The usual protagonists were back at it again this week as the Loan Report moves into March, which means the final stage of the season is pretty much here.
Headliners
It’s been a pretty good season for Iké Ugbo so far; despite the tumultuous off-field affairs at struggling Roda, he’s been able to kick-start a career that had seen him endure three unsuccessful loan spells in England. He made it thirteen goals for the season this past Friday in an emphatic 5-0 over rock-bottom Dordrecht.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OWf46FHcig
Mario Pašalić is pretty much a permanent Atalanta player these days, such is the likelihood of them triggering their €15m option to buy, but he made it seven assists to go with his seven goals this season in a 7-2 win over Lecce on Sunday for one of the most entertaining teams in all of Europe. One of the assists was generously awarded, however.
England
Premier League
Danny Drinkwater was cup-tied as Aston Villa lost the League Cup Final to Manchester City.
Championship
Trevoh Chalobah returned to the Huddersfield Town team after a recent spell on the bench and helped them to back-to-back victories. Coming on after half an hour in midweek against Cardiff for the injured Jonathan Hogg, he produced a responsible performance to guide the Terriers to a 2-1 win before putting in what Town fans felt was his best performance of the campaign in Saturday’s 4-0 thumping of Charlton Athletic.
Former Charlton midfielder Conor Gallagher was credited with his fifth assist of his time at Swansea as Rhian Brewster scored against Blackburn and, although he played well, it was a generous assist and he had chances to be more impactful in a second half of a game that saw the spoils shared. Marc Guehi was not involved again.
Suddenly-resurgent Luton Town welcomed Izzy Brown back from a virus for 66 minutes of a 1-1 draw against a Stoke City team also embroiled in a relegation battle, while Matt Miazga returned after six weeks out with ankle ligament damage to help Reading to a clean sheet and a 2-0 win over Barnsley.
Jake Clarke-Salter was an unused substitute in a pair of draws away from home for Birmingham as he looks to shake off a recent knock, while Dujon Sterling continues to work his way back from a hamstring problem.
League One
Jamal Blackman and Bristol Rovers lost 1-0 at home to Shrewsbury, while Richard Nartey continues to miss out up at Burton Albion through injury.
League Two
Josh Grant is another on the treatment table right now; a calf injury saw him miss a second consecutive Plymouth Argyle match this weekend, but he’s due to return to Home Park on Monday, and should be in line to return against Macclesfield next Saturday.
Spain
Kenedy was a stoppage-time substitute as Getafe saw off Ajax in the Europa League and lined up a last sixteen tie with Inter, before he started against a Mallorca team still missing Baba Rahman in La Liga on Sunday and lasted 77 minutes.
Italy
Victor Moses played from start to finish as Inter beat Ludogorets behind closed doors in the Europa League, before their Serie A title tussle against Juventus was postponed as the Coronavirus situation continues to impact football in Italy.
Davide Zappacosta is injured.
Germany
Ethan Ampadu was not involved again for RB Leipzig this weekend.
France
Tiémoué Bakayoko played 78 minutes of Monaco’s 1-1 draw against Reims on Saturday.
Netherlands
Juan Castillo played all of Jong Ajax’s 2-2 draw against Telstar on Friday night, while George McEachran was an unused substitute as Cambuur stayed on track for the title by beating Jong PSV 4-2.
Belgium
Charlie Brown played 66 minutes of Union SG’s impressive 3-1 win over Westerlo on Friday. He won the penalty from which they opened the scoring.
Portugal
Lucas Piazon missed Rio Ave’s goalless draw with Belenenses because of injury.
Scotland
Nathan Baxter and Ross County had no fixture this week as they’re already out of the Scottish Cup.
Brazil
Nathan replaced Franco Di Santo for the last eight minutes of Atlético-MG’s Copa do Brasil defeat to Afogados on penalties. He then played an hour against Boa in the Mineiro State Championship on Sunday.
Statistics
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