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Mavropanos symptomatic: West Ham at rock bottom after a nightmarish evening

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Mavropanos symptomatic: West Ham at rock bottom after a nightmarish evening

Empty stands, long faces—and the new coach recognizes fear: a miserable picture. Kevin Schade, on the other hand, is having fun.
What usually happens when you’re leading 1-0 but then miss chance after chance? Every soccer fan knows that this usually comes back to haunt you. Unless you’re playing West Ham United. “To be honest, I felt pretty comfortable,” said coach Keith Andrews when asked about this after his Brentford FC’s victory at the Hammers on Monday evening. It was only in stoppage time that his team sealed the deal with a 2-0 final score.

West Ham, who had to do without the injured Niclas Füllkrug once again, looked completely helpless and ended the game with an xGoals value of 0.33, which was almost flattering. From the start, Brentford was the only team that looked dangerous. Shortly before halftime, the impressive Kevin Schade set up Igor Thiago for his fifth goal of the season with his first assist of the season, giving Brentford a long-overdue lead (43′). After the break, Schade himself failed to convert from close range, hitting the underside of the crossbar (62′), which Igor Thiago had also hit earlier (30′).

Nuno Espirito Santo, who had only taken over from Graham Potter – now the new Swedish national coach – at the end of September, tried to counter this with a triple substitution and a change of system at half-time. It had no effect whatsoever. Instead, the Hammers even ended the game with ten men because substitute Konstantinos Mavropanos, formerly of Stuttgart, was unable to continue in the closing stages due to injury, with the team having already used up all their substitutions.

It was fitting for an evening where nothing went right. From the start, there was a grim atmosphere at London Stadium, with many fans staying away in protest against the club’s management or preferring to remain silent. While Brentford celebrated their first away win, West Ham started with four home defeats for the first time and remain second from bottom with only four points from eight games.

“Silence turns into fear”

“We are all concerned,” Espirito Santo admitted. “You can feel it among our fans. You can see that they are worried. Concern turns into silence, and silence turns into fear. And that fear is transferred to the players. We have a problem.” In truth, the Portuguese coach has more than one problem. Among other things, only three players in his team have scored this season, with Jarrod Bowen (three goals this season) being the only bright spot in attack. The defense lacks any kind of authority, with almost every set piece against Brentford creating danger.

The coach insists that the team now needs to “turn the momentum around” ahead of the clash with basement rivals Leeds United. “The fans need something to cheer about so they can support us and give us energy.” Perhaps it’s a good thing that West Ham are playing away on Friday.

Sensational news from the fishing village: Mjällby AIF is Swedish champion

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Sensational news from the fishing village: Mjällby AIF is Swedish champion

The surprise is complete: the village club Mjällby AIF has beaten the country’s big clubs and is Swedish champion.

No one had doubted the championship for a long time. Since Monday evening, it has been certain: thanks to a 2-0 away win at IFK Göteborg, Mjällby AIF is Swedish champion – with three match days still to go in the Allsvenskan, whose schedule is based on the calendar year. Center forward Bergström set the decisive victory in motion with a bicycle kick goal from close range (21st minute), and shortly thereafter, center back Pettersson, who had moved up, scored the second goal following a corner kick, which was also the final score (28th minute).

After the final whistle, the players celebrated with the fans who had traveled with them, some of whom wanted to run onto the pitch but were held back by security personnel. That didn’t dampen the joy: the club from the small fishing village in the south of the country is Swedish champions for the first time.

Hammarby with no theoretical chance

Runners-up Hammarby IF can no longer catch up, even theoretically, as they are now eleven points behind. In practical terms, hardly anyone had expected them to do so anyway. The underdogs had been too consistent and too stable throughout the season. Mjällby lost only one game in the entire season, and coach Anders Torstensson’s team was more secure defensively than any other: Mjällby conceded just 17 goals in 27 games – only one in the last seven games.

