Expert Sports News & Commentary

Chelsea’s place at the foot of the Premier League’s Fair Play table is more than a statistical quirk; it is a pattern that supporters fear is derailing the club’s top-four ambitions. With six clubs contesting what could be as few as five Champions League berths, the points already surrendered through indiscipline may prove decisive come May. While youth is often cited as the root cause, the bulk of the squad have logged multiple top-flight campaigns, suggesting the problem is less inexperience than a recurring strain of rashness and petulance. Red cards have arrived via mistimed tackles, calculated tactical fouls and, occasionally, debatable whistles, yet the disciplinary malaise runs deeper than 11 dismissals. Match officials have been routinely harangued, triggering a string of Football Association charges for failing to control players. Squabbles with opponents, melees after the whistle and unforced mental lapses—particularly along the back line—have further muddied match-day moods. Leadership, or the absence of it, sits at the heart of the debate. The club’s undisputed starters are, by nature, softly-spoken talents who prefer to lead through performance rather than voice. Off the pitch, former head coach Enzo Maresca publicly downplayed the need for vocal authority only to be dismissed himself during October’s fractious win over Liverpool. Interim boss Liam Rosenior has struck a different chord, demanding public accountability after last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Burnley, but whether that message permeates the dressing room remains to be seen. The club’s recruitment philosophy—centred on high-upside teenagers—makes an immediate injection of seasoned captaincy material unlikely. For now, fans contend that the only remedy lies within the current squad: personal responsibility, game management and a collective vow to keep 11 players on the pitch and the club’s European dream intact.

Few strikers in modern football were as relentless as Diego Costa. During his peak years at Atletico Madrid under Diego Simeone, he became one of the most feared forwards in La Liga, exhausting defenders physically and mentally with his pressing, aggression and refusal to yield. Yet even Costa concedes that two opponents forced him into an unfamiliar role. Reflecting on his repeated duels with Barcelona’s Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique between 2008 and 2014, the striker offered a wry admission: “Against Barça, I only defended; we hardly touched the ball against them.” The Puyol-Pique axis, both La Masia graduates, anchored a side that defined an era of domestic and European dominance, particularly under Pep Guardiola. Costa, renowned for terrorising back lines, found himself in reverse gear whenever Atletico faced the Catalan giants. “Pique and Puyol would beat me up and then apologise, and I would say to them, ‘Don’t apologise, insult me,’” he recalled, laughing at the memory. Results underlined Barcelona’s superiority: in six seasons Atletico toppled them only four times. One of those rare exceptions came in May 2014, when a 1-1 draw at Camp Nou clinched the La Liga title for Simeone’s side, a moment Costa ranks among the sweetest of his career. For all his usual attacking menace, Costa’s candid recollection highlights the unique challenge posed by Barcelona’s legendary defence, a unit that could even turn a predator into a perennial defender.

São Paulo – On a cracked, sun-baked pitch wedged between a hillside favela and a tangle of Atlantic forest, two amateur sides named Arsenal line up for kick-off. Dragonflies hover above the touchline, kite strings glint with powdered glass, and barbecue smoke drifts through blue-and-white flare haze. This is varzea, Brazil’s rawest form of football, and on this afternoon it is also an Arsenal derby. Arsenal Guarulhos and Arsenal Jacana – the latter nicknamed Arsenal Raiz, “roots” – are two of at least eight São Paulo amateur clubs that borrowed their identity from north London. They wear the cannon on their chests, study the Invincibles’ DVDs and cite Gilberto Silva, the 2003-04 Premier League champion, as their spiritual reference. On Sunday they meet again, months after both qualified to play inside the real Emirates Stadium in a tournament staged by Dirt Is Good and Arsenal. The road to London began with the Varzenal, a 2025 knockout competition for every local “Arsenal” willing to believe the prize was not a hoax. Eight teams entered: Jacana, Guarulhos, Aclimação, Cid Tiradentes, Jardim Senice, Vila Suíça, EG and Ipiranga. Each carries the club’s name for a different reason – the cannon’s power, the supporters’ passion, the memories of Gilberto and, as Ian Wright notes, “the Arsène Wenger era that took our football around the world.” Jacana coach Neguinho admits he laughed when the invitation arrived. “When I played as a kid my dream was to play in England. Now my team could do it.” Guarulhos director Garrafa adds: “We told parents we were flying to Arsenal. Mothers thought it was a prank.” Both teams survived the Varzenal and, in May 2025, 23 players boarded their first international flight. Gilberto and Wright walked them out at the Emirates; Gabriel Martinelli, raised in Guarulhos, greeted them; Bukayo Saka sent a good-luck video. The match was streamed live to Jacana and Guarulhos, where streets emptied and screens were erected. “It was our World Cup final,” Garrafa says. Striker Ronaldo Henrique, who lost two toes in a 2021 motorcycle accident, scored a looping lob with his injured right foot and collected man-of-the-match honours from Gilberto. “I was told I might never run properly. Five months later I was playing. That day in London was the best of my life.” Back in São Paulo for the rematch, Jacana claim a 2-0 win. Players embrace, medals are presented and a communal barbecue follows. The teams have become local celebrities. “Everywhere we go people recognise us,” laughs Guarulhos coach Rony. “They know we are the team that went to London.” Gilberto, watching from the touchline, sees a mirror of his own beginnings in Lagoa da Prata. “Varzea is where I started. Football gave my family a better life. These teams show the same dream can live in São Paulo.” Wright, raised on south-London grassroots pitches, agrees. “Grassroots gave me purpose when nothing else did. Seeing these lads represent their communities at the Emirates proves the game’s power stretches farther than any stadium lights.” The varzea Arsenals may never lift the Premier League, but on the flood plain they have already won something priceless: the certainty that their second skin, the shirt with the cannon, matters well beyond Brazil’s borders.

Liverpool have widened their search for fresh wide attacking talent ahead of the summer window, with Ajax prodigy Mika Godts emerging as the latest name on Richard Hughes’ shortlist, Football Transfers understands. With strengthening the flanks identified as the sporting director’s top priority, the Merseyside club have already scouted Mateus Mane, Yan Diomande and Anthony Gordon, but the 20-year-old Belgian is now firmly in contention after a breakout Eredivisie campaign. Godts, who swapped Genk for Amsterdam in January 2024, has contributed 13 goals and eight assists this season despite Ajax’s indifferent form, a haul that has reportedly prompted enquiries from both Arsenal and now Liverpool. Renowned for his one-v-one dribbling and direct style, Godts earned the “new Eden Hazard” tag during his youth career and is under contract at the Johan Cruyff Arena until 2029. Nevertheless, sources indicate a departure could be sanctioned sooner, with the player himself eyeing a place in Belgium’s squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup. Ajax’s turbulent term, which culminated in the dismissal of former Liverpool assistant John Heitinga, has done little to dim Godts’ impact, and the winger’s ability to shoulder creative responsibility has only heightened interest from the Premier League giants. Liverpool’s recruitment team view the Belgian as a potential solution on the left flank, and initial soundings are expected to intensify once the window opens.

