da betsul： Celtic’s European campaign is over, cut short in the most heartbreaking fashion imaginable.

da brdice： Having lost the first leg of their Champions League knockout phase tie 2-1 when Bayern Munich visited Parkhead, few gave Brendan Rodgers’ side a prayer in Bavaria on Tuesday.

However, after actually squandering four excellent first half opportunities, Nicolas Kühn’s cool finish mid-way through the second 45 had the Bhoys on course to cause an almighty upset.

However, just as everyone inside the Allianz Arena was preparing for extra time, the Bundesliga leaders snatched victory; Kasper Schmeichel produced yet another remarkable save, but Cameron Carter-Vickers’ subsequent clearance found its way into the net via Alphonso Davies.

So, devastation for those bedecked in hoops, but they can certainly take heart from two outstanding performances against the six-times champions of Europe, with one member of the side, in particular, catching the eye, being compared to a Celtic great of the very recent past.

Matt O'Riley's impact at Celtic

When Matt O’Riley arrived at Celtic, joining from Milton Keynes for a reported £1.5m in January 2022, he was a complete unknown, having made just five appearances in Fulham’s first team, before appearing 54 times at EFL League One level for MK.

History could have panned out so differently, because Ange Postecoglou’s first choice was actually Australian international midfielder Riley McGree, who chose to go to Middlesbrough instead, with Boro cheekily posting ‘some people prefer red to green, but hey ho’, a caption that has gone down in Celtic folklore.

Fair to say, supporters are pleased events panned out the way they did, given that, as Stefan Bienkowski of Transfermarkt puts it, O’Riley became ‘unquestionably the best player in Scotland’.

During his time in Glasgow, the Danish international scored 27 goals and provided 35 assists in 124 matches, that’s a goal involvement every 146 minutes, winning six major trophies, before being named Celtic Player of the Year and Celtic Players’ Player of the Year last season.

O’Riley was then sold to Brighton & Hove Albion for £25m in August, a joint-club-record sale, having more than made his mark in just two and a half seasons in Glasgow’s East End.

One of his most eye-catching performances came as the Celts made their Champions League return following a five-year exile, hosting reigning champions Real Madrid no less.

O’Riley – who “did not look out of place at all against Madrid”, according to Guillem Balague – had 43 touches, completing 77% of his passes and creating two chances on a night where, as Jonathan Liew of the Guardian put it, Celtic outplayed Los Blancos for long periods.

That night, as with Tuesday, ultimately ended in disappointment against a European juggernaut, but did a current Celtic midfielder put in an equally outstanding performance that proves he is worth his large transfer fee?

Celtic star just had his O'Riley moment

As O’Riley’s replacement in the summer, Celtic broke their club-record transfer fee to sign midfielder Arne Engels from Augsburg for a reported £11m on deadline day.

Chalkboard

Expand Collapse

Earlier this season, Joe Donnelly of the Glasgow Times described Engels’ start to life in green and white as ‘mercurial’, adding that due to the price tag, ‘an extra layer of expectation rests on the midfielder’s shoulders’.

However, in more recent weeks, Graeme McGarry of the Herald believes the Belgian had a ‘coming of age’ performance against Bayern Munich, with Robbie Hanratty of the National adding that Engels’ ‘hard work is paying off’, while former Motherwell and Scotland forward James McFadden labelled him “a class act”.

Still only 21 years old, his recent brace against Dundee took his tally to nine goals and ten assists for the season, with Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout believing he is still “underrated”, adding he “could easily play for a strong club in the top 5 league”.

In Munich on Tuesday night, Engels completed 93% of his passes, created two chances and won two duels, proving his worth in a Celtic jersey. As writer Ryan McGinlay noted – in a similar manner to the aforementioned Balague – the one-time Club Brugge man “looks at home at this level”.

He may then have just enjoyed his O’Riley moment, but how does Engels’ first season as a whole compare to the current Brighton star?

Matt O’Riley (22/23) vs Arne Engles (24/25) comparison

Statistics

Matt O’Riley

Arne Engles

Appearances

52

38

Minutes

3,308

2,205

Goals

4

9

Assists

14

10

Expected goals per 90

0.09

0.35

Expected assists per 90

0.36

0.23

Shots per 90

2.53

2.37

Shots on target %

38.1%

31.1%

Pass completion %

81.8%

70.3%

All statistics courtesy of FBref.com

To give a larger and more comparable sample size, O’Riley’s first full season was chosen for comparison.

As the table shows, O’Riley’s statistics are more impressive across the board, aside from the fact Engels has scored nine goals, while acknowledging that seven of these have come from the penalty spot.

