Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola was seen wearing a rare, £1.1 million watch during Manchester City's Champions League draw with Real Madrid.
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В сервисе Steam состоялся ранний релиз SERAPH: In the Darkness, условно-бесплатного диаблоида в сеттинге мрачного фэнтези, созданного южнокорейской студией Seraph.
В текущей версии есть мрачный средневековый фэнтезийный мир с уникальными ландшафтами и испытаниями, сюжетная линия, состоящая из 10 глав, пять классов (варвар, колдунья, валькирия, некромант и друид), каждый из которых обладает уникальными навыками и путями развития, и эндгейм контент, который включает в себя три режима — Void Abyss, Chaos Rift и Trial of Heaven. В эти режимы можно играть в одиночку или в команде. Также есть система торговли и система развития персонажа (можно повышать уровень героя и улучшать его снаряжение и навыки). Разработчики отметили, что не будут сбрасывать прогресс игроков в будущих обновлениях.
Пользователи Steam раскритиковали SERAPH: In the Darkness. Игра получила 16% рейтинга. В отзывах её называют плохой копией Diablo и ругают за низкое качество, донат, ИИ-катсцены и и проблему с регистрацией. Некоторые геймеры сравнивают проект с браузерными играми.
Напомним, что ранее в Steam вышла бесплатная Command & Conquer: Tiberium Alliances.
⚡️ По Helldivers 2 снимут фильм — картину поставит режиссёр «Форсажей» Джастин Лин
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Tottenham Hotspur’s unbeaten run across all competitions has now extended to three games across all competitions after Tuesday’s Champions League win over Slavia Prague.
The Lilywhites claimed a superb 3-0 victory in Europe after penalties from Mohammed Kudus, Xavi Simons and an own goal from opposition defender David Zima.
Thomas Frank looks to have finally found a winning formula, as seen in recent weeks, after previously failing to win in any five matches, four of which came in the Premier League.
Some may argue that the Dane is starting to get the best out of his current playing squad, with a period of adaptation evidently needed after his summer appointment.
However, despite the three-goal triumph in North London last night, the manager will no doubt have seen some glaring flaws that will need correcting in the weeks ahead.
After starting each of the last four games on the substitutes bench, winger Wilson Odobert was handed the chance to start from the off against Slavia Prague.
However, the Frenchman struggled to make the desired impact, as seen by his tally of 86% duels lost, leading to his withdrawal in the 76th minute of the clash.
Other figures, such as zero dribbles completed and two big chances missed in the final third, also highlight his lack of positive impact despite Frank’s faith shown in the youngster.
He wasn’t alone in struggling to deliver during the win, with Pedro Porro unable to produce the regular attacking quality the fanbase have become accustomed to in recent years.
The Spaniard only managed to complete one of his five attempted crosses, whilst completing just 66% of the passes he attempted – largely being ineffective when in possession.
He also failed to win any tackles against the Czech side, whilst failing to complete any of his attempted dribbles – showcasing his lack of quality at both ends of the pitch in North London.
Spurs have spent heavily over the last couple of years to try and be competitive in the Premier League and try and compete for titles under Frank in the years ahead.
In the recent summer alone, the Lilywhites hierarchy backed the manager with over £120m worth of funds to make an immediate impact during his first year at the helm.
Xavi Simons was just one of the additions made by the hierarchy during the off-season, but he’s struggled to make an impact across various competitions in recent months.
He went 17 games without a goal until last week, but the Dutch star has started to find his feet – as seen by his tally of two goals in his last two games for the Lilywhites.
The same can’t be said for striker Richarlison, who has constantly struggled for consistency after his own £50m transfer from Everton back in the summer of 2022.
The Brazilian international has been Frank’s starting centre forward for the majority of 2025/26 to date, subsequently managing to net a total of seven goals across all competitions.
Whilst such a tally may seem respectable, he’s often gone missing in major moments this campaign, as seen against Slavia Prague in the meeting on Tuesday.
He was once again handed a start at the top end of the pitch, but he was unable to provide the goods in front of goal and was subsequently replaced in the 68th minute.
