Author: Joe Soriano

Joe Soriano is the editor of The Trivela Effect and a FanSided Hall of Famer who has covered world football since 2010. He’s led top digital communities like The Real Champs (Real Madrid) and has run sites covering Tottenham, Liverpool, Juventus, and Schalke. He also helped manage NFL Spin Zone and Daily DDT, covering the NFL and pro wrestling.

Real Madrid’s real star vs. Benfica wasn’t Vinicius Jr. (or Fede Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni)
26Feb By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Analysis

Real Madrid’s real star vs. Benfica wasn’t Vinicius Jr. (or Fede Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni)

Aurelien Tchouameni won the Man of the Match. Vinicius Junior scored the goal that sealed the game. Federico Valverde had two assists. But Real Madrid's real hero against Benfica was Thibaut Courtois. Even though he didn't get a clean sheet in the second leg as in the first leg, Courtois was arguably even better in the decisive second matchup against Benfica in the opening round of the 2025/26 Champions League knockout stages. Courtois was impeccable, making stupendous save after save to prevent Real Madrid from getting caught out on the break. He could do nothing about the opener that Benfica scored and steadied Los Merengues from there on. It is so easy for the goalkeeper to get overlooked on a team like Real Madrid where you have stars like Vinicius Jr. balling out and even mid...
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Vinicius Junior broke one of Neymar’s underrated records
26Feb By Joe SorianoNo Comments
News

Vinicius Junior broke one of Neymar’s underrated records

Real Madrid superstar left winger Vinicius Junior is already becoming a legend in world football, and his latest Champions League goal against Benfica set the record for most knockout goals ever scored by a Brazilian player in the Champions League, via Madrid Xtra. The record for most Champions League knockout goals by a Brazilian footballer was previously held by Neymar, who dominated the competition in the 2010s and early 2020s with Barcelona and PSG, completing Remontadas, winning the treble with Barcelona, and even taking PSG to their first Champions League Final. Vinicius Junior, though, is already surpassing him, and he's only 25. The Real Madrid star's goal against Benfica to win 2-1 in the 80th minute and seal advancement to the Round of 16 was his 14th career knockout stage ...
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Real Madrid to get huge injury return to ease Kylian Mbappe blow
25Feb By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Injury News

Real Madrid to get huge injury return to ease Kylian Mbappe blow

Real Madrid superstar center forward Kylian Mbappe is going to be out for at least a couple of more games after aggravating a knee injury that has been bothering him for months, but at least Los Blancos are set to get Rodrygo Goes back. According to a report from Spanish outlet COPE, Rodrygo will play for Real Madrid against Getafe next Monday night when Los Blancos return to La Liga action to take on their hard-nosed local rivals. Rodrygo is often the forgotten star of the Real Madrid attack, but he has looked happier and better overall this season, especially since Alvaro Arbeloa took over from Xabi Alonso. But the Brazilian star has been out injured recently with tendonitis, missing a handful of matches, including this past Wednesday's Vinicius Junior and Fede Valverde fueled 2...
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Manchester United fans finally get a Matthijs de Ligt injury update
25Feb By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Injury News

Manchester United fans finally get a Matthijs de Ligt injury update

When healthy, Manchester United center back Matthijs de Ligt is one of the best in the world in his position, but, unfortunately, he has been out since December with back issues, missing a total of 15 games with his latest ailment. The good news is that Man United fans finally have a real injury update on De Ligt, and, better yet, it looks like it won't be all that long until the Dutch star returns to the heart of the Red Devils defense. According to a report from Tyrone Marshall of the Manchester Evening News, De Ligt is not rushing back from his back injury and is taking his time with his recovery. He is, however, expected to return in March, and that is his current target date for return. Manchester United are in Champions League contention all of a sudden under Michael Carrick...
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Real Madrid get revenge on Jose Mourinho by slapping him with an embarrassing new record
25Feb By Joe SorianoNo Comments
News

Real Madrid get revenge on Jose Mourinho by slapping him with an embarrassing new record

Jose Mourinho and Real Madrid will always have love for each other after how he pulled the club back up to the elite level in the early 2010s, but after defending Gianluca Prestianni's racist incident with Vinicius Junior, many Madridistas have soured a bit on the Special One. After a hard-fought 1-0 first leg victory over Benfica on the road, Real Madrid got the job done again, knocking Mourinho out of the Champions League with a 2-1 victory that was also sealed in the end by a great Vinicius Junior finish. According to Madrid Zone, Mourinho's latest knockout defeat means that the legendary Portuguese manager has now lost 10 straight Champions League knockout ties, with his last win coming more than a decade ago in 2014 when he managed Chelsea in his second stint at Stamford Bridge....
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Alvaro Arbeloa confirms Kylian Mbappe injury news Real Madrid fans feared
25Feb By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Injury News

