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Enzo Loiodice: Las Palmas’ French Technician in Midfield
At 23 years of age, Enzo Loiodice’s career has already seen more than a few peaks and valleys. He left boyhood club Dijon and made the move to Wolves’ U-23 side on loan with an option to buy, only to fail to make a single appearance after the season was cut short due to the…
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The Evolution of Darwin Núñez at Liverpool
After being the victim of fail compilations in his first season as a Liverpool player, Darwin Núñez has come into his own in 2023/24. He has achieved 30+ goal contributions in 2023/24, becoming just the fourth player under Jürgen Klopp to hit these heights. The other players? Sadio Mané, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah. …
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Lautaro Martínez: Inter’s Argentine Talisman in Attack
Since the introduction of the Italian top-flight in 1898, we’ve seen quite a few Argentine players come away with the top scorer award. Antonio Angelillo and Omar Sívori won it in back-to-back years to close out the ’50s, whilst Pedro Manfredini became the third shortly after. The Albiceleste would have to wait a quarter-century for…
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Raphinha: Challenging the Stereotypes of Brazilian Wingers at Barcelona
Since 2017, two La Liga players have managed at least 0.40 non-penalty expected goals and 0.40 expected assisted goals per 90 minutes in the same season. Lionel Messi has done it three times (‘17/18, ‘18/19, ‘19/20), and Raphinha has done it twice (‘22/23, ‘23/24) since swapping Leeds for Barcelona in the summer of 2022. …
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Marcus Thuram: Inter’s Sharpshooter in Attack
After a season that saw them beat Fiorentina in the Coppa Italia Final, lose to Manchester City in the Champions League Final, and finish in the top four for a sixth straight season, Inter Milan underwent a sizable summer rebuild. André Onana and Marcelo Brozović departed for big-money fees, Edin Džeko and Milan Škriniar left…
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Federico Valverde: El Halcón Flying High at Real Madrid
“La Ligue de Vérité.” Thus read L’Équipe’s cover on the eve of Real Madrid’s visit to the Parc de Princes on September 18, 2019, translating to: “The League of Truth.” It was a high-stakes, star-studded clash between two of the richest sides in Europe, a match that would separate the men from the boys. …
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Alvaro Valles: Las Palmas’ Ball-Playing Goalkeeper
Back in Spain’s top-flight after six years, UD Las Palmas are loving life in La Liga and find themselves on track for a comfortable midtable finish. Garcia Pimienta’s side have enjoyed a smooth return to the big leagues and impressed with a free-flowing, possession-heavy style of play. They are averaging 60.2% possession — only Barcelona…
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Florian Wirtz: Bayer Leverkusen’s Invincible Prince
At halftime between Bayer Leverkusen’s home match against Werder Bremen, the score is 1-0. Leverkusen are going to win their first Bundesliga title whilst unbeaten. Xabi Alonso has put himself into German folklore with this success. To put the dagger into Bremen’s and Bayern Munich’s heart, the Spaniard puts on Florian Wirtz at halftime. The…
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The Next in Atleti’s Long Line of Midfield Gems: Pablo Barrios
La Liga has no shortage of talented young midfielders with immense potential. I’m sure several spring to mind immediately – Jude Bellingham, Martin Zubimendi, Pedri, Eduardo Camavinga, Gavi… the list goes on and on. But there’s one man that deserves equal recognition with the others for his current abilities and seriously world-class potential: Pablo Barrios.…
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Myron Boadu: The Dutch Striker Caught at a Crossroads
The 2019/20 season would see various young attackers burst onto the scene and make a real name for themselves in European football. From Erling Haaland to Gabriel Martinelli, from Rafael Leão to Alexander Isak, many of those players have gone on to assert themselves as the best forwards in football. However, one player who hasn’t…
