Page 75 – The Pulse of Football

Mar

2024

Premier League Team of the Week: Matchday 28

The FotMob Team of the Week is heavily geared towards players turning out for Southern clubs, with a combined eight players making the XI turning out for teams in the South. Who joins them though and why?

By Sam McGuire, Premier League expert

Goalkeeper: André Onana

Perhaps surprisingly, only one goalkeeper (David Raya) has kept more clean sheets than André Onana this season. The Manchester United shot stopper kept his eighth of the season in the 2-0 win over Everton on Saturday afternoon.

The Toffees kept the 27-year-old busy with Onana forced into making six saves at Old Trafford, four of which were from efforts inside the penalty area. His exploits between the sticks earned him a FotMob rating of 8.6.

Right-Back: Ben White

White was the difference maker for Arsenal as they claimed a 2-1 win over Brentford to move into top spot in the Premier League.

The full-back assisted both goals and finished the game having completed more passes (63) than any other player. He showcased just how important he was to the way Arsenal look to build and sustain attacks. The England international has been invaluable over recent weeks.

Centre-Back: Cristian Romero

Romero put in an almost faultless performance for Spurs in the 4-0 win over Aston Villa on Sunday afternoon. The divisive centre-back was dominant on the ball, completing 93% of the 90 passes he attempted. He also won all of his tackles and ground duels to round off an imperious display.

Centre-Back: Virgil Van Dijk

Few players manage it but then I guess there are few players in world football who are at Virgil Van Dijk’s level. The Liverpool skipper bossed Erling Haaland as the Reds claimed a 1-1 draw with Manchester City. No player with a minimum of 45 minutes could better his pass success rate of 97%, while he also won three of his four tackles and came out on top in five of his eight duels at Anfield in what was a fairly dominant showing.

Left-Back: Destiny Udogie

Udogie is another Tottenham defender who didn’t put a foot wrong in the dominant win over Aston Villa. The young full-back completed 98% of his passes, attempted four dribbles, recovered the ball on 11 occasions and involved himself in 12 duels at Villa Park as he racked up an 8.2 rating.

Midfield: Dango Ouattara

Ouattara was brought on at half time in Bournemouth’s draw with Sheffield United. He completed transformed the outcome of the game for the Cherries.

The 22-year-old halved the deficit in the 74th minute before setting up fellow substitute Enes Unal for a stoppage time equaliser.

The versatile forward was on the pitch for just 45 minutes but had a total of five shots and created three opportunities for teammates in what was the definition of a super sub appearance.

Midfield: Bruno Fernandes

Fernandes was at his brilliant best for Manchester United against Everton. The skipper scored the opener, converting from the spot, and was a creative menace for the Red Devils. The 29-year-old carved out five chances for teammates and completed 85% of his passes, showcasing his ability to set the tempo and dictate the play when required.

Midfield: Cole Palmer

Palmer chipped in with yet another goal and assist as Chelsea claimed a 3-2 win over Newcastle United on Monday evening. The Manchester City academy graduate assisted the opener for Mauricio Pochettino’s men before adding the second. It was one of the three chances he created at Stamford Bridge on his way to an 8.8 rating. The 21-year-old also attempted four dribbles, won 67% of his tackles and involved himself in 10 duels.

Attack: Heung-Min Son

The skipper just continues to impress for Spurs. Son, once again, scored against Aston Villa but this time he also added two assists in what turned out to be a fairly straightforward win for Ange Postecoglou’s men.

Son had a total of two shots in the 4-0 win and created two big chances for Spurs. He’s now on 14 goals and eight assists for the campaign.

Attack: Jean-Philippe Mateta

The 26-year-old impressed for Crystal Palace in the 1-1 draw with Luton Town. The striker scored after just 11 minutes and finished the game with a rating of 8.1 after creating two chances to go alongside his goal. He had a total of four shots and finished the game with an Expected Goals haul of 1.11. Mateta was also responsible for two of the six big chances the Eagles created.

Attack: Nicolas Jackson

The 22-year-old was quietly effective against Newcastle. Jackson scored the opener for Chelsea and was replaced after 89 minutes having landed 100% of his efforts on target. He also won two of his three tackles and 50% of the 18 duels he was involved in. The centre-forward also managed to carve out a chance for a teammate to round off an impressive showing.

(Images from IMAGO)

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

Mar

2024

The MLS Team of the Week: Matchday 4

MLS expert James Nalton picks two standout performers based on his votes in the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) Player of the Week awards and picks out a few more of this week’s contenders.

By James Nalton

The new MLS season continues apace as some players of whom big things are expected begin to make their mark on the league.

One of the best strikers in MLS tops the list of standout players this week after helping his team to a 4-1 win.

Elsewhere, there was a strong goalkeeping performance, a dogged defensive midfield display, and two centre-forwards showing their finishing ability on opposing sides in the same game.

But the players getting my NASR votes this week spearheaded their team to important, statement performances, which they hope will set the tone for the games to come.

The Top Two

9.7 FotMob rating: Georgios Giakoumakis – Atlanta United

The Greek striker was joint second in the MLS scoring charts during the regular season in 2023 with 17.

Having failed to find the net in Atlanta’s opening game of the season against Columbus Crew, he more than made up for it with a perfect hat-trick in a 4-1 win against New England Revolution.

He won a penalty at the end of the first half from which Thiago Almada opened the scoring, the Argentine taking the penalty instead of Giakoumakis.

But when Atlanta won a second spot-kick in the second half, the striker took over, scoring the first of his three goals.

A strong header from a Brooks Lennon cross took his personal tally to two and then an excellent left-footed finish from an angle completed the perfect hat-trick of right foot, left foot, and header.

