The news that overlaps a little

Sint-Truiden share two European clean sheets with Brighton: Nadine takes the temperature

In the Conference League, Brighton and Sint-Truiden are the only two teams to have kept two clean sheets in two matches. Brighton, 9th with 4 points from 6, have not conceded in five matches in all competitions.

In a café, Nadine holds a broken thermometer and stares at a league table on her phone, torn between delight and outrage.

Sint-Truiden and Brighton. In the same sentence. Two teams in the Conference League to have kept a clean sheet in both their matches, and one of them is Belgian. That’s historic. I’m weighing my words.

I read it on RTBF (the French-language public broadcaster), at the café’s table football, and I read it twice because the article was about Brighton first. Brighton: 11 matches this season, 8 wins, 2 draws, 1 defeat. Third in the Premier League with 16 points from 21, behind Arsenal and Manchester City. Best defence in the country, level with Arsenal, five goals in seven matches. And five matches without conceding since the 2-3 against Manchester United in the League Cup.

And next to all that, in Europe, there’s Sint-Truiden. On the same level. In one column, anyway.

Then I looked at Brighton’s Conference League table: 9th, 4 points from 6. Ninth, with nothing conceded. That’s a disgrace. I’m weighing my words. A disgrace for the table, mind, not for Brighton. A table that puts a team that doesn’t concede in ninth place, something’s wrong. I’m not saying that because I’m a supporter. Well, yes, of Sint-Truiden this week.

I posted the sentence in “Sunday Devils”. My brother-in-law replied with a thumbs-up. Twelve members, one thumbs-up. There are positives.

Two clean sheets in two matches, I’ll sign for that right now. At my place, we count the matches where the club delegate hasn’t forgotten the cards.

Freddy · the gaffer, fictional character

Historic, really. Well, not bad. Now we take it one game at a time, you know.

It’s true, we checked: RTBF Sport.

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Our columnists’ reactions are fictional; the facts and real quotes are sourced above.

The other angle in French

The editor-in-chief chose this one: « Nadine tire une vraie courbe émotionnelle d'un tableau de chiffres et donne une place à un club belge sans rien rapetisser. A tient aussi, mais il reste plus attendu, et Freddy sort de rotation. »

FreddyThe Gaffer

Brighton enchaîne cinq matches sans encaisser : le mister ouvre sa farde, page défense

Brighton n'a plus encaissé de but en cinq matches toutes compétitions confondues depuis sa qualification 2-3 face à Manchester United en League Cup. En Premier League, le club est 3e avec 16 points sur 21 et partage la meilleure défense avec Arsenal.

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The editor-in-chief’s comment La jatte posée sur la farde et « quand ils sont onze » font sourire, et le vestiaire paie bien la blague, mais la pente et l'enfant à aller chercher sont du Freddy déjà lu.

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