Richarlison was only able to register a measly tally of 22 touches, a tally fewer than goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, who managed 50 – showcasing his lack of impact in North London.
|
Richarlison – stats against Slavia Prague |
|
|---|---|
|
Statistics |
Tally |
|
Minutes played |
68 |
|
Touches |
22 |
|
Passes completed |
9 |
|
Possession lost |
7x |
|
Big chances missed |
1 |
|
Aerials won |
50% |
|
Passes into final third |
1 |
|
Fouls committed |
2 |
|
Stats via FotMob |
|
He also only managed to complete nine passes and lost possession on seven separate occasions, further highlighting his lack of positive impact during the Champions League clash.
The Brazilian also missed one big chance in front of goal and won just 50% of his aerial battles, often struggling to provide the focal point Frank has massively craved.
As a result of his showing, the striker was handed a measly 6/10 match rating by Football London’s Alasdair Gold, further showcasing his struggles in North London.
After such a showing, Frank must certainly be left with no choice but to drop the forward and hand the likes of Mathys Tel and Randal Kolo Muani the chance to stake their claim for the number nine role.
Richarlison has no doubt been a decent option for Spurs over the last couple of years, but it’s becoming increasingly evident week on week that he’s not at the level needed for success.
Frank's new Mbeumo: Paratici set to make Spurs bid to sign "world-class" CF
Tottenham Hotspur could be about to land a new talisman in the upcoming January window.
By
Ethan Lamb
3 days ago
Apart from the form he brings from the County Championship, the fast bowler also adds vast experience of Asian conditions to a squad lacking Steven Smith, David Warner, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins
Daniel Brettig25-Sep-20180:54
Australia focussed on Pakistan’s spinners – Siddle
There are a few reasons why Peter Siddle is in Dubai sweating it out with the Australian Test squad, rather than donning a beanie in the last throes of the English County Championship, or firing down a white ball for Victoria in the domestic limited-overs tournament back home. One is his recent performance for Essex, a reminder of Siddle’s quality, and another is his vast experience in Asian conditions, dating back to the 2008 tour of India alongside the likes of Ricky Ponting and Matthew Hayden.Most overwhelming in the factors for Siddle’s recall, however, is that the team now captained by Tim Paine and coached by Justin Langer was desperate for senior figures. Not only to replace the missing Steven Smith, David Warner, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins, but also to help chart a new and better cultural and performance path for the Australian team in their first series since the Newlands ball-tampering scandal.In recent years it could be argued that Siddle’s skills were rather undervalued by Australia, whether it was in his omission from the 2015 Ashes until the final Test, or his being rushed back from injury into the team in late 2016, whereupon he re-injured his back. Now, in the team’s hour of need, Siddle is back in favour, and he has a clear idea of why this is so.”JL’s spoken a lot about good people and good characters and coming into the side I think, just from an outside point of view, the side probably in the last little bit maybe lacked a bit of leadership,” Siddle said in Dubai. “So I think without having the captain or vice-captain or any of those terms, it’s just about being a leader in my own right, just doing what I do to lead by example and just help out the young guys and help out the group … it’s stuff I’d normally do.”But you want to make sure you get the right things done and the team’s preparing well. All in all the whole group is preparing as leaders, they’re going out there and leading by example in their own right. That’s a good sign for this group going forward and just looking forward to a few more training sessions, but I think everyone’s starting to adapt well to the conditions and looking forward to this practice match.”Having been coached by each of Tim Nielsen, Mickey Arthur and Darren Lehmann before Langer’s arrival, Siddle said the difference in styles was noticeable. The word most often used to describe Langer was again used when Siddle pondered the approach of Langer to a job he had first applied for as far back as 2011 – intensity.”He’s very intense. I think people could understand the way he went about the game when he played, how switched on and how hard he worked,” Siddle said. “I think we probably get a good understanding that’s how he’s coaching regime’s going to be. It started off like that, which is enjoyable. He knows his plans, knows the way he wants the team to go and I think the boys are getting a good feel for that over these first couple of days.”I’ve had a few coaches over my time in the role as a player, but it’s always fresh when a new coach, a new person comes in, their personality and they way they want to coach and lead the team. It always gives a good vibe around the group and with the younger guys here also it’s been enjoyable.”One area in which this adaptation is being attempted in a more rigorous fashion than before is in the calling up of a pair of Indian spin bowlers through the network of the