The hosts were 43 runs ahead with eight wickets in hand after day two

Madushka Balasuriya26-Jun-2025Stumps On a surface that Bangladesh’s batters had laboured on a day earlier, Sri Lanka’s batters made hay, as a 194-run second-wicket stand between Pathum Nissanka and Dinesh Chandimal took the hosts to a 43-run lead at stumps on day two.At the close, nightwatcher Prabath Jayasuriya was in the middle to keep Nissanka – unbeaten on 146 – company, as light began to fade quickly. Jayasuriya had survived a few nervy moments, including a lbw review late, but Sri Lanka went home the happier of the two sides.Related

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Chandimal fell 93 late in the final session, agonisingly short of a 17th Test hundred, attempting a reverse sweep, giving Bangladesh some consolation. The only other wicket had been Lahiru Udara, who had made a meaningful 40 during an 88-run opening stand before being trapped lbw shortly after lunch.In-between those two wickets though, Nissanka was the headline act of another day of Sri Lankan dominance. His was an innings that showed all aspects of the man, from the stoicism which brought him a gritty Test ton on debut, to the belligerence that made him Sri Lanka’s first ever ODI double centurion.With Bangladesh’s final two wickets picked up inside the first hour of play in the morning session, Sri Lanka would have been wary of not succumbing to the same pitfalls that befell the Bangladesh batters, particularly on a wicket that was turning out to not be as batter-friendly as first assumed.But from the very first delivery he faced, an insouciant back foot punch through the covers for four, Nissanka set the tone – and showed that he, and the rest of the Lankan batters, would not be afraid to pounce on any errors. As it turned out there were a fair few of those in the first 10 overs of the Lankan innings, as Sri Lanka racked up nine boundaries in the opening salvo. Their run rate during that time a staggering 5.5.But over the next 11 overs – up until the end of the session – Sri Lanka scored just 28 runs, as Bangladesh led by Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Taijul Islam reeled things back. And so the innings would ebb and flow in a similar vein, as Sri Lanka gave due respect to the bowlers for their stints of disciplined bowling, but jolted into action when anything loose was on offer.Pathum Nissanka celebrates his fourth Test ton•Associated PressFor much of the final session, it was more of the former as Bangladesh kept things very tight for the first hour or so after tea – attempting to frustrate the Sri Lankan batters with a barrage of short deliveries; Nissanka took two blows on the grill so as to attest to this strategy. It was during this period where runs were at their most premium, but both Nissanka and Chandimal showed admirable patience and refused to take the bait.This was primarily down to the fact that Sri Lanka were confident in the knowledge that runs would be available elsewhere at some point. And so it proved. Twenty-eight runs were scored in the first 12 overs after tea. The next 16 overs brought 72 runs at 4.5 an over.The seamers in particular received a brunt of Sri Lanka’s aggression, with neither Ebadot Hossain nor Nahid Rana able to stick to the consistent lines and lengths that had so well served Sri Lanka’s seam pairing. They had bowled a combined 19 overs for 87 runs, and it might have been worse if not for that period in which they peppered the batters with bouncers in an attempt to dry up the runs.Nayeem Hasan, meanwhile, struggled to replicate the nagging lengths that made him such a difficult proposition in Galle. Though Nissanka and Chandimal did their part admirably in not letting the young spinner settle.In just his second over they struck him for a trio of boundaries, punishing anything too short or too full. Of the 43 deliveries Nayeem bowled to the pair, 45 runs were scored. Nayeem though wound up getting the final say on the day, grabbing the wicket of Chandimal, though he’ll need to put forward a better showing tomorrow if Bangladesh are to keep Sri Lanka from batting them out of the game.At the start of the day, Taijul had shown promise with the bat during a 60-ball 33. He had taken on some short bowling from the seamers, while confidently stepping out against the seamers. Such was his confidence, he was even shielding numbers 10 and 11 from the strike.Sri Lanka though, like they had done throughout day one, stuck to their plans, which in this instance involved lots of short stuff to push the batters back, before sneaking in something fuller. It was this strategy that got the first break of the morning, as Ebadot was caught on his crease that he ideally should have been coming forward to.It wasn’t all perfect for Sri Lanka, however, as they added yet another drop to their catalogue of missed chances in the innings – Kamindu Mendis spilling a low chance off Taijul at mid-off. But Sonal Dinusha returned shortly after, and took just three deliveries to get the last man, as Taijul skied one for mid-off to safely pouch.

Lionel Messi scored twice and added an assist, while Tadeo Allende bagged a brace as Inter Miami thumped Nashville 4-0 to reach the Eastern Conference semifinals. The Herons were dominant throughout, leaning on their star man to cruise past their opponents, with Jordi Alba also providing an assist as Miami sealed their first-ever playoff series win.

