VAVEL • 11th November 2024

4 takeaways from Pittsburgh Steelers' 28-27 win over Washington Commanders

The Pittsburgh Steelers overturned a 10-point deficit to defeat the Washington Commanders 28-27 at Northwest Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The Commanders led 24-14 midway through the third quarter and were in position to win the game before a second-half surge from the Steelers offense turned the game on its head.

Mike Williams, acquired by the Steelers just five days before Sunday's game, scored the game-winning touchdown with just two minutes left on the clock to extend Pittsburgh's winning s...

VAVEL • 9th November 2024

Brighton 2-1 Man City: City lose fourth-straight match with defeat against the Seagulls

Manchester City have now lost four-straight matches in all competitions following a 2-1 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium.

The Citizens dominated the early proceedings and went ahead midway through the first-half courtesy of Erling Haaland. They took a 1-0 lead into the half-time break, but would have felt it could have been much more.

They were ultimately made to pay for their missed opportunities in the opening 45 minutes as Brighton were a much-improved side in the second...

VAVEL • 7th November 2024

The 3 biggest winners and losers from Week 9 of the NFL season

With Week 9 now in the books we have officially reached the half-way mark of the 2024/25 NFL season, and the playoff picture is beginning to take shape.

Some teams are gearing up for a strong end to the season with a potential playoff berth up for grabs, whilst other teams will already have one eye on the 2025 NFL Draft.

With that being said, here are the three biggest winners and losers from Week 9 of the NFL season:

The Washington Commanders have been the surprise package of the NFL this se...

VAVEL • 5th November 2024

Real Madrid 1-3 AC Milan: I Rossoneri secure famous win over Champions League holders

Real Madrid lost their second straight home match as AC Milan shocked the Santiago Bernabéu with a rampant 3-1 win in the league stage of the UEFA Champions League.

Los Blancos came into the match off the back of an embarrassing 4-0 defeat to rivals Barcelona, and they found themselves behind early on once again as Malick Thiaw found the back of the net with a towering header from a corner.

Despite falling behind, Madrid got themselves back on level terms just minutes later courtesy of a panen...

VAVEL • 4th November 2024

Newcastle 1-0 Arsenal: Gunners lose further ground on title rivals following defeat to Magpies

Arsenal's winless run in the Premier League extended to three matches as they fell to a 1-0 defeat against Newcastle United at St. James' Park on Saturday afternoon.

After a bright start from the Gunners, it was the hosts who took the lead after Alexander Isak got his head on the end of a delightful cross from Anthony Gordon, and the Swedish international headed beyond David Raya to score his third league goal of the season and send the home fans into raptures.

Arsenal never recovered from goi...

VAVEL • 27th October 2024

Barcelona vs Bayern Munich: Champions League Preview, Gameweek 3, 2024

It will be a clash of the European titans on Wednesday night when five-time UEFA Champions League winners Barcelona take on 6-time champions Bayern Munich at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys.

Both teams currently sit top of La Liga and the Bundesliga respectively, but are also in need of a win on Matchday 3 of the Champions League to cement their place in the top-24 having both picked up just three points from their opening two matches.

Hansi Flick has made a fantastic start to life as Barcel...

VAVEL • 22nd October 2024

Man United 2-1 Brentford: Ten Hag's men complete second-half comeback to down sorry Bees

Second-half goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund sealed a 2-1 win for Manchester United over Brentford at Old Trafford, ending a five-match winless run for Erik ten Hag's side.

It has been United's worst-ever start to a Premier League season having won just two of their opening seven matches, and it looked as though the afternoon would follow a similar pattern when Ethan Pinnock put Brentford ahead in first-half stoppage time with a powerful header.

After a poor first-half showing...

VAVEL • 18th October 2024

Germany 1-0 Netherlands: Leweling's debut goal earns win for Die Mannschaft

A debut goal from Jamie Leweling was enough to earn Germany a 1-0 win over the Netherlands at the Allianz Arena, taking them five points clear at the top of League A, Group C in the UEFA Nations League.

The Stuttgart forward thought he'd scored just two minutes into his international debut, before VAR intervened and ruled the goal out due to an offside against Serge Gnabry in the build-up.

Germany continued to control the match, although lacked a clinical edge in front of goal as chances came...

