UEL Standings After Week 1 2024-25 | Spurs 4th, Manchester United 20th!

Here is a look at the Europa League table as it stood after Match Day 1 (the first round of games) in the newly revamped UEL competition. The two English representatives in the tournament- Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, had differing starts. United were held to a 1-1 by manager Erik ten Hag’s old team FC Twente while Spurs beat Qarabag 3-0.

The two results, plus the way of how the rankings are determined after the first round, means that United are a lowly 20th while Spurs are fourth. If the group stages were technically stopped today, Spurs will automatically progress to the knockout stages while United will have to go through a playoff round where they will be unseeded.

Interestingly, the two teams will do battle in the Premier League this weekend (GW6) with Ange Postecoglu’s men travelling to Old Trafford to take on the Red Devils. Spurs beat Brentford 3-1 at home last week, while United were held to a goalless draw by Crystal Palace.

UEL table after Round 1 (24/25 season)

UEL Standings After Week 1 2024-25

Read more

xG England vs Finland 2024 Wembley Attendance 70,221 | Expected Goals Stats ENG 2-0 FIN

Here is a look at the xG (expected goals) stats from England v Finland (official crowd attendance of 70,221 in the UNL at Wembley on 10 September, 2024). This game was also Harry Kane’s 100th England international game, and he marked it with a second half brace.

Finland had just two shots in the entire game (Pukki in the 12th minute and Keskinen in the 26th), and neither of the two were on target.

xG England 1.44-0.10 Finland shots map (Actual score ENG 2-0 FIN)

1-0 Harry Kane first goal vs Finland xG 0.07
2-0 Harry Kane second goal vs Finland xG 0.12

Read more

Italian referee announced for Servette vs Chelsea UECL 2nd Leg Playoff Clash

UEFA have officially announced Marco di Bello as the referee for the Servette v Chelsea Conference League Playoff (2nd Leg) clash on Thursday. The 43-year-old Di Bello will have fellow Italians Alessandro Giallatini and Giovanni Baccini as his assistant refs, with Luca Zufferli as the fourth referee and Gianluca Aureliano on VAR duty. Chelsea lead 2-0 from the first leg.

While Di Bello has never previously refereed a Chelsea or Servette game as the main ref, he was on VAR duty when Servette drew 0-0 with Ludogorets in the UECL last season (February 2024)

The last UEFA game Di Bello refereed before this Chelsea clash with a 4-3 away win for Malmo at PAOK in the qualifying rounds of the Champions League earlier this month.

Read more