#ederson headers

[bongaboi]

Manchester City: 2022-23 UEFA Champions League Winners

Match in brief: City claim European glory City navigated an unbeaten path to the final, racking up a competition-best 31 goals in the process, so it was little surprise that they started on the front foot. Inter had let in only one goal in six knockout games, however, and for so long did an excellent job of marshalling their opponents' galaxy of attacking talent.

Erling Haaland – subsequently flagged offside – and Bernardo Silva did both go close in the opening stages, but it was not until the 27th minute that Kevin De Bruyne unpicked the Nerazzurri lock and Haaland got off a firm shot at goal; André Onana, as usual, was positioned well.

De Bruyne is so often City's creator-in-chief, but the man with 31 assists this season came off injured before half-time; Josep Guardiola's team would have to think again.

Their faith was tested once more before the hour, Manuel Akanji misjudging a Bernardo Silva pass to allow Lautaro Martínez to pounce. On this occasion, Ederson was alert enough to close down the angle.

Onana had no such luxury at the other end when a neat City move resulted in the ball dropping to Rodri just inside the penalty area; City's midfield pivot showed characteristic calm to side-foot into the corner. The treble was on.

Inter were far from deflated by going behind, though, and, just three minutes later, so nearly drew level, only for Federico Dimarco's looping header to strike the crossbar.

De Bruyne's replacement, Phil Foden, soon went close at the other end, but there was still time for one last nerve-jangler for Guardiola and his charges. Romelu Lukaku's close-ranger header somehow ricocheted off Ederson's knee and the engraver could finish adding City's name to the trophy for the first time.

PlayStation® Player of the Match: Rodri (Man City) "Came up with the winning goal in a game with few chances and his involvement for City between the boxes was essential to having a balanced City side." UEFA Technical Observer Panel

Matthew Howarth, Man City reporter

It was perhaps not the prettiest performance from Guardiola's star-studded ensemble, but this was never likely to be one-sided affair – Inter are far too good for that. The Serie A side were excellent in the first half but, when City were struggling to get into gear early in the second, they failed to take advantage. Rodri's goal cements his place in club history on the back of a tremendous personal campaign, while Guardiola becomes the first coach since Sir Alex Ferguson to lead an English club to the treble.

Vieri Capretta, Inter reporter

An almost perfect first half for the Nerazzurri – solid at the back and showing glimpses of what they could do going forward. In the second half Inter did what they had to do, kept the game under control, had two enormous chances, but ultimately came up short. Simone Inzaghi and his players shouldn't have regrets – with a bit of luck this could have gone their way.

Key stats City are the 23rd different team – and the sixth from England – to win the European Cup. Josep Guardiola is just the fourth coach to win the European Cup on three occasions. City are only the tenth team in history to complete a treble of league, cup and European Cup. Haaland finished as the competition's leading scorer with 12 goals. City are the 15th European Cup winners to remain unbeaten throughout their campaign (W8 D5). This was the fourth successive UEFA Champions League final to finish 1-0. Fantasy star performers To follow.

Line-ups Man City: Ederson; Akanji, Rúben Dias, Aké; Stones (Walker 82), Rodri; Bernardo Silva, De Bruyne (Foden 36), Gündoğan, Grealish; Haaland

Inter: Onana; Darmian (D'Ambrosio 84), Acerbi, Bastoni (Gosens 76); Dumfries (Bellanova 76), Barella, Brozović, Hakan Çalhanoğlu (Mkhitaryan 84), Dimarco; Martínez, Džeko (Lukaku 57)

What's next?

The 2023/24 UEFA Champions League begins with the preliminary round semi-finals on 27 June; the draw takes place on Tuesday 13 June. Both City and Inter will enter next season's competition in the group stage, the draw for which takes place on Thursday 31 August.

[meowmeowmessi]

every single ucl game, including the 1st leg vs city, real sit back for 20 or so minutes and everyone falls for it then next thing you know its 3-0 real madrid 😭 commentator was just saying "if city haven't scored from all this attacking yet, then i don't think they will" ouch

city 89% possession, haaland 7 bcms, 15 shots, rma 3 shots, 2 on target, benzema dagger, ederson howler, rodrygo header in the 93rd minute, rma 4-2 city. i've seen the script

[angel0news]

David Raya's Heroics Help Arsenal Secure Draw in Champions League Opener

David Raya produced an astonishing double save to deny Mateo Retegui’s penalty as Arsenal earned a hard-fought draw against Atalanta in their Champions League opener.

The Spanish goalkeeper made a low save to his right to keep out Retegui’s spot-kick, and then, incredibly, scrambled across his line to stop the striker’s rebound header. This moment of brilliance stood out in an otherwise uneventful match in Bergamo, where clear chances were few and far between.

Raya's heroics were the only major action of note, as Arsenal struggled to create opportunities. They went without a shot for nearly an hour, from the 18th to the 75th minute. Atalanta, last season’s Europa League winners, also managed just two shots on target — both coming in a double save by Marco Carnesecchi, who denied Bukayo Saka’s free-kick and then blocked Thomas Partey’s follow-up.

Raya’s Game-Changing Double Save

The game’s pivotal moment came when Thomas Partey clipped Ederson in the box, leading to a penalty for Atalanta. After a long VAR review, the decision stood, and Mateo Retegui stepped up to take the spot-kick. Raya, after consulting with Arsenal’s goalkeeping coach Inaki Cana, pulled off a spectacular double save. He first parried the penalty and then raced across his goal to claw away Retegui’s follow-up header, preventing a certain goal.

Raya's save is being hailed as one of the best in recent memory, drawing comparisons to Arsenal legend David Seaman’s iconic save against Sheffield United in the 2003 FA Cup semi-final.

A Valuable Point for Arsenal

Despite the lack of attacking spark, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will likely be satisfied with the point, considering the quality of their opponents and the busy week ahead, with Premier League fixtures against Tottenham and Manchester City. Atalanta, with their European pedigree, are a tough side, making the draw a credible result for the Gunners.

Gabriel Jesus captained the side in the absence of injured skipper Martin Odegaard, with Kai Havertz featuring in midfield. However, clear chances were few for Arsenal, aside from Saka and Havertz's early efforts and Gabriel Martinelli’s two shots over the bar.

As Arsenal shifts focus to their crucial match against Manchester City, Raya’s remarkable performance will remain a highlight, giving the Gunners a solid start in their Champions League campaign.

