediction

If you follow the pattern that Tottenham have constructed over the past two months, all signs point to Fulham picking up an away win. However, if Spurs are to make inroads on a Champions League invite at the end of the season, they must build on last Saturday’s emphatic win at the Etihad.

The Premier League’s top scorers are going up against an opposition that has scored and conceded the same number of goals this season and with this in mind, I expect both teams to score but Spurs to come out on top. 

Recent H2H results


(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.

Posted by Bill Biss in Fulham, Preview, SendAsPush, team_8586, team_9879, Tottenham Hotspur, World News
Preview: Amorim aiming for more home success against struggling Everton

Preview: Amorim aiming for more home success against struggling Everton

Manchester United host Everton at Old Trafford in the Premier League on Sunday in what is Rúben Amorim’s first game at home in England’s top flight. The Toffees are struggling near the bottom of the table, but Amorim’s side have endured a few teething problems in his opening few matches.


By Matt Smith


Defensive fitness concerns

Amorim will be sweating over the fitness of Leny Yoro, Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof and Jonny Evans ahead of the game against Everton, with all four central defenders missing from the clash against Bodø/Glimt last time out. 

Aside from the defensive fitness problems, United could have a fully fit squad to choose from, leaving Amorim with some selection headaches in attack. Tyrell Malacia, Kobbie Mainoo, Mason Mount and Luke Shaw have all recently returned from injury. 

Missed chances are damaging United

Creating opportunities hasn’t been a major issue for United this season, producing 27 big chances in the Premier League, with only Aston Villa and Liverpool managing more. A problem has been their conversion rate, as the Red Devils have missed the same number of big chances this campaign.

Comparing United to Tottenham, Amorim’s men have created 27 big chances while scoring 13 goals, whereas Spurs have struck 27 times despite creating one fewer big chance. Alejandro Garnacho has been one of the main culprits, but he could have his confidence back after getting on the scoresheet on Thursday night.

No injury boost for the Toffees

Armando Broja and Youssef Chermiti are building up their recovery ahead of this game, and both players featured for the U21s on Friday afternoon. Seamus Coleman has recently returned to training, but Sean Dyche has confirmed that he’s unlikely to be available.

Long-term absentees James Garner and Tim Iroegbunam remain on the treatment table, but Dyche has no fresh injury concerns heading into the trip to Old Trafford.

Long-ball Everton are ineffective

No side in the Premier League has completed more long balls per game than Everton, but their old-school style hasn’t been as effective this season as it was in the previous. The Toffees have created just 13.4 expected goals (xG), the 17th best in the league.

Dwight McNeil’s drop-off in recent weeks has undoubtedly hampered Everton’s chances of winning games. The English winger has provided six goals and assists combined, but he’s produced just one assist in his last five games. Dyche’s side have remained solid defensively over the last few weeks, but he needs to find a way to be more effective in the final third heading into this game.

Prediction

With Amorim in front of the Old Trafford crowd for the first time in the Premier League, the United supporters are going to be right behind their team on Sunday. They’ve shown some inconsistencies in Amorim’s opening two games, but this is a chance to build some momentum against a struggling side.

We’re predicting a 2-0 win for United at Old Trafford this weekend.


(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.

Posted by Bill Biss in Everton, Manchester United, Preview, SendAsPush, team_10260, team_8668, World News
Preview: Chelsea meet a Villa side looking to turn their form around

Preview: Chelsea meet a Villa side looking to turn their form around

The two Champions League hopefuls meet at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, with Unai Emery hoping to mastermind Aston Villa’s first win in seven games across all competitions.


By Alex Roberts


It’s been a remarkable drop in form from Villa, their 1-0 win over Bayern Munich earlier in the season will take some forgetting, but the Spaniard is in desperate need of a good run of results to keep the good vibes flowing.

As for Chelsea, a routine 2-0 Europa Conference League win over FC Heidenheim in midweek will give them a boost, as most of Enzo Maresca’s preferred Premier League eleven got a well-earned rest.