spin consultant Sridharan Sriram – the legspinner Pardeep Sahu and the left-arm wristspinner KK Jiyas. This pair have been hired as part of an effort to simulate the offerings of Yasir Shah, who so confounded the Australians in the UAE in 2014, and Shadab Khan. Siddle noted this was a step up in preparation from what he had experienced on past tours.”I think in the past we’ve come into series, worked hard on spin but not specifically on what they’re bowling, the deliveries they bowl and the cues to watch as a batter,” Siddle said. “We’ve been lucky enough to get a couple of guys come in that are very good spin bowlers. I think the big focus is they’ve got two star legspinners, Yasir Shah who we’ve played before, a great player, and Shadab Khan, who’s been playing and we expect to line up.”So we’ve got a contest against those two guys, and having good discussions about different deliveries, what to watch, I think it’s been good for us tailenders as well to hear from different batters, the way they go about it, the way they watch the ball. It’s nice to hear from them and it gives us something to work on when we get in the nets. I definitely think it’s helped me personally and the other guys have definitely learned a lot from it.”Getty ImagesPakistan have struggled for traction in the concurrent Asia Cup being played in Dubai, but Siddle noted that the extra volume of cricket being played in the stadium will likely have a flow-on effect for the sort of pitch prepared for the Test match starting on October 7. Namely, it will be likely to take spin earlier in the game than its 2014 equivalent.”The Dubai wicket has had a lot of cricket played on it throughout this Asia Cup, so you can see the whole square’s being used a lot more,” Siddle said. “So I think the previous series when we came here, the wicket was a bit flatter, a bit more slate, so it took a few days to actually break up, but this series it looks like it’s going to break up a lot earlier so spin is going to play a part.”I think for me it’s going to be similar to what I do in Australia, it’s about holding up an end, building pressure and trying to put the batsmen under a lot of pressure to generate those wickets. I don’t think my plan changes a hell of a lot from different conditions. But probably more so here it’s about hitting the stumps, making them play a lot more and having the fielders in the right positions.”As for whether Siddle’s presence and experience will be useful in ensuring the Australian team does not let behavioural and cultural issues get out of hand in the UAE, despite the hot sun and unrelenting conditions, the 33-year-old is hopeful that the lessons of past tours will come in handy. “It’s hard to say,” he said. “Emotions come out in games and different things happen throughout matches, which you react to.”Hopefully just being around the group and just giving a bit of knowledge about conditions. I’ve played in the subcontinent a lot, I’ve played here once before, and it’s just about talking about those experiences. I got to play under some great guys on my first ever Test tour [in India in 2008], Haydos and Punter and Brett Lee, guys like that who’ve played a lot of cricket.”I’ve taken a lot of knowledge from them and hopefully I can pass a bit of that to these guys and watch them go forward. I think these days the boys have played a lot in the subcontinent, even the younger guys, so they’ve been exposed to those conditions, which is exciting. They’re not coming in here in an unknown world not knowing anything, so the young guys are preparing very well in the nets at the moment.”
There are many good reasons for Joe Root to enter the IPL auction, but his inclusion begs several questions that cricket must answer
David Hopps13-Jan-2018As they apparently say at the poshest parties when asked who is coming: “Everybody who is anybody darling”. As many as 1122 players, including 282 from outside India, have put themselves up for the IPL auction. It is easier to ask who can’t be there.But for one player at least, the decision has not been an easy one. For two seasons, Joe Root has eschewed IPL, firstly because he wanted to establish the certainty of his Test match game, then because of the twin considerations of his first child and his appointment as England’s Test captain.Such considerations are now behind him. Root wants to swig headily from IPL’s champagne flute as much as anybody. Entering his peak years, at 27, he desires to assert himself as a multi-format player, part of a special breed of batsmen including Virat Kohli, Steven Smith and Kane Williamson who can turn their hand to anything cricket’s split personality can devise.The mood in England towards the IPL has also changed. Resistance to the tournament was abandoned within the ECB from the moment Andrew Strauss became director of England cricket. But resistance has also collapsed beyond the confines of the governing body. The new breed of cricket fan, weaned on Twenty20, actively wants to see Root play in the IPL and even many traditionalists who resent the format because it intrudes so overbearingly on the start of the English county season now shrug that his involvement is inevitable.England will always come first – Root
Joe Root emphasised that England will always take priority after he entered the IPL auction.
