Zidane penalised for Real’s rotation policy in Valencia
November 9 – Zinedine Zidane’s rotation policy backfired once more after his Real Madrid slid to a dispiriting 4-1 defeat at Valencia, missing a chance to go top of the table in La Liga.
Performance
Solskjaer feels the winter chill as Man Utd crumble in Istanbul
November 5 – Not for the first time this season but even more so now, pressure is mounting on Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer following the end of their winning start in the Champions League, coupled with a poor run of domestic form.
Serbian coach Tumbakovic refusing to take the fall for team’s late pitch entry
November 3 – Serbian coach Ljubisa Tumbakovic insists he will take charge of next week’s winner-takes-all Euro 2020 playoff at home to Scotland despite a one-match touchline ban handed out by UEFA for his team’s late arrival for a Nations League game last month.
Pochettino reflects on a hard year out of the club game and the need to win trophies
November 3 – One year after he was sacked by Tottenham Hotspur despite transforming the club into regular Champions League participants and even reaching the final in 2019, Mauricio Pochettino admits he was “disappointed and upset” but holds no grudges and is waiting for the right moment to return to the game.
Bale wins his Spurs with first goal since return from Real life
November 2 – The relief and joy were palpable. Seven years after his then world record move to Real Madrid, Gareth Bale has become Tottenham Hotspur’s match-winner once again.
Barca presidential hopeful Font puts Guardiola and Messi at front of election manifesto
October 30 – Barcelona presidential frontrunner Victor Font (pictured) wants Pep Guardiola to return to the club and has “no doubt” Lionel Messi will stay despite his much-publicised fallout with previous Barca chief Josep Maria Bartomeu.
Ajax hammer Venlo 13-0, Traore nets five. Keeper van Crooij played well
October 27 – Ajax Amsterdam set an Eredivisie record on Saturday when they annihilated 10-man VVV-Venlo 13-0. Lassina Traore scored five times to propel Ajax to the top of the standings.
Life on the margins: Premier League call on FIFA to help clear up offside chaos
October 26 – Following a number of contentious calls in recent weeks, the English Premier League is reportedly pushing FIFA to implement a ‘linesman’s call’ to deal with the most marginal offside decisions.
Belgium keep top ranking in an international month that saw 120 matches played
October 22 – The international window at last saw a return to a significant numbers of national team matches with FIFA reporting 120 games played in October, the bulk of them in the UEFA and Conmebol region. The top five nations in FIFA’s men’s national team ranking all remained the same.
UEFA kicks off packed UCL schedule with Man Utd at PSG and Bayern vs Atletico
October 20 – The group stages of the UEFA Champions League kick off tonight with a congested calendar and the threat of the coronavirus looming large.
Pickford wipes out Van Dijk’s season as Liverpool protest VAR failures
October 19 – English champions Liverpool have been a dealt a massive blow after it was confirmed that central defensive talisman Virgil van Dijk will endure a long layoff after suffering a serious cruciate injury in Saturday’s hotly contested Merseyside derby draw against league leaders Everton.
West Ham’s late triple spoils Bale’s return to Spurs
October 19 – Gareth Bale’s much-anticipated homecoming to Tottenham Hotspur was overshadowed by his team squandering a 3-0 lead with just minutes remaining against London rivals West Ham on Sunday.
Denmark dump England, Portugal win without Ronaldo, Italy pay tribute in Bergamo
October 15 – Christian Eriksen’s penalty on his 100th appearance for Denmark earned his side a 1-0 upset win over England in their Nations League clash at Wembley on Wednesday as the hosts ended up with nine men.
Scholes moves from Salford City boardroom to pitch side
October 13 – Manchester United and England legend, and Salford City co-owner Paul Scholes, has been appointed interim head coach of the League Two club after the dismissal of manager Graham Alexander.
Nations League hots up with Europe’s giants battling for bragging rights
October 12 – Heavyweights Portugal and France lost their perfect records in this season’s Nations League after playing out an underwhelming 0-0 draw against each other on Sunday, while Belgium saw its 13-match unbeaten run ended by a 2-1 defeat against England.