No one can argue that 2020 has been an awful year that we all want to put behind us. But before we look ahead 2021, we have to take a minute to appreciate how sports have provided something resembling normality in recent months.
Considering the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been incredibly lucky to have soccer leagues playing regularly since June.
Due to the scheduling havoc wreaked by COVID-19 and the resulting extension of the 2019-20 season, the summer transfer was extended until Oct. 5, but when does the January transfer window 2021 open? It’s been a wild ride, but some semblance of normality has returned to European football with the January transfer window set to open on Saturday, Jan. 2 and close on Monday, Feb. 1.
Has the January transfer window changed?
Lyon handed PSG a 1-0 loss at the Parc des Princes on Sunday to move into second place in Ligue 1 and send the home side down to third, but the result was much more devastating than that — Neymar was stretchered off in injury time after an awful tackle from Thiago Mendes that resulted in a straight red card.
Hatem Ben Arfa should be gone but not forgotten by now. More precisely, he should be remembered by old heads around the block under the guise of “the streets will never forget” accompanied by video highlights of the two seasons in which he was entirely unplayable: 2011-12 with Newcastle United and 2015-16 with Nice.
By the standards of most clubs, second place in the Champions League group and a slim lead in the domestic table heading into December would represent an unqualified success. Alas, Paris Saint-Germain is not most clubs.
Chelsea became the first team to officially book a ticket for the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League after a dramatic 2-1 victory against Rennes.
After defeating Rennes handily 20 days ago, the Blues looked to pick up right where they left off against the French underdogs. Chelsea should have taken the lead in the opening five minutes after Timo Werner had a golden opportunity. Chelsea’s $60 million man instead decided to generously give the International Space Station a souvenir.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said on Thursday he is not interested in a European Super League amid reports that some elite clubs were in talks to set up a breakaway competition with the backing of the global soccer body.
In an interview published by German-language newspaper Aargauer Zeitung and other regional Swiss media, Infantino said FIFA was focused on the success of the revamped Club World Cup, which will feature 24 teams and be held for the first time in China in 2022.
Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappé became the first person to receive a copy of the upcoming FIFA 21 on Tuesday.
Mbappé unveiled a special edition of the cover sent by FIFA in personalized packaging made for the 21-year-old French star.
In the early stages of the 2020-21 season, Montpellier has taken Ligue 1 by storm.
Michel Der Zakarian's side has been one of the most exciting teams on the continent, in large part thanks to the attacking trident of Andy Delort, Gaëtan Laborde and Téji Savanier. Five games into the campaign, Montpellier is joint-first in goals scored and riding high in third place.