Alan's Soccer Previews

Soccer previews and tactical analysis before key games.

[Alan's Soccer Previews @AlanSoccerPr]

⭐ The Standouts

🇧🇷 Gabriel Magalhães 7.9 — Dominant in the air and positionally sharp throughout.

🇧🇷 Bruno Guimarães 7.5 — Controlled tempo and protected the defensive line.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Ezri Konsa 7.5 — Reliable in duels and covered channels effectively.

📉 The Strugglers

🇩🇪 Kai Havertz 6.3 — Limited service and few clear openings before being replaced.

🇧🇪 Matz Sels 5.5 — Left exposed by the deflection and had little else to deal with.

Who was your man of the match at the City Ground?

Alan's Soccer Previews
European football. Beyond the scoreline.

[Alan's Soccer Previews @AlanSoccerPr]

🔴⚪ Gabriel Magalhães anchored the defence as Arsenal edged Nottingham Forest 0-1 through Noni Madueke’s 80th-minute deflection. Forest stayed compact for long spells but could not find the final ball to test David Raya.

#NFOARS #PremierLeague

[Alan's Soccer Previews @AlanSoccerPr]

🛡️ Midfield Screen

Declan Rice and Bruno Guimarães controlled the centre and limited Forest’s transitions while Gabriel stepped forward to win duels and close channels. Arsenal’s shape kept the home side pinned after the break.

⚡ Wide Release
Madueke’s half-time arrival stretched the left side and created the space for the decisive cut-inside. Forest’s wing-backs were pulled wide once Arteta introduced direct runners against a tiring block.

[Alan's Soccer Previews @AlanSoccerPr]

🔥 STAND-OUTS:

🇧🇪 Youri Tielemans (7.5) — Created the goal, controlled the middle, and was the only United player who looked consistently above the level.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Harry Maguire (7.3) — Organised the back line and won the majority of his individual battles.

🇨🇭 Nico Elvedi (7.2) — Same job for Leeds: solid in the air until the corner arrived.

❄️ STRUGGLERS:
🇵🇹 Bruno Fernandes (6.0) — Isolated, low involvement, and finished among the lowest ratings on the pitch.

🇸🇪 Gabriel Gudmundsson (6.3) — Anonymous on the left and created no problems for United.

Alan's Soccer Previews
European football. Beyond the scoreline.

[Alan's Soccer Previews @AlanSoccerPr]

🔥 Youri Tielemans simply ran the game until he was substituted.
Leeds equalised through a soft corner and United spent the second half looking short of ideas.
Here is the tactical breakdown and the ratings that matter from Elland Road. 🧵

#LEEMUN #MUFC #LUFC

[Alan's Soccer Previews @AlanSoccerPr]

🔍 The Tactical Takeaways:

🔹 The Engine Room: Tielemans (7.5) stepped into the advanced pockets and supplied the assist that put United ahead.

🔹 The Flank Battle: Amad Diallo (7.0) and Mbeumo (6.7) created the opener down the right, yet the left side offered almost nothing once Gudmundsson stayed quiet.

🔹 The Set-Piece Collapse: Maguire and Elvedi won their open-play duels. The same pair lost the first contact that let Calvert-Lewin finish.

[Alan's Soccer Previews @AlanSoccerPr]

🧩 The Shape Without Vinicius:

↔️ The left side changes. Diomande and Bellingham will have to supply the width and the runs that the Brazilian usually provides. Sevilla arrive with their own absences but have been competitive in recent weeks.

Does Mbappe and the midfield three of Valverde, Tchouameni and Bellingham carry enough threat to make the suspension irrelevant, or does the missing left-side spark give Sevilla a way into the game?

[Alan's Soccer Previews @AlanSoccerPr]

Vinicius starts a four-game ban. Madrid host Sevilla at the Bernabeu with the Clásico one week away. 🏟️

Los Blancos sit fourth on 18 points. Sevilla are fifth on 14. Mourinho’s side just staged another comeback in Rome.

