European Super Football

Chelsea 2 - 0 Servette  Christopher Nkunku’s penalty helped Enzo Maresca claim his first win as Chelsea manager, with the Blues securing a two-goal lead against Servette in the first leg of their Conference League play-off. A significantly rotated Chelsea side had been struggling to break down their Swiss opponents until Nkunku was brought down by goalkeeper Jeremy Frick early in the second half. The French forward, one of only two players to retain their place from the team that started the 2-0 defeat to Manchester City   calmly converted the penalty, marking the first goal of the Maresca era. Nkunku, a former Paris St-Germain player, celebrated in his signature style by inflating a blue balloon in front of the ecstatic Chelsea supporters. Chelsea nearly extended their lead shortly afterwards when Frick hesitated with the ball, allowing 18-year-old Marc Guiu to pounce. The Spanish youth international seemed poised to score, but he lost his composure, and Frick managed to recover a

FK Panevėžys 0 - The New Saints The New Saints took a firm grip on their Europa Conference League play-off with a 3-0 victory over Lithuanian side FK Panevėžys in Vilnius. We'll have reaction to this match coming soon. European Super Football ( https://t.co/3cLJ3IbFkJ ) https://t.co/NQPIJ1RA4A — European Super Football (@ESFootballNews) August 23, 2024 After a closely contested first half, Danny Davies broke the deadlock shortly after the restart. A corner was flicked on twice, and the centre-back was perfectly positioned at the back post to head in from a tight angle. Dan Williams then doubled the Welsh side's advantage, picking up the ball wide on the right, weaving past two defenders, and gliding into the area before slotting the ball coolly into the far bottom corner. As the hosts pushed forward in search of a goal, substitute Ben Clark sealed the win with a strike in stoppage time, putting Saints firmly in control of the tie. UEFA Europa League and Conference League (

Viktoria Plzeň 1 - 0 Hearts After overcoming a shaky start and edging towards a commendable goalless draw in the Czech Republic, Hearts' hopes were dashed when Daniel Oyegoke accidentally turned a late cross into his own net. Plzen's Cadu delivered a dangerous ball into the box, which caught Oyegoke off guard. The Hearts defender could only watch in dismay as the ball struck his thigh and sailed into the corner of the net. It was a bitterly frustrating conclusion, especially as Hearts had grown into the match, standing toe-to-toe with their more seasoned Czech opponents , who were competing in Europe for the 15th consecutive season. Lawrence Shankland came close with two shots from the edge of the box just before half-time, and Kenneth Vargas missed two opportunities when a cooler head was needed. However, solid goalkeeping and resilient defending kept Hearts in the game and nearly secured them a vital draw. UEFA Europa League and Conference League (eurosuperfootball.blogsp

Notts County 4 - 1 Grimsby Town Dan Crowley was the star of the show as Notts County secured their first League Two win of the season as they thrashed Grimsby. The Magpies captain delivered a perfectly placed cross, allowing Alassana Jatta to score his third goal in as many games, giving the home side an early lead. Crowley then slipped into the box unnoticed to double the advantage. Jodi Jones added to the tally with a beautifully chipped goal, but Grimsby pulled one back through Harvey Rodgers, who found the far corner. In the second half, Crowley’s deflected shot sealed the victory, as Notts County climbed to fourth place in the early League Two table , while Grimsby dropped to 16th. The tone of the evening was set early on when Grimsby goalkeeper Jordan Wright made a superb reaction save, denying Crowley’s low shot from opening the scoring. Last season, these two teams treated their fans to 15 goals across their League Two encounters, so it was probably inevitable that the net

It's time to explore the career of another football icon Andrés Iniesta is widely considered one of the greatest midfielders of all time.  He was praised by fans and pundits alike for his balance, ball control and agility in close spaces, combined with his skill, composure, and flair on the ball. Iniesta would spend most of his career at Barcelona, where he played a major role in the club's success along with his midfield partners Xavi and Sergio Busquets. One European Super Football contributor told us: "He was one of the greatest midfielders ever. I used to love watching him and I'm not even a Barcelona fan." Iniesta interviewed as a Barcelona player back in 2011. Picture from  Miguel Moro | Flickr A closer look at his career Iniesta started his professional career through La Masia, the Barcelona youth academy, after an early migration from his birthplace, and impressed from an early age. He made his first-team debut aged 18 in 2002. He began playing regula

Another day, another Chelsea transfer story Chelsea have secured the signing of Portuguese forward João Félix from Atlético Madrid for an estimated £45 million, with England midfielder Conor Gallagher heading in the opposite direction for around £33 million. Félix, 24, has committed to a seven-year contract, marking his return to Stamford Bridge after a loan spell in 2023 where he netted four goals in 20 appearances for the West London club. Meanwhile, Gallagher has penned a five-year deal with the Spanish top-flight side. The 24-year-old joined Chelsea as a youngster, making 90 appearances for the club, scoring 10 goals. With just one year left on his contract, Chelsea were keen to sell Gallagher this summer rather than risk losing him on a free transfer next year. Gallagher's transfer to Spain was delayed due to the collapse of Chelsea’s negotiations to sign Atlético striker Samu Omorodion. However, Félix’s move has now provided Atlético with the funds needed to finalise the

Raheem Sterling to Juventus? He is currently a target of interest for Juventus, with speculation increasing over his future. Sterling was given the weekend off after not being included in their squad to face Manchester City. It’s understood that Juventus would need to reduce their current wage bill before making a concrete move for Raheem Sterling, with forward Federico Chiesa among the players who might be shown the door. There’s also the question of whether Sterling would be willing to relocate his young family, who are reportedly well-settled in London, for a move to Italy. Premier League: 2024/2025 season news and stories  Latest news from Serie A  However, it’s becoming increasingly apparent that Chelsea are eager to part ways with the player they signed from Manchester City in 2022 for £47.5 million. Chelsea are open to letting Sterling go before the transfer deadline, a decision that would help them save on his reported £325,000-per-week wages. The fact Chelsea reportedly