The Champions League gets back underway this week following the international break with several sides in desperate need of victories to spark their European campaign into life.
Group A
Napoli will travel to Amsterdam looking to maintain their perfect start against an Ajax side smarting from their late defeat against Liverpool. The Italians have arguably been the standout side in the competition so far and can take a giant leap towards qualification with a victory in the Dutch capital.
Elsewhere it will be a first ever meeting of Liverpool and Rangers at Anfield with both sides needing wins for different reasons. Liverpool will look to Europe to gain some form after stuttering in the league while Rangers are yet to get off the mark in their return to the top table.
Group B
Club Brugge have arguably been the biggest surprise package in the tournament so far and will look to claim another scalp when they host Atletico Madrid.
The Belgians have made a perfect start and another victory would open a big gap between themselves and third place in the group.
Porto will be aiming to get off the mark after two defeats in their first two games when they host Bayer Leverkusen. The Germans are struggling domestically but did defeat Atletico last time out so they’ll have some belief travelling to Portugal.
Group C
Bayern Munich have once more made an impressive start to a Champions League group stage and will get the action underway on Tuesday when they host Viktoria Plzen in the early kickoff.
The German champions defeated their two biggest group rivals in September and will be expecting to dispatch of their Czech visitors to maintain their lead in the group.
Inter Milan meanwhile will host Barcelona in what is the biggest game of the week.
Both sides came up short when facing Bayern and both defeated Plzen so they’ll view these two upcoming games as the key to deciding who will follow Julien Nagelsmann’s side into the last 16.
Group D
Sporting are another side who have impressed, taking six points in what looked the most open group on paper.
They travel to Marseille on Tuesday who desperately need a win if they are to stand any hope of reaching the next round. The French side have started well in the league but have struggled badly in Europe in recent years and will be desperate to give the home support something to cheer.
Tottenham will visit Eintracht Frankfurt in the other Group D clash looking to bounce back from their weekend defeat to bitter rivals Arsenal and take steps towards qualification. It will be far from easy against the Europa League winners who will also have their sights on the latter stages.
Group E
AC Milan head what has been a very tight and unpredictable Group E and will host Chelsea on Wednesday night with injuries to key players disrupting their preparation.
French pair Mike Maignan and Theo Hernandez will miss the clash against Graham Potter’s men who needs points themselves having stuttered in their opening two games.
Salzburg are unbeaten thus far but have also yet to win but a victory over Dinamo Zagreb at home would put them in good stead heading into the turn in the group. The Croatians will be aiming for another surprise victory having stunned Chelsea last month.
Group F
Holders Real Madrid have made a serene start to their title defence and host Shakhtar on Wednesday looking to maintain their 100% record.
The visitors have also made a good start to the group and look favourites to join their hosts in the next round.
Celtic will travel to Leipzig looking to build on their credible draw against Shakhtar last time out and will need to get something to keep their qualification hopes alive as will the bottom side from East Germany.
Group G
Erling Haaland has been in utterly sensational form this season with 17 goals so far and the visit of FC Copenhagen will offer the Norwegian another chance to add to his tally.
The Danes picked up a draw against Sevilla three weeks ago but will be up against a Manchester City side brimming with confidence after sticking six goals past their local rivals Manchester United.
Sevilla have made a terrible start in La Liga and need to get something at home to Borussia Dortmund to avoid being cut adrift in terms of qualification. Victory for the Germans will see them move five points clear of their hosts with just three games to play.
Group H
Benfica have been another surprise outfit this season, winning nine of ten games in all competitions and two 100% records will go head to head in this group when they host PSG.
The Lisbon side claimed a stunning victory away at Juventus last time out and even a point here at home to the French champions will boost their chances of repeating what they did last year when they knocked Barcelona out in the group stages.
Juventus will be looking to avoid the same fate as the Spaniards and nothing less than three points against Maccabi Haifa in Turin will do, with manager Max Allegri under all sorts of pressure.
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Chelsea will prepare their search for central defenders this summer with the pending departures of Antonio Rudiger, Andreas Christensen, and Cesar Azpilicueta.
Although Christensen and Azpilicueta will decrease Chelsea’s depth in this position, the task of replacing Rudiger will be the toughest part. The German has played over 800 minutes more than teammates in the same position and has been one of the best defenders in the league this season.
Here are four potential defenders who could replace Rudiger next season.
