Europa League

Subterms

    More stories

    • 225 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      Chelsea’s Conference League clash moved 770 MILES to Chinese border as Blues face 18-hour trip and freezing temperatures

      by

      CHELSEA’S Europa Conference League group stage match against Astana has been moved over 770 miles away from the original location.The Blues were set to face the Kazakhstan Premier League side at the Astana Arena.Chelsea will face Astana at the Almaty Ortalyk Stadion – 770 miles away from the original locationCredit: PAThe stadium does not have a roof and the match is set to be played in DecemberCredit: GettyBut due to ongoing renovation work at the 30,000-seater stadium, the fixture has been moved to the other side of the massive country.It will now be played at the Almaty Ortalyk Stadion in Almaty – on the Kyrgyzstan border and only 250 miles from China.And, to make matters worse for the Blues, it is also set to take place in December, meaning temperatures will likely drop below freezing.The host stadium does not have a roof, so fans will face wintry conditions.Read More in FootballGenerally, temperatures in Almaty, Kazakhstan, range from 2°C to -7°C in December.And, ironically, Cole Palmer – who goes by the nickname ‘Cold Palmer’ based on his goal celebration – will not be able to play.The 22-year-old was left out of Chelsea’s Conference League squad last week.Injury-jinxed midfielder Romeo Lavia and defender Wesley Fofana were also left out of the 27-strong group for the competition.Most read in Europa LeagueFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSEnzo Maresca made the decision to balance the work load of some young players.Palmer was a key member of the first team squad last season and played 3,734 minutes of football in total.Chelsea fans can’t name their OWN PLAYERS after another wild transfer window under owner Todd BoehlySo far this season the midfielder has scored once and provided four assists in five games.Chelsea will face Gent, Heidenheim, Shamrock Rovers, Panathinaikos and Noah in their remaining Conference League group stage games.Chelsea will lose their soul by leaving Stamford BridgeBy Matt PennJUST what London needs – another £1billion bowl-shaped, soulless football stadium.No offence to Spurs, because theirs looks great, but it’s not like they had years of title-winning history to celebrate at White Hart Lane.Arsenal moved on from Highbury a couple of years after their last Premier League title win in 2004, and to no avail, they’ve been chasing that glory ever since.And the less said about West Ham’s move from Upton Park, the better. The Olympic Stadium pales in significance to Upton Park, where binoculars weren’t needed to see the pitch from Row Z.It’s no secret Chelsea fans have become disillusioned with the club since Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali took over from Roman Abramovich two years ago.The sacking of two full-time managers in that time, a 12th-place finish in the league, no European football, billions spent on Brazilian teenagers you’ve never heard of and civil war between the owners have turned the club into a laughing stock.Seems like the perfect time to revamp plans to leave Stamford Bridge, doesn’t it?According to The Guardian, Chelsea are in talks to move to a new 60,000-seater site in Earl’s Court, something they’ve attempted before.Chelsea are said to have made plans for the Lillie Bridge depot site as an area that could be developed in a move that could cost hundreds of millions.Forget that so much else still needs fixing on the pitch, that the results are still not going the way they should, that players still can’t seem to click on a consistent basis.The owners, who are said to be looking to buy each other out already, might not think it, and the seats might be a little rusty, but fans do value tradition.The Bridge has been a place supporters can call home every other Saturday. It’s raw, the stands are close to the pitch, it has four sides, and most importantly, it’s owned by the fans.For any deal to go through, Chelsea Pitch Owners (CPO), a group made up of over 14,000 fans, have to approve a move away from the 42,000-seater stadium.On the other hand, redvelopment of Stamford Bridge would see the team move away from the stadium for a number of years, likely double the three years Tottenham spent at Wembley.But why not overhaul each stand one-by-one? Both Liverpool and Fulham had stands refurbished and they were able to stay put. There are also plans for Crystal Palace to do the same.If Boehly and Eghbali are so desperate to put money at the forefront of their decision-making, then go about it in a way which will appease fans.Sadly, football isn’t really about fans anymore, and it’d be easy to say Chelsea will lose their soul if they leave Stamford Bridge.But you fear they already have. More

