European Super Football

 2023/2024 was another historic campaign for Brighton & Hove Albion. Let's explore what happened. This was the 122nd season in the history of Brighton & Hove Albion and their seventh consecutive season in the Premier League.  They also competed in the Premier League, the FA Cup, the EFL Cup and a debut appearance in UEFA Europa League.  Some of the match reports from their campaign. On August 12th, they welcomed Luton Town for the opening game of the seaso n, marking the Hatters' debut in the Premier League. Albion emerged victorious with a 4–1 win. This match also saw the debuts of several players, including João Pedro and Simon Adingra. Against Newcastle United in September,  Evan Ferguson scored a hat-trick to show off his extraordinary potential. Amy, a Brighton fan, was delighted with their performance. She said: "We played well against one of the best teams in the Premier League. All the fans are delighted with the attitude of the players. It has b...

Brighton & Hove Albion 0 - 3 Arsenal Arsenal moved to the top of the Premier League table (potentially only for one day) after a convincing away victory over Brighton, keeping their hope for their first title in 20 years alive. The returning Bukayo Saka, absent for Wednesday's 2-0 victory over Luton with a minor injury, kept his composure under pressure to slam in a first-half penalty awarded for Tariq Lamptey's foul on Gabriel Jesus. David Raya jumped to save Julio Enciso's long-range shot, which was Brighton's first on-target attempt, securing Arsenal's lead before halftime. It was the in-form Kai Havertz who gave the Gunners breathing space, slotting in from Jorginho's cut-back to settle nerves among the travelling Arsenal support after the hour mark. Leandro Trossard initially failed to score against Bart Verbruggen, but later on, he calmly lifted the ball over the Seagulls goalkeeper to seal the victory after being played through by Havertz. Tro...

 Brighton & Hove Albion 4 - 0 West Ham United Brighton boosted their hopes of European qualification  with a thumping Premier League victory over struggling West Ham. How successful could this season end up being for Brighton? When their former manager left for Chelsea, very few fans would have expected them to be above the side from London by the time we reached this stage of the season. Alexis Mac Allister put Albion in front midway through the first half, converting from the spot after Jarrod Bowen bundled Kaoru Mitoma over in the area. Substitute Joel Veltman doubled the hosts' lead soon after half-time, chesting the ball in at the far post following a corner. This was before Mitoma slid in to make it 3-0. Brighton fans were already loving their afternoon at this point.  Danny Welbeck added further gloss to the scoreline late on, drilling a right-footed shot into the bottom corner to condemn the Hammers to their biggest defeat of the season. Deserved victory f...

 Brighton & Hove Albion 1 - 0 Manchester United Let's explore as Brighton sealed a late win over Manchester United at the Amex Stadium. Despite creating several chances, United probably didn't deserve the win . In all honesty, a draw would have been a fair result and it took a late VAR decision to give Brighton the victory. The match in context Despite the defeat, United are still in a prime position to reach the Champions League by finishing in the top four. However, the margin for error has been reduced, and they must hold their nerve after this dramatic defeat. This Brighton win followed a 6-0 thrashing of Wolves, and many fans believe performances like these will be critical in the chase for Europe. The tweet "Massive Win" from the official Brighton Twitter account probably summed up everything. Massive. Win. pic.twitter.com/UAbflVwkGt — Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) May 4, 2023   Looking back at United, they stay in 4th place and are 4 po...

Brighton and Hove Albion 1 - 0 Aston Villa The impact of this Villa defeat was ultimately lessened after Spurs lost 4 - 2 away at Liverpool  Joao Pedro scored a late goal as Brighton put a small dent in Aston Villa's Champions League hopes at the Amex Stadium. The winner arrived when Pedro scored a rebound in the 87th minute after his penalty was saved by Robin Olsen. Earlier in the match, Pascal Gross had an effort for the hosts ruled out for offside by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) . At the other end of the pitch, Villa captain John McGinn was also judged to be inches ahead of the Brighton defence before scoring in vain. Brighton's beat Aston Villa in a home game for the first time in the Premier League since its inception and for the first time at home across all competitions since December 1980. For Brighton fans, this win was a huge relief. Even then, they will have a few concerns. A lack of goals is not a characteristic often associated with Brighton managed by De...

