This Saturday, 8 March, the biggest football match on YouTube is back in the app as FotMob provide the official gameday stats for the Sidemen FC vs. the YouTube Allstars.
FotMob Staff
Hosted by the famous UK influencer group, Sidemen, the 2025 Charity Match is set to be the biggest on record, taking place in front of a sold out 90,000 capacity crowd at Wembley Stadium in London.
And as we have done since 2022, FotMob will provide official player ratings, live stats, automated graphics, and in-depth match analysis (powered by Opta and Opta AI). In fact, we’ll have the exact same coverage for this match as we do for the Premier League and the majority of the top leagues around the world.
Back in 2023 the last match was played at West Ham’s London Stadium and raised over £2m for charity and broke records for the number of live viewers on YouTube.
This year’s line-ups have been announced and alongside the Sidemen, including KSI and Miniminter – who famously got a rare FotMob 10.0 player rating back in 2022 – you can expect to see the likes of xQc, Mr. Beast, iShowSpeed, and Kai Cenat all feature in the game.
With huge online names such as Danny Aarons, WiLLNE, ChrisMD and many others also taking part, this isn’t a match you want to miss.
The game will all be streamed live on the Sidemen’s YouTube channel on Saturday March 8 and is free to watch!
The pendulum in the Spanish title race has swung back and forth over the course of the season, but Barcelona find themselves back on top of LaLiga.
Hansi Flick’s team are on an unbeaten run of 16 games in all competitions and enter Saturday’s match against Osasuna on the back of a comprehensive 4-0 win over Real Sociedad last weekend followed by a 1-0 away win against Benfica in the Champions League.
With Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid not playing until Sunday, Barca have the opportunity to open up a four-point gap at the top of the standings. This is a chance for them to assert their position as title frontrunners.
Osasuna, meanwhile, need points to push into the top half of the table. Vicente Moreno’s team have won just one of their last 14 league fixtures. A shock win over Barcelona would change the mood around the club.
Key players
Barca’s attack is the most dangerous, and prolific, in LaLiga. No team has scored more goals than the Catalans this season with Robert Lewandowski their best finisher having netted 21 league goals.
Raphinha is also enjoying the season of his life having contributed 20 goal involvements in LaLiga. The Brazilian is fresh from scoring the winner against Benfica in the Champions League on Wednesday night.
Lamine Yamal is Barcelona’s creator-in-chief and will be the brightest spark in the attacking third for Barca at home to Osasuna this weekend. In central midfield, Pedri is also performing at the peak of his powers.
Only Lewandowski and Kylian Mbappé have scored more goals in La Liga this season than Ante Budimir who has found the back of the net 14 times for Osasuna. If the visitors can get him in behind Barca’s high line, he will pose a threat.
Bryan Zaragoza has struggled for his best form this season, but the on-loan Bayern Munich winger is capable of producing something out of nothing. Barca must be wary of the threat he poses.
Team news
Flick could rotate his squad with next week’s Champions League last 16 second leg against Benfica in mind. However, Barcelona have been made to pay for over-rotating once or twice earlier in the season.
Pau Cubarsí was sent off against Benfica mid-week, but his suspension only applies to the Champions League and so will be available to face Osasuna. He is expected to start in central defence.
Andreas Christensen is fit again, but it might be too soon for the Dane to make the lineup. Gavi could also be available again, although Marc-André Ter Stegen and Marc Bernal will miss out.
Aimar Oroz is a doubt for Osasuna after picking up an injury in last weekend’s 3-3 draw against Valencia while Juan Cruz could come into the lineup to replace Abel Bretones.
Prediction
Barcelona should continue their good form and get the points they want to stay in front in LaLiga: Barcelona 3-1 Osasuna
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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My six-year-old loves Frank Lampard. It’s not thanks to his exploits as the Premier League’s top-scoring midfielder. Nor is it for all he won at Chelsea or his forlorn efforts as part of England’s ‘Golden Generation’. Even steering his uncle’s beloved Everton to safety two seasons ago doesn’t make the cut. For five years from 2013, Lampard penned a series of books, 20 in all, about a boy who accidentally ends up owning a magic football. It takes him, his friends and his dog on adventures, through time and space, where their friendship and endeavour help them overcome adversity. Now, ‘Frankie’s Magic Football’ has landed in Coventry. Has it opened a portal to the Premier League?
