Manchester United could face a fight on their hands to keep hold of an exciting youngster after it emerged that a club are ready to make a significant offer for his services.
Man Utd's potential outgoings…
Despite all the talk being about potential incomings at any given club with the transfer window nearing, outgoings are also a crucially important facilitator in paving the way for exciting new arrivals. United are no different in that regard and could be set to offload a number of players in January, with the likes of Anthony Martial, Casemiro and Jadon Sancho all linked with exits.
One other man who could depart Old Trafford in mid-season is Tunisia international Hannibal Mejbri, who is believed to be attracting attention from the likes of Seville, Olympique Lyon and SC Freiburg over a prospective loan deal after it emerged he wouldn't be travelling to feature for his country at the African Cup of Nations, according to transfer insider Fabrizio Romano.
Outcast Donny van de Beek has already signed on loan with Eintracht Frankfurt and will join the 2022 Europa League winners once the window opens for business on January 1st, demonstrating the Red Devils' intent to get spare parts out of the door at Old Trafford.
Now, Erik ten Hag could have a fight on his hands to keep a bright young star at the club after interest has come to light in his services.
Borussia Dortmund keen on Dan Gore
According to Football Insider, Bundesliga outfit Borussia Dortmund are lining up a significant offer to sign Manchester United youngster Dan Gore in the near future.
Dan Gore's brief cameo vs Aston Villa (Sofascore)
Tackles
1
Touches
3
Ground duels won
2/2
The 19-year-old made his Premier League debut against Aston Villa on Boxing Day and has received 30 minutes of senior action in total under Ten Hag. He is someone who has been earmarked as a long-term target by the German giants, and should he be unavailable in January, Borussia Dortmund plan on making a "big bid" in the summer of 2024 for the England Under-20 international.
The Manchester Evening News has recently claimed that Preston North End are also keen to sign Gore once the window opens on a loan basis, presenting several options for the Manchester-born midfielder to continue his development.
Intriguingly, there is also information in the copy that indicates The SEG International agency, who represents Red Devils boss Ten Hag, are keen to recruit him as a client despite the Carrington youth product's entourage being his family.
Looking ahead, United have a decision on their hands when it comes to Gore, and they may want to keep hold of him, given his status as a promising homegrown talent.
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has already faced significant injury issues in the number nine position this season. Having missed ten games in the first half of the campaign through hamstring problems, Callum Wilson is now reportedly a doubt for the rest of the month with his latest issue (Chronicle Live).
Alexander Isak is currently fit and available but he's also had a period on the sidelines this season, having been ruled out for six matches with a groin problem. With the January transfer window now upon us, it seems like Howe could be looking to add another striking option.
As recently as 2018, Boulaye Dia was playing below the professional level in France before Reims gave him an opportunity to shine. He took it, earning a subsequent move to Spanish club Villarreal before landing at Salernitana in Italy – on loan at first and then in a permanent £10.3m/€12m deal.
On the final day of the summer transfer window, Newcastle's Premier League competitors Wolves tried to sign Dia, but Salernitana rejected their offer "out of hand". A furious Dia initially refused to train with the club after the September international break, before the bridges were repaired (GIFN).
Dia now on Newcastle radar
After seeing a "paltry" summer bid turned down, Wolves have been back in touch, this time to request a loan signing, but again with no joy. There's a feeling this could open the door for one of his other suitors, a group that includes Newcastle, to sign him (Tutto Salernitana/Sport Witness).
Dia is firmly on Newcastle's radar, but he's also attracted interest from Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt as well as two of the top three teams in Serie A in Inter and AC Milan. If he is to leave, then, there could be significant competition.
Perhaps most interestingly, it's also being reported that Salernitana are already looking at possible replacements (La Citta di Salerno), aware that they only have until the end of the month to find an alternative or risk being left short.
Newcastle should activate Dia release clause
One journalist has described Dia as a "revelation" (Zach Lowy) and it's easy to see why when you look at his output in Italy. In his 47 appearances for Salernitana over the last two seasons, he's impressively found the net 20 times, and also provided six assists.
