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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has been dealt an injury blow, as it has been revealed that a “difference maker” in his squad will be out for “weeks”.

Bukayo Saka returns in boost for Arsenal

Star winger Bukayo Saka had been sidelined since December with a hamstring injury, but in a major boost for Arteta, the England international has returned to the fold and just in time for their looming Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid.

Arsenal now planning to offer £50m for "incredible" Mbappe-esque striker

The Gunners have set their sights on a new forward.

By
Dominic Lund

Apr 1, 2025

A good run in Europe is Arsenal’s only chance to make anything of this otherwise disappointing campaign overall, with the Gunners all but out of the Premier League title race as Liverpool seize a huge gap at the top of the table.

Saka, who’s racked up an incredible nine goals and 14 assists in all competitions for the north Londoners this season, despite missing many games lately, will provide a serious injection of threat on the right-hand side and give Arsenal a much greater chance of getting past Real.

“Bukayo is ready to go,” said Arteta in Arsenal’s pre-match press conference before Fulham.

“All the careful things he’s already done. So now it’s about putting him in the grass in the right moments. But he’s pushing because he really wants it. We have respected the timeframe, we have done everything and we have had to hold him back even. So he’s ready to go.

Arsenal’s next five Premier League games	Date
Fulham (home)	April 1st
Everton (away)	April 5th
Brentford (home)	April 12th
Ipswich Town (away)	April 20th
Crystal Palace (home)	April 26th

“It’s another massive weapon that we have with him. We know the impact that he’s had on the team and how important his role and his contribution are to our success. So it’s great to have him back.”

The £195,000-per-week star’s return also helps to mitigate the losses of fellow attackers Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz, who are both out of action with long-term injuries.

Havertz will miss the remainder of 2024/2025 after a hamstring injury, while some reports suggest Arsenal won’t have Jesus back until 2026.

Riccardo Calafori out for "weeks" after Arsenal injury update

Unfortunately for Arteta, amid Saka’s comeback, there is some bad news regarding defender Riccardo Calafiori.

The centre-back picked up an injury on international duty with Italy, and it is now expected that Calafiori will be out for “weeks” at Arsenal. Sharing an update, Arteta also suggests it could be longer, although he’s hoping that won’t be the case.

“Riccardo, unfortunately, picked up an injury again with the national team,” said Arteta.

“It was really unfortunate the way it happened, but it could have been much worse, so hopefully it’s going to be a matter of weeks. But we’ll have to see how that injury evolves.

“They’re two injuries that were picked up with the national team. One, it was a kick, and the other one is a really bad turn, twist when he slips with the surface. And the other one, it was muscle. But the main two injuries that he had, the was very little he could do, so very unfortunate.”

The £42m signing from Bologna last summer has proved very useful for Arteta when fit and available, with Football Analyst Ben Mattinson even calling him a “difference maker” in attack at times.

Over 26 appearances in all competitions, Calafiori has helped to provide quality at both left-back and centre-back, but Arteta will be hoping he’s a bit more lucky next season when it comes to availability.

Sam Curran and Liam Livingstone spoiled Rishabh Pant’s comeback as Punjab Kings started their IPL 2024 campaign with a four-wicket win at their new home ground in Mullanpur.After being sent in, Delhi Capitals were 137 for 7 in the 18th over when they decided to bring in Abishek Porel as the Impact Player. Porel smashed 32 off just ten balls to lift them to 174 for 9.But that also meant Capitals were going to be a bowler light during the chase. Ishant Sharma’s injury – he hurt his ankle after bowling just two overs – set them back further.Related

• Pant on his comeback to cricket: 'I was pretty nervous'

Shikhar Dhawan and Jonny Bairstow started the Kings’ chase positively but both fell in the fourth over. Kuldeep Yadav then dismissed Prabhsimran Singh and Jitesh Sharma to keep Capitals in the game.But Curran and Livingstone took over after that and added 67 off 42 balls for the fifth wicket. Curran was out in the 19th over, for 63 off 47, but Livingstone stayed till the end and finished the game with a muscular six with four balls to spare.

