Articles
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Group Stage Fan Preview: Anderlecht
The last time RSC Anderlecht appeared in the Champions League in 2014-15, they were a disharmonious collective of talented individuals who lacked the mental toughness, cohesion and game-management to fulfil their potential. Losing late goals away to Galatasaray and at home to Arsenal ensured that glass ceiling of the Europa League was once again the Mauves’ destination…
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Group Stage Fan Preview: Beşiktaş
Istanbul is a wonderful city. It is unique in the combination it creates between the “mystical” and foreign East, and the modern West. It’s also the biggest city in Turkey and if you’re an avid traveler, surely it’s a city to visit. With its history going back for 2700 years and its metropolitan structure…
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Group Stage Fan Preview: Manchester United
Last time Manchester United appeared in the Champions League, the year was 2015 and Louis van Gaal was at the helm. The Red Devils finished a disappointing 3rd behind VfL Wolfsburg and PSV Eindhoven, a stark contrast to United’s usual preeminence in European football. However, failure to eclipse the group stage is an unlikely result…
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Menys que un club: El Barça de Bartomeu
¿A quién no le gustaría presidir al club de sus amores? Ser la cabeza de tu equipo del alma (al menos en los despachos), ver cada partido desde un cómodo asiento en el palco, codearse con las estrellas que conforman la plantilla… Un sueño para muchos aficionados al futbol. Pero no todo es miel sobre…
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Oriol Romeu: Southampton’s Metronome
Southampton have a knack for picking up players who have fallen down the pecking order at their respective clubs letting them play, and developing them into a new player. Ryan Bertrand, Toby Alderweireld, Manolo Gabbiadini, and Juventus’ Mario Lemina being the most recent to fit into that category – but of them all, Oriol Romeu…
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Luciano Spalletti and Borja Valero: Key Players in Inter’s Latest Rebranding Project
Last season, FC Internazionale Milano finished their Serie A campaign in 7th place, which meant that they would not be participating in any European Cups in the upcoming season. The mighty have fallen – that 2010 Treble seems like it happened an eternity away. Inter’s decline has been sad to watch, even for the neutral…
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Tactical Analysis: Porto 1-1 Benfica
One of the biggest and most competitive derbies in world football, Benfica would make the trip away to Porto’s Estadio Dragao for a mid-season battle. After expectedly strong starts to the season, following excellent transfer windows for both clubs, this early season matchup between two title contenders was highly anticipated. With Nuno’s newly integrated positional…
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Analisi Tattica: Juventus-Lazio 2-3
La Lazio ha vinto meritatamente la Supercoppa Italiana, palesandosi superiore dal punto di vista sia tattico che fisico e delineando i limiti del gioco della Juventus. La Lazio arriva alla sfida dopo una preparazione molto intensa cominciata l’8 luglio, 7 giorni prima dell’inizio dela preparazione juventina. A Roma c’è un clima positivo, l’ambiente biancoceleste è…
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Cerco squadra disperatamente
A meno di un mese dalla fine del calciomercato molte sono le società ancora impegnate nel far spazio tra le proprie fila per poter ripianare i conti e potersi permettere eventuali nuovi acquisti. In questo girone infernale qual è quello dei giocatori con il destino oramai segnato, tre di loro hanno catturato la mia attenzione…
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ABBA tests itself out
FIFA and UEFA have already trialled the ABBA penalty shoot-out system on the international stage but Arsenal and Chelsea fans got to see it first hand in the Community Shield this afternoon. The idea of the new system being introduced is aimed at making it fairer on the team taking the second penalty. Traditionally, English…
