#Champions League Clash (Highlights competition and intensity)

[whatsonmedia]

Thrilling Sporting Events to Watch Out for This Week

Sports enthusiasts are in for an exhilarating week as a lineup of captivating events across football, cricket, tennis, and rugby takes center stage. With a blend of international tournaments, league matches, and prestigious competitions, fans can anticipate intense battles and awe-inspiring performances. Let's dive into the highlights of the sporting events happening this week. Football: >Champions League: Manchester City vs Inter Milan Date: Saturday, June 10, 2023 Time: 20:00 (UTC) Two football powerhouses, Manchester City and Inter Milan, are set to clash in a high-stakes Champions League match. With both teams boasting exceptional talent and tactical prowess, this encounter promises to be a showcase of skill, strategy, and passion. Football enthusiasts won't want to miss this exciting showdown between two giants of European football. >International Friendlies: Argentina vs Australia Date: Thursday, June 15, 2023 Time: 11:00 (UTC) Argentina and Australia will face off in an international friendly match, providing an opportunity for both teams to fine-tune their strategies and test their players ahead of important upcoming fixtures. International friendlies often present an exciting blend of emerging talent and seasoned veterans, making for an intriguing contest. > Uefa Champions League Final: Man, City vs Inter Date: Sat 10 Jun Location: 106 Princess Street, Manchester, M1 6NG Join us at Joshua Brooks to watch the 2023 UEFA Champions League Final live! Experience the energetic atmosphere of our Fan Zone with big screens and unmatched sound. Limited capacity, so secure your FREE-standing ticket or upgrade for guaranteed entry with a beer. Exclusive table packages available with shared food platter and the best view in the house. Relive the past glory of the Atatürk Olympic Stadium and get ready for another unforgettable chapter in European football history. #UEFAFinal #JoshuaBrooks #ManchesterCity #FootballPassion Cricket: >International Test Matches and T20 Leagues: Date: Throughout the week Location: Various venues Cricket enthusiasts are in for a treat with an array of cricketing action. International Test matches featuring powerhouse teams are set to ignite the cricketing world with compelling battles for supremacy. Meanwhile, exciting T20 leagues, such as the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the Big Bash League (BBL), provide fast-paced, high-scoring contests featuring the finest cricket talent from around the globe. Basketball: >WNBA Basketball: Los Angeles Sparks at Minnesota Lynx Date: Sunday, June 11, 2023 Time: 7:00 pm (UTC) In the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), the Los Angeles Sparks will take on the Minnesota Lynx. WNBA matches showcase some of the finest women's basketball talent in the world, with fast-paced action, skilled playmaking, and competitive spirit on full display. Fans can expect an exciting and closely contested game between these two talented teams. >2023 NBA Finals: Miami Heat at Denver Nuggets Date: Monday, June 12, 2023 Time: 8:30 pm (UTC) >Wimbledon Tennis Championships: Date: June 28th - July 11th Location: All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London One of the most prestigious tennis tournaments, Wimbledon, is just around the corner. Renowned for its lush grass courts and rich traditions, this Grand Slam event captures the attention of tennis enthusiasts worldwide. As the tournament approaches, keep an eye on the buildup, including player announcements and pre-tournament exhibitions, setting the stage for thrilling on-court battles. Rugby: >International Test Matches and Domestic Competitions: Date: Throughout the week Location: Various venues Rugby fans can anticipate a week filled with thrilling encounters across international test matches and domestic competitions. Whether it's the Six Nations Championship, the Rugby Championship, or the various domestic leagues, the sport is set to deliver bone-crunching tackles, dazzling tries, and intense rivalries. Prepare for edge-of-your-seat action as players leave it all on the field. Conclusion: Football, cricket, tennis, and rugby fans have plenty to look forward to this week. From the UEFA Euro 2020 to international cricket clashes, Wimbledon, and rugby showdowns, the sporting calendar is brimming with excitement. As athletes showcase their skills and teams battle for glory, fans are in for a memorable week of sports action. So, grab your jerseys, support your favorite teams and players, and immerse yourself in the passion and drama that these sports offer. Read the full article

[junker-town]

Seattle Sounders vs. Chivas 2018 live stream: Time, TV channel, and how to watch CCL online

Seattle are going all-in on the CONCACAF Champions League. Is that going to be enough against a Chivas side gaining momentum?

The CONCACAF Champions League has been a rough-and-tumble competition so far, and now that MLS and LigaMX sides are starting to square off against one another, it’s only going to get even more intense. One of the highlights of the quarterfinal round could be the tie between the Seattle Sounders and Chivas de Guadalajara, which gets underway on Wednesday night in Seattle.

The Sounders seem to be going all-in on the CCL right now, playing a very strong side against Santa Tecla in the second leg of their round of 16 tie last week, earning a dominant 4-0 win in that match, but having to heavily rotate for a disappointing 1-0 loss to new MLS side Los Angeles FC on Sunday. If the Sounders’ starters can earn another big win against Chivas in the first leg, though, that loss will be easily forgiven.

But Chivas are here to take the CCL by storm as well, and they’re coming to Seattle buoyed by a big result in LigaMX action this past weekend. The start to their Clausura campaign was marred by injuries and poor form, but they’ve been turning it around of late and just earned a draw in their Super Clasico rivalry clash against high-flying Club America. They’re still going to have to figure out how their often-leaky defense is going to handle the Sounders’ excellent attacking group, but they’re not going to be anything like a pushover in this tie, even away from home.