“I’ve always said I put playing for England first and if it means resting from things like the IPL, which I’ve done in the past, I’ll happily do that,” he said. “For however long my international career lasts it’s going to be focused about giving as much as I can for this team and playing for England.
“But as someone involved in the Test side I don’t want to be missing white-ball cricket and falling behind, trying to catch up. The IPL is a great opportunity. It may be that I don’t have a great IPL but the best thing would be the exposure to different players and different ways of looking at the game, being under pressure for long periods of time. I can’t see how that could hamper my game or be detrimental to my England career.”
Root is right to join the IPL long list. Not to challenge himself against the best, in the hullaballoo of IPL, would be to limit the extent of his ambitions. Not to learn from the best would be to suppress his potential. IPL is now a central part of cricket’s history. See and be seen: it would be a strikingly non-conformist cricketer who resisted that.There has been a lot of tosh, nevertheless, about how a sports career is short and cricketers “need” the money. Of course, they are entitled to seek their rewards while they can, but “need” is an inflammatory word when a top cricketer can earn in a single year from England alone what a worker on average wages can earn in 40. And, as for talk of a short career, the support mechanisms that exist for English professional cricketers as they approach retirement are better than ever. They are allowed to work after their careers are over.T20 data on Root is hardly extensive. He has regularly rested out T20 internationals and such is the all-consuming nature of England’s international summer that he has rarely appeared in the Blast – England’s own T20 tournament. But his strike rates in all three forms of the game are comparable to Smith and faster than Williamson. He is no plodder; indeed, it is his propensity to become over ambitious when set at Test level that has become one of the recurring features of his game.Dan Weston, a data analyst at Sports Analytics Advantage, calculates that Root will do better than many casual Indian observers expect, saying: “With an Expected IPL batting average of 46.35, and strike rate 134.44, Root would be an excellent acquisition for an IPL franchise looking for a player capable of playing a strong anchor innings at the top of the order.”As Weston points out, the comparison to last year’s IPL mean batting average of 25.29 and strike rate of 133.36, suggests that Root’s elite-level performance would be expected to be seen in his average rather than strike rate. There are other predictions, too: his boundary count can be expected to be lower with a heavy emphasis on reducing dot balls to a minimum, and potential suitors might fear that his innings may stagnate against spin.All this conjecture is the very stuff of sport and encapsulates why Root must put his skills to the test.
Compensation levels to the clubs that produce the players who keep the T20 gravy train rolling are wholly inadequate
But there are legitimate worries nonetheless. International cricket and the T20 leagues co-exist not by intelligent consideration of a sustainable international schedule, but by piling ever more demands on ambitious young sportsmen.Multi-format cricketers feel this burden more than many, none more so, of course, than Kohli, who played 86 days’ international cricket in 2017, plus IPL. Root played 78, plus two four-day Championship matches for Yorkshire, and the sight of him exercising one of the stiffer backs in international cricket have become commonplace. More than double that for practice and travel days. Root, too, has committed himself diligently to regular media opportunities on behalf of various sponsors and charities and surely now that must be curtailed.Already Trevor Bayliss, England’s coach, has intimated that, if Root wants rest, he might also now have to skip county matches ahead of the England Test summer (he only played two anyway and barely got a run). Just turn up to practice, flick a switch and put on the right coloured clothing. It is now quite possible Yorkshire – the county that nurtured him – will not see him again for the next five years.Root’s exhuastion summed up England’s repeated Ashes failings•Getty ImagesCompensation levels to the clubs that produce the players who keep the T20 gravy train rolling are wholly inadequate. The gathering talent drain from county cricket has emphasised the pressing need for England’s 18-team professional system to extend its developmental reach to ensure its standards are not compromised. Proper financial rewards would protect the supply lines – and not just in England.As far as the players are concerned, to cope with the workload, concessions are already made. International tours have been curtailed by slashing warm-up matches, and too many series have become one-sided as a consequence, but until crowds fall, or TV companies protest, that outcome is not about to change.In England, some young county professionals excited by a marquee signing for the NatWest Blast have been somewhat disillusioned when the recognition dawns that most of the sporting knowledge they hoped to glean from their overseas import would have to take place on the golf course. The second tier of T20 leagues might still manage to sign the player, but they no longer delude themselves that they necessarily command his full attention.Eventually, something will give. Just as it takes a tragic accident outside a school for a council to fast-track a new speeding sign, it will doubtless take an overburdened, world-renowned cricketer to suffer a serious health issue to make cricket give the issue serious thought. Unless cricket’s rulers negotiate a responsible outcome, where T20 and international cricket can co-exist in a sensible framework, that one day the whole shebang will explode in our faces is inevitable.