Miami only needed one moment early on. Messi provided it. The ball fell to the Argentine, 40 yards from goal, and he did the rest. Messi left three defenders in the dust before finishing back across the goalkeeper to give the Herons a 1-0 lead early. They got a second shortly before halftime. Young striker Mateo Silvetti latched onto a Jordi Alba through ball, before cutting back to Messi – who finished into an open net.

Nashville showed a bit more attacking intent to open the second half, but left themselves open on the break. One mistake cost them. They briefly fell asleep and allowed Messi and Alba to combine. The left back found a wide-open Allende for an easy finish from close range. And then the rout started. Miami's fourth was simply sublime. Messi received the ball at midfield, evaded his man, and released an inch-perfect through ball to Allende. The striker added his second of the day with a delightful chip to make it four. 

It was otherwise a formality for the Herons, who were rather stout against a tepid Nashville attack. FC Cincinnati are next, who will surely offer more of a test in a single elimination fixture in two weeks. For now, though, they seem to be hitting their stride. 

GOAL rates Inter Miami's players from Chase Stadium…

GettyGoalkeeper & Defense

Rocco Rios Novo (7/10):

Barely had a save to make, but was solid when called upon. 

Ian Fray (7/10):

A solid shift at right back. Did his defensive job well, and put in a few good crosses, too. Finding form at the right time.

Maxi Falcon (4/10):

A comedy of errors at the back. Missed tackles, gave the ball away, and did pretty much everything wrong – but got away with it.

Noah Allen (7/10):

The more solid of the two center backs, and handled Sam Surridge well. 

Jordi Alba (8/10):

Played a glorious pass in the lead up to Miami's second. Assisted the third. A typical, lovely attacking performance. 

AdvertisementGettyMidfield

Sergio Busquets (6/10):

A bit erratic at the base of midfield. Gave the ball away a few times, but also made some key interventions – and connected with Messi well. 

Rodrigo De Paul (7/10):

A solid two way showing. Played a crucial pass in the lead up to the third goal.  

Baltasar Rodriguez (6/10):

Not at his best, but still put in a shift. Will likely start going forward, though. 

Tadeo Allende (8/10):

Bagged a brace, and offered plenty of off-ball work. One of his best games of the year. 

GettyAttack

Lionel Messi (9/10):

Scored an obligatory silly goal. Added a second, as well as a ridiculous assist. Dominant throughout. 

Mateo Silvetti (8/10):

Showed great composure to assist Messi's second. Deserved a goal of his own.

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GettySubs & Manager

Telasco Segovia (7/10):

Offered a bit more attacking intent – which helped open the game up when Miami were under pressure. 

Yannick Bright (7/10):

Broke up play effectively at the base of midfield. 

Tomas Aviles (N/A):

No time to make an impact. 

Javier Mascherano (7/10):

Went for more or less the same system, save for replacing Luis Suarez with Mateo Silvetti. Not tactical genius, but his side won convincingly. A good night. 

Manchester United have registered their interest in signing an “incredible” star, but they will have to shell out a huge fee to get a deal done, with it being revealed his club could demand £120m.

Man Utd looking to sign new midfielder despite Casemiro resurgence

Ruben Amorim’s faith in Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro as a midfield pair has paid off in recent weeks, with his side winning their last three Premier League games on the bounce, and the Brazilian has caught the eye with his recent performances.

Having returned to form, scoring in the 4-2 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion at the weekend, Rio Ferdinand hit out at Jamie Carragher for his previous comments about the midfielder.

Ferdinand said: “Players lose confidence, they lose form, sometimes players’ legs go, but I think the call was too early and I thought it was highly disrespectful for someone who’s achieved so much in the game.”

However, given the level of Fernandes and Casemiro’s recent performances, with the former assisting Harry Maguire’s winning goal at Anfield, it has been difficult for Kobbie Mainoo to force his way into the side, and speculation over the 20-year-old’s future persists.

Doubts over Mainoo, coupled with the fact Casemiro is now 33 and has one year remaining on his contract, may exacerbate the need for Amorim to bring in a new midfielder, and Man United have now registered their interest in Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson.

That is according to an update from Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg on X, who states the Red Devils are “closely monitoring” Anderson, alongside Premier League rivals Newcastle United.

Forest are aware of the interest from elsewhere, and Plettenberg reveals the Premier League strugglers are expected to demand £100m – £120m to sanction a departure, given that there is no release clause in the midfielder’s contract.