Jules Kounde
Kounde has been the favoured replacement for many Chelsea fans as the Frenchman has been on the radar of many top clubs over the last two seasons.
The 23-year-old has made 28 league appearances this season, helping Sevilla keep 11 clean sheets in their battle for a Champions League spot.
When compared to Rudiger, Kounde matches up very well defensively. They both have won a similar number of tackles and win the majority of them in the defensive third. Rudiger attempts more tackles against players dribbling at him than Kounde, but they are both successful 60% of the time.
The Sevilla defender has made the same number of clearances that Rudiger but is more successful in winning possession after pressing his opponent. Kounde is comfortable passing from the back and wins 63% of his duels.
Due to his age and potential, Kounde is likely to have a high value in the current market. It has been reported that he has a release clause worth £80 million but Sevilla could accept a fee between £60 million and £70 million.
Levi Colwill
Chelsea could avoid paying a fee at all for a defender as Levi Colwill, who is currently on loan at Huddersfield, has shown he can play in Rudiger’s role.
Colwill has operated on the left side of a back three and a back four this season in his 28 Championship appearances. His quality and positioning skills have helped Huddersfield in their fight for promotion back to the Premier League.
The 19-year-old has a pass completion of 78% and 86% in his own half. He averages 1.3 interceptions per game, 1.7 tackles, and 4.2 clearances on his way to 11 clean sheets so far this season.
The Englishman wins 65% of both ground and aerial duels and has only made one error leading to a shot.
Huddersfield have taken many young English players on loan from the Premier League before with the likes of Emile Smith Rowe, Trevor Chalobah and Ben Chilwell all having stints at the club.
Current manager Carlos Corberan has predicted a bold future for Colwill.
“I think he is going to be one of the most important centre-backs for this country in the future. I am seeing a player with a lot of potential and a lot of personality.”
Evan N’Dicka
N’Dicka has the potential to be a like-for-like replacement for Rudiger after being a shining light for Frankfurt in a disappointing domestic campaign.
The Frenchman has played 30 of Frankfurt’s 32 league games as the club currently sits in 12th. Defensively, he averages over four clearances per game along with 1.9 tackles and 1.5 interceptions. He has made more tackles, interceptions, blocks, and clearances than Rudiger this season, and is more effective when pressing the opponent.
The 22-year-old has also shown that he can progress the ball in a similar fashion to Rudiger. Both defenders have a dribble success percentage of 71%, with N’Dicka attempting twice as many dribbles, and completing over 84% of their passes. He has also scored four times and picked up four assists in the Bundesliga this season.
Frankfurt had better luck in their European campaign as they made their way to the Europa League final after beating West Ham. N’Dicka had a special game in the second leg as he managed to win three tackles, made three interceptions, four clearances including one off the line, won eight of his 12 duels, and completed 87.1% of his passes.
Jokso Gvardiol
Gvardiol, much like Kounde, has been linked with many clubs over the last 12 months. Manchester City, Tottenham, and Bayern Munich have all shown interest in the centre-back, who has shown he is very comfortable on the left side of a back three.
The Croatian intercepts far more often than the aforementioned defenders and averages a similar number of tackles per game. He is also very efficient when pressing in the midfield third but does not clear the ball as often as other centre-backs.
The 20-year-old has attempted almost six times as many dribbles as Rudiger and only has a slightly lower success percentage at 68.3%. He has also progressed the ball the same distance as Rudiger this season while attempting 80 fewer carries.
After a poor start to the season, RB Leipzig are currently fifth and one point off a Champions League spot. Their Europa League campaign came to end in the semi-finals after losing to Rangers.
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]]>The tannoy billed it as West Ham’s biggest ever night at the London Stadium. They weren’t wrong.
West Ham arrived trailing 1-0 from the first leg and overturned it with an extra-time winner from Ukrainian winger Andriy Yarmalenko.
David Moyes took over a West Ham side three points above the relegation zone in December 2019. 28 months later, they sit sixth in the Premier League and have cruised into the quarter-finals of the Europa League. RB Leipzig and Barcelona apart, the rest of the draw looks less formidable than the side they just eliminated.
The myth that the London Stadium cannot produce an atmosphere was busted for good as 59,981, including 900 Sevilla fans, rocked the arena from well before the start to after the finish. That was just seven short of the club record attendance set against Everton in March 2019.