Alvaro Arbeloa confirms Kylian Mbappe injury news Real Madrid fans feared

Real Madrid superstar forward Kylian Mbappe was not able to play in the second leg against Benfica due to a knee injury that is now bothering him even more, and manager Alvaro Arbeloa confirmed that this is not a one-game absence for the Frenchman. Speaking at the press conference after Real Madrid survived with another win over their Portuguese antagonists, Arbeloa said that Mbappe will not be returning soon from his left knee ailment. He said, via Madrid Zone, "Kylian Mbappé will NOT be back very soon. His recovery will take a while, not just a few days." Arbeloa's information jibes with what Real Madrid fans were hearing - and fearing. Mbappe has been playing through pain for a couple of months now, but instead of easing up, the pain is only getting worse, jeopardizing Mbappe's...
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Juventus confirm their Luciano Spalletti decision after brutal Champions League exit
25Feb By Joe SorianoNo Comments
News

Juventus confirm their Luciano Spalletti decision after brutal Champions League exit

Juventus are still way off the Serie A title pace and were just eliminated in cruel fashion by Galatasaray in the Champions League, but the Bianconeri are not about to make the legendary Luciano Spalletti the next great manager sacrificed at the altar of the Old Lady. Speaking to the media after the game, legendary Juventus center back and current Director of Football Giorgio Chiellini told reporters at Sky Sport Italia, via Fabrizio Romano, that Juve's opinon have not changed due to the Champions League exit and that they are continuing their efforts to extend the former Napoli Scudetto winner as their manager: “New deal for Luciano Spalletti has never been in doubt. It’s among our priorities. We will meet soon to discuss deal details." Although Juve nearly made a roaring second ...
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Ruben Amorim’s next potential job after Manchester United would be a huge step down
25Feb By Joe SorianoNo Comments
News

Ruben Amorim’s next potential job after Manchester United would be a huge step down

Manchester United are so much better without Ruben Amorim coaching them, as interim coach Michael Carrick, one of their former midfielders, has the Red Devils dreaming of Champions League qualification. Meanwhile, Amorim's next job might not even be a club in the top five leagues of European football. According to a report from Vasco da Gama outlet VDG-Cast, Amorim is on the shortlist for the Brazilian club's manager job. Except the wild thing isn't just that this is the next club rumored to want Amorim after his colossal failure at Manchester United. No, what's even crazier is that Amorim isn't even their top candidate. Apparently Amorim is second on the Vasco da Gama managerial shortlist behind Artur Jorge, a 78-year-old coach who has not even managed a club in more than a decad...
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Vinicius Junior isn’t the only Real Madrid star blossoming under Alvaro Arbeloa
25Feb By Joe SorianoNo Comments
News

Vinicius Junior isn’t the only Real Madrid star blossoming under Alvaro Arbeloa

The softer, friendlier approach from new Real Madrid manager Alvaro Arbeloa has paid dividends in getting Vinicius Junior back to his superstar status, but more quietly, center midfielder Federico Valverde is also back to his world-class best under the tutelage of the former Merengue right back. Xabi Alonso may have been the bigger name, but he feuded with the superstars in his locker room, many of whom had already won multiple Champions League titles, and few were honest about the former Bayer Leverkusen manager's own ego. Instead, Arbeloa has come in as a full Madridista with humility. He has walked in their shoes, and, like Zinedine Zidane, he relates to them and is a friend and confidant to them, managing the superstars and "egos" of the Madrid dressing room with the same grace. ...
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Vinicius Junior surpasses Bayern Munich legend’s Champions League record
25Feb By Joe SorianoNo Comments
News

Vinicius Junior surpasses Bayern Munich legend’s Champions League record

For the second time, Vinicius Junior buried a counterattacking goal into the far corner of the net against Benfica in this Champions League tie, shutting down the racists and surpassing Bayern Munich's legendary right winger Arjen Robben in one fell swoop. Robben is one of the best wingers of the last 25 years and was a monster in big games in the Champions League, but even he can't top Vinicius Jr., who is already surpassing his legacy in the Champions League well before turning 30. A two-time winner of the Champions League, Vinicius's goal in the second leg against Benfica to seal the tie for the Merengues at the Santiago Bernabeu is his 32nd Champions League goal of his young career, surpassing Robben's mark of 31. Vinicius Junior is now ranked 27th in history for most Champion...
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