    • 238 Shares149 Views

      in Soccer

      Forgotten Premier League star, 35, set to reignite fierce Man Utd rivalry after sealing shock free transfer to PAOK

      by

      FORMER Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren is poised to face Manchester United this season after signing for Greek side PAOK.The Croatian centre-back, 35, was a free agent after being released by Lyon at the end of the 2023/24 campaign.Dejan Lovren is set to return to Old Trafford four years after leaving LiverpoolCredit: GettyLovren played 10 Ligue 1 games for Lyon last seasonAccording to Sport 24, he has penned a two-year deal with PAOK – who won the Greek title last season.And his new club will face Man Utd in the Europa League after drawing them in the league phase.PAOK will travel to Old Trafford to face Erik ten Hag’s men on November 7.Lovren, who played Man Utd numerous times during his stint in the Premier League, joined Liverpool from Southampton in 2014 in a deal worth £20million.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLHe spent six years at Anfield, playing 185 games and scoring eight goals.He won the Premier League and Champions League under Jurgen Klopp before leaving for Zenit St Petersburg in 2020.Lovren played in two Champions League finals, as well as a Europa League final.He then won three Russian league titles in a row with Zenit, before he joined Lyon in 2022.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSAt international level, Lovren enjoyed a 13-year international career with Croatia during which he played 78 games and bagged five goals.He reached and started the 2018 World Cup final – after Croatia beat England in the semis.Tactical analysis of Man Utd star Manuel UgarteThey lost 4-2 to France in the final.After he helped Croatia beat England 2-1 in the last four, Lovren claimed he was one of the best defenders in the world.He said: “People said I had a difficult season but I don’t agree with that.”I showed why I took Liverpool to the final of the Champions League and now with the national team, and now I’m in the World Cup final.”I think people should recognise that I’m one of the best defenders in the world.” More

    • 288 Shares189 Views

      in Soccer

      ‘I’m crying SO hard… dream on’ – Fans can’t believe their eyes as they spot odds on Tottenham to win the Europa League

      by

      TOTTENHAM have been made the favourites to win this season’s Europa League.However, fans have been left rubbing their eyes after seeing the odds on Spurs to lift the trophy.Fans have been shocked by Tottenham’s odds to win this season’s Europa LeagueCredit: RexThe favourites to lift the trophy in May have been revealedCredit: APAnge Postecoglou’s side make their return to Europe later this month after finishing fifth in the Premier League last season.Spurs are looking to end their 16-year wait for a trophy by winning the Europa League for a third time.They previously lifted it twice under the Uefa Cup banner, most recently in 1984.Following the draw for this season’s league phase, Spurs were revealed as 9/2 favourites to go on and win the competition.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThe North London club are fancied ahead of Manchester United and Roma at 5/1 and 8/1, respectively.Supporters are not convinced, though, with one commenting: “Nah. Spurs can’t be favourites to win anything.”Another added: “How on God’s green earth have Spurs ever been favourites for any competition.”A third fan also wrote: “Tottenham favourites. Got to be joking ain’t you.”Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSMeanwhile, one more said: “I’m crying so hard… dream on.”Spurs’ trophy drought dates back to their 2008 League Cup triumph under Juande Ramos.Refuses to lift trophy after finally winning silverware at Tottenham on return with Bayern MunichThey have since reached the final three more times, losing all three, along with their defeat in the Champions League showpiece in 2019.This season’s revamped Europa League will see Postecoglou’s side play eight times during the opening stage, starting on September 26.Azerbaijan’s Qarabag visit the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on matchday one after the fixtures were revealed last week.Spurs will then face Ferencvaros, AZ Alkmaar, Galatasaray, Roma, Rangers, Hoffenheim and Elfsborg before the end of January.Tottenham’s Europa League fixturesSeptember 26 – Qarabag (H)October 3 – Ferencvaros (A)October 24 – AZ Alkmaar (H)November 7 – Galatasaray (A)November 28 – Roma (H)December 12 – Rangers (A)January 23 – Hoffenheim (A)January 30 – Elfsborg (H) More