Madrid – Diego Costa has never been shy about confrontation, and the retired striker’s latest interview has peeled back the curtain on one of modern Spanish football’s most ferocious personal rivalries. Speaking on Mario Suarez’s podcast, the 37-year-old recalled the battles that defined his years at Atletico Madrid: the twice-seasonly collisions with Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos and Pepe. Costa, whose game was built on equal parts goals and intimidation, said the Madrid derbies were “always heated” and that he was “often at the centre of it.” Yet for all the snarling exchanges that television cameras captured, the former Spain international insists the hostility never migrated beyond the touchline. “They are men, like me. They defended their own, and I defended mine, although it all stayed on the field,” Costa told Suarez. “Ramos and Pepe were very real dogs.” The language is characteristically blunt, but Costa was quick to contextualise the remark. In his view, the pair’s uncompromising style forced him to “raise his game to the maximum,” a challenge he actively welcomed. “They were the two defenders I liked to face the most,” he admitted. “They were very good.” Costa contrasted the Madrid duels with clashes against Barcelona’s Gerard Piqué and Carles Puyol, claiming the Blaugrana duo would apologise after heavy challenges, whereas Ramos and Pepe met aggression with aggression. “At Madrid you can always hit harder,” he said, adding that games against Barcelona “were very difficult because we had to defend,” whereas fixtures against Real Madrid allowed him to “compete more.” The striker’s reflections underline a career-long relish for physical and psychological warfare. Ramos and Pepe, renowned for aggressive defending, leadership and mental fortitude, became the benchmark against which Costa measured his own intensity. Now retired, Costa looks back on those duels not with resentment but with admiration, crediting the two centre-backs for sharpening the competitive edge that made him a fan favourite at the Wanda Metropolitano and beyond.

Nyon’s glass walls will decide more than match-ups at midday. When the Champions League round-of-16 draw begins at 12:00 CET, Europe’s heavyweight clubs will discover whether their spring is paved with possibility or peril. Real Madrid, fresh from topping their group, could face either Manchester City’s star-studded line-up or Sporting Clube de Portugal’s giant-killing ambition. Atlético Madrid brace for an English assault, with Liverpool or Tottenham ready to visit the Metropolitano. Across the Spanish corridor, FC Barcelona wait anxiously for either Newcastle’s physical stampede or a reunion with Luis Enrique’s resurgent Paris Saint-Germain. While the balls tumble in Switzerland, Barcelona’s camp received grim news. Midfield metronome Frenkie de Jong will miss the next five to six weeks after sustaining an injury in Thursday’s training session. The Dutchman’s absence leaves Hansi Flick without one of his primary engines just as La Liga and European stakes sharpen. In Madrid, another curtain prepares to fall. According to L’Equipe, Antoine Griezmann’s storied second spell at Atlético is nearing its finale, with Orlando City poised to welcome the French forward to Major League Soccer this winter. Club officials had hoped to retain him until June, but the 33-year-old appears set for a new chapter across the Atlantic. Spain’s European momentum is not confined to the Champions League. At a raucous Balaídos, Celta de Vigo edged PAOK 1-0 courtesy of a solitary strike from Williot Swedberg, sealing passage to the Europa League round of 16. The Sky Blues now watch Olympique Lyon and Aston Villa battle for the right to face them in the next phase, a tie overseen by the tactical mastery of Unai Emery. South American football provided the week’s most dramatic narrative. In Rio de Janeiro, Lanús overturned Flamengo 3-2 at an incandescent Maracanã to claim the Recopa Sudamericana, the continent’s super-club trophy. The defeat sparked fury among Flamengo supporters, many of whom directed blame at former idol Lucas Paquetá for the Brazilian side’s collapse. From Swiss boardrooms to Brazilian cauldrons, Friday’s headlines prove once again that football never sleeps.

United States hockey forward Brady Tkachuk has labeled a recent White House TikTok post “clearly fake” after the video appeared to show him making an anti-Canada remark. The short-form clip, circulated on the official White House account, prompted swift reaction from the Ottawa Senators captain, who disputed both the authenticity of the audio and the implication that he targeted Canada with derogatory language. Tkachuk, whose family has deep roots in North American hockey, offered no further elaboration but emphasized that the recording does not accurately reflect his views or comments. SEO keywords:

Colombo, Friday – New Zealand and England meet at R Premadasa Stadium with contrasting stakes: the Black Caps must avoid a heavy defeat to keep their T20 World Cup semi-final hopes alive, while England, already through after back-to-back Super 8 wins, can fine-tune combinations before the knockout phase. Mitchell Santner’s side enters off a commanding 61-run victory over Sri Lanka that lifted their net run-rate to +3.050, the best in the group. That cushion means even a narrow loss would likely be enough, yet Santner stressed there will be no calculations on the field. “We’re treating it as a must-win,” the captain said after naming an unchanged 11 from the Sri Lanka win. England, captained by Harry Brook in Jos Buttler’s veteran keeping role, have found form at the perfect moment. Brook’s unbeaten hundred dismantled Pakistan on Wednesday, while Will Jacks’ off-spin and Liam Dawson’s left-arm tweak exploited a slowing surface. Coach Matthew Mott is expected to retain the same XI that edged Pakistan by two wickets, keeping faith in Jofra Archer and Adil Rashid to share death-bowling duties with Sam Curran. The pitch has already offered grip; 165-175 is being talked of as par if the spinners hit their lengths. New Zealand’s middle order—featuring Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips and Cole McConchie—showed against Sri Lanka’s six-pronged spin attack that they can manoeuvre the ball into gaps, a trait that could prove decisive against England’s twin-spin option. Ravindra, player-of-the-match in the last outing, warned against complacency. “They’ve got world-class batters throughout, and we’ve seen how well they’ve been bowling,” he said. “Friday is a new day.” With dew forecast to stay away, the toss could be less critical than execution under lights. For New Zealand, a disciplined start from Lockie Ferguson and Matt Henry against the aggressive English openers will set the tone; for England, another Brook special might put the game beyond reach early and send a statement to the rest of the competition. Teams (probable) England: Harry Brook (capt), Jos Buttler (wk), Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Phil Salt, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Liam Dawson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid. New Zealand: Mitchell Santner (capt), Finn Allen, Tim Seifert, Mark Chapman, Cole McConchie, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Rachin Ravindra, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson. England vs New Zealand, Super 8, T20 World Cup, Premadasa Stadium, Friday 7:00 pm local.

