Page 72 – The Pulse of Football

Oct

2025

Can Uzun, next off the Eintracht conveyor belt

Can Uzun is following in the footsteps of other Eintracht Frankfurt forwards who have gone on to big things in recent times.

By Graham Ruthven

No club in Europe has raked in more money selling forwards under the age of 25 in the last two years than Eintracht Frankfurt. Hugo Ekitike, Omar Marmoush and Randal Kolo Muani made the Bundesliga outfit a combined €260m and the next forward to generate a huge transfer fee is already coming along the production line.

Can Uzun has been a revelation for Frankfurt this season. The 19-year-old is one of the brightest attacking prospects anywhere in European football right now having registered six goals and three assists in just seven appearances and has the talent to reach the highest levels of the sport.

The start of the 2025/26 campaign could have been difficult for Eintracht Frankfurt, and in some ways it has been. Tuesday’s 5-1 defeat to Atlético Madrid continued the trend of Dino Toppmöller’s team conceding far too many goals. Indeed, Frankfurt have conceded four or more in each of their last four outings.

At the other end of the pitch, though, their fortunes have been better when many feared the worst. The Eagles lost Ekitike and Marmoush in back-to-back windows, robbing them of two players who combined for 44% of their goals tally in the Bundesliga last season. That percentage surely would have been higher had Marmoush not left in January.

Frankfurt were forced to rebuild their forward line. Jonathan Burkardt and Ritsu Doan were signed with the pair already first team figures, but Uzun has caught the eye more than anyone else, making a huge leap forward in his development after a challenging first season in the Bundesliga.

Uzun first made a name for himself at Nürnberg where he finished as the club’s top scorer in the 2. Bundesliga. The teenager was an attacking sensation in the German second tier, joining Frankfurt for a reported €15m in the summer of 2024. Uzun, however, had to be patient as opportunities were limited in his first season there.

With Ekitike and Marmoush ahead of him in the pecking order, Uzun played just 669 league minutes. Even still, the teenager showed glimpses of his potential, averaging a goal contribution every 134 minutes. His goals and assists to game ratio has been even more impressive since the summer.

*Uzun’s player traits comparison against similar players in top five leagues*

While Ekitike and Marmoush were forwards who were most dangerous attacking open space at speed, Uzun offers more in possession. The Turkish international operates as a number 10, but with the freedom to drift and pick up pockets of space wherever he can. He is Frankfurt’s main man in the final third.

Not only is Uzun Eintracht Frankfurt’s top scorer this season, he is averaging the most shots on target per 90 minutes. Doan is the only player to have created more Big Chances than the 19-year-old, highlighting Uzun’s capacity as a creator, not just a goalscorer. He’s an all-round threat.

“I see myself as an instinctive footballer; I do whatever comes to mind on the pitch. Put simply, I have a good nose for a chance,” said Uzun when asked to describe his role in the Frankfurt team. “I prefer to play in the left half-space, as a number 10 or an eight, but if the coach puts me somewhere else, then of course I will fulfil those tasks.”

Some have compared Uzun to Jamal Musiala in the way he can do it all. Like the Bayern Munich attacking midfielder, he is just as comfortable dribbling past an opponent as he is picking a pass to a teammate or angling a shot at goal. Mario Götze is another player Uzun has been likened to.

There are similarities between Uzun and Kenan Yıldız, both of whom came through the youth ranks at 3.Liga side Jahn Regensburg. “Kenan is my best friend in the game and my best friend in general,” Uzun said about Yıldız, a player who also looks to have progressed as a number 10 with an eye for goal this season. The pair, along with Arda Güler, are at the vanguard of Türkiye’s next generation.

The way Uzun is developing at such a rapid rate, he might not be at Deutsche Bank Park for a long time. Liverpool are reportedly tracking the teenager with Bayern Munich also believed to be admirers. Eintracht Frankfurt could receive offers for their best young player as early as the January window.

For the time being, though, Uzun must continue to drive Frankfurt forward as they look to build on the success of last season’s third-place finish. Even by the club’s recent standard of producing top-level forwards, their latest talent off the conveyor belt appears to be something very special.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Oct

2025

Dusan Vlahovic and the search for consistency at Juventus

Ibrahima Konaté. Frenkie de Jong. Bernardo Silva. Marc Guéhi. Rodrigo Bentancur. What do all of these players have in common? They’ve all entered the final year of their contracts, and in less than three months from now, they’ll be eligible to sign a pre-contract with a foreign club and arrange a free transfer for the upcoming summer transfer window. Another looming free agent who looks set to be a prized commodity in 2026 is Dušan Vlahović.