تدرب ألكسندر إيزاك مهاجم نيوكاسل يونايتد، خلال الفترة الماضية، مع ناديه السابق ريال سوسيداد، حيث يرغب المهاجم السويدي في الرحيل عن صفوف الفريق الإنجليزي.
ووفقاً لصحيفة “ديلي ميل” البريطانية، فقد وجه إيدي هاو مدرب نيوكاسل، تحذيرًا شديد اللهجة إلى ألكسندر إيزاك الراغب في الرحيل، حيث قال له إنه لا يمكن للاعبي نيوكاسل توقع سوء التصرف ثم التدرب مع زملائهم، ويرتبط السويدي بالانتقال لصفوف ليفربول.
اقرأ أيضاً.. “ملهمة”.. أول تعليق من محمد صلاح على زيارة معبد إيكوين البوذي
ولم يكن لدى إيدي هاو والنادي أي علم بغياب إيزاك عن التدريبات، عندما سافر لإسبانيا الأسبوع الماضي لاستخدام مرافق التدريب في ريال سوسيداد.
وقال هاو حول ما إذا كان إيزاك سيتدرب مع نيوكاسل هذا الأسبوع: “بالطبع أود ذلك، لكن ما إذا كان سيفعل أم لا، لا أعلم في هذه اللحظة، أشخاص آخرون يتعاملون مع هذا الوضع في إنجلترا”.
وأضاف: “نحن نيوكاسل، اللاعب لديه مسؤولية هنا بأن يكون جزءًا من الفريق والمجموعة، عليه أن يتصرف بالطريقة الصحيحة، سنتأكد من أن أي لاعب يلتزم بذلك ليكسب حقه في التدريب مع المجموعة”.
وختم: “لا يمكن لأي لاعب أن يتصرف بشكل سيء ويتوقع أن يتدرب مع الفريق كأن شيئًا لم يكن”.
ويشعر إيزاك بالغضب والانزعاج والإحباط، حيث يرى أن نيوكاسل يونايتد تراجع عن وعد إما بزيادة راتبه أو السماح له بالرحيل ويزداد الوضع سوءاً بشكل كبير حالياً.
After a 2-0 leg one victory in Canada, can the white-hot Whitecaps hold on in leg 2, or will Messi magic prevail?
A spot in the first continental final of 2025 is on the line for four CONCACAF clubs this week. Tigres and Cruz Azul will square Thursday off to determine Liga MX's representative in the Champions Cup final, while on the other side of the bracket, Inter Miami host the Vancouver Whitecaps Wednesday in a clash between MLS standouts.
Vancouver seized control in the first leg, blanking Miami 2-0 at home in a result that raised eyebrows across North America. But with leg two set for South Florida – and Lionel Messi back in the squad – the tie is far from over.
That said, the Whitecaps' start to 2025 has been nothing short of remarkable. Sitting atop both the Western Conference and the Supporters’ Shield standings after 10 regular-season matches, they’ve quickly become one of the league’s most compelling stories. Under first-year head coach Jesper Sørensen, Vancouver is 7-1-2, tied for the most goals scored in MLS and holding the league’s best goal differential.
Heading into the return leg, they're brimming with belief.
“We won the first one and know what we’re going to face Wednesday – a great team with great players that have done this before,” Sørensen said. “We have to play at our best and we’re ready. We’re excited, but also focused. It’s a big opportunity, and I’m happy for the players. No matter the result, they’ll grow from this experience. We’re moving forward – and now we can do that with a smile.”
