Sergio Ramos: Most hated player of the week

The Spanish defender angered Liverpool and Egyptian fans after his challenge on Mo Salah

Everything is fair in love and war they say. And it was war, an all out war against 2 of the best teams in Europe on Saturday 26 May 2018. It was the UEFA Champions League Final between Real Madrid and Liverpool. The game was expected to be thrilling and it certainly was, with Real Madrid triumphing in the end.



One of the key moments of the match was the early substitution of the the superstar Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah. He has been prolific this season, scoring 44 goals across all competitions, and only being second to Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. What brought the substitution though, has seen immense anger amongst all Liverpool and Egyptian fans. In the 30th minute, Ramos tackled Salah, and it looked as if Ramos had intentionally grabbed Salah's arm and plunked him right across the pitch. What's more, the challenge didn't even receive a yellow card, and only a free kick was given.

Salah was in real pain. The medical staff attended him immediately. Even after receiving such a horrible challenge, Salah seemed to be alright and continued to play. However during a Madrid corner, Salah collapsed again after getting caught in a mix of players. This time, Salah had to be taken out. Despite an entire hour being left to play, Liverpool's main man failed to deliver on the night it mattered the more, all because of a silly challenge of a defender. What resulted was a Liverpool team losing steam, and Madrid, with the experience they have, quickly turned the situation around and won.


Cristiano Ronaldo consoling a distraught Mohamed Salah

Following Liverpool's loss, fans have taken to social media to express their hatred against Sergio Ramos. Some claim that he ruined the beautiful game, others say that God should punish him, and a series of rather unpleasant memes can be found expressing anger and hatred against the Spanish defender. Even an online petition, which demanded the punishment of Ramos for the challenge on Salah, has received 500,000 signatures. Although latest reports claim that the petition has been suspended, it just shows how far fans can go to make their point. Egyptian fans have been rightly outraged, as Salah had taken them to the World Cup, and he was their hope. His untimely injury has sure raised doubts on his ability to play in the World Cup.

Sergio Ramos is undoubtedly the best center back of this generation. He goes all out to make sure that no one dares to score against his team. While his style is certainly controversial, one cannot disagree that he is one of the most valuable assets to Real Madrid, and any team would want a defender like him. He's been the FIFA's World XI for over 6 times. The question we would like to ask though, is that does a defender really deserve all the backlash he gets for performing his duties? Just because of a challenge, does a defender deserve to be publicly shamed? We all make mistakes. To err is human. Whether action should be taken against Ramos, we can't say. But he sure deserves a little appreciation for being one of the key players contributing to Real Madrid's continuing dominance. That challenge... yes, it was filthy. It was dirty. It could've resulted in a worse injury. Different angle of the footage shows Salah locking arms with Ramos... whatever. We just want to say that no sportsman deserves such anger for performing for his team. After all it may not have been intentional. It might have happened in the heat of the moment. What happened was unfortunate, and shouldn't have happened. We wish a speedy recovery for Salah!

What is your opinion about the whole situation? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!

Time up for Loris Karius?

After a disaster performance in the Champions League Final, Karius's Liverpool future is in doubt

It was a night to forget for Liverpool keeper Loris Karius. Delivering impressive performances for Liverpool all season, he failed when it mattered the most, on the Champions League Final night against Real Madrid. Not one, but 2 ridiculous blunders were made by the German keeper. So ridiculous in fact, it was hard to believe that something like that was happening right before our eyes.

A dejected Karius apologizes to Liverpool fans after Champions League Final defeat

The game started off well, with both sides fighting hard to open the scoring. Despite Salah being sent off after 30 minutes due to a highly controversial challenge by Sergio Ramos, Liverpool appeared unfazed, and tried to fill the gap left by the Egyptian forward.

No one could foresee what the second half was about to bring. It was expected that both teams will now up their ante, and try to go forward. It all started to go wrong for Liverpool after Karius's first fail - an attempt to throw the ball to the feet of Andrew Robertson miraculously found Karim Benzema's outstretched toes instead, and it ricocheted off into the bottom right corner before anyone could comprehend what just happened. This wasn't the first time Benzema had taken advantage of a goalkeeper blunder. Bayern Munich's Sven Ulreich slipped after a failed back pass by Corentin Tolisso, and Benzema, present at the right place at the right time, coolly nudged the ball to score the goal that would ensure Real a spot in the Finals.

Sadio Mane equalised some time later to make the score 1:1. But Gareth Bale came on as a substitute and scored a breathtaking overhead kick to put the Galacticos ahead once more. Even under such circumstances, Liverpool maintained unbelievable composure. It looked like Liverpool could equalise once again any time. However, all Liverpool dreams were extinguished when a shot from Bale, which looked to land safely in the hands of Karius, fatally slipped right out of his gloves and Madrid were leading by 2 goals, with 9 minutes left to end of regular time. In the end, it was the side from Spain who won.


A Gareth Bale shot slipped off Karius's hands to extend Madrid's lead by 2 goals

Though Salah's early departure did have an impact on the morale of the Liverpool side, it was Karius's blunders who were solely responsible for giving away such a cheap victory to the powerful Real Madrid. To err is human. We all make mistakes. Some, however tend to leave a mark on us for the rest of our lives. Karius will surely feel the chills whenever this horrible night will come to his mind.

Following the defeat, loads of incensed Liverpool fans have sent death threats to Karius on social media. Karius took all the blame of the defeat on himself. As they landed on the John Lennon Airport in Liverpool,Karius stepped out with his hands on his face out of embarrassment. Yes, to err is human, but so is to forgive. Karius needs all the love and support he can get to get over this incident. All things said, a doubt can be definitely cast over his Liverpool future. Liverpool are a club with high expectations, and a performance like that on such a big night will definitely go down well. According to sources, Liverpool are once again in pursuit of Roma goalkeeper Allison, who has been outstanding this season.

What do you think about Karius? Should he stay or should he leave? Tell us in the comments section below!

