Tag Futebol

RCB batter abandons his safety-first approach to instead go hell for leather, resulting in a “quite special knock”

Shashank Kishore19-May-20231:48

Moody: ‘The way Kohli batted, he reminded me of the 2016 season’

The discourse around Virat Kohli the T20 batter for much of IPL 2023, or perhaps a little longer, has been about his intent in the powerplay or the lack of it. Much of this has stemmed from poor returns of the Royal Challengers Bangalore batters apart from himself, Faf du Plessis and Glenn Maxwell.This safety-first approach has worked wonders as much as it has also backfired. But it is one that Kohli has backed himself to execute successfully more often than not.Against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Thursday evening, Kohli decided he’d had enough; he wasn’t going to bat the way he’d been batting all along. There was a purpose that perhaps stemmed from RCB having one eye on net run rate and a mindset of outright domination from get-go. Of the kind that made you wonder whether Kohli had been angered by something or someone; and there have been a few occasions this IPL where he has been testy.Related

Classy Klaasen's mastery against spin puts him among IPL royalty

Kohli: 'We've got Test cricket after the IPL, so I've got to stay true to my technique'

Scenarios: Royal Challengers take a huge step towards playoffs

Stats: Kohli draws level with Gayle for most IPL hundreds

Clinical Kohli, du Plessis keep RCB's fate in their hands

The first ball of the innings laid down the marker. Bhuvneshwer Kumar’s late swing was met with one of the most purposeful forward strides and head right over the ball as he creamed one through the covers. Kohli was up and running.It was a tall chase, even if not one that needed him to go all out. Kohli, though, did just that. Off the second ball, he anticipated Bhuvneshwar shortening his length and stood tall to slap it over backward point. He was one up on Bhuvneshwar, whom he has played with for over a decade. He knew what was coming and reacted instinctively. No holds barred.It was Abhishek Sharma’s turn next. Kohli vs spin in the powerplay has rarely set pulses racing: his strike rate against left-arm orthodox was 116. Abhishek has several variations – a traditional off break, a back-of-the-hand delivery, and a seam-up that swerves in. Here, he fired one down leg, perhaps anticipating Kohli would give him the charge. But Kohli went outside leg to get underneath the length and shovelled it back over the top. Two balls later, he backed away again to slap a length ball back past the bowler.It wasn’t until his stand-and-deliver boundary through extra cover off Kartik Tyagi – one that made such sweet connection that you wondered if he’d hit one that clean this season – that Kohli got into top gear. Batters often tell you there’s one particular stroke that helps them flick a switch. This, seemingly, was that stroke that pumped Kohli up. The 17 runs he made off his first 10 balls were the second most he’s hit in this phase this season.But it wasn’t just about the big hits. The moment Mayank Dagar came on and slowed it down nicely to extract square turn, Kohli switched gears and treaded with caution. The powerplay – RCB were 64 for 0 after six – gave him leeway to do so, too. With Dagar exercising control, you wondered if Sunrisers had erred by not picking another frontline spinner in Mayank Markande. They had handed a debut to seamer Nitish Reddy, and he was under the pump straightaway.One moment, Kohli was batting calmly, andthe next he was allowing adrenaline to kick in and his wrists and forearm power to take over. Kohli simply short-arm jabbed a perfectly acceptable length delivery into the body for a 103-metre six and stood there following the trajectory of the ball, holding the pose for the camera. That was just one of several eye-catching shots he played. The no-look sweep to a full, in-drifter from Dagar was full swag. It left du Plessis astounded.Virat Kohli started RCB’s chase with two boundaries, and did not stop there•BCCIKohli said later that batting with du Plessis brought him as much pleasure as batting with AB de Villiers. Kohli and du Plessis are different in the shots they play or areas they can access. Du Plessis is bottom-handed, while Kohli is the epitome of elegance that he mixes with a more-than-capable power game.”I think it’s the tattoos,” Kohli said with a laugh when asked about his success with du Plessis. The two have racked up the most runs by an opening pair in a single IPL season. “We call each other the ink boys. We almost have 900 runs together this season. It’s been amazing to bat with him. Another guy, very similar to how I used to feel when AB and me batted together.”There was just an understanding of where the game is going and what needs to be done. We pump each other, we read the conditions, we give each other feedback for how we can play certain bowlers. Having an experienced guy who’s captained at the international level, he’s handled troops as well, it’s just been a beautiful transition for us coming together for RCB at the top and making an impact, which is so important.”For much of the innings, Kohli and du Plessis were neck-and-neck with their score. And then suddenly Kohli gave himself a power boost against Bhuvneshwar. If you thought he couldn’t have topped the first two shots to open the innings, you were wrong.Kohli on his ton – “It was a quite special knock considering where we’re placed in the points table and the magnitude of the game”•BCCIA regal drive on the up, a chip over cover and mid-off that nearly carried all the way, a one-handed hit over his head off a low full-toss and a ferocious cut – all in Bhuvneshwar’s third over – shaved nearly 10% off their target. From 55 off 36, it was down to 37 off 30. Bhuvneshwar’s final over, the 18th, was the one in which Kohli reached his hundred, off 62 balls.”Yeah, quite special knock considering where we’re placed in the points table and the magnitude of the game,” Kohli said. “I thought Hyderabad got a really good score. If you saw, the ball was gripping in between overs as well, so it’s quite special, knowing that we wanted a good start, solid start.”We didn’t expect to be 172 without loss, but that’s how well Faf and me have played this season. Faf’s been on a different level, but, you know, I’ve had a quiet couple of games in the last few games. I just felt like the way I was hitting the ball in the nets, it wasn’t quite transitioning into the game in the last two or three games, so I wanted to make an impact, and my intent from ball one was to go after the bowlers. It’s something that I’ve done through the season – there was a little bit of a dip, but I wanted to pick my game up at the right time, so considering all those factors I’m just happy that it all came together nicely.”