8.8 FotMob rating: Emil Forsberg – New York Red Bulls

The Red Bulls have begun the season with a string of promising performances following a disappointing campaign last time out.

Forsberg has been at the heart of the new look and new feel around Red Bull Arena in New Jersey, and was a standout player as they won their home opener 2-1 against FC Dallas.

Forsberg works hard and fits the system like a glove, but is also a top-quality player and already proving he’s one of this season’s best signings.

He played a brilliant ball over the top for Lewis Morgan that led to the penalty which Forsberg himself stepped up to convert.

He then set up Morgan in open play for a second which was enough to win their first home game of the season by an eventual one-goal margin.

If the pair can continue to combine in this manner this season, then the Red Bulls could be a force in the East.

Some more standout performers

8.7 FotMob rating: Duncan McGuire – Orlando City

Teemu Pukki could easily have been the striker to highlight from Minnesota United’s 3-2 against Orlando City.

But McGuire’s assimilation straight back into this Orlando side after the bitter disappointment of the breakdown of a winter transfer to Blackburn Rovers, through no fault of his own, is impressive.

Both players finished superbly for a brace each, Pukki from the narrowest of angles for his first and then with a quick turn and strike from outside the area to make it a pair.

The two scored by the 23-year-old American McGuire were just as impressive.

One was taken brilliantly in his stride with one touch and finished clinically with the next. The other was struck sweetly and with accuracy into the far corner from the edge of the area.

Blackburn’s loss is Orlando City’s (re-)gain.

8.6 FotMob rating Alex Bono – DC United

DC United travelled to last season’s league leaders FC Cincinnati and came away with a more than respectable 0-0 draw.

Goalkeeper Bono played a big role in the result, finishing the game having made seven saves, preventing a total xG on target of 2.68.

In the first half he saved well at the near post from Alvas Powell, and then from a close-range shot by Corey Baird at the subsequent corner.

That Baird effort alone registered an xG of 0.78, and a later stop from close range from Aaron Boupendza had an xG on target of 0.82.

Every notable Cincinnati attack ended with the commentators making a mention of Bono’s name, as he appeared unpassable in the DC United goal.

8.3 FotMob rating: Andrés Cubas – Vancouver Whitecaps

In a tight game during which the Whitecaps’ opponents San Jose Earthquakes dominated possession, defensive contributions were important to the visiting side.

That Vancouver eventually emerged 2-0 winners was as much down to disrupting the Earthquakes’s play and keeping them out at the other end as it was the goals from Alessandro Schöpf and Ali Ahmed.

Cubas regularly broke up San Jose attacks before they could get into the danger area, finishing the game with 14 defensive actions.

The 27-year-old Paraguay international will continue to be key for the Whitecaps, providing the defensive security that allows the likes of Ryan Gauld and Brian White to do their thing in attack.

(Images 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.

Mar

2024

Major League Soccer: Five storylines from Matchday Four

There was no shortage of drama and excitement across Major League Soccer on Saturday and Sunday as the 2024 season moved into its third full gameweek.

Some familiar names are starting to climb the standings (see Atlanta United and Columbus Crew) while some others are exceeding pre-season predictions (see the Portland Timbers and Toronto FC). Here are five of the biggest storylines from the weekend in MLS.

By Graham Ruthven, MLS Expert

Inter Miami’s weaknesses exposed in home defeat to CF Montréal

Inter Miami suffered their first defeat of the season on Sunday as CF Montréal exposed some of the weaknesses that could undermine the Herons in 2024. While there is no doubting Inter Miami’s talent when everyone is available, their lack of depth when the likes of Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez and Sergio Busquets are rested or on the bench – as was the case here – is a concern.

On top of this, CF Montréal were able to expose Inter Miami’s frailty when defending set pieces and the vulnerability of their defensive high line against opposition attackers with pace and a determination to get in behind. Tata Martino made his team selection with one eye on Wednesday’s CONCACAF Champions Cup match against Nashville, but it inadvertently highlighted some of his team’s issues.

Giorgos Giakoumakis’ finishing ability could make Atlanta United contenders

MLS isn’t exactly short of top quality centre-forwards, but few are on Giorgos Giakoumakis’ level. The Greek striker scored his first – and second and third – goal of the season in Atlanta United’s 4-1 demolition of the New England Revolution on Saturday, highlighting the finishing ability of a player who could make Gonzalo Pineda’s team genuine contenders this season.

There was more to Atlanta’s performance than just Giakoumakis’ hat trick. The hosts struggled to create much in the first half, but the second period saw Thiago Almada pick up space in between the lines and Dax McCarty show why he was signed by The Five Stripes to provide bite in central midfield. Giakoumakis, however, is Atlanta’s biggest difference-maker.

John Herdman is achieving the impossible by getting Toronto FC buy-in

Lorenzo Insigne’s winner for Toronto FC against Charlotte FC on Saturday was remarkable enough, but his celebration was possibly even more meaningful. Indeed, the Italian raced over to the touchline where he jumped into the arms of John Herdman. Insigne clashed with previous manager Bob Bradley last season, but he clearly has more time for Herdman.

This is significant because talent was never TFC’s problem. Instead, there was a lack of buy-in from the best players inside the BMO Field dressing room. Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi were expected to leave the club over the off-season, but the pair stayed and are clearly invested in Herdman’s project with Toronto FC unbeaten in three games to start 2024.

Duncan McGuire reminded everyone why he’s such an exciting talent

Had Blackburn Rovers correctly filed some paperwork, Duncan McGuire would currently be playing in the Championship. Instead, the 23-year-old is back at Orlando City after the breakdown of his January transfer to England. McGuire is in an awkward position, back at a club that had already replaced him by signing Luis Muriel, but Saturday saw the striker remind everyone of his incredible talent.