Santos, Brazil — In a powerful show of solidarity, Neymar Jr. turned his latest outing for Santos into a statement of support for fellow Brazilian Vinicius Jr., dedicating both goals and his celebration to the Real Madrid forward who has faced repeated abuse on European soil. Neymar struck a decisive brace in Santos’ 2-1 home victory over Vasco da Gama on Thursday night, but the night’s loudest message came after his first goal. The 32-year-old sprinted to the corner flag and performed the same dance that Vinicius unveiled against Benfica in the Champions League round-of-16 second leg, the very routine that had drawn criticism and, according to Neymar, racist undertones. Speaking to reporters after the final whistle, the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star left no doubt about his intent. “The dance was for Vinicius Jr.,” Neymar said. “When he scored his first goal there in Portugal and faced insults and racism and all that, I said to him: ‘When you score a goal, celebrate in the same way, because if I score a goal, I’ll do the same thing.’” The tribute arrives barely 48 hours after Vinicius led Real Madrid past Benfica, scoring in the second leg to seal the Spanish side’s passage into the next round. With Kylian Mbappé unavailable, the 24-year-old assumed leadership of the attack and answered weeks of provocation: Benfica teenager Gianluca Prestianni had earlier mocked Vinicius’ celebration, and the Portuguese club’s management publicly backed their player, intensifying the backlash. Vinicius responded on the pitch, replicating his dance after finding the net in Lisbon. Neymar’s decision to mirror the celebration in Brazil amplifies the support network among Seleção teammates and underscores a growing willingness to confront discriminatory incidents head-on. Thursday’s brace marked Neymar’s most influential performance since returning to boyhood club Santos, and his post-match comments ensured the spotlight stayed fixed on a broader fight against racism in football. By turning a personal milestone into a public endorsement, Neyram has reminded the sport that gestures—whether goals or dances—can carry weight far beyond the pitch. SEO keywords:

Liverpool’s summer rebuild has hit an early obstacle after Palmeiras indicated they will block the proposed €35 million move for right-sided midfielder Allan, a development that could force the Premier League club back to the drawing board. Anfield officials have spent the closing months of the domestic campaign mapping out targets for what is expected to be another busy window, conscious that last year’s record outlay failed to translate into on-pitch progress. With the squad regressing rather than kicking on from the previous title challenge, fresh investment is viewed as essential, particularly on the right flank. Palmeiras, however, are reluctant to relinquish their prize asset before the culmination of their own season. Because the Brazilian calendar runs from January to December, the São Paulo club still have the Copa Libertadores final ahead and would prefer the 22-year-old to remain in South America for the entire campaign. Club chiefs believe that keeping Allan beyond the European summer will protect, and potentially inflate, his valuation ahead of the 2027 transfer window. While sources in Brazil acknowledge that the stance doubles as a negotiating tool designed to extract a premium fee, Liverpool have been put on notice that any deal before the next European deadline is improbable. Should Palmeiras maintain their position, sporting director Jörg Schmadtke and his recruitment staff will be compelled to pivot toward alternative options to reinforce Jürgen Klopp’s wide areas. The stand-off leaves Liverpool facing a pivotal few weeks. Persisting for Allan risks missing out on other primary targets as clubs across the continent accelerate their own business, yet abandoning the chase would mean re-allocating a significant portion of the budget at short notice. Either way, the Merseyside outfit’s projected €35 million layout has been thrown into disarray, and the knock-on effect could shape the complexion of their entire window. Allan, capped at youth level for Brazil, has featured prominently in Palmeiras’ domestic and continental assault this term, registering a series of dynamic displays that alerted Europe’s leading sides. Scouts have highlighted his close control, engine and defensive diligence as traits that would mesh with Liverpool’s high-tempo system, but any move now appears deferred until at least January. For a club determined to rebound immediately, the development is a sobering reminder of the complexities inherent in the modern transfer market. Liverpool’s hierarchy must decide quickly whether to test Palmeiras’ resolve with an inflated offer, or redirect resources toward a more attainable signature as they seek to restore momentum ahead of next season. Keywords:

Real Madrid have added AZ Alkmaar’s 20-year-old midfielder Kees Smit to their summer recruitment shortlist, with journalist Fabrizio Romano reporting that the Spanish giants have been monitoring the Dutchman ahead of a potential move. Newcastle United attempted to secure Smit’s signature during the January window but saw their approach rebuffed, and competition for his services is now intensifying. Smit’s breakout performances at the recent European Under-19 Championship, where he was widely regarded as the tournament’s standout player, have accelerated interest from Europe’s elite. In 19 senior appearances for AZ this season he has contributed three goals and two assists, numbers that only begin to illustrate the qualities that have caught the attention of scouts: a rare blend of physique, technique and in-game intelligence. Carlo Ancelotti’s squad is expected to undergo midfield restructuring, with Dani Ceballos likely to depart. Madrid’s hierarchy believe Smit’s ability to link midfield and attack with a silky, progressive style could provide the creative spark the engine room currently lacks. Premier League heavyweights are also circling, but any bidding war will hinge on Smit’s willingness to trade guaranteed minutes at AFAS Stadion for the prestige and pressure of a blockbuster transfer. AZ have placed faith in the youngster, offering him regular Eredivisie football and the stability many prodigies are denied. For a player still refining the nuances that will determine his ceiling, continuity may outweigh glamour. Smit’s camp are aware that a move to a global powerhouse can stall development through sporadic appearances and serial loan spells. The consensus among talent evaluators is that another season of week-to-week senior football in Alkmaar could prime the midfielder for a future transfer in which he arrives ready, not rushed. If the youngster maintains his upward trajectory, suitors will remain. The question this summer is whether the pull of Madrid—or England’s richest clubs—proves too strong to resist.

Molineux is braced for a pivotal West Midlands derby tonight as bottom-placed Wolves attempt to derail third-placed Aston Villa’s Champions League charge under the lights. Rob Edwards’ men remain marooned at the foot of the Premier League with only 10 points from 28 fixtures, 17 short of safety. A stirring 2-2 draw with leaders Arsenal last time out offered rare hope, yet a league-high 15 blanks in front of goal underline the urgent need for cutting edge if the Old Gold are to avoid relegation. Across the Midlands, Unai Emery’s Villa arrive on 51 points and with genuine designs on a top-four finish. Still, recent evidence suggests chinks in the armour: a laboured 1-1 draw with Leeds, rescued by Tammy Abraham’s 88th-minute strike, extended their winless February run to one victory in five outings. Villa’s difficulty in breaking down low-block outfits will be scrutinised once more against a Wolves side that has proved stubborn at Molineux. Team news favours the hosts slightly in defence. Ladislav Krejči is banned after his red card versus Crystal Palace, yet captain Toti is poised to start following a two-month injury absence. Hwang Hee-chan has rejoined training but is unlikely to be risked. Villa, meanwhile, hope to welcome winger Alysson back into the fold, though John McGinn, Youri Tielemans and Boubacar Kamara remain unavailable. Abraham’s impact off the bench against Leeds has put him in contention, though Ollie Watkins is still expected to spearhead the attack. Wolves’ recent record offers encouragement only against the league’s strugglers: all seven of their Premier League wins this term have come versus sides in the bottom seven, and they are winless in 17 attempts against current top-half opposition. Villa, for their part, have triumphed just once in five fixtures when enjoying 65% or more possession this season, a tactical puzzle Emery must solve. Predicted line-ups Wolves: Sa; Mosquera, S. Bueno, Toti; Tchatchoua, Bellegarde, Andre, H. Bueno; A. Gomes, Armstrong, Mane. Aston Villa: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Maatsen; Onana, Luiz; Bailey, Rogers, Buendia; Watkins. The match will be broadcast live in the UK on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League, with kick-off set to ignite a derby that carries huge implications at both ends of the table.