Let’s travel back in time. Not too far. Just to Boxing Day 2024. A sixth game in charge saw Frank Lampard’s side start the day 17th in the Championship table, six points above the relegation zone. They were still smarting from a 4-1 reverse at Portsmouth.
By full time at the CBS Arena, Coventry were 10 points off the play-offs, celebrating a 4-0 victory over Plymouth Argyle. Lampard’s long-time England teammate, Wayne Rooney, would leave Plymouth before the year’s end, while Lampard’s star is on the rise, after a controversial appointment in the West Midlands.
“When it was announced that Mark Robins had been sacked, the results hadn’t been good. But he’d turned it around so many times in previous seasons from positions that were exactly the same, if not worse.” David Moore from the Sky Blues Extra podcast tells me.
“The general consensus was that it was too soon, it was knee-jerk. We should have given him more time, until Christmas. We’d been through thick and thin together and in the days when he dragged us up from League Two and League One, some people believed that we wouldn’t have a club if it wasn’t for him.”
With Robins gone, Lampard arrived with a chequered record. He’d missed out on a Premier League promotion with Derby County, losing the play-off final to Aston Villa. His time at Chelsea was eclipsed by his mid-season replacement, Thomas Tuchel, winning the Champions League. Everton was mixed and his return to Chelsea as a caretaker was a write-off. He won just one of his 11 games in charge. Whether it was fair or not, Coventry City felt like a last roll of the dice.
Lampard’s recent managerial record
Cov Reborn
For David, things have gone better than in his ‘wildest dreams’. The Sky Blues are now on a run of eight league wins in nine, their best in 55 years, with the one defeat coming against table-toppers Leeds United.
“The main thing he’s brought to the players is self-belief. I think they were down on their luck; they were getting beaten and at the end of games they were conceding sloppy goals. [Now], they just look much more focused and resilient.”
Solid spine, one-to-ones and playing out of their skin
Looking at the changes that Lampard has enacted, first off, sticking to one goalkeeper has been vital. Oliver Dovin has a rick in him but Brad Collins had a day to forget at Fratton Park. He could have saved all four of Callum Lang’s efforts for Portsmouth and Lampard hasn’t started him since. Dovin is something of a flamboyant shot-stopper but in conceding two fewer than the stats say he should have, the 22-year-old is rewarding the faith that’s been placed in him by his boss.
Ahead of him is a defence led by the human battering-ram that is Bobby Thomas. An aerial threat in the opposing box, he has four goals this season, all headers and all from corners. He can be a tad rash with committing himself too high up the pitch but in recent games, he looks to have stepped up a level.
Lampard hasn’t been afraid to work individually with players too, often taking the time for one-to-ones, focussing on the smallest details whilst out on the training field. What’s telling with this are his reflections on managing players at this level, rather than higher up the pyramid. “When you try and deliver messages in meetings and repeat and repeat and repeat, which is a bit of our job, they really want to do it because there’s a humility about them”, Lampard said on EFL Unfiltered.
“There’s a work ethic about them. They want to be better. Again, this is general, but I found it at Derby, and I find it here in my early days at Coventry.”
That reflected his own efforts as a player and Lampard has singled out midfielder Jack Rudoni, who like him, is willing put in the hours to improve his game.
I don’t think we ever saw Lampard dislocate his shoulder to head home a goal, but Rudoni did just that in scoring the opener against Oxford. He has excelled across those last nine league games, involving himself in seven goals in the process. Lampard confirmed he’ll be out until after the international break, which gives the chance for someone else to step up, ahead of facing a familiar face.
For David, it’s a moment to mark, before moving forward. “The great Jimmy Hill has a statue here and Mark Robins has probably had as much of an impact at the club, so I’d love to see him get that in the future too. But Saturday is about football, and we need to get the points in this play-off race.”
There’s always one and this season, Coventry are the team that have conjured up the perfect run at the perfect time. Once Robins’ return is out of the way, they have crucial games against play-off rivals that will see their voyage scale new heights or leave them crashing back down to Earth.