McGuire is a pure goalscorer. He has been likened to former Fulham and USA forward Brian McBride who also came through the American college system. Orlando have endured a challenging start to the new season, but with McGuire in the team they have an elite level finisher to help turn things around. Both goals against Minnesota United highlighted this.

Eric Ramsay will take over a Minnesota United team with momentum

Against all odds, Minnesota United have enjoyed an extremely positive start to the season. Saturday’s 3-2 away win over Orlando City means The Loons have claimed seven points from their first three matches with an interim head coach – Cameron Knowles – in charge. New permanent manager Eric Ramsay will take over a team with momentum.

The former Manchester United coach will have plenty to work with when he arrives at Allianz Field. Teemu Pukki was at his opportunistic best as he bagged a brace against Orlando while Bongokuhle Hlongwane – a breakout star in 2023 – raced through to net a stoppage time winner on his season debut. Minnesota are without their best player (Emanuel Reynoso) and have started the season without a permanent manager. None of it has mattered.

(Images 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.

Mar

2024

Jadon Sancho: Is the on-loan Man United winger back or is it a false dawn in the Bundesliga?

Two months ago, Jadon Sancho ended his unhappy stay at Manchester United, headed back to Borussia Dortmund on loan and marked his second debut with the club by assisting in a win over Darmstadt. Within a minute or two of coming on he had almost scored, blocked out at the near post; 20 minutes later a typical burst behind the defence saw him square for Marco Reus to tap in. Rewind the clock: all was well again for the BVB double act – or else it was back to 2021.

By Karl Matchett

It was not, however, the start of a glorious run he would have hoped for, that Dortmund fans would have dreamed of – maybe even expected. Sancho didn’t manage a shot in the next two games, didn’t start the following two and struggled to recapture that early impact.

Perhaps, though, that is changing: his most recent outing saw Sancho play a big part early on, show some of his best traits in ball-carrying and work rate…And score the winning goal, his first since returning to Germany and his first competitive strike anywhere since May last season.

The No.10’s goal against Werder Bremen was pretty much classic inside-forward, classic Sancho: picking the ball up 35 yards from goal on the left, he used tremendous skill and two-footed dribbling ability to jink past his man, cut in from a narrow angle and coolly finish at the near post.

It was also the kind of moment he hasn’t been able to conjure too often in a yellow shirt so far: in a little over 500 Bundesliga minutes, Sancho has had six shots – but three of them came in a few minutes’ blitz off the bench late in one game. His six efforts have registered a total xG of 0.6 – hardly the stuff of nightmares for keepers – and the winner over Bremen was only his second on target.

However, Sancho’s impact has been felt more keenly in Dortmund’s build-up play, delivering threat in his ability to attack space and pick a pass.

With 20 successful dribbles behind him already and a 51% success rate, he’d be in the top five of the Bundesliga for take-ons per 90 minutes if he had enough appearances to his name to qualify on FotMob’s charts – while his nine chances created so far puts him somewhere between Niclas Fullkrug and Marco Reus in Dortmund’s top four, on a per-90 basis.

While he is of course capable of more – this is a previously £100m-rated player after all – it needs to be put in perspective, too: Sancho had managed just 76 league minutes on the pitch all season before January, ostracised by Erik ten Hag at Man United and needing time to get back up to speed.

The question now must be of if he reaches the peak of his game again, how quickly he can manage it and where that leaves him for next term.

While there is plenty of off-pitch change happening at Old Trafford, it seems improbable that he can rely on reconciliation with his manager there, so further change at the top might be his only route back. Even so, the impact by Alejandro Garnacho renders it less vital that Sancho is incorporated back into the squad, even as another rebuild is considered. Another loan? A permanent deal away? How much of a loss would United be prepared to take, and who can pay anywhere close to Sancho’s original fee outside of the Premier League?

That is all for the future, and most of it will be dictated by what Sancho achieves in the next two months.

With the Bundesliga title firmly in Bayer Leverkusen’s hands, Dortmund have two tasks for the rest of 2023/24: finishing in the top four and, Sancho’s biggest window of opportunity, the Champions League.

A tame 1-1 away draw in the first leg with PSV Eindhoven just about has BVB in the driving seat ahead of their midweek return fixture; win there and Dortmund will surely have a much higher-profile quarter-final to look forward to.

Between now and then his game time in the top flight in Germany has to yield more consistency, more goal threat and more minutes on the pitch than, for example, compatriot Jamie Bynoe-Gittens: an easy comparison but a relevant one, given their prospective audiences and positions.

There are a further four games to do that in, before the Champions League last eight begins. That is where Sancho will need to send Dortmund to, will need to star in and show his real worth, if he’s keen to reach the top again – wherever that might be.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Mar

2024

Premier League Review: Matchday 28

We have new Premier League leaders. Matchday 28 was billed as a big one and it certainly delivered. As well as changes at the top, the bottom three all added to their points haul while the race for the final Champions League spot took a sudden twist.

Here’s your Premier League review.

By Sam McGuire, Premier League expert

Everton remain winless

The Toffees are without a win in the Premier League this year. Sean Dyche’s men haven’t picked up maximum points in the English top flight since their 3-0 victory against Burnley in mid-December.

Everton travelled to Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon to take on an inconsistent Manchester United side. Despite a positive start, the visitors found themselves 2-0 down before the break with both Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford converting from the spot.

The away side actually out-shot their opponents 23-15 and carved out chances with an Expected Goals value of 1.61. They couldn’t find a way past André Onana though as the Red Devils returned to winning ways following the derby day defeat last weekend.

Erik ten Hag’s side remain in fifth while Everton are just four points off the drop zone.

Arsenal take advantage

Mikel Arteta’s side are now top of the Premier League table following a 2-1 win over Brentford on Saturday evening. It wasn’t a straightforward victory for the Gunners though.

