Page 58 – The Pulse of Football

Nov

2025

Preview: Man United go to Crystal Palace on Sunday lunchtime

Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United need a positive result to bounce back from the disappointing home defeat to Everton.

By Graham Ruthven

Top five aspirations

Two points is all that separates Crystal Palace and Manchester United in the Premier League table ahead of Sunday’s meeting at Selhurst Park.

Both teams have aspirations of a top five finish with Oliver Glasner’s side sitting in the Champions League qualification places going in to the weekend. An away win for United, however, would lift them above Palace in the table.

Manchester United need a positive response following Monday’s dismal home loss to Everton who played the majority of the match at Old Trafford down a man.

Palace have yet to lose a single game at home in the league so far this season with the 2-1 win over Liverpool at the end of September a statement result that should have Ruben Amorim wary.

Defeat to Everton on Monday ended a five-game unbeaten streak for United. A strong response on Sunday would point the Old Trafford outfit in the right direction again. Another loss, however, would see them regress further.

Key players

Jean-Philippe Mateta has scored more Premier League goals (six) than any other Crystal Palace player this season and is expected to lead the line for the Eagles on Sunday.

Yeremy Pino and Ismaïla Sarr will test United with their speed and trickery. The former netted a stunner in the away win over Wolves last time out and will be a threat in the attacking third once more.

In central midfield, Adam Wharton will be playing for Palace amid speculation linking the England international with a potential transfer to Old Trafford at some point in the future.

Bryan Mbeumo has been a shining light for Manchester United so far this season, giving Amorim’s team a consistent threat on the right side of the attack.

Bruno Fernandes is a danger even as he continues to operate in a deeper role this season, leading United’s squad for Expected Goals (5.0). The Portuguese is still the beating heart of his team.

In goal, Senne Lammens has quickly become Amorim’s new number one even if the Belgian was partially at fault for Everton’s winner on Monday. Lammens will need to find top form again this weekend.

Team news

Glasner might have no choice but to rest some of the team that started away to Strasbourg in the Conference League on Thursday. This could test the depth of the Crystal Palace squad.

Cheick Doucouré, Eddie Nketiah and Chadi Riad are sidelined through injury for the Eagles at the moment and will miss Sunday’s match.

Benjamin Šeško is facing a month out with a knee injury, meaning Joshua Zirkzee could start in the place of the Slovenian striker like he did against Everton on Monday.

Matheus Cunha, however, could return to the team after missing Monday’s game following a reported training ground incident. Manchester United would be better off with the Brazilian’s energy and general attacking threat on the pitch.

Lisandro Martínez is closing in on a return from an ACL injury, but Sunday’s match at Selhurst Park could come too soon for the defender.

Prediction

Given Palace’s strength at home this season, but United’s need to put in a performance after that showing against Everton, a draw seems like the safest bet: Crystal Palace 1-1 Manchester United.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the 2025/26 Premier League season with FotMob – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Nov

2025

Preview: Inter Miami meet NYCFC to decide best in the East

Inter Miami and Lionel Messi edge a step closer to their goal of lifting the MLS Cup for the first time in franchise history when they host New York City in the Eastern Conference final on Saturday night.

By James Nalton

They go into the game on the back of two of their most impressive and convincing performances since Messi joined the team at the end of 2023, and need just two more to lift Major League Soccer’s big prize.

But first, they need to win the Eastern Conference playoff prize, and Pascal Jansen’s New York City are likely to pose a tougher test than those they have recently faced.

Mascherano’s big Luis Suarez decision

In the preview of Inter Miami’s conference semifinal against FC Cincinnati, we ventured that Javier Mascherano’s team might have more of a chance of winning if the coach left Suárez out of his starting XI.

It was a decision few expected him to be bold enough to make, given the profile of Suárez and the idea that Messi might prefer to have the Uruguayan in the team alongside him.

But it was a decision Mascherano did make, and one that paid off.

Away at Cincinnati, a place where Inter Miami have regularly struggled in the past, Mascherano’s team blew their opposition away.

They scored four goals without reply for the second game in a row, also making it the first time since March that they have kept clean sheets in consecutive games.

It makes them the team to beat in the playoffs, if they weren’t already, despite not topping the regular season table in MLS, and they remain favourites.

Messi’s new supporting cast

Linked to the Suárez decision is this new look attack around Messi.

The 19-year-old Argentine Mateo Silvetti joined from Newell’s Old Boys in August and had only made one start for Inter Miami in the regular season, but has come into his own in the playoffs, having stepped in when Suárez was suspended.

He scored one and assisted another against Cincinnati, and will be pushing to start once again.

