Michael Olise Tipped for 2027 Ballon d'Or After Bayern Munich Supercup Heroics

Michael Olise recorded 25 goals and 28 assists last season before scoring the winner in Bayern Munich's 2-1 Franz Beckenbauer Supercup victory.

Michael Olise scored the game-winning goal with a tightly angled flick and provided an assist in Bayern Munich’s 2-1 Franz Beckenbauer Supercup victory against Borussia Dortmund on August 24, 2026. This performance followed a 2025-26 campaign where the winger registered 25 goals and 28 assists in all competitions, including the FIFA Club World Cup, alongside seven assists in eight World Cup matches. In the Bundesliga opener, Olise scored again during a 5-1 defeat of VfB Stuttgart. Bill Connelly predicts these displays will lead to a Michael Olise Ballon d'Or win in 2027, noting the player currently ranks in the top five globally for passing, chance creation, and ground duels.

While Harry Kane is the projected favorite for the 2026 Ballon d'Or due to his club form and World Cup performance, Olise’s trajectory places him at the forefront for the following year. Lamine Yamal, despite winning the World Cup, remained quiet in the tournament's latter stages, while Rodri and Kylian Mbappé saw their cases weakened by club-level disappointments. Mbappé’s lack of defensive contribution was cited as a specific drawback despite his high goal tally.

Brentford Targets Champions League Berth

Brentford currently sits second in the Premier League for xG differential at +3.5 and third in goal differential at +3 after two matches. The Bees opened their season with a 3-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur and followed with a 6-1 win against Birmingham in the EFL Cup first round. Although a late Dominic Calvert-Lewin goal held them to a 1-1 draw at Leeds, the club has retained most of its roster, losing only Jordan Henderson to Chelsea. New addition Mamadou Sangare arrived from Lens to bolster a midfield that helped the team finish ninth last year.

The Premier League transfer window saw eight teams spend at least €220 million, contributing to a total outlay exceeding €4 billion. Manchester City spent €280 million to acquire Enzo Fernández and Elliot Anderson, while Tottenham Hotspur paid €295 million for Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes, and Sávio. Chelsea purchased Morgan Rogers for €138 million, and Manchester United signed Carlos Baleba for €75.9 million. Despite these expenditures, Brentford’s stability under a consistent plan has them positioned to challenge for a Champions League spot.

Serie A Title Race: Inter vs. Roma

AS Roma has started the Serie A season with consecutive 4-0 victories over Lecce and Fiorentina. Under coach Gian Piero Gasperini, the squad leads the league in progressive carries, with Paulo Dybala and Bryan Cristante ranking third and fourth individually. Mario Hermoso ranks fourth in the league for line-breaking passes, while Moussa Kone and Cristante are among the top eight for progressive passes. Donyell Malen has already recorded five goals this season, supported by Dybala’s three assists from eight chances created.

Nineteen-year-old Rodrigo Mora has contributed one goal and two chances created in just 84 minutes of play. Academy product Emanuele Lulli, aged 18, has played every minute of the campaign thus far, creating three chances from the right midfield position. Roma, who finished third last season, aims to challenge Inter Milan, who won the previous Scudetto by an 11-point margin. Inter enters the year having added more quality than they lost during the summer transfer window.

Relegation Fears for Crystal Palace and Spurs

Crystal Palace faces potential relegation after losing coach Oliver Glasner and starters Maxence Lacroix and Daniel Muñoz. In their opening match against Everton, Palace produced 1.4 xG in the first 38 minutes but were outscored 6-1 over the final 142 minutes of play. During that span, they conceded 30 shots worth 3.1 xG while scoring only via an own goal. The club finished last season just six points above the drop zone despite winning the Conference League final against Rayo Vallecano.

Tottenham Hotspur and Fiorentina have both started their respective seasons with zero points and zero goals through two matches each, despite combining for 60 shots and 4.2 xG. Spurs have finished 17th in the Premier League for two consecutive years. Meanwhile, Brighton’s Jack Hinshelwood has emerged as a key figure, leading his team in goals (five) and shot attempts (34) since January 1, 2026. Brighton averages 1.69 points per game when Hinshelwood starts, compared to 0.8 points when he is absent from the lineup.