Inter Miami, meanwhile, enter with urgency.
After a quarterfinal exit in last year’s competition, this is already the furthest the club has gone – but a semifinal finish isn’t the goal.
“We’re trailing, and on Wednesday we have to believe in the comeback,” said manager Javier Mascherano following Miami’s 1-0 loss to FC Dallas. “There’s nothing to lose – everything to gain.
“From the first minute, we need to take the game to Vancouver through our play. You don’t come back from 2-0 without playing well. We need to focus on our game, control what we can, and get that first goal. The rest can follow – but only if we start the right way.”
Sunday’s loss to Dallas was Miami’s first of 2025 in MLS, but the club rotated heavily, resting stars such as Messi ahead of the decisive second leg. With a second cup on the line in the Messi era, Miami will need a big performance – and perhaps something special – to flip the script against the most in-form team in the league.
Get the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowGetty Images SportRecapping Leg 1
In front of a sold-out crowd of over 50,000 people at BC Place, the Whitecaps took leg one in utterly dominant fashion. Goals from U.S. international Brian White and midfielder Sebastian Berhalter – son of former USMNT manager and current Chicago coach Gregg Berhalter – led the Canadian side to a stunning 2-0 victory over the South Beach club.
They held to just nine total shots, only two of which were on target. Resilient in every area, specifically in the midfield, it led Vancouver to a big win – but more importantly – a clean sheet, and an advantage heading into leg two.
"I think it's fair to say that a lot of people who have seen us play have been happy with the attack… but we've been a good defensive team," said Sørensen post-match. "We also showed that today, even when the way we would like to play doesn't really work, and we make too many bad passes, and we lose the ball way too easy, then we can still rely on our structure and rely on our defense side."
Miami, meanwhile, realizes the hole it put itself in after the match. Without an away goal on the road in Vancouver, they're now at a spot where if they concede – at all – in leg two, the deficit grows even bigger.
"Nothing to lose, you know, nothing to lose," Mascherano said. "We have to try to win the game. We know that we have to score at least two goals and don't concede. And we will try to do it. Now, maybe the pressure is for Vancouver. They have to keep the result."
Heading into leg two of the tie, Mascherano reminisced about a famous night in 2017, when – as a player for Barcelona – he was part of a squad that overcame a 6-1 deficit against Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League. Dubbed the "remantado," the Argentine manager believes such moments prove anything can happen.
"That night I learned that nothing is impossible. In football, everything can happen. Everything, absolutely everything," Mascherano said Tuesday. "An elimination that we were 4-0 down. I think it was 2-0, in the second half we had it almost there and then they scored a goal and we had to score three more and we did it because in the end, until the referee signals the end, everything can happen.
"I think that more than I can transmit as a coach, I have, at that moment, four teammates who shared with me the experience, and they live it their skin. That's the thing that they can convey to rest. Clearly the situation is different, there are no two equal games, the contexts are totally different, but I think that the tie-breaker and tomorrow's situation in particular will give us the possibility of getting through."
Berhalter, meanwhile, acknowledged that Vancouver can't let anything get to their heads. To win in the manner in which the club did, while adding in how successfully it started the 2025 campaign, there's a lot to be positive about. However, remaining composed and humble is how they are heading into Leg 2.
"Got one more game," said Berhalter. "We can't get ahead of ourselves. Thank the fans for coming out here and making an incredible atmosphere, but we've got one more game, so we gotta take care of business."
AdvertisementImagnVancouver's keys to success
With a two-goal advantage, Vancouver has a lot to play with – and room for error, too.
The goal for the Whitecaps has to be an early goal. If they can find the back of the net – at all, at any point – during the game, their odds of advancing improve even more due to the away goal rule. If they take an early lead, Miami would need to score FOUR unanswered to advance, and put even more pressure on them. Ultimately, the goal has to be to fluster them and force them into uncomfortable situations – whether through finding the back of the net, or playing hard, mentally and physically.
Getting White free in the box, with Ali Ahmed, Jayden Nelson, Emmanuel Sabbi, or Daniel Rios in wide roles to stretch their defense will be key. The have constantly been exposed on the right flank of their defense over the past year, and forcing pressure onto that side of the pitch, with White operating inside the 18-yard box, is likely their best bet.
