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Learn English Through Football Podcast: 2025 Copa Libertadores Final – Flying Header
In this week’s football-language podcast we look at some language from the CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores final (2025) that took place this weekend between Flamengo and Palmeiras. We will also look at the phrase, ‘flying header‘. We will also try and predict two big derbies in Europe: a top-of-the-table clash in England between Arsenal and Chelsea and the Seville derby between Sevilla and Betis. You can read the transcript for this podcast below, while you can also check out our glossary of footballing phrases here and visit our site to access all our previous posts and podcasts. If you have any suggestions or questions about the phrase or our podcast then you can contact us here.
Hello
DF: You are listening to the Learn English Through Football Podcast.
DF: Hello everyone and welcome to this week’s football language podcast for learners of English who love the beautiful game of football. My name is Damian and first of all I would like to apologise for the delay in this podcast – I have been away in the east of England and was unable to record the show, so apologies for that.
As I said, I was in the east of England where the weather was beautiful – a real winter’s day; so although it was cold we had blue skies and bright sunshine. What is the weather like where you are? And I wonder what the weather is like in Tokyo where the other member of the Learn English Through Football team Damon is based? How are things Damon?
DB: Hi Damian. Not bad weather-wise. It’s chilly, but that’s because it’s winter, and a bit cloudy and sunny, so yes, not bad. Football-wise on the other hand, I’m in shock. Liverpool were beaten yet again mid-week, by an average PSV side. Not only beaten, but hammered 4-1 at home! After a 3-0 loss to Nottingham Forest at home. Nine defeats in 12 games! Football can be tough sometimes.
People are asking, ‘Slot in or Slot out’ – should the manager be sacked. I’m still in the ‘Slot in camp’, but a loss this weekend at West Ham and another when Sunderland visit Liverpool would make me think very hard about Slot. Anyway, that’s enough about me and my team. How are you and what’s on the show?
DF: I am good but my team Tottenham are also on a bad run of form after yet another home defeat – this time against Fulham. There is pressure on our new manager Thomas Frank and a lot of Tottenham fans are not happy.
Stinger: You are listening to languagecaster.com (from an Arsenal fan)
On today’s show we are going to focus on the Copa Libertadores final that took place this weekend in Lima the capital of Peru; that’s between Flamengo and Palmeiras. We’ll be looking at phrases to describe a headed goal from that game, including ‘flying header‘ and ‘rose the highest‘.
We will look back at our predictions – we had two big derbies in Europe, including a top-of-the-table clash in England between Arsenal and Chelsea and the Seville derby between Sevilla and Betis.
Stinger: You are listening to languagecaster.com (in Chinese)
DB: Right, that message we just heard was in Chinese and, as always, we will have some more stingers or messages throughout the show in different languages. How many will you be able to recognise? We’ll let you know the languages at the end of the show.
Stinger: You are listening to languagecaster.com (in Spanish)
Football Language: Flying Header
DF: Right, the main focus of our football language podcast this week comes from the final of the Copa Libertadores and in particular we are going to look at language to describe Flamengo’s winning goal which was scored by Brazilian international, Danilo. He scored with a wonderful header mid-way through the second half from a corner when he was left unmarked by the Palmeiras defence. He jumped higher than anyone else to head the ball into the net and we can say that he rose highest in the penalty area when he scored with that header.
Now, we have looked at many phrases on our site here at Learn English Through Football Podcast that describe headed goals in the past, including, towering header; unstoppable header; to plant a header; glancing header; and a looping header. I think we could use towering header to describe Danilo’s goal as this suggests that he jumped higher than anyone else to score, while we could also use unstoppable header and bullet header as his header was so strong that the keeper had no chance.
Another way of describing this winning header is ‘flying header‘ as Danilo had jumped higher than the other players to reach the ball and score – it seems that he was almost flying. OK, that is an exaggeration but it is a wonderful way of describing a wonderful goal. A flying header would mean that the player is jumping and/or diving towards the ball – a really famous example of this kind goal is Robin van Persie’s goal against Spain in the 2014 World Cup match. He flew through the air to then loop the ball over the Spanish keeper. Danilo’s was slightly different in that he headed the ball down into the net.
Here are a couple of examples that describe Danilo’s winning goal:
- Example: ‘Most will only recall one – the flying header from Danilo, meeting Giorgian de Arrascaeta’s corner, that flew inside the far corner and won the game. (ESPN November 2025)
- Example: ‘Danilo rose highest from a…corner to head into the bottom corner in the 67th minute as Filipe Luis’ side emerged victorious (BBC.co.uk November 2025)
And yes, well done to Flamengo who have won their fourth continental title – congratulations.
Stinger: You are listening to languagecaster.com (in French)
Predictions
DF: OK, it’s time for predictions and this week we had three big games to predict. But before we do that, we’d like to say hello to the group from an English school in Brazil who gave us their predictions from some Brasileirão matches – I think it was from a couple of weeks ago. Thanks so much to Davi, José and Stela for the predictions and apologies for only catching up now.
