Manchester United are approaching post-Peter Schmeichel territory in their goalkeeping ranks, with that department having now seen so much upheaval over recent seasons.

Indeed, Andre Onana – now on loan at Turkish side Trabzonspor – has certainly shown shades of Fabian Barthez during his disastrous Old Trafford stint, arriving with a notable reputation, much like the Frenchman, albeit while ultimately departing as another error-strewn maverick.

Described as “one of the worst goalkeepers” in the club’s history by Nemanja Matic ahead of the first-leg Europa League tie with Lyon last season – a game in which Onana made two notable errors – the 29-year-old failed to convince right from the outset.

First impressions are vital, with the Cameroonian’s first taste of Old Trafford seeing him caught out by an outrageous long-range effort in the pre-season clash with Lens in that summer of 2023. That was a sign of things to come.

While United were arguably right to send David De Gea on his way, recent evidence would suggest they settled on the wrong replacement. Can new man Senne Lammens fare any better?

Why Man Utd have signed Senne Lammens

The £17m signing from Royal Antwerp will have to wait to make his Red Devils debut, with Ruben Amorim confirming that Altay Bayindir will retain his place in the sticks for the Manchester derby, despite enduring a shaky start to the new campaign.

Such a decision may have alarm bells ringing already, not least amid claims that Amorim was focused on signing Aston Villa’s Emi Martinez instead, only for the financial package of that deal to prove prohibitive.

There may be a sense that the former Sporting CP boss doesn’t quite have the faith in his young new arrival as yet. Alternatively, perhaps he is merely protecting the Belgian from what would likely be a tiresome comparison with new Manchester City stopper, Gianluigi Donnarumma, at the opposite end.

Either way, at just 23, Lammens represents a player of potential rather than a ready-made, proven solution, with 2024/25 having actually been his first as a first-choice option at senior level.

What a season it was, however, with BBC Sport’s Umir Irfan noting that ‘of all goalkeepers in Europe’s top ten leagues last season, Lammens ranked first for total saves made (173) with a 77.4% save percentage.’

As per FBref too, he ranks in the top 1% of his peers for crosses stopped, in the top 7% for penalties saved and in the top 9% for save percentage. With a goals prevented record of 14.8 to boot, this is arguably a player of young De Gea quality.

That being said, his route to regular football in Manchester will not be a straightforward one – and not just because of the presence of Bayindir…

Why Radek Vitek could be the actual Onana replacement

It would be a surprise for Lammens not to have usurped the Turkish international by the end of this season, with the former Fenerbahce man so regularly underwhelming in a United shirt – his opening day calamity against Arsenal a perfect case in point.

When 2026/27 rolls around, however, there will be renewed competition amid the expected return of Radek Vitek from his loan spell at Bristol City, with the Czech giant already earning rave reviews at Ashton Gate.

The 6 foot 6 starlet – who has been part of United’s academy set-up since 2020 – made 18 appearances for Accrington Stanley at the end of the 2023/24 season, before joining Austrian side Blau-Weiss Linz last term.

Vitek – 24/25 League stats
Stat (*per game)	Record
Games (starts)	26
Goals conceded	35
Goals conceded*	1.3
Saves	79
Saves*	3.0
Clean sheets	6
Touches*	36.5
Error leading to goal	0
Error leading to shot	1
Stats via Sofascore

That season-long loan saw the 21-year-old concede just 35 goals in 26 starts in the Bundesliga, keeping six clean sheets in that time and making just a solitary error leading to a shot. There were no errors leading to a goal, as per Sofascore.

Such fine form has been replicated in his early days in the Championship, with Vitek kicking things off with a commanding debut display in the thumping 4-1 win over Sheffield United.

That was followed by “another top performance” in the 0-0 draw with Charlton Athletic, as per the Daily Mail’s Nathan Salt, with the United correspondent even suggesting that his “value is about to rocket this season”.

With high points that include his standout save to deny Oli McBurnie against Hull City, Vitek is very much making the most of this chance to shine in England’s second tier, with a more prominent role back at United perhaps on the cards later down the line.

Having signed a new deal prior to joining the Robins on loan, MEN’s Samuel Luckhurst has made the point that academy players who seal a loan to the Championship are often viewed as players who can one day make an impact in United’s first team. Just look at the rise of Amad following his stellar season at Sunderland.

And so, while another experienced option might well be considered next summer, alongside the possibility of Lammens cementing that position for himself, United can be safe in the knowledge that they potentially have the perfect Onana replacement already in-house.

Arsenal are now leading the race for a “world-class” Barcelona star, who has the same agent as Viktor Gyokeres, with Mikel Arteta personally keen on a creative midfielder.

