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Europa Conference League: West Ham pick up first-leg win

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West Ham United 3 - 1 Viborg FF Gianluca Scamacca scored his first West Ham goal as they beat Danish side Viborg in their Europa Conference League play-off first leg at London Stadium. The Italian forward, a £30.5m signing from Sassuolo, was handed his first start and took just 24 minutes to make an impact when he headed in following neat play on the left from fellow new arrival Maxwel Cornet. West Ham players celebrate - Picture from  Football Pictures | Flickr It set the hosts on their way to a first victory this season, having lost their opening two Premier League games without scoring a goal. Jarrod Bowen zipped a second into the bottom corner from distance with 26 minutes to go. However, the visitors hit back immediately through Jakob Bonde's header. That almost made life uncomfortable for the Hammers until Said Benrahma and Michail Antonio combined for the latter to tap into an empty net and secure a healthy advantage going into the second leg. That second leg will take p

Premier League: Spurs and Chelsea battle at Stamford Bridge

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Chelsea 2 - 2 Tottenham Let's have a look at all the reaction after the game of the Premier League so far was played out at Chelsea A superb article in The Guardian said: "For connoisseurs of football managers’ handshakes, this was the reward for those hours of dedication. For everyone else it was the inevitable conclusion to an afternoon that had hit boiling point during a second half of twists, turns and raw vitriol." TUCHEL VS CONTE: ROUND TWO!!! 🤬🤬 pic.twitter.com/XhWuOU4fwD — Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 14, 2022 Tottenham rescued an undeserved draw through Harry Kane’s deflected header and there was scant chance, given what had passed, that Thomas Tuchel and Antonio Conte would part ways with smiles and invitations for a post-match beer.  The sight of the pair clashing for a second time after the final whistle, eyes bulging and throats bawling, was astonishing by any measure and will keep the FA’s disciplinarians fully occupied in the e

Premier League: A new low for Manchester United

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Brentford 4 - 0 Manchester United Was this a new for Manchester United? (Warning- the video below contains some strong language) Never have I been lost for words like I am still today. Myself driving me & 4 other mates from Manchester to Brentford & back again for that performance. & to top it off only 7 of the entire matchday squad had some sort of bottle to front upto us fans in the away end who despite pic.twitter.com/go07q8eteR — Benjamin Brazil (@bennymufc) August 14, 2022 It is the first time United have started a league campaign with consecutive losses since the 1992-93 season. Brentford produced a sensational first-half performance as they scored four goals in the first 35 minutes to condemn Manchester United to a terrible defeat. Josh Dasilva put the hosts ahead when his strike from distance somehow eluded United goalkeeper David de Gea. Mathias Jensen doubled the lead after dispossessing former Brentford player Christian Eriksen, with Ben Mee and Bryan Mbeumo go

Ballon d'Or shortlist announced

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The shortlist for Ballon d'Or 2022  has been announced, and there have been some interesting developments. Let's take a look at some of the talking points. No Messi and Neymar! Lionel Messi and Neymar have not been included on the 30-man shortlist for the 2022 Ballon d'Or. The Argentina international has won the most Ballons d'Or in history with seven, but he did not make the list despite scoring 11 goals in 34 matches for Paris Saint-Germain last season. His team-mate Neymar is also not on the list. He played just 28 times for PSG last season in an injury-hit campaign. Kylian Mbappe does make the list. Recognition for the Lionesses  England's Euro 2022 success has been recognised. Millie Bright, Beth Mead and Lucy Bronze have been nominated for the women's Ballon d'Or, awarded to the best female footballer of 2022. Women's Euro 2022: England win after dramatic final (eurosuperfootball.blogspot.com) Who could win it? Real Madrid's Karim Benzema,

Super Cup reaction: Real Madrid win another European trophy

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Real Madrid 2 - 0 Eintracht Frankfurt Let's look at all the best reactions from the media and across the internet as Real Madrid won the UEFA Super Cup  How Real Madrid won the UEFA Champions League How Frankfurt won the UEFA Europa League You can watch the highlights in the video below.  Footage from BT Sport This is what the BBC's post-match report said: Karim Benzema continued his Ballon d'Or pursuit with a 324th goal for European champions Real Madrid as they beat Eintracht Frankfurt to lift the Uefa Super Cup in Helsinki. Carlo Ancelotti's side, who beat Liverpool to win the Champions League in May, took the lead when David Alaba tapped into an empty net, with Frankfurt goalkeeper Kevin Trapp stranded following Casemiro's header back across goal. Benzema doubled the Spanish giants' lead after the break with a first-time finish from Vinicius Jr's cross to move second on Real's all-time goalscoring list, overtaking Raul and behind only Cristiano R

Transfer News: Werner moves back to Germany

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You just know that we're in for a busy few days in the transfer market. It has been announced that RB Leipzig have re-signed Chelsea forward Timo Werner on a permanent deal, two years after he left the club for the Premier League. Chelsea met the Germany international's £45m release clause in 2020 but will make a loss, with Werner returning in a deal thought to be about £25m. He has signed a four-year deal to 2026 with his former club. Werner scored 23 goals in 89 games in all competitions for Chelsea, winning the Champions League in 2021. It was for many though, a very mixed time in London despite success un Europe.  This was how Chelsea's official Twitter account responded to the news Thank you and good luck in Germany, Timo! 💙 pic.twitter.com/lKunDCrZkM — Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) August 9, 2022  One Chelsea fan replied: "Honestly Devastated for Werner. I don't understand why we are selling our only good striker and keeping Havertz who offers nothing to

Premier League: Bad start for Man United

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Manchester United 1 - 2 Brighton & Hove Albion Brighton survived an onslaught to secure a first win at Old Trafford and condemn Erik ten Hag to a losing start as Manchester United manager. Pascal Gross' first-half double stunned the home supporters, who were desperate to see their team put a miserable end to last season behind them. United were outplayed in the opening period by Graham Potter's side, who beat them 4-0 at the Amex Stadium in May on their way to a ninth-placed finish in the Premier League, their highest in history. Brighton would ultimately go home happy again. Not even the second-half introduction of Cristiano Ronaldo could deny the away side. United did threaten a comeback when a scramble inside the visitors' box ended with Alexis Mac Allister turning the ball into his own net after goalkeeper Robert Sanchez had touched it into his path under pressure from several United players. Both pictures below are from  Football Pictures | Flickr Maguire does not