Player of the Match: David Raya

[emeraldphilo]

ht thoughts:

had about five heart attacks in the first minute

sexy tackle from rodri give him the ballon d’or already

feels like sometimes we waste our corners for some nonsentical things

first shot on goal saved by ederson - we should always celebrate that, also scared me with that potential injury

kdb fully embarrassing me here give me my philippa back

nvm he just got an assist

’32 GVARDIOL another defender scoring a header from a corner I live

and here I was cursing our corners 😶

walker pulling gvardiol’s nose get off him you donkey what the hell

WE NEED TO SCORE MORE GOALS I DONT TRUST THIS DEFENCE ONE BIT



me everytime eddie comes out of his goal and doesn’t claim the ball:

[sportsgr8]

Premier League: Liverpool, Man City Play Out 1-1 Draw To Leave Arsenal Top Of Table

Kevin De Bruyne: Liverpool and Manchester City drew 1-1 at Anfield to leave Arsenal in charge of the Premier League title race. John Stones finished a clever corner routine by Kevin De Bruyne to give City a first half lead but Alexis Mac Allister’s penalty after the break ensured a point apiece. Sunday's draw ended Man City's run of nine away wins in a row in all competitions, and means Liverpool have lost only one of their last 21 home Premier League matches against City. The result, which summed up the unyielding rivalry between the Blues and the Reds under Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp, meant the day ended with Arsenal on top of the table on 64 points after their late victory over Brentford yesterday, Liverpool a place back in second on goal difference and City third on 63 points. It points to a tight, tense finale to the 2023/24 campaign with City aiming to win the title for a record-breaking fourth consecutive time, Liverpool wanting to give their manager the ultimate send-off and Arsenal looking to exorcise the ghosts of last season and win their first Premier League in 20 years. Man City started on top and made their dominance count midway through the first half, when Stones scored from a clever Kevin De Bruyne corner. De Bruyne whipped the ball to the near post, where Stones was left unmarked after Nathan Ake had blocked Mac Allister in a smart screen move. Then Liverpool saw a goal disallowed after Nunez, who had strayed offside, squared for Luis Diaz to apply the finishing touch but, just as the balance of play had evened out, City struck through Stones, who stole in at the near post to convert De Bruyne’s corner. Szoboszlai miscued his header after he’d been found by a superb Harvey Elliott cross at the conclusion of a patient, probing sequence of passing and – after Erling Haaland had seen an effort on the counter saved by Kelleher – Diaz whipped a shot narrowly wide following a turnover. Just two minutes into the second period, Liverpool were awarded a penalty. Nunez’s pace allowed him to intercept Nathan Ake’s backpass ahead of Ederson and the City goalkeeper duly clattered into the No.9. A lengthy delay ensued as Ederson, who later went off injured, received treatment but Mac Allister’s composure never wavered and he stepped up to bury his spot-kick into the top corner. Klopp brought on Salah, who almost immediately made his mark. The Egyptian played an incredible through-ball to Luis Diaz, who shot wide in a 1v1 with Ortega. Less than two minutes later, Diaz missed another big chance, failing to get his shot off in another 1v1 after being set up by Darwin Nunez. There were two more big chances at either end, with Kelleher spreading himself in an Alisson-like action to thwart Phil Foden, while Ortega flung himself at Nunez's close-range effort. But it was City who came the closest to winning it. In the 89th minute, Doku's shot from the left side of the box beat Kelleher, smashed against a post and bounced across goal and out. It was the last meaningful chance of an absorbing contest featuring 29 shots, 19 of which came from Liverpool, who also edged possession. Read the full article

[newsworld-nw]

Premier League: Liverpool show support for missing Luis Diaz as Manchester City crush Manchester United

Manchester Metropolis underlined the massive gulf in high quality between themselves and Manchester United on Sunday as Liverpool confirmed their assist for lacking teammate Luis Diaz, whose dad and mom have been kidnapped in Colombia. Outdated Trafford paid tribute to late United nice Bobby Charlton earlier than kick-off, with supporters unveiling a banner that learn: "The best English footballer the world has ever seen". However reminiscences of previous glories did not translate on the pitch, with the house group fully outclassed by the champions, who by no means needed to get out of second gear of their 3-0 win.Champions Metropolis made the a lot of the early run and have been awarded a penalty when VAR confirmed a foul on Rasmus Hojlund's Rodriy because the ball was crossed into the world from the free-kick.It was Manchester Metropolis's first spot-kick within the twenty seventh assembly between the edges at Outdated Trafford within the Premier League.Erling Haaland stepped as much as head residence from the spot, his twelfth aim of the season in all competitions.Metropolis goalkeeper Ederson saved a Scott McTominay pile-driver whereas Andre Onana was heroic on the different finish as Haaland appeared sure to move residence.However the Norwegian ahead made no mistake simply after the break, heading in a header from Bernardo Silver's cross.Phil Foden made it 3-0 with 10 minutes remaining after being arrange by Haaland.Liverpool TributeEarlier, Liverpool brushed apart Nottingham Forest on the identical scoreline.Targets from Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez earlier than the break and a second-half effort from Mohamed Salah ensured Jurgen Klopp's aspect maintained their 100 per cent residence report within the Premier League this season.Diaz held aloft the quantity seven jersey after Jota scored - the Colombian has been dominated out of Liverpool's squad following a kidnapping incident in his residence nation.Colombian President Gustavo Petro mentioned on Saturday that the winger's mom had been rescued however the seek for his father continued."Lewis stayed with us on the lodge then he went residence," Jota instructed the BBC. "It is a very troublesome state of affairs and I do not know the way anybody would react if it occurred to you."He was going to play. I performed as an alternative, and I confirmed him his shirt to say we're with him and we hope every thing's going to be okay."Liverpool completed fourth within the desk forward of Tottenham, Arsenal and Metropolis.Excessive-flying Aston Villa, in fifth place, received their twelfth consecutive residence recreation within the Premier League, beating struggling Luton 3-1.Unai Emery's aspect made gentle work of their opponents, with targets from John McGinn and Moussa Diaby placing them above Luton captain Tom Lockyer in his personal internet."It is nonetheless an extended course of for me right here and I wish to work to enhance as all the time," Emery instructed Sky Sports activities."After all I am comfortable however nonetheless critical, critical about the best way I wish to construct and enhance right here."After their glowing begin to the season, Brighton have misplaced extra floor.The south coast membership went 1-0 up by way of Evan Ferguson however Fulham equalized by way of midfielder Joao Palhinha.Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored the one aim of the sport as Everton beat West Ham 1-0 to maneuver above the relegation zone.Matters lined on this article #Premier #League #Liverpool #present #assist #lacking #Luis #Diaz #Manchester #Metropolis #crush #Manchester #United Read the full article

[globalhint]