Gunners eyeing new midfielder despite Zubimendi masterclass

After suffering a setback against Liverpool before the international break, the Gunners responded in perfect fashion against Nottingham Forest, chalking up a 3-0 victory, with summer signing Martin Zubimendi looking particularly impressive.

The Spaniard bagged the opening and final goal against the Tricky Trees, finding the back of the net with a superb volley from the edge of the box, which saw the 26-year-old pick up the Man of the Match award.

Arteta is well-stocked in the engine room, with the manager clearly a big fan of Mikel Merino, having trusted the 29-year-old to start ahead of Declan Rice against Forest, saying: “Mikel [Merino] comes back after scoring four goals in two games with a really high emotional state and I want to use that when a player is in that moment.

“I want to play him because he is going to bring something different with the qualities that they have and Declan comes in and it will have an impact immediately or he will play the next game.”

However, according to a report from Spain, Arteta has set his sights on bringing in another creative midfielder in the January transfer window, with Arsenal now keen on a deal for Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong.

The Gunners are said to be the leading candidates for De Jong’s signature, despite interest from the Saudi Pro League, with the Dutchman keen to remain at an elite European club, although ideally that would be Barcelona.

However, the 28-year-old, who cost the La Liga club €75m (£65m), is yet to agree a new contract with Barca, which means his current employers could look to cash-in this winter.

"World-class" De Jong could take Arsenal's midfield to next level

There are perhaps some doubts over whether the Gunners need another central midfielder, having signed Zubimendi in the summer, who has made a flying start to life at the Emirates Stadium.

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However, with Arteta’s side clearly at the stage where they can go deep into the Champions League, having reached the semi-finals last season, it makes sense to have a deeper squad, and De Jong could take their midfield to the next level.

Simone Inzaghi has suggested the Netherlands international could be one of the best players in the world in his position, saying: “Let me say that Frenkie de Jong is just sensational, he’s a world class player. Frenkie surprised me at same level as Lamine Yamal did.”

The Barca star, who is represented by HCM Sports management, the same agency as Gyokeres, has considerable experience at the top level, picking up 19 goals and 23 assists in 261 games for Barcelona, so it is exciting news that he could be on his way to the Emirates Stadium this winter.

MatériaMais Notícias

Nesta quarta-feira (23), o Norwich-ING anunciou a contratação de Pedro Lima, emprestado pelo Palmeiras até o final da temporada 2023/2024 na Europa. O jovem de 20 anos, inicialmente, irá atuar pela equipe sub-21 e antes de viajar para a Inglaterra, assinou renovação de contrato com o Verdão até dezembro de 2026. O que chamou a atenção foi o inglês afiado do garoto logo em sua chegada em Carrow Road.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasPalmeirasJogo do Palmeiras na Colômbia será na altitude?Palmeiras23/08/2023PalmeirasRichard Rios visita a Colômbia pela primeira vez como profissional e pede humildade ao PalmeirasPalmeiras23/08/2023PalmeirasLeon Dario Muñoz, a lenda colombiana do Palmeiras que jogou no Deportivo PereiraPalmeiras23/08/2023

+ Veja tabela e classificação do Brasileirão-2023 clicando aqui

Em vídeo publicado pelo Norwich, Pedro falou de suas impressões do time, de suas expectativas na primeira empreitada fora do país e citou a presença de Gabriel Sara, ex-São Paulo, como destaque da equipe inglesa. Tudo isso em um ótimo inglês.

+ Copo Stanley a partir de R$120,00. Bebida gelada nos 90′ de jogo do Verdão!

– Estou muito empolgado, é um clube incrível. Estou muito feliz por estar aqui. Usar essas cores é muito especial para mim. Eu vi que o Gabriel Sara tem sido incrível, é um clube que usa muitos jovens jogadores, então para mim é um grande diferencial – declarou o volante antes de completar:

continua após a publicidade

– É a minha primeira experiência fora do Brasil no futebol. O futebol na Inglaterra é famoso por ser o melhor do mundo, então será uma ótima experiência e espero que possa me dar bem por aqui – concluiu.

???? "I'm very happy to be joining, and wearing these colours is very special to me."

Hear from our latest addition ???? pic.twitter.com/f8vXCKZl5I

— Norwich City FC (@NorwichCityFC) August 23, 2023

Pedro Lima está na Inglaterra desde sábado (19), mas já treina com os seus companheiros de sub-21 desde segunda-feira (21). O que ainda impede a sua estreia pelo Norwich é a regularização do visto de trabalho. Caso isso seja acertado a tempo, ele estará em campo nesta sexta-feira (25), diante do Chelsea, pela Premier League 2, que é o campeonato sub-21 da Inglaterra.

continua após a publicidade

Antes de viajar para a Europa e ser apresentado pelo Norwich, Pedro assinou uma renovação de contrato com o Palmeiras. O vínculo, que iria até o fim de 2024, foi ampliado até dezembro de 2026. Inicialmente, a negociação caminhava para fechar até 2025, mas o Verdão preferiu colocar mais um ano, a fim de que, quando o jovem voltar da experiência, terá mais um bom tempo para se estabelecer no profissional.