Nevertheless, the first championship in the club’s history comes as a surprise. In its history, Mjällby had never finished higher than fifth in the Swedish top flight. Until now, the club’s greatest successes were two championships in the second division and reaching the cup final in 2023. In 2016, the club almost got relegated to the fourth division. Under the leadership of 36-year-old club director Jacob Lennartsson, the club has stabilized in the middle of the league in recent years – and has now pulled off a major coup.

Now it’s on to the Champions League qualifiers

The club from the fishing village with a population of just 1,379 has thus outsmarted the established Swedish big clubs. Malmö FF, which has won eight of the last twelve championships, is currently only in fourth place, and other top clubs such as Hammarby, Djurgardens, and Häcken, all of which have squads with significantly higher market values, were unable to compete with the underdog from the wilderness, which plays its home games in the nearest large town in front of a maximum of 7,500 spectators—more than five times the number of people living in the village.

As champions, Mjällby will be able to participate in the Champions League qualifiers next season – the next milestone for the village club. Mjällby has never played an international match before.

Cliché confirmed: Serie A match day sets historic negative record

Phil Laffertey
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Cliché confirmed: Serie A match day sets historic negative record

People often say that no goals are scored in Italy. On this Serie A match day, that was truer than ever before.

For a moment, it looked as if the record might be broken after all: in the final Monday evening match of the 7th Serie A match day between US Cremonese and Udinese Calcio, the hosts took the lead in the 4th minute. Was this the sign of a small goal spectacle that could break the negative record? The answer came just under two hours later: no. Because in the remaining 86 minutes plus stoppage time, only one more goal was scored—Udinese’s equalizer to make it 1-1—the seventh matchday of the 2025/26 season is now the lowest-scoring matchday since the league was expanded to 20 teams in 2004. Including the two goals on Monday evening, the 20 teams managed just eleven goals. A total of four games ended without any goals, while the 2-1 win by new league leaders AC Milan against AC Florence was the most spectacular of the boring games and the only one to produce more than two goals.

By comparison, on the last Bundesliga matchday, only one game—the 1-1 draw between Cologne and Augsburg—had fewer than three goals, with a total of 33 goals scored. The cliché of Italian catenaccio, which is repeatedly disproved, proved true in all its glory this weekend.

Previously, four matchdays had shared the negative record with a total of 13 goals, most recently on matchday 2 of 2022/23, when four games ended 0-0. Although there had been even lower-scoring weekends in Serie A history—on matchday 27 in 1968/69 and on matchday 1 in 1979/80, only six goals were scored—at that time, the league consisted of only 16 teams and thus two fewer games per matchday.
Eleven goals on one matchday is also the negative record in the Bundesliga history books, set on matchday 26 of the 1989/90 season and later equaled on matchday 20 of the 1998/99 season. However, only nine games were played on both matchdays – one less than in Italy.

Despite previous rejection: Röhl to become new coach of Glasgow Rangers

Phil Laffertey
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Despite previous rejection: Röhl to become new coach of Glasgow Rangers

Glasgow Rangers have presented their new head coach—and he is German: Danny Röhl (36) is taking over the struggling Scottish top club. The agreement comes as quite a surprise.

Only one win from their first eight games in the Scottish Premiership. Glasgow Rangers have had an alarmingly poor start to the season, resulting in Russell Martin having to step down on October 6. There has been no improvement since then, which is why the search for a suitable successor has been in full swing.

However, the search proved to be quite difficult. First, the preferred candidate, Steven Gerrard, turned down his former club (from July 2018 to November 2021), before German Danny Röhl also rejected the job offer, according to consistent media reports. Kevin Muscat was said to be in promising negotiations, but he preferred to stay in China, where the Australian is heading for his second championship in a row. The former assistant to Hansi Flick – at FC Bayern and the German national team – has been given a contract with Rangers until June 30, 2028. “It is a great privilege to take on the role of head coach at such an incredible club, which is recognized worldwide,” said Röhl in his first statement: “I know it’s been a difficult start to the season, but there are still so many games to play in four competitions. My team and I will give everything to reward the fans and the club.”

