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Fri 16 Oct

Writer

Priya Raman

Tactical Analyst

Former performance analyst. Writes about shape, space and set pieces.

Stories by Priya Raman

Illustration for the Opinion article “Fifa's peace prize should be scrapped, not quietly redesigned”: an AI-generated editorial illustration showing a scene illustrating the subject of the article, with the headline set over it. Illustrative only, not a photograph of a real event.

Fifa's peace prize should be scrapped, not quietly redesigned

Fifa should drop its peace prize altogether. A football governing body that hands awards…

Illustration for the Opinion article “Unfamiliar opponents and the case for the Europa League's single table”: an AI-generated editorial illustration showing an empty training ground at dawn with cones and markers laid out, with the headline set over it. Illustrative only, not a photograph of a real event.

Unfamiliar opponents and the case for the Europa League's single table

Beşiktaş and Hoffenheim have no long shared history, and that is the point. The Europa…

Illustration for the Opinion article “Lech Poznań v Leverkusen shows what the Europa League format is for”: an AI-generated editorial illustration showing an empty training ground at dawn with cones and markers laid out, with the headline set over it. Illustrative only, not a photograph of a real event.

Lech Poznań v Leverkusen shows what the Europa League format is for

A Polish champion's club meeting a German heavyweight in the Europa League is the…

Illustration for the Opinion article “Hajduk Split v Ajax shows what the Conference League is for”: an AI-generated editorial illustration showing an empty training ground at dawn with cones and markers laid out, with the headline set over it. Illustrative only, not a photograph of a real event.

Hajduk Split v Ajax shows what the Conference League is for

Hajduk Split against Ajax is not a consolation fixture. Two clubs with long European…

FC Copenhagen Women must turn brand power into top-flight results

A famous name and large crowds can carry a new women's team up the divisions quickly.…

Illustration for the Opinion article “A small Andorran club tests what UEFA's open qualifying is for”: an AI-generated editorial illustration showing an empty training ground at dawn with cones and markers laid out, with the headline set over it. Illustrative only, not a photograph of a real event.

A small Andorran club tests what UEFA's open qualifying is for

An Andorran club with a Pochettino in its squad is set to make European history. The…

Illustration for the Opinion article “A single table, two cut-off lines and the end of dead group matches”: an AI-generated editorial illustration showing an empty training ground at dawn with cones and markers laid out, with the headline set over it. Illustrative only, not a photograph of a real event.

A single table, two cut-off lines and the end of dead group matches

The league-phase table is a better competitive design than the old groups. It has…

Illustration for the Opinion article “Torreense v Sunderland shows why cup routes into Europe matter”: an AI-generated editorial illustration showing an empty training ground at dawn with cones and markers laid out, with the headline set over it. Illustrative only, not a photograph of a real event.

Torreense v Sunderland shows why cup routes into Europe matter

A Portuguese second-tier club hosting Sunderland in the Europa League is not an anomaly.…

Illustration for the Opinion article “Man City vs PSG is now a fight for seeding, not survival”: an AI-generated editorial illustration showing an empty training ground at dawn with cones and markers laid out, with the headline set over it. Illustrative only, not a photograph of a real event.

Man City vs PSG is now a fight for seeding, not survival

When Manchester City play Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League league phase, one…

Illustration for the Opinion article “Mourinho's Calciopoli Comparison Exposes the Limits of Sporting Justice”: an AI-generated editorial illustration showing an empty training ground at dawn with cones and markers laid out, with the headline set over it. Illustrative only, not a photograph of a real event.

Mourinho's Calciopoli Comparison Exposes the Limits of Sporting Justice

Mourinho's argument is that Italy punished match-influencing far more decisively than…

Illustration for the Opinion article “The league phase and the case for small-league champions in Europe”: an AI-generated editorial illustration showing an empty training ground at dawn with cones and markers laid out, with the headline set over it. Illustrative only, not a photograph of a real event.

