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Match Report: Toronto FC overpower Colorado Rapids
In a tumultuous match, the Reds overcame a tough Rapids side to take a comfortable position in the Eastern Conference playoffs. The Rapids landed in Toronto with their playoff hopes hanging by a thread. Desperation plus momentum (strong of three wins a row) pretty much guaranteed an exciting match. Vanney’s Reds, on the…
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Is it the beginning of the end for Juventus’s dynasty?
Knowing that Juventus have just bought in a coach that won a European trophy, a defender with the potential to conquer the continent and upgraded their weakest line with Aaron Ramsey and Adrian Rabiot, this seems like a totally absurd title for an article. We are talking about a team that has won the last…
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Exclusive Interview: USWNT lawyer Jeffrey Kessler chats to BTL on the fight to close the gender pay gap
In the last few years, more and more cases around women within the sporting world facing discrimination have come to light. From the persistent negative media surrounding Serena Williams and Castor Semenya, to the US Women’s national hockey team having to battle away for equal pay as recent as 2017, the pattern emerging is a…
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Why Keylor Navas could be the answer to PSG’s goalkeeper woes
Keylor Navas should slot straight into the starting 11 at PSG after joining from Real Madrid in a high-profile move on deadline day. The Costa Rican stopper won three Champions League titles during his time at the Bernebeu, but found first-team opportunities limited after the club signed Thibaut Courtois last year. He can now expect…
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Maradona to Madness? Analyzing Napoli’s Post-Maradona Era
Diego, Diego, Diego surrounded the streets of Naples during 1984 to 1991. Known as a god-like figure, Diego Maradona brought the city together with filled hearts. Napoli, the biggest club in the south of Italy, secured the signature of Maradona from Spanish giants FC Barcelona, for what was then a world record fee £6.9m in…
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The Tragedy of Mauro Icardi
Serie A is a haven for good stories. Some, like Verona’s magnificent title win or Juventus’ magisterial number ten, involve tremendous triumph after significant adversity. Others, like Preziosi’s Genoa or the tale of Luciano Moggi, involve dastardly villains. And sometimes, like with il Grande Torino, there is a sad end to an incredible tale. …
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A Plausible Solution to end Racist Chants in Italian Stadiums: Moving Beyond “Lip Service”
Hashtag campaigns to end racism in Italian stadiums are back, as yet another player is racially abused. Hashtags are not enough. It’s time for action. In the wake of a concerted effort by Serie A’s social media channels and those of its component clubs to clamp down on piracy, fans on social media are outraged by…
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UEFA Euro 1968: Italy’s first and only European triumph
As we get set for another couple of rounds of qualifying for the Euro 2020 finals, and Italy prepare to face Armenia and Finland, time to look back at the first, and so far, only time the Azzurri were European champions. The pre-cursor to what is now known as the European Championships, was the Central…
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Real Madrid’s rebuild requires patience, not Neymar
Panic reached a boiling point among Real Madrid fans as Neymar closed in on a move to Barcelona. But that panic didn’t appear to reflect at the Santiago Bernabeu. The board of Real Madrid had reportedly sat patiently waiting for the right time to trigger their ‘positive relationship’ with Paris Saint Germain supremo Nasser Al-Khelaifi…
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Ronaldo Vieira can prove himself at Sampdoria
Buying and selling players has been a major part of Sampdoria’s modus operandi in the 2010s and when defensive midfielder Lucas Torreira was sold to English club Arsenal for a reported figure of €30 million in the summer of 2018, the Blucerchiati searched in England for his replacement. Ronaldo Vieira was acquired from Leeds…
