Sports journalist, freelance writer, broadcaster and editor.

European Leagues Preview: El Clasico headlines blockbuster weekend

It is a huge weekend of European football ahead, with perhaps the biggest set of games we have seen this season yet. 


We have El Clasico in Spain, the Derby d’Italia in Serie A, as well as Le Classique in France. The stage is set for a cracker of a weekend so let’s have a look at some games.


La Liga


Real Madrid vs Barcelona Saturday 8pm


Perhaps the biggest game in world football is set for Saturday evening with Barcelona travelling to the Bernabeu to take on their great rivals, curre...

Fenerbahçe 1-1 Manchester United: United let lead slip as Mourinho sees red

Manchester United’s wait for a first Europa League win of the season goes on as they were pegged back by Fenerbahçe to share the spoils in Istanbul.

Jose Mourinho was sent off in the second half for behaviour towards the fourth official after his side were denied a penalty.

A brilliant finish from Christian Eriksen put United a goal up in the first half, following a slick counter attack.

An exceptional piece of defending from Manuel Ugarte, followed by a mesmerising double save from Andre Ona...

European Leagues Preview: Big Serie A clash as Bayern look to remain unbeaten

We are back from another international break and there are some tantalising fixtures across Europe this weekend. This includes a top four clash in Italy as well as Monaco looking to retain top spot in France. Without further ado, let’s preview some games.


Serie A


Juventus vs Lazio Saturday 19:45


It’s 3rd against 4th this weekend in Italy as Lazio journey north from the capital to take on Thiago Motta’s side in Turin.


Both sides are locked together on 13 points after seven games, but...

European Leagues Preview: Searing Spanish Derby and Serie A Table Topper

Another week in European competitions and just around the corner from another international break, it’s time once again to preview another round of fixtures from the other top leagues around the continent. From another derby in Spain to a top of the table clash in Germany, there are some decent games to look forward to this weekend.


La Liga 


Sevilla vs Real Betis Sunday 17:30


Sunday evening throws up the very first El Gran Derbi of the season, with both teams experiencing different fort...

Winners and Losers from Champions League Matchday 2

Matchday Two of the Champions League is in the books and it is still unclear if this new format is any good or not. On one hand you get teams like Brest getting historic victories and on the other it feels as if the disparity between the big teams and smaller teams has just gotten larger, with more drubbings evident. 


As always we will have a look at some winners and losers across the competition and pick a goal of the round as well.


Winner: Brest


One of the more unlikely qualifiers to...

Boniface the difference in an entertaining clash

Victor Boniface’s fifth goal of the season saw Bayer Leverkusen defeat AC Milan by the narrowest of margins to make it two wins from two in the Champions League.

Milan frustrated the German champions in the first half with Mike Maignan making some key saves to keep them out.

Boniface finally opened the scoring early in the second half after converting from close range following a Maignan save from Jeremie Frimpong.

Milan went close to an equaliser through Theo Hernandez, whose deflected shot...

Late Paredes header earns a point for Athletic

Aitor Paredes headed home a late equaliser as Athletic Club came from behind to earn a hard fought point against Roma.

Chances were few and far between at the Stadio Olimpico, but the Basque club were well worth the draw following an impressive second half display.

Artem Dovbyk’s cushioned header gave Roma the lead in the first half after a nice move down the left-hand side.

Defender Paredes equalised with five minutes of normal time remaining when he headed home from close range.

Roma came...

Monaco 2-1 Barcelona: Ilenikhena inspires off the bench to beat Barca

Monaco claimed all three points against Barcelona after goals from Maghnes Akliouche and George Ilenikhena.

Lamine Yamal equalised for Barca after Eric Garcia was sent off early in the first half.

Garcia was given his marching orders just eleven minutes into the game, dragging down Takumi Minamino, while he was through on goal.

Monaco capitalised on the numerical advantage going ahead through a lovely left footed strike from Akliouche to open the scoring.

Yamal scored his first ever Champion...

European Leagues Preview: Milan Derby Tastiest Fixture on the Menu

Fresh off the first week of the new Champions League format, attention returns to domestic action across the continent. There are some big games all over the other four top leagues and in this piece, we’ll look at one fixture to keep an eye on over the weekend.


Serie A


Inter vs Milan Sunday 19:45


While Juventus squaring off against Napoli is also an intriguing prospect, there could only be one answer for the must watch game in Italy this weekend. The first Milan derby of the season sees...

Winners and Losers from Champions League Matchday 1

The first round of the new Champions League format is in the books and it is….well something. It will take a while to get used to the skyscraper sized league table, while wondering if these matches hold any real weight behind them at this stage. 


There were some interesting storylines on the field, however, from Bayern Munich’s record smashing 9-2 victory over Dinamo Zagreb to David Raya’s penalty heroics for Arsenal against Atalanta. In this piece we’ll look at some winners and losers as wel...

Champions League football is back: First-week preview

The UEFA Champions League returns tonight and the competition’s changes are in full effect.