VAVEL • 18th October 2024

England vs Greece: Nations League Preview, League B, Group 2, 2024

England will be looking to maintain their 100% start to their UEFA Nations League campaign when they host Greece at Wembley Stadium on Thursday evening.

Both sides head into the encounter having won their opening two games in League B, Group 2, although Greece currently sit top of the group with a marginally better goal difference.

Lee Carsley made the perfect start to his reign as interim England manager with a 2-0 win over rivals Ireland in Dublin before securing another 2-0 win against Finl...

VAVEL • 3rd October 2024

Adayemi runs riot in rampant win for Dortmund

It was a night to forget for Celtic as a first-half hat-trick from Karim Adayemi helped Borussia Dortmund to a staggering 7-1 win over the Scottish champions at Signal Iduna Park in the UEFA Champions League.

Having fallen behind after just six minutes, Celtic responded well by levelling the game just two minutes later through Daizen Maeda. Unfortunately for the visitors, that was as good as things got.

A first-half hat-trick from Adayemi along with penalties from Emre Can and Serhou Guirassy...

VAVEL • 2nd October 2024

Bayer Leverkusen vs AC Milan: Champions League Preview, Gameweek 2, 2024

After contrasting fortunes in their opening UEFA Champions League matches, Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan will go head-to-head at the BayArena on Tuesday night in what is set to be one of the more appetizing fixtures in Gameweek 2.

Although Leverkusen's hopes of back-to-back invincible seasons were dashed just two weeks into the new season following a 3-2 defeat to RB Leipzig, they have recovered well, having won three and drawing one of their following four games.

Xabi Alonso's men head into t...

VAVEL • 13th September 2024

England vs Finland: Nations League Preview, League B, Group 2, 2024

Harry Kane is in line to win his 100th England cap when the Three Lions take on Finland in UEFA Nations League B, Group 2 at Wembley Stadium on Tuesday night.

The Bayern Munich striker is England's all-time leading goal-scorer with 66 goals, and he could become only the 10th player to make 100 appearances for the England senior team should he feature against Finland.

England got their UEFA Nations League campaign off to the perfect start on Saturday evening with a convincing 2-0 win over local...

VAVEL • 3rd September 2024

West Ham 1-3 Man City: Haaland's second successive hat-trick downs sorry Hammers

An eighth Premier League hat-trick from Erling Haaland made it three wins in three matches to start the season for Manchester City as they secured a 3-1 win over West Ham United at the London Stadium.

The City striker put the visitors ahead 10 minutes into the match with a composed finish past Alphonse Areola, before they were pegged back by West Ham against the run of play.

Jarrod Bowen's low cross was met by Rúben Dias who rather unfortunately turned the ball into his own net, although the H...

VAVEL • 24th August 2024

Man City 4-1 Ipswich: Erling Haaland hat-trick blows Premier League new boys away

Erling Haaland was at his ruthless best as his seventh Premier League hat-trick helped Manchester City to a convincing 4-1 win over Ipswich Town at the Etihad Stadium.

Having initially gone behind after seven minutes thanks to a debut goal from Ipswich's summer signing Sammie Smozdics, City replied instantly by scoring three goals in the space of six minutes courtesy of a Haaland double and a first goal of the season for Kevin De Bruyne.

The Norwegian secured his hat-trick on the stroke of ful...

VAVEL • 6th July 2024

Julian Nagelsmann dejected after "painful" extra-time defeat to Spain

Julian Nagelsmann could not hide his disappointment after Germany crashed out of Euro 2024 following a 2-1 defeat to Spain after extra-time at the MHPArena in Stuttgart.

After a cagey first half, La Roja made a fast start to the second as substitute Dani Olmo tucked away Lamine Yamal's square pass to give Spain the lead just six minutes after half-time.

The host nation grew increasingly frustrated as the clock continued to tick, but just when it seemed all hope was lost, their own inspired sub...

VAVEL • 30th June 2024

Portugal vs Slovenia: UEFA Euro 2024 Round of 16 Preview

Portugal will be aiming to win their first knockout game at a European Championships since 2016 when they take on Slovenia in the round of 16 of Euro 2024 on Monday evening at Deutsche Bank Park in Frankfurt, Germany.

Slovenia are in unfamiliar territory having reached the knockout stages for the first time in just their second European Championships, while Portugal are certainly no strangers to the latter stages of this competition.

The winners of the 2016 edition secured top spot in Group F...