"Incredible" Anderson could flourish at Old Trafford

Widespread recent reports have suggested United do not plan to trigger the extension in Casemiro’s contract, which means Amorim will need to bring in a new midfielder next summer, and the Forest star could be the ideal heir.

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What a signing this could be.

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Much like the former Real Madrid man, the English midfielder flourishes defensively, as showcased by his performance across several important metrics per 90 over the past year.

Average per 90 (past year)

Casemiro

Elliot Anderson

Tackles

4.11 (99th percentile)

2.95 (88th percentile)

Clearances

2.65 (91st percentile)

2.06 (76th percentile)

Aerials won

2.11 (92nd percentile)

1.64 (84th percentile)

While United’s current midfielder may have the edge at the moment, the England international is still very young at 22-years-old, meaning he has plenty of time to develop, and he is more impressive in possession of the ball.

Lauded as “incredible” by journalist Miles Starforth, the former Newcastle man recently put in a commanding performance for the Three Lions, completing 121 passes in the 5-0 victory over Latvia, 32 more than any other player.

That said, while Anderson has been impressing for club and country, it is probably a little early for his value to be £120m, which would make the central midfielder by far the most expensive signing in Man United history.

The international break is finally over. Just one month until the next one. Still, Newcastle United made progress in the weeks before the October pause, and Eddie Howe’s side have a somewhat favourable run of Premier League fixtures ahead of them.

Convincing wins in the Champions League and top flight the other week have put the Magpies in good stead for the harsh winter months to come. It was winter last season when Newcastle found their groove and mounted a winning run of form and set the paving which led to European qualification and triumph in the Carabao Cup.

And with leaders like Anthony Gordon beginning to play themselves into form, there’s a sense that the St. James’ Park side might rediscover a similar vein of form and use it to knock on the door of the favourites in the Premier League.

Tyneside felt the curtain closing on an era when Alexander Isak was sold to Liverpool for £125m this summer, but, as always, United have adapted and overcome their adversity.

And Gordon has the talent and experience to lead them to even loftier heights, with his recent performances for the Three Lions showcasing his quality.

Gordon's England performances

Gordon has been in fine fettle for Thomas Tuchel’s England over the past week, and it’s becoming clear the German tactician fancies the 24-year-old as his first-choice option on the left wing.

On Tuesday evening, in Latvia, Gordon scored a curling strike after good footwork to open the scoring, consolidating his position.

Gordon’s pace and energy and enterprise down the left wing allow Harry Kane to operate at full capacity in the middle. For Nick Woltemade at Newcastle, who has been described as “similar” to the England captain by Gordon himself, this is promising as he continues to bed into life in the Premier League.

It’s been a testing start to the season for Gordon, who was shoehorned in as a makeshift centre-forward during the early weeks and got himself sent off against Liverpool.

He’s yet to break his seasonal duck in the Premier League but boasts three strikes from two matches on the continent.

Gordon’s Recent England Performances
Match Stats	vs Wales	vs Latvia
Minutes played	90′	71′
Goals	0	1
Assists	0	0
Touches	51	56
Shots (on target)	3 (1)	4 (1)
Accurate passes	30/34 (88%)	31/35 (89%)
Chances created	1	2
Crosses	0/3	1/8
Dribbles	2/3	1/1
Recoveries	2	1
Tackles	1/1	0/0
Ground duels won	4/7	2/5
All data via Sofascore

And now, he has been rekindled for his nation. If the one-time Everton prospect carries that form back over to the domestic scene, there’s every chance he will go from strength to strength and lead Newcastle forward.

His is a desirable profile, after all, and one Newcastle looked to place at the front of their pre-PIF project (if the Mike Ashley era can be so kindly defined as a project). But that Gordon-esque profile fell by the wayside in England’s north east, even though he’s since built a solid career for himself.

Newcastle flop is now playing like Gordon

Gordon wasn’t the only Newcastle man, past or present, to have scored in Europe during the October international break. Woltemade scored his first goal in a Germany shirt as his side defeated Northern Ireland on Monday evening.

However, a former Magpie also found his way onto the scoresheet for Didier Deschamps’ France, scoring as the imperious outfit defeated Azerbaijan 3-0 in their World Cup qualifier on Friday.

The man in question is Florian Thauvin, who, aged 32, was recalled for Les Bleus selection for the first time since 2019 after an impressive start to the campaign in France with RC Lens, and he took his opportunity clinically.

Thauvin arrived in Newcastle with a weight of expectation in 2015, welcoming the 22-year-old from Marseille for a £13m fee after prolific returns in his homeland.