NYON, Switzerland — The road to the 2026 Champions League final took shape on Friday as the draw for the knockout phase locked in a series of heavyweight collisions, headlined by a familiar heavyweight duel between Real Madrid and Manchester City. For the sixth time in seven seasons, Europe’s most decorated club and the Premier League’s reigning champions will square off, renewing a rivalry that has already produced fireworks this term. City edged a 2-1 thriller at the Santiago Bernabéu in December’s league-phase meeting, a result that ultimately helped Pep Guardiola’s side secure a seeded berth in the draw, while Madrid were forced to navigate the knockout playoff round. Carlo Ancelotti’s side will now attempt to flip the script in the two-legged Round of 16, but the path is treacherous: the bracket—set all the way through to the final—means the Spanish giants already know that progression would likely pitch them into a quarter-final against either Sporting CP or the competition’s surprise package, Bodo/Glimt. The Norwegian champions, who stunned City and Atlético Madrid en route to topping their league-phase group, completed a seismic upset by eliminating last season’s runners-up Inter Milan in the playoff round and will relish another underdog storyline. Barcelona, Madrid’s Clásico adversaries, also drew Premier League opposition, locking horns with Newcastle United. The Magpies, who fell 2-1 to the Catalans on Matchday 1, will hope home advantage at a raucous St James’ Park can reverse that earlier outcome. Liverpool, meanwhile, must reprise their league-phase clash with Galatasaray, while Chelsea and Tottenham face daunting tasks against French and Spanish powerhouses. Mauricio Pochettino’s Chelsea were paired with holders Paris Saint-Germain, and Spurs will travel to the Metropolitano to take on Diego Simeone’s battle-hardened Atlético Madrid. Arsenal avoided an early all-Premier League affair, drawing German high-flyers Bayer Leverkusen. The Gunners will also breathe easier knowing that, should both they and City advance, the bracket keeps the North London club clear of their title rivals until a potential semi-final, sparing the clubs a quarter-final showdown immediately before their seismic Premier League meeting at the Etihad on the weekend of April 18-19. With the bracket now fixed, seeded sides—those who finished in the top eight of the league phase—will host the second legs in both the quarter-finals and semi-finals, adding a strategic layer to every aggregate calculation over the coming months. The first legs of the Round of 16 will be played in February, with return fixtures in March, before the competition accelerates toward a climactic final on June 6 at Wembley Stadium.

Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes is poised to detonate one of the summer’s biggest transfer tremors by tabling a club-record £56 million swoop for Eintracht Frankfurt’s Swedish midfield dynamo Hugo Larsson, according to a report from German outlet Fussball Daten. The 21-year-old, who joined Frankfurt from Malmo in 2023, has rapidly evolved into the Bundesliga’s most coveted box-to-box engine, averaging 12.4 km of high-intensity running per match – a statistic that has immediately placed him at the top of the Reds’ recruitment ledger. Capable of operating either as a disciplined No6 or in a more advanced role, Larsson blends relentless stamina with acute tactical intelligence, ticking every box in Hughes’ rebuild blueprint. Frankfurt have slapped an asking price of between £52 million and £56 million on their prize asset, a figure that would shatter Liverpool’s previous outlay for a central midfielder and send seismic ripples through the German game. Arsenal have already tested the waters with a structured £35 million plus £9 million in performance-related bonuses, but the Bundesliga club, renowned for extracting maximum value from outgoing stars such as Hugo Ekitike and Omar Marmoush, are holding out for a total package closer to €65 million. Larsson’s current deal runs until 2029 and yields €3 million per season, yet Premier League interest could quadruple those wages. A Liverpool contract worth roughly £200,000 a week – the equivalent of €12 million annually – would parachute the Swede straight into the upper echelons of Anfield’s pay scale and intensify the tug-of-war with the Gunners. “Arsenal and Liverpool are leading the chase,” the German report insists, adding that “a historic offer for Larsson is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.” With the summer window approaching, all signs point to Frankfurt sanctioning another blockbuster sale – and Hughes may be ready to trigger the earthquake.

Chennai, MA Chidambaram Stadium – India kept their T20 World Cup semifinal dream intact with a commanding 72-run victory over Zimbabwe in a must-win Super Eights encounter, and the catalyst for the performance was a simple slide deck prepared by the team’s video analyst. Speaking after the defending champions had posted 256 for four and then restricted Zimbabwe to 184 for six, stand-in captain Suryakumar Yadav said the squad entered the contest with crystal-clear minds after reviewing a year’s worth of highlights compiled by the back-room staff. “We didn’t think too much about what we did in the league stage or in the last game in Ahmedabad,” Suryakumar explained. “Our video analyst had prepared a slide for all the batters and bowlers, highlighting what we’ve done well over the past year. We looked at that, took a lot of positivity from it, and came here with clarity.” The numbers backed up the optimism. Abhishek Sharma set the tone with a 55 at the top, while Hardik Pandya’s unbeaten 50 propelled India past the 250-mark for only the second time in their T20 World Cup history. Contributions came right down to No. 7, ensuring Zimbabwe’s bowlers had no respite on a true Chennai surface. Zimbabwe, who had already shocked Australia and Sri Lanka to reach the Super Eights, briefly threatened through Brian Bennett’s record-breaking, unbeaten 97 – the highest individual score by a Zimbabwean in the tournament’s history – but the asking rate always hovered beyond reach. Arshdeep Singh cashed in with three for 24, and the Africans finished on 184 for six, formally ending their semifinal hopes. India’s win, coupled with South Africa’s nine-wicket demolition of the West Indies, confirmed the Proteas’ place in the last four and set up a winner-takes-all showdown for Rohit Sharma’s men against the Caribbean side in Kolkata on Sunday. Suryakumar admitted the bowling unit could still sharpen its execution. “We could have been a little smarter with certain options at key moments,” he said. “In situations like this, we need to be courageous with our decisions. There’s no option other than taking the positive route.” For the moment, India will savour a crucial boost to their net run rate and the knowledge that a single victory now stands between them and a semifinal berth. The squad will travel east on a short turnaround, but the memory of a well-timed slide show – and the freedom it inspired – is sure to travel with them.