By Zach Lowy

Born in Belgrade, Serbia, Vlahović launched his professional career with Partizan, where he became the club’s youngest-ever debutant and youngest-ever goalscorer. These sensational displays attracted the interest of Fiorentina, who signed him for €3.2 million in 2018. After gradually adjusting to life in Italy and balancing his time between the reserves and first team, Vlahović took Italian football by storm in 2020/21 with 21 goals in 37 appearances, winning the Serie A Best Young Player award before backing that up with a stellar start to the 2021/22 season with La Viola.

Four years after leaving his hometown for Italy, Vlahović had the world at his feet. He had scored more Serie A goals than any other player since the start of the 2020/21 campaign, he was the only player born after 2000 to have scored at least 40 goals in Europe’s top five leagues alongside Erling Haaland, and the second player to score 33+ Serie A goals in a calendar year after Cristiano Ronaldo in 2020. It’s why Juventus decided to shell out a Serie A winter transfer window record fee of €70 million for Vlahović, who signed a 4.5-year contract on January 28, 2022, the day of his 22nd birthday. Five months after selling Ronaldo to Manchester United, Juventus had found themselves their new world-class attacking talisman capable of elevating the team to extraordinary heights. At least, so they thought.

*Vlahović season summary, all competitions*

The Serbian sharpshooter enjoyed a bright start to life in Turin, scoring on his debut vs. Hellas Verona, finding the back of the net just 33 seconds into his UEFA Champions League debut vs. Villarreal, netting in the Coppa Italia Final vs. Inter, and racking up 9 goals in 21 appearances in all competitions for Juve. However, he has struggled to build on this initial momentum and become a consistent difference-maker in the final third; after scoring 21 goals and 29 goals in 2020/21 and 2021/22, Vlahović has since scored 14, 17, and 18 goals for La Vecchia Signora.

“Vlahović has had to work with different managers, tactics that don’t suit his best attributes, and a club that simply doesn’t have a stable environment, a good portion of the time” stated Danny Penza of the Juventus blog Black & White & Read All Over. “Plus, there’s the expectations of trying to live up to both the club-record transfer fee for a January transfer and the highest salary in Serie A that he has been paid the last couple of years. Like a lot of strikers, he’s incredibly streaky, but just when you think that one of those hot streaks might be extended a little longer (or more) than the last one, he goes cold. And as much as there is talent there, it’s hard to think he’s really gotten much better than when he first signed with Juventus.”

*Vlahović player traits comparison against strikers in top five leagues*

Vlahović thrived as a poacher in Florence thanks to his ability to linger on the last line of defence, make diligent runs in behind, and coolly finish chances inside the box, but at Juventus, he’s been tasked with dropping deeper and linking up with teammates. Whereas Vlahović could use his rampant speed and physical brute strength to his advantage and exploit counter-attacking situations and make the most out of the vacant space, he’s been forced to adapt his game towards holding up the ball against deep blocks and making the ball stick in congested areas. And whilst he managed to replicate his high-volume shooting metrics in Piedmont, he hasn’t been able to showcase the same efficiency in the final third that he displayed in Tuscany. After leading Serie A in big chances missed (19) in 2023/24, Vlahović ranked third for Expected Goals per 90 (0.63) and joint-second for Shots on Target per 90 (1.5) in 2024/25 but finished with just 10 league goals (four from the penalty spot).

Whether it’s the monumental pressure of playing for one of Europe’s biggest clubs, or the managerial turmoil that has seen him play under Max Allegri, Thiago Motta and now Igor Tudor, or the general instability of a Juventus side that has lost veteran leaders like Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Bonucci and Paulo Dybala and that has seen its Scudetto dynasty drift further and further into the rearview mirror, it is undeniable that Vlahović has failed to live up to his lofty price tag and expectations. It’s why Juventus signed not one, but two new centre forwards this past summer: Jonathan David and Loïs Openda. After scoring off the bench in his first two matches, Vlahović started their next two league fixtures (in addition to scoring a brace and an assist in a half-hour vs Borussia Dortmund), before coming off the bench vs. Atalanta and Villarreal.

“You would think a 6’3” striker would be good at holding up the play, but he’s not,” added Penza. “He’s got an inconsistent control of the ball at best; his first touch lets him down a lot. He’s got a petulant streak to him, but then he goes out and does what he did vs. Borussia Dortmund, and you just wonder where that kind of stuff is more often. He’s a talented player, but an incredibly frustrating one — and certainly somebody who has not lived up to his €12 million annual salary or that big transfer fee.”

Having started three different centre forwards in Juventus’ last three games, it remains to be seen who Igor Tudor will select for Sunday’s match vs. Serie A leaders Milan. It remains to be seen whether Juventus will end their current run of four draws or whether Milan can extend their winning run to six matches. However, one thing is for sure: unlike Jonathan David and Loïs Openda, Dušan Vlahović’s long-term future is far away the Allianz Stadium.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Oct

2025

Crystal Palace and the longest unbeaten run in Europe

Just one unbeaten team remains in the Premier League following Liverpool’s loss on Saturday afternoon. That team is Crystal Palace.