Man United 0-3 Man City: Haaland scores again

Man United 0-3 Man City: Haaland scores again. Living rivals Manchester United were humiliated in an ugly home loss, while Manchester City secured derby day ecstasy thanks to a double from Erling Haaland. The world of football turned to Old Trafford for the 191st Manchester derby, the first since Pep Guardiola's team duplicated their 1999 triple crown. Although Haaland's spot-kick and uncontested header sealed the 3-0 victory, City's domination was much more evident than the score indicates. Haaland then fed Phil Foden. Erik ten Hag's United, who have already dropped five of their ten Premier League starting games, saw an abrupt end to an unimpressive three-match winning run in all competitions. Midway through the first half, Haaland gave City the lead with a penalty given following the A purported Rasmus Hojlund tug on Rodri was observed by VAR. Haaland scored another goal thanks to ragtag defending, capping a lopsided victory that Foden sealed with a late flourish. If Andre Onana hadn't made his saves on a day when United supporters jeered Ten Hag for starting Hojlund instead of Hojlund, it would have been worse. Last Sunday, United paid tribute to the late, great Sir Bobby Charlton once more, and it was an awful way to cap off an emotional week. The red-and-blue supporters cheered together prior to a contest that City controlled right away. With just eight minutes remaining, Foden scored a strong header that Onana blocked after Kyle Walker nodded back Rodri's diagonal ball looped upward and, but for Haaland's efforts, would have been carted home by the goalie. It was a let-off, as Jack Grealish was denied by Onana prior to City being given a penalty. VRA When a free-kick was finished, Michael Oliver told Paul Tierney to go to the pitchside monitor to look into a possible pull by Hojlund on Rodri. Eventually, the referee pointed to the spot, and Haaland maintained his composure to send Onana spinning around and wheeling off in celebration in front of the enraged home crowd. The Old Trafford crowd were silenced by that gut punch in the 26th minute, which gave City the upper hand. Away supporters even made light of the atmosphere, comparing it to that of the Etihad Stadium. For the remainder of the opening frame, City dominated as they pressed for For the rest of the first half, City dominated play as they pressed for a second goal that few could dispute, but United had two significant chances to draw even. Hojlund eventually cut back for Bruno Fernandes to rifle over after roaring onto a stray ball and rounding Ederson. The youthful attacker could have wished, in retrospect, that he had fallen following John Stones' powerful build-up defence. In stoppage time, Marcus Rashford's first-time sweeping ball put Scott McTominay behind to take a touch and clear a strike that Ederson had pushed over, bringing United even closer. The noise level inside Old Trafford went up after that, as did Onana's superb save of Haaland's close-range header. Though it appeared to be a moment that may change the game, the City Sharpshooters would never be without a second chance. Following a trade of efforts between Fernandes and Foden, the visitors took advantage of United's weak defensive structure when Bernardo Silva flicked a cross to an unmarked Haaland, who finished at the far post. ALSO READ Rugby World Cup final: South Africa defeats New Zealand in a brutal match A small group of jubilant City supporters screamed, "Mind the gap, Man United," when Onana stopped Grealish from adding to the header in the 49th minute. The away supporters were still making their voices heard, and as Haaland went down, claiming a penalty, the attacking midfielder for England curled over a cross-shot. Rashford's deft touch and strike over the goal's face gave United a fleeting glimmer of optimism, but City soon resumed their attack. In order to prevent Haaland from finishing his hat-trick before Ten, Onana spread himself wide. The choice by Hag to switch Hojlund for Garnacho was greeted with a chorus of jeers. Grealish's deflected attempt went wide, and in the 80th minute, Onana was eventually defeated once more. This time, the supplier was Haaland. Onana deflected Rodri's shot into the path of the striker, who then passed it in for Foden to score. As some United supporters started to leave early, the goal scorer attempted to add an overhead kick. Few could blame them, considering the dismal performance on their side. As the clock ticked down, all they missed was petty jealousy. source credit Read the full article

[globalbuzz]

Senegal Stuns Brazil 4-2 in Friendly with Sadio Mane's Heroic Brace

In a surprising turn of events, Senegal rallied back to shock Brazil with a 4-2 victory in a friendly match held in Lisbon on Tuesday. This marks the third loss in the last four matches for the five-time world champions. Brazil initially took the lead in the first half when Lucas Paqueta found the back of the net. They appeared to have been awarded a penalty after Vinicius Jr. was fouled inside the box, but the decision was overturned by VAR due to an offside in the buildup.

Seizing the opportunity, Senegal capitalized on their first chance as Habib Diallo smashed the ball into the net with a powerful volley after Brazil failed to clear a cross, leveling the score in the 22nd minute. Senegal's confidence soared, and they quickly took control of the match in the second half. Within three minutes, defender Marquinhos inadvertently deflected Ismaiia Sarr's header into his own goal, and Sadio Mane followed up with a brilliant curling strike from just inside the box, finding the far top corner. Marquinhos redeemed himself by scoring Brazil's second goal from a loose ball inside the box, but Senegal maintained their composure. They extended their lead when Mane converted a penalty after Nicolas Jackson was fouled by Brazil goalkeeper Ederson inside the box. The defeat serves as another setback for Brazil, who currently have Ramon Menezes, the Under-20 manager, serving as the caretaker coach. The Brazilian FA (CBF) continues to pursue Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti as a potential candidate for the coaching position, which has been vacant since Tite's resignation following their World Cup quarter-final exit in December.

Read the full article

[ncaabasketballreport]

Does Haaland make Man City favourites? Is VAR getting worse?

With this season's Champions League quarterfinalists now set, our writers answer some of the big questions arising from the round of 16 second legs.With this season's Champions League quarterfinalists now set, our writers answer some of the big questions arising from the round of 16 second legs.    8:00 AM ET This season's Champions League round of 16 is done and dusted with some European heavyweights falling by the wayside like Liverpool, who have reached three finals in the last five years, and a Paris Saint-Germain side featuring Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi. Friday's quarterfinal draw will feature plenty of European heavyweights such as defending champions Real Madrid and recent winners Chelsea and Bayern Munich. Reigning Premier League champions Manchester City are also in the hat along with Portuguese side Benfica, while Serie A has three clubs in the last eight: AC Milan, Inter Milan and Napoli. Our writers Mark Ogden, Julien Laurens and James Olley answer some of the big questions arising from this round of games. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.)

What caught your eye from the round-of-16 second legs?

Ogden: The poor standard of refereeing, and VAR, has really stood out during the round of 16, and it is even more noticeable because the Champions League generally operates to a much higher level than the domestic leagues in Europe. Two English teams, Chelsea and Manchester City, have been the biggest beneficiaries of some bewildering decisions, with German sides Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig on the wrong end of them. Chelsea were fortunate to be awarded a penalty during their 2-0 second-leg win against Dortmund when defender Marius Wolf was judged to have handled the ball. Referee Danny Makkelie didn't point to the spot until the VAR suggested a review on the pitchside monitor. Wolf was so close to the ball that he couldn't move out of the way, but Makkelie awarded the penalty when he should have dismissed the VAR review. Leipzig suffered an even heavier blow during their 7-0 defeat at City. VAR once again intervened in a penalty incident, calling on referee Slavko Vincic to review an apparent handball by Benjamin Henrichs. The reality was that Henrichs had his back to Rodri, whose header brushed his arm and fell to a City player without deviating in movement. It was incredibly soft, but once the penalty was awarded, Erling Haaland put City 1-0 ahead. Moments later, Timo Werner was booked, despite being on the receiving end of a foul by Ederson which could have resulted in a red card for the City goalkeeper. Yet VAR did not intervene. Two huge decisions which, had they gone Leipzig's way, could have resulted in a much different outcome. VAR and the referees have to be better in the quarterfinals and beyond.