A mini drought for Cole Palmer

Chelsea’s talismanic playmaker is going through somewhat of a drought, with no goal contributions in his last four Premier League games, Palmer is prime for another Brighton-esque four-goal performance.

It’s not like he’s been playing poorly, he would have broken his duck against Leicester in the previous round if it wasn’t for Noni Madueke’s late and unintentional goal-line intervention.

Palmer isn’t having to carry this Chelsea side like he did last season. Nicolas Jackson and the aforementioned Madueke have both made vital contributions to their Premier League campaign. Even Moisés Caicedo has chipped in with three goal involvements so far this season.

Chelsea goal contributions, Premier League 2024/25

Goals are hard to come by for Aston Villa

For a side that boasts a wealth of attacking options, including clinical striker such as Ollie Watkins and Jhon Durán, Villa have struggled in front of goal recently, scoring just five goals in their seven-game winless streak.

No doubt buoyed by a nomination for the FIFA Best Awards, a goal every other game isn’t bad for Watkins, but just three in Villa’s last ten games may be setting off some alarm bells in Emery’s head.

Maresca’s insistence on playing out from the back means Villa will get chances, it’s just up to them to put them away.

Poor Reece James

It’s hard not to feel sorry for Reece James. Another injury means he will likely be sidelined until the new year, Maresca admitted as much in his pre-match press conference, admitting he “Doesn’t know” when the Chelsea captain will return.

The right-back has missed 51 games for Chelsea thanks to ongoing hamstring issues since the start of last season but has impressed in the limited chances he’s had, winning 100% of his tackles, 69.6% of his duels, and 75% of his aerial duels in 241 Premier League minutes.

With understudy Malo Gusto also a doubt for the Villa game, Maresca will likely have to rely on either Wesley Fofana or Axel Disasi to fill in on Sunday.

Prediction

Both sides are relatively evenly matched as the race for the top four seriously starts heating up. A defeat would likely see Chelsea fall out with just three points separating the two sides in third and eighth.

Form isn’t on Villa’s side, but Chelsea have been poor against the bigger teams. Expecting goals, we’re going with a 2-2 draw.


(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.

Posted by Bill Biss in Aston Villa, Chelsea, Preview, SendAsPush, team_10252, team_8455, World News
Preview: Man City go to in-form Liverpool in the midst of a crisis

Preview: Man City go to in-form Liverpool in the midst of a crisis

Liverpool have the opportunity to extend their advantage over Manchester City to 11 points on Sunday as they welcome the reigning Premier League champions to Anfield.


By Sam McGuire


A win would cap off an incredible week for the Reds having already seen off Real Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday evening. 

The season so far

Arne Slot’s side have been almost faultless this term. 

The former Feyenoord boss has guided the 2019/20 Premier League champions to 10 wins and a draw in his opening 12 matches in the league while the Reds have a 100% record in cup competitions. 

Only Tottenham Hotspur (2.3) are averaging more goals per game than Liverpool (two) in the English top-flight and the Reds have the third-highest Expected Goals total (23.6), so their attacking numbers are fairly sustainable. Defensively, they’re robust. The Merseyside club have kept the most clean sheets (six), have the lowest goals against per game figure (0.7) and have the lowest Expected Goals Against total (10.7). 

In a nutshell, their performances are worthy of their position in the Premier League table. 

The Reds are bossing it in Europe too having won all five of their Champions League ties this term.

By comparison, it has been a bit of a struggle for Manchester City. 

Pep Guardiola’s men started the season well and put together a 13-match unbeaten run. This included a four-match and five-match winning streak. Erling Haaland was scoring goals for fun too, netting back-to-back hat-tricks in the Premier League as he raced clear in the hunt for a third successive Golden Boot. 

But then the goals dried up. As did the wins. 

Their last victory arrived in October and they head to Anfield winless in six. Their underlying numbers in the Premier League have tailed off too. 

City have the ninth best defensive record with an Expected Goals Against total of 15.9. They’re allowing 1.4 goals against per 90 and have kept just two clean sheets. In attack, they’re still dangerous. Their Expected Goals total of 24.4 is the highest in the Premier League. However, they’re scoring just 1.8 goals per 90. Chances aren’t being converted. Couple that with a struggling defence and it is clear why their title bid has been abruptly halted. For now, at least.

