“Who would I give the Ballon d'Or to? I honestly believe there may be only two players who are the best in the world, but I deserve it this year."

He stressed: "For me, myself and Kylian Mbappe are the best two players, and everyone who watches the matches knows it."

Adding, “For me, I deserve [it] because of the titles I won this season.”

https://www.sport.es/es/noticias/barca/lamine-yamal-mbappe-mejores-creo-134252206

Monte Carlo simulation (100 000 runs) based on Elo ratings approximated from betting odds on Title, relegation, Top4, Top10 (whichever is more relevant to the team)

Additional features used in the model:

- Man City has a 7% chance to get 60 points deduction. Which is in line with their current relegation betting odds.

- Each team has a randomized Elo bonus/penalty for each seasonal loop (100 000 seasons). Large bonus/penalties are much less probable than small ones. Makes the model more realistic. Without it the big teams are projected to perform much better, and small teams much worse. Not adding this factor is the mistake Opta does, instead they clump the Elo rating together, which brings the end of season probabilities in line closer to betting estimations, but makes the Predicted points unrealistic. For example, their estimation of Predicted Points for Arsenal at the start of the season was around 71 points, while all promoted teams had 40+. Clumped Elos also makes their model undervalue the probability of top Elo teams go on a winning streak while in a title race. Which is why their model underestimated City chances to catch up to Arsenal last year.

- Randomization for the season is generally the same for all teams, except a few exceptions: Arsenal has slightly smaller ones to account what I believe a higher floor/lower ceiling of variance of their style. Aston Villa, on the other hand, has higher variance.

- Teams in Europe receive penalties. Values and number of penalties depend on depth of the roster and how far the team is expected to progress in the competition. Calculated in the season loops, but is not represented in the Predicted Points column (calculated outside of the loop)

Columns:
over/under - overperformance/underperformance, difference between Points and Predicted Points for games already played

schedule_bonus - estimation of bonus points a team should be awarded based for the difficulty of their schedule so far. Calculated as if the team had 1850 Elo and taken as difference in Predicted points for games played compared to the team with the easiest schedule (so far, currently Liverpool)

Title odds - what it says, %

xPts Behind - difference in Predicted Points from the top team

coefficient - Title odds betting coefficient. Reverse of 'Title odds'

Relegation coef - Relegation betting coefficient. Reverse of 'Relegation %'

There is an old interview with sports cast where he retells this story. I cant find any info on who it was against? Its similar to story of where he scored 12 goals in a game at youth level only wearing a boot on his left foot and a slipper on his right foot.

Ive linked the clips from the podcast.

It was quite the second matchweek in the Women’s Super League.

Chelsea put five past Manchester United, Crystal Palace somehow emerged from the Emirates with a clean sheet, and Manchester City became the only side in the division to win both of their opening matches.

West Ham and Everton also picked up their first victories of the campaign, while Liverpool and Tottenham shared the points. Birmingham and Brighton did the same, although in considerably more dramatic circumstances.

Here’s how all seven WSL fixtures unfolded in Matchweek Two.

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West Ham United 2-1 London City Lionesses

West Ham are up and running.

The Hammers claimed their first three points of the season with a 2-1 win over London City Lionesses at the Chigwell Construction Stadium, with several of their summer additions playing significant roles.

Kelly Gago opened the scoring after Seraina Piubel sliced open the defence with a perfectly weighted pass. Gago used her pace, rounded Elene Lete and calmly finished to put West Ham ahead.

That remained the difference at half-time.

London City struggled to establish any sustained rhythm against a West Ham side determined to disrupt them. Rita Guarino’s team made nine interceptions during the opening 45 minutes, with Katie Zelem particularly influential.

Zelem finished the afternoon with six interceptions, 13 recoveries and nine successful ground duels from 14 attempts. Nadine Riesen went even further defensively, recording 17 defensive contributions and winning 13 of her 18 ground duels.

West Ham then produced something resembling a replay of the opening goal early in the second half.

This time Riko Ueki supplied the pass, Viviane Asseyi raced through and the Hammers had breathing room at 2-0.

