The Pulse of Football

Sep

2026

Preview: Iraola takes Liverpool back to former club Bournemouth

Andoni Iraola returns to Bournemouth this weekend, taking his Liverpool team to the South Coast to take on a winless Cherries under new manager Marco Rose.

By Sam McGuire

The story of the season

Going in to the weekend, Bournemouth sit 15th in the Premier League table with just three points from their opening four fixtures in the English top-flight. However, their only defeat of the season arrived against Manchester City on matchday one. Since then, they’ve drawn with Everton, Newcastle United and Brentford, giving up leads in all four games this term. It’s a routine they’ll want to get out of, and quick if they’re to climb the ranks.

They have, however, won their two cup matches this season. They thumped Lincoln 4-0 and then claimed a historic 2-1 win over Real Sociedad in the Europa League on Thursday, so they’ll head into this clash against the Reds full of confidence with momentum on their side. One thing that might work against them though is the fact Marco Rose went with a fairly strong XI in midweek and there might be some tired legs on Sunday.

Liverpool, meanwhile, are unbeaten this term. Andoni Iraola’s side find themselves six points off the pace in the Premier League though having drawn three of their opening four in the league, beating only Ipswich Town.

Prior to the 0-0 draw with Fulham last weekend, the Reds had scored two in each of their Premier League outings but it had been a case of good finishing rather than chances galore of the Merseysiders. It hasn’t yet clicked for them under the Spanish tactician, but he’ll want to make a point against his former team.

The 2024/25 Premier League champions racked up a 3-1 win over Spurs in mid-week, knocking Roberto De Zerbi’s side out of the Carabao Cup. Iraola went with a rotated side and few players put in a performance that might’ve catapulted them into his first-team plans.

Key Players

For the hosts, all eyes will be on Alex Scott. The versatile midfielder, valued at £90million, is in-demand right now and a dominant showing against his former boss, and a team apparently interested in him, won’t hurt his stock at all. He’s also positioned in a key area of the pitch with Liverpool’s midfield struggling this season to track runners and win their duels. Scott could single-handedly give the Cherries the upperhand in this department.

For Liverpool, the focus is going to be on Florian Wirtz. He’s been a big talking point this term and some now believe he should be dropped in favour of using Dominik Szoboszlai alongside Alexander Isak in attack. He’s going to want to make a statement before the international break.

Team News

Liverpool are still without Hugo Ekitike, Giovanni Leoni and Conor Bradley while Fede Chiesa is expected to be out for a few more weeks with a back injury. Joe Gomez finally returned against Spurs and put in an impressive showing in his first appearance since a pre-season injury.

The Cherries are without a host of names too, with Julián Araujo, Amine Adil, Junior Kroupi and Veljko Milosavljević all missing for Rose.

Prediction

We’re going to go with a lively 2-2 draw, with the Cherries in buyont mood following their first ever exploit in to European football during the week.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Sep

2026

Preview: Simeone and Mourinho reunited as Real head to Atlético in Madrid derby

The first Madrid Derby of the season comes at a time when Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid are looking to build some momentum.

By Graham Ruthven

Derby day stakes

Two points is all that separates Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid in the fledgling LaLiga table with both teams hoping to use Sunday’s Madrid Derby as a catalyst for the rest of the campaign.

Atleti have won three of their last four home derbies against Real Madrid and enter this weekend’s match on the back of commanding victories over Real Sociedad and Osasuna.

Real Madrid are on a winning run of three matches, but have struggled for the right balance in many of their early-season outings. José Mourinho is still working out his best team after taking over in the summer.

Similar could be said of Atlético Madrid who are going through something of a transition after a busy summer transfer window. Diego Simeone’s team are only just starting to build some momentum after a tricky start to the season.

The Madrid Derby is among European football’s fiercest rivalries and Sunday’s encounter could have a big bearing on the outcome of the season ahead for both sides.

Key players

Jonathan David scored and assisted in Atlético’s most recent win over Osasuna with the Canadian forward settling in to his new surroundings following a summer switch from Juventus.

Ademola Lookman is expected to start alongside David with Álex Baena and Lee Kang-In as supporting attacking midfielders. Atleti have scored 14 goals in just six league games and have a lot of creativity to utilise in the final third.

