For some time now, the name Patricio Pacífico has been circulating by word of mouth among Uruguayan football fans. Developed at Defensor Sporting, the left-footed centre-back had previously stood out in Uruguay’s youth national teams as one of the most promising players of the 2006 generation. Identified as part of...
The Bundesliga title race is rather dull, if we are being honest; Bayern Munich and Vincent Kompany are already running away with the title. Behind FC Bayern, there is a vast power struggle about who is number two in German football at the moment. The three key players in this...
The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is set to kick off on 21st December 2025 in Morocco, running until 18 January 2026, and promises a thrilling spectacle of African football. This edition of Africa’s premier international tournament features 24 national sides competing across multiple cities and world-class stadiums throughout...
In modern football analysis, set-pieces are often framed as marginal gains and supplementary opportunities rather than primary attacking mechanisms. Espanyol under Manolo González challenge this assumption. Throughout the 2025/2026 season, corners have emerged not as occasional advantages but as a central component of their attacking identity. RCD Espanyol de Barcelona...
Looking back ten years to the 2015/2016 season, Eintracht Frankfurt were in deep trouble. After conceding a late goal against Werder Bremen on the last matchday of the season, the club dropped to 16th in the league and had to participate in the relegation play-off. With the club on the...
Napoli faced AC Milan in the Supercoppa Italiana semi-finals recently and beat them to advance to the final against Bologna. After winning the title last season, I Rossoneri failed to repeat the feat this time, as Napoli were more determined and crucial in both the defensive and attacking phases, ensuring a positive result...
Chelsea are having an up-and-down season, currently sitting in fourth place and eight points behind league leaders Arsenal. The Blues have dealt with injuries and bad results, but one of the main bright spots this season has been Enzo Fernández. With Cole Palmer missing most of the season due to...
Modern central defending has changed. Centre-backs still must defend their box, win duels, and clear danger. But most teams nowadays ask them to start the attack in the first phase, to vary their passing, to be comfortable under pressure, and to solve problems with the ball as much as without...
Chema Andrés (190cm/6’3”, 77kg/169lbs) joined VfB Stuttgart from Real Madrid this past summer for a transfer fee of just €3m. Andrés was a Real Madrid academy product, having joined Los Blancos' youth setup from Levante in 2018. Like many who came through the Galacticos academy before him, such as Juan...
Jay Stansfield is a player who’s had real pressure on his shoulders from a young age and learned quickly how to deal with it. Growing up around senior football through his father, the late Adam Stansfield, meant he was exposed to the realities of the game early, not just the academy...
Manchester United faced AFC Bournemouth in Gameweek 16 of the 2025/2026 Premier League campaign, and it was one of the most entertaining games of the season, ending in a 4-4 draw. It was, however, not so entertaining for both teams’ players and managers, especially for Manchester United, who were winning...
Atlético Madrid’s attacking corners in the 2025/2026 La Liga season are not designed as isolated scoring attempts. They serve as a mechanism to maintain territorial dominance, destabilise defensive structures, and create repeatable, high-value moments near the goal. Rather than relying on elaborate choreography. Atlético's strategy revolves around three core principles:...
Manchester City defeated Crystal Palace 3-0 in Gameweek 16 of the 2025/2026 edition of the Premier League. With a brace from Erling Haaland and a stunner from Phil Foden, the Cityzens secured the all-important points to maintain second place, as Aston Villa chase them with just a point difference. The...
Lennart Karl is a standout player for Bayern Munich in the 2025/2026 season, having been promoted from the Bayern Munich U19 team last year. The 17-year-old midfielder has played 22 games and scored 8 goals, becoming one of Bayern's best players this season, with a Transfermarkt market value of €20m. He primarily plays...
In the Bundesliga, 1. FSV Mainz 05 have had a very weird trajectory in the last couple of seasons. Between being caught in the relegation battle, historically bad seasons and European outings, the club has longed for consistency for years. After a bad start to the season, the team fired...
Hugo Duro has cemented his role as a key figure in Valencia CF's current era under the guidance of coach Carlos Corberán. Following several seasons with inconsistent performances, Duro has become the team's reliable offensive leader in the 2025/2026 season. With five goals in 15 La Liga matches, he is...
Aston Villa entered the 2025/2026 campaign with a noticeably unstable rhythm, struggling to impose their identity during the opening weeks despite the continuity under Unai Emery. As the season unfolded, the team experienced a clear tactical reawakening, evolving into one of the Premier League’s most balanced and tactically adaptable sides....
Celtic hosted AS Roma for the UEFA Europa League sixth fixture at Celtic Park, and the match ended with a convincing 0-3 away win for Roma. Celtic’s change of manager and playing system made things a bit complicated for the team, mainly because they faced a very organised team with experience...
Lens top Ligue 1 as we close in on the halfway point, ahead of PSG by one point at the top of the table. The historic French club has had a meteoric rise over the past five years, considering they were in Ligue 2 as recently as 2020. Franck Haise...
Real Madrid hosted Manchester City in a UEFA Champions League clash that renewed the rivalry between the two teams and delivered one of the most-watched encounters in the competition. The match ended with a 1-2 win for Man City, who climbed to fourth spot and are further confirming their qualification...