Warner, Marsh give Capitals a breezy start

With Prithvi Shaw left out, David Warner and Mitchell Marsh opened the innings for Capitals and gave them a fast start. Marsh got going by hitting two fours off the first two balls he faced, from Curran. Warner joined in by carting Arshdeep Singh for a six and a four in the next over.Marsh then hit a six each off Kagiso Rabada and Arshdeep. He fell for 20 off 12 when he drove Arshdeep to cover-point where Rahul Chahar took a sharp, overhead catch.Warner kept batting aggressively and even flick-scooped Rabada for a six as Capitals finished the powerplay on 54 for 1. In the seventh over, Shai Hope, on IPL debut, danced down the track and lofted Chahar for a straight six.It was all Capitals at that stage till Harshal Patel came to Kings’ rescue, having Warner caught behind with a slower bouncer.

Pant’s first outing after the accident

Warner’s wicket brought Pant to the crease, and the Mullanpur crowd welcomed him with a standing ovation. Playing his first competitive game in 15 months, Pant looked a bit rusty. He was given a life on 4 when Harshal lost the ball in the sun at deep midwicket and ended up gifting a four.As if to rub it in, Pant then drove Harshal for his second boundary. Two balls later, though, Harshal bowled a slower bouncer; Pant failed to spot it and ended up popping it to backward point. His first outing with bat on comeback ended on 18 off 13 balls.3:06

Moody on Porel: That’s how impact subs should be used

The Porel gamble pays off

Harpreet Brar and Chahar dented Capitals further. Brar had Ricky Bhui caught down the leg side, and Tristan Stubbs holed out to long-off while trying an inside-out shot against Chahar.When Axar Patel was run out coming back for a second, Capitals were reduced to 137 for 7 with 2.5 overs to go. But, coming in as the Impact Player, Porel slashed hard at a short and wide delivery from Harshal and picked up a boundary to deep third.After 19 overs, Capitals were 149 for 8. With Harshal bowling the last over, Kings would have expected to restrict Capitals under 160. But that’s when Porel decided to have a say in matters, and smashed three fours and two sixes in a 25-run final over.That lifted Capitals to 174 for 9. At the start of the 20th over, ESPNcricinfo’s Forecaster had Capitals’ chances of winning at 38.9%. Porel singlehandedly lifted that number to 56.7%.

Dhawan, Bairtsow start with a flurry of fours

Just like the Capitals openers, Dhawan and Bairstow also started with positive intent. In the first three overs, they hit a combined six fours and looted 34 runs. However, both fell in the fourth over. Dhawan was bowled as he charged down the ground to Ishant, and Bairstow was run-out at the non-striker’s end when a Prabhsimran drive brushed a diving Ishant’s fingers and crashed into the stumps.But, in the sixth over, Prabhsimran tucked one towards midwicket, from where Ishant charged and fielded the ball. But as he was about to throw, he twisted his right ankle and had to be carried off the field.1:47

Has Harshal become too predictable?

Kuldeep keeps Capitals in the game

In the tenth over, Prabhsimran tried to go big against Kuldeep and holed out to long-on for a 17-ball 26, which included five fours. In the spinner’s next over, Jitesh attempted a reverse sweep, but not only did he miss the ball, he also lost his balance and ended up out of his crease. Pant was alert behind the stumps and broke the wickets.Kuldeep finished with figures of 2 for 21. He could have easily picked up a third, but Tristan Stubbs, running to his right from long-on, put down Curran, who was on 33 at that point.