Marcos Llorente’s energy will be important down the right side while Alejandro Grimaldo’s willingness to get forward on the opposite wing could give Atlético an outlet.

Kylian Mbappé has netted seven times in just six league appearances for Real Madrid and will be a constant threat in behind. The French forward is averaging more shots per 90 minutes than any of his teammates this season.

Arda Güler has created more chances than any other Real player and has been installed as Mourinho’s primary creative force. Vinícius Júnior is another obvious threat having registered four goal contributions in La Liga.

Marc Cucurella is expected to start at left back, but Mourinho has a difficult decision to make over who should start on the right side of his defence with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Denzel Dumfries both excellent options.

Team news

Julián Alvarez is an injury doubt for Atlético Madrid. The Argentine endured a turbulent summer amid much speculation over his future and is behind on the fitness front. He could feature off the bench.

Pablo Barrios is expected to miss out with a muscle injury that could keep him sidelined for another two weeks with Alexander Sørloth another Atleti player still searching for fitness.

Rodrygo is sidelined through a long-term injury while Ferland Mendy and Éder Militão are also absentees. Otherwise, Mourinho has a fully fit and available squad for the derby.

Prediction

Real Madrid have trypically been finding a way to win this season, with Mourinho quoted as saying that ‘at least no one gets bored’ watching them, so the likelyhood here is that pattern of a narrow victories continues here: Atlético Madrid 1-2 Real Madrid.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Sep

2026

The FotMob Rundown: Saturday 19 September

Every Saturday, we pick out the top matches that we think are worth a follow in your match feed.

By Bill Biss

We’re planning on starting the day with two huge lunchtime games in the UK. Winless Spurs and Aston Villa meet in an early season Premier League six-pointer. And Millwall meet old rivals West Ham for the first time since February 2012 down in the Championship.

*We cannot condone the use of FotMob for your online humour!*

Elsewhere in the Premier League, it’s the division’s meanest defence vs. the current top scorers, as champions Arsenal head to Brighton. And both Hull and Everton will seek to extend their unexpected unbeaten start to the campaign – against Newcastle, and Ipswich Town, respectively.

Barcelona, who can’t stop scoring, travel to Sevilla in LaLiga, a game that pits the team in fourth – following the midweek round – against the leaders. Barca put SEVEN past Racing Santander in their last game, setting a new league Expected Goals (xG) record with a figure of 6.74.

🤯📈 Barcelona generated 6.74 expected goals against Racing Santander last night – the HIGHEST EVER recorded in La Liga history! pic.twitter.com/OSE6rQrJmD
— FotMob (@FotMob) September 17, 2026

The biggest Bundesliga match up of the day sees Dortmund, who are one of two teams left with a 100% record, go to Stuttgart, where they’ve won on 10 of their last 16 visits.

And in Italy, there’s the battle between the top two, with Roma hosting Inter in the capital. Both sides have won all four of their games, with Roma currently leading the table thanks to their superior goal difference.

Last, but not least, there’s the Mexican Súper Clásico, where Club América take on Chivas of Guadalajara. Just a point separate these two, with Chivas second and Américo third in the Apertura table.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Sep

2026

Preview: Sevilla are next up for free-scoring Barcelona in LaLiga

In-form Sevilla face a Barcelona side which has been in even better form this season at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán on Saturday evening in LaLiga.

By Ross Kilvington

Sevilla have enjoyed a positive start to the season

Last season, Sevilla finished 13th and while this was a marginally improvement on the 17th place finish from a year before, it is certainly not where the club should be.

Luis García was appointed in March and with the benefit of a full transfer window and pre-season, Sevilla currently sit fifth in LaLiga.

Wins over Rayo Vallecano and Athletic Club meant Sevilla took six points from six, before they suffered a 3-1 loss at home to Atlético Madrid a few weeks ago.

García and his men haven’t looked back following that result, however, going undefeated across their next three games.

Los Rojiblancos may have only scored nine goals across their six league matches so far, but the club has conceded six goals, ranking as the joint-best defensive record in the division.

Sevilla can find some encouragement ahead of this clash knowing they inflicted a 4-1 defeat on Barcelona last season. A similar display might be enough to keep the away side quiet.

