Page 6 – The Pulse of Football

Mar

2025

Preview: Spurs looking for a second leg comeback against AZ

It’s D-Day for Ange Postecoglou, with Tottenham’s season hanging in the balance ahead of their Europa League Round of 16 return match against AZ Alkmaar.

By Ian King

Since the first leg

A mis-hit cross and a penalty caused by a rush of blood to the head of an opposing goalkeeper was enough to salvage a point for Spurs against Bournemouth on Sunday, but there was little else positive to take from the match beyond having somehow scrambled from 2-0 down to get a draw.

AZ haven’t played since the first leg of this fixture, but they already have a better chance of picking up some silverware and qualifying for Europe than Spurs this season having booked their place in the KNVB Cup final against Go Ahead Eagles. They’re the bookmakers favourites to win that Cup final, which is set to be played in Rotterdam in April.

A third meeting of the season

These two hadn’t met prior to this season’s Europa League, with Spurs beating AZ back in the league phase, but then losing that first leg in the Netherlands, with both games ending 1-0.

Generally, Spurs fair well against Dutch opposition and have only lost five of 23 previous meetings. Arguably the greatest recent night in their history came in Amsterdam in 2019, when Lucas Moura was the unlikely hero of an incredible Champions League semi-final second leg which they won 3-2 to sneak through on goal difference. AZ’s only previous appearance in a European final was against English opposition; Ipswich Town in 1981. They lost a two-legged final 5-4 on aggregate. They’ve lost all nine of their previous trips to England.

Key players

One small bright spot from the Bournemouth match for Spurs was the return of Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero following lengthy injuries. The Spurs defence has missed van de Ven’s pace and Romero’s bite very much indeed, these last few weeks. For AZ, there is that one connection to Spurs. Troy Parrott came through the youth system at Spurs but only made two appearances from them before eventually being sold to AZ last summer. He’s scored 17 goals in all competitions for them this season, more than anyone has managed for Spurs.

Team News

Rodrigo Bentancur is suspended for Spurs following a yellow card in the first leg. Archie Gray or Lucas Bergvall should deputise. Dejan Kulusevski and Richarlison are also injured. For AZ, Mayckel Lahdo and Denso Kasius both had to be withdrawn from the first leg and will be missing this time around, while Sven Mijnan, Ruben van Bommel, Jayden Addai and Mexx Meerdink are also injured.

Prediction

There is something deliciously Spurs-esque about dedicating your season to the cups and then getting knocked out of both domestic ones in the space of four days, and the upshot of this is that this match has taken on a distended importance to their season. Getting past Spurs would be a major scalp for AZ and they’ve already demonstrated themselves as a decent cup team this season. Spurs going 1-0 up, chasing a second goal, and getting caught on the hop by an equaliser and eliminated by a 1-1 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.

Mar

2025

Giorgi Mamardashvili and the impossible task of replacing Alisson at Liverpool

How do you replace the best goalkeeper in the world? It’s highly unlikely your answer will be ‘the second-worst goalkeeper in Spain’.

By Jack Lusby, ThisIsAnfield.com

That may be hyperbole, but it sums up the far-from-ideal warmup to his move to Liverpool that Giorgi Mamardashvili is experiencing this season at Valencia.

Real Valladolid’s Karl Hein (2.3) is the only goalkeeper to concede more goals per 90 in LaLiga than Mamardashvili (1.7), with the Arsenal loanee also the only stopper with a worse rate of goals prevented with -8.9 to the Georgian’s -6.1.

Mamardashvili and Hein have the joint-worst save percentage in Spain’s top flight, both with 58.1 percent, with Mamardashvili facing slightly more shots on target per save with 1.73 to Hein’s 1.71.

It isn’t all downcast, with the incoming Liverpool goalkeeper recording the league’s 11th-highest clean sheet percentage, with five shutouts in 23 games (21.7%), but that is considerably lower than Alisson‘s record in the Premier League (38.1%) – which would place the Brazilian third in the less demanding LaLiga.

After two outstanding performances from Alisson in the eventual defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League’s last 16, the prospect of Liverpool changing their No. 1 next season seems baffling.

Alisson will turn 33 in October and is unquestionably prone to injury, but a record-breaking night in the first leg in Paris saw Arne Slot himself describe him as “the best goalkeeper in the world.”