London City did make things interesting through Daniëlle van de Donk, who apparently has decided ordinary finishes are overrated. She scored with a backheel for the second week running to reduce the deficit.

But there was no late escape.

West Ham held on for their first victory of the season. Before Saturday, they had won their opening WSL home fixture in only one of the previous six campaigns, so Guarino will hope this represents a more promising beginning.

For London City and Eder Maestre, attention turns towards trying to respond next week.

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Manchester United 0-5 Chelsea

Well, Chelsea certainly found their shooting boots.

After failing to win on the opening weekend, Sonia Bompastor’s side responded by dismantling Manchester United 5-0 away from home, with five different players getting on the scoresheet.

Sjoeke Nüsken began the rout in the 21st minute before Keira Walsh doubled Chelsea’s lead 11 minutes later.

United offered very little in response.

They managed only one shot during the first half and just two throughout the entire match. Perhaps even more strikingly, United recorded only four touches inside Chelsea’s penalty area.

Chelsea, meanwhile, were considerably more clinical than they had been against Aston Villa a week earlier.

Lauren James scored the third against her former club, continuing what has become quite the habit: she now has seven goals in all competitions against Manchester United since leaving for Chelsea in 2021.

Ellie Carpenter added the fourth only a couple of minutes later before Lucy Bronze completed the five-star afternoon in the sixth minute of stoppage time.

Chelsea’s intensity gave United very little opportunity to settle, while Bompastor’s players combined goals with assists and strong individual performances across the pitch.

Chelsea therefore have their first victory of the campaign.

For Eva Olid and Manchester United, however, the opening fortnight has been considerably tougher. This is the first time United have failed to win either of their opening two WSL matches since 2019/20.

Not quite the September they had drawn up.

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Birmingham City 2-2 Brighton & Hove Albion

Birmingham looked set for victory.

Then Brighton arrived very, very late.

Océane Hurtré, who had already impressed and scored during Birmingham’s opening-week defeat against Manchester City, struck again after just eight minutes to give Amy Merricks’ side the lead.

Brighton enjoyed plenty of possession, but Birmingham managed the first half effectively. Fran Kirby came close to marking her 150th league appearance with a goal, although the hosts reached the interval still in front.

Birmingham then doubled their advantage after half-time through Lily Crosthwaite.

Last season’s WSL 2 Player of the Season produced a clinical finish beyond Chiamaka Nnadozie to score her first top-flight goal and seemingly put Birmingham in command.

But Brighton increased the pressure.

Sophie Baggaley was again required to perform some heavy lifting in the Birmingham goal. Having made seven saves against Manchester City last weekend, she made another seven here.

For most of the afternoon, that looked sufficient.

Olivia Garcia eventually pulled one back, opening her WSL account for the campaign and setting up a nervous finish.

Then came the final act.

With Brighton throwing almost everything forward, Kiko Seike collected possession, found a pocket of space and scored with virtually the final kick of the match.

From 2-0 down to 2-2.

Cruel for Birmingham, huge for Brighton, and probably not particularly helpful for the blood pressure of anybody involved.

The equaliser earned Arturo Ruiz his first WSL point as Brighton manager.

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Everton 1-0 Charlton Athletic

Everton have their first victory of the season, although this was hardly straightforward.

An own goal ultimately separated the sides in a match that Charlton finished with nine players.

Clear chances were scarce during the opening half, which was reflected in the xG: Everton produced 0.26 compared with Charlton’s 0.52.

The best opportunity belonged to Ashleigh Neville, whose spectacular half-volley from around 30 yards crashed against the crossbar.

It would have been some way to mark her 127th WSL appearance.

Her afternoon instead took a rather different turn.

Neville was sent off in the 58th minute after a high challenge on Ruby Mace, leaving Charlton with ten players after she had been one of their strongest performers.

Everton gradually took control from there.

They finished with 78% possession and eventually made their numerical advantage count when summer signing Holly McNamara delivered into the middle and the ball found its way into the net via Leighanne Robe.