Barcelona show no signs of slowing down

Barcelona have been utterly devastating this season, scoring 33 goals across just seven games. The Catalans average 4.7 goals per game and after netting seven against Racing Santander in midweek, Hansi Flick’s side aren’t in the mood to slow down.

Summer signings Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi have hit the ground running, registering 11 goal contributions between them, while Lamine Yamal has scored eight goals and grabbed four assists also.

It has been the form of Raphinha, however, that has made many sit up and take notice. The Brazilian has operated in a more central role this term, a move which has paid dividends indeed.

*Barcelona goals + assist leaders in LaLiga*

Across seven games in all competitions, he has notched 11 goals, chipping in with three assists. Although Barcelona have conceded seven goals in their last five matches, Flick appears to be going with the mantra of “if you score three, we will score four” this season.

So far, it has worked a treat. Barcelona have yet to be truly tested, however. Might that change on Saturday evening when they travel to the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán?

Team news

Arouna Sangante and Rubén Vargas are missing for Sevilla due to injury, but those are the only two absentees ahead of the game.

Both Frenkie de Jong and Roony Bardghji will be out for Barcelona, while it remains to be seen whether Joan García is fit after going off at the break against Racing last time out.

Prediction

This match could be a Saturday evening thriller in LaLiga, especially considering the form of both clubs.

Barcelona have only failed to score fewer than four goals in a game on one occasion this term and while Sevilla possess a mean defence, it is hard to see Flick’s side failing to continue their stunning form in front of goal during this match.

As such, expect Barcelona to secure another three points: Sevilla 1-3 Barcelona.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Sep

2026

Preview: Brighton host unbeaten Arsenal in the Premier League

Brighton welcome Arsenal to the Amex on Saturday afternoon in what could be one of the most interesting Premier League ties of the weekend.

By Ross Kilvington

Brighton are sitting pretty

The Seagulls haven’t looked back since thrashing Aston Villa 4-0 in their first league match of the season.

Indeed, their only defeat across five matches since then was a 4-3 loss to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Last weekend saw Brighton bag five in an emphatic victory over Coventry and they currently have the best attacking record in the top flight having scored 13 goals.

Progress has also been made in the Carabao Cup, reaching the last 16 after a stunning 3-2 comeback victory over Manchester United, while Fabian Hürzeler has also steered his men into the league phase of the Conference League.

Things are looking rosy, but this clash against Arsenal is going to be their biggest test yet.

Brighton have lost their previous three matches against the Gunners and you have to go back to May 2023 for their last victory in this fixture, yet there is plenty of optimism right now on the south coast.

A victory here would deliver a massive statement of intent and Hürzeler’s side have the means to cause Arsenal plenty of problems.

Arsenal aiming to stretch their unbeaten run

Invincibles 2.0? Perhaps it is too soon to be thinking ahead like that, but on current form, Arsenal look incredibly tough to beat.

The Gunners have shed the psychological barrier that has so often plagued them by winning the Premier League title last term. Now, the sky is the limit.

Mikel Arteta’s men have won all seven of their competitive matches so far this season, scoring 16 goals in the process and conceding just three.

*Arsenal have the best defence in the league but Brighton score the most goals*

While his attacking players have been clicking nicely in the final third, Arteta’s backline could be his most vital component this term, especially if more trophies are to be won.

In this fixture, Arsenal have won three successive games, conceding a solitary goal and another routine victory will further bolster momentum.

The international break comes at the wrong time for Arteta and his side, with this weekend being the last action for three weeks. A win, then, would be the perfect way to wrap up the first few weeks of the campaign.

Team news

William Saliba remains absent for the Gunners, while Piero Hincapié, Cristhian Mosquera and Ben White are all doubts for this clash on Saturday.

Jurrien Timber missed the clash against Ipswich, but he should be back in contention this weekend.

Hürzeler will be missing several players, including Jack Hinshelwood, Evan Ferguson, Zadok Yohanna, Mats Wieffer, Kaoru Mitoma, Yankuba Minteh and Stefanos Tzimas for the match.

Georginio Rutter made his return in the midweek victory over Man United and he could play a part on Saturday.

Prediction

The best attacking side in the division take on the toughest defence this Saturday in what could be an exciting matchup.

Both sides are flying at the moment and neither will want to drop points heading into the international break.

