Real Madrid’s 2-2 draw at Elche sparked fresh controversy after Vinicius Jr collided with goalkeeper Inaki Pena in the build up to Jude Bellingham’s late equaliser. Elche protested fiercely as Peña was left bleeding, but La Liga’s "Review Time" panel will not re-examine the incident and former Madrid star Fernando Morientes, an member of the panel, has explained why.
Madrid rescue point amid protests as Elche rage over Vinicius collision
Los Blancos were forced to settle for a frustrating 2-2 draw against Elche, extending their winless run to three matches in all competitions. After falling behind twice to goals from Aleix Febas and Alvaro Rodriguez, Madrid salvaged a point when Bellingham struck in the 87th minute. But the equaliser triggered furious protests from the home side. In the build up, Vinicius collided with goalkeeper Pena, leaving the Elche goalkeeper bleeding from the nose. Despite strong protests and VAR checks, the goal stood.
Elche manager Eder Sarabia was livid afterward, insisting the challenge should have been given as a foul, saying: “It’s a clear foul. Not a normal part of the game. That’s what VAR is for. It’s a very clear foul; it hits the goalkeeper and even draws blood. It’s crystal clear.”
He doubled down in his post-match remarks: “I’m not at all happy with the result, especially considering the decisive moments of the match. Vinicius’s foul for the 2-2 equalizer was crystal clear. Inaki didn’t see the play, but it wasn’t just a normal part of the game, it was a clear foul. It makes me angry to waste time on these things.” His anger set the stage for a fresh refereeing debate and all eyes turned to the Spanish Football Federation's (RFEF) new “Review Time” system.
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Real Madrid legend explains why the play won’t be reviewed
On , former Madrid striker Morientes, a member of the advisory group that selects which incidents are reviewed, revealed why the collision will not be included.
Before delivering the verdict, he clarified that the panel had already agreed unanimously on which plays to review this week: “There were already some plays that we had unanimously chosen and this one comes in the last game and almost in the last minutes of the game and unanimously we all think it was a totally fortuitous play, not just me,” Morientes said. “I have already shown that I don't care that he is from Madrid.”
He insisted the contact looked accidental: “Live, it seemed totally accidental to me, a play between a striker and a goalkeeper.”
Morientes then gave a striker’s perspective from experience: "I put myself a little in the striker's shoes, which I've experienced 50,000 times, I mean, 50,000 times I've had to bleed from contact with the opponent's head, elbow, shoulder… and the goalkeeper, unfortunately, many more times because he usually goes low and in those kinds of situations."
Pena changes his stance after seeing the replay
While the incident was dismissed as “fortuitous” by the Review Time committee, Pena offered a different view after seeing the footage inside the dressing room.
He revised his initial pitch-side comments and expressed frustration with what he saw on video: “He shoots, tries to go for the rebound, but on the second play he doesn't let me participate because he knocks me out. For me, it is a foul, but if the referee goes to VAR and says it's not a foul, there's nothing we can do.”
His shift in tone reflected a deeper anger in the Elche camp, who felt they had earned more than a single point after leading the match twice. For them, it was another example of a decisive moment where decisions went Madrid’s way – a narrative that has shaped much of the wider debate around officiating in Spain this season.
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Madrid look to reset ahead of key fixtures
Madrid now turn their attention to the Champions League, where they face Olympiacos in Athens on Wednesday. A win would help restore momentum and strengthen their group position after a difficult domestic run. After returning from Europe, Madrid play Girona, currently 18th at the Estadi Montilivi as they push to steady their La Liga form. Despite recent setbacks, they remain top of the league with 32 points, just one point ahead of Barcelona.
Xabi Alonso has urged his squad to raise their intensity and return to the standards that defined their strong start to the campaign. All eyes will now be on whether Los Blancos can convert that message into results and move past another heated refereeing flashpoint.
