Posts

Wolves appoint ex-Porto boss Pereira to help with relegation battle

Image
Wolves have named former Porto manager VĂ­tor Pereira as their new head coach. The experienced Portuguese boss arrives from Saudi Pro League side Al-Shabab on an 18-month deal, with Wolves paying around £825,000 in compensation to secure his services. Author - Josh Thomas Pereira replaces Gary O'Neil, who was dismissed on Sunday after Wolves’ 2-1 defeat to Ipswich the day before, a result that left them second from bottom in the Premier League. Pereira oversaw his first training session on Thursday and will make his debut in the dugout during Sunday’s clash with Leicester. The Foxes sit 17th in the table, five points clear of Wolves. Premier League: 2024/2025 season The club had been exploring potential candidates for several weeks, considering options such as former West Ham boss David Moyes. However, Pereira emerged as the frontrunner and was swiftly appointed. The 56-year-old boasts an impressive CV, having won back-to-back Primeira Liga titles with Porto in 2012 and 2013, as...

Jesus inspires Arsenal

Image
Arsenal 3 - 2 Crystal Palace Gabriel Jesus scored three second-half goals against Crystal Palace as the Gunners came from behind to reach the semi-finals. Author - DJ They were his first goals at Emirates Stadium in a year and also only the second game he has scored in this season, following a strike against Preston - also in the EFL Cup - at the end of October. Jesus has not scored in the Premier League since 30 January and Arteta hopes his treble will spur him to start finding the back of net in the league again to aid Arsenal's title challenge. Arteta's subs help his side move a step closer to a trophy Crystal Palace seemed poised to pull off an upset on Wednesday, taking the lead with their very first shot of the match. Jean-Philippe Mateta outmuscled Jakub Kiwior to slot home the opener. Mikel Arteta made sweeping changes to the team that drew 0-0 with Everton at the weekend, handing Kieran Tierney his first Arsenal appearance since the 2023 Community Shield . However,...

Real Madrid win FIFA Intercontinental Cup

Image
Real Madrid 3 - 0 Pachuca Real Madrid have claimed the first-ever FIFA Intercontinental Cup with a commanding victory over Mexican side Pachuca in the final. Author - Jack L Kylian MbappĂ© opened the scoring at Lusail Stadium, the same venue where he netted a hat-trick in the World Cup final two years ago. Second-half goals from Rodrygo and VinĂ­cius Jr sealed the win for Los Blancos. MbappĂ© put Madrid ahead just before half-time, calmly slotting home from close range after VinĂ­cius rounded Pachuca goalkeeper Carlos Moreno. Rodrygo doubled the lead seven minutes after the break with a stunning curling strike from the edge of the area. The goal was upheld following a VAR check, as referee JesĂºs Valenzuela ruled that Jude Bellingham, positioned in an offside spot, hadn’t interfered with play. Click here to discover Real Madrid news and stories from European Super Football Pachuca’s captain, SalomĂ³n RondĂ³n, tested Thibaut Courtois with a long-range free-kick, and the former West Brom an...

A history of festive football in the UK

Image
 We love festive football The festive period is one of the most cherished times in the football calendar for fans across the United Kingdom.  Author - Liam C A throwback to a classic Boxing Day encounter at Old Trafford While many sports wind down for a winter break or a period of rest, football thrives, with packed schedules offering an array of fixtures. It’s a tradition steeped in history, filled with drama, and laden with nostalgia that connects generations of supporters. We'll explore how festive football became such an integral part of the beautiful game in Britain.  The origins of Christmas football The roots of festive football date back to the late 19th century, shortly after the formation of the Football League in 1888. During this era, Christmas and Boxing Day matches became a fixture in the footballing calendar. With industrialisation transforming the country, football offered working-class communities an escape from their gruelling daily lives, and the ho...

Chelsea progress as group winners in Women's Champions League

Image
Real Madrid 1 - 2 Chelsea Substitute Catarina Macario scored twice from the spot as Chelsea overturned a deficit to defeat Real Madrid and secure their place in the Women’s Champions League quarter-finals as Group B winners. Author - Peter Grainger Real Madrid appeared poised to claim top spot after Scotland forward Caroline Weir’s early strike, which deflected off Lucy Bronze , found its way past Hannah Hampton despite the goalkeeper getting a hand to it. Facing her first potential loss since taking charge of the Blues in the summer, Sonia Bompastor made a decisive half-time substitution, bringing on US international Catarina Macario for the ineffective Mayra Ramirez. Macario made an immediate impact. After seeing one effort ruled out for offside and narrowly missing the target with another, she earned and converted her first penalty in the 51st minute after being brought down by Olga Carmona. Carmona, who famously scored the winner in Spain’s 1-0 victory over England in the 2023...

Vinicius Jr announced as Fifa Best men's player of the year

Image
Opinion: We think he's a worthy winner Real Madrid winger VinĂ­cius JĂºnior has been crowned Men’s Player of the Year at the FIFA Best Awards. Author - Jack L Picture from  Real Madrid | Flickr VinĂ­cius was instrumental in Real Madrid’s success during their 2023-24 campaign, which saw them clinch both the Champions Leagu e and La Liga titles. He contributed an impressive 24 goals and 11 assists over the season. Earlier in the evening, Barcelona’s Aitana BonmatĂ­ was named Women’s Player of the Year, securing the award for the second consecutive year. This marks VinĂ­cius’ first win at the FIFA Best Awards, offering a more positive end to the season following October’s Ballon d’Or snub. The Ballon d’Or and FIFA Best Awards are widely regarded as the two most prestigious accolades in football. Prior to this year, Lionel Messi had claimed the FIFA Best title for two consecutive years, with Robert Lewandowski winning the two before that. This award, covering performances between August...

Unal's stunning free-kick earns Cherries deserved point

Image
Bournemouth 1-1 West Ham United Enes Unal’s breathtaking free-kick salvaged a deserved 1-1 draw for Bournemouth against West Ham, after Lucas PaquetĂ¡’s controversial penalty—awarded by VAR—put the visitors ahead. Author - Jamie P Unal stepped up from nearly 30 yards out to unleash a powerful strike that left Lukasz Fabianski rooted to the spot, bringing relief to the home crowd following a contentious handball decision that had moments earlier gone against the Cherries. Bournemouth had piled on the pressure since the break, firing off 17 shots in total, but looked to be heading for frustration as West Ham’s resolute defence held firm. Then came a stroke of fortune for the Hammers, who broke the deadlock via a contentious penalty decision. Nicklas FĂ¼llkrug’s header was comfortably saved by Kepa Arrizabalaga, but VAR official Michael Salisbury spotted a potential handball by Tyler Adams from Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s cross. After a lengthy review and a trip to the pitch-side monitor by ref...