Welcome to Eurotales, where we offer a refreshing change from the same old stories about European football's top clubs. This week, we're heading to France to catch up with our friend, respected journalist Roy Calley, now based in the beautiful French Riviera. After years with the BBC, Roy was drawn to OGC Nice, where he's now a season ticket holder and deeply involved in the vibrant French football scene. OGC Nice is a club often affected by changes in the wind, and its landscape has...

Serie A beckons once more, fresh from last season's goal-fest. Bologna's fairytale run to Champions League qualification under Motta, led by Zirkzee, reminded us of football's enduring magic. Yet success breeds change, and both have departed. Now, eyes turn to potential dark horses. Could Torino be this year's Bologna? Their blistering start - unbeaten in five, briefly topping the table - suggests promise. New manager Pablo Fanoli, fresh from guiding Venezia to promotion, brings...

Celtic's Champions League ambitions face a stark contrast to their domestic dominance. At home, Brendan Rodgers' side rules supreme, a giant among minnows. Yet in Europe, they stumble against titans. This disparity highlights a pressing issue: Can the Hoops transcend their "big fish, small pond" status? The Scottish powerhouse boasts a rich European heritage, but recent campaigns have exposed limitations. Now, a potential solution emerges. The revamped Champions League format offers...

Today, we talk to French Football Expert John Porter Editor of the renowned French Football publication The Crazy Dribbler about one of the most talked-about teams in Ligue 1, Lyon. After ending last season with a bang, many believed that they would be a top contender this season. The summer transfer window was chaotic with comings and goings more frequent than spring showers with John Textor at the wheel there is never a quiet moment (Everton beware). Cherki & Caqueret were pushed...

Exciting Times for RB Leipzig Last week brought a wave of excitement for Bundesliga team RB Leipzig. They learned about their opponents in the new Champions League format. On the pitch, Bundesliga Matchday two featured Marco Rose's Leipzig facing Xabi Alonso and his unbeaten Bayern Leverkusen. Leverkusen had a remarkable 35-game unbeaten streak. Leipzig, with their own 12-game unbeaten run, was ready for a thrilling match. Powered by the clinical Belgian striker Openda, who scored two...

WE ARE BACK: Welcome back to Eurotales for Season 2, the big kick offs are just just days away now, to get you in the mood and back in the groove, we welcome back our Saints expert Fraser Spinney to dissect Southampton's preparations as they embark on another Premier League campaign. Fraser is engrained in all things Southampton, he is part of the newly hotly anticipated Saints podcast Daily Southampton and is the prime Saints correspondent for Southampton News Website...

Hello everyone and welcome back to Eurotales! This week, we are diving into the trenches of the Serie A relegation battle with a special focus on Udinese. Known for their ability to unearth hidden talents, this club has been a force to be reckoned with in recent years despite their modest resources. But this season, they find themselves in a precarious position, fourth from bottom and fighting for their spot in the top-flight. To help us understand the situation at Udinese, we have a special...

This week we are graced by Ligue 1 fountain of knowledge, THE MAGNIFICENT French football Robin Bairner, a man who oozies Ligue1 after working in French football in excess of 20years, we are going to discuss a club and manager that in many aspects have not been lauded to a level that they perhaps deserve. We preview the almighty clash of Lille v Aston Villa,. Lille and Paulo Fonseca have hit their stride at just the right time, pushing for a podium finish in Ligue1 and pushing for a semifinal...

 As you all know, earlier in the season, ogc Nice was the talk of the town with their impressive defense and their new manager, Francesco Farioli, leading the team to success. But, what happened? How did this team go from being on top of their game to struggling to stay afloat? Well, after three consecutive defeats on their home turf, it's safe to say that things have taken a turn for the worse for Nice. And it's not just any defeats, they lost to relegation strugglers Nantes. Yes, the same...

Just weeks ago, Jose’s love affair in the eternal city with Roma ended, the Mourinho effect on Roma led to the fans of the Italian club falling in love with the cult manager. A European trophy now dons the hallowed halls of Roma thanks to Jose’s tenure, it would not be a jump to say that Mourinho is the most popular Roma manager in modern times. With the fans heartbroken and anger building towards the American owners who made the brave decision to sack Jose, Roma needed someone to reunite the...

Today, we're talking about one of the most inspiring underdog tales in European football - the story of RC Lens. with renowned French football expert Robin Bairner (X- @RBairner) . You may have heard about other underdog teams like Brighton and Leverkusen, but do you know about the remarkable journey of this club from the north of France? The brilliance of Brighton and Leverkusen is well-known, but do RC Lens get the credit they deserve? Maybe their story gets lost in the constant news...

Prepare to be amazed by the remarkable story of Como, a once-forgotten football club that has risen from the depths of bankruptcy to become one of the most captivating projects in European football. Brace yourself for a tale of resilience, ambition, and star-studded backing. Como may have been away from the Serie A spotlight since 2003, but in August 2002, they captured global attention for an entirely different reason. Imagine a football project supported by none other than Cesc Fabregas,...