You would be hard pressed to find anyone on the red half of Merseyside who disagrees with that opinion, not least those within Slot’s squad, with captain Virgil van Dijk and boyhood supporter Harvey Elliott both echoing that stance after those heroics at the Parc des Princes.

Few would argue with Jürgen Klopp’s belief that Caoimhin Kelleher is “the best No. 2 goalie in the world as well” either, and that only adds to the uncomfortable situation facing Liverpool in the summer.

Mamardashvili is, no doubt, far better than the current campaign has depicted him to be. Having remained with Valencia for a final season, he was dealt a rough hand with a club carrying major financial issues and in crisis under Rubén Baraja.

Despite finishing ninth in the previous campaign, Baraja was sacked in December after guiding Valencia to just two wins in their first 17 league games, with Mamardashvili playing 14 of those and conceding 22 goals in that time.

There has been an upturn following the appointment of Carlos Corberán, with four wins, three draws and only three losses in his 10 league games in charge so far, but Valencia still find themselves mired in a relegation battle.

*Mamardashvili shots faced, LaLiga 2024/25*

The confidence of their goalkeeper has clearly been affected, with 17 goals conceded in nine games under Corberán including a 7-1 thrashing at the hands of Barcelona and an error leading to a goal in the 2-1 win over Real Valladolid last time out.

“I know I’m not in my best moment now,” Mamardashvili wrote on Instagram after that game, with the Spanish press left debating whether the Georgian Player of the Season for 2023/24 – voted above Khvicha Kvaratskhelia – should be dropped for backup Stole Dimitrievski.

*Mamardashvili goalkeeping stats per 90, LaLiga 2024/25*

Liverpool’s hands were tied when it came to leaving their £29 million signing at the Mestalla for another season, with Mamardashvili reluctant to join immediately due to the presence of Alisson and a loan elsewhere blocked by Premier League rules.

But his preparation for the move to Anfield could not have gone much worse – and the microscope will be on the 24-year-old from his first day at the AXA Training Centre.

Put simply, supporters are unlikely to take kindly to Alisson being usurped as No. 1 and many would argue that Kelleher should be kept in place as the Brazilian’s long-term successor.

“The club made the decision to get another goalkeeper,” was Kelleher’s reaction to the Mamardashvili deal, when speaking in September. “From the outside looking in, it looks like they have made a decision to go in another direction.”

The optics aren’t encouraging and regardless of Mamardashvili’s talent – those within the club’s recruitment staff were convinced a deal was worth pushing through despite any upheaval – he faces an uphill battle to convince those watching on that he is worth the risk of unsettling the best goalkeeper in the world for.

Liverpool’s hierarchy will view the signing as another example of long-term planning and if it comes off it should be applauded as such, with Alisson’s contract set to expire in 2026 and clubs in Saudi Arabia interested.

That is particularly the case given the summer ahead, with Van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold all into the final months of their deals and, if they are to leave, would all need to be replaced in a single transfer window.

Nevertheless it represents a huge roll of the dice for the club in backing Mamardashvili, and we can only hope this will prove his annus horribilis in Valencia before reclaiming world-class form in the elite surroundings of Liverpool.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

To keep up to date with everything Liverpool, make sure you click follow on the team profile in the FotMob app. Download the free app here.

Mar

2025

What has happened to Cole Palmer in the second half of the season?

Cole Palmer is now ice cold in front of goal for all of the wrong reasons.

By Sam McGuire

Having been lauded for his calm and composed nature last season, the Cold Palmer nickname is now tied to his barren run.

Having had a penalty saved by Leicester keeper Mads Hermansen in his last outing, Chelsea’s No.20 is now nine games without a goal. He’s scored just three times in his last 15 appearances for the Blues in all competitions.

The goalscoring bubble has well and truly burst for the 22-year-old. Last season, he could do no wrong. He finished his debut campaign with the Blues having scored 22 Premier League goals while also chipping in with 11 assists. He was the main man for Mauricio Pochettino’s Chelsea side and a lot of people seemed to be keen on the idea of him being the main man for England at the Euros.

They wanted to take advantage of his confidence, and rightly so.

*Season summary showing games, goals, assists, and average FotMob rating*

Now, he’s lacking confidence. The failed penalty attempt against the Foxes was the first time he’s missed from the spot since the move to Stamford Bridge.

