Luka Modrić played the full 90 minutes and assisted on AC Milan’s 93′ equalizer in a shock 2-2 draw vs. Pisa. AC Milan were the better team for 90% of the match but conceded a penalty and late counter attack to give Pisa hope for their first win of the season. Modrić flooded the field with wonderful through balls inside and outside the box. He could have easily had another assist or two. However, Leao hit the crossbar with a good look on goal and with the last shot of the game, Saelemaekers sent a near point-blank shot just wide of the post. Milan will be disappointed with the draw.
Modrić was given a solid 8.4 FOTMOB rating in this match. SempreMilan said this of Modrić and his efforts: “A couple of misplaced passes at the start of the game from him, but after that, he controlled a lot for Milan and certainly made himself a key part of the attack. If anything, we saw that in the final 15-20 minutes or so.”
Andrej Kramarić recorded a goal and assist in Hoffenheim’s 3-1 victory over Heidenheim Saturday, receiving a solid 7.8 SOFA rating. It is his 3rd goal of the Bundesliga season as Hoffenheim are punching above their weight with 13 points from eight matches.
Luka Vušković played the full 90 minutes for Hamburg in a 1-0 loss to Wolfsburg Saturday. He received a 7.8 SOFA rating in the match which was second best on the squad. He won one tackle, had seven clearances, one blocked shot and won 11/12 aerial duels.
Josip Stanišić returned to action Saturday in Bayern Munich’s 3-0 victory Borussia Monchengladbach. He came off the bench in the 81st minute to play the last 10 minutes of the match and will be available for November’s World Cup qualifiers vs. Faroe Islands and Montenegro.
Joško Gvardiol played the full 90 minutes for Man City in a 1-0 loss to Aston Villa Sunday. With the defeat, City now fall six points behind leaders Arsenal. Gvardiol received a 5/10 grade from Goal.com as he was “Always encouraged to get forward, but that can leave space behind. Could have made more of a push from Rogers in the first-half that would have given VAR a big penalty call to make, but offered no appeal.” Mateo Kovačić remained an unused sub for City in the match.
Franjo Ivanović bagged a late insurance penalty in the 93′ for Benfica in a 5-0 win over Arouca. This is Ivanović’s third Portuguese goal in eight appearances this season.
Budimir MVP of the match with two goals in Osasuna’s loss to Celta. His second penalty attempt hit the crossbar, so was inches from a hat trick. His most impressive skill continues to be his abiliry to win aerial duels off goal kicks. With him and Vušković in the same lineup, Croatia would have the air absolutely covered.
Toma Bašić starting for Lazio once again. Seems like he may deserve the Fruk (or Luka Sučić) spot in the lineup.
Bašić just scored a killer goal too at the 9 minute mark
Two things: One, Pongračić is playing better and better for Fiorentina. He looked really great for Fiorentina in the second half against Bologna, played smart and tough, runs fast and has a great first touch, even put in a great cross while chasing the win and drew what technically should have been Lucumí’s second yellow in the final minutes. If he played that way for the repka, Šutalo would be on the bench. What is going on with him that he looks so much less like a champion for the repka? Two, Bologna does not defend well without Moro. Say what you like about him, but Bologna drops points when he doesn’t play. There’s nothing special about him as a player, but he somehow helps prevent teams from scoring.
Here’s the foul on Vuskovic in extra stoppage time
Looks like a penalty – surprised ref didn’t even go to VAR…
x.com/robi1O96/status/1982164639803703624
HSV next play Tuesday 13:30 EDT Pokal Cup match vs. Heidenheim
Pjaca (FC Twente) v Sutalo (Ajax) starting momentarily in the Eredivisie. For those in Canada/US eastern time zone, a 7:15 am start . . .
I see Ivanovic scored on a penalty kick after being subbed on late in the game today . . . Benfica wins 5-0.
Won’t hurt his confidence.
The photo of Luka receiving his award says all anyone needs to know about him: individual awards mean nothing compared to team success.
Indeed. I still had the game on at that point and it looked like he was gonna almost cry because they didn’t win against a newly-promoted team.
He did not look interested in receiving the award or having the photo taken.
Meanwhile Leao misses a golden chance and smiles after like a mala curica.
