Month: September 2024

21Sep By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

TRANSFERS

Liverpool now eyeing move to sign “unique” defender who can play multiple positions

Liverpool and Arne Slot are keeping tabs on a new defender ahead of a potential summer move, it has been revealed, with the Reds' backline in need of reinforcements. Liverpool's defensive concerns Though they have conceded just two goals in five games so far this season, there are longer-term concerns over the Liverpool defence. Of the Premier League winning back four, all of Andy Robertson, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold remain, but the Scot and Van Dijk are now over 30 years old (33 in Van Dijk's case) and there are concerns over Alexander-Arnold's future amid interest from Real Madrid and an unclear contract stance. A centre-back is on their shopping list as they look to rejuvenate their backline, but there are also concerns at left-back. Kostas Tsimikas has been a valuabl...

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21Sep By Silver Emmanuel1 Comment

SERIE A

Serie A Preview: Atalanta vs Como – Team News, Line-ups & Prediction

Gewiss Stadium sets the stage for the first Serie A meeting between resurgent Atalanta and newly-promoted Como since May 2023. The opposing teams enter Monday’s showdown in Bergamo with contrasting spirits. Atalanta headed into September’s international break as a wracked ship on the back of back-to-back league defeats, including a 4-0 rout at the hands of defending champions Inter. However, renowned tactician Gian Piero Gasperini has used the two-week hiatus to steady the ship and bring La Dea back on the rails. Despite falling behind twice inside the opening 35 minutes of their home encounter against Fiorentina last weekend, Atalanta posted a confidence-boosting 3-2 victory, turning things around before halftime. Buoyed by an exceptional comeback against La Viola, the Europa League win...

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21Sep By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

PREMIER LEAGUE

Blow for Pep: “Unique” Man City star now in danger of missing Arsenal game after injury news

As Manchester City gear up for a game that could prove to make all the difference in the Premier League title race, they could be forced to fight for three points without one of their most influential players. Man City injury news Ask any previous title winner and they'll say that injury luck certainly plays its part where the silverware ends up come the end of the campaign. It is a lesson centred around squad depth that so many sides have learned in the past and one Manchester City took on board the last time they missed out on Premier League glory in the 2019/20 season. Unlike that campaign four years ago, Manchester City have so far not skipped a beat in pursuit of a fifth Premier League title win in a row to extend an unprecedented record and further cement themselves among the very b...

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21Sep By Silver Emmanuel1 Comment

BUNDESLIGA

Bayern Munich keep a close eye on former Manchester United striker

After a fantastic start to the season with Marseille, Mason Greenwood is attracting interest from top European clubs, including Bayern Munich. According to Talksport in England, Bayern, FC Barcelona, and Atletico Madrid are keeping a close eye on Marseille forward Mason Greenwood. All three clubs have recently scouted the English striker during the games in Ligue 1. Greenwood has scored five goals in four Ligue 1 games for Marseille after arriving at the club from Manchester United in the summer. The English striker also delivered good performances during his loan spell at Getafe last season, scoring ten goals and providing six assists across all competitions. Marseille will demand a hefty fee for Greenwood next summer if he enjoys a prolific campaign in Ligue 1. Along with the signific...

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21Sep By Silver Emmanuel1 Comment

PREMIER LEAGUE

Confirmed: Chelsea trio ruled out v West Ham due to injury, Enzo Fernandez update emerges

Chelsea are set to be without the services of Reece James, Malo Gusto and Omari Kellyman for the game against West Ham on Saturday, 21 September, according to the Blues’ official website. Enzo Maresca confirmed that Enzo Fernandez and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall will be available for selection after returning to training following an illness. Football London reported on 2 September that Kellyman could miss over two months with his hamstring injury. West Ham can get their season going with a win against Chelsea The Hammers have not started the season in the best shape but things could turn around quickly with a win against their cross-town rivals. The Blues have faced struggles of their own and while they are above the Irons on the table, there are still plenty of issues in their squad. Julen Lop...