By Sam McGuire

It’s been a remarkable 12 months for the Eagles.

This time last year, they were winless and bottom of the English top-flight. In fact, it wasn’t until matchday nine that Oliver Glasner’s side recorded their first win of the campaign. It took them until matchday 14 to hit 12 points, the total they’re now on following their win over the Premier League champions.

Glasner was asked about being the only unbeaten team in the Premier League after masterminding a 2-1 win over Arne Slot’s side. His response was as candid as you’d expect from the highly-sought after manager.

“We’re still in September, so there’s nothing more to say. Last year, we were the only team who had never won at this stage of the Premier League. They ended with a points record and winning the FA Cup. That’s why we’re always humble.”

But while Glasner is downplaying his side’s achievements, they do need to be highlighted.

Palace lost Eberechi Eze on August 23rd with the 2025/26 campaign already underway. Club captain Marc Guéhi almost left on deadline day but ultimately a move to Liverpool was shelved late on. All of this uncertainty occurred just 12 months after the club lost Michael Olise, selling the France international to Bayern Munich for £51million. There have also been rumours that Glasner is being chased by a host of clubs too.

Yet Palace haven’t lost focus. As of right now, they’re 18 games unbeaten across all competitions. The loss of Eze didn’t derail their campaign. Despite his contract situation, Guehi hasn’t taken his eye off the ball, scoring in the win over Aston Villa and assisting the winner against Liverpool.

*For more graphics like this search @fotmobapp on Instagram*

The FA Cup winners reinforced their squad this summer, investing smartly. They didn’t waste the Eze money on big names in a bid to look strong. They shopped about wisely, as they have done over the years to assemble this squad, signing the highly-rated Yeremy Pino from Villarreal as well as Jaydee Canvot, Borna Sosa, Walter Benitez and Christantus Uche for a combined £48million fee. They strengthened perceived weak areas and still banked £20million from the sale of their No. 10.

How many times in the past have we seen a star player sold and then a team goes over the top with signings and, in the process, make themselves worse.

Palace, instead, signed a direct replacement in Pino and then improved the depth of the squad. Glasner kept the core group together and it fed into the consistent performances we’ve seen.

Pino is yet to score or assist, but he’s been a handful since his arrival with an Expected Goals per 90 average of 0.44. The 22-year-old has always completed almost 60% of his dribbles in the English top-flight. The goals will come. For now, though, it’s not a huge issue with Ismaïla Sarr, the Olise replacement, and Jean-Philippe Mateta proving to be real threats for Palace in the Premier League.

The duo appear in the top 10 for xG per 90 this season and while Glasner’s side have only scored eight goals in the top tier, their Expected Goals total is joint-second, tied with Manchester City on 11.4.

As a team, the Eagles are a threat going forward. They’ve created the most big chances (21), though that total was boosted by the seven they carved out against Liverpool on Saturday afternoon. They’re also defensively robust too. They have the joint best defensive record with Arsenal having conceded just three goals. They’ve kept three clean sheets, a figure that only Newcastle can better, and their underlying numbers are just as impressive. They rank fourth for xG Conceded with 6.8.

Palace have had some tricky fixtures this season already, holding Chelsea to a draw at Stamford Bridge and beating Aston Villa at Villa Park. The fended off a second half onslaught from the champions, with Liverpool creating five big chances after the break at Selhurst Park, to see out a 2-1 win . Reds boss Arne Slot even acknowledged it was a deserved three points for the hosts, saying: “In the second half I think it was a much better performance from us. If one team deserved to win today, I think it was Palace.”

In matches against three of the top six from last season, the Eagles have taken seven points. In their last 20 Premier League matches, spanning across two campaigns, Palace have claimed 38 points at a rate of 1.9 per outing. Extrapolate that over a 38-game campaign and you’re getting 72 points. Last term, City finished third with 71 points. Glasner’s side have shown they have the potential, over a sustained period to time, to claim a European spot. This isn’t a reactionary take based on the six games this season either.

(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.

Oct

2025

Kasper Hjulmand could reignite Leverkusen’s fire

Xabi Alonso’s departure from Bayer Leverkusen was inevitable at the end of last season, especially after leading the club to a stunning Bundesliga / German Cup double during the 2023/24 campaign.

By Ross Kilvington

Sporting Director Simon Rolfes subsequently hired Erik ten Hag to succeed the Spaniard, but that decision proved to be a disaster.

It appeared to be a strange move in the first place, with Ten Hag’s style evidently not suiting Leverkusen. In the end, he managed just three games for Leverkusen, losing to Hoffenheim and drawing with Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga.

Rolfes admitted that hiring Ten Hag was a mistake, but allowing him to remain in charge would have been “an even bigger mistake”.