Enzo Maresca looked to protect the England international. Speaking after the 1-0 win over his former side, Maresca said: “Cole yesterday didn’t train. During the night, he didn’t feel well and he didn’t train yesterday because he didn’t feel well.

“But this morning he woke up and asked me to be on the pitch because he wants to help this club play in the Champions League ‘But in the last two days, he was completely out; he didn’t train because of fever and this bad feeling. But this morning he asked to play the game and it shows how these players want to bring the club to where this club belongs.”

Palmer hasn’t gone missing during this vital run for the Blues. He’s just struggled to perform and the optics aren’t great. They dropped out of the title race and then crashed out of the FA Cup with defeat to Brighton.

They’re now back in control of their fate and sit in fourth position following the 1-0 win on Sunday coupled with Manchester City’s loss to Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

The thing with finishing is that it can be fickle.

Last season, everything Palmer did seemed to result in a goal involvement. In fact, no player in the Premier League finished with more goals and assists (33). This season, the England international has just 20 goal involvements with 10 games to play. He could still match his return of last term if things turn around for him in the penalty area.

Right now, though, he ranks fifth behind Chris Wood (21), Erling Haaland (23), Alexander Isak (24) and Mohamed Salah (44).

The Chelsea attacker has a FotMob rating of 7.71, a total only Bukayo Saka (7.76) and Salah (8.29) can better. The Liverpool man is having an all-timer of a season and this needs to be taken into account when analysing everyone else.

Remove him from the conversation and only Saka can boast a higher Fotmob rating and Palmer would be just four goal involvements off the top. It isn’t as bad as it might seem, is it?

*FotMob’s best rated players in the Premier League, 2024/25*

The big issue with Palmer is that four of his goals arrived in one match against Brighton while three of his six assists were in a win over Wolves. Remove those two games from his campaign and he’s on 10 goals and three assists. He’s not been anywhere near as consistent or reliable as he was last season. In fact, he’s only scored or assisted in 12 games across all comps this term. That is a lot of blanks.

What hasn’t helped his cause is the penalty situation. He’s scored three and missed one. Last season, he scored nine in the Premier League. Remove them and he finishes the season with 13 goals in the English top-flight. Still impressive, just not as impressive.

*Palmer shot map, Premier League 2023/24*

Palmer has suffered because he’s not had as many penalties to boost those numbers of his. That isn’t a dig, it’s fact. Last season, 41% of his goals were via the spot. This season, just 21%.

What is interesting though is how his numbers this season are almost identical to those he posted during the 2023/24 campaign. For example, he had a FotMob average rating of 7.8. He averaged 3.75 shots per 90, had a Non-Penalty xG90 of 0.38 and had an Expected Assists per 90 average of 0.3.

This season so far, he’s averaged 3.75 shots, had a Non-Penalty xG90 of 0.44 and an Expected Assists per 90 average of 0.27, giving him a Non-Penalty Expected Goals Involvement average of 0.71, just 0.03 up on last term.

*Palmer shot map, Premier League 2024/25*

If anything, his underlying numbers are better this season. The difference is while he was scoring last season, he isn’t managing to put the ball into the back of the net as frequently this time around. He’s judged on output and the output, right now, is lacking.

However, that doesn’t mean he won’t rediscover his confidence again soon. Ice cold Cole Palmer will return for Chelsea and he has the perfect opportunity to remind everyone of his ability this weekend at the Emirates against title-chasing Arsenal.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Mar

2025

Preview: Madrid Derby set to bring UCL Round of 16 to dramatic close

The Madrid derby headlines the final fixture slot of this season’s UEFA Champions League Round of 16.

By Neel Shelat

Atléti out to finish the job they accepted

Of course, no team can ever be entirely satisfied with defeat, but Atlético Madrid seemed to be content enough with keeping a one-goal margin in the scoreline last week. Diego Simeone’s decision to replace Antoine Griezmann with centre-back Robin Le Normand in the 71st minute certainly suggested that, and it was the hosts who came closest to scoring the fourth goal of the match.

Atlético are famed for their defensive resolution and ability to hold on to slender leads, but the flip side of that is that they do not have a lot of experience in overturning first leg deficits. In fact, they have only ever done so once in the UEFA Champions League, though they did manage to win two other such ties on penalties.