    • 213 Shares159 Views

      in Soccer

      Tottenham suffer major Europa League blow with key man suspended after getting red card two seasons ago

      by

      TOTTENHAM’S Europa League hopes have been hit by a long-delayed ban for a key defender.Cristian Romero will miss Spurs’ group opener against Qarabag on September 26 – due to being sent off in the Champions League TWO SEASONS ago.  Cristian Romero’s absence will further weaken Spurs options in defenceCredit: RexIt’s all because Romero saw red for two bookings on Tottenham’s last European game, a Champions League draw at home to AC Milan in March 2023Credit: RexUefa have confirmed that European bans can kick in as late as two years after an offence – which adds to headaches at the back for Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou.Romero was sent off for two bookings in Spurs’ last European adventure, in March 2023.Having lost 1-0 away to AC Milan in the Champions League round-of-16, the Argentinian World Cup-winner’s woe then helped kill off their hopes in the second leg.Romero, now 26, earned his first yellow card after just 17 minutes of a poor Tottenham display.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSAnd a reckless challenge on Theo Hernandez late on meant his second booking in a tame 0-0 draw.Spurs have been out of Europe since then, so it’s only now that Romero’s suspension comes into play.His absence at home to Azerbaijan Premier League side Qarabag later this month means Postecoglou could face selection problems at centre-back.Dutch centre-back  Micky van de Ven has been troubled by injury.Most read in Europa LeagueFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSHowever, Postecoglou is confident the 23-year-old will be back by the end of September.He said: “Micky was close in training this week but with the international break he’s not quite 100 per cent.”Tottenham flop Steven Bergwijn signs for Saudi Arabian club Al-IttihadRadu Dragusin is Tottenham’s other main option in central defence.And if needed Ben Davies, usually a left-back, could switch inside.Spurs decided to leave right-back Djed Spence out of their 23-man Europa League squad. More