Curran, Livingstone take over

Kings needed 63 from the last six overs when Curran and Livingstone clubbed Marsh for 18 to calm the nerves.Capitals still had hope when 28 were required from three overs. But with Ishant off the field, Pant had no option but to bowl Marsh again. He conceded another 18 to finish with 52 from his four wicketless overs.In the 19th over, Khaleel dismissed Curran and Shashank Singh off successive deliveries but it was too late by then. Warner dropping Brar on the last ball of the Khaleel over didn’t help either.With just six required from the final over, Sumit Kumar, who was making his IPL debut, had little chance against a set Livingstone. He started with two wides, and after a dot, Livingstone launched him over deep midwicket to seal the win.

Archie Gray captured the attention of the country last season after his mesmerising rise into the Leeds United first-team, playing a huge role in the side despite his tender age.

The versatile talent broke into Daniel Farke’s side despite being just 17 years old, and he would feature in 52 matches across all competitions, with his ability to operate in various roles also impressing.

The academy graduate is naturally a central midfielder by trade but was also utilised in a right-back role in the Whites’ first-team, not looking out of place despite his youthful years.

His consistency, coupled with the club’s failure to win promotion from the Championship would see Gray move to Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur for a whopping £40m last summer.

It’s now been nearly a year on from his big-money transfer, but how is he coping with the demands of the top-flight and has he been able to make the same impact he did during his time with his boyhood club?

Archie Gray’s time at Tottenham in 2024/25

During the early weeks of the 2024/25 campaign, Gray found minutes hard to come by – understandably so given the strength in depth within Ange Postecoglou’s midfield.

However, the recent injury crisis in North London allowed the talented teenager to gain valuable minutes in the Lilywhites’ first team, albeit in an unnatural role once again.

The now 19-year-old would offer cover at centre-back during the winter months, starting 19 consecutive games at the heart of the defence, adding another role to his already impressive versatile profile.

He’s still thrived despite operating out of position, registering a 91% pass accuracy, and winning 53% of his aerial battles, demonstrating performance levels way beyond his tender age.

However, despite his impressive form in North London, Leeds could be about to unearth a player who could become even better than Gray, demonstrating the quality the club’s academy possesses.

The Leeds talent who could be a bigger star than Gray

There’s no denying that Gray has been the biggest star to emerge from the club’s academy setup in recent years, having a huge impact on the first-team before leaving in a big-money deal – subsequently improving their finances.

However, given the cutthroat nature of football, the staff behind the scenes will undoubtedly be looking at the next star to break through and follow in a similar fashion.

Such a feat could happen in the form of Harry Gray, the younger brother of Archie, who’s already captured the attention of numerous Premier League teams as a result of his impressive form at academy level.

The 16-year-old has been on the radar of Newcastle United and Tottenham in recent days, looking to get ahead of the game given his brother’s rapid rise to stardom.

Ben Mattinson has previously said that the current Leeds star is “more talented” than his older brother, understandably so given his record in 2024/25, which has seen him net 10 goals in 17 games at various youth levels in the last two years.

Two of his subsequent goals have come at U21 level this season, showcasing his talents despite operating at an age group five years above where he should be playing.

The “supremely talented” youngster, as dubbed by another analyst, has also featured for England’s U17 side, having huge potential to catapult himself into Farke’s side in the near future, just as Archie did.

Leeds United’s most expensive academy sales
Player	Team joined	Fee
1. Kalvin Phillips	Manchester City	£45m
2. Archie Gray	Tottenham Hotspur	£40m
3. Jack Clarke	Tottenham Hotspur	£11m
4. Fabian Delph	Aston Villa	£8m
5. James Milner	Newcastle United	£6m
Stats via Transfermarkt

Undoubtedly, he has huge pressure on his shoulders to succeed given the achievements of his family in recent times, but he’s already shown he’s capable of operating way beyond his tender years.

However, given his form and interest from elsewhere, it’s pivotal that the club utilise him to their advantage, offering him minutes despite his youthful years and allowing them to command a bigger fee in years to come.

Farke has found his new Rutter at Leeds and it's not Aaronson

One Leeds United star has showcased why he’s been their new Georginio Rutter this season.