Metropolitano a tough venue even for Real Madrid

Since the Metropolitano Stadium opened in 2017, it has proven to be a very tough venue for Real Madrid. Los Blancos have only won twice in their nine visits to the ground and were defeated twice last season, in LaLiga as well as the Copa del Rey. They also suffered disappointment on Atlético’s home turf earlier this term when Ángel Correa scored an equaliser deep into stoppage-time to cap off a very tense match that was also interrupted due to fan disorder.

*The last five derbies at the Metropolitano*

This will be the first Euroderbi at the Metropolitano, and hopefully it will be a memorable one for sporting reasons.

Real better rested from the weekend

Both of Spain’s premier capital clubs are in for a very busy conclusion to the season as they are in the hunt for all three major trophies. So, player load management will be an especially big factor in the remainder of their campaigns. For this match, it seems Real Madrid might have the upper hand in that respect.

Between their Euroderbi legs, both sides had tough league fixtures last weekend as they faced other regional rivals. Real Madrid managed to come away with a 2-1 win over Rayo Vallecano while rotating about half of their side, but Atléti suffered a dramatic defeat to Getafe by the same scoreline despite only making a couple of changes to their line-up. Worse yet for them, Clément Lenglet felt an issue in the warm-up and Rodrigo De Paul picked up a knock and went off at half-time.

More moments of individual brilliance in a more open game?

The story of the first leg was of three goals borne out of moments of individual quality. The rest of the game was quite cagey as Atlético particularly looked to keep things tight and Real were cautious of giving away anything cheaply. Simeone’s side will likely have to come out of their shell more in this match, so we could well get a more open encounter that offers the superstar forwards more opportunities to showcase their brilliance.

Prediction

Atlético are unlikely to overcommit, so a tight game should be expected. Real are certainly not short of quality, so they could well do enough to come away with a 1-1 draw.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Champions League with FotMob this season — featuring deep stats coverage, xG, player ratings, and a new super-intuitive knockout stage bracket. Download the free app here.

Mar

2025

Neves and Vitinha the key to Luis Enrique’s PSG

Paris Saint-Germain must overturn a 1-0 deficit against Liverpool, but their first leg performance suggests the French giants still have a chance.

By Graham Ruthven

Arne Slot called them the “most complete” team Liverpool have faced this season. Alisson Becker described his display against them last week as “the performance of his life.” Liverpool might have escaped France with a 1-0 advantage in their Champions League last 16 tie, but Paris Saint-Germain left quite the impression.

*First leg momentum chart and top stats*

By almost every metric, PSG dominated the first leg. They had 70% of possession. Liverpool faced 27 shots while mustering just two themselves. At full time, PSG’s Expected Goals (xG) stood at 1.78 with Liverpool’s just 0.27. Football matches aren’t decided on underlying statistics, but Harvey Elliott’s winner was a bolt from the blue (or red).

No two players had their foot on the throat of the Premier League leaders more firmly than João Neves and Vitinha. They controlled the game in the centre of the pitch, both in and out of possession, and are likely to do the same again at Anfield on Tuesday night. Neves and Vitinha might be the best midfield pairing in Europe right now.

Nobody on the pitch at the Parc des Princes last week completed more passes than Vitinha. Not only this, the Portuguese international won six ground duels and completed four dribbles. He was everywhere, keeping PSG’s tempo high in possession and quickly counter-pressing out of it. Liverpool struggled to make any sort of impression on him.

Neves added to the control PSG had, also making runs into the final third when space opened up. While Liverpool failed to find any sort of foothold on the ball, the Ligue 1 champions played the majority of the game in the opposition half. It was freakish that none of their goal-scoring chances ended up in the back of the net.

PSG spent big to sign Neves from Benfica for €60m last summer, winning the race to land the young midfielder when the likes of Manchester City and Manchester United had also been linked. He was the final piece of the midfield puzzle for Luis Enrique who needed his own Rodri to make PSG tick. Neves has so far lived up to his billing.

This is the sort of team Luis Enrique envisaged when he first took over at the Parc des Princes two summers ago. His first season in charge was a transitional one as PSG started to move on from a Galacticos-esque era that saw them fail to balance an attack that featured Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Neymar.

