Analysis

Tactics and data beyond the score.

3d ago

Gegenpressing: the press Klopp wanted more of on his Germany debut

Gegenpressing is not a synonym for the high press: what it is, who created it, how it is measured and what the evidence says, from Rangnick to Klopp.

Flamengo vs Palmeiras: the turnaround, xG and the run-in to December

On 20 September 2026, Palmeiras drew with Grêmio and Flamengo beat Bragantino: 60 to 57 after round 28 of the Brasileirão. How Flamengo clawed back 7 points in the second half of the season, what xG says about each campaign and the fixtures, cups included, to 6 December.

7d ago

£308m and Bottom: Tottenham's Worst Premier League Start

With Roberto De Zerbi in charge and more than £300 million invested in the squad, Tottenham came out of round 5 of the 2026/27 Premier League with 2 points and a goal difference of -6: the club's worst start in the competition's history.

7d ago

Home advantage: how much it's worth, and what the pandemic proved about it

An experiment nobody planned, covid-19's empty stadiums, measured, for the first time at scale, how much of home advantage comes from the crowd and how much comes from something else entirely.

10d ago

Ballon d'Or 2026: who are the favourites and why

The numbers, the trophies and the strongest cases for the 26 October ceremony in London: from Kane and Messi to PSG's nominees and World Cup winners Spain.

11d ago

Seven titles in a row up to 2025 and three semi-finalists in 2026: how Brazil took over the Libertadores

With Palmeiras, Fluminense and Flamengo in the 2026 semi-finals, Brazil is guaranteed at least one club in the final scheduled for 28 November in Montevideo; CONMEBOL's records show how the shift began.

12d ago

48-team World Cup: more goals in the groups, favourites in the knockouts

The first 48-team World Cup produced 308 goals in 104 matches, but only 1 of the 8 third-placed teams got past the round of 32, and the top 4 in the FIFA ranking of 11 June 2026 all made the semi-finals.

18d ago

Why £125m does not cost £125m: inside the 85% squad cost cap

Premier League clubs spent more than £3.5bn in the summer of 2026, but the new rule measures the annual instalment, not the headline fee. How the maths works.

19d ago

Palmeiras Fall 3-2 to Fluminense, Now Winless in Four

Palmeiras' 3-2 loss to Fluminense at the Maracanã extended their winless run to four matches, with the Libertadores now central to avoiding a crisis.

Updated 32d ago