Analysis: The decline of Barcelona
Barcelona have gone from footballing superpower to international laughing stock in an alarmingly short space of time, but the seeds of their demise were sown by many years of poor management. The salary restriction imposed on them by La Liga has forced them to cut costs drastically, but they were a response to the enormous debts racked up by the club, which left them vulnerable when Covid-19 hit European football hard.
Which clubs will suffer most during the Africa Cup of Nations?
The 2021 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off on January 9 in Cameroon, with the final almost a month later on February 6. With African players fulfilling key roles at many top European clubs, whose domestic seasons will continue during the tournament, some absences will be keenly felt.
What does it take to manage a top football club?
We’ve assessed the top football managers to see what it takes to be successful at one of Europe’s major clubs. Our great infographic looks at age, experience, past playing ability and local knowledge of major leagues and their current employers.
Lionel Messi transfer odds: PSG favourites to swoop
We’re tracking the latest Lionel Messi transfer news, rumours and odds for clues on where Lionel Messi could move to this summer. Barcelona sent shock waves across the football world when announcing the 34-year-old Argentina superstar was heading for the exit door.
Fixture difficulty: Which clubs have the toughest – and easiest – start to the new season?
The ‘big five’ European leagues have released their schedules for the 2021-22 season so we have analysed the fixture difficulty for them all. While every team has to play everyone else at some point, timing can be everything. A tough start can easily undermine a positive pre-season, while a gentle run of opening fixtures can provide the momentum necessary for a successful campaign.
Ballon d’Or odds: Messi could be in seventh heaven
Lionel Messi will look to extend his record of six Ballon d’Or titles when the annual football award returns. The 2020 award ceremony was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic but with football’s return to action, the 2021 edition will see the voting commence.
Euro stars: Who will sign them this summer?
With Euro 2020 now over, attention is shifting to the upcoming domestic football season but the competition’s impact may be felt here as well. Until the first ball of a new campaign is kicked, the attention of fans tends to be fixated on the transfer market, where the Euro 2020 stars will have drawn the attention of the game’s big spenders.
Harry Kane transfer news: Manchester clubs favourites to swoop
With Euro 2020 now over, attention will switch to the new domestic season and we’re tracking the latest Harry Kane transfer news to see which teams could make a move. The England captain enjoyed another impressive tournament as his four goals helped the team go agonisingly close to winning the Euros, with Kane threatening to repeat his Golden Boot success at the 2018 World Cup.
La Liga winner odds: Ancelotti tipped to resurrect Real
Real Madrid are 5/4 joint-favourites in bwin’s La Liga winner odds after bringing back Carlo Ancelotti for a second spell as head coach. The 62-year-old Italian led the Whites to Champions League glory in 2014 and returns following an 18-month stint in charge of Everton.
Rebuilding a footballing dynasty – and what happened next?
With several of Europe’s leading clubs in a transitional period this summer, we’ve taken a look at which past seasons have seen the biggest exoduses of title-winning players and how it affected each team’s performances in the following years.
European Super League: Breakaway tournament collapses
The football world was briefly in turmoil following a European Super League announcement which threatened to shake up the very foundations of the sport, but those plans have collapsed. It was proposed that the new competition would be a rival to the Champions League, with organisers claiming it would generate increased and guaranteed income for the clubs involved.
Who are football’s highest-profile free agents this summer?
As the football season enters its final stretch, Europe’s top clubs will already be preparing their transfer plans for this summer. While there will undoubtedly be fierce bidding wars for the continent’s top talent, some of the biggest signings could well be free transfers.
Analysis: Ten footballers who could suffer from burnout this season
With football now back under way across Europe, the continent’s top clubs can once again focus on the long term. Unfortunately the compressed post-Covid schedule and looming international commitments could lead to their star players tiring during the campaign and suffering from burnout.
Ronald Koeman Barcelona odds: New boss to shine at Camp Nou?
Following his arrival at Camp Nou, bwin is offering a number of Ronald Koeman Barcelona odds on how he will fare in the hot seat. Quique Setien was sent packing after a humiliating 8-2 Champions League drubbing by Bayern Munich, having only succeeded Ernesto Valverde in January.