Arsenal took an early lead with Declan Rice firing in the opener inside of 20 minutes. However, Brentford hit back in first half stoppage time when Yoane Wissa chased down Aaron Ramsdale and challenged the stand-in goalkeeper. His attempted clearance bounced off the forward and into the net. Ramsdale was only starting because David Raya wasn’t eligible to play against his parent club.

The hosts looked more likely to score but they weren’t exactly peppering the Brentford goal.

Kai Havertz popped up with the winner with just four minutes remaining. It was a somewhat controversial goal with the German lucky to still be on the pitch having gotten away with a blatant dive while already on a booking. You need luck in a title race though and Arsenal now sit top of the pile.

Spurs make a statement

A win for Aston Villa on Sunday wouldn’t have guaranteed them a top four finish but it would have put them in total control of their fate as they welcomed fifth place Tottenham Hotspur to Villa Park.

It was a fairly one-sided first half with the hosts limiting the visitors to a single shot. Spurs had all of the ball (70%) but couldn’t do anything with it.

Whatever Ange Postecoglou said at the break must’ve worked though as his side exploded in the second half. Spurs raced into a 2-0 lead in the blink of an eye with James Maddison and Brennan Johnson both finding the back of the net in a three minute blitz.

Villa skipper John McGinn, who created the most chances for the hosts with three, was sent off after 65 minutes for an unnecessary swipe at Destiny Udogie.

Heung-Min Son then got his customary goal against Villa in stoppage time to make it 3-0 before assisting substitute Timo Werner, who added a fourth in the 94th minute.

Spurs are now two points behind Unai Emery’s men with a game in hand as they look to get back into the Champions League.

Ings haunts his former club

It appeared as though Burnley might win just their fourth Premier League game of the season. Vincent Kompany’s side had a 2-0 lead over hosts West Ham United at the break courtesy of a stunning David Datro Fofana strike and a Konstantinos Mavropanos own goal.

West Ham hit back immediately in the second half with Lucas Paquetá halving the deficit in the first minute after the restart.

The Hammers huffed and puffed as they searched for an equaliser, taking a total of 19 shots after the break. They carved out opportunities worth 2.04 Expected Goals in the second half but needed a stoppage time goal from former Burnley forward Danny Ings to claim a point.

It would’ve been the first win in 2024 for the Clarets had they been able to hang on. It also would’ve given them a three point cushion over bottom club Sheffield United. It wasn’t to be though.

All square at Anfield

It was the ideal result for Arsenal as title rivals Liverpool and Manchester City played out a 1-1 draw at Anfield.

City started well and took an early lead. John Stones poked the ball in to make the most of a well-worked corner kick routine.

The hosts eventually clicked into gear and had chances to level before the break. However, the visitors went in at half time with the lead.

It didn’t last long. Nathan Ake underhit a pass to Ederson and Darwin Núñez capitalised. The Liverpool No. 9 got there first before the City shot stopper wiped out the Uruguayan. Alexis Mac Allister cooly converted from the spot to level things up.

After that, it was just wave after wave of Liverpool attacks. Luis Díaz spurned opportunities while Stefan Ortega, the man brought on to replace the injured Ederson, was forced into making four saves.

There was also a sucker punch though as Jérémy Doku rattled the Liverpool post late on. The hosts should’ve had a penalty deep into stoppage time when Doku caught Mac Allister in the chest with a high foot but VAR deemed the on field decision to be correct, much to the dismay of Jürgen Klopp.

(Cover Image from IMAGO)

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

Mar

2024

FIVE games to follow this weekend: Liverpool vs. Man City, and more

In this weekend preview we summarise the best five games to follow on your match feed. And make a couple of suggestions for matches that you may otherwise miss.

By Bill Biss

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Premier League: Liverpool vs. Manchester City

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past few weeks, or simply do not have the slightest interest in Premier League football, you’ll already know all about Sunday’s showdown between England’s current top two teams. We’ve been waiting a while for this potential title decider, and the hype has reached fever pitch.

In fact, in many ways the rivalry between this Liverpool squad and Manchester City’s treble-defending winners, and that between managers Jürgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola will probably come to define the last decade or so in English football. The outgoing Reds manager has managed to build a side that consistently challenges that of Guardiola’s multiple title winning stable.

This season, they’ve even outscored them. And conceded fewer goals. But that has only translated in to a one point advantage in the standings, with City dropping points in just two of their last 12 games, a run in which they’ve remained unbeaten.

Last weekend they beat city rival’s United by three goals to one, a scoreline they repeated against FC København on Wednesday night to ensure the current holders of the Champions League are in to the hat for this season’s quarter-final draw.

Liverpool were even bigger winners in midweek, albeit, they featured in the Europa League on Thursday night, when they beat Sparta Prague 5-1 away from home. The Reds have won their last seven games across all competitions, a run in which they lifted the Carabao Cup, and Klopp will be determined to maintain the challenge on the three other fronts they’re currently fighting. The biggest prize of all, though, would be to claim another Premier League title in what is his last season in England. And to do that, they’ll need to find a way to stop City on Sunday.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Premier League: Arsenal vs. Brentford

But before that showdown, don’t forget about Arsenal, the third horse in this Premier League title race! The Gunners feature in the Saturday evening kick-off against West London outfit Brentford.

The Bees have won just one of their last seven and this game sees them face London based opposition for the third time in a row after defeat to West Ham, and last weekend’s home draw against Chelsea. That run has left Thomas Frank’s side 15th in the table, six points clear of the relegation zone.

Free-scoring Arsenal are in fantastic form – their only defeat in their last eight coming away to Porto in the first leg of their Champions League tie. At home, they’ve won their last seven, scoring 31 goals in the process (THIRTY-ONE!). Sheffield United were dispatched 6-0 away from home on Monday night, with Newcastle beaten 4-1 over the previous weekend.