Match info, plus how to watch on TV and stream

Match Date/Time: Wednesday, 10 p.m. ET, 7 p.m. local

Venue: CenturyLink Field, Seattle, Washington, USA

Online: fuboTV is offering a 7-day free trial, and Univision Deportes is available for free with a login from certain cable providers.

Make friends: Check out Sounder At Heart for more Seattle Sounders coverage, and head over to FMF State Of Mind for more coverage of LigaMX and the Mexico national team.

Listings for more countries can be found at LiveSoccerTV.

[torentialtribute]

Newcastle vs Arsenal Preview: Steve Bruce faces tough start to life on Tyneside

From the moment he decided to take the leap in football management in 1998, Steve Bruce will have longed to set foot in the St to put James & Park dugout as Newcastle United manager

Sunday afternoon he will be able to do that too, but he may not get the worship he once envisaged when the Magpies faced Arsenal

The Geordie-born coach agreed to the indelible challenge to replace the much loved Rafa Benitez earlier this summer, after the former Real Madrid manager there failed an agreement on a new contract.

Steve Bruce lives the dream by managing Newcastle, but it won't be an easy task

Throw into Bruce's history as manager of Sunderland rivals and set up a fan base to organize further protests over Mike Ashley's property, it's not really going well for the former Sheffield Wednesday boss. And then there is the fact that it is Arsenal St James & Park to visit this weekend.

The Gunners have won 12 of their last 13 league games against Newcastle and lose only once in this run – a 2-1 reverse at St James & Park in April 2018 – while Bruce himself the North Londoners only twice had reports in his previous 27 meetings as a manager.

As Bruce is probably well aware, there will be no soft landing for the 42-year-old when he starts life in his dream role.

Arsenal offers a real test for the new Newcastle boss on the opening day of the season

NEWCASTLE: Magpies are bracing for protest and dissatisfaction but their team can be competitive

It wouldn't be fair to blame Steve Bruce for the problems on Tyneside, but the 58-year-old is determined to pull out of the loyal house this weekend.

The departure of Benitez, in combination with the apparent failure of a future takeover by the Bin Zayed Group under the leadership of the Sheikh Khaled, stranded the faithful believers in Newcastle in a source of despair

Benitez has really done a remarkable job with Newcastle by properly protecting them from relegation problems during two consecutive seasons. Last year there were highlights, including a victory over the final champion Manchester City, while a 13th place, 11 points free from the drop, depicted a new solid campaign.

But Benitez continued to clash with the Newcastle hierarchy, especially about investments in the team and the amount of control he would have over transfers. He left for the Chinese club Dalian Yifang and left the show on the eve of a new intense period of searching for souls.

The magpies have gone through a tumultuous summer outside the field that is ready for seems to be continuing

Bruce will struggle to be taste of the month, no matter what he does, but in the field the signs are not gloomy as many on Tyneside may feel. Joelinton's arrival, for a £ 40m club record fee, raised eyebrows and played a role in Benitez's departure, but he excelled in the preseason – scored in both last two preseason matches of Newcastle against Hibernian and Saint-Etienne.

The Brazilian will have to fill the void left by the exits of Ayoze Perez and Salomon Rondon, but now that Miguel Almiron is already showing signs of adaptation to the top flight after his January move from Atlanta, there are things that could be a promising partnership

Exciting winger Allan Saint-Maximin has also arrived from Nice, while defensive reinforcements have landed in the form of Jethro Willems and Emil Krafth. There is even room for a nostalgic return for Andy Carroll – if he can stay fit.

Protests are expected on Sunday but field is Newcastle & # 39; s team not being written off

Matt Ritchie spoke somewhat controversially against fan turmoil, advocating supporters to support the team and understand Ashley's perspective in a recent interview with talkSPORT but he crucially suggested that the team was behind the new manager.

That unity will be crucial if Newcastle is to avoid a tumultuous season after a tumultuous summer.

ARSENAL: A reinforced attack cannot mask defensive worries despite the arrival of Luiz and Tierney

Arsenal has more than one chance to qualify for the Champions League last season.

Yet the defeat in the Europa League final was perhaps not as compromising as the draw with Brighton, which ended their hopes for a top four a few weeks earlier. Despite a 1-0 lead, the Gunners were somehow fully exposed to radical counter-attacks from the seagulls, which usually led to a cost-defensive course, this time by Granit Xhaka.

Due to his costly error, Brighton was able to level the game from the spot and hammered the reality that Arsenal is simply not strong enough defensively.

However, not many fans had anticipated mistakes – sensitive Chelsea defends David Luiz as the answer to their misery in the rear. areas where they had received major improvements.

Brazil defender David Luiz completed a shock movement from Chelsea to Arsenal on deadline day

Nicolas Pepe arrived after budgetary sorcery had turned the £ 45 million budget from Arsenal into a £ 72 million budget – over five years. The promising winger illuminated Call 1 last term and the prospect of the Ivorian standing in line alongside Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette is an intimidating one.