Previous encounters

Liverpool’s record against Manchester City hasn’t been that great over recent years. The Reds have won just three of the previous 12 encounters. However, they have only lost on four occasions. A lot of these matches end in a stalemate. 

It is worth noting though that Guardiola’s side have hit their opponents for four goals on three occasions. When they do pick up a win over the Merseyside club, it tends to be an emphatic one. 

The Reds have won just one of their last four matches against City at Anfield, so home comforts have counted for very little recently in this particular clash.

Current form

City ended their five match losing streak on Tuesday but it wasn’t a cause of celebration. Guardiola’s side took a 3-0 lead against Feyenoord in the Champions League but had to settle for a point as the Eredivisie side scored three goals in the final 16 minutes to stun the Etihad. 

Momentum chart from City’s draw vs. Feyenoord

The 3-3 draw now means Man City have conceded 17 goals across their last six matches. They have conceded a minimum of two goals in every single match. Feyenoord hit them for three while both Spurs and Sporting scored four times in big wins over the Citizens. 

Liverpool, on the other hand, are flying. 

Since their shock 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest in September, the Reds have won 14 of their 15 matches. They are currently on a six match winning streak and have beaten the champions of Spain and Germany during this run. Slot’s side are relentless, ruthless and resilient right now.

The Injury situation 

Liverpool are still without some key players despite the returns of Harvey Elliott and Trent Alexander-Arnold. Both were on the bench for the win over Real Madrid. However, Ibrahima Konaté hobbled off at full-time against the LaLiga champions while Conor Bradley was replaced with what looked like a hamstring issue. Those two could join Alisson Becker, Diogo Jota, Kostas Tsmikas and Federico Chiesa on the sidelines for this match. 

City are having a bit of an injury crisis right now as well. 

Jérémy Doku, Oscar Bobb, Mateo Kovačić and Ballon d’Or winner Rodri are all ruled out. Guardiola’s options in attack and midfield are both severely limited right now but this was always a possibility when the champions decided to sell Julian Alvárez in the summer without bringing in a replacement. 

Prediction

This is usually a tepid affair with both teams showing the other a lot of respect. 

Slot might see it as an opportunity though. City are having a crisis of confidence right now and Liverpool could take full advantage of this. With Anfield behind them, a statement win could be on the cards. They did it against Madrid. They can do it against the Citizens this week. 

We’re going with a Liverpool win. 


(Cover image from IMAGO)


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

Posted by Bill Biss in Liverpool, Manchester City, Preview, SendAsPush, team_8456, team_8650, World News
Preview: Barcelona host City rivals in reunion with promoted Espanyol

Preview: Barcelona host City rivals in reunion with promoted Espanyol

Barcelona will kick off Saturday’s home match against Las Palmas with a four-point advantage at the top of La Liga, but that lead is more fragile than might be immediately apparent.


By Graham Ruthven


Barcelona need a response

While the Catalans are in control of this season’s title race, recent dropped points to Real Sociedad and Celta Vigo have allowed Real Madrid to close the gap at the top of the table. Anything less than a Barca victory on Saturday would hand the initiative to Los Blancos.

Las Palmas are fighting relegation near the foot of the table, but have already taken points from Real Madrid this season and could pose a threat at Montjuic if they can exploit the space in behind Barcelona’s backline.

However, Los Amarillos haven’t beaten Barcelona in a league match away from home since 1971 and in any competition since 1991. A victory at Montjuic this weekend would be historic!

Key players

While Barcelona’s form has recently tapered off, they have still scored six goals in their last three outings with the Catalans fresh from notching three against Brest in the Champions League.

Robert Lewandowski has been particularly prolific in front of goal, scoring eight times in his last 10 appearances at club level. The Polish striker has been rejuvenated this season and is on course for his best scoring campaign as a Barca player.

Lewandowski vs. Silva comparison, LaLiga stats only

The dramatic turnaround in Raphinha’s fortunes continues with the Brazilian currently the joint-second top scorer in LaLiga behind only Lewandowski. Flick’s direct approach is getting the best out of the former Leeds United winger.