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21Sep By Silver Emmanuel2 Comments

LALIGA

Alaves post win over Sevilla amid fan protest

Alaves fans ramped up their protest against inconvenient night-time games in Spain when they boycotted the first few minutes of Friday's La Liga match against Sevilla. One of the club's biggest organised fan groups are angry at what they say are excessive Friday and Monday night games that make it hard for supporters to attend. VITORIA GASTEIZ, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 20: (L-R) Carlos Martin of Deportivo Alaves, Kelechi Iheanacho of Sevilla, Facundo Tenaglia of Deportivo Alaves during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Deportivo Alaves v Sevilla at the Estadio de Mendizorroza on September 20, 2024 in Vitoria Gasteiz Spain (Photo by Cesar Ortiz Gonzalez/Soccrates/Getty Images) They called for fans to take their seats five minutes after kickoff so TV pictures would show empty stands a...

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21Sep By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

LALIGA

‘It’s a big game for us’ – Marcelino relishing taking on Barca & Yamal

Villarreal boss Marcelino has been talking about Barcelona ahead of Sunday’s La Liga clash between the two sides at La Ceramica. Head coach of Villarreal CF, Marcelino Garcia Toral, during the La Liga match between Valencia CF and Villarreal CF at Mestalla Stadium in Valencia, Spain, on August 31, 2024. (Photo by Jose Miguel Fernandez/NurPhoto via Getty Images) Barca head into the match top of the league and face a Villarreal side who have also enjoyed a start season and are looking forward to the game. “It’s a big game for us. We are playing against a great team, the best in the league at the moment. That’s what the results and the numbers say. We’re going to play a very nice game with great expectation,” he told reporters. “These are the kind of matches that we professi...

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20Sep By Silver Emmanuel3 Comments

Ligue 1

Marseille bidding to continue ‘almost perfect’ Ligue 1 start

Marseille will aim to extend their "almost perfect" start to the Ligue 1 season when they visit struggling rivals Lyon this weekend. New coach Roberto De Zerbi has already helped raise hopes that Marseille could emerge as Paris Saint-Germain's strongest challengers for the title this term with three wins and a draw from his first four games in charge. De Zerbi has immediately implemented the attacking style he became known for at Brighton and Sassuolo at the Stade Velodrome, with his new team racking up 12 goals already. Controversial new signing Mason Greenwood, who was suspended by Manchester United following allegations of attempted rape and sexual assault, has scored five times. France international Adrien Rabiot has also joined on a free transfer after leaving Juventus, bringing exper...

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20Sep By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Ligue 1

PSG Urged to Pursue Chelsea and Tottenham Target to Boost Consistency in No. 9 Role

Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyökeres is attracting considerable attention, especially with his strong start to the 2024-25 season. Moreover, one pundit notes that the Swedish striker is a player Paris Saint-Germain should be pursuing. Over the summer, the Parisians were linked to strikers but opted to bet on Gonçalo Ramos or Randal Kolo Muani. Ramos injured himself early on this campaign, so Kolo Muani is the only No. 9. In the 1-0 UEFA Champions League win over Girona FC, the capital club’s lack of goal-scoring reared its ugly head as it had difficulty finishing its chances. As a result, the reigning Ligue 1 champions’ ability to finish is a topic of discussion. Canal+ pundit Samir Nasri notes that Gyökeres must be on the French giants’ radar because the player has consistently scored goals....

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20Sep By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

LALIGA

Real Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois names his greatest all-time save

Thibaut Courtois is no stranger to success. Being a Real Madrid player since 2018, he has won all there is to win in the Spanish capital, including three league titles and two Champions League victories. Despite this glittering career, there have still been some career-defining moments which have stood out from the rest, and when promoting his new documentary, the legendary stopper was asked which of his saves stands out above all others. As per ElDesmarque, the Frenchman shared that ‘for the moment, for the match, it will be Mané’s against Liverpool, in the Champions League final.’ ‘I think it was a super-complicated stop. I was caught off guard, I thought I wasn’t going to make it.‘ the 32-year-old said as he recounted one of his career highlights. Real Madrid went on to win that particu...