The Hammers were without Jarrod Bowen up front but such was the domination of their midfield, ably led by Declan Rice and Pablo Fornals, that their relative profligacy in the first 40 minutes did not harm them.
The Hammers outplayed Sevilla in almost every department with Pablo Fornals and Aaron Cresswell especially looking to be international class players.
A Tomas Soucek header just before half-time was a just reward for all their first-half pressure. For the Andalusians, Joan Jordan and Yousseff En-Nesyri were somewhat spectacularly off form and missed most of the best chances Sevilla created, starting as early as the seventh minute when the Moroccan blasted Anthony Martial’s cross over the bar. Jordan was equally at fault just after the half-hour when a headed clearance fell at his feet, the former Eibar midfielder firing very widely.
Not that the Hammers weren’t equally wasteful. Michail Antonio had failed to get enough purchase three minutes earlier allowing Yassine Bounou to gather easily.
The breakthrough came six minutes before half-time. Antonio sent over a superb hanging cross from the left. Soucek timed his jump well and then demonstrated perfect hang time to meet the ball with his head and loop it over Bounou.
It was no more than West Ham deserved.
Any fear that Julen Lopetegui’s side would come out roaring after a ‘vibrant half-time discussion‘ proved unfounded and it took ten minutes before they threatened but En-Nesyri was woefully off target.
Rice and Fornals controlled the game for much of the period thereafter. The Hammers were especially successful at winning back possession immediately after losing it, realising that Sevilla were at their most vulnerable when newly introduced to possession, but still in defensive formation.
Jesus Corona missed Sevilla’s best chance in the 71st minute having been set up En-Nesyri for once acting as creator rather than waster. Corona blazed it over Alphonse Areola’s bar.
Three minutes before the full-time whistle, West Ham manager Davie Moyes brought Yarmalenko on.
West Ham dominated extra time with Soucek just unable to guide the ball to the correct side of the post eight minutes in, but the moment that would electrify East London was merely minutes away.
The tie was nine minutes from penalties when Bounou could only push out a Fornals long-range effort. Yarmolenko was first to react and the Ukrainian calmly slid in the winner. Hammers finally led on aggregate and they never let go.
Ukrainian Andriy Yarmolenko found fans in the crowd with his national flag as he hugged them. “Twist and Shout’ was blaring out. Club legend Mark Noble, who has seen most things, was in tears on the pitch.
A short trip to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium awaits on Sunday. It’s a vital match in the battle for European places. After this match, West Ham know exactly how glittering that prize could be.
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Sevilla could win their first La Liga title since 1946 as they continue to challenge Real Madrid for the trophy.
The six-time Europa League winners are second in the La Liga standings, six points behind the most successful side in the league’s history.
Defensive prowess
Sevilla have the best defensive record in the league, conceding only 16 goals in 23 games. Defenders Jules Kounde and Marcos Acuna have been pivotal for the team when protecting the goal and progressing the ball forward.
Both players have a passing accuracy of over 85% with Acuna also picking up three assist this season. Neither Kounde nor Acuna have made an error leading to a goal so far and have kept seven league clean sheets when partnered together.
Goalkeeper Bono has also had a very impressive season, keeping ten clean sheets in 18 games. On average, the Moroccan has conceded 0.6 goals per game and saved 80% of the shots he has faced. The shot stopper has saved one of two penalties faced this campaign and he is in contention to be the La Liga goalkeeper of the season.
Joan Jordan has featured in all 23 league games this season and his consistency has helped cover the defence throughout the campaign. He rarely loses the ball, completing 90% of his passes this season, and ranks in the 89th percentile in passes attempted in Europe’s top five leagues.
Playing alongside Ivan Rakitic for large parts of the season, Sevilla’s midfielders have been brilliant in keeping the ball and avoiding mistakes for the defenders.
Attacking additions
Julen Lopetegui’s side have not been as strong in the attacking third compared to their defensive capabilities.
Sevilla have scored 34 league goals so far, the fewest of the teams currently in the top six. Their top scorer in the league is Rafa Mir with six goals, with Lucas Ocampos in second with five.
Sevilla however have strengthened their attack in the January transfer window with the additions of Anthony Martial and Jesus ‘Tecatito’ Corona.
Martial struggled to find game time at Manchester United and has joined Sevilla on loan for the rest of the season. Corona is yet to score in 2021-22 for either Porto or Sevilla, but his dribbling and passing abilities can help create chances for the strikers.