*PSG remain unbeaten in Ligue 1 this season*

In 2025, though, PSG have played prime Lucho-ball. They control games through possession. They counter-press. They get players forward in quick transition moments. They play with energy in the wide areas and are able to replicate their approach against the strongest opponents, as last week’s meeting with Liverpool proved.

“Even though we’re trailing from the first leg we will be playing our own game from the outset,” said Luis Enrique ahead of the second leg. “Regardless of the result [in Paris] we wouldn’t do anything different. I’m not going to give away who we are going to play or how we are going to play but over the course of two games we will see two of the best teams in Europe, two contenders for the final and whoever goes through will go through to the final.”

Luis Enrique’s prediction might well come true. PSG are good enough to overturn a 1-0 deficit at Anfield on Tuesday and they’re good enough to make this season’s Champions League final. If the French giants were to knock out Liverpool, there would be no reason to fear anyone else in what is a relatively weak field.

The goalscoring form of Bradley Barcola, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Ousmane Dembélé is primarily the thing that has made PSG genuine Champions League challengers in the eyes of so many. Before being held by Liverpool last week, the French giants had netted 20 goals in their previous four games. Dembélé had notched 18 in just 13 outings since the turn of the year.

*PSG have scored 70 goals in Ligue 1, exactly 35 at home and 35 away*

Without that cutting edge, PSG will limply exit this season’s Champions League at Anfield on Tuesday night regardless of what Liverpool are able to muster. The visitors must do a better job of converting control and possession into goals. They need Dembélé and co. of the past two months and not the frontline that drew a blank in the first leg.

In Neves and Vitinha, though, PSG have a platform in almost every match they play. The pair are irrepressible and will relish the opportunity to put right the injustice of the first leg against Liverpool at Anfield. The best midfield pairing in Europe could be deciding factor in this Champions League tie.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Mar

2025

Premier League Team of the Week: Matchday 28

There was a lot of change in the Premier League this weekend. Liverpool extended their lead at the summit to 15 points, Nottingham Forest cut the gap to Arsenal to four points while Chelsea replaced Manchester City in the top four. And Wolves, without the talismanic Matheus Cunha, opened up a six point gap over the dropzone.

By Sam McGuire

You already knew all about that though, right? What you don’t know, though, is who made the FotMob Team of the Week and why?

Goalkeeper: Dean Henderson

The 27-year-old shot-stopper made an impressive seven saves for Crystal Palace in their 1-0 win over relegation battlers Ipswich Town. The former Manchester United goalkeeper faced shots with an Expected Goals on Target value of 1.9. His exploits between the sticks ensured Oliver Glasner’s side picked up all three points, lifting them into 11th position in the Premier League. It was his ninth clean sheet of the season and his performance earned him a 9.0 rating.

Right-Back: Trent Alexander-Arnold

Alexander-Arnold bossed things for Liverpool against Southampton on Saturday afternoon. The right-back had five shots, missed a big chance and carved out two chances in the 3-1 win over the bottom of the table. He completed 100% of his attempted dribbles (four), completed 88% of his passes, won 100% of his tackles and won seven of his nine duels.

Centre-Back: Jean Paul van Hecke

The Dutch centre-back played his part in Brighton’s 2-1 win over Fulham. The 24-year-old scored the first goal for the Seagulls, he completed 93% of his attempted passes and 100% of his dribbles. Defensively, he was robust too. He won 50% of his tackles, made five recoveries, six clearances and won five of his eight duels. His showing at the Amex earned him an 8.4 FotMob rating.

Centre-Back: Tyrone Mings

Mings looked dominant against Brentford on Saturday night as Villa recorded a 1-0 win. The 31-year-old completed 81% of his passes, 100% of his dribbles, and made three interceptions. He made six recoveries, six headed clearances, won 100% of his ground duels and 75% of his aerial duels. The centre-back played a significant part in the clean sheet for Unai Emery’s side.

Left-Back: Marc Cucurella

Cucurella was the match-winner for the Blues, netting the decisive goal for Enzo Maresca’s men on the hour mark. The Spain international completed 86% of his attempted passes, found a teammate with 63% of his attempted long passes and was accurate with 50% of his attempted crosses. He won 100% of his tackles and came out on top in three of his five duels in a performance that earned him an 8.3 FotMob rating.