It could well be settled by a single goal: Brighton 1-2 Arsenal.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Sep

2026

Preview: Something has to give as Spurs host Aston Villa

Spurs and Aston Villa have mustered one goal and one point between them in the Premier League so far this season. Something has to give… hasn’t it?

By Ian King

Spurs and Villa have both had abject starts to 2026-27

If things continue this way, people will start to call it ‘The Curse of the Europa League.’ The last two winners of the Europe’s secondary cup competition meet at The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with both in the bottom four of the Premier League.

Spurs and Aston Villa have played eight League games between them so far in 2026/27. They’ve managed one goal and three points in those games, and they go into this fixture in 17th and 19th places in the table respectively, with a three-week break for the losers of this lunchtime clash to ruminate over how their start to the new season has gone so terribly wrong.

Midweek Carabao Cup matches brought a win for Villa at Coventry City and a decent-ish performance for Spurs at Anfield, at the end of which Liverpool were slightly flattered by the final 3-1 scoreline. There were, then, small causes for some degree of optimism for both clubs, though neither have experienced that in the League yet.

Aston Villa handed Spurs one of their most important wins of 2026

There haven’t been that many of them, but one of Spurs’ most important wins of 2026 came at the start of May, when they overcame a lethargic performance by their hosts to secure a 2-1 win. Spurs ended up surviving relegation by two points.

Prior to this, though, Villa had an excellent record against Spurs. They’d won seven of their previous nine meetings, with the only Spurs wins both coming in 2024, when they won 4-0 at Villa Park in March and 4-1 at The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in November.

This wasn’t ever thus. The two clubs met after WW2 for the first time in 1950, and Spurs remained unbeaten against Villa until 1962, a run of 24 consecutive games.

Optimists may hope that they can repeat their meeting of the 19th March 1966, when they drew 5-5 at White Hart Lane, with Villa’s Tony Hateley managing the singular achievement of scoring four goals in a match without ending the afternoon on the winning team, although Villa did come from 5-1 down to get a draw.

Spurs overloaded their squad with wingers in the summer, but who’s going to put their chances away?

Following four games without one, Spurs desperately need a Premier League goal, a state of affairs which highlights the folly of stuffing their first-team squad with so many wingers while overlooking the need to bring in somebody who can finish the chances that those wingers create.

Dominic Solanke leads their attack and he’s certainly capable of scoring goals. His match ratings this season – when he’s appeared – have been poor, and he needs a goal to prove those who saw his team’s failure to move for a number nine over the summer wrong.

The big question that Villa fans will be asking is whether it’s time for them to see a full ninety minutes from Johan Manzambi. The defensive midfielder signed from Freiburg for £59.5 million during the summer, but injury has blocked his start to the new season. However, back-to-back appearances from the bench against Nottingham Forest and Coventry City will have raised expectations that he could finally make his full Aston Villa debut in this match.

After a red card on his debut, João Gomes could be set for his second Villa appearance

Spurs’ latest injury doubt is Sandro Tonali, who missed the midweek trip to Anfield with an unspecified knock, and may be left out again. James Maddison has only appeared from the bench so far this season, but he may start this match in Tonali’s place. Pedro Porro (muscle), Dejan Kulusevski (knee), Xavi Simons (knee), Wilson Odobert (knee) and Mykhaylo Mudryk (ankle) all remain longer-term absentees.

Villa welcome back João Gomes following the three-game suspension that he picked up for getting sent off on his Premier League debut against Brighton last month. Matty Cash (muscle) and Brian Madjo (ankle) are both doubtful, while Pau Torres (hamstring), Leon Goretzka (knee), Ian Maatsen (ankle) and Amadou Onana (knee) are all out for the longer-term.

Both of these sides have small causes for optimism, but improvement might not come until after the international break

It may feel a little like two bald men fighting over a comb, but both Spurs and Aston Villa have tiny causes for optimism ahead of this match. Spurs have kept two consecutive clean sheets in the Premier League for the first time since New Year’s Day, and their performance against Liverpool wasn’t as bad as the eventual 3-1 scoreline suggested.

Villa, meanwhile, got some goals on the board at Coventry in the week, while a potential full debut for Johan Manzambi would also be a cause for celebration. They finally scored a first Premier League goal of the season last weekend, even though they ended up on the wrong end of a 2-1 reversal against Nottingham Forest.