Here is the tactical breakdown of a night that tests the squad’s depth. 🧵

#RealMadrid #Sevilla #LaLiga #Bernabeu

[Alan's Soccer Previews @AlanSoccerPr]

📋 The Absentees:

🟥 Vinicius suspended. Militao, Rodrygo, Mendy and Asencio all out.

🏥 Sevilla missing Marcao, Guridi, Sierra and Romero.

🔄 Diomande expected to start on the left. Mbappe leads the line. Huijsen likely recalled in defence. Endrick and Espi came off the bench to score against Roma but are set to start among the substitutes. 👇

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🎯 What Decides It:

🔥 Arsenal's late winners have become a habit, but Forest's home crowd and low block have frustrated bigger sides all season. The champions' front line is at full strength for the first time in weeks.

Does Arteta's attacking trio finally click together at the City Ground, or does Forest's organisation at home hold firm again?

[Alan's Soccer Previews @AlanSoccerPr]

Arsenal walk into the City Ground as champions. Forest walk in looking for a spark. 🔥

The Gunners sit second with 15 points. Forest are 15th with five. The last two league meetings here both finished 0-0.

Here is the tactical breakdown of a game that rarely gives the visitors an easy afternoon. 🧵

#NFFC #AFC #PremierLeague #CityGround

[Alan's Soccer Previews @AlanSoccerPr]

🚑 Who’s Missing:

🤕 Saliba still out with a back problem. Hincapie out with an ankle issue. Tzolis missing.

⚠️ Gibbs-White a doubt after a muscle issue. Igor Jesus and Savona out. Milenkovic back in training but unlikely to start.

🔄 Saka, Odegaard and Havertz expected to return for Arsenal after being rested in midweek. 👇

[Alan's Soccer Previews @AlanSoccerPr]

⚔️ The Battleground:

Leeds keep the same 3-4-2-1 that ran Arsenal close. Calvert-Lewin and Okafor up top. Stach and the wing-backs supplying the width.

United have no natural centre-forward and no natural left-back.

Does Martinez’s return give them enough structure, or does the reshuffle just hand Leeds more space down the flanks?

[Alan's Soccer Previews @AlanSoccerPr]

Elland Road has zero interest in last season’s third place or this week’s apology. 🔥

Leeds sit above United. Farke’s side know their shape. Carrick’s men still don’t.

Here is the tactical breakdown of a rivalry that could get ugly. 🧵

#LUFC #MUFC #PremierLeague #EllandRoad

[Alan's Soccer Previews @AlanSoccerPr]

🔍 The Absences That Matter:

🚫 Sesko out again — Mbeumo starts through the middle, Cunha and Rashford on the bench.

🚫 Shaw and Mainoo missing — Dalot shifted to left-back, Martinez starts days after calling out the hierarchy.

Santos, Baleba and Tielemans in midfield. Fernandes pushed wide again.

[Alan's Soccer Previews @AlanSoccerPr]

🔥 HIGHLIGHTS:
🇪🇸 Pau Cubarsí (8.5) — Two assists from center-back?! Generational vision.

🇲🇦 Abde (7.4) — A constant nightmare on the counter for Betis.

❄️ STRUGGLERS:
🇪🇸 Héctor Bellerín (5.1) — Left on an island against Yamal and got cooked.

Culés, is Yamal officially the best winger in the world right now? Let me know your thoughts on the ratings below! 👇

[Alan's Soccer Previews @AlanSoccerPr]

Lamine Yamal in the Number 10 shirt is an absolute cheat code. 🪄

Real Betis gave Barcelona a serious fight at La Cartuja, but a chaotic 7-goal thriller ended in a 5-2 masterclass.

