Bolivian side Nacional Potosi suffered the ultimate smash-and-grab defeat when they conceded in second-half stoppage time to lose 1-0 to Zulia after having 54 shots, hitting the post three times and allowing their opponents just six attempts.
The incredibly one-sided Copa Sudamericana clash saw Nacional dominate 79.2 per cent of the possession, while they made 533 passes compared to Zulia s 150, according to Opta data.
The Bolivian Primera Division leaders laid siege to the Zulia goal, attempting 27 shots in the first half. No other team has had more than 20 in the opening 45 minutes of a Copa Sudamericana or Copa Libertadores match since at least 2013.
The story continued after the interval, with Nacional piling forward for another 27 shots as 12 different play…
Gennaro Gattuso will consider his future as he has been left in pieces after a gruelling Serie A campaign that saw AC Milan narrowly miss out on Champions League qualification.
Milan ended their season with a 3-2 victory at SPAL but it was not enough to leapfrog rivals Inter or Atalanta – the Rossoneri falling just a point short in their pursuit of Champions League football.
Gattuso s future has been the subject of widespread speculation throughout the season and the Milan great – who was appointed head coach in 2017 – is eager for feedback from the club.
I thank the team. Finishing on 68 points gives me pride, even if it hurts that we didn t qualify for the Champions League, Gattuso told DAZN. A coach s work must be evaluated by the club and the experts. …
Coaching Real Madrid is one of the toughest jobs in world football due to the politics involved at the Santiago Bernabeu, says former boss Manuel Pellegrini.
Pellegrini was in charge at Madrid in the 2009-10 campaign but lasted just one season as they lost out on the Liga title to fierce rivals Barcelona.
The now Manchester City manager, whose side face Madrid in the Champions League semi-final second leg on Wednesday, has fond memories of his time in the Spanish capital but feels there are too many people trying to interfere with first-team affairs.
I wouldn t say coaching Madrid is an impossible job. It s an honour to coach Madrid. But you have to realise that when you take charge of Madrid, you have to accept politics play a big role, Pellegrini told El Mundo…
Marcos Alonso s fortunate goal helped Chelsea come from behind to claim a 1-1 draw at home to Huddersfield Town as the Terriers secured Premier League survival at the likely expense of Swansea City.
Chelsea s hopes of Champions League qualification required Antonio Conte s men to record a fifth straight league victory, but their chances of finishing in the top four now appear slim after Huddersfield clung on late to ensure their top-flight status.
Willy Caballero deputised for the injured Thibaut Courtois and the reserve goalkeeper s 50th-minute mistake gave the visitors a shock lead at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.
Aaron Mooy s long pass sent Laurent Depoitre racing through on goal, the striker getting to the ball ahead of the sluggish Caballero and regaining…
Best Odds: 12/11
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Looking to open their Leagues Cup adventure with three points, LA Galaxy will travel to San Jose in the early hours of Thursday.
San Jose Earthquakes
Starting with the hosts, dragging themselves to what was a nail-biting penalties victory away at Guadalajara last weekend, San Jose will be desperate to use that gutsy performance as a platform to build on. However, despite claiming a crucial Leagues Cup boost, it is no secret that the Earthquakes find themselves at the heart of a real MLS struggle. Heading into the summer interval with a routine 2-0 defeat against Minnesota, inter boss Ian Russell finds his squad sat rock-bottom of the Western Conference table. Losing all of their previous three showdowns against MLS opposition by an a…
Paris Saint-Germain and RB Leipzig are both keeping an eye on the situation with Olympique Lyon s Bradley Barcola, according to Fabrizio Romano. With Lyon pretty keen on keeping hold of the 20-year-old winger, no decision has been made as of yet.
Barcola is a product of the Lyon academy and he only made it into the first-team ranks at the club last summer. In 2022/23, he made a total of 31 appearances, scoring seven goals and producing 10 assists not bad for a debut season in the senior game, in one of Europe s top five leagues.
His talent has drawn attention, with Liverpool being among the clubs believed to have shown interest back in April.
Barcola has earned five caps as a France Under-21 international so far, but with the senior team stacked with world-class…
Verdict: Over 2.5 goals
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Dutch football season kicks off with a highly-anticipated Super Cup clash between PSV and Feyenoord on Saturday evening. Reigning champions PSV take on Dutch Cup holders Feyenoord in what is going to be the 139th encounter between the two rivals.
Former Dutch international Mark Van Bommel is given a fantastic opportunity to win a trophy in his first-ever official match as a senior-side manager. The 41-year-old has been in managerial waters since 2014 working as an assistant for the Netherlands Under-17 side, Saudi Arabia and Australia. He also enjoyed a spell at the PSV youth setup and will now make the giant step forward by taking charge of PSV.
His team enjoyed a rather successful preseason knowin…
Cristiano Ronaldo won the UEFA Man of the Match award for his Champions League final heroics and was presented with the accolade by his former manager at Manchester United, Alex Ferguson.
The Real Madrid forward scored twice in the 4-1 victory over Juventus on Saturday, ensuring he beat Lionel Messi to the competition s top scorer award and reached 600 career goals as well as winning the competition for the fourth time in his career.
Ronaldo s first triumph came in 2008 under Ferguson at United and it was the Old Trafford legend who presented him with the Man of the Match award.
Ferguson was also seen congratulating Ronaldo in the tunnel after the match.
Sir Alex Ferguson presents Cristiano Ronaldo with his man of the match award.
— Matthew Sc…
Netherlands had little difficulty seeing off Gibraltar in Tuesday s World Cup qualifier as their crushing 7-0 victory saw them meet coach Frank de Boer s pre-match expectations.
The Oranje were subject to criticism despite beating Latvia 2-0 in Saturday s meeting, with De Boer demanding a more clinical performance in Gibraltar, and that was exactly what he got.
Just as Latvia goalkeeper Roberts Ozols impressed at the weekend, Dayle Coleing proved a worthy adversary between the posts for Gibraltar until his goal was eventually breached just before half-time – Steven Berghuis netting in successive games for his country.
Luuk de Jong made it 2-0 with a well-taken finish early in the second half and the floodgates opened, with Memphis Depay, Georginio Wijnaldum and…
Jorge Burruchaga believes you can feel the absence of former team-mate Diego Maradona at the first World Cup since the ex-Argentina captain s death in 2020.
Maradona, who skippered La Albiceleste to glory in 1986, was remembered at an event to mark the second anniversary of his passing from a cardiac arrest at the age of 60.
Burruchaga – also part of that victorious side in Mexico 36 years ago – paid tribute to a unique legend, whose presence he claims can be felt among his former team-mates.
The last time we spoke was a couple of months before his passing, the former attacking midfielder told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
We reunited when I returned to Argentina to coach Gimnasia La Plata. I can t say we were close friends, perhaps we had a closer bond …