Guac Talk Sports: Recent Episodes
justinlafoley1@gmail.com
Podcast Show Notes:Introduction to new podcast show, Chelsea On The Go (COTG).Background info on show host, Justin LaFoley, as well as what to expect when listening to COTG.Comparisons to 2014/2015 PL Chelsea squad (last time we had yellow away kits)Discussion of new Chelsea head coach Maurizio Sarri, as well as Hazard/Courtois transfer rumors and important squad decisions required by Sarri including starting center mid/right winger spots, and development players who might shine through, such as Juventus' Rugani and Ruben Loftus-Cheek.Subscribe for more and thank you for listening!-Justin
This post is going to show who the ones to watch are in the 2018 World Cup in Russia. The list will be in alphabetical order of the respective player's nations, and give some insight in to what you might expect from each of the players, as well as some cool stats. Enjoy!
Argentina - Lionel Messi
Messi brought Argentina to the World Cup 2014 Finals but was unable to get his first international trophy. He scored a hat-trick against Ecuador in a must-win game to push Argentina into qualifaction for Russia 2018.
Australia - Aaron Mooy
Aaron Mooy will be a big "Ones to Watch" after finishing his first Premier League season under Huddersfield, while managing to turn a few heads in the process. Mooy will be looking to improve on his 2 goals in qualifying as a deep-lying midfielder. If he puts in a strong enough performance with Australia, Aaron Mooy will also be a top candidate to help bolster bigger European Club's squad depth.Belgium - Eden HazardPlaying as the left Center Forward for the Red Devils, Eden Hazard will be hoping to prove to everyone he is still a World-Class player. With Chelsea finishing 5th and in the Europa League, and strong performance at Russia could see clubs like Real Madrid turn their attention toward this extremely talented winger. Hazard will be looking to help improve the terrible run of Belgium from Euro 2016.Brazil - Neymar Jr.In one of the most stacked teams (on paper at least) in the tournament, Neymar Jr still stands head and shoulders taller than the rest of Brazil's squad. Having already bagged 55 goals for his country, Neymar Jr. will be looking to make this his World Cup, hopefully sparking a move away from Paris and to Real Madrid, where he can show his outstanding skills as a Left Winger. Neymar Jr is a big favorite to win Golden Boot for this tournament as well.Colombia - James Rodriguez
This is not James Rodriguez's first World Cup. Having taken home the 2014 Golden Boot award, and a transfer to Real Madrid as a reward, James is going to want to keep his international momentum going. Playing as the center attacking midfielder for Colombia, almost every attacking move will work through him, so expect a strong performance throughout his entire campaign.
Costa Rica - Keylor Navas
Coming off of an outstanding Champions League Final performance, Costa Rican goalkeeper is in great form and will hope to keep it going through the world cup. Keylor Navas was a huge reason Costa Rica were able to advance into the Quater-Finals in Brazil 2014, and will want to help his team get as far as possible this time around as well.
Croatia - Luka Modric
Easily the best center midfielder these past two seasons, with Real Madrid teammate Toni Kroos as a close second, Luka Modric will be under a spotlight constantly as he hopes to bring this "Golden Age" in Croatian soccer to glory. Expect tons of assists and amazing passes from the extremely talented number 10.
Denmark - Christian Eriksen
Another top quality midfielder is Tottenham Hotspur player Christian Eriksen. Christian Eriksen is known for his brilliant crosses and spectacular shooting from distance. Expect nothing less than a true wonder goal from the danish star.
Egypt - Mohamed Salah
Of course the Egyptian King has to be Egypt's star man. having scored a whopping 46 goals in 56 appearances, Mohamed Salah will be hoping he can continue to carry Egypt to unthinkable heights. Salah was able to score two goals, including a penalty in extra time, to secure Egypt's place in the 2018 World Cup, the first time in 28 years.
England - Harry Kane
Being the captain and striker for England, Harry Kane will obviously be the star man. Having banged in 5 goals in 6 World Cup qualifications, Harry Kane will want to show he should be considered a World-Class striker, especially after a goalless run in Euro 2016.
France - Kylian Mbappe
Kylian Mbappe was the 2017 Golden Boy winner after a miraculous 2016-2017 season for AS Monaco. The number 10 on the France national team, Mbappe will be teaming up with Antoine Griezmann to prove he is not another one season wonder, and hopefully push the Blues to another World Cup.
Germany - Thomas Muller
Thomas Muller of FC Bayern is an outstanding central and wide player. With his club performance being overshadowed slightly by such huge names like Lewandowski, Robben, and Rodriguez, Muller hasn't been as deadly in front of net as most would like. However, his previous World Cup performances, show just how deadly and vital he is to die Mannshaft, and will play a huge role in Germany's title defense.
Iceland - Gylfi Sigurdsson
Gylfi Sigurdsson will be focal point for the Icelandic team. Although this Iceland team will be extremely defensive, the entirety of their counter attacks will be through Gylfri, who will hope to show the world just how magical he is, as seen in Euro 2016.
Iran - Sardar Azmoun
Iranian Striker Sardar Azmoun will definitely be the man to watch as Iran battle it out in Group B. Although they are bagged as leaving the group stage, if this 23-year old striker can find the net like he has for Iran in the past (23 goals in 31 appearances) they might have a chance to surprise the word.
Japan - Shinji Kagawa
Shinji Kagawa, attacking midifielder for Borussia Dortmund, will be the pillar of attack for Japan. With no other creative player in their squad, Kagawa will try to serve balls in to japan's strikers, hopefully racking up assists to show he deserves a starting spot in club level.
Mexico - Hirving "Chucky" Lozano
Lozano is a trickster from dutch club PSV, and is currently in exceptional form for both club and country. Lozano offers a creative outlet that allows Mexico's other attackers to push further up and find space, such as Carlos Vela and Chicharito.
Morocco - Medhi Benatia
This strong defender from Juventus will be the main talking point when watching Morocco fight to earn a spot in the Knockout stage. Benatia is a quick and smart defender that plays the ball out of the back with extreme precision.
Nigeria - John Obi Mikel
Ex-Chelsea legend, John Obi Mikel has been the perfect defensive midfielders for Nigeria, helping tie the defense with the attack, and allowing for more creation to be had up the field. Mikel will have to be at the top of his game for almost every game in order for Nigeria to succeed through into the Knockout stage.