So, let’s use the magic football to jump forward in time, shall we? I can see Coventry remaining seriously unscathed by mid-April and by then, the Premier League will feel less fantasy and more a nearing-reality. Dare they dream? A new chapter in the storied history of Coventry City awaits. Lampard could be authoring his greatest adventure yet.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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One team strong all season and looking to confirm a Champions League place, one team underperforming, looking short of direction and in need of something of a summer overhaul. Rewind the clock six months and not many would have guessed which of these two teams applied to each.
It’s hard not to be super impressed with what Nottingham Forest have achieved this season. Nuno Espírito Santo has a couple of tactical variations, and the team plays well in both. They’re middle of the road when it comes to scoring goals, but have a clinical, in-form striker playing better than he ever has before. They’re top four defensively, and top three in points terms.
Nuno’s miracle makers
There might only be one place and one point separating themselves and Saturday opponents Manchester City, but there is a gulf between the relative expectations and reality that the clubs have achieved this season. Only last term, Forest were battling relegation, a points deduction and financial uncertainty due to PSR. They had spent two years scattergun buying players, had parted ways with the manager who brought them up and seemed to have plenty of potential, but a lack of consistency.
That’s all changed, with Nuno overcoming a stuttering start to enjoy a brilliant middle third of the season at the City Ground. Now it’s about seeing the job through and the real gap which matters to the Reds is the one down to sixth – currently a buffer of four points. Even if Man City go on to overtake them, staying ahead of one of Chelsea or Newcastle should yield a Champions League place next year.
As for City themselves, there’s nothing left to play for beyond an FA Cup and ensuring they are in the top competition themselves in 2025/26. That isn’t a certainty, even if they should have the firepower to beat enough middling teams in the last 11 matches to stay ahead of two of the aforementioned sides themselves.
Recent form
Forest have only won one of their last four, and that was both in the cup and on penalties. Don’t make the mistake of translating that to poor performances though; they were very good in the second half against Newcastle and lost because of a dismal first 45 minutes defensively, before holding Arsenal to a draw with a typically resilient showing. On home soil, they’re unbeaten since 10 November. Man City have won four and lost four of their last eight. Obviously they are good enough to beat teams, but equally they are fragile enough to keep suffering setbacks when the going gets tough.
Team news
No key players are missing for Forest, while City remain without Rodri, John Stones, Manuel Akanji and now Nathan Aké.
Key players
Erling Haaland has 20 goals from an xG of 19.8, Chris Wood has 18 from just 10.6. They both hit 59 per cent of shots on target and while the Norwegian’s conversion rate is 20%, the New Zealander’s is 37%. In other words, Woods is way more clinical – but Haaland shoots a lot more.
Prediction
No real reason to suspect Forest will crumble, so another creditable draw could be on the cards: Forest 1-1 City.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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At a glance, it might not seem like the case, but this has the potential to be a season-defining clash, for both sides.
What is at stake
Liverpool, the best team in the world right now having beaten the champions of England, Spain, Germany and France, find themselves 13 points clear at the top of the table. They put in a remarkable shit on Wednesday night at the Parc des Princes to claim a 1-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain.
A win for the Reds here would move them 16 points clear at the summit, albeit having played two more games than their nearest rivals Arsenal. Psychologically though, this could be massive.
Three points for Liverpool might not win them the league on Saturday afternoon, but it could play a huge role in Arsenal throwing in the towel.
For Southampton, a loss would all but guarantee their return to the Championship. They are the worst team in the Premier League with nine points from 27 games. They will probably get more points than that infamous Derby County team (11) but not by too much.
A win could breathe life into their flailing campaign. And prolong the belief that they can avoid the drop.
Salah farewell tour continues
If this is to be Mohamed Salah’s final season with Liverpool, he’s going out in style.
The three-time Golden Boot winner leads the way in the Premier League for goals (25) and assists (17). He’s on course to shatter the record for most goal involvements. The current record for a 38-game season is 44 while Alan Shearer and Andy Cole finished their 42-game campaigns with 47 goal involvements.
