Analysis, features, news plus more – on European football and sports galore!
Two goals in eight first-half minutes by in-form forward Lautaro Martinez saw Inter recover from an early setback to topple Fiorentina in yesterday’s Coppa Italia Final. Naturally, their chairman Steven Zhang has publicly praised their growing big-game mentality though head coach Simone Inzaghi stressed a desire for his side to maintain this red-hot form before Istanbul on June 10. Continue reading “Inzaghi insists Inter must keep going after Lautaro’s Coppa Italia-winning brace”
As good as Croatia were for sustained periods, Belgium had ample opportunity to punish Zlatko Dalic’s side. Instead, they again rued missed goalscoring chances and a startling lack of urgency at times, with their goalless draw on MD3 meaning the golden generation have failed to qualify from the World Cup group stages. Roberto Martinez’s contract expired at the tournament’s end and well, the inquest into their latest underachievement must be thorough. Continue reading “World Cup 2022: Croatia draw sees Belgium crash out and Martinez depart, they must now rebuild”
Having laboured to a lacklustre 1-0 win over Canada, then being stunned 2-0 by Morocco on MD2, Roberto Martinez’s Belgium enter today’s group stage encounter with Croatia – the World Cup runners-up four years ago – aware tournament progression remains in their hands. As speculation about dwindling team dynamics and squad division persists, the 49-year-old Spaniard insists critics should enjoy what’s left of this golden generation, not inventing stories. Continue reading “World Cup 2022: Belgium boss Martinez rubbishes negative news before crunch clash vs. Croatia”
After conjuring up magic to save Real Madrid from the brink of elimination against PSG in the previous round, it was again Karim Benzema’s night – this time in west London – as two first-half headers and pouncing on Edouard Mendy’s early second-half mistake has now confined Champions League holders Chelsea to an unenviable second leg recovery mission on April 13. Continue reading “Chelsea 1-3 Real Madrid: Benzema hat-trick leaves UCL holders with mountain to climb”
Romelu Lukaku came off the bench to score his first Premier League goal for 107 days, as the Belgium international defiantly dismantled Aston Villa’s backline once again during an eventful second-half ensuring they didn’t lose further ground in their title charge after defending champions Manchester City won a nine-goal thriller against Leicester elsewhere on Boxing Day.
Continue reading “Aston Villa 1-3 Chelsea: Lukaku the matchwinner as Blues complete comfy comeback”
In a week where he addressed the Real Madrid rumours and mother Fayza provided an update on her son’s future, Kylian Mbappe produced his best display since May to help propel France into the UEFA Nations League Final, where they play Euro 2020 semi-finalists Spain on Sunday.
Continue reading “Belgium 2-3 France: Benzema, Mbappe key as Les Bleus earn second-half comeback win”
Federico Chiesa’s winner, 11 seconds into the second-half, felt inevitable after multiple warning signs were ignored but typified just how Chelsea – with their 73% possession and half-chances galore – laboured through proceedings in Turin. If Thomas Tuchel’s men are going to successfully defend their Champions League crown, they can’t afford more displays like these. Continue reading “Juventus 1-0 Chelsea: Chiesa the catalyst as ponderous Blues stifled in Turin”
Liverpool and Chelsea’s unbeaten start to the new Premier League season continued on Saturday night with a 1-1 draw at Anfield, but this latest meeting wasn’t without controversy and tempers flaring on both sides after Reece James’ contentious dismissal in first-half stoppage-time, changing the complexion of an entertaining clash between two title hopefuls.
Continue reading “Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea: Havertz, Salah ensure points are shared in tense affair”
Eden Hazard’s penalty and an Achraf Hakimi own goal just before the hour mark proved the ultimate sucker punch as Real Madrid cruised to a 2-0 win away at Inter Milan, with Zinedine Zidane’s men earning an important Champions League group B result at the San Siro. What were five talking points, as the Nerazzurri’s hopes of a last-16 UCL berth ended with a whimper?
Continue reading “Inter Milan 0-2 Real Madrid: 5 Talking Points as Los Blancos earn big away win”
Read on for match previews from Europe’s top leagues taking place across Saturday, as Fulham host fellow London rivals Crystal Palace in the Premier League, while Antonio Conte’s Inter Milan and Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid side return to domestic action with tricky tests of their own after contrasting Champions League results on MD1 in midweek. Continue reading “Saturday Previews: Fulham-Palace, Genoa-Inter and Atletico-Betis across Europe”
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”
Antonio Conte hopes he can lead Inter Milan to their first major trophy for nine years on Friday, after watching them thump Shakhtar Donetsk 5-0 in an emphatic semi-final victory. Standing in their way are a side with serious pedigree in this competition, Sevilla. Having stunned Manchester United, Julen Lopetegui’s men are quietly confident of victory themselves… Continue reading “Europa League Final Preview: Sevilla vs Inter Milan – Quest for supremacy ends here”
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