Thirteen of Arsenal & # 39; s last 17 goals in all competitions were scored by Aubameyang or Lacazette, the cornerstones of the powerful attack power of the Gunners. But defensively, a record of just one zero sheet of 19 away games is the kind of statistic that would give Tony Pulis a cardiac arrest.

Kieran Tierney should help business back while William Saliba looks long term, but the prospect that Luiz – Mustafi is formed at some point in the season is a very troubling prospect. It is very doubtful that Luiz will be put in the starting line-up this weekend.

A start in Newcastle may enable Unai Emery to show off Arsenal & # 39; s finer trump cards, but if they hope to be the top four contenders, they should hope that Luiz can take the much needed defensive rest inspire – with hope as the keyword.

The gunners have a powerful attacking power but they still have defensive vulnerabilities

Predicted line ups

Newcastle: Dubravka; Schar, Lascelles, Dummett; Manquillo, Aarons; Hayden, Shelvey, Longstaff; Joelinton, Almiron.

Arsenal: Leno; Maitland-Niles, Chambers, Sokratis, Monreal; Guendouzi, Xhaka; Aubameyang, Ozil, Mkhitaryan; Lacazette.

What do the bookmakers say?

It is not surprising that the bookmakers support Unai Emery & # 39; s men to triumph in St James & # 39; Park. The Gunners win 8/11 to win their first league game of the new season, while Steve Bruce is 7/2 to win his first competitive game in charge of Newcastle. A draw can be saved on 4/11.

Who says what?

Newcastle Midfielder Matt Ritchie: We must stay together, all be one and draw. in the same direction. This can be a fantastic season, but we all have to be there. We will do our utmost to give them success. But it won't be overnight, it won't happen overnight in one season. We still have a very young group and I think that if we continue to build and improve year after year, we might become what the fans want in the future. & # 39;

Arsenal new boy David Luiz : & I think it's a great team with a lot of quality and I just hope that Dani Ceballos and (Nicolas) Pepe do a lot for this team for this club to improve and help everyone. I am now happy to have Lacazette and Aubameyang by my side, so it is much easier now! & # 39 ;.

MAIN FACTS

The last time Newcastle and Arsenal met during the opening week of a Premier League season was back in 2011-12, when they played at 0 -0 draw in St James & # 39; Park.

The last time Arsenal played an away game on the opening day of a league time was against Newcastle in 2011-12. This is the first time in eight seasons that Arsenal has not opened a competition campaign with a match at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal has lost four of their last six games in the opening day of a Premier League season: 1-3 at home with Aston Villa in 2013-14, 0-2 at home with West Ham in 2015-16, 3 -4 home with Liverpool in 2016-17 and 0-2 home with Manchester City in 2018-19.

Newcastle has not won their opening competition since 2012-13 (2-1 at home for Tottenham Hotspur). They have since lost five and drawn one of their opening games in the last six seasons, including one in the championship.

Only one of Newcastle's last 25 Premier League home games ended in a draw (W13 L11), 0-0 with Fulham in December 2018. The Magpies won six of their last eight in St James & # 39; Park (L2), although those two defeats have come in their last three games.

Arsenal held only one zero sheet in their 19 away games last season (1-0 in Watford), with only 15th placed Burnley (36), 14th placed Bournemouth (45) and the bottom two clubs Fulham and Huddersfield ( both 45) more distance goals than the Gunners last term (35)

New Newcastle United manager Steve Bruce will only be the second person to lead both Newcastle and Sunderland in a league match after Sam Allardyce.

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[freebestbettingtips]

Tactical Analysis and Statistics: Copa del Rey: Levante vs Barcelona

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Tactical Analysis and Statistics: Copa del Rey: Levante vs Barcelona

Artwork by @chapulana

Although it might not be every club’s, or every fan’s, favourite competition, the Copa del Rey manages to surprise us every year. While it is not a surprise that smaller clubs beat the bigger ones, it always brings a special flavour along the way. Barcelona travelled to Valencia to face the other Blaugrana of La Liga, Levante and experienced a déjà vu of some sorts.

The Frogs have once again successfully leapt over the Catalan giants to secure a huge win at Estadi Ciutat de València but the away team got one back in the final stretch to keep their hopes of a yet another title defence alive and kicking.

This tactical analysis will use statistics to explain how the underdog overthrew the favourite in an open battle for the quarterfinals of the tournament.

Lineups

Barcelona (4-3-3)

Starting XI: Cillessen – Semedo, Murillo, Chumi, Miranda – Aleña, Busquets, Vidal – Malcom, Dembele, Coutinho

Bench: Ter Stegen, Lenglet, Wague, Arthur, Denis, Puig, Sergi

Coach: Ernesto Valverde

Levante (3-5-2)

Starting XI: Aitor – Mayoral, Chema, Simon, Prcic, Coke, Postigo, Rochina, Cabaco, Boateng, Campaña

Bench: Koke Vegas, Toño Garcia, Doukoure, Morales, Pedro Lopez, Raphael, Jason

Coach: Paco Lopez

Barcelona’s set-up

The first part of the season is now firmly behind us and the hectic schedule for those who want to compete on all fronts starts now and is not going to slow down anytime soon. Barcelona are one of those contenders that chase the famous treble but this time, Ernesto Valverde has decided to prioritize Champions League over the cup.