When Watto went from slow starter to ruthless punisher

Deivarayan Muthu07-May-20216:26

Tom Moody, Mike Hussey and Shane Watson relive the match-winning 117 not out

We polled our staff for their picks of the top ten best batting, bowling and all-round performances in the IPL through its history. Here’s No. 2Chennai Super Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, final, 2018
With the Chennai Super Kings returning from a two-year suspension, emotions ran high among players and fans. Even the usually unflappable MS Dhoni almost teared up at an event while speaking about his side’s return to the IPL.Both Dhoni and coach Stephen Fleming agreed that only experience could counter the effects of the emotions and pressure. So, at the IPL 2018 auction, the Super Kings packed their squad with over-30s players, including Shane Watson.Fleming, who was coaching the Melbourne Stars then in the BBL, liked what he had seen of Watson in the 2017-18 Australian tournament. Watson was the fifth-highest scorer that season, tallying 331 runs for the Sydney Thunder in ten innings at an average of 36.77 and strike rate of just under 140. But at 36, could he reprise those heroics in the IPL, ten years after he had emerged MVP in the inaugural season, back in 2008?That question came up again in the 2018 final, when Watson went scoreless off his first ten balls in a chase of 179 at the Wankhede against the Sunrisers Hyderabad. Bhuvneshwar Kumar had started with a maiden over in which a big outswinger ripped past Watson’s outside edge, and he continued to challenge the edges. Watson was also carrying a hamstring strain that hampered his running between the wickets. Faf du Plessis was gone and Suresh Raina wasn’t quite the IPL stalwart he once was.In the sixth over, Watson broke loose with a six and four off Sandeep Sharma, and when first-change Siddarth Kaul darted one on to the pads the following over, Watson lunged at it like a caged animal released, clearing the square-leg boundary with a full-blooded whip. In Kaul’s next over, Watson sent a knuckleball over long-on for six. Then lined up Sharma again in the 13th, clobbering him for a hat-trick of sixes in a 27-run over.Flow like Watto: absorb, assess, attack•BCCIIn all, Watson ruthlessly took 74 off 27 balls from Kaul and Sharma. His stunning transformation even allowed Ambati Rayudu to play a maiden in the 15th over, bowled by Rashid Khan. They could afford it: CSK only needed 33 off 30 balls after that over, with eight wickets in hand. From 0 off ten balls, and a run-a-ball 19 at the end of the powerplay, Watson cranked up to his century in 51 balls.Other players might have panicked after such a slow start with the title on the line, but not a T20 veteran like Watson. Other teams might have panicked if their home base had been moved after just one game, but not Dhoni’s CSK. After the franchise moved to Pune (and their fans moved with them), Watson adapted to the conditions and struck a century against his former team, the Rajasthan Royals.Pilloried as Dad’s Army for picking too many over-30s – and retired – players, CSK eventually won the title thanks to a hundred from a 36-year old who was largely batting on one leg.

