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An analysis of the UEFA Europa League 2024 quarter-finals.
Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool are strong favourites to lift their first UEL title - they need to get past Atalanta and perhaps Benfica to qualify for Dublin.
Their closest rivals could be unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen who are on course for the Bundesliga under the guidance of ex-Reds player Xabi Alonso.
Or could Daniele De Rossi's Roma spring a surprise?
...moreAn analysis of the four quarter-finals in the 2024 UEFA Champions League.
Can the holders Manchester City beat record-holders Real Madrid and go on to retan their title?
Or will Kylian Mbappe's Paris Saint-Germain or their Premier League rivals Arsenal go on to capture their first CL crown at Wembley in June?
...moreLes Violets have captured local support after recently gaining promotion back to Ligue 1 and winning the Coupe de France last year.
Hence a near full house, in a vibrant atmosphere led by their impressive ultras, watched their heroes lead OL 2-1 before Pierre Sage’s side fought back to spoil the party.
The result consolidated Lyon in tenth, with still a slim chance of making the European places.
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LOSC went into this Europa Conference League Round of 16 encounter three goals up from the first leg. and likely to be in little danger of going out.
That was the way it transpired although the Austrians did gain some kudos by gaining a 1-1 draw at the Stade Pierre Mauroy.
Despite the expected outcome, there were some lively groups of home fans plus a vocal contingent from Graz.
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PSG, or maybe it should be Kylian Mbappe’s PSG, comfortably beat Nice at a packed Parc des Princes to qualify for another French Cup semi-final.
The first half featured a lightning Mbappe one-two and thus a goal within 15 minutes followed later by him hitting the woodwork.
Although the excellent Ivorian Jeremie Boga would set up Laborde for a Nice goal before the break it never seemed likely to be enough.
And it wasn't as the Parisians went on to win 3-1.
...moreOn a very night in Lyon, Lens comprehensively ended a run of OL wins and themselves moved closer to challenging for a Champions League position.
Before a sizeable crowd at the Groupama Stadium, the home side had to do without top scorer Alexander Lacazette as well as nullify the talented Elye Wahi.
They ultimately managed neither and despite going close early on ended up being well beaten.
...moreMaybe it was ‘written in the stars’.
Once they had survived two group stage defeats, a range of fightbacks and a change of coach mid-tournament the Ivory Coast’s name seemed to be on the trophy.
In the end, in a reversal of fortune, they deservedly beat Nigeria before a sea of orange shirts in the Alassane Ouattara Stadium.
The man himself was there to enjoy the moment alongside heroes such as Didier Drogba.
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Could the Ivorians continue their amazing transformation from sacking their coach to scraping through as the worst third-place finisher to becoming the most unlikely AFCON champions?
They moved one step closer to that unique achievement with a single goal defeat of DR Congo at a steamy Alassane Ouatarra Stadium in Abidjan.
Judging by the outpouring of celebrations across the capital many believe the Elephants will now become champions of Africa.
...moreIt was another title for all-conquering Manchester City as they built on their global brand before 52,000 fans in the King Abdullah Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Unlike in the semi-final, City started quickly and went ahead inside one minute when Julian Alvarez was on hand to chest in the rebound from Nathan Ake’s driven shot.
That diminished any concerns about getting into a tight contest with the Brazilians.
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Fluminense beat Al Ahly to qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup final.
The Brazilian Copa Libertadores champions might have an aging team but they showed that class is permanent on a hot night in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Their extra quality was the difference against a well-organised but in the end, limited, Egyptian opponent.
...moreChampions League finalists Inter go through to the knockout stages but struggle against a well-organised Real Sociedad.
On a chilly night at the iconic San Siro the Italian league leaders found it hard to overcome the confident Basque visitors.
It was a match where the away team dominated possession and there were few chances created for the large, noisy, crowd to enjoy.
...moreOn a dramatic night in Athens AEK scored two late goals to edge out Dinamo and qualify for the next phase of the UCL.
After the tragedy of happened a few days earlier in the week this was an encounter packed with emotion.
And for some time it looked like the Croatians would resist the home side until those last few minutes.
...moreAll-conquering Manchester City added the UEFA Super Cup to their list of trophies with a penalty shootout victory over Sevilla.
In a match played at the home of Olympiacos in steamy conditions in Athens, this was an intriguing contest that was never 100% comfortable for the English treble winners.
Sevilla, transformed under coach Jose Luis Mendilibar, certainly tested his Spanish counterpart’s team with dangerous breaks often involving the tall Youssef En-Nesyri.
...moreJoy in parts of Manchester was unconfined as City emulated their great rivals United and completed an historic treble by winning the UEFA Champions League in Istanbul.
Spanish midfield star Rodri drove in the only goal from a deflected cross but in the end, it was a deserved victory for Pep Guardiola's team.
And the fulfillment of a dream for both the City owners, the Abud Dhabi-based City Football Group, and the revered Catalan coach.
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Derby Days in Bosnia.
Two teams from Mostar fought out, almost literally, the Bosnian Cup Final in Zenica and it was the mainly Croat-supported team that prevailed in a volatile atmosphere.
A single goal from the talented Mario Cuze decided the outcome much to the delight of their fans.
Thus Zrinjski completed the domestic double having already secured the league title, by some margin.