This resulted in a completely shuffled deck without many of the big names. Jasper Cillessen was back between the sticks and was guarded by a completely new back-four that saw the debut of Jeison Murillo in a completely new partnership with Chumi, the Barcelona B defender, and with Semedo and Miranda on the full-back positions.

Sergio Busquets was the captain on the night in a midfield trio with Vidal and Alena. The front-three comprised Malcom, Ousmane Dembele and Philippe Coutinho. On paper, the Catalans operated in a 4-3-3 formation but swapped through different systems during the game.

Levante’s set-up

The hosts also decided to rest some of their key players but approached this game with maximum intensity and determination. The main man in front of the goal was Aitor Fernandez who had the experienced Postigo to marshal the defence in front with Cabaco and Chema.

The middle of the park was highly congested with a total of five players mostly occupying those positions, depending on Rochina who was playing just behind the front line. Campana was the only member of that four-man squad that is a regular first-team player while the front tandem was made of Mayoral and Boateng.

Levante operated in a 3-5-2 or a 3-4-1-2 system throughout the whole game with some exceptions depending on the situation on the field.

The cost of rotation

Ernesto Valverde is very well known for his tendency to not rotate the team, no matter what the situation currently is. Last year that meant that Barcelona got to lift the Copa del Rey trophy once again but the Catalans paid the price in the Champions League instead.

This time around, a different price was paid as the guests fielded a highly inexperienced squad that is not used to playing together. What followed was actually mostly expected but still disappointing.

Barcelona were not on the same page, which was seen from the very beginning but continued on throughout the whole game. “Only” 536 completed passes is below average for the Catalans and 94 losses of the ball might be the most glaring stats to prove that point.

Barcelona’s losses of the ball and the areas in which they happened. On the right, players with the most losses are shown.

Notice how the majority of lost balls happened in midfield (39%), and even the pillars of the team like Sergio Busquets were prone to errors. The Octopus of Badia was actually the one directly responsible for the first goal that happened extremely early in the game.

Busi fails to cover his man after a set-piece, and Cabaco rattles the net after just three minutes of play in Valencia. Barcelona’s weaknesses with set-pieces continued in Thursday’s game but the Catalans were not solely vulnerable in the air.

The problem with the midfield was partly in the personnel but also partly in the style and the system that was implemented. Sergio Busquets would regularly slot in-between the centre-backs for support while the full-backs would act as wing-backs to form a sort of 3-4-3 system when attacking.

Busquets would drop in-between the centre-backs but had no one to come collect the ball and carry it forward. As a result, the connection between the midfield and defence was extremely weak. Notice how much free space there is, and how there are no real passing options. In those situations, the press always yields a clearance or a goal-kick, which is exactly what Levante want.

The midfield-four would then comprise of Vidal, Alena, Miranda, and Semedo but the gap between the back line and the middle of the park was not covered by anyone. Notice in the image above how upon Levante’s press, no Barcelona player comes to collect the ball or give Cillessen a chance to build from the back.

As a result, the Dutchman has to clear the ball and send it far away up the pitch where Barcelona did not have a real target man to collect it. That was the second problem they faced or actually third if we count incoherence as one as well.

In this system, without Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, the front-three was made out of three wingers of sorts and Dembele had to compensate for the Uruguayan. While the Frenchman could do the job done fairly well, his off-the-ball movement and the impact Suarez usually has was lacking glaringly.

Barcelona’s front three had no natural striker and no target man. Both Coutinho and Malcom would often cut inside so any real width had to come from the full-backs.

Both Malcom and Coutinho would in general cut inside to occupy their respective half-spaces which would mean that the only real width came from the full-backs who were more of true wing-backs in those cases. Whether it was the pure inexperience in that position or something else, Dembele couldn’t give the team the attacking edge he usually provides.

The attacking trio was also a bit cut off the rest of the team, as can be seen in the pass map below. Dembele was the one furthest up the pitch but his communication with the midfield is non-existent, as is the one between the other two forwards.

Barcelona’s pass map.

Malcom only managed 10 passes with a low 58% success rate while Dembele and Coutinho were the players with most loses of the ball in the game with 13 and 12 respectively. Not really a great day in the office for the “new guys.”

The courageous hosts

Levante is by now a very well known thorn in Barcelona’s side. Sure, they themselves received a thrashing not so long ago in La Liga but the extraordinary 5-4 victory to take the “invincibles” title from the Catalan last season will not soon be forgotten.

Back then, they played attractive, open football and created and finished numerous chances. Thursday’s clash was not so different. Out of possession, Levante would press heavily and try to outnumber the opposition in a quick manner.

Congesting the midfield was key to cut off any threatening passing lanes. Pressing intensely and purposely was also key in executing this tactic.

Whether it was pressing the goalkeeper for a goal-kick or congesting the midfield to cut any passing lines, the Frogs of Valencia have done a great job at containing the opposition and setting up fast transitions.

Intercepting the passes, like in the image above, and forcing mistakes gave them chances for breaks and deadly counters.

Numerical superiority pays off once again as Levante capitalize on a misplaced pass.

Once again, notice how many home players surround the opposition when they are trying to build-up the play. The progress of the ball is almost impossible without long passes or through the air, either by goal kicks or clearances. Barcelona’s inefficiency in the air meant that Levante would benefit from those.

