Reports we couldn’t make up
1 LATHERED UP
Wolverhampton Wanderers may have come up with an ingenious way to help their winger Adama Traore escape the attention of opposition defenders. The pacy dribbler, who was recently recalled to the Spanish national team squad, rubs baby oil onto his arms to prevent opponents from pulling him back, with the Wolves physio spotted administering it on the pitch.
2 THREE IN A ROW
RB Salzburg goalkeeper Daniel Antosch made history in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Youth League when he saved three penalties in a row against Lyon. The 20-year-old dived to his right to keep out Florent da Silva’s shot before being penalised by the referee for coming off his line too early. The exact same thing happened on the retaken penalty, leading to a third spot-kick, which Antosch also saved, this time to his left.
3 SILENT SUPPORT
“Which club won the second division championship in the 2018-2019 season?” For close followers of German football, this was a straightforward question on quiz show Gefragt–Gejagt, the German equivalent of The
Chase. Contestant Claus Blumel knew the answer, but refused to say it. The problem? The Borussia Monchengladbach fan could not bring himself to utter the name of his team’s biggest rivals, FC Cologne.
Effectively turning down €500, he said: “No, I won’t say that, not as a Monchengladbacher!” Gladbach responded on Twitter, saying: “This exemplary behaviour must be rewarded. Dear candidate, please contact us”.
4 RED TAPE NIGHTMARE
Portuguese side Portimonense were the lucky beneficiaries of an administrative mix-up last month, cancelling their relegation from the top flight. Having finished second from bottom and set for relegation, the club were spared when it was announced that Vitoria Setubal, a point ahead in 16th, were to be demoted instead after failing to present the necessary requirements for professional registration ahead of the 2020-21 season.
The ruling, which also affects bottom-placed side, Aves, means that both clubs are banned from competing professionally for the new season, sending them down to Portugal’s third tier.
5 ROSS JOINS ROSS
Scottish Premiership side Ross County have stumbled upon an innovative new way of scouting players: signing players called Ross. By signing Ross Doohan on loan from Celtic, the club moved closer to a full team of players with the same name as the team itself, with five Ross’ in the squad – three of which are goalkeepers.