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An empty Stadio Olimpico (unless you count the horrific computer-generated fans) played host to a dull Coppa Italia final on Wednesday night, as Napoli beat Juventus on penalties to lift the trophy for the first time since 2014. The lack of atmosphere, alongside the fact that these players are still lacking in match fitness, made for a lacklustre game, with neither side having any significant chances on goal. It became clear very early on that a goal wouldn't be scored from open play and that...

Are you excited? Because we sure as hell are. Having been worried that the 2019/20 Champions League season wouldn't play out at all, we've now been blessed with the news that it's coming back. But it's not just coming back. What we've got lying in wait for us is something unique and enticing, but above all, bloody fantastic. The Champions League has a set return date! ? ‣ The remaining last-16 ties may be played at their original venues. ‣ The Final 8 will held in Lisbon from August 12. ‣...

Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl has confirmed midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg has been stripped of the captaincy, following his decision to publicly reveal his desire to play at a higher level. Hojbjerg joined the Saints in the summer of 2016 and has since become a fan favourite. The former Bayern Munich midfielder started all but two of his side's 29 Premier League games before play was halted in March, with his tireless work ethic and defensive awareness making him a hugely valuable...

Leicester are reportedly leading the race for Brentford's highly-rated winger Said Benrahma, with Arsenal and Chelsea also interested in signing the 24-year-old. Foxes boss Brendan Rodgers is a big admirer of the Algerian, with signing Benrahma his top priority as he looks to add a goalscoring winger to his frontline. He may face competition from Chelsea however, with manager Frank Lampard keen on tempting Benrahma to Stamford Bridge. Brentford want £25m for Benrahma According to the Daily...

dder Exclusive - Newcastle United's potential new owners remain confident that their takeover bid will go through in the coming weeks, despite lingering concerns over the legality of their deal and a new competitor entering the equation. The Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia has tabled a £300m offer for the Tyneside club, working alongside Amanda Staveley’s firm PCP Capital, and the Reuben brothers - both of whom would represent minority shareholdings of 10%. But upon owner Mike...

ring We're all looking forward to this, aren't we? The idea of playing out the remainder of the 2019/20 Champions League in a knockout format - or indeed resuming it at all - has got the football world purring. As it should do. All the best teams on the continent playing each other in one-off 90 minute matches? Sounds delightful. But that's because we aren't playing in it, though. The Champions League has a set return date! ? ‣ The remaining last-16 ties may be played at their original venues....

For those who don't quite get the lure of Italian football, so much of the magic is wrapped up in the tradition and romance of the game. Every Sunday, entire cities come to a standstill to watch the match - to watch their club. Unlike in England and other parts of the world, the focus of their adoration falls on the club itself: the flag, the colours, the icons of the past, but very rarely do the individual stars taking to the pitch feel their love. AS Roma v Carpi FC - Serie A Indeed, it...

Pedro is set to conclude his Chelsea career in the next few weeks as he is unwilling to sign a short-term extension that would see him finish the remainder of the 2019/20 Premier League campaign. As one of a number of players out of contract at the end of June, Pedro has found himself in a position of uncertainty after the coronavirus halted football, forcing new negotiations to take place in order for players to conclude the season. The rumours have been swirling about where the Spaniard...

Bayern Munich's stranglehold on the Bundesliga continued on Tuesday night as Die Roten secured their eighth straight title with a 1-0 win over Werder Bremen. Viewed in isolation, Bayern being crowned champions with two games to spare seems to tell a familiar story of Bavarian dominance. However, at times this season, fans have been treated to the rarest of sights - an actual Bundesliga title race. Borussia Monchengladbach, Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig have all topped the table at various...

The word most commonly associated with the deep-lying playmaker (or regista, if you're fancy) is 'class', and it's quite easy to see why. Deep-lying playmakers are often the background operators, akin to the conductor of an orchestra. They can dictate how the movements of their team, and can change the course of a game with just one pass or movement. As a result, these players have to possess a certain degree of intelligence - and with that comes the humbleness and graceful style-of-play which...