Pedri is expected to be Barcelona’s string-puller in the centre of the pitch against Las Palmas with Dani Olmo in contention for a start after returning from injury. Barca are spoiled for choice in the attacking positions.

Fabio Silva has scored three goals in his last five LaLiga appearances and the on-loan Wolves forward could also trouble Barcelona. Sandro Ramírez is in line to face his former club, as is goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen who will have to be in top form.

Team news

Lamine Yamal remains an injury doubt having not featured for Barcelona since the Champions League win over Red Star Belgrade earlier this month. The 17-year-old returned to training this week, but Hansi Flick could resist the urge to drop him straight back into the lineup.

Marc Casado will be unavailable for the La Liga leaders after being sent off in the 2-2 draw against Celta Vigo. The young midfielder will serve a one-match suspension this weekend, meaning Flick will have to find another solution at the base of his midfield.

Ronald Araújo, Marc Bernal, Andreas Christensen, Ansu Fati and Marc-André ter Stegen will also be sidelined, although Ferran Torres could be back in Barca’s squad.

Diego Martínez is expected to have a fully fit squad to choose from for the visit to Montjuic with Adnan Januzaj the only Las Palmas player believed to be currently carrying a knock.

Prediction

We can’t look beyond a home win for the league leaders, so let’s go with Barcelona 3-1 Las Palmas.


(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.

Posted by Bill Biss in Barcelona, Preview, SendAsPush, team_8634, Trending, World News
Preview: Dortmund meet Bayern in Der Klassiker

Preview: Dortmund meet Bayern in Der Klassiker

The stage is set for the 136th edition of Der Klassiker. Which team is coming out on top on Saturday? We’ve got you set with our Borussia Dortmund vs. Bayern Munich preview.


By Zach Lowy


Can Bayern’s Stellar Form Continue?

On the 23rd October, Bayern Munich were subjected to a 4-1 defeat at Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League. It was the fourth time in five games that the Bavarians had failed to win and the second time in three that they’d conceded 3+ goals. After a perfect start to life under Vincent Kompany, it seemed that the wheels were falling off.

Since then, though, Bayern have won seven straight games, scoring 18 goals and conceding zero. They sit six points clear atop the Bundesliga and are scoring the most goals per game in Europe (3.24), and after edging Paris Saint-Germain in midweek, they are riding high on confidence.

However, they’ll have their hands full on Saturday as they take on a BVB side that have won four of their last five matches, the sole exception being a 3-1 defeat at Mainz which saw them reduced to 10 men in the 27th minute.

Jamie Gittens: The Man With a Plan

The last time that Borussia Dortmund faced Bayern Munich at Signal Iduna Park, Dayot Upamecano opened the scoring within four minutes while Harry Kane scored a hat-trick. All eyes will be on the reigning European Golden Boot winner as he looks to continue his scintillating form in Dortmund, but he’s not the only English forward who will have a key role to play.

Jamie Gittens kicked off the 2024/25 Bundesliga season by coming off the bench and scoring a brace in Borussia Dortmund’s 2-0 win vs. Eintracht Frankfurt, whilst he repeated that feat in their Champions League opener vs. Club Brugge. He hasn’t looked back since, establishing himself as a key figure in BVB’s attack with 11 goal contributions in 18 matches. Over the past week, he has scored a goal and an assist in a 4-0 win vs. Freiburg and opened the scoring in a 3-0 win vs. Dinamo Zagreb, and with Karim Adeyemi and (likely) Julian Brandt missing out, Nuri Şahin will be counting on him to deliver. After Jadon Sancho and Jude Bellingham before him, Gittens could very well be the next Englishman to explode onto the scene at Dortmund – and we’re backing the 20-year-old to come up clutch against eternal rivals Bayern.

Goals Galore in Dortmund

It remains to be seen whether or not Borussia Dortmund can pull off back-to-back wins vs. Bayern for the first time since the spring of 2012, but two things are fairly probable: this will be a high-scoring affair, and it will not be a draw. Out of Bayern and BVB’s last 18 matches, only one has ended in a draw. Things are looking up for Dortmund after a league-high six wins out of six, but as for Bayern, they have dropped points just once on the road – a 3-3 draw vs. Eintracht back in October. 

