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Learn English Through Football Podcast: Bullet Header
In this week’s football-language podcast we look back at some of the football language from the final round of games from the 2025-26 Champions League group stage, including the phrase, ‘bullet header‘. 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’re listening to the Learn English through Football Podcast.
Hello everyone, I hope you are all doing well and enjoying all the football. My name is Damian and I am one half of the Learn English Through Football team and I am based here in London where the weather is finally warming up a little! The other member of the team is of course Damon and he is back in Tokyo, Japan – we won’t be hearing from him today but hopefully he’ll be back early next week with a new football expression.
Stinger: You are listening to the Learn English Through Football Podcast.com (a West Ham fan)
DF: Yes, that message was from a fan of West Ham and yes, you are listening to the Learn English Through Football Podcast.
On the Show
DF: OK, what football language do we have on today’s show? Well, we’re going to talk about some of the football language from the final round of games from the 2025-26 Champions League group stage, including the phrase, ‘bullet header‘. And we are also going to try a prediction – my favourite team Tottenham at home to Manchester City from the Premier League.
But before that, here is another stinger, or message. We’ve already had one from the West Ham fan, but do you know what language the next one is in? We will have several of these throughout the show – how many languages can you get correct? We’ll have the answers at the end of the podcast.
Stinger: You are listening to languagecaster.com (in Irish)
2025-26 Champions League: As it Stands
DF: Right, as I said earlier, the final set of matches in the Champions League took place earlier this week and it provided some great games with lots of excitement and talking points. All 18 games were played at the same time which meant that the league position of each team – or their standings – was constantly changing as goals went in. Remember, the top eight sides automatically qualify for the last-16 knock out round with the top four gaining another advantage by playing the second leg at home in that round. The next 16 teams went into the play-off round though the teams finishing ninth to sixteenth would have second leg home advantage as well. The twelve teams finishing out of the top 24 would be eliminated. All of this means there was something riding on nearly all of the games – each game would have an effect on positions in the final table.
So, while watching the games we can see the table constantly changing – a team would move up or down depending on results across the competition. Often we can hear commentators and pundits use the phrase, ‘as it stands‘ to describe this situation which means that this is how the league positions look – at this moment. Of course, another goal from another game can change the positions again – the table is constantly changing.
Stinger: You are listening to languagecaster.com (in French)
2025-26 Champions League: Bullet Header
Embed from Getty Images
Perhaps the biggest talking point came in the game between Portuguese side Benfica and Real Madrid. Before the game, Real Madrid needed a win to try and finish in the top eight places and qualify directly for the last-16. Benfica needed a win to try and make the play-offs; so there was lots to play for in this match. Benfica played really well and were leading 3-2 in the last minute but they needed another goal to make the top 24. From a free kick their goalkeeper, who had been told to join the attack by the manager Mourinho, rose above the Madrid defence to power home a header. Another way of describing this type of header is a bullet header because it was so powerful – an unstoppable header. The scenes at the end were amazing and the fourth goal meant the Portuguese side qualified for the play-offs ahead of French side Marseille. And who will the Portuguese side play in the knock-out round? Real Madrid again!
Stinger: You are listening to languagecaster.com (in Danish)
Predictions: Tottenham vs Manchester City
DF: OK, let’s take a look at one of the big games from the Premier League this weekend when champions Manchester City travel to Tottenham. Spurs are not playing well in the Premier League especially at home while City need to win to stay in contact with leaders Arsenal. Spurs have played well in the Champions League and finished fourth in the final standings (or table) but they can’t seem buy a win at the moment in the league. I’m going for a City away win unfortunately – maybe 2-1 to City.
Stinger: You are listening to languagecaster.com (in Italian)
DF: And 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? Will your team, for example, have too much for their opponents? Let us know by coming along to our site or on any of our social media sites – you can find us on Facebook; on YouTube; Instagram and many more.
Contact
DF: And remember, our website has a huge glossary of football terms, with hundreds of expressions, phrases, and clichés about the beautiful game of football. Tell a friend about us and give us ‘a like’ on your favourite podcast platform!
Stinger: You are listening to languagecaster.com (in Turkish)
Yes, that message was in Turkish so well done if you got that right. Well, how about the others? Well, we had Irish, Italian, French and Danish. So, well done if you got any of those correct!
Remember, you can add a message in your language by sending us a recording for the Learn English Through Football Podcast – we’d love to hear from you.
Goodbye
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 ‘as it stands’ and ‘bullet header’. How might you say them in another language that you know? Enjoy the football this weekend and we’ll be back with another football expression early next week. Bye!
Related Links
Learn English Through Football Podcast: A show for football fans to improve their English language skills
