Chelsea Spread the Goals Around to Cover for Sam Kerr's Exit
Sonia Bompastor has replaced one prolific striker with a collective attacking model, and the underlying numbers back up the eye test.
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Editorial Desk
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Articles by Editorial Desk
Carrick's Manchester United Crisis Meets Chelsea's Own Slump
Opta's simulations make Chelsea favourites at Stamford Bridge, but both sides arrive out of form, short on key players and chasing a first win in weeks.
Maradona in others' words: the testimony behind the myth
Planet Football has gathered quotes from opponents, team-mates and writers that explain, in their own terms, why Diego Maradona remains the reference point for footballing genius.
Lazio run riot as ten-man Sassuolo collapse 6-2 at the Mapei Stadium
Four goals inside 16 minutes, a red card for Kristian Thorstvedt and two Tijjani Noslin strikes carried Lazio to a rout that keeps them level with Inter at the Serie A summit.
John Terry's slip for Robin van Persie, and why Chelsea fans still wince
Planet Football revisits the October 2011 Stamford Bridge collapse that let Robin van Persie complete Arsenal's comeback after John Terry lost his footing.
FPL Gameweek 9: Four low-owned picks worth a punt
Opta data points to Aston Villa's Zion Suzuki, Bournemouth's António Silva, Brentford's Kristoffer Ajer and Tottenham's Mohammed Kudus as differentials under 10% ownership for Fantasy Premier League managers.
Cagliari tie down Paul Mendy with contract to 2032
The 19-year-old striker, who scored twice on his first Serie A start, has signed fresh terms as Cagliari bet on a forward they see as a long-term fixture in Fabio Pisacane's attack.
Fiorentina keep finding new ways to throw leads away, says Vanoli
A 2-2 draw with Atalanta extended Fiorentina's run of defensive collapses, with Paolo Vanoli pointing to individual errors and a lack of unity at the back.
Frosinone's goals are real, but Alvini refuses to trust the table yet
A 5-1 win over Lecce extended Frosinone's record-breaking start to Serie A, but coach Massimiliano Alvini insists the numbers do not yet guarantee safety.
Ronaldo's 67 hat-tricks versus Messi's 62: what the numbers actually measure
Cristiano Ronaldo's first treble in over two years pushes his career hat-trick tally past Lionel Messi's, but the raw count hides contrasts in finishing method, league quality and career stage.
Maignan's calm words can't hide Milan's transition problem
Mike Maignan urged restraint after Milan's 4-2 collapse against Bologna, but the numbers behind the defeat point to a defensive pattern, not a single bad night.
Lazio's unbeaten start invites a Leicester City comparison, with caveats
Dario Marcolin says Gennaro Gattuso's Lazio echo Claudio Ranieri's title winners, but the mechanisms behind the table-topping run are rooted in squad cohesion and a kind run of fixtures, not a miracle.