2026
Espanyol Season Review: Against All Odds – A Youth Revolution in Full Flow!
What a season it’s been for Espanyol! Tonight, the team travels to face Arsenal in a match that could define everything. Sitting in 3rd place in Division 2 with promotion tantalizingly close, this is the stuff of football dreams. Just 90 minutes away from a sensational return to the top flight!
The numbers tell an incredible story: only 6 defeats all season and a rock-solid 69 points on the board. In any normal year, that would be more than enough for promotion. But this hasn’t been a normal year. Wolfsburg have been absolutely sensational and virtually unstoppable. They face relegated Boca Juniors tonight – a game they’re expected to win – meaning Espanyol must go to the Emirates and beat the Division 2 champions-elect, Arsenal, to keep their promotion hopes alive.
And to think… most people had Espanyol down for a relegation scrap at the start of the campaign!
But the manager refused to panic. He stayed true to a bold, long-term vision:
“We had strict objectives this season as part of our wider rebuild. We wanted to move on our older declining players and open up the academy pathway to the first team. It was a gamble. We needed to test our recruitment policy, trust these young players, and hope we’d get a helping hand with the updates. We also had to keep recruiting the next wave who will follow those now wearing the shirts.”
The gamble has paid off in spectacular fashion.
Ten of tonight’s likely starting lineup featured in the Youth Cup Final – which Espanyol won for the second time! In just 8 entries into the competition, they’ve reached 6 finals, a semi-final, and a quarter-final. With the age profile of this youth squad, the future looks ridiculously bright.
It’s a World Cup year, and eight of these exciting youngsters will represent their countries on the biggest stage. Many are already being linked with monster moves to Europe’s elite clubs.
Think about the transformation: When the manager arrived, 95% of the game world had zero interest in Espanyol players. It was the oldest squad in the league, sliding toward a painful drop through the divisions. Fast forward to now, and those same players are coveted assets. That’s what belief, hard work, and sticking to a vision can do.
No matter what happens tonight, this has been an unforgettable campaign. Espanyol have shown heart, hunger, and huge potential. Promotion would be the perfect ending – but even without it, the club is in a far stronger position heading into next season.
The rebuild is working. The future is bright. The Pericos are back – and they’re coming with serious intent! 💙⚪
Vamos Espanyol!
ASH DELIVERS WORLD CLUB CUP GLORY IN DEBUT SEASON AS LEICESTER EDGE PORTO
Leicester crowned world champions after dramatic extra-time victory following 1-1 aggregate draw
Ash could hardly have dreamed of a better beginning to life as Leicester City manager.
In his first season in charge, the Leicester boss guided the club to World Club Cup glory, overcoming Porto in a tense and dramatic final that required fictional extra time to produce a winner after the two sides finished level at 1-1 on aggregate.
The triumph marks the first World Club Cup title of Ash's managerial career and represents one of the finest achievements of his young tenure at the club. Having arrived with the task of leading Leicester into a new era, he has wasted little time in delivering silverware on the global stage.
The final itself was a showcase of determination and tactical discipline from both teams. Neither Leicester nor Porto were willing to give ground, resulting in a closely fought contest that remained on a knife-edge throughout both legs.
Porto, managed by Andre, proved worthy opponents and matched Leicester for long periods of the tie. After the aggregate score finished 1-1, the final was forced into fictional extra time, with the destination of the trophy hanging in the balance.
As fatigue set in and tension gripped players and supporters alike, Leicester found the moment they had been searching for. The decisive extra-time goal finally broke the deadlock and sent the Leicester bench into wild celebrations.
Porto pushed desperately for an equaliser, but Leicester stood firm, defending their advantage until the final whistle confirmed them as world champions.
The victory is particularly significant for Ash, whose arrival at the club was met with both excitement and expectation. Delivering a major international trophy in his first season has immediately endeared him to supporters and established his credentials among the game's rising managers.