Elsewhere, 26-year-old Tadeo Allende has been the standout of the supporting players to Miami’s stars this season, and scored twice in each of the two 4-0 wins.

Add the 21-year-old Baltasar Rodríguez in midfield, and there is a young, energetic team beginning to build around Messi, which could be a sign of things to come after the Argentine recently signed a new contract that runs until 2028.

This additional energy appears to be giving them the best chance of finally going all the way in a knockout tournament this season, though they have two tough games remaining before they can lift the MLS Cup.

Opposition watch: New York City FC

New York City FC suffered a blow ahead of their conference semifinal against Philadelphia Union when star striker Alonso Martínez suffered a season-ending knee injury while on international duty with Costa Rica.

Few gave them a chance against the Supporters’ Shield winners as a result, but they emerged victorious thanks to a brilliantly worked team goal scored by Maxi Moralez.

It sets up a battle of the 38-year-old Argentines between Messi and Moralez in Fort Lauderdale in this Eastern Conference final.

New York City will again be the underdogs, but in theory, they should put up more resistance than the surprisingly fragile Cincinnati did.

They have Matt Freese in goal, who looks likely to be Mauricio Pochettino’s starting goalkeeper for the United States at the upcoming World Cup.

They also have centre-back and captain Thiago Martins, who makes a good, but rare, case for using a DP spot on a central defender in the right circumstances.

Another Argentine, Nicolás Fernández Mercau, 25, also impressed in NYC’s win in Philadelphia, and could see this as a platform on which to display his talents.

Prediction

Miami to scrape a win in a close, entertaining game, thanks to home advantage.

(Cover Image from IMAGO)

You can follow every MLS game live this season with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage including shot maps, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Nov

2025

Preview: Barcelona return to league action after Chelsea humbling

And Barcelona do so against Deportivo Alavés, a side they are unbeaten against in their last 16 meetings.

By Filip Mishov

Barcelona looking to mount pressure on Real Madrid

Hansi Flick endured a disappointing Tuesday night by the touchline at Stamford Bridge, as Barça suffered a damning defeat (3-0) to Chelsea in the Champions League, ending an impressive 53-match scoring streak across all competitions that stretched back to December last year. The Spanish champions lacked both energy and creativity against the FIFA Club World Cup champions, but the German coach promised “a different Barcelona” in the coming weeks, and the upcoming match against Alavés at Camp Nou offers a first chance of redemption.

Eduardo Coudet‘s Alavés squad are on a two-match losing run having failed to find the back of the net in both of those games, with the Basque side currently having the third lowest-scoring attack in Spain’s top tier, with only 11 goals scored. At the other end, however, only Villarreal and Atletico Madrid have conceded less goals (12) than them, which speaks volumes about their defensive solidity.

El Glorioso’s last win at Camp Nou dates back to 2016 and since then, they have only managed a single draw (back in 2021).

Key players

Eric García has established as one of Hansi Flick’s most trusted lieutenants this season and the defender’s versatility is proving key, given Barça’s injury troubles both in defence and midfield.

The energetic Spaniard has started in all but three matches across all competitions this campaign and is averaging a FotMob rating of 7.40 in LaLiga, the highest of any defender in the squad. Subsequently, news that contract negotiations around a new deal have started does not come as a surprise, given his growing importance.

Former Barça academy player, Carles Alena is the main source of creativity at Alavés with the 27-year-old being the top assist maker (3) as well as one of the leading chance creators (12). Similarly to García, Alena’s ability to play both through the middle and on the wings gives Coudet options on how to use the La Masia graduate, once hailed as a potential successor to Andrés Iniesta or Xavi.

Team news

It is not all doom and gloom for Barcelona with Pedri back in first-team training after a month out on the sidelines and Raphinha edging closer to being ready to start rather than come off the bench. With that being said, the captain Marc-André ter Stegen and Gavi remain the only absentees in the squad, as Marcus Rashford also returned against the Blues after recovering from fever.

Eduardo Coudet enjoys a clean bill of health with almost a full squad to pick from, barring Serbian centre-back, Nikola Maras, who has a long-term injury.

Prediction

We fully expect Barça to come out on top against Alavés, and to move back above Madrid to the top of the table (with Madrid not playing until Sunday), but do not expect goals galore at Camp Nou with the visitors’ defence among the best in the league.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Nov

2025

Preview: Spurs entertain Fulham on Saturday night

With storm clouds starting to form over The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium again, Spurs’ home match against Fulham on Saturday evening has taken on an air of greater importance than it might otherwise have had.