Panama - Roman Torres
Roman Torres was the last scorer for Panama in a 2-1 victory over Costa Rica, which is why this Panama team is in their first ever World Cup. Defender for the Seattle Sounders, Torres will be a big part of this Panama team, hoping to make a mark in the World Cup.
Peru - Paolo Guerrero
Paolo Guerrero, who recently had his 6-month ban lifted after testing positive for cocaine consumption, is Peru's all-time leading goalscorer, and one of the only reasons this Peru side was able to qualify. Guerrero is a sleek attacker who isn't afraid to bump elbows, so watch out for some insane beast mode goals!!
Poland - Robert Lewandowski
Robert Lewandowski, FC Bayern forward is essentially a 1-man team for Poland. Although Poland has fairly strong players across the board, Lewandowski is going to quite literally be the only person scoring goals for them. He scored an insane 16 goals in the 10 qualifying matches played, which shows just how lethal he can be. He is definitely in the running for the Golden Boot award.
Portugal - Cristiano Ronaldo
Even after a disappointing injury in the Euro 2016 Finals, Ronaldo will be the main talking point for Portugal and will have millions of eyes on him, which usually fuels him to perform even better than he is expected. this will most likely be Ronaldo's last World Cup, although he has said he wants to keep playing until he is 41.
Russia - Fyodor Smolov
Smolov has been the leading scorer for the past 3 seasons in Russia's domestic league, proving he is a deadly attacking threat if given the service he needs. Smolov will be in a tough spot as the host country will be relying heavily on him, which might be too much pressure for the tall target-man.
Saudi Arabia - Mohamed Al-Sahlawi
Playing in the Saudi Arabian league, Al-Sahlawi can play very well and has great hold-up play. He will be playing in attack, and try to hold the ball as long as possible to tire his opponents up, while scoring some nice goals if given enough space.
Senegal - Sadio Mane
Sadio Mane finished another brilliant season for Liverpool, being apart of an attacking trio that scored 30 goals shared equally among all 3. Mane is going to be a major key for Senegal and hopefully will show the crowds in Russia why so many Liverpool fans have fallen in love with this pacey winger.
Serbia - Nemanja Matic
Nemanja Matic is coming off of a 2nd place finish with Manchester United, which many argue was only possible because of strong performances from himself and keeper David de Gea. Matic is tasked with connecting the defense of Serbia to the attack, which he has proven time and time again that he is capable of such responsibility. Hopefully, he is able to propel Serbia into the Knockout stage this time around.
South Korea - Son Heung-Min
Son Heung-Min has proven to Tottenham supporters he is not to be slept on. Son is a creative genius and offers a high work-rate for the South Korean side, and with just a little luck, could help see South Korea into the Knockout stage, which would be the first time since 2010.
Spain - Sergio Busquets
Sergio Busquets has often been awarded with being the "master" at tiki-taka soccer, which is very much so the style of soccer both Barcelona and Spain play. Busquets will have to been on his toes constantly in order to bring Spain to glory once again, which would add to the perfect sending off of Andres Iniesta, teammate of Busquets in both club and country.
Sweden - Emil Forsberg
Forsberg has the difficult task of trying to keep afloat a Swedish side, who very much beat all odds to qualify, going through a playoff match against Italy and beating them over two legs. Forsberg offers a lot of creative outlets and will probably be holding on to the ball a ton to try and waste as much time as possible.
Switzerland - Xherdan Shaqiri
Shaqiri is a Stoke city attacker, however his most impressive feat is that he used to be a starter at FC Bayern, showing to fans that he still may have those World-Class characteristics. Shaqiri will want to show the World of his magic, as he is currently in the 2nd tier of English Soccer, and he has openly said he doesn't deserve to be playing in that league.
Tunisia - Wahbi Khazri
Khazri isn't the biggest name by any means, but he offers a lot of attack to the small Tunisia side. He will have a tough ask ahead of a group stage with Belgium and England, but expect some assists from Wahbi Khazri.
Uruguay - Luis Suarez
Luis Suarez is already a house-hold name for many, whether that is because of his good acts or bad, no one is really sure. Having been seen biting 3 different players in 3 separate occasions, Suarez is hated by many, however no one can deny the insane goal scoring capabilities he has. He will have to be in A+ form if Uruguay are going to go to semi-finals like they did last World Cup.
Hey all! This is the second episode on our podcast show where we go through every group in the 2018 World Cup, giving insights and predictions on each math-up. We also go into the Knockout Stage predicitons, discussing who the favorites are and who might be the Dark Horse. At the end, you can hear us go over some of the possible canidates for golden boot, golden glove, and golden ball awards. Hope you enjoy and don't forget to subscribe for more World Cup updates!
Thank you all and good day!
- The Hat Trick Crew
Hey all! In the very first episode of the Hat Trick Soccer Podcast, we will go over the Champions League Final in Kiev (00:00:55), as well as Zuzu's resignation from Madrid (00:27:15). We also cover the new look 2018/2019 Premier League clubs (00:31:30), and a short preview for Group A in the Russia 2018 World Cup (00:37:45).
This is our first podcast episode, so please subscribe for more, and we are looking ahead to making this a much more serious and entertaining world soccer podcast.
Important Links:
http://fcpredictor.espn.com/us/clienthome.do (ESPN FC World Cup Prediciton)
https://youtu.be/uKeF5iY3o0s?t=185 (Gareth Bale Interview)
Thank you all and good day!
- The Hat Trick Crew
With the 2018 FIFA World Cup kicking off in Russia in under two weeks, most national team sides have finally announced their final 23-man squads that will represent their nations in the biggest sports tournament in the world. Most national team managers select based on the players' club performances throughout the previous season, but some, such as Argentina's Jorge Sampaoli, choose their squad to fit into a "system" that they believe will be most efficient at winning throughout the competition.