Nearly every great European side (bar Liverpool) has been build on a great midfield. Usually these midfields comprise of the gung-ho all-action box-to-box man, the defensive brute in holding midfield, the creative force in attacking midfield and, finally, the deep-lying playmaker. While all of these specialist positions are crucial, there are none more poetic and suave than the deep-lying playmaker, the man who plays cigar in hand, dictating play with consummate ease. While European football...

Bayern Munich have pulled out of the race to land starlet Kai Havertz, as the German champions are not prepared to match Bayer Leverkusen's valuation of their much-fancied talisman in the current financial climate. The Bavarian giants are known for their tendency to hoover up the most prestigious talents in the Bundesliga, and many expected them to make a move for the Leverkusen star this summer. Bayer 04 Leverkusen v 1. FC Union Berlin - DFB Cup But Bild reports that the club have given up on...

Raheem Sterling, Jadon Sancho and Jordan Henderson are among the high profile footballers to appear in a video entitled 'Time for Change' that called for an end to racism. The video is the latest in a flurry of racial activism across the sport in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. Millions have taken to the streets across the world over the past several weeks to protest the death of George Floyd - a black man killed by police in Minnesota recently. Raheem Sterling has spoken out...

Dries Mertens has signed a contract extension at Napoli, putting an end to speculation linking him with a move away from the club. Mertens arrived in Naples back in 2013 and became the Azzurri's leading goalscorer recently when he netted his 122nd goal against Inter in the Coppa Italia semi final. Dries Mertens has signed a new deal at Napoli He seemed set to depart Stadio San Paolo in the summer on a free transfer with the likes of Newcastle and Chelsea linked with a move. However, this...

sons UEFA have announced that the 2019/20 Champions League will be completed as a straight knockout mini-tournament in Lisbon over a 12-day period in August, with the 2020 final to be played in the Portuguese capital on Sunday 23 August. The remaining last 16 legs will be concluded a few days earlier on 7-8 August, although a decision as to whether those games will also be played in Portugal or at their original intended location. The Europa League will follow a similar pattern and be concluded...

On the face of it, Bayern Munich sealing their eighth straight Bundesliga title on Tuesday does not seem that noteworthy. Die Roten's stranglehold on German football is so strong, so all-encompassing that anything less than lifting that famous trophy - that looks more like a live action role player's shield than a football prize - would have been an abject failure. Bayern seemed to be flirting with that prospect earlier on in the season though, with Niko Kovac ultimately paying with his job...

The Premier League is preparing for a second wave of coronavirus as shutdown restrictions are eased across the United Kingdom. English football was suspended back in March but is set to return on Wednesday evening after a 100-day layoff. Games may only just be getting going again but the Premier League is hastily making plans in the case of a spike in COVID-19 cases in the country. Non-essential businesses were permitted to re-open their doors on Monday, one of a number of relaxing measures...

Online bookmaker Betway has confirmed it will no longer be offering odds on ‘football transfer’ or ‘player’s next club’ markets in a step towards more responsible gambling. At a time when gambling is under necessary scrutiny after a major study in 2019 into its effect on men aged 18-35 dubbed it the worst addiction of the lot, that is welcome change to an overall industry that ultimately benefits when people cannot escape it. Thank you @TomWitherow. As ever your work highlights the very...

One of the biggest talking points as Premier League football returns from a three-month enforced break is the prospect of an on-field partnership between Manchester United midfielders Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes, who are yet to play together. Fernandes’ January arrival came soon after Pogba underwent surgery on a troublesome ankle injury. By the time the Frenchman was ready to return, the coronavirus crisis had halted all football. Paul Pogba last played for United in December Now, there is...

Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford has described the government’s decision to extend a free school meals scheme into the summer holidays as a ‘proud moment’ and considers it ‘more normal’ that people are speaking up to campaign for positive change. The free school meals programme is a cause close to Rashford’s heart having had to rely on them while he was growing up, despite his mum working tirelessly to try and feed the family. Rashford relied on free school meals growing up The UK...