India have also run Australia close in some high-stakes T20 clashes in recent years but to take them down in ODIs will require a sustained top-level performance
Vishal Dikshit11-Oct-20251:14
Rana: India’s batting ‘not a major concern’
Big picture: The most-awaited clashBatting collapses and low totals on slow pitches, catches put down, questionable umpiring decisions, mostly one-sided matches…if there is a contest the Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 needed to kick it alive and make it a blockbuster spectacle, it’s India vs Australia. Australia clean-swept the Women’s Ashes earlier this year, winning all seven games across formats. India have won all 12 of their ODIs against Pakistan. As a result, the face-off between India and Australia has the makings of an epic on the biggest stage.All 15,087 tickets have been sold out for India vs Australia – obviously scheduled for a Sunday – and the ACA-VDCA Stadium’s near-26,000 capacity is set to break the record for the highest attendance at an ICC women’s T20I or ODI World Cup league match, current held by the ACA Stadium in Guwahati, which had a crowd of 22,843 in the opening game of this World Cup.As the competition nears its halfway stage, India have a lot at stake. While both teams have stumbled their way to Visakhapatnam after collapses in all their respective games, it cost India two points when their five bowling options and the batting-friendly conditions couldn’t put the brakes on South Africa and Nadine de Klerk.India’s concerns don’t stop at their five bowlers though; their top five, especially the senior trio of Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues, is yet to fire, the fielding hasn’t been as good as it can be and their batters have been perishing to left-arm spinners more than anyone else this tournament, with 12 dismissals in three innings.The washout against Sri Lanka aside, Australia also collapsed in their two outings, but even 128 for 5 and 76 for 7 weren’t enough to keep them down, as Ashleigh Gardner and Beth Mooney reminded us of their depth and quality with their centuries. In their recent bilateral series against India, they did however get bowled out for 190 in the second game, and the high-scoring decider also gave a glimpse of how oppositions could create chances against the world champions.India have also run Australia close in some high-stakes T20 clashes in recent years – the Commonwealth Games 2022 final, the 2023 T20 World Cup semi-final and last year’s T20 World Cup league match. But to take Australia down in ODIs will require a sustained top-level performance from India, which they haven’t come close to so far.Form guideIndia LWWLW (last five completed games, most recent first) Australia WWWLWIn the spotlight: Tahlia McGrath and Harmanpreet KaurYou wouldn’t normally expect a big score from a No. 7 now and then but Australia have collapsed in three of their last four outings, which have given Tahlia McGrath the overs to go out and chip in with notable contributions. When Australia were reeling against New Zealand and Pakistan, she walked out in the 22nd and 16th over respectively but chipped catches to midwicket and extra cover for 26 and a 20-ball 5 which might put some pressure on her. “I’m hoping I don’t have to play much of a role with the bat…” she had joked before their opening game in Indore and even though Australia wouldn’t want another collapse, McGrath will hope more runs come off her bat soon.All eyes will be on Harmanpreet Kaur during the match against Australia•Getty ImagesThere won’t be as many eyes on anyone as there will be on Harmanpreet Kaur on Sunday. The wrecker-in-chief of the historic 2017 semi-final, which made India – and perhaps other teams – believe that Australia are also mortal in World Cups, that too in knockouts, will be itching to get a big one against the world champions after her 9, 19 and 21 in this campaign so far. Even in the bilaterals recently, she scored over 20 just once in three outings, although that came soon after her seventh ODI century, in England. A sell-out crowd in Visakhapatnam will keep their fingers crossed that there’s another big score coming on Sunday.Team news: Will Molineux return to Australia’s XI?The batting conditions in Visakhapatnam and the loss to South Africa will make India wonder if they need to bolster their attack of five bowlers. But they will need to drop a batter for that and their batting has been stuttering anyway, which makes the solution far from straightforward.India (probable): 1 Smriti Mandhana, 2 Pratika Rawal, 3 Harleen Deol, 4 Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), 5 Jemimah Rodrigues, 6 Deepti Sharma, 7 Richa Ghosh (wk), 8 Amanjot Kaur, 9 Sneh Rana, 10 Kranti Gaud, 11 Shree CharaniWill Australia bring back Sophie Molineux?