The 2015/16 season we’re sorry to dredge up, as this was the year Steve McClaren oversaw a plummet into the second tier. Thauvin was always up against it in such hostile conditions, and he featured only 13 times in the Premier League, neither scoring nor assisting, before heading back to Marseille on loan in January and again the following summer.

He’s been something of a journeyman, with career ups and downs, but at the autumn age of 32, the winger was named the Ligue 1 Player of the Month for September, having scored a goal and created ten chances across three matches that month, as per Sofascore.

Age is just a number in football, and Thauvin is proving he’s still got it. Data from FBref even reveals he ranks among the top 4% of forwards across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions and the top 3% for both progressive passes and progressive carries per 90.

Winning over four duels per match in the French top flight this term too, Thauvin embodies the completeness of style that Gordon produces for Newcastle. In fact, FBref’s data reveals that Gordon is one of the Lens star’s most tactically comparable players, both fleet-footed and combative besides.

Given that Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior is also listed as a player of a similar style to the Frenchman, there’s little question that Newcastle were on the money when bringing him over the Channel. In another world, had Thauvin’s arrival aligned with the early days of the Howe era, he might have achieved much more.

While Newcastle would hardly consider a return for the veteran forward, it’s pleasing to see that they have finally struck gold on such a profile through the performances of Gordon, who, even having performed below his best of late, remains one of the most talented and respected wingers in the Premier League.

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علق عماد متعب نجم الأهلي السابق، على فوز المارد الأحمر أمام الزمالك، في نهائي كأس السوبر المصري، والتتويج باللقب المحلي للمرة الـ16 في تاريخه.

وحقق فريق الأهلي الفوز على نظيره الزمالك، بهدفين دون رد، أحرزهما أشرف بن شرقي ومروان عطية، ليتوج الأحمر ببطولة كأس السوبر المصري للمرة الخامسة على التوالي.

طالع | سجل أبطال كأس السوبر المصري عقب تتويج الأهلي باللقب الـ16 على حساب الزمالك

وقال عماد متعب في تصريحات تلفزيونية عبر قناة “أون سبورت”: “مباراة مهمة جدًا، لتوروب واللاعبين والصفقات الجديدة، والنادي الأهلي سيبني على هذا الفوز”.

وأكمل: “البداية كانت بضغط عالٍ من الأهلي، وتمكن من تسجيل الهدف الأول، ثم تراجع قليلًا في الشوط الثاني، لكن من خلال التكملة العكسية والتنوع بين مراكز اللاعبين، عاد من جديد”.

وأردف: “هذه هي النقطة التي كان يحتاجها الأهلي في الفترة الماضية، واستطاع تسجيل الهدف الثاني”.

وأشار: “الأهلي ما زال يعاني من مشكلة في مركز المهاجم، لكن الأجنحة تعوض هذا النقص”.

وأتم: “الفوز على الزمالك في حد ذاته يُعد بطولة، والتتويج باللقب يُمثل بطولة أخرى”.

Leeds United play host to West Ham United at Elland Road in the Premier League this evening as they look to bounce back from their defeat to Burnley last weekend.

Daniel Farke’s side created four ‘big chances’ against the Clarets at Turf Moor last Saturday, but were unable to score any of them in a drab defeat.

It is safe to say that the German tactician needs more from his players at the top end of the pitch to pick up enough points to avoid relegation from the Premier League.

The Whites only made three attacking signings in the summer, Noah Okafor, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and Lukas Nmecha, and they are the only attackers in the squad who have directly contributed to goals.

Leeds attackers in the 25/26 Premier League

Player

Goals

Assists

Noah Okafor

2

0

Lukas Nmecha

1

0

Dominic Calvert-Lewin

1

0

Brenden Aaronson

0

0

Dan James

0

0

Wilfried Gnonto

0

0

Jack Harrison

0

0

Joel Piroe

0

0

Stats via WhoScored

As you can see in the table above, not a single attacker in the squad has registered an assist in the league, and none of the players who were already at the club before the window have scored any goals in the top-flight.

Jack Harrison started on the left flank, in a 4-3-3 system, in the loss to Burnley last time out, and Farke should drop him from the team for this clash with the Hammers.

Why Jack Harrison should be dropped

The German head coach should drop the left-footed forward from the starting XI because his current form and his form from his two seasons with Everton suggest that he is not the answer to their problems.

Leeds, as aforementioned, are lacking goals from their attacking players. That was an issue against Burnley as the Whites missed all four of their ‘big chances’, one of which was spurned by Harrison.

Vs Burnley

Jack Harrison

Minutes

66

Shots

2

Shots on target

0

Big chances missed

1

Key passes

1

Big chances created

1

Successful crosses

0/7

Possession lost

14x

Stats via Sofascore

Harrison, as shown in the table above, did create a ‘big chance’, for Brenden Aaronson, in his defence, but that was one positive in an otherwise dismal showing.

