ESPN’s Alexis Nunes and Julien Laurens discuss the ongoing issues at Valencia following owner Peter Lim’s shocking decision to sack Marcelino.
The genesis of the horrible situation which currently engulfs Valencia centres almost wholly around its epic, traditional, much-loved, volcanic but significantly out-dated Mestalla stadium.
It was in 2006 that Valencia’s reprehensible club president, Juan Soler, announced that the club was going to sell the stadium land and move to a new, commercially-powerful arena across the city.
The planning for that announcement date back to Soler’s takeover of the club in 2004, one of the darkest days in the…
The old adage that "form is temporary, class is permanent" will leave millions of football fans supposing that Barcelona vs. Inter on Wednesday is a foregone conclusion — as is the prospect of the Spanish champions qualifying for the …
Alexis Nunes and Julien Laurens break down Real Madrid’s 0-0 draw with derby rivals Atletico Madrid, including an underwhelming effort from Eden Hazard.
MADRID — By the end of this derbi, take my word for it, Kieran Trippier stood in the flash zone of the Wanda Metropolitano and gushed with enthusiasm for what he’d just been through.
The phrase “best derby I’ve ever played in” was the one he reached for. North London? Spurs vs. Arsenal? What are they?
I’m an optimist, a romantic, and therefore, sure, like everyone else I’d have loved Karim Benzema’s wonderful, towering header to have sneaked into the corner of the net or Trippier’s…
ESPN FC’s Julien Laurens weighs in on 16-year-old Ansu Fati’s impact at Barcelona so far with two goals in his first three matches.
Lionel Messi is in Barcelona’s squad to face Dortmund despite missing the first four matches in La Liga. Should Ernesto Valverde risk playing him?
Exactly a year ago Wednesday, on September 18, 2018, Ansu Fati couldn’t get a game with kids his own age. It was the UEFA Youth League, Barcelona in their soon-to-be-demolished Mini Estadi, against PSV Eindhoven.
Today he’s become the youngest footballer ever to score for their senior team in the Camp Nou. He’s somehow managed to vault over Joao Felix to become the “it kid” of world football, and it’ll not only be a surprise, but a disappointment to romantics everywhere if he doesn’t get game…
Gab Marcotti recommends closed-door games to punish fans following the racist chants directed at Romelu Lukaku during Inter’s win over Cagliari.
ESPN FC’s Gab Marcotti discusses the actions that need to be taken after Inter Milan’s Romelu Lukaku was subjected to racist chants at Cagliari.
Barcelona’s President Josep Bartomeu admitted the club were trying to sign Neymar from PSG in the summer but wont be making a move for him in January.
Sid Lowe discusses the ramifications for Neymar, and more importantly Barcelona, after his failed move to the Catalan giants.
Now that Samuel Eto’o has retired from football, debate will rage about whether or not he was the greatest African footballer of all time. In short, he was and by some margin.
What shouldn’t be debated was that “Samu” (as most of his teammates knew him) was one of the most contrary, stubborn, volatile, fiercely competitive, determined, talented, agile and unstoppable footballers in living memory. Perhaps even all-time.
Some examples. The first time I interviewed him, Eto’o had already helped Barca…
The 2019-20 La Liga season kicks off this weekend and much of the attention will be on the top three teams fighting it out for the title. Graham Hunter gets you ready for the new campaign with a look at how their offseasons unfolded.
Jump to: Will Felix be La Liga’s star? | Can Atletico’s new arrivals shine? | Did Real do bad business? | Neymar a distraction for Barcelona?
Atletico Madrid have won the summer, hands down.
Diego Simeone’s team having sold over €300 million…
The FC crew dissect the midfield and attacking issues that cost Barcelona a 3-0 lead against Liverpool and a place in the Champions League final.
Steve Nicol says he feels guilty for doubting Liverpool could pull off a comeback against Barcelona and reach the Champions League final.
To begin properly, we have to start at the end.
In getting to the heart of Barcelona’s inability — again — to protect a three-goal lead, we have to start with Liverpool’s fourth. Bear with me.
Long ago, Liverpool had a boot room at their training ground. It was the place, literally, where the squad’s football boots were stored. But because it was informal, warm, more communal than the manager’s office, the Reds’ coaching staff used to meet there.
Legend has it that it was the kingdom of wisdom….
ESPN FC’s Sid Lowe makes the case that Liverpool’s attacking prowess could have the potential to overwhelm Barcelona in the Champions League semis.
The ESPN FC panel says Lionel Messi alone makes Barcelona favourites over Liverpool. Are the Reds good enough to stop him?
Across the 43-year history of their rivalry, Barcelona have never knocked Liverpool out of Europe, never defeated the Reds at the Camp Nou. Four home matches: two defeats, two draws, one solitary goal scored — 12 years ago, by Deco. It’s an angry blemish scarring an otherwise superb European record from a club that, like Liverpool, is pursuing its sixth Champions League trophy.
And the harsh truth, amid the champagne and backslapping of their La Liga title win on Saturday, is that if Barcelona…
ESPN FC’s Craig Burley and Mark Donaldson square off in predicting who will advance to the Champions League semifinals.
Stevie Nicol questions if Lionel Messi has had to carry more of the load for Barca than in previous years due to lack of a supporting cast.
It’s both startling, and somewhat unfair, the degree to which Barcelona are treading along a knife edge tonight at the Camp Nou. If they eliminate Manchester United from the Champions League, whether by hook, by crook, a goalless draw or a champagne-fest of scintillating, inspired football, they will be about three good performances away from their third trophy Treble.
That their opponents on Tuesday night happen to be Manchester United, led now by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, their mythical added-time…
Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer tells ESPN FC’s Rob Dawson he models his management style on Sir Alex Ferguson, including his famed ‘hairdryer’ treatment.
Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has told ESPN FC in an exclusive interview that he wants Lionel Messi to remain linked to the club forever.
I suppose if you had to pick one man in the entire world who doesn’t need any reminder of the value and impact of late goals, it’d probably be Ole Gunnar Solskjaer — particularly a couple of days after he revisited the Camp Nou for the first time since his historic Treble-winning goal there in 1999.
For Manchester United fans, it was their all-time miracle moment, but for us neutrals in the stadium it was no less incredible.
I was working in the Camp Nou, sat a couple of rows behind Charlie…