The unlikely heroes

As much as this Barcelona squad lacked cohesion and coordination, there were some bright moments as Carles Alena, Denis Suarez and Jeison Murillo showed some quality. The middle man, Denis, who is more likely going to leave this January was impressive in particular.

His Messi-esque run to get his team in a great position and eventually, to win the penalty that gave them the away goal, was maybe the highlight of their play. Still, the new man in defence was also solid and probably the best piece of the defensive puzzle.

Three clearances and three interceptions for Murillo along with 11 duels won made for a great debut, albeit in a pretty experimental back four, if we can even say that the Catalans had four defenders present at all times at all.

On the other side of the pitch was Borja Maroyal, the Real Madrid boy who had an inspiring night against the best possible opponents. It was not only the goal but also how key he was in the hosts’ attack.

Alongside rattling the net, he also gave two key passes and created one big chance. We can also see from the pass map how crucial he was in the system and for the victory itself.

Levante’s passmap.

Conclusion

Not all is lost for Barcelona as they head into the second leg that is to be played on 17 January at the Camp Nou, the Catalan’s fortress. The away goal from Philippe Coutinho means that there is a lot more football to be played between these two teams and more thrill to come.

There are also positives to draw from Thursday’s defeat. Key first-team players have been rested and some other players made the most out of this chance they got. Now it’s up to Messi and co. to seal the deal and bring the team back to Copa glory.

If you love tactical analysis, then you’ll love the digital magazines from totalfootballanalysis.com – a guaranteed 100+ pages of pure tactical analysis covering topics from the Premier League, Serie A, La Liga, Bundesliga and many, many more. Get your copy of the FIRST of two December issues for just ₤4.99 here, or the SECOND of the December issues with an annual membership right here. Alternatively, you can pre-order the January issue NOW! It lands on Friday 18 January.

[mancitynoise]

FootballFanCast.com’s Fixture In Focus coverage is brought to you by 5p0rtz. Try 5p0rtz’s Beat the Streak Predictor and you could win £1million! Click here to play.

Every now and then, shifts in the dynamics of the Premier League move a new rivalry to the forefront of English football. Perhaps the first, most significant one of the Premier League era was Arsenal and Manchester United, while recent years have seen more natural geographical rivals dominate the top flight in the form of Chelsea and Tottenham.

But with historic foes in decline, the level of intensity between Liverpool and Manchester City has steadily escalated in recent years, reaching a point where both are now the best two teams in the English game and both sets of fans feel a genuine sense of animosity towards each other.

They’re set for another collision course this Sunday in a 4.30pm kickoff at Anfield, but how exactly has this rivalry become so fierce, and what journey did it take to reach the pinnacle of the Premier League? Football FanCast take a look back at eleven moments that made the Liverpool vs Manchester City what it is today…

2013/14 – The title race and a 3-2 thriller at Anfield

Very much the prototype for this season’s title bout, Manchester City looked all set to walk their way to a second Premier League crown with bitter rivals Manchester United capitulating under David Moyes but out of the woodwork emerged an unlikely challenger in Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool. And for a short while, the Reds were even in pole position after an epic clash at Anfield made all the more iconic by it coinciding with the anniversary of the Hillsbrough disaster.

City pulled level after Liverpool scored twice early on, but Philippe Coutinho had the final say in a match remembered for not only scintillating attacking football but also Steven Gerrard’s infamous post-match declaration – ‘don’t let this slip’. Slip Liverpool, and Gerrard, did as City eventually beat them to the title. But this was the first time in the Premier League era that Liverpool and City found themselves as direct competitors for the competition’s ultimate honour.

Summer 2015 – Raheem Sterling moves Manchester City

Liverpool certainly didn’t have too many complaints about the £49million fee Manchester City paid for Raheem Sterling but the manner of the departure left a sour taste. That was partly due to Scouse snobbery, chiefly the sheer number of Liverpool pundits who simply couldn’t comprehend the idea of the club’s best young player joining a divisional rival with a better chance of winning trophies, but also Sterling’s incredibly ill-advised interview with BBC Sport in which he explained his reluctance to sign a new deal at Anfield.

Liverpool fans still detest Sterling, Manchester City fans still sing about him being top of the league. Common ground won’t be found any time soon.

November 2015 – Liverpool win 4-1 at the Etihad Stadium

Liverpool’s fear factor over Manchester City is often thought of as a recent development but it most likely harks back to the opening months of Jurgen Klopp’s tenure and his first trip to the Etihad Stadium as Reds boss. With Adam Lallana, Roberto Firmino and Philippe Coutinho ripping City apart so relentlessly on the counter-attack through short yet sweeping passing moves, this match served as the template for Klopp’s vision of his Liverpool team – one that mercilessly hit key divisional rivals fast and hard.

It also came at a time of the season when City were in first place, but that defeat pushed them down to third and highlighted the frailties of a defence still relying on Eliaquim Mangala and Martin Demichelis. They’d eventually finish the campaign in fourth, resulting in Manuel Pellegrini’s departure.