Both of these clubs underwent huge changes over the course of the summer, and neither have yet settled in 2026/27. A win for either would go a long way towards settling early season nerves following a tumultuous summer, but while there are causes for optimism, the actual evidence of substantial improvement is pretty light, and the excuse of a busy transfer window is already starting to wear thin.

With a lunchtime kick-off coming on top of the two teams’ issues in front of goal in the league, it may well be that the improvement that fans expect will have to wait until after the international break. On the basis of what we’ve seen from them in the league so far this season, I can’t really predict anything other than a goalless draw for this match, and for those early-season nerves to continue through the upcoming international break.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Sep

2026

Cole Palmer: Revitalised under Xabi Alonso and now back in the England squad

Xabi Alonso has enjoyed a more than respectable start to life as Chelsea manager, winning four of his six competitive fixtures thus far.

By Ross Kilvington

Chelsea’s only defeat came against the reigning Premier League champions Arsenal a few weeks ago. Things are looking positive again for the Blues after a dismal 2025/26 and much of that has to do with how well the Spaniard integrated his new summer signings into the squad.

A total of 11 players made the move to Stamford Bridge, ranging from experienced professionals such as Danny Welbeck and Jordan Henderson, to future stars Dastan Satpayev and Geovany Quenda.

While several of his new players have hit the ground running, it has been the form of those already at the club which has been the most pleasing.

João Pedro has six goal contributions from five games, Roméo Lavia is back to full fitness and Cole Palmer appears to have returned to his imperious best.

After a poor season by his own high standards last year, Palmer looks reinvigorated under Alonso.

*How Cole Palmer’s player traits compare to positional peers in the Top 5 leagues*

Cole Palmer moving on from an underwhelming campaign

Across his first two seasons at Stamford Bridge, Palmer looked like the player many believed he would turn out to be during his spell at Manchester City. He scored goals in abundance, could generate plenty of chances for his teammates, and had that magnificent ability to produce a moment of magic that could change a game in an instant.

Indeed, 40 goals and 24 assists across 91 matches throughout 2023/24 and 2024/25 certainly back up those assertions, while the attacking midfielder ranked in the top 5% among his peers in the Premier League for big chances created in both of those seasons.

He even carried that form into the Club World Cup, scoring three times in Chelsea’s victorious campaign, yet the months that followed were disrupted by injury and lack of form.

As a consequence, Palmer missed out on Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the 2026 World Cup. Given how he has begun the current season, that decision might just have been a blessing in disguise for the 24-year-old.

*Palmer’s season stats for 2025/26 and the start of 2026/27*

Alonso has brought out the best in Palmer

Alonso might only be in the embryonic stages of his managerial career, but he knows how to bring the best out of certain players.

Even from his very first press conference, the former Real Madrid boss lavished praise on Palmer and his comments clearly have produced the desired effect.

“We have had a few training sessions already, and from the first day, you can see he’s a special talent,” said Alonso in July.

“He’s a special player. You can notice his quality, how he’s able to play and make the right decision in the right spot.

“I’m happy that he has come in a good mood and a good mindset to have a great season, and we are really looking forward to getting the best from him.

“If we can build a strong team with the proper stability to find our key players, then for sure, Cole is going to be one of those key players in the attacking third.”

After only a few weeks, Palmer is already beginning to click into Alonso’s system with ease and it has helped having players such as Morgan Rogers and João Pedro to link up with.

The Englishman has started five of Chelsea’s six matches so far this term, scoring four goals and registering two assists in the process.

He is already just eight goal contributions shy of the tally achieved last season (14) and it looks as though there is plenty more to come in the weeks ahead.

Palmer ranks third in the Premier League for big chances created (3) in 2026/27 along with ranking in the top 5% for possession won in the final third and total shots among his positional peers.

*A typical Alonso Chelsea formation, with each player’s season stats in the Premier League*

Last season, he operated across the front three, rarely restricted to one specific position.

Under Alonso, however, Palmer has been solely deployed in his best position, just behind the striker in a 4-2-3-1 system, and this has allowed his creative juices to flow.

Given his skillset, this is certainly Palmer’s most productive role and one that he has thrived in recently.

And it’s already paid off, with Thomas Tuchel recalling Chelsea’s No. 10 to the England squad ahead of the Nations League matches against Spain, Czechia, and Croatia in the upcoming international break.