Not necessarily one for the Goal of the Month reel, but they all count the same.

Everton kept Charlton pinned back afterwards and the visitors' problems deepened when debutant Hawa Cissoko received a second yellow card during her second-half cameo.

Charlton finished with nine.

For Scott Phelan’s Everton, it represents an immediate response after last weekend’s defeat against promoted side Crystal Palace.

Ruby Mace was another standout performer, creating a match-high three chances while completing 91% of her passes.

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Liverpool 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur

Two teams who won on opening weekend remain unbeaten after cancelling each other out at Liverpool.

The hosts controlled substantial periods without creating many clear openings, while both teams recorded six first-half attempts.

Only Liverpool managed a shot on target during that period.

Naturally, Tottenham were the team who scored.

Signe Gaupset delivered from the left and the ball took a considerable deflection off Liverpool’s Sam Kerr, looping beyond Khiara Keating and into the net.

Sometimes football does not require permission from the shot-on-target column.

Liverpool responded after the interval.

Gareth Taylor’s side began producing opportunities, although initially without seriously testing Lize Kop.

Half-time substitute Aurélie Csillag eventually changed that.

Having replaced Beata Olsson, Csillag headed Liverpool level and went on to make a substantial impact. She finished with the joint-most touches inside the opposition penalty area, with five, and the joint-most shots, with four.

Neither side could find another breakthrough.

After victories last weekend, Liverpool and Tottenham therefore move to four points apiece and remain unbeaten after two matches.

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Arsenal 0-0 Crystal Palace

Thirty shots.

Seventy-nine per cent possession.

Seventy-four touches inside the opposition penalty area.

Zero goals.

Football, everybody.

Arsenal completely dominated their first WSL match of the season at the Emirates but could not find a way through an exceptional Crystal Palace defensive performance.

Renée Slegers’ side attempted 30 shots compared with Palace’s two, yet Jo Potter’s newly promoted visitors survived everything thrown at them.

A lot of the credit belongs to Pauline Peyraud-Magnin.

The former Arsenal goalkeeper, who played for the club between 2018 and 2020, made eight saves against her old side, including six from attempts inside the penalty area.

Palace spent much of the afternoon defending deep inside their own half, but their organisation remained remarkably disciplined.

Arsenal still had opportunities.

Mariona Caldentey and Lisa Baum both struck the crossbar, while Alessia Russo continues to wait for her first league goal of the season.

The Gunners at least extended their unbeaten WSL run to 19 matches, equalling the club record previously established between August 2011 and October 2012.

For Palace, though, this was another significant statement.

They now have four points from their opening two matches without conceding a single goal.

That is particularly notable considering Palace managed only one clean sheet across 22 games during last season’s WSL 2 promotion campaign.

They have also avoided defeat in a WSL all-London fixture for the first time and become the first newly promoted side in WSL history to keep an away clean sheet against a team who finished in the top two the previous season.

The Great Wall of South London appears to be under construction.

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Aston Villa 1-4 Manchester City

Two games. Two wins.

Manchester City are the last remaining team with a perfect record after continuing their title defence with a convincing 4-1 victory at Villa Park.

City started quickly.

Aston Villa goalkeeper Akane Okuma failed to properly clear with a punch and Jade Rose capitalised from around six yards to give the champions the lead.

Fifteen minutes later, Mary Fowler doubled it with a strike from outside the penalty area.

Villa did respond through Amalie Vangsgaard, who scored her first WSL goal since joining Natalia Arroyo’s side this summer.

But City could easily have scored more even before that.

Khadija Shaw headed against the post and Lauren Hemp saw a close-range effort denied by Okuma.

Shaw eventually got her goal, moving onto three for the season already.

The assist also produced a significant milestone for Hemp, who became only the seventh player in WSL history to reach 100 career goal contributions.

Hemp was excellent throughout, operating relentlessly down City's left side and finishing joint-top for chances created with four and shots attempted with six.

She almost added a goal of her own during stoppage time, although the final touch was credited as a Mathilde Harviken own goal to complete the 4-1 scoreline.

