Melanie Gervasoni
Melanie is a freelance writer covering sports news, major event analysis, and match previews/reviews. Her articles feature athlete perspectives and insightful commentary on the latest developments across the sporting world.
News
23
Feb
With a 6‑1 advantage in their pockets from the match in Baku, Newcastle gets ready to play against Qarabağ for the second leg of their UEFA Champions League play‑off on 24 February at 20:00 GMT. Anthony Gordon’s four goals and Malick Thiaw’s early header meant Eddie Howe’s side were out of sight before half‑time.
The match takes place at St James’ Park, a stadium known for its raucous atmosphere and capacity crowd of around 52,000, so expect a vibrant evening even if the tie looks settled. The reward for progressing is a meeting with either Barcelona or Chelsea in the...
18
Feb
While it sits below Europe’s marquee tournaments, the Conference League regularly throws up storylines you won’t find anywhere else. The knockout play‑off first leg between Zrinjski Mostar and Crystal Palace on 19 February is a classic case in point.
Set for a 17:45 GMT kick‑off at the Stadion pod Bijelim Brijegom in Mostar, Bosnia & Herzegovina, this fixture pits the 23rd‑placed team from the league phase against the only Premier League club in the competition.
The Eagles travel east as favourites after finishing 10th in the league phase and earning the right to host the second leg at Selhurst Park. Their...
12
Feb
The FA Cup returns to Villa Park on Saturday 14 February, and it promises far more than a mid‑winter Valentine’s Day date for supporters. Aston Villa will host Newcastle United in the 4th round of the competition.
Kick‑off is at 17:45 GMT at Villa Park in Birmingham, the same venue where Villa have produced some spectacular football this season. After winning against Newcastle in the Premier League with a 2‑0 win at St James’ Park in late January, Villa will be eager to repeat the trick on home turf.
Newcastle arrive bruised from successive defeats and cup exits but remain capable...
02
Feb
There’s nothing routine about a cup semi‑final, especially when the holders need a miracle to stay alive. On Wednesday 4 February, the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi‑final sees Manchester City host Newcastle at the Etihad Stadium. Kick‑off is scheduled for 8 PM (UK time).
Pep Guardiola’s men carry a 2-0 aggregate lead after a disciplined away performance at St James’ Park, where Antoine Semenyo struck on 53 minutes and Cherki added a stoppage‑time clincher. Newcastle, the reigning champions, couldn’t break down City’s defence and now need a heroic comeback. The reward is a place at Wembley.
Manchester City vs...
26
Jan
Liverpool return on Wednesday 28 January when they welcome Azerbaijani champions Qarabağ FK to Anfield for the UEFA Champions League league‑phase round 8 match. Kick‑off is scheduled for 20:00 GMT and, as always, the Kop will create a ferocious atmosphere under the floodlights.
This encounter looks, on paper, like one of the most lopsided fixtures of the round. Arne Slot’s men will expect to dominate possession and territory against a team who are punching well above their weight simply by appearing in the competition. Qarabağ, meanwhile, will travel to Merseyside with nothing to lose.
Liverpool vs Qarabağ – Betting Odds
The heavy...
20
Jan
On Thursday 22 January, the Estádio Municipal de Braga will reverberate to the sound of European football once again with the match between SC Braga and Nottingham Forest. Kick‑off in northern Portugal is set for 20:00 GMT (20:00 local time).
These clubs have never played a competitive match against each other. The only previous meeting was a 2016 friendly in which Nottingham Forest won 3–0. Manager Carlos Vicens and English counterpart Sean Dyche will both view this match as an opportunity to pick up crucial points and build momentum ahead of the knock‑out rounds.
Braga vs Nottingham – Betting Odds
Below is...