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Real Madrid win the UEFA Champions League for a 3rd year running

A heroic performance from substitute Gareth Bale saw the Galacticos lift the Champions League trophy for a record 13th time

What appeared to be an equally tough fight between 2 extremely talented sides in the beginning turned out to be a one man show off in the end. Both Liverpool and Real Madrid had an excellent start, with Liverpool enjoying more chances and more possession till the first 30 minutes. After a challenge from Real captain Sergio Ramos saw Liverpool star man Mohamed Salah go down clutching his arm, a horror show began for the Liverpool players and fans alike. In the end. the Reds just lost steam and allowed Los Blancos to fully dominate the game, ensuring European glory.

Real Madrid lift the Champions League for a 3rd consecutive year

As it happened

Both teams had formidable starting lineups. All eyes were going to be on Cristiano Ronaldo and Mohamed Salah, to see whether the star men could deliver for their clubs on the night it mattered the most. The first 30 minutes into the match saw some interesting tactics applied by both the teams. It looked as if Liverpool wanted to open the scoring really bad, and Real Madrid had dropped back, stopping all attempts, and looking to counter through their left back Marcelo. Karim Benzema almost opened the scoring for Real, but the earlier shot from Ronaldo was from an offside postion, so Benzema's shot didn't count. Sadio Mane's attempt to score for Liverpool rattled against the post, causing no harm. In the 32nd minute, Mohamed Salah was brought down by Sergio Ramos. Salah looked to be in serious pain, but continued anyways. But soon during a Real Corner, Salah got caught up the mix and went down again, this time, for the remainder of the match. Salah was whisked away with a suspected dislocated shoulder, and all the Liverpool fans became silent. Salah left the pitch tears streaming out of his eyes.

Salah leaving the pitch in tears

Salah being subbed early was just the beginning of all problems for Liverpool. Soon, a difference could be easily noticed in the game. The absence of Salah had understandably disturbed Liverpool's game, and they began to get caught by Real counters. The scoreboard was silent at the end of first half. Within the first 5 minutes of the second half, an expensive mistake by Liverpool keeper Karius allowed Benzema to score the opening goal for Real Madrid. Liverpool soon equalised through a James Milner corner, which bounced off Lovren and was delicately tapped in by Mane. Madrid, who were much more experienced in handling stressful situations, turned on the heat, and a surgical cross from Marcelo lead to substitute Gareth Bale banging in the second for Real Madrid through a stunning overhead kick.

Gareth Bale's overhead kick in the Champions League Final

Another costly mistake from Karius in the 82nd minute saw a Gareth Bale attempt slip off his hands into the back of the net, making the score 1:3 to Real. All hope was lost now for Liverpool. The remaining 8 minutes saw no serious attempts made by the Reds, and after the 3 added minutes were over, the whistle was blown, signaling that the Spanish side had won European glory, and their dominance was not going to be stopped yet. Shouts of cheers echoed the NSC Olimpiskiy from the Real Madrid fans, and the Liverpool fans applauded their club's efforts, the air of dejection quite clear on their faces.

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UEFA Champions League 2018 Final: Who will take the crown home?

Real Madrid and Liverpool face off in an epic battle tonight at the NSC Olimpiskiy in Ukraine

A Champions League Final always promises loads of entertainment and emotions. Over the years, clubs have fought tooth and nail to win this prestigious tournament. No other game gets ever more interesting than this. That night is the night. Fans travel hundreds of miles to watch their favorite team play their best to get their hands on the 11 kg, pure Silver trophy. Come 2018, that day has arrived again. This time, it's Real Madrid and Liverpool who'll play their hearts out tonight.

Can youthful exuberance take down experience?

Real Madrid have been Champions League winners a record 12 times, while Liverpool have won the Champions League 5 times. Real Madrid are certainly the more experienced side. Their coach Zinedine Zidane has himself been a European Champion, both as a coach and as a player, winning it as a player in 2002, and a remarkable 3 times as a coach in 2014, 2016 and 2017. Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp has experienced a Champions League Final as a coach with Borussia Dortmund, as he faced off against Jupp Heynckes's Bayern Munich. Klopp lost 2:1 to the mighty Bayern, and Bayern successfully completed their treble. As this is Liverpool's first Champions League final in 11 years, Klopp will be under a lot of pressure. It will be interesting to see whether a more youthful side will dominate a side with more experience.

Offense or defense?

Both Real Madrid and Liverpool have ridiculously talented forwards. In the form of Mane, Firmino and Salah, Liverpool's trio has torn apart defenses in their way with their deadly counter attacks. However, apart from those 3, Liverpool don't really have dominating options up front. Real Madrid are most likely to go with their standard offense, consisting of Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema. Real's added advantage is that they are stocked to the brim with talent in every position on the pitch. Marco Asensio, Isco, Lucas Vasquez and Gareth Bale could be just as deadly, given that they find their groove on this cricual night.

Madrid's midfield has Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and Casemiro, who can make key passes and turn defensive play into offense. Mateo Kovacic has shined in his recent appearances for the club, and he can be touted as a viable option to start tonight. Liverpool have James Milner, their captain Jordan Henderson and Giorginio Wijnaldum. The trio can set up play very nicely, creating space to allow Salah and Mane use their pace to run down the wing.

Sergio Ramos and Raphel Varane handle their defensive duties for Madrid very well indeed. Los Blancos are blessed with Marcelo, who is the most attacking left back in the world. Lucas Vasquez handles the situation as a right back. Liverpool have Daejn Lovren and Virgil Van Dijk as center backs, and Andew Robertson and Alexader Trent-Arnold as left and right backs respectively. If the situation calls, Jordan Henderson can himself play as a center back. In the sticks, Real Madrid have their trusted man Keylor Navas, and Loris Karius, who has taken over Simon Mignolet, has proven himself as a reliable shot stopper for Liverpool over time. Both teams have really powerful men, but Real Madrid have a slight edge because of their experience and their abilit to handle stressful situations.

Frankly speaking, it's anybody's game tonight! Can Zidane make history by winning a 3rd straight Champions League as a coach? Will Klopp be finally able to get his hands on the trophy after missing it by inches 5 years ago? Time will only tell. Enjoy the game tonight, because it's going to be an absolute showdown!

How will 2018 influence the transfer window?

Despite 2018 being a World Cup year, many transfer deals are being done with rapid pace across Europe, with clubs looking to secure their target men before the tournament begins.