The momentum in the title race, at present, lies with Mikel Arteta’s side and they’ll want to heap the pressure on Liverpool and Manchester City by going above them in the table with a victory on Saturday night.

🇪🇸 LaLiga: Real Madrid vs. Celta Vigo

Elsewhere in Europe this weekend, we’re focusing on the various frontrunners in the top leagues. And therefore, in Spain, we’ve selected Madrid’s game against Celta Vigo, which takes place at the Bernabéu on Sunday.

Madrid were given a solid test by RB Leipzig in the second leg of their Champions League Round of 16 tie during the week, but the record winners held their nerve, pulling through 2-1 on aggregate after a 1-1 home draw on Wednesday evening. Carlo Ancelotti’s side were outshot by 20 efforts on goal to 11 in that game, a rare statistic this season as Madrid remain the joint second top scorers in LaLiga.

Only Girona have more (57 to 56) and Madrid’s superior defensive set up – they’ve lost just once in the league, and are conceding goals at a rate of just 0.7 goals per game – sees them five points clear at the top. That’s after Barcelona recorded a narrow 1-0 victory over Mallorca to move second on Friday night.

Madrid’s opponents sit 17th in the table, one place, but five points above the relegation zone. They have won three of their last 10 league games and did reach the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey but inconsistency has been their undoing this season.

Back in August, when the sides last met, Madrid needed a late Jude Bellingham goal to secure a 1-0 victory at Celta. The Englishman will be missing from this weekend’s game through suspension.

🇮🇹 Serie A: Bologna vs. Inter

Bologna are the surprise package in Serie A this season, and this Saturday, Thiago Motta’s side face the ultimate test of their credentials as they take on leaders Inter.

Motta played nearly a 100 competitive games for Inter as a player, and now, aged 41, he’s overseeing a turnaround in fortunes for the Rossoblù. After a ninth placed finish last season they’re currently sat fourth with a four point advantage on Roma below them. That puts them in contention for a Champions League spot, a competition they’ve not featured in since the 1964-65 season when it was very much still known as the European Cup! Unbeaten in seven, they’ve won each of their last six games in Serie A, including last weekend’s 2-1 victory at Atalanta. The goals in that game came from top scorer Joshua Zirkzee and Scottish midfielder Lewis Ferguson.

Inter, as you’ll know if you’re a regular reader of this column, have lost just once all season, and they can still boast both the best attack, and the best defence in the league. They’re on a nine game winning streak in the league, and you can make that 12 games if you include their triumph in the Supercoppa tournament, and the first leg of their Champions League tie against Atlético Madrid.

The second leg of that game is coming up in Madrid on Wednesday but don’t expect Simone Inzaghi to let his side take their foot off the gas at home, Inter are out to win everything they can this season.

🇩🇪 Bundesliga: Bayer Leverkusen vs. Wolfsburg

The runaway Bundesliga leaders return to domestic action on Sunday having almost…ALMOST…lost their 35 competitive game unbeaten run when they played in the Europa League during the week! Two-nil down to Qarabağ in the first leg of their last 16 match, Leverkusen needed a late rally to return from Azerbaijan with the game all square – Patrik Schick scoring their second deep in to second half injury-time.

To be honest, it’s been relatively plain sailing for Xabi Alonso’s side back home in recent weeks where five consecutive wins, including crucially, the 3-0 humbling of Bayern, have seen their lead extended to 10 points in the Bundesliga table. Bayern play earlier this weekend, with the Wolfsburg fixture seeing Leverkusen close the 25th round of the season.

Opponents Wolfsburg find themselves in a sticky patch having failed to win since the middle of December. They have drawn six of their consequent nine games but it’s a run that’s seen them drop to 13th in the table, albeit, with the comfort of being eight points clear of 16th, the relegation play-off spot, and nine points clear of the relegation zone proper.

Plus two further suggestions from a little deeper in your match feed…

🇺🇸🆚🇨🇦 MLS: Inter Miami vs. CF Montréal

Inter Miami sit atop the Eastern Conference standings as we head in to Matchday 4 of the new MLS season, but then, they have played one more game than everybody else. Still though, Messi, Suárez, Busquets, Alba, and the rest remain unbeaten having won two and drawn once, and they’ll go in to Sunday’s meeting with Montréal in high spirits.

The Canadian side are also unbeaten, with a draw against Orlando, and a win at FC Dallas to their name so far. This will be their third game on the road in a row but that doesn’t seem to be phasing a team that looks well organised under new coach Laurent Courtois. The Frenchman won the MLS Next Pro league championship with Columbus Crew II in 2023 and his stock will only rise higher should Montréal pull off another positive result here.

Miami come into the game between legs in their debut Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16 tie against Nashville, where they drew 2-2 on Thursday night, so it remains to be seen how their star names recover in time for the weekend game. Nashville were 2-0 up at half-time but first Messi and then Suárez (in injury-time) scored to secure what could prove to be two crucial away goals.

🏆 Women’s Gold Cup: USA vs. Brazil

Sunday also sees the final of the inaugural Concacaf Women’s Gold Cup, being hosted in the US city of San Diego.

It’s been over six months since the USWNT were knocked off the top of the FIFA World Rankings by Spain, but victory here, ahead of the Paris Olympics this summer, will show some of the mentality that has seen the US dominate women’s international football for the best part of two decades.

Interim head coach Twila Kilgore has overseen a tournament run that hasn’t been smooth, but one that has ultimately led to this point. The US were beaten by Mexico, for just the second time ever at home, in the group stage. And then, their other great rivals, Canada pushed them all the way to a penalty shootout in the semi-finals, with the US having goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher to thank for pulling them through. Chicago Red Stars’ No. 1 saved three spot kicks AND even converted a penalty herself!

