European Super Football

PSV 3 - 2 Liverpool A much-rotated Liverpool side secured top spot in the Champions League league phase, despite seeing their perfect record end with a 3-2 defeat to PSV Eindhoven. Author - William G Having won their first seven matches, the Reds twice took the lead in the Netherlands but were pegged back, conceding twice late in the first half of their final group fixture. However, with Barcelona failing to beat Atalanta, Arne Slot’s side finished top of the standings on 21 points, two clear of their nearest challengers. The first half was full of action, with Cody Gakpo putting Liverpool ahead from the penalty spot against his former club after Federico Chiesa was fouled by Joey Veerman. Johan Bakayoko levelled with a superb turn and finish, but Harvey Elliott restored Liverpool’s advantage, reacting quickest after Chiesa’s shot was parried into his path. However, goals from Ismael Saibari and Ricardo Pepi turned the game in PSV’s favour, handing the Premier League leaders their ...

Manchester City 3 - 3 Feyenoord Manchester City squandered a 3-0 lead to draw 3-3 with Feyenoord in the Champions League, extending their dismal run of form at a shell-shocked Etihad Stadium. Author - Macca A remarkable evening in Manchester https://t.co/SoSZpMS13p https://t.co/g5nOKIUHZj — European Super Football (@ESFootballNews) November 28, 2024 The above tweet probably sums it up quite well.  A closer look at what happened Pep Guardiola’s team appeared to be in full control after Erling Haaland netted twice and Ilkay Gundogan added a third, giving the hosts a commanding lead. However, Feyenoord mounted a remarkable comeback, delighting their 5,000 travelling supporters. Anis Hadj Moussa capitalised on a Josko Gvardiol error to spark the revival, before substitute Santiago Gimenez scored in the 82nd minute. David Hancko completed the dramatic turnaround in the 89th minute, leaving Guardiola visibly frustrated and some City fans voicing their displeasure at full-time. City,...

Netherlands 1 - 1 Hungary Virgil van Dijk was sent off as the Netherlands secured a Nations League draw in Hungary. Author - William G The home side took the lead with Roland Sallai’s well-placed volley in the first half. However, Liverpool defender Van Dijk saw red after picking up two yellow cards within just three minutes. The first came for dissent, and the second followed after he fouled Kevin Csoboth on the wing. It was Van Dijk’s first red card for the Netherlands, in what was his 77th international appearance.  Despite being down to 10 men, the Dutch quickly equalised, with Denzel Dumfries heading in from Cody Gakpo’s free-kick. UEFA Nations League (eurosuperfootball.blogspot.com) What do you think of the international break? (eurosuperfootball.blogspot.com) Before his sending-off, Van Dijk had completed an impressive 145 out of 152 passes, nearly matching Hungary’s entire team, who managed 173 passes in total. Following the dismissal, the Netherlands confirmed on Satur...

Manchester United 1 - 1 Twente Christian Eriksen experienced both triumph and disappointment for Manchester United as Erik ten Hag’s side faltered at the beginning of their Europa League journey, drawing with Twente, the Dutch manager’s boyhood club. Eriksen put United ahead in the first half with a brilliant finish from inside the box.However, a determined Twente side capitalised on Eriksen's mistake when he was dispossessed by Sam Lammers just outside United’s penalty area. The former Rangers player wasted no time, unleashing a powerful shot that flew past Andre Onana. Ten Hag's men had chances to secure a late win, but Twente goalkeeper Lars Unnerstall was in fine form, denying Joshua Zirkzee’s left-footed attempt that seemed destined for the net. Earlier, Unnerstall had also made a spectacular reflex save to stop Mees Hilgers from scoring an own goal. Bruno Fernandes, United’s captain, came close as well, and substitute Kobbie Mainoo had a penalty shout waved away. Foll...

Feyenoord 0 - 4 Bayer Leverkusen  Florian Wirtz shone on his Champions League debut, netting twice as Bayer Leverkusen secured a comfortable win over Feyenoord. The German champions took an early lead five minutes in, with Wirtz calmly slotting the ball into the bottom corner from 20 yards out. Xabi Alonso’s adventurous wing-backs linked up beautifully for the second goal, as Jeremie Frimpong delivered a cross that found Alex Grimaldo, who finished easily and without much pressure from the home side's defence. Frimpong, a former Celtic player, then set up 21-year-old German international Wirtz for his second goal, a well-executed volley. Champions League: 2024/2025 (eurosuperfootball.blogspot.com) Leverkusen had effectively wrapped up the match before half-time when Edmond Tapsoba's header was deflected into the net by Feyenoord goalkeeper Timon Wellenreuther. Despite having fewer attempts on goal than their opponents, the Bundesliga side displayed ruthless efficiency. ...