Nevertheless, it’s worth remembering that it took the Dane a season and a half before he truly exploded onto the scene, and the Belgian is showing encouraging signs that he will repay that £11m price tag.

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da dobrowin： Aston Villa head into tonight’s Premier League fixture with Liverpool desperate to get back to winning ways in front of their adoring Villa Park faithful.

da realsbet： Last time out, Unai Emery’s men picked up a flat point versus relegation-threatened Ipswich Town on their own patch, with the result made to look even more bleak by the fact the Tractor Boys managed to pick up that point despite only having ten men for all of the second 45 minutes.

Even with Liverpool currently showing some chinks in their armour with a Merseyside Derby draw and a slim win over Wolverhampton Wanderers, Villa will know they’ll need to be at their best to exploit the Reds’ rustiness, especially if Mohamed Salah is at his frightening peak.

Salah's unbelievable form this season

Indeed, even with the Egyptian ace hitting 32 years of age and worrying about his long-term Anfield future, the tricky attacker is having the campaign of his life.

Staggeringly, Salah boasts a whopping 28 goals and 19 assists in all competitions this season so far, with a large portion of those goal contributions – 37 to be exact – coming in the bread and butter of the top flight.

Salah’s G/A record – last five games in all competitions

Game

Result

Goals scored

Assists

Wolves (H)

2-1 W

1

0

Everton (A)

2-2 D

1

1

Tottenham (H)

4-0 W

1

1

Bournemouth (A)

2-0 W

2

0

Ipswich (H)

4-1 W

1

0

Stats by Sofascore

Scoring and assisting in some capacity across his high-flying side’s last five matches too, Villa will know they will have to keep the enigmatic Salah quiet all night long to try and pick up a result and sour Arne Slot’s mood even more.

Emery might well even have his own Salah up his sleeve for this Wednesday night affair, with the star in question equally comfortable playing on the right wing but when putting his golden left foot to good use.

Aston Villa could unleash their answer to Salah

Villa certainly were the talk of the town after an explosive end to the hectic transfer window saw them welcome in Axel Disasi, Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio all on loan deals.

Whilst Disasi is likely to start again in the centre-back areas, there is a shout that Asensio could be handed a start down the right wing to spring a surprise on Slot and Co, who might well be anticipating Rashford jumping into the XI after he clattered the crossbar against Ipswich.

Instead, the “unbelievable” Spaniard – as he has been labelled in the past by football talent scout Antonio Mango – might be given the nod to try and cause havoc to a Liverpool defence that gave up 16 shots to Wolves, with a fierce strike like this one in the ex-Real Madrid man’s wheelhouse.

After all, when donning the famous Los Blancos strip, Asensio would help himself to a stunning 61 goals and 32 assists from 286 games, further reinforcing the notion of the 29-year-old being a star for the big occasion and why he should start against the table-toppers late on.

His debut in claret and blue also saw a confident Asensio take to the pressures of the English game well, with many a trick and flick well executed, alongside walking away from the FA Cup win versus Spurs with a 100% pass accuracy in-tact.

A real threat off the right flank, like Salah, the comparison between the pair – as well as Rashford – has only recently been made by Emery himself:

Asensio could also link up well with the main Villa marksman Ollie Watkins who managed to push his side to a draw against the Tractor Boys with an equalising strike, alongside the fact the former Brentford sharpshooter has five career goals versus the Reds.

Emery will want to see a reaction from his underwhelming troops and there wouldn’t be a better way to respond than beating the league leaders in front of a packed Villa Park, courtesy of some Asensio magic.

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da bwin： After a matter of months, INEOS are already reportedly plotting to cut Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United reign short by hiring a veteran replacement who’s won as many as six Serie A titles.

Man Utd already eyeing Amorim replacement

da doce： When looking back at the last year of INEOS’ decisions, it’s clear that they haven’t exactly helped to drag Manchester United out of the position they currently find themselves in. First and foremost, they rewarded Erik ten Hag with a new contract after much deliberation. They decided that FA Cup glory was enough to make the Dutchman their man despite all the Premier League failure that came before.

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What came next felt inevitable. Even after a summer of investment which saw the likes of Leny Yoro, Joshua Zirkzee and Matthijs de Ligt arrive, it quickly became apparent that United’s FA Cup victory was an off-day for Manchester City rather than the beginning of a renaissance and Ten Hag was soon sacked as a result.