Röhl is well aware that “the fans want to see results now.” But he believes the team has the potential to deliver. Those in charge also see this potential in Röhl. Speaking about Andrew Cavenagh, for example, the chairman said: “Danny impressed us with his vision, his character, and his understanding of what Rangers stand for. We believe he can help restore pride, momentum, and ultimately success.”

With their backs against the wall in the Europa League too

Röhl had been in charge of English second division club Sheffield Wednesday until July, before leaving of his own accord twelve days before the start of the season due to financial difficulties. Röhl had certainly made an impression at the Owls, leading the club to safety twice—in his first season in a seemingly hopeless situation in dramatic fashion on the last day of the season, and then quite confidently in his second.

Now he faces a mammoth task at the top Scottish club. In addition to the league, Rangers have also botched their Europa League start – with two defeats from two games, the traditional club already has its back against the wall. Röhl will make his debut at Brann Bergen on Thursday.

In any case, it is a task that will attract different attention and emotions than Röhl’s first job as head coach. Before his suspension, his predecessor Martin was escorted out of the stadium by police, while angry fans tried to prevent the Rangers team bus from leaving the stadium.

LeBron’s last dance? Here’s how the L.A. Lakers’ title chances stack up

Sports Of The Day
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LeBron’s last dance? Here’s how the L.A. Lakers’ title chances stack up

The Los Angeles Lakers are making their second attempt with their superstar duo of Luka Doncic and LeBron James. They have some new reinforcements, but one thing is missing for now: LeBron James. Will that be enough for a deep playoff run in the highly competitive Western Conference?

The Lakers’ 2024/25 season will be remembered for one reason above all else: the trade for Luka Doncic. But despite the blockbuster deal, their playoff run ended in the first round. Now LeBron James and the Slovenian are heading into their first full season together.

Los Angeles Lakers: What happened in the offseason

In the summer, the focus was on Luka Doncic’s contract extension. The Slovenian signed a three-year contract until 2028 on the very first day he was eligible, making a clear commitment to the Lakers. LeBron James also exercised his player option and will remain for at least another year.

New additions include Deandre Ayton, Marcus Smart, and Jake LaRavia. Ayton, in particular, is expected to fill the big gap at center left by Anthony Davis’ departure. Smart brings important defense and experience, while LaRavia is considered an underrated wing with good development potential. In addition, Adou Thiero was selected at No. 36 in the draft. On the departure side are Dorian Finney-Smith and Alex Len, among others.

Los Angeles Lakers: Opportunities and risks

The Lakers have addressed their biggest issue in the frontcourt with Ayton, but depth remains a problem. The team is close to the salary cap limit and has little room for flexibility. Marcus Smart (31) has also been struggling with injuries recently. If he is out for a long time, the team will be missing a key player in perimeter defense.

On the positive side, Luka now clearly embodies the future of the team. Together with Austin Reaves, he forms a promising guard duo, while LeBron James should continue to provide stability – once he is fit again. The 40-year-old is entering his 23rd NBA season and recently posted statistics that are unique for his age, with 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists. How long James can maintain this level remains to be seen. Especially since the forward will miss the first few weeks of the season due to sciatic nerve problems. But with Doncic in top form and under coach J.J. Redick, who needs to find the balance between defense and offense, the Lakers have what it takes to become one of the most dangerous teams in the West.

Los Angeles Lakers: The direction of the franchise

The Lakers are at a clear turning point. Since 2018, everything has been tailored to LeBron James, but now the focus is increasingly on Doncic. James remains a decisive factor, but the front office is visibly working to prepare for the era after his retirement. The new signings show where the journey is headed: more depth, more defense, and clear protection for Luka as the new franchise axis.
At the same time, James remains the key figure in keeping the team in the title race in the short term.