Netherlands 5 - 2 Bosnia-Herzegovina New Manchester United striker Joshua Zirkzee scored his first goal for the Netherlands as they scored Bosnia-Herzegovina in the Nations League. United's summer signing from Bologna who was only winning his third cap, netted a fine flicked header following Xavi Simons' deflected shot. Ermedin Demirovic levelled for the away side with a first-time finish from Denis Huseinbasic's through ball in Eindhoven.  But Zirkzee then picked out Tijjani Reijnders to put the hosts ahead again in first-half injury time. Liverpool's Cody Gakpo then scored a third. He slid the ball into an empty net from Reijnders' low drive across the six-yard box. Former Manchester City and Inter Milan strimer Edin Dzeko did give the Bosnians some hope after he scored his 66th international goal  Wout Weghorst, who also has a connection with Manchester United, came on for Zirkzee and scored the Netherlands' fourth, before Simons eventually wrapped up an...

Ajax 0 - 1 Panathinaikos It finished 1-1 on aggregate with Ajax winning 13-12 on penalties Ajax beat Panathinaikos on penalties after an epic shootout featuring 34 spot-kicks to reach the Europa League qualifying play-off round. Ajax Goalkeeper Remko Pasveer saved five penalties and scored one, while defender Anton Gaaei scored the winning kick for Ajax. The Dutch side won despite Netherlands striker Brian Brobbey missing two spot-kicks, with Bertrand Traore and Youri Baas were also off target for the home side.  This was the second-highest penalty shootout score in a European competition, just behind Glentoran's 14-13 loss to Gzira United in last season's Conference League qualifiers. The match went to penalties after the Greek team secured a 1-0 win in Amsterdam, bringing the overall score to 1-1. Tete's goal in the 89th minute forced extra time. The match ultimately ended without any further goals. Best reaction William, a Liverpool fan from Bradford, watched the...

Could this prove to be a bargain for Manchester United? The Red Devils have secured the signing of Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna and the Netherlands for £36.54 million. The 23-year-old striker has committed to a five-year deal at Old Trafford, with the possibility of extending for an additional year. While Zirkzee's contract with Bologna had a release clause of €40 million (£33.6 million), United chose to pay a slightly higher amount to spread the payment over three years, aiding compliance with Profit and Sustainability Rules. Zirkzee is the first player to join the men's team since Sir Jim Ratcliffe acquired a 27.7% stake in the club last December. Premier League: Summer 2024 news and stories  More Manchester United news Last season, he scored 12 goals in 37 matches, helping Bologna secure an unexpected spot in this season's Champions League. Zirkzee started his career at Feyenoord before moving to Bayern Munich in 2017. He transferred to Bologna for around £7.15 millio...

England 2 - 1 Netherlands I know that was then, but it could be again... England will face Spain in the Euro 2024 final in Berlin on Sunday following a last-minute goal from substitute Ollie Watkins that secured a win over the Netherlands. The Three Lions looked like they would be facing extra time for the third successive game after Harry Kane's first-half penalty equalised a stunning early strike from Xavi Simon. However, there was to be a dramatic twist. A superb late strike on the turn from the substitute Watkins sent England into their second successive European Championship final on a fantastic night in Dortmund. A chance now for Southgate and England to make history. England will play their first final on foreign soil since. The final of the 1966 World Cup and Euro 2021 took place at Wembley. True to their form in Germany, they reached the stage by coming from behind, enduring some tense moments, and eventually clinching victory through that late goal from Watkins. When...

Netherlands 2 - 1 Turkey The Netherlands came from behind to defeat Turkey, setting up a Euro 2024 semi-final against England. An own goal by Mert Muldur, pressured by Cody Gakpo, helped the Dutch take the lead after trailing at half-time. Turkey's centre-back Samet Akaydin had put his team ahead, heading in Arda Guler's cross after an impressive first half. He celebrated by running to the fans, kissing his badge, and kneeling to pray, while the substitutes sprinted down the touchline. However, Turkey's joy was short-lived as the Netherlands, sluggish in the first half, came alive after the break, inspired by substitute Wout Weghorst. Stefan de Vrij equalised with a header, shortly after Weghorst made a crucial defensive interception to prevent Kaan Ayhan from scoring. Turkey nearly extended their lead when Real Madrid's Guler hit the post with a stunning free-kick but failed to capitalise on their opportunities. Now, Ronald Koeman's side will face England in Do...