Both teams will be missing key figures in midfield like Aleksandar Pavlović and Emre Can, and it could result in less controlled possession and more frantic attacking play. Nine of the last 10 meetings between these two sides have featured over 3.5 goals, whilst 13 of BVB’s last 15 fixtures have served up over 2.5 goals. With both of last season’s top two Bundesliga scorers – Kane and Serhou Guirassy – in fine form, all signs point to a high-scoring affair on Saturday.

Recent H2H results


(Cover image from IMAGO)


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

Posted by Bill Biss in Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Preview, SendAsPush, team_9789, team_9823, Trending, World News
The Alternative MLS Awards from FotMob

The Alternative MLS Awards from FotMob

Major League Soccer’s awards season is approaching its finale as the Most Valuable Player for 2024 is set to be announced soon, with Lionel Messi among the favourites.


By James Nalton


There have been several standout players across the league this year, from new signings to standout young players; and comebacks to defensive performances.

Combining the data with the eye test, here is a look at the players in each category, and an assessment of the award winners already announced.

Messi for MVP?

The headline award of the season is the only one for which the winner has yet to be announced.

A lot of the data suggests Lionel Messi is the obvious choice for this award, but it’s not that simple.

He has the highest average FotMob rating, is second in the goalscoring charts, is joint top for goals and assists combined, averages more than one goal per 90 minutes, and leads the way for expected goals plus expected assists per 90.

Despite all of this, his lack of game time has left the MVP award discussion open to other contenders who have appeared more regularly throughout the season. The most notable among these is the regularly impressive Cucho Hernández of Columbus Crew, while there are also outside shouts for Golden Boot winner Christian Benteke of DC Untied, Evander of Portland, and Messi’s Inter Miami teammate Luis Suárez.

Messi started just 15 of his team’s 34 regular season games (the awards are judged on the regular season and not the playoffs) and made four appearances off the bench.

There was a point as the season came to a close when he hadn’t played the required amount of games or minutes to appear on many statistical leaderboards.

A flurry of appearances towards the end of the season remedied that, and scoring eight goals in seven appearances to round off the campaign also helped.

Those per 90 numbers show how good he’s been in the games he has played. His goals per 90 of 1.21 and his goals plus assists per 90 of 1.82 are the highest in MLS regular season history.

Messi shot map, including play-off data, MLS 2024

It has been more of the same Messi we’ve been used to seeing light up games with Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, and Argentina.

Despite playing in a lower standard of league, his performances have been so good that he can count himself unlucky not to have been included on the shortlist for the Ballon d’Or, especially as he has the requisite big international tournament honour to his name in 2024 after winning Copa America with Argentina.

Coach of the Year

This is the second big award that came down to a choice between Columbus Crew and Inter Miami.

Tata Martino deserves credit for guiding Inter Miami through a run of nine games without Messi and winning eight of them.

Regardless of the talent at his disposal, winning the MLS Supporters’ Shield with a record-breaking points total is no easy feat. 

It’s also easy to forget that such a season for Inter Miami was not widely predicted. Of the 17 experts asked by the official MLS website for their predictions at the start of the season, 14 had Inter Miami finishing between 3rd and 7th in the Eastern Conference, and only three had them winning it.

This is why the eventual winner, Columbus Crew’s Wilfried Nancy, was not the most obvious choice for some.

The Crew won the MLS Cup last season and the Leagues Cup in 2024, but these two trophies are not quite enough to call them an all-time great MLS team. That said, this Crew side can comfortably be called one of the best teams we’ve ever seen in MLS, and much of this is down to the coaching of Nancy and the way the players have responded to it.

They also managed to maintain a challenge in the league for much of the season while also embarking on deep runs in the Concacaf Champions League and Leagues Cup, which is not an easy feat with MLS roster restrictions.