The 28-year-old dud has now failed to provide a goal or an assist for the team in seven Premier League matches, per Sofascore, whilst creating just one chance in that time.

Harrison also managed just four goals in 63 Premier League outings for Everton during his time on loan at Goodison Park, per Sofascore, which included one goal in 34 appearances in the 2024/25 campaign for the Toffees.

This suggests that Farke cannot rely on the left-sided attacker to turn things around and prove himself to be a consistent threat at the top end of the pitch for his side in their battle against relegation this season.

Chalkboard

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It is also why Farke should take Harrison out of the starting line-up for this clash with West Ham United, because it seems unlikely that he will provide the ruthlessness they need in front of goal.

The manager, as shown in the post above, suggested in his pre-match press conference that Noah Okafor may return from his adductor injury to be involved this evening.

Why Noah Okafor is a difference maker for Leeds

AllLeedsTV present Oscar Marrio described the Switzerland international as a “class difference maker” for the West Yorkshire outfit earlier this month, but why is that the case?

The simple answer is that it is down to quality. Okafor’s technical ability, on this season’s showing, is on another level compared to the other attackers in the first-team squad.

Per Sofascore, the Swiss star has completed 2.2 dribbles per game on average in the Premier League. No other player in the team has completed more than 1.3 per game and no one other than Gabriel Gudmundsson has completed more than 0.9 dribbles per game.

The statistic in the post above shows that his dribbling skills have been impressive by Premier League standards, not just Leeds United standards, which further speaks to the ability that he can provide on the ball.

Okafor is not just a flashy dribbler who can take players on and get fans off their seats, though, as he has also shown that he has end product to his performances.

25/26 Premier League

Noah Okafor

Starts

4

xG

1.16

Goals

2

Conversion rate

33%

Big chances missed

0

Big chances created

1

Assists

0

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the £18m signing from AC Milan has provided genuine quality at the top end of the pitch with two goals from 1.16 xG, without missing a single ‘big chance’.

Okafor’s goal against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the club’s 3-1 win back in September was a great example of him combining his pace, composure, and quality all into one piece of play.

The 25-year-old dynamo is a difference maker because he has attributes that allow him to make an impact in the final third, whilst Harrison’s statistics suggest that he does not share many of those attributes.

Okafor, given his start to life at Elland Road, seems far more likely to produce a moment of magic to win Leeds points against West Ham this evening in the Premier League, which is why Farke should drop Harrison to bring him into the starting line-up.

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Prior to the news that Okafor was in contention to feature, Football FanCast, in the article above, suggested that U21 starlet Connor Douglas could be an alternative to Harrison. If the Swiss star does end up not being fit enough to start, the 20-year-old gem could still be an option.

Celtic full-back Colby Donovan is the current poster boy for the pathway from the B team to the first-team at Parkhead with his emergence this season.

Injuries to Alistair Johnston and Anthony Ralston convinced Brendan Rodgers to bring the 19-year-old right-back into the senior squad to fill in for several matches.

The Scotland U21 international started against Kilmarnock, Partick Thistle, Red Star Belgrade, and Braga before being left out of the matchday squad for the 3-2 win over Motherwell last time out.

Whilst he may not have been too pleased with dropping out of the squad last weekend in the Scottish Premiership, Donovan was delighted after he made his full European debut against Red Star Belgrade.

His appearances across all competitions in the 2025/26 campaign do show that Rodgers is prepared to bring through young players if they are ready and there is a space in the team to play them.

One position that the head coach could look to fill by utilising the B team is the number six position, as he starts to look to life beyond captain Callum McGregor.

Why Celtic may need to replace Callum McGregor

At the age of 32, the former Scotland international is not yet at the retirement stage or the point where Celtic have to worry about him becoming unplayable.

However, there have been some concerning performances at the start of this season that suggest that the veteran central midfielder’s influence on the team may be waning.

The left-footed star has never been the most powerful or intense player out of possession, due to his relaxed and composed nature in the number six position, but that has worked to his detriment this season.

Appearances

35

7

Goals

8

0

Assists

3

0

Ground duel success rate

54%

46%

Fouls committed

0.4

1.6

Fouls won

0.6

0.4

As you can see in the table above, McGregor’s physical output is down in comparison to the 2024/25 campaign in the Premiership, losing the majority of his ground duels and committing four times as many fouls per match on average.

This suggests that the captain has been a little off the pace in the league this term, as opposition players have been sharper than him to win duels and force him into committing fouls on them, whilst he has not provided as much of a threat in front of goal at the other end of the pitch.