Los Angeles Lakers: Prediction

With Doncic and LeBron, the Lakers are automatically among the extended circle of favorites. A place in the top 4 in the West is realistic if Ayton makes an impact and the King comes back healthy and continues to play solidly. A deep playoff run depends on how well the chemistry between the two superstars harmonizes and whether the bench provides enough relief despite limited resources. If they succeed, the Lakers can go far. If they fail early again, the final chapter of the LeBron era could come very quickly, very soon.

Over 600,000 sales at launch: FC 26 receives “Multi-Platinum Award”

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Over 600,000 sales at launch: FC 26 receives “Multi-Platinum Award”

FC 26 has had a traditionally strong sales start in Germany – and has now been honored by the industry association for this achievement. Can EA SPORTS avoid the winter slump this year?

EA SPORTS FC 26 had just five days in September to reach the top of the monthly sales charts – and it did so with ease. Between its official full release on September 26 and October 1, the latest soccer simulation from Vancouver sold more than 600,000 copies in stores and online in Germany.

This was announced at the end of last week by the German industry association game e.V., which awarded the game the “Award in the highest category Multi-Platinum.” Borderlands 4 was also released in September, selling more than 100,000 copies by the end of the month and earning the “Award in Gold.”

Among the sports games that have been on the market for some time, the racing title EA SPORTS F1 25 also broke the 100,000 mark last month. Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, Mario Kart World, Monster Hunter Wilds, and Split Fiction sold more than 200,000 copies.

High praise followed by initial discord

FC 26 was praised by most critics and the community during its early access period and shortly after its full release. Recently, however, discord has crept into public feedback: the well-known kick bug and a volley glitch are bothering many players.

EA SPORTS FC 25 also performed well financially at first – and then declined sharply. Persistent gameplay weaknesses led to a mass exodus of players. The developer responded with a huge update in January 2025, which at least brought many things back into balance economically.

To prevent a similar scenario around the upcoming Christmas season, EA SPORTS should successfully address the current teething problems in FC 26 as quickly as possible. If the developer manages to implement the right fixes, nothing should stand in the way of further outstanding sales figures.

“I didn’t know that!” – Ogier’s honest reaction to Rovanperä’s switch

Sotd Editor
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“I didn’t know that!” – Ogier’s honest reaction to Rovanperä’s switch

Kalle Rovanperä is leaving the World Rally Championship for Super Formula: Sebastien Ogier reacts with surprise – and draws parallels with his own Le Mans adventure

Sebastien Ogier is somewhat surprised by his teammate Kalle Rovanperä’s move from the World Rally Championship (WRC) to circuit racing, but believes the Finn can master the new challenge. “If he’s happier with that, it’s the right decision for him,” Ogier told Autosport. “We’ll be following it very closely and keeping our fingers crossed for him.”

Rovanperä announced last week that he would be leaving the World Rally Championship at the end of the season to compete in Japan’s Super Formula in 2026. The Finn’s long-term goal is Formula 1. Ogier said he had known for a while that Rovanperä was looking for a new challenge. “But I didn’t know it would be Super Formula,” said the Frenchman. “I asked my team if he might mean Super GT. But it was actually Super Formula. It’s a big step, but it’s great that he’s getting the opportunity to go down this path.“

Rovanperä’s teammate Ogier supported his decision to make this surprising change: ”I told him: If you have the opportunity, why not? You don’t have much to lose. Statistically speaking, he could continue to enjoy great success in rallying, but apparently he’s not interested in that at the moment.”

Eight-time World Rally Champion Ogier knows what it’s like to switch from rallying to circuit racing from his own experience. In 2022, he completed a program in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) and finished ninth in his class in an LMP2 prototype at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Ogier therefore knows that the transition will not be easy for Rovanperä either. “It’s a big challenge. It was similar for me when I went to Le Mans,” he says. “I knew it would be difficult. For a rally driver, the easier route would probably have been Dakar, where you can quickly become competitive, but that didn’t interest me.”