Sampaoli's critics have come out with harsh comments about leaving out young Inter Milan talent Mauro Icardi, who has come off a very good season with the Biscione. However, Icardi isn't the first to be left out from the Argentina squad. Juventus superstar and amazing world prospect Paulo Dybala is still waiting for a break through in the Argentina starting XI. Only making 12 starts at the senior level, Dybala has become a regular bench player in Sampaoli's squad.
| | | Dybala in action against Singapore, June 13th 2017 |
The question that remains unanswered is: Why isn't Dybala starting regularly for Argentina?
In order to answer this completely, we should look at the previous attackers that started for Argentina.In the 2014 World Cup final, ex-Argentina manager used striker Higuain and Lionel Messi to lead the lines. Out wide were the likes of Lavezzi and Perez, although both were taken off for substitutes Palacio and Fernando Gago. These selections should be taken with a grain of salt as the formation sued is a lot different from that seen by Sampaoli's go-to formation. As seen in the full 23-man roster being brought to Russia only consists of 4 attackers, which suggests Dybala isn't too far off in becoming a starter. However, Sampaoli has been seen constantly using a 4-3-3 formation, with Angel Di Maria (listed as a midfielder) playing the left winger and Lionel Messi playing his usual right winger position. The center forward is used mostly as a distraction, so that Lionel Messi can dribble through the opposition without as many defenders surrounding him. Sampalo will most likely start with Sergio Aguero, the Manchester City forward who lit up the premier league for another season. Aguero is very good at holding the ball up and allowing for his team to overlap him, creating deadly chances. And most likely, as a set of fresh legs, Gonzalo Higuain, Dybala's teammate at Juventus, will take off either Di Maria or Aguero, and play a target forward, looking to head the ball from a cross and keep control of the ball until Messi can get open for a pass.
| | | The predicted attacking lineup for Sampaoli (Messi, Di Maria, Aguero) |
This is where Dybala comes into play. Dybala, throughout his time at Juventus, has played many different positions for the club. Starting as a Center Forward, and moving back into a creative attacking midfielder, to being pushed out wide on both flanks, pestering oppositions with his electric pace and creative skills, Dybala can play just about any postion, but has always had the "creator's touch" to his game, and many say can be comapred to his older Argentinian comrade, Lionel Messi. Any player should be honored to be compared to one of the greats such as Lionel Messi, but for Paulo Dybala it seems almost to be a curse as well.
Sampaoli's system requires only one creative playmaker to operate withing the center of the pitch, and that position is perfect for Messi. Sampaoli realizes that Argentina's weakness has always been in defense and uses his 3 midfielders to create a strong defensive line that blocks the middle of the field for the opposition, which means Dybala can't fit into a center midfielder role. As well, we see Higuain and Aguero have mastered their role as target men, focusing only on keeping control of the ball long enough for the rest of the team to join. Dybala's only other option to play seems to lie in the left winger position, currently filled by Angel Di Maria. Di Maria is very interesting as he hasn't had too many successful club seasons, but for some reason is able to connect really well with Messi, offering a different style of play to Argentina's squad. Unlike Dybala, Di Maria tends to stay out wide a lot more, sprinting up and down the pitch and whipping in crossed for Aguero and Higuain, as well as pinging the ball across the 18-yard box, where Lionel Messi is usually waiting.While Paulo Dybala is a great footballer and an even greater young talent, his default attributes he offers for teams seem to have already been filled by the likes of Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero. I believe Dybala has shown he deserves a shot to become a starter for this strong attacking Argentinian team, he will have to be a little more patient being a bench player. His impressive feat of 26 goals in 47 appearances for all competitions should not go without praise, and he is sure to continue to impress throughout all of Europe in club level, and maybe even take over once Lionel Messi retires from international duty.
| | | Paulo Dybala and his signature goal-scoring celebration |
Please feel free to comment any ideas you have on Argentina and Paulo Dybala's role for the squad, as well as requests for other blog posts you want to see. Thank you again for taking the time to read The Hat Trick.
- Justin
The premier league seems wrapped up in regards to the the separation between 8 and 9, however Watford and Leicester will argue otherwise. Both currently looking to breach the top 6 teams, who look relaxed and unworried, Watford and Leicester have an important battle to see who will be the team to sneak into European action. Currently Burnley has taken as the silent underdog team, but Leicester and Watford offer a very competitive team that won't back down easily, and their stats show it.
| | | Statistics based on last 5 matches |
While most of the statistics are very close between the two, such as possession, number of cards, and goals conceded, Leicester significantly beats Watford in chances created and scoring goals, which is vital to becoming a European team. While Watford will still put up a good fight, Leicester should comfortably win this game with the amount of passing talent they have in Mahrez and Ndidi. I see many goals being scored in the fixture, so it will be interesting if Watford can improve their goal tally of recent weeks.
SCORE PREDICTION:Leicester City 4 - 1 Watford
After a disappointing tie to Leicester City, Manchester United are looking to cement their spot in second place as quickly as possible. However, a quality Burnley side stands in their way. After a tough 0-3 loss to Tottenham, Burnley will want to regain their form against a weakened Manchester United side.
| | | Statistics based on past 5 matches |
Manchester United, while in a decline of form lately, still show the more promising team, with more possession, passes, and chances created than their respective opponent. Burnley has conceded very few goals in previous fixtures, with 3 of the 4 scored by Tottenham. It will be interesting to see if Burnley can hold off a team like Manchester, who usually finds the net at least once every game (averaging 1.4 per game in the last 5). Manchester United will find themselves victorious in this match-up however, with the quality of possession proving vital over Burnley.
SCORE PREDICTION:Burnley 1 - 2 Manchester United
With only a 3 point gap between Champions League soccer and 7th place, the top of the Premier League table is going to be a brawl for the remainder of the season. Arsenal currently sits one point away from fourth place Liverpool. Luckily, these two teams battle it out this weekend, and the winner could finally close inside 3 points of Chelsea, sitting in an isolated 3rd place position. Looking at stats between the two sides, we can decide who will be the dominant team.
| | | Based on last 5 matches in all competitions |
Arsenal's dominates key areas such as number of passes, and percent possession, while Liverpool hols a commanding 12 game unbeaten record, with almost double the amount of goals scored than Arsenal. However, Arsenal has a stronger defense, only conceding 1 goal in 5 matches, with even fewer amount of saves needed by veteran Petr Cech. We are prediciting that Arsenal will dominate the heavily offensively-minded Liverpool in the midfield and defense, therefore creating more chances and more goals than Liverpool and winning the game in a comftorable manner.
