Here are some words and phrases you can hear on this week’s languagecaster’s Good, Bad and Ugly section of the podcast. For more English practice check out our worksheets, football glossary and English for football phrases.

• Sitting clear at the top of the table: To be leading the division by a lot of points

Example: Barcelona have scored 59 goals this season so far and are sitting 12 points clear at the top of the table.

• To sweep (all) before (them): To easily beat all the teams they have played so far

Example: The Catalan side are sweeping all before them as they race to the top of the table.

• A thrashing: A heavy defeat of another team

Example: Deportivo received a 0-5 thrashing from in-form Barcelona last weekend.

• Reported: Alleged, not completely sure if it’s true, mentioned in the media

Example: Kaka turned down a reported £500.000 a week offer from Manchester City.

• Gloating: When people show off they gloat; arrogance

Example: It might stop some of the gloating by the Premier League.

• Fail to convert: Missed a chance to score a goal

Example: Zaki, Bent and Torres all failed to convert easy chances in last week’s games.

• To fluff the chance: To miss an easy goal; to make a mistake

Example: Torres rounded the keeper but then fluffed the chance of scoring.

• An altercation: A fight though usually not so big

Example: Two Newcastle players had to be separated from each other in training after an altercation.

• Homophobic chants: Nasty songs about gays / homosexuals

Example: Fans were banned after admitting singing homophobic chants at former player Sol Campbell

• Away goal: In Cup competitions an away goal counts double in case of draws.

Example: The aggregate score was 4-4, but Burnley had an away goal.

• Underdog: The non-favourite; the team from a lower division

Example: Though Burnley were the underdogs they almost scraped through to the final. but they didn’t ;)