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20Sep By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Champions League

Champions League: Barca lose to Monaco as Arsenal draw with Atalanta

On matchday 1 of the Champions League Barcelona dropped points, Manchester City and Arsenal failed to win and there were some banner results already. Bayern Munich scored nine goals. French club Monaco upset 10-man Barcelona by grinding out a 2-1 victory on Thursday in the Champions League, while a stunning David Raya double-save ensured Arsenal a goalless draw away to Europa League winners Atalanta. Barca have started the season with a perfect record after five La Liga matches but, hindered by a red card in the 11th minute for Eric Garcia, fell to defeat on the French Riviera. Maghnes Akliouche fired the French side into the lead five minutes after Garcia was dismissed for a last-man challenge on Takumi Minamino. Teenage sensation Lamine Yamal equalised in the 28th minute with an arrowed ...

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19Sep By Silver Emmanuel1 Comment

LALIGA

Barcelona among Europe’s biggest clubs in pursuit of latest Salzburg revelation

The aim for FC Barcelona moving forward remains to improve their squad in a cost-efficient way. Years of misspending and mismanagement have put them in enough trouble as it is, but the club can only work on avoiding any future mishaps. To do that, however, Barcelona has a plan to mainly pursue certain types of players. One of those types is young players who are seen as market opportunities but are also great sporting prospects. That is the way that the club managed to secure the signings of the likes of Pedri, Ronald Araujo, and other talents in the first place over the last few years. Now, moreover, they continue that trend by following promising youngsters across Europe and even across other continents. From the attack all the way to the back-line, there are no restrictions on what ...

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19Sep By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

BUNDESLIGA

Dortmund boss Sahin endorses Nigerian midfield dynamo after UCL win over Club Brugge

Borussia Dortmund coach Nuri Sahin has admitted the brilliance of Super Eagles midfielder Raphael Onyedika in the UEFA Champions League clash against Club Brugge on Wednesday. Onyedika returned to Champions League action with Club Brugge when they welcomed former German champions Borussia Dortmund to the Jan Breydel Stadium. BRUGGE, BELGIUM - SEPTEMBER 18: Raphael Onyedika of Club Brugge during the UEFA Champions League match between Club Brugge v Borussia Dortmund at the Jan Breydel Stadium on September 18, 2024 in Brugge Belgium (Photo by Geert van Erven/Soccrates/Getty Images) The first half was quite balanced, with both clubs creating opportunities from the blast of the whistle. However, it ended goalless. The second half was also balanced until the 76th minute when Jamie ...

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19Sep By Silver Emmanuel1 Comment

SERIE A

Stefano Piolo heads to Saudi to take over misfiring Al Nassr

Stefano Pioli will be Cristiano Ronaldo’s new boss after the Italian was named as Saudi club Al Nassr’s head coach Wednesday, replacing Luis Castro who parted ways with the club after a slow start to the season. MILAN, ITALY - MAY 25: Head coach of AC Milan Stefano Pioli greets the fans for his last match with AC Milan at the end of the Serie A TIM match between AC Milan and US Salernitana at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on May 25, 2024 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Claudio Villa/AC Milan via Getty Images) The 58-year-old Pioli, in his first job outside of his homeland, started his managerial career in 1999 and was AC Milan’s boss from October 2019 to May 2024, overseeing the club’s Serie A title-winning campaign in 2022. Prior to his nearly five-year stint at the Rossoneri, Pioli coach...

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19Sep By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

LALIGA

Martin Zubimendi makes Real Sociedad ‘large salary’ decision and sends this message to Liverpool

Martin Zubimendi was a target for Liverpool in the summer transfer window. Martin Zubimendi has reportedly asked Liverpool to revive interest in him when the January transfer window opens. The midfielder was the Reds’ chief target in the summer as Arne Slot wanted to bolster his midfielder options. Liverpool were prepared to meet Zubimendi’s release clause of £52 million in his Real Sociedad contract - but he decided to stay at his boyhood club. Zubimendi was expected to sign a new deal in San Sebastian. Yet Estadio Deportivo reports that the Spain international - who helped his country to Euro 2024 glory - has ‘opted to reject a large salary’ It is reported that Liverpool will have to decide whether to again make a move for Zubimendi, although he ‘intends to land in ...