The club may have refused to loan Dia to Wolves, but there will be little they can do if Newcastle stump up enough money. After his summer move to Molineux didn't materialise, the 27-year-old successfully had two clauses inserted into his contract, allowing him to join any club in UEFA competitions for £17.3m/€20m, or a club outside them for £19m/€22m. Those provisions are valid this month, but only until the "final days" of the window (Fabrizio Romano).
Newcastle crashed out of Europe by finishing bottom of their Champions League group, but the difference in fees is only minor. If they believe Dia is worth £19m, then they may be able to strike a deal relatively smoothly.
One possible consideration is that he won't be available this month, having been called upon to the Senegal squad for the Africa Cup of Nations. As the second-highest ranked African side behind Morocco (FIFA), the Senegalese will be expected to make a deep run into the competition, which could delay his return to club action until mid-February.
Chelsea are fearing the worst over an injury to one of their first-team stars as well as the issue with Marc Cucurella, according to a reliable reporter.
Cucurella injury update
During the Premier League 2-0 defeat to Everton, Cucurella was forced off the pitch with a serious lower leg issue, and following further assessments with knee and foot specialists, the defender is set for an extended spell on the sidelines.
After undergoing surgery, Mauricio Pochettino’s star is still recovering in hospital and isn’t expected to return to the grass until February at the very earliest, and if the following is to be believed, he’s not the only one who the manager will have to cope without having at his disposal for the foreseeable future.
Fabrizio Romano shares injury news out of Chelsea on "spectacular" player
More bad news for Pochettino…
ByTom Cunningham Dec 17, 2023
At Goodison Park, Reece James was also withdrawn prematurely and replaced by Levi Colwill after just 27 minutes, which will have sparked plenty of concern among supporters considering the misfortune that the right-back has suffered since the start of the season.
The Blues captain has made just five starts in the top-flight so far this campaign due to being ruled out of action with a hamstring problem (WhoScored – James statistics), and it sounds like the club’s medical staff are extremely concerned about the 24-year-old’s situation this time around.
James may need hamstring surgery
Writing in his column for CaughtOffside, Fabrizio Romano revealed that Chelsea are worried about James and confirmed that they have entered discussions to decide whether he needs to go under the knife.
“A final decision on whether or not the full-back will undergo surgery will be made within the next few days — that’s the plan internally. Make no mistake though, for sure Chelsea are worried.
"They want James to be in the best possible condition to perform at the highest levels — the player wants the same, but this is not the case at the moment. Chelsea are in talks with medical specialists about how to help and prevent this issue from becoming an even bigger problem. Everybody hopes James can come back even stronger.”
Chelsea defender Reece James.
While James is naturally a right-back, Chelsea will know that he’s stronger in the offensive aspect of his game having posted 32 direct contributions – 21 assists and 11 goals – in 156 senior appearances during his time at Stamford Bridge (Transfermarkt -James statistics).
The England international also currently ranks in the 96th percentile for successful take-ons, highlighting his desire to use his pace to dribble past his marker and create as many chances as possible for both himself and his fellow teammates in the final third (FBRef – James statistics).
Having been dubbed “world-class” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, Pochettino will therefore know that not having his skipper available for selection for a while is a huge blow, so everyone associated with the club will be hoping that he is able to stage his comeback as soon as is safe to do so.
Nesta terça-feira, em sorteio realizado pela Conmebol, o Corinthians conheceu seus primeiros adversários na edição 2020 da Libertadores Feminina, que terá início no dia 5 de março e será a primeira competição da equipe neste ano.
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TABELA > Veja classificação e simulador do Brasileirão clicando aqui
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Cabeça de chave, o Timão está no Grupo A do torneio continental, e enfrentará:Nacional-URU, Universitario-PER e América de Cali-COL.
O clube colombiano, aliás, foi adversário do Alvinegro na edição anterior da Libertadores, em 2019, quando o Corinthians foi bicampeão (2017 e 2019). Foram dois encontros: na fase de grupos e na semifinal.
Ao todo, 16 equipes estão divididas em quatro grupos e se enfrentam em turno único nesta primeira fase, sendo que os dois primeiros de cada chave se classificam para a fase seguinte, de quartas de final, também com partidas apenas de ida. Todos os jogos são disputados na Argentina, sede do torneio.