“I was attracted by the challenge, just as Kalle is now attracted by Formula 1. It won’t be easy, but rally drivers usually have the ability to adapt quickly – it’s just the last few percent that are crucial,” Ogier is convinced.

“Hope it doesn’t snow”: What the DTM drivers think about the Spielberg opener

Andrew Jackson
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“Hope it doesn’t snow”: What the DTM drivers think about the Spielberg opener

The DTM will start the 2026 season at the end of April in the Austrian Alps of all places: Whether the drivers fear the snow and how the ADAC explains the decision

In 2026, for the first time in its almost 40-year history, the DTM will start the new season in Austria. The Red Bull Ring is considered the most modern facility in the DTM calendar, which remains unchanged in terms of tracks, but the decision also carries risks: the season opener will take place at the end of April, and the course is located at around 700 meters above sea level.

“There could even be snow,” says Dörr-McLaren driver Timo Glock. “I hope it doesn’t snow, otherwise I’ll bring my skis,” jokes the veteran. It’s not such a far-fetched idea: In 2023, the official DTM test was held in Spielberg on April 15 – and the day before, it snowed heavily at the racetrack. Glock sees no problem with the fact that the season opener will not take place in Germany for the first time since 2022, when it started in Portimao due to the coronavirus crisis. “Of course, you can discuss and question whether a German championship should start in Austria. But we don’t race all our races in Germany anyway; we travel all over Europe.”

Bortolotti: “Weather could become the main issue”

Incidentally, the weather is not only an issue for Glock, but also for Mirko Bortolotti. “In my opinion, the previous Spielberg date was always perfect. We always had great weather and it fit perfectly into the year,” says the Abt Lamborghini driver. “They will have their reasons for changing it, but of course it will be colder,” says Bortolotti, referring to the new date of April 24-26. “The weather could become the main issue.”

One person who is very positive about the date, however, is local hero Thomas Preining. “Totally awesome,” says the ‘Grello’ Porsche driver. “Having the home race right at the start is great.” This is not only “brilliant for Austrian motorsport,” but also for the DTM. “Starting the season with a bang is amazing for the DTM.”

Local hero Auer: Spielberg opener a “clever move”

Is he not afraid of the snow? “I hope not,” says Preining, who hails from Linz. He points out that the climate is no different than in Germany: “If you have snow here, it can also happen in Germany.”

Runner-up Lucas Auer, who comes from the Tyrolean mountains, also does not believe there will be snow at the season opener. Rather, he considers the date a “clever move” in terms of spectator interest.

This is because the DTM weekend marks the start of the motorsport season at the Red Bull Ring, where Formula 1 and MotoGP also hold their races. “I think this will attract additional spectators because the DTM takes place before the other events,” says Auer.

ADAC explains how the Spielberg opener came about

But how does the ADAC explain the decision? It cites the Motorcycle World Championship, which will be held at the Red Bull Ring from September 18 to 20, 2026, as the main reason for the change in date.

“The MotoGP date was moved back, so the race track asked us to reconsider our date so that there would be more time between the major events of Formula 1, MotoGP, and DTM,” explains ADAC Motorsport Director Thomas Voss. The trigger for the decision to choose a date in the spring was the ADAC GT Masters, which in the past took place in May in front of well-attended stands in Spielberg.

“This is the first major event of the year, and we all know how much a Formula 1 and MotoGP ticket costs,” explains Voss. “When I put myself in the shoes of motorsport enthusiasts in the region, I realize that these are significant expenses. I’d rather be the first to take advantage of that.”

What does he think about the risk of snow? “We’ve had snow at the Nürburgring in May before,” Voss shrugs. “You should never say never, but snow at the end of April down at the racetrack? I don’t think so.” Apart from the fact that the September date is also “not ideal” in this regard.