 Stoke City 0 - 1 Brighton & Hove Albion Brighton's hopes of securing a first major trophy remain alive as Evan Ferguson's fifth goal of the season proved enough to secure a place in the next round of the FA Cup.  Evan's fifth goal of the season, put on a plate by Kaoru! 🍽️⚽️ @BrightonTools 📺 pic.twitter.com/Pbg6v8U7ld — Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) March 1, 2023 Ferguson's effort saw off a battling Stoke outfit. The home side came closest to equalising when on-loan Manchester United defender Axel Tuanzebe sent a far-post header across goal and only narrowly wide. Roberto de Zerbi's men failed to reach the heights that allowed them to beat Liverpool in the previous round. However, Brighton skipper Lewis Dunk turned in another impressive defensive display on his 400th appearance for the club. The away side always had a measure of control against their Championship opponents. Is history about to be made? This will only be Brighton's thir...

Brighton & Hove Albion 3 - 0 Chelsea Kaoru Mitoma scored a sensational opener as Brighton loosened Chelsea's grip on a place in the top four of the Premier League with their second win over the Stamford Bridge club within a week. Author - Lauren W Stadium - Amex Stadium The result means the Seagulls, who also knocked Enzo Maresca's side out of the FA Cup last Saturday, move up to eighth in the table. They are now only four points behind Manchester City in fifth. There's still a chance that finishing fifth could earn someone a Champions League place for next season. A closer look at what happened Mitoma set the home side on their way, superbly controlling goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen's long pass forward with a fantastic touch. He then cut inside Trevoh Chalobah and curling a low effort past Filip Jorgensen into the right corner of the Chelsea net. A Brighton win never looked in doubt from that point. They deservedly recorded their first home league win since Novem...

 West Ham United 0 - 0 Brighton & Hove Albion This match marked the first occasion in 24 league matches that Brighton didn't concede a goal, putting an end to a record-setting streak for the club. For West Ham, they would have been hoping to build on their wins over Manchester United and Arsenal but will ultimately be delighted with their points return over the Christmas and New Year period.  Brighton enjoyed more possession and created better chances in what was largely a dull game to kick off 2024 for both teams at London Stadium . The first half lacked quality and opportunities, with West Ham coming closest to scoring as Jason Steele saved James Ward-Prowse's powerful volley with his legs. Jack Hinshelwood and Pascal Gross of Brighton were both thwarted by Alphonse Areola, the home keeper, with point-blank stops. Premier League news and stories: 2023/2024 Brighton news and stories from European Super Football Cool as you like 🧊 pic.twitter.com/PSz55x9EaN — West...

Manchester United 1 - 3 Brighton & Hove Albion Let's explore some of what is going wrong at Manchester United after their third defeat of the season. Criticism for the manager? The home crowd turned against manager Erik ten Hag as Manchester United lost 3-1 to Brighton at Old Trafford. United fans have overwhelmingly supported Ten Hag since he arrived last summer, and they have backed him in his dispute with Jadon Sancho. A cacophony of boos rang around the stadium before Ten Hag was applauded off as he replaced new signing Rasmus Hojlund with Anthony Martial 19 minutes into the second period. After the match, United's Dutch manager defended this decision.  🚨🇩🇰 Erik Ten Hag on boos for subbing Hojlund: "It was positive. You see the fans in first moment at Old Trafford, reception was great, he performed very well, it was good they gave this signal, will give him belief. He came in with a small issue, he is not ready for a whole… — UtdPlug (@UtdPlug) September...

 Brighton and Hove Albion 3 - 3 Brentford Brighton and Brentford played out one of the games of the season as both clubs chase European qualification.  Brighton settled into an early rhythm, keeping the ball well, and looking to get Solly March and Mitoma involved from wide areas. The returning Jansson was stepping out of defence to shadow Argentina’s World Cup winner, Mac Allister, wherever he went. That left space in the right centre-back position which Brighton tried to exploit. A brilliant Pinnock challenge was the only thing that stopped Mitoma from opening the scoring on six minutes - the Japanese winger racing down that channel and in on goal from Moises Caicedo’s through ball. From the resulting corner, Mathias Jensen got his body in the way of March’s close-range effort.Joel Veltman had Brighton’s next opening, again from a corner, before Brentford took the lead with their first real foray forward. After sending everyone up for a long throw, Jensen went short befo...

