Rob Smyth's Blog, page 12
February 21, 2025
European draws and Pep Guardiola on Haaland injury – as it happened
Liverpool meet Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16 of the Champions League, while Arsenal could face Real Madrid in the quarter-final
A video explains just how the draw works. I was confused eight seconds in. It’ll be done soon.
Live scenes from Nyon show some men in suits watching football highlights. Giovane Elber, a former Champions League winner with Bayern, is the special guest. He looks particularly smart.
Continue reading...
Football Daily | Bigger Cup’s Bigger Draw serves up a buffet of fantasy football thrills
Sign up now! Sign up now! Sign up now? Sign up now!
A Bigger Cup needs a Bigger Draw. Last year Uefa set out the tournament brackets from the quarter-final onwards, showing Real Madrid which particular jails they might need to escape to win the competition for the 15th time. This year Uefa have gone one better by doing the draw for the rest of the tournament at the last-16 stage. It’s a punch up the bracket for Manchester City, who can now empathise with every failed Bullseye contestant. Look what they could have won: Atlético Madrid in the last 16, then Arsenal or PSV Eindhoven in the quarter-finals, then maybe Liverpool in the semis.
Continue reading...February 20, 2025
Europa League playoffs: Roma 3-2 Porto, Galatasaray 2-2 AZ and more – as it happened
Ajax sneaked through despite losing at home, while Shamrock Rovers were eliminated on penalties by Molde
45 min: Roma 2-1 Porto (agg: 3-2) Roma almost scored a third a moment ago, with a shot cleared off the line by Otavio. I didn’t see exactly what happened because THERE IS SO MUCH GOING ON.
Welcome to heaven. AZ Alkmaar are cruising into the last 16 of the Europa League, having done a helluva number on one of the tournament favourties. After a superb run from Ernest Poku, Gabriel Sara’s attempted clearance hit Seiya Maikuma and ricocheted into the net.
Continue reading...February 18, 2025
Bayern Munich 1-1 Celtic (agg: 3-2): Champions League playoff round, second leg – as it happened
An heroic Celtic performance ended in heartbreak when Alphonso Davies settled the tie with 30 seconds remaining
“Speaking of Father Ted,” begins Matt Emerson, “I see that Tom from Craggy Island has swapped his ‘I Shot JR’ T-shirt for an Ipswich Town kit and is going by the name of ‘Liam Delap’.”
Continue reading...February 16, 2025
Tottenham 1-0 Manchester United: Premier League – as it happened
An opportunistic goal from James Maddison gave Spurs their first home victory in the league since early November
A reminder of the teams
Tottenham Hotspur (4-1-4-1) Vicario; Pedro Porro, Danso, Davies, Spence; Bentancur; Kulusevski, Bergvall, Maddison, Son; Tel.
Substitutes: Kinsky, Udogie, Gray, Bissouma, Sarr, Moore, Odobert, Johnson, Scarlett.
February 15, 2025
Bayer Leverkusen 0-0 Bayern Munich: Bundesliga – as it happened
Bayern stay eight points clear after Leverkusen did everything but score in the battle of the top two
5 min Tella looks pleadingly at the assistant referee after a shoulder-to-shoulder challenge with Upamecano on the right wing. Nothing doing.
4 min No openings to report. Leverkusen have made a fast start, particularly without the ball.
Continue reading...Leicester City 0-2 Arsenal: Premier League – as it happened
Mikel Merino came off the bench to score two late goals and keep Arsenal’s title hopes alive
9 min Odegaard teases a chip over the defence towards Trossard, who flicks a volley that is saved to his right by Hermansen. He was offside so it wouldn’t have counted.
7 min Arsenal are settling into their passing rhythm. Still no openings to speak of, never mind chances.
Continue reading...February 14, 2025
Sri Lanka thrash Australia by 174 runs in second men’s cricket ODI – as it happened
Dot balls = pressure = wickets. Nissanka charges Hardie, misses a wild mow across the line and is bowled to end a difficult innings of 6 from 20 balls. Excellent bowling from Hardie, who has been nagging away just full of a good length.
Nissanka looks suspiciously at the bottom of his bat as he walks off, which suggests he wouldn’t be great at Cluedo.
Continue reading...Sri Lanka set Australia 282 to win: second men’s one-day international – live
Dot balls = pressure = wickets. Nissanka charges Hardie, misses a wild mow across the line and is bowled to end a difficult innings of 6 from 20 balls. Excellent bowling from Hardie, who has been nagging away just full of a good length.
Nissanka looks suspiciously at the bottom of his bat as he walks off, which suggests he wouldn’t be great at Cluedo.
Continue reading...February 13, 2025
Porto 1-1 Roma, AZ Alkmaar 4-1 Galatasaray, Twente 2-1 Bodø/Glimt: Europa League – as it happened
AZ Alkmaar stunned Gala, 10-man Roma held on in Portugal and 16-year-old Jorthy Mokio helped Ajax beat Union SG
Ajax lead in Belgium. A fine, end-to-end move was finished off beautifully by Christian Rasmussen, who clipped a first-time shot into the far corner from 19 yards.
It’s all going swimmingly for Jose Mourinho. Youssef En-Nesyri has put Fenerbahce 3-0 ahead with a mighty header from Sebastian Szymanski’s cross. He was about 15 yards out and powered it into the bottom corner at the near post.
Continue reading...Rob Smyth's Blog
- Rob Smyth's profile
- 4 followers