Now, here’s Damon with his predictions for the Libertadores (Final) Palmeiras vs Flamengo, a Premier League clash between Chelsea versus Arsenal, and a La Liga match that sees Sevilla hosting Betis.
CONMEBOL Libertadores (Final) Palmeiras vs Flamengo
DB: Thanks Damian, Well let’s start with the big big game in South America, the all-Brazilian CONMEBOL Libertadores final, Palmeiras vs Flamengo. Both teams have a strong record in this competition, especially in the last six years, with three titles each and two each in the last six years. They are also both doing well this season, with Flamengo top of the league and Palmeiras in second. So, on paper these two are evenly matched.
I am going for a 1-1 draw and a win for Palmeiras on penalties. They had to overcome River Plate in the quarter finals and nearly didn’t make it past LDU Quito, overcoming a 3-0 first leg loss to win the second 4-0. That kind of run makes me think that they have their name on the cup!
DF: Not quite right Damon. Palmeiras sat really deep for most of the game and didn’t really threaten Flamengo’s goal until they had gone behind to that flying header from Danilo. So, 1-0 to Flamengo there…I thought it would be a draw – wrong again for me!
Premier League Chelsea vs Arsenal
DB: The next match is domestic heavyweight clash in the Premier League with high flying Chelsea and Arsenal meeting in a London derby. These teams are also top of the table with Arsenal in top spot and are therefore title contenders.
We talked about derbies in London last week before the North London derby. Arsenal won that one comfortably, but that was at home to an inconsistent Tottenham. Chelsea are a different kettle of fish, they are a different team to Tottenham, and have hit some great form recently, with a 3-0 win over Barcelona in the Champions League being a highlight.
I reckon Chelsea will give it a good go, but Arsenal will take control of the title race with a 1-0 away win.
Well, I thought this would be a feisty affair with lots of cards – maybe even some red ones! So I was right there as Arsenal had six yellows and Chelsea a red. I also felt that Arsenal would have too much experience and thought they would run out 2-0 winners. but I was wrong there – it was a 1-1 draw.
La Liga Sevilla vs Betis
DB: Our third match is also a big one. The Seville derby. We said that Chelsea v Arsenal is a London derby, but this is the real deal. Sevilla are not in the best of form, so the pressure will be on them in front of their home fans. In contrast, Betis sit five places above Sevilla in the table and have only one defeat in the last six La Liga games.
Sorry Sevilla, but I think this will be another 1-0 away win and Betis will claim bragging rights.
DF: Well, I thought the Seville derby would end in a 1-1 draw but Damon was right and Betis claimed those bragging rights and they won easily in the end 2-0.
Stinger: You are listening to languagecaster.com (from a fan in Brazil)
I reckon
DF: Now, Damon used the phrase, ‘I reckon’ when predicting the result of the Chelsea versus Arsenal game and this phrase means that he thinks or has a strong feeling that something will happen. So, we both reckoned that Arsenal would win against Chelsea. How about practising your predictions language with us? What do you think will happen in any games that you are watching this week? What do you reckon will happen? Let us know by coming along to our site or any of our social media sites and leaving a comment and you can post a comment on our forum; it’s a really nice way to practise some of your writing. And you can leave a predictions voice note as well – we’d love to hear from you.
Stinger: You are listening to languagecaster.com (in Irish)
Contact
DF: And of course, don’t forget, we have a huge glossary of football terms, with hundreds of expressions, phrases, and clichés about the beautiful game of football. And if you want to send in any new words that you have heard, again just drop us a line.
Stinger: You are listening to languagecaster.com (from a fan in Turkey)
Goodbye
DF: Yes, you are listening to the Learn English Through Football podcast and that message was in Turkish. We also heard Italian, French, German and Spanish, as well as Polish and a fan from Brazil. Well done if you got any of those correct and remember you can add a message by sending us a recording for the Learn English Through Football podcast – we’d love to hear from you.
Stinger: You are listening to languagecaster.com (in Polish)
DF: Right, let us know if you hear or see any of the phrases or words that we have talked about on this week’s show, including, ‘flying header’. How would you say that phrase, for example, in another language that you know?
Enjoy all the football this week – we’ll be back soon with another weekly football expression. And we’d really appreciate it, as Damon said, if you could share our with your friends and give us ‘a like’ on your favourite podcast platform!
Enjoy all the football this week. See you soon. Bye bye!
DB: Thanks for listening. Ta-ra!
Related Links
- 2019 Copa Libertadores
- 2018 Copa Libertadores
- Copa Libertadores
- 2023 Copa Libertadores Final Review
- 2021 Copa Libertadores Final
- Vasco da Gama vs Flamengo
Learn English Through Football Podcast: A show for football fans to improve their English language skills
https://languagecaster.com/football-language-glossary/
