Just For Kicks

Hurrah, international football is back! The UEFA Nations League quarter-finals kicked off with high drama, as Croatia stunned France with a 2-0 victory despite an early missed penalty. Ante Budimir opened the scoring in the 26th minute, while Ivan Perišić doubled the lead just before halftime. France, boasting stars like Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé, controlled possession but struggled to break through, leaving them with a mountain to climb in the return leg at the Stade de France. Meanwhile, Germany showcased resilience in Milan, battling back to defeat Italy 2-1. Leon Goretzka, making his return to the national team, sealed the win with a decisive strike—earning praise from coach Julian Nagelsmann for his commanding presence on both ends of the pitch. Elsewhere, Denmark edged past Portugal with a 1-0 victory, courtesy of substitute Rasmus Højlund’s late goal. The young striker even paid tribute to Cristiano Ronaldo with a 'Siu' celebration, a nod to his admiration for the Portuguese icon.

All this and more, right here on Just For Kicks!

It was a sea of black and white over the weekend as Newcastle United ended a 70-year domestic trophy drought, clinching their first major silverware since 1969 with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley. Goals from Dan Burn and Alexander Isak, either side of halftime, sealed a historic triumph—one that will be etched into Geordie folklore and stand as a crowning achievement for manager Eddie Howe and his squad. For Liverpool, the defeat capped a dismal week following their Champions League exit at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain. But for the Toon Army, this was more than just a cup win—it was redemption, a long-awaited end to decades of near misses, and the start of a new chapter. That and much more football reviewed, here on Just For Kicks.

The Champions League Round of 16 delivered pure footballing drama, with Real Madrid once again breaking Atletico hearts in a thrilling penalty shootout. In this domestic clash dripping with history, Los Blancos saw their first-leg advantage erased as Atletico forced extra time with a 1-0 lead on the night. But when the dust settled, Madrid held their nerve from the spot - with a dash of VAR controversy - sealing a quarterfinal showdown with Arsenal. Elsewhere, Aston Villa and Borussia Dortmund also punched their tickets to the last eight, setting up a tantalizing next stage.

Paris Saint-Germain added to the chaos with a nail-biting victory over Liverpool, riding Gianluigi Donnarumma’s penalty heroics to a 4-1 shootout win after Ousmane Dembélé’s strike had leveled the aggregate score. Meanwhile, Bayern Munich made a statement, crushing Bayer Leverkusen 5-0 on aggregate as Harry Kane orchestrated the second-leg triumph. Inter Milan breezed past Feyenoord, securing a 4-1 aggregate victory with Marcus Thuram dazzling in front of the San Siro faithful. With giants falling and dreams taking shape, the quarterfinals are set to be electric. All this and more on this episode of Just For Kicks.

The race for the coveted Champions League spots is more unpredictable than ever as we enter the business end of the campaign. The latest twist? Nottingham Forest’s stunning—yet not entirely shocking—1-0 victory over Manchester City at the City Ground. Callum Hudson-Odoi sealed the win in the 82nd minute with a clinical counterattack finish, while City, despite dominating possession, failed to break through Forest’s resilient defense marking their 15th defeat in what has been a challenging season. Meanwhile, Liverpool further solidified their grip on the Premier League summit with a 3-1 comeback win over Southampton. Mohamed Salah’s two penalties and a goal from Darwin Núñez ensured all three points, stretching their lead to 14 points.

Elsewhere, Brighton & Hove Albion edged Fulham 2-1, securing victory with a last-minute penalty, while Manchester United and Arsenal battled to a hard-fought 1-1 draw at Old Trafford. Crystal Palace narrowly defeated Ipswich Town 1-0, and Aston Villa kept their Champions League hopes alive with a 1-0 win over Brentford. All this and more, reviewed in this week’s Just For Kicks.

A colossal quarter-final berth in the AFC Champions League Elite hangs in the balance as Malaysian powerhouse Johor Darul Ta'zim and Thai giants Buriram United battle for a shot at glory against a Saudi Pro League contender. The stage is set at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium this Tuesday, where all eyes will be on Hector Bidoglio’s men after their defensive masterclass secured a goalless draw in Buriram. Will the Southern Tigers stay true to their disciplined approach, or will they unleash an attacking onslaught? That, plus all the latest from the Champions League and Premier League, right here on Just For Kicks.