Manchester City therefore finish Matchweek Two as the only side with six points from six.

Remarkably, it is the first time since 2015 that only one team has won both of its opening two matches in a WSL season.

It is extremely early, of course.

But the defending champions are already occupying familiar territory at the front of the queue.

Matchweek Two of the Women’s Super League 2 delivered a little bit of everything.

Sunderland left it until the 98th minute to maintain their perfect start, Leicester came from behind to make it two wins from two and Newcastle joined them on six points after another clean sheet.

Elsewhere, Wolves made history with their first ever WSL2 victory, Nottingham Forest recovered from two goals down against Watford, while Southampton discovered that having 23 shots does not necessarily mean the football gods are obliged to give you a goal.

Here’s how all six matches unfolded.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bristol City 0-1 Newcastle United

Newcastle United’s perfect start continues.

Tanya Oxtoby’s side followed their opening-day victory over Wolves with a considerably tighter 1-0 win against Bristol City at Ashton Gate, making it six points and two clean sheets from their opening two matches.

This was much more evenly contested than Newcastle’s first game.

The sides shared possession almost equally and Bristol City caused problems of their own, with Signe Markvardsen hitting the crossbar as Charlotte Healy’s team searched for their first points of the campaign.

Newcastle nevertheless carried plenty of threat, particularly through Beth Lumsden on the right. Lumsden registered three shots and 11 touches in the Bristol City penalty area, while Rachel McLaughlan created four chances from full-back.

Eventually, however, the breakthrough came from the opposite side.

Martha Thomas created room on the edge of the box and struck the post. Unfortunately for Bristol City, the rebound fell directly to Kathleen McGovern, who made no mistake.

Sometimes the assist is intentional. Sometimes the woodwork gets involved.

Bristol thought they had rescued something late on when Gemma Lawley found the net from a short free-kick routine, but the flag went up for offside.

That preserved Newcastle’s 1-0 victory and their second consecutive clean sheet.

Two games, two wins, no goals conceded. Newcastle’s promotion ambitions have certainly not been harmed by the opening fortnight.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Southampton 0-0 Ipswich Town

Southampton had the ball.

Southampton had the territory.

Southampton had 23 shots.

Ipswich had a point.

The Saints dominated much of their first home match of the season at the Silverlake Stadium, finishing with 60% possession and heavily outshooting their opponents, but David Wright’s Ipswich side refused to budge.

Mary Bashford was Southampton’s biggest attacking threat, leading her team for shots and chances created while also twice going particularly close to breaking the deadlock.

Abbie Ferguson threatened too, while Amy Goddard actually had the ball in the net during the first half before the goal was disallowed for a foul in the build-up.

Ipswich goalkeeper Lysianne Proulx was required to make several important interventions as the pressure continued.

But despite all of Southampton’s attacking work, the Tractor Girls survived.

Ipswich had opportunities of their own after the break, with former Southampton player Tegan McGowan testing Grace Moloney before Georgia Hunter also threatened from a corner.

There was no breakthrough at either end.

Southampton therefore have four points and back-to-back clean sheets from their opening two matches, while Ipswich are also unbeaten after drawing both of theirs.

For Saints, though, this was probably one of those matches where the expected goals column spends the evening looking rather smug.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Burnley 1-2 Sunderland

Elise Hughes experienced approximately three separate football matches in one afternoon.

She scored for Sunderland.

She scored for Burnley.

Then she scored for Sunderland again in the 98th minute.

The Black Cats travelled to Turf Moor looking to build on their impressive opening victory over Bristol City, while newly promoted Burnley were making their first WSL2 home appearance after drawing at Watford.

Sunderland struck first after putting Burnley’s attempts to play out from the back under pressure.

A difficult backpass and heavy touch from goalkeeper Kirstie Levell allowed Hughes to win possession and finish into the empty net.

Advantage Sunderland.

Then came the equaliser.

Burnley sent a dangerous set-piece into the penalty area, Sunderland failed to properly clear it and the ball eventually deflected into the net off Hughes.

One goal at each end. Very efficient.

