Articles
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Scouting Report: Gaetano Castrovilli
Although the likes of Federico Chiesa and Frank Ribéry have taken much of the limelight for Fiorentina this season, the true breakout star in Tuscany has been their midfield metronome, 23-year old Gaetano Castrovilli. The Italian has had a breakout season for La Viola this season, excelling in manager Giuseppe Iachini’s 3-5-2 alongside Erick Pulgar…
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Kevin De Bruyne: From Troublesome Teen to Generational Playmaker
“Sometimes you could slap Kevin around the head because he didn’t listen. He was a stubborn boy,” KRC Genk technical director of youth Koen Daerden explains. Considering his now cool and down-to-earth persona, it’s hard to imagine Kevin De Bruyne as being a handful in training, but it wasn’t bad behaviour that caused several…
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How Fixture Congestion Will Push Players to the Brink
European football is back, and we couldn’t be more excited. Sure, it’s not the same as before. The fake fan noise in the stadiums is a bit irritating, especially when the celebration noises come a full three minutes after a goal has been scored, and the element of watching matches in a packed pub full…
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Tactical Analysis: Gennaro Gattuso’s Napoli
Since taking charge of Napoli on December 11, 2019, Gennaro Gattuso has made the Partenopei click on all cylinders, who currently sit sixth in the league, firmly in the path for Europa League qualification. More importantly, they won their first trophy in six years, defeating Perugia, Lazio, Inter, and Juventus en route to winning the…
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Scouting Report: Bukayo Saka
From David Bentley to Carlos Vela to Jermaine Pennant, many teenage prospects have dazzled Arsenal fans with their skill and dynamism. But few have showcased the professionalism and mental strength that Bukayo Saka has since making his debut at 17 years of age in a Europa League fixture in Poltava, Ukraine. Since coming on…
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Sampdoria’s 2019/20: From Fighting for Europe to Fighting for Survival
Sampdoria seemed destined for another season of hovering around the middle of the Serie A table or possibly exceed expectations by qualifying for Europe, but the 2019/20 campaign has been nothing but an utter disappointment for the Blucerchiati. Many Linkhouse factors on and off the pitch have contributed to the Doriani underperforming. There has…
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Tactical Analysis: Newcastle United vs. Manchester City
Going into the game against Manchester City, Steve Bruce’s Newcastle had just lost once in their previous five matches, only conceding six goals and scoring 10 in the process. The Toons have sat comfortably mid-table this season and they were looking to continue their good form on Wednesday with a draw or victory at the…
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Tactical Preview: North London Derby
The upcoming weekend in the Premier League will be the first time that José Mourinho and Mikel Arteta will face off against each other in the North London Derby. Considering what is at stake for both clubs, it is highly unlikely that the match will disappoint. Tottenham can leapfrog Arsenal with a win, which…
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How Real Madrid Built the Best Defense in Europe
Be it José Mourinho’s Centurions or Zinedine Zidane’s three-peat winning side, Real Madrid have always been associated with attacking football and massive trophy hauls. However, everything changed after the departures of Zidane and Cristiano Ronaldo in the summer of 2018. Real Madrid went through three managers in one season, were eliminated in the Champions…
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The Rise and Fall of Anzhi Makhachkala
The journey of Anzhi Makhachkala has been one of ups and downs. But nothing quite paints the picture better than this statistic: they finished 3rd in the Russian Premier League in 2013 and 15th in Zone South of the Russian Professional Football League (Russia’s third tier) in 2020. It all began in 1991 when the…