Since scoring against Spain in the Euro 2024 final, the midfielder has only featured five times for England, with three of those games under Tuchel.

The German stated that Palmer wasn’t “decisive or as influential as he was in the last seasons” after announcing that the Chelsea player wouldn’t be part of his England squad for North America.

On the face of it, the decision was probably the right one, especially with Jude Bellingham and Morgan Rogers ahead of him in the pecking order.

Fast forward a few months and there’s no doubt a revitalised Palmer has earned his return to the national team setup. Now, the onus is for the midfielder to perform like he has done for his club side and make sure he gives Tuchel plenty of food for thought.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Sep

2026

Preview: Chelsea head to Brentford in West London derby

A big change at the top for Chelsea won’t have an immediate on-pitch effect, but Xabi Alonso has already shown he’s making significant moves with the Blues this term which, given time, could turn them back into a title challenger.

By Karl Matchett

It’s not the cash-laden west Londoners, though, who come into this fixture unbeaten this term – that would instead be their hosts, Brentford, the…slightly more west of London side.

£100m on a single or a squad?

Morgan Rogers was a headline-grabbing transfer this summer of course and he has started in typically excellent fashion to justify his signing, if not the fee (can any player warrant £117m in a few months?!). But Brentford opted to spread around a similar amount, landing the likes of Malick Diouf, Jannik Schuster, Jaidon Anthony and Mamadou Sangaré for around a combined £110m. Chuck in a free Callum Wilson and each zone of the team has had a new addition, though it’s Sangaré who has started like a seasoned veteran of the Premier League, slotting in brilliantly to add ball-carrying, ball-winning and line-breaking distribution to the Bees’ midfield. No eyebrows whatsoever will be raised if Champions League sides come calling for the 24-year-old next summer, when his asking price has already doubled.

Brilliance versus balance

There’s no doubting that Alonso’s side look far more dangerous going forward already. There’s purpose, cutting edge and quality link-up between key players – but he hasn’t quite got it right at the other end of the pitch. Defensive errors, gaps between the lines and a soft centre for teams to run through have all been an issue, though the presence of the impressive Maxence Lacroix should help there over time. For now, though, runners from deep are a real issue – which is exactly what Sangaré is bringing for Brentford.

Recent form

One win and three draws in the league for the hosts, while Brentford have also seen off Birmingham and Reading to reach the EFL Cup fourth round. Their opening day 3-0 win over Spurs remains their best result of the campaign. Chelsea have been more erratic, winning four of six but losing to Arsenal and drawing with newcomers Hull on home soil.

Team news

No Nathan Collins or Sepp van den Berg for Brentford, with Mathias Jensen sidelined too in another big loss.

Chelsea are likely to be without Moisés Caicedo from their first XI, while mystery surrounds João Pedro who pulled out of the Brazil squad for next week but “no one is ruled out” for this game, according to Alonso. Jordan Henderson could make his debut against his former side and Reece James should return after missing training.

Key player

The Cole Palmer-Morgan Rogers attacking axis has been impressive already, but we’ll give the latter the nod as the key to the game with his all-round approach: in 350 league minutes he already has 3 goals from 11 shots, has created 10 chances, won 21 duels and had the same number of touches in the attacking penalty box.

Prediction

There could be goals for both sides in this game and perhaps a fourth draw in five so far for the Bees: Brentford 2-2 Chelsea.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

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Sep

2026

FotMob Young Player of the Month: Monaco’s Lamine Camara

Awarded in conjunction with Rising Ballers, past winners of FotMob’s monthly GOAT award include Yan Diomandé and Eliot Anderson. This month, we headed out to Monaco to meet one of the most in demand midfielders in Europe.

By Ben McAleer

According to French publication L’Equipe, Monaco needed to raise €150m through player sales over the summer. They brought in significant funds from the sales of Aladji Bamba, Maghnes Akliouche, Caio Henrique and Kassoum Ouattara.

Then deadline day rolled around, and there was one more high-profile exit on the cards. Both Folarin Balogun and Lamine Camara were linked with Premier League transfers. Balogun was set for a move to Everton. Then Camara was on the cusp of a Chelsea switch. After a deal seemingly fell through, Balogun’s switch to the Hill Dickinson Stadium was back on again, which saw Monaco pull the plug on Camara’s move to Chelsea.