Mourinho keen on strengthening the Red Devils' midfield

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho appears to be rushing with the transfers, as he looks to sign Brazilian playmaker Fred from Shakhtar Donetsk. According to some reports, a fee of £53 million has also been agreed upon between the 2 clubs. Fred's comments however, appear to suggest that no deal is currently piping up right now. He says he wants to focus on the World Cup, and after that, he may make a choice.


Fred
Very recently, Besiktas midfielder Anderson Talisca has been linked with the Red Devils as well as Liverpool. Talisca states that he does prefer the English League for everything it has to offer. However, he states that no decision has been made yet and he's currently enjoying his holidays. As United's defensive problems continue to worsen, reports strongly suggest that Luke Shaw and Daley Blind could be shown the door to let in Alex Sandro, who is the current Serie A champion with Juventus.

Juventus legend to join Paris?

Paris Saint-Germain boss Unai Emery recently arrived at London to join Arsenal. Following Emery's exit, Paris scooped up former Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen and FSV Mainz 05 manager Thomas Tuchel. Thomas signed a contract with the club till 2020. Thomas was asked about rumors stating that Italian legend Gianluigi Buffon was going to join the Parisians after his exit from Juventus. Tuchel replied that he himselves has never imagined about a Juventus team without Buffon, but it was imminent. Though Tuchel did not confirm the rumors, he didn't completely deny them as well, stating "we'll see what happens". Buffon remained an integral part of the Bianconeri for 17 years.

Chelsea duo's future uncertain

Chelsea's star man Eden Hazard has been on the radar of many big clubs for quite some time. Real Madrid is tipped as one of the favorites to pick up the Belgian winger. Hazard has been consistent in his performances for the side, delivering some top class acts in all competitions across Europe. Hazard's late penalty won the FA Cup for Chelsea this season. Since last season, a lot has been speculated about Hazard's move to the Spanish capital. Some reports suggest that Gareth Bale would be used as a wager to lure the Belgian. Premier League champions Manchester City are also in contention to prepare a £100 million bid for the superstar.

Eden Hazard (L) and Willian (R)
Willian has also been in good form this season, showing his class for Chelsea in their rather short Champions League campaign. He's stated that he'll leave Chelsea for Manchester United if Antonio Conte stays boss at Stamford Bridge. Although that's not likely to happen, as after a "disastrous" season for Chelsea according to Chelsea's standards, the club are likely looking for a replacement for the Italian.

Will Bayern give in to Robert Lewandowski?

The Polish striker has been nothing but a goal machine for Bayern Munich and Poland this season. His record 16 goals in the World Cup qualifiers is taking Poland to the World Cup, and his 29 goal haul in the Bundesliga has led Bayern to win a 6th consecutive Meisterschale. Taking into consideration the strikers terrific form, news began to circulate that Lewandowski was going to leave Munich for the mighty Real Madrid. Madrid have been looking quite long and far to replace their out of form man Karim Benzema, and with Lewandowski, they could have the most deadly attack in Europe. The fact that Robert appointed Pini Zahavi as his new agent added fuel to the fire, as Zahavi played a role in Neymar's transfer to Paris Saint-Germain, which turned out to be world record breaking deal. Soon however, the talks quietened as director Karl Heinz Rummineige and coach Jupp Heynckes announced that the striker was going nowhere. Real Madrid too, clarified that they had broken all talks with Bayern regarding the matter.

Now, those talks have begun again as Manchester United, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain have all joined the race to snatch the striker from Bayern. New Paris Saint-Germain coach Thomas Tuchel is very well aware of Lewandowski's abilities from his time in the Bundesliga. Chelsea are looking to replace Alvaro Morata and Manchester United want to strengthen their attack. Bayern has repeatedly announced that the striker will not be leaving under any circumstances. Even then, who wouldn't want a striker like Lewandowski in their squad?

How do you think the transfer window will progress? Leave your opinions in the comments section below!
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Clubs who will have a new boss next season

There have been managerial overhauls this week across Europe, potentially game changing for some clubs

As the 2017/2018 season draws to a close, some clubs are considering getting a fresh air of change in their managerial position. While some managers have performed outstandingly this season, others have failed to live up to the club's expectations.

Some clubs have already acted on this desire, and brought new managers to their clubs. It will be interesting to see how these changes affect the overall performance of the club. Let's take a look at the managerial transfers which have happened across Europe.

Arsenal appoint Unai Emery

Following Arsene Wenger's iconic 22 year run at Arsenal, and the mixed reactions of fans for a long time, Wenger announced it was time he called quits at the club. Wenger won 3 Premier Leagues with and 7 FA Cups at the club. The 17/18 season was not exactly the way he would've liked to quit the club, with Arsenal crashing out of the FA Cup courtesy to a 4:2 loss against Nottingham Forest, and being knocked out of the Europa League by eventual champions Atletico Madrid in the Semifinals stage.
Wenger's replacement is Unai Emery, who came in from Paris Saint-Germain. Emery won the domestic treble with Paris in France, winning the Ligue 1 title, the French Cup and the Coupe de la Ligue. Emery lead his club to the Champions League Round of 16, where they failed to progress further, being thrashed by Real Madrid in both legs. Unai is expected to change things around at the club, and a lot will be expected from the former Sevilla coach.

Ancelotti appointed as new Napoli manager

Former Bayern Munich boss Carlo Ancelotti was announced as the new manager by Napoli, sacking Maurizio Sarri. Sarri was pretty impressive this season, leading Napoli to a respectable 2nd place behind 7th consecutive Serie A champions Juventus. Napoli president Aurelio de Laurentiis praised Sarri for his contribution to the club, and thanked him for the prestige the fans have earned worldwide. Sarri is being linked with a move to Chelsea to replace Antonio Conte.

Bayern Munich decided to part ways with Ancelotti after their disappointing 3:0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc de Princes. Even at the start of the season, all was not right between the players and the Italian coach, as many players complained about Ancelotti's laid back style of training. Dutch winger and former Real Madrid man Arjen Robben went to the extent of stating that better training was offered at this son's club. This culminated in the eventual sacking of Ancelotti and the return of Jupp Heynckes, who guided Bayern to their famous treble in 2013. The question remains whether Ancelotti will be able to regain his momentum with the Italian side.