Gameweek 28 has triggered a defensive reshuffle across Fantasy Premier League squads, with more than 300,000 managers rushing to secure Manchester City’s Nico O’Reilly (£5.0m) and Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk (£6.0m) while simultaneously jettisoning Arsenal’s Jurrien Timber (£6.4m) and Chelsea’s Trevoh Chalobah (£5.7m), the second- and third-most transferred-out players of the period. The exodus from Emirates Stadium assets is perhaps the most eye-catching trend. Arsenal still boast the league’s stingiest rearguard—13 clean sheets in 28 matches and only 30 “big chances” conceded—but three consecutive fixtures without a shut-out, four goals shipped in that span and a looming blank in Gameweek 31 have forced owners to trim their exposure. Timber’s early withdrawal in the 57th minute of the latest match has accelerated his sale, while the right-back has managed only one attacking return since the turn of the year. Yet with Chelsea, Brighton and Everton on the horizon, columnist Holly Shand recommends retaining goalkeeper David Raya (£6.0m) and centre-half Gabriel (£7.1m) as core pieces, provided managers abandon the idea of doubling—or tripling—up on Gunners defenders. Stamford Bridge assets are also being off-loaded en masse. Chalobah and left-back Marc Cucurella (£6.1m) have both entered the top-five outbound list despite a gentle run in which all five opponents sat in the bottom half of the table. Chelsea remain unbeaten in that sequence—wins over Crystal Palace, West Ham and Wolves, plus draws with Leeds United and Burnley—but the expected clean sheets never materialised: only nine for the campaign and seven goals conceded in the last five matches. Underlying numbers offer little comfort; the Blues rank third for shots conceded (51) and have allowed 12 “big chances” in the same period. With trips to Arsenal and Aston Villa next, the fixture wheel has turned against Chalobah, whose average of 3.2 points per game and reliance on the two-point defensive-bonus threshold make him a prime sell. The case for cashing in on premium Arsenal and Chelsea defenders strengthens when set against the form of Van Dijk and O’Reilly. The Dutch colossus has delivered two goals and one assist in the last five gameweeks—his only attacking returns of the league season—while ranking fifth among all players for big chances (5) and ninth for shots inside the box (17). Liverpool have won three of their last four, conceding just three goals and registering two clean sheets. Upcoming encounters with West Ham, Wolves, Spurs and Brighton—West Ham and Wolves currently occupy relegation places—cement Van Dijk’s status as Shand’s priority purchase this week. O’Reilly, listed as a defender but deployed high in Pep Guardiola’s midfield, has plundered three goals in the last two gameweeks and now has four goals and three assists for the season. Among defenders he leads for shots (eight) over that stretch, yet City’s blank in Gameweek 31—due to Carabao Cup final duties—means owners must weigh squad depth before buying. Those sitting on surplus transfers or a robust bench can still capitalise on fixtures against Nottingham Forest (home), Leeds and West Ham. For managers chasing rank, Newcastle’s Malick Thiaw (£5.0m) offers differential appeal at less than 10 per cent ownership. The Magpies host Everton in Gameweek 28, the first of three home fixtures in the next four, and Thiaw—who scored a brace at Goodison earlier this campaign—already has four league goals. Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konate (£5.4m), £0.6m cheaper than Van Dijk and buoyed by the same plum schedule, notched against Newcastle in Gameweek 24 and has hit the defensive-bonus threshold in two of his last four starts. With the season entering its decisive stretch, the message from the FPL market is clear: offload Timber and Chalobah before their value erodes further, prioritise Van Dijk for immediate impact, and—if your squad can stomach a Gameweek 31 absence—ride the O’Reilly wave while it crests. SEO keywords:

Perth, Australia – India answered every lingering question about intent and tempo with a record-shredding 256 for four against Zimbabwe on Thursday night, a total that not only keeps their T20 World Cup semi-final dream intact but also rewrites the tournament’s history books. The 256 is India’s highest ever in a T20 World Cup, eclipsing a string of sub-par totals that had cast doubt on their ability to accelerate when it matters. The innings featured 17 sixes, tying India’s own benchmark set against Australia at Gros Islet in 2024 and lifting their tournament tally to 63 – the most they have ever cleared the rope in a single edition. Only the West Indies, on 66, sit above them in the six-hitting charts. What separated this assault from past efforts was the uniformity of carnage. All six Indian batters who spent time at the crease scored at better than a-run-a-ball, each passing 20 at a strike rate above 150 – the first instance in T20 World Cup history that six or more players have done so in the same innings. Dot balls were virtually outlawed; just 26 arrived across 20 overs, equalling the fewest ever recorded in a completed World Cup innings. Abhishek Sharma, three ducks removed from a recent illness lay-off, jump-started the mayhem with a 26-ball fifty. Sanju Samson’s early boundary-hitting ensured Zimbabwe could not settle, Ishan Kishan carried the baton through the middle phase, and the finish was pure brutality. Hardik Pandya muscled an unbeaten fifty, while Tilak Varma – whose strike rate had been under the microscope – detonated 44 from 16 deliveries at 275, part of an 80-run final-five-overs blitz that removed the contest from Zimbabwe’s reach. Zimbabwe’s reply carried a gem of its own. Brian Bennett’s unbeaten 97, the second highest individual score against India in T20 World Cups behind Chris Gayle’s 98 in 2010, briefly threatened to turn the chase into a classic. His 26-run over off Shivam Dube left the all-rounder with figures of 0 for 46 after just two overs – the most runs ever conceded by a bowler at that stage of a T20 World Cup match. Yet the mountain proved too steep. India’s earlier statement had already echoed around the ground: a team that absorbed a heavy defeat to South Africa only days ago had re-engineered its DNA, trading caution for calculated assault and keeping their semi-final destiny in their own hands.

Tottenham Hotspur are preparing to fast-track a summer swoop for 23-year-old England goalkeeper James Trafford after growing indications that the Manchester City youngster is unsettled at the Etihad, sources have told To The Lane And Back. Spurs have identified goalkeeping reinforcements as a priority ahead of the 2026-27 campaign, with current No.1 Guglielmo Vicario open to a return to Serie A after a string of inconsistent displays that have eroded supporter confidence. Inter Milan and Juventus are already circling for the Italian, clearing the path for Tottenham to target a long-term successor. Trafford, who re-joined boyhood club City last summer hoping to compete with Ederson, has seen his pathway blocked by the arrival of Gianluigi Donnarumma on deadline day. The former Burnley stopper has started only three Premier League fixtures, all in the opening weeks, and has since been restricted to domestic-cup duty, prompting a frank post-match admission of frustration after the FA Cup fourth-round victory over Salford City. Former Tottenham scout Mick Brown confirmed the North London club are monitoring Trafford’s situation. “Tottenham are looking at a few new goalkeepers,” Brown exclusively told Football Insider. “One who I think is going to be high up on their list is James Trafford. He’s not happy at Manchester City and he’s made that pretty clear; he doesn’t want to be a number two. A move to Tottenham could be a good opportunity.” Brown added: “Trafford is still very highly rated. He showed what he can do at Burnley, he’s an England international and he’s still only young, so it’s more of a long-term investment. If City are willing to let him go, he’s going to be a top target for Tottenham.” Any deal hinges on Manchester City’s willingness to cash in on the highly-rated prospect, but with Donnarumma firmly established as Pep Guardiola’s first choice, Trafford is expected to push for a permanent exit to secure regular first-team football. Tottenham view the 23-year-old as an ideal candidate to anchor their goalkeeping department for the next decade and believe a formal approach could be enough to persuade both player and selling club this summer.