The league phase and the case for small-league champions in Europe

The fixture should be welcomed. Viking against Bayern Munich, drawing Champions League…

Illustration for the Opinion article “Why is the Champions League so hard to watch for free in Germany?”: an AI-generated editorial illustration showing a stadium crowd seen from high above, lights arranged in coordinated patterns, with the headline set over it. Illustrative only, not a photograph of a real event.

Why is the Champions League so hard to watch for free in Germany?

Almost all Champions League football in Germany is sold to subscription services, and…

Illustration for the Opinion article “What does Netherlands v Hungary say about women's football's tiers?”: an AI-generated editorial illustration showing an empty training ground at dawn with cones and markers laid out, with the headline set over it. Illustrative only, not a photograph of a real event.

What does Netherlands v Hungary say about women's football's tiers?

Dutch searches for Netherlands v Hungary, the Oranje Leeuwinnen and Isa Kardinaal point…

Illustration for the Opinion article “Shakhtar's London base shows UEFA needs a rule for exiled clubs”: an AI-generated editorial illustration showing an empty training ground at dawn with cones and markers laid out, with the headline set over it. Illustrative only, not a photograph of a real event.

Shakhtar's London base shows UEFA needs a rule for exiled clubs

Shakhtar Donetsk are playing their Champions League home games at Stamford Bridge…

Illustration for the Opinion article “Viking v Bayern shows why the Champions League league phase works”: an AI-generated editorial illustration showing an empty training ground at dawn with cones and markers laid out, with the headline set over it. Illustrative only, not a photograph of a real event.

Viking v Bayern shows why the Champions League league phase works

Viking against Bayern looks lopsided, but the single 36-team table changes that. Every…

Illustration for the Opinion article “Caf's Afcon U-turn shows process matters more than the calendar”: an AI-generated editorial illustration showing an empty training ground at dawn with cones and markers laid out, with the headline set over it. Illustrative only, not a photograph of a real event.

Caf's Afcon U-turn shows process matters more than the calendar

Motsepe's reversal on the Afcon cycle may suit many federations, but it has hurt trust…

Illustration for the Opinion article “PSG against Manchester City is now a seeding contest, not a reckoning”: an AI-generated editorial illustration showing an empty training ground at dawn with cones and markers laid out, with the headline set over it. Illustrative only, not a photograph of a real event.

PSG against Manchester City is now a seeding contest, not a reckoning

A meeting between Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City in the Champions League is…

Illustration for the Opinion article “Japan's women show that football academies matter more than money”: an AI-generated editorial illustration showing an empty training ground at dawn with cones and markers laid out, with the headline set over it. Illustrative only, not a photograph of a real event.

Japan's women show that football academies matter more than money

Japan's women keep beating wealthier football nations because of how they develop…

Illustration for the Opinion article “Nice and Strasbourg show why the Ligue 1 table tests club ownership”: an AI-generated editorial illustration showing an empty training ground at dawn with cones and markers laid out, with the headline set over it. Illustrative only, not a photograph of a real event.

Nice and Strasbourg show why the Ligue 1 table tests club ownership

Interest in where Nice and Strasbourg sit in the Ligue 1 table is about more than one…

Illustration for the Opinion article “Closed-door Geisterspiele punish the many for the sins of the few”: an AI-generated editorial illustration showing an empty training ground at dawn with cones and markers laid out, with the headline set over it. Illustrative only, not a photograph of a real event.

Closed-door Geisterspiele punish the many for the sins of the few

A Geisterspiel, a match played in an empty stadium, makes sense as an emergency measure…

Next up

All ›

16 Oct, 18:00 Heerenveen v Excelsior Eredivisie
16 Oct, 18:30 Frankfurt v 1. FC Köln Bundesliga
16 Oct, 18:45 Frosinone v Sassuolo Serie A
16 Oct, 18:45 Le Mans v Toulouse Ligue 1
16 Oct, 19:00 Burnley v Wolverhampton Championship

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