Summer 2016 – Manchester City appoint Pep Guardiola

It certainly doesn’t have the personal bitterness of his rivalry with Jose Mourinho, but in appointing Pep Guardiola Manchester City imported the biggest managerial duel of the Bundesliga to the Premier League. Despite boasting far superior resources at Bayern Munich, Guardiola never quite got the better of his Borussia Dortmund counterpart, both coming out of their eight meetings in German football with four wins apiece.

And since moving to the Premier League, it’s actually Klopp who has the upper hand in this continent-spanning rivalry. He now boasts eight wins to Guardiola’s five, including three on the bounce.

2016/17 season – City and Liverpool finish up as the best of the rest

2016/17 saw Chelsea and Tottenham’s rivalry move to the forefront of the English game, but Liverpool and Manchester City were still bubbling away on the edges of centre-stage. Going through something of a transition during Guardiola’s first season in charge, City could just about manage third place, whereas Liverpool left it late to secure a top four finish as well – the importance of which only became truly evident the season after.

Not exactly a watershed moment for the rivalry, but one that highlighted both clubs as near equals during a season in which their final encounter resulted in a telling 1-1 draw.

September 2017 – Mane sent off as Manchester City win 5-0

It wasn’t exactly billed as a table-topping clash but drama was expected as Liverpool travelled to the Etihad Stadium at the start of the 2017/18 campaign, following a summer in which City had spent big to revolutionise Guardiola’s squad – chiefly in the full-back and goalkeeping departments.

And drama is exactly what we got as an end-to-end opening 37 minutes climaxed with Sadio Mane seeing a controversial red card for a high boot on City’s new No.1 Ederson, who would go on to become a key cog in Guardiola’s title-winning side. Down to ten men away from home, against arguably the most dominant team in Premier League history, Liverpool would lose the match 5-0 as cries of injustice could be heard from Merseyside. The Reds though, wouldn’t have to wait long to get their own back.

January 2018 – Liverpool end Manchester City’s undefeated run

Manchester City went to Anfield in January 2018 with dreams of replicating Arsenal’s Invincibles season, having won 20 and drawn two of their first 23 Premier League games. But in another epic encounter on Merseyside, the Reds brought the Citizens crashing down – this time soaring to a ninth-minute lead and then taking complete control just after an hour with their fourth goal of the afternoon.

City hit back to create a cagey final few minutes, with the final score resting at 4-3. It wouldn’t have any real impact on the Premier League table but certainly inflicted significant psychological damage, announcing Liverpool as the best-placed side in English football to counteract City through their own dynamic and offensive style of play.

April 2018 – Liverpool win Champions League tie as fans attack

Liverpool once again got the better of Manchester City just three months later, this time in a double-legged Champions League bout. The Reds charged to a victory on Merseyside in eerily similar fashion, scoring thrice within the first half an hour, and then made light work of the return leg at the Etihad Stadium – eventually winning 5-1 on aggregate.

It confirmed prior suspicions that Liverpool boasted the psychological edge over Guardiola’s City team and a style of play that ripped through the Spaniard’s tiki-taka philosophy, but perhaps the most significant consequence was the game’s role in taking Liverpool to last season’s Champions League final – the competition City’s owners are most desperate to win.

Likewise, that run in Europe had a transformative effect on this Liverpool team, confirming them as the second-best club in English football and proving that nothing was beyond their reach, even if their domestic campaign resulted in merely another fourth-place finish.

Along the way though, the Anfield clash was marred by Liverpool fans attacking the Manchester City bus before kickoff. Much like the Sterling saga, it added to the bitterness between both sets of supporters, while highlighting the growing hatred that was already there.

May 2018 – Manchester United’s relevance rapidly wanes

With Manchester City dominating the Premier League like never before and Liverpool reaching the final stages of European football’s pinnacle competition, the historic rivals shared by both clubs – Manchester United – suddenly didn’t seem so intimidating or relevant any more. The feeling has only exacerbated in the months since after a poor start to the new season that has mounted pressure on Jose Mourinho, one of the fundamental issues being their tepid style of play in comparison to City and Liverpool.

But everybody needs an enemy, so with United out of the picture and their fates so closely intertwining in recent years, Liverpool and Manchester City have naturally emerged as each others’ competitors.

Summer 2018 – Klopp u-turns on transfer spending

A few years previous, Klopp took a thinly-veiled swipe at Manchester City and Manchester United’s spending, claiming he would quit the game if he ever began signing off transfer fees as large as theirs.

That no doubt irked City fans at the time, but two summers on Klopp was joining the spending spree. Following a world-record deal for Virgil van Dijk in January, Liverpool broke another record for goalkeeper Alisson, eclipsing the sum City had set on Ederson the year previous, while Fabinho and Naby Keita were brought in on big money too.

It gave City fans the chance to cry hypocrisy, but it also provided the injection of quality Liverpool needed to move them to the same level as their new-found rivals.

2018/19 – Both sides enjoy undefeated starts to the new season

So here we are, the point at which the rivalry now stands. Liverpool and Manchester City are both yet to feel defeat in the Premier League this season, both have taken exactly 19 points from their first seven games and both have conceded just three goals.

The two clubs have rarely been closer in terms of talent, depth and sheer entertainment, but what will the next episode of English football’s key rivalry have in store when they take the field on Sunday? We’ll have to wait and see.

[ultrasfcb-blog]

England v Spain - after a summer season of chaos, can Spain reign once more?