Na última segunda-feira, o Corinthians divulgou a lista das 20 atletas inscritas para a competição e informou a ausência da zagueira Érika, que está lesionada e não conseguiu se recuperar a tempo de disputar a Libertadores Feminina. O torneio continental será disputado entre os dias 5 e 21 de março.
Confira os grupos da Copa Libertadores Feminina: Grupo A Corinthians El Nacional-EQU Universitario-PER América de Cali-COL
Grupo B Boca Juniors-ARG Santiago Morning-CHI Deportivo Trópico-BOL Avaí/Kindermann
Grupo C Independiente Santa Fé-COL Atlético SC-VEN River Plate-ARG Sol de América-PAR
Grupo D Ferroviária Libertad Limpeño-PAR Peñarol-URU Universidad de Chile-CHI
Leeds United have the chance to sign some new players this month, but the January window also represents the chance for departures, with one club now looking to sign a loanee on a permanent basis.
Leeds loan exits
The Whites suffered relegation from the Premier League last season, which resulted in a number of players activating clauses in their contracts to leave on loan ahead of the new Championship campaign.
Players to Leeds leave in the summer
Loan or permanent?
Tyler Adams
Permanent
Robin Koch
Loan
Max Wober
Loan
Rodrigo
Permanent
Brenden Aaronson
Loan
Jack Harrison
Loan
Tyler Adams
Permanent
Luis Sinisterra
Loan
Rasmus Kristensen
Loan
Marc Roca
Loan
Cody Drameh
Loan
Sam Greenwood
Loan
Diego Llorente
Loan
Adam Forshaw
Permanent
Joel Robles
Permanent
As can been seen, centre-back Robin Koch was one of those to depart the club, returning to his native country with Eintracht Frankfurt. The player is also out of contract in the summer, so Leeds owners 49ers Enterprises may not receive a penny for his services at the end of the campaign, with a new update now emerging over his future.
Robin Koch transfer update
Sport Witness relayed news from Germany regarding Koch’s future, claiming he has been a ‘real hit’ with Frankfurt. The Bundesliga club, as a result, are now aiming to sign the Leeds defender on a free transfer next summer. Frankfurt officials have now planned sit down for talks with Koch in the ‘coming days’ and will offer him a three-year deal, which could result in the defender leaving Elland Road for nothing.
It always felt as if Koch, whose deal in Yorkshire is worth £40,000-a-week, would depart for good at the end of the campaign when his contract expired, and it seems as if Frankfurt want to be the player’s next destination. So far during his time back in Germany, the 27-year-old has been a regular at the back and has even captained the club on a few occasions in his 23 appearances. (Robin Koch stats – Transfermarkt)
Leeds defender Robin Koch.
Frankfurt head coach Dino Toppmoller has also praised the Leeds man, saying back in September:
“Robin Koch also does an outstanding job. This is total quality. It would be great if we could get him back into the national team through good performances. That would be an award for all of us.”
