European Super Football

Norway 3 - 0 Italy Italy’s 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign began in dismal fashion as they were swept aside 3-0 by a vibrant Norway in Oslo, all three goals coming before half-time in a chastening opening to Group I. Author | Peter Grainger Stadium | Ullevaal Stadion With several key players unavailable through injury, including Moise Kean, Alessandro Buongiorno and Giorgio Scalvini, and Francesco Acerbi declining a call-up, Luciano Spalletti handed a debut to Verona defender Diego Coppola and recalled Davide Zappacosta for his first appearance since 2018. Norway, already with two wins in the group, took full advantage of Italy’s sluggish start. Alessandro Bastoni gave the ball away with a misplaced cross-field pass, allowing Antonio Nusa to thread a clever ball through for Alexander Sorloth, who beat Gianluigi Donnarumma with a low finish. READ MORE |  World Cup 2026 Qualifying news and stories READ MORE | News from across Italy Nusa made it two with a brilliant indivi...

A closer look at this season's Champions League and its new format Paris Saint-Germain have secured their first Champions League title, bringing to a close a season marked by the most dramatic revamp of the competition in more than 30 years. Author | Peter Grainger Inter Milan fans in the Champions League semi-final Since the introduction of the group stage in 1991–92, the tournament had largely followed a familiar pattern: teams placed in groups of four, facing each other home and away before progressing to a knockout stage. This season broke from tradition. Under the new format, 36 teams took part in a single league phase. Each club played eight matches against eight different opponents, four at home and four away. The league phase concluded at the end of January, followed by the usual knockout rounds. But the question remains: did it work? PSG will say it did. The French champions lifted the trophy in Munich despite finishing 15th in the league phase and having to come throu...

Let's look at a disastrous season Southampton were relegated back to the Championship Author | Peter Grainger   After winning the promotion play-offs in May, head coach Russell Martin struggled to put together a team that could compete in the Premier League.  Martin was ultimately sacked as Southampton dropped to the bottom of the league in December. This announcement came just a few hours after the team lost 5–0 to Tottenham Hotspur on 15 December 2024. Ivan Jurić replaced him on an 18-month contract on 20 December. On 6 April 2025, Southampton were relegated to the Championship following a 3–1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur. They were relegated after 31 games, breaking Derby County's 2007–08 and Huddersfield Town's 2018–19 record for the earliest relegation in Premier League history. The next day, Southampton announced that Ivan Jurić had left his role as manager by mutual consent. Simon Rusk then took interim charge for the last seven games of the season. Match reports ...

Bournemouth 2 - 0 Leicester City Bournemouth signed off their Premier League campaign with a comfortable victory over already relegated Leicester City, thanks to a second-half brace from Antoine Semenyo. Author  |   Peter Grainger Stadium  |   Vitality Stadium The forward broke the deadlock in the 75th minute, turning in from close range after Illia Zabarnyi had steered a corner across goal. He doubled the lead late on with a crisp finish from the edge of the box, drilling the ball inside the near post to confirm the win. Andoni Iraola’s side, who fell short in their push for European football following a dip in form during the run-in, dominated for long periods. Leicester, meanwhile, ended a dismal season with yet another defensive lapse and now prepare for life back in the Championship. There was a false dawn for the visitors in the first half when Oliver Skipp tucked away a Kasey McAteer cross, only for the goal to be chalked off for offside earlier in the mov...

The Barcelona Sporting Director has spoken about the potential signing Would the forward, currently on loan at Barcelona, be a good signing for the La Liga champions? Author |  Peter Grainger   What next for Marcus Rashford? youtu.be/YsWVOzZZWE0?... [image or embed] — Super News Affiliate ( @eurosuperfootball.bsky.social ) 23 May 2025 at 07:43 Rashford has been in reasonable form for Aston Villa since joining them on loan for the second half of the season from Manchester United. While he has impressed at points with four goals and six assists in 17 appearances for Unai Emery's side, his promising start for the club was curtailed by a hamstring injury.  It remains to be seen whether Aston Villa want to make this move permanent. For Rashford, it would be a much more attractive move if they qualify for next season's Champions League. Barcelona were said to be interested in signing Rashford on loan back in January, but were ultimately beaten to his signature by the Villa...