The Scottish midfielder has also lost 64% of his duels in the first two outings in the Europa League, per Sofascore, losing 62% of his ground duels and 100% of his aerial battles.

With this in mind, Rodgers may start to think about what life will look like once McGregor is not a guaranteed starter, whilst also considering adding competition for his place.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

One option could be to look to the academy to find a long-term replacement for the captain, as well as competition for his position in the short-term.

19-year-old Jude Bonnar, who is on loan at Ayr United, may be a player supporters would earmark as a McGregor successor from the youth team, but he has played on the wing and as an attack-minded midfielder, which may not suit the number six role.

The Celtic youngster who could replace Callum McGregor

Samuel Isiguzo, unlike Bonnar, has experience playing as a defender and as a central midfielder, per Transfermarkt, which may put him in a better place to develop into a holding midfielder or the Hoops.The 18-year-old star is typically deployed in a central midfield position, where McGregor plays, and has caught the eye in the early stages of the 2025/26 campaign.

Isiguzo, who can play in defence, as a wide midfielder, or as a central midfielder, has scored five goals and provided one assist in 16 appearances in all competitions for the academy this term, per Transfermarkt.

The teenage talent, who scored four goals in 13 outings in all competitions in the 2024/25 campaign, has shown that he has a knack for scoring goals from a midfield position, as McGregor did last season with his eight-goal haul in the Premiership.

Isiguzo, who was praised for his “dangerous” play by journalist Josh McCafferty, could also be the heir to McGregor’s position in the team because of his leadership skills.

The 18-year-old starlet has captained the B team in 13 of his 16 appearances this season, which shows that he is a respected leader at youth level who can lead by example and rally the troops, as the current first-team captain does.

Of course, there is a difference between captaining a youth team in front of a small crowd, if any crowd at all, and captaining Celtic on European nights with thousands of fans in attendance, but it does show that Isiguzo has the leadership potential.

With Bonnar out on loan and potentially suiting a number eight role more, the Scottish youngster could be the player to look to give McGregor some competition for his place this season.

Academy graduates used

2

3

Academy graduate appearances

5

4

Academy graduate starts

0

0

Academy graduate minutes

90

25

As you can see in the table above, Rodgers has not given loads of opportunities to young players in recent seasons, but Donovan’s emergence in recent weeks shows that the manager is not completely against bringing through academy talent.

Therefore, Isiguzo could be an interesting player to watch out for in the coming months if the Hoops end up in a position where they feel that McGregor needs a rest, as the B team star could step in as a natural replacement.

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Arsenal are so good at set-pieces it’s boring. Their long throw-ins are ridiculous. They need to find other ways of scoring.

Those are not our words but the words of various pundits and neutrals in recent weeks.

Mikel Arteta’s men have won all three of their Champions League encounters and sit top of the Premier League.

It’s not been a captivating start to the new campaign for the Gunners but they’ve been super effective. Their core strengths, namely set-pieces and their defensive record, have formed the bedrock of Arteta’s success in recent years.

Arsenal are as solid as they’ve ever been, conceding just one open play goal all term in the top-flight. Yet, with a reliance on dead-balls again, some wonder just how sustainable this model will be.

The fact is, that as Arsenal showed this week, they are not over-reliant on those situations and have a great deal more than that in their locker.

Despite what pundits say, they are not boring. You don’t beat Atletico Madrid, one of the most defensively sound sides in Europe, 4-0 if you’re dull.

Indeed, their win over Diego Simeone on Tuesday evening was a statement to the rest of their continent, and while they did score from two set plays, their performance in the final third was perhaps their most impressive of the campaign.

Gabriel, Viktor Gyokeres and Gabriel Martinelli found themselves on the scoresheet but truth be told, it was Arsenal’s midfield that helped springboard them to this win.

The progression of Arsenal's midfield under Mikel Arteta

At this current moment in time, it feels like this squad of Arsenal players are the most complete set they have ever had under the Spaniard.

The backline has been bolstered beyond belief and they now arguably have the greatest depth in defence across Europe’s top five leagues, ensuring that no matter who plays, they will be solid.

GK – Bernd Leno

RB – Ainsley Maitland-Niles

CB – Sokratis

CB – David Luiz

LB – Bukayo Saka

CM – Lucas Torreira

CM – Granit Xhaka

CAM – Mesut Ozil

RW – Reiss Nelson

LW – Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

CF – Alexandre Lacazette

The forward line has been less of a priority but when you spawn Bukayo Saka from the academy and sign Gabriel Martinelli for just £6m, there wasn’t a huge amount wrong with it until last season. No player hit double figures for goals for the first time since the 1923/24 campaign.