For some, the Champions League is the pinnacle of club football, The tournament’s federation clearly wants to showcase Europe’s premier sporting export with football over three days as the Europa League and Conference League have been sidelined.


Of course, there is the small matter of talking through the new format of the competition which sees teams compete in an initial league phase and will pla...

European Roundup: Kane and Bayern looking ominous

Welcome back to the European Leagues round up. Once more will do a recap of La Liga, Serie A, Bundelsiga and Ligue 1 and break down all the main stories from the weekend. 


Fresh off the first international break this season there was plenty going on around the continent including Barcelona maintaining their 100% start under Hansi Flick, Harry Kane grabbing his first hat-trick of the season for Bayern and Milan finally getting in the win column in Italy. 


LA LIGA


Five games, five wins. I...

Four things we learnt from Netherlands' entertaining draw with Germany

Denzel Dumfries’ close range finish saw the Netherlands come from behind to draw 2-2 with old rivals Germany in a physical and engaging clash in the Nations League.

It was the Dutch who began the scoring on the night, Tijani Reijnders seizing onto a ball over the German defence to slot home after just two minutes.

Germany equalised after 38 minutes when Deniz Undav made the most of some lapse defending to smash home a rebound and score his first goal for his country.

They then took the lead i...

European Roundup: Mbappe off the mark

Welcome to a new weekly column where we will take a jaunt around the European leagues to recap the weekend’s action and talk about the biggest storylines from the games across the continent. 


We will mainly focus on the Bundesliga, Serie A, La Liga and Ligue 1 with maybe some other bits thrown in in some weeks. 


There are so many things to talk about around Europe this week from Kylian Mbappe’s first Madrid goal to Leverkusen’s unbeaten streak ending, so without further ado, let’s dig in....

Cagliari 0-0 Roma: Neither side find winner in Sardinian stalemate

Artem Dovbyk and Răzvan Marin both had efforts hit the crossbar as Cagliari and Roma played out an entertaining goalless draw in Sardinia.

Roma’s big money signing of the summer was quiet throughout yet nearly opened his account in Serie A, but his close-range header hit the woodwork with ten minutes to go.

Marin then had the same outcome when his shot from 20 yards forced Roma goalkeeper Mile Svilar to pull off a brilliant save and tip his effort onto the bar.

Lorenzo Pellegrini had the ball...

Can Conte's Napoli bounce back?

After the ecstasy of a first Scudetto in 33 years, Napoli had a disastrous 23/24 season, recording the worst title defence since three points for a win were introduced. They finished in 10th place, an astounding 39 points behind winners Inter and failed to qualify for Europe for the first time in over a decade. Title winning manager Luciana Spalletti left before the season began and the champions churned through three managers with Rudi Garcia, Walter Mazzarri and Francesco Calzona all failing t...

Four things we learnt from the Netherlands narrow win over Turkiye

Two goals in six minutes saw the Netherlands come from behind to beat Turkey and reach their first European semi final since 2004.

Samet Akaydin had put Turkey in front in the first half, nodding home Arda Güler’s cross for his first international goal.

Stefan De Vrij then equalised, finding himself in acres of space in the Turkish penalty area to head past Mert Günok.

The winner came minutes later, Cody Gakpo sliding in at the back post and forcing the ball in off the luckless Mert Müldür....

Four things we learnt from Turkey’s late win against Czechia

A 94th-minute winner from Cenk Tosun saw Turkey defeat Czechia in a tense and fiery encounter which saw the former reach the European Championships' knockout rounds for the first time in 16 years.

Antonín Barák was sent off for two quick-fire yellow cards in the first half, which set the tone for a hot-headed contest that saw 17 yellow cards and another red after the final whistle.

A wonderful strike from Hakan Çalhanoğlu put Turkey ahead before Tomáš Souček drew his side level with 25 minutes...

Turkey 0-3 Portugal: Post-Match Player Ratings

Portugal ran out comfortable winners against Turkey in Dortmund as they topped Group F in style with a 3-0 win in Dortmund.

Goals from Bernardo Silva and Bruno Fernandes, either side of a shambolic own goal from Samet Akaydin, were enough to see the Seleção ease into the knockouts.

Turkey now face a huge game in their final fixture against Czechia to secure their place in the Round of 16.

Altay Bayındır - 4

Came into the team for the injured Mert Müldür and it ended up being a bit of a night...

Four things we learnt from Serbia’s dramatic late draw against Slovenia

Serbia snatched an injury equaliser against a spirited Slovenia, as Luka Jović 95th-minute goal saw them keep their Group C hopes alive.

Slovenia took the lead with 20 minutes remaining after full-back, Žan Karničnik, finished off a wonderful counter-attacking move.

Serbia looked short of answers against a stubborn Slovenian defence but finally got their first goal at Euro 2024, Jović’s glancing header causing wild celebrations in Munich.

Both sides go into the final round of fixtures with a...
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