Leicester's players also deserve immense credit for navigating one of the toughest paths imaginable. Against a Porto side that refused to surrender, they demonstrated resilience, composure and character when it mattered most.
For Andre and Porto, defeat will be difficult to accept after pushing the final beyond normal time. Their performance throughout the tie earned admiration and respect, even if they ultimately fell short of lifting the trophy.
As Leicester's players celebrated on the world stage, one image stood above the rest: Ash, in his debut season, raising the World Club Cup trophy for the first time in his career.
For Leicester City, it is a moment of glory.
For Ash, it may be the beginning of something special.
FINAL DAY FRENZY: TITLES WON, HEARTS BROKEN AND EVERYTHING STILL TO PLAY FOR
The season reaches its boiling point as clubs across all five divisions face their moment of truth. Some are already celebrating, others are clinging on for dear life, and a few are praying for miracles.
DIVISION 1: CHELSEA CROWNED, BUT THIRD PLACE IS A STREET FIGHT
Chelsea have stormed to the title with Barca trailing behind, while Hellas sit in third — but only just. Leicester and Sporting lurk in the shadows, but the goal difference gap is so colossal it would take a footballing apocalypse to overturn it.
Key fixtures:
- Inter vs Hellas Hellas should breeze through this, but they must win to lock down third. Leicester’s superior goal difference means any slip could be fatal.
- Bayern vs Leicester A much tougher assignment. A draw looks likely, which would hand Hellas the bronze medal.
Relegation? Already sorted. Nothing to see here.
DIVISION 2: ARSENAL CHAMPIONS, BUT THE SCRAMBLE FOR THIRD IS PURE CHAOS
Arsenal have wrapped up the title and Internacional will join them in the top flight. But the real drama is the battle for third place and the playoff spots.
Third‑place showdown:
- Espanyol vs Arsenal Espanyol must win. Arsenal won’t be rolling over.
- Boca vs Wolfsburg Wolfsburg should take the points unless they rest players for the playoffs — and they might, knowing Atletico and Cologne can rotate freely.
Playoff contenders: Stoke & Benfica
- Stoke vs Internacional Stoke need a win, but Internacional are a nightmare opponent.
- Benfica vs Zagreb Benfica will fancy all three points.
Relegation? Signed, sealed, delivered.
DIVISION 3: PROMOTION SET, BUT THE RELEGATION TRAPDOOR IS WIDE OPEN
WBA, Genoa and Sevilla are already celebrating promotion. Zenit, St Etienne and Lille can rest their stars. But the playoff hopefuls? They’re sweating.
Playoff chasers: Hoffenheim, Galatasaray, Spurs
- Spurs vs Sunderland Spurs might scrape a draw.
- Galatasaray vs Sevilla Gala will be praying Sevilla take it easy.
- Hoffenheim vs River Plate Hoffenheim should fancy their chances. River Plate are wobbling and fighting for survival.
Relegation roulette: Dnipro, River Plate, Partizan
- Dnipro vs Lille Lille likely rotate heavily. Dnipro should win.
- Partizan vs Zenit Zenit resting players means Partizan should take three points.
If Dnipro win, River Plate are heading down.
DIVISION 4: AJAX CHAMPIONS, BUT THE PROMOTION AND PLAYOFF RACE IS BRUTAL
Ajax take the title, Liverpool are already up, but Lokomotive and Monchengladbach are separated by a single point — with Gladbach holding the goal‑difference advantage.
Promotion deciders:
- Lokomotive vs Liverpool Liverpool still want second. Lokomotive could be in trouble.
- Monchengladbach vs Chievo Chievo are stubborn. A draw is very possible.
Playoff contenders: Monaco, PSG, Napoli, Lyon One of them must miss out.
- PSG vs Lyon A draw is enough for PSG.
- Monaco vs Independiente Monaco should win.
- Napoli vs Bremen Napoli should also take the points.
