Author: Joe Soriano

Joe Soriano covers West Ham for Green Street Hammers and writes about Real Madrid for The Real Champs. He has extensive experience covering world football since 2014. Joe is an editor for The Trivela Effect, where he covers the biggest clubs in European football. He has watched professional sports regularly since 2002 and can be found playing the same sports he covers with his friends.
Ranking the 10 best LaLiga goalkeepers right now in 2025
4Apr By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Rankings

Ranking the 10 best LaLiga goalkeepers right now in 2025

I don't think a lot of fans - including some pretty hardcore ones - understand just how brilliant LaLiga's goalkeepers have been over the past several years. And I'm not just talking about the divine trinity of Thibaut Courtois, Jan Oblak, and Marc Andre-ter Stegen at the "Big Three" either, because, let's face it, Oblak and MATS had a couple of rough seasons in between some monster ones. No, even when you look at the other goalkeepers they've fielded like Juan Musso, Wojciech Szczesny, and Andriy Lunin, all those guys would be top five-goalkeepers in many other top European leagues. But beyond the Big Three is where you really get to see talent. Remember Edgar Badia and Jeremias Ledesma? How about Alex Remiro at Real Sociedad? He's been on highlight reels in LaLiga for years. Now...
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Grading Ruben Amorim as Manchester United manager so far
3Apr By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Analysis

Grading Ruben Amorim as Manchester United manager so far

When Manchester United decided to move on from Erik ten Hag as their manager in November, the Red Devils were reeling in 14th place and in desperate need of a coaching change that, quite frankly, should have come in the summer when INEOS took over. After a few weeks of club legend Ruud van Nistelrooy taking care of the club as interim manager - he would later get the Leicester City gig - Ruben Amorim stepped in as the latest hyped up, up-and-coming hire from an established club outside of the top five European leagues. And now five months later, Manchester United sit 13th in the table, not ahead by Tottenham and Everton in 14th and 15th and clearly not significantly improved from Ten Hag's time at the beginning of the season. The minute Amorim stepped in to the job, he told the fa...
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Bayern Munich just got a lifeline against Inter Milan in the Champions League
1Apr By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Injury News

Bayern Munich just got a lifeline against Inter Milan in the Champions League

After facing local rivals Augsburg in the Bundesliga this weekend, Bayern Munich will defend the Allianz Arena in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals against the defending champions of Italy, Inter Milan. Both Bayern and Inter are title favorites in their respective leagues this season, and while Bayern, who nearly made the final of the Champions League last season, would normally find themselves favored against the Nerazzurri in the UCL, they are in the unfamiliar position of being underdogs this season. Although Bayern Munich have had their issues in big games this season with inexperienced manager Vincent Kompany leading the way, the biggest reason for them being underdogs has more to do with injuries. Veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who remains so decisive on ...
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Thomas Muller leaving clears the way for Bayern Munich’s dream signing
1Apr By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Transfer News

Thomas Muller leaving clears the way for Bayern Munich’s dream signing

Bayern Munich are in the driver's seat in the Bundesliga title race, but after an undefeated Bayer Leverkusen embarrassed them last season, Die Roten won't take a six-point lead over the resurgent Werkself for granted. Under Vincent Kompany, Bayern have made real strides since the disastrous Thomas Tuchel reign, and they are among the potential Champions League contenders, even though injuries prevent them from being among the favorites. Since Hansi Flick's dominant 2019/20, treble-winning season, Bayern haven't been Champions League favorites, and there's a sense that Max Eberl and Co. have a lot of work to do in the coming transfer windows in order to build Bayern back into being the most dominant force in European football. Signing Harry Kane and Michael Olise to the attack wer...
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Real Madrid are going to unlock Kylian Mbappe’s last major weakness
1Apr By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Analysis

Real Madrid are going to unlock Kylian Mbappe’s last major weakness

Real Madrid superstar forward Kylian Mbappe is in the prime of his career at 26 and already writing himself into the history books at the Santiago Bernabeu by tying Cristiano Ronaldo's opening tally of 33 goals in all competitions.  Although Real Madrid are second to Barcelona in LaLiga and haven't been as impressive overall this season, Mbappe has been the biggest bright spot in a quietly disappointing attack, leading the team with 22 goals while ranking second in the side behind Luka Modric in big chances created. After a rough start to the season, Mbappe has rebounded strongly since a low point against Athletic Club, showing the kind of resiliency that Cristiano, Karim Benzema, and all the other faces of Real Madrid in the past have displayed. But as incredible as Mbappe is as ...
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Carlo Ancelotti is realizing what Real Madrid need to finally start their new era
1Apr By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Analysis