By Ian King

Recent form makes this a must-win game for Spurs

November may have been disrupted by another international break, but it was still a bad month for Tottenham Hotspur. They haven’t won in the league since 26 October, were eliminated from the Carabao Cup by Newcastle United, and recorded their only win of the last four weeks in the Champions League against FC København back at the start of the month.

Most troublingly of all, they haven’t won a home Premier League game since the opening weekend of the season. As such, a familiar feeling of panic is starting to swell at The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, meaning that this Saturday evening match against Fulham is now more of a must-win game than it would otherwise have been.

Three wins in their last four in all competitions have eased concerns that 2025-26 could turn into a slog Fulham and have eased the pressure on Marco Silva after four straight defeats dropped them perilously close to the relegation places.

Spurs have struggled against Fulham over the last couple of years

Spurs had an excellent record against Fulham from 2013 to 2023, but they’ve failed to win any of their last three games against them, with last season’s matches ending in a 1-1 draw at The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and a 2-0 Fulham win at Craven Cottage. This was the first time that the Cottagers had gone more than one game unbeaten against them since 2009.

Spurs need to start winning midfield battles again

Wednesday night’s 5-3 defeat in Paris was another disappointing evening for Thomas Frank, but one of the positives of the evening was the performance of Rodrigo Bentancur, who put in a reasonably accomplished midfield performance following a string of underwhelming ones. Spurs need to start winning a few more of their midfield battles, and Bentancur did at least manage this on Wednesday night.

For Fulham, Raúl Jiménez scored the winner against Sunderland last week. It was only his second league goal of the season, and a return to form from him could be key to them rising higher in the Premier League table over the final weeks of the year.

Spurs are starting to welcome players back from their extensive injury list

Spurs are starting to welcome players back from injury. Randal Kolo Muani started in Paris and scored twice, while Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall also started and Mohammed Kudus came off the bench, albeit to little significant effect. James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Dominic Solanke, Ben Davies, Radu Drăgușin, Yves Bissouma, and Kota Takai all remain injured. Brennan Johnson was suspended for the PSG game and should return.

Rodrigo Muniz and Antonee Robinson are injured for Fulham and will miss this one, but Saša Lukić should return after missing the Sunderland game suspended after picking up five yellow cards.

Everybody already knows how the atmosphere will turn should Spurs not start this match on the front foot

After a promising start to the season, it’s clear that the pressure is starting to build under Thomas Frank, and there’s been a rather too familiar nerviness about Spurs again in recent weeks.

For a club with ambitions of making Champions League qualification a regular occurrence again, matches such as this are the sort that should be routine wins, but that hasn’t been happening of late and there are no guarantees that this one will be, either.

Fulham have turned a bit of a corner in recent games following a poor run, and will be approaching this game with confidence following their win against Sunderland.

This should be a comfortable home win for Spurs, but they’ve not won a home Premier League game in three and a half months and the atmosphere will turn skittish very quickly should they not start on the front foot. They need a home win, and I’ll back them to get one 2-1, but it’s extremely difficult to say that with much confidence at the moment.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Nov

2025

Preview: Man City aiming to end losing streak against Leeds

For the second time this season, Man City are on a two-game losing streak. A 2-1 defeat to Newcastle in the Premier League was followed by a 2-0 loss to Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League on Tuesday evening.

By Ross Kilvington

The latter is perhaps not as significant, as City are still among the favourites to seal a top-eight spot in the expanded group stage, but another league defeat will sting.

Leeds United are the opposition this Saturday at the Etihad as they look to snap a three-game winless streak of their own.

Pep’s rotation in midweek could stand City in good stead

The new Champions League format simply doesn’t have the same jeopardy as the previous incarnation.

Despite losing to Leverkusen, the Cityzens remain just two points off the summit and will likely progress as one of the best eight teams in the group stage.

As such, Guardiola made 10 changes to his team that faced the Bundesliga side, with the likes of Erling Haaland, Rayan Cherki, Jérémy Doku and Rúben Dias among others were dropped to the bench.

It was evident the Spaniard was prioritising the Premier League clash against Leeds this weekend and he will hope this decision doesn’t come back to haunt him.

Leeds need to improve to avoid relegation dogfight

A 1-0 victory over Everton in their first game back in the top flight suggested they could break the mold and avoid a relegation fight.

Just five days later, they suffered a 5-0 thrashing by Arsenal. Since then, Leeds have won just twice in the Premier League. Both of those wins came against sides who were either 17^th or lower in the table.

The pressure is on Daniel Farke to start building momentum and taking the club away from the drop zone.

A trip to the Etihad, then, is the last thing he needs.

Team news

Ahead of the clash, Farke should be able to call upon a full strength squad. Against Aston Villa last week, summer signing Anton Stach suffered concussion and will therefore have to go through a concussion protocol.