If Salah chips in with six more goal involvements, he steals their crown and becomes the most productive player in Premier League history. The scene is set for him to do it against the worst team in the league too.
Clean sheets
The modern day game is filled with data. One metric that is often overlooked is clean sheets.
Liverpool lead the way with 12 and they’re top of the Premier League table. Southampton have managed just two this season and they’re rooted to the bottom. Only Leicester City (one) have kept fewer shutouts.
It sounds simple, but the more clean sheets you keep, the easier it is to pick up points. Southampton need to find some resiliency, sooner rather than later, if they’re to get anything from this season. Across their last three outings, they have conceded 11 goals. They have conceded the most goals in the entire Premier League (65). They’re up against the team with the most goals (66).
Injuries for both sides
Liverpool could well be without Cody Gakpo again. The Dutchman missed the game against PSG despite travelling with the squad. The Reds are still without Conor Bradley and Joe Gomez, meaning Slot can’t rotate his defence much. This is something that will likely be playing on his mind ahead of the game against PSG.
Southampton, meanwhile, are without former Liverpool player Adam Lallana. Jan Bednarek, Lesley Ugochukwu and Ryan Fraser are also expected to miss out.
Prediction
If Liverpool are serious about getting this Premier League title wrapped up, three points should be a formality against Southampton. So we’re going with a 3-0 win.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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Jonas is a 21 year old student who, like FotMob, hails from Norway. He was Fantasy Premier League champion for the 2023/24 season, finishing ahead of 11 million other managers. So who better to provide expert advice?
Read his expert advice every week.
*Don’t forget the FPL deadline for this round – make your transfers and get your team sorted before 11:00 GMT on Saturday 8 March*
The Eye Test vs. The Stats
Yoane Wissa (6.4m) has consistently delivered for Brentford this season, registering 13 goals and two assists in just 23 games. This makes him the seventh-highest scoring attacker in Fantasy Premier League.
Brentford’s recent favourable run of fixtures might be coming to an end, but the unavailability of Jean-Philippe Mateta and Matheus Cunha means you might have to look elsewhere for an attacking option.
When fit, Wissa plays almost every minute of every game for the Bees, playing 90 minutes in his last eight Premier League outings.
Wissa’s shot map, Premier League 2024/25
Wissa is a constant threat to opposition teams and this is reflected in his statistics. Indeed, he is ranked sixth for Expected Goals (xG) in the Premier League this season with 13.1. This is even more impressive when considering Wissa doesn’t take penalties.
The DR Conga international scored Brentford’s only goal in their GW 27 draw against Everton, finding himself in the right place at the right time to convert a 0.85 xG chance.
Brentford have tricky fixtures against Aston Villa, Bournemouth and Newcastle coming up in their next three gameweeks. However, the Bees scored eight goals across the same fixtures earlier in the season with Wissa notching three of those.
Thomas Frank’s team have proved their ability to score against any opponent and so Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo will be threats.
Daniel Muñoz (5.0m) is worth your attention ahead of GW28 with Crystal Palace in excellent form. With Ipswich Town and Southampton in their next two Premier League fixtures, the Eagles’ recent run could continue.
Muñoz player trait – comparison against similar players in Europe’s top five leagues
Muñoz is an attack-minded full back and is focused on getting into good positions high up the pitch. This is shown in his recent attacking returns. Indeed, the Colombian has registered six goal involvements (three goals and three assists) in his last seven games. These are ludicrous numbers for a defender.
Not only does Muñoz pass the eye tests, the statistics back up his FPL value. Only Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joško Gvardiol have better numbers than the Palace right back in an attacking sense. His average of 0.24 Expected Goal Involvements (xGI) per 90 minutes possibly makes him the best defender in FPL right now.
The only downside with Muñoz is that Crystal Palace don’t have a fixture in GW29. If you plan on using your Free Hit chip during that week, though, Muñoz should be high on your list.
Long shot
After a number of weeks out through injury, Evanilson (5.6m) is back for Bournemouth and he should be on your FPL radar.
While Dango Ouattara performed well in the Cherries striker’s absence, Evanilson is a level above and made his return to the starting lineup in last week’s penalty shootout win over Wolves in the FA Cup, finding the back of the net during the match.