Editor's Picks

2 Related Laurens: It is probably the most obvious answer (and, I promise, I tried to find something else to be more original) but nothing can beat Haaland's quintuple against RB Leipzig. He might have got six goals had he stayed longer on the pitch, but Pep Guardiola took him off after 63 minutes. The Manchester City striker became only the third man in Champions League history to score five goals in the same game, after Messi and Luiz Adriano, and by becoming the youngest-ever player to reach 30 Champions League goals. For his club, he is now the top scorer in a single season with 39 goals, beating the old record of Tommy Johnson from 1929. Haaland still has as many as 19 more games to play before the end of the season. It is still an amazing achievement; Haaland had eight shots on the night, all on target, scored five goals with an xG (Expected Goals) of less than three. He was so aggressive in the box, so alert, so on it. He looked possessed at times. It was just incredible. Olley: If Graham Potter makes a success of his time at Chelsea, he may well look back on their second leg win over Dortmund as the turning point. Managers often talk about uniting the fans and making their home stadium a difficult place for visiting teams, but in Potter's case he did so in the knowledge this game served as something of a referendum on his management. An unconvincing win over Leeds United a few days earlier had at created a modicum of momentum heading into the game but, make no mistake, defeat against Dortmund would have ramped up the pressure on Potter. Dortmund were depleted -- Karim Adeyemi, Youssoufa Moukoko and goalkeeper Gregor Kobel all missed out injured while Julian Brandt was forced off after just five minutes -- but Chelsea produced a committed and defiant display, overcoming their goal-scoring problems to overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit with a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge. The players showed they were behind Potter and although it will be some time before the majority of the fans are convinced the former Brighton & Hove Albion boss is the right man to lead them back to former glories, this win buys him time with a Champions League quarterfinal as proof of progress. They surely aren't good enough to lift the trophy in Istanbul, but, then again, most people felt that way before they won in 2012 and 2021... play1:09 Pep's idols: Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods ... and Julia Roberts? Pep Guardiola reveals his biggest failure at Manchester City was when his idol Julia Roberts went to visit Manchester United instead of his club.

Now the quarterfinalists are all set; which team is your favourite to lift the trophy in Istanbul?

Laurens: Pep Guardiola can be as sarcastic as he wants about the Champions League and what a failure he is and will always be, even if he wins the competition for the next three years. He can talk about Julia Roberts, Richard Gere or any Hollywood actor as much as he wants. His team are once again the big favourites of this Champions League, and not winning it would be a failure -- again. City have everything, really: the manager, the squad depth, the superstars, the clutch players, the winning mentality, the experience of going far and the motivation of not yet winning it. They should have won it already and they will surely eventually do so. This year is their year. The rest of the field is not at their level, not even Bayern Munich, Napoli or Real Madrid. Time is running out for Kevin De Bruyne, who turns 32 in June. Riyad Mahrez and Kyle Walker are already at that age, while Ikay Gundogan is out of contract this summer. Bernardo Silva could be leaving at the end of the season, too, a year after pushing for a departure. The most important thing is that surely Pep and City have learned from their past mistakes in the Champions League: the 2021 final loss, the semifinal of last season and all the previous quarterfinal disappointments. If they can do that, they will finally be ready to achieve their ultimate aim. play2:29 How good has Victor Osimhen been? Steve Nicol, Craig Burley and Alejandro Moreno offer high praise for the Victor Osimhen after Napoli advance to the next round in the Champions League. Ogden: This may be a case of heart overruling head, but Napoli have been the most exciting team in this season's Champions League and it would be great for the game if Luciano Spalletti can take the club all the way to glory in Istanbul. They certainly have the players, and it's not just about top scorer Victor Osimhen. Kim Min-Jae, Piotr Zielinski, Hirving "Chucky" Lozano and Giovanni Simeone have all had outstanding seasons, while Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has arguably been the breakthrough star of the 2022-23 Champions League. The big challenge for Napoli, who are nailed on to win Serie A this season for the first time since 1990, is to hold their nerve and play their own game against a European superpower such as Real Madrid or Bayern Munich. If they stick to what has served them so well, Napoli can beat anybody, but the top clubs usually find a way to win the Champions League. We haven't seen a surprise team win the competition since Jose Mourinho's FC Porto in 2004, so maybe this is Napoli's time. Olley: It should, in all probability, be Manchester City but I can't say that a team clearly stands out from the rest at this stage. Mark makes a compelling case for Napoli -- and an 18-point lead at the top of Serie A gives them the chance to do what other clubs can't, which is rest players in the league to keep everyone fully fresh for the latter stages of the Champions League. City have been knocking on the door for years but, even though they thrashed Leipzig in midweek, they have not been anything like their fluid best for much of the season. The jury is out as to whether this Bayern Munich is as strong as previous incarnations -- although we must all take note when club legend Lothar Matthaus says this group may be their best-ever squad. And then we come to the team that mask their own weaknesses and exploit others better than anyone else: Real Madrid. With little conviction, given Napoli's form, City's individuals and Bayern's pedigree, perhaps Real's knowhow can help Carlo Ancelotti trump his rivals once more. play2:35 Nicol: Only thing for Liverpool is they didn't get embarrassed Steve Nicol, Craig Burley and Alejandro Moreno react to Real Madrid beating Liverpool 6-2 on aggregate to advance in the Champions League.

After Haaland's five-goal haul, what's the most impressive individual performance you've seen live in the Champions League?

Olley: Messi scoring all four as Barcelona beat Arsenal 4-1 at Camp Nou in April 2010. Maybe the Gunners made the mistake of taking the lead. At that stage, Arsenal led this quarterfinal tie 4-2 on aggregate but what came next was a true force of nature. Messi took it upon himself to deliver the kind of virtuoso performance that epitomises his glittering career. The first goal was a fierce drive as the ball fell to him on the edge of the box, the second a close-range finish lifted over Manuel Almunia. His hat-trick goal was sublime; sent racing clear, he scooped a left-footed shot over the onrushing Almunia with embarrassing ease, prompting that worshipping celebration from an awe-struck Barcelona crowd. The fourth came with a drop of the shoulder, panicking defenders contorting themselves in ever more desperate shapes, and a shot saved by Almunia but drilled through his legs on the rebound. This was a high-pressure occasion but here was a 22-year-old making the game look so breathtakingly, devastatingly simple. Perhaps Wenger put it best: "He made the impossible possible." The image that lingers in my mind came just after the final whistle. Messi was given the match ball and as Arsenal's players looked crestfallen, Barca supporters stood in disbelief, the little magician at the centre of it all simply spun the ball in his hand wearing a beaming smile, so fresh-faced he looked ready immediately to do it all over again.