DFB Pokal Cup winner Niko Kovac to take charge at Bayern Munich

Following the sacking of Carlo Ancelotti, Bayern were in desperate need of a new manager, and while deputy coach Willy Sagnol did take charge for a few weeks, the need of a main man was still felt. This lead to the return of Jupp Heynckes for his 4th spell at Bayern, who lead Bayern to their famous 2013 treble. Heynckes managed to turn the game around for a somewhat lost Bayern side, leading them to win the Bundesliga a 6th consecutive season. Bayern did reach the Champions League semifinals, but were eliminated by Real Madrid, and lost the DFB Pokal Cup final to Eintracht Frankfurt.
Despite the request of many club officials as well as the players, Heynckes insisted that he was there to take charge only for the remainder of the season, and would retire after that. Bayern soon announced that the new man coming in would be Niko Kovac, former Bayern Munich player. Kovac's Frankfurt side defeated a strong Bayern side by 1:3 in the DFB Pokal Cup Final. Kovac will have a lot of eyes on him as the fans expect the Croatian to improve the performance of the German giants.

While Sarri is a favorite to join Chelsea, current Chelsea boss Antonio Conte is the most likely candidate to take over at Paris Saint-Germain, who are currently without a manager. All sorts of rumors are popping up about Arsene Wenger. While some suggest he may take over another Premier League club, other reports suggest he could join the German Bundesliga to coach Borussia Dortmund, who are likely looking for a replacement for Peter Stoger. A lot of interesting transfers are yet to be seen, as the transfer window progresses.

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Starlets to look out for at the 2018 FIFA World Cup

With just 21 days left for the most awaited tournament of the year to kick off, we take a look at some young superstars who are likely to impress you in Russia

1] Kylian Mbappe, France

France have a ridiculously formidable squad, with the best players available on every position at the pitch. A key member of their squad is Kylian Mbappe, who can be easily hailed as the young sensation of the season. At the age of 18, his performance guided AS Monaco to the Champions League semifinals in 2017. Wasting no time, Paris Saint-Germain snatched the rising star for a mind boggling EUR 180 million, instantly turning heads all around him. He also impressed everyone in the international friendlies and the World Cup qualifiers for France. A lot is yet to be seen from him, and he will definitely be among the ones to watch in Russia.

2] Marcus Rashford, England

Marcus Rashford is currently one of the hottest prospects in England. He leads the line both for Manchester United and the England national team. The talented forward has netted 15 goals and bagged 6 assists across all competitions this season. He's blessed with pace and surgical finishing, which can produce good results for the team. The only problem he faces now is England's poor performance in the World Cup. Despite doing very well in the qualifiers and the international friendlies, England starts to buckle as the competition gets tougher and the pressure rises. Will Rashford be able to turn things around for the 3 lions? Time will tell. But yes, the kid definitely has the skills and the ability to live up to the expectations of the fans.

3] Joshua Kimmich, Germany

After Phillip Lahm's retirement from all forms of football last season, the question everybody was asking, was that will any footballer be able to ever fill the legend's shoes. Looks like we have an answer! Joshua Kimmich, only 23 years of age, has given stunning performances all year round for Bayern Munich and the German national team, almost seamlessly slipping into Lahm's right back role. The perfect mix of offense and defense, Kimmich is always ready to cross the ball in or fall back to defend at a moment's notice. Did we mention he also loves to score? Kimmich scored the opening goals on both legs of the UEFA Champions League semifinals against Real Madrid. He's bagged 6 goals and 13 assists across all competitions this season. Spotlight's on you, Kimmich!

4] Paulo Dybala, Argentina

The Argentine forward has been one of the best performers in the Serie A this season. Combining extremely well with fellow compatriot Gonzalo Higuain, he has become the top scorer for Juventus this season, hitting the back of the net 22 times. He also has 5 assists to his name. His effortless dribbling and the ability to score from long ranges has everyone looking up to him to perform for the Argentine national team. He's often compared to fellow Argentine team mate Lionel Messi, and although he says he doesn't deserve it, performances like these will surely get the people talking. Apart from Lionel Messi, Argentina are in desperate need of a superhero to come and save the day for them. Argentina suffered a heartbreaking 1:0 loss to the mighty Germans in 2014, despite having countless great chances to score. Dybala can come vey handy in such situations. He certainly carries a heavy weight of expectations on his shoulders.

5] Marco Asensio, Spain

The 22 year old Spanish midfielder has 9 goals and 7 assists for his name at all competitions this season. What makes Asensio one of Spain's strongest assets is his ability to perform excellent long balls, holding on to the ball and making key passes. He's already shone in Real Madrid, coming on as a substitute and scoring against Juventus in the UEFA Champions League Final 2017. Clubs all across Europe are after him, including Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal. Asensio scored an incredible hat trick against Macedonia, and 2 long ranged rockets against Barcelona in the Copa Del Rey. Already a key part of Zinedine Zidane's Real Madrid squad, Asensio, combined with fellow Madrid and Spain teammate Isco, are expected to light up the 2018 World Cup in Russia, leading them to international glory for the 2nd time.

6] Gabiel Jesus, Brazil

Just 21 years old, the Brazilian striker has become the talk of the season after a breakout season in the Premier League for Manchester City, grabbing 19 goals and 3 assists across all competitions. He scored 5 goals and got 3 assists for the Brazilian national team in the World Cup qualifiers. Jesus has a deadly eye for goal, and with the ability to cut inside, make key passes and holding very well on the ball makes him one of the most complete striker around. Blessed with teammates like Phillipe Countinho and Neymar Jr, Brazil are one of the strongest World Cup contenders this year. If anyone has given the best performance for his country as a youngster, Gabriel's name stands out instantly. He admires Ronaldo, who scored a brace in the 2002 World Cup against Germany, and dreams of becoming a national hero like him. He definitely has what it takes to shine for his country. He scored the goal that defeated Germany in the international friendlies this year, a thumping header against Barcelona's Marc Andre Ter Stegen. Undoubtedly, Gabriel will be the most favorite youngster this year at the 2018 World Cup in Russia!