The numbers

1 Watson’s score, 117 off 57 balls, is the highest in an IPL final

555 Runs scored by Watson in 2018, his most prolific IPL season

108 Runs Watson has scored against Rashid Khan at a strike rate of 147.94 being dismissed, in all T20 cricket. No other batter has a better record against the legspinner in the format

“This year we’ve really valued experience and also around the world you see experienced players consistently do well,” Fleming had said after the auction in 2018. “MS and I are both on the same wavelength that that experience counts. There’s room there for young players to come tomorrow, but it was one of our directions as CSK comes back in, to get an established experienced side to join the likes of [Ravindra] Jadeja and [Suresh] Raina and a couple of other young players. That was the plan.”The plan worked perfectly for CSK as they beat the Sunrisers 4-0 that season to seal their third IPL title and one of the most remarkable comebacks.The Greatest IPL performances 2008-2020

MatériaMais Notícias

https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaConDhGZNCrYwAXTe0f?utm_source=cta&utm_medium=whatsappvasco&utm_id=whatsapp

https://www.lance.com.br/resenha-de-apostas/noticias/revanche-ganhe-mais-de-r450-na-vitoria-do-corinthians-sobre-o-sao-bernardo.html

Tudo sobre

ClaytonFutebol NacionalVasco

Manchester United’s squad at present is full of top-level talent in numerous areas of the pitch, but Ruben Amorim has so far struggled to make use of the players at his disposal.

The hierarchy have constantly splashed the cash in recent years, with over £200m being spent on new attacking talents during the recent summer transfer window.

The likes of Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko and Matheus Cunha all made the move to Old Trafford, but they have only posted a total of eight Premier League goals combined in 2025/26.

Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system has seen Mbeumo operate in a somewhat unnatural central attacking midfield role, no doubt taking away his best asset – cutting inside off the right-hand side – away from him.

As a result, one player has indirectly suffered this campaign, with the manager recently coming under fire for his lack of faith shown in the player over recent months.

The latest on Kobbie Mainoo’s Man Utd future

Just a couple of years ago, Kobbie Mainoo was a key member of the United first-team squad, with the midfielder often starting at the heart of Erik ten Hag’s side.

He emerged out of the club’s academy setup, often popping up with key moments, as seen by his incredible achievements during the 2023/24 campaign.

The 20-year-old scored a late winner in the clash against Wolverhampton Wanderers, whilst also netting in the FA Cup final against Manchester City – resulting in a place in the England squad for Euro 2024.

However, his career has taken a nosedive over the last 12 months, with Amorim evidently not seeing the academy graduate as part of his long-term plans at Old Trafford.

Mainoo has featured in nine league matches to date, none of which have come from a starting role, leading to one journalist questioning the manager over the midfielder after yesterday’s draw.

The 40-year-old simply laughed when asked about bringing the youngster on to try and win the game at the Theatre of Dreams, which sums up the faith he currently has in him at present.

However, an escape route could well be on the cards for Mainoo ahead of the January transfer window, with Napoli constantly tracking the Englishman over a potential transfer.

The Man Utd player that Amorim is misusing in 2025/26

The reluctance to utilise Mainoo in 2025/26 is just one of Amorim’s biggest failures to date, with the youngster massively deserving the chance to thrive under his guidance.

However, his recent spell on the substitutes bench highlights the lack of faith shown in him by the manager, with a solution desperately needed in the coming months.

The same could also be said about numerous other players, as seen by the struggles endured within the final third of the pitch over the last couple of matches in the Premier League.