LIVE ON ESPN+ (SELECTED GAMES)

The beautiful game lives here. Stream top leagues, tournaments and teams.Sign up for ESPN+ SATURDAY, MARCH 18 (all times ET)o Almeria vs. Cadiz (9 a.m.)o Augsburg vs. Schalke 04 (10 a.m.)o Middlesbrough vs. Preston NE (11 a.m.)o Borussia Dortmund vs. K?ln (1 p.m.)o Man City vs. Burnley (2 p.m.)o Atletico Madrid vs. Valencia (4 p.m.)o Miami FC vs. New Mexico Utd (7 p.m.)o Sacramento Republic vs. Charleston Battery (7 p.m.) SUNDAY, MARCH 19 (all times ET)o Sheffield Utd vs. Blackburn (9 a.m.)o Ajax vs. Feyenoord (9 a.m.)o Brighton vs. Grimsby Town (10 a.m.)o Real Sociedad vs. Elche (11 a.m.)o Man United vs. Fulham (12 p.m.)o Leverkusen vs. Bayern Munich (12 p.m.)o Barcelona vs. Real Madrid (4 p.m.) Ogden: I was at the Santiago Bernabeu in 2017 when Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat trick to give Real Madrid a 3-0 semifinal first-leg win against Atletico Madrid, but it was about more than merely scoring three goals, which he has achieved an incredible 62 times so far in his career. It may seem unlikely now, six years on, but at the time the game was billed as a clash between Ronaldo and Atleti's rising star Antoine Griezmann, who was enjoying an outstanding season for Diego Simeone's team. There was genuine belief that Atleti could avenge the Champions League final defeats of 2014 and 2016 against their city rivals, with the France forward inspiring them to the final and outshining Ronaldo in the process. But Ronaldo was having none of that. It seemed as though he was given extra motivation to prove he was still the king of Madrid and he dominated the game. He also recorded two landmarks by netting his 50th goal in the Champions League knockout stages and equalling Messi's record of seven hat tricks in the competition. Laurens: I could pick any moment from Karim Benzema in the knockout phase last season; I was there for all of it. I had never witnessed anything like it before. He scored 10 goals in the six games that he and Real Madrid played on their way to the final at the Stade de France. Read the full article

[futebolonly]

ederson moraes headers

like ou créditos no @futebolpacks no twitter

[flaicons]

like

[weaknesszpacks]

ederson moraes headers

♡ like or @womanlikenicki on twitter ♡

[pydpack]

Like or reblog if  you save / USE .  

CREDIT TWITTER : @DREWKlDRAUHL  

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Don’t repost  ♥

[rodrifc]

I was tagged by @christiansrealgf thank you💘

Icon: smiley Ederson from a lovely day

Content: soccer, aesthetic, quotes

Letter color: some kind of sky blue

Header: my babes Ansu and Frenkie

URL: Ederson made a bunch of saves one game and this seemed a reasonable response

Blog title: used a lovely thing that dorito called me cuz she wasn’t wrong!

[walkonwalkonwithhopeinyourheart]

UCL and UEL Watch Thread 26/02/2020 via /r/LiverpoolFC

UCL and UEL Watch Thread 26/02/2020

After yesterday’s eggy bread I’ve gone for a sun-dried tomato and olive bread today. 🍅 ��

Tonight there are two UCL ties and one UEL match, with the latter starting at 17:00 GMT and the remaining last 16 UCL games at 20:00 GMT.

Results so far in the UEFA Champions League last 16 1st legs:

Atlético de Madrid 1-0 Liverpool FC

Borussia Dortmund 2-1 Paris Saint-Germain

Atalanta B.C. 4-1 Valencia CF

Tottenham Hotspur 0-1 RB Leipzig

Chelsea 0-3 Bayern Munich

S.S.C. Napoli 1-1 FC Barcelona

Tonight’s UCL last 16 1st leg results:

Olympique Lyonnais 1-0 Juventus

Real Madrid 1-2 Manchester City

Tonight’s UEL last 32 2nd leg results:

SC Braga 0-1 Rangers (Agg: 2-4)

OLYMPIQUE LYONNAIS vs JUVENTUS

Parc Olympique Lyonnais | KO 20:00 GMT

Officials:

Referee: Jesús Gil Manzano (ESP) Assistants: Diego Barbero (ESP) and Ángel Nevado (ESP) Fourth official: Guillermo Cuadra Fernandez (ESP) VAR: Juan Martínez Munuera (ESP) Assistant VAR: Ricardo de Burgos (ESP)

Olympique Lyonnais

Manager: Rudi Garcia

XI: 3-5-2 Lopes, Marcelo, Denayer, Marçal, Dubois, Guimarães, Tousart, Cornet, Toko Ekambi, Aouar, Dembele

Subs: Tatarusanu, Andersen, Terrier, Traoré, Mendes Ribeiro, Tete, Caqueret

Juventus

Manager: Maurizio Sarri

XI: 4-3-3 Szczesny, Danilo, de Ligt, Bonucci, Lobo Silva, Bentancur, Pjanić, Rabiot, Cuadrado, Dybala, Ronaldo

Subs: Buffon, De Sciglio, Ramsey, Matuidi, Higuaín, Rugani, Bernardeschi

RESULT

Olympique Lyonnais 1-0 Juventus FT

⏱ 1’ We're under way in Lyon

❕ 21' Toko Ekambi (Lyon) heads over from a corner

🟨 28’ Marcelo booked (Lyon)

⚽️ 31' 1-0 Tousart gives Lyon the lead

❕ 38' Looks like handball in the box by Cuadrado, ref says no penalty

❕ 41' Toko Ekambi (Lyon) shoots over

⏱ 45’ Three added minutes

⏱ 45+4’ HT Lyon 1-0 Juventus

⏱ 46' Second half kicks off

🟨 61’ Cornet booked (Lyon)

🔁 62’ Pjanić off, Ramsey on (Juventus)

🔁 66’ Toko Ekambi off, Terrier on (Lyon)

🔁 70’ Cuadrado off, Higuaín on (Juventus)

🔁 78’ Dubois (injured) off, Tete on (Lyon)

🔁 78’ Rabiot off, Bernardeschi on (Juventus)

🔁 81’ Cornet (injured) off, Andersen on (Lyon)