Carlo Ancelotti is realizing what Real Madrid need to finally start their new era

The word "Revolution" started getting thrown around with regards to Real Madrid in 2019. In the aftermath of Cristiano Ronaldo's departure and an embarrassing 2018/19 season in both LaLiga and the Champions League, Real had an active summer transfer window that set the next five years in motion. Although Eden Hazard was the centerpiece investment of the window as a nine-figure signing from Chelsea and one of the world's best players, it was literally every other addition that made the difference for Los Merengues. Hazard ended up being an unmitigated disaster, but Rodrygo Goes, Vinicius Junior, Ferland Mendy, and Eder Militao were all young signings who were regular starters on two Champions League winning teams. Since then, Real Madrid have added a number of other outstanding you...
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Why Victor Osimhen is the transfer target Chelsea can’t miss out on this summer
31Mar By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Transfer News

Why Victor Osimhen is the transfer target Chelsea can’t miss out on this summer

Chelsea have shown immediate improvement in the 2024/25 Premier League season under new coach Enzo Maresca, and barring a late-season collapse, which isn't entirely impossible, the Blues should be back in the Champions League next season. Cole Palmer has continued to lead the way as one of the best players in the Premier League, but the main source of improvement is the better usage of the midfielders, specifically the ultra-talented - and incredibly expensive - duo of Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez. Estevao Willian and Andrey Santos will be two young Brazilians set to reenforce the squad further next season, but even with those guys in the lineup, Chelsea will have key attacking questions to answer. Chelsea have a decent striker in Nicolas Jackson and Palmer as the playmaker, ...
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Arsenal won’t like Eintracht Frankfurt’s updated Hugo Ekitike transfer price
31Mar By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Transfer News

Arsenal won’t like Eintracht Frankfurt’s updated Hugo Ekitike transfer price

Arsenal are in the market for a new starting striker after balking on signing a No. 9 in the last summer transfer window, which ultimately proved costly in the Premier League title race with a much-improved Liverpool side. Now, Arsenal are back to the drawing board in the summer 2025 transfer window, but the best options at striker are largely familiar ones: RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko, Sporting CP's Viktor Gyokeres, and Napoli's Victor Osimhen are still among the top options. Newcastle star Alexander Isak has emerged as a dream transfer target for the Gunners, and they are now also looking at Eintracht Frankfurt breakout star Hugo Ekitike as a potentially cheaper alternative. Unfortunately, with other big clubs like Manchester United adding Ekitike to their shortlist, Frankfurt's...
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Aston Villa in the driver’s seat to sign one of the season’s biggest breakout stars
31Mar By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Transfer News

Aston Villa in the driver’s seat to sign one of the season’s biggest breakout stars

Aston Villa injected no shortage of attacking talent into their squad in the January transfer window, signing two of European football's biggest names on loan in PSG's Marco Asensio and Manchester United's perennially underachieving Marcus Rashford. The moves came after Aston Villa sacrificed their biggest breakout star for a big payday from Saudi Arabia, sending out Jhon Duran with Ollie Watkins having the starting job sewn up. But Unai Emery and Monchi do want some striker help, and they also want an attacking midfielder with the profile to play out wide, albeit someone with more dynamism than Asensio. With the futures of Rashford and Asensio unlikely to be with Aston Villa, the Clarets will want younger, more economical, and more consistent solutions to boost a side that most l...
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Barcelona willing to sell two very promising young players
31Mar By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Transfer News

Barcelona willing to sell two very promising young players

There is little question that Barcelona are the best team in the world at producing young talent, especially high-end young talent that has the potential to define a generation. They did that consistently over the past two decades, and, now, in 2025, the foundations of the team contending for the 2024/25 LaLiga title are mostly ascending rockstars like Pedri, Pau Cubarsi, and Lamine Yamal who are all very much among the best in the world at their respective positions. But buried on the bench, Barcelona also have a number of young talents chomping at the bit, worried that they may never truly get their chance to stand out as top players in their league because of the sheer amount of quality in the side. According to a report from Relevo's Miguel Rico, Barcelona want to make investm...
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