He wasn’t the only one shown the door either – and at a price. Soon following the manager was Dan Ashworth, who was shown the door just months after INEOS chased and chased to secure the sporting director’s arrival from Newcastle United.

In between those two departures, however, it looked as though Sir Jim Ratcliffe had made his first positive call by hiring Amorim. The Sporting Club boss was a young, successful manager who had just thrashed Pep Guardiola’s City side. It simply had to be the right call.

Alas, even as the curse of Sir Alex Ferguson’s throne looked destined to end, that has proved far from the case. Four months on from taking hold of the poisoned chalice, Amorim has picked up just five Premier League wins in 16 games to leave United in the bottom half and leave INEOS wondering whether it’s time to make another expensive decision.

INEOS and Man Utd plotting Allegri move

Now, according to reports in Spain, INEOS and Manchester United are plotting a move to hire Massimiliano Allegri and hand the Italian his first job since his departure from Juventus at the end of last season.

In a move that would swap the young for the experienced, Allegri doesn’t need much of an introduction – his Serie A legacy speaks for itself. Winning the famous Scudetto six times, with five of those wins coming at Juventus and the other coming at AC Milan, Allegri is an undeniable winner who perhaps has the know-how which Amorim lacks at this stage of his career.

Whether the 57-year-old would finally solve United’s problems is another question entirely, however. Just like Amorim, Allegri’s preferred 3-5-2 system features wing-backs rather than wingers, which would hand the Red Devils the same issue they currently face with a squad full of players unable to fit into a back five.

It could also be argued that Allegri is past the peak of his managerial powers. Whilst the Italian does have six Serie A titles to his name, the last of those six came in the 2018/19 season, highlighting his struggles to take hold of Italian football in recent years.

da bet7： In what would be a major blow for those at Ibrox, Sevilla chief Victor Orta now reportedly wants to sign one of Rangers’ best players in a summer swoop when the transfer window swings open.

Rangers transfer news

da bet7： Whilst there’s no doubt that the Gers have had a season to forget given that they’re sitting as many as 16 points adrift of Celtic in the Scottish Premiership, the Europa League could yet salvage things.

Having defeated Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce 3-1 in midweek, Rangers will now welcome the Turkish giants to Ibrox with one foot in the last eight.

Their success on the European stage may not come without consequences, with the transfer window approaching and certain stars already emerging on the radar of several sides.

Following such a frustrating campaign on the domestic front, which ultimately brought Philippe Clement’s tenure to an end, the last thing that the Scottish giants need is a major departure on the pitch. However, reports suggest that they could be getting exactly that.

According to reports in Spain, Sevilla chief Victor Orta personally wants to sign Hamza Igamane for the Spanish club this summer following his excellent campaign in a struggling Rangers side.

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With Sevilla joining Everton in the race to secure the winger’s signature, the Gers are set to face quite the battle if they want to keep hold of their star man this summer, especially after the season they’ve had.

Whilst those around him have struggled, Igamane has scored 13 goals in all competitions, including three in the Europa League as Rangers have progressed out of the league phase and are one game away from a place in the last eight.

Rangers must keep "brilliant" Igamane

Whilst there may be some temptation to cash in on their star man to boost their finances this summer, Rangers should do everything to keep hold of Igamane for the sake of their new manager next season.

The forward is still just 22 years old and approaching the peak of his powers with every game, which means that he’s ready to make an impact on the pitch.

If the Gers are to consider their finances, then waiting another campaign to sell Igamane could be their answer. At such a young age, there’s every indication that he’s yet to reach his best in a Rangers shirt. Only then should Rangers should consider cashing in.

For now, the likes of Derek Ferguson should continue to enjoy his talents. The former Rangers midfielder was full of praise for Igamane earlier this season, telling BBC Sportsound (as per The Scotsman): “Igamane is a real breath of fresh air, the young man. The manager said he was trying to get him up to speed, but in the last few games he has been nothing short of brilliant.

“He is off the cuff and he had three or four nutmegs this afternoon – and took his goal brilliantly. I don’t know if you remember Ted McMinn, but Igamane’s got that unpredictability.”

da roleta： The 2024/25 season has been a difficult one for Tottenham Hotspur, with injuries massively halting Ange Postecoglou’s progress as manager in North London.

da pinup bet： His side currently sit 13th in the Premier League, with any hope of qualifying for European football for next season all but over with just ten games remaining.

However, despite the setbacks, the Lilywhites have registered 55 goals in their 28 outings, with only league leaders Liverpool scoring more to date – with the defensive issues preventing their progress.

Brennan Johnson and James Maddison sit joint top of the club’s league top-scorer charts with nine goals, showcasing how spread out goals have been among the first team squad.