Brighton & Hove Albion 2 - 1 Liverpool It was a dramatic end to the match in Brighton KAORU MITOMA. 92ND MINUTE AGAINST LIVERPOOL. UNREAL 🔥 pic.twitter.com/c9se5K1Ee1 — B/R Football (@brfootball) January 29, 2023 Kaoru Mitoma scored in injury time as Brighton knocked holders Liverpool out of the cup with an impressive victory at the Amex.With the game heading to a draw the Japanese winger Mitoma produced a great piece of control before firing in from close range to stun the Reds. Jurgen Klopp's side, who were beaten 3-0 at the Seagulls two weeks ago, took the lead midway through the first half when Harvey Elliott slotted into the bottom corner from Mohamed Salah's pass following a quick break. Brighton then equalised when Tariq Lamptey's shot from distance deflected heavily off Lewis Dunk to fly into the back of the net. Late drama It looked like a replay would be needed to decide the tie before Mitoma stepped up to snatch another big result for Brighton. It is a ...

Wolves 2 - 3 Brighton & Hove Albion There was an absolute Premier League cracker in the Midlands. On the day former Spain and Real Madrid boss Julen Lopetegui was announced as their next manager, Wolves showed battling qualities as they played the second-half a man down following Nelson Semedo's red card just before half-time. A pulsating opening period saw Wolves respond to falling behind to a rare Adam Lallana goal with Goncalo Guedes and a Ruben Neves penalty putting them 2-1 up. However, they then conceded an equaliser a minute from Japan international Kaoru Mitoma before the break. Semedo's dismissal for a foul on Mitoma shortly afterwards then drastically changed the dynamic of the contest. Winger Mitoma was a pivotal figure in the game and it was his run into the box that created the opportunity for Gross' winner.  After often being accused of wastefulness in front of goal, Brighton have now scored 7 goals in two matches and they look a threat every time the...

Brighton have appointed Fabian Hurzeler as their new manager. They have made him the youngest full-time boss in Premier League history. Hurzeler, who led St Pauli to the Bundesliga 2 title last season with 20 wins out of 34 matches, has signed a contract running until 2027. He will join the team once he receives his work permit, just in time for Brighton's pre-season preparations in July. If any club was likely to appoint a 31-year-old manager, younger than their captain and several key players, it would be Brighton. The club has a reputation for pushing boundaries and thinking outside the box to compete with bigger, richer, and more established Premier League teams. Hurzeler’s CV may not be extensive, but it includes notable success and a commitment to a playing style similar to that of his predecessors, De Zerbi and Graham Potter. Brighton & Hove Albion: 23/24 Season Review De Zerbi to leave Brighton  Premier League: Summer 2024 news and stories Every managerial appointme...

Brighton & Hove Albion 0 - 0 Brentford Brighton’s winless streak in the Premier League extended to six matches after a determined Brentford side held them to a goalless draw, securing only their second away point of the season. Author - Craig H The home side came close to breaking the deadlock just five minutes in. Joao Pedro, with his back to goal, cleverly laid the ball off to Julio Enciso, whose first-time curling effort struck the right post. That was as close as either team came to scoring on a chilly, misty evening at the Amex Stadium. Brentford, boasting the league’s worst away record, thought they’d taken the lead in the 14th minute against the run of play. Yoane Wissa burst through Brighton’s defence and finished emphatically, only for VAR to rule him narrowly offside as he collected the ball. There was a heartwarming moment late on when Brighton midfielder Solly March came on as a substitute to a standing ovation from the home crowd. It marked his return after 14 mon...

In the build-up to the final Premier League game of the season, there has been a huge announcement from Brighton.  Head coach Roberto de Zerbi will leave the club after their final Premier League match at home to Manchester United. The former Shakhtar Donetsk coach De Zerbi joined the Seagulls in September 2022 on a four-year deal. However, he won't be seeing that deal out.  De Zerbi arrived after former Brighton boss Graham Potter moved to Chelsea.  In his first season, he led the club to their highest-ever top-flight position and European qualification for the first time in their history. This campaign hasn't been as good but they have never looked in any danger of anything like a relegation battle.  They did have a great run in the Europa League . The Seagulls enjoyed Europa League wins over Ajax, Marseille and AEK Athens to top their group before being knocked out eventually by Roma. It remains to be seen where De Zerbi will be going next, but he has been li...

