Matchday & Results

Haaland brace keys City win; jokes about FPL hat-trick snub

Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
November 2025

Haaland scored twice in a 3-1 win over Bournemouth, reaching 17 goals in all competitions. Subbed off on a hat-trick, he quipped some fantasy managers would be unhappy. City corrected Villa lapses with quicker restarts and central overloads. Haaland’s near-post and penalty-area movement exploited Bournemouth’s narrow block. Rotation preserved legs before a congested stretch; finishing variance remains City’s lever to chase Arsenal’s seven-point lead.

Fernandes hails “great player” Mount after Palace winner

Mason Mount
December 2025

Bruno Fernandes praised Mason Mount’s quality and mentality after the midfielder scored a low, late winner at Selhurst Park, insisting his team-mates never doubted him despite a difficult start at United marked by injuries, patchy form and limited goals or assists. Trailing to a Jean-Philippe Mateta penalty, United’s midfield surged after half-time, with Fernandes creating both second-half goals and combining smartly from a free-kick for Mount’s decisive strike, which he hopes will trigger a sustained revival for a player Ruben Amorim already values for his movement and finishing threat.

Rashford’s First Villa Goal Sparks FA Cup Semi-Final Charge

Marcus Rashford (Aston Villa)
April 2025

Rashford netted his first goals for Aston Villa in a 3-0 win over Preston, guiding them into the FA Cup semi-finals.
He opened the scoring by finishing off a Digne assist, added a penalty shortly after, and Ramsey’s solo goal sealed the result in dominant second-half fashion.

VAR Under Fire After Liverpool Handball Controversy

Marcos Senesi (Bournemouth)
August 2025

Liverpool fans raged after referee Anthony Taylor and VAR ignored a clear handball by Bournemouth defender Marcos Senesi against Hugo Ekitike in their Premier League opener. Supporters slammed the decision as disgraceful and called for accountability in officiating. Just 12 minutes into the new season, Senesi deliberately handled the ball to stop Ekitike’s run, but avoided punishment. The decision reignited debates on VAR’s consistency, with accusations of incompetence clouding the early stages of the 2025/26 campaign.

Woltemade Announces Himself With Debut Winner at St James’ Park

Nick Woltemade (Newcastle United)
September 2025

Nick Woltemade silenced doubts over replacing £125m striker Alexander Isak by scoring a thunderous debut header in Newcastle’s 1-0 win over Fiorentina. The 23-year-old rose high in the first half to bury Jacob Murphy’s cross and ignite St James’ Park. Signed for £69m from Stuttgart, Woltemade’s aerial dominance and work rate impressed Eddie Howe, who hailed his “technical qualities and intelligence.” The debut goal settled nerves, with Toon fans chanting his name as he instantly began to fill Isak’s massive shoes.

Lalas U-Turn as Pulisic Stars for Milan in Serie A

Christian Pulisic (AC Milan)
September 2025

Christian Pulisic delivered a stunning brace in Milan’s 3-0 win over Udinese, earning praise from former USMNT defender Alexi Lalas. After a public summer fallout, Lalas now calls the American “elite” and Milan’s best player in Serie A. Pulisic’s goals and creative spark underlined his influence on Milan’s title charge. Lalas praised his all-round game, calling it “everything Pulisic is encapsulated into one match,” contrasting sharply with his earlier criticism over the winger skipping the Gold Cup.

Chelsea punish Forest after break

Chelsea
October 2025

Second-half changes flip control as Acheampong heads the opener, Neto adds a quick free-kick, and Reece James seals it. Forest waste key chances through Gibbs-White, Williams and Igor before a late red for Gusto. Maresca’s subs shift tempo and width, exploiting Forest’s transitions. Chelsea bank consecutive league wins despite midfield absences, tightening structure ahead of a tougher run.

Martinez calls Ireland loss a “day to forget” as Portugal’s unbeaten run ends

Portugal national team
World Cup qualifier against Ireland at the Aviva Stadium

Portugal’s long unbeaten World Cup qualifying run ended with a 2-0 loss to Ireland, leaving them needing a final-round victory to secure automatic qualification. Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) received the first red card of his international career on a night when little went right.
Troy Parrott (Ireland) struck twice against a disjointed defence, punishing poor set-piece organisation and a lack of fluency in possession. Roberto Martinez (Portugal) lamented missing Pedro Neto (Portugal), Nuno Mendes (Portugal) and Bruno Fernandes (Portugal), admitted his side started badly, and said everything that could go wrong did in a performance he labelled a day to forget.

Ivan Juric Departs Southampton After Record-Early Relegation

Ivan Juric (Southampton)
April 2025

Southampton manager Ivan Juric has left the club after their historic early relegation from the Premier League. His short 108-day spell ended following a 3-1 loss to Spurs that sealed the Saints’ fate with seven games left.
Juric, appointed just before Christmas on an 18-month deal, oversaw 12 defeats in 14 league games. A break clause in his contract allowed Southampton to part ways immediately after relegation was confirmed.

Kane Hat-Trick Headlines Bayern’s 6-0 Leipzig Rout

Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)
August 2025

Bayern Munich began their title defence with a thumping 6-0 victory over RB Leipzig, led by a Harry Kane hat-trick, a Michael Olise brace, and Luis Diaz’s first Bundesliga goal since joining from Liverpool. Leipzig initially threatened but were undone by Bayern’s pace and clinical finishing. Kane’s late double sealed his hat-trick, while Olise dazzled in attack. Diaz marked his league debut with a strike, confirming Bayern’s firepower under Vincent Kompany.

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