Despite Dominic Solanke’s club-record move in the summer, the Englishman has struggled with injuries, subsequently preventing him from matching the levels produced by one other player in England.

Alexander Isak’s stats for Newcastle in 2024/25

Swedish international Alexander Isak has set England alight after his move to Newcastle United in the summer of 2022, scoring 57 times in his 99 appearances.

The 25-year-old has been strongly linked with Spurs’ North London rivals, Arsenal, after his form this campaign, which has seen him score 22 times across all competitions.

He’s been a constant nuisance to endless sides in the division, but none more so than Postecoglou’s men, scoring six times against them since his move – the most of any team in his professional career.

Despite the excellent goalscoring record of the Lilywhites, they’ve lacked that clinical goalscorer to lead the line amid Solanke’s fitness issues, with the supporters undoubtedly wishing they had a talent of Isak’s quality.

However, one player who left a couple of years ago has since thrived away from the club, being compared to the Swede as a result of his performances in the final third.

The former Spurs flop who’s playing just like Isak in 2024/25

Over the years, numerous players have arrived at Spurs with high potential to succeed but have ultimately failed to deliver, with Erik Lamela just one player to fall into that category.

The Argentine joined in a £30m deal after Gareth Bale’s departure, looking to fill the void, but failing to do so – scoring just 37 times in his eight years in North London.

Striker Vincent Janssen is another player who had high hopes of being a success, costing £17m from Dutch side AZ Alkmaar back in the summer of 2016.

However, his spell at the club would be a dismal one, scoring just six times during his debut campaign – before just one appearance in 2017/18, subsequently joining Fenerbahçe on loan in January – leading to John Laverty dubbing him as “dreadful”.

He would never recover from his poor form early on in England, with Daniel Levy offloading him, leaving in a £6m deal to join Mexican side Monterrey – aiming to get his once-promising career back on track.

Fast forward to 2025, the striker now plies his trade for Belgian side Royal Antwerp, scoring 50 times in his 127 appearances over the last three years, with FBref ranking him as a similar player to Isak based on their respective figures.

When comparing their stats from the ongoing season, he may have been outscored by the Swede, but he has matched him for shot-on-target accuracy – subsequently showcasing his clinical edge.

How Janssen compares to Isak in 2024/25 so far

Statistics (per 90)

Janssen

Isak

Games played

27

25

Goals & assists

16

24

Shot-on-target accuracy

46%

46%

Pass accuracy

78%

74%

Take-on success

66%

47%

Fouls won

1.8

0.5

Aerial success rate

48%

33%

Stats via FBref

He’s also completed more take-ons and won more aerial duels, offering that all-around number nine play in which the club have missed in Solanke’s absence.

It’s safe to say that his time in North London was nothing short of a disaster, as he struggled to match the expectations placed on him after his big-money move to England.

However, it’s clear that he’s since found his form after leaving, showcasing to his former side what they’re missing out on after cutting their losses on him after just three years at the club.

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da dobrowin： Liverpool huffed and puffed but they couldn’t breach Paris Saint-Germain’s defensive barrier, and Arne Slot will not be tasting European glory in his first season at the Anfield helm.

da fazobetai： It’s the first major blot on Slot’s copybook. He succeeded Jurgen Klopp last summer and has steered Liverpool to within touching distance of the Premier League title, with Wembley also looming large this weekend.

But despite Harvey Elliott’s incredible late winner at the Parc des Princes last week, defying the Ligue 1 giant’s dominance, Liverpool couldn’t find a way through at Anfield and are out of the Champions League in the last 16.

It’s hard to pin down any one thing on the crushing defeat, but Liverpool’s frontline flattered to deceive on the continental stage and will have given Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes plenty of food for thought.

Liverpool's forwards misfire in Europe

Mohamed Salah was kept relatively quiet once again, but he did look to make things happen and proved a threat with some neat tricks, close misses and dangerous passing.

Likewise, Luis Diaz ran to and fro, to and fro, stretching the French opposition but to little avail. The men in the middle, however, typified Liverpool’s problems, with Diogo Jota shackled and Darwin Nunez out of sync and ineffective in his stead, replacing the Portugal international after 73 minutes.

The pointers suggest FSG are going to move for a high-class central striker this summer, and you can see why.