1

By
Ethan Lamb

Mar 20, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

da stake casino： Bahia e Vitória terão o segundo encontro da temporada 2023, no próximo domingo (5), em duelo válido pela sexta rodada na fase de grupos da Copa do Nordeste. O jogo ocorrerá na Arena Fonte Nova às 16h (de Brasília).

No primeiro Ba-Vi do ano, pelo Campeonato Baiano, Kayky marcou o único tento do compromisso que colaborou para a campanha onde o Tricolor avançou para o mata-mata enquanto o Leão da Barra ficou pelo caminho na primeira fase.

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da aviator aposta： >Com gol no fim, Arsenal consegue virada espetacular contra o Bournemouth

Entretanto, quando o assunto é o Nordestão, os dois times precisam dos três pontos se quiserem seguir almejando a possibilidade de classificação. O Vitória é o sétimo colocado do Grupo A com dois pontos e o Bahia, na lanterna do Grupo B, tem quatro unidades.

Neste momento, a escalação dos dois times está bastante encaminhada onde, do lado rubro-negro, a única mudança que segue como provável é a entrada do goleiro Thiago Rodrigues, recém-contratada pelo time do Barradão. Por parte do Tricolor, Ryan está suspenso pela expulsão além de Raúl Gustavo e Acevedo, pelo terceiro amarelo, também estarem fora da lista de opções.

FICHA TÉCNICA
BAHIA x VITÓRIA – CAMPEONATO BAIANO

Local: Arena Fonte Nova, em Salvador (BA)
Data e hora: 05/03/2023 – 16h (de Brasília)
Árbitro: Marcelo de Lima Henrique (CE)
Assistentes: Nailton Junior de Sousa Oliveira e Wesley Rodrigues Miguel (CE)
Onde assistir:SBT, ESPN e Nosso Futebol (streaming)

BAHIA (Técnico: Renato Paiva)

Marcos Felipe; Cicinho, Gabriel Xavier, Marcos Victor e Matheus Bahia; Rezende, Yago Felipe e Cauly; Biel, Kayky e Ricardo Goulart.
​
​VITÓRIA (Técnico: Leo Condé)

Lucas Arcanjo; Zeca, Dankler, Camutanga e Lazaroni; Léo Gomes, Eduardo e Gegê; Thiago Lopes, Rafinha e Léo Gamalho.

AC Milan's new coach Massimiliano Allegri has held talks with Marseille midfielder Adrien Rabiot over a possible summer transfer.

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Allegri shows interest in RabiotHas spoken directly with midfielderMilan also scouting other optionsFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Allegri wants to bring reinforcements to strengthen his midfield as Tijjani Reijnders nears his exit from the club. As per , the Italian coach wants to reunite with Rabiot, having previously worked with him at Juventus. Rabiot, who left Juventus to join Marseille last summer, recently confirmed that he is in regular contact with the recently-appointed Milan boss, saying: "I actually speak to Allegri often. Giovanni Rossi, [Marseille coach Roberto] De Zerbi's advisor, also works with him and when he calls him he tells me: 'Come and I'll put you through to your dad'. I can talk to Allegri about everything and not just football. I really appreciate him as a person. He has a winning mentality. And it's clear, if he calls me I'll always be available to talk to him."

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While Rabiot may appear open to a reunion, Milan's absence from the Champions League and Rabiot's current wages at Marseille may be significant hurdles. Milan's sporting director, Igli Tare, is keeping his options open, holding Nicolo Rovella and Hans Nicolussi Caviglia of Juventus and Samuele Ricci of Torino in mind as alternative options.

TELL ME MORE

Luka Modric is reportedly close to signing for the Italian side, following positive talks between the Croatian and Tare. A deal is said to be nearing completion, with only a few personal issues remaining. The 39-year-old midfielder is keen to continue competing at the highest level of European football.

Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR AC MILAN?

Reijnders is reportedly on the verge of leaving for Manchester City, with a deal valued at €55 million (£46m/$63) plus an additional €15m(£13m/$17m) in bonuses. Tare's next task will be to secure a favorable transfer deal for Mike Maignan, who has only a year left on his contract. Chelsea have reportedly approached Milan, but there seems to be a significant gap between Chelsea's offer and Milan's expectations. It will be a busy transfer season for Tare and the Milan camp, with a lot of exciting possibilities on the horizon.

She has just under a week to be fit for the Test against Australia

S Sudarshanan16-Dec-20231:15

Satheesh Shubha: ‘Getting India call-up was like living a dream’

Shubha Satheesh has fractured and dislocated her left ring finger, which forced her to miss the second and third days of the one-off women’s Test against England in Navi Mumbai, Harmanpreet Kaur confirmed after India wrapped up a massive 347-run win.Harmanpreet also said that Shubha had picked up the injury while warming up prior to the start of play on Friday’s second day. She was seen with the ring finger of her left hand in a splint in the dugout when India bowled on Friday.She now faces a race to be fit for the Australia Test match starting at the Wankhede Stadium next Thursday.Related

• The Deepti Sharma show wipes England out in seven sessions

• Muzumdar: Deepti is the 'Ben Stokes of the team'

• Shubha and Rodrigues give the silent treatment to England

Shubha scored 69 in India’s first innings – the top score in India’s 428 all out – in what was her international debut, but didn’t bat in India’s 186 for 6 declared in the second innings or field in either of England’s innings.”Shubha gave us a very good start. [Sending her at No. 3] was our coach’s decision. He saw how she was batting and how she was taking the game ahead,” Harmanpreet said. “So he said if we can send her one down, she can give us a solid start, the way we expected.”It has been an eventful few weeks for 24-year-old Shubha. Days after receiving her maiden India call-up for the Tests against England and Australia, she was picked by Royal Challengers Bangalore in the auction for WPL 2024.”I can call it as just my time,” she said on Thursday. “I see only good side of it right now and it feels amazing – one after another good news coming up. Feels amazing to be part of.”

A big-name attacker is seemingly open to the idea of signing for Tottenham Hotspur, with there being a willingness on his side to make the move to north London behind-the-scenes.

Tottenham targeting new forward for Ange this summer

Spurs secured a dramatic, deadline-busting deal for Bayern Munich sensation Mathys Tel near the very end of the winter transfer window – which includes an option to buy the Frenchman for around £45 million – but it is far from a foregone conclusion that he’ll stay beyond this season.

Tottenham make out-of-window offer to sign £144k-per-week ex-Chelsea star

The Lilywhites are moving ahead of this summer.

ByEmilio Galantini Feb 18, 2025

The Lilywhites keeping hold of Tel will depend on the teenager’s final decision, even if he has already agreed terms on a six-year contract if he is to remain (The Athletic), so it is perhaps wise for Spurs to identify attacking alternatives ahead of next campaign.

Tottenham are among the clubs displaying interest in Lille star Jonathan David, who has been a consistently prolific marksman in France and is set to be available on a free transfer this summer when his contract expires.

However, given the Canada international will be one of the bargains of the summer window, following a record of 104 goals across 218 appearances for Lille in all competitions, the competition for his signature will be fierce.

It is already believed that Barcelona are out in pole position to sign David from Lille, with the 25-year-old making no secret of the fact he’s a boyhood fan of the La Liga heavyweights.

Ipswich Town (away)

February 22nd

Man City (home)

February 26th

Bournemouth (home)

March 9th

Fulham (away)

March 16th

Chelsea (away)

April 2nd

“(Barcelona) was always the team I grew up supporting,” he told The Athletic. “When you grow up supporting a team, it’s your dream to play for them.”