Midfield: Moisés Caicedo

Caicedo claimed the Player of the Match rating in Chelsea’s narrow 1-0 win over Leicester. It was a victory that lifted them into fourth spot in the Premier League. The former Brighton midfielder completed 93% of his passes, carved out one chance, completed 100% of his dribbles and was accurate with 80% of his long passes. He won three of his four tackles, made three interceptions, and won an incredible 11 of his 12 duels.

Midfield: Enzo Fernández

Enzo joins his Chelsea midfield partner in the FotMob Team of the Week after a creative display for the Blues against the Foxes. The World Cup winner created six chances in the 1-0 win, the most of any player on the pitch. He also finished the game having taken four shots as well as attempting five dribbles. He didn’t do much defensively, that was all Caicedo, but on the ball, Enzo was a difference maker for Enzo Maresca’s side.

Attack: Mohamed Salah

Salah was, yet again, the match-winner for Liverpool this weekend. He, again, netted twice against Southampton to take his haul for the season to 27 in the Premier League. He leads the way for the Golden Boot by seven following the double at Anfield. The leading playmaker, with 17 assists to his name this term, also created six chances as the Red extended their lead at the top.

Attack: Pape Sarr

Sarr completed the most passes (47), he found a teammate with 92% of his attempted passes, created three chances and scored one goal as Spurs rallied from 2-0 down to claim a 2-2 draw with Bournemouth. The 22-year-old also attempted four dribbles, played seven passes into the final third, won 100% of his tackles and 50% of his duels. He was influential, with and without the ball.

Attack: Marcus Tavernier

The 25-year-old impressed for the opposition in that 2-2 draw between Bournemouth and Spurs. He scored a goal and created three chances for the Cherries. He missed a big chance, completed 50% of his dribbles and won 75% of his attempted tackles. Tavernier made five recoveries, won six of nine ground duels and two of three aerial duels. He had an impact for the Cherries, with and without the ball in a performance that earned him an 8.5 rating.

Attack: Darwin Núñez

Liverpool fans were treated to the full Darwin Núñez experience against Southampton. The No. 9 picked up a yellow card for a petulant swipe at Kyle Walker-Peters late in the first half. He missed two big chances but also scored the equaliser and won the penalty in what was a whirlwind three minute spell early in the second half. The 25-year-old was replaced after 64 minutes having earned himself an 8.4 rating.

(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: Barcelona looking to finally see off Benfica in the Champions League

Barcelona host Benfica in the Champions League Round of 16 second-leg tie at the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium. Hansi Flick’s side go into the game with a 1-0 lead on aggregate after an important victory in Lisbon last week.

By Matt Smith

In the first leg, Barcelona secured a 1-0 victory despite going down to 10 men after 22 minutes. Pau Cubarsí was sent off, but that didn’t stop Raphinha scoring the winner in the second half.

The home side will be looking to honour the life of their team doctor, Carles Miñarro Garcia, who passed away at the weekend just hours before their game against Osasuna in LaLiga, which was ultimately postponed.

Flick sweating on Lewandowski

Robert Lewandowski was left out of the Barcelona squad to face Osasuna at the weekend, before that game was postponed, so Flick will be desperately hoping he’s passed fit to feature in the second leg.

The likes of Andreas Christensen, Marc Bernal, and Marc-André ter Stegen will all be unavailable for side from LaLiga. Christensen recently suffered a setback, while Ter Stegen and Bernal are long-term absentees.

Raphinha the main man in Europe

It has been an absolutely sensational season for Raphinha, not only domestically but in the Champions League as well. The Brazilian forward has only failed to score or provide an assist in two games in the competition this season.

Raphinha has played a crucial role for Barcelona in getting to this stage of the Champions League, and he’ll undoubtedly continue to do so if they go far in the competition. In fact, no player in this season’s competition has provided more goals and assists combined than Raphinha.

Di María misses out

Benfica have a host of injury troubles heading into this one, with Ángel Di María among those who will miss out. Manu Silva and Alexander Bah are long-term absentees, while Tiago Gouveia is also unavailable.

Alvaro Carreras picked up a yellow card in the first leg, and as a result, he’s suspended in what is a big blow for the Portuguese outfit.

Can Pavlidis strike again?

Although Vangelis Pavlidis was fairly quiet in the first leg, the Greek striker has already produced significantly against Barcelona in the Champions League this season. The 26-year-old scored a hat-trick against the Catalan giants in the league phase, although Barcelona won that epic 5-4.