Jota & Nunez’s Performances vs PSG at Anfield

Match Stats

Jota

Nunez

Minutes

73′

47′

Goals

0

0

Assists

0

0

Touches

33

14

Shots (on target)

3 (0)

0 (0)

Accurate passes

12/17 (71%)

5/8 (63%)

Key passes

0

0

Dribbles

0/3

0/1

Duels won

2/10

3/8

Data via Sofascore

Neither Jota nor Nunez provided anything meaningful, with the latter missing his spot-kick and heightening Curtis Jones’ nerve, for the midfielder subsequently hit a tame strike at the unbeatable Gigi Donnarumma.

However, the blame cannot lie solely on the strikers, as the home side still found some more errors leaked into their game and this was showcased by one Liverpool star who raised his levels after recent months but still failed to produce the desired effect.

Performance in Numbers

Want data and stats? Football FanCast’s Performance in Numbers series provides you with the latest match analysis from across Europe.

Expand Collapse Liverpool star proved he's reaching the end

While questions linger regarding the futures of Liverpool’s non-committal contract rogues, there are a few more who might be reaching the end of their Anfield journeys.

Andy Robertson is one of them, with the 31-year-old left-back flattering to deceive for large parts of the current campaign despite Liverpool’s immense season.

As per Sofacore, he lost the ball 24 times during his 90 minutes on the field as he sought to make things happen for the Reds but struggled to hit the kind of consistency of years past, finding his target with one of ten attempted crosses.

Moreover, the Scotland skipper was exposed during the build-up to Ousmane Dembele’s opening goal, a moment that proved crucial in the grand scheme of the evening.

He did show plenty of spirit thereafter and wasn’t run ragged by PSG’s devastating and interchangeable frontline, but Robertson simply isn’t what he used to be, with wayward passing, questionable decision-making and unconvincing positioning underpinning the issues in this Liverpool squad.

And there are issues. However, let’s all take a moment. Liverpool now turn toward a Carabao Cup final at Wembley on Sunday and remain 15 points clear at the top of the Premier League. Falling in Europe doesn’t change that.

But this time next week, the Merseysiders will have one road to travel down for the final few months of the campaign, and next season, Slot will hope to exercise Champions League demons to be sure.

Hopefully, Robertson’s still at the club, he is a legend after all. But Liverpool need younger and more robust improvements to take them to the next level, and this was illustrated against a fearsome PSG side, who advance to the last eight.

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da spicy bet： Patience is not often a popular thing in football, yet Manchester United have seen its merits in recent times, not least with the rise of a certain Amad Diallo.

da premier bet： The deal to sign the Atalanta teenager was initially announced back in October 2020, prior to his eventual arrival in January 2021, albeit with it having arguably taken until this season for that £19m addition to bear fruit.

Having been on the periphery under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, before spending time out on loan at Rangers and Sunderland, the Ivorian remained a bit-part player under Erik ten Hag, even despite his FA Cup heroics against Liverpool last term.

It has taken the arrival of Ruben Amorim for the 22-year-old’s stock to truly soar, with the wing wizard already registering more goal involvements under the Portuguese than he did under any other previous United boss.

From his dazzling displays at the Etihad and Anfield, to his crucial hat-trick against bottom side Southampton, the £120k-per-week sensation had been the shining light of 2024/25, prior to suffering his cruel injury setback last month.

Amad’s Man Utd record by coach

Manager

Games

Goals

Assists

Erik ten Hag

24

3

3

Ruben Amorim

20

6

5

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

8

1

1

Ruud van Nistelrooy

4

2

1

Ralf Rangnick

1

0

0

Michael Carrick

0

0

0

Total

57

12

9

Stats via Transfermarkt

Regardless of the halt to his impact, Amad looks like a genuine star at Old Trafford. The question remains, why didn’t Ten Hag see it?

How Amad earned his big chance at United

Not every player can follow the Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo route by thrusting themselves straight into the limelight in their teenage years, with the pair notably scoring in last season’s FA Cup final under Ten Hag.

For others, the path to becoming a first-team regular is not quite as smooth, a fact that has also played out elsewhere. Take William Saliba, for example, with the Frenchman signed by Arsenal in 2019, before ultimately making his debut for the Gunners in 2022.

Now part of the “best [centre-back] partnership in Europe”, according to Martin Keown, the 24-year-old – and the north London side – have flourished following that gradual progression. The same could now be true of Amad.

Indeed, the diminutive forward spent the tail-end of 2021/22 in Glasgow, before moving to the Stadium of Light for the following campaign, with that drop into the Championship seeing the youngster score 14 times in what was a breakthrough year.

Frustratingly, an injury sustained on the summer tour of 2023 hampered his involvement back at United at the start of the next season, although even upon his return to action, he was utilised sparingly by Ten Hag, despite netting against Liverpool in March.