We would love to hear from you! Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments section below. If you would like to hear more from us or post about a specific topic, drop a mail a footblogger97@gmail.com. Happy reading!

Fernando Torres says goodbye to Atletico and the Metropolitana

As El Nino says his goodbyes to the Spanish capital, we take a look at his journey so far

A lovable figure

Torres started his youth career at Atletico, and progressed through their youth system to their first team. He made his first team debut in 2001 and finished with an impressive 75 goals in 174 appearances. Torres was responsible for the promotion of Atletico back to the top division after the club was relegated in 2001. Atletico fans fondly call him EL Nino, which means 'the little child' in Spanish.

Storming the Premier League

Torres joined Liverpool from Atletico in 2007 for a club record transfer fee. He became the first Liverpool player after Robbie Fowler to score 20 Premier League goals in a single season. Torres formed a strong partnership with striker Luis Suarez, who joined Barcelona in 2014. Torres left Liverpool for Chelsea in 2011 for £50 million, another club record deal. Although his goal scoring record was criticized by many, he still managed to win the 2012 UEFA Champions League and the FA Cup in his first season for the club. He scored in the final of the UEFA Europa League in 2013, and helped Chelsea to win the competition for the first time.

A stint at Milan

In August 2014, Torres joined Serie A club Inter Milan on loan. He expressed his desire to be ranked along the greatest strikers of the club, the likes of Marco van Basten and Pipo Inzaghi. His debut was a 1:0 defeat to Juventus. He scored his first Milan goal 2 days later, a header, against Empoli. Although the club agreed to make Torres a permanent signing in December 2014, the deal was cut short as just 2 days later, Torres agreed to play on loan for his boyhood club Atletico. The deal was agreed after Alessio Cerci was let go to by Atletico to Milan on the same day.

Back to his roots

His debut in his second Atletico spell was a Copa del Rey Round of 16 tie against Real Madrid. He had no shots on target and was replaced by Koke an hour later. Atletico won the game 2:0. The match garnered nearly 45,000 spectators at the Vincente Calderon stadium. Just a week later, he scored 2 goals in the reverse fixture, allowing Atletico to progress further in the competition. On February 6 2016, he scored his 100th goal for the Rojiblancos, and was announced as a permanent signing. in July 2017, he renewed his contract with the club, after a transfer ban put on them. The 17/18 season will be a perfect farewell year for the striker, as Atletico lifted the UEFA Europa League for the 3rd time. He came on as a 90th minute substitute in the final against Marseille, and was welcomed by a huge applause. In his final La Liga game against Eibar, he scored a brace, an eventual 2:2 draw. What a way to say goodbye!

The prodigal son of Madrid, Torres bid an emotional farewell to all his fans. He will be missed, very dearly too. Adios Torres, and all the best for your future!

Iniesta bids farewell to Barcelona

Iniesta played his last game for Barcelona yesterday, a 1:0 win over Real Sociedad

The Spanish legend, regarded as one of the best midfielders of the century, decided it was time to leave the Camp Nou. Iniesta had spent 22 years with the club. Iniesta won numerous trophies with Barcelona. He won the La Liga 9 times, 6 Spanish Cups, 7 Spanish Super Cups, 3 UEFA Super Cups, 3 FIFA Club World Cups and 4 UEFA Champions Leagues. Barcelona dearly loved him, fans and other players alike. Iniesta could not hold back tears during his final speech, as a reel of his greatest moments was being played on the screens in the stadium. He was given the guard of honor, and was thrown aloft by his teammates. The Catalan giants would certainly miss his presence, and so will the fans, who watched him grow and become one of the greatest.

A hero for his club, Iniesta is also a hero for his country Spain. His late goal helped Spain to win their first World Cup in 2010. He has also been a 2 time Euro winner, in 2008 and 2012. He also won the Euro with Spain's U19 squad in 2002, and with the U17 squad in 2001. Iniesta has 13 goals for his country in 129 caps. Iniesta has 65 goals and 108 assists for FC Barcelona.

Needless to say, Iniesta will be deeply missed by Barcelona fans, and all football fans alike. Adios Iniesta, and we wish you good luck with your future endeavors!

Why Naldo is the best defender in the Bundesliga

The Brazilian has been amazing throughout the season at Schalke 04, and could even be called up to represent Brazil in Russia

When it comes to defenders in the Bundesliga, the most discussed names are those of Mats Hummels, Jerome Boateng, Niklas Sule and Sokratis. However, a 35 year old 6 ft 6 inches defender in the royal blue of Schalke has turned heads this season due to his excellent performances. Ronaldo Aparecido Rodrigues, or Naldo, as he's simply known, has been one of the most eye catching prospects in the 17/18 Bundesliga season. Brazil national coach Tite has stated that Naldo could potentially be starting for Brazil at Russia.

At the age of 35, where most professional footballers have lost their steam, Naldo has gotten better than ever. He's been leading from the front at the back (yes, you read that right), and has always been their for his team in any problematic situation. An excellent example would be Matchday 13 in the Bundesliga. It was the Revierderby, one of the most exciting and most awaited derbies the Bundesliga had to offer. It was a horrific first half for Schalke, as they went down 4:0. In the second half, Schalke turned the game completely over its head, coming back 4:3 at the end of regular time. An extra 7 minutes were added, and everyone wondered if Schalke could complete one of the greatest comebacks of all time. Lo and behold, Naldo stepped up, banging a header from a corner into the top right corner, salvaging a point. It was more than 8 years since any side had turned around a 4 goal halftime deficit in the Bundesliga, and Schalke did it through their main man, Naldo.

One of Naldo's main attributes is his power in the air. He's excellent at aerial duels. He uses his immense muscular strength and speed to win the ball back. He's won 73% of his challenges this season. Hummels, Boateng and Sule combined, have 3% less. He has a 91% pass completion rate. Sule though, has 92 percent.

Always a threat from free kicks, and the knack of scoring late goals has helped Naldo overtake Ze Roberto as the top scoring Brazlian in the Bundesliga. He whirled in an amazing free kick in the Revierderby at the Veltins Arena, helping Schalke to a 2:0 win. Naldo has been elected a starter in the 17/18 Bundesliga Team of the Season as well, along with Leverkusen's Timothy Wendell, and Bayern's Hummels, Sule and Kimmich.