•Getty ImagesAustralia would have kept their eyes on how India lost wickets to left-arm spinners every game and will be tempted to bring in Sophie Molineux for that reason after she missed their last match, against Pakistan.Australia (probable): 1 Alyssa Healy (capt & wk), 2 Phoebe Litchfield, 3 Ellyse Perry, 4 Beth Mooney, 5 Annabel Sutherland, 6 Ashleigh Gardner, 7 Tahila McGrath, 8 Georgia Wareham/Sophie Molineux, 9 Kim Garth, 10 Alana King, 11 Megan SchuttPitch and conditionsVisakhapatnam offered runs, swing in the afternoon and under lights, and turn as well as the game progressed between India and South Africa. That match was delayed by an hour because of rain, but there is none in forecast for Sunday. The maximum temperature is set to be around 32 degrees, albeit with plenty of humidity like it has been at most venues this World Cup. There was dew in the evening in India’s game against South Africa here, which could affect the teams’ decision at the toss.Stats and trivia Even though Mandhana has been scratchy against swing in the World Cup so far, it will be interesting to see if Australia bring on Ashleigh Gardner in the powerplay. Out of the nine times Gardner has removed Madhana in T20s, eight have been in the powerplay. But in ODIs, Mandhana has fallen to Gardner just twice in the powerplay in 57 balls. Overall, Mandhana has scored 148 runs off 132 balls off Gardner in ODIs, and been dismissed five times The new-ball contest of Gaud vs Healy is one to watch out for. Gaud, just 10 ODIs old, has dismissed Healy three times in 35 balls while conceding 39 runs for an average of just 13 Mandhana needs just 58 more runs to 5000 in ODIs Mooney needs another 93 runs to reach the 3000 mark in ODIs Deepti Sharma is three away from 150 wickets in ODIsQuotes”We’ve seen Australia’s style for many years; they always play aggressively. But our plans are also clear. Whatever we’ve discussed in our meetings, we’ve made our strategies, and we hope to give a positive start tomorrow.” “Yeah, I think that’s what makes this World Cup so unique, is that you don’t get an opportunity to settle.”
It’s been three years since she played for her country, but allrounder hasn’t been short of job offers
Valkerie Baynes30-Jul-2025Amanda-Jade Wellington is something of a pioneer in women’s cricket.Still only 28 years old, Australian leg-spinner Wellington isn’t afraid to say she would choose the franchise circuit over an international career if it came to it, and is part of a new generation of women for whom that is a viable option.It’s arguably as much a case of Australia turning their back on her as Wellington moving on from them but, with her second Women’s Hundred season at Oval Invincibles starting against cross-town rivals London Spirit on Tuesday, Wellington is okay with that.”Personally, I think I’ve made the decision to stop playing international cricket,” Wellington tole ESPNcricinfo’s Powerplay podcast. “If there was ever an opportunity to play, I think I would personally prioritise franchise cricket over that.”I know it’s tough to say, but that’s something I really enjoy playing and it brings out the best of me in terms of personality and enjoyment. That’s one thing I’ve got to put first is my mental health and the way I play franchise cricket, the feeling and just being involved in it, is just a whole new level.”Don’t get me wrong, playing for Australia is amazing and it’s such an achievement. But to be able to travel the world, fly to different places, play a sport you love and just create bonds with so many different people and different franchises – the amount of people I’ve met – it’s ridiculous.”Wellington hasn’t played for Australia since the 2022 World Cup, the last of her 14 ODIs. She was part of the Commonwealth Games squad later that year but didn’t add to her eight T20 international appearances. She also has a solitary Test cap, having produced a Shane Warne-esque ball-of-the-century-style legbreak to remove Tammy Beaumont during the 2017 Women’s Ashes.She has since been overtaken by fellow leg-spinners Georgia Wareham and Alana King and is unable to break back into the Australian team, a fact she has come to terms with.”I absolutely love playing for Australia,” she said. “I’ve won a gold medal, I’ve won World Cups and I’ve got a baggy green. I feel like I’ve ticked all boxes, the feeling of playing for Australia and the achievement is unbelievable.”For me personally, I get more joy out of playing franchise cricket and that’s a personal thing. Someone else might be different, they might strive to play for Australia, but that’s just not me.Wellington’s prowess with the bat has been a vital part of her appeal as an overseas player•Andrew Miller”I’ve come to that realisation and I’ve come to that decision that for