Romania 0 - 3 Netherlands Substitute Donyell Malen scored twice, and Cody Gakpo netted his third goal of Euro 2024, guiding the Netherlands to a victory over a determined Romania and securing their first quarter-final berth in 16 years. Liverpool's Gakpo opened the scoring with a superb finish midway through the first half, cutting inside before driving the ball into the bottom corner. The Netherlands squandered several chances after that but ensured they didn't regret it when substitute Malen tapped in late from Gakpo's pass. Malen then sealed what was ultimately an impressive win for the Netherlands, exploiting Romania's forward push by charging towards goal and calmly slotting home. It was a vastly improved performance from the Netherlands, who initially faced intense pressure from a lively Romanian side, backed by their vibrant fans. Romania's early pressing forced errors from the Dutch, nearly capitalising when Dennis Man's shot narrowly missed. Howeve...

Austria 3 - 2 Netherlands Austria delivered a stunning performance that will surely turn heads at Euro 2024, defeating the Netherlands to advance to the last 16 as Group D winners. Despite a challenging draw against the Dutch and France, Ralf Rangnick's team triumphed in two of their three matches, finishing at the top of the table. The Netherlands had already secured their spot in the last 16, but will now progress as one of the best third-placed teams, with France taking second place after their 1-1 draw with Poland.  Austria's victory was thoroughly deserved, showcasing their spirit and determination throughout. They responded admirably to a strong start from the Netherlands in the second half, with Marcel Sabitzer’s goal sealing the win. The Austrians took an early lead in the sixth minute when Donyell Malen turned Alexander Prass’s dangerous cross into his own net. Although Malen had a chance to redeem himself but fluffed his shot, Austria dominated possession, often...

Netherlands 0 - 0 France The Netherlands and France played to a stalemate in Leipzig, leaving both teams level on four points at the top of Group D. Pre match scenes at Netherlands v France The group remains wide open heading into the final matchday, with little to separate the Netherlands and France. Defenders took centre stage in this encounter, with Dutch captain Virgil van Dijk standing out as he effectively neutralised France's formidable attacking threats. The 1988 champions almost took the lead within the first minute, as Jeremie Frimpong displayed blistering speed to latch onto a through ball, only to have his shot turned away by France's goalkeeper Mike Maignan. France's captain Antoine Griezmann appeared poised to break the deadlock in the 15th minute after Adrien Rabiot set him up perfectly close to goal, but he failed to control the ball in time. Griezmann also curled a shot wide shortly after. Both sides had opportunities to win Marcus Thuram...

Poland 1 - 2 Netherlands Substitute Wout Weghorst clinched a late winner just two minutes after coming on, as the Netherlands kicked off their Euro 2024 campaign with a victory over Poland in Hamburg. Despite missing their all-time top scorer Robert Lewandowski due to a thigh injury, Poland stunned the Dutch early on when Adam Buksa scored with a header. The Netherlands dominated play but missed several chances before Liverpool's Cody Gakpo equalised with a deflected shot past Wojciech Szczesny. The Dutch continued to create opportunities, with Gakpo missing a clear chance before the break, sending Nathan Ake’s pullback over the bar from close range. After the interval, Ronald Koeman’s side maintained their dominance. Szczesny made a crucial save from Denzel Dumfries, and youngster Xavi Simons drove an effort wide after being set up by Gakpo. Just as it seemed they would have to settle for a draw, Weghorst, introduced in the 81st minute, secured the win with a close-range fin...

Borussia Dortmund 2 - 1 PSV  (Borussia Dortmund won 3-1 on aggregate) Borussia Dortmund made it to the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the first time in three years, thanks to goals from Jadon Sancho and Marco Reus against PSV Eindhoven. Sancho fired in a powerful shot from the edge of the box early in the game to put Dortmund in the lead. Despite another goal being disallowed due to offside, Reus capitalised on a mistake by PSV in stoppage time, securing the win with a one-on-one finish against PSV's goalkeeper, Walter Benitez. More Champions League news PSV had several chances to level the score, with Hirving Lozano missing opportunities. Peter Bosz's team, comfortably leading the Eredivisie, paid the price for their missed chances. Lozano, who came on as a substitute, missed the target from close range and also failed to convert from distance. 🤩 #FridayVibes = @woodyinho vs. PSV. ⚽💪 #UCL | @BVB | @BlackYellow pic.twitter.com/SXH3xPfGkr — UEFA.com DE (...

