Massimiliano Allegri said that Gianluigi Buffon’s actions were only human after he was sent off when Juventus conceded a last-minute penalty against Real Madrid.
This article was first published on May 30, 2017 and has been updated.
Juventus’ late and controversial defeat to Real Madrid on Wednesday night means that Gianluigi Buffon is almost certain to join the list of great players never to win European club football’s greatest competition.
Buffon, 40, has already said he will retire in the summer. But, barring a change of heart after his sending off at the Bernabeu, he will leave the game never having lifted the Champions League.
Using the starting point…
David Silva’s sweet finish seven minutes from time completed Man City’s comeback in a 2-1 victory over West Ham.
MANCHESTER, England — Three thoughts on Man City’s come-from-behind 2-1 win over West Ham at the Etihad.
1. Man City leave it late again
Until this week, Manchester City had not been behind in the Premier League since August but twice they have had to save themselves. Against Southampton on Wednesday, a 96th minute goal from Raheem Sterling was required for victory. David Silva’s winning goal came rather earlier here, in the 83rd minute, but the league leaders are not finding the gears with…
Gab Marcotti goes toe-to-toe with Alexis Nunes to predict Arsenal-Man United, Man City-West Ham and more ahead of round 15.
Steve Nicol assesses the chances Sam Allardyce and Alan Pardew save Everton and West Brom from relegation this season.
Arsene Wenger has no fears that rumours linking Mesut Ozil to Man United will have any impact on the German’s performances.
John Brewin previews this week’s Premier League action and highlights five key storylines in this edition of W2W4.
Arsenal and United take centre stage
These days, there is something of a faded grandeur to a meeting of Arsenal and Manchester United. It was once the hottest rivalry in English football, a turf war that dominated the late-1990s and early 2000s Premier League landscape before teams such as Chelsea and Manchester City started throwing money around and snaffling silverware.
Times move…
Jonny Evans’ own goal in the second half secured Newcastle’s draw as the points were split at the Hawthorns.
West Brom caretaker manager Gary Megson is proud of how his side’s organisation forced Tottenham to change their shape.
With Alan Pardew back in management at West Bromwich Albion, the Premier League’s old boys’ network has found another placement for one of its members.
Back after almost a year out of the game following his sacking by Crystal Palace on Dec. 23 last year, his appointment is a case of English football continuing to be a case of who you know.
Nick Hammond, West Brom’s technical director, was given his start in coaching by former-teammate-turned-manager Pardew at Reading in 1998. When Tony Pulls was…
Following a disappointing loss to Leicester, the FC crew dissect what has gone wrong for Spurs in the Premier League so far.
Erik Lamela has said his 13-month injury absence for Tottenham Hotspur was “probably the worst time of my life.”
Lamela made a long-awaited return to the Spurs first team at Leicester on Tuesday as a 77th-minute substitute, supplying a neat assist for Harry Kane’s goal as the Londoners lost 2-1.
“I feel good to be back on the pitch but disappointed for the result,” Lamela said. “Of course, I can get much better. I am still not 100 percent, but I am good enough to play and I’m happy to be back.”
Hip…
Mark Herrick’s Headrite Sports has developed apparatus to assist with heading practice.
After the English FA last week launched a probe into links between heading the ball and dementia, a former player thinks learning heading proficiency might help prevent youngsters suffering lasting damage.
Mark Herrick, a former trainee with Peterborough United, and a midfielder with Raith Rovers, Cork City and Galway United, founded Headrite Sports to develop a training apparatus that can increase heading proficiency in a safe environment.
“There are all sorts of things at play: neck muscles, the…
Tottenham’s winless run in the Premier League now stands at three matches after Leicester’s star duo led the Foxes to three points at home.
For the first time in over a year, Mauricio Pochettino confirms Erik Lamela could feature in Tottenham’s trip to Leicester.
LEICESTER, England — Three thoughts from the King Power Stadium on Leicester City’s 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.
1. Leicester hold off Tottenham
Tottenham threw the kitchen sink at it, but could not find a way back. They had given themselves too much to do, having been undone by spectacular goals by two players that beat them to the 2015-16 title: Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez.
Vardy’s brilliantly improvised volley from Marc Albrighton’s chipped cross from the left flank…
Craig Burley and Ross Dyer battle it out in predictor ahead of a full slate of midweek fixtures in the Premier League.
English Premier League: Ashley Young (66′) Man United 1-0 Brighton
Jose Mourinho singles out Romelu Lukaku’s work rate against Brighton as an example for the rest of the team to follow.
John Brewin previews this week’s Premier League action and highlights five key storylines in this edition of W2W4.
1. United face tough Watford examination
Manchester United vs Manchester City on Dec. 10 looks like the season’s crunch game, but for that to be a chance for Jose Mourinho’s men to peg back their neighbours, they must negotiate this week’s tough schedule.
On Saturday, they travel to Arsenal. Before that comes Tuesday night’s trip to Watford. When City visited in September, they barely…
Manchester United stumbled past a dogged Brighton side thanks to a deflected Ashley Young goal.
English Premier League: Ashley Young (66′) Man United 1-0 Brighton
MANCHESTER, England — Three thoughts on Manchester United’s 1-0 win over Brighton as they continued their fine home form but struggled to impress.
1. Laboured United get lucky
The best that could be said about Manchester United is that this was the kind of match they drew last season. For long periods their labours brought back memories of matches against Burnley, Stoke, Bournemouth and Swansea, where a smaller club escaped Old Trafford with a point after Jose Mourinho’s team struggled to…
Brighton’s Bruno has his say on the Seagulls’ promising start to life in the Premier League.
Small is beautiful in this season’s Premier League. English football’s “big six” are jockeying for position in the table as expected but below them lie Burnley, Watford, Brighton and Huddersfield, clubs punching above their weight while drawing strength from having a definite plan.
Breakthrough stars of the 2016-17 season are previously unheralded players like Ben Mee and Chris Wood at Burnley, Richarlison and Abdoulaye Doucoure at Watford, Shane Duffy and Davy Propper at Brighton and Aaron Mooy…