Brazil, ranked #11 in the World, have proven themselves to be the best CONMEBOL side at what is the first ever Women’s Gold Cup, beating Puerto Rico, Colombia, Panama, and Argentina by an aggregate scoreline of 12-1 to set up their own semi-final against Mexico. There, they dispatched El Tri in style to set up Sunday’s showdown with the host nation.

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Images from IMAGO

Mar

2024

How Liverpool’s rivalry with Man City has defined the Jurgen Klopp era

As Jürgen Klopp leads Liverpool into what could be their final meeting with Manchester City while he is in the dugout, it is hard to escape the feeling that their rivalry defined his stay at Anfield.

By Jack Lusby, ThisIsAnfield.com

Though two of the closest sides in the Premier League in a geographical sense – with around 35 miles and an hour on the motorway separating Anfield and the Etihad – Liverpool and Manchester City could not be further apart in many ways.

Ask the neutrals and neither would be a popular choice, but there is little denying that Liverpool’s ethos is a positive antithesis of a club with 115 charges for flouting spending rules still looming over them.

But there is an inescapable sense that, as silly as it may sound, neither Liverpool or Manchester City would be where they are without the other.

Pep Guardiola certainly feels that way.

“The dimension of success is the dimension of a rival. When a rival is not good enough, your success is not big enough,” he told TNT Sports in February. “But competing with this Liverpool for many years – this one and the previous ones – and sometimes beat them, it shows how good we have done. It’s the same with them I think when they beat us. It is the best measure to realise what we have done as a team.”

Guardiola has voiced this opinion on countless occasions in recent years, but this time he was speaking not long after the news that his long-term rival, Jürgen Klopp, will depart Liverpool and the Premier League at the end of the season.

Unless the two sides are pitted against each other in the FA Cup, Sunday will bring the final clash between Liverpool and Manchester City before Klopp takes a long-awaited sabbatical.

It will be his 25th meeting with the Manchester club since being appointed Liverpool manager in 2015, and more broadly, his 30th encounter with Guardiola across spells with Borussia Dortmund and his current club. The record favours him in both regards: Liverpool have won 10, drawn six and lost eight of those 24 games, while Klopp has 12 wins from his 29 meetings with Guardiola, who himself has won 11.

The first shoots of a modern rivalry between Liverpool and Manchester City cropped up before Guardiola made his way to England, with a 4-1 win at the Etihad in November 2015 cementing the blueprint of Klopp’s success.

Manuel Pellegrini was still in the dugout for Manchester City and it was only a month-and-a-half into Klopp’s reign, but the gruelling double sessions at Melwood throughout October and November paid off in a suffocating display from Liverpool. Roberto Firmino, who found himself baffled by predecessor Brendan Rodgers using him as a wing-back, was stationed as a false nine, with Philippe Coutinho playing off him on the left.

The victory brought Firmino’s first goal for the club, and the Reds showed the first real signs of Klopp’s dominant, high-pressing 4-3-3 coming into life.

Klopp was never dogmatic, but the arrival of Guardiola to the Premier League – and the re-ignition of their rivalry in Germany – was clearly influential in the tactical evolution of his Liverpool side. The same can be said of Manchester City, with Klopp and Guardiola continually tweaking their systems seemingly to thwart each other; there was a serendipity, then, when both brought in out-and-out No. 9s in 2022 as Darwin Núñez and Erling Haaland made their way to the north-west.

That tactical to-and-fro has led to an exhilarating series of encounters between the two clubs. For Liverpool, that featured a run of three consecutive victories over Manchester City in 2018, including a 5-1 aggregate win over two legs in the Champions League quarter-finals. There was a blistering first-half display in the eventual 3-2 victory in the semi-finals of the FA Cup in 2022, while the 3-1 win at Anfield in 2019 gave Liverpool a major advantage as they surged to the Premier League title.

There have been heavy scorelines in favour of the Manchester club, too, most notably the 5-0 in the league in 2017 marked by Sadio Mane’s red card for a high-foot challenge on Ederson. There was a 4-1 win at Anfield in 2021 as Alisson endured a rare off-day, while Guardiola’s side blew Liverpool away in another 4-1 victory at the tail end of last season.

While Liverpool’s recent meetings with Chelsea – and notably the three domestic finals – have been notorious for their lack of goals, that has rarely been the case for clashes with Manchester City. Only once under Klopp and Guardiola has there been a 0-0 between the two sides – in October 2018 – while there have been four or more goals scored in nine of the last 12 fixtures.

The two managers are football purists, and it is that – and the sheer quality of talent on the pitch – which has made Liverpool and Manchester City the two genuine box-office sides in England.

That has underpinned Klopp’s success and is a big factor behind his longevity in the Premier League; every protagonist needs the right antagonist, and Manchester City so starkly oppose his ideals, but there is also a genuine respect that acknowledges they have brought the best out of each other.

So when the final whistle blows at Anfield at around 6pm on Sunday evening, there will be a poignancy regardless of the result.

But as Manchester City still search for top gear in their season-after-the-treble season, the significance of it likely being Klopp’s final clash with Liverpool’s modern rivals should give them the edge the Reds need.

(Images from IMAGO)

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Mar

2024

Premier League Preview: Matchday 28

This could be a season-shaping weekend for some teams. It may seem a little premature to make such a claim given this is only Matchday 28 and there are still 10 games to be played but have you seen some of the fixtures? Top spot is up for grabs, there’s a huge match in the race for a top-four finish while there will be ramifications in the battle to stay in the Premier League. Here’s your weekend preview.