The Transfer Window is open and one player is already on the move Manchester United's midfielder, Donny van de Beek, has successfully sealed a loan switch to Eintracht Frankfurt.  The 26-year-old will join the Bundesliga team for the remainder of the season, with an option to make the move permanent. Having made only six starts in the Premier League since his £35 million transfer from Ajax in September 2020, Van de Beek, a Netherlands international , is seeking a fresh start. Manager Erik ten Hag recently commented that a move was necessary for the player to rejuvenate his career. Van de Beek, who joined United, has featured in 62 matches across all competitions, scoring twice. After a loan stint at Everton in 2022, he returned to United but faced setbacks, including a serious knee injury that ruled him out for the latter part of the previous season. 2022 Deadline Day: Everton sign Donny van de Beek on loan   More Bundesliga news and stories Frankfurt are currently sixth ...

PSV 5 - 1 Rangers (PSV won 7-3 on aggregate) A 5-1 demolition by PSV Eindhoven ended Rangers' hopes of playing in the Champions League again. Ismael Saibari headed in to put PSV ahead on aggregate for the first time in the tie. He added a second after the break. In the minutes following James Tavernier's strike and a brief Rangers lifeline, Luuk de Jong nodded home before Joey Veerman added another goal. Rangers' chastening evening was completed by an own goal by Connor Goldson. This result and poor performance means that instead of joining their Old Firm rivals in the Champions League, they will return to the Europa League group stage. One Rangers fan told us: "This was a terrible night and performance but being in the Europa League might be good for us." Click here for more PSV news and stories. A terrible night for the away side Rangers played poorly, carrying almost no threat until it was too late. PSV warmed to their task very quickly on the night, and it...

We're getting closer to the Champions League Group Stages Rangers 2 - 2 PSV After drawing a tense play-off first leg with PSV Eindhoven at Ibrox, Rangers' hopes of qualifying for the Champions League group stages hang in the balance. Check out this video from  Footy Adventures - YouTube Despite a lack of refinement at times, Michael Beale's side kept them alive ahead of the second leg in the Netherlands. A tense Ibrox erupted with joy when Abdallah Sima shaped in a superb opener just before the interval. A hard-fought lead would not last for long, as Ibrahim Sangare scored on the hour following an outrageous stepover from Ismael Saibari. More football news from across Scotland. Rangers were back in front after substitute Rabbi Matondo smashed Cyriel Dessers' teasing delivery into the net. Four minutes after that strike, Luuk de Jong diverted a towering header to ensure these sides will meet for a second leg in Eindhoven with both eyeing a place on the biggest stage....

 Let's explore some of the biggest talking points from across Europe over the last 24 hours. It has been another busy day. Netherlands: Ruud van Nistelrooy leaves PSV  with immediate effect PSV Eindhoven head coach Ruud van Nistelrooy has left before the final game of the season because of "a lack of support within the club", a club statement said. Van Nistelrooy won the Dutch Cup and Dutch Super Cup after taking over the role in March 2022. PSV said talks about his future were set for Sunday, but the 46-year-old subsequently resigned. They are 10 points behind leaders Feyenoord and three points ahead of third-placed Ajax. They just need to avoid defeat to AZ Alkmaar at the weekend to secure a spot in the Champions League qualification stage. Footage from his last press conference -  Ruud van Nistelrooij en Luuk de Jong reageren op grote teleurstelling - YouTube Spain: Barcelona agrees to cancel Alba's contract. It has been announced that Jordi Alba will leave B...

 UEFA Europa Conference League Semi-final first leg: West Ham United 2 - 1  AZ Alkmaar West Ham's dreams of a first major trophy since 1980 are still alive. They came from behind to secure a Europa Conference League semi-final first-leg win over AZ Alkmaar at their London Stadium. Pre match - the West Ham fans created an incredible atmosphere The Hammers' hopes of reaching the final in Prague on 7 June were hanging by a thread when Alphonse Areola made a mess of saving Tijjani Reijnders' low shot four minutes before the break. However, David Moyes' side turned the tie on its head after half-time. <Click here for more news from the London Stadium> The Hammers had former Brighton goalkeeper Mat Ryan to thank for offering them a way back into the contest when he recklessly punched Jarrod Bowen in the face as he arrived late to challenge for a high ball the England man actually headed over. After Ryan took an age to take his position for the penalty, Said Benrahm...