The midfield, however, has really taken Arsenal to the next level in recent years.

Gone are the likes of Thomas Partey, Jorginho and Granit Xhaka. They all play elsewhere now but in a bid to replace them, they have done so superbly well.

Declan Rice was never going to flop and indeed, despite setting the club back a whopping £105m, has been a game breaker.

His tally of nine goals and ten assists in 2024/25 was a career high, while that pair of free-kicks against Real Madrid will never be forgotten. In the words of Sky Sporters reporter Sam Blitz, he’s also now “the best set-piece taker in the world”. It’s hard to disagree with that statement considering all four of his assists this season have come from dead-ball scenarios.

He’s now surrounded by some of the best midfield talents around. Tempo-setter Martin Zubimendi, another Martin in Odegaard and Eberechi Eze all make the Englishman’s job easier by either sitting behind him in Zubimendi’s case or providing the creative spark as Odegaard and Eze do so well.

When Odegaard is fit, it really does feel as though the midfield has everything you could want: power, creativity, goals and reading of the play.

Arsenal's new Xhaka is playing his part

When Xhaka arrived at Arsenal in 2016 under the stewardship of Arsene Wenger, it was a deal that was met with scepticism.

The Gunners had spent £30m on a talent from the Bundesliga, a rather unknown one at that, and the opening few years of his time in north London were a rollercoaster.

Xhaka was a defensive midfielder by trade when he arrived but his defensive work simply wasn’t up to scratch, quickly becoming known as a walking red card, picking up two in his opening season.

While the Swiss midfielder’s discipline did improve, fans grew impatient with his displays over a number of years and it all came to a head under Unai Emery.

He was now the captain but was swiftly relieved of his duties after chucking the armband to the floor and gesticulating towards the Emirates crowd when he was booed off the field during a game with Crystal Palace.

Xhaka’s revival under Arteta, therefore, was quite the sight. The Spaniard gave him a freer role as a left-sided 8 and he repaid the manager’s faith by delivering the finest campaign of his career to date in 2022/23.

That season, the now 33-year-old scored nine times and registered seven assists. The redemption arc was complete, only for him to leave in the summer of 2023 for Bayer Leverkusen.

Now back in the Premier League with Sunderland, Xhaka has rolled back the years, providing three assists in his first eight matches for the Black Cats.

But, who embodies the spirit of Xhaka in the present Arsenal squad? You may well think the aforementioned Rice is a strong candidate but in Zubimendi, they have someone who delivers similar attributes.

Now, it must be stated, the former Real Sociedad star is certainly classier on the ball and more disciplined than Xhaka ever was in Arsenal colours.

Yet, there are certainly parallels. Xhaka arrived as a defensive midfielder, a deep-lying playmaker, before going on to become a threat in the final third.

The same can be said of Zubimendi. He was declared “the best #6 in the world” by some after his dominant display during Arsenal’s 4-0 win over Atletico Madrid.

Minutes played

73

Accurate passes

41/46 (89%)

Touches

56

Key passes

3

Big chances created

1

Accurate long balls

2/2

Accurate crosses

1/1

Distance covered

8.3km

Successful dribbles

1/1

Interceptions

2

Clearances

3

That he may well be, but the 26-year-old is also a threat in the final third, just as Xhaka became in the latter stages of his Gunners career.

Zubimendi has already scored twice in the Premier League, netting a brace in the 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest.

His vision and eye for a pass are simply awe-inspiring too. Xhaka was known for a defence-splitting pass but Arsenal’s new Spaniard is cut from a similar cloth in that regard.

He provided a delicious assist for Viktor Gyokeres’ first goal for the club in pre-season and has often been the man to provide the pre-assist.

It was Zubimendi’s lovely ball in behind the West Ham defence for Eze that eventually led to Rice’s goal in the game and to pinpoint another example, he very nearly provided a remarkable assist for Gyokeres again on Tuesday night, popping the ball up and playing it behind.

The Basque midfielder has been a sensational addition, billed as “one of the best Emirates era signings” by Arsenal podcaster and content creator, Jamie Kent.

He’s not had a bad game yet and perhaps saved his finest performance in the famous red and white for Simeone’s men earlier in the week.

The big-money summer arrival completed 89% of his passes, created that big chance for Gyokeres and left the field with three key passes. He also won three of his five duels.

An all-round package, there is a reason that former Ballon d’Or winner Rodri has said that he is “leaving him the keys to the [national] team.”

As aggressive and eccentric as Xhaka he may not be, but the passing range and ability to pop up with key attacking contributions are certainly alike. You may well argue that Zubimendi is the best of both Xhaka and Rice. What a mighty fine combination that is.