me, my mental health, I’m much better playing franchise cricket, being myself, being the person I am, rather than playing for Australia.”I just feel like if I play for Australia again, I’d be a whole different person and I don’t want to feel like that. That’s okay for me to say, because that’s how I feel.”Men’s cricket has seen a couple of high-profile international retirements in recent weeks, with South African wicketkeeper-batter Heinrich Klaasen switching focus to T20 leagues and Andre Russell leaving West Indies while he has been pre-signed for this year’s SA20 and is expected to continue his IPL career.When Dane van Niekerk’s and Lizelle Lee’s South Africa careers ended, both took to franchise cricket to varying degrees, the latter playing domestic cricket in Australia and at the WBBL as recently as the season just gone.Deandra Dottin played franchise cricket only, including at the Hundred, before making her West Indies comeback, while Wellington’s Oval Invincibles team-mate Lauren Winfield-Hill – another who hasn’t played international cricket since 2022 – has been a regular in the Hundred and at the WBBL.
For me [and] my mental health, I’m much better playing franchise cricket, being myself, being the person I am, rather than playing for Australia.Wellington on the priorities in her career
But they remain the minority in a game where playing international cricket is still seen as the pinnacle.”I wouldn’t change my life for anything,” Wellington said. “I felt like I couldn’t be myself around certain people or certain teams. I feel a bit freer playing in the Hundred, playing at Somerset, playing in the WBBL. I feel more at home… it feels right.”That’s not to say franchise cricket doesn’t carry pressure of its own.”You’ve got all eyes on you,” Wellington added. “Being one of the overseas players, you’ve got a reputation of being one of the outstanding players or one of the MVPs. You’ve got to do all that you can for the team. Playing in franchise comes with that responsibility.”Another byproduct of the expansion of women’s franchise leagues is the prospect of keeping more players in the game for longer, on and off the field.Wellington said she was already thinking about opportunities beyond playing while she is part of tournaments run by major organisations around the world – “the networking stuff” – as she put it.The playing opportunity that has so far eluded her, however, is the WPL. She is keen to change that as early as next year and has been working on her batting in a bid to be recognised as a true allrounder.She took strides in that area when she was instrumental in taking Somerset to victory over Surrey in their opening One Day Cup fixture in April.Wellington had already taken three wickets when she arrived at the crease with her side, chasing a revised target of 238, needing 31 off 10 balls. She promptly struck four consecutive fours – six boundaries off seven deliveries in all – during an unbeaten 24 and Somerset ultimately won a last-ball thriller.
Her batting strike rate of 143.26 is second-best in the competition while she has taken 14 wickets at 25.42 and an economy rate of 4.95 with best figures of 4 for 47.In the T20 Blast, where Somerset finished bottom of the table, she took 13 wickets at 26.76 with an economy of 6.82 and best of 3 for 24.”I’ve been working on my batting for the last year or so,” Wellington said. “I really want to be known as an allrounder and someone who’s a bit of a pain to bowl to. I think of myself to be able to hit 360 around the ground and to manipulate the field in terms of moving around my crease and hitting to those funky areas.”Last season she was Invincibles’ second-highest wicket-taker with 10, one behind Marizanne Kapp, and Wellington’s 3 for 9 helped them open the tournament with a 45-run win against Birmingham Phoenix. Before that, she played for Southern Brave in 2022 and Manchester Originals in 2023.She was Player of the Match when her 3 for 16 helped Adelaide Strikers win a second straight WBBL title in 2023, and has been part of the Barbados Royals team that won back-to-back WCPL titles in 2023 and 2024.”One thing that stands out for the WPL is you can’t just be a one-trick pony in terms of you can’t just be a bowler, you can’t just be a batter,” she said. “You’ve got to have an all-round skill and that’s one thing that I’ve been prioritising in my batting as well.”So hopefully these little knocks will catch the eyes of some people and hopefully the standout performances will get noticed. Sometimes you’ve just got to be lucky as well in terms of the right moment getting picked up and people needing a certain skill base.”I’m really hoping next year is the lucky charm and I get picked up. I’m hoping if I do crack it, I can stay there for at least a couple of years.”