Wolves 0 - 2 Brighton & Hove Albion Brighton kept their European ambitions alive with a 2-0 victory over Wolves, thanks to goals from Danny Welbeck and Brajan Gruda. Author - Peter Grainger Stadium - Molineux Welbeck opened the scoring from the penalty spot shortly before the interval, while Gruda, a second-half substitute, sealed the win with his first goal for the club in the closing stages. Wolves came closest through Matheus Cunha, whose acrobatic effort drew an excellent save from Bart Verbruggen. Despite a lively spell after the break, particularly following a triple change by head coach Vítor Pereira, the home side were unable to convert their chances. The result lifts Brighton to ninth in the Premier League, level on points with Brentford who sit just above them. With two matches remaining, the Seagulls remain in contention for a second successive European campaign, although much still hinges on other results. READ MORE:  Premier League: 2024/2025 season Welbeck’s g...

Aston Villa 1 - 0 Fulham Aston Villa recovered from their FA Cup semi-final defeat as they overcame Fulham in the Premier League to boost hopes of a top-five finish. Author - Peter Grainger  Stadium - Villa Park Unai Emery's side were beaten 3-0 by Crystal Palace at Wembley last time out but put that disappointment behind them with a hard-fought victory. After such an exciting run in this season's Champions League, they'll be hoping for another run at the competition next season.  A closer look at what happened After a fairly even and balanced start, Villa took the lead in the 12th minute. Youri Tielemans rose to meet John McGinn’s inswinging corner and powered a header beyond Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno. Ollie Watkins had a chance to double Villa’s advantage early in the second half but was unable to make telling contact with Matty Cash’s driven ball across the face of goal. Fulham thought they had found a way back when Ryan Sessegnon fired home with a low left-footed...

Aston Villa 4 - 1 Newcastle United Aston Villa delivered a scintillating display at Villa Park to sweep aside Newcastle United and underline their intent in the race for a top-five finish and Champions League football. Author - Peter Grainger Stadium - Villa Park Ollie Watkins gave Villa the perfect start, drawing level with Gabriel Agbonlahor as the club’s joint-highest Premier League goalscorer. His strike after just 33 seconds took a cruel deflection off Fabian Schär and left Nick Pope stranded. Newcastle responded in the 18th minute, with Schär making amends by heading home Harvey Barnes’ deep, curling cross. The ball crept through the legs of Emiliano Martínez to restore parity. But Villa refused to relent. Just after the hour mark, Watkins turned provider, sliding in Ian Maatsen who showed composure beyond his years to lift the ball delicately over the keeper and restore the lead. The hosts found another gear. Jacob Ramsey’s low ball across the box ricocheted in off Dan Burn ...

Birmingham City 6 - 2 Barnsley Alfie May inspired runaway leaders Birmingham to a huge win against Barnsley at St Andrew's. Author - Peter Grainger Stadium - St Andrew's Mael De Gevigney was given a red in just the third minute after a coming-together with Keshi Anderson. This would prove to be an almost pivotal moment.  Former Fulham player Jay Stansfield fired Blues ahead from the penalty spot in the 32nd minute after Keshi Anderson was taken out by Kieren Flavell. Despite having one less player, Davis Keillor-Dunn headed Barnsley level in the 35th minute after a near-post cross was headed back across the box. A quickfire brace from May at the start of the second half had Blues 3-1 up by the 55th minute. Surely, there wasn't going to be more drama.  Barnsley still tried to make a game of it They pulled one back through Stephen Humphrys, whose effort at the near post snuck past Allsop. They couldn't get back into the game could they?  The answer was no, they co...

Italy 1 - 2 Germany Germany came from behind to secure their first away victory over Italy in 39 years, during the Nations League quarter-final first leg. Author - Peter Grainger Stadium - San Siro Sandro Tonali helped Newcastle defeat Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday and he openeed the scoring with a first-time finish after Jonathan Tah cleared Matteo Politano's cross into his path. Germany responded well, After Leon Goretzka twice went close to an equaliser before the break, half-time substitute Tim Kleindienst headed the visitors level early in the second period from Joshua Kimmich's delivery. Moise Kean came close to opening the scoring with a powerful effort that flew over the bar, while Germany goalkeeper Oliver Baumann kept out Giacomo Raspadori with an outstretched leg. But with 14 minutes left, Leon Goretzka completed the turnaround, heading in another pinpoint Joshua Kimmich delivery. Germany almost gifted Italy an equaliser when Tim Kleindienst inadv...

