Articles
-
![]()
Quarterfinals Fan Preview: Manchester City
Manchester City prepare for a blockbuster all-English tie with Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham side, and will be hoping to better their efforts of previous seasons in Europe as Guardiola’s men look to do the unprecedented quadruple. The word ‘quadruple’ is usually used in passing until a team inevitably falls in one competition due to Christmas or…
-
![]()
Quarterfinals Fan Preview: Tottenham Hotspur
With Spurs getting set to play Manchester City in the quarterfinals, Breaking The Lines co-owner Zach Lowy chats to ex-Yahoo writer Andrew Gaffney on Tottehanm’s chances. ZL: What are you expecting for Spurs going into the City game? AG: When the draw was made I don’t think I was alone in wanting to avoid Manchester City above…
-
![]()
Quarterfinals Fan Preview: Barcelona
With Barcelona chasing their third treble in the past 10 years, Breaking The Lines co-creator Zach Lowy chats to Barcelona fan Emma Gabriel-Garcia on Barcelona’s Champions League chances. ZL: What have you made of Barcelona under Ernesto Valverde for the second season? EG: Good, great in fact. I think he’s learnt from the things he had trouble…
-
![]()
Bengaluru FC and the renaissance of Indian Football
In early 2013, in an attempt to punch its way up from the increasing footballing limbo, India applied for the hosting rights of the 2017 FIFA Under 17 World Cup. Around the same time, the All India Football Federation meeting it decided that they would accept bids from corporates for forming a club and directly…
-
![]()
Arkadiusz Milik – From an accident waiting to happen to becoming Napoli’s talismanic forward
Shades of Dennis Bergkamp prevailed as Arkadiusz Milik opened the scoring in Napoli’s 4-1 demolition of Roma on Sunday. The Polish forward has basked in the personal glory of a superb season already, and as his side cruised to a comprehensive victory at Stadio Olimpico, he took the vast bulk of headlines. Milik opened the…
-
![]()
Raheem Sterling and Eniola Aluko–and how social media can help combat racism
The way Juventus have handled both Cristiano Ronaldo’s rape allegations and this week’s debacle surrounding Moise Kean has been appalling in every way. Not only did the Old Lady’s representatives unequivocally support their number seven – hailing him as a ‘great champion’ despite the evidence against him regarding the accusations made by Kathryn Mayorga –…
-
![]()
Quarterfinals Fan Preview: Manchester United
The minutes felt like hours as referee Damir Skomina consulted VAR on the sidelines of the Parc des Princes. Time seemed to suspend itself as nearly 50,000 fans fell silent in the stadium. Players stood powerless on the field, at the mercy of a group of consulting referees in the VAR box. As Skomina returned…
-
![]()
Neymar at PSG: unfulfilled promise, injuries, and stagnation
“I want to write history here. This is the only reason. There are new challenges, and I want to help write the history of the club. Our biggest challenge is the Champions League, but there are other trophies too.” On August 4, 2017, a beaming Nasser al-Khelaifi unveiled Paris Saint-Germain’s newest recruit. The man he had…
-
![]()
Quarterfinals Fan Preview: Liverpool
After a quick touch off the top of his right foot, Sadio Mané turned his body to shield the ball from Manuel Neuer at the top of the box. After another touch and another turn into open space, the Senegalese winger chipped the ball over a defender and into the back of the net to…
-
![]()
Liverpool’s 4-3-3 vs. Liverpool’s 4-2-3-1
Liverpool’s 4-2-3-1 is a defence-first system that’s typically utilized against teams that Jürgen Klopp feels Liverpool have a clear quality advantage against. It’s designed to increase the compactness of the team from the moment the ball is lost. The essence of the system is the strong central spine. The two key elements within the system…
