From Brahim Diaz to Sergio Aguero: Five Panenka penalties that went horribly wrong
It takes a lot of cojones to step up and take a penalty, but to choose a ‘Panenka’ spot-kick is almost never a wise decision. Indeed, there have been a number of poor Panenka penalties over the years.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Joe Jones talks us through five of the most horrendous spot-kicks of all time.
Champions League news: Five talking points from Newcastle Utd’s last-16 draw with Barcelona
The Champions League round of 16 kicked off on Tuesday night, headlined by a clash between Newcastle United and Barcelona at St James’ Park. Many expected a drubbing, a showing of true class from Hansi Flick’s side, but what ensued was far from that, with the home side holding the Spanish giants to a 1-1 draw.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Zephryn Dockree provides five talking points from the much-anticipated game.
FA Cup news: Man City, Liverpool set for blockbuster quarter-final showdown at the Etihad Stadium
Premier League heavyweights meet for a third time this season in the standout tie of the FA Cup quarter-finals, writes Sports News Blitz’s Joshua Topping.
Few fixtures in English football generate as much anticipation as a meeting between Liverpool and Manchester City, and their upcoming clash in the cup promises to be no different. This match marks the third meeting between the sides this season, further intensifying a rivalry that has defined the top level of English football over the past decade.
FA Cup fifth round wrap-up: Key talking points from the weekend action
The fifth round of the FA Cup delivered another weekend full of drama, shocks and standout performances as clubs battled for a place in the quarter-finals.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Tyler Cooke analyses the fixtures from the fifth round of the FA Cup.
FIFA World Cup 2026: Intercontinental play-offs preview - Bolivia, Suriname and Iraq
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup fast approaching, a mini-tournament of intercontinental play-offs is set to add two more teams to the main draw.
Scheduled for late March in Mexico, the action will feature six teams.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer AJ Becker takes a closer look at the three nations who will be taking part in Pathway 2 of the play-offs, following his preview of Pathway 2 last week.
Premier League 2025/26 Mid-Season Predictions and Current Tactical Trends
The English Premier League in the 2025/26 season has only strengthened its status as the world’s strongest and most competitive top league. The line between contenders for top-four spots and those fighting for survival is incredibly thin these days.
Such unpredictability attracts football fans in the same way that 50 free spins no deposit attract gamblers. Despite the complexity of analyzing the current Premier League, it is interesting to make predictions on matches and long-term outcomes. What can we expect from the final stretch of the season, and what has the first half of the current campaign taught us?
Premier League news: Can Wolves bounce back after Rob Edwards’ turnaround at Molineux?
For much of the season, the conversation around Wolves was not about survival but about unwanted history, with fears they might challenge Derby County’s record-low Premier League points total.
Now, as the campaign edges towards its final weeks, the mood around Molineux feels very different. Wolves have begun to show fight, picking up results and performances that few expected earlier in the season.
Here, Sports News Blitz’s Liberty Nicholson-Hulse takes a closer look at Wolves’ improved form, the relegation threat, and the Championship opportunities ahead.
FA Cup fifth round news: Betting tips, predictions and preview for televised games
Read on for a breakdown of the best bets from this weekend’s FA Cup TV games from Sports News Blitz’s punting laureate - The Bookie Basher – including Saturday’s big one between Newcastle United and Manchester City.
FA Cup news: Cup fever takes hold as Mansfield Town host Arsenal, Wrexham welcome Chelsea
There have been claims for years now that the world’s oldest domestic cup competition, the FA Cup, is losing its magic and significance to those who follow the English game.
However, just this season alone, if you are a football fan from Macclesfield or indeed Mansfield, you may beg to differ. And after Crystal Palace pulled off a shock to win last year’s final, another surprise might be on the cards, with five EFL clubs still very much in the mix for glory.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Charlie Fawcett looks at some fifth-round ties that show that this year’s FA Cup is back to its glorious best.
Premier League analysis: Newcastle v Man United - William Osula’s stoppage-time screamer sinks Michael Carrick’s unbeaten streak
A sensational stoppage-time strike from substitute William Osula earned Newcastle United a 2-1 victory over Manchester United in Matchweek 29 of the Premier League.
Here, Sports News Blitz’s Robert Bore reflects on Newcastle’s late win over Man United, and head coach Michael Carrick’s unbeaten streak coming to an end.