Bearing this in mind, Spurs do have other options, albeit potentially much more expensive. Tottenham’s all-time top goalscorer and England legend Harry Kane has been linked with a sensational return to N17, with The Telegraph reporting that they have a first-option agreement in potential talks for the £400,000-per-week Bayern Munich superstar.

However, there is no fixed fee in this arrangement, meaning they’d have to negotiate a price or trigger his release clause (The Telegraph). They’d also have to convince Kane himself, but reliable journalist Ben Jacobs has some encouraging news on that front.

Harry Kane privately refusing to rule out returning to Tottenham

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jacobs says that Kane is privately refusing to rule out re-joining Tottenham, in what could be a boost for Ange Postecoglou.

“I think if Kane returns to the Premier League, there is a willingness to go back to Spurs. That’s not been ruled out by the player,” said Jacobs.

“We have to wait and see if there’s an appetite for Tottenham to do that deal, especially with Dominic Solanke.”

The 31-year-old may be approaching his twilight years, but Kane’s exceptional goalscoring record has not faltered in the slightest. This season, the prolific marksman boasts 29 goals and 10 assists across all competitions, adding to his total Bayern tally of 73 strikes in 76 outings.

Luis Enrique's men once again showcased their strength in every area of the pitch by silencing the Emirates on Tuesday

Ousmane Dembele's early goal proved decisive, but it was really Gigi Donnarumma and Joao Neves that Paris Saint-Germain had to thank for earning them a 1-0 over Arsenal in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final.

There were less than four minutes on the clock when Dembele silenced the Emirates by sending the ball bouncing past David Raya after being picked out on the edge of the area by Khvicha Kvartskhelia – the 27th pass in a stunning team move.

Of course, from the Gunners' perspective, it was a desperately poor goal to give away, with Declan Rice twice at fault for getting caught in no man's land, but the home side could – and definitely would – have drawn level had it not been for Donnarumma, who made two sensational stops either side of half-time.

In the end, though, Arsenal were lucky to only lose by a solitary goal, with substitutes Bradley Barcola and Goncalo Ramos both missing gilt-edged opportunities to pile more misery on Mikel Arteta's men.

Below, GOAL rates all of the PSG players on show as the prodigiously gifted Neves laid the foundations for a massive away win by showing Rice what a complete midfielder really looks like…

• AFP
  

  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Gigi Donnarumma (8/10):

  Very little to do during the opening half-hour but made a big save from Gabriel Martinelli just before the break and then an even better one in the second half with his fingertips when Leandro Trossard seemed certain to score.

  Achraf Hakimi (7/10):

  As usual, a great attacking outlet down the right wing, but got caught a little too far forward on a couple of occasions, which resulted in him picking up a booking for killing an Arsenal counter-attack.

  Marquinhos (8/10):

  Typically composed on the ball and in defence, making some key clearances when PSG came under real pressure towards the end of the first half. A stunning pass from inside his own half should also have led to Ramos doubling the visitors' lead.

  Willian Pacho (7/10):

  Passing was good, but very lucky to get away with getting his pocket picked at one point after switching off deep inside his own half.

  Nuno Mendes (7.5/10):

  Had the unenviable task of trying to contain Saka but kept the winger quiet for pretty much the majority of the game by winning duel after duel (10 out of 11 to be precise). Is there a better left-back in the world right now?

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Midfield

  Joao Neves (8/10):

  Such an incredibly composed and talented footballer that it's difficult to believe he's still only 20. Neves was pinpoint with his passing, while he also made one sensational goal-saving challenge on Merino and another perfectly-timed tackle on Saka that perfectly illustrated his all-round excellence.

  Vitinha (7.5/10):

  What a player the former Wolves man has become! Vitinha barely misplaced a single pass and did a fine job of protecting the back four while also keeping the ball moving.