Oakley Cannonier’s name is etched into Anfield folklore for one split-second decision, yet the 21-year-old striker is adamant that his story is far from finished. Eight years after the 14-year-old ball boy hurled a fresh ball to Trent Alexander-Arnold, allowing Divock Origi to complete Liverpool’s sensational 4-0 comeback against Barcelona, Cannonier is fighting to be recognised for what he does on the pitch rather than what he once did beside it. The goal, immortalised by the commentary “Corner taken quickly… Origi!”, sent Liverpool to the 2019 Champions League final and turned the teenager into an overnight celebrity. Piers Morgan requested interviews, chief executive Peter Moore wrote a personal letter of thanks, and Cannonier’s school hailed a hero. “I went home and said, ‘You know what, Mum? This might sound a bit weird but I helped Liverpool beat Barcelona tonight’,” he recalls. Within hours social media had confirmed what his mother initially doubted. Yet the fairytale quickly demanded a sequel. Cannonier, an academy player since childhood, re-focused on scoring goals of his own. A positional switch from No. 10 to No. 9 triggered a 40-goal campaign for the under-18s in 2021-22, invites to train with Jürgen Klopp’s senior squad, and a three-year professional contract at 17. Klopp later greeted him with a grin: “Thank you… for the corner kick!” Persistent hamstring problems, however, shredded the narrative. Surgery in 2021 began a cycle of rehab and relapse that cost him the FA Youth Cup final and, eventually, his place in the under-21s. Between January 2024 and January 2025 he played only 234 minutes across Liverpool’s youth sides, not through fresh injury but because, fully fit, he was crowded out by younger, bigger centre-forwards. “People haven’t seen me play for two years,” he says. “If I had been playing regular games in PL2, I would be scoring goals.” At 5 ft 9 in, Cannonier accepts modern academies covet powerful target men. A trial with Leeds United last year brought two assists in two games, yet the club’s pursuit of a senior striker cooled negotiations and he returned to Merseyside. “Clubs are definitely looking for a big No. 9,” he notes. “You don’t see many smaller strikers like Suárez, Tevez or Agüero any more.” Contracted only until June, Cannonier will leave Liverpool this summer determined to reignite a career stalled between age brackets. “I just want to be playing and scoring goals, showing everyone how good I am,” he insists, rejecting any frustration that the Barcelona assist still defines him. “It’s something to be proud of, but I want to become known for being a legend for different reasons.” Family keeps the dream anchored. Brother Harley, 15, remains at the academy and recently paraded the Carabao Cup at Anfield; younger brother Barkley has swapped football for rugby. Oakley, meanwhile, stretches morning and night to keep his hamstrings quiet, studies Layton Stewart’s resurgence at AFC Wimbledon, and waits for a club willing to gamble on a natural finisher whose sharpest move once changed Liverpool’s history. The ball boy who helped shock Barcelona now needs only a pitch, a shirt and the next whistle to start the comeback of his own career.

For 70 minutes at Goodison Park on Monday night, Everton versus Manchester United felt like another entry in the Premier League’s growing catalogue of sterile, set-piece-dominated affairs. Then, in a blur of limbs and white lines, Benjamin Sesko reminded the stadium—and a television audience wondering where the entertainment had gone—why the counter-attack remains football’s most irresistible lightning bolt. The move began ten yards from United’s own goal. Sesko collected possession, laid it back to Luke Shaw, and watched the left-back shuttle it into Matheus Cunha. One 40-yard diagonal later, Bryan Mbeumo was tearing down the right, Everton’s midfield still pivoting in the wrong direction. Sesko sprinted 21.94 mph to reach the cut-back, pointed to the patch of grass he wanted, and finished first time. The net rippled, the Gwladys Street exhaled, and a previously moribund match ignited. It was a goal conceived in chaos, executed at top speed, and finished with the composure coaches pray for on the training ground. Four minutes earlier Cunha had hesitated, allowing Everton to recover; this time the pass was prompt, the run timed to perfection, and the strike clinical. “It looks so easy, but because you have so much time, many things on your mind,” Sesko admitted afterwards. “I chose for one corner, and I went fully for that.” That split-second clarity is increasingly rare. Across Europe’s top five leagues, counter-attacking goals are trending downward as more teams defend in compressed mid-blocks, denying the space that once fed fast breaks. The 2025-26 season has become a masterclass in risk-averse positioning: full-backs tuck in, forwards drop deep, and coaches drill “rest-defence” until transitions are throttled at source. Yet the counter still lives, precisely because it exploits the one variable coaches cannot programme: human error. Arne Slot, reflecting on Liverpool’s January stalemate with Leeds, noted that breaking a low block requires “pace, individual special moments… or a counter-attack when they want to bring the ball out.” In other words, wait for the opposition to believe they are in control, then strike before their shape resets. History is littered with such moments. Ronaldo and Rooney once turned Bolton and Arsenal into highlight-reel fodder; Mourinho’s Chelsea and Spurs sprinted along pre-assigned lanes to minimise crossover and maximise devastation; Wenger’s Invincibles were dubbed “the sprint relay squad” after a blur of goals at Leeds in 2003. Leicester’s title romp was turbo-charged by Jamie Vardy’s willingness to run half the pitch into open grass. Even possession evangelist Pep Guardiola concedes that against man-marking sides, “you have to attack quickly… if they play high, you have to attack quicker.” The aesthetic appeal is obvious: space opening like a curtain, athletes problem-solving in real time, the margin between glory and a miscued pass measured in milliseconds. Troy Deeney’s 2013 play-off strike against Leicester is still sung about at Vicarage Road despite 139 other Watford goals, proof that context and velocity can immortalise a single swing of the boot. Analysts point to the physics: every extra yard of playing space lowers the difficulty of each decision, yet raises the psychological stakes. Get the weight of Cunha’s diagonal wrong and Everton regroup; let the ball bounce before Mbeumo’s cut-back and the angle collapses; take an extra touch and the keeper smothers. Sesko’s one-touch finish was therefore not just technique, but a nod to the risk-reward calculus that defines the genre. Football may be safer, smarter and more choreographed than ever, but the counter-attack endures because it weaponises the one thing analytics cannot tame: chaos. As Monday night proved, even in a season starved of open-play chances, a single lightning bolt can still light up the sky.

Arsenal have emerged as genuine contenders in the race to prise Sandro Tonali away from Newcastle United this summer, according to renowned transfer insider Fabrizio Romano. Speaking via DailyAFC, Romano confirmed that the Gunners are “right there” alongside Manchester United and Juventus among Europe’s elite clubs monitoring the Italy international’s situation, with a “strong possibility” of a move materialising once the window opens. While Newcastle have received no indication that Tonali is pushing for an exit, Romano’s assertion that a transfer is plausible has shifted attention toward the Premier League’s top end. Juventus are already viewed as outsiders; Tonali’s preference is to remain in England’s high-intensity environment, effectively narrowing the contest to English suitors. Arsenal’s appeal is obvious. Mikel Arteta’s side were Champions League semi-finalists last campaign and currently sit atop the domestic table, offering the 23-year-old midfielder the prospect of continued elite-level football. Technical director Edu is expected to refresh the engine room despite the formidable partnership of Martin Zubimendi and Declan Rice. Behind that duo, Arsenal’s depth consists of ageing options, and none replicate Tonali’s blend of athleticism and creative distribution. Romano stressed that “it’s not only Arsenal” still in the picture, yet the north Londoners believe their sporting project and guaranteed Premier League exposure give them an edge over Manchester United. Whether Tonali can be convinced to leave Tyneside remains the pivotal hurdle, but Arsenal are preparing to test Newcastle’s resolve with a formal approach when the market opens.