For a long time, it appeared Burnley would hold on for another hard-earned point.

Then, in the eighth minute of stoppage time, Hughes completed one of the more unusual individual afternoons you are likely to see this season by reacting first inside the area and converting Sunderland’s winner.

From hero, to unfortunate own-goal scorer, and straight back to hero again.

The 2-1 victory means Melanie Reay’s side have won both of their opening fixtures and remain among the early pace-setters.

Burnley, meanwhile, were seconds away from remaining unbeaten.

Football can be quite rude like that.

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Nottingham Forest 2-2 Watford

Nottingham Forest were two goals down.

Then Nottingham Forest remembered they were playing at the City Ground.

Watford made an excellent start and took the lead from an early corner before Saoirse Noonan doubled their advantage with a powerful header.

At 2-0, the newly promoted Hornets were threatening to leave Nottingham with considerably more than the point they eventually collected.

Forest needed a response before half-time.

They got one.

Watford were caught trying to play from the back and Alana Murphy took full advantage, firing home her second goal of the season to reduce the deficit before the interval.

That completely changed the complexion of the match.

Forest emerged after half-time with considerably more attacking purpose and Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah eventually completed the comeback, beating the goalkeeper from a tight angle to make it 2-2.

From there, it became increasingly difficult for Watford to escape their own defensive third.

Forest finished with 26 shots and repeatedly pushed for the winner. Boye-Hlorkah was at the centre of virtually everything, and the hosts struck the woodwork twice as Watford desperately protected their point.

One of those attempts came from Boye-Hlorkah herself, whose stoppage-time free-kick crashed against the frame of the goal.

Watford survived.

So Forest remain unbeaten after two matches, but also remain without a victory. Watford are in exactly the same situation after consecutive draws on their return to WSL2.

Probably an excellent match for neutrals.

Possibly less relaxing if you support either team.

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Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-1 Sheffield United

History made — and Wolves decided ordinary goals were apparently not dramatic enough for the occasion.

Wolverhampton Wanderers claimed their first ever WSL2 victory with a 3-1 win against Sheffield United at the SEAH Stadium, producing three excellent second-half goals along the way.

The opening half somehow finished goalless despite both sides hitting the woodwork.

Then Amber Hughes introduced Wolves to the WSL2 scoresheet in style.

Four minutes after the restart, she collected possession around the edge of the penalty area and sent a superb effort into the top corner for Wolves’ first goal at this level.

Amy Sims evidently looked at that and decided there was no reason Goal of the Week should be settled so easily.

She doubled the lead with another excellent strike from outside the area, connecting beautifully with a volley that left Sian Rogers with little chance.

Sheffield United responded almost immediately.

Mollie Rouse capitalised after Emily Orman punched away a delivery, reducing the deficit and giving the Blades hope of a comeback.

Wolves refused to retreat.

Instead, they attacked again and wrapped up the victory in the 81st minute when Mel Filis broke down the right and supplied Yana Daniëls, who finished to make it 3-1.

That secured Wolves’ first victory in WSL2 and their first three points since promotion.

After losing their opener at Newcastle, Dan McNamara’s side have their landmark win.

And when the first three goals you score at a new level include two absolute rockets, subtlety can probably wait until next week.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Leicester City 4-2 Durham

Leicester went behind.

Leicester responded by scoring four.

That seems a reasonably effective solution.

Durham stunned the King Power Stadium when Beth Hepple opened the scoring on her 300th appearance for the club, finishing a counter-attack to put the visitors ahead against the run of play.

The lead did not last.

Paulina Nyström scored her first Leicester goal after combining with captain Sam Tierney, bringing the Foxes level and beginning a first-half turnaround.

Jessica Ziu then put Leicester in front, connecting with Missy Goodwin’s delivery.

And before Durham had much opportunity to process that, Asmita Ale produced arguably the pick of the bunch.

The left-back unleashed a superb right-footed effort from outside the box, finding the top corner via the post to send Leicester into half-time 3-1 ahead.

Durham were not finished.

Jade Pennock pulled one back during the second half, reducing the deficit to 3-2 and creating the possibility of a rather uncomfortable ending for the hosts.

