Articles
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BTL’s Weekly European Transfer Recap
It’s easy to miss transfers outside of the Premier League. For every Coutinho to Aston Villa, there’s a Jonathan Ikone to Fiorentina. Here’s a round-up of the key transfers from everywhere including outside Europe’s big 5 leagues from the past 7 days. Ligue 1 Vanderson – Gremio – Monaco (€11.6m) Patrick Berg –…
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Nigeria’s Victorious Start to AFCON
Understandably so, the first round of games have been slow in terms of goals but has not disappointed with regards to excitement and tension. The first few games are naturally slower and cagier because teams are just trying to feel each other out, not take too many risks and get some points if they can. …
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TSG Hoffenheim: German Football’s Emerging Force
Following the 3-1 win over FC Augsburg on January 8, TSG Hoffenheim extended their unbeaten streak to 7 matches in the Bundesliga. No other Bundesliga team is on a longer unbeaten streak right now, whilst in Europe’s top five leagues only Chelsea, Manchester City, Inter Milan, and PSG have gone longer without a defeat…
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Player Analysis: Saša Lukić
Saša Lukić took some time to find his place at Italian club Torino after leaving his native Serbia in the summer of 2016. The Granata purchased the central midfielder from Partizan Belgrade for €1.7 million prior to the 2016/17 season, but he struggled to break into the starting line-up, and he was sent on…
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Manchester United’s Issues under Ralf Rangnick
After Manchester United were beaten by Wolves at Old Trafford in their last Premier League outing, Ralf Rangnick spoke to the media in which his opening words were: “I knew it would be a difficult job.” The game marked the German’s first defeat as interim manager of United, but it was a defeat that…
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Sierra Leone Gets the Unlikeliest of Points Against Defending Champions Algeria
Ahead of the Group E opener, everyone expected it to be a showdown between holders Algeria and 2015 winners Ivory Coast. Not a single person gave Sierra Leone or Equatorial Guinea a chance in this group. Of course, with the current format of possibly three teams qualifying from the group the lesser teams have a…
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Karim Benzema: Is He Currently the Best Player in the World?
Today, Karim Benzema is arguably the finest player in world football, but 20 years ago, he was a teenager coming through the ranks at the famed academy of Lyon. Benzema spent five years playing for the French side from 2004 to 2009, playing 148 matches, scoring 66 goals, and providing 27 assists. During his…
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Ola Aina: The Dependable, Versatile Full-Back
Nigeria have gotten off to an impressive start to the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, beating Egypt 1-0 via a goal from Kelechi Iheanacho, and one player who was crucial in stopping Mohammed Salah’s creative influence was Ola Aina. At 25 years of age, the fullback will be crucial in the Super Eagles’ efforts to…
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Tactical Analysis: Andoni Iraola’s Rayo Vallecano
Scour the length and breadth of Europe – maybe even the world – and you’d be hard-pressed to find a football club quite as fascinating, or quite as baffling, as Rayo Vallecano. Known to many as the last of the Spanish neighbourhood clubs, Rayo’s famous red stripe represents not just a football club, but…
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Nathan Patterson: Another Scottish Talent Heading For The Premier League
Kieran Tierney, Andrew Robertson, John McGinn – these are a few of the main Scottish talents lighting up the Premier League currently. A new kid on the block will see if he can make the step-up they did, another Scottish full-back leaving his homeland behind for a shot at the English top flight. Something…