Injury has dropped Evanilson’s FPL ownership to just 0.7%, meaning he could be a huge differential as Bournemouth look to continue their Champions League qualification challenge.
Bournemouth have a run of favourable fixtures ahead of them with games against Tottenham Hotspur, Brentford and Ipswich over the next three gameweeks.
However, the lack of information on how many minutes Evanilson will play still makes him a long shot. The Brazilian is a good bet to start against Spurs this weekend, but it’s a risk to pick him when Andoni Iraola could sub him out later in the game.
Upcoming games to follow
A number of interesting matches could make GW28 a high-scoring one from an FPL point of view.
Liverpool host Southampton on Saturday with the Saints on track for one of the worst seasons in Premier League history. Therefore, the table-toppers should destroy the visitors to Anfield this weekend.
My picks for big scores are Mohamed Salah (13.8m) and Alexander-Arnold (7.4m). Dominik Szoboszlai (6.4m) has also been in great form lately and is one to monitor.
Enzo Maresca’s team battered Southampton 4-0 in the last gameweek. Cole Palmer (11.1m) was unfortunate not to score with an xGI of 1.4, but Christopher Nkunku (5.7m) and Pedro Neto (6.2m) both scored and assisted.
Marc Cucurella (5.1m) is another asset who could be set for a big points haul against the team in the relegation zone.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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Looking at the fixtures across the Premier League this weekend, there are big games galore. Yet, at the start of the campaign, when the random fixture generator did its thing, few would’ve looked at Matchday 28 as one littered with season-shaping matches. But that is exactly what we have.
We have a fair bit to look forward to this weekend.
The race for a top four finish
The wheels do appear to be falling off of Nottingham Forest’s push for a Champions League place.
Nuno Espírito Santo’s men have lost three of the last five in the Premier League. Their form has been a little erratic though. They hammered Brighton 7-0 and held Arsenal to a 0-0 draw at the City Ground. But then lost 5-0 to Bournemouth, 2-1 to Fulham and 4-3 to Newcastle United.
They’re currently in third position in the Premier League, one point clear of Manchester City, the team they host on Saturday afternoon. A loss for Forest could see them finish the weekend outside of the Champions League places and without momentum on their side, their pursuit of a top four finish could take a bit of a hit.
City, meanwhile, are just as erratic as their hosts.
The reigning champions have won three of their last five in the English top-flight but fell to defeats against Liverpool (2-0) and Arsenal (5-1). They needed a Man of the Match performance from Ederson to keep them in the game against Spurs, a match they ended up winning 1-0.
Somehow, they’ve managed to climb into fourth position and they could stumble their way into the Champions League if they keep managing to eke out results.
Saturday afternoon is a big one for both teams in their quest to be playing in the Champions League next term.
Earlier in the season, the Saints gave the Reds a bit of a scare, leading at St Marys’ until Mohamed Salah did what he does best and scored twice to give Arne Slot’s side a 3-2 win.
Three points should be a formality for the hosts. Liverpool are unbeaten in the Premier League since September and have won six of their last 10. Their lead at the top stands at 13 points and a win here could extend it to 16 before Arsenal kick a ball on Sunday. The amount of pressure on the Gunners to keep this title race alive would be huge.
Southampton, by comparison, have two wins since October. They have lost nine of their last 10 in the Premier League. Their only win during this period was against fellow strugglers Ipswich Town.
They’re as good as relegated, even if they did the unthinkable and beat the league leaders. But if they were to cause an upset, Arsenal would be buoyed by this ahead of their clash against Manchester United. And instead of there being a 16 point gap to chase down, it could well be cut down to 10.
Liverpool can’t take their eye off the ball. Yes, there’s a Champions League second-leg tie against PSG on the horizon but they need three vital points against Southampton.
Relegation relief
Everton appear to be clear of danger now. The appointment of David Moyes sparked the Toffees into life and they’re now 15 points clear of the drop zone. The Blues are on a seven match unbeaten run in the Premier League, winning four of those.
Barring a capitulation coupled with an upturn for a team horribly out of form, they’re free of a relegation scrap this season now.