As such, former Denmark boss Kasper Hjulmand was the man tasked with leading Leverkusen’s revival.

Ahead of Die Werkself’s Champions League clash against PSV (tonight), how has the new man in charge fared across his first few weeks in the job?

More importantly, can he return the club to challenging for trophies?

Kasper Hjulmand has breathed new life into Bayer Leverkusen

Under Alonso, Leverkusen were a well drilled unit who simply didn’t know when they were beaten, especially during their double-winning campaign.

His possession-based system was built on width, structure and fluid attacking transitions, relying on wing-backs to stretch the play and creative attacking midfielders such as Florian Wirtz to make things happen in the final third.

Following his departure, several players who were fundamental to his success have also left. Indeed, Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Victor Boniface, Granit Xhaka and Piero Hincapié moved on during the summer transfer window just gone.

Hjulmand was certainly walking into an intense challenge, but so far, he has shown there might be life after Alonso after all.

Indeed, his tactical style is similar to that of the current Real Madrid boss, focusing heavily on possession-based play while utilising the wide options at his disposal.

It is perhaps no surprise, then, that the Dane has steadied the ship after a poor start to the season.

He led the club to a solid 3-1 victory against Eintracht Frankfurt on his debut, before drawing against FC Copenhagen and Borussia Mönchengladbach in the Champions League and Bundesliga respectively.

Operating with a 3-4-2-1 system that was often on show under Alonso, Hjulmand sealed his second league win last weekend against FC St. Pauli. Despite being pegged back in the first half, a second half strike by Ernest Poku was enough to seal all three points, moving Leverkusen up to sixth place in the table.

The PSV clash will be his toughest task yet, but Leverkusen already look a much improved side compared to just a few weeks ago under Ten Hag.

Young stars lighting up the pitch

Losing the core of the double-winning squad was always going to be tough, but Leverkusen’s recruitment in the summer has gone a long way to adding some long-term replacements, bolstered by some emerging young talent.

Poku is an excellent case in point. The 21-year-old winger arrived from AZ Alkmaar and has since scored twice while also registering as assist.

Claudio Echeverri joined on a season-long loan from Manchester City and there is genuine belief he could turn into a world-class player. When compared to other players in his position, the Argentinian teenager ranks in the top 4% for chances created per 90, along with ranking in the top 8% for touches and in the top 1% for attempted shots.

*Claudio Echeverri’s player traits comparison*

If given opportunities in the starting XI under Hjulmand this season, the former River Plate sensation could emerge as a key player for Leverkusen.

One of their most exciting signings, however, has been Malick Tillman. The American shone during his spell with PSV and was signed as a replacement for Wirtz in the number ten slot.

Across just four Bundesliga matches, Tillman has already scored twice and is settling into life at the club rather well. He could become one of Hjulmand’s star performers as the season goes on.

During his time in charge of the Danish national team, the 53-year-old allowed youngsters such as Rasmus Højlund, Andreas Skov Olsen and Victor Froholdt the chance to showcase their abilities.

Blooding youngsters is nothing new to the Dane and this could see his spell at Leverkusen turn out to be a success.

With plenty of players at his disposal who have the capability to get even better, there is no reason why he cannot get the club to be competitive in both the Bundesliga and the Champions League this season.

No one is expecting a repeat of the 2023/24 campaign, but after quickly replacing Ten Hag with Hjulmand, there is a quiet confidence that Rolfes has made the right decision.

A victory against PSV on Wednesday evening at the BayArena would go a long way to kickstarting a new era at Leverkusen.

An era which could see a new generation of players take centre-stage.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Oct

2025

Preview: Monaco welcome Man City to the principality

Monaco and Manchester City go head-to-head at the Stade Louis II on Wednesday night, as Pep Guardiola’s side look to continue their impressive form over the last few weeks.

By Matt Smith

Monaco got off to a dismal start in the Champions League, suffering a heavy 4-1 defeat against Club Brugge. Maghnes Akliouche missed a penalty early on, with Brugge scoring four without reply, before Ansu Fati hit a consolation late on.

City secured a 2-0 victory over Napoli in their opening match, with Kevin De Bruyne making his return to the Etihad Stadium.

Team news

Monaco will be without a host of players for this one, with Lamine Camara, Denis Zakaria, Aleksandr Golovin, and Lukas Hradecky among those unavailable. Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba is building his way back to full fitness, but he’s likely to miss out.

Rodri is in a race against time to prove his fitness to face Monaco after he missed their home Premier League clash with Burnley. Abdukodir Khusvano, Rayan Aït-Nouri, and Omar Marmoush are all unavailable, while Rayan Cherki is a doubt.

City back to their best in the final third

Man City have looked back to their best going forward this season, with Erling Haaland enjoying an impressive start to the campaign. Pep Guardiola’s men have scored 2.3 goals per game in the Premier League, creating 11.4 expected goals so far.