Franko Kovacevic is linked to Sevilla. Quoting the fichajes.net article below: “Sevilla has already sent scouts to some of Celje’s games, and the Seville club is compiling a dossier with data, videos, and clauses to activate an offer in the winter transfer window.”
fichajes.net/en/news/the-superstar-forward-who-could-sign-for-sevilla-20251025.html
Nice to see.
Dream scenario would be this guy becoming another Dado Pršo for us.
Blows up out of nowhere, and becomes a starting caliber striker for us in his mid-20s.
Amen to that *crosses fingers
Luka Sucic unused sub y’day
Baturina came on at 72′ today (not for Nico Paz – he plays 90′ every game (so stop saying he’s not playing bc of Paz!) – anyone see him play?
You should start each of your dozen daily posts with “Dear Diary…”
Three of the big concerns/disappointments in terms of playing time so far this season have been (1) Livakovic, (2) L. Sucic and (3) Majer.
Majer was an unused sub today. .
Those guys need to get on track, but you can’t get on track if you don’t play enough, and aren’t getting starts.
Should they change teams?
Other players need to find their form after slow starts or due to being sidelined by injuries, including Sutalo, Stanisic, and Kovacic. I think they will all be ready for the summer WC. They should be fine.
On the plus side . . .
Vuskovic has proven to be a force in the Bundesliga, Modric is playing really well, Kramaric now appears to be rounding into form, and Hoffenheim is going well.
Defence and midfield seem like they will be very solid. Goaltending is turning out to be a worry and none of our attacking forwards have had a break out year . . .
Am I glad that you wrote this comment, A Tin U. I have been looking to talk to you about the overall club form of our NT players which up to this point of the season has been very concerning, especially given this is World Cup year.
Even DCC was benched on Friday, to my surprise…
Should those 3 players change team? I assume you have the upcoming January window in mind. Imo Livakovic, certainly yes, as I can’t really see him pushing out Gazzaniga at Girona. Sucic probably should look out as well, since Real Sociedad’s midfield is fairly crowded and he is way down the pecking order. I guess for Sucic and Majer, it also depends on whether their current coaches are dismissed (or if they resign) between now and January.
Maybe more thoughts later. Suffice to say, I’m really hoping the situation will improve for many of our players, beyond just the ones mentioned above.
Thanks for your insights Bartolec1912. 🙏
Yes, I had the upcoming January window in mind.
I think you must be right about coaches. . . It seems a change in coaches can cause, or contribute to, a player who has been going well suddenly falling into disfavour.
New coach this year at Real Sociedad and that does not seem to have worked for L. Sucic. How much of the problem there is the coach? I don’t know, but it seems it must have contributed to the current sad state of affairs to some degree.
Majer went to Wolfsburg under Niko Kovac, if I recall right, and it has been a revolving coaching door since. Sutalo has a new coach this year after his great year last year at Ajax under a different coach. The recent coaching change at Benfica does not seem to have been good for Ivanovic.
For us to go well at WC2026 we obviously need everyone peaking at the right time. It seems the January transfer window and the status of 3-4 coaches around Europe are things we will have to watch closely over the next few months.
@Anonymous . . .
I saw the Como-Parma game from the point when Baturina came onto the field in about the 70th minute.
Ended 0-0.
Baturina played at least as well as Nico Paz while they were both on the field. Before anyone laughs, I’m not saying he is a better player. He isn’t. I’m just saying if you watch this game for the last 25 minutes or so (that includes extra time), you are likely to conclude that Baturina played at least as good as Paz.
He worked hard when he did not have the ball.
He was confident and in control when he had the ball and overall seemed to be building some confidence as a player new to Serie A. He made a couple of slick moves, and was directly involved in creating one of Como’s better chances to score, crossing a nice ball into the middle to a Como player.
He made one very quick break with the ball, showing good acceleration, up the middle of the field, breaking away from defenders into open space and creating a potential opportunity . . . he then made a pass to his left which was easily intercepted by a defender, when he had a Como player wide open on the right that I thought he could have hit with a pass and it would’ve been a much better choice. A poor selection there. So he created a good opportunity with Como on the counterattack, but didn’t finish the opportunity very well.
I would say he is coming on well. The announcers said about the same thing. They said that he was brought to the team to eventually replace Paz who is going to return to Real Madrid this summer. They said Baturina was being nurtured and developed to take over that role in the midfield for when Paz leaves, the announcer said they are both suited to the same role and Baturina is there to inherit it. I am paraphrasing, but that was the gist of it.