If there’s one non-Messi game you’d want to watch each week in MLS (and as mentioned earlier, there were quite a few of those) it would be Nancy’s Columbus Crew.

They have transcended the league and are simply a great team to watch in world football. Few MLS teams have ever managed this, and this is why Nancy deserves the award.

Defender of the Year

Columbus Crew’s style of play has also influenced Defender of the Year voting and led to many a debate on what defines good defending.

The Crew’s Steven Moreira would have been my pick and eventually won the award, but he was not an obvious choice when it came to defensive work.

Given this award also includes full-backs, many of whose defensive duties became a secondary part of their game long ago, giving it to a central defender would initially seem like a safe, more traditional option.

But Moreira’s style of play in the Crew setup — in which he’s involved in the build-up play and bursting forward from his position as a right centre-back in a three — leads to a data profile that doesn’t look much like a defender.

The Crew’s control of possession also means there isn’t as much traditional defensive work to do in areas such as tackling and intercepting.

Seattle centre-backs Yeimar Gómez Andrade and Jackson Regen were more obvious candidates from a purely defensive standpoint. Yeimar led MLS for interceptions (63 in 30 starts) and Seattle had the best defence in the league.

Defensive data alone would see the award go to Yeimar, and it would be deserved, but Moreira emerging as the winner shows there are more ways to defend with the ball in the modern game.

Goalkeeper of the Year

The goalkeeper award picks itself both from the eye test and from the stats.

For much of the season, New York City’s number one Matt Freese was neck and neck with Kristijan Kahlina but the Charlotte man continued his extraordinary form right until the end.

Bafflingly, neither Freese nor Kahlina made the MLS All-Star game this season, while Freese didn’t make the three finalists for goalkeeper of the year.

Maybe goalkeeping is a blind spot for MLS judges, but there was no doubting who would eventually win the award.

That said, it’s a surprise Kahlina only gained 35% of the overall vote from players, clubs, and the media combined. Hugo Lloris of Los Angeles FC got the highest percentage of a the player vote with 16% with Kahlina at just 11%.

Newcomer of the Year

This award was between Gabriel Pec of LA Galaxy and Inter Miami’s Suárez.

Pec won out thanks to a highly productive season, easily reaching double figures for goals and assists, with 19 goals and 15 assists so far as the Galaxy continue in the playoffs.

The Brazilian played a big role in LA Galaxy’s transformation this season, which was arguably more impressive than Inter Miami’s.

Pec has the fourth-highest average rating in MLS, behind Messi, teammate Ricqui Puig, and Evander.

Young Player of the Year

Andres Gomes would likely have been the young player of the year had he not left Real Salt Lake midway through the season.

His teammate Diego Luna eventually, and deservedly, won the award for being part of the RSL team that maintained a good position in the West despite losing Gomes and a late downturn in form from top scorer Cristian Arango.

However, the eligible player with the highest average rating is Philadelphia Union’s Jack McGlynn. The creative midfielder who likes to shoot from long range was probably overlooked due to the Union’s disappointing season and will be hoping he and his team can produce better results in 2025.

Comeback Player of the Year

This is not an award to be judged on statistics as it’s often about a player overcoming a difficult period, usually an injury, and making a successful return.

My vote would have gone to Inter Miami’s Ian Fray, who made 14 appearances and played 643 minutes this season after coming back from three serious knee injuries.

Sadly, Fray picked up a meniscus injury in the playoffs, but given the timing of it before the off-season break, he should be back next year.

The eventual winner, Lewis Morgan of the New York Red Bulls, had to overcome his own injury issues. 

It was almost miraculous that he returned in 2024 looking like the player he was prior to a hip operation in September 2023 that, according to MLS, gave him just a 20-25% chance of returning to peak performance. There was even a 15% chance that he might not play again.

His performances were so good, they earned him regular call-ups to the Scotland squad which can be difficult when playing in a non-European league like MLS. 

Such a comeback was not an easy one and the award was fully deserved. The role he’s played for the team as they make their unlikely playoff run further reinforces this.


(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.

Posted by Bill Biss
FPL tips from the reigning champ: GW13

FPL tips from the reigning champ: GW13

Get ahead of the Group Chat thanks to our new regular column from FPL expert Jonas Sand Låbakk.


