waroffutbol

  The El Clásico duel has been contested a number of times in the Copa del Rey final, but some are more memorable than the others. El Clásico is set to be held again in the Copa del Rey final this weekend. It is the first one since 2014. This upcoming duel marks the new era of El Clásico. Blaugrana, as usual, counts on their own academy product with Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Pau Cubarsi, Alejandre Balde, Fermin Lopez, Ronald Araujo, plus several experienced global stars such as Raphinha, Frankie de Jong and the two-time Ballon D’Or winner, Robert Lewandowski. Their counterparts, Los Blancos, rely more on A-list global stars, from Kylian Mbappe, Thibaut Courtois, Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham, and Federico Valverde to the veteran Luka Modric. This classic clash between Real Madrid and Barcelona has always been filled with stars from both sides. From the likes of Alfredo Di Stefano and Co against Ladislav Kubala and Co in the 1950s and 1960s to Cristiano Ronaldo and his Galact...

  Real Madrid has a history of making big comeback wins in European competitions, although they are not as memorable as Barcelona’s. Real Madrid’s continental campaign this season is currently in danger. Their unexpected 3-0 defeat at Emirates Stadium against Arsenal in the first leg of the UCL quarterfinals really stunned their fans around the world. They are surely all hoping that Vinicius Jr and Co. will make an incredible comeback despite having a three-goal deficit. Los Blancos too has a long history of comeback wins. Despite the fact that they were not as well-known as their archrivals, especially in the Champions League/European Cup, the reigning champion still has much potential to turn the table in the second leg. Santiago Bernabéu does often bring magic necessary, and such is what Real Madrid is expecting next week. Throughout history, Los Merengues have made several great comebacks since their first one in the European Cup in 1960. At that time, Alfredo Di Stefano ...

  The Madrid derby has displayed some of its best encounters in the European competitions. The Madrid derby is one of the fiercest local duels in Europe. It does not only represent the clash of two clubs but also the feud of two identities and social classes. Real Madrid has always been related to the rich, the royal family, the elite or those who are in possession of power, whereas Atletico Madrid is more rooted with the working class and the laymen.  No wonder that their style of play often hints at such ideas. Los Blancos is more into ball possession, attacking football, and domination. Los Rojiblancos is on the other side. They are the ones instilling tactics relying more on physical, defensive football and counterattacks.  Interestingly, there are more contradictions on these two teams, which signifies the depth of their nature. Real Madrid is led by Carlo Ancelotti, the serial winner in big clubs. He is currently the best manager in UCL history with five ‘Big ...

  Several goalkeepers have been signed to solve the goalkeeper crisis in the European elite sides. Goalkeeper is one distinguished position in football, which has its own term. The man between the sticks tends to have a longer career compared to the other outfield players, commonly shines in the late 20s and early 30s, and has bigger competition to cement the place in the lineup. The goalkeeping role has evolved too, following the introduction of the new back pass rule in 1992. The demand for goalies who are comfortable with the ball on their feet has been increasing, and the sweeper-keeper position is almost a must on the top team. The nature of this position, which is already hard to establish, has become even harder and more challenging. When the shot stoppers suffer long-term injuries, their team tends to become more panicked and has to sign replacements from the limited available names in the pool. Some even have to lure the well-known retired figure to make an emergenc...

  Each of Europe's elite teams has their own 'banter era' in modern football, during which they failed to win any prestigious titles. The 'Banter Era' is defined as a period in which a football team goes through difficult years without winning a notable top title, such as a league title or a continental top flight championship. In this era, teams consistently underperform, producing disappointing results and campaigns. In Europe, almost all elite sides and the powerhouses in the top five league, have experienced such a ‘dark age’, except perhaps Bayern Munich. Some clubs managed to end it before deteriorating , whereas others had to struggle for years before finally putting an end to their misery. Recently, more than one elite clubs have found themselves in the midst of such an unwanted era. Italian giant, Juventus, French side, Olympique Marseille, the Dutch powerhouse, Ajax Amsterdam and last but not least, the once great side, Manchester United. Among those...