Radha Yadav says “only the fielding part changed the momentum” in the fourth T20I where India restricted England to 126 with a supreme performance in the field
Valkerie Baynes10-Jul-2025Charlie Dean was face down and covered in dirt, so you couldn’t read her lips or hear her voice over the celebrating Indian fans, but the violent jerk of her head suggested an expletive or two may have been uttered.Her dismissal, and frustration at it, summed up England’s woes and India’s strength in the fourth T20I all at once; England failed to mount a challenge and their opponents were hungry, as illustrated by their superb fielding display.So, when Dean reverse-swept Radha Yadav straight to short third, yet set off for a single only to be sent back by partner Sophie Ecclestone, N Shree Charani fired the ball to the keeper’s end with speed and accuracy and Richa Ghosh whipped off the bails as Dean dived in vain.Related
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Spinners set up historic series win for India
Charani, who only made her T20I debut at the start of this series and is the leading wicket-taker, already had two wickets for the match and England were 101 for 7 after electing to bat. They added 25 more runs as Ecclestone and Issy Wong attempted to give themselves something to bowl at.But India took the spoils, thanks firstly to Charani and fellow left-arm spinner Radha, who was named the Player of the Match for her 2 for 15 and contributions to India’s efforts in the field, which was a big improvement on the previous match at The Oval, which England won by five runs in the last over.In the fourth T20I at Old Trafford on Wednesday, India’s batters also showed what could be done on a pitch they had exploited with their spin-heavy attack when openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma put on a strong powerplay and Jemimah Rodrigues finished their pursuit of 127 with three overs to spare.”We spoke in the last meeting that we have to cut down the twos and we actually did that today and we were really pumped up to do that,” Radha said. “Only the fielding part, I thought, changed the momentum.”
“She probably would’ve batted through that on that wicket and got us to a score that we could have defended”Tammy Beaumont on the missing Nat Sciver-Brunt
Just as important for India had been delivering on a promise to themselves to take home a maiden T20I series victory on English soil, which they can now do with an unassailable 3-1 lead with one match to play on Saturday.”The day we came here, we spoke about eight matches and we were like, we will go absolutely hard at them no matter what,” Radha said. “The belief and the dedication this time is really different. I don’t know about the past, but this time, this team, this atmosphere, magical this is, and we are actually onto something. We want to create something big going forward.”So this is the path we want to go [on] and there’s still a lot of things we have to correct. We have that in our minds, but… this is a different team and we are going to dominate no matter what. Batting-wise, we are doing so well, but particularly bowling and fielding sets the tone for us. Batting has been really good, but bowling and fielding we touched upon and it is showing in the results.”Radha Yadav was named the Player of the Match•Getty ImagesSave for two minor blemishes – when Sophia Dunkley beat Deepti Sharma at cover point for the first boundary of the match, off the 15th ball, and when Amanjot Kaur, seeming blinded by the sun as she ran the wrong way from deep backward square leg and failed to stop a four off Tammy Beaumont – India were flawless in the field.Arundhati Reddy took three cool-as-you-like catches in the deep to remove Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Beaumont and Paige Scholfield, and Radha took a sharp, low catch at backward point to dismiss Dunkley, reaching for a slower, wider delivery as Deepti pulled her length back to the advancing batter.Radha also did brilliantly running and diving to her left to stop what had looked like a certain four as Scholfield attempted to pierce the gap between deep midwicket and long-on. Amanjot took a blow to her right wrist fielding off her own bowling as Scholfield struck the ball firmly back at her but she took a wicket two balls later, pinging the top of middle and off as Amy Jones backed away to give herself room.Charani trapped Alice Capsey lbw for 18 off 21 deliveries and Scholfield’s dismissal left England six wickets down before they had reached the 100-run mark. Dean followed and