Crystal Palace 1 - 0 Ipswich Town Ismaila Sarr’s late strike proved the difference as Crystal Palace edged past Ipswich Town in a scrappy contest at Selhurst Park, making it four wins in a row for the Eagles. Author - Peter Grainger  Stadium - Selhurst Park This was Palace’s first game without key striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, who was sidelined after suffering a nasty head injury in last weekend’s FA Cup victory over Millwall . The Frenchman required 25 stitches following a collision with goalkeeper Liam Roberts. Without their focal point up front, Palace struggled for fluidity in attack, but Sarr stepped up in the 82nd minute, weaving his way into the box before lifting a clever finish over Alex Palmer to seal the points. The game was short on quality at times, though Palace started brightly. Just two minutes in, Adam Wharton played a superb through-ball to Eddie Nketiah, but the striker could only fire straight at Palmer. Click here for more Crystal Palace news and stories Ip...

Sunderland 1 - 2 Sheffield Wednesday Sunderland reignited automatic promotion chances with a crucial win at Sheffield Wednesday, thanks to a brace from Eliezer Mayenda. Author - Peter Grainger Stadium - Hillsborough After back-to-back defeats against Leeds United and Hull City, the Black Cats desperately needed three points. They took the lead in controversial fashion during the first half, as Mayenda appeared to control the ball with his arm before slotting home. Wednesday hit back early in the second half through Callum Paterson’s header, but 19-year-old Spanish forward Mayenda, starting in place of top scorer Wilson Isidor, nodded in the winner to secure a vital victory. Sunderland remain fourth in the Championship, five points behind second-placed Sheffield United, though they have played a game more. For Sheffield Wednesday, it was a third consecutive defeat, leaving them 13th in the table, six points adrift of the play-off spots. Their hopes of breaking into the top six are n...

Do Newcastle United need a new goalkeeper? It has been reported that Newcastle United are pursuing a deal to sign Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford, amid concerns about the long-term future of current first choice keepn Nick Pope. Author - Peter Grainger Trafford's best moments for Burnley? Some media outlets have reported that a deal will be a simple one for Newcastle to pull off if Scott Parker’s Burnley side fail to earn promotion back to the Premier League.  Trafford has been identified as the Magpies’ top target to replace their current goalkeeper. This is despite a few apparent concerns about his command of the penalty area.  It is believed that Newcastle scouts have been impressed with what they have seen this season and believe he has developed well since leaving Manchester City for his current side. Premier League Match Report | Newcastle 4 - Forest Find more Newcastle news and stories here Amid speculation about the future of Pope at St James’ Park, he could be o...

Crystal Palace v Aston Villa preview Crystal Palace and Aston Villa will both be looking to make it successive Premier League victories when they meet at Selhurst Park on Tuesday evening. Author - Peter Grainger Palace, currently 13th in the table, head into the game on the back of a 2-0 win over Fulham on Saturday, while Villa, sitting in eighth, edged past Chelsea 2-1 later that day. The Eagles are six points adrift of 10th-placed Fulham, having finished in that position last season. A lack of goals has hampered their progress this term, but there is still plenty of time to turn things around. Oliver Glasner’s side claimed victory at Craven Cottage thanks to a first-half own goal from Joachim Andersen, before Daniel Muñoz secured the points in the 66th minute. That result means Palace have won three of their last four games in all competitions, although all of those victories have come away from home. At Selhurst Park, they have struggled, losing their last two league matches aga...

Newcastle United 4 - 3 Nottingham Forest Alexander Isak netted his 50th Premier League goal as Newcastle United produced a blistering first-half display to overcome Nottingham Forest at St James’ Park. Author - Peter Grainger Stadium - St. James' Park Forest took an early lead when Callum Hudson-Odoi capitalised on a defensive slip, but Newcastle responded in devastating fashion, scoring four times in an electrifying 11-minute spell to take a commanding 4-1 lead into the break. Teenager Lewis Miley and Jacob Murphy struck in quick succession to turn the game on its head, before Isak bagged a rapid-fire brace to pile more misery on the visitors. His second – his 19th of the season – saw him reach the 50-goal milestone in just 76 Premier League appearances, a feat achieved quicker by only six players in the competition’s history. Forest did show some fight after the break, with Nikola Milenkovic pouncing on a defensive lapse to pull one back. Then, in the 90th minute, substitute...