Match Prediction:Arsenal 1 - 0 Liverpool
In the Premier League, Manchester City may be running off with the title, but a fight between 2nd place and 7th place is still very much up for grabs. 6th place team Tottenham Hotspur face off 7th place Burnley, only one point off the London team. It is a very important match-up, and if results go their ways, both teams could be sitting at 5th place at the end of the week.
| | | Based on last 5 matches in all competitions |
Looking at the statistics given, Tottenham has more passes, more possession, more chances, and a lot more goals for. On the other side, Burnley has fewer goals conceded, fewer cards, and are currently on a 3 game unbeaten streak. We are predicting, however, that Tottenham's possession of the ball and physical dominance on other players in the midfield, will result in too much pressure for the solid defense of Burnley. Match Prediction:Tottenham 2 - 0 Burnley
This week in the Premier League we have a very big match up with two top four teams: number two Manchester United and number four Arsenal. This is a huge game as both teams are looking to be serious title contenders and close the gaps between Manchester City and Chelsea, respectively. We will take a closer look at both teams and what they have to offer for the big game.
| | | Arsenal's Mohamed Elneny tries to snatch the ball away from United's Paul Pogba. |
Manchester United:
The Red Devils look to continue their good form in the Premier League and close the eight-point gap that Manchester City has created. This Manchester United team started off the season strong in both the Premier League and the Champions League games. Considering the fact that injuries have affected their optimal lineups at times, Manchester United has been able to still express their quality. Paul Pogba will need to continue performing as he reenters play from injury. Attackers Romelu Lukaku, Anthony Martial, and Marcus Rashford will need to make sure they make the best of all of their chances in order to truly be able to close the gap and rise into the title-winning spot. With one of the deadliest attacks in world soccer as of now, Manchester United's defenders have a lot of work to, as Lukaku and Co. will easily slot in goals for the squad.
FORMATION:
Manchester United will most likely continue playing in their 4-2-3-1 formation. Their defense will most likely lineup with Chris Smalling and Victor Lindelöf as the two starting center backs again, with Ashley Young and Antonio Valencia playing as the fullbacks. Unfortunately, Nemanja Matić will most likely miss this big match, so the two central midfielders will likely be filled in by spanish midfielder Ander Herrera and the recently healthy Paul Pogba. The group of three will be made up by the young Marcus Rashford on the right, Anthony Martial on the left, and Juan Mata in the central role, due to the recent dip in form of ex-Dortmund player Henrikh Mkhitaryan. Romelu Lukaku will, as usual, play as the target man for the Red Devils. David de Gea will be the definite starter in between the sticks, as this is a huge game for Manchester United and will be needing a top keeper to increase their chances of not being scored on.
Some Key players for Manchester United will have to be their starting midfielders Paul Pogba and Ander Herrera, as both need to get back faster with the absence of their complete defensive midfielder Matic. Herrera has seen less starts since Matic's signing, so he will be looking to prove himself a vital component to this United side.
POTENTIAL MAN OF THE MATCH:
| | | Paul Pogba |
Arsenal:
The Gunners are looking in form especially coming from a massive 5-0 win over Huddersfield. This Arsenal team is looking to be serious title threats and a win over Manchester United will certainly bring them closer to that goal. While the beginning of the season had some troubling results, Arsenal has been able to pick up their feet and really start performing. It will be a good test for Arsenal, especially because they will be missing attackers Alexandre Lacazette and Alexis Sanchez. Arsenal's front three of Özil, Lacazette, and Sanchez has been destroying the Europa League and Premier League, with the only trouble being from the 3 center backs, especially Nacho Monreal.
FORMATION:
Arsenal will most likely start in a 3-4-2-1 formation with veteran keeper Petr Čech in goal. The back three will consist of the fairly consistent Shkodran Mustafi in the center, Laurent Koscielny on the right, and Nacho Monreal taking the left-sided position. The middle four will have Héctor Bellerín on the right flank, Aaron Ramsey and Granit Xhaka in the central roles, and Sead Kolašinac on the left flank. Kolašinac has been on fire since coming into the Premier League and shows no sign of slowing down, he will defintely be a player to look out for in this high-end clash. With Sanchez injured, the two attacking midfielders will most likely be taken by Mesut Özil and replacement Danny Welbeck. Olivier Giroud will play the striking role in Lacazette's absence, hopefully being able to show Arsenal fans how good his form is.
m
The three-man defense will also need to be strong in order to contain United's deadly attack. With Manchester United showing a lot of attacking players in their usual lineups, Nacho Monreal and Koscielny will have to be playing very well in order to stop the wide and central threats. Key players for Arsenal will defintely be Kolašinac and Bellerín. If the two outsdie midfielders for Arsenal can beat and punish Man Utd's outside backs early in the game, they can completely shut out Ashley Young and Valencia from attacking, making the jobs of Arsenal's back 3 significantly easier.
POTENTIAL MAN OF THE MATCH:
| | | Sead Kolašinac |
SCORE PREDICITON:Manchester United 2-2 Arsenal
This week in Serie A, we have the six time defending champions Juventus up against their biggest title challengers over the past few seasons in Napoli. Napoli will be looking to get a firm grip on the top spot in Serie A once and for all. At the moment, Napoli are four points ahead of Juventus in the table. The Stadio San Paolo will be absolutely packed on Friday, and if Napoli are able to win in front of their home faithful and be eight points ahead of Juve, it's going to be very hard to argue that the Partenopei don't deserve their first Scudetto since 1990.