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19Sep By Silver Emmanuel1 Comment

LALIGA

‘I am impressed’… Barcelona coach praises La Masia and the club’s youngsters

FC Barcelona has been quite reliant on the qualities of their youngsters to pull them through in recent years. While it is also true that the same can be said for the club’s golden period, it is now more about survival than thriving at times. Yet, with Hansi Flick’s arrival, Barcelona can dare to dream about reclaiming their place again. Players like Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsi, Gavi, Alejandro Balde, Fermin Lopez, and many others have already given the club enough evidence to feel hopeful about. As the days and matches go by, that hope only continues to grow and the club aims higher and higher. Even now, ahead of the clash between Barcelona and Monaco in the UEFA Champions League, German coach Hansi Flick has decided to include two young 16-year-old cousins in his squad list for the upc...

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19Sep By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

PREMIER LEAGUE

Arsenal’s Martin Odegaard faces lengthy injury absence

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard will be out "for a while" with an ankle injury he suffered on international duty with Norway, manager Mikel Arteta said on Wednesday. Odegaard twisted his ankle in Norway's Nations League match against Austria earlier this month. His national team doctor had suggested he would be sidelined for a "minimum of three weeks". "After everything was scanned, they showed that there was some damage, especially in one of the ligaments in the ankle so we're going to miss him," Arteta told reporters ahead of Arsenal's Champions League opener against Atalanta on Thursday. "I don't want to (put a timeframe on it) because I am not a doctor but it is something quite significant so we're going to lose him for a while -- hopefully not months, but let's see." Arsenal, ...

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19Sep By Silver Emmanuel1 Comment

Champions League

Man City blunted by ‘giant performance’ Inter in Champions League stalemate

Inter Milan coach Simone Inzaghi praised his team's "giant performance" after holding Manchester City to a 0-0 draw in their Champions League opener. The expanded tournament format, designed to pit Europe’s top clubs against each other more frequently, saw both sides start their campaigns with a hard-fought stalemate. Inter Milan boss Simone Inzaghi said the Italian champions produced a "giant performance" to leave Manchester City frustrated in a 0-0 draw to begin their Champions League campaign on Wednesday. One of the selling points of the new expanded Champions League format was to bring together the continent's elite teams more often before the knockout stage. A repeat of the 2023 final, won 1-0 by City, did little to set the pulses racing, but Inter will feel they should have inflict...

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18Sep By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

PREMIER LEAGUE

Erik ten Hag hails ‘ruthless’ Marcus Rashford as Manchester United ease to biggest win in Carabao Cup

Erik ten Hag was full of praise for Marcus Rashford after his two goals helped Manchester United to cruise past Barnsley and into the Carabao Cup fourth round. Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and Christian Eriksen all scored twice with Antony also netting a penalty in a resounding 7-0 win over League One opposition at Old Trafford on Tuesday night. MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 17: Alejandro Garnacho of Manchester United celebrates with Marcus Rashford after scoring the fourth United goal during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Manchester United and Barnsley at Old Trafford on September 17, 2024 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) And Ten Hag was pleased with Rashford after his performance leading the line for ruthless United as he made it three g...

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18Sep By Silver Emmanuel2 Comments

Champions League

Bellingham ‘not surprised at all’ after Mbappe strikes in opening Real win

Jude Bellingham discussed Kylian Mbappe's immediate impact in the Real Madrid side, as Los Blancos started their defence of the Champions League trophy with a 3-1 win over Stuttgart. MADRID, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 17: Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD1 match between Real Madrid CF and VfB Stuttgart at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on September 17, 2024 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images) Endrick and Antonio Rudiger were also on target for the hosts, while the Bundesliga side found the net through Deniz Undav. Bellingham was making his first appearance for Carlo Ancelotti's side since August 18. Jude Bellingham hailed another standout moment in Kylian Mbappe’s career after the ...

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