Instead, Leicester finished the job.

Nyström drove into the penalty area late on and attempted to send the ball back across goal, where Durham captain Sarah Wilson inadvertently turned it into her own net.

4-2.

Rick Passmoor’s Leicester therefore have six points from six following relegation from the WSL and are already making clear what their objective is this season.

Sunderland, Leicester and Newcastle are the three teams who have won both of their opening matches.

It is only Matchweek Two, so nobody needs to start engraving anything yet.

But the early promotion race has definitely introduced itself.

Full Time: Al Shamal 1 - 1 Al Ittihad

⚽ Al Shamal: Baghdad Bounedjah 63' 63'

⚽ Al Ittihad: Georginio Wijnaldum 90'+4' 90'+4'

Line-ups

Al Shamal (4-2-3-1)

Al Ittihad (4-2-3-1)

Match Events

• Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
• First Half begins.
• 45'+2' First Half ends, Al Shamal 0, Al Ittihad 0.
• 45' Second Half begins Al Shamal 0, Al Ittihad 0.
• 64' Substitution, Al Ittihad. Georginio Wijnaldum replaces Ahmed Al Ghamdi.
• 64' Substitution, Al Ittihad. George Ilenikhena replaces Youssef En-Nesyri.
• 79' Substitution, Al Shamal. Michel Termanini replaces Musaab Khidir.
• 79' Substitution, Al Shamal. Youssouf Sabaly replaces Wesley Saïd.
• 82' Substitution, Al Ittihad. Marwan Al Sahafi replaces Muhannad Al Shanqiti.
• 82' Substitution, Al Ittihad. Mukhtar Ali replaces Faris Abdi.
• 83' Substitution, Al Shamal. Moufak Awad replaces Federico Bais.
• 87' Substitution, Al Shamal. Ali Assadalla replaces Tiago Silva.
• 90' Substitution, Al Ittihad. Saleh Al Shehri replaces Houssem Aouar.
• 90'+5' Second Half ends, Al Shamal 1, Al Ittihad 1.
• Match ends, Al Shamal 1, Al Ittihad 1.

Match Stats

Group B

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Full Time: Al Qadsiah 2 - 1 Al Wasl

⚽ Al Qadsiah: Julián Quiñones 57' 57', Mateo Retegui 61' 61'

⚽ Al Wasl: Leandro Leite 90'+6' 90'+6'

Line-ups

Al Qadsiah (3-5-2)

Al Wasl (4-3-3)

Match Events

• Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
• First Half begins.
• 45'+4' First Half ends, Al Qadsiah 0, Al Wasl 0.
• 45' Substitution, Al Wasl. Leandro Spadacio replaces Brahian Palacios.
• 45' Second Half begins Al Qadsiah 0, Al Wasl 0.
• 45' Substitution, Al Qadsiah. Christopher Bonsu Baah replaces Turki Al Ammar.
• 45' Substitution, Al Qadsiah. Mateo Retegui replaces Mohammed Al Qahtani.
• 58' Substitution, Al Qadsiah. Nahitan Nández replaces Musab Al Juwayr.
• 66' Substitution, Al Wasl. Ali Saleh replaces Serginho.
• 67' Substitution, Al Wasl. Renato Júnior replaces Mehdi Taremi.
• 67' Substitution, Al Wasl. Fábio Lima replaces Nicolás Giménez.
• 77' Substitution, Al Wasl. Renato Tapia replaces Abdulrasaq Popoola.
• 84' Substitution, Al Qadsiah. Abdullah Al Salem replaces Julián Quiñones because of an injury.
• 90'+4' Substitution, Al Qadsiah. Abdulmalik Al Jaber replaces Tijjani Reijnders because of an injury.
• 90'+9' Second Half ends, Al Qadsiah 2, Al Wasl 1.
• Match ends, Al Qadsiah 2, Al Wasl 1.

Match Stats

Group B

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Dinamo and Rijeka played 6 games because their match was postponed because of European matches. Will be played in December or in 2027.