+ Quem é Pedro Lima, joia do Palmeiras decisiva no sub-20 e já encaminhada com clube do futebol inglês

O volante estava vivendo o ano mais artilheiro dele em 2023. Eram 12 gols em 30 jogos pela base, a maioria deles como capitão. Pedro chegou ao Alviverde em 2016 e ganhou duas Copinhas, um Brasileiro sub-20, uma Copa do Brasil sub-20, um Paulista sub-20, um Copa do Brasil sub-17 e uma Supercopa do Brasil sub-17. Também foi convocado pela Seleção algumas vezes, no sub-15 e sub-20.

Tudo sobre

NorwichPalmeiras

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has publicly defended coach Hansi Flick after he was sent off in the 2-1 win over Girona on Saturday, claiming he was “pushed to the limit” by referee Gil Manzano. The German received two yellow cards in quick succession and now risks missing the touchline for the upcoming El Clasico against Real Madrid.

Laporta steps in after Flick’s controversial dismissal

Barcelona’s tense 2-1 win over Girona ended with drama, as Flick was shown a red card in stoppage time. The German coach first received a yellow for sarcastically applauding a referee’s decision, before protesting the decision to add just four minutes of injury time despite multiple stoppages. Within seconds, he was sent off.

President Joan Laporta openly backed his coach during the club’s General Assembly, stating that Flick was not acting in his usual manner and had been provoked. Laporta highlighted that the coach made a Catalan-style “butifarra” gesture out of frustration, something he later regretted.

The dismissal means Flick could be banned from the touchline for El Clasico on October 26 against Real Madrid. For now, Barca await the Competition Committee’s decision as tensions rise ahead of the season’s biggest fixture.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportLaporta on referee behaviour and Flick’s reaction

Laporta argued that Flick’s behaviour was out of character and only came after persistent provocation from referee Gil Manzano.

"We're very satisfied with the work Hansi Flick is doing. He was hurt today because he said that this very Catalan gesture of the butifarra wasn't typical of him. In any case, I told him he had a lot of style doing it, all things considered. I know he's not satisfied with this secretly because he says it's not his usual behavior, we know that, but they pushed him to the limit, they pushed him to the limit with the yellow cards."

He added: "What I criticise about what happened yesterday is that: he shows him the yellow card, keeps his eyes on the coach to see how he reacted. Man, you've already shown him the yellow card, that's enough punishment, turn around and that's it."

Referee Gil Manzano’s history with Barcelona fuels frustration

Manzano’s decision wasn’t seen in isolation. He has built a reputation among the Blaugrana fans and officials for harsh treatment towards the club. Over 44 matches officiated, he has shown 12 red cards to Barcelona players, including stars like Lionel Messi, Neymar, Luis Suarez, Gerard Pique and Dani Alves.

His most infamous decision came against Osasuna in 2023, when he sent off Robert Lewandowski. The striker received an extended three-game suspension after a gesture towards the official.

This history added fuel to the reaction from Laporta and the club, who believe Flick was being excessively monitored and provoked. With tensions already high due to injuries and inconsistency, Manzano’s approach amplified frustrations on the touchline.

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Getty Images SportFlick’s ban risk and Barcelona’s focus

The immediate question is whether Flick will be allowed on the touchline for El Clasico. The Competition Committee will decide in the coming days. If the two yellow cards stand, Barcelona could be without their head coach during their most important domestic match of the season.

Before the showdown with Los Blancos, Barcelona face Olympiacos in the Champions League, a must-win game to regain confidence after recent turbulence. Flick will likely watch from the stands unless an appeal is successful.

Despite criticism of their performance against Girona, the Catalan giants remain focused on recovery, both physically and mentally with multiple players returning from injury and the team sitting second in La Liga, just two points behind Madrid.

Leeds United are back in action in the Premier League for the final time before the international break when they face Tottenham Hotspur at Elland Road this afternoon.

The Whites welcome Thomas Frank’s team to West Yorkshire in the early kick-off in the top-flight, as they look to head into the break off the back of another positive result.

Daniel Farke’s side have made a respectable start to life in the Premier League after they won the Championship title with a club-record 100-point haul in the 2024/25 campaign.

Leeds have eight points on the board after six matches and were seconds away from having another two points to their name in their 2-2 draw with Bournemouth, as they conceded in stoppage time.

The Championship champions have scored five goals in their last two matches in the Premier League, having beaten Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-1 in the game before that draw with the Cherries.