If all is well, he will play against City.

Guardiola will be without midfielder Mateo Kovačić for the match due to an ankle injury. Elsewhere, Rodri has a thigh injury and he will be treated with plenty of caution given his injury history over the previous 12 months.

Aside from that, the manager has plenty of options available to him ahead of the game.

Prediction

With Arsenal showcasing their ruthless nature against Spurs last weekend, it is clear that City cannot slip up much further should they wish to remain in contention for the league title.

Resting several of his key players in midweek may well have benefitted City. Add in the fact they have won their previous four matches against Leeds, scoring 16 goals, indicates another three points.

We at FotMob are backing the home side to flex their muscles and seal a comfortable 3-0 win this Saturday afternoon.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow all the games from the Premier League on FotMob in the 2025/26 season – with in-depth stat coverage, including xG, shot maps, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Nov

2025

There’s so much more to Cesc Fabregas’ Como than just possession

Cesc Fàbregas’ first job as a senior head coach is, so far, going pretty well. Como dominate the possession stats in Serie A, as you might expect with a Spanish centurion in charge – but there’s so much more to them than dominating on the ball.

By Karl Matchett

Influence in ideas

At 38 years of age, let’s face it – former Barcelona, Arsenal and Chelsea playmaker Cesc Fàbregas could probably still be doing a pretty good job on the pitch, let alone off it. Especially in a possession-oriented team which tends to control the flow of the game, something which he excelled at across a career which included 110 caps with the Spanish national team at a time when the likes of Andres Iniesta and David Silva were at their peak.

Perhaps unsurprisingly – see somewhat similar influences in the early managerial careers of Xavi and Xabi Alonso – his approach to coaching stems from a similar ethos, with Como comfortably topping the possession stats in Serie A this season, averaging 61% each match ahead of Inter (60.5%) and Juventus (58.6%). It’s possession with production though: Como are an impressive sixth in the table after 12 rounds of games, suffering just one defeat so far and on a run of 11 unbeaten heading toward December.

Yet, while the immediate assumption might be forgiven considering its orchestrator, Cesc’s team is far from just one about retention and recirculation. This Como side is a relentless monster when out of possession. Their results right now are less about the on-ball work, and more about their out-of-possession intent. It’s aggressive, feisty, and fighting determination – a foundation which allowed them to go from relegation candidates last term to mid-table debutants last term, but which has held over this year as they progress to a more all-round dominant team.

Defend from the front – and everywhere else

Start looking at the defensive basics and it’s clear that the Como squad’s first rule of engagement is along the lines of don’t concede, don’t lose. The team has conceded just seven goals all season, only one more than table-toppers AS Roma to have the second-best defensive record overall. That isn’t fluke: Como have the fourth-best xG conceded rate (11.8). The approach to getting that kind of defensive resilience can be done in different ways, but what stands out for Como in particular is where and when they start defending – and how ferociously it’s done.

They are third for fouls per match (15.8) and fourth for bookings (28) – and joint-top for red cards, having had two dismissed already this term. Como rank second for tackles made and won, are top for tackles in the final third (32) and have regularly been at or near the top for fewest passes allowed by the opposition per defensive action made – in other words, as soon as possession is regained Cesc’s side swarm them. Como are also top three for percentage of aerial duels won – this is an all-encompassing approach to immediately winning back the ball or at least stopping the opposition from building up, starting from the front and by whatever means necessary.

It doesn’t always have to be pretty – or legal – for them to do so and, so far this term at least, Como haven’t been afraid to do what’s needed to halt or regain play. A double pivot midfield blocks off centrally and in channels, aggressive attacking midfielders filter across to stop passing lanes and a fluid 4-2-3-1 shapeshifts as needed.

All this makes them incredibly tough to play against, for teams to get into the swing of their own approach and to create big opportunities against them – but that same final point has been one of Como’s own issues: consistently creating decent chances.

Areas for improvement

For all that Como have kept teams at bay and stayed undefeated for a long spell, it’s important to add the context that they’ve won three of the last eight and until their most recent game had scored against just one of their previous four opponents, averaging out at around a goal per game across the season. Maybe the midweek 5-1 thumping of Torino marks a turning point there: they created seven big chances and amassed a 2.8 xG, quite the contrast to before that match where their 19 big chances would have placed them 19th out of the 20 top-flight teams. They remain only eighth for xG and seventh for touches in the opposition’s box.

Another factor of that old Spain team serves as a reminder: a lot of possession is dominance, but too much without movement and penetration might become sterile.