Mbeumo has now failed to find the back of the net in each of his last three outings, but the forward is set to go to AFCON throughout January, which could leave a huge hole in the Red Devils’ attack.

His month-long spell away from Manchester could open up the door for Bruno Fernandes to once again feature in the number ten position – a role that is no doubt his best.

The Portuguese international operated in an attacking midfield role during 2024/25, resulting in the 31-year-old registering 37 combined goals and assists across all competitions.

However, the £200m spending spree in attacking areas has resulted in the United captain dropping into a deep-lying number eight position, which has taken away his creative nature in recent months.

He still currently has a total of five assists in his 14 appearances this campaign, but there’s little denying he’s endured a drop-off from his form last season.

Bruno, who’s been dubbed United’s “best player post Fergie” by writer Kaustubh Pandey, has now had to contribute more defensively, as seen by his increased tally of tackles won per 90 compared to last season.

However, whilst he’s still managed to play a part in winning the ball back for his side, it’s come with an adverse effect – subsequently resulting in a lack of creativity in attacking areas.

He’s only scored twice in the Premier League to date, one of which was a penalty, highlighting his lack of impact in terms of goal contributions in 2025/26.

Bruno Fernandes – PL stats (2025/26)

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

14

Goals scored

2

Pass accuracy

83%

Shots on target

0.7

Chances created

1.8

Tackles won

1.8

Duels won

4.6

Interceptions made

0.6

Stats via FotMob

It’s clear to everyone but Amorim that the Portuguese star is better in an attacking role, which means one of the £200m additions may need to be sacrificed.

Such a move could open up a free role at the heart of the Red Devils side, which could allow Mainoo to have the run of games he needs to save his United career

However, if Amorim is unable to make such changes in the near future, it could result in the 40-year-old losing his job at Old Trafford in the near future – with such a decision an easy one for him to make.

Related Fewer touches than Lammens & 100% duels lost: Man Utd flop must be dropped

Ruben Amorim has multiple changes to make after his side’s 1-1 draw with West Ham United.

Posts ByEthan Lamb Dec 5, 2025

Equipment has long had a history of causing controversy in professional sports when sanctioned and unsanctioned adjustments are made.

New basketballs were a point of contention for the NBA in 2006 (the league reverted to its previous ball in a matter of months). Deflated footballs had their moment in the NFL and helmets are an ongoing dilemma. But a continuous storyline always seems to be the ball for MLB.

Sometimes it's how players—pitchers, mainly—manipulate them. A "sticky stuff" scandal took over the league for a brief moment at the start of the 2021 season. This year, the raw baseballs are playing far differently than in years past, impacting the flight of batted balls specifically.

A piece from published Friday morning went into findings on how baseballs are flying differently this year, with an increased drag coefficient leading to fly balls coming up four feet short on equivalent hard hits compared to years prior. The coefficient adjusts for situational variants like weather and altitude.

MLB has acknowledged it, saying, "There has been no change to the manufacturing, storage or handling of baseballs this year, and all baseballs remain within specifications.”

The report went on to say that a working theory in the league office is a possible difference in seam width or height. Balls are hand-stitched, leaving room for possible imperfections and variance ball-to-ball, but as the report points out, "… something appears to be happening at scale: On all but four individual days this year, there has been more drag on the ball than last season’s average."

It could explain, in part, some of the seeming no-doubters we've seen that have stayed in the park for fly-outs. At the same time, some of the biggest sluggers are still able to put baseballs places we've never seen them before off the bat.

It was crucial that Everton put the brakes on their season for a third time with a win. And win the Toffees did. The Hill Dickinson returned to form as David Moyes oversaw a professional victory over Fulham in the Premier League.

The 2-0 win marked the end of a three-match winless run for Everton, lifting them to 11th in the standings. It’s all rather congested in the middle of the table right now, but Everton know they need to make improvements if they wish to beat off mid-table competition and push for a place in the top half.

And it’s becoming apparent that external solutions will be needed, thus turning our attention toward the looming January transfer window.

Where Everton are looking to strengthen

Everton’s winter transfer plans are currently rather nebulous, but that’s only natural given there is still a month and a half until the January market opens for business.

