Matt Jones

It’s always wonderful when domestic soccer returns after the international break and the fixtures to sample this weekend have whetted the soccer appetite further as the end of season approaches in various division across Europe. Coming up, we’ve got a battle between Germany’s two biggest outfits, as well as clashes in Italy and England that […]

For most players in Kevin de Bruyne’s position, a move to a European juggernaut would be a natural step in his progression as a blossoming footballer. The Belgian international has been magnificent for Wolfsburg this season, racking up a frankly phenomenal 14 goals and 21 assists for the Bundesliga outfit in all competitions. For any […]

His ragged mane, flailing arms and rangy somatotype make Marouane Fellaini one of the most outwardly complex-looking players around. But—those sharp elbows aside—there’s something fundamentally endearing about the manner in which the Manchester United midfielder plays the game. The Belgian has been central to the Red Devils’ emphatic victories over Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool as […]

As far as recoveries go, on the back of a humiliation at your home World Cup, Brazil’s has been rather emphatic. After re-appointing iconic World Cup-winning skipper Dunga as boss—not a popular choice for all, it must said—they’ve won eight games in succession since that humbling at the hands of Germany in Belo Horizonte. But during […]

Barcelona 0-0 Real Madrid, November 23, 2002 For a supporter, there aren't many greater acts of treachery a player can commit than leaving for a massive rival. But there are few more high profile than when Luis Figo swapped the iconic Blaugrana jersey for the all white of their eternal rivals Real Madrid. Amidst all the […]

Real Madrid 2-6 Barcelona, May 2, 2009 Throughout the storied history of Clasico matches, the number five is symbolic. There’s a host of occasions when one of the sides has scored an quintuple of goals—a manita—in a show of resounding dominance against the other. So you can imagine how significant it was when in 2009, […]

There are some soccer rivalries that go beyond what occurs on the field. The needle between some of the game's most illustrious names spans across various cultural and historical demographics, with deep-rooted factors contributing to the angst between those out on the pitch and the supporters in the stands. For neutrals, these are wonderful games […]

Real Madrid 5-0 Barcelona, 5 October 1953 The transfer wrangle between Barcelona and Real Madrid for the signature of Alfredo di Stefano was one of the most complex in the history of the game. Indeed, both of the illustrious Spanish clubs thought they’d signed the man nicknamed as the “blonde arrow” at one point. First […]

Real Madrid 0-3 Barcelona, Nov. 19 2005 We’ve all seen how tough it can be to appease the crowd at the Santiago Bernabeu. The Real Madrid supporters have immaculately high standards for their own players and should they fall short of them, regardless of the opposition, they’ll make their feelings unashamedly clear. So you can […]

There have been a plethora of faux turning points for Everton this season. The earliest came after Phil Jagielka’s last-minute thunderbolt at Anfield salvaged a 1-1 draw. The wins away against Wolfsburg and Young Boys were also expected to trigger something of a revival and the home draw at Manchester City was a stirring display […]

While the clutch of the world’s best players in situ at both Barcelona and Real Madrid make “El Clasico” the most hotly anticipated match in the globe today, the rivalry between these two illustrious sides has stretched back over various generations and a host of cultural and political demographics. Naturally, a rivalry this longstanding has conjured […]

The upcoming clash between Chelsea and Southampton looks set to resemble the final embers of those grueling stages towards the end of the Tour de France. After the taxing, convoluted mountainous period, the race for home starts in the South-East. But a lot of those riders who have poured endeavor and industry into the mid-section […]

As far as supporting acts go, the Championship is just about as good as it gets. English soccer’s second tier is ferociously competitive, home to a host of upcoming young players and bristling with sides beset on making it to the promised land of the top flight and all the riches that accompany it. The […]

Neither Kevin de Bruyne or Romelu Lukaku seemed to be under that much pressure to leave Chelsea. The Belgian duo weren’t forced out of the Stamford Bridge door, rather it was their own respective willingness to play regular first-team soccer that prompted the pair to seek pastures new. And while the achievements of both players in […]

While the race for the Premier League title looks dead in the water, there are a host of enticing battles still to be played out in English soccer's top flight. Perhaps most intriguingly, the race to finish amongst the top four spots and secure UEFA Champions League football for next season. Our selected five games […]