After signing off 2023/24 with a notable strike against Newcastle United, Amad was then the star of pre-season after scoring against both Rangers and Real Betis, although after starting the new campaign in the side, he swiftly faded from view.

Since netting a brace against PAOK under Ruud van Nistelrooy – as well as assisting Marcus Rashford in Amorim’s first game in charge – he simply hasn’t looked back, however, taking his chance with both hands and swiftly overtaking the likes of Antony in the process.

The Ten Hag favourite who now needs to be sold

What makes the slow rise of Amad all the more headscratching is that Ten Hag and co were so keen to favour others above him, with Antony having been the go-to man on the right flank under the Dutchman’s watch.

Signed for £86m in the summer of 2022, the Brazilian was almost doomed to fail from the outset amid the sizeable nature of the price tag, particularly considering that United had been quoted around £25m during Solskjaer’s time at the helm.

After a strong start that included three goals in his first three Premier League outings, the polarising winger struggled to maintain that early impact, albeit while notching notable strikes in the Europa League against both Betis and Barcelona.

Antony’s stock plummeted even further in 2023/24 as it took until January to register his first goal away at Newport County, with the only real highlight of that campaign having been his well-taken strike against Liverpool in that 4-3 thriller.

A player who boasts just 12 goals and five assists for United in 96 games in total, the 24-year-old was arguably undeserving of the continued favouritism shown toward him, albeit with ex-coach Benni McCarthy revealing that Ten Hag viewed him to be “better” than the likes of Amad in that wide berth.

That view has already come back to bite Ten Hag considering that Amad has already eclipsed Antony’s goals and assist total from just 57 United games, having contributed 12 goals and nine assists to date.

Journalist Samuel Luckhurst even quipped earlier in the campaign that Amad was playing “like a man suitably insulted by the suggestion Antony should play ahead of him because of his training form”, with Ten Hag having revealed that was the reason why Antony was introduced off the bench ahead of the Ivorian against Fenerbahce.

Having since seen what the one-time Atalanta starlet can do when handed a consistent run of game time, the former Ajax boss may be regretting his handling of the youngster.

As for Antony, having now shown glimpses on loan in Spain – with eight goals and assists in 11 games for Betis – Amorim and co must capitalise on that recent resurgence to find a suitable buyer for him this summer.

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da supremo： Celtic bounced back from their disappointing defeat to their local rivals before the international break with a 3-0 win over Hearts at Parkhead in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday.

da leao： The Hoops ran out comfortable winners, scoring all three of their goals in the first half, and it was a much-needed victory after they had two weeks to mull over their loss to Rangers in front of their home supporters last time out.

An 88th-minute winner from Hamza Igamane secured a 3-2 win for the Gers when they came across Glasgow to face Brendan Rodgers’ side, who had brought it back to 2-2 from 2-0 down.

Celtic had to bounce back from that disappointing performance and result, and that is exactly what they did by claiming all three points against the Jam Tarts in emphatic fashion.

The Scottish giants, who were without first-choice goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, helped Viljami Sinisalo to keep his first clean sheet in the league, whilst the attacking players did their job at the other end.

Daizen Maeda added two more goals to his season tally, either side of a strike from Jota, as the Japan international put in yet another brilliant performance.

Daizen Maeda's goalscoring form this season

The 27-year-old dynamo scored his 29th and 30th goals of the campaign in all competitions for Celtic to set the Hoops on their way to the win against Hearts, whilst he also scored one of the two goals in the 3-2 defeat to Rangers before the break.

Maeda has scored 30 goals and provided nine assists in 43 appearances for the Bhoys, including 15 goals in 28 outings in the Premiership so far.

The Celtic number 38 scored two goals from three shots against Hearts, showcasing his clinical edge in front of goal, and he has been the most effective finisher in the squad this season at Premiership level.

Celtic players with the most xG (Premiership)

24/25 season

xG

Goals

xG differential

Kyogo Furuhashi

14.14

10

-4.14

Daizen Maeda

13.02

15

+1.98

Adam Idah

10.28

8

-2.28

Nicolas Kuhn

9.43

10

+0.57

Arne Engels

8.76

9

+0.24

Stats via WhoScored

As you can see in the table above, he is the only player in the top five in the squad for xG to have outperformed his expected tally by more than one goal, with 15 strikes from 13.02 xG.

Maeda’s performance against Hearts was crucial, because he scored two of the three goals, but he was far from the only top performer on the pitch for the Scottish giants, as central defender Maik Nawrocki was just as good as him.