Koch could be the first of many loanees to seal permanent exits as the year develops, and the Whites also have decisions to make on players still in Yorkshire. Liam Cooper, Luke Ayling, Sam Byram, Stuart Dallas, Lewis Bate, Jamie Shackleton and Ian Poveda are all out of contract come July, so it could be a year of change in 2024. (Leeds contracts – Transfermarkt)
Sunil Narine provided the fast start, Nitish Rana and Robin Uthappa built an outstanding platform, and Andre Russell – who else! – gave the Kolkata Knight Riders innings a furious finish, whomping five sixes and three fours in a 17-ball 48. A target of 219 always seemed too much for Kings XI Punjab, even on this super-flat Eden Gardens surface. The visitors made a valiant charge in their own innings, but did not have the firepower that Knight Riders possessed, and ultimately went down by 28 runs.As with the bat, so was Russell great with the ball. It was Russell who had Chris Gayle top-edge a pull to be caught in the infield. It was Russell who generated a little extra bounce a second time, and had Sarfaraz Khan produce another top-edge – this one to be gobbled up by the keeper. His bowling analysis, in the end, was 2 for 21 off three overs – the best figures for the match. Thanks largely to him, the Knight Riders have had an outstanding start to their season. They are two wins from two games now – Russell has claimed the Man of the Match award on both occasions.But it could have turned out so differently…Alright, who’s the culprit? Own up. This is where the game was won and lost.Russell had actually been bowled by an outstanding Mohammed Shami yorker at what should have been the end of the 17th over. He had been on 3 off 5 balls at the time. Knight Riders would have been 163 for 3 with three overs to go.Russell’s leg stump was pegged back, and he was walking off the ground when… hang on… the umpires realised something was amiss. A no-ball was signalled. Not because Shami had overstepped. Not because the ball was over waist-high. The no-ball was for something far more avoidable.Andre Russell made the most of a schoolboy error from Kings XI Punjab•BCCI
Only three Kings XI fielders had been inside the 30-yard circle at the time of delivery. The visitors’ celebrations were cut short. Shami was seen in conversation with David Miller. Captain R Ashwin was seen ranting in anger in the general direction of the universe.Dre Russ comes back, takes a single to keep the strike, then next over, top-edges a six, bludgeons a four to deep midwicket, top-edges a four, and monsters another one over the deep midwicket boundary. To add insult to Shami’s injury he then bludgeons three consecutive sixes off Shami’s next over (the 19th of the innings), and drills a four through wide long-off as well. Following that reprieve, Russell plunders 45 off 12 deliveries. Kings XI might have had a manageable target, if not for that.AshwinwatchSo you’re not a fan of mankad dismissals. So you’re still scandalised by his run out of Jos Buttler. Well strap in, snowflake. Get a load of the stunt Ashwin pulled in this game.Sixth over of Kings XI’s innings, Uthappa fielded the ball at cover, and the Kings XI batsman took a run. But then, when it was fairly clear that the ball was dead (the batsmen were not alive to the possibility of another run, and the fielders were merely passing the ball back to the bowler for the next ball), Uthappa lobbed the ball to Russell at mid-off, who lost it in the floodlights, and ducked, leaving the ball to skip away to the boundary.Ashwin was out of his seat in the dugout straight away, marching to the fourth umpire, making an impassioned case that four overthrows had been conceded. Incredibly, the fourth umpire agreed. He radioed his on-field colleagues, alerted them to Ashwin’s complaints, after which the standing umpire signaled four runs. The ball wasn’t dead after all.Whatever you think of the ethics of any of this, it’s hard to dispute that Ashwin has lit up this first week of the IPL. Next match, he’ll probably barge into a batsman mid-pitch, knock him over, and run him out.The half-centurionsRussell stole the show, but the 110-run stand off 66 balls between Uthappa and Rana had already set Knight Riders on track for a mammoth score. Rana was by a distance the more explosive of the two, hitting five sixes – all in the arc between cover and midwicket – to hurtle to 64 off 34 balls. Uthappa ensured he stayed until the end, however, making 67 off 50 – turning the strike over to Russell in those definitive overs.For Kings XI, Mayank Agarwal hit 58 off 34, and David Miller made 59 off 40, but even with a strong supporting hand from Mandeep Singh, who hit 33 off 15, they never looked like getting close.Unflattering figuresWhile a few the visitors’ batsmen can take some positives from the game, their bowlers will probably want to forget it. No one went at less than nine runs an over. Shami, Ashwin and Varun Chakravarthy all disappeared at more than 11 an over.
كشف مصدر بـ منتخب مصر الأول موقف محمد عبد المنعم المحترف في صفوف نيس الفرنسي، من الانضمام إلى صفوف معسكر منتخب مصر استعدادا لخوض مباراتي الرأس الأخضر وبوتسوانا في إطار تصفيات كأس أمم إفريقيا 2025.
ويستعد منتخب مصر لمواجهة الرأس الأخضر ضمن مباريات الجولة الأولى للمجموعة الثالثة من التصفيات المؤهلة لكأس الأمم الإفريقية المقرر إقامتها بالمغرب.