Vítor Pereira’s team are currently five points clear of the drop. They’ve won just three of their last 10 in the Premier League and are going to be without their talisman, Matheus Cunha, for a minimum of three matches. He’s been their star man this term, with 17 goal involvements. The next best for Wolves is Jørgen Strand Larsen with nine.
The relegation picture
A win for the hosts could be pivotal in the grand scheme of things. It could give them an eight point gap, which is a hefty amount of breathing space, heading into the final few months of the 2024/25 campaign. Defeat, however, and they’re in a relegation dogfight without their most important player.
Manchester United are in torrid form. The Red Devils crashed out of the FA Cup, at home, to Fulham last weekend. In their last Premier League outing, they narrowly claimed a 3-2 win over Ipswich Town. They’ve won just three of their last 10 in the English top flight and this run includes five defeats.
The Gunners haven’t been at their brilliant best lately, likely because they have no fit forwards, but they romped to a 7-1 win over PSV in the Champions League in midweek.
That should’ve been the confidence boost needed to reignite their title challenge and if Liverpool slip up on Saturday, there’s a chance they could narrow the margin at the top.
But the issue is, form goes out of the window when these teams meet. Earlier in the campaign, Manchester United knocked Arsenal out of the FA Cup. In the first Premier League meeting between the two sides, the Gunners claimed a narrow 2-0 win over the Red Devils.
There’s more at stake than just three points.
Last five meetings – yes, they did play a shootout in that friendly despite Arsenal winning after 90 mins
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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The landscape of global football is changing, and few cities have made as aggressive a push to establish themselves as a dominant force as Miami. Once primarily associated with sun-soaked beaches, Art Deco glamour, and its deep Latin American cultural influence, the Magic City is now becoming a powerhouse in world football. From the relocation of FIFA’s Legal & Compliance Division to its rise as a World Cup host city and the meteoric growth of Inter Miami CF, Miami is laying claim to being the capital of football in the United States.
Once primarily associated with sun-soaked beaches, Art Deco glamour, and its deep Latin American cultural influence, the Magic City is now becoming a powerhouse in world football. From the relocation of FIFA’s Legal & Compliance Division to its rise as a World Cup host city and the meteoric growth of Inter Miami CF, Miami is laying claim to being the capital of football in the United States.
A significant moment in Miami’s footballing ascent came in 2024, when FIFA announced the relocation of its Legal & Compliance Division from Zurich to Miami. This move is more than just administrative reshuffling, it’s a strategic shift that reflects FIFA’s growing footprint in North America ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
The presence of FIFA in Miami is a clear indicator of the city’s increasing relevance in world football governance. FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s comment that “to be global, one must be local” underscores the reasoning behind this decision. Miami provides FIFA with a base in the Western Hemisphere, closer to the rapidly expanding North American football market and crucial stakeholders in the US, Mexico, and Canada. Miami is also considered the gateway to Latin America.
This shift also signifies FIFA’s confidence in Miami as a footballing hub with international appeal. The city already boasts a well-connected international airport, a multicultural population deeply invested in football, and a corporate infrastructure that aligns with FIFA’s business objectives. This combination makes Miami an attractive headquarters for global football operations.
Miami is not just benefiting from FIFA’s administrative presence; it’s also securing its position on the world stage by hosting some of the biggest football events in history. The city was confirmed as one of the host locations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a landmark event that will bring a record-breaking 48 teams to North America. Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, home to the NFL’s Miami Dolphins, will be one of the premier venues for the tournament, drawing global attention and economic impact.
Additionally, Miami has been selected as a major host city for the revamped FIFA Club World Cup this summer, another milestone in its growing football résumé. With this tournament expanding to 32 teams, it will bring some of the biggest clubs and players in the world to US soil, further cementing Miami as a footballing epicentre.
A city’s football identity is often shaped by its club football scene, and Inter Miami CF has played an enormous role in reshaping perceptions of football in the US. Since David Beckham officially launched the club in 2018, Inter Miami has grown from an ambitious expansion team to arguably the most internationally recognised MLS club.