Why Maik Nawrocki was as good as Daizen Maeda

The Polish central defender was given the nod next to Cameron Carter-Vickers, despite Auston Trusty being back available, and repaid Rodgers’ faith in him with a sensational display at centre-back.

Nawrocki mixed incredible composure in possession with resolute defensive work to provide Celtic with a platform to build out from the back on, whilst also giving Sinisalo little to do on his Premiership debut – facing just two shots on target.

The former Legia Warsaw star completed a whopping 98% of his attempted passes (123/125), losing possession twice from 144 touches, which speaks to how reliable he was with the ball at his feet.

Vs Hearts

Cameron Carter-Vickers

Maik Nawrocki

Clearances

3

10

Blocks

0

3

Tackle

1

1

Dribbled past

0x

0x

Ground duels won

1/6

1/2

Aerial duels won

2/3

7/7

Touches

139

144

Possession lost

3x

2x

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Nawrocki was even better than experienced central defender Carter-Vickers in and out of possession throughout the game, thanks to his defensive and passing contributions.

The 24-year-old star won 89% of his duels in the game to prevent Elton Kabangu and James Wilson from causing Sinisalo too many problems, whilst also allowing Celtic to dominate the game by consistently cutting out opposition attacks.

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He was, therefore, just as good as Maeda against Hearts because the centre-back was equally as crucial to the result with his imperious defensive work in the backline, outperforming Carter-Vickers and keeping the away side at bay for the vast majority of the match.

Maik Nawrocki has revived his Celtic career

Prior to the clash with Rangers before the international break, Nawrocki had not played a single minute of action in the Premiership this season and had not started a single match in all competitions.

The central defender, who joined the club from Legia Warsaw in the summer of 2023, has been behind Carter-Vickers, Trusty, Liam Scales, and Stephen Welsh – before his exit in January – in the pecking order in his position throughout the 2024/25 campaign.

Given his lack of minutes and how far down the pecking order he was, it appeared as though Nawrocki was headed for an exit from Parkhead in the summer transfer window, but an opportunity arose when injuries to Scales and Trusty provided him with his first league appearance of the season against Rangers.

Nawrocki, despite the result, put in a phenomenal display with seven clearances, four interceptions, one tackle, and seven of ten duels won in the match, without being dribbled past a single time.

Rodgers backed the 24-year-old colossus to replicate that display, despite Trusty being available again, and that is exactly what he did against Hearts, putting in another dominant showing alongside Carter-Vickers.

The shirt should now be Nawrocki’s to lose between now and the end of the season. If he can continue to put in performances like he has done in the previous two matches then it will be incredibly difficult for the manager to drop him out of the starting XI.

A strong end to the campaign could then set him up for a big season at Parkhead in the 2025/26 campaign, as the central defender could go into it as a first-choice option.

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Therefore, Nawrocki’s last two performances have revived his Celtic career, which appeared to be over before the Rangers game, and it is now down to him to make the most of the opportunities that should, now, come his way in the remaining weeks of the season.

da betsson： Fabrizio Romano has now revealed when Tottenham Hotspur could sack under-fire manager Ange Postecoglou, sharing key details on the Australian’s very uncertain long-term future in north London.

Ange Postecoglou's future in "serious doubt" at Tottenham

da stake casino： Postecoglou has been linked with the Spurs axe for months now, but last week, big-name news outlet The Athletic backed reports that the 59-year-old could be facing his final season in charge of the Lilywhites.

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Tottenham lie 14th in the table after 15 Premier League defeats, which are truly abject numbers for a ‘big six’ side, and while you can make a serious case that injuries have dampened their chances of performing at the top level, results simply haven’t been up to par regardless.

Tottenham’s next five Premier League fixtures

Date

Chelsea (away)

April 3rd

Southampton (home)

April 6th

Wolves (away)

April 13th

Nottingham Forest (home)

April 21st

Liverpool (away)

April 27th

Postecoglou has attracted criticism for his inability to adapt at a tactical level, with dissatisfaction surrounding his work and there being “serious doubt” over the former Celtic boss’ long-term future.

Tottenham have identified Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola as a top target to potentially replace Postecoglou, while it is also believed that Fulham boss Marco Silva and Brentford manager Thomas Frank are high on Daniel Levy’s managerial shortlist (The Athletic).

“You can’t play a system the players can’t play because of principle. For that they’ve conceded three on Thursday and six today,” said Man United legend Peter Schmeichel after a 6-3 defeat to Liverpool earlier this season.