*Pavlidis shooting stats, Champions League 2024/25*

Pavlidis has produced seven goals in the competition this campaign, while also providing two assists. Benfica will be desperate to see him repeat the performance he displayed earlier in the season as they battle to venture into the next round.

Prediction

With Barcelona in fine form and on their (temporary) home turf for the second leg, we’re predicting Flick’s side to win on the night and subsequently, advance into the next round.

We’re going for a 2-1 victory to Barcelona, seeing them breeze into the quarter-final 3-1 on aggregate.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

Mar

2025

Preview: Liverpool looking to get the job done against PSG in the Champions League

Despite a first-leg battering in general play terms, Liverpool somehow managed to become the first team to inflict defeat on Paris Saint-Germain in 22 games; away goals might not “count” anymore but Arne Slot’s team have a small toe in the Champions League quarter-finals all the same.

By Karl Matchett

Immovable object beat the unstoppable force – but Reds require more

Alisson Becker put in what even he described as the performance of his life in the first leg at the Parc des Princes, making nine saves including some spectacular and improbable ones. Beyond the stat though was the timing and placement of his handiwork: if he couldn’t get the ball out for a corner, his parrying ensured nothing dropped in dangerous areas to PSG shirts and he was dominant aerially too.

PSG have scored 25 goals in their last five matches, excluding that last-16 first leg tie, but the combined forces of Ousmane Dembélé (eight shots) Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (five), Bradley Barcola (three) and the rest (11) simply had no answer to Alisson…or the offside flag, on one occasion.

Whether Alisson can replicate that performance a week later is not really the question; instead it’s more about can PSG offer up something different and will Liverpool offer up something more? After one purposeful attempt – Harvey Elliott’s goal – they certainly should do, but recent first-half showings in particular are cause for concern.

Anfield has never been a place to care for numbers

You’ll doubtless have heard the phrase European nights at Anfield thrown around over the years, and that’s because it is, unquestionably, a thing.

Better teams than PSG have come unstuck there. Far worse sides than this iteration of the Reds have seen their performance levels increase significantly. And, of course, first-leg scorelines which are far more tilted against Liverpool than this one will start as, have been overcome.

The occasion, the atmosphere and the expectation of greatness will all play into what happens, and the outcomes don’t always have to follow what the numbers of the game suggest should be the case.

Recent form

Liverpool’s first third of the season was a lot more relentless than the middle third was, but they look back on track in results terms – four straight wins in all competitions and their two defeats in the last 16 both came with heavily rotated reserve sides. At home, they’re unbeaten in all competitions since 14 September. PSG have it all to do then, but in their last dozen, they’ve won 11 – just that home defeat to Liverpool blemishes their late-season form. The French champions have still yet to suffer a loss in Ligue 1 this season.

Team news

PSG should be at full strength with no absentees, while Liverpool are likely to see an unchanged squad with just Joe Gomez and Conor Bradley absent. Cody Gakpo remains a doubt but could see bench duty.

Key player

Alexis Mac Allister. There aren’t many all-rounders like him: top quarter or so of midfielders for all of shots, touches, defensive actions, chances created and goals.

Prediction

It’s hard to see PSG failing to score again, but likewise the Reds are near-perfect on their own pitch. A close-fought tie but that late first-leg goal will prove key: Liverpool 1 PSG 1 (2-1 agg).

(Cover image from IMAGO)

Mar

2025

Preview: Inter Miami face Wilfried Zaha-led Charlotte

Inter Miami’s busy early-season schedule continues as they host Wilfried Zaha and Charlotte FC at the Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale on Sunday.

By James Nalton

Will Messi be back?

Lionel Messi missed Inter Miami’s trip to Houston Dynamo last week, but the team still recorded a convincing 4-1 without him.

The official explanation for his absence is fatigue, but he then also missed the home game against Jamaican side Cavalier in the Concacaf Champions Cup on Thursday, which raised further questions.

Head coach Javier Mascherano says the team need to learn to play without him, which suggests more absences in the future and also puts his presence for the home game against Charlotte in doubt.

Despite sitting out the two previous matches, Messi has been training with the team as usual and fans are hoping he’ll return to action this weekend.

A good start for Suárez

If there were questions prior to the season as to whether a 38-year-old Luis Suárez could still make a difference for Inter Miami, they have been answered within the first five games.