Naldo scored from a long range free kick against Dortmund

Do you think Naldo could play for Brazil in the 2018 FIFA World Cup at Russia? Let us know in the comments below!

DFB Pokal Cup Final 17/18: Frankfurt emerge winners

Eintracht Frankfurt win the DFB Pokal Cup for the 5th time

Eintracht coach Niko Kovac lifts the trophy with his team

Eintracht Frankfurt produced an attacking masterclass to defeat FC Bayern Munich in the DFB Pokal Cup Final 17/18 by a score of 1:3. Losing 2:1 to Borussia Dortmund last year in the Finals, this victory will certainly be a welcome relief to all Frankfurt fans, and especially their coach Niko Kovac, who will join runners up FC Bayern in the 18/19 season. Kovac became the 5th player to win the DFB Cup both as a player and as a coach. Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes has this honor too, winning the Cup as a player with Monchengladbach, and as a coach with Bayern in their famous 2013 campaign.

As it happened

Bayern Munich walked into the Finals as the clear favorites. They had already beaten Frankfurt in both their home and away fixtures in the Bundesliga, a 1:0 win at home in the Allianz Arena and a 1:4 win at the Commerzbank-Arena. Bayern had a pretty strong lineup, with Lewandowski, Muller and Ribery leading the attack, James and Martinez in the midfield, and 2 formidable defenders in the form of Mats Hummels and Niklas Sule, who had come to replace the injured Jerome Boateng. Kevin Prince-Boateng, who had picked up a knock in their Semifinal match against Schalke, was fit once again and was present in Frakfurt's starting XI. Bayern's Manuel Neuer was present on the bench, who returned after an injury in last September.

Ante Rebic chips the ball over the Bayern keeper Sven Ulreich to make it 2:1

Bayern came tantalizingly close to open the scoring through a Lewandowski free kick, which hit the post and bounced off Frankfurt goalkeeper Hradecky's body. Frankfurt began to play a high line, putting a lot of pressure on the Bayern defense, leading them to make risky passes and immediately countering when an opportunity cropped up.

It didn't take long before Frankfurt fatally punished one such risky pass, and within 3 touches, Kevin Prince-Boateng set up Ante Rebic who opened the score for Frankfurt, just as he had did the year before against Dortmund. Bayern did find their groove afterwards, and after some time, an excellent backwards pass from Sule found the legs of Lewandowski, who tapped the ball past Hradecky to make it 1:1.

The game tensed up after that, with players from both teams making wild runs and rushing into challenges, leading to a lot of free kicks. Frankfurt took the lead once again as James slipped on the ball, allowing Rebic to take off once more. Even with Hummels and Sule running after him, Rebic managed to dodge them both, and chipped the ball over Sven Ulreich to make it 2:1. The goal was on the verge of being disallowed due to a potential hand ball, but the VAR cleared any doubts and the goal was given.

Bayern upped their ante after that. Ribery and David Alaba made some threatening crosses from the left side, one of them almost bouncing off Lewandowski into the Frankfurt net. A James corner headed by Hummels rattled the post, but posed no threat. Superb saves from Lucas Hradecky didn't allow Bayern to come on level terms again.

Stoppage time saw plenty of drama as a challenge from Omar Mascarell on Javi Martinez in the box lead to incensed Bayern players appealing for a penalty. Once again, VAR came to the rescue, and the penalty was ruled out for a corner. Sven Ulreich left his position to join the Bayern players in taking the corner. The cross however, bounced off Haller and substitute Gacinovic took no chances, running with the ball almost all alone to the other end, and casually slipped the ball in, making it 1:3. Soon, the full-time whistle blew, and the entire Frankfurt bench, the players and the fans burst into ecstacy. Coach Niko Kovac couldn't hold back tears of happiness. Bayern players continued to argue with the referees over their decisions.

It was an enthralling final, one like never before. After continued disappointments, Frankfurt had emerged German champions. It was their night, and they made it count.

Retiring Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes and soon-to-be Bayern coach Niko Kovac with the DFB Pokal Cup trophy

Gianluigi Buffon's key career moments

As the legendary goalkeeper leaves Juventus after a 17 year long and illustrious career, we take a look at some of the most important moments in his career

Gianluigi Buffon, or Gigi, as he's fondly known, is undoubtedly one of the best goalkeepers the 21st century has witnessed. He was vital in many of Juventus's and Italy's successes. Having won almost every trophy out there, including a World Cup, the UEFA Champions League has always been elusive for the Italian shot stopper.

The move from FC Parma to Juventus

Juventus sold their star midfielder Zinedine Zidane and spent the money in rebuilding the team. One of their key acquisitions was Buffon, who had been a star at FC Parma. He was signed for €51 million, which even today is still a world record fee for a goalkeeper. Buffon became a center figure at Juventus, proving worth his weight in gold.

First Champions League Final

Buffon's first Champions League Final was against AC Milan in 2003. Buffon put on an impressive performance, and saved 2 penalties, one from Clarence Seedorf and the other from Kakha Kaladze. Shevchenko put the final penalty past Buffon, making AC Milan European Champions for a 6th time.

Calciopoli scandal and relegation to Serie B

In May 2006, many players were accused of placing bets on Serie A matches. Buffon was one of them. He openly participated in the interrogation, and admitted that he did place bets on some matches. Juventus was stripped off their 2 recent Serie A titles, were relegated to Serie B and awarded a point deduction. Even in these tough times, Buffon chose to stay with the team. Giorgio Chiellini, Alessandro Del Piero, and Pavel Nedved also chose to stay. This decision endeared Buffon even further to the hearts of Juventus fans.

World Champion in 2006

Although Buffon's place in Italy's World Cup squad was doubtful following the Calciopoli scandal, he was named their first choice goalkeeper. This decision would result Italy winning the World Cup that year. Buffon was outstanding throuhgout the tournament, conceding just 2 goals in 7 matches, a World Cup record. He also posed a 453 minute scoreless streak. In the final against France, he saved a header from Zinedine Zidane, leading them to extra time and then penalties. The shootout was a tense one, neither Buffon nor Fabien Barthez had saved a shot. Following David David Trezeguet's miss, Fabio Grosso sealed the victory for the Azurri. Buffon won the Lev Yashin award, and was enrolled in the team of the tournament.