Here is my tactical breakdown and full player ratings from an insane afternoon of football. 🧵👇

#BetisBarça #LamineYamal #FCBarcelona #LaLiga

[Alan's Soccer Previews @AlanSoccerPr]

🔍 The Tactical Takeaways:

🔹 The Engine Room: Rodri (8.4) and Pedri (7.4) completely choked out Betis's midfield once they went down to 10 men.

🔹 The Flank Battle: Yamal absolutely terrorized the right side, but Xavi Espart (6.8) and Adeyemi (6.8) kept things perfectly balanced on the left.

[Alan's Soccer Previews @AlanSoccerPr]

𝐁𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐧𝐚 𝟏-𝟑 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 | 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬

Tommaso Pobega put Bologna ahead early at the Dall’Ara, only for Marcus Thuram to level before the break. Inter then turned the game after half-time through goals from Carlos Augusto and Ange-Yoan Bonny.

Bologna’s early control faded once Inter’s midfield settled, and the hosts were left chasing after the visitors’ substitutes changed the tempo.

𝐁𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐧𝐚

𝐋𝐮𝐤𝐚𝐬𝐳 𝐒𝐤𝐨𝐫𝐮𝐩𝐬𝐤𝐢
Rated 6.9 after being beaten for Thuram’s header and then again by the two second-half finishes.

𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐨 𝐃𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐚𝐧
Rated 6.2 after finding little space on the right and being asked to drop deeper as Inter pressed higher.

𝐍𝐢𝐜𝐨𝐥ò 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐞
Rated 6.5 after competitive aerial work that kept the central channel organised for long spells.

𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐮𝐫 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞
Rated 6.4 after a yellow card and a shift in which the left side of the back three was stretched once Inter’s wide players advanced.

𝐍𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐫 𝐙𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐚
Rated 6.8 after offering the most consistent wide cover for the hosts and limiting the early threat down the right.

𝐋𝐞𝐰𝐢𝐬 𝐅𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐨𝐧
Rated 6.9 after screening the back four and recycling possession without creating clear openings.

𝐓𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐨 𝐏𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐚
Rated 7.7 after scoring the opening goal with a low finish and remaining Bologna’s most progressive midfielder until the yellow card.

𝐉𝐮𝐚𝐧 𝐌𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚
Rated 7.0 after providing the assist for Pobega’s goal and offering the main source of width on the left.

𝐅𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐨 𝐁𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐢
Rated 7.4 after lively link play between the lines that gave Bologna their best spells of control.

𝐍𝐢𝐜𝐨𝐥ò 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐢𝐚𝐠𝐡𝐢
Rated 6.7 after energetic running that faded once Inter regained the ball higher up the pitch.

𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐨 𝐏𝐢𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐢
Rated 6.4 after holding the ball at times but remaining isolated before being replaced.

𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫

𝐉𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐩 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐭í𝐧𝐞𝐳
Rated 7.0 after solid handling of Bologna’s early efforts and a clean sheet once the second-half control arrived.

𝐘𝐚𝐧𝐧 𝐁𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐤
Rated 6.6 after a functional shift on the right of the back three that limited the central threat.

𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐞𝐥 𝐀𝐤𝐚𝐧𝐣𝐢
Rated 8.9 after the standout defensive display of the afternoon, reading danger and distributing calmly from the heart of the back line.

𝐀𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐨 𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐢
Rated 6.8 after progressive passes out from the left that helped Inter settle once the early deficit was cleared.

𝐋𝐮𝐢𝐬 𝐇𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞
Rated 6.5 after offering width on the right without the final delivery that opened Bologna’s shape.

𝐍𝐢𝐜𝐨𝐥ò 𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐚
Rated 7.2 after the cross that led to Thuram’s equaliser and a busy shift that kept the midfield organised.

𝐏𝐢𝐨𝐭𝐫 𝐙𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐢ń𝐬𝐤𝐢
Rated 7.9 after intelligent movement between the lines and the control that allowed Inter to dictate the second half.

𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐒𝐮č𝐢ć
Rated 7.2 after screening the defence and recycling possession without being overrun.

𝐅𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐨 𝐃𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐨
Rated 6.9 after providing balance on the left and covering the channel once Bologna tried to stretch the pitch.

𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐮𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐦
Rated 7.8 after the header that levelled the scores just before the break and constant pressure on the Bologna centre-backs.

𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐨 𝐏𝐢𝐨 𝐄𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐨
Rated 6.1 after working the channels early but remaining quiet before being replaced.

Alan's Soccer Previews
European football. Beyond the scoreline.

[Alan's Soccer Previews @AlanSoccerPr]

𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝟑-𝟐 𝐈𝐩𝐬𝐰𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐓𝐨𝐰𝐧 | 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬

Erling Haaland scored twice against Ipswich Town as Manchester City recorded a 3-2 victory at the Etihad Stadium, with Phil Foden opening the scoring and Daizen Maeda and Zian Flemming replying for the visitors.

City controlled the decisive moments through Haaland’s brace and Foden’s early strike, while Ipswich’s shape was repeatedly stretched before a late penalty narrowed the margin.

𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲

𝐆𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐥𝐮𝐢𝐠𝐢 𝐃𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚
Rated 6.3 after limited involvement that still required organisation of the line behind him.

𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐮𝐬 𝐍𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐬
Rated 6.9 after steady work down the right before being replaced.

𝐑𝐮𝐛𝐞𝐧 𝐃𝐢𝐚𝐬
Rated 6.8 after competitive aerial and ground duels that kept the central areas intact.

𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜 𝐆𝐮𝐞𝐡𝐢
Rated 7.0 after solid covering and progressive distribution from the back.

𝐍𝐢𝐜𝐨 𝐎’𝐑𝐞𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐲
Rated 6.1 after being exposed on the left before his substitution.

𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐨 𝐊𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐜
Rated 7.3 after providing the assist for Haaland’s first goal and controlling midfield phases until injury forced him off.

𝐀𝐲𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐛 𝐁𝐨𝐮𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐢
Rated 7.0 after composed recycling and positional discipline in the middle.

𝐈𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐍𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐲𝐞
Rated 6.3 after supplying the assist for Haaland’s second with a precise pass on the break.

𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥 𝐅𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐧
Rated 8.2 after scoring the opener against Ipswich and maintaining attacking threat throughout.

𝐉𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐲 𝐃𝐨𝐤𝐮
Rated 7.2 after assisting Foden’s goal and offering constant width on the left.

𝐄𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐇𝐚𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝
Rated 10.0 after a brace of a header and a finish that defined the result.

𝐈𝐩𝐬𝐰𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐓𝐨𝐰𝐧

𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐖𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐨𝐧
Rated 6.3 after a busy afternoon that could not prevent three goals.

𝐃𝐚𝐫𝐚 𝐎’𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐚
Rated 7.0 after competitive defending and organisation of the back line.

𝐈𝐬𝐬𝐚 𝐃𝐢𝐨𝐩
Rated 6.2 after struggling to contain City’s central runners.

𝐉𝐚𝐜𝐨𝐛 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐬
Rated 6.5 after aerial work that was eventually bypassed.

𝐀𝐛𝐝𝐨𝐮𝐥 𝐎𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐚
Rated 6.4 after assisting Maeda’s equaliser before a booking.

𝐅𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐨 𝐋𝐮𝐢𝐬
Rated 6.6 after midfield effort that could not control the tempo.

𝐄𝐱𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐞𝐥 𝐏𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐨𝐬
Rated 6.7 after steady recycling without enough end product.

𝐋𝐞𝐢𝐟 𝐃𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐬
Rated 7.0 after overlapping runs that offered an outlet.

𝐃𝐚𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐞𝐝𝐚
Rated 7.2 after scoring the equaliser against Manchester City with a composed finish.

𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐧'𝐬 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰𝐬
𝐄𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥. 𝐁𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞.