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 hoping for two huge injury returns vs. Manchester City
13Mar By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Injury News

Real Madrid hoping for two huge injury returns vs. Manchester City

Real Madrid dominated Manchester City 3-0 in the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16 even without Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe, as a hat trick from Fede Valverde and elite defensive work ensured they would emerge victorious. But things could get even better for Real in the second leg at the Etihad, as El Chiringuito report that the Merengues are hoping to have left back Alvaro Carreras and the club's best player, Mbappe, back in time for the second leg. Mbappe has been recovering well after being shut down wisely for continued and worsening left knee pain. Rather than risk aggravation, Real rested him up. Now, he is expected to be back either during the March international break or after it (hopefully after it for the Man City game). Carreras's return would be an ev...
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Manchester United have 5 managers on their shortlist
13Mar By Joe SorianoNo Comments
News

Manchester United have 5 managers on their shortlist

The favorite to coach Manchester United next season is interim manager Michael Carrick, who was a brilliant center midfielder for the club more than a decade ago and has immediately turned the club around into Champions League contenders after two disastrous Ruben Amorim and Erik ten Hag reigns. But Manchester United are still looking around the market for established coaches and big names, and according to information from ESPN's top journalist Mark Ogden, there are five managers on their current short list. Manchester United are indeed looking at Julian Nagelsmann of the German national team and Marseille's Roberto De Zerbi, formerly of Brighton. But they are also interested in three current Premier League managers in Aston Villa's Unai Emery, Crystal Palace's Oliver Glasner, and B...
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Manchester United fans get a concerning Elliot Anderson transfer update
13Mar By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Transfer News

Manchester United fans get a concerning Elliot Anderson transfer update

Manchester United need to sign multiple quality midfielders in the summer 2026 transfer window, and one of their biggest targets will be Nottingham Forest breakout star Elliot Anderson. The thing is, crosstown rivals Manchester City want to sign more midfielders, too, and they are going to be competing with Man United for their biggest targets, including Anderson. According to a new report from Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News, Manchester City are viewed as the frontrunners to sign Anderson right now, and there is doubt that Manchester United can compete with the wages Man City would be able to offer Anderson. Honestly, this sounds like a bit of a cop out, because Manchester United should have enough in their coffers to give to Anderson, whose wages shouldn't really...
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12Mar By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Analysis

2025/26 Premier League Season Picks, Score Predictions for every Matchday 30 fixture

Another week of action is coming up in the 2025/26 Premier League season. Here are the score predictions for every single Matchday 30 game this weekend. Burnley 0-1 Bournemouth Sunderland 1-1 Brighton Chelsea 2-2 Newcastle Chelsea are reeling after Filip Jorgensen gifted PSG a 5-2 win in the Champions League, while Newcastle could only draw Barcelona despite outplaying them. This matchup is going to be too close to call between these two top five contenders in the Premier League, and they will ultimately share the spoils. One of the biggest questions heading into this game is now Chelsea's goalkeeper. Liam Rosenior seems to be set on Jorgensen as the No. 1 despite a horrendous performance againt PSG. Can he bounce back? Arsenal 1-0 Everton Arsenal did not perform well against Baye...
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2026 Champions League Power Rankings after the first leg of the Round of 16
12Mar By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Rankings

2026 Champions League Power Rankings after the first leg of the Round of 16

After blowout losses for Chelsea and Manchester City, the Champions League field is starting to narrow even before the second leg of the 2025/26 Round of 16 begins. Here are the top five contenders now, ranked in order, after an eventful first leg of the real beginning of the knockout stages. 5. Barcelona Barcelona are the leaders of La Liga and a juggernaut with their midfield talent and Lamine Yamal, but they were quite powerless against Newcastle and lucky to have drawn the game, much like Arsenal were. Newcastle outplayed Barca, and with how shaky the Blaugrana look at times defensively, it is hard to give them the nod over other teams that are either more solid defensively or, in Real Madrid's case, simply better at elevating their games in the Champions League spotlight. 4. Ars...
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Chelsea get Pedro Neto transfer news nobody expected
12Mar By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Transfer News