It’s unsurprising that Como have some areas to improve, of course – they were only promoted back to the top flight two years ago. Their best finish – seventh in 1950 – is a mere historical footnote and last term’s tenth place was their finest campaign since ninth in 1985/86. They’ve been down to the fourth tier and back since then, so this rise is essentially still in its infancy. It has, of course, been bolstered by off-pitch investment and Cesc’s own network of Spanish stars: Sergi Roberto, Alberto Moreno and Álvaro Morata among others remain decent squad boosters, if not regular starters.

And even Cesc himself will still have plenty of learning and refining to do in terms of his approach, both tactical and regarding man management, and with early improvement can come rapid expectation. But the start has been excellent, and the hype around team and head coach alike is likely to continue to grow.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Nov

2025

Elliot Anderson is Nottingham Forest’s prize asset

Elliot Anderson might already be readying himself for the next step in his career with some of the Premier League’s biggest clubs circling.

By Graham Ruthven

Anfield knows a good all-action midfielder when it sees one. The Liverpool faithful watched Steven Gerrard for over a decade. More recently, Ryan Gravenberch has stood out. On Saturday, it was an opposition player who dominated the centre of the pitch. Elliot Anderson was outstanding.

Nottingham Forest in general were outstanding. They limited Liverpool to only a handful of chances, countered at speed and converted their opportunities in the final third. Murillo, Nicolo Sivona, Morgan Gibbs-White and Igor Jesus were all excellent. Nobody, though, was at the level of Elliot Anderson.

He cleared an Alexis Mac Allister shot off the line, saving a certain goal that would have put Liverpool 1-0 up and might have changed the dynamic of the rest of the match. He sent in the corner kick from which Murillo netted the opener. Anderson was involved in almost everything Forest did well.

Only Murillo and Neco Williams made more defensive contributions than Anderson in the 3-0 win over Liverpool at Anfield. He made four tackles. Two interceptions. Two blocks. Six recoveries. As a barrier in front of the Forest defence, Anderson was a brick wall. Nothing got past him.

In possession, Anderson also had a big influence, registering more touches than any other Nottingham Forest player. He created more chances than any other player on either side besides Dominik Szoboszlai and fired off two shots of his own. This was a complete performance by a midfielder whose stock is very much on the rise.

Anderson’s potential has been clear for years. At Newcastle United, he was considered a star of the future, but it’s at the City Ground where he has developed into one of the best players in his position in the Premier League. It’s no wonder clubs are lining up to pay £100m for him.

*Anderson traits comparison against similar players in Top 5 leagues*

That’s the reported fee Nottingham Forest are demanding for their prize asset. This would make Anderson the seventh most expensive signing in Premier League history and the fourth most expensive central midfielder behind Enzo Fernández, Declan Rice and Moisés Caicedo. That’s how highly he is now rated.

By almost every measure, Anderson is a statistical standout. He is averaging more accurate passes per 90 minutes than any other Forest player this season. He has also created more Big Chances than anyone else in the City Ground dressing room. All this despite the chaos that has occurred at Forest this term.

Thomas Tuchel has clearly taken note. Anderson has grown into his role as a starting figure for England in 2025 with the 23-year-old in line to star at the 2026 World Cup. Alongside Declan Rice, The Three Lions have had much more security in the centre of the pitch. Anderson has become undroppable.

“Anderson is a key player for us at the moment,” said Tuchel. “He is one of the best midfielders in the Premier League – that’s why he is with us and starting for us. He deserves it because he has been nothing but impressive. He has to keep on going now though. He is a very complete and mobile midfielder, and that’s what he keeps showing me.”

By the time the 2026 World Cup kicks off next summer, Anderson could be playing for another club. Manchester United are reportedly in the market for a new midfielder and the 23-year-old would fit the bill perfectly. Anderson would offer the sort of central dynamism Ruben Amorim is desperate for.

Perhaps inspired by his performance in Saturday’s game at Anfield, Liverpool have also been linked with the Forest man. For whatever reason, Gravenberch and Mac Allister haven’t been the same force in central midfield this season and so Anderson might be an antidote to the Reds’ current ailments.

Midfielders like Anderson have become even more valuable as the game’s zeitgeist has shifted. With even the best teams now going more direct, playing into open space whenever possible, it’s important to have players who can cover ground and use their physicality to link all areas. Anderson can do that.

Technically, he is also more than capable of holding his own. He can pass. He can create. He can shoot. He is something of a unicorn, hence why Nottingham Forest feel entitled to demand at least £100m for him. West Ham did the same when selling Rice and now Arsenal look at his signing as a bargain.