Since playing Levante in October, Sevilla have failed to score three goals in a single game. Their fans will be hoping the experience of Martial and Corona will help take the pressure off 24-year-old Mir for goals. Both will try to emulate their 2019-20 season where Martial scored 17 league goals and Corona racked up 11 assists.
With the 2022 World Cup also taking place at the end of the year, it will be important for the players to perform in order to secure a spot for their respective national teams.
Recent form
After starting the new year with two wins from two, Sevilla have drawn their last three league games. In their most recent fixture against Osasuna, Rakitic missed a 93rd minute penalty as the game finished 0-0.
Since getting knocked out the Copa del Rey by Real Betis in the round of 16, Sevilla are winless in four games. They face Elche in La Liga tonight before their Europa League campaign begins against Dinamo Zagreb next week.
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]]>To be fair, it just a little bit over a month, so no wonder we’re still reeling from it. And yet, here we are today, getting ready for yet another Champions League season bound to have twists and turns and dramatic outcomes.
Full group stage draw
Group A: Bayern Munich, Atlético Madrid, Salzburg, Lokomotiv Moscow
Group B: Real Madrid, Shakhtar Donetsk, Inter, Mönchengladbach
Group C: Porto, Manchester City, Olympiakos, Marseille
Group D: Liverpool, Ajax, Atalanta, Midtjylland
Group E: Sevilla, Chelsea, Krasnodar, Rennes
Group F: Zenit, Dortmund, Lazio, Club Brugge
Group G: Juventus, Barcelona, Dynamo Kyiv, Ferencváros
Group H: PSG, Manchester United, RB Leipzig, İstanbul Başakşehir
Group E is what I call the Europa League group, where, if you wouldn’t know better, you could look at it and think it’s from the Europa League draw.
This is not to discredit any of the teams though. Sevilla was the team that showed us that Bayern weren’t invulnerable after all.
Chelsea was finally allowed to go on a shopping spree, buying both Werner and Havertz, while Rennes is having an almost perfect Ligue 1 start.
In the 2018–19 Europa League season, Arsenal just barely got past them. On the other hand, besides the 2013–14 Champions League semifinal, Chelsea have been lackluster in their campaigns and not really posing a threat to their opponents.
And finally, Krasnodar knocked out PAOK to earn a spot in the groups, which might be a reward in itself. I am giving Chelsea the edge juuuust barely to make it through. Sevilla are a record six-time Europa League winners, but I believe their team has enough quality to finish at the top of the group.
Predicted placements: 1) Sevilla 2) Chelsea 3) Rennes 4) Krasnodar
Group F also comes very close to being a Europa League group. Both Dortmund and Lazio showed signs that they could win their leagues in the last season, with Håland and Immobile eating goals for breakfast, but eventually, they weren’t able to stop the Bayern and Juventus supremacies.
Zenit’s best result in the Champions League is reaching the round of 16, while the last time Brugge made it past the Champions League groups, it was still called the European Cup.
Predicted placements: 1) Dortmund 2) Lazio 3) Zenit 4) Brugge
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But yesterday their season came to a conclusion following their 1-0 defeat to Sevilla in the last eight of same competition in Duisburg. A season that lasted a grand total of 383 days, which included a gruelling 59 games in all competitions.
It was always going to be a tough one for the Premier League side, Sevilla have had plenty of experience in this competition, which can be backed by the fact they have won it five times.
But Nuno Espiritio Santo had a game plan to deal with Lopetegui’s side, they were going to sit back and beat them on the counter.
And it worked for Santo’s men in the first half, in the 10th minute. Leandro Dendoncker retrieved the ball off Ever Banega, knocked it to Ruben Neves, who released the roadrunner Adama Traore.
He went on an excellent run from his own third to Sevilla’s 18 yard area, he was brought down by Sergio Reguilon, which gave Wolves a penalty.
Raul Jimenez was the man who took the Old Gold’s spot-kick, however, he was unable to add to his impressive 27 goal tally. It was a slow run up from the Mexican, and his penalty proved to an easy save by Sevilla keeper Yassine Bonou.
However it proved a controversial moment as the keeper appeared off his line when Jimenez took his spotkick, Diego Carlos was also found to be in the area. It was something VAR should have, but didn’t look at and it would come back to bite Wolves.