Despite that impressive goal return in the last two outings in the top-flight, finishing chances has been an issue for Farke’s side throughout the season so far.

Why Leeds need more from their attackers

Leeds need to get more out of their attackers at the top end of the pitch because some of them have missed too many big chances, and others have not gotten into dangerous enough positions in front of goal.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who arrived on a free transfer from Everton in the summer, scored his first goal for the club with an excellent header against Wolves last month.

However, the former England international has lacked a ruthless edge in front of goal with his performances for the club so far, which is a slight cause for concern moving forward.

Tottenham have only conceded four goals in six games in the Premier League under Frank, which suggests that chances will be few and far between and that Leeds will need to be clinical with what they are able to create.

Calvert-Lewin (25/26)

League Cup

Premier League

Appearances

1

4

Goals

0

1

Minutes per goal

N/A

267

Big chances missed

4

4

Conversion rate

0%

14%

Big chances created

0

0

Assists

0

0

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Calvert-Lewin has missed eight ‘big chances’ and scored one goal in five appearances for the Whites so far, which shows that he has been incredibly wasteful in front of goal.

His hold-up play, winning 5.3 duels per game (Sofascore), will be important against the Europa League champions to alleviate pressure, though, which is why he should keep his place in the team.

It is, therefore, Brenden Aaronson who should be taken out of the starting line-up for this clash with Spurs because he lacks the clinical edge that the Whites will need given how strong their opponents are at the defensive side of the game.

The USA international has failed to score in six league games so far this season and scored one goal from 3.86 xG in 36 appearances in the Premier League in the 2022/23 campaign, per Sofascore.

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This means that Aaronson cannot be relied upon to finish a chance if it comes his way against the Lilywhites, which is why he should be ruthlessly dropped from the starting line-up to provide another player with an opportunity to shine.

In his place, Farke could add the clinical edge that his team will need against Spurs by unleashing Joel Piroe in a brand-new role on the right flank this afternoon at Elland Road.

Why Joel Piroe should be unleashed against Spurs

The Dutchman has fallen down the pecking order in the number nine position in West Yorkshire this season, as evidenced by the fact that he has been an unused substitute in his last three appearances in the matchday squad.

It has been a disappointing start to life in the Premier League for last season’s Championship top scorer, who caught the eye of fans and pundits with his clinical finishing.

In fact, former Spurs star Chris Waddle compared him to Harry Kane, saying: “He reminds me of how Harry Kane plays. He comes off and drags the centre halves out, which is great for Dan James and their other wingers. If you have got wingers with a bit of pace, they can exploit the space that has been created for him and I think that works very well.”

Piroe scored 19 goals in the Championship to fire Leeds to promotion and win the Golden Boot, which earned him that comparison to the Tottenham icon, who now plays for Bayern Munich.

However, instead of unleashing him as their own version of Kane, who scored 280 goals for Spurs as a number nine, Farke should look to unleash the left-footed star in a brand-new role on the right.

All 78 of his starts for Leeds have come in central positions, as a striker or as an attacking midfielder, but he has scored 13 goals in 28 matches as a right-winger for the other clubs in his career combined, per Transfermarkt.

This suggests that he does have the potential to be effective in that position, even if his lack of mobility and natural physicality mean that he does not look like a natural pick in that area of the pitch.

Joel Piroe (Championship)

23/24

24/25

Appearances

45

46

xG

12.74

17.17

Goals

13

19

Big chances missed

8

13

Big chances created

3

8

Assists

3

7

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Piroe was undoubtedly an immense finisher for the Whites in his two seasons in the Championship with the club, outperforming his xG in both campaigns.

That is why it was not a surprise to read that Beren Cross quoted Farke as saying that the Dutch striker is “the best finisher he has ever worked with” in his pre-match press conference for the Spurs match.

Given that the German head coach has worked with players like Teemu Pukki, Mario Gotze, and Marcus Thuram, that is incredibly high praise from the manager.

Aaronson, as aforementioned, has not offered enough of a threat as a goalscorer throughout his Premier League career and Dan James and Wilfried Gnonto are both injured, which is why unleashing Piroe on the right flank could be an inventive solution to the team’s lack of ruthless finishing.

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The Whites would then have Calvert-Lewin as the number nine to provide physicality and hold-up play, Noah Okafor on the left to provide pace and dynamism down the left, and Piroe on the right to offer a clinical edge in front of goal.

Following the success of Nick Woltemade, Newcastle United are reportedly preparing to spend big once again to sign an impressive midfield star in 2026.

Newcastle's 2026 transfer plans

The Magpies have unfinished business in the transfer market. The majority of their summer window was spent searching for much-needed strikers before Yoane Wissa and Woltemade both arrived to replace the firepower of Alexander Isak. Now, with that problem solved, the Magpies have the chance to think about improvements elsewhere.

