Goals from Joao Cancelo, Diogo Jota, Joao Felix and Andre Silva in stoppage-time sealed an impressive 4-1 victory for Nations League winners Portugal – but they could have easily put Zlatko Dalic’s Croatia to the sword by half-time. Which individual players impressed while others struggled in Porto? Continue reading
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang netted a matchwinning brace for the second successive FA Cup tie, as Arsenal edged out a nervy 2-1 win over London rivals Chelsea – earning a record 14th title in competition history while subsequently qualifying for UEFA Europa League football next season with Mikel Arteta’s first piece of silverware in management. Continue reading
Goals from Willian and Ross Barkley were enough for Frank Lampard’s Chelsea to book their place in this season’s FA Cup quarter-finals at Liverpool’s expense during an enthralling encounter in west London. Continue reading
Mason Mount made a memorable return to Stamford Bridge and scored on his senior home debut but was helpless to stop Frank Lampard’s Chelsea side from dropping two points against a dangerous Leicester side unfortunate not to snatch a late winner in west London. Continue reading
Adrian was an unlikely hero on his first Liverpool start, producing the all-important penalty save in the shootout to deny Tammy Abraham and secure the UEFA Super Cup trophy for Jurgen Klopp’s men on a humid evening in Istanbul overnight. Continue reading
The Blues, set to begin their two-window transfer ban this summer, have bypassed their constraints by activating a clause in the midfielder’s loan deal to sign him permanently.
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Chelsea earned their second Europa League title in six years at Arsenal’s expense in Baku, but which players excelled while others struggled? Continue reading
In the first of two all-English European finals this week, London rivals Arsenal and Chelsea clash in Baku. There’s more at stake than meets the eye too…
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Champions League holders Real Madrid have completed the £35m signing of Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, while allowing Croatian midfielder Mateo Kovacic to join the Blues on a season-long loan as part of the deal.
Croatia made light work of Nigeria with a comfortable 2-0 victory ensuring Zlatko Dalic’s side began this year’s World Cup with a much-needed win. With difficult tests to come against Argentina and Iceland to finish Group D, it was important that they got off to a positive start.
In August 2015, Real Madrid made a surprise move to sign Inter Milan midfielder Mateo Kovacic for £25 million. There wasn’t much fanfare surrounding Kovacic’s arrival at the Santiago Bernabeu, despite many other European sides monitoring his progress in Italy. The Croatia international had thrived at Inter. He became a key player, racking up 97 appearances for the Nerazzurri, all before turning 21.
Kovacic turns 24 on Sunday. Despite achieving success at Madrid, he will be disappointed with his lack of playing time. He’s made 18 La Liga appearances and six more in the Champions League this season. Combined, however, it amounts to just over 1,050 first-team minutes.
Lionel Messi once again proved why he’s already been lauded as the world’s best ever player with a superb individual display to help Barcelona to a comfortable 3-0 away win over rivals Real Madrid away from home. Luis Suárez and substitute Aleix Vidal were also on the scoresheet, as the defending champions were humbled at home just days before Christmas.
