Football Blog (Page 199)

[ad_1] The seventh Team of the Week for FIFA 23 Ultimate Team has been revealed, with Bayern Munich’s Sadio Mane the star card. After a goal and two assists in a 6-2 thumping of Mainz at the weekend, Mane has been awarded a 90-overall card with 91 pace, 89 dribbling and 85 shooting. The Bayern left-midfielder is by far the highest card on offer this week, with the 86-rated duo of Stefan de Vrij and Rodrigo Bentancur his closest competition. Inter defender De Vrij has now broken the 70-pace mark, while Bentancur’s card has all six stats about 70 now that the Tottenham man’s shootingRead More →

[ad_1] Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has reiterated his happiness at the Emirates Stadium amid reports of interest in his services from La Liga giants Barcelona. This week, it was reported in the Spanish media that Barcelona, while satisfied with their current manager Xavi, were keeping an eye on Arteta after being thoroughly impressed with his success in rebuilding the team – something Barcelona are looking to experience themselves right now. Asked for his thoughts towards the rumours, Arteta – who spent time in the Camp Nou academy as a player – was quick to brush off the speculation. “What I can say is I amRead More →

[ad_1] Poor Graham Potter. He really did not like the reception which greeted him on his first return to Brighton as Chelsea manager. The Amex was a cauldron of noise; first boos, followed by chants of “You’re getting sacked in the morning” when the Seagulls led 2-0 giving way to “Potter, Potter, what’s the score?” as it finished a scarcely believable 4-1 to Brighton.. Potter was not the only one who bristled. In the days which have followed, plenty of pundits and supporters of other clubs have been quick to pile on Albion fans for the welcome given to their former head coach. Jamie O’HaraRead More →

[ad_1] Swedish right-back Anton Tinnerholm has confirmed he will not be returning to New York City FC for the 2023 season. Tinnerholm joined the Cityzens from Swedish giants Malmo in 2018, going on to make 135 appearances for the club in all competitions, lifting Campeones Cup and MLS Cup titles – though a heart-breaking ACL injury meant he missed the run to the latter in 2021. However, Tinnerholm’s current contract is set to expire at the end of this season and in an interview with Swedish outlet Expressen, the defender confirmed he’ll be leaving NYCFC. “I will leave now after the season. It has beenRead More →

[ad_1] Franck Kessie has been ruled out until club football the World Cup after picking up an injury in Barcelona’s win over Viktoria Plzen. Kessi has spent most of the season on the bench since joining Barcelona in the summer but was given his fifth start of the campaign in their final Champions League group match. Playing as the holding midfielder in place of Sergio Busquets, he was performing his duties well when he was forced off after 67 minutes. Speaking afterwards, Xavi confirmed that his player has a hamstring issue and will now be out until after the World Cup, missing the team’s twoRead More →

[ad_1] La Liga president Javier Tebas has taken a dig at Ligue 1, saying that football has missed Lionel Messi since the seven-time Ballon d’Or left Barcelona and joined Paris Saint-Germain. Messi is currently playing his second campaign in France after joining PSG in the summer of 2021 and has been on fire thus far this season. After a somewhat disappointing first year in Paris, the Argentine looks to be getting back to his best, bagging 12 goals and 13 assists in 17 matches so far in 2022/23. With his contract expiring at the end of the season, there is talk that he could returnRead More →

[ad_1] Arsenal defender Auston Trusty insists he hasn’t given up on earning a spot on the United States Men’s National Team’s World Cup roster. The 24-year-old center-back, currently on loan at Championship outfit Birmingham City after moving to England from the Colorado Rapids in January, is yet to be capped for the USMNT but has received call-ups for two January training camps in 2019 and 2022. However, Trusty has been in excellent form since moving to St. Andrew’s, sitting first among his teammates for tackles (48), interceptions (27), clearances (75), blocks (27), and recoveries (94), while also scoring twice in 17 appearances. It’s late inRead More →

[ad_1] Son Heung-min was left with a swollen eye after taking a blow to the head against Marseille, and Tottenham aren’t yet sure about the severity of the injury. It proved to be a good night for Spurs who, on the verge of being knocked out of the Champions League after going 1-0 down, bounced back to win 3-1 and top their group. However, things weren’t quite perfect with key player Son having to be subbed off after being hit in the head by Chancel Mbemba as the two challenged for the ball. Pictures have now emerged of the South Korean and his team-mates celebratingRead More →

[ad_1] Four of the eight 2022/23 Champions League groups are now complete after the first half of matchday six was played out across Europe on Tuesday night. Some clubs already knew that they have a space in the knockout stages in the New Year, but not everything was assured and even some of those that had already secure progression still had top spot and therefore a last 16 seeding to play for. Liverpool had to wait for late goals to beat Napoli at Anfield, but it went some way to exacting revenge for a heavy defeat at the Estadio Diego Armando Maradona earlier in theRead More →

[ad_1] Barcelona signed off from the Champions League with a win against Viktoria Pizen as they now prepare to embark on a Europa League adventure instead. Barcelona dominated possession but had fewer shots, and shots on target, than their opponents, but they were in clinical mood in front of goal. Barça knew they were unable to catch Bayern Munich and Inter in the group’s top two places prior to kick-off in Czech Republic, and that Plzen also couldn’t leapfrog them into third. It took only six minutes for Marcos Alonso to fire the visitors into an early lead, poking the ball in from pretty muchRead More →