“There was a possibility I could leave. It didn’t go through at the last minute and that’s part of football,” Camara said ahead of Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Strasbourg. “I’ve turned the page and am focusing on the season. It’s part of a professional player’s life. I managed to stay professional and not dwell on it too much. Once it’s happened there’s no point in thinking about it again.”

Balogun’s decision to walk away from the Everton deal at the last moment meant Monaco retained the services of the pair. Balogun is yet to play for Filipe Luis’ side this season due to injury. Conversely, Camara has playing a starring role in Monaco’s flying start to the 2026/27 Ligue 1 campaign.

After four matches, Monaco have picked up 10 points. They’ve beaten Marseille and defending champions Paris Saint-Germain in that time. Paris Brunner is the club’s leading scorer with three goals. Creative star Aleksandr Golovin has two assists to his name. The heartbeat of the team, however, has been Camara.

That’s to be expected. The 21-year-old, after all, is one of the hottest midfield prospects on the continent. If anything, the flying start to the season is par for course for the Senegalese star. The fine showings against the backdrop of regular transfer talk elevates the quality of his displays. Camara didn’t allow speculation surrounding his future to affect his displays under Luis.

*Camara’s defensive numbers in Ligue 1 this season*

Rather, Camara has thrived under the spotlight. The Senegal international has utilised his ball-winning capability to great effect. Indeed, he’s made more tackles (24) than any other player in the 2026/27 Ligue 1 campaign. He’s only been dribbled past four times across the opening matches of the season, returning an impressive 85.7% tackle success rate in the process. No outfield player has made more ball recoveries (37) than Camara.

It means Monaco have the joint-best defensive record in the division having shipped just twice. One of those was from a set-piece situation, the other was an own goal, this despite the Principality side mustering just a 43% possession haul, the third lowest in France’s top tier this term.

Considering Luis’ demands that his team sit deeper to soak up possession, it’s hardly a shock that Camara has been able to showcase his out-of-possession qualities.

What’s noticeable, though, is that Camara has been hugely effective on the ball once he does win possession back. 225 passes is more than any other Monaco player. A 92.9% pass success rate is the joint-best for the French giants. 42 forward passes ranks sixth for Luis’ side, which is important for a Monaco outfit that does ultimately rely on quick transitions once they win the ball back.

*Camara’s passing stats in Ligue 1 this season*

A change in shape from a three-man backline deployed by Sebastien Pocognoli to a 4-2-3-1 has lessened the need for Camara to utilise his creative qualities. Operating alongside the experienced Denis Zakaria at the base of the midfield, Camara has created just three chances in the opening weeks of the season.

Rather, there is a greater onus on Golovin to pry apart defences, with Luis implementing a strict defensive structure. This was a priority for the former Flamengo boss, whose first port of call was to tighten up a Monaco side that conceded the fourth most goals (54) in Ligue 1.

A change in shape and gameplan, however, hasn’t impacted Camara. Instead, he’s thrived with the increased defensive responsibility that comes with playing as the number six in the 4-2-3-1 formation. It means that the attacking players have the freedom to work their magic in the final third.

Not only does Russian star Golovin rank top for chances created, but France-born Belgian youngster Stanis Idumbo is top for successful dribbles (8). They can carry out their attacking duties, safe in the knowledge that Camara is mopping up in front of the defence.

🇸🇳🐐 Monaco’s Lamine Camara is the FotMob x @RisingBallers_ Young Player of the Month. pic.twitter.com/y3nH25XG21
— FotMob (@FotMob) September 17, 2026

Chelsea’s failure to sign Camara, then, is a huge blow for the Blues, but it’s proven beneficial for a Monaco side that has started strongly under Luis. The departure of key players hasn’t hindered his opening months at the Stade Louis II. It’s the final – and fortunate – decision to retain Camara’s services that has allowed Monaco to make a superb start to the domestic campaign.

And with that, Camara is a worthy winner of the FotMob Young Player of the Month award. Many would have kicked up a fuss over a failed deadline day move to a top-tier Premier League side. Camara, though, has gotten his head down and played a starring role in Monaco’s unbeaten season so far. Retaining the youngster’s services, even inadvertently, could prove the best decision they ever made.