| | | Juventus striker Gonzalo Higuain battling for the ball against Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly |
Juventus: Juventus are coming off a 3-0 over lowly Crotone. However, there were many positives to take away from that game. Benedikt Höwedes at long last made his debut against Crotone and played exceptionally well. He had great awareness throughout the whole game and looked like his reliable and consistent self. The other positive was that long time club servant Claudio Marchisio came back from injury and was outstanding in the midfield paired along side Blaise Matuidi. Marchisio is always fighting to keep possession and provide clever balls. Miralem Pjanić will be coming back from injury and hopefully provide an extra spark in the midfield. Douglas Costa and Juan Cuadrado on the wings will be looking to provide the perfect balls for Paulo Dybala and Gonzalo Higuain. FORMATION: Juventus have a plethora of formations this season, but for this upcoming game, we believe they'll go with a 3-4-2-1. Buffon will likely be in net, with Italian compatriots Giorgio Chiellini, Andrea Barzagli and Daniele Rugani playing in front of him. Medhi Benatia will also likely feature at the back. Alex Sandro and Mattia De Sciglio will be featured as two wing-backs. Miralem Pjanić and Blaise Matuidi will be paired up in the midfield with Pjanić being the creative and distributing midfielder where as Matuidi will be playing right in front of the defense, being the typical box-to-box midfielder with the most stamina to help in late-game scenarios. Douglas Costa and Paulo Dybala will be slotted in as the outside forwards with Gonzalo Higuain as the main target man. POTENTIAL MAN OF THE MATCH:
| | | Gonzalo Higuain |
Napoli:The current table toppers in Serie A have been nothing short of astonishing this season, despite their subsequent struggles in the Champions League. This Napoli team are much different compared to previous elite Series A clubs in terms of their style of play. They're really reliant on the attack compared to other clubs who have been really lenient on their defense. While Kalidou Koulibaly is the heart of the defense and one of the best defenders in all of Europe, he can't do everything at the back. However, Koulibaly won't have to do much as Napoli will dominate the midfield and with that dominance in the midfield, their front three will be able to cause damage to the aging Juventus backline. FORMATION:
Napoli will likely roll with their usual 4-3-3. There will be no drastic changes to the starting lineup. Pepe Reina will be the man between the sticks with the backline of Faouzi Ghoulam, Raul Alibiol, Kalidou Koulibaly and Elseid Hysaj. In the midfield, Allan will start ahead of the young Polish rising star, Piotr Zieliński. Allan will be alongside Jorginho and Napoli's all time appearance leader, Marek Hamšík. José Callejón, Lorenzo Insigne and last seasons Serie A leading goal scorer, Dries Mertens will form a lethal attack that will put Juventus on their heels the entire game.
POTENTIAL MAN OF THE MATCH:
| | | Dries Mertens |
SCORE PREDICTION:
Juventus 2-2 Napoli
This week, in La Liga, we have another high table fixture with third place Atletico Madrid coming against seventh place club Real Sociedad. These two teams are looking to continue their winning ways, and get closer to the thriving FC Barcelona. We will be taking a closer look at both teams, their potential key players, expected formations, and pros and cons of each side.
| | | Atletico Striker Antoine Griezmann dribbling past two Real Sociedad defenders |
Atletico Madrid:
Coming off of a great draw against Real Madrid, a huge win against Roma in the Champions League, and a destruction of Levante in La Liga this past Sunday, has shown Atletico in a whole new light. Earlier this season, they were unproductive and an entirely different side than we were used to seeing the past two seasons. Key Play-maker Antoine Griezmann finally found shooting ways against the fourteenth placed side, giving a ray of hope for Atletico fans. He will have to be on the top of his game in order for Atletico Madrid to show their threat to the La Liga title. As well, this will be a very important match for Griezmann personally, as he looks to take on his former club in the important La Liga fixture.
FORMATION:
We expect Atletico Madrid to run a typical 4-4-2 set-up, considering that was the formation they ran with against Levante in La Liga. Seasoned defenders Savic and Godin will be playing as the two central defenders, with Filipe Luis and Juanfran playing on the outside, respectively. The middle four typically have two out wide, Yannick Carrasco and Koke seem to be primarily positioned there, yet last match we saw Griezmann play a wider position, and proving well at it. We believe the outside wingers will be Griezmann and Carrasco to start, with Koke able to sub-in and let Griezmann return to the striker position. The center midfielders have remained very uncontested, with Gabi and Niguez dominating the pitch. The two strikers last match were Gamiero and Correa, which we believe will stay for this match, since Griezmann is playing in his new out-wide position.
Key players to watch for Atletico Madrid will be Jan Oblak, who will have a very important task of making sure Real Sociedad doesn't score. Another important figure in the Atletico set-up is, of course, Antoine Griezmann, who needs to be on his A-game in order to provide the creativity and deadly attacking sense that will allow Atletico Madrid to take the lead, and hopefully, the win.
POTENTIAL MAN OF THE MATCH:
| | | Antoine Griezmann |
Real Sociedad:
Currently on 5 game unbeaten run including a 1-0 win over Norwegian league champions, Rosenborg BK in the Europa League. While they are in good form, they have yet to be a real threat in La Liga. With just a Goal Difference of +3, Real Sociedad have 19 points and sit in the seventh spot. They will be looking to finally break the barrier and get into European competitions next season, whether that is Europa League or Champions League, it doesn't matter.
FORMATION:
The expected formation for Real Sociedad will be a defensive 4-2-3-1. With Atletico looking dangerous, Real Sociedad will want to make sure they sure up their defense and overload the midfield. The four defenders in front of Rulli, going from left-back to right, will be Alberto de la Bella, Llorente, Elustondo, and Gorosabel. In front of these Four, we see two defensively central midfielders in Illarramendi and Zubeldia. In front of them, giving more of a creative and attacking aspect to the squad is Prieto. With Carlos Vela set to move, we believe Januzaj and Oyarzabal will be giving the side the much needed with against Atletico. Striker Willian Jose will continue to play up top, who has proven very dangerous in the last few matches with 6 goals. Zurutuza could also be making a start in place of Zubeldia in midfield, depending on the team fitness and other conditions.
POTENTIAL MAN OF THE MATCH:
| | | Willian Jose |
SCORE PREDICTION:
Atletico Madrid 3 - 1 Real Sociedad
After an exciting week on Bundesliga fixtures, with plenty of ups and downs, we are again ready for more high-scoring matches and insane comebacks. While Dortmund won't be hoping for another 4-0 choke, we will definitely be expecting the unexpected in this brawl between the two biggest west German sides. As of now, both teams are sitting right behind Champions League positions, with 21 points for Dortmund and 20 for Leverkusen. This is a huge match for both squads, and will definitely give an advantage on the winning side as a solid potential Champions League candidate. Marco Reus and Gonzalo Castro closing in on Leverkusen player.
