Football Blog (Page 196)

[ad_1] With the 2022/23 Europa Conference League group stage done and dusted, we can look forward to its knockout phase soon. First, however, must come a play-off round to determine who the eight group winners will face in the round of 16, so here’s what you need to know about the Europa Conference League knockout play-offs draw. The 2022/23 Europa Conference League knockout play-offs draw will take place at 13:00 (GMT) on Monday 7 November, at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland. The eight group winners of the 2022/23 Europa Conference League, including West Ham, will go straight into the last 16 and will therefore beRead More →

[ad_1] Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is waiting to find out the severity of the injury picked up by defender Takehiro Tomiyasu in the Europa League on Thursday. The 24-year-old full-back replaced Ben White after 73 minutes of Arsenal’s clash with FC Zurich, but limped from the field just a couple of minutes later. Tomiyasu missed around two months of action last season with a calf problem, but has come back into Arsenal’s side this season at left-back – seemingly becoming Arteta’s preferred option ahead of Scotland international Kieran Tierney. Arsenal have a heavyweight clash with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday to contend with, butRead More →

[ad_1] Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has admitted that Newcastle are a threat to his side’s bid to win the Premier League for a third season in a row. City have lost just one of their opening 12 Premier League games – to rivals Liverpool – and have already scored a whopping 37 goals. Erling Haaland has been responsible for scoring 17 of those, taking to life in the Premier League like a duck to water, but City aren’t yet top of the table because of Arsenal’s electric start to the season. They’ve also lost just once under Mikel Arteta, winning ten out of theirRead More →

[ad_1] Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has admitted he is “angry” about the much publicised problems surrounding the upcoming World Cup in Qatar, referring to FIFA’s decision to award the tournament to the country, as well human rights issues and player welfare. It was way back in 2010 when Qatar was announced as the host nation for the 2022 finals, with the process heavily criticised. The summer temperatures have seen the tournament moved to the northern hemisphere winter, causing enormous disruption to club schedules, while homosexuality remains illegal in Qatar at a time when football should to be an inclusive and safe space for all. KloppRead More →

[ad_1] La Liga president Javier Tebas has spoken highly of Gerard Pique, insisting that he is Barcelona president material following his retirement. Pique will call time on his exceptional playing career after Barcelona’s game against Almeria on 5 November, retiring as one of the greatest defenders of a generation. The 35-year-old has made no secret about his desire to take on a board level role in the future and knows the club inside out, having been born in Barcelona and come through the ranks at La Masia. Speaking to Spanish radio station COPE, Tebas was complimentary of Pique: “I have no doubt,” he responded whenRead More →

[ad_1] Erik ten Hag delivered an honest assessment of Donny van de Beek’s performance against Real Sociedad, claiming that there is more to come from the midfielder. Van de Beek has endured a tough time at United since signing under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the summer of 2020, failing to nail down a spot in the first-team despite arriving with much fanfare. It was widely anticipated that the Dutchman would play a key role for United, but two years on, he has failed to improve on rotation status and been unable to make any lasting impact in the team. Many believed that Ten Hag’s arrivalRead More →

[ad_1] Rayo Vallecano host their capital neighbours Real Madrid in the Spanish top flight on Monday night. Andoni Iraola’s well-drilled side are unbeaten in their last four league matches and come into the contest on the back of consecutive victories. However, they host the only team with a longer lossless run in La Liga. Real Madrid had their lead at the top of the table reduced by a controversial draw against Girona last weekend but remain a thoroughly imperious force to be reckoned with. Here’s everything you need to know about the upcoming Madrid-heavy meeting. Rayo Vallecano: 1 WinReal Madrid: 4 WinsDraws: 0 Rayo Vallecano: LDDWWReal Madrid: WWLDW Randy NtekjaRead More →

[ad_1] The final round of WSL matches before November’s international break take place on Sunday. There are six games, two new managers and one particularly mouthwatering clash between a pair of WSL heavyweights to look forward to across the Sunday. Here’s everything to look out for on gameweek 6 of the WSL. Shaw has been devastating for City this season / Lewis Storey/GettyImages Bunny Shaw has burst out of the blocks this season and currently tops the WSL scoring charts with six goals in five outings. The forward has netted 15 goals in just 14 WSL starts, and despite playing 90 minutes just once inRead More →

[ad_1] When you’re 38 years old and have experienced the sort of success Giorgio Chiellini has, you should be pretty well-placed to make a judgment on head coaches. Across his illustrious career that has yielded nine Serie A titles, a European Championship and much more, Chiellini has worked under some of the greatest coaches of the modern era, including Massimiliano Allegri, Antonio Conte, and Fabio Capello. Now it’s Steve Cherundolo calling the shots for Chiellini and ahead of LAFC’s first-ever MLS Cup appearance on Saturday – where they go head-to-head with the Philadelphia Union at Banc of America Stadium – the 117-time Italy international hasRead More →

[ad_1] So, the excitement of the group stage is over. Having witnessed some European powers breeze through their groups and others progress by the skin of their teeth, we can now look forward to the thrill and the ‘there’s nothing quite like it’-feeling of Champions League knockout football. Here’s all you need to know about the Champions League round of 16. The draw for the first round of this campaign’s Champions League knockout phase will take place on Monday 7 November at 11:00 (GMT). The eight group winners and the eight second-placed sides will feature in the Champions League round of 16 stage. All fourRead More →