By Sam McGuire, Premier League expert

An Old Trafford opportunity for Everton

The first match of the weekend sees Everton travel to Old Trafford to take on Manchester United. The Toffees had their points deduction reduced recently and it catapulted them up the table into 16th. However, they’re just five points clear of the drop zone and have played a game more than 18th-placed Luton.

Sean Dyche’s men are winless in seven, they haven’t kept a clean sheet in five and are one of the lowest-scoring teams in the Premier League, averaging just 1.1 goals per match. And yet they still might fancy their chances this weekend against Erik Ten Hag’s side.

The hosts have lost five Premier League matches at Old Trafford this season and they’ve taken just 22 points from 13 home fixtures. United have lost two of their last three across all competitions and their last outing was a 3-1 loss in the Manchester Derby.

They do, however, have a good record against Everton having won the previous four clashes. The hosts need a win to keep their slim hopes of a top-four finish alive. If results don’t go their way, they could finish the weekend nine points off of fifth having played a game more.

Can the Eagles soar?

Crystal Palace host Luton Town this weekend looking to open up an 11-point gap between themselves and the relegation zone. It would give them ample breathing space heading into the final stages of the 2023/24 campaign.

But the visitors are desperate for points and this is going to be a tricky game for Oliver Glasner’s side.

Especially when you consider that the Eagles aren’t in the best form. Palace have taken just 15 points in their 13 home matches this season and are averaging just 1.2 goals per game in the Premier League. They also lost 2-1 to Luton earlier in the season.

Granted, Luton are struggling too but Rob Edwards’ side can and do score goals. The problem is they are also conceding a lot of goals. They’re without a clean sheet in six games and have conceded 18 goals in their last five matches.

An opportunity for Arsenal

A win for Arsenal against Brentford on Saturday evening lifts them into top spot, at least until Sunday afternoon.

The Gunners are the form team in the Premier League, taking 15 points from 15 while scoring 24 goals and conceding just two. They have taken 32 points from 13 at home this season and have the third-best record in the English top flight.

By comparison, Brentford have taken four points from the last 15 on offer, scoring seven and conceding 11.

This should be a routine win for Mikel Arteta’s side. They are the top scorers in the Premier League, they have the best defensive record and have kept the most clean sheets (11). The Gunners have been ruthless and rampant since the turn of the year and yet you can never really rule out a surprise result, can you? Brentford aren’t in the best form but have scored two goals in three of their last five matches. They do have the potential to cause a few problems.

The top four race

Aston Villa and Spurs are separated by just five points ahead of their clash at Villa Park on Sunday. A win for the hosts would open up an eight-point lead in fourth, though Spurs would have a game in hand. It doesn’t guarantee them a Champions League spot but it does give them a serious advantage heading into the final 10 fixtures.

Unai Emery’s men have been in good form over recent weeks. In fact, only Arsenal (15) and City (13) have picked up more points than Villa (12) over the past five matches. Villa have the fourth-best record at home this season having taken 31 points from 13 games at home. Spurs, on the other hand, have the sixth-best away record in the English top flight having won 20 points from 12 matches.

There should be goals in this game. Villa haven’t kept a clean sheet in five while Spurs are without one in seven. Perhaps surprisingly, Spurs have lost their last three matches against the Villans. They’ll be wanting to halt that run of poor results but they’ll have a task containing Ollie Watkins, the man with the most goal involvements in the Premier League (26).

Top of the table clash

Liverpool welcome Manchester City to Anfield on Sunday afternoon knowing a win ensures they retain their place at the top of the table for another week.

Both teams are in good form heading into this fixture. City have taken 13 points from a possible 15 while Liverpool have claimed 12 points. The Reds have scored 13 across those five matches though while the champions have managed just eight goals in what has been a bit of a dry spell by their standards.

Jürgen Klopp’s men have the best home record in the Premier League having taken 35 points from a possible 39. City have the second-best away record having picked up 28 points on their travels. It really is two of the best teams in Europe facing off to determine who claims top spot.

The final third could be key for both teams. Erling Haaland has seven goals in his last three appearances while Darwin Núñez has scored in each of his last three league appearances. There’s also a chance Mohamed Salah makes his first start for the Reds since New Year’s Day.

It is a game you don’t want to miss.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Mar

2024

Riqui Puig: The playmaker hoping to lead the LA Galaxy back to the play-offs

Lionel Messi isn’t the only former Barcelona star who wears the number 10 shirt in Major League Soccer. Indeed, Riqui Puig also fell into this category after choosing to change jersey number for the start of the 2024 season. He is, after all, the player around which the LA Galaxy revolves as a team – he might as well have a shirt number that reflects it.

By Graham Ruthven

Of course, Puig is a different sort of number 10 to Messi. While Messi is primarily on the pitch to score goals, Puig is most effective in a slightly deeper role where he can influence possession play the most. On his day, he is the best midfielder in MLS. The problem is those days haven’t been frequent enough for the Galaxy.

To date, Puig hasn’t been set up to succeed in California. 2023 was a messy season for the LA Galaxy as they missed out on the play-offs for the fifth time in seven years. While the Galaxy might be the most successful franchise in league history, they have been surpassed in recent years by more ambitious rivals with a better front office.

The Galaxy conceded more goals than any other team in MLS last season. Their defence was porous and their goalkeeper – Jonathan Bond – was statistically the worst in the league. On top of this, Douglas Costa and Javier Hernández were limited by injury (and age), giving Puig far too much to do on his own.

Off the field, fans made their anger known over the running of the club. Matches were boycotted and a general sense of unrest seeped into the insipid performances on the pitch. From these protests, though, came change. LA Galaxy president Chris Klein was fired with technical director Jovan Kirovski also let go.

Will Kuntz has been elevated to the general manager position. Kuntz was an important member of the Los Angeles FC front office that is widely considered one of the best front offices in MLS and has been brought in to provide fresh ideas. The Galaxy are making moves to put the last few years of failure behind them.