❕ 89' Dybala (Juventus) goes down in the box, ref says no penalty

⏱ 90' Five added minutes

⏱ 90+6’ FT Lyon 1-0 Juventus

REAL MADRID vs MANCHESTER CITY

Estadio Santiago Bernabéu | KO 20:00 GMT

Officials:

Referee: Daniele Orsato (ITA) Assistants: Lorenzo Manganelli (ITA) and Alessandro Giallatini (ITA) Fourth official: Daniele Doveri (ITA) VAR: Massimiliano Irrati (ITA) Assistant VAR: Ciro Carbone (ITA)

Real Madrid

Manager: Zinedine Zidane

XI: 4-3-3 Courtois, Carvajal, Varane, fuck Ramos, Mendy, Casemiro, Modric, Valverde, Vinicius Jr, Benzema, Isco

Subs: Areola, Militao, Kroos, Bale, Marcelo, Lucas, Jovic

Oil Barons

Manager: Bald Fraud

XI: 4-3-3 Ederson, Walker, Laporte, Otamendi, Mendy, Rodrigo, Gündoğan, De Bruyne, Mahrez, Bernardo Silva, Gabriel Jesus

Subs: Bravo, Cancelo, Agüero, Foden, Fernandinho, Stones, David Silva, Sterling 🐍

RESULT

Real Madrid 1-2 Oil Barons FT

⏱ 1’ We're under way in Madrid

❕ 21' Courtois saves from a Gabriel Jesus shot

❕ 28' KDB shoots high and wide over the crossbar

🟨 29’ Mendy booked (Oil Barons) he will miss the second leg

❕ 30' Ederson makes a great save to deny Benzema's header

🔁 33’ Laporte (injured) off, Fernandinho on (Oil Barons)

⏱ 45' Two added minutes

⏱ 45+3’ HT Real Madrid 0-0 Oil Barons

⏱ 46' Second half kicks off

🟨 48’ Valverde booked (Real)

❕ 50' KDB and Mahrez link up, the latter shoots wide

🟨 54’ Modric booked (Real)

❕ 55' Vinicius Jr (Real) goes down in the box, ref says no penalty

❕ 57' Courtois makes a great save from Mahrez's shot

⚽️ 60' 1-0 Isco puts Real ahead

🔁 73’ Bernardo Silva off, Sterling 🐍 on (Oil Barons)

🔁 75’ Vinicius Jr off, Bale on (Real)

⚽️ 78' 1-1 Gabriel Jesus gets the equaliser for the Oil Barons

❗️ 82' Penalty to the Oil Barons after a foul by Carvajal

⚽️ 83' 1-2 KDB scores the penalty

🔁 75’ Modric Jr off, Lucas on (Real)

🔁 75’ Isco off, Jovic on (Real)

🟥 86’ fuck Ramos sent off

⏱ 90' Three added minutes

⏱ 90+3’ FT Real Madrid 1-2 Oil Barons

UEFA Europa League last 32 second legs

SC BRAGA vs RANGERS (Agg: 2-3)

Estádio Municipal de Braga | KO 17:00 GMT

Mildly interesting tidbit about this stadium, it has no goal end stands as it is built next to a cliff face.

Officials:

Referee: Andreas Ekberg (SWE) Assistants: Mehmet Culum (SWE) and Stefan Hallberg (SWE) Fourth official: Glenn Nyberg (SWE)

There is no VAR Yes there is, VAR: Danny Makkelie (NED)

SC Braga

Manager: Rúben Amorim

XI: 4-4-2 Matheus, Nuno Sequeira, Raul Silva, Carmo, Bruno Viana; Trincao, Palhinha, Fransergio, Ricardo Esgaio; Ricardo Horta, Paulinho

Subs: Tiago Sa, Tormena, Ruiz, Andre Horta, Rui Fonte, Norvais, Galeno

Rangers

Manager: Steven Gerrard

XI: 4-3-3 McGregor, Tavernier, Goldson, Edmundson, Barisic; Jack, Davis, Arfield; Hagi, Kent, Kamberi

Subs: Foderingham, Katic, Halliday, Aribo, Kamara, Ojo, Stewart

Morelos is suspended after picking up a yellow in the first leg

RESULT

SC Braga 0-1 Rangers (Agg: 2-4) FT

⏱ 1’ We're under way in Braga

❕ 9' Kamberi (Rangers) shoots and forces Matheus to make a save

❕ 19' Ryan Kent fires just wide

❕ 26' McGregor makes a great save to deny Paulinho's (Braga) header

❕ 30' Paulinho (Braga) heads just wide

❕ 38' Ryan Kent goes down in the box, ref says no penalty

❗️ 44' Penalty to Rangers after a handball by Raul Silva

🖥 45' VAR confirms penalty

❌ 45+1' Matheus pulls off a great save to deny Hagi and Rangers (Additional link)

⏱ 45+2’ HT Braga 0-0 Rangers

⏱ 46’ We're back under way in Portugal

🔁 46’ Palhinha off, Norvais on (Braga)

🟨 47’ Carmo booked (Braga)

🔁 53’ Raul Silva off, Galeno on (Braga)

⚽️ 61' 0-1 Ryan Kent puts Rangers into the lead on the night

🔁 64’ Carmo Silva off, Ruiz on (Braga)

🔁 72’ Carmo Hagi off, Aribo on (Rangers)

🟨 73’ Kamberi booked (Rangers)

❌ 77' Arfield (Rangers) has the ball in the net but is disallowed for offside

🔁 78’ Kamberi Hagi off, Ojo on (Rangers)

❕ 83' Paulinho (Braga) gets on the end of a free-kick but heads just over the bar

🟨 89’ Ricardo Esgaio booked (Braga)

⏱ 90’ Four added minutes

⏱ 90+4’ FT Braga 0-1 Rangers - Stevie G's side win 4-2 on aggregate

Elsewhere in England

Championship

Blackburn Rovers 0-0 Stoke City FT

Fulham 1-0 Swansea City FT

Hull City 0-1 Barnsley FT

Middlesbrough 0-1 Leeds United FT

Millwall 0-0 Birmingham City FT

Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 Charlton Athletic FT

Reading 0-3 Wigan Athletic FT

Submitted February 26, 2020 at 04:07PM by eurfryn via reddit https://ift.tt/2wb7QQY

[brauthaalandfc]

Manchester City Player Ratings 2018/19

I got bored and decided to write a lil review of Manchester City players this season. Hope you enjoy and feel free to discuss.

Warning: may be biased

Ederson: 9/10  Keeping this one short and simple, just like Eddie’s passes from the back. What more do you want from a keeper? He can give you assists, great saves, and is willing to run half way up the pitch to defend his teammates. Took one point off him because he didn’t score. Maybe next season. 

Kyle Walker: 7.5/10 The English idiot definitely got tired around christmas time with a few dodgy games which I guess is understandable given the fact the he hadn’t really stopped playing for over a year with the World Cup and so on and he might have been the England crackhead but overall I think Kyle did well. Especially during the last few games, I thought that he played really well. I think it was Crystal Palace away that he probably had one of his best games. I hope he rests well over summer and can continue that form next season. 