QPR 4 - 0 Derby County Derby County endured a humbling return to the Championship relegation zone after a crushing defeat at QPR in John Eustace’s first game back in charge. Author - Peter Grainger Stadium - Loftus Road A stunning strike from Ilias Chair set the tone before Koki Saito’s second goal of the season gave the hosts full control by half-time. Chair then doubled his tally from close range, and Ronnie Edwards marked his loan spell from Southampton with a debut goal, heading in QPR’s fourth. Jerry Yates thought he had grabbed a late consolation, only for his effort to be ruled out for offside, as Marti Cifuentes’ side emphatically ended a run of two successive defeats. Eustace’s nightmare start  The new managee barely had time to settle back into the dugout following his move from Blackburn Rovers, confirmed just a day earlier, before witnessing his side’s frailties exposed. After a quiet opening spell, Derby fell behind to a spectacular long-range effort from Chair...

Club Brugge 2 - 1 Atalanta  Gustaf Nilsson won and converted a controversial late penalty as Club Brugge edged past Atalanta in the first leg of their Champions League knockout play-off. Author - Peter Grainger Stadium - Jan Breydelstadion The Belgian champions started brightly and got their reward when teenage winger Chemsdine Talbi pounced on a loose pass before setting up Ferran Jutgla, who fired a right-footed shot into the top left corner after 15 minutes. Atalanta hit back just before half-time, with Croatia international Mario Pasalic nodding in Davide Zappacosta’s cross from the left. However, deep into stoppage time, Swedish defender Isak Hien was penalised for holding off his fellow countryman Nilsson with his arm. After a VAR check, Turkish referee Halil Umut Meler upheld his decision to award the penalty. A fascinating encounter in Belgium. eurosuperfootball.blogspot.com youtu.be/ciZwuAcTHgA?... [image or embed] — European Super Football ( @superfootball.bsky.soc...

Is this a good temporary signing for Graham Potter's side? West Ham have secured the loan signing of Brighton striker Evan Ferguson for the remainder of the season. Author - Peter Grainger Check out some of his best moments for Brighton. The 20-year-old Republic of Ireland forward will be reunited with Graham Potter, the manager who handed him his senior debut at Brighton back in 2021. Ferguson has struggled for game time this season, making just 15 appearances—11 of which have come from the bench. He has also spent recent weeks sidelined with an ankle injury but made his return on Saturday, coming on in the 73rd minute during Brighton’s humiliating 7-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest. His only goal this season—and his first since November 2023—came in a 2-2 draw with Wolves back in October. Click here for the latest transfer news from European Super Football West Ham are in need of attacking reinforcements, with Jarrod Bowen, Niclas Füllkrug, and Michail Antonio all currently side...

Sporting 1 - 1 Bologna Sporting CP scraped through to the Champions League knockout stages with a 1-1 draw at home against Bologna, who had already been eliminated. Author - Peter Grainger The Portuguese league leaders had endured a tough run in Europe, losing three consecutive matches after winning three of their first four. All three defeats came following the departure of manager Rúben Amorim to Manchester United. Bologna nearly took an early lead when Sam Beukema’s header struck the bar from a corner. However, they didn’t have to wait long, as Tommaso Pobega turned in Beukema’s flicked header to put the Italian side in front. Click here to discover more Champions League news and stories from European Super Football . Sporting pressed for an equaliser in the second half and eventually found one when Conrad Harder slotted home João Simões’ cut-back from close range. With results elsewhere going in their favour, a draw was enough to see Sporting through to the play-off round, wher...

Benfica 4 - 5 Barcelona Barcelona overcame two separate two-goal deficits to secure a breathtaking victory over Benfica. Author - Peter Grainger The match at Estádio da Luz started disastrously for the visitors as Greek forward Vangelis Pavlidis netted a stunning 30-minute hat-trick. The first came from a well-placed cross by full-back Álvaro Carreras, while two further goals were gifted by errors from Barcelona's Polish goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny. Robert Lewandowski, however, kept Barca in contention with a first-half penalty after Alejandro Balde was fouled. Barcelona fought back after the break, with Raphinha and Lewandowski scoring either side of an unfortunate Ronald Araújo own goal to leave the score at 4-3. But the drama was far from over. Eric García equalised with a late header, and just when it seemed the game would end in a draw, Raphinha capitalised on a rapid counter-attack in the 96th minute. The Brazilian slotted past Anatoliy Trubin, leaving the home fans stun...