The arrival of Lionel Messi in 2023 was a paradigm shift, not just for Inter Miami, but for football in the United States. His signing, along with high-profile teammates, instantly turned Inter Miami into a global brand. Matches featuring Inter Miami have been among the most-watched MLS games in history, ticket prices have skyrocketed, and the team has sold out stadiums across the country.
Moreover, Inter Miami’s commercial appeal has exploded. The club now ranks among the most valuable in MLS, and its international fanbase continues to grow. With Messi leading the charge, Miami has become a magnet for football tourism, with fans travelling from across the world to watch the Argentine maestro play. This level of global interest in an American club is unprecedented and has given Miami’s football culture an undeniable credibility boost.
What makes Miami unique is its deep cultural connection to the sport. Football is embedded in Miami’s DNA, thanks to its large Latin American and Caribbean communities, where the sport is a way of life. Unlike other American cities where soccer is still fighting for mainstream attention, Miami has long embraced football as a sport.
This cultural overlap is evident in the business and entertainment sectors, where football has increasingly taken centre stage. Miami’s football infrastructure is growing, with new training facilities, commercial deals, and grassroots initiatives developing rapidly. The city’s nightlife, music scene, and fashion industry also intertwine with football culture, making Miami a unique melting pot where the sport is celebrated both on and off the pitch.
From a business perspective, Miami’s rise aligns with the increasing commercialisation of football in the US. The city has become a favourite destination for pre-season tours and high-profile friendlies, with European giants like Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Manchester United frequently choosing Miami as part of their US tours. The city’s ability to attract these teams speaks volumes about its relevance in the footballing ecosystem.
While Miami’s football credentials have skyrocketed, challenges remain. The city’s MLS team, despite its global appeal, still needs to dominate on the pitch to solidify its legacy. Moreover, while hosting major FIFA tournaments puts Miami in the spotlight, the city must continue developing long-term football infrastructure, such as youth academies and grassroots initiatives, to sustain its position beyond just high-profile events.
Additionally, Miami must navigate the broader landscape of American sports, where NFL, NBA, and MLB continue to command massive audiences. While Messi’s presence has supercharged Miami’s football economy, the city needs to build lasting fan engagement beyond superstar signings. What happens when Messi retires?
Miami has made a compelling case as the new capital of football in the United States. But the question remains: is this momentum sustainable? If Miami continues to cultivate its football infrastructure, expand its youth and professional development, and remain a global destination for football events, it could genuinely cement itself as the premier football city in the USA. One thing is certain, the world of football is watching Miami like never before.
(Images from IMAGO)
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Every match is an ordeal for Manchester United right now. Rúben Amorim’s side are currently at a lower ebb than any other United team in modern history, meaning Real Sociedad have a genuine shot at knocking out the Red Devils when they meet in the Europa League. La Real, however, have some troubles of their own.
In fact, there is overlap between the issues being experienced by Manchester United and those that have dragged down Real Sociedad this season. Most notably, both teams are struggling badly for attacking firepower. This is something that could make Thursday’s clash at the Anoeta a cagey one between two teams lacking in confidence.
La Real come into the match on the back of a 4-0 defeat too Barcelona. Of course, a loss to the team leading LaLiga isn’t exactly something to be ashamed of, and Aritz Elustondo’s early red card also tilted the game towards the Catalans, but the toothlessness of the visitors to Montjuïc was reflective of their season as a whole.
Only Getafe and Real Valladolid have scored fewer goals in the Spanish top flight this season than Real Sociedad. La Real are underperforming their Expected Goals (xG) of 29.1 having scored just 23, but not by enough that it would make a meaningful difference to their league position had their attackers been sharper in front of goal.
It should be noted that Real Sociedad have never been known for their attacking exploits with Imanol Alguacil at the helm. Even when Alexander Isak was at the club, La Real were known for being among the best at winning duels and competing all over the pitch, not for putting the ball in the back of the net.
Even still, La Real have been criticised for being too predictable in their attacking play this season. In Take Kubo and Mikel Oyarzabal, they boast two players who, on their day, are among the best natural creators in La Liga, but Real Sociedad have become one-dimensional in their possession play into the final third.
Real Sociedad are one of just six teams in LaLiga not to have scored a goal from a passing sequence of more than 10 passes this season. They have drawn a blank in three of their last five matches in all competitions and could struggle to find the back of the net against Manchester United on Thursday.