The resurgence in form of Phil Foden has certainly helped their cause, while Jérémy Doku is beginning to show why Guardiola wanted to bring him to the club. The Citizens are seeking a fifth win from their last six games in all competitions, as they aim to continue their perfect record in the Champions League.

Champions League display an anomaly for Monaco

Monaco’s performance against Club Brugge in the opening game of the Champions League campaign was a bit of an anomaly for the French side, who have enjoyed a strong start in Ligue 1. Their loss against Lorient last time out ended a run of three wins on the bounce, as they sit fourth in the table.

No team has scored more goals than Monaco in Ligue 1 this term, while they’ve also created 10.8 expected goals, finding the back of the net on 14 occasions. They’ll be desperate to bounce back against City after such a disappointing start in the Champions League.

Phil Foden the one to watch

As previously mentioned, Foden is starting to find his rhythm after a difficult 2024/2025 season. The England international has provided eight goals and assists combined in just 10 games so far this campaign, and he’s becoming undroppable in Guardiola’s side.

With De Bruyne departing, there’s been more of an emphasis for Foden to be the goalscoring and creative threat from midfield, and he’s showing signs of being able to slip straight into the Belgian’s shoes.

Prediction

Man City should have too much for Monaco in this one, so we’re going for a 2-0 victory to Guardiola’s men.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Oct

2025

Preview: Barcelona meet PSG in massive early Champions League clash

The second round of this season’s UEFA Champions League league phase is headlined by a showdown between the Spanish and French champions.

By Neel Shelat

A 13th meeting in as many years

Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain have been quite well-acquainted with each other in recent years. Of their 15 previous meetings, all but three have been played since 2013, and every single one of those has been in the UEFA Champions League.

The Spanish giants have a slight upper hand in the Champions League head-to-head record with five wins, four losses and three draws. However, they were the losers in the last two ties – both in the 2024 quarter-final and 2021 Round of 16. So, their last aggregate win over PSG came in March 2017 on a famous night at Camp Nou, which has been subsequently immortalised as La Remontada.

No showdown between Ballon d’Or frontrunners

PSG and Barcelona’s attacking stars finished first and second in the latest Ballon d’Or, as Ousmane Dembélé came away with the award while Lamine Yamal had to make do with just the Kopa trophy. However, as their two teams face off just over a week after the ceremony, they will not be having a showdown on the pitch.

The French forward is not expected to return until after the international break due to his hamstring injury, so he is sure to miss this match. Lamine Yamal only returned from his groin injury on the weekend and made a telling contribution off the bench, but his minutes might well remain limited this week.

Long injury list

Besides the two big-name forwards, there is a sizeable list of absences for this match.

Barcelona are once again undergoing a mini-crisis in the goalkeeping department as Marc-André ter Stegen was recently joined by summer signing Joan García on the sidelines, so Wojciech Szczęsny will start and Diego Kochen will serve as a backup after being recalled from the Under-20 World Cup. Attackers Raphinha and Fermín López remain unavailable, while Gavi is not expected to be back until the new year following his latest setback.

The visitors’ captain Marquinhos and young forward Désiré Doué are both sure to sit this game out, while midfielders Vitinha, João Neves and Fabián Ruiz as well as winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia are all listed as doubtful. So, they could well end up fielding quite a depleted line-up.

A stern test for PSG’s new signings

Having won the treble with one of the youngest squads in Europe last season, Paris Saint-Germain did not see a need to do much in the transfer window. They just made a couple of signings, replacing Gianluigi Donnarumma with Lucas Chevalier from Lille and bringing in Illia Zabarnyi to add some youth and depth to the right centre back position.

Both of them are set to start against Barcelona, so this will be their first serious defensive test against an opponent of equal calibre.

Prediction

Neither side is going to be at full strength, but that should not keep us from being treated to a cracking contest. Both attacks should have enough quality to get on the scoresheet, but Barcelona might just have enough to edge out a narrow win.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Oct

2025

Preview: Arsenal face Greek side Olympiacos at the Emirates

The Greek champions are in North London as Arsenal aim to make it two wins from two games in the Champions League.

By Graham Ruthven

Solid starts

Arsenal started their Champions League campaign with an impressive 2-0 away win over Athletic Club and can follow that up with another victory at home to Olympiacos on Wednesday, a match for which the Gunners will be firm favourites.

Mikel Arteta’s team face the Greek champions just a few days after a potentially season-changing win over Newcastle United. It was a result and performance that highlighted the strength – technical, physical and mental – of an Arsenal team fighting on multiple fronts.

That game at St James’ Park could result in a slightly lethargic performance by Arsenal against Olympiacos, although Arteta now has the depth to rotate his squad. He must find ways to keep his team’s energy levels high.