Chelsea get Pedro Neto transfer news nobody expected

Chelsea winger Pedro Neto has been a disappointment this season, frustrating fans, and there is a belief among those at Stamford Bridge that the club would be better off without a good but not great winger who thinks he should play like the star of the team rather than a supporting character. Neto is one of the players Chelsea could have on the chopping block as they continue their never ending process of retooling their squad in pursuit of a third Champions League title. Surprisingly, Neto is already drawing interest but not from clubs a step down - or several steps down from Chelsea - like Wolves where he can be "the guy", but Barcelona are apparently interested. Per a new report from Mundo Deportivo in Catalunya, Barca are monitoring the Chelsea right winger ahead of the summer...
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Real Madrid fans learn when Jude Bellingham is expected to return from injury
12Mar By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Injury News

Real Madrid fans learn when Jude Bellingham is expected to return from injury

Real Madrid superstar center midfielder Jude Bellingham has been out since early February with a hamstring injury, as the England international has not played a game in the league since only lasting 10 minutes on Feb. 1 vs. local rivals Rayo Vallecano before going down. Alongside Kylian Mbappe, Bellingham missed this past Champions League Round of 16 clash with rivals Manchester City, though Federico Valverde stepped up so Real won 3-0 in a breeze. Still, Real are better when Bellingham is in the midfield as another world class workhorse. According to a report from The Athletic's Guillermo Rai, the most realistic return date for the young star is the upcoming Derbi against Atletico Madrid. He is said to be working hard to speed up his return process. Real Madrid will face their bi...
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Manchester United will get a key player back vs. Aston Villa
12Mar By Joe SorianoNo Comments
News

Manchester United will get a key player back vs. Aston Villa

Manchester United will face Aston Villa on Sunday afternoon in the Premier League in a huge battle between third and fourth with both clubs tied on 51 points in the table. According to information from BBC Sport reporter Simon Stone, veteran Man United defender Noussair Mazraoui is set to be available this weekend for the game after dealing with a foot injury. Mazraoui has played left back, right back, and center back for Man United this season. He started a week ago against Newcastle United in a tough 2-1 loss, but he is rested now and ready to help this defense out during an injury crisis. Matthijs de Ligt is out for at least a month, and Lisandro Martinez is still having to work his way back. There was some concern about Mazraoui's status against the Magpies, but it looks like ...
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Real Madrid expected to rest 5 key players vs. Elche
12Mar By Joe SorianoNo Comments
News

Real Madrid expected to rest 5 key players vs. Elche

Real Madrid totally dominated Manchester City in the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16, as goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and center midfielder Federico Valverde led the way with incredible games, while center back Antonio Rudiger was also amazing in shutting down Erling Haaland again. All three players look set to get rewarded with some rest. MARCA report that Real Madrid are expected to leave Fede, Courtois, Rudiger, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Aurelien Tchouameni to get some much needed time off this weekend against La Liga underdogs Elche on Saturday night. But Real Madrid will not be underestimating their stingy opponents. Those five stars will likely be rested by manager Alvaro Arbeloa, which means opportunities for top backup keeper Andriy Lunin, veteran right back Da...
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Manchester United have the best player in the Premier League at headers (and it’s not Benjamin Sesko)
12Mar By Joe SorianoNo Comments
News

Manchester United have the best player in the Premier League at headers (and it’s not Benjamin Sesko)

Manchester United are back on the rise under Michael Carrick, who is getting this team to actually play exciting and effective football, and the team's biggest stars are performing at their best level. One of them is new striker Benjamin Sesko, a top talent. His aerial prowess was already well known in the Bundesliga before arriving at Old Trafford, and he has been scoring goals like crazy in 2026, including with his head. Gradient Sports creates metrics that grade players based on performance in attributes, and Sesko is in the top 10 among players in the Premier League at finishing with their heads. But you know what's crazy? He's actually ninth, and Manchester United have another player in first. That would be Casemiro, who is in first, beating out Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk in...
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