VAVEL • 26th June 2024

Ukraine 0-0 Belgium: Red Devils edge through to Knockout Stages after cagey draw

Belgium secured their place in the knockout stages of EURO 2024 despite an unconvincing 0-0 draw against Ukraine at the MHPArena in Stuttgart, Germany.

It was a rather cagey affair for the opening 70 minutes of the match, however as both sides became more desperate for the win, the game began to open up.

Both Belgium and Ukraine had great chances to win the match in the final stages, but neither side could find a breakthrough as the game ended goalless.

The 1-1 draw between Slovakia and Roman...

VAVEL • 21st June 2024

Belgium vs Romania: UEFA Euro 2024 Group E Preview

The stakes will be high in Cologne on Saturday evening when Belgium face Romania at RheinEnergieStadion, with the two nations having very mixed fortunes in their opening matches.

Before the tournament began, it would not have been a hot take to say that heading into this fixture, one of these teams would be on three points, while the other would be desperate for a win after a disappointing performance in their opening match.

However, very few would have expected the team full of confidence to...

VAVEL • 18th June 2024

Belgium 0-1 Slovakia: Post-Match Player Ratings

Group E got underway with one of the biggest upsets in the history of the European Championships as Slovakia secured a shock 1-0 win over Belgium at the Commerzbank-Arena in Frankfurt.

Despite a fast start from The Red Devils, it was Slovakia who took the lead after seven minutes as Belgian goalkeeper Koen Casteels could only parry Juraj Kucka's effort into the path of Ivan Schranz, who then slotted the ball into the bottom corner.

Belgium pushed for an equaliser in the second half with Romelu...

VAVEL • 17th June 2024

Belgium 0-1 Slovakia: Red Devils left frustrated as Slovakia secure historic upset

Ivan Schranz's strike in the seventh minute secured a historic 1-0 win for Slovakia over Belgium in their opening game of Group E at Commerzbank-Arena in Frankfurt.

Despite Belgium having the better chances throughout the first half with Jérémy Doku causing havoc amongst the Slovak defence, Slovakia were great value for their first half lead as they outclassed Domenico Tedesco's men.

Francesco Calzona's side looked comfortable on the ball when in possession and pressed the Belgians relentlessl...

VAVEL • 15th June 2024

Poland vs Netherlands: UEFA EURO 2024 Group D Preview

Hamburg will host the opening game of Group D on Sunday afternoon, with Poland taking on an injury-hit Netherlands at Volksparkstadion.

The Oranje head into EURO 2024 on great form following back-to-back 4-0 wins over Canada and Iceland in their two pre-tournament friendlies, results they will be looking to carry into Sunday and get their campaign underway with a win.

The Dutch squad includes a mixture of exciting young talent and experienced veterans, many of whom will be looking to avenge th...

VAVEL • 6th June 2024

Will they finally deliver on the biggest stage? Belgium's Euro 2024 Preview

Despite boasting a star-studded squad for the last decade, it is fair to say that Belgium have heavily underachieved in that time.

They finished the calendar year top of FIFA's world rankings in the years 2015, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021, but are still yet to win a major tournament with what has been labelled by many as their 'Golden Generation'.

However, they head into Euro 2024 as the third highest ranked team in the world behind only Argentina and France and will be looking to make amends fo...

VAVEL • 4th June 2024

Serhiy Rebrov Praises Ukraine's 'Desire' in Germany Draw

Ukraine head coach Serhiy Rebrov has praised the desire his team showed during their 0-0 draw with Germany at the Max-Morlock-Stadion in Nuremberg on Tuesday night.

Germany were firm favourites heading into the friendly match and created several opportunities on the night - recording 27 shots on goal - but ultimately, they were wasteful and were left frustrated by Ukraine.

Whilst the visitors were forced to defend for large parts of the match, they did look threatening on the counter attack wi...

VAVEL • 3rd June 2024

Germany 0-0 Ukraine: Wasteful Germans held to goalless draw by Ukraine

Germany were not able to score with any of their 27 shots on goal as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Ukraine at the Max-Morlock-Stadion in Nuremberg, just 11 days before their opening EURO 2024 game against Scotland.

Germany began the game in positive fashion with some neat passages of play and several long-range efforts, but Ukraine still looked threatening on the counter attack with the pace of Mykhailo Mudryk.

Julian Nagelsmann rang the changes early in the second half and the substitutes l...