The Europa League Finals

On Wednesday 14th May, the final game in the Europe League will take place in Turin at the Juventus Stadium. The two finalists are Sevilla and Benfica, who have each won 4 rounds throughout the Europa League, to make it this far. Benfica were last years runners up after losing 2-1 to Chelsea in the final, but do they have what it takes to win this time around?

Led by manager Jorge Jesus, Benfica are the first side to reach a UEFA Europa League final without losing a game. The final next week will be Jorge Jesus’s 50th game as a coach in the UEFA Europa League.

The two teams top goal scorers are Lima for Benfica, with a 4 goal record throughout the competition and for Sevilla, Kevin  Gameiro with 5 goals and Carlos Bacca with 4. Throughout the Europa league, Sevilla have scored a total of 22 goals, while Benfica have scored 14.

During all of the previous games, Sevilla have a total of 77 on target shots, while Benfica have 37. However, Sevilla also have a high number of off target shots at 72, with Benfica only aiming 28 off target. Overall Sevilla have a higher number of statistics with goal attempts, corner, off sides and even yellow cards.

The qualifying round for next years Europa League will take place between the 3rd July and 28th August, while the competition itself takes place from the 18th September, finishing on the 27th May. The final will be hosted at The Stadium Narodowy in Warsaw.

This annual football event overlaps with other such as the Champions League and shortly followed by the world cup, later this year. Playing football requires excellent teamwork and negotiation to ensure you have a plan to beat the opposition. Training is very important along with regular exercise to maintain fitness levels prior to playing. To help enhance game play, wearing the correct attire is also important, for example  heavy, cotton material is unsuitable as it holds sweat and adds unnecessary weight. Light and airy base layers are ideal to keep the player cool and free to move.

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Sondico Football Boots – The Low Down

Over the past few months Sondico have added three new lines of football boots to their range, with each design offering advantages to each level of skill. SportsDirect.com take a look further at the new styles.

Each of the new designs are available in both SG and FG and are perfect for players who don’t want to fork out for the big brands, but equally don’t want to compromise on quality or performance.

The Sondico Flair football boots were the first boots to be released. At £29.99 the Flair’s are ideal for beginners or for training, they feature an all leather upper and triangular moulded studs for the FG boots, and moulded with circular metal studs for the SG boots, to provide maximum performance on the pitch. They also benefit from a textured forefoot for a superb grip which in turn will increase control of the ball and improve responsiveness, comfort and confidence.

For players who are slightly more advanced, then the Sondico Precision football boots, at £39.99 are ideal. Benefiting from Poron Performance Cushioning foam for shock absorption and increased resilience, these football boots also reduce the likeliness of injury. They have the same triangular moulded studs, and combination of moulded and circular metal studs for the SG, that the Flair boots have, but benefit from an all Napa leather for a soft, smooth and durable upper. They also feature a padded forefoot to provide the player with greater control over the ball.

Constructed from Kangaroo leather the Sondico Touch football boots at £59.99, have a softer, lighter feel and provide a stronger construction when compared to the other boots. They also feature a Micro Fibre lining to the heel to prevent excessive heel movement and provide the player with increased power and comfort. Finally, they offer stiffening channels through the shank to help reduce the risk of injury and increase support.

The new Socndico range offers a boot for every level of footballer, and all ensure comfort and a sleek, professional design.

Check out the full Sondico range at SportsDirect.com. Take a look at SportsDirect.com’s blog for their latest sporting ideas and news.

The New Sondico Flair Football Boots

Sondico have a new range of football boots that will soon be hitting the market. The Precision FG and Flair SG are not to be released until later on this year, however the Flair FG football boots are now ready and available. SportsDirect.com take a look at what they offer and how they compare to other football boots already on the market.

Released in time for Christmas the new Sondico Flair FG football boots are available at SportsDirect.com for just £29.99 and boast a number of features that the latest football boots from the likes of Puma and Nike have, such as offering a lightweight performance, excellent cushioning systems and a textured forefoot.

Comfort, precision and speed are just some of the most important qualities to a football boot and Sondico have worked hard to ensure that their insole provides the up-to-date technologies that will improve the players game.

A laminate construction has been implemented into the insole and  has been especially engineered for extra comfort, impact cushioning in the heel and increased propulsion in the forefoot for supreme power transfer when sprinting, turning and stopping. This combined with Poron Performance Cushioning foam in the heel for shock absorption and increased resilience means not only does the boot provide comfort but it also reduces the likeliness of knee and ankle injuries.

Similar to the Puma evoSPEED and the Nike Mercurial Veloce CR7 football boots, Sondico focussed on increasing control. The textured forefoot area of the Flair enables greater grip which in turn maximises control of the ball as well as improving responsiveness, comfort and confidence when out on the pitch. The forefoot also features Energy Activated Cushioning foam technology to redirect shock forces to return increased energy on the toe lift for maximum propulsion , power and responsiveness.
Aesthetically, the Flair football boots offer a two-toned design with a swerve divider and the classic Sondico logo for a modern look. They are complete with triangular moulded studs for increased traction and maximum performance.

At a fraction of the price of other big name football boots, they are perfect for beginners and players who want to increase their performance without forking out for the big brands, they are also available in both junior and adult sizes.

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Keep Fit This Autumn With a Kick Around

During the dull Autumn months it can be hard to find the motivation to keep fit, with many people thinking the best workouts include doing an hour at the gym or going for a lengthy run. However, going for a kick about doesn’t seem so bad does it? SportsDirect.com take a look at how the football compares to one of the most popular workouts – running.
Football may not be on the top 10 workout list or known for being a tough sport but studies have shown that it is great for building and strengthening muscles, mainly in the abdomen and legs, as well as burning fat.
Studies by Swiss researchers have collated information that football is an all-over workout that can reduce the risk of heart disease as well as reducing blood pressure.
One of the researchers, Professor Krustop from Copenhagen University, said that the sport is better than lifting weights and as good as, if not better than, running because of the benefits of the heart. Further studies conducted at the University of Copenhagen have concluded that football also increased bone density twice as much as running and their cholesterol levels fell too.
Five-a-side football, in particular, carries numerous health benefits, even more than a full size game, as each player receives a vigorous workout due to their constant need in the game, and even though running is undoubtedly good for improving fitness as well as maintaining a healthy lifestyle, football offers more control over each movement as well as a wider variety of transitions and twists.
Another benefit of football is that it is a team sport, giving people the opportunity to socialise as well as keeping fit and with this comes motivation which is key when keeping to a fitness regime in the colder months.
Visit www.sportsdirect.com/football for all the latest football equipment and training wear, and keep up-to-date with their latest competitions and new releases on their official Facebook and Twitter pages.
For all media inquiries please contact Stacey.Topley@sportsdirect.com or telephone 0870 333 9400.