وكان محمد عبد المنعم قد انتقل إلى لخوض تجربة احتراف مع فريق نيس الفرنسي قادمًا من الأهلي خلال الانتقالات الصيفية الجارية، وخاض مباراته الأولى أمام أنجيه كبديل مساء الأحد الماضي.
ويتواجد منتخب مصر، في المجموعة الثالثة لـ تصفيات كأس أمم إفريقيا، بجانب كل من الرأس الأخضر وبوتسوانا وموريتانيا.
وقال المصدر في تصريحات خاصة لـ”بطولات”: “محمد عبدالمنعم تحدث مع إبراهيم حسن واعتذر عن عدم التواجد في معسكر سبتمبر الحالي”.
طالع | خالد الدرندلي: موقف محمد عبد المنعم غير واضح.. ومنتخب مصر لا يقف على لاعب
وأردف: “محمد عبد المنعم برر للجهاز موقفه بأن ناديه يتمسك باستمراره في معسكر الفريق حاليًا من أجل أن ينسجم سريعًا.. وأنه شخصيًا كان يتمنى الانضمام للمعسكر”.
واختتم: “الجهاز الفني سيجتمع الليلة لحسم موقفه سواء باستدعاء بديل لعبد المنعم أم لا”.
Leeds United have had issues at left-back in recent years, arguably ever since academy graduate Charlie Taylor left for Burnley back in 2017.
The Whites currently have Sam Byram and Junior Firpo in that position as senior options for Daniel Farke’s side, as they look to win promotion from the Championship following relegation last season. However, injury problems have impacted both defenders, leaving the club needing to bolster their ranks in 2024.
Unfortunately, Leeds haven’t had the best of luck when it comes to left-backs over the past ten years, with plenty of misses and not many hits, so as they enter the January transfer market in need of a new addition, what's happened to the last ten left-back signings at Elland Road?
Adam Drury 2012/13
Back in 2012, Leeds secured the services of Adam Drury after he spent more than 10 years at Norwich City. He clocked up more than 350 appearances for the Canaries and arrived with plenty of second-tier experience to bolster Neil Warnock’s side, but things didn’t go to plan for the Englishman.
Drury featured 18 times for Leeds in just over a year and went on loan to Bradford City in 2013/14 before retiring from professional football at the end of that campaign.
Stephen Warnock 2012/13
With Drury struggling, Warnock turned to another experienced left-back in Stephen Warnock, who penned a two-and-a-half-year contract at Elland Road on deadline day in January 2013.
The former Liverpool, Blackburn Rovers and Aston Villa full-back was a regular straightaway in Yorkshire and ended up staying at the club until 2015, even replacing Jason Pearce as club captain towards the end of his stint.
Stephen Warnock stats at Leeds
Appearances
67
Goals
3
Assists
5
Red cards
1
He left for Derby County in 2015, with Taylor coming through the Leeds academy and taking his place in the first-team. Warnock, after retiring in 2018, now features regularly as a pundit on Sky Sports.
Alfonso Pedraza 2016/17 (loan)
With Taylor becoming a regular for the Whites between 2015 and 2017, Leeds were quiet in the transfer window for a few years when it came to full-back additions. They did turn to the loan market under Garry Monk in 2017, with Alfonso Pedraza joining on a temporary basis from Villarreal.
The Spaniard was actually utilised further forward as a left-winger, making 14 appearances for Leeds before returning to Villarreal after the Whites missed out on the play-offs.
Now, Pedraza is known as a left-back for Villarreal and has gone on to become a regular for the La Liga side, approaching 200 games for his current employers.
Cameron Borthwick-Jackson 2017/18 (loan)
A new season and a new manager in Thomas Christiansen, Leeds once again turned to the loan market as they looked to replace Taylor, with Cameron Borthwick-Jackson arriving from rivals Manchester United.
However, things didn’t go to plan for Borthwick-Jackson, and after starting the first Championship game of the season, didn’t play for the Whites in the league again, with his last appearance coming in an FA Cup defeat to Newport County. The Englishman went on to play for Scunthorpe United, Tranmere Rovers, Oldham Athletic and Burton Albion but moved to Poland last summer to join Slask Wroclaw.