Olympiacos were held at home by Pafos in their opening Champions League fixture, but are unbeaten in all competitions and have found their scoring touch in the Greek Super League, notching 13 goals in just five games.

Less encouraging is that Olympiacos have lost 10 consecutive away Champions League matches and have won just two of their last 21 games at this stage of the competition.

Key players

Arteta could rotate his squad after a draining match away to Newcastle United on Sunday, meaning Arsenal’s lineup to take on Olympiacos might be difficult to predict.

Viktor Gyökeres is a good bet to start with Kai Havertz still sidelined through injury. The Swedish striker has made a decent firm impression after joining Arsenal in the summer, but could do with increasing his goals-to-game ratio.

Eberechi Eze will be a threat if he is selected. The England international started against Newcastle and was a danger in the final third of the pitch, giving Arsenal a different dimension with his natural creativity on the ball.

At the back, William Saliba could feature after making his return from injury at St James’ Park on Sunday. David Raya will also keep his pace in goal with the Spaniard averaging 2.5 saves per 90 minutes this season.

*Raya’s goalkeeper stats, Premier League 2025/26*

Chiquinho is an all-round threat for Olympiacos in the final third and is fresh from bagging a brace against Levadiakos at the weekend. Arsenal must keep tabs on the Portuguese number 10.

Former Wolves winger Daniel Podence will start and has the ability to hurt the Gunners down the left side. Mehdi Taremi, who joined Olympiacos from Inter Milan in the summer window, is another experienced performer who could make an impact at the Emirates Stadium.

Team news

Havertz is still out through injury with Gabriel Jesus and Noni Madueke also unavailable for the Gunners at the moment. Piero Hincapié is also a doubt and will face a fitness test before Wednesday’s match.

Roman Yaremchuk is injured, but the veteran forward is the only unavailable player for Olympiacos’ trip to North London. Otherwise, José Luis Mendilibar has a fully fit and available squad to choose from.

Prediction

Considering the Greek side’s dire away record in this competitions and the Gunners’ improvement this season, this should be a straight forward win for the Arsenal, and probably another clean sheet for David Raya: Arsenal 2-0 Olympiacos.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Sep

2025

Belgian football is on the rise with Union SG and Club Brugge

Club Brugge and Union Saint-Gilloise have both given themselves a platform to build on in this season’s Champions League.

By Graham Ruthven

In the 70-year history of the European Cup and Champions League, no Belgian team has ever lifted the famous trophy. Spain, England, Italy, Germany, Netherlands, Portugal and France have all produced multiple winners while teams from Romania, Yugoslavia and even Scotland have all been continental champions. Not Belgium, though.

That is unlikely to change this season, but Club Brugge and Union Saint-Gilloise are making an impact on the Champions League, laying down a marker with impressive victories over Monaco and PSV in their opening League Phase fixtures. The Belgian flag is flying high on the continent.

*How things stand in the Belgian Pro League*

Belgium’s reputation as one of European football’s most productive nations is well-established. While the days of the country’s so-called Golden Generation might have come and gone without the national team winning a major title, Belgium’s conveyor of talent continues to roll.

For the most part, though, this pipeline of talent flowed out of the domestic game. Kevin De Bruyne left Genk well before he could mature. Romelu Lukaku played just two seasons for Anderlecht before he was poached. Eden Hazard never even played domestic football in Belgium, signed by Lille as an academy prospect.

This forced Belgian clubs to be more imaginative in their scouting and recruitment. This summer, players arrived in the Belgian Pro League from 22 different countries, reflecting how far and wide the net has been cast by the likes of Club Brugge and Union Saint-Gilloise, both of whom have unearthed a number of gems in recent times.

Christos Tzolis is one such gem. Signed from Norwich City after an underwhelming stint in the Championship, the Greek winger has flourished as a genuine difference-maker for Club Brugge. The 23-year-old is quick to get on the dribble down the left side and has added a final product to his game, scoring three goals in nine league appearances this season.

Raphael Onyedika joined Club Brugge from FC Midtjylland three years ago and is a central pillar of their midfield. The Nigerian international is comfortable on both sides of the ball and frequently gives Brugge an extra dimension with his late runs into the box and determination to get into good goalscoring areas.

After joining in the summer, Nicolo Tresoldi has made a fast start for Club Brugge, scoring in the eye-catching win over Monaco. The Germany U21 international forward is strong in the air and is a formidable physical presence, but also boasts the technical ability to link up and play a part in possession play.

Under head coach Nicky Hayen, the Blauw-Zwart are known for playing a brand of exciting, front-foot football. Club Brugge scored four goals in their opening Champions League fixture of the season after putting nine goals past Rangers in qualification. Only one team has scored more goals than Hayen’s in the Belgian Pro League this season.