Almost winning the Ballon d'or

Fabio Cannavaro
No goalkeeper has ever won the Ballon d'Or before. Buffon came closest to this prestigious award in 2006, where he finished runner up to his fellow compatriot Fabio Cannavaro. Cannavaro would be the last defender to win this award. Another goalkeeper who came close to winning the Ballon d'Or was Manuel Neuer, who finished 3rd to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo

Third Champions League Final

Buffon played his 3rd Champions League Final against Real Madrid in 2017. Everyone hoped that Buffon's Champions League jinx will be finally broken. Cristiano Ronaldo scored the first goal for Los Blancos. A superb overhead kick from Mario Mandzukic restored title hopes in the Juventus fans. However, nothing went right for the Turin giants, as a second goal from Ronaldo, a long range strike from Casemiro and a late goal by substitute Marco Asensio helped Real Madrid to a 12th Champions League title.

Seventh consecutive Serie A title

Adding yet another achievement to an already bright career, Buffon won the Scudetto for a seventh consecutive time in the 17/18 season.

Failing to qualify for the 2018 World Cup

Buffon had announced that the 2018 will be his last World Cup and possibly, his retirement year as well. He wanted to lead Italy to World Cup glory for one last time. In a sad turn of events though, a loss against Sweden resulted in a failure to qualify for the tournament, a first in over 60 years. Buffon was extremely dejected after the game, his post match interview one of the most heartbreaking ever.

Dramatic exit from the 17/18 UEFA Champions League

Juventus steamrolled their way in the 17/18 season's Champions League. reaching to the Quarterfinals, where the faced previous Champions Real Madrid. Losing 0:3 at home in the first leg, they produced a stunning comeback in the reverse leg, going up 3:0 in the Bernabeu. What looked like a fairy tale Semifinals qualification for Juventus ended in disaster, as a challenge in the box from Medhi Benatia on Lucas Vasquez let to a penalty being awarded to Real. Buffon, who protested against referee Michael Oliver, was instantly sent off with a red card. Ronaldo fired the penalty home to end Juventus's Champions League dreams, yet another time.

Confirming his Juventus exit

Buffon recently broke millions of hearts as the recently announced that he'll be leaving Juventus after 17 long years. Buffon had been loyal to his club through thick and thin. The fans extremely adore him. Where he'll go to next, is a question that's yet to be answered.

No matter where you go Gigi, you'll always be loved and dearly missed by all of us! Wish you all the best for your journey ahead. What do you feel about Buffon's exit? Leave your thoughts in the comments below. Follow if you like our content!

James Rodriguez's dream Bundesliga debut

The Colombian midfielder has risen to stardom in his debut season in the German top flight

James arrived at Bayern on loan from Real Madrid in the 17/18 season

3 years at Real Madrid

A sensational World Cup campaign in 2014 led the Colombian to a dream move to the Bernabeu. Only 22 years old then, he was playing among the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Marcelo and Toni Kroos. It appeared the James was enjoying life at Real Madrid. However, in the 16/17 season, reports surfaced the James was unhappy with the club, mainly because he was not getting the playing time he desired. Despite scoring 11 goals and 13 assists, he failed to gain sufficient playing time at Real Madrid, leading him to make a loan transfer request.

The move to Bayern Munich

The 16/17 season was a season to forget for Bayern Munich. Despite winning their 5th consecutive Bundesliga title, they had been eliminated from the German Cup in the Semifinals stage by eventual champions Borussia Dortmund, and a humiliating 6-2 aggregate defeat to Real Madrid had knocked them out of the Champions League at the Quarterfinals stage. Former Bayern coach Carlo Ancelotti had brought in James to strengthen the midfield, mainly the attacking midfield.

A fresh start

James celebrates after scoring his first Bundesliga goal against Schalke 04

James had a slow start at Bayern Munich, mainly due to a injury he had sustained during pre season. After Bayern lost 3:0 to Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc de Princes, coach Carlo Ancelotti was sacked, and former coach Jupp Heynckes was appointed as then new coach. Jupp was fascinated by James, and was deployed mainly in the central midfield, where he proved pivotal. James is feared for his notorious passing, the ability to create space in unlikely regions, and if needed, deadly finishing. He scored his first Bayern goal away at Schalke in a 3:0 win. In fact, he was involved in all the 3 goals scored by Bayern, one himself, and an assist for Thomas Muller and Arturo Vidal. His most memorable goal has to be a magnificent free kick he scored away at Leverkusen, which was subsequently voted as the goal of the season by the fans. James was influential in their Champions League campaign as well. He scored at an acute angle against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu in the Semifinals, and refused to celebrate. Overall, he's managed to score 8 goals, and make 13 assists in all competitions. He's also averaged an 89% pass completion rate. James appears to have quickly adapted to Bayern's possessive style of play. Bayern have the option to trigger James's release clause worth €42 million, but no reaction has been given by the club yet. He also stated in an interview that he loved the city of Munich, and dreamed of winning many titles with Bayern.

Do you think James Rodriguez will go far in the Bundesliga? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below, and don't forget to like and follow!

Mohamed Salah: the next Ballon d'Or winner?

Will Messi and Ronaldo's Ballon d'Or winning streak finally come to an end?

The man needs no introduction. Some call him the Egyptian king. Others call him the next Messi. Mohamed Salah has had a season to remember, winning the Golden Boot in the Premier League and playing a vital role in firing Liverpool to the Champions League Final, he's seen and done it all.

Salah started his career with the Egyptian Premier League club El Mokawloon. Soon, he moved to Swiss club FC Basel, where he became a star player, winning the league title in his debut season. Also, he was named the SAPF Player of the year. His performances attracted Premier League side Chelsea and they brought him in for around £11 million. He couldn't make much progress at the club, and was publicly criticized by then manager Jose Mourinho. He was loaned to Serie A side Fiorentina after that. Shortly after, Roma permanently signed him for £15 million. Salah flourished at Roma. He would soon move back to the Premier League, with Liverpool signing him for a then club record fee of £37 million.