    • 188 Shares159 Views

      in Soccer

      Man Utd name forgotten man who hasn’t played in 15 MONTHS in Europa League squad

      by

      MANCHESTER UNITED’S 25-man Europa League squad has been confirmed with forgotten left-back Tyrell Malacia included despite his 15-month absence.Erik ten Hag’s roster for the European competition was revealed on Thursday and all of his big stars made it in.Tyrell Malacia is in Man Utd’s Europa League squad but has not played since May 2023Credit: EPAThe likes of Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho were not named among the 25, but are still eligible as they are classed as homegrown players.And perhaps the only surprise was the inclusion of Dutch full-back Malacia, 25.The former Feyenoord man arrived at Old Trafford in 2022 for £13million.He played 39 games in his first campaign in England but has not featured since May 2023.READ MORE ON MAN UTDHe spent the entirety of last season sidelined following knee surgery.But Ten Hag made a prediction ahead of the new season that Malacia could be back within two months.Speaking in early August, he said: “He is now in a good place, but he is not here [in pre-season] because I only took players who could play games or be available for team training.”He is not that far, but he is now in a progress situation. At a relatively short notice, he can again return into team training and then into team performance in games.Most read in Europa LeagueCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSMan Utd’s Europa League squadGoalkeepers: Andre Onana, Altay Bayindir, Tom Heaton, Dermot MeeDefenders: Victor Lindelof, Noussair Mazraoui, Matthijs de Ligt, Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez, Tyrell Malacia, Leny Yoro, Diogo Dalot, Luke Shaw, Jonny Evans, Harry AmassMidfielders: Mason Mount, Bruno Fernandes, Christian Eriksen, Casemiro, Manuel UgarteForwards: Rasmus Hojlund, Marcus Rashford, Joshua Zirkzee, Amad Diallo, Antony”I think it would be possible in two months [for him to return].”Man Utd have been plagued by injuries at left-back as Luke Shaw has also suffered numerous fitness issues.Man Utd wages 2024-25 revealedThey were linked with a move for Chelsea’s Ben Chilwell in the summer transfer window, but ultimately a deal was not struck.Diogo Dalot, an orthodox right-back, has started Man Utd’s opening three Premier League games on the left side of Ten Hag’s defence.The Red Devils’ Europa League campaign gets underway at home to Twente on September 25.Man Utd player ratings vs LiverpoolMANCHESTER UNITED had a horror show against Liverpool as they lost 3-0.Casemiro was so bad he was taken off at half-time.But were there any positive performances at Old Trafford?Andre Onana – 5Nothing he could do about any of Liverpool’s goals and made a few saves to prevent the scoreline from getting worse.Noussair Mazraoui – 5Came close to scoring in the first half and looked solid enough against Diaz although he did push up too high before Liverpool’s opener.Matthijs de Ligt – 4Left Diaz and Domink Szobozslai in acres of space for the opening goal but was left in a tricky spot thanks to Casemiro’s error. Booked for a shocking late tackle on Diaz.Lisandro Martinez – 3Lost Diaz for the second goal which meant the Colombian was able to score unmarked from the penalty spot.Also guilty of giving away the ball too easily and was not tight enough with his marking.Diogo Dalot – 4Was caught out pushing up too quickly for the first goal and did not do enough to stop Mo Salah’s cross in the build-up to Liverpool’s second.Looked dangerous in attack at times but too infrequently as he had plenty of defensive work to do since Rashford did not track Trent Alexander-Arnold.Casemiro – 2A horror show in the first half as he gave the ball away in the lead up to both of Liverpool’s goals.He was caught on the ball for the second after a shocking misplaced pass left his defence vulnerable for the opening goal. Hooked at half-time.Kobbie Mainoo – 4Fell victim to the Casemiro curse as he was shrugged off the ball in a terrible position, allowing Liverpool to add a third with ease.Bruno Fernandes – 5Was United’s most creative spark but that is not saying much. Tried to get his side going in the first half but looked short of ideas and inspiration after the break.Alejandro Garnacho – 4Still appears to be a little rusty and is yet to hit the heights he reached last season.Marcus Rashford – 3Nothing came off for the out-of-sorts forward who must be running out of chances before he is dropped.Joshua Zirkzee – 4Quiet up-front and had little influence on the wing as well, but missed a clear-cut chance with his head and should have turned in Rashford’s cross which he met at the far post.SubsToby Collyer (for Casemiro, HT) – 5A difficult game for the youngster to make his Premier League debut but he put himself about and won a few tackles.Harry Maguire (for De Ligt, 69mins) – 5Shored things up at the back as Liverpool took their foot off the pedal.Amad (for Garnacho, 69mins) – 5Provided a spark on the right and looked more lively than Garnacho.Christian Eriksen (for Zirkzee, 86mins) – N/ANot on long enough to make an impact. More

    • 238 Shares139 Views

      in Soccer

      Former Arsenal and Chelsea star Willian, 36, set to return to football after being left unemployed following Fulham exit