Sevilla almost took the lead themselves immediately after the penalty miss. Former Liverpool midfielder Suso’s low driven shot appeared to be creeping in the bottom right corner of the next, but Rui Patricio was there to keep him out.
Then nine minutes before the break an effort from Lucas Ocampos curled just wide of the post. That proved to be the last real effort of the half, meaning it went in at half-time scoreless.
Wolves had done exceptionally in that first half, they had really slowed down Sevilla and was really frustrating them.
But Sevilla upped their game massively in the second 45, on the hour mark Youssef En-Nesyri danced away from Conor Coady and Romain Saiss and found himself one-on-one with Patricio. However, he lost his balence and wasn’t able to get a proper shot away – it was a huge let off for Wolves.
Four minutes later, an inswinger into the box from Suso found the head of Jules Kounde, who headed just over the crossbar. Wolves were now living dangerously, and it was looking like there was only going to be one winner, and that was Sevilla.
And with three minutes to go, they got their goal. Suso played a short corner to Banega who whipped it in and found the head of fellow Argentinian, Ocampos. His glancing header beat Patricio and would go on to beat the West Midlands side.
It was a disappointing goal to concede from a Wolves’ perspective. After high levels of concentration throughout the game they switched off at the corner and it proved to be fatal. The loss means that they will not be in Europe next season.
Santo was visibly disappointed, but he could not fault the effort of his players from last night and the season:
“Frustration. In the last minute, something that happened to us too many times, it required focus on a set-piece.
“But I’m proud of the boys, they played a tough team and we were organised. We had moments that could, small details, small margins, it’s all about that, but that happens in football.
“But we came this far, now it’s over, let’s rest and look for the future.”
Despite the last heartbreak, it has been an excellent season for Wolves. To get that far in Europe while also finishing 7th in the Premier League is something they should be proud of.
They will now embark on short-break before turning their attentions to the new Premier League season which is due to start next month. No doubt Wolves’ fans will be hoping that their side can qualify for Europe once again.
Meanwhile, opponents Sevilla will take on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Manchester United in the Semi-Final on Sunday.
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On this day in 2013, Wolves played their first home game in League One following their relegation from the Championship, their second consecutive relegation. That day they beat Gillingham 4-0 at Molineux.
The Black Country side have been through it all in the seven years since. They have won the League One and Championship titles, had back-to-back seventh-placed finishes, and are in the Europa League Quarter-Finals.
Wolves are just three games away from topping off another great season, and this meteoric rise, by winning the competition and qualifying for next season’s Champions League.
It’s Sevilla who stands in their way of a place in the last four and the road to European glory, who since boss Julen Lopetegui’s arrival have been exceptional. The Spanish side finished fourth in La Liga, and have been fantastic defensively, conceding just 34 goals, which the third-best in the division, also keeping a remarkable 18 clean sheets in the league.
There is a somewhat romance between Sevilla and the Europa League, the Andalusian based side have won this competition a record five times, and under the guidance of former Arsenal boss, Unai Emery won it three years running in 2014, 2015 and 2016.
On top of that Sevilla are keen on playing English sides in Europe, they had broken Liverpool’s heart in the 2016 final in Basel, beaten Leicester in their Champions League round of 16 first leg in 2017, and also knocked Manchester United out of the same competition the following year.
If Wolves are to progress in Germany, they must perform better than they did on Thursday night. It was a cagey affair against Olympiakos. Wolves took the lead and won the game through a Raul Jimenez penalty in the eighth minute, but had to endure constant waves of attacks from the Athenian side throughout.
The Old Gold also had a slice of good fortune in the match, when VAR ruled out an equaliser from Rudy Camara for offside. Had that goal been given it may have been an even more nervy game than it was.
But what’s the old saying? What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. The fact they held out against the Greek side will no doubt be a huge positive for Nuno Espirito Santo, which may have been suggested in the team talk which followed the full-time whistle.
The Black Country side – like their counterparts – have also been solid defensively, conceding just 40 goals in the Premier League, keeping a respectable 13 clean sheets alongside that.
That 1-0 win on Thursday was also Wolves’ eighth clean sheet in Europe this season, another positive to take into their quarter-final clash.
Should Wolves win in Duisburg it will set them up for a semi-final date with either Copenhagen or even an all English tie with Manchester United.