Danilo: 7/10 When Kyle was too busy snorting coke (just kidding, don’t kill me), Danilo played really well in his place. Although he isn’t as quick or as direct as Kyle, he provided a composure and control that sometimes Kyle lacks. He didn’t really make any big mistakes when playing, and I would have given him a higher score if he played a little more. There has been rumours of him leaving and I hope these are not true because he is a pretty solid back up at right back and is Bernardo’s favourite person to annoy.

Oleksandr Zinchenko: 8/10 Am I crazy giving him a higher rating than Kyle? Probably. But I love to spread appreciation for my unproblematic little blonde ukrainian! Last summer he was linked heavily to Wolves- it looked highly probable that that was were he was going to end up this season. However, he decided to stay and fight for his place at Manchester City and I am so bloody glad that he did! When Ben got injured and Delph was...you know... being Delph, Zinnie stepped up and performed at left back (not his natural position!!) and played at a higher standard than any of us would have thought! I really admire his determination and confidence in himself to stay and fight to get into the first team. You can tell he works hard always and really loves and appreciates all his teammates. I have loved watching the little shy KDB lookalike grow and blossom into a more confident young man. Hopefully there is much more to come from this bundle of joy. We could all learn from Oleksandr Zinchenko!

Fabian Delph: 3/10 I might be a bit harsh here but literally, when did he forget the basics of football? Man preached it in All or Nothing but couldn’t practice it irl. Deplhy was a breakthrough last season and played well when Mendy got injured (yes, again). But this season... I don’t know what he was up to. Most games he played, we lost. I honestly have no clue what made him snap like that vs Leicester but bitch... calm down!! Is it harsh to say I don’t think he played well once this season? Well, I am saying it. Don’t get me wrong, I will be sad if he leaves this summer. He most definitely has passion, and whilst sometimes that leads to him perhaps being too emotional on the pitch, I appreciate it and is a popular character in the dressing room that will be missed. He has given a lot for the club in recent years but I’m afraid I see no future for him here. No more Delph every weekend :( 

Benjamin Mendy: 5/10 I have a soft spot for Mendy, can you tell? You’re probably thinking 5 is too high but I will tell you why. He played 10 games this season and got 5 assists during that time. That’s an assist every second game (if I have done my maths right). In the early stages of the season, there was no doubt that he was one of our most effective players. I was at the home game vs Huddersfield in August and I thought he played so well that game, bombing up the wing every time. He got an assist too, if I remember correctly? His crosses are insane and watching him live was a (rare) blessing! This makes it hurt even more knowing he got injured. It is obvious that Ben has so much potential and has bags of talent however, injuries seem to haunt him. Along with his occasion lax judgement and lack of concentration, he finds himself in difficult situations. It breaks my heart of the stories leaking from the training ground of him breaking down in tears. I cannot be easy for a young footballer to go through so many injuries when they are at a club that is constantly winning and breaking records, where you can watch your teammates win things and have fun with each other whilst you are stuck inside with your leg in a cast. My heart breaks for him and I hope that next season, these injuries no longer take over him and he can have a season to finally show why he is one of the best left backs in the world.

Aymeric Laporte: 9/10 There has been a lot of hype around Van Dijk this season (and rightly so) however, Aymeric hasn’t received as much attention and I think that is slightly unfair. Laporte, in my opinion, is not that far behind Van Dijk and is nowhere near his peak quite yet. I think that Aymeric has been one of our best and most important players this season. He is always reliable in defence and has probably been our first choice CB this season. Not to mention, he scored that header against Brighton that put us back in front and on the way to the title. I believe that Aymeric is an amazingly talented CB that will only improve over these next few seasons, and who knows, he might one day become the best CB in the league. 

Nicolas Otamendi: 6.5/10 Nico was so so good for us last year and offers us more physicality at CB in comparison to Stones and Laporte, however he hasn’t really stood out this season. Despite this, I don’t think he has done much wrong? He has been largely reliable when called upon to help out the team and I really can’t fault him for that. Like Danilo, he was been linked with a move elsewhere but I hope that he doesn’t move. Like I said, he is more physical than Stones and Laporte and sometimes I feel like we need that, and with Vinnie leaving I don’t think it is wise to let another CB go when I don’t feel academy players like Garcia are ready for that jump up yet. Oh and he has a good beard so I bumped him up from an initial 6. 

John Stones: 7.5/10 It has been a bit of a weird season for Stonsey, hasn’t it? At the beginning of the season, he was playing loads and was dead good. However, after THAT moment vs Liverpool he seemed to fade away a little and it looked like Pep prefered to play Vinnie and Laporte over him nearing the end of the season when it was tense. He still played a little though. sometimes coming on to play as a defensive midfielder kind of position and didn’t really make any mistakes there which I guess shows him maturing as an all round player and reveals just how much Pep trusts him and sees potential in him. I expect him to play a lot more next season and continue to grow as a central... sorry centre back.

Vincent Kompany: 8/10 I was considering giving him a 10/10 just for that goal vs Leicester but I am keeping that score for someone else ;) What can I say about this man that hasn’t already been said? He is a Manchester City and Premier League legend. He captained this team to a domestic treble, an achievement never done in Men’s English football. Pep trusted him at the most important part of the season and it turned out to be the correct decision with that thunderbolt against Leicester (honestly, I cried). His season was kinda the opposite to Stonsey’s, he didn’t play much in the beginning of the season but played a lot in the second half. I’m so glad he got a run of games without injuries and got to play a pivotal role in the season’s outcome. He went out on a high and I wish him all the best in his new role at Anderlecht, as long as he comes back sometime soon. Captain. Leader. Legend.

Fernandinho: 8.5/10 I think it says a lot about the importance of Fernandinho to this Manchester City team that when we lost two games back to back in December, Fernandinho was missing. He is crucial to the way in which we play, and he plays his role so effectively and in a composed and sophisticated manner. He is like the unsung hero of the team. So why didn’t I give him a 9 or a 10? Whilst he has been reliable for large parts of the season, sometimes I feel like the game gets to him a little. The best example of that was vs Newcastle where he gave away the penalty that could have cost us the league. Luckily it didn’t but usually he does not make them mistakes but sometimes when we are under pressure, he can let out his frustrations. Regardless of that, I think he has done an immense job yet again this season. Despite getting a few injuries and frustration clouding his better judgement, he is still one of our best players. 