      by

      WILLIAN has joined Olympiacos as a free agent shortly after his exit from Fulham.The ex-Chelsea and Arsenal ace stood out for the Cottagers last season with five goals and two assists in 37 appearances across all competitions.Willian is joining Olympiacos as a free agent after leaving FulhamCredit: GettyFormer Chelsea and Arsenal ace Willian passed his medical at OlympiacosCredit: GettyThe West Londoners’ manager Marco Silva wanted the winger to stay at Craven Cottage and the club offered him a new one-year contract after his previous deal expired in June.The ex-Brazil international, though, decided to move on and will continue with last season’s Europa Conference League winners who will be playing in the Europa League this season.The 36-year-old agreed a deal with Olympiacos and flew to Athens where he passed his medical in Piraeus and put pen to paper.The summer transfer window in Greece runs until September 11 and Jose Luis Mendilibar’s side is eager to add more attacking reinforcement.Read More on FootballOlympiacos missed out on signing Wolves ace Daniel Podence on a permanent deal after his successful loan stint last season.Podence is moving to Saudi Arabia for Al-Shabab after Gary O’Neil’s side landed Carlos Forbs on loan from Ajax.Mendilibar’s side has also been linked with another former Chelsea ace Hakim Ziyech, who is looking to leave Galatasaray.BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSWillian moved to the Premier League in 2013 when he joined Chelsea from Anzhi Makhachkala.Most read in FootballThe Brazilian went on to enjoy a glittering seven-year stint at Stamford Bridge where he won two Premier League titles, the 2015 EFL Cup, the 2018 FA Cup and the 2019 Europa League trophy.Angry Chelsea fan slams Todd Boehly’s transfer policy and claims no Blues supporters are happy with his running of the ‘unrecognisable’ clubThe ex-Shakhtar Donetsk star registered a total of 63 goals and 57 assists in 339 appearances with the Blues.Willian then moved to Arsenal but struggled to replicate the same success in north London with only one goal and seven assists in 37 matches before his departure just a year later in 2021.The Gunners’ sporting director Edu Gaspar claimed the forward failed to be a success at the Emirates because he wasn’t “100 per cent comfortable” during a season in which he started well but became “inconsistent”, just like the rest of the team.After a brief spell at Corinthians, Willian returned to London for Fulham where he scored 10 goals and provided seven assists in 67 appearances.Fulham offered Willian a new contract and manager Marco Silva wanted him to stayEvery Chelsea signing under Todd BoehlyHere is a list of all Chelsea’s signings under Todd Boehly…Raheem Sterling – £50mKalidou Koulibaly £33mGabriel Slonina – £8mCarney Chukweumeka – £20mMarc Cucurella – £57.5mCesare Casadei – £13.3mWesley Fofana – £70mPierre-Emerick Aubameyang – £10.3mDenis Zakaria – £2.7m (Loan fee)David Datro Fofana – £10.6mBenoit Badiashile – £33.7mAndrey Santos – £11.1mJoao Felix – £9.7m (Loan fee)Mykhailo Mudryk – £62m Noni Madueke – £30mMalo Gusto – £26.75mEnzo Fernandez – £107.8mChristopher Nkunku – £52mDiego Moreira – FREENicolas Jackson – £31.5mAngelo Gabriel – £13mLesley Ugochukwu – £23.3mAxel Disasi – £38.9mRobert Sanchez – £20mMoises Caicedo – £100mRomeo Lavia – £53.2mDeivid Washington – £13.7mCole Palmer – £40.1mDjordje Petrovic – £13.6mTosin Adarabioyo – FREEMarc Guiu – £5.1mCaleb Wiley – £8.63mRenato Veiga – £12mAarón Anselmino – £14mOmari Kellyman – £19.2mFilip Jorgensen – £21mKiernan Dewsbury-Hall – £30.2mPedro Neto – £51mJoao Felix – £42.6m More

    • 213 Shares129 Views

      in Soccer

      Uefa confirm major change to European football in huge boost to Man Utd, Chelsea and Arsenal fans