Relegation battle: Feyenoord vs Fiorentina
- Fiorentina vs Celtic – Tough ask.
- Feyenoord vs Schalke – Expect Feyenoord to lose.
Fiorentina probably don’t have enough to survive.
DIVISION 5: PLAYOFF STAMPEDE AS FIVE TEAMS CHASE THREE SPOTS
The top three are locked in. Santos can rest players. The playoff race? Absolute carnage.
Contenders: AZ, Rubin, PSV, Villarreal, Shakhtar
Key fixtures:
- PSV vs Twente – PSV should win.
- Villarreal vs Stuttgart – Villarreal should also take the points.
- AZ vs Marseille – Tough for AZ.
- Shakhtar vs Bordeaux – Could easily be a draw.
- Rubin vs Santos – Rubin will fancy it with Santos resting.
Prediction: Rubin, PSV and Villarreal to take the playoff spots.
Sack race? Nothing left to play for.
Chelsea - James
Some people like to build slowly,at chelsea we have always tried to create great youth and sell them on to make the first team the best it can be.constantly scouting for players isn’t an easy game,injuries loss of form knowing when to sell when they are at there peak.the pitfalls of someone heading to Saudi.sometimes it’s a thankless task.but always one that gives u great enjoyment.this term we have moved
On some of
The best finds I’ve had.but it’s all worth it to get my hands back on the title.barca have pushed us all the way this term and credit to Adam his consistency has been great.but we had a spell of 12 wins in a row at the mid point of the season and it propelled us into a great position,one we nearly threw away after a series of injuries and suspensions.but finally 6 seasons after our last title.one we loved but knew we had to go back to the drawing board and reinvent ourselfs ,something some teams don’t come back from but we have managed to believe in what we are doing here,stick to the plan and we look like a
Proper team who can maybe next season carry
This great momentum forward and go for
Another title.till then we will savour this season and take great
Pride knowing that next term we will be the target,the one everybody wants to beat. Cheers for all the congrats
I’ve received
And good luck to everyone for the play offs.lets
Get the transfers going at
End of season and hoping to see some big deals for next term to keep
This gameworld going strong.
Division 5: The Season Nears Its Conclusion
The title is settled, the playoff race is anything but, and a few managers are already checking whether their contracts contain a severance package.
With just two matches remaining in the Division 5 season, the campaign is entering its final days. While Valencia have already wrapped up the championship, several important battles remain unresolved as clubs prepare for the final six points on offer.
Valencia Crowned Champions
The title race is over.
Valencia CF are mathematically confirmed Division 5 champions after opening up a 13-point lead at the top with only six points left to play for. It has been a dominant campaign from start to finish, built on a combination of attacking quality and defensive discipline.
Their record of 26 wins from 36 matches, alongside 93 goals scored and a league-best goal difference of +59, leaves little room for argument. They have simply been the best side in the division.
With promotion already secured and the trophy effectively polished and waiting, Valencia can approach the final two fixtures knowing the job has been completed.
Marseille And Athletic Club Secure Promotion
The automatic promotion places have also been decided.
Olympique Marseille's 71 points and Athletic Club's 68 points mean both clubs are guaranteed to finish inside the top three and will join Valencia in Division 4 next season.
Marseille's consistency has been the foundation of their success. Twenty wins and eleven draws have ensured they remained among the leading contenders throughout the campaign.
Athletic Club's route has been slightly different. Their season has contained more highs and lows than their rivals, but 22 victories have provided enough points to secure promotion with games to spare.
The only remaining question is who finishes second and who settles for third.
Four Teams, Three Places
While the automatic promotion spots are settled, the playoff race remains alive.
Santos FC currently occupy fourth place on 60 points and have arguably been the division's form side in recent weeks, winning five of their last six matches. Their late surge has put them in a strong position to secure a playoff berth.
Rubin Kazan sit level on 60 points, while Villarreal CF are sixth on 59.