One of Germany’s most famous clubs Werder Bremen are on a crest of a wave, at the weekend the club celebrated their 125th birthday in style with a 1-0 win over Mainz. Historically, only Bayern and Dortmund are more successful than Bremen. Since we beckoned in a new year, Werder Bremen have started showing stoic resolve. Werder’s men have now gone seven straight Bundesliga games without defeat, claiming four wins and three draws , they have not tasted defeat since a 2-0 loss against...

Strikers, goal getters, predators are eulogised and chronicled by great writers, they are admired and treasured when a special one dons your club’s shirt. In modern times, they are becoming harder to come by but perhaps there is one hiding in plain sight in League Two who dons the International colours of Iraq and comes endowed with a scouse accent.... 21-year-old Ali Al-Hamadi is already a star at AFC Wimbledon, this season from 23 League Two games this season he’s conjured 13 goals and 6...

Last summer Arsenal signed West Ham captain Declan Rice for a whooping reported 105-million -pounds, the fee naturally raised some eyebrows given the player’s contract was in its final year. The signing of Rice represented a shift in recruitment ethos from an Arsenal standpoint, they shifted their hunger for signing youth to head-hunting some experienced mid-20 players reaching their prime like Rice. Given Rice an established England international and quite possibly a future England cap...

The first of our Transfer Watch series, join us on a January Bundesliga scouting mission as we profile three shinning lights full of potential but still remarkably sailing below the radar of media attention for now... Jan Niklas Beste – Heidenham – The Assist King - Winger Maximillian Beier – Hoffenheim – Rising Star - Striker  Angelo Stiller – Stuttgart - Deep Lying Technical Defensive Midfielder   Follow us on twitter - @Eurotalespod We are proud to be part of the Sports Social Podcast...

There is plenty of underdog stories across the European football landscape so far this season, Aston Villa, Girona and Ipswich Town to name just a few but perhaps one that is not getting enough traction is the incredible story of Thiago Motta and Bologna. Last weekend they vanquished Jose Mourinho’s Roma 2-0, a win which sees them solidify their position in fourth place. Their antics continued midweek producing another scintillating display of their new found power, Thiago Motta’s side...

Some months ago, amid a tirade of spending fortunes in the transfer market akin to someone on Supermarket Sweep.BlueCo owners of Premier League club Chelsea procured a majority stake in French Ligue 1 club Strasbourg.The French club have smashed their transfer record since and hired a big-name manager in Patrick Vieira, but is all well at this historic French club since joining the Chelsea football pyramid?We caught up with French football expert James Evans (Twitter/X link - @Jevans6799) for...

Welcome to Eurotales football podcast, every club, league & fanbase has a story to tell and we aim to tell it. This week we explore the rise of Jobe Bellingham playing at Sunderland, the starlet is surrounded by fellow youngsters. The Black Cats have the youngest side in the Championship.At just 18 Jobe is playing week in and week out in a league where games come thick and fast.The rising talent is more than just the brother of a global superstar, he is starting to become a player in his...

OGC Nice are in sensational form at the top of Ligue 1, after 11 games the club from the south coast, on the banks of Mediterranean are one point ahead of behemoths of Paris, PSG. 16.5 hours of Ligue 1 football played under their new coach Italian coach Francesco Farioli and incredibly they have not been behind for a single minute of action thus far. Is this finally the coming of age for the INEOS project, has English billionaire Jim Ratcliffe, timed his Nice renaissance at the perfect time,...

Welcome to Eurotales Football Podcast This week we place Serie A side Lecce under the microscope, they started the season with aplomb, their first five Serie A encounters saw them go unbeaten, three victories and two draws, saw fans of the club from the southern city dreaming of a possible European charge. Their last 5 games however have not been so dream worthy, three defeats and two draws has seen the side’s dream start been eroded somewhat but don't forget they are youngest side in the...

Welcome to Eurotales football podcast, every club, league & fanbase has a story to tell and we aim to tell it. This week we are joined by Bundesliga expert Rune Gjerulff Petersen (Twitter - @runegjerulff) founder of premier German football website Bullinews.com There is a side causing quite the stir amongst the juggernauts of the Bundesliga, after eight games little old Stuttgart are sitting in second place, just one point behind the much-lauded Bayer Leverkusen under the...

20-year-old attacker Louie Barry was once on the books of Barcelona, he became the first Englishman to play for the Spanish giant’s famous academy La Masia during his time with the Catalans. For one so young he has been subject to much fanfare and headlines, he was famously dubbed ‘little Vardy’ by Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp after he announced himself to the world scoring on his Aston Villa senior debut in an FA Cup clash with Liverpool back in the covid times of January 2021. Since then,...

Welcome to Eurotales football podcast, every club, league & fanbase has a story to tell and we aim to tell it. This week we are joined by European football expert Richard Pike to preview Matchday One in the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League. Chapter 1 - The Champions League - Newcastle Utd descend on the San Siro to take AC Milan following their 5-1 humbling at the hands of bitter Inter Milan over the weekend, will they lose the Sandro Tonali derby too? Can...