The 2025-26 Champions League has become a stage on which Premier League stars are shining brightest. With five of England’s six entrants sailing directly into the top-eight knockout bracket and Newcastle United muscling past Qarabag 9-3 on aggregate in the playoffs, English clubs have supplied the competition’s most prolific scorers. Here are the players leading the charge. Anthony Gordon, Newcastle United No Premier League player has hit the net more often than Gordon, whose ten goals in ten European fixtures have propelled Newcastle into the last 16. Four of those arrived in a single virtuoso display during the first leg of the playoff against Qarabag, underlining a continental form that stands in stark contrast to his domestic drought. Erling Haaland, Manchester City The Norwegian striker has continued his relentless scoring rhythm, registering seven goals in eight Champions League appearances. Only three players across the entire tournament have bettered that tally, reaffirming Haaland’s status among Europe’s elite marksmen. Gabriel Martinelli, Arsenal While the Brazilian’s Premier League account shows a solitary strike, Martinelli has been electric in Europe, notching six goals in seven games—one of the competition’s most efficient returns and a better ratio than the likes of Julian Alvarez, Lautaro Martínez and Marcus Rashford. Harvey Barnes, Newcastle United Barnes has used Newcastle’s extended European run to his advantage, scoring five times and assisting three across ten matches. The former Leicester winger has been a constant threat down the left, offering a cutting edge that has occasionally deserted him on domestic duty. Dominik Szoboszlai, Liverpool Deployed variously as a central midfielder and, on one occasion, an emergency right-back, Szoboszlai has still managed four goals and four assists in eight games. He registered a goal contribution in seven of those fixtures, illustrating his influence on Liverpool’s European progress. With the knockout phase looming, these Premier League protagonists will hope to maintain their continental hot streaks and, in some cases, import that confidence back into domestic competition.

Camp Nou braces for a pivotal La Liga showdown on Saturday as league-leading Barcelona welcome a Villarreal side that sits ten points adrift yet still harbours outside title ambitions, with the spotlight fixed squarely on the Catalans’ misfiring centre-forwards. Coach Hansi Flick has shuffled between Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres all season, but neither has provided the cutting edge expected of a club chasing silverware on multiple fronts. Lewandowski, 37, has seen his output dip alarmingly—five goals in his last 18 matches—while looking increasingly immobile and peripheral in tight games. The veteran Pole admitted this week in Polish magazine Pilka Nozna that the relentless calendar has taken a toll, but argued that rotation “makes life a little better” and insisted he remains fresh enough to contribute. Torres, meanwhile, is on pace for a career-best goal total, yet 12 of his strikes arrived during a purple patch late last year; since then he has managed only three in 15 appearances and is struggling to link play, frequently conceding possession in key areas. The numbers underscore the problem: Barça top the league for goals scored with 67, but no single player has more than Torres’ dozen. Ten different squad members have hit two or more, highlighting how the scoring burden has been shared by committee rather than shouldered by a reliable No. 9. By contrast, Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe—hampered by a persistent knee issue—still leads Spain’s charts with 23 league goals and 13 in the Champions League, a gulf Flick acknowledged in January when he called the Frenchman “the best striker in the world.” Width has not been the issue. Teenage prodigy Lamine Yamal and Brazil international Raphinha rank among the planet’s most dangerous wide threats, yet the void between them remains glaring. Marcus Rashford, on loan from Manchester United, has operated almost exclusively from the left, registering 10 goals and 13 assists in 34 games, but with Raphinha back to full fitness the England forward may reconsider and lobby for a central role to earn extra minutes. Barça’s defensive frailties—opponents increasingly punish their high line—compound the pressure on the attack. Last term the team out-scored its problems en route to a domestic treble; this year the margin for error is slimmer. A victory on Saturday would keep Flick’s side one point clear at the summit, with Madrid hosting Getafe on Monday offering a chance for the capital club to leapfrog. Villarreal, buoyed by a four-match unbeaten run, sense opportunity. A shock win in front of a raucous Camp Nou would trim the gap to seven points and breathe new life into their fading championship hopes. Flick, grateful for a rare two-week breather that allowed his squad to recuperate while rivals navigated Champions League play-off ties, warned against complacency. “It’s important that we have these two weeks, to rest a little bit but also focus on the next match against Villarreal, that will also be a tough match,” he said. The subplot is clear: unless Lewandowski or Torres rediscovers clinical form, Barça may have to keep relying on goals from every corner of the pitch to stay ahead of a chasing pack led by a relentless Madrid spearheaded by Mbappe. Kick-off is at 15:15 local time, with the outcome potentially shaping the title race heading into the season’s final stretch.

London—The lineup for the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League round of 16 is complete, and English football has never looked more dominant. Following this week’s two-leg playoff ties, a record six Premier League sides advanced to the knockout phase, with current bookmakers’ favorites Arsenal leading the charge. Friday’s draw in Nyon will decide the pairings for the next stage, but the composition of the final 16 already tells a striking story. England supplies more than a third of the remaining clubs, underscoring the league’s financial muscle and squad depth. Joining Arsenal are Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Newcastle United, and Tottenham Hotspur, creating the possibility of all-Premier League showdowns as early as the round of 16. Spain follows with three representatives—holders Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Atlético Madrid—while Germany provides Bayer Leverkusen and perennial contenders Bayern Munich. Italy, France, Portugal, Turkey, and Norway each have one club still in contention: Atalanta, Paris Saint-Germain, Sporting CP, Galatasaray, and Bodø/Glimt respectively. The draw, to be held Friday, will set the bracket for ties scheduled in February and March, with the victors advancing to April’s quarter-finals.

Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski has added his voice to the growing chorus of admiration for team-mate Pedri, describing the 21-year-old as “technically fantastic” and crediting him with making life markedly simpler for the forwards around him. Speaking to Polish outlet Pilka Nozna, the veteran No.9—who has shared dressing rooms with multiple world champions and elite creators—singled out Pedri’s unique qualities. “Pedri is an extraordinary player,” Lewandowski said. “He has enormous potential, is technically fantastic, and the way he moves the ball and sees the game is impressive, especially for a striker. Playing with him in behind is simply easier.” While acknowledging the calibre of midfielders he has partnered across his career, the 35-year-old stressed that Pedri’s profile is tailor-made for Barcelona’s possession-heavy philosophy. “Each one brought something different to the table. Pedri is unique in his own way and perfectly suits Barcelona’s style.” Lewandowski also addressed the recent scrutiny surrounding 16-year-old winger Lamine Yamal, rejecting suggestions that the teenager has hit a wall after a sparkling first half of the campaign. “We may be halfway through the season, but it’s really just beginning for us. And expectations for Lamine are rising. I constantly remind him to take things easy, do his thing, develop, and continue learning,” he advised. “Fluctuations in form are completely natural for such a young player. And with him, even when he’s having a bad day, he still brings a lot of positive energy to the team and makes a difference.” Yamal has already contributed 15 goals and 13 assists in all competitions this term and will look to extend those numbers when Barcelona travel to Villarreal on Saturday.