Ezgjan Alioski 2017/18
Initially coming in as a winger from Swiss side Lugano, Ezgjan Alioski has arguably been the club’s best left-back signing over the past 10 years.
The North Macedonia international was transformed into a full-back under Marcelo Bielsa and helped take the club to the Premier League in 2019/20, before also playing his part as the club recorded an incredible 9th place finish in their first season in the top flight.
Ezgjan Alioski stats at Leeds
Appearances
171
Goals
22
Assists
19
Minutes played
12,037
Since leaving Elland Road in 2021, the 31-year-old moved to Saudi Arabia with Al-Ahli and also went on loan to Fenerbahce, where he has continued to ply his trade at left-back.
Laurens De Bock 2017/18
Another full-back who joined during the 2017/18 season was Laurens De Bock, with Victor Orta securing his services from Club Brugge in January in a permanent transfer.
The Belgian only played seven times for Leeds and was quickly sent out on loan to KV Oostende, before joining Sunderland, ADO Den Haag and Zulte Waregem on temporary deals, eventually joining the latter on a free transfer. Now, De Bock is in Greece with Atromitos, with his move to Leeds being another one to forget.
Leif Davis 2018/19
Former Leeds defender Leif Davis.
Davis was brought to Leeds by Bielsa from Morecambe back in 2018 and initially was viewed as an academy addition, although he was a regular in and around the first-team matchday squad during the Argentine’s tenure at Elland Road.
The youngster made 14 senior appearances for the Whites, two of which came in the Premier League before he moved to Bournemouth on loan.
He completed a permanent move to Ipswich Town in 2022 when the Tractor Boys were in League One and the Whites were still in the Premier League, and now, that deal looks to be a mistake from Leeds. Davis has played a starring role for Ipswich over the last 18 months, becoming a creative outlet from left-back.
Barry Douglas 2018/19
Free-kick specialist Barry Douglas was seen as the star left-back addition ahead of Davis prior to Bielsa’s first season in charge, joining from Wolves on a permanent transfer.
However, the Scot never lived up to expectations at Elland Road, failing to score a goal and registering five assists in 44 games. Injury issues also impacted his stay in Yorkshire, although he was part of the squad that won promotion. After leaving Leeds in 2021 for Lech Poznan, Douglas is still with the Polish side and has made more than 100 appearances for the club, although his deal is up at the end of the season.
Junior Firpo 2021/22
Leeds United defender Junior Firpo.
Leeds were calling out for a left-back addition in the Premier League, which resulted in Junior Firpo arriving from Barcelona ahead of the club’s second season in the top flight.
However, like many that have come and gone, things haven’t worked out for the Spaniard, who has been in and out of the side due to various injury problems.
The 27-year-old has managed more than 50 appearances in a Leeds shirt but has also been out with knee, hamstring and ligament problems, failing to help the club stay up last season as a result.
Sam Byram 2023/24
Leeds defender Sam Byram.
With a shortage at left-back over the summer, Farke brought Sam Byram back to Elland Road, over six years after he left Leeds for West Ham. The former right-back has been transformed into a left-back in recent years with Norwich City, and a free transfer materialised after he proved his fitness in pre-season.
Byram began the campaign as a regular at left-back for Leeds, but unfortunately, minor injury issues have once again returned, which leaves the Whites on the search for another left-back.
حقق فريق ريال مدريد فوزًا على ريال ريال سوسيداد، في مباراتهما مساء يوم السبت، في إطار منافسات بطولة الدوري الإسباني، 2024/25.
واستضاف ملعب “ريالي آرينا” مباراة الفريقين في إطار منافسات الجولة الخامسة من الدوري الإسباني، حيث فاز ريال مدريد بهدفين دون رد. أهداف مباراة ريال مدريد وريال سوسيداد اليوم في الدوري الإسباني
وتألق حارس مرمى ريال مدريد، تيبو كورتوا، مبكرًا في الدقيقة 2 بعدما تصدى لتسديدة قوية من قِبل لاعب ريال سوسيداد، عقب تنفيذ ركلة حرة، بعد خطأ من فينيسيوس جونيور.
