by Philip Mboya
on January 30, 2023
Giovanni Simeone’s late goal helped Napoli beat Roma 2-1 and open up a 13-point gap at the top of Serie A.
Since Serie A went to three points for a win during the 1994–95 season, this is the largest lead any Serie A team has ever had at the top of the table.
Victor Osimhen’s volley gave Luciano Spalletti’s side an early lead but Roma levelled through Stephan El Shaarawy.
However the hosts, chasing a first Scudetto since 1990 and the days of Diego Maradona, pressed for a winner. And they got it when Simeone’s turned away from Chris Smalling and effort into the top corner proved decisive. Read more... (300 words, estimated 1:12 mins reading time)
by David
on January 30, 2023
Premier League Manchester City will go to Championship side Bristol City in the FA Cup fifth round while Manchester United will host the winner of Monday’s final round four tie between Derby and West Ham.
Manchester City will travel to Bristol City for their fifth-round clash, with the sides not having played each other since the Carabao Cup semi-finals in 2018.
The fourth round saw five of the eight ties ending in a draw, meaning that they are subject to a replay. One of those replays includes non-league Wrexham and Sheffield United. Waiting for the winner of that tie is a plum home meeting with Tottenham. Read more... (244 words, estimated 59 secs reading time)
by David
on January 30, 2023
On-loan Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun scored a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser for Reims against 10-man Paris St-Germain. The result means PSG miss the opportunity to open up a five-point lead over Lens at the top of Ligue 1.
Neymar had opened the scoring for PSG who then had midfielder Marco Verratti sent off. Balogun’s equaliser arrived in the 96th minute to extend Reims’ unbeaten run to 14 games in all competitions.
The England under-21 international has now scored 11 goals in Ligue 1 this season, the most of any player aged 21 or under in Europe’s big five leagues. Read more... (392 words, estimated 1:34 mins reading time)
by David
on January 30, 2023
What is going on at Bayern Munich? Usually by now, Bayern have all but wrapped up another title and the club is starting to turn its attention to the resumption of the Champions League.
That is not the case this season as Bayern have struggled mightily since play resumed after the World Cup break. They have drawn three league games in a row 1-1, against Koln and Frankfurt at home and away at Leipzig. The run of draws has opened up the title race, with four clubs within three points of Bayern, an unheard of number in recent years. Read more... (338 words, estimated 1:21 mins reading time)
by David
on January 30, 2023
Pedri came off the bench to score the winner as Barcelona extended their lead at the top of La Liga to six points with a slender win over Girona.
The 20-year-old, who was playing his 100th game in all competitions for Barcelona, tapped home from four yards after Jordi Alba’s cross was fumbled by Fulham loanee Paulo Gazzaniga.
The win extends Barcelona’s unbeaten run to nine league games. Girona, who only had two shots on target late in normal time, are 12th, four points clear of the relegation zone. Read more... (340 words, estimated 1:22 mins reading time)
by David
on January 30, 2023
It is highly unusual that the fact that a team outside the top leagues in Europe is going to to tour the USA this summer would be of interest to soccer fans.
But Wrexham is not any club. The success of the Hulu show “Welcome to Wrexham” has brought the Welsh non-league team into the consciousness of the American fan,. It is not a coincidence that Wrexham’s giant-killing exploits in the FA Cup this season have bene shown on ESPN.
This is all part of the strategy of Wrexham co-owner Rob McElhenney who has said that he wanted the club to become ‘America’s team.’ Read more... (2234 words, estimated 8:56 mins reading time)
by David
on January 27, 2023
Copa America 2024 is coming to the USA! Conmebol and Concacaf have jointly announced that the rumors were true.
Coming out of the World Cup last year there was a lot of talk amongst the US, Mexican and Canadian national team fans, that all three countries need to play more competitive games ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
As co-hosts of that event, all three nations will qualify automatically for the competition, leaving very few opportunities to play a competitive meaningful match over the next 4 years. Read more... (2206 words, estimated 8:49 mins reading time)
by David
on January 27, 2023
FIFA announced 16 host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, selecting 11 cities in the United States, three cities in Mexico and two cities in Canada. The 2026 FIFA World Cup will mark the first time that three countries have hosted the competition.
The selected cities are:
EAST: Toronto (BMO Field); Boston (Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Mass.); Philadelphia (Lincoln Financial Field); Miami (Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Fla.); and New York/New Jersey (MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J.).
CENTRAL: Kansas City, Mo. (Arrowhead Stadium); Dallas (AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas); Atlanta (Mercedes Benz Stadium); Houston (NRG Stadium); Monterrey, Mexico (Estadio BBVA, Guadalupe); Mexico City (Estadio Azteca). Read more... (365 words, estimated 1:28 mins reading time)
by David
on January 27, 2023
Real Madrid beat city rivals Atletico Madrid after extra time to advance to the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey.
Atletico took the lead with Alvaro Morata scoring from close range following Nahuel Molina’s low cross. Real were 11 minutes from going out but equalised when Rodrygo beat three players and scored a wonderful goal.
Atletico’s Stefan Savic was sent off for two bookable offences, before Karim Benzema put Real ahead in the 104th minute with Vinicius Jr adding a third. Read more... (487 words, estimated 1:57 mins reading time)
by David
on January 22, 2023
The Coppa Italia quarter-final draw has been made and the quarter-finals kickoff with Inter v Atalanta on January 31 and concluding with Juventus v Lazio on February 2.
Roma welcome surprise outfit Cremonese on February 1, after the Serie A strugglers knocked Napoli out on penalties.
Fiorentina and Torino go head-to-head at the Stadio Artemio Franchi on February 1.
The tennis-style tournament brackets mean the semi-finals will be between Roma or Cremonese and Fiorentina or Torino, whereas the Inter-Atalanta and Lazio-Juventus side leads to the other semi-final. Read more... (197 words, estimated 47 secs reading time)