the hosts walked off at 126 for 7.Jemimah Rodrigues and Richa Ghosh sealed the chase•ECB via Getty ImagesBeaumont, England’s stand-in captain while Nat Sciver-Brunt is injured, conceded that was 20 runs too few.England have lost 22 wickets to spin so far in this series, as India have persisted with the same four-spinner, two-seamer attack throughout, and Beaumont also acknowledged the hole left by Sciver-Brunt in offering a counter to that.”Nat Sciver-Brunt is irreplaceable, isn’t she, really? She’s come off as the leading run-scorer in the WPL, so she would’ve known the bowlers we’re facing inside out,” Beaumont said. “Her experience through that middle order and how aggressive she is and particularly the way she plays spin, it’s really aggressive, and she’s a real boundary-hitter for us. She probably would’ve batted through that on that wicket and got us to a score that we could have defended.”We’re so lucky to have someone like Nat, but her workload’s incredibly high and, unfortunately, these things happen. We’ve got three games where people need to step up into those shoes for just a little bit and hopefully she’s back and raring to go for some 50-over cricket for the next few months.”The final T20I will be played at Edgbaston on Saturday followed by a three-match ODI series starting in Southampton on July 16.
Celtic have officially confirmed that interim manager Martin O’Neill will remain in post, alongside assistant Shaun Maloney, until they can finally confirm their long-term replacement for Brendan Rodgers.
The management duo are expected to be in the dugout when the Hoops return to action against St Mirren in the Scottish Premiership in the evening kick off on Saturday.
Columbus Crew head coach Wilfried Nancy is reportedly the frontrunner to land the job, per the Daily Record, as the club look to finalise a deal for the MLS tactician.
It has been reported that Celtic are in talks with the French manager to take over at Parkhead, and he will be looking to build on the success that Rodgers had in his second spell in the dugout.
Whilst there will be a focus on instant results if and when a deal for Nancy gets over the line, there will also be an eye on what may happen in the January transfer window, which is little over a month away from opening for business.
One of the first things that the Columbus Crew head coach may have to deal with is the future of star forward Daizen Maeda, who has been linked with a move away from the club.
The latest on Daizen Maeda's future at Celtic
Earlier this month, the Daily Record reported that the Japan international is set to seal a permanent transfer away from Glasgow when the January transfer window rolls around.
The outlet explained that Maeda was unhappy with a failed attempt to leave the club in the summer, amid interest from Brentford and teams in the Bundesliga, because Celtic were unable to get a replacement in to allow the winger to move on.
Daily Record added that ‘sources close’ to the attacker have confirmed that there is still strong interest in his services ahead of January, which has left the Hoops bracing themselves for offers.
These updates suggest that Maeda, who has scored four goals in all competitions for the Scottish giants this season, may be on his way out of Parkhead in the winter.
Losing the 28-year-old star, who can play anywhere across the front three, would be a big blow for Nancy early on in his tenure at Celtic, because he is a proven threat at the top end of the pitch in the Premiership.
Appearances
34
9
Goals
16
3
Minutes per goal
160
217
Conversion rate
28%
16%
Big chances created
10
2
Assists
10
2
Maeda, as shown in the table above, has scored 19 goals and provided 12 assists in the division since the start of last season, which shows that he offers quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals.
The aforementioned Daily Record report also claimed that the recruitment team are already looking at potential options to come in and replace Maeda in January, to ensure that Nancy is not left short-staffed for the second half of the season.
Transfer Focus
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It was recently reported that Celtic have been offered the chance to sign three players from Chelsea on loan. Deivid Washington, Axel Disasi, and Raheem Sterling were the three names that the Hoops are said to have been made aware of.
With this in mind, Nancy could seal a dream first signing at Parkhead by pushing the club to land Raheem Sterling on loan as a replacement for Maeda, should he depart, in January.