Photo Credit: Johor Southern Tigers

The FA Cup fifth round was packed with drama, surprises, and some big moments. Delivering arguably the biggest was Fulham who pulled off a shock by knocking out defending champions Manchester United in a penalty shootout at Old Trafford. After a 1-1 draw in extra time—Calvin Bassey scoring for Fulham and Bruno Fernandes equalizing for United—Fulham’s keeper Bernd Leno came up clutch in the shootout, saving shots from Victor Lindelöf and Joshua Zirkzee to seal a 4-3 penalty shootout win. Elsewhere, Crystal Palace took down Millwall 3-1, a game that saw Millwall’s goalkeeper sent off after a rough challenge on Jean-Philippe Mateta, who needed 25 stitches but is recovering well. Preston North End made history by reaching the quarterfinals for the first time since 1966, comfortably beating Burnley 3-0 with a stunning Robbie Brady free-kick leading the way. Other results saw Bournemouth edge Wolves on penalties after a 1-1 draw, while Manchester City eased past Plymouth Argyle 3-1. Aston Villa got past Cardiff City with a 2-0 win, and Brighton’s dramatic 2-1 extra-time victory over Newcastle—sealed by Danny Welbeck’s clutch finish—rounded out the action. All that plus Champions League previews on this week's Just For Kicks.

The FA Cup quarter-finals promise an exciting weekend of football, featuring seven Premier League clubs alongside Championship underdogs Preston North End. Fulham and Crystal Palace clash in a high-stakes London derby, each hoping to edge closer to their first-ever FA Cup triumph. Brighton, riding a seven-game unbeaten streak, seeks redemption against Nottingham Forest after their February setback. Meanwhile, Preston faces a daunting test against an in-form Aston Villa, whose defensive solidity and European ambitions make them formidable opponents. Elsewhere, Manchester City travels to Bournemouth, eager to avenge a recent league defeat and keep their cup dreams alive. Who will book their place in Wembley? All that and more previewed on this episode of Just For Kicks!

Arne Slot's absence from the touchline did not affect Liverpool as they clinically brushed aside Newcastle, with a 2-0 win at Anfield in Matchweek 27 of the English Premier League. Arsenal's drab 0-0 draw against Nottingham Forest meant that the Reds go 13 points clear at the top of the table. Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta must now be regretting their decision to not find a striker in the transfer window, while Arne Slot can rest easy this weekend, ahead of their Champions League tie against PSG next week. Bob and Dez share their thoughts on the matches that were played in midweek, as well as preview the 5th round of the FA Cup, happening this weekend. All these, and more, only on another episode of Just For Kicks!

In a high-stakes Premier League showdown at the Etihad Stadium, Liverpool claimed a commanding 2-0 victory over Manchester City, stretching their lead at the summit to 11 points. Mohamed Salah broke the deadlock in the 14th minute with a deflected strike from a meticulously crafted corner routine, marking his 30th goal of the season. The Egyptian star turned provider in the 37th minute, threading a pass to Dominik Szoboszlai, whose low-driven shot outfoxed Ederson to double Liverpool’s advantage. Despite dominating possession with 66%, City found themselves blunt in attack, missing the cutting edge of the injured Erling Haaland. The defeat, City’s eighth of the campaign, leaves them a distant 20 points behind the leaders. Arsenal, Liverpool’s closest challengers, suffered a further setback as Jarrod Bowen’s decisive goal deepened their gap in the title race, bolstering the Reds' growing sense of inevitability.

Elsewhere, St. James’ Park played host to a seven-goal thriller as Newcastle United edged Nottingham Forest 4-3. Callum Hudson-Odoi’s sixth-minute opener threatened to derail the hosts, but Newcastle responded with a breathtaking 11-minute onslaught. Lewis Miley sparked the turnaround with a composed equalizer, quickly followed by Jacob Murphy’s strike to seize the lead. Alexander Isak then showcased his clinical prowess with a brace—one coming from the penalty spot—taking his Premier League tally to 50 goals in just 76 appearances, surpassing the milestone pace of icons like Cristiano Ronaldo and Thierry Henry. Despite a late Forest resurgence, Newcastle’s attacking blitz proved decisive in securing the vital three points. All that and more reviewed on this week's Just For Kicks.