On Saturday, before his team's top-of-the-table clash with Celtic, I asked St Mirren manager Craig McLeish how easy it has been to implement the style of football that is enthralling the Paisley club's supporters amid their then unbeaten start to the league season. The man who led the Saints youth team under Aberdeen boss Stephen Robinson has produced a side that plays an exciting, fast-paced brand of football with a clear identity already. Eight new signings started the narrow defeat to the champions as well as Fraser Taylor, who was on loan at Partick Thistle last season.
Michael: Satisfactory performance by City, but made to work hard for it at times by a plucky Coventry. Arthur: The one true decisive moment of quality from Man City proved to be enough, great pass, great cross and a great header. City need to sharpen up, or it will cost them in the future.
Christian Pulisic watched from the bench as compatriot Yunus Musah went the full 90 in AC Milan's 1-1 tie at Juventus. Weston McKennie didn't dress for Juve because of a muscle injury. The post Americans Abroad (Italy): Christian Pulisic’s wait continues appeared first on Soccer America.
Barcelona visit Valencia at Mestalla for Matchday 4 in the 2026-27 LaLiga season, and here are all the details on how to watch this game live in the United States. Here are all of the details of where you can watch Valencia vs Barcelona on US television and via legal streaming: WHO: Valencia vs Barcelona WHAT: La Liga WHEN: 10:15 AM ET / 7:15 AM PT • Sunday, September 6, 2026 WHERE: Fubo STREAM: WATCH NOW Match Overview Reigning La Liga champions Barcelona travel to the Mestalla to face a Valencia side already in crisis mode just four games into the new season. For Barcelona, this match represents a chance to continue their flawless start and extend their dominance atop the league table. Hansi Flick’s squad has been firing on all cylinders, showcasing the attacking prowess that secured them the title last season. For Valencia, the stakes are entirely different and far more urgent. With only one point from their first three matches and a growing injury list, the pressure is mounting on manager Carlos Corberán. A clash against the champions is the last thing a struggling team needs, but a surprise result could be the catalyst to turn their season around before they get dragged into an early relegation battle. Tactical Analysis & Match Context The two clubs enter this fixture on completely opposite trajectories. Barcelona has picked up where they left off, securing three convincing wins while scoring 12 goals. Their title defense is off to a perfect start, built on an aggressive, high-pressing system that suffocates opponents. Their 11.6 xG in just three games demonstrates that their goal-scoring flurry is no accident, but a product of systematic dominance. In stark contrast, Valencia has stumbled out of the gate, mirroring the poor start that plagued their 2025/26 campaign. They have scored just one goal and their defense has already shown signs of weakness, conceding three times to newly-promoted Deportivo La Coruña. Tactically, Valencia’s attempt to press high could be disastrous. While they rank high in winning possession in the opponent’s half, that aggressive approach risks leaving them fatally exposed to the blistering pace of Barcelona’s forwards like Lamine Yamal and Raphinha, who has thrived in a false nine role. The motivations for each side are crystal clear. Barcelona aims to solidify its position as the team to beat, and a comprehensive victory on the road would send another strong message to the rest of the league. For Valencia, this is about survival and restoring confidence. They need to find a way to be defensively compact while still posing a threat, a difficult balance to strike against a team of Barcelona’s caliber, especially with a squad decimated by injuries. Head-to-Head Record & Historic Trends Historically, this fixture has been heavily dominated by Barcelona. Across 232 official meetings, the Catalan giants have secured 115 victories compared to Valencia’s 60, with 57 matches ending in a draw. This long-term trend underscores the scale of the challenge facing the home side. However, recent history offers a more complex picture. Valencia’s 3-1 victory in their last meeting at the Mestalla broke a 12-game winless streak against Barcelona. While that win came on the final day of last season after Barcelona had already clinched the title, it will provide a sliver of hope. Before that, Barcelona’s dominance was clear, highlighted by a crushing 6-0 win earlier in the same season. Statistically, this matchup often produces fireworks. The last five encounters have seen both teams find the net on three occasions. More notably, games between these two sides have averaged a staggering 5.2 goals, suggesting a high probability of an open, attacking affair. Barcelona has covered a -1.5 goal handicap in three of their last four victories over Valencia, indicating a tendency for them to win comfortably when they are on form. Squad News & Projected Lineups Both managers are contending with key absences, but Valencia’s
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