This season is an absolute stonker in the Bundesliga. Three points separate the top four, with 3rd-placeDortmund heading to 5th-placeLeverkusen this weekend and table-toppersBayern Munich hosting 2nd-placeRB Leipzig.Each generation of German football reliably produces a conveyor belt oficons of the games, fromMüllers Gerd to Thomas, and from Jurgen Klopp to Julian Nagelsmann.The Bundesliga, in its current form, has been rolling since 1962. Germany's national defeat to Yugoslavia at the World Cup in Chile was to become a defining moment for the country - just as it was when England smashed them 5-1 in their own backyard and prompted a thorough re-think of German football (glad to have been of help, lads).Of course, there was the unification of the early 1990s,...
A start. That’s probably how to describe Tottenham’s 2-0 win over Manchester City. A first act within whatever Jose Mourinho’s reign proves to be and something to build on over the coming months.Spurs’ performance had all sorts of holes. Their victory was entirely dependent on bounces of the ball, on Manchester City missing half-a-dozen excellent chances, and the kind of freakish efficiency in front of goal which, at best, a team can expect to benefit from just a few times a season.In their two games against City this season, Tottenham have scored four times from six attempts and taken four points. In football terms, that's walking between the raindrops. Sergio Aguero missed two chances he would ordinarily have put away....
The year is 2016 and it's a cold day in October. Tottenham are still building their new stadium and Manchester City have won every league game under Pep Guardiola.It's on this day that Pep was first defeated on a Premier League touchline.A lot's changed since that day, but not the intensity with which these two sides have scrapped it out.We've seen a classic Champions League tie since and with Jose Mourinho facing old enemy Guardiola for the first time in a Spurs dugout, the drama is sure to ramp up another notch.Both City and Spurs are completely different sides now, but can you name who played in each team the first time they met under Guardiola's watch?We've given you six...
Just like “game of two halves”, “Peter Crouch has good touch for a big man” and “Arsenal like to walk the ball into the net”, the idea of needing 40 points to stay in the league is a tired cliche of the English game.Famously, 40 wasn’t enough to save West Ham in 2003. In recent years, clubs have been aiming for 38 to stay up - it could well take as little as 35 to keep the class of 2020 afloat.This weekend, seven of the bottom eight face each other. It might not take 40 points this season, but the scramble for two or three more wins is beginning to get a little more desperate down there.EvertonPoints: 30Last five matches:...
Nine years ago, Fernando Torres moved from Liverpool to Chelseafor £50 million –in a deadline day transfer that was, for once, genuinely surprising. So shocking was itthat one FFT staffer formed a lifelong friendship after consoling a grieving Reds fan.On January 31 every year, the two now celebrate Fernando Torres Day. It's enough to bring a tear to theeye.So to join in with today's celebration of our links with our European neighbours (Bit on the nose, that – Ed.), we're testing you by seeing if you can name every Spaniard in the Premier League this season.Yes, January signings are included (hint, even if they haven't played yet). You've got six minutes - let us know how you did @FourFourTwo –...