Match of the Day Magazine Issue 650

YES, READERS! We’re not gonna lie, we’re feeling pretty pumped about Barcelona’s hot form right now. Let’s be honest, they were trash at the start of the season but, since ex-player Xavi took charge in November, they’ve scored more than 35 goals and lost only once. They’re back with a BOOM! With your stylist, Adam La Llama! HOW THEY'VE DONE IT! 1 NEW PLAYERS = FRESH VIBE! SWEET DEALS Barca signed three Prem players in January – Aubameyang, Ferran Torres and Adama Traore! 2 BIG TEKKY WINS! TOO GOOD Barca beat rivals Real Madrid 4-0 recently! 3 TACTICAL SWITCH-UP! TIKI TAKA Xavi has brought back possession-based play! JAKE SAYS Barcelona are still some way off the top of La Liga after their slow start, but they’ll be challenging again next season! Watch Premier League highlights on Match of the Day, Saturdays…

PREPARE FOR SOME big changes at Man. United this summer! Not only will we see a new manager, but the top dogs at Old Trafford are eyeing up Brazil and Ajax baller Antony as the club's top summer signing. The tekky forward has been tearing it up in Holland, bagging 22 goals and assists in 33 games for Ajax this season! ERIKSEN'S DANISH DELIGHT! CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN has had a hard year since collapsing at the Euros last summer. So, we've loved seeing him back ballin' out for Denmark. He scored on his return to the national side – and then captained them against Serbia. What top vibes! JAKE SAYS Antony has been compared to Chelsea's Hakim Ziyech. We think he’s even more tricky than the Moroccan though!…

MOTD mag is giving away a family ticket, for two adults and up to four children, to your choice of Camp Bestival Dorset or Shropshire. Get in! Q For your chance to win, answer this question – which player is the current captain of England? A Harry Maguire B Jordan Henderson C Harry Kane HOW TO ENTER BY EMAIL Send to 14800@motdcomps.co.uk and put the code 14800 in the email subject line. Don’t forget to include your answer, name and contact number. BY TEXT Text COMP [space] then MOTD14800x+ either A, B or C [space] plus your name and contact number to 66644. Text entry cost will be however much your mobile phone company charges for one standard text at time of entry. CLOSING DATE 15 May 2022 You can enter if you live in England, Wales,…

ERLING HAALAND THE STRIKER WHO… just keeps getting better! FACT FILE FULL NAME Erling Braut Haaland BORN 21 July 2000 (age 21) CLUB Dortmund COUNTRY Norway POSITION Striker PREFERRED FOOT Left HAALAND IS THE BEST BECAUSE… He just can’t stop scoring! Erling is still super young, but he’s been an unstoppable goalscorer in Norway, in Austria, in Germany and in Europe. Haaland turns less-than-half-chances into goals at an incredible rate! ERLING'S BOOT! THE NUMBERS CLUB 193 GAMES 149 GOALS COUNTRY 17 GAMES 15 GOALS ICONIC MOMENT! Haaland stepped out on the European scene, hitting a first half hat-trick for Salzburg on his Champions League debut! HAALAND IN EMOJIS THE HAALAND GOAL! Erling’s goal is simple: he bulldozes straight through defences, sprinting with such power, before smashing the ball as hard as he can past the keeper! MOTD VERDICT 4TH BEST STRIKER / YOUR VERDICT 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH 5TH HARRY…

“We believe that we can win the World Cup! ” FACT FILE FULL NAME Luke Paul Hoare Shaw BORN 12 July 1995 (age 26) CLUB Man. United COUNTRY England POSITION Left-back PREFERRED FOOT Left Yes, Luke! Tell us, who is your best mate in the England squad? LUKE SAYS: “Everyone here is so close – there’s a good vibe. I get on really well with Ollie Watkins. He’s a good lad and really funny. Since the Euros, I’ve been close with Mase and Dec, though. We have a good laugh – they are brilliant characters, but I can’t ruin their little duo, so I’ll say Ollie!” What do you do after training with the lads? LUKE SAYS: “We play Uno a lot. If you asked the lads, I think they’d say that I’m the best at…