Analysis, features, news plus more – on European football and sports galore!
Premier League champions Manchester City banished their demons from twelve months ago, avenging a painful collapse against Real Madrid with a 4-0 (5-1 aggregate) win over the Champions League holders on Wednesday, earning a date with Serie A giants Inter Milan for the Istanbul final on June 10. Five games in 20 days across three competitions between now and then, what’s next?
Continue reading “Istanbul bound: City composed in 4-0 Real rout, as a pivotal three weeks now beckon”
In a tense Champions League semi-final first leg encounter headlined by two excellent strikes from distance, Kevin de Bruyne’s emphatic equaliser midway through the second-half saw Manchester City restore parity vs. defending champions Real Madrid during their nailbiting affair at the Bernabeu tonight. Continue reading “Real Madrid 1-1 Manchester City: de Bruyne keeps semi-final tie finely poised”
They say records are there to be broken, and an in-form Erling Haaland reeled off another one on Wednesday: his 35th goal in 31 Premier League appearances, as defending champions Manchester City won 3-0 at home vs. West Ham, means the 22-year-old striker has made more history during a memorable debut campaign in England’s top-flight – 19 years after the last time it happened. Continue reading “Erling Haaland breaks Premier League’s single-season scoring record in 3-0 win”
Individual mistakes from Gunners defensive duo Takehiro Tomiyasu and Gabriel Magalhaes during both halves helped reigning champions Manchester City rally from a tetchy start to return top of the Premier League, earning a hard-fought 3-1 away win over long-running leaders Arsenal in north London. Erling Haaland ended his three-match goalscoring drought to wrap up the points, combining with – who else – Kevin de Bruyne. Continue reading “Arsenal 1-3 Manchester City: Individual mistakes cost profligate Gunners as Citizens return top”
Having broken another league record with his third hat-trick of the campaign against Manchester United, Erling Haaland’s formidable form has not gone unnoticed – 14 goals and three assists in his first eight Premier League games. It’s important not to be transfixed by the moment, and is why head coach Pep Guardiola has tonight reaffirmed the fact the Norwegian will be rested when the time is right, with a heavy year-long fixture schedule to consider.
Continue reading “Guardiola confirms red-hot Haaland will be rested when time is right, after Manchester derby treble”
Jadon Sancho’s ‘scary hours’ tweet shortly after his £73m move to United was swiftly ridiculed by rival fans amid limited minutes and disappointing displays. His former teammate in Germany, Erling Haaland, has this week been unveiled as a City player – with an overwhelming feeling the striker’s impact will by contrast be a significant one felt immediately across Europe. Continue reading “Scary hours indeed: Erling Haaland’s City move could shift the needle further in their favour”
While still battling over a fair price for RB Salzburg’s latest hotshot, around the €45m (£37.4m) figure, Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund have been linked with approaches for other strikers this summer as they prepare for life after Erling Haaland – whose €75m (£62.4m) release clause is active and will inevitably be explored by Europe’s elite in the weeks to come. Continue reading “Contingency plans: Adeyemi fee impasse, Dortmund also linked with other Haaland replacements”
On a rough night where Borussia Dortmund’s wonderkid striker Erling Haaland missed a handful of big chances and hit the woodwork, Ajax’s ambitious young core exposed their visitors with ruthless abandon en route to a 4-0 win. Antony, an Olympic gold medallist with Brazil in Tokyo two months ago, showed why many of Europe’s elite are tracking his progress. Continue reading “Brazilian winger Antony comes of age, as Ajax annihilate dishevelled Dortmund”
Less than 12 hours removed from his decisive display to help Manchester City overcome a relentless Borussia Dortmund effort in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final, the news was finally announced: the Premier League leaders had agreed a two-year contract extension with their creator-in-chief to keep him at Eastlands until the summer of 2025. Continue reading “Timely two-year contract extension just what Kevin de Bruyne deserves”
Turning 33 this summer with a statue on the way in his honour, Sergio Aguero will end a decade-long association with Premier League leaders Manchester City at the end of this current campaign, after they failed to agree terms on a new contract extension beyond June 30. Despite his disruptive troubles with injury, the Citizens’ record goalscorer is rightly in high demand.
Continue reading “After Sunday’s abrupt address, Sergio Aguero’s long City goodbye begins”
A look ahead to two intriguing Italy vs Germany club encounters from MD1 as the Champions League group stages return in midweek. Lazio host Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday night before Inter welcome Borussia Monchengladbach back to Europe’s elite club competition after a three-year absence. Which players will shine for their respective sides here? Continue reading “Champions League MD1 Group Stage Previews: Lazio-Dortmund, Inter-Gladbach”
After he enjoyed a breatkhrough campaign in the Champions League, Liverpool have pounced to confirm the signing of RB Salzburg’s Japanese international Takumi Minamino for a £7.25m fee. The deal will be made official on January 1. Continue reading “Liverpool confirm £7.25m signing of RB Salzburg winger Takumi Minamino”
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