(Cover image from IMAGO, other images from Rising Ballers)

The FotMob Young Player of the Month Award is decided by virtue of average FotMob match ratings and run in conjunction with Rising Ballers. For all related content, make sure you follow @fotmobapp and @RisingBallers on Instagram.

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Sep

2026

Teething problems or something bigger? Unai Emery is facing his biggest test as Villa manager

Unai Emery is facing biggest challenge in his four years as Aston Villa manager following a summer of change at the club.

By Graham Ruthven

It took Aston Villa until late September to register their first Premier League win of the 2025/26 campaign. Five matches passed before Unai Emery’s team were able to put three points on the board, kick-starting another successful season. 12 months on they are facing a similar scenario.

Something about this season’s situation, however, feels different. Villa have come through a summer of change and there’s no guarantee Emery has the talent at his disposal to point his team in the right direction again. The disappointing results against Brighton, Arsenal, Hull City and Nottingham Forest are emblematic of how difficult this transition will be.

*Villa have been consistent in Emery’s previous seasons at the club*

Villa lost their top scorer in Ollie Watkins when the England international joined Al-Hilal in the Saudi Pro League. They also lost their most creative player in Morgan Rogers who joined Chelsea for a reported transfer fee of £117m. This might have been a good price for the attacking midfielder, but it still left Emery with a big hole to plug.

On top of this, midfield pace-setter Youri Tielemans had his release clause activated by Manchester United while key defensive piece Ezri Konsa signed for Arsenal and goalkeeper Emi Martínez joined Chelsea. Of the eight players who played the most league minutes for Aston Villa last season, six left this summer.

Emery is used to turning over squads. He’s done it before over the course of his four-year tenure as Villa manager and it was also a big part of his role at Sevilla. The Andalucians have a transfer model that requires them to sell a key player every so often and Emery was charged with making sure they weren’t missed too much.

This, however, is a lot of upheaval to compensate for in one go. This is the most substantial reconstruction job of Emery’s career with Aston Villa languishing in the bottom three of the Premier League table after four games. Can they bounce back as emphatically as they did last season?

Aston Villa invested in potential ahead of the 2026/27 campaign. Johan Mazambi was one of the breakout stars of the 2026 World Cup, shining as an all-round attacking force for Switzerland. Ibrahim Mbaye is widely considered one of the best young wingers in Europe after catching the eye at Paris Saint-Germain.

Signed to be Martínez’s replacement, Zion Suzuki has already demonstrated his quality in Serie A for Parma with João Gomes proven at Premier League level. The same could be said of Alejandro Garnacho who Emery is counting on being able to revitalise after a disappointing spell at Chelsea.

As of yet, though, that potential is still to be realised. There have been flashes, like in the Champions League when Villa put three goals past Club Brugge. Another permanent signing, Nicolas Jackson was particularly effective, scoring his first goal as an Aston Villa player. In the Premier League, though, the former Chelsea forward is still finding his feet.

A trip to North London awaits Villa on Saturday with Tottenham Hotspur similarly aiming to kick-start their season. They too rebuilt a large portion of their squad over the summer and are struggling to find cohesion, particularly in the forward line where Spurs have yet to score a single league goal in four games.

Victory for either side would change the narrative of a difficult start to the 2026/27 campaign. Defeat, however, will further entrench the fears that Aston Villa might not bounce back in the way they have previously. That the issues they have are more than just teething problems. That this is one rebuild too far for Emery.

The good news for Villa is that Emery has established a way of playing and a set of principles over several seasons. On the basis of the summer window, the club is still using these principles to guide their business, meaning there should be a sense of continuity to Aston Villa even as they transition into a new age.

Aston Villa supporters point to the Premier League’s restrictive financial rules as reason for their early-season struggles, and with some justification. Villa were vulnerable to the old PSR (Profit and Sustainability Rules) rules and the early indications are that the newly-imposed SCR (Squad Cost Ratio) framework won’t give them much more freedom to spend.

This is where Villa must trust Emery to guide them forward. The Spaniard has moulded the club around himself over the last four years. Emery is an Aston Villa legend and is clearly the best man for the job. Aston Villa wouldn’t want anyone else at the helm. However, this season is becoming his biggest, most challenging puzzle. There’s no guarantee he will solve it.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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