...moreDerby Days
The Vienna Derby produced a vibrant spectacle both on and off the pitch.
In constant rain, the two big teams in the Austrian capital battled it out in the Championship Round of the Bundesliga before the Violets finally triumphed much to the delight of the home fans in the Generali Arena.
We had choreography, pyrotechnics, and copious smoke plus a treble from top scorer Haris Tabakovic.
...morePlayed to an intense backdrop of noise and fireworks this Old Firm derby went the way of the League Cup holders, Celtic.
Ange Postecoglou's Japanese stars played key parts in this triumph that could set them on the way to another domestic treble.
While it will leave coach Michael Beale with plenty to consider as his Light Blues never really looked like adding to their record haul of titles.
...moreReal Madrid clinched their record-extending fifth Club World Cup title in this eight-goal encounter against surprise finalists Al Hilal from Saudi Arabia.
Before 44,000 fans in Rabat Los Blancos produced a partial masterclass culminating in doubles from Valverde and Golden Ball winner Vini Junior plus another from returnee Karim Benzema.
So the favourites fulfilled expectations although Al Hilal certainly had their moments especially when exposing holes in the Spanish defence.
...moreMultiple winners Real Madrid proved too strong for Al Ahly with Los Blancos running out 4-1 winners before over 43,000 fans in Rabat, Morocco.
The Egyptians went into this semi-final with some confidence being on a 23-game unbeaten run while the Spanish side had mixed recent results.
But with midfield prompters like Modric, Kroos, the emerging talent of Tchouameni, and the electric pace of Rodrygo and Vini Junior upfront it was always going to be a tough assignment for the Cairo giants.
...moreMorocco qualify for the World Cup semi-finals.
Spurred on by massive local support and inspired by the joy back in their home country the Atlas Lions achieved a unique breakthrough in Qatar.
Walid Regragui’s heroes topped their qualifying group and followed that by defeating both Iberian giants, Spain and Portugal, before eventually going out to the holders, France.
Despite the negativity surrounding the staging of the World Cup, particularly within the Western media, one of the inspiring legacies of the tournament could well be the success of Morocco.
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Panathinaikos continued their 100% start to the Greek Super League season with this victory over Aris.
They did need a late winner to overcome some stiff resistance from Alan Pardew's visitors.
Played in a febrile atmosphere featuring copious fireworks from the home fans this was an important victory.
...moreBayern scored two goals early in the second half to win this matchday 2 encounter.
That was after Barcelona had missed a number of first-period chances, a situation they came to regret.
Particularly the returning Robert Lewandowski who was responsible for most of the failed opportunities.
...moreReal Madrid win their fifth UEFA Super Cup.
Los Blancos dominate in Helsinki as goals from David Alaba and Karim Benzema beat the Europa Cup winners.
Despite having the majority of the support the Germans never really looked like troubling Carlo Ancelotti's Champions League holders.
...moreRomania secured an important first win in their Nations League group despite missing a penalty.
It kept their challenge in place in what is likely to be a tight group.
While for the Finns it was another abortive attempt to beat the Tricolorii.
A single goal from Nicosur Bancu decided the outcome.
...moreReal Madrid celebrated their 14th European Cup/Champions League crown at the Stade de France in Paris.
It was another triumph for Los Blancos who now have double the number of titles of the second-best (AC Milan) and more than the total of all the British clubs.
Somehow Real found a way to engineer a victory this season despite often being the less favoured club.
And usually having to recover from losing positions.
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Just for a change, the Coupe de France final did not involve Paris Saint-Germain.
Instead, past three-time winners Nice and Nantes battled for their first such title in over twenty years.
The outcome was decided by a penalty early in the second half before 78,000 in the Stade de France.
A small margin but it resulted in plenty for the Canaries to celebrate, including entry into the Europa League.
...moreFIFA Men's Player of the Year 2021 discussion.
Three players made the shortlist for FIFA Men’s Player of 2021.
Prior to the result being announced the decorated German international Sami Khedira was asked, by FIFA and journalists, his views on who should gain the ultimate accolade.
Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich and Poland),
Lionel Messi (Barcelona, PSG and Argentina), and
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool and Egypt) made the shortlist.
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Watched by new Rangers coach Giovanni van Bronckhorst, sitting high up in the South Stand at Hampden, his new charges lost comprehensively to Hibernian.
The Light Blues, with most of their hordes of fans wearing orange, produced an incoherent, tepid performance.
And that meant Jack Ross's Hibees will now play Celtic in the final on December 19th.
...moreFootball in England in lockdown. March 2021.
How has football changed during the covid pandemic?
With fans unable to watch from inside the stadiums the experience for everyone is radically different from the previous 150 years.
Hopefully, this scenario will be unique or at least a once-in-a-lifetime event for most of us.
But what has changed?
...moreDiego Armando Maradona died on 25th November 2020.
John Bethell looks back on the times he saw this football icon at the World Cup finals.
He was a flawed genius in life but an undoubted genius on the football field and for many the greatest ever.
...moreThe best ever Liverpool team?
The current Liverpool team has dominated the Premier League this season and they could well go on to clock up a record points tally.
Could it be that Jurgen Klopp’s men are better than all those outstanding Anfield winners from the past?
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