Back to the Premier League

Salah was back in the Premier League, this time with Liverpool. Some casted doubts over his future, because of his failed spell with Chelsea. However, Salah was here to prove them all wrong. He would go on to have a fantastic season, setting many records, breaking some, and most importantly, embed himself in the hearts of all Liverpool fans. Salah became the first African player to score 30 Premier League goals in a single season. His most memorable match was the one with Watford, in which he bagged an incredible 4 goal haul. He scored in the incredible 4:3 win against Manchester City at Anfield, bringing Manchester City's winning streak to an end. Salah played a big role in Liverpool's Champions League campaign, bringing them to the Finals. In short, he's had the time of his life, and there's lots more to come.

What does the future hold for Salah?

A lot lies ahead for the Egyptian superstar. Real Madrid are reportedly preparing a €200 million bid for him. Even Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United are rumored to line up for him. Salah is a great player, not just because he has technical skills to make it count on the pitch, but because he's humble, kind and a good human being. He's built schools and hospitals in his country and also finished runner up in the Presidential elections. He's widely revered across the planet. A player of such caliber, we could see him winning a Ballon d'Or, maybe 2, in the near future.

What do you think about Salah? Leave your thoughts in the comments, and don't forget to like and follow!

Atletico Madrid - UEFA Europa League winnners 17/18

A stellar performance from a motivated Atletico side helped them to a 3rd Europa League title

The Europa League 17/18 Final was played yesterday between La Liga giants Atletico Madrid and Ligue 1 Champions League hopefuls Olympique Marseille. The venue was the Parc Olympique Lyonnais, in the French city of Lyon. Atletico were the favorites in this one, but an equally strong performance was expected from Marseille, who had given impressive performances throughout the competition.

The journey towards the Finals

Both sides went to the semifinals without much hindrances. However, both had interesting semifinals. Atletico were paired against Premier League side Arsenal and Marseille were up against the Austrian Bundesliga side RB Salzburg.

Arsenal were dominant during the first leg at the Emirates Stadium. Alexandre Lacazette put the Gunners ahead with a stunning header. Antoine Griezmann's last minute equaliser rose Atletico's hopes of going to the Finals. During the reverse fixture at the Metropolitana, Diego Costa struck once again for Atletico, ensuring their place in the Finals.

Marseille completely dominated Salzburg in the first leg. Florian Thauvin and substitute Clinton Njie gave Marseille a strong lead. Salzburg almost made a stunning comeback in the second leg at the Red Bull Arena, with strikes from Amadou Haidara and an own goal from Sarr. Towards the end though, things turned sour as Haidara was sent off with a red card, and with Rolando's header unexpectedly finding the bottom corner at the last minute, Salzburg's hopes of a Europa League final were brutally crushed.

The Final

The Final was expected to be a tough game between 2 equally good sides. Marseille had an early chance with a stunning pass from Dimitri Payet, but Valere Germain failed to utilize it. Soon after, a ridiculously poor touch from Andre Zambo found the legs of Griezmann, who burst into the penalty box and coolly slid the ball past Mandanda, giving Atletico the lead. Marseille's bad luck worsened, as their star man Dimitri Payet was forced to leave early supposedly due to a hamstring injury. Marseille fans applauded as Payet left the pitch in tears. Griezmann soon grabbed a second goal and Gabi scored a third at the end of regular time. It was an emphatic victory for Atletico, one they truly deserved.

Congratulations to Atletico for winning their 3rd Europa League title! Don't forget to leave your thoughts in the comments below and please subscribe!

Big teams insulted this week

All across Europe, some big teams faced shocking and unexpected defeats. Let's take a look at them.

1] Levante vs FC Barcelona (5:4)

This fixture has been the talk of the week. Barcelona, having won the domestic double, went into this one as the clear favorites. What everyone witnessed was a shambolic performance by Barcelona's defence, allowing Levante's Emmanuel Boateng and Enis Bardhi to attack at will. Countinho looked like the only one in the Barcelona squad who seemed awake during the game. A complete thriller, this game saw 2 hat tricks, one from Emmanuel Boateng and one from Phillipe Countihno. Adding insult to injury, the loss also resulted in Barcelona's remarkable unbeaten streak coming to an end. Ah, at last there's something Real Madrid fans can smile about!

2] FC Bayern Munchen vs VfB Stuttgart (1:4)

When you've won the Bundesliga for the 6th consecutive year, and your legendary coach is having the final game of his career, few would expect you to lose in such fashion. It was a total horror show for Jupp Heynckes's men at the Allianz Arena as Bayern went down 1:4 to newly promoted Stuttgart. Bayern's defense was too laid back during the entire game.Stuttgart's Daniel Ginczek and Anastasios Donis delivered a stellar performance with 3 goals and 2 assists between them. Lewandowski selflessly sacrificed an opportunity for Corentin Tolisso, who scored the only goal for Bayern.

3] Newcastle vs Chelsea (3:0)

The Premier League champions of last season have hardly had a season to remember. Opening the season with a shock loss to Burnley, Chelsea have been constantly under fire for not being able to get their game straight. They managed just 6 shots, comparing to Newcastle's 16. Although Chelsea enjoyed 60% of the possession, they failed to make it count. Ayoze Perez scored 2 of Newcastle's 3 goals. With that defeat, there will be no Champions League football next season for Chelsea. Not the way you expect to end a campaign!

4] Paris Saint-Germain vs Rennes (0:2)

In what was supposed to be Thiago Motta's and Unai Emery's last game for the Parisians, Paris faced a first home defeat in 42 league games as Rennes went home with a 0:2 win. The first half was intense, with Paris enjoying most of the possession. Angel Di Maria nearly put the home side in the lead, but the effort from distance ricocheted off the upright. Into the second half, Rennes was awarded a penalty, which Benjamin Bourigeaud happily scored. Adrien Hunou scored the second, ensuring all 3 points for the away side.

This unpredictability of football is what makes it the beautiful game, isn't it? What are your thoughts? Leave them in the comments section below, and don't forget to subscribe!