      by

      UEFA have announced a major change to ticket prices for this season’s Champions League, Europa League and Conference League.The European governing body confirmed a price cap for away fans following their favourite club in various stadium visits around the continent.UEFA have announced a price cap on away tickets for this season’s competitionsCredit: ReutersAway tickets will be reduced further more next season in Uefa competitionsCredit: GettyThe maximum ticket prices for away fans will be €60 (£51m) in the Champions League, €40 (£34) in the Europa League and €20 (£17) in the Conference League.Things will get even better next season as visiting supporters will pay no more than €50 (£42) in the Champions League, €35 (£29) in the Europa League and €20 (£17) in the Conference League.Uefa came to the decision following an agreement with European Clubs’ Association and Football Supporters’ Europe.A statement read: “Starting with the 2024/25 season, the maximum ticket prices for away fans will be €60 in the UEFA Champions League, €40 in the UEFA Europa League and €20 in the UEFA Conference League. Read More on Football”This will be further reduced in the 2025/26 season to a maximum price of €50 in the UEFA Champions League, €35 in the UEFA Europa League and still €20 in the UEFA Conference League.”The news will be welcomed by the Premier League’s representatives for this season’s Uefa competitions.Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Aston Villa fans are set for four trips in the Champions League.The same goes for Tottenham and Manchester United supporters in the Europa League.Most read in FootballChelsea fans, on the other hand, will be going on three away games in the Conference League.There will be more trips in the knockout stages if the Premier League clubs finish in the top 24 places in their competition.Cristiano Ronaldo reveals bizarre thing that ‘turns him on’ during live Champions League drawIf they finish in the top eight of their respective league phase then they will qualify straight to the Last 16 and avoid the play-off round. More

    • 200 Shares139 Views

      in Soccer

      Champions League fixtures CONFIRMED with Arsenal handed rarely-seen Thursday night fixture as new format kicks in

      by

      THE dates for this season’s Champion League fixtures have been confirmed – with a major change to scheduling also being announced.Europe’s elite club competition – which was won by Real Madrid last season – returns next month.The new format Champions League draw took place on ThursdayCredit: GettyArsenal learned their fate in the draw along with Aston Villa, Liverpool and Man CityCredit: APThe Gunners have been handed a rare Thursday night fixture to kick off their campaignCredit: GETTYPremier League quartet Arsenal, Aston Villa, Liverpool and Manchester City learned their fates for this season’s instalment of the competition, the first outing of the new 36-team league format, this week.But for the first time in the modern era, there’s been a major change to the scheduling of games.Due to the increased number of teams in the tournament, games will now be played on Tuesday, Wednesday and THURSDAY nights.And Arsenal will be the first English team to play Champions League footie on a Thursday night.READ MORE UCL NEWSThe Gunners will kick off their campaign away to last season’s Europa League winners Atalanta on Thursday, September 19.Aston Villa and Liverpool will both be in action on Tuesday, September 17, travelling to Switzerland and Italy respectively to take on Young Boys and AC Milan.Premier League champions Manchester City, meanwhile, will welcome Inter Milan to the Etihad the following night.As well as their match with Atalanta, the Gunners will also be on the road for their clashes with Inter, Girona and Sporting Lisbon.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSMikel Arteta’s troops will welcome Shakhtar Donetsk, GNK Dinamo, Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain to the Emirates.In addition to their trip to Young Boys, Villa will be on the road against RB Leipzig, Club Brugge and Monaco.The new Champions League format explainedBayern Munich, Juventus Bologna and Celtic will be the 1982 tournament winners’ opposition at Villa Park.Liverpool’s proverbial ‘Group of Death’ will also see them travel to Spain, the Netherlands and Germany to take on Girona, PSV Eindhoven and RB Leipzig.Arne Slot’s lot will welcome Real Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Lille and Bologna at Anfield.Manchester City, meanwhile, face away days to Juventus, Sporting Lisbon, Slovan Bratislava and Paris Saint-Germain.The 2022/23 winners will also host Club Brugge, Feyenoord and Sparta Prague at the Etihad.New Champions League formatEach club will play eight matches in the opening phase – against seeded opposition, in a system designed to ensure that teams play opponents of similar difficulty.The top eight teams in the “final” table will automatically go through to the last 16, where they will be joined by the eight play-off winners of ties between the sides placed ninth to 24th in the table.Despite there being just eight matches in the opening phase, European matches will be spread over 10 midweek slots.The new Champions League format also sees the implication of two additional qualifying spots.They will be awarded to the nations that are top of the “country coefficient” chart each season. More