Why Sterling would be a dream signing for Celtic
The former England international is reportedly on £325k-per-week at Stamford Bridge, but he has not made a single appearance in any competition for the Premier League side this season, per Transfermarkt.
Given his complete lack of minutes on the pitch and the report that Celtic have been offered the chance to sign him, Chelsea may be willing to send him out on loan and pay a portion, or the majority, of his wages so that he can go and play regular football again.
If the Conference League champions are willing to do that, Sterling could be a phenomenal addition to the squad and ease any concerns over Maeda’s potential departure from the club in January.
There may be some understandable concerns over his recent form, because the 30-year-old winger has not played any competitive football this season and only managed one goal and five assists in 28 games for Arsenal last term, per Transfermarkt.
However, Sterling has spent his entire career in one of the best leagues, if not the best league, in Europe and has an excellent goalscoring record at Premier League level, along with 20 goals in 82 caps for England.
24/25 (17)
0
2
23/24 (31)
8
7
22/23 (28)
6
3
21/22 (30)
13
6
20/21 (31)
10
8
19/20 (33)
20
4
18/19 (34)
17
10
17/18 (33)
18
12
16/17 (33)
7
7
15/16 (31)
6
2
14/15 (35)
7
7
13/14 (33)
9
5
12/13 (24)
2
2
11/12 (3)
0
0
As you can see in the table above, you only have to go back to the 2023/24 campaign to find a season with more than ten goal contributions in the Premier League for Sterling.
It is worth remembering that Kelechi Iheanacho has three goals and one assist in eight matches for Celtic, after a return of one goal in 24 games in the Championship and LaLiga combined last term.
Scotland ranks 18th in UEFA’s league rankings, 17 places behind England in 1st, which speaks to the difference in quality between the two levels of football, which is why Sterling could recapture his goalscoring form at Parkhead.
At the age of 30, the Chelsea outcast still has plenty left to give and a move to Celtic could reignite his career after a difficult spell at Stamford Bridge, whilst allowing Nancy to forget all about the possibility of Maeda moving on from the club.
Not just Ralston: Nancy must ditch Celtic dud who "unsettles defences"
Wilfried Nancy should immediately drop this Celtic forward from the starting line-up once he arrives.
ByDan Emery Nov 18, 2025
That is why Sterling could be a dream first signing for the French tactician if the Hoops are able to work out a loan deal that makes sense for all parties involved.
The international break came at a good time for Glasgow Rangers boss Danny Rohl, as it has provided him with time to assess his first block of six matches in charge of the club.
Having arrived at Ibrox last month to replace Russell Martin, the former Sheffield Wednesday head coach did not have a pre-season or any real time to assess the squad and what he wants to do moving forward.
The main focus has been on short-term results, which has resulted in three straight wins in the Scottish Premiership, most recently with a 3-0 win over Dundee at Dens Park.
This international break, however, will have provided Rohl and Kevin Thelwell time to sit down and map out the longer-term plan, so that the next steps can be taken to set foot on that path, in the next few weeks and in the January transfer window.
Part of that longer-term plan should include finding a way to create a better pathway from the academy to the first-team so that the Gers can develop homegrown stars, instead of constantly needing to splash money on new signings to bolster the squad.
Unfortunately, there have not been too many recent examples of stars who have broken through from the B team to the first-team to make a name for themselves at Ibrox.
The most valuable former Rangers academy players
Whether it is changes at academy or first-team level, the Light Blues should look to address the lack of quality academy graduates that have come from the youth set-up in recent years.
19-year-old starlet Findlay Curtis has shown promise this season, with a return of three goals in 11 appearances in all competitions, but he has not started any of his four outings in the Premiership, per Transfermarkt.
The Scottish youngster is currently valued at around £400k by Transfermarkt, which is understandable given his lack of starts at first-team level, and that means that he does not rank within the top ten most valuable former Gers academy stars at this moment in time.