Just what that could entail is the big question. The transfer rumours are already coming thick and fast, with ambitious moves for the likes of Julian Brandt and Arda Guler mooted. The latter would be a particularly impressive signing, but given how he’s burst into life under Xabi Alonso at Real Madrid, there’s no doubt that it would be a difficult one to get over the line.

Whoever arrives should be keen to follow the Woltemade path. The towering striker has scored three goals in six games and has already earned the praise of manager Eddie Howe more than once.

The Newcastle boss told reporters in the build-up to Newcastle’s 4-0 thrashing of Union Saint-Gilloise in the Champions League: “We’re very pleased to have Nick with us. I think he’s started very strongly in what has been a difficult period for him because he’s been thrust straight into action with no training time of note with us.”

Adding further creators around the German should now be among Newcastle’s top priorities when 2026 arrives and that could yet see a big-money midfielder arrive.

Newcastle preparing £60m+ Sancet offer

According to reports in Spain, Newcastle are now preparing a €70m (£61m) offer to sign Oihan Sancet from Athletic Club in 2026. The midfielder reportedly has a release clause of €80m (£70m) in his current deal and the Magpies plan to get close to that with their first offer.

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Those at St James’ Park reportedly see Sancet as the perfect player to partner Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes at the heart of Howe’s midfield, but it remains to be seen whether they’ll match his release clause to skip any negotiations with Bilbao in 2026. Looking at the numbers, it’s clear to see the talent that they would be signing.

Minutes

1,620

2,393

Goals

15

4

Key Passes

21

23

Ball Recoveries

77

149

Whilst Sancet isn’t as combative as Joelinton, he would offer Newcastle a fresh goalscoring outlet from midfield. It’s the one trait that the Magpies occasionally lack in the middle of the park, but something that the Bilbao star would provide after netting 15 goals in La Liga last season.

Dubbed “underrated” by analyst Ben Mattinson, Newcastle should do everything to sign Sancet if the opportunity arrives in 2026. The Spaniard would take Howe’s midfield to yet another level.

Real Madrid captain Dani Carvajal has condemned La Liga’s plan to stage a league match in Miami, calling it “a clear distortion of the competition.” The controversial Villarreal vs Barcelona fixture, initially set for December 20 in the United States, was scrapped amid widespread backlash from players, fans, and clubs across Spain.

• Carvajal slams Miami match plan

  Madrid captain Carvajal has strongly criticised La Liga’s now-cancelled plan to hold the Villarreal vs Barcelona match in Miami, branding the idea as “a clear adulteration of the competition.” Speaking to , the veteran defender argued that moving official league games abroad undermines the principles of fairness and equal competition.

  “I think it’s a clear adulteration of the competition, which doesn’t allow all La Liga teams to compete on the same footing,” Carvajal said. “It’s essential that we, the players, clubs, and the League itself, be fair. We’ll have to advocate for fairness, and I don’t think this does it.”

  The match, which was scheduled for December 20 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, would have been the first official La Liga game played outside Spain. However, growing resistance from players, coaches, and fans led to the cancellation earlier this week.

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• Getty/GOAL
  

  Protests from players and union pressure

  The Spanish Footballers’ Association (AFE) spearheaded protests against La Liga’s plans, calling for “transparency, dialogue, and coherence” from the governing body. Players across all 20 top-flight clubs symbolically paused for the first 15 seconds of their matches over the weekend to express their disapproval.

  In an official statement, AFE emphasised that footballers’ working conditions must remain consistent and fair across all matches, warning that overseas fixtures could disadvantage teams due to travel, climate, and scheduling disruptions. “Footballers’ conditions must be the same in all matches,” the statement read, underlining the players’ concerns about competitive imbalance.

  Real Madrid’s dressing room has been one of the most vocal in opposing the move. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois joined Carvajal in condemning the plan, stating at a press conference: “It adulterates the competition, totally. They put it in because it’s in their interest to do that, but it doesn’t comply with the players’ agreement. Everyone has to play at home and away, apart from force majeure.”

  The pushback extended beyond just Real Madrid as players, clubs, and fans across Spain united in their opposition to what many viewed as a commercial decision that ignored sporting integrity. Several team captains publicly criticised La Liga for prioritising financial gains over fairness, with Espanyol captain Leandro Cabrera telling : “All we ask for is transparency, respect, and coherence. If everything is honest, why not sit down and talk before selling tickets?”

  Even Barcelona coach Hansi Flick and his players were reluctant about the prospect of long-distance travel in the middle of a congested calendar. “My players are not happy, I am not happy, but La Liga decided that we will play this game,” Flick said in his pre-match press conference. Frenkie de Jong also voiced concern over the excessive travel demands, stating that players are already overloaded with games and commitments.