What is clear is that Moyes will be looking to strengthen, and the Friedkin Group are ready to back him in this endeavour. More detailed plans might be unknown, but it’s obvious that the Toffees will look to sign a striker, with Beto and £27m summer recruit Thierno Barry both toiling this term, one goal between them in the Premier League.

Were the Merseysiders playing their football with a reliable bagsman at number nine, it would not be unreasonable to suggest that European contention would already be a conversation.

That could still be the case, with a few tweaks. It’s not just up top where Everton need to remedy their tactical creases. Both full-back berths have been focus points of criticism this season, with Jake O’Brien industrious at right-back but out of position nonetheless, naturally a centre-back.

Let’s have a look at how Everton could shape up after a window of dealings.

Moyes' dream XI after January

Jordan Pickford will, of course, remain between the sticks for Everton, having extended until 2029 last month.

The return of Jarrad Branthwaite to fitness will also feel like a new signing for side who have had to make do at the rear this term. Praise must be placed at Michael Keane’s feet, the English defender having completed a U-turn before the end of last season, signing a new deal and starting every Premier League match of the campaign.

It is indeed the wide defenders who need changing, and Everton could act on their interest in Sevilla’s Juanlu Sanchez, with an October report suggesting the Blues have prepared a £17m bid ahead of January.

Sanchez, 23, is a powerful and balanced player, and in La Liga this season, he ranks among the top 14% of positional peers for progressive carries and the top 16% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.

This would be an interesting deal to add width and dynamism down Everton’s right side, but it could be a move that is overshadowed by a loan bid for Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly.

Lewis-Skelly’s reduced role in Mikel Arteta’s title-challenging team this season is not a reflection of his skillset but an emphasis on the Gunners’ remarkable rise in recent years. The 19-year-old was very much a part of that last year, his performances leading The Athletic’s Aaron Catterson-Reid to describe him as a “£100m footballer”.

Arteta has yet to name the prospect from the opening in the top flight this season, and this has given rise to chatter about a winter loan move. A number of unnamed Premier League clubs are monitoring the situation, and it’s more than likely that Everton are among that mix.

Such additions would have a marked impact on Everton’s prospects this season, giving Iliman Ndiaye and Jack Grealish more freedom and security on the attacking wings. Grealish is only a loanee himself, but there are hopes that a permanent deal can be engineered in 2026.

That leaves the big one. One of Beto or Barry could leave the Hill Dickinson this winter, especially when Everton have shown signs of interest in Al-Ahli striker Ivan Toney, who left the Premier League for Saudi Arabia in 2024.

Toney, 29, is one of England’s most talented and dangerous marksmen, and he had been coveted by Chelsea last summer, before the stars aligned for a big pay packet overseas.

The Athletic have confirmed that the former Brentford man is a player of interest heading into the January market, albeit with a host of complications relating to finances and the thick competition for such a signature at the season’s midpoint.

This would be an ambitious move, but one which could pay off handsomely if the Merseyside club play their cards right. The £30m-rated Toney, after all, is intrigued by the possibility of returning to his homeland ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

Instrumental in propping the Gtech up in the Premier League, Toney was described by Thomas Frank as being a “monster” of a striker, not only deadly in front of goal but dynamic and intelligent too.

Ivan Toney’s Premier League Career

Season

Apps

Goals (assists)

25/26

17

4 (2)

24/25

33

20 (4)

23/24

33

12 (5)

Data via Transfermarkt

It won’t be easy, wrestling the £400k-per-week Three Lions star from the Gulf region and beating the inevitable competition for his signature, but Everton need a striker, and Moyes may just canvass a compelling proposal to the proven Premier League star.

We can say without question that Everton have enjoyed an upswing in results and performances since Moyes replaced Sean Dyche at the helm. But Everton need more. There’s a bluntness to the squad’s attack, and by reenergising the widths and placing a robust and hungry option at the focal front point, Moyes might just pull off another special success.

Related 0 minutes all season: "Generational" Everton star could be Branthwaite 2.0

David Moyes must consider unleashing this talented Everton youngster in the coming weeks.