This season has been chaotic for Nottingham Forest, but Anderson has emerged stronger for that experience. He has been the one constant at the City Ground and others have taken note. £100m would be a lot of money. What Anderson is producing on a regular basis, though, is worth an awful lot too.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Nov

2025

Gasperini has transformed Roma in to serious Serie A contenders

It hasn’t always been pretty, but Gian Piero Gasperini has, so far, been an inspired appointment at Roma, transforming them from Champions League qualification nearly-men to genuine Scudetto chasers.

By Alex Roberts

At the time of writing, Roma sit top of the table, with a HUGE game against current Scudetto holders Napoli coming up at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday (November 30). Max Allegri’s AC Milan are currently sandwiched between the two sides, in second, the porchetta between two slices of pizza bianca.

After some fantastic work from everyone’s favourite Italian grandad Claudio Ranieri, Roma came close to finishing in the Champions League spots last season, losing just once between the start of the new year and the end of the 2024/25 campaign.

Gasperini didn’t need to change too much following the Tinkerman’s reign. Roma still set up with three at the back, with wingbacks Wesley and Mehmet Zeki Çelik providing the width while Lorenzo Pellegrini and Matias Soulé sit behind the striker as their main creative outlets.

During his nine years at Atalanta, Gasperini was a bit of a unicorn. An older Italian manager who wanted his side to play expansive, attacking football, and they reaped the rewards, going from an unremarkable league side to European regulars and even Europa League winners in 2023/24.

Now, we’re not sure what happened over the summer, but the 67-year-old appears to have had a hard factory reset and reverted to type, prioritising defensive solidity and often grinding out results.

Roma aren’t free scoring, far from it. They’ve only managed to bag 15 league goals from their 12 games, the least of the six sides currently sitting in the European spots, and 11 fewer than fourth placed Inter Milan.

But who cares? There is more than one way to play football and sometimes a manager needs to play the cards they’ve been dealt. Roma control most of the games they play, averaging 58.6% possession, and only conceding 0.5 goals per 90 minutes, the lowest in Serie A.

It’s the quality of the chances they concede that makes their defensive performances so impressive. Only 57.60% of opposition shots are inside the Roma box, averaging 0.11xG per shot, so, essentially, any team that faces Roma is limited to testing goalkeeper Mile Svilar from long-range, and he is eating them up.

Speaking of the big Serbian, he is currently FotMob’s highest rated player in the Roma squad. We’ll pause for applause… Svilar is finally living up to the hype that he was getting as a youngster at Anderlecht, and he’s probably the best ‘keeper in Italy at the moment.

Svilar has played every minute for Roma, and he has the highest save percentage in the league at 85.4%, has prevented 4.5 goals, kept six clean sheets, and conceded just six goals. He is key to everything good happening at Roma so far this season.

A little further ahead of him is Gianluca Mancini. He is, in all honesty, a pretty typical modern Italian defender, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, domestically at least, just don’t watch his recent performances for the national team.

Playing as the right-sided centre back, with the equally impressive Evan Ndicka in the middle, Mancini has completed the most tackles (23), interceptions (24), and blocks (8) amongst the Roma squad.

With all of that being said about how good Roma are at the back, their attackers have struggled, but their tidy little Argentinian playmaker Soulé deserves some flowers. One of Serie A’s few genuine entertainers, Gasperini will be thanking Jupiter he’s at Roma.

Soulé can play anywhere across the front line, but he’s mostly played as the right sided ten in Gasperini’s preferred 3-4-2-1 formation, with Lorenzo Pellegrini playing alongside him more often than not.

On loan from Brighton, Evan Ferguson hasn’t got going at Roma with just one goal and one assist in his 11 games across all competitions. Luckily for him, main striker rival Artem Dovbyk hasn’t been much better.

Pellegrini started the season well, scoring the winner against Lazio and then providing an assist in the Europa League win over Nice, but his form has since fallen off a cliff, and has been pretty anonymous up until the win over Udinese earlier in the month.

*Soulé’s player traits compared against similar players in top five leagues*

So, Soulé has carried Roma in the final third, not only scoring four goals and providing two assists in his 12 Serie A games, but creating ten chances, 34 touches in the opposition box, and 322 successful passes. He has been their best attacking asset bar none.

Perhaps Soulé’s most overlooked asset is his work rate. He never stops, constantly hunting down opposition defenders and force mistakes, winning possession in the final third 14 times, making 55 recoveries, and winning 42 duels. He’s a little Jack Russell of a number ten.