England v Spain - after a summer season of chaos, can Spain reign once more?

England v Spain – after a summer season of chaos, can Spain reign once more?

Guillem Balague will probably be writing a daily column all through the season and likewise showing each Thursday on BBC Radio 5 dwell’s Soccer Each day podcast, when the main target will probably be on European soccer.

You possibly can obtain the newest Soccer Each day podcast here.

Spain play their first match because the World Cup once they meet England at Wembley within the Nations League on Saturday.

It will likely be the primary sport in cost for former Barcelona boss Luis Enrique, who took over as coach of the national team in July.

Spain’s World Cup in Russia was little in need of a catastrophe.

Coach Julen Lopetegui was sacked on the eve of the tournament after it was introduced that he can be resigning after the World Cup to take management of Actual Madrid, with Fernando Hierro put in momentary cost.

The group had been then knocked out by Russia on penalties within the final 16 after scraping by way of the group stage.

As Luis Enrique prepares to embark on a brand new period, many in Spain are nonetheless attempting to work out what occurred in these mad few weeks earlier in the summertime – and what to anticipate from the new-look facet.

Watch out who you blame

The assertion that every little thing that occurred on the World Cup is someway the fault of former coach Lopetegui is method off the mark.

Highlights: Spain 1-1 Russia (3-Four pens)

A vastly indignant Spanish federation president, Luis Rubiales, claimed he solely knew negotiations had been happening between his coach and Actual Madrid a matter of hours earlier than the information turned public – and that he had simply 5 minutes’ discover earlier than the official announcement.

The fact is sort of totally different.

The federation – and consequently Rubiales – knew effectively earlier than then as a result of the matter of 2m euros compensation for the lack of Lopetegui had already been mentioned and agreed with Actual Madrid.

It’s certainly inconceivable that compensation talks ought to have been happening and the president unaware of them.

Actual Madrid went for Lopetegui not as a result of he was their supervisor of alternative however as a result of the likes of Tottenham’s Mauricio Pochettino and Juve’s Massimiliano Allegri had turned them down.

In got here agent Jorge Mendes suggesting Lopetegui for the position.

It was solely when Rubiales began to obtain an entire heap of criticism from one and all that the temper – notably the president’s – modified.

Sure, Lopetegui might definitely have dealt with it higher, maybe telling Madrid to attend till after the competitors earlier than speaking to them.

Madrid might hardly have dealt with it worse – besides after all they might not care much less as a result of so far as they had been involved they had been simply doing what they wished to in the very best pursuits of the membership.

President Florentino Perez didn’t wish to appoint a failing nationwide supervisor. Much better to have a sacked one earlier than the event might consider his price.

If this sounds to you want a soccer model of Home of Playing cards, effectively, that is as a result of it mainly is. Massive personalities, secret conversations, sneaky behaviour, and so forth.

Rubiales, who was solely elected Spanish federation president in Could, is nothing if not a political animal.

In his new position – and with plenty of individuals successfully asking him if he was going to let Lopetegui get away with such blatant disrespect – he determined to indicate everybody how sturdy he was was, who was in cost.

In his view, sturdy leaders make sturdy selections. I feel that generally not making selections can be an indication of an excellent chief.

Enter Luis Enrique – a powerful man for Spain

When Sergio Ramos donned the mantle of leader and spokesman throughout the Lopetegui disaster and urged Rubiales to face by the coach it was not greatest appreciated by the federation chief.

What, in Rubiales’ thoughts, was wanted was a supervisor as outspoken and unstable as he’s, with the intention to carry everybody, most of all Ramos, in examine.

Luis Enrique (left) is seen as a powerful chief by federation president Rubiales (proper) – one who can preserve the gamers in examine

Enter Luis Enrique – a equally unstable, speak-your-mind kind of particular person; a supervisor that Rubiales believes Spain wants; a tough hand on the helm.

One choice – or quite non-selection – in his first squad tells us loads.

After Luis Enrique left Barcelona in June 2017, Jordi Alba stated he felt happier underneath new coach Ernesto Valverde. Alba is a daily at Barcelona and ultimate for the standard Spanish possession-heavy sport, however Luis Enrique has left him out of his squad.

This seems to be extra for private than skilled causes, as they each clashed in Luis Enrique’s previous few months on the Nou Camp.

Luis Enrique’s relationship with the press will probably be an fascinating one.

Aside from interviews he’s contractually obliged to do he won’t do anything and he isn’t in a position to disguise his complete contempt for the media.

The Spanish press like managers who’re diplomatic and accessible, out there for the midnight radio exhibits on the eve of video games, and Luis Enrique won’t play that sport. Clashes will observe.

Count on a brand new type for Spain

After the retirement of the likes of Andres Iniesta, David Silva and Gerard Pique, it is a new period for Spain.

Personally, I feel Luis Enrique needs to vary the type utterly – transferring away from a possession-based sport, taking part in between the strains, to a extra direct strategy – and we’ll see glimpses of this in opposition to England.

Gamers similar to Atletico Madrid’s Rodri will guarantee Spain all the time stay aggressive – however can they information La Roja to main event success?

He labored at altering the type at Barca in his final 12 months there.

Iniesta was on the bench a whole lot of the time, as was Alba, and he would play defensive midfield gamers alongside Sergio Busquets.

