Amazing

Every Matchday, Man City's Social Team Is Doing Something So Subtle But So Beautiful

Something caught my eye during Manchester City’s Champions League encounter with Basel on Tuesday, and it wasn’t Amazonian fish-frog god Bernardo Silva. I saw it on City’s Twitter page — a beautiful little animation of their own and Basel’s badges before the game. 

Like a good sports hack reporter boy, I had to know more. Had they done this before? Yes. Had they been doing this since the start of the season? Yes. 

Okay.

Bernardo Silva Was Obviously Captured In The Amazon, Where He Was Worshiped As A God

Pretty much every Manchester City player was perfect in their 4-0 Champions League victory over FC Basel today — that’s how you come away with a four-goal Round of 16 advantage after playing away — but none more so than Portuguese winger Bernardo Silva.

The 18 Greatest Games In Champions League History

The return of UEFA Champions League and the beginning of the knockout stages marks a joyous time for any soccer fan. This season’s Round of 16 promises to be one of the most exciting yet. Matchups like Real Madrid vs. PSG, Juventus vs. Tottenham and Chelsea vs. Barcelona would be amazing finals for the event, but we’re lucky enough to have them in February and March. You're not going to want to miss any of the action.

Your Daily Reminder Of How Absurdly Good Lionel Messi Is — In Nutmeg Form

We all know Lionel Messi is brilliant. Sometimes, though, we just need a reminder. José Gayà was our guinea pig to give us a reminder of how clever the little Argentine is with a superb Messi nutmeg of the Valencia defender during the Copa del Rey semifinals on Thursday. 

Fresh Off The Plane In Spain, Messi Sent Francis Coquelin Back To London

Here’s an idea: a book or film chronicling the moments when various footballers were first introduced to the otherworldly enigma that is Lionel Messi. It’d be a hugely enjoyable, albeit largely repetitive, piece.

Revealed: Only Ronaldinho Really Partied Like It Was 1999 In 1999

There’s no question that Ronaldinho was at the height of his powers between 2002 and 2007, when he was twice named FIFA World Player of the Year and helped Brazil to the World Cup (’02) and Barcelona to the Champions League (’06). However, given how quickly his star faded after leaving Barca in 2008, you could say that the Brazilian attacker’s prime was a 10-year period beginning with his meteoric rise in 1999. 

Samuel Umtiti Turns Defense Into Attack With Absurd Interception-Turned-Backheel

The narrative of FC Barcelona always highlights their attack, and we all know the reason for that (Paulinho). But this season, Barcelona boast the joint-best defense in La Liga with only nine goals conceded after 20 matches (0.45 per game). The impressive nature of the balance they’ve struck is demonstrated by the fact that they’ve scored 28 more goals than their defensive rivals, Atletico Madrid (57 bulges of the ol’ onion bag versus 29).

Goalkeeper Scores From Within His Own Half, Admits It Was A Fluke

CD Lugo goalkeeper Juan Carlos Martín Corral scored an amazing bomb from within his own half to put the nail in the coffin in Lugo's 3-1 win over Sporting Gijon on Saturday.

With just 10 minutes left to play, Juan Carlos caught Sporting Gijon keeper Diego Mariño in no man's land and sent an expertly placed long ball into the back of the net. It's not the longest goalkeeper goal we've seen, but pretty spectacular.

How Do You Like Your Back Heels? From 12 Yards Out?

I don’t know about you, but a goal like this always brings me back to Thierry Henry’s 2004 effort for Arsenal against Charlton Athletic. It’s the rudest of finishes, and it’s the mark of a true libertine.   

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