That one team is Union Saint-Gilloise who have found the back of the net 19 times in just nine outings. Four of those goals belong to Promise David, the Canadian international striker signed from Nomme Kalju in Estonia who embodies the willingness of Belgian clubs to look in unusual places for new talent.

This summer, Union took in €70m in transfer fees for outgoing players and re-invested €17m of that in new signings from Slovenia, Portugal and lower down the Belgian league ladder. They also returned to Estonia to capture Brazilian winger Guilherme Smith. Some of those new additions are already contributing.

Within the Union Saint-Gilloise squad, there are 18 different nationalities. This is the mark of Tony Bloom’s transfer market masterplan. The Brighton owner also counts the Belgian champions in his portfolio of clubs with the work of Jamestown Analytics key to their recent success.

Union will continue to sell their best players because that’s their model. 22-year-old central defender Fedde Leysen has been linked with Bournemouth while 21-year-old Anan Khalaili, part of the Israel team that finished third at the last U20 World Cup, has attracted attention from Red Bull Salzburg and Wolfsburg.

A deep run in this season’s Champions League will draw even more eyes to Sébastien Pocognoli’s team with the 38-year-old coach himself potentially destined for even bigger things. The last two Union Saint-Gilloise managers have used the springboard to a job in one of Europe’s Big Five leagues.

The model of Club Brugge and Union Saint-Gilloise, who meet in the Belgian Pro League this weekend, means they might never end Belgium’s long wait for a European champion, but that same model is making them competitive in a way they weren’t only a few years ago. They surely have even more to offer in this season’s Champions League.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Belgian Pro League and the Champions 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.

Sep

2025

Franco Mastantuono: Real Madrid’s breakout star

From Alfredo Di Stéfano to Santiago Solari, from Gonzalo Higuaín to Fernando Redondo, we’ve seen quite a few Argentine players make a name for themselves at Real Madrid. The latest to do so is Franco Mastantuono, who, at just 18 years of age, is staking his claim as one of the brightest talents in world football.

By Zach Lowy

Born in Azul, Argentina, Mastantuono began playing football at three years old at River de Azul, where his father coached him. He declined an offer to join River Plate’s academy in 2017 in order to focus on tennis, instead joining Club Cimento, before deciding to move to River in 2019. Mastantuono skyrocketed through their youth ranks and quickly earned a professional contract, and just one week after becoming River’s third-youngest ever debutant, he surpassed Javier Saviola as River’s youngest-ever scorer on February 8, 2024.

This year, Mastantuono has become River’s youngest-ever player to score against archrivals Boca Juniors, and he’s also smashed Adolfo Heisinger’s 109-year record as the Albiceleste’s youngest-ever player. It’s why, right before he started in each of River’s three matches at the FIFA Club World Cup, Real Madrid completed the signing of Mastantuono on a contract through 2031, paying €45 million for his services.

The first Argentine player to sign for Real Madrid since Ángel Di María in 2010, Mastantuono has made an immediate impact in the Spanish capital and ingratiated himself with new manager Xabi Alonso. Whereas many Madridistas would have expected Mastantuono to be gradually phased into the team, Alonso has wasted no time in thrusting him into the XI at the expense of more experienced figures like Vinícius Júnior, Rodrygo, Brahim Díaz or Arda Güler. With Luka Modrić now plying his trade in Milan, Mastantuono has helped to fill the Croat’s creative void thanks to his superb dribbling prowess, his ability to change direction at a moment’s notice, and his willingness to drift around the pitch and link play with his teammates, offering a reliable source of creativity and dynamism on the right side of attack.

“There’s still some work to be done in terms of passing in the final third, but Mastantuono has been quite good – definitely a net positive so far,” stated Managing Madrid writer Mehedi Hassan. “Madrid haven’t had a left-footed right winger since Gareth Bale, and as such, the angles that Mastantuono creates are unique and dangerous compared to other options available to Alonso. In contrast to Rodrygo, whose natural game is to drift wider, Mastantuono usually takes the onus on himself to come inside after taking on the defender, whilst he also possesses a strong shot from the edge of the box. And at just 18 years of age, he works relentlessly hard out of possession and puts way more effort into retrieving the ball than Vinícius or Kylian Mbappé.”

Whilst he’s far from the quickest winger, Mastantuono makes up for his lack of velocity with his impressive speed of thought and technical finesse, consistently shielding the ball from his opponents and keeping it glued to his laces whilst swerving in and out of pressure. Not only does he constantly have his head on a swivel in order to anticipate his rival’s actions, but his both-footedness and low centre of gravity enable him to engineer scoring angles out of thin air and get a shot off with minimal preparation time. Mastantuono ranks third in Real Madrid’s squad for Shots per 90 (3.5), Expected Goals + Expected Assists per 90 (0.57) and Successful Dribbles per 90 (2.5), whilst only Kylian Mbappé (0.91) is racking up more Expected Goals per 90 than Mastantuono (0.41) in LaLiga.

Despite not even getting to train with the first team until turning 18 on August 14, Mastantuono has enjoyed a seamless transition into European football and turned himself into a key figure for Real Madrid in the opening weeks of the campaign. He has that X-factor, that extra bit of confidence needed to thrive at the biggest clubs in world football, that intrinsic need to take the game by the scruff of his neck and impose his quality. Whether it’s getting stuck in and winning the ball back with a well-executed tackle, or exploiting vacant space between the lines with an incisive third-man run, or launching a long-distance missile with the perfect blend of precision and power, Mastantuono is a multi-faceted weapon in attack.

“Franco has a lot going for him,” stated Alonso. “I love how competitive he is – that competitive gene is fundamental to our team – he has a lot of energy and has had a very good adaptation, and we’re going to enjoy him.”

*Mastantuono’s early defensive numbers, LaLiga 2025/26*

After coming off the bench in their season opener vs. Osasuna, Mastantuono started in two straight matches for Real before heading to South America and competing in Argentina’s two World Cup qualifiers, wearing the No. 10 in the absence of Lionel Messi. He was given a breather in his first match back from international break, before making his way back to the line-up vs. Marseille and surpassing Endrick as the youngest Real player to start in the UEFA Champions League.

Mastantuono then started vs. Espanyol and Levante, scoring his debut goal in the latter, before coming off the bench in a 5-2 defeat to Atlético Madrid. The Argentine youngster was one of the few bright spots of Real’s dismal derby display, winning 5 out of 11 ground duels in addition to 4 fouls, and all signs point to him returning to the starting XI for Tuesday’s trip to Kazakhstan against Kairat Almaty.

At just 18 years of age, Franco Mastantuono has already staked his claim as an indispensable figure for both Real Madrid and Argentina, and all signs point to him being selected for his first-ever senior international tournament next summer as Argentina seek a fourth consecutive major trophy. Before that, though, he’ll be looking to build on his whirlwind development at the club level and help Real reclaim their status as the kings of Europe and the champions of Spain.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Sep

2025

Preview: Inter Miami start home run against Chicago

Inter Miami enter a run of three home games when they face Chicago Fire on Tuesday night at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.

By James Nalton

Lionel Messi’s side still have a chance of topping the overall table in MLS and retaining their Supporters’ Shield title, but they have made things more difficult by not winning as expected in Toronto at the weekend.

This will be Inter Miami’s seventh game in 18 days as they continue to play catch-up both in terms of games played and, they hope, points earned.

This game itself is one that was rearranged due to Miami’s participation in the Leagues Cup final at the end of August.

Philadelphia did what Inter Miami couldn’t

Just when it looked like Inter Miami were on a run that could see them challenge for the Supporters’ Shield, they failed to capitalise in a game that, on paper, should have been an easy win.

Tadeo Allende scored the only goal in a 1-1 draw in Canada on Saturday, as Miami stumbled on their charge to the top of the table.

While Javier Mascherano’s side failed to get the win against a Toronto FC team that are stuck down in the lower end of the Eastern Conference, league leaders Philadelphia Union had no such problems against similar opposition.

The Union dispatched bottom-of-the-table DC United 6-0 in the capital on Saturday night.

Miami’s game against DC United in August also finished 1-1, and this failure to get maximum points against these two struggling teams could be the difference come the end of the season.

Messi’s run ends

As Inter Miami’s winning run ended, so did Messi’s run of goals and assists in consecutive games.

A Messi goal usually means a Miami win. He has scored in 16 MLS games for his club this season, and they have won 13 of those.

On the other hand, in the 14 games in which Messi hasn’t scored, including those in which he didn’t feature at all, Miami only won three times.

It is not a surprise that the form of Messi and the results of Inter Miami are so closely intertwined.

This is why, if they do win the Supporters’ Shield, it is almost certain that Messi will also be named the league’s MVP.

Going into this game against Chicago, both of these things remain in the balance.

Opposition watch: Chicago Fire

Chicago would secure postseason qualification with a win against Inter Miami, so they have plenty to play for themselves.

They will be trying to ignore the noise around their high-profile opposition and concentrate on their own goals for the season. The focus on Miami could even be good for them, taking off some of the pressure.

The Fire are managed this season by former United States men’s national team boss Gregg Berhalter, and have improved under his watch.

Whatever happens in their last three games, 2025 will see their highest league finish in six seasons.

They also have some quality players on their books these days, including their top scorer, Hugo Cuypers, who has 17 goals this campaign, and 2025 signing Philip Zinckernagel.

Berhalter’s side have a game in hand over a New York Red Bulls side that are looking to add to a 15-season playoff streak, but still need two points to make sure of playoff qualification.

Prediction

Inter Miami to return to winning ways at home, meaning Chicago have to wait a little longer to secure their playoff spot.

(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.