Posts ByAngus Sinclair Nov 7, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

O Santos não poderá contar com peça importante do ataque contra o Flamengo. Marcos Leonardo, artilheiro do Peixe e titular absoluto, recebeu o terceiro amarelo e está fora do confronto do Campeonato Brasileiro.

+ Veja tabela do Campeonato Brasileiro-2023 clicando aqui

O jogador recebeu a suspensão contra o Corinthians por fazer provocação no banco de reservas após o empate do Peixe nos acréscimos.

+ Tudo sobre o Peixe agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso novo canal Lance! Santos

O atleta, porém, saiu do clássico com dores e poderá se recuperar para estar disponível na reta final do Brasileirão.

O Santos tem uma dependência muito grande do atacante. Ele influenciou de forma direta em 15 dos 34 pontos conquistados pelo clube na competição nacional.

NÃO É O ÚNICO DESFALQUE PARA A PARTIDA

Além dele, João Basso não atua contra o Rubro-Negro. Aliás, o zagueiro pode ficar o restante da temporada longe dos gramados por conta de uma séria lesão.

QUEM DEVE SUBSTITUIR ELES?

Para o lugar de Marcos Leonardo, Julio Furch é tido como reserva imediato, mas Silvera pode ser opção e formar dupla com Soteldo. Na defesa, Messias e Jair são os zagueiros que podem compor a vaga, se Marcelo Fernandes não optar por rearranjar a escalação.

MatériaMais Notícias

Em meio a um momento turbulento na temporada, o Palmeiras não vence uma partida há exatamente um mês. A última vez que o clube ganhou um jogo foi no dia 15 de setembro, quando fez 1 a 0 no Goiás, no Allianz Parque, pelo Campeonato Brasileiro.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasPalmeirasPalmeiras faz coletivo de uma hora visando duelo com o Atlético-MGPalmeiras14/10/2023PalmeirasVÍDEO: Dudu coloca o pé no chão e mostra evolução em recuperação no PalmeirasPalmeiras14/10/2023Futebol InternacionalCom passagem pelo Internacional, lateral brasileiro afirma interesse de Palmeiras, Flamengo e CorinthiansFutebol Internacional14/10/2023

+ Veja tabela do Campeonato Brasileiro-2023 clicando aqui

Na oportunidade, o Verdão empatava a partida válida pela 23ª rodada até os acréscimos do segundo tempo quando Breno Lopes garantiu os três pontos para sua equipe. Desde então, somando jogos do Brasileirão e da Libertadores, foram dois empates e três derrotas, incluindo uma eliminação na semifinal da competição continental para o Boca Juniors-ARG e um resultado negativo diante do Santos, rival que o Alviverde não perdia desde 2019.

+ Garanta a sua vaga no curso que formou craques como Pet, Dante e Léo Moura! Cupom: LANCE1000

Quando venceu o Esmeraldino, o Palmeiras vivia o sonho de alcançar o Botafogo na tabela do campeonato nacional e também de começar com o pé direito a penúltima fase da Liberta diante do Boca, em La Bombonera.

continua após a publicidade

+ Futebol total! Aposte R$100 e ganhe mais de R$800 com os jogos de domingo na Série B

+ Pra rechear o domingo! Aposte R$100 e ganhe mais de R$800 com as Eliminatórias da Euro

No entanto, a sequência da temporada virou de cabeça para baixo. Não só a desilusão com a eliminação no torneio continental, mas também a disparada do Fogão também dificultou e muito a disputa pelo título nacional.

Além disso, questões extracampo também vieram à tona. O fato principal é a briga da presidente Leila Pereira com a torcida do Palmeiras, mais especificamente com a Mancha Verde, principal organizada do clube. Recentemente, inclusive, a dirigente concedeu entrevista coletiva e deu declarações que irritaram a torcida, estremecendo ainda mais a relação entre as partes. Sem contar, também, pichações em sedes da Crefisa e protestos incessantes contra a diretoria alviverde.

continua após a publicidade

+ Leila quer abrir ‘leilão’ para novo patrocínio no Palmeiras; saiba como funciona o processo

O Verdão terá uma chance de retomar o caminho das vitórias nesta quinta-feira (19). Após a parada da Data Fifa, a equipe de Abel Ferreira entrará em campo para enfrentar o Atlético-MG, no Allianz Parque, às 19h, pela 27ª rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro. Tendo em vista que o Palmeiras não vence há três jogos no Brasileirão, o volante Zé Rafael afirmou que a partida diante do Galo é uma boa oportunidade para a equipe retomar a confiança.