It’s still early days, but the 2024 season promises to be a more positive one for the Galaxy who have started their campaign with two impressive results – a draw against Messi’s Inter Miami and a 3-1 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes in the Cali Clásico. No trophies are handed out after two matches, but there are encouraging signs.

Joseph Paintsil has made a big difference. Signed from Genk in Belgium for $9m, the Ghanian has given the LA Galaxy the wide threat they have lacked for years. He has electrified the matches against Inter Miami and San Jose, scoring a stunner in the latter. Galaxy fans can expect more of those moments from Paintsil this season.

Puig needs players like Paintsil to play his best football. He needs an outlet for his creativity and the arrival of the Ghanian winger for the 2024 season has given him this. The LA Galaxy also have Brazilian winger Gabriel Pec (signed from Vasco da Gama in the off-season) to integrate into their starting lineup.

Vanney favours a possession-orientated approach, but has compromised his footballing principles to point his team in a new direction. The LA Galaxy’s squad is better suited to playing a more transition-heavy, even counter-attacking style of play with their defensive line in a low block and Puig harnessed as a deep-lying playmaker.

This was an approach that very nearly produced a victory over Inter Miami and it provided a solid basis for the Cali Clasico win over San Jose too. It might be too early to claim the LA Galaxy are back, but they have certainly established themselves as one of the most entertaining teams to watch in the league.

When Puig signed for the Galaxy, Vanney compared his arrival to that of Sebastian Giovinco’s at Toronto FC. Giovinco went on to become a league legend and an MLS Cup winner. That sort of glory has evaded Puig so far, but he might finally have the platform to prove himself as the best player in his position anywhere in MLS.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Mar

2024

Sporting are in a title fight but will manager Ruben Amorim still be in demand without impressing in the Europa League?

Judging by the team selection, the half-time substitutions, and overall approach in their last-16 first leg clash with Atalanta, the Europa League might not be Rúben Amorim’s absolute priority for Sporting this season.

By Karl Matchett

Given they are top of the Liga Portugal by a point and have a domestic cup semi-final second leg against Benfica to play next month, perhaps that’s not the biggest surprise at this stage. But on the other hand, it certainly raises a question mark over Amorim’s ambitions at a time when he is coveted by many of Europe’s top clubs, in most of the top divisions.

A Portuguese league and cup double would of course be a great silverware haul to have on the CV at a potential juncture in his career, but there’s also an argument that some top teams, some top leagues, might see progress in Europe as a bigger marker of his quality on the touchline.

In drawing 1-1 at home with Atalanta, it allows the balance of the tie to be firmly with the Italians – who should have won across 90 minutes anyway, in truth. Three times they were denied by the woodwork – once too Sporting were – and a series of late interventions and goalkeeper saves kept the score down after a very bright start from the hosts. Even so, five shots in the game, one big chance, four corners and eight touches in the opposition box were all way down on Atalanta’s tallies in each category.

And yet there’s reason behind being second best on the night: First-choice goalkeeper Antonio Adán is injured, top scorer Viktor Gyökeres was left on the bench, key starters Pedro Gonçalves and Gonçalo Inácio weren’t even in the matchday squad. Gyökeres entered at half time, along with regular midfield starter Morten Hjulmand, but otherwise this was a mix of squad players and fringe options: Paulinho started up front and scored a great opener, but has made seven league starts this term. The assist for the goal was a wonderful through pass from Trincão, who has made the same number.

Amorim’s decision now will be over whether to keep a Europa League team in place for the second leg, or go for victory at full strength and perhaps open a path to challenge the likes of Liverpool and Bayer Leverkusen in the latter stages – and highlight his own tactical proficiencies and committment to silverware for anybody watching on.

Their regular setup certainly suggests they have the balance of organisation and attacking power to trouble Atalanta.

In their 3-5-2, Sebastian Coatés anchors the defence with mobile, ball-playing options either side of him. Hjulmand and Hidemasa Morita present a combative midfield duo who can drive forward in possession. And further forward, each of Paulinho, Gonçalves and Gyökeres average at least 0.74 goals or assists per 90. Among them, Gonçalves has long been a sought-after talent and is now aged 25, on the cusp of ten goals and ten assists in league play once more.

But it’s Swedish striker Gyokeres who has taken the biggest steps after signing from Coventry in summer on a club record deal worth up to €24m. 18 league goals in 22 games is impressive enough, but add in eight assists – four in one game – and he comfortably leads the Primeira with a combined tally of 26 goal contributions. In FotMob’s player traits chart, he ranks in the 93rd percentile for goals scored, the 95th for touches and the 99th for chances created, underlining both his incredible campaign so far and his massive importance for the team.

The 19-cap international, who turns 26 in summer, has quickly found himself linked with Champions League regulars in some of Europe’s top few leagues, while he has also promised to reveal the long-guarded secrets behind his hands-over-the-mouth goal celebration if Sporting win the title.

That, at least, looks highly possible. Sporting have won nine and drawn one in their last ten, have a 100 per cent home record this term and host Benfica in early April before travelling to Porto later that month. Of course they’ll need consistency in other matches too but they are seven points clear of Porto and one clear of Benfica, who they beat in the cup semi-final first leg recently – and have a game in hand over both. Importantly, they also score far more than both their rivals, suggesting that even on an off-day, they have the firepower to maintain their title charge.

Not as possession-oriented as Porto perhaps, and not as defensively mean as Benfica. But Sporting do have the excitement and individuality in their team, the goalscorers and some decent depth to make them very hard to stop. And maybe, if Amorim goes all-in on that second leg against Atalanta, the all-round quality to challenge on three fronts this year.

(Image from IMAGO)

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