MatériaMais Notícias

Mesmo ainda sem o Brasileirão finalizado, o Grêmio já começa a projetar a temporada de 2024. O Tricolor faz uma avaliação do elenco e analisa quais contratos devem ser renovados para o próximo ano.

+Já atualizou sua camisa de 2023? Confira os novos uniformes do Imortal! 

Do time gremista atual, além do técnico Renato Portaluppi, o Tricolor tem nove jogadores com vínculo se encerrado em dezembro: Caíque, João Pedro, Bruno Alves, Bruno Uvini, Geromel, Iturbe, Luan, Galdino e André Henrique.

Os jogadores ainda estão em avaliação da comissão técnica e do departamento de futebol. O lateral-direito João Pedro já começou as conversas por sua sequência. Geromel também projetou sua sequência em Porto Alegre. A intenção é se aposentar na Capital. “É sentar e conversar”. Os demais ainda não começaram tratativas para continuar na Capital.

Former Germany midfielder Didi Hamann criticised the match officials after Luis Diaz was wrongly deemed onside before scoring the equaliser, which proved to be the turning point in Bayern Munich’s 4-1 win over Koln. Hamann argued that the absence of VAR until the third round of the DFB-Pokal is unfair to teams that have been eliminated due to refereeing errors.

• Diaz and Bayern benefit from lack of VAR in Koln win

  Koln took the lead through Ragnar Ache after making a strong start to the game, testing Bayern goalkeeper Jonas Urbig on multiple occasions. The turning point came in the 36th minute when Diaz scored the equaliser in controversial fashion. Konrad Laimer drove forward into Koln’s half and laid the ball off for Josip Stanisic, whose shot was saved by goalkeeper Ron Robert Zieler. However, Zieler could only parry the ball into the path of Diaz, who tapped it into an empty net. Replays later showed that Diaz was in an offside position before scoring, but with VAR only available to referees from the third round of the DFB Pokal, the error went uncorrected and the goal stood. Bayern went on to win the match 4-1.

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  Hamann argues Koln could have won

  Former Germany and Liverpool midfielder Hamann, in his column for , criticised the officials for failing to spot Diaz’s offside goal, which he believed was the decisive moment of the match, saying: “To beat them [Bayern], everything has to fall into place. But if the 1-1 hadn't counted, then perhaps the second goal wouldn't have been scored either and Cologne would have gone into the break with a lead.”

  He added: “It's all hypothetical, but when you concede a goal like that, it becomes difficult, if not impossible, to beat Bayern. That's not to detract from the winners' achievements. Bayern played a great game in Koln.”

• Bayern take charge with Harry Kane double

  The officials’ mistake proved costly, as just two minutes after Diaz’s equaliser, Harry Kane showcased his trademark off-the-ball persistence by dispossessing a Koln defender inside the box before turning and firing home to give Bayern a 2-1 lead. The England captain doubled his tally in the 62nd minute, rising highest to head in Joshua Kimmich’s corner and make it 3-1.

  With Koln chasing the game, they pushed players forward, leaving gaps at the back. In the 72nd minute, Michael Olise sparked a swift counterattack, finding Aleksandar Pavlovic, who carried the ball the length of the pitch before switching it to Diaz on the opposite flank. Diaz then squared the ball back to Olise, who calmly slotted it past Zieler to seal a 4-1 victory for Bayern. The victory marked Bayern’s 14th win in 14 games across all competitions, surpassing a record set by AC Milan in the 1992-93 season. Koln coach Lukas Kwasniok praised Bayern’s relentless form, saying he sees a strong sense of determination within Vincent Kompany’s side to chase another treble, a feat the Bavarians last achieved in the 2020-21 season. 

  However, Hamann argued that their treble hopes may have been dashed this week had VAR been in effect, instead of only being implemented from the third round of the DFB-Pokal. The ex-Liverpool player said the system’s partial use is unfair to teams like Koln, who have been eliminated in earlier rounds due to refereeing errors.

  “The crazy thing is that teams have advanced in the DFB-Pokal due to the absence of VAR, but may benefit from it in the next rounds. That's hard for the eliminated clubs to accept,” Hamann said.

  “How do you intend to explain to Koln, now that they have been eliminated, that VAR will be used from now on? That won't do them any good.

  “It is not acceptable to only use the technology from the third round onwards. Either you play the entire competition with VAR, or you play the entire competition without it.”

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  Bayern out to dismantle Bundesliga rivals this weekend

  Bayern will aim to make it 15 wins in 15 games when they face Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday, as Vincent Kompany’s men look to build on their strong momentum from recent victories.