The cards are in their hands, and one goal puts them in a fantastic situation as a result.
GettyMiami's keys to success
Score, and likely fast.
Vancouver's defense has been spectacular to begin 2025; they've conceded the least amount of goals across all of MLS (alongside the New England Revolution) with just seven – getting by them as the game goes on will be increasingly difficult. Miami knows it needs at least two goals to draw level and send the match to extra-time, while a third would see it advance into the final, but only if it keeps a clean sheet. If Vancouver scores even just one goal, it is four goals minimum due to the away goal rule, and extra-time is out the door as an option.
Freeing up Suarez in the final third, while getting Messi on the ball, has to be the game plan. The Argentine needs to be fed in and around the box to enable 1v1 situations where he can take on defenders. Meanwhile, Suarez will either be drawing defenders away from Messi to allow those take-ons, or he will free himself up around the six-yard-box to receive the ball.
Depending on how Mascherano lines up his squad, it could be a big evening for their two star forwards, but also 20-year-old USMNT midfielder Benjamin Cremaschi, who is having a breakout 2025 campaign. The attacking midfielder could be tasked with linking the midfield and the attack, while slowing Vancouver's counterattacks down, as well.
If the want a chance to play for the Champions Cup trophy, they need to score, score, score. No room for excuses, no room for error.
GOAL's prediction
It is going to be a tight match, especially knowing that Miami's ex-Barcelona quartet of Messi, Suarez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets were all rested on Matchday 10 – meaning they will be on fresher legs. With both teams having played on Sunday, though, it will be a relatively level playing field.
Due to the unique rule of away goals being active, Vancouver will take this series and upset the Miami is going to win the match 3-1, but a lone strike from Vancouver will be enough to get it over the line with the two-legged affair ending 3-3 on aggregate, but the Whitecaps advance due to away goals.
Somerset 269 for 8 (Gregory 65*, Barnard 3-54) vs WarwickshireSkipper Lewis Gregory led an enterprising Somerset fightback on the second day of the rain-affected LV= County Championship match with Warwickshire at Taunton.The visitors’ new-look seam attack looked to have taken control when reducing their hosts to 136 for seven shortly after tea, Ed Barnard (three for 54), Hasan Ali (two for 62) and Chris Rushworth (one for 51) all taking wickets on debut.But Gregory and Josh Davey had other ideas. Somerset’s eighth-wicket pair added 105 in 25.1 overs with some attractive counter-attacking cricket to help their side to 268 for eight at the close.Gregory contributed an unbeaten 65, off 105 balls, with 9 fours, while Davey lost nothing by comparison, hitting seven boundaries in his 42 before falling lbw to Oliver Hannon-Dalby (two for 65) with the second new ball.After no play on the first day due to a saturated outfield, umpires Alex Wharf and Rob Bailey made a 10.30am inspection and ruled that the game could start at noon, with lunch at 1.30pm and 88 overs to be bowled in the three sessions.Gregory, acting Somerset captain while Tom Abell completes recovery from a rib injury, won the toss and backed his side’s new top order, including debutants Sean Dickson, Cameron Bancroft and Tom Kohler-Cadmore, by electing to bat first under clear blue skies.Rushworth impressed during an initial five-over spell from the River End and was unlucky not to claim a wicket when former Durham team-mate Dickson, on five, was dropped by wicketkeeper Michael Burgess, diving in front of first slip.The error did not prove expensive as, without addition to his score, Dickson connected sweetly with a drive off Hannon-Dalby, but directed the ball straight to Barnard, who pouched a sharp chance at point.Bancroft walked out at 13 for one in the fifth over. The Australian was soon making good use of the quick single, but both he and Tom Lammonby survived several close shaves as Warwickshire’s seamers went past the bat and had some confident lbw shouts rejected.The pair took the score past 50 before Lammonby, who had shown commendable patience, was caught behind for 22, victim of Barnard’s first ball having switched to around the wicket, a perfectly-pitched delivery that moved away off the seam.The umpires immediately signalled lunch with Somerset 52 for two in the 23rd over, Bancroft unbeaten on 24.Kohler-Cadmore was beaten by Barnard in the first over after the interval, but quickly responded with three boundaries through the off-side off the same bowler.Bancroft looked to have plenty of time to play his shots and appeared well set on 44 when chasing a short, wide ball from Rushworth and edging to Rob Yates at first slip. He had faced 104 deliveries and hit 5 fours.From 98 for three, George Bartlett