It’s been ten years since Roma sat at the top of the Serie A table after 12 games, and fans are daring to dream. Speaking after their 3-1 win over Cremonese on Sunday (November 23), Gasperini tried to temper those dreams

“To keep playing the way we’ve been playing,” he said. “I’ve already said this: there’s nothing wrong with dreaming when you’re doing great, but we know very well that dreams rarely come true. It’s very nice to experience this dream and we will enjoy it as long as we can. We pretend to wake up and sleep a bit longer – that way it will last longer.”

In all honesty, there is still a long way to go for Roma, and if their strikers don’t start bagging some goals, that Scudetto will be nothing more than a glint in Gasperini’s eye. But, after a chaotic few years on and off the pitch, progress is being made.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from Serie A on FotMob – with in-depth stat coverage, xG, and player ratings, where available. Download the free app here.

Nov

2025

FC Porto have entered a bright new era under Francesco Farioli

FC Porto have not won the Portuguese title since the 2021/22 season. Since a run of seven domestic crowns in just eight seasons between 2005/06 and 2012/13, the club have claimed just three titles in 12 years.

By Ross Kilvington

Simply put, that record is nowhere near good enough for a club the size of Porto. Could things be changing this season, however? As Italian manager Francesco Farioli appears to have ushered in a bright new era at the Estádio do Dragão.

Francesco Farioli is enjoying a redemption arc

Farioli arrived in Porto with a big reputation, having managed clubs such as Nice and Ajax during the embryonic stages of his managerial career.

He might not have even made the move to Portugal if things went smoother towards the end of last season. After a campaign rejuvenating Ajax, the club went into the final five games holding a nine-point advantage at the top of the table.

What followed was one of the biggest collapses in modern football. Ajax went on to win just one of their final five games to finish second, beaten by PSV Eindhoven by a single point.

In the end, he left the club after a single season.

“It’s difficult. It’s not what I want, but I think it’s necessary for the club,” said Farioli. “The emotion and tears of the last 24 hours say it all.”

“It was difficult to change everything at once, so I thought it was better to change one thing. And that was me.”

Ajax’s loss is Porto’s gain, that’s for sure. After 11 league matches this season, the club have won ten and drawn one, leading the table by three points.

The 36-year-old tends to utilise an attacking 4-3-3 system, although he has switched things up and gone with a 4-2-3-1 in victories over Sporting and Braga, and also Red Star in the Europa League.

There is no doubt he is getting the best out of this group of players. With a wonderful defensive record, a vibrant midfield and attackers who are contributing goals and assists aplenty, Porto could be on the cusp of something special this season.

A stubborn defence could be key to Porto’s title ambitions

Last season, Porto conceded 30 goals in the top flight, recording the third-best defensive record in the process. Although that was only good enough to finish 11 points down on champions Sporting.

Farioli has certainly built on that impressive showing and at the time of writing, the club have conceded a paltry three goals across 11 matches, working out as just 0.3 goals conceded per game.

Furthermore, they have recorded eight clean sheets, which ranks as the best record in the league, something that has been built on a solid defensive partnership at the heart of the backline.

Jakub Kiwior and Jan Bednarek are shining in Portugal this season, developing a rapport which has gone a long way to Porto having the best defence in the league.

The duo have featured together in the previous seven league games for Porto, conceding just two goals in that time.

Goalkeeper Diogo Costa has played a big part also. He ranks third in the Liga Portugal for save percentage (83.3%), and obviously, no other ‘keeper has conceded as few goals.

Farioli earned plaudits last season as his Ajax side led the way in the Eredivisie from a defensive point of view. So far this term, he looks to be repeating that success with Porto. The great Sir Alex Ferguson once said “Attack wins you games, defence wins you titles” yet Farioli could have the best of both worlds this season as he is able to count on a wonderful array of forwards who could each individually, or collectively fire Porto to a 31^st league title.

Samu Aghehowa can excel this season

So far this campaign, there have been 14 different scorers in all competitions for Porto, but centre-forward Samu Aghehowa leads the way with nine goals in just 15 matches played since the Club World Cup.

The 21-year-old enjoyed a stellar debut year in Portugal last season, netting 25 goals for Porto and it looks as though the Spaniard is getting better and better.

*Aghehowa’s season summary since joining Porto*

He currently ranks in the top 6% for shots on target (18) in the Liga Portugal this season, along with ranking in the top 1% for aerial duels (60%) and in the top 14% for touches in the opposition penalty area (41), demonstrating that he offers more than just a clinical nature in front of goal.

Wide support comes from summer signing Borja Sainz (five goals and two assists) and Pepe (two goals and three assists) with William Gomes also chipping in when required.

Despite the proficiency of the aforementioned quartet, one name is standing out among the rest – Rodrigo Mora.