Ilkay Gundogan: 8.5/10 I was soooo gutted when we signed him in 2016 and he then proceeded to have that season ended prematurely due to injuries because I was so excited to see him play for Manchester City. However, I feel like we got to see the best of Ilkay Gundogan this season. Whilst sometimes I scream at him for continuously passing backwards some games, his reading and intelligence of the game is probably one of the best in the squad. When Dinho picked up a few injuries near the end of the season, I thought that was our title dreams over, however Ilkay decided to prove me wrong and deliver amazing performances when we needed him most. Sometimes City fans on Twitter give him stick but I genuinely believe that he is a massive talent for us and is fully capable of playing that Dinho role if we need him to.

David Silva: 7/10 There is a case to be made that David Silva is best ever player to put on a City shirt however, this season wasn’t his best. He started off well, and that free kick against Huddersfield was amazing! But gradually, he became slower and less like the el mago that we all know and love to watch. He would give the ball away cheaply and occasionally pick the wrong pass or just slow down play altogether. Even I was getting a little bit tired of Pep playing him ahead of a faster and more direct Leroy Sane. But at the Manchester Derby at Old Trafford, he did what David Silva usually does, and made the game his own. He was so so good that night and helped to keep the calm and control that game, even when we were looking a little bit shaky. Despite this, he did look tired most of the season. I really hope that was just Pep overplaying him because of Kev’s injury and that he isn’t losing his legs because I’m not ready to let go of him yet.

Phil Foden: 7/10 Now, me saying that Phil and David were both 7′s this season, does not mean that I think that they were at the same level this season. Of course, David played at a higher level than Phil. It just means that Phil’s standards are understandably lower than David’s. However, Phil did amazingly this season despite his situation. He is in a team, competing for a place with players like David Silva, Ilkay Gundogan, Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva. So I think we were all surprised when the team news came out for the Spurs game and he was there. No, not on the bench but in the starting eleven. An eighteen year old boyhood fan starting a game for Manchester City! Against a top 4 team! In a tight title race! Not only that but he scored and played maturely for his age. I am incredibly proud of my lil baby Phil (even though he has a baby now). He started and played in more games than I would have anticipated. All of his time spent patiently waiting for his chance and training alongside his hero, has paid off! I hope he will get even more game time next season, showing us all why he has the nickname Stockport Iniesta!

Kevin De Bruyne: 7.5/10 This is a difficult one. Kevin has had a difficult season. It seemed that whenever he would finally hit form, he would get injured again. I cannot imagine how difficult that would have been for him. It was saddening as a fan who loves to watch him play that we never really got to see the best of Kevin De Bruyne, We saw glinces of it in the FA Cup final but it was a little too late. There is no doubt that Kevin is a world class player, but unfortunately we haven’t been able to witness that this season. Despite this, when he did play he definitely had an impact. We are a better team with Kevin De Bruyne in it. No arguments about that. I hope next season he is back to his normal self, assisting and scoring when we need him most.

Bernardo Silva: 10/10 Ah, here we go. Brace yourselves, this could be a long one. I LOVE BERNARDO SILVA. In my opinion, he has been the best player in the Premier League this season AND should be in top 3 for Ballon d’Or. Am I being incredibly biased and over reactionary? Probably, yes. But am I wrong? No. Bernardo Silva has everything. He runs 12-14km a game. He never stops. He can dribble like Messi. Yes, like Messi. He dribbles like Messi. He can cross balls into the box. He can run halfway across the pitch just to tackle someone off the ball. He took on Virgil Van Dijk. 5′6 Bernardo Silva decided to get in a battle with 6′3 Virgil Van Dijk. Can we just take a moment to appreciate him in that game against Liverpool? He ran and ran and ran until he covered every single inch of the pitch that night. He wanted to win more than anyone and it showed. And let’s talk about his passion.  He celebrates every Manchester City goal like a madman, running across to the goalscorer and pulling the craziest of faces. And his goal celebration at Old Trafford? ICONIC. He did a knee-slide at Old Trafford in front of the City fans. Twenty years ago, and he would be considered a City legend for that alone. But he is on his way to becoming one of Manchester City’s all time best. I mean, his chant is already one of the best! I cannot fault any part of his season. Maybe he could have scored and assisted more? Meh I don’t care, his work rate earns him something more than just goals: the fans hearts. He has the potential to become one of the best in the world and I am so glad he is at Manchester City and has committed his future to us. 

Raheem Sterling: 9/10 Raheem has matured so much this season. Not just on the pitch, but off the pitch too. He has become a great influence and inspiration for those who have to suffer through racial discrimination and horrid racist attitudes. Whilst he has always been this person, it has taken the media this long to recognise this and praise him for it. I am happy that finally he is getting the positive recognition that he deserves. And he has deserved it this season. Each season he seems to grow more and more confident in himself, scoring and assisting more often. I can only see him growing from here and becoming even better. Only thing that is missing is his goal at Anfield, winning our first game there since 2003 ;)

Riyad Mahrez: 6.5/10 I think that it was always going to be difficult for Riyad this season. Our wingers: Raz, Leroy and Bernardo are all well suited to Pep’s style and the players around them. He needed time to adapt and learn. Overall, I feel like he dealt with it quite well. Yes, he missed that penalty at Anfield but he won us points at games where we were struggling slightly like Bournemouth. He did end up missing a lot of game time due to just how good Raz and Bernardo have been this season, he couldn’t really get a look into the team. And how many other players would to be honest? Although, I do feel he could have done better for a first season in a team like this, he has coped well and integrated into the team nicely. Hopefully he can have a breakthrough like Bernardo next season!

Leroy Sane: 6.5/10 I feel like Leroy would get a far greater rating if Pep played him a little bit more but I guess Pep had his reasons and that is understandable. Leroy, for me, is one of the best young players in the world. He has so much talent and potential. He offers something different from the other wingers in the team and can cause defences to have nightmares. And on top of that, this season we discovered that he is dangerous from free kicks too. But as I said, Pep didn’t play him as much as he could have. I guess Pep and Sane have their own problems and I hope it can be solved because Leroy is one to keep here at City. He has a huge future ahead of him and I would be massively disappointed if we lost him. 

Gabriel Jesus: 6/10 Gabi is the the same kind of situation as Riyad and Leroy. I think he has so much potential at this club however, his game time is limited due to the fact that he has to compete with Sergio Aguero, possibly one of the best strikers to play in the Premier League. It is a massive ask for Gabriel at his age. However, I think he has shown enough this season and seasons prior that he is a talented player who fits in this team perfectly. His workrate is perfect and I can see him becoming an important player for us in the future.

Sergio Aguero: 9.5/10 If you ever need a goal, Sergio is the player to go to. This man got back to back Premier League hat tricks against Arsenal and Chelsea IN THE SAME WEEK. Unfortunately, he just missed out on the Golden Boot, however he scored incredibly important goals for us this season. The goal vs Burnley, the one vs Liverpool and the one vs Brighton are just three examples. He is always there when we need him. And that is why I put him as the second highest rated. (sorry Raz I still love you xx)