  Fabian Ruiz (7.5/10):

  The Spaniard is such a class act. He always seems to to have time on the ball and is always available to take the pressure off his team-mates. Also worth noting that only Neves won more tackles than Ruiz.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Attack

  Desire Doue (7/10):

  Never afraid to show off his freakishly fast feet, with his dribbling skills posing a constant problem for Arsenal's defenders, while he also worked admirably hard off the ball before being subbed.

  Ousmane Dembele (7/10):

  Broke the deadlock with his first effort on goal, which wasn't the cleanest strike, but what it lacked in aesthetic beauty it made up for in efficacy. Funnily enough, Dembele wasn't that much of a threat thereafter and was replaced in the 71st minute after creating just one chance for his side.

  Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (7.5/10):

  Teed up Dembele for the opener and continued to turn Timber inside-out during an energetic opening quarter. Wasn't quite as menacing for the remainder of the game but still provoked panic in the Arsenal defence whenever he picked up possession and his work-rate was mightily impressive.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Subs & Manager

  Bradley Barcola (6/10):

  Came on for Dembele for the final 20 minutes but made an absolute mess of a glorious chance to make the game safe by dragging his shot horribly wide of the goal after being put straight through by Ramos.

  Goncalo Ramos (6.5/10):

  Replaced Doue with a quarter of an hour remaining and went up top, with Barcola moving out to the right wing, but he was also guilty of a poor finish himself, after striking the crossbar with an embarrassingly hopeful toe-punt.

  Warren Zaire-Emery (N/A):

  Only introduced in the 90th minute.

  Luis Enrique (8/10):

  Kept faith with the same side that suffered a first Ligue 1 defeat of the season on Friday and was rewarded for doing so. PSG weren't at their sparkling best in attack and the Spaniard's one regret will be that his subs didn't kill off the game – and indeed the tie – but he'll be enormously proud of their defensive discipline from start to finish.

Sri Lanka went down by an innings and 222 runs, their worst-ever defeat at home

Andrew Fidel Fernando27-Jul-2023

Noman Ali ran through the Sri Lankan batting in the second session on day four•AFP/Getty Images

Noman Ali claimed seven wickets with guileful, accurate left-arm spin, then Naseem Shah’s sublime reverse-swing spell in the Colombo heat closed out the match, as Pakistan completed about a domineering a victory on Sri Lankan soil as has been achieved in the last several years.Pakistan’s bowling was spellbinding, but the numbers of this victory themselves are epic. Pakistan won by an innings and 222 runs, which is Sri Lanka’s worst-ever defeat at home. They did it inside four days, despite more than a day’s play having effectively been lost to rain and bad light. Noman’s figures for the second innings were 7 for 70. And Naseem bowled an unbroken 7.4 over spell that was pure fire and reverse swing to shut the door on the opposition.It was Noman’s flight, dip, and changes of pace that made him an especial threat. Sri Lanka had started their second innings nicely, their openers making 69 together. But the moment Noman came into the attack he produced a spectacular delivery to dismiss Nishan Madushka for 33, and would then go on to scythe through the batting order. The ball to Madushka was bowled from around the wicket, drifted in, dipped, pitched on middle and leg, then leapt off the surface to beat the batter’s outside edge and clip off stump. That was in the last half hour before lunch.After the break, Noman was unstoppable. Dimuth Karunaratne was caught at short leg by Imam-ul-Haq – another sharp take at that position for Pakistan, who have been spectacular with their close catching all series. Kusal Mendis then attempted to hit Noman inside out and spooned a catch to cover instead, having failed to get to the pitch of the ball. Dinesh Chandimal was out cheaply gloving an attempted lap sweep, and even Dhananjaya de Silva – who had had a good series – fell cheaply, holing out to long on to complete Noman’s five-wicket haul.Angelo Mathews, who hit an unbeaten half century as the devastation unfolded at the other end, was himself struggling against Noman, particularly early in his innings. He struck some big boundaries, sure, but in between were nervy defensive strokes. He eventually gained confidence. But none of the Sri Lanka batters were comfortable against Noman, as he got plenty to bite off the surface, kept testing them on a length, and bowled few loose deliveries.When he took his sixth and seventh wickets – having Sadeera Samarawickrama caught at point after getting the ball to bounce more than expected, before having Ramesh Mendis stumped – there was still the chance he might take all ten wickets in an innings.But then Naseem was putting in a heroic spell at the other end. It is difficult to overstate just how much he was getting the old the ball to swing, particularly into the right-hander. He’d cover the ball as he ran in, to conceal the shiny side, and by extension, keep the batter unaware as to which direction it would move. And he was bowling serious pace – sometimes touching the mid 140kph range.In one over to Ramesh Mendis the 62nd of the innings – he struck the batter on the pads three times in successive balls. On the first occasion Pakistan reviewed a not-out decision which was upheld because the ball was swinging down leg. On the next two, Ramesh reviewed out decisions, and they both turned out to be missing leg as well. The ball was curving fast and late.Eventually, Naseem would get some reward. He bowled an especially long spell, partly, you suspect, because he did not want to give the ball up. He bowled Prabath Jayasuriya who left a ball that cannoned into his off stump (further proof of how far this ball was moving laterally), then made an eruption out of Asitha Fernando and Dilshan Madushanka’s stumps as well.Mathews’ half-century always looked like it was coming in a losing effort, so far behind were Sri Lanka. And although there has been rain around, Babar Azam’s decision to have Pakistan bat two further overs early in the day ostensibly to let Mohammad Rizwan complete an eighth Test half century, did not hinder them at all, so good were his bowlers, and so readily did Sri Lanka’s batting succumb.