– Não é uma eliminação que vai apagar todo o trabalho que a gente fez ao longo deste ano e dos anteriores. Não estamos satisfeitos com isso e nosso objetivo é, além de sempre estar evoluindo e melhorando, terminar o ano da melhor maneira possível. Se não for com o título, que seja com a nossa vaga direta na Libertadores – declarou o meio-campista.

+ Do amor ao ódio: o passo a passo da implosão da relação de Leila Pereira com organizada do Palmeiras

Na partida do primeiro turno, no dia 28 de maio, o Verdão empatou com o Atlético-MG em 1 a 1 no Mineirão, em Belo Horizonte (MG). O jogo ficou marcado pela anulação de um gol de bicicleta marcado por Rony que gerou bastante insatisfação por parte dos palmeirenses. No momento, o Palmeiras é o quarto colocado do Brasileirão com 44 pontos, 11 pontos a menos que o líder Botafogo.

Tudo sobre

Palmeiras

Despite beating Brentford away over the weekend, Manchester City got some bad news on the injury front. Key midfielder Rodri had to be taken off with just 20 minutes gone due to a suspected hamstring issue.

Of course, the 29-year-old has struggled with injury issues since rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament last season.

Thankfully for City fans, the former Atletico Madrid star gave an encouraging update, explaining that the injury “seems like it’s not that much,” and suggesting he could even be fit for the first game after the international break against Everton. Surely Pep Guardiola will want to make sure his first-choice number six is 100% fit before playing him again.

Frustratingly, one of City’s former academy stars, Romeo Lavia, could have softened the blow of Rodri’s absence.

Why Lavia could have replaced Rodri

As they have tended to do with academy stars over the past few years, City did an excellent job of selling Lavia. He joined Southampton back in 2022 for a fee of up to £14m, despite only playing once for the first team at the Etihad Stadium.

He impressed so much on the South Coast that the former Anderlecht academy star got a big move to Chelsea the summer after. At Stamford Bridge, opportunities have been scarce for Lavia due to injury problems of his own.

However, he’s worked hard to build back to full fitness and is now looking to cement himself as a key part of Enzo Maresca’s midfield.

In total, the Belgian has only made 25 appearances for the Blues, with just two coming this season. The majority of them have come at the base of Maresca’s midfield, where he’s been able to screen the back four and show his excellent progressive carrying skills.

Lavia showed what he is all about in Chelsea’s recent 2-1 win over Liverpool. He came off the bench at Stamford Bridge last weekend, and his cameo was enough to earn him a 7/10 rating from The Standard journalist Dom Smith. He said the 21-year-old put in a ‘good display’ against the Reds.

Yet, with the amount the injury-prone starlet has featured for Chelsea, he may not have been the right player to operate as Rodri’s understudy. They recently let the perfect backup slip through the cracks.

Man City sold the perfect Rodri understudy

Standing in for Rodri in the City squad is certainly no easy task. Lavia has the quality, but his injury issues mean his availability might not have been what City needed. At the club, the likes of Nico Gonzalez and Kalvin Phillips are at Guardiola’s disposal.

However, the man who could have seamlessly slotted into the starting lineup in Rodri’s absence, which is a regular occurrence these days, was sold in the summer for just £13m. Maximo Perrone made the permanent move to Serie A side Como after a season-long loan in Italy.

After joining City in 2023 from Argentine side Velez Sarsfield, Perrone never really managed to nail down a place in the side. He only made two appearances for the first team at the Etihad Stadium in the treble-winning season of 2022/23, before moving on loan to Las Palmas and then Como, where he now plies his trade.

So far, the 22-year-old has made 33 appearances for Cesc Fabregas’ side. The defensive midfielder has cemented his spot in the starting lineup, playing 90 minutes in each of the last three games and scoring his first goal for the club last weekend.

Perrone would have been “an ideal Rodri back-up,” according to football analyst Ben Mattinson.

