Analysis

Following the departure of Antoine Semenyo, Bournemouth required reinforcement in their attack. They found their replacement in Vasco da Gama’s 19-year-old prodigy, Rayan, for whom they paid €28.5m. The Brazilian debuted for his boyhood club as early as 2023, at age 17, but it wasn't until last year that he...

After fighting against relegation during the 2024/2025 season, Hoffenheim have skyrocketed up the Bundesliga table. They currently sit in third place with 42 points and a +20 goal differential, when they finished last season with only 32 points total. It’s been one of the best turnarounds in European football this...

In the often under-appreciated competitive ecosystem of the Regionalliga Südwest, few prospects have generated as much analytical buzz as Oskar Hencke, a teenager whose technical acuity and tactical maturity have already begun to shape Stuttgarter Kickers’ attacking DNA. At an age when many of his peers are still navigating physical...

Paris Saint-Germain arrived at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday night with the intention of confirming their direct qualification to the Round of 16 and maintaining their momentum following a historic domestic run. The context, however, was far from simple: awaiting them was a Newcastle United side that, despite a...

Napoli hosted Chelsea at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona for the final fixture of the UEFA Champions League group stage, and Chelsea won 2-3. Chelsea’s comeback secured them a direct qualification to the knockout round without having to go through the playoffs, as the win granted them the sixth spot in the...

The winter window has a unique influence on football because it can change a season and sometimes even the trajectory of a career.  Jesse Lingard’s move to West Ham United in 2021 was the clearest reminder of how quickly form can be recovered when a player is given responsibility.  In...

Douglas Luiz caught European attention when he joined Aston Villa on loan from Manchester City for the 2019/2020 season. After four years with the Villans, he made the jump to join Juventus for the 2024/2025 season, with a peak market value of €70m and Juventus paying a fee of €51.5m....

When we talk about Álvaro Rodríguez, we're not talking about a young striker brought in to fill a temporary void, but rather a player who is employed at Elche as a clearly defined tactical solution.  He is coming from Real Madrid, where strikers are valued for their ability to adapt...

Operating predominantly as an attacking midfielder, left or right winger, or occasionally as a false nine, Phil Foden combines technical proficiency with spatial awareness to influence both possession-based and transitional phases. At Manchester City, he has operated across multiple positions, adapting his movements, positioning, and decision-making to Pep Guardiola’s tactical...

“Systems no longer exist.” Luciano Spalletti’s statement in 2022 was neither a provocative gesture nor a denial of structure, but rather a reorientation of the analytical focus of the game. For the Italian coach, contemporary football is no longer primarily organised around fixed schemes or static arrangements, but around the...

Celta Vigo enter the 2025/2026 season in a completely different position from their traditional image as a relegation-threatened team.  The team is no longer content with merely reacting to events; it strives to impose its own rhythm, even against higher-quality opponents.  The continuation of the project under Claudio Giráldez has...

Arsenal hosted Manchester United in Gameweek 23 of the 2025/2026 Premier League, losing 2-3. Despite being dominant across ball possession (56%), expected goals (1.19), and total shots (15), the Gunners trailed for most of the game. Their late equaliser was countered by Man United’s winner just a few minutes later. After the result,...

AS Roma hosted AC Milan at the Stadio Olimpico in Gameweek 22 of Serie A, and the match ended in a 1-1 draw that did neither team any favours. In fact, the draw suits the ambitions of their opponents in the standings, especially those who can benefit from such a draw. Following...

Derby County versus West Bromwich Albion saw two teams trying to inject momentum into the second halves of their seasons, where avoiding a loss was a key focus for both dugouts. Derby County, off the back of two hard-fought away wins, have been left with a renewed sense of optimism...

It’s been a rollercoaster of a season for Nottingham Forest, who find themselves in the relegation fight. They were coming off a historic season in which they were in the top four until Matchweek 33, eventually falling to seventh place. Nuno Espírito Santo did a masterful job tactically turning Nottingham...

The Premier League sells itself as football at its most unforgiving. Not just in speed, but in the way mistakes are multiplied by tempo, spacing, and the frequency of high-stress actions. Players who arrive with reputations from elsewhere often discover that the same decision-making cycle is little help. Todd Boehly...

Last Saturday at the Allianz Arena, what was billed as another step toward domestic dominance instead became a moment of introspection and strategic recalibration. In a game dissected by pretty much every media outlet in Germany, Bayern Munich and Augsburg contested a derby rich in nuance and momentum swings. In...

The 2025 AFCON concluded in breathtaking fashion as Senegal claimed the continental crown with a dramatic 1–0 victory over hosts Morocco in the final. In a night filled with intense emotion and unforgettable moments, Pape Gueye’s extra-time strike secured Senegal’s second AFCON title, capping off a tournament that showcased the...

Inter Milan secured an entertaining win against Pisa in the 22nd Serie A fixture, a match that featured a total of eight goals. Pisa surprised by scoring two goals first, but Inter Milan reacted well and turned the tables on Pisa, equalising and then adding to their lead, consolidating top...

Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 have produced many fantastic exports over the years that have gone on to have great careers.  N'Golo Kanté and Riyad Mahrez come to mind, who were directly scouted from Ligue 2 and went on to be a famous pairing in one of sport’s greatest achievements. ...