By FotMob, in conversation with Jonas Sand Låbakk


Introducing our expert

Jonas is a 21 year old student who, like FotMob, hails from Norway, but unlike the frustrated Fantasy Premier League players in the office, he did something we could only dream of last season. He finished first, ahead of 11 million other managers in the 2023/24 season.

Who better then, to provide us with some expert advice each week.

*But before we start – a reminder that with a Friday night game this week the FPL deadline is early – make your transfers and sort your team out before 18:30 GMT*

The Eye Test vs. The Stats

Matheus Cunha (7.0m) has been consistently one of the highest scorers in FPL since GW6 and Cunha has performed exceptionally well ever since I tipped him in this column ahead of GW9, returning points in every single game. Cunha scored twice in last time out, one a tidy finish from six yards out, and the other an incredible strike from outside the 18 yard box. Although Cunha has overperformed his stats, by quite a distance, he definitely also passes the eye test. Wolves’ fixtures have been good for a few weeks, but it is definitely not too late to bring him into your team as Cunha has Bournemouth, Everton, West Ham, Ipswich, Leicester, and Man Utd coming up. His expected stats, on the other hand, are not the best, but they are definitely solid with 0.5 xGi (Expected Goal Involvements) per 90 over the course of the Premier League season so far.

Cunha shot map, Premier League 2024/25

Bukayo Saka (10.2m) wouldn’t have failed to impress those patient owners that have stuck with him last weekend, either, scoring 13 points at home to Nottingham Forest. He was nothing short of fantastic in that game. It is clear that Saka, and Arsenal in general, benefits a lot from Martin Ødegaard‘s return from injury. Saka only accumulated 0.53 xGi in the game against Nottingham Forest, but he is definitely dangerous. Which we also saw on Tuesday against Sporting, where he converted his penalty and assisted Kai Havertz. Even in that game, most of the chances created were from the right hand side. Buying Arsenal players was a good idea last week and it is this week as well. Because of their upcoming fixtures, Saka is one I am certainly considering for the future.

Long shot

Milos Kerkez (4.4) plays for a Bournemouth team who have only kept one clean sheet so far this season. But the Cherries have a had their fair share of tough fixtures and things are looking better on that front going forward. Buying Kerkez for your team will only cost you 4.4 million making him a cheap defender who can rotate with other budget options like Rayan Aït-Nouri, Noussair Mazraoui, Rico Lewis, Ola Aina or may even be a replacement for Antonee Robinson who’s Fulham side have some very tough fixtures coming up.

Kerkez plays as an offensive full back and his xGi is 0.12 per 90. Bournemouth vs. Ipswich in GW15, vs. West Ham in GW16 and maybe even vs. Wolves in GW13 are games you can easily play the Hungarian full back.

Upcoming games to follow

A lot of FPL managers might be starting to run out of patience with Bryan Mbeumo (7.9m) but with Brentford playing Leicester at home in GW13 I expect him to return with a goal involvement. Having said that, Mbeumo has been playing very wide and has therefore not been involved as much as of late. The Bees rarely keep clean sheets (they got their first of the season in GW12) and I expect a high scoring game. 

Brighton play Southampton in the Friday night game. I talked about João Pedro (5.6m) last week and he didn’t disappoint, scoring 12 points in GW12. I have finally brought Pedro back into my team and I am really looking forward to seeing what he can do against a leaky Southampton defence. Other players I am keeping tabs on in that game are Kaoru Mitoma (6.4m) and Pervis Estupiñán (5.0m) 

Chelsea are up against Aston Villa on Sunday and I am again curious to see what Cole Palmer (10.9m) can produce after blanking three games in a row. Nicolas Jackson (8.0m) scored a goal and got an assist against Leicester last weekend, he’s also a player to watch out for.


(Cover image from IMAGO)


Did you know that you can track live Fantasy points with FotMob? Simply select any Premier League game, swipe to the Lineup tab, and press the big ‘Fantasy’ button! Download the free app here.

Posted by Bill Biss