Nuno Espirito Santo ahead of Wolves’ first European Quarter-final in 48 years
“We started against Crusaders more than a year ago. ‘Everyone has to realise that – it’s been long, long, long. To be in the last eight in Europe is huge – everyone has to realise the effort of the players.
‘I don’t know how many miles we have travelled this season. It’s crazy what we have done and I’ve told the boys to make it worth it. Let’s make this final effort and compete against a very good opponent.”
It’s been a long season for Wolves, in fact one over a year-long, which started on July 25, 2019, with a 2-0 win over Northern Irish side Crusaders.
But whatever happens for Santo’s side, it is a season to be proud of. To think that they have gone from Gillingham in League One to Sevilla in the Europa League in exactly seven years is something that many of their devoted supporters wouldn’t have expected.
But at the same time as time changes, so does expectations. Wolves will be hoping to extend their 383 day and 59 game season a little longer.
With Rui Patricio in goal, Conor Coady at centre-back, Joao Moutinho and Ruben Neves in the midfield, a potent front three of Adama Traore, Diogo Jota and Raul Jimenez, as well as the promising Daniel Podence, Nuno Espirito Santo has a side as good as Sevilla’s, and maybe one that could go all the way in the competition and put their name on the European map.
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Premier League
Premier League matchday protocols on player health and safety has been unanimously approved by all 20 clubs, clearing the final hurdle ahead of the season resuming.
The Premier League returns on the 17th June with two exciting fixtures which sees European dream hunting Sheffield United face relegation contenders Aston Villa and second place Manchester City go head to head against Arsenal.
Tottenham will be without midfielder Dele Alli who has been handed a one-game suspension by the FA after a social media post which will see the midfielder miss their game against Manchester United.
Championship
Company Deloitte have urged Championship clubs to cap wages at 70 percent of the club’s revenue. This would obviously be very crucial as most clubs are looking to survive through the pandemic. This has already happened in Rugby and F1 and can minimise spending and may guarantee survival for most clubs.
SPFL
The SPFL have written to all 42 clubs making for their views on a proposed permanent move to a 14-10-10-10 league restructure. An “indicative vote” is being requested from all clubs by Monday 15th June at 10am with the intention of the structure, if successful, being put in place from next season.
Women’s Football
Manchester City and England international Jill Scott has signed a new two-year deal with the Manchester club that will see her combine a player/coach role at the club.
England and Lyon player Nikita Parris has apologised to ex-England team mate Eniola Aluko for her celebrations in 2017 with then manager Mark Sampson. Parris ran to celebrate with Sampson, who was accused of racially discriminating against Aluko and Drew Spence, after a goal against Russia.
La Liga
The Spanish top-flight returns today with the Gran Derbi as Champions League hunting Sevilla take on mid-table Real Betis in the first game since the 10th March.
Germany- DFB Pokal
Current Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich beat Eintracht Frankfurt 2-1 in a tightly contested battle at the Allianz Arena to set-up a final against Bayer Leverkusen, who breezed past Saarbrucken on Tuesday night with the game ending in a 3-0 win to Leverkusen.
Rugby Union
England Women’s World Cup winner Maggie Alphonsi says she wants to become RFU president one day, citing a need for “advocates in positions of influence.” She is keen in playing a part in making rugby more inclusive as she is the only black person sitting on the 61-strong RFU council.
Cricket
Pakistan have confirmed that they will tour England for three Tests and three T20s in August and September. England are scheduled to be playing the West Indies across three Tests next month in ‘biosecure’ environments because of coronavirus and it was widely anticipated Pakistan would make the trip to England later this summer.
Boxing
Anthony Joshua has reached an agreement with Tyson Fury on a two-fight deal, says promoter Eddie Hearn. Before this fight happens though, Fury is contracted to face The Bronzer Bomber Deontay Wilder for a third time and Joshua will meet mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev.
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Last time out, Sevilla had a tough trip away at Atlético Madrid who are also hunting a spot in the Champions League. Four goals in the first-half saw the teams share the spoils in a 2-2 draw.
Real Betis amazed everyone with their last result on the 8th March. As they hosted Real Madrid, Sidnei put Betis into a 1-0 with Karim Benzema pegging a goal back just before half-time to make the scores level. A goal from Cristian Tello in the 82nd minute gifted Betis all three points in this fantastic affair.
Team news
The hosts have Serbian midfielder Nemanja Gudelj suspended having picked up a fifth yellow card of the season in the final match before the season was halted.