I couldn’t really say that there was anything dramatic, but he played well.
He does seem to get knocked off the ball a little bit too easily and if he could develop some strength, I think that would make him better. Modrić is not that big a player either, but he’s strong and I have noticed it’s tough to knock Modric off the ball. Ballerina doesn’t have that same physical strength. It’s probably something he has to work on.
A final note: Smolcic was also playing in this game at right back for Como. He had a very solid performance. He was very steady. Nothing dramatic, but steady. For the part of the game that I saw he didn’t make any errors and seemed to be settling in at Como in that role at right back.
Yikes. Voice dictation glitch.
“Baturina.”
Hull City 1-1
Charlton equalized in extra-time
Pandur couldn’t do much on the free header off the corner
x.com/GoalsXtra/status/1982112686973296789
HSV lost 0-1 Wolfsburg (despite 2.45 xG created)
For Wolfsburg goal, HSV LB Muheim got caught up w Daghim – and as he was trying to get back the midfielder passed it past it back to the wing to Daghim (his man) – Vuskovic had to come over to cover – it was a 1 v 1 and Vuskovic got flat-footed – the guy cut inside and fired off a shot – this is the exact type of 1 v 1 they are trying to avoid Vuskovic getting into (as it’s not his strength) – once he gets flat-footed like that – it’s hard for him to react to a quick skill in front of him (he swiped his foot, but the ball was already moved on at that point)
Even Gvardiol isn’t particularly strong in these 1 v 1 – but for Vuskovic it’s clearly not his strength – they have to work on his feet in these situations – Anonymous noticed it in the Bayern game – it’s this getting flat-footed/stopping that kills him (somehow the need to get him to keep his feet moving in small steps in these 1 v 1 I think it might help with balance/ability to explode in other directions)
Otherwise, his aerial dominance was on display, good composure, very good passing (both short and long, including diagonal and line-breaking) with both feet – interesting – in search of late goal Vuskovic went up for the last 10 minutes as an extra #9 – he was fouled inside the box (around 90+2or3) but it wasn’t called – watched the replay a few times and seems to be a foul (the defender deliberately put his leg in between Vuskovic and he tripped) – but the ref didn’t even go to VAR to check
Majer – of course – was an unused sub
Terrible news
Olic is watching Vuskovic today (they showed him – although he was more focused on his phone – put away your f-ing phone for 90 minutes nose-picker!)
Guess he’s scouting him for the U21
Terrible
10:00 EDT Pandur starts vs. Charlton Athletic
Big match for Hull – a win and they could push up into PO territory
Re: Norwich – Ante Crnac ruptured his ACL – needs surgery – and is out for the rest of the season (not sure if happened during the last match or in training)
Vuskovic starting 09:30 EDT
No change in starting 11 to line-up vs. Union Berlin
But – big news – silky Fabio Vieira has returned to the bench after injury
Majer on bench – didn’t realize Christian Eriksen’s at Wolfsburg now (in their back-line RCB Seelt and RB Kumbedi making their Bundesliga debut – supposed HSV will target that right side)
Conference League Matchday 2
Goals by 26-year-old center forward/winger Franko Kovacevic in Celje’s 2-0 win at Shamrock Rovers. With 22 goals across all competitions, he is on the radar of Fiorentina, Celta Vigo and Sparta Praha according to Nogomania.
Shamrock Rovers 0-[ 1] Celje – Franko Kovacevic 33′
reddit.com/r/soccer/comments/1oecw4t/shamrock_rovers_01_celje_franko_kova%C4%8Devi%C4%87_33
Shamrock Rovers 0-[ 2] Celje – Franko Kovacevic 40′
reddit.com/r/soccer/comments/1oed15o/shamrock_rovers_02_celje_franko_kova%C4%8Devi%C4%87_2nd
***
Rijeka managed to beat Sparta Praha – well done!👏🏻
Rijeka 1-0 Sparta Praha – Daniel Adu-Adjei 75′
reddit.com/r/soccer/comments/1oezj17/rijeka_10_sparta_praha_daniel_aduadjei_75
Tidbit: Pisa goalie for the match was Croatian Adrian Šemper.
How did he look?
King luka still king
I meant semper
Obviously king luka looks awesome