AZ Alkmaar currently hold seventh place on 58 points, but their position is far from secure. Shakhtar Donetsk are level on points and PSV remain only two points behind on 56. Torino with an outside chance sit on 54.
With seven clubs separated by just six points and only four playoff places available, the final week promises to be one of the most competitive periods of the season.
One good result could be enough to secure a playoff place. One bad result could end a promotion dream.
Mid-Table Security
Celta Vigo, Girondins Bordeaux, Lazio and Olympiacos all appear destined for mid-table finishes.
Their seasons have produced moments of quality, but not quite enough consistency to challenge for promotion. With little left to play for in terms of league position, pride and finishing as strongly as possible become the primary objectives.
The Fight To Avoid The Sack
With no relegation in Division 5, the battle at the bottom still bears consequence.
The managers finishing in the bottom three positions will lose their jobs at the end of the season, creating a nervous finish for several clubs.
Sassuolo currently occupy 18th place on 33 points. They sit 18 points clear of 19th and only 4 behind Atalanta.
That leaves FC Twente and Stuttgart already condemned to bottom-three finishes, with Twente collecting only 15 points and Stuttgart enduring a miserable campaign that has yielded just 11.
The final dismissal spot is effectively a battle between Atalanta BC, Club Brugge and Spartak Moskva.
Spartak currently hold a five-point cushion over Atalanta and appear to have done enough to preserve their manager's position. Club Brugge sit four points clear of danger and remain favourites to survive.
Atalanta, however, remain vulnerable. Sitting on 37 points with only six available, they need a strong finish to avoid ending the season in the bottom three and facing an uncomfortable conversation with the board.
Two matches remain.
For some clubs, they are little more than a formality.
For others, they will define the entire season.
Is AI the Future?
Going into the season Malcolm's rankings (rightfully so) had CSKA pegged for relegation. We were surprisingly promoted into D1 and from a ratings standpoint don't have much business being there.
But did AI know something we didn't? AI said with our GK (Carnesecchi) and depth we may well survive. After 25 games, CSKA has 32 points, good for 13th place and with a 10 point cushion to relegation. Could we still be relegated? Of course! We're just not that good (yet). But Memphis Depay, Ciro Immobile and perhaps our first signing Simon Adingra and a great D have kept us in games a bit. We're exceeding expectations
We have a weird team where most of our starters are 30+ and everyone else is u21 with a few exceptions. The updates will help somewhat - Martin and Jimenez may well be startable soon but with so maybe oldies we're due some drops as well.
CSKA already has more points than I was likely expecting. It will be an interesting final 1/3 of the season. Even if we survive we'll be battling relegation for several seasons without some big moves. But the goal is always to win D1 not just survive.
Regen Then and Now
S1 → S3: How the Game World Has Changed
When Top 100 Regen launched, clubs were allocated based on Opta ratings — from Real Madrid at the summit to Maccabi Haifa and New England Revolution deep in Division 5. Two seasons on, the game world looks very different. Some clubs have transformed beyond recognition. Others have slipped from where they started. Here’s the full picture.
By the Numbers
- 📈 Total value growth: +£2.29 billion (£12.71B → £15.00B)
- ⭐ 71 clubs improved their overall rating
- ⬇️ Only 9 clubs saw a rating decline
- 📊 Average squad rating rose from 85.26 to 86.92
- 🔼 22 clubs promoted vs their S1 starting division
- 🔽 23 clubs relegated vs their S1 starting division
- ➡️ 55 clubs remain in the same division as S1
The overall trend is clear: the game world has grown significantly in quality. Almost three quarters of clubs are stronger squads than they were on day one, and total market value across all 100 clubs has risen by nearly £2.3 billion.