Borussia Dortmund:
After a disappointing Revierderby (the name of the Schalke-Dortmund rivalry) Dortmund manager Peter Bosz is under a lot of pressure. Most Dortmund fans have been less than thrilled with the boss, and it is very hard to argue against them, as the Dortmund side fell from an easy 4-0 win to a lucky 4-4 draw, all in one half. The side is still seen playing around with formations, and don't truly understand their roles in the club, which is a big red flag considering they are almost halfway through the season now. Nonetheless, Dortmund still see themselves in fifth place with a small distance between the next 3 teams. They will be looking to prove to their fans and the world that they just had a slip-up half and are back on their feet and in winning ways soon.
FORMATION:
The expected formation for this match will be a 3-4-2-1. The three in the back will be reserved for Toprak, Socratis, and Schmelzer, who played together in the draw against Schalke. The wing-backs, who were arguably the best part of Dortmund's performance in the first half, will most likely be American hero Christian Pulisic and Portuguese prospect Raphael Guerreiro. The two central players will continue to be Julian Wiegl and Sahin, who have been playing outstanding for the past month. The attacking midfielder positions will be Yarmolenko and now, because of injury to Mario Goetze, Japanese CAM Shinji Kagawa. As well, in the tie against Schalke, Dortmund striker Aubameyang collected two yellow cards, and will be suspended for this match against Bayer Leverkusen. In his absence, Maximilian Philipp could take his place. However, we could see Bosz put Pulisic in the Striker position and put Polish defender Lukasz Piszczek into the right win-back spot.
Key players for Dortmund will without a doubt be Christian Pulisic, who will need to provide a very high defensive and offensive work rate in order to get Dortmund into the positions needed to secure a win. As well, if Philipp plays, he has big shoes to fill with Aubameyang not available for selection.
POTENTIAL MAN OF THE MATCH:
| | | Andriy Yarmolenko |
Bayer Leverkusen:
Bayern Leverkusen beat Eintracht Frankfurt 1-0 away, making the Bayer team go on an eight game unbeaten run in Bundesliga competitions. With Kevin Volland still finding the net week after week, Leverkusen are looking like a serious side, and haven't been slowing down anytime soon. While their defense is still a very weak point in their structure, their attack and midfield looks secure and able to hold off oppositions with extreme ease. Bayer Leverkusen will be looking to push to a Champions League spot and Dortmund is a perfect test for the side.
FORMATION:
The expected formation for Bayer Leverkusen will be 3-4-2-1. With Leno as a veteran stopper for the younger side, they don't have to worry about too many slip-ups in front of goal. In front of him, we can expect to see Lars Bender, Jonathan Tah, and Retsos. In front of him, the two central midfielders are Chilean Aranguiz and Kohr. The outside wingers last match were Brandt and Mehmedi, however we believe that winger Bailey will swap with Mehmedi, putting Brandt out left and Bailey on the right. The two attacking players have been outstanding for Bayer, Havertz and Volland, creating and scoring most of the teams chances. To finish the Christmas tree formation, striker Lucas Alario had a below average game last week, making him not a prime option. We expect he will continue to start for Leverkusen, but Mehmedi could see more playing time off the bench if he struggles to thrive early on.
POTENTIAL MAN OF THE MATCH:
| | | Kevin Volland |
SCORE PREDICTION:Bayer Leverkusen 2 - 0 Borussia Dortmund
As the Bundesliga starts to reach the midway point of the season, we look to this week's big matchup between European super-team Bayern Münich and last season's Bundesliga flop Borussia Mönchengladbach. Being played this upcoming Saturday, Bayern will be looking to win an important Bundesliga fixture after what should be an easy Champions League win against Anderlecht on Tuesday. Gladbach have started a steady campaign in the Bundesliga and are looking to make a push for a Champions League position. While Bayern sit in first, Gladbach are scraping to stay in fourth place, so this fixture can be a huge six pint swoop for the underdogs, if they manage to surprise the European giants.
Borussia Mönchengladbach is looking to continue their five game unbeaten streak, while claiming their top 4 spot in the Bundesliga. Gladbach was a regular top 4 side between the years of 2013-2016, however last season, the west German side finished at a shocking 9th place, never once looking like they deserved a Europa League place. With the lack of mid-week european competitions to weaken their fitness for bundesliga fixtures, Gladbach will be on the hunt to reclaim league glory, perhaps pushing to beat unconvincing Borussia Dortmund and other top german sides. However, Bayern Munich will always be the beast in the South for German clubs, and Gladbach don't look the side to contest that belief anytime soon. Gladbach are a well balanced side, conceding the same amount of goals they score, which will ultimately be their downfall, at least in terms of this fixture. We suspect that Gladbahc does not have the defensive capabilities to keep out Bayern stars such as Lewandowski and Robben. As well, Gladbach lack a real dangerous front 3, with key players such as Thorgan Hazard and Raffael causing chaos in front of net, yet not scoring as many goals as expected (both combine for 8). Gladbach will be hoping that their attackers can switch on for this fixture, and get some sneaky goals.
While their Champions League performances may be questioning, Bayern have not shown any sign of giving up the Bundesliga title anytime soon. With Robert Lewandowski sitting at 13 goals in all league fixtures, the south German side will be looking to beat down on 4th place team, and reinstate their unquestioning rule on the Bundesliga. Bayern's Mat Hummels and Jerome Boatang will have a tougher game than normal as Thorgan Hazard and Raffael look to create chances, however substitute keeper Sven Ulreich has been outstanding for Bayern while Manuel Neuer, easily the best goalkeeper in modern soccer, is suffering an injury. Bayern have a steady back line and undoubtedly the best attacker in the Bundesliga, but their midfield might be the best aspect of the European super team. With Arturo Vidal being a beast box-to-box midfielder, and Tolisso adding youthful energy and heart to the center of the pitch, we see the third center mid position being given to the creative players on Bayern, such as James Rodriguez and Thomas Muller. In the beginning of the season we saw Muller take the starting position while a benched Rodriguez sat on the bench, for another season. However, Muller has had a long drought of good performances, especially in European competitions, so we have seen the Colombian hero take charge and get many more starts in league competitions. We can expect the Bayern team will continue with a 4-2-3-1 type formation, with James being the creative attacking prowess we remember from the World Cup.