Manchester United have toiled in a similar way. Against low defensive blocks, Amorim has been unable to find a possession structure capable of opening up space in the attacking third. Alguacil has encountered the same issue despite boasting Martin Zubimendi, one of the best midfield pace-setters in Spain.
These issues have been even more acute in the periods when Kubo has been injured. Oyarzabal has also suffered injury troubles over the course of the campaign, playing 1,400 minutes in the league when Real Sociedad would ideally be able to call on the Euro 2024 winner in every match possible.
Last summer, Real Sociedad lost two key players in the shape of Mikel Merino and Robin Le Normand. Alguacil publicly pushed for the club to sign replacements who could deliver immediately in their place, but instead La Real focused on the future, spending the best part of €50m on players under the age of 23.
Luka Sučić, Javi López, Sergio Gómez, and Orri Óskarsson all arrived at the Anoeta and while all four have received regular game time this season, there is a sense that Real Sociedad are looking to the future rather than competing in the present. This has been frustrating for Alguacil whose physical approach requires experienced players to function at its best.
In past seasons, Real Sociedad have positioned themselves high up the pitch to win the ball and create opportunities from those situations. Now, though, their pressing structure isn’t coherent enough to do this with opponents regularly forcing them to play long. La Real have struggled against man-to-man marking systems.
After seven largely successful years with Alguacil in charge, Real Sociedad have reached a crossroads. Currently sitting ninth in the table, they are a long way from where they want to be and are being shown up by their Basque rivals Athletic Club who are on course for a place in the top four. As things stand, they will be in the Champions League next season.
La Real’s transfer model has sustained them at the top level of Spanish football for a long time, but with Zubimendi believed to be next on his way out of the Anoeta the San Sebastian club has put a lot of pressure on itself to self-renew once again. Manchester United are at the start of a rebuild and they’re aren’t the only ones.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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Losing to Brighton in the FA Cup made the Europa Conference League Chelsea’s only hope of silverware this season, and they’re still the odds-on favourites to win this tournament overall. But recent form has been mixed, with West Ham, Wolves and Southampton (15th, 17th and 20th in the Premier League respectively) the only teams they’ve beaten in the League since before Christmas.
FC København are top of the Superliga by a point and haven’t lost domestically since the 14th September, though it should be added that the Danish season has a two and a half month winter break. They finished 18th in the Europa Conference League megagroup, winning 2, drawing 2 and losing 2.
European pedigree
These two have only met once in European competition before. In the 2010/11 Champions League Round of 16, they played a goalless draw at Stamford Bridge before Chelsea won the return match 2-0 in Copenhagen. FC København got through to the Round of 16 of the Champions League last season too, qualifying alongside Bayern Munchen while eliminating Galatasaray and Manchester United. They were beaten by Manchester City. Chelsea won the Champions League in 2021. How they got from this to being in this competition in the space of four years is a long and complicated story.
Key players
Cole Palmer has been the glue that has held this Chelsea team together this season. He’s their joint-highest scorer, but he was left out of their squad for the group stages. He’s back in now. Christopher Nkunku is the other joint-top scorer with Palmer because he’s scored seven in this very competition. He’s been coming in for a lot of criticism, perhaps a big performance in a higher profile European match might silence some of that.
Nkunku’s season summary
FC København have an English connection in the form of goalkeeper Nathan Trott, who is on loan from West Ham. He played six games for England’s U20s, and also represented Bermuda at youth level.
Team News
Trevoh Chalobah, Wesley Fofana and Benoît Badiashile are all close to returning from injury, but may not quite be ready in time. Enzo Maresca may well err on the side of caution for a winnable-looking European match such as this. Their other injuries are longer term.
Chelsea have been struggling in the Premier League since before Christmas, but the Europa Conference League has been their happy place. With six wins out of six in the megagroup, they’re clear favourites to win this tournament. FC København beat Manchester United 4-3 at home in last year’s Champions League, but the gulf is huge and the inclusion of Cole Palmer alone a potential game-changer. 2-0 Chelsea, and a reasonably uneventful evening.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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