Suárez opened his MLS account with the final goal in last week’s 4-1 win at Houston, edging his way around three Dynamo defenders before firing in a typically unsavable shot.

His three assists were just as encouraging as his goal.

In Messi’s absence he linked up with the younger players around him, setting up two for 21-year-old Venezuelan Telasco Segovia and another for 26-year-old Mexican Tadeo Allende.

This interplay and one-touch passing showed what he can still bring to this team, as do the three goals and five assists in five games already this season.

Continental campaign continues

Inter Miami come into this game on the back of another midweek Champions Cup clash.

The 2-0 win at home to Cavalier, featuring goals from Allende and Suárez, was not as comfortable as the scoreline makes it look, though, and they made hard work of what was an expected victory.

They’ll travel to Jamaica next week with the two-goal lead, giving Mascherano some decisions to make on how much to rotate his squad and who to rest.

With Miami having just two full days break since their last game, Charlotte FC might fancy their chances.

The Zaha effect

Wilfried Zaha made his debut in Charlotte’s home opener last week having missed the first game of the season after being in London for the birth of his daughter.

He flew back to North Carolina a few days before scoring in the 2-0 win against rivals Atlanta United and being crowned Man of the Match.

If things click for Charlotte, they could challenge at the top of the Eastern Conference this season, and a good performance against Inter Miami would certainly make a statement.

It’s a statement Dean Smith’s side are capable of making. After all, they have the best goalkeeper in the league, Kristijan Kahlina, and now an attacking star and potential difference-maker in Zaha.

Prediction

Charlotte should be much stronger than a disappointing Houston side were last week. It could make for a similar match to Inter Miami’s season opener against New York City, and possibly a similar scoreline of 2-2.

(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: Madrid derbies galore as Real face Rayo between Euroderbi legs

A busy week in the Spanish capital continues as both Real and Atlético face regional rivals between their UEFA Champions League Round of 16 tie.

By Neel Shelat

Little room for error in Real’s treble chase

Much like domestic rivals Barcelona and Atlético, Real Madrid are still alive and very much in the hunt for all three major titles. The three-point gap between LaLiga’s top three means that the smallest slip-ups could prove extremely costly between now and the end of the season.

Given the fact that they are currently third in the standings and have a deficit to overturn, Los Blancos will perhaps be under the most pressure to deliver. Of course, their historic pedigree and star-studded squad only add to fans’ expectations, so anything less than a double might well be considered a slight disappointment at least.

Fresh Bellingham could be key to turning around domestic form

Jude Bellingham was suspended for three of Real Madrid’s last four matches and was certainly a big miss for the side, especially in their loss to Real Betis last weekend. That result left them with just one win in their last five league games – a run they simply cannot afford to continue if they are to seriously challenge for the title.

The return of the all-action English midfielder might well be the boost Los Blancos need to put together another winning streak. Bellingham has a critical role to play in this side as the connector between a somewhat depleted defence and powerful attack, while his defensive work is also crucial on the left flank where Vinícius Júnior likes to stay high to be a counterattacking outlet.

Rayo’s rough record at the Bernabéu

Rayo Vallecano are unbeaten in their last three home games against Real Madrid, but their record at the Santiago Bernabéu is not quite as good. In fact, their goalless draw at the famed arena last season ended a 12-match losing streak, and they have only won once in 22 visits to the home of the record European champions.

Rayo also suffered one of their worst-ever defeats at the venue about a decade ago when the famed Bale-Benzema-Ronaldo front three ran riot, so they may still be extra keen to avoid any early sendings off.

Rayo severely depleted by eight absences

Much has been made of Real Madrid’s injury issues this season, but Rayo Vallecano won’t be feeling too sorry for them at the moment. Iñigo Pérez’s side will be without eight senior players for this game, including creative maestro Isi Palazón and suspended top-scorer Jorge de Frutos among five attackers.

This long absentees list will be particularly frustrating for Rayo as they are significantly overperforming relative to expectations and budget as they currently find themselves very much in the hunt for European football. If they manage to pull through, though, this will make the achievement all the more impressive.

Prediction

Real Madrid will want to keep things as straightforward as possible ahead of a huge Champions League match in midweek, so they will surely be satisfied with a 2-0 win.

(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.