Madrid—While the Bernabéu has been roaring over Kylian Mbappé’s 38-goal explosion in 33 Real Madrid appearances this season, the French striker has been waging a silent battle against a knee problem that first flared on 7 December against Celta Vigo. What began as a manageable knock has evolved into a persistent issue that has shadowed every training session and match-day warm-up. Club medical staff confirmed the injury never fully healed, forcing Mbappé to rely on painkillers in recent weeks to maintain his blistering scoring pace. The decision to sit out the Champions League trip to Benfica last week, however, sounded fresh alarms inside Valdebebas. Spanish daily AS reports that Mbappé has categorically ruled out going under the knife, unwilling to risk a lengthy rehabilitation that could collide with the fast-approaching World Cup. Instead, he has chosen a conservative, closely monitored treatment plan drawn up by Madrid’s in-house doctors, with the club open to bringing in external specialists to explore every short-term avenue that keeps him on the pitch without further jeopardising the joint. The injury already forced a recalibration of the club’s winter calendar. Initially earmarked for a three-week rest period, Mbappé pushed to travel with the squad to Saudi Arabia for the Spanish Super Cup, appearing as a second-half substitute in the final defeat to Barcelona despite not being at full fitness. With no definitive return date set, Real Madrid’s priority is to guard against another relapse. The forward’s 38 goals have come at a physical cost: several minor setbacks have punctuated the campaign, each one chipping away at the margin for error as the season enters its decisive phase. For now, Mbappé and the medical department walk a tightrope—managing pain, preserving explosiveness, and hoping the balance holds long enough for him to lead the line when the world’s biggest stage comes calling.

Madrid—Benfica winger Sidny Lopes Cabral has issued a public apology after coming under fierce criticism from his own supporters for attempting to swap shirts with Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior moments after the Portuguese side’s 2-1 Champions League defeat at the Santiago Bernabéu on Wednesday night. Portuguese daily Record reports that Cabral, a Cape Verde international, was filmed approaching Vinicius at the final whistle and asking for his jersey, a gesture that immediately ignited outrage on social media. Fans accused the 25-year-old of betraying the club’s crest by seeking a souvenir while Benfica were effectively eliminated from the competition. The backlash intensified given the recent history between Vinicius and Benfica supporters. During the first-leg fixture in Lisbon, which Madrid won 1-0, the Brazilian forward was subjected to verbal abuse and had objects thrown at him after celebrating his winning goal with dance moves that some home fans interpreted as provocative. Within hours of the Bernabéu encounter, Cabral’s name was trending for the wrong reasons, with hashtags calling for his departure and questioning his commitment to the club. Sensing the growing unrest, the winger moved swiftly to defuse the situation. According to Record, he personally apologised to Benfica’s management and dressing-room colleagues, stressing that the request had been spontaneous and not meant to disrespect the institution or its supporters. Cabral later explained that once he realised the negative impact his action had on squad unity, he reversed course and did not complete the exchange with Vinicius. Sources close to the player insist the shirt never changed hands, a detail intended to underline his remorse and reaffirm his focus on Benfica’s domestic objectives. The episode leaves Cabral facing a delicate task of rebuilding trust with the fans, while the club hierarchy will hope the matter is closed ahead of their next Primeira Liga fixture.

Teamworks, the billion-dollar sports software and analytics conglomerate, is finalizing a deal to acquire Pro Football Focus in a transaction that values the veteran grading service between $130 million and $140 million, according to multiple sources familiar with the negotiations. The agreement, which could be announced as early as this week, would fold PFF into a growing stable of analytics properties now controlled by Teamworks. The purchase price represents a steep retreat from PFF’s 2021 peak valuation of roughly $223 million, erasing nearly $100 million in paper value for the company and its backers. Silver Lake, the private-equity firm that invested $50 million in PFF several years ago at a $160 million valuation, had hoped to diversify the firm beyond its core business-to-business revenue—reported to be in the low eight figures annually—and into the consumer space. That expansion never gained traction, leaving the company exposed to intensifying competition on its primary B2B front. Silver Lake’s exit follows a turbulent stretch for PFF that saw several high-profile departures. Analysts Sam Monson and Steve Palazzolo, along with key operational staffers Austin Gayle, Rick Drummond, and Ian Perks, have all left within the past three years, thinning the bench that once underpinned the brand’s credibility with NFL clients. Teamworks, backed by Dragoneer Investment Group, has quietly assembled a portfolio of analytics providers that now includes direct PFF competitors Sumer Sports and Telemetry. Bringing PFF under the same umbrella would consolidate much of the league-facing data market under a single corporate roof, potentially streamlining sales and product development across overlapping customer bases. When reached for comment, a PFF spokesperson declined to confirm the impending transaction. “As a company, we do not speculate on market rumors,” the spokesperson said. Representatives for Teamworks and Dragoneer did not respond to inquiries. The deal, once signed, will mark the latest chapter in the rapid consolidation of sports-tech firms seeking scale to offset rising development and customer-acquisition costs.

Washington — President Donald Trump will chair a closed-door White House roundtable next week aimed at stabilizing a college-athletics industry roiled by name-image-and-likedompensation deals, transfer-portal chaos and conference realignment, according to Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and New York Yankees president Randy Levine will serve as vice chairs of the session, which is expected to gather university presidents, commissioners, athletic directors, coaches, business leaders and sports executives. While the full attendee list has not been released, Trump’s invitees include former Alabama coach Nick Saban, two Heisman Trophy winners and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, giving the meeting star power that underscores the cultural and economic weight of collegiate sports. Agenda items, Dellenger reports, will range from the role of athletics within higher education to widening financial gaps between programs and the legal and marketplace forces reshaping rosters almost overnight. Supporters hope the high-profile discussion will produce consensus solutions and head off further court battles, though skeptics question whether a single summit can yield enforceable policy. Notably absent from the preliminary roster is NCAA president Charlie Baker, raising questions about the association’s influence as the White House wades into reform talks. With the college model at an inflection point, all eyes will be on whether the president’s roundtable can convert dialogue into tangible next steps for schools, athletes and the billions-of-dollar industry built around them.

Santos, Brazil — Neymar responded to months of doubt in the only language he knows best, burying two goals to propel Santos past Vasco da Gama 2-1 on Thursday night and, in the process, ending a goalless run that stretched back to December 2025. The 34-year-old forward, making just his third competitive appearance of an injury-interrupted 2026 campaign, opened the scoring in the 25th minute at Estádio Urbano Caldeira. After wheeling toward the corner flag, he performed the same samba-inspired dance Vinícius Júnior unveiled against Benfica in the Champions League playoff, a nod of solidarity after the Real Madrid winger endured racist abuse in Portugal earlier this month. “I told him, ‘If I score, I’ll do the same,’” Neymar explained to SporTV. “Vini, it’s for you.” Vasco equalized before the interval, but Neymar struck again after the break to secure a vital fourth-round Brasileirão victory for the Peixe and remind Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti of his enduring quality. Ancelotti has maintained that a fit Neymar will be in the conversation for the upcoming men’s World Cup, and the striker’s first brace since surgery in early 2026 could hardly have been timed better. “Last week they said I was the worst player in the world,” Neymar said. “Today I scored two goals, and that’s what matters. One day you’re ‘retired’; the next, people want you at the World Cup.” The night was not without flashpoints. A second-half clash with Vasco midfielder Thiago Mendes—whose 2020 tackle left Neymar with a serious injury during their PSG-Lyon days—reignited old tensions. “He always wants to cause trouble,” Neymar said. “He already broke me once at PSG, and he threatened me again today. It’s always the same with him.” Despite cramping in the dying minutes, Neymar completed his second full 90-minute outing of the year, underlining the progress of a rehabilitation process that has limited him to sparse minutes since his December brace against Juventude. For now, Santos climbs the table buoyed by their returning star, while Neymar turns his focus to consistency and fitness, eager to let his football answer the critics who had written him off.