Matt Jones

On the first weekend of the Premier League season there are certain matches that quicken the pulse. Not necessarily familiar clashes between two of the division’s longstanding juggernauts, but games that fall in line with the invigorating refreshment of a new term. Newcastle United vs. Tottenham Hotspur is one of those encounters. The hosts, back […]

Since the turn of the year, the European football season always feels as though it’s building towards UEFA Champions League final. With Real Madrid and Juventus facing off in Saturday’s spectacle in Cardiff, the hype is warranted. Because while finals involving teams from the same country can be special—Real have faced Atletico Madrid in two […]

Huddersfield Town and Reading will do battle on Monday at Wembley Stadium for the right to take their place in the Premier League next season. The Championship Playoff Final has come to be known as the most lucrative game in football, with the latest estimates suggesting a success under the iconic arch could be worth […]

The curtain will come down on the domestic campaign for top-flight sides in England on Saturday, as Chelsea and Arsenal contest what should be a classic FA Cup final. Wembley Stadium will host the showpiece, which takes on significance for both teams for very different reasons. Chelsea, having clinched the Premier League title, are seeking […]

Time is running out for Barcelona as they seek to reel in Real Madrid at the top of the La Liga table, meaning victory over Villarreal at the Camp Nou on Saturday is essential if they’re to preserve any hopes of winning the title. Although the Blaugrana have won both games since their remarkable Clasico […]

t’s a huge day for Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, as they welcome Arsenal to White Hart Lane for what is poised to be the final time. Under any circumstances, this is a match Spurs would be desperate to win, as they’ll be keen to sign off from their long-term home with a win in the […]

After Messi slotted the ball into the corner with his left foot in Sunday's el Clásico, he went off to the edge of the pitch to celebrate in front of baying Real Madrid fans. Barcelona’s title chances were reignited. That’s what went through my head in the 92nd minute of Sunday’s Clásico. Not after the […]

A fair portion of the soccer world holds Lionel Messi to stratospheric standards. Following on from the midweek UEFA Champions League matches, the Barcelona man’s performance in the 0-0 draw against Juventus was criticized in some quarters. He missed a fine chance in the first period, hooked over another in the second and, to cap […]

Real Madrid’s meeting with Barcelona on Sunday at the Santiago Bernabeu—the Clásico—is the type of sporting occasion you clear your schedule for. It’s a spectacle that has everything. The rivalry between the pair is steeped in history, in drama and controversy, often transcending what goes on on the pitch. And in the modern age, the […]

For the first el Clásico of 2017, Real Madrid and Barcelona will fight it out in a match that could go a long way to deciding who wins the title in La Liga. So who Luis Enrique and Zinedine Zidane select to start the match will have a big impact on the result. Although the […]

When it was confirmed Barcelona forward Neymar was to miss Sunday’s Clasico showdown with Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu, panic engulfed those associated with the Catalan giants. Indeed, while the Brazilian’s petulance was there for all to see in the loss to Malaga, Barcelona are reportedly ready to launch an appeal to get the […]

By the time Chelsea kick off at Old Trafford against Manchester United on Sunday, their lead at the top of the Premier League table could be chopped down to just four points. It makes this match, that’s been a little overlooked with so much midweek football to enjoy, an absolutely vital one. Tottenham Hotspur’s scintillating […]

Real Madrid can tighten their stranglehold at the top of La Liga on Saturday, when they welcome city rivals Atletico Madrid to the Santiago Bernabeu. A 4-2 win over Leganes on Wednesday for Zinedine Zidane’s men keeps them two points clear of Barcelona having played a game less than their bitter enemies. With just nine […]

Napoli supporters would have been waiting what feels like an eternity for this game. But finally, on Sunday at the San Paolo, they will welcome league leaders Juventus. All the ingredients are there for a fascinating occasion in Naples. There’s a needle between the two teams, the return of Juventus man Gonzalo Higuain and, perhaps […]

It's been a long time since both Liverpool and Everton felt as though they were each in the ascendency heading into a Merseyside derby. But that’s the feeling that’s engulfed the region on the brink of Saturday’s clash at Anfield. For the hosts, although dreams of a title challenge during October and November were dashed […]