Top scorer Lucas Ocampos could also be missing with the Argentine forward having missed training this week with a suspected muscle problem.
Betis have practically a fully fit squad with striker Juanmi Jimenez the only likely absentee.
Sevilla manager Julian Lopetegui refused to talk about favourites and admitted that “both teams were in good form” before the break
“We’re really looking forward to it, in circumstances which were unimaginable three months ago but now they’re reality and they oblige us to adapt to a different context. We all know what the derby is, we will try to respond well and beat the good team that Betis are”.
Real Betis manager Rubi spoke about this being a historic derby and its happening the way it is
“This is a historic derby because it’s happening the way it is and hopefully it won’t happen like this ever again. Hopefully we won’t have another derby under these circumstances. What I know is that this is a crucial game for us because I know what a win would mean for our fans and the club.”
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Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez
Credit: Goal.com
The ex-Manchester United, Real Madrid and West Ham forward turns 32 today and has been a star for a few teams he has played for but how did Chicharito get to Europe from Mexico.
The striker started his professional career at Guadalajara as he was promoted from the U20’s in the summer of 2006.
The 06/07 would be the forward’s first ever senior season and it would see him make eight appearances scoring one goal in all competitions. He would appear in 11 games the next season but he did not score a single club for the Mexican club in that season.
In the 08/09 season, Chicharito featured quite a lot for the Mexican club as he featured 31 times for the club scoring seven goals and assisting twice.
His scoring boots would come on in the 09/10 season for Guadalajara as he would feature 28 times scoring 21 goals and assisting seven goals giving him an average of one goal contribution per game.
In the summer of 2010, Manchester United signed the Mexican forward for £6.75 million. His first season for the Red Devils would see him score 20 goals and assist five times in 45 games.
He would appear less the next season but still appeared over 30 times and scored 12 goals. 72 appearances in the next two seasons saw Chicharito score 27 times in that space of time.
In September 2014, the forward would be loaned to Real Madrid for the rest of the season till June 2015. It was a mediocre spell in Madrid with the forward featuring in 33 matches for Los Blancos where he would score and assist nine goals.
Bayer Leverkusen signed the Mexican for just over £10 million in the summer of 2015. In the two seasons that he spent in Germany he would appear 76 times scoring 39 goals and assisting nine times.
A £16 million signing for West Ham in the summer of 2017 saw the Mexican back in the Premier League again. 63 games for the London club saw the Mexican score 17 goals and assist four goals.
In September 2019, he would move to sunny Spain to Seville for £7 million. He would rarely feature for the Spanish club only making 15 appearances and scoring three goals. He then signed for the LA Galaxy in January 2020 only making two appearances for the club so far.
For the Mexican national team he has made over 100 appearances scoring 52 goals in the process. He’s also appeared in three World Cups (2010,2014 and 2018). He’s also won the Gold Cup with Mexico in 2011 and was Mexico Player of the Year in the 2010/11 season.
He’s won the Premier League twice and the Community Shield twice with Manchester United, the FIFA Club World Cup with Real Madrid and the Liga MX with Guadalajara.
Youssef En-Nesyri
Credit: Goal.com
The Moroccan striker turns 23 today and is considered a solid player in La Liga currently.
At the start of his career in 2015, he would move from his homeland Morocco to Malaga in Spain as he joined the Spanish team’s U19’s setup from AM Football for a fee of £100,000.
In January 2017, he would sign his professional contract for the club and feature in the first team for the second half of the season. He featured 15 times for the rest of the season scoring one goal and grabbing one assist in the process.
His first full season would be the 17/18 season, where he would play 26 times for the club in all competitions scoring four goals.
En-Nesyri was on the move again in the last couple of days of the 2018 summer transfer window to CD Leganes for a fee of £5.4 million.
For the first time in his career he would appear 30 times for a club. In the 18/19 campaign he featured 34 times for Leganes scoring 11 goals and assisting on two ocassions.
19 appearances for Leganes in the first half of the 19/20 season saw the striker score four goals and assist two goals. In January 2020, he was on the move yet again with Sevilla paying £16 million for the striker’s services.
He has played 11 games for the club so far this season and managed to score four goals in the process.
He made his international debut for Morocco back in 2016 at the age of 19 and has made 21 appearances since his debut scoring six goals.
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