Biggest Value Gainers
The clubs that have grown the most in value are largely those that started from the lower divisions — proof that active squad management can make an enormous difference in a short time.
| Club | S1 Div | S3 Div | S1 Value | S3 Value | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maccabi Haifa | D5 | D4 | £31.6M | £130.9M | +£99.3M |
| Sparta Praha | D5 | D5 | £24.1M | £112.3M | +£88.2M |
| Royal Antwerp | D5 | D5 | £37.9M | £125.5M | +£87.6M |
| Derby County | D5 | D5 | £36.6M | £123.8M | +£87.2M |
| RSC Anderlecht | D5 | D4 | £61.8M | £140.7M | +£78.9M |
| Mamelodi Sundowns | D5 | D4 | £44.2M | £101.4M | +£57.2M |
| New England Revolution | D5 | D3 | £41.4M | £87.2M | +£45.8M |
Maccabi Haifa deserve a special mention. They started as the lowest-rated managed club in the game world (Opta rank 359, rated 78, valued at just £31.6M). They are now in Division 4 with an 87-rated squad worth £130.9M — a +£99.3M increase and a +9 rating jump in two seasons.
Biggest Value Declines
Some clubs — particularly those who started with inflated values from high-profile real-world players — have seen market value fall significantly.
| Club | S1 Div | S3 Div | S1 Value | S3 Value | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fulham | D2 | D3 | £189.1M | £125.8M | -£63.3M |
| Bayern München | D1 | D1 | £287.8M | £230.5M | -£57.3M |
| Borussia Mönchengladbach | D5 | D5 | £170.2M | £117.2M | -£53.0M |
| PSV | D2 | D3 | £150.3M | £116.8M | -£33.5M |
| RB Leipzig | D3 | D3 | £200.4M | £174.7M | -£25.7M |
Bayern München remain one of the strongest clubs in D1 despite the value drop — they still carry a 92 average rating. Their decline reflects squad turnover rather than a loss of quality.
Biggest Rating Jumps
| Club | S1 Rat | S3 Rat | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Derby County | 76 | 88 | +12 |
| Royal Antwerp | 76 | 87 | +11 |
| Sparta Praha | 76 | 86 | +10 |
| Maccabi Haifa | 78 | 87 | +9 |
| FC København | 77 | 86 | +9 |
| Everton | 81 | 88 | +7 |
| SK Slavia Praha | 81 | 88 | +7 |
Divisional Movement
🔼 Promoted (22 clubs)
| Club | Movement |
|---|---|
| Tottenham Hotspur | D2 → D1 |
| Athletic Club | D2 → D1 |
| Villarreal CF | D2 → D1 |
| Lille OSC | D2 → D1 |
| Brentford | D2 → D1 |
| Eintracht Frankfurt | D3 → D2 |
| SK Slavia Praha | D3 → D2 |
| FC Porto | D3 → D2 |
| ACF Fiorentina | D3 → D2 |
| Real Sociedad | D4 → D2 |
| SC Freiburg | D4 → D2 |
| Girona FC | D5 → D3 |
| River Plate | D4 → D3 |
| Ajax | D4 → D3 |
| Palmeiras | D4 → D3 |
| Valencia CF | D4 → D3 |
| New England Revolution | D5 → D3 |
| Al Nassr FC | D5 → D4 |
| Atlético Mineiro | D5 → D4 |
| Mamelodi Sundowns | D5 → D4 |
| Maccabi Haifa | D5 → D4 |
| RSC Anderlecht | D5 → D4 |
🔽 Relegated (23 clubs)
| Club | Movement |
|---|---|
| Liverpool | D1 → D2 |
| Borussia Dortmund | D1 → D2 |
| AS Roma | D1 → D2 |
| Aston Villa | D1 → D2 |
| Bayer Leverkusen | D1 → D2 |
| Bologna FC | D2 → D3 |
| SL Benfica | D2 → D3 |
| Fulham | D2 → D3 |
| Nottingham Forest | D2 → D3 |
| PSV | D2 → D3 |
| Red Bull Salzburg | D3 → D4 |
| RC Strasbourg Alsace | D3 → D4 |
| Celtic | D3 → D4 |
| Club Brugge KV | D2 → D4 |
| Olympique Marseille | D3 → D4 |
| Olympiacos | D3 → D4 |
| OGC Nice | D3 → D5 |
| Feyenoord | D3 → D5 |
| Como 1907 | D4 → D5 |
| Stade Brestois 29 | D4 → D5 |
| RC Lens | D4 → D5 |
| VfL Wolfsburg | D4 → D5 |
| Racing Club | D4 → D5 |
Full Club Data
The full comparison table for all 100 clubs — including Opta rank, original manager, current manager, division movement, rating change, and value change — is embedded below.