Both of these teams will be giving this match their entire heart and soul to boost their side to a victory. It is an important high-end league fixture, with n improving Gladbach side ready to show their skill against the recently uncontested Bayern Munich squad. We see this result, however, siding with Munich giants, with a 3-1 result. Gladbach will want to score at least one against Bayern to show they can do something against Bayern Munich, but we don't think gladbach has a good enough team defensively to keep out Robben and Lewandowski. We will be talking about this result and the rest of the Bundesliga fixtures on "Bundesliga Sum-Up" Monday.
See you again on... The Hat Trick!
With Paris Saint-Germain continue their long spending spree, recently breaking the world transfer fee, it is expected that they should be winning the non competitive French league without any doubts. However, Monaco has shown the Paris side that money is not worth nearly as much as passionate players, beating the super team in the league last season. Paris saint-Germain decided that in order to make sure it does not happen again, they went out and stole French phenom Kylian Mbappé from the Monaco side. While Monaco have suffered many losses to their wonder team of 2016, they still have the hear and soul that won them the league last year. This fixture will definitely be a big statement to the soccer world, showing how money and big names don't guarantee success. Both teams sit comftorably at the top of the table, Monaco just 6 points off undefeated PSG.
Paris Saint-Germain like to be known as a European super team, however, since being bought by billionaire owner Nasser Al-Khelaifi in 2011, the French side has yet to appear in a Champions League Semi-Final game despite the numerous amount of money spent on world stars such as Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Edison Cavani, and Neymar Jr. While they have won the Ligue 1 competition every year since 2011/2012 season, they under performed massively last season, losing out to underdog team AS Monaco. PSG have a lot to prove, especially breaking the world transfer fee with Neymar this summer window. It will be interesting to see whether or not the Paris-based side can prove their worth not only in league competitions, but European as well, being matched in a group with Bayern Munich for the Champions League group stage.
Monaco were last season's biggest surprise team, not only in league fixtures, but European dominance as well. Monaco had not won the Ligue 1 title for 17 years, yet last season looked as if they were the side spending billions on new players each transfer window. However, just like all cinderella stories, Monaco's team was quickly disbanded. With the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea and PSG, 5 of the most important players for the side were transferred. Mbappe, probably the most important for Monaco, left on loan to PSG, while teammates Silva, Bakayoko, and Mendy went to play in England's top flight. Overall, we see a very different Monaco side. Monaco was able to bring in winger Balde Diao to help width to their attack, and Belgian midfielder Youri Tielemans to sure up the center of the park. Monaco have struggle in their performances outside league fixtures, currently sitting bottom of group G in the Champions League, with 0 wins in the first 5 games. Monaco will want to fix that terrible run of form with an even better performance in league competitions. Monaco will definitely be determined to beat rival's PSG in this head-to-head to show who really belongs on top of Ligue 1.
While both teams made big signings over the summer transfer window, their formations have stayed extremely similar since the beginning of the season. We can expect Paris Saint-Germain, coming off of their mid-week fixture against Celtic, to run a 4-3-3 with Mbappe, Neymar, and Cavani are their attacking trio and the likes of Pastore and Rabiot to sure up the midfield. Verrati will look to roam around the midfield, trying to create better chances and spread out the opposition's defense, he will definitely be the unsung hero if PSG are successful against Monaco. PSG will keep their strong 4-in-the-back defense with Thiago Silva, Marquinhos, and Brazilian wing-back Dani Alves being the most well-known of the 4 defenders. French keeper Alphonse Areola will be leading the charge, with German stopper Trapp sitting on the bench. On the opposite side, we can expect Monaco to keep a standard 4-4-2 against the PSG, with central defenders Glik and Jemerson looking to keep Paris' deadly front three out of their net. Midfield duo Tielemans and Fabinho will need to be on top of their game in order to be successful against the middle three of PSG. The one area Monaco will be able to expose PSG is from the outside wings, with Keita Blade and Rony Lopes destroying teams. Proven striker Falcao will be looking to add to his goal tally, currently sitting at 13 goals in league matches.
This match will be a highlight of the Ligue 1 season without a doubt. The winner of this fixture will have a lot of momentum to push their side ahead in the title race. Considering the game will be in Monaco, and the last season's results against the French super team, we are expecting this game to be a high scoring affair, with a 3-1 away win for Paris Saint-Germain, coming off of huge wins against Nantes and Angers. We will be recapping this match and all other Ligue 1 matches Monday on "Ligue 1 Sum-Up".
See you again on... The Hat Trick!
The winter break for the Bundesliga is slowly approaching and both Eintracht Frankfurt and Bayer Leverkusen are catching fire at the right time. The teams will not only be battling for a potential Europa League spot, but to keep their respective unbeaten runs alive. Bayer Leverkusen are currently holding on to a seven game unbeaten run, currently sitting at 9th in the table. Frankfurt has a six game unbeaten run, currently sitting at 7th place in the table, and only one point away from an automatic Europa League spot. We will be looking at each team closely to see who has the upper hand in this Match of the Week!
Just two seasons ago, Eintracht Frankfurt were expecting to be relegated, in an attempt to save their save their club, owner Peter Fischer hired former Croatia manager Niko Kovac in March. Kovac led the Eagles out of relegation, however an unfortunate loss to Werder Bremen, sent them to the relegation playoff. Kovac was able to lead his side to a 2-1 aggregate victory over Nuremberg. The following seasons have been nothing but success for their standards, with an 11th place finish last season and performing even better this season. However, in recent matches, Frankfurt have suffered some major injuries, mainly captain Alexander Meier, Marco Fabian and Timothy Chandler. The side still has gone on a six game unbeaten streak in the Bundesliga, with youngster Marius Wolf and Ante Rebic leading the charge. Veteran Kevin-Prince Boateng has also played a crucial role in securing Eintracht's midfield. The major factor for prohibiting them from getting into the Europa League will be their squad depth, with not many replacements for midfield starters Boateng and Stendera. Eintracht's defense has proven to be the best in the league, conceding the 2nd lowest amount with 12 goals allowed in 12 games. With big injury to Marco Fabian, Frankfurt's attacking ability has shrunk massively, with scoring the fewest goals in the Bundesliga top half teams (14). We will see if young hero Wolf can save the day by providing crucial chances for the Golden Eagles.