helped add 22 for the fourth wicket before departing on 13 to a similarly poor shot, edging Barnard to Yates, who took another routine catch.Three balls later Kohler-Cadmore, who had just struck his seventh boundary to move to 34, became the third Somerset player to be pouched at first slip, Yates this time taking an excellent low catch to give Hasan his first Warwickshire wicket.By tea, the hosts were reeling at 128 for five and would have been in worse trouble had Burgess not spilled a regulation catch behind offered by James Rew on two.Again the wicketkeeper’s mistake was not costly. Rew had moved onto six when bowled by Hasan between bat and pad in the fourth over of the final session to make the score 135 for six.With only a single added, Barnard bowled Craig Overton with an in-ducker. It was an all too familiar tale for Somerset supporters, whose team struggled to post meaningful first innings totals last season.But their spirits were lifted by Gregory and Davey, who capitalised on a tiring attack with a flurry of positive shots all around the wicket to give Somerset serious momentum going into day three.Gregory moved to an entertaining half-century off 85 balls before Davey departed and Jack Leach came in to help Somerset to a first batting point with successive fours off Hasan.
Kylian Mbappe is in a fitness race ahead of the Copa del Rey final against Barcelona after suffering an ankle injury against Arsenal.
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Mbappe twisted his ankle against ArsenalWas forced off after receiving on-field treatmentRemains doubtful for the Copa summit clash vs BarcelonaFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Mbappe twisted his ankle midway through the second half after a challenge on Arsenal’s Declan Rice. The England midfielder was left unscathed but was awarded a free-kick as a result of the collision. Mbappe, however, was unable to continue and was substituted in the 75th minute.
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According to , the initial assessment of Mbappe’s injury is not believed to be overly serious. Club doctors are cautiously optimistic that the problem will not prevent him from featuring in the cup final, which is scheduled to take place in Seville in nine days. The swelling around the ankle needs time to settle before further tests can provide a more complete understanding of the damage. Until those scans are completed, the club is refraining from making any definitive judgments about his availability.
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Mbappe is already ruled out of this weekend’s home fixture against Athletic Club due to his red card against Alaves. Fortunately for Madrid, he has received only a one-match suspension, which means he would be eligible to return against Getafe, if deemed fit.
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Real Madrid’s season is now approaching a critical juncture. With their European hopes dashed and La Liga slipping out of reach, the Copa del Rey final offers a chance for redemption, but much could hinge on whether Mbappe is fit and firing on April 26 against Barcelona.
Kylian Mbappe will take penalties for Real Madrid from their next match as Vinicius Junior is punished for missing a spot-kick against Valencia.
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Vinicius Jr stripped of penalty dutiesMbappe to take penalties for MadridBrazilian missed spot-kick against ValenciaFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED?
The Brazilian winger failed to hand his team an early lead as he saw his feeble shot comfortably saved by Giorgi Mamardashvili. The penalty miss proved costly as Madrid eventually went down 2-1 against Valencia in La Liga last weekend. Now, reports that manager Ancelotti has decided to remove Vinicius Jr. from penalty duties as Mbappe is all set to take the club's spot-kicks, starting with their upcoming Champions League fixture against Arsenal.
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The blunder against Valencia was the Brazilian's second penalty miss in the 2024-25 campaign, as he had earlier failed to convert a spot-kick against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League. The report also adds that if Mbappe now fails to convert penalties, the next in line to take spot-kicks is Jude Bellingham. Like Vinicius Jr, Mbappe too has missed two penalties this season, while Bellingham has missed once.
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Valencia goalkeeper Mamardashvili has revealed that he had offered a bet to the Brazilian winger. Vinicius was lining up to take a penalty when the custodian said he would pay the star €50 if he was to score, and Vinicius agreed to pay the same fee should he miss.
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Los Blancos are set to visit North London to face Arsenal in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final fixture at Emirates Stadium on Tuesday.