Can’t see the table? View the full S1 vs S3 comparison here.
Shakhtar Donetsk - Mid season review
Thought I would do a review of the season so far and some overall observations.
I have been in SM a few years now, and in and out of T100 during that period, and of course had a few clubs along the way.
Having taken over a year out from SM and T100, I have seen some changes in here.
- Certainly seems a lot of money about now and some huge amounts spent of youngsters. I will come back to our clubs financial position later.
- It now seems most managers aim for squad building rather than short term gains. As generally shown in the lack of interest in moving to other clubs when they become available. Certainly different to a few years back.
- Following on from that point there is much less activity certainly via the Whats App group.
- As with other GW's it now seems harder to find new managers, once again we used to have a waiting list. There now appears to be a lack of new people joining SM, gold membership may be one of the reasons, but for all the work SM are putting into the changes there is less appeal for this product it seems .
As far as my team is concern I firstly like to thank David for inviting me back in, and was more than happy to take on a Division 5 team (without the pressure). Shakhtar had some success with Dan Wallace about 2 years ago, but it seems since then they have slipped back.
In summary we have bought in 18 players and sold 15. Outlay of £114m and income of just £27.2m. Our budget is now £486m. Obviously my aim now is improve our balance for the next manager to have a sound base. So will concentrate on new players and the odd bargain priced player. But also keeping some of my young assets for the future.
In general I have attempted to look at players under 27 to bring in, the exception was the experienced Azpilicuete as a short term option while his rating remains above 86. I also bought in Lopez and Nketiah (since move on) to provide some goals (hopefully) Letting Nketiah go was not easy but it allowed me to add depth to the squad with Hutchinson, Awoniyi and Kislyak coming in.
League position prediciction at start of the season was 14th and so far we have over achieved in my view and expect a drop in form over the second half of the season, but still hope for a mid table finish.
Finally having played all the clubs - not sure why Valencia are even in this division, they have already won it and would not be surprised if they reached 100 points. Of the others to impress so far I expect Olympique Marseille and Villareal to be in the mix at the end of the season.
Good luck to all the other division 5 managers for the rest of the season.
Season 27 Power Rankings
Bayern back on top! After relinquishing the top power ranking spot to Hellas Verona last season, Bayern is back on top, with Chelsea also leapfrogging Verona.
Holding down the basement for the 3rd year in a row is Stuttgart. Those poor supporters!
My club CSKA climbed 8 spots to #45. Our first season ever in D1 looks statistically impossible.
Biggest Risers from S26: Celta Vigo moved from 97 to 66 while Cologne/Koln moved from 52 way up to 25.
Biggest Fallers from S26: Boca Juniors and Man United both fell almost 25 spots. Must be a Cavani thing.
How does everyone look compared to S20 when I first started tracking?
Napoli, Zenit, and Sevilla have all climbed almost 50 spots! On the opposite end Schalke, Sassuolo, and Werder Bremen supporters are all left in tears from the on-field product moving down close to 50 spots (Schalke is down 62 spots in the power rankings!!).
It should be a good season for West Brom, Genoa, and Napoli as they far outrank their opponents. Augsburg and CSKA appear to stand almost no chance of survival.