 Brighton & Hove Albion 0 - 2 Manchester United Rasmus Hojlund and Diogo Dalot helped Manchester United  conclude  their league campaign with a 2-0 victory over Brighton. Despite the win, Erik ten Hag's side finished the campaign in eighth place – their lowest top-flight position since 1989-90. Brighton, on the other hand, couldn't provide the perfect send-off for departing boss Roberto De Zerbi, despite having better chances and dominating possession. Adam Webster and Joao Pedro came closest to putting the Seagulls ahead in the first half, but neither had the clinical edge to beat Andre Onana. Brighton  were  left ruing missed opportunities when Dalot slotted past Jason Steele in the 73rd  minute,  before substitute Hojlund secured the three points two minutes before the end of normal time. The Seagulls ended the season in 11th place, missing out on the top half by a single point. Manchester United entered the final day knowing they needed a ...

Brighton & Hove Albion 1 - 1 Arsenal João Pedro’s second-half penalty dealt a blow to Arsenal’s title ambitions as Brighton held them to a frustrating draw. Author - Ajay  Arsenal started brightly, taking the lead in the 16th minute through Ethan Nwaneri, making just his second Premier League start. The 17-year-old combined cleverly with Mikel Merino and Declan Rice before unleashing a shot that slipped past Bart Verbruggen and nestled in the far corner. The Gunners dominated the first half and looked poised to extend their advantage. However, missed opportunities came back to haunt them when Pedro equalised from the spot just after the hour mark. Click here for more Premier League news and stories The penalty stemmed from an unusual incident as Pedro flicked the ball up, and William Saliba, attempting to clear with his head, made contact with Pedro, who went down. After a VAR review, the referee confirmed the decision, and Pedro confidently sent David Raya the wrong way to...

Manchester United 2 - 0 Brighton & Hove Albion There's no place quite like it ❤️ #MUFC | #PhotoOfTheDay pic.twitter.com/EUy93lvyt4 — Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 16, 2022 There was a massive sense of relief at Old Trafford as Manchester United battled to a much-needed win over Brighton.  The three points have their hopes of a top-four finish a huge boost. You can watch the highlights of the match in the video below. Footage from the Manchester United YouTube channel.  Manchester United - YouTube Key Talking Points United's goals came in the second half and were scored by Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes. Brighton's Lewis Dunk was sent off for denying a goal-scoring opportunity. Did VAR and the referee eventually get to the correct decision? Dermot Gallagher looks at the red card given to Brighton captain Lewis Dunk against Man Utd 👀 🎥 #RefWatch pic.twitter.com/6TbtDnwN6E — Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 16, 2022  One Twit...

Brighton & Hove Albion 2 - 1 Chelsea Brighton staged an impressive comeback to knock Chelsea out of the FA Cup and secure their place in the fifth round. Author - Jack L Stadium - Amex Stadium Chelsea took a somewhat fortunate lead early on when Cole Palmer’s lofted cross from the left was spilled into his own net by Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen. But the Seagulls responded well, with Georginio Rutter heading home from Joel Veltman’s delivery to bring them level. The turnaround was completed when Rutter turned provider, picking out Kaoru Mitoma—whose £54m move to Saudi side Al-Nassr fell through before the transfer deadline—who calmly lifted the ball over Robert Sánchez. Chelsea were incensed, arguing the goal should have been disallowed after the ball struck Tariq Lamptey’s arm in the build-up. However, with no VAR in operation for the fourth round, their protests were waved away. Click here for more Brighton news Carefree: This is the place for Chelsea stories and match...

Brighton & Hove Albion 0 - 0 Manchester United United won 7-6 on penalties Manchester United set up a final against Manchester City after beating Brighton in a dramatic penalty shootout. In a match that finished goalless after extra time, United defender Victor Lindelof scored the decisive spot-kick after Solly March sent his effort high over the bar. The result means Erik ten Hag's side has reached their second domestic final of the season. In a scrappy semi-final, both goalkeepers excelled with David de Gea making several fine saves and Brighton's Robert Sanchez brilliantly turning away Marcus Rashford's deflected effort in extra time. With Manchester City still battling for a Treble after beating Sheffield United 3-0 with a Riyad Mahrez hat-trick, the two Manchester sides have a huge game to look forward to. Whatever happens, it will likely  be a match that people talk about for a long time. FA Cup reaction as Man City progress to final (eurosuperfootball.blogsp...