However his distant relationship with the gamers dictated that his time was up on the Nou Camp after three very intense (and profitable) years and he didn’t actually get the possibility to completely implement the modifications.

And, funnily sufficient, if he does change the type there won’t be many complaints as a result of a lot of the media that observe Spain are from Madrid, and within the Spanish capital the possession-based type that made us champions and originated elsewhere was all the time seen with suspicion, as if La Roja had been invaded by a overseas hoard.

After three consecutive main event victories, at Euro 2008 and 2012 and the 2010 World Cup, Spain have now have gone by way of three successive competitions the place they haven’t made the quarter-finals.

New gamers like Atletico Madrid midfielder Saul, 23, Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, 23, Actual Madrid’s attacking midfielder Marco Asensio, 22, and Atletico’s Rodri, 22, are the longer term and can virtually definitely be crucial to Spain and guarantee they may all the time be aggressive.

However I do not see the skilled gamers of the previous on this squad, absolute leaders of their groups, a few of whom had travelled to overseas leagues and grown within the course of.

We would by no means be as sturdy as we had been for these extraordinary 4 years.

Perhaps we have to start to get used to the concept we aren’t going to be profitable for fairly some time.

However I could possibly be fallacious. Former Spain coach Luis Aragones was not diplomatic and disliked the press. But he took an underperforming facet, modified the type and created a profitable machine.

Might Spanish supporters dare to dream that Luis Enrique might do the identical?

BBC Sport – Football ultras_FC_Barcelona

ultras FC Barcelona - https://ultrasfcb.com/football/11716/

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[365footballorg-blog]

Toronto FC and Tigres UANL face off in inaugural edition of Campeones Cup

July 20, 20183:41PM EDT

Toronto FC and Tigres UANL to face off in historic inaugural edition of Campeones Cup on Sept. 19 at BMO Field

First edition of annual Battle of Champions will pit MLS and Liga MX champions; Tickets on sale to public on July 26

                                                                                                                     NEW YORK (July 20, 2018) – The stage is set for the inaugural Campeones Cup, where Liga MX reigning champion Tigres UANL and Major League Soccer current champion Toronto FC will battle for continental soccer supremacy. MLS and Liga MX today announced the matchup in what will be a rematch of the 2018 Concacaf Champions League quarterfinals, won by the Canadian squad.

The 2018 Campeones Cup will be hosted by Toronto FC on September 19 at 8:15 p.m. ET at BMO Field in Toronto. Tigres UANL, one of the most successful clubs in Liga MX, will represent the Mexican league. Managed by head coach Ricardo ‘Tuca’ Ferretti, Tigres earned its spot in Campeones Cup after defeating Clausura champions Santos Laguna 4-0 in this past weekend’s Campeón de Campeones matchup, which pits the two Mexican league champions.

Led by French striker André-Pierre Gignac, Tigres has played two matches against Toronto FC all-time, a win and a loss, both of which came during the quarterfinals of the Concacaf Champions League in March of this year, which saw Toronto ultimately go through and make a historic run to the Final.

The 2018 Campeones Cup is the inaugural edition of the yearly event that is part of a larger multi-year collaboration between MLS and Liga MX, designed to bring fans together from the U.S., Mexico and Canada in a show of unity while fueling a rivalry between two of the world’s most competitive soccer leagues. As part of the partnership, Liga MX’s Tigres UANL– the Mexican league’s reigning under-20 champion – will participate during the MLS All-Star Week as the annual opponent in the annual MLS Homegrown Game presented by Energizer, on July 31 at 8 p.m. ET in Atlanta.

Tickets for the 2018 Campeones Cup are now on sale for Toronto FC Members as part of an exclusive pre-sale offering. Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Thursday, July 26 at 3 p.m. via www.Ticketmaster.ca. Fans are urged to purchase tickets early in order to ensure the best seats for what is sure to be an exciting clash between the champions of both leagues.

The partnership between leagues will include a sharing of best business practices and a collaboration around social responsibility efforts to drive positive social change. An intense rivalry on the field will be a true partnership off the field. More information regarding the joint social responsibility program will be announced as it becomes available.

Media Assets

Click here to download media assets for Campeones Cup, including photos, logos and other assets related to the announcement  

Interview with Toronto FC’s Jonathan Osorio about the upcoming event can be found here

Comments from Tigres Head Coach Ricardo ‘Tuca’ Ferretti on Toronto FC and Campeones Cup can be found here

Media Accreditation

Media interested in covering Campeones Cup on September 19 at BMO Field can apply for accreditation HERE.

The deadline to submit a credential application for Campeones Cup is Friday, September 7, at 5 p.m. ET. No applications will be considered after this date.

For more information on this year’s Campeones Cup, click www.CampeonesCup.com.      

About Major League Soccer

Headquartered in New York City, Major League Soccer features 23 clubs throughout the United States and Canada. For more information about MLS, visit www.MLSsoccer.com.

About LIGA Bancomer MX

LIGA Bancomer MX is Mexican soccer’s first division, comprised of 18 clubs throughout the country and headquartered in a new sporting complex in Toluca, México. Visit www.ligamx.net for more information.

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Toronto FC and Tigres UANL face off in inaugural edition of Campeones Cup was originally published on 365 Football