Norris stays cool, Stella gets nervous – McLaren under pressure in title race

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Norris stays cool, Stella gets nervous – McLaren under pressure in title race

After Austin, the World Championship battle in the 2025 Formula 1 season is more open than ever: Lando Norris stays cool, but McLaren sees its own weaknesses more clearly than ever

For McLaren driver Lando Norris, the narrowed gaps in the Formula 1 drivers’ standings after the 2025 US Grand Prix “make no difference.” After finishing second, which brought him closer to championship leader Oscar Piastri, Norris said, “Nothing changes.”

Norris also emphasized that Red Bull driver Max Verstappen, currently third in the championship, putting additional pressure on Norris and Piastri with his victory in Austin, also “doesn’t matter” to him.

“It’s pretty simple: I just have to beat both drivers, then life is easy. I can only try to score as many points as possible every weekend. The more points I collect, the better it is for both situations. I don’t have to do anything differently for either option.”

It’s getting closer at the top of the Formula 1 drivers’ standings

But some things have changed after the US Grand Prix: Norris is closer to Piastri than he has been since the Hungarian Grand Prix. At that time, he was nine points behind his McLaren teammate—now it’s 14.

And Verstappen is closing in from behind: he is now 26 points behind Norris and 40 behind Piastri.

Team principal Stella: McLaren needs to refocus

That’s why McLaren team principal Andrea Stella warns: “We didn’t manage to reach our full potential in Austin after a disappointing Saturday. We did get a podium and some good points, but it felt like we didn’t achieve enough compared to the others. Overall, it just wasn’t the weekend we had hoped for.“

”We always strive to achieve a one-two finish. We didn’t manage that. Now we need to refocus, apply what we’ve learned and build on the positives to have a better weekend in Mexico,” explained Stella.

Trouble at Alpine: Colapinto overtakes Gasly despite clear instructions

Lesley Summerville
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Trouble at Alpine: Colapinto overtakes Gasly despite clear instructions

Franco Colapinto ignores team orders at the Formula 1 race in Austin and overtakes Pierre Gasly: Alpine expresses disappointment and announces internal investigation

After the US Grand Prix in Austin, the Alpine team expressed disappointment with Formula 1 driver Franco Colapinto, who ignored team orders and overtook teammate Pierre Gasly despite clear instructions.

Towards the end of the race, Gasly and Colapinto were in 17th and 18th place. Gasly had already made his only pit stop on lap 27: earlier than planned to protect himself against an undercut. This meant that the Frenchman had to complete the rest of the 56-lap race on soft tires, which led to a significant loss of pace.

Colapinto stopped five laps later and was faster with his fresher tires. The Argentine pushed for a position change as he was also under pressure from Sauber driver Gabriel Bortoleto. However, Alpine decided to instruct both drivers to hold their positions as the team needed to save fuel and was about to be lapped.

How Colapinto justifies his behavior

Colapinto responded with, “What?! Hold position?! But he’s slow,” and then ignored the order. On the penultimate lap, Colapinto overtook Gasly at Turn 1 with a determined maneuver, leaving the Frenchman just enough room to avoid sliding off the track.

Colapinto defended his actions after the race: “At the end, I had slightly fresher tires than Pierre and saw that Gabriel [Bortoleto] was attacking. I wanted to keep him behind us both.”

However, Alpine’s team management assessed the situation differently. Managing Director Steve Nielsen expressed his dissatisfaction with the incident in the official team statement. “On Pierre’s side, we reacted to the danger of an undercut and brought him into the pits on softs a little earlier than planned. On top of that, we had a slow pit stop, which we will review and fix,” Nielsen explained.

Why the command center insisted on team orders

“Franco was able to drive his stint on medium tires longer and thus had a tire advantage towards the end of the race, which allowed him to catch up with Pierre. We instructed both drivers to hold their positions because we had to manage the fuel in both cars and the leaders were in close proximity.”

“As a team, every instruction from the pit wall is final, and we are disappointed that this was not followed today. We will review and clarify the matter internally,” said Nielsen. Colapinto finished the race in 17th place, while Gasly was overtaken by Bortoleto.

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