Barcelona forward Ansu Fati has suffered a foot injury during a pre-season training session after returning from an underwhelming loan spell at Brighton and Hove Albion.
Hopes were high for Fati when he enjoyed a breakout 2019-20 season, eventually being handed the Blaugrana s iconic number 10 shirt when Lionel Messi departed in 2021.
However, he has struggled with injuries in the ensuing years, making a total of 21 starts in La Liga from the start of 2020-21 to the end of 2022-23.
Fati joined Brighton on loan last season in a move widely viewed as a coup for the Seagulls, but he only started three league games for the club, totalling 514 minutes across 19 appearances and scoring twice.
He has now been prevented from travelling to the United States for Ba…
Antoine Griezmann starred as Atletico Madrid returned to winning ways in LaLiga with a 3-0 victory over Real Valladolid.
Three goals in 10 first-half minutes at the Civitas Metropolitano put Diego Simeone s side in control en route to their first league victory of 2023.
Griezmann s stellar assist set up Alvaro Morata s opener, with the France international then adding his own name to the scoresheet with a cheeky finish.
It was also Griezmann s delivery that led to Mario Hermoso firing home on the rebound as Los Colchoneros set down a marker in the fierce battle for a top-four finish.
3 have scored 3 goals in the first 30 minutes of a single game for the first time since April 2017 v Las Palmas, and for the third time v Valladolid after September 1980 Oc…
A Milan derby awaits in the Champions League semi-finals after Inter made it past Benfica with a 3-3 draw on Wednesday, sealing a 5-3 aggregate victory.
Following Milan s passage to the final four after they eliminated Napoli on Tuesday, Inter just had to see out their quarter-final second leg against the Lisbon side having taken a 2-0 lead into the clash at San Siro.
As he did in the first leg, Nicolo Barella gave Inter the lead with an excellent finish, before Fredrik Aursnes equalised for the visitors with a powerful header before half-time.
Lautaro Martinez put Inter back in front, before substitute Joaquin Correa added another with a fine effort, though late goals from Antonio Silva and Petar Musa meant Roger Schmidt s men at least ended their recent losing …
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The highlight match in Major League Soccer on Wednesday sees Supporters Shield leaders Inter Miami taking on reigning MLS Cup champions Columbus Crew at Chase Stadium.
An injury-time goal on Saturday secured a 2-1 victory for the Herons against the Philadelphia Union, while Columbus emerged victorious with a 3-2 win over New York City FC.
Inter Miami
Coming from behind has become a weekly routine for Inter Miami throughout this domestic campaign, and they did it again on Saturday.
Seven of the Herons 11 league victories this season have been achieved after conceding the opening goal, contributing to more than half of their points in the league (21 out of 38).
Their win against the Union was their sixth away v…
Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen has suffered a serious knee injury which is expected to keep him out of action for the remainder of the season. Obviously not happy with the prospect of Inaki Pena standing between the posts for so long, according to Fabrizio Romano, they ve made contact with the representatives of Wojciech Szczesny, who retired at the end of last season following the expiration of his contract with Juventus.
Apparently, the former Poland international is open to the idea of briefly restarting his already illustrious career, but he is yet to make a decision. Willing to understand his position, Barcelona have other names on their list as well, one of them being former Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas.
Szczesny has 84 caps for Poland to his na…
While might be dreaming of the chance to shatter more records this season, Los Blancos were dealt a major blow last weekend.
Sustaining what was a horror long-term knee injury during Madrid’s against Villarreal on Saturday evening, Dani Carvajal is not expected to feature over the remainder of the season.
Although the summer transfer window might have only recently slammed shut, it has been suggested that the Bernebue hierarchy are making plans behind the scenes in an attempt to fill the 32-year-old’s void.
With the 51-cap international already undergoing a successful surgery, it has been speculated over the past few days that the reigning European champions have identified a trio of right-backs.
Trent Alexander-Arnold Liverpool
While many around…
One of the social media themes easily detected after members of the media and fans alike thoroughly enjoyed themselves at a wonderful World Cup in Russia was the what was all the fuss about? post.
Travellers from western Europe headed to Russia fully versed in tales of hooliganism and against a news backdrop of Vladimir Putin s regime being linked to sinister acts from chemical attacks to electoral medalling.
A heavy police and security presence, along with the vetting allowed by FIFA s Fan ID system, meant football violence was never likely to stain the tournament, leaving fans from around the world to take in the imposing grandeur of Moscow, the elegance of St Petersburg and a nationwide party with a warm and welcoming public.
The fear for those pushing to tack…
This clash sees high flying Arsenal visit Villa Park, with three points likely to propel them to the top of the league. Villa will be looking to pick up three points themselves to continue their push this season for european football.
Aston Villa had a storming start to the season, but recent weeks has seen mixed form from the Villains. Martin O neill will hope his highly compact squad can continie performing in the second half of the season Villa fans will remember their stuttering form from the second half of last season only too well. Scholars of the game point to several new recruits who should mean Villa have that little bit more strength in depth this season, and the form and fitness of the likes of Stewart Downing will be critical in the coming months. James Milner score…
Bayern Munich forward Robert Lewandowski labelled Lionel Messi one of the best in history after the Barcelona star claimed a record sixth Ballon d Or.
Messi finished ahead of Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk and Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo to win the award in Paris on Monday.
Lewandowski, who placed eighth, paid tribute to Messi for his dominance for more than a decade.
For sure he is a great player. I can only say congratulations to him, he told reporters.
It s not the first time for him, one of the best in history not just the last few years.
I m glad to be close to so many players because we only get to meet each other on the pitch and now this is something different.
For sure he is a great player, not just the past year but f…
The UEFA Champions League group stages finally kick-off today, but I m here to predict Manchester United and Manchester City s fixtures for tomorrow. Yesterday I predicted that Chelsea would take down Bayer Leverkusen 3-1 and Arsenal would be upset 2-1 at Borussia Dortmund today. I ll be watching closely to see if my predictions pan out, but for now, let s get to United and City.
Manchester United. v. Benfica: from Estadio da Luz, Portugal
Despite United getting off to a flying start this season, this fixture in Portugal will be a tough battle. As a result, United will have to be ready for the challenge, both mentally and physically. Patrice Evra s comments to The Independent were spot on.
We are making it look easy but nothing is, he sa…