European Super Football

Italy 0 - 2 Belgium Mark van Bommel's Belgium began their Nations League campaign with a victory over Roberto Mancini's Italy in Rome. Author | Ed  Stadium | Stadio Olympico  The former Netherlands midfielder was taking charge of the Red Devils for the first time, while Mancini was beginning his second spell as Italy manager. Mancini spoke with the media after the match, saying: "We need to think positively and not keep banging on all the time about what has happened in the past," Mancini said when asked whether Italy's failure to qualify for the World Cup was still hanging over the country. Mancini previously managed Italy between 2018 and 2023, guiding them to victory at Euro 2020. A closer analysis of what happened here Paris St-Germain's Mika Godts opened the scoring with his first Belgium goal, cutting inside two defenders in the penalty area before firing into the net. Benfica's Dodi Lukebakio then doubled the lead after carrying the ball from his ow...

Manchester City have been found guilty of breaking the majority of the 115 financial rules they were accused of breaching. It has been reported that sanctions have yet to be decided, but that the independent panel has reached its verdict, finding the club guilty on all but one count. Author | Josh T The Premier League declined to comment. City also declined to confirm or deny whether the report was accurate. In February 2023, City were charged with more than 100 alleged breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules following a four-year investigation. The club was referred to an independent commission over allegations that it had breached financial regulations between 2009 and 2018. The hearing began behind closed doors in September 2024 and concluded in December after around 12 weeks. The Premier League alleged that City had breached rules requiring clubs to provide “accurate financial information that gives a true and fair view of the club’s financial position”. City have strongly...

Real Sociedad 1 - 2 Bournemouth  Bournemouth held on to claim a famous victory at Real Sociedad in the first European match in the club's history. Author | Ajay Stadium | Estadio Municipal de Anoeta Goals from Justin Kluivert and Rayan put the Cherries in control as their relentless pressing overwhelmed their Basque opponents during a dominant first half. Sociedad improved considerably after the break, pulling one back through Sergio Gomez and pushing hard for an equaliser late on, but Marco Rose's side held firm to secure victory and make a winning start to their Europa League campaign. A closer analysis of what happened In a remarkably open start to the game, both sides found dangerous positions, but the first chance of note came in the 11th minute and was converted by Kluivert at the end of a fine move. The goal was initially ruled out for offside, but the video assistant referee intervened and, after a two-minute delay, it was confirmed that the Netherlands international h...

A comfortable win for Manchester United on their return to the Champions League  Here's out their players rated in a comfortable 4-0 over Sabah from Azerbaijan Author | Olivia T Stadium | Old Trafford Senne Lammens: Not the busiest of nights for the Belgian, who dealt comfortably with everything required of him. 6 Noussair Mazraoui: Got forward regularly, with an early shot blocked before another effort found the side netting. Was fortunate to escape punishment when he failed to spot Joy-Lance Mickels dropping towards the far post, where the Sabah player was left with a clear header in the first half. 6 Leny Yoro: A big season awaits the young Frenchman, who needs to find the consistency that has so far been missing during his United career. Had limited opportunity to shine but made no real errors. 7 Lisandro Martinez: Led United's defence and helped guide Yoro through the game. Marked his return to the scoresheet by pouncing on a loose ball after the Sabah defence hesitated. 7...

Napoli 0 - 1 Arsenal Martin Odegaard's excellent start to the season continued as the Arsenal captain came to his side's rescue against Napoli in Naples. Author | DJ Stadium  |  Stadio Diego Armando Maradona The Gunners ere guilty of wasteful finishing and appeared destined for a frustrating draw in their first Champions League game since agonisingly losing last season's final. However, Odegaard had Arsenal's 1,500 travelling supporters celebrating with a fine finish from outside the box, the captain's fourth goal in five games, including the Community Shield. Piero Hincapié dropped to his knees after the final whistle and thumped the ground with his hands in relief at the result. Arsenal won all eight group phase games on their way to last season's final, and they are up and running after a fine win in Italy. A closer analysis of what happened in Naples Mikel Arteta's side had missed three great chances to punish last season's Serie A runners-up befor...

Club Brugge 2 - 3 Aston Villa Aston Villa breathed fresh life into their season with a narrow Champions League victory over Club Brugge. Author | Peter Grainger  Stadium | Jan Breydelstadion Villa try to build an attack First-half goals from John McGinn, Emi Buendia and Nicolas Jackson secured a hard-fought win for the Premier League side in Belgium. Hugo Vetlesen had briefly brought the hosts level after McGinn's opener, but Buendia and Jackson, with his first goal for the club, restored Villa's advantage. Nicolo Tresoldi's 61st-minute penalty, awarded after Aaron Wan-Bissaka's handball, set up a nervy final 29 minutes for the visitors, with Tresoldi later striking the post. Villa held on for a result they will hope can provide a platform to build on after three successive league games without scoring, with Unai Emery still working to integrate 10 new signings. View from the away end The Europa League winners have lost six members of the starting XI from their triumph...

It has been another summer of transfer records in the Premier League Let's explore a rather eventful few months Author | Josh T Three of the 10 most expensive transfers in football history have taken place this summer, with all three involving Premier League clubs. The window also produced four of the top flight's five biggest deals on record. Fernandez was the headline signing, eclipsing the £116m Manchester City paid earlier in the window for Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson.  Chelsea, meanwhile, spent £117m to bring Morgan Rogers to Stamford Bridge from Aston Villa. Liverpool paid an initial £106m, potentially rising to £123m, for Paris St-Germain and France forward Bradley Barcola. Yan Diomande's move to Real Madrid and Anthony Gordon's switch from Newcastle to Barcelona are the only deals completed so far this summer by clubs outside the Premier League to exceed £60m. Tottenham's signing of Sandro Tonali represented a club-record fee that could even...