Premier League news: 2025/26 relegation battle analysis as Tottenham, Leeds Utd fight for survival
Matchweek 29 of the Premier League arrives overflowing with tension, especially for those clubs desperately fighting to stay afloat.
Defensive structure, discipline, and the ability to learn quickly from recent setbacks will be the difference between sinking deeper into trouble and clawing a way out of it.
With just nine games remaining in the 2025/26 campaign, the relegation picture is beginning to sharpen and the writing may already be on the wall for some, writes Sports News Blitz’s Joshua Topping.
WATCH: Youssef Chermiti’s overhead kick is one of the Old Firm's greatest ever
Rangers number nine Youseseff Chermiti certainly didn't feel like a slow start when he hammered home a career-defining strike to give Rangers an early lead over bitter rivals Celtic.
The 21-year old hasn’t been with The Teddy Bears for long, but he is quickly becoming a cult hero, continuously popping up when it matters most, writes Sports News Blitz’s Sam Condy.
FIFA World Cup 2026: Intercontinental play-offs preview – DR Congo, New Caledonia and Jamaica
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup fast approaching, a mini-tournament of intercontinental play-offs is set to add two more teams to the main draw.
Scheduled for late March in Mexico, the action will feature six teams.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer AJ Becker takes a closer look at the three nations who will be taking part in Pathway 1 of the play-offs.
Premier League news: Man Utd go third after Benjamin Sesko sinks Crystal Palace at Old Trafford
Manchester United edged past Crystal Palace thanks to a hard-fought 2-1 victory at Old Trafford on Sunday, with Bruno Fernandes and Benjamin Šeško doing the damage for the hosts.
Maxence Lacroix had given Palace the lead in the first half, but it was not enough for Oliver Glasner’s troops as United found their footing in the second period to take the three points.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Robert Bore reviews the action.
England’s Champions League charge: Six Premier League clubs enter crucial last-16 showdowns
The 2026 UEFA Champions League knockout stage has delivered a draw loaded with narrative, pressure, and opportunity for English clubs.
With UEFA’s new coefficient-based system offering the Premier League a potential fifth qualification spot for the following season, every tie involving English sides carries extra weight.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Joshua Topping analyses what’s at stake.
Premier League betting tips: Viktor Gyokeres to score against Chelsea, Leeds Utd to beat Man City and more Gameweek 28 betting tips
Hope springs eternal of course and I fully subscribe to the view you're either hot, or you're due, and I’m due, so read on for a breakdown of the best bets from this weekend’s Premier League TV games from Sports News Blitz’s punting laureate - The Bookie Basher - including a massive clash in the capital between Arsenal and Chelsea on Sunday, March 1.
Premier League news: Newcastle Utd face Anthony Gordon dilemma in race for European football
European football looks like a distant dream for Newcastle United if they don’t start turning chances into goals.
Hope remains, however, after an attacking solution with Anthony Gordon was discovered.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Mosaddek Abu takes a look at the Magpies’ recent struggles.
Premier League news: Arsenal, Man City eye title while Aston Villa, Man Utd lead European charge
With 11 games left, the Premier League is heating up. From top to bottom, every side still has plenty to play for.
At the summit, Arsenal and Manchester City are battling it out for the chance to be crowned champions. Below them, the race for Europe is intensifying, with fierce competition for the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League places.
In a campaign defined by momentum swings and mounting pressure, the run-in promises drama at the top of the table, writes Sports News Blitz’s Zephryn Dockree.
Liverpool analysis: Arne Slot’s Reds rocked by injury crisis - Title ambitions hanging in the balance
Arne Slot’s debut season at Liverpool was always going to be a test of adaptation, evolution, and expectation.
But injuries, particularly in defence, have disrupted that blueprint and forced the Dutchman into uncomfortable compromises, writes Sports News Blitz’s Joshua Topping.
England analysis: How Man City’s Nico O’Reilly can fit into Thomas Tuchel’s 2026 World Cup squad
England is not short of talent; they are saturated with it. The challenge has been arranging that abundance into a balanced, cohesive team – particularly down the left side, where structure has often looked uneven.
It is into this very gap that Nico O’Reilly has emerged, a versatile midfielder capable of operating across multiple roles and offering a tactical intelligence that could help England’s World Cup hopes, writes Sports News Blitz’s Ruben Picardo Ashworth.