  The growing dissatisfaction, coupled with public protests, created mounting pressure on La Liga president Javier Tebas, who has defended the plan as a necessary step to increase the league’s global reach.

• UEFA’s reluctant approval and eventual cancellation

  Despite UEFA’s initial “exceptional” approval for the match, the controversy proved too divisive. UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin made it clear that the decision did not set a precedent, even as La Liga sought to follow Serie A’s lead in taking games abroad.

  Eventually, La Liga announced the cancellation of the Miami fixture, citing “the uncertainty that has arisen in Spain over the past few weeks.” In a statement, the league expressed “deep regret” over the decision, calling it “a missed opportunity for international expansion.” The league argued that the move complied with all regulations and would not have affected the integrity of the competition.

  Promoter Relevent Sports, which collaborated with Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross on the project, said the event was “postponed” due to logistical challenges and timing constraints. The decision means Villarreal vs Barcelona will now take place as originally scheduled at Estadio de la Ceramica.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  What next for La Liga and overseas plans?

  The collapse of the Miami plan has raised serious doubts about La Liga’s future international ambitions. President Javier Tebas has long expressed a desire to make overseas matches a regular part of the league calendar, hoping to emulate the global appeal of the Premier League and NFL.

  However, the fierce backlash from players, unions, and fans suggests such plans may face even stronger resistance moving forward. For now, the focus shifts back to domestic competition, with Barcelona now preparing for their real challenge as they are bracing themselves for a highly-anticipated El Clasico against Carvajal's Madrid. Meanwhile, Villarreal will face Valencia this weekend as attention returns to on-pitch matters.

“The good thing for RCB is that they will play the last game and they will know exactly where they stand and what they need to do,” Anil Kumble says

ESPNcricinfo staff24-May-20251:01

Did RCB get their bowling tactics right?

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) didn’t to beat Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Friday night in Lucknow, but they would have wanted to: a win would have given them a great shot at finishing in the top two of the IPL 2025 league table. It didn’t happen. Now, Tom Moody wants them to “move on very quickly”, while Anil Kumble is still backing them to get there – after all, they will play the last game of the league phase and will know “what they need to do.””I think you need to move on very quickly. I think you’ve got to patch up your wounds – and they’ve got a few scars there – but I don’t think you dwell on it too much,” Moody said on ESPNcricinfo’s Time Out show after RCB’s 42-run loss. “Because they have done a lot of good things this season, and that should be the focus, try to draw out some of the positives of this game – the opening partnership of 80, [Phil] Salt back in the side [and] finding some form – he hit five sixes. So try to keep it upbeat, try to keep it as positive as possible, because now is not the time for people to be second-guessing what they are doing or what their role is in the side.”Salt finding form was certainly one of the positives. His last appearance was back on April 24, almost exactly a month ago, before he fell ill. Then came the break because of the India-Pakistan border tensions. Then came RCB’s first match upon the IPL’s resumption, which was washed out. They have lost Devdutt Padikkal and Josh Hazlewood (though he might return) to injuries, and Jacob Bethell and Lungi Ngidi are done for the season because of responsibilities with their national sides. And Tim David might have done his hamstring on Friday.Related

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Kishan, SRH quicks dent RCB's chances of a top-two finish

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The circumstances can get you down, but Kumble liked what he saw from RCB in their chase of SRH’s 231 for 6, especially the start of 80 runs in seven overs from Virat Kohli and Salt. Though he did point to the mistakes in that chase too.”The start was extremely good. Though Virat Kohli was the dominant partner in the opening stand with Phil Salt, who was playing after a month and looked rusty, but one of them needed to bat deep,” Kumble said. “If that had happened, we would be talking about an RCB win. I also think that the 25-odd balls that Mayank [Agarwal] and Rajat Patidar played together made it tough for RCB. But their game plan was right. The fall of wickets and Tim David’s injury didn’t help.”Agarwal, who has been brought in from the cold to replace Padikkal, scored 11 in ten balls, and Patidar, back from a hand injury and playing as a batter-only scored 18 in 16. Coming as their innings did after the frenetic start, it did peg RCB back.Jitesh Sharma, standing in for Patidar as captain, said after the game that he didn’t mind the result. “I think sometimes losing a game is a very good sign because you can check, analyse where we are lacking.” Kumble wasn’t buying it. But with RCB playing Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) to end the league phase on May 27, Kumble hasn’t given up on his old team making the top two.”You need to say these things. You shouldn’t be losing at this stage. You needed to win this to make it easier to finish in the top two. We know the importance of a top-two finish,” he said. “It can still happen. Mathematically, anything can happen on the table. But the pressure will be on RCB. The good thing for RCB is that they will play the last game and they will know exactly where they stand and what they need to do.”