In comparisons to other teams in the Bundesliga, Bayer Leverkusen has strong squad depth and enough talent to compete with top-tier Bundesliga teams, such as RB Leipzig and Dortmund. Falling only short of super clubs Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich, Leverkusen has a whopping 25 goals in league play. With team top goalscorer Kevin Volland (7) up top and new star Leon Bailey and young German talent Julian Brandt on the wings, Bayer have plenty of chances in front of their opposition's net. What the team fails to succeed at is protect their own net, allowing in 18 goals, way too many for a potential Europa League side. Goalkeeper Bernd Leno will be looking to improve his clean sheet record, only having 2 in his 12 league appearances. We can expect Bayer will be playing the same formation following their 2-2 draw with RB Leipzig. They will have center-backs Bender and Wendell, with Jonathan Tah holding the middle defensive position. Sitting in front of the defense, we can see the two central midfielders Kohr and Aránguiz starting the attacking moves off, and outside wingers Bailey and Mehmedi running down the pitch. Starting the creative moves will be star Julian Brandt and Kai Havertz, who is currently sitting with 3 assists, tied for 8th in the Bundesliga. Bayer Leverkusen clearly has the tools needed to score goals, but will be in need of strong defensive plays in order to keep their unbeaten run alive.
With such an important game for both of these sides, the winner will surely be on the road to an expected Europa League spot. While Eintracht Frankfurt have the second fewest goals allowed, showing their defense is capable of winning matches for their squad, they do lack a quality striker, who can push their team in important situations. Leverkusen, with multitude of goals in the Bundesliga, have shown their attacking creativity in front of the net, yet signs of weakness through their central defense. Players for both teams such as Frankfurt's Marius Wolf and Leverkusen's Kevin Volland will have a high chance of being their respective team's Man of the Match. We predict that this battle of offense and defense will end in favor of the away team, with a scoreline of 3-2 with Leverkusen taking away all 3 points.
We hope you guys are pumped for this highly contested Bundesliga match, and we will be bringing the "Bundesliga Sum-Up" to you Sunday, talking about all 9 fixtures.
See you again on... The Hat Trick!
As we approach the January transfer window, both Chelsea and Liverpool will be looking to cement their positions as potential title contenders. The fixture will be played on November 25, with both teams coming off a midweek Champions League match. Last season, Chelsea, despite winning the title comfortably, didn't defeat Liverpool. They were held to a 2-1 loss in last September and a 1-1 draw at Anfield. Antonio Conte's side will be looking to defend their Premier League title and become the first team since Manchester United in 2007 and 2008 to repeat as Premier League champions. Jurgen Klopp's newly revamped Liverpool are looking to improve upon their fourth place finish last season and hopefully win the title for the first time since 1990.
Following an outstanding 3-0 win against Southampton, Liverpool's new star Mohammad Salah will be a major threat to Chelsea's backline, with an even bigger incentive to do well against his former club. Liverpool, typically, has been running a defensive 4-2-3-1 formation, with stars Salah and Mané running along the wings. Coutinho and Firmino will be expected to start as well, Coutinho playing the attacking, creative role and Firmino, the target man. As for their defense, Liverpool has always been shaky. Defender Joel Matip didn't play in the Southampton fixture last week, but Manager Jurgen Klopp says he has a "big chance" of playing against the Blues Saturday. In front of regular starter Mignolet, we expect Dejan Lovren as the second center-back, with Alberto Moreno the replacement if Matip is ruled out. The outside wing-backs will be important in determining Liverpool's success against Chelsea, with youngster Trent Alexander-Arnold playing on the right and Ragnar Klavan on the left. These two will have a lot of work to do, as Salah and Mané won't be playing as defensively. Overall, Liverpool seems to have an overwhelming amount of tracking players, with their defense lacking quality compared to other top-flight sides.
Taking a look at the defending champions, number 10 star Eden Hazard and midfielder number 7 N'Golo Kante will be looking to lead the Blues to a fifth straight Premier League win. Antonio Conte has again surprised the Premier League with his tactical prowess, leaning away from last season's defensive 5-2-3 and offensive 3-4-3, highlighting the use of versatile wing-backs Marcos Alonso and Victor Moses. This season, we see Conte using midfielder Kante as a sweeper and defensively-minded player instead of the normal box-to-box type player that devastated Premier League teams last season. The Italian manager will for sure be using new signing Alvaro Morata as the side's starting striker. We saw last match against West Brom, the Blues using Eden Hazard with Morata as a striker duo, reeking havoc on West Brom. Following the partnership up top, we can expect Chelsea midfielders Cesc Fábregas and Tiemoué Bakayoko to hold the central position on the pitch. The Blues are following a 3-1-4-2 formation, again with wing-backs Alonso and summer-signing Davide Zappacosta running up and down the wings. Following the home loss to league leaders Manchester City, defender David Luiz has been an outcast in recent fixtures. The side seems to be doing remarkably well with youngster Andreas Christensen playing as the central defender with captain Cahill and César Azpilicuelta on either side of him, helping secure lose balls. Overall, the Blues have a very creative attacking mindset with the likes of Hazard and Morata and superb midfield discipline with Bakayoko and Kante to shield off any trouble that might come Thibaut Courtoius' way.
It is obvious to see that both of these teams have lots of quality, especially with current highest goalscorer Mohammed Salah and last season's player of the season N'Golo Kante and manager of the season Antonio Conte. However, upon looking at each team's defensive unit, the separation between the likes of an unhealthy Joel Matip and newly rejuvenated Andreas Christensen, it is clear that Chelsea should be considered the favorites for this match-up. We are predicting this six-point game will end in favor of the Blues, with a scoreline 2-1, with attacking stars Salah and Hazard leading the charge as potential Man of the Match.
Hopefully, you guys are as excited as we are about this fixture. We will be talking about the end result Sunday, with our first "Premier League Sum-Up" expected to be published.
See you again on... The Hat Trick!