“When you look at the table, they’re not on the front page, they’re on the second page. Tottenham are not supposed to be on the second page, it’s because of the way they play.

“The stubbornness of wanting to play that way, they got what they deserved, and it could have been a lot worse.”

Fabrizio Romano shares when Tottenham could sack Ange Postecoglou

Now, writing for GiveMeSport, Romano has shared key details about when Tottenham could sack Postecoglou.

The journalist claims that the tactician’s hopes of remaining at N17 “strictly” rest on how Spurs perform in the Europa League, but if they fail to win the competition or even put in a respectable showing, then there is a “high possibility” that Levy will part company with Postecoglou.

He adds that they’ve already touched base with Iraola’s “close circle” to express an interest in the Spaniard, who’s worked wonders at Bournemouth despite coping with real injury shortages of his own at points.

Tottenham are also very aware that the 42-year-old has a release clause in his Cherries deal, worth up to £11 million, so Bournemouth would be powerless to keep their manager if Levy elects to trigger it.

While Iraola appears to be the favourite to succeed Postecoglou if he does leave, Romano backs reports that they’re also considering Fulham’s Silva.

da gbg bet： After last night’s huge Champions League triumph, Arsenal have demonstrated that they are capable of beating Europe’s elite, a signal as to how far they’ve developed in recent years.

da betcris： Mikel Arteta deserves a tremendous amount of credit for the work he’s done in rebuilding the side over the last five years, with all his work leading up to the win over Real Madrid.

After such a display at the Santiago Bernabéu, supporters will undoubtedly be hugely confident that the side can go all the way and claim their first European title come the end of the campaign.

However, with the summer transfer window approaching, decisions will need to be made on the futures of numerous players currently plying their trade at the Emirates.

Signings will need to be made to continue the rebuild, potentially allowing the Gunners to compete with Europe’s elite on a consistent basis for many years to come.

The latest update on Arsenal’s hunt for summer signings

Over the last couple of days, links to Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres have rapidly developed, with Arsenal just one of the sides in the race to land his signature this summer.

Reports earlier this week claimed that Gunners sporting director Andra Berta has already held talks with his representatives over a move to North London ahead of the window opening.

It’s also been reported that the Swedish international is keen on a move to join Arteta’s side, with a £60m fee mooted to land the talisman, who’s netted 87 times in the last two seasons.

Any deal for the 26-year-old would see the side finally land the focal point they’ve desperately lacked, but he could be joined in the final third by Spanish winger Nico Williams.

According to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona have pulled out of the race, leaving Arsenal as the favourites to trigger his £50m release clause in the coming months.

Why Gyokeres would star at Arsenal along with £50m star

Given his goalscoring record in the Liga Portugal over the last couple of seasons, it’s no secret that Arsenal would be getting themselves a proven goalscorer who would take the side to the next level.

However, there’s only so much a striker can do on his own, often relying on the creativity of players around him to produce the goods to allow them to thrive.

Injuries have massively plagued Arteta’s side in the final third throughout 2024/25, with the likes of Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus all missing large chunks of the campaign.

Depth is desperately needed this summer, with a potential partnership of Gyokeres and Williams alongside Saka one to be feared by sides across the Premier League.

The Spaniard has all the tools to provide the Swede within the final third, with his stats from LaLiga demonstrating the quality he possesses with the ball at his feet.

The 22-year-old, who’s been labelled “world-class” by Ben Mattinson, has registered five assists this season, but his underlying stats showcase how much of a threat he is in the final third.

Williams has notched a total of three successful take-ons and 5.3 progressive carries per 90, undoubtedly at his best when marauding forward with the ball at his feet.

Nico Williams’ stats for Athletic Club in LaLiga (2024/25)

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

27

Goals & assists

10

Progressive carries

5.3

Carries into final third

2.7

Progressive passes

3.2

Successful take-ons

3

Key passes completed

1.9

Crosses completed

5.1

Shot-creating actions

5.2

Stats via FBref

He’s also registered 1.9 key passes and 5.1 crosses completed per 90, with both of his respective tallies providing Gyokeres with ammunition to score within the final third.

The Spaniard’s talent doesn’t stop there, achieving 5.2 shot-creating actions and 3.2 progressive passes per 90, once again highlighting the talent he boasts to provide opportunities for those around him.

Whilst the pair would likely set the Gunners hierarchy back around £110m this summer, it’s a bargain price given the elite-level talents they would be signing.

The prospect of the pair linking up at the Emirates is a hugely exciting one, with the pair having the skillset to push the club closer to ending their two-decade wait for a league title.

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