The attacking midfielder has scored three goals for Porto this season, including one in the Europa League against Red Star.

Still only 18, the teenager is being touted as one of the most exciting youngsters in Europe (and is someone we profiled earlier in the year – here) . Under Farioli, he is gaining valuable game time and should he keep up this form, you can expect to see him turn out for Portugal at the 2026 World Cup.

Porto face Nice in the Europa League on Thursday evening as they bid to bolster their chances of a place in the knockout stages.

The Dragões find themselves with a great chance of ending a four-year domestic title drought under the Italian. If so, his redemption arc would be complete and it could be the catalyst for another dynasty at the Portuguese heavyweights.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Nov

2025

Arsenal vs. Bayern could be the Champions League at it’s best

Arsenal and Bayern Munich are both enjoying excellent seasons with Champions League glory in their sights.

By Graham Ruthven

Arsenal and Bayern Munich both played like the champions of their respective leagues over the weekend. 24 hours after the latter put six goals past Freiburg in a 6-2 thumping to tighten their grip on top spot in the Bundesliga, the former claimed victory in the North London Derby to go six points clear in the Premier League.

Of course, Bayern already have the Bundesliga crown to prove their domestic dominance. Arsenal, on the other hand, are attempting to win the Premier League title for the first time since the days of Arsene Wenger. After years of development under Mikel Arteta, many believe this is finally their season.

It could be their season in Europe too. Arsenal have a perfect record in the Champions League, winning all four of their opening League Phase Fixtures. Bayern Munich have done the same, scoring 14 goals in the process. Wednesday’s meeting at the Emirates Stadium looks like being a clash between Europe’s two best teams right now.

Arteta and Vincent Kompany are two managers who want control above anything else, although the way Arsenal and Bayern Munich implement that control is rather different. While Kompany sets up his team to dominate the ball, Arteta puts just as much focus on his out of possession shape.

This isn’t to say that Bayern Munich neglect their defensive duties. In fact, only a handful of teams in the Champions League this season have won possession in the attacking third more times than the German champions. They press from the front and create opportunities from counter-pressing moments.

Arsenal, however, control games by covering space. Opponents have a tough time of playing through the double pivot of Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi and even if they are able to get through the Gunners have the Premier League’s strongest defensive line to put up another barrier.

Bayern Munich’s defensive barrier tends to be positioned on the halfway line. Last season, this was a problem. Champions League opponents were able to hit the Bavarians on the break, exploiting the space in behind Kim Min-jae and Dayot Upamecano. Inter Milan certainly did this as they knocked out Bayern in the quarter-finals.

This season, though, the space in behind the backline hasn’t been so much of a problem. Some of this is due to the additional protection now being offered in central midfield where natural number six Aleksandar Pavlović has made himself first-choice. Some of it has been down to the signing of Jonathan Tah whose positional sense is far superior to Min-jae’s.

Summer signings have also made an impact for Arsenal. Viktor Gyökeres has given them an orthodox attacking frontman, although the Swedish striker won’t face Bayern on Wednesday due to injury. Zubimendi has been an upgrade on Thomas Partey at the base of the midfield while Noni Madueke, Piero Hincapié, Christian Nørgaard and Cristhian Mosquera have all offered depth.

Eberechi Eze, however, is the new addition altering the landscape for Arsenal more than any other. The 27-year-old is an all-round creative threat, as he demonstrated by netting a hat trick in Sunday’s North London Derby. He can shoot, he can dribble, he can pass – Eze could prove to be Arsenal’s most significant signing in years.

*For more graphics like this – follow @fotmobapp on Instagram*

“Since the day that he came, he brought something else to the team,” said Arteta after Eze’s performance against Tottenham Hotspur. “So it’s a joy, it’s an aura that this team needed and hopefully it will give him a lot of confidence, to him and the team, that at any moment he can win us a game. And that’s the ability that he has and he certainly needs to fulfil that talent.”

Wednesday’s match could be decided by a variety of difference-makers. Harry Kane could add to his tally of 24 goals in all competitions. Bukayo Saka might find space and opportunity down the right side. Michael Olise could create something out of nothing. The game might be set up for Arsenal to convert yet another set piece play.

Arsenal and Bayern Munich could use the chance to size up each other ahead of a possible meeting further down the line in this season’s Champions League. Both teams are already all but assured of their place in the knockout rounds. Wednesday’s meeting could happen again later in the campaign.

The Champions League’s new format was designed to facilitate more matches between Europe’s best teams at an earlier stage. Wednesday’s game will be one to savour, and possibly one to learn something from if Arsenal and Bayern Munich are to clash again this season. This could be the Champions League at its best.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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