Nottingham Forest haven’t enjoyed a positive start to life under Ange Postecoglou and a key update on his future has now emerged from the City Ground.

Nottingham Forest suffer damaging Europa League defeat

The fairytale return of Nottingham Forest to the European scene was a just reward for an excellent campaign last term. However, their shock 3-2 defeat at home to FC Midtjylland was a stark reminder of the frailties present within Postecoglou’s side.

Despite being alive in the majority of the Australian’s matches so far, conceding at awkward times has led to six games without a win under the former Celtic boss, breeding an elevated level of pressure on him to get it right in the East Midlands.

Speaking post-match, Postecoglou remained unbothered by chants calling for his dismissal, claiming that nothing surprises him in football anymore.

He said: “I heard it. They’re fans, they want to see their team win, and they’re entitled to their opinion. Nothing surprises me in football any more. We’ve just got to keep going. There is no hiding in the sport we’re in. Got to keep your head up and recover. We have a tough game against Newcastle at the weekend.”

With high-profile pundits such as Tim Howard among his detractors, Postecoglou has work to do in order to prove the doubters wrong, but that sort of challenge saw him win the Europa League last term, hence why it would be premature to count him out.

Nottingham Forest star fumes at something he's "never seen" before vs Sunderland

The Tricky Trees are still yet to find a victory under Ange Postecoglou.

BySean Markus Clifford Sep 28, 2025

Newcastle United await on Sunday and won’t be an easy outfit to overcome. Nevertheless, their indifferent start to the Premier League season may offer a sliver of hope to the travelling supporters.

Either way, a change in mood is needed at the City Ground, though how are the Nottingham Forest hierarchy feeling about Postecoglou’s situation? Fabrizio Romano has delivered an update on that front.

Fabrizio Romano on how Nottingham Forest view Ange Postecoglou

Writing in his GIVEMESPORT newsletter, Romano has confirmed Nottingham Forest are being patient with Postecoglou and believe that he simply needs time to adapt before results improve at the City Ground.

Truthfully, Postecoglou is between a bit of a rock and a hard place, though he is certainly made of strong stuff and has shown he has the thick skin to come through adversity.

However, his side need to find a level of stability, as two draws and four defeats isn’t going to cut it if Nottingham Forest want to survive. Making their priorities clear, Evangelos Marinakis and company are opting to keep the faith for now.

كشف جوزيف زينباور المدير الفني لشبية القبائل الجزائري، رأيه في تواجده بمجموعة الأهلي في النسخة الحالية من دوري أبطال إفريقيا، موضحًا رأيه في المنافسة والسعى على اللقب القاري.

وأقيمت أول أمس الإثنين، مراسم قرعة دور المجموعات من منافسات دوري أبطال إفريقيا، في العاصمة الجنوب إفريقية جوهانسبرج، وأسفرت عن مواجهات قوية. ويتواجد الأهلي في المجموعة الثانية بدوري أبطال إفريقيا، مع أندية الجيش الملكي المغربي، ويانج أفريكانز التنزاني وشبيبة القبائل الجزائري.

وقال جوزيف زينباور في تصريحات تلفزيونية عبر قناة الأهلي: “مجموعة كبيرة وبالنسبة لي هي أصعب مجموعة في البطولات الإفريقية التي شاركت فيها، خصوصًا بتواجدي بجانب نادٍ مثل الأهلي، وخصوصًا أن أول مواجهة ستكون معه”.

وأكمل: “أعرف الجيش الملكي المغربي وهو أفضل فريق في المغرب حاليًا، لديهم لاعبين جيدين، والأهلي والجيش الملكي لديهما مديران فنيان جيدان وأفضل اللاعبين حاليًا”.

وتابع: “هي تجربة جديدة لنا في دوري الأبطال ولي تحديدًا وخصوصًا مواجهة النادي الأهلي، والأخير لديه خبرات كبيرة وأفضل اللاعبين في إفريقيا ولاعبون كبار جدًا في مصر”.

وأردف: “يجب أن نكون سعداء لأننا نشارك في هذه البطولة، المجموعة الرابعة هي الأسهل بالنسبة لي، ولكن أن تلعب في أقوى مجموعة ضد أصعب الفرق في إفريقيا ليس أمرًا سهلًا، والأهلي هو الأكثر تتويجًا بدوري الأبطال والبطولات المحلية في إفريقيا”.

وأوضح: “لديه قاعدة جماهيرية كبيرة في الجزائر، وأيضًا في مجموعات أخرى هناك فرق لها قاعدة جماهيرية، وخصوصًا النادي الأهلي يمتلك جمهورًا رائعًا، لكن لو نظرت إلى يانج أفريكانز ستجد أنك تلعب أمام 100 ألف مشجع في العاصمة”.