وفي الدقيقة السابعة، كاد كيليان مبابي أن يسجل هدف ريال مدريد الأول، بعدما سدد كرة عرضية قوية، من يمين منطقة الجزاء، ولكن حارس سوسيداد أليكس ريميرو أبعدها عن مرماه.
وتكرر الأمر نفسه في الدقيقة 18، بعدما انطلق مبابي من الجهة اليمنى لمنطقة الجزاء وسدد كرة قوية ناحية مرمى الضيوف، ولكن الحارس تألق مجددًا وأبعدها.
واضطر كارلو أنشيلوتي، المدير الفني لفريق ريال مدريد، إلى إجراء تغيير في الدقيقة 23، بعد معاناة إبراهيم دياز من الإصابة، حيث خرج ونزل بدلًا منه رودريجو.
وكاد ريال سوسيداد أن يسجل الهدف الأول في الدقيقة 26، بعد تسديدة من لوكا سوشيتيش، التي اصطدمت بالقائم.
وواصل حارس مرمى ريال سوسيداد تألقه حيث تصدى لفرصة هدف محقق من ريال مدريد، في الدقيقة 28، بعد تسديدة رأسية من أنطونيو روديجر.
وتواصلت خطورة ريال سوسيداد بعدما اصطدمت كرة بالعارضة، في الدقيقة 36، وسط أخطاء دفاعية كارثية من ريال مدريد.
وبدأ ريال سوسيداد الشوط الثاني بشكل قوي، حيث كاد أن يسجل الهدف الأول ولكن الحظ لم يحالف أصحاب الأرض بعد اصطدام الكرة بالقائم.
ونجح ريال مدريد في تسجيل هدفه الأول، في الدقيقة 58، بعد ركلة جزاء حصل عليها التركي أردا جولر بعد اصطدام كرته بيد لاعب الخصم، سيرجي جوميز.
وتمكن البرازيلي فينيسيوس جونيور من تنفيذ ركلة جزاء كتيبة كارلو أنشيلوتي بنجاح، محولًا إياها إلى هدف أول.
وتألق الحارس تيبو كورتوا في الدقيقة 69، حيث منع هدف التعادل لصالح ريال سوسيداد بعدما تصدى لتسديدة رأسية.
وتحصل ريال مدريد على ضربة جزاء جديدة في الدقيقة 73، بعد تدخل من لاعب ريال سوسيداد على فينيسيوس جونيور، وطالب الأخير باحتسابها وسط معارضة الحكم.
ولكن تقنية الفيديو تدخلت وأقرت بوجود ضربة جزاء بالفعل، ونفذها كيليان مبابي هذه المرة، ليحولها إلى هدف ثانِ.
وخرج كيليان مبابي في الدقيقة 90، ونال تحية الجماهير، في حين نزل بدلًا منه اللاعب الشاب إندريك.
وكاد لوكا مودريتش أن يسجل الثالث بطريقة رائعة، بعدما سدد كرة صاروخية، ولكن حارس سوسيداد تصدى ببراعة.
بتلك النتيجة، ارتفع رصيد ريال مدريد إلى 11 نقطة، في المركز الثاني، بينما تجمد رصيد ريال سوسيداد عند 4 نقاط في المركز السادس عشر.
وتُعد تلك المباراة هي البروفة الأخيرة لـ ريال مدريد قبل بداية مشواره في الموسم الجديد من دوري أبطال أوروبا، حيث يلتقي مع شتوتجارت يوم الثلاثاء المقبل.