Luka Modric is diving headfirst into his role at Swansea City as he works to help the club secure a return to the Premier League. Despite his recent move to AC Milan the Croatian legend has made it clear that he intends to play a hands-on role in Swansea’s ambitions. His involvement goes beyond the boardroom, and there is even hope that Modric could finish his career playing for the Welsh club.

Modric takes an active role at SwanseaHas been helping recruit new players Croatian could even retire at Liberty StadiumFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

This summer, Modric took a significant step by purchasing a stake in Swansea. Rather than taking a backseat as an investor, he is fully engaged in all aspects of the club's operations. The 39-year-old has made it known that he is keen to explore the business side of football, with a particular interest in developing young talent, coaching, and gaining exposure to tactics and team management.

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Swansea’s CEO, Tom Gorringe, shared insight into Modric's plans and revealed to : "Luka is looking at what he’s going to do once he hangs up his boots. He’s interested in the business side, the development of young players, the coaching and tactical side… and all aspects he hasn’t been exposed to as a player. Already, he’s been helpful from a recruitment perspective, speaking to potential targets. Where he’s got connections, he provides feedback and plays a part in helping us recruit. If you’re trying to sign particularly a midfield player, Luka can ring them to talk about our project. There’s no greater endorsement for Swansea than him.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Modric’s connection to Swansea is not just professional; he has long admired the club's philosophy and playing style. His first encounter with Swansea came in the 2011-12 season when he was playing for Tottenham. During that campaign, Brendan Rodgers was managing Swansea, and Modric was delighted with the club’s "Swansea Way" of playing, a style defined by attractive, possession-based football.

“In Spain, there’s an affinity with Swansea because of our style and, with Luka being at Madrid for so long, he’s got that," he said. “He lives it, feels it, breathes it and believes in the way we play. Even our all-white kit is the same as Real Madrid. Now he wants to help us get to the next level.”

WHAT NEXT FOR MODRIC?

As part of his ongoing commitment to Swansea, Modric is set to make personal visits to the club’s training ground. He plans to meet with head coach Sheehan and the squad, providing direct sporting input. Additionally, Modric will continue to engage with the team and academy players via Zoom calls and pre-recorded videos, aiming to share his wealth of knowledge and experience with the next generation of players coming through the ranks.