وأكمل: “نحترم كل الفرق وكل الجماهير، وسنحاول الفوز والقتال في كل المباريات، خصوصًا إذا فُزنا في أول المباريات سنحجز مكانًا جيدًا وخصوصًا أمام خصم مثل الأهلي، والمباريات على أرضنا ستكون أسهل ولكن لا توجد مباراة سهلة، كل الأمور متاحة للفريق من الآن، ولدينا تشكيلة رائعة من اللاعبين، ولدينا 8 تعاقدات منذ بداية الموسم شاركوا جميعًا مع الفريق”.

وبسؤاله عن متابعة الأهلي والتعاقد مع الدنماركي ييس توروب، أجاب: “في الحقيقة، لن أقول مدرب دنماركي بل سأقول مدرب ألماني، فهو أخذ كل خبراته من ألمانيا، وكان أول من لعب هناك، ولديه خبرات كبيرة وكافية ليعرف كيف يفوز، ولكن من واقع خبرتي في إفريقيا، الأمور هنا مختلفة ويجب أن يكون المدرب مستعدًا جيدًا، خاصة إذا كان سيقود فريقًا بحجم الأهلي”.

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وزاد: “منذ شهر فقط كان الوضع صعبًا على المدير الفني السابق للأهلي، وإذا أردت متابعة الأهلي، فسأفعل ذلك في كأس السوبر المصري، لديهم لاعبون مميزون مثل إمام عاشور، وزيزو القادم من الزمالك وهو لاعب خطير ومهم جدًا، وتريزيجيه أحد أكثر اللاعبين خبرة في الفريق وأعرفه منذ سنوات”.

وأشار: “الأهلي لديه أيضًا لاعبين بجودة مختلفة، مثل جراديشار الشاب الدولي الأوروبي، ولاعبون واعدون جدًا، وفي وسط الملعب، هناك ديانج وهو لاعب رائع، الأهلي يمتلك أربعة عشر لاعبًا دوليًا، وهذا رقم كبير لنادٍ ينافس على المستوى المحلي، وهذه كلها خبرات كبيرة لدى المدير الفني للأهلي، وأيضًا محمد الشناوي قائد الفريق”.

واستطرد: “فريقنا شاب وليس معتادًا على المشاركة في البطولة الإفريقية، لذا يجب علينا أن نظهر قدرًا كبيرًا من المهارة، وأن نستمتع ونحاول قدر المستطاع لتحقيق نتائج إيجابية، و99% من الجمهور يتوقع الفوز باللقب، وهذا أمر طبيعي نظرًا لتاريخ الفريق الكبير في الجزائر”.

وأضاف: “الآن لدينا تحدٍّ جديد وعلينا أن نستعد بشكل جيد، سواء الإدارة أو أعضاء النادي أو الجماهير، ونحن نحظى بدعم مجلس الإدارة، ولدينا ملعب رائع، والجماهير تدرك صعوبة المهمة وأن الطريق طويل، ويجب علينا أن نحدد موقعنا في المنافسة، الآن لدينا متابعون من جميع أنحاء البلاد وبشكل خاص من تونس”.

طالع.. خاص | أول تعليق من شبيبة القبائل بعد وقوعه مع الأهلي في مجموعات دوري أبطال إفريقيا

وأردف: “يجب أن نكون واقعيين، فرصنا في هذه المجموعة محدودة، ولكن سنحاول ولن نتوقف عن الاجتهاد والقتال، والحلم ما زال يعيش معنا، وكل جماهير الجزائر يمكنها أن تحلم، وسنعمل على تحقيق هدفهم”.

وتابع: “استاد القاهرة هو الأقدم في إفريقيا، ومعلوماتي أنه سيكون مرعبًا، أما المباراة المقامة في الجزائر فستكون في ملعب ممتلئ بالسعة الكاملة، واللعب في دولة مختلفة وأمام أفضل فريق في إفريقيا سيكون أمرًا رائعًا، وسنرى ما يمكن أن نحققه، ونحن نحترم جميع الفرق في المجموعة”.

وبشأن هل ما زلت تمتلك عروضًا من مصر والدول العربية؟، أوضح: “لا أتحدث عن أي عروض محتملة أو مقدمة لي، وأحترم جميع الأندية، أنا الآن أخوض تجربة مختلفة في بلد كبير في إفريقيا، وأعمل مع جهاز فني يثق بي ويقدم أداءً رائعًا، وهم يساندونني في كل مكان أذهب إليه”.

وأتم: “العروض لا تأتي من فراغ، بل هي نتيجة للنجاحات، وإذا وُجدت عروضًا مطروحة على الطاولة فهي تأتي بسبب النجاح، وفي جميع الأحوال، يجب أن نترك الأمر مفتوحًا، أما بالنسبة لي فلا أهتم بأي عروض في الوقت الحالي”.