Analysis, features, news plus more – on European football and sports galore!
It was a tempestuous night with 23 fouls, 11 yellow cards and shaky officiating on the south Coast, yet Premier League overachievers Brighton only had themselves to blame as their maiden European campaign got off to a sour start at home vs. Greek champions AEK Athens. Their summer signing and Argentine striker Ezequiel Ponce, came off the bench to sting them without warning. Continue reading “Brighton 2-3 AEK Athens: Ponce punctures Seagulls’ European debut in late drama”
Alejandro Balde’s public comments this week, demanding patience for his teenage teammate at both club level and the international scene, are predictably well-intentioned by a fellow youngster who wants the best for a friend in Barcelona’s latest wonderkid forward Lamine Yamal. That sentiment doesn’t make it any less likely scrutiny doesn’t follow him around, though. Continue reading “Urging patience for Barca wonderkid Lamine Yamal is easier said than done”
Goals from Ousmane Dembele and a Lionel Messi penalty helped Barcelona to a morale-boosting 2-0 Champions League group stage win over Serie A champions Juventus. What were five talking points as Ronald Koeman’s men bounced back from their 3-1 El Clasico defeat to record a first victory in Turin, continuing their 100% record to begin this season’s UCL? Continue reading “Juventus 0-2 Barcelona: 5 Talking Points as Dembele, Messi pile early pressure on Pirlo”
Far from perfect, Barcelona’s title hopes remain intact after Luis Suarez’s 15th La Liga goal of the season – now their third highest goalscorer in club history – settled a drab affair against city rivals Espanyol at the Camp Nou. Who impressed while others struggled? Continue reading “Barcelona 1-0 Espanyol: 5 Hits and Flops as Suarez’s strike relegates city rivals”
Iago Aspas’ late free-kick strike meant Barcelona were forced to share the spoils against Celta Vigo in a pulsating 2-2 draw with significant ramifications atop La Liga – cancelling out a well-taken Luis Suarez brace at the Municipal de Balaidos. Continue reading “Celta Vigo 2-2 Barcelona: 5 Hits and Flops as Aspas further dents Barca’s title hopes”
Goals from Ansu Fati and a Lionel Messi second-half penalty sealed successive wins for La Liga leaders Barcelona, who overcame a stiff Leganes challenge to continue their encouraging return to action on Tuesday evening. Which players excelled while others struggled at the Nou Camp? Continue reading “Barcelona 2-0 Leganes: 5 Hits and Flops as Fati, Messi on target in another Barca win”
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Barcelona booked their place in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals after a 5-0 home thrashing against Leganes on Thursday evening. Lionel Messi netted a brace, while there were goals for Antoine Griezmann, Clement Lenglet and Arthur Melo off the substitutes’ bench as Quique Setien’s men cruised to victory without truly breaking sweat at times. Continue reading “Barcelona 5-0 Leganes: 5 Hits and Flops as Barca book Copa del Rey last-eight place”
Ernesto Valverde’s dismissal on Monday felt long overdue, but how will Barcelona players – first-team regulars and those eager to impress – respond under new manager Quique Setién as they enter the business months of 2019-20 and beyond? Continue reading “3 Barcelona players who could benefit from Quique Setién’s appointment”
Barcelona snapped an eight-match winless run away against Italian sides, as goals from Carles Perez and substitute Ansu Fati helped Ernesto Valverde’s men to an impressive victory – while confining Inter Milan to the Europa League knockout stages in 2020. Continue reading “Inter Milan 1-2 Barcelona: Player Ratings as Ansu Fati makes Champions League history”
Newly-promoted Granada were surprise 2-0 winners over defending La Liga champions Barcelona on Saturday evening, confining Barca to their worst season start for 25 years in the process. Continue reading “Granada 2-0 Barcelona: 5 Hits and Flops”
Despite conceding early to Nabil Fekir after 15 minutes, a depleted Barcelona side recovered to defiantly emerge as emphatic 5-2 winners over Real Betis at the Nou Camp following their frustrating 1-0 away defeat by Athletic Bilbao on La Liga’s opening night last Friday. Continue reading “Barcelona 5-2 Real Betis: 5 Hits and Flops”
Mo and Sports 