Well, his underlying numbers from last season show just why. For example, the midfielder averaged 2.81 tackles and interceptions per 90 minutes, ranking him in the 63rd percentile of Serie A midfielders.

Passes completed

58.84

92nd

Key passes

1.45

84th

Tackles won

1.31

75th

Interceptions

0.97

71st

Clearnaces

2.08

88th

Perrone certainly feels like one that got away from this City squad. With his profile, a progressive ball-winner in the middle of the park, he could have seamlessly fitted into the City side in Rodri’s absence.

Letting him go for such a cheap fee in the summer could be a big error by City, especially with Rodri’s persistent injury issues.

Man City goal machine who's out on loan could be Pep's next Erling Haaland

As Haaland rediscovers his best form, Man City’s striking future looks secure.

ByWill Miller Oct 7, 2025

Hammond and Bancroft make half-centuries but Gloucestershire the happier with washout

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay26-May-2025Northamptonshire 469 (Zaib 159, Sales 81, Harrison 63) and 259 for 6 (Sales 70, Zaib 56, Bailey 3-55) drew with Gloucestershire 379 for 8 dec (Green 118*, Bancroft 60, Hammond 51, Harrison 4-94) and 214 for 6 (Hammond 80, Bancroft 60) Rain put paid to the prospect of an exciting finish at Wantage Road as Northamptonshire and Gloucestershire were eventually forced to settle for a draw in the Rothesay County Championship.The contest had been nicely poised when the weather intervened, edging in favour of the home side with Gloucestershire on 214 for six, needing another 136 from a minimum of 24.2 overs.Northamptonshire had set their opponents a target of exactly 350 after rattling up another 101 from the first 12 overs of the day to declare on 259 for six, built around bristling knocks of 70 and 58 respectively from James Sales and Saif Zaib.Miles Hammond threatened to spearhead a successful Gloucestershire charge with his innings of 80, while Cameron Bancroft also posted his second half-century of the game before the home side fought back.Having already shared a century partnership in the first innings, Sales and Zaib were soon speeding towards another in the morning as they extended Northamptonshire’s overnight advantage of 248.Sales soon added the single needed for his second 50 of the match, while it was Zaib who really set the tone, banging two boundaries off the back foot and lifting Tom Price over the top for six.The left-hander followed his partner to a half-century from 58 balls, but perished hooking Archie Bailey (three for 55) down the throat of deep midwicket – and Sales departed later in the same over, attempting to ramp and losing his middle stump.However, Lewis McManus and George Bartlett continued to throw the bat as they added another 44, both belting Graeme van Buuren for leg-side sixes to lift their side’s lead to 349 and trigger the declaration.Gloucestershire began their chase solidly, scoring at around three and a half an over but lost two wickets prior to lunch, with Liam Guthrie moving one away from Ben Charlesworth to take the edge.Calvin Harrison did well to scoop up a chance at second slip to dismiss Ollie Price and the home side might also have removed Hammond before he had scored, with a top-edged sweep off the spinner looping up but falling to safety.Hammond was swiftly into his stride after the interval, dancing down the track to slam Harrison into the car park and belting Luke Procter for successive cover boundaries as he overtook Bancroft en route to his fourth half-century of the season.A swept four off Harrison took Hammond to that landmark from 56 balls, with Bancroft following suit in the next over and, aside from an appeal against Hammond for obstructing the field – rejected by the umpires – the Gloucestershire pair looked comfortable.Having matched his first-innings score exactly, the captain attempted to hook Guthrie and swiped through to McManus – but Hammond continued to pile on runs, cutting and pulling with assurance.Yet Northamptonshire’s decision to introduce Bartlett’s occasional off-breaks paid dividends as he claimed his maiden first-class wicket on the stroke of tea, trapping Hammond lbw with the visitors just under halfway to their target.Bartlett made way for Harrison, who played a key role in securing two further wickets as he tempted Cameron Green to drive to short cover and then sprang to take a thick edge at slip off James Bracey.But just as Bracey’s replacement Tom Price made his way out to the middle, the rain arrived and the covers were laid in place, stifling any chance of a positive result.