The middle-order anchors believe they have the extra gears needed for putting up totals that will challenge the best ODI teams in the world
Danyal Rasool21-Apr-2019
Haris Sohail fetches a pull•Getty Images
With the World Cup so close Pakistan have named their preliminary squad for the tournament, it is striking to hear a cricketer talk about the event as just another competition organised some distance out into the future. But Haris Sohail, named among the 15 who will attempt to win Pakistan’s second World Cup trophy, approaches the next couple of months in precisely that frame of mind. For now, he is not thinking of the World Cup; his focus lasered in on the series against England prior.”The World Cup is still a little while away,” Haris, one of two Pakistan players who were also part of the 2015 World Cup campaign, told reporters during a press gathering at the Gaddafi Stadium. “Before that, we have a very important series against England. England is a quality side, the number one team. If we win that series, we’ll get a great deal of help in getting used to those conditions. We still have about 10 matches to go before the World Cup if you count all the practice matches. So we’re hopeful of getting acclimatised well and producing good results at the World Cup.”For Haris, that short-term focus makes perfect sense. The left-hander’s career has been blighted by a chronic knee injury for the best part of the last half decade, forcing him to miss several whole seasons over this period. The latest frustrating setback came on the morning of the first Test against South Africa on December 26, forcing him to miss that whole tour and putting his World Cup berth in serious jeopardy. It took scoring two hundreds against Australia, in a series where he was Pakistan’s leading run-scorer, to secure him a plane ticket to England.”Since the Australia series, my confidence and form is in a good place,” Haris said. “Over the past few days, I wasn’t feeling too great, but a match situation is different, and the [practice] match we played today, the ball felt great on the bat.”What happened to me was I was operated on incorrectly, and I struggle because of that. Nobody wants to live through injuries, but as a sportsman, injuries do happen in cricket. Here, the media makes a big deal of injuries. If you look at Australia, every two series, one bowler or another is unfit. I bowl too, so please keep that in mind. I’m trying to complete my rehab properly and put my injury behind me once and for all. But because it was operated upon incorrectly, I do struggle with it sometimes.”Comparison of Pakistan’s 2015 and 2019 World Cup squads•ESPNcricinfo Ltd
With Babar Azam the rock in Pakistan’s upper middle order, how Haris slots in alongside him will be instrumental to Pakistan’s hopes of success at the World Cup. With the team lacking reputable firepower in the batting department, there have been concerns over whether this side can put up totals that challenge the best, most aggressive modern sides. Both Babar and Haris, though, feel those worries are overplayed.”Cricket is a different game nowadays,” Haris said. “Now, when your number three or four plays a big innings or gets a hundred, batsmen play around him. In ODI cricket, a total above 300 is now par. Not in the UAE, where pitches are slower and you need to take more time. But definitely that applies in countries like England. So over there, you’ll see us play more aggressively.”If you talk about the strike rate, conditions differ depending on where you are. Against Australia in the first ODI, it was very important for me to play 50 overs rather than score quickly. Even so, I scored my century in 114 balls, while [Aaron] Finch got his [in the same game] in 119. The second century I scored, my strike rate was over 100.”Babar feels no such need to be defensive about his natural game. “If I can be number one in the world without power hitting, then I don’t need power hitting! But when I need to, I utilise it well. I don’t just play along the ground. I practice hitting the ball big and when needed, I use it. My role is to play out the full overs. My individual role is to take the innings as deep as I can and perform in a way that benefits the team most of all.”Babar Azam brings out a textbook punch•Getty Images
Looming large over the occasion was the news that Shadab Khan’s illness had ruled him out of the series against England, with the legspinner expected to take four weeks to regain full fitness. Although the initial reports are he will be fit in time for the World Cup, his unavailability until just days before the tournament begins invariably raises questions about Pakistan’s back-up spin options.One of the men who will likely bear increased responsibility in that case is Mohammad Hafeez. The 37-year old, for whom the World Cup is likely to be his last tournament, called it “sad news” but said teams couldn’t just rely on individual players.”He is an important player and I am sure he will be back very soon,” Hafeez said. “Until he is back, we have to realise that teams don’t run on one player. A lot of players have to fulfill their roles and there are many who are waiting for their turns.”More generally, Hafeez still said he preferred a position at or around the top order, saying he “was an opener and wanted to play as one”. He specifically rejected the notion that he would be better suited in the lower middle order at number six. That was the position he came in at against India in the Champions Trophy final, where a breezy 37-ball 57 took Pakistan to 338.”I am not a one-dimensional player. I believe I can play every kind of innings. On many occasions in my career, I have delivered in tough and pressure situations. Since I have played as an opener for 16-17 years since the start of my career, it becomes very difficult to go at number six.”