Most valuable former Rangers academy players
Player
Market value (to nearest million)
Billy Gilmour
£18m
Nathan Patterson
£11m
Greg Taylor
£5m
Ross McCrorie
£2m
Lewis Morgan
£2m
David Bates
£1m
Robbie Ure
£1m
Ryan Hardie
£1m
Malcolm Ebiowei
£1m
Ross McCausland
£1m
Values via Transfermarkt
As you can see in the table above, the most valuable former academy talent is Napoli central midfielder Billy Gilmour, who is who is worth as much as the next three highest combined.
Unfortunately, the Scotland international did not play a single game for the Light Blues at first-team level because he opted to sign for Chelsea at the age of 15, with a development fee of at least £500k paid to Rangers.
When asked why he decided to move on from Ibrox, Gilmour later said: “It was between Rangers and Chelsea. Most of my family are Rangers fans and I love the club. I’ll always be thankful for everything they did. But when Chelsea showed me my development plan, I couldn’t turn it down. Everything about the club was amazing and it’s where I wanted to be.”
Whilst the pull of a Premier League title winner and regular Champions League contender will always be big, the midfielder’s comments about a ‘development plan’ were interesting.
In The Pipeline
Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.
Without knowing what goes on behind the scenes, it is hard to know whether or not the Gers are doing enough to convince young talent that they have a development plan that will turn them into a star at Ibrox.
One academy graduate who has seemingly not had a clear pathway to being a regular in the first-team is Bailey Rice, which is why Rohl must avoid him becoming a Gilmour repeat.
Why Danny Rohl should unleash Rangers teen Bailey Rice
The Gers youngster is not in the exact same situation as Gilmour, because he is four years older and has had experience in the first-team, but the club may run the risk of him wanting to move on if his lack of game time persists.
Thelwell, as shown in the graphic above, made it clear on Saturday that he wants the talented academy graduates at the club to be given chances at Ibrox, but that has not happened for Rice this season.
The 19-year-old star has played 45 minutes of football, against Alloa Athletic in the League Cup, for the Light Blues in the 2025/26 campaign, which means that he has not played a single minute in the Premiership.
In the summer transfer window, Rangers swooped to sign 30-year-old central midfielder Joe Rothwell from Bournemouth to bolster Russell Martin’s options in the defensive and central midfield positions.
That signing has played a part in blocking Rice’s pathway to playing minutes in the Premiership, and the experienced midfielder’s performances so far suggest that they may have been better off giving those chances to the youngster.
25/26 Premiership
Joe Rothwell
Appearances
8
Starts
5
Minutes
412
Goals
0
Assists
1
Tackles + interceptions per game
1.9
Dribbled past per game
0.4x
Ground duel success rate
46%
Aerial duel success rate
50%
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Rothwell has offered very little offensively or defensive in the middle of the park in his 412 minutes on the pitch in the league, losing the majority of his overall duels.
The English flop’s struggles suggest that the Gers would have been better off giving those 412 minutes to Rice to benefit his development and put him back on track to becoming a first-team regular, as Thelwell stated that he wants academy players to be given chances.
Rice made his first-team debut as a 16-year-old and was described as “a heck of a player” by former boss Michael Beale, as he made 14 first-team appearances in the 2023/24 and 2024/25 campaigns combined.
After a Europa League clash with Manchester United in January, Rio Ferdinand said that he liked Rice and hailed his composed play and “wonderful” passing in midfield, which shows that he impressed a former Premier League title winner and England international.
The teenage talent has only featured in seven Premiership games, starting once, in the subsequent 11 months, per Sofascore. This means that he has not had ample opportunity to nail down a place in the team.
Therefore, Rohl should avoid another Gilmour situation by finally handing Rice a chance to shine in the Premiership after the international break, to let him learn and develop, rather than continue to play Rothwell, who is at the opposite end of his career and has struggled this season.
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If there were even the faintest doubt about who the favourites for the 2025 Women’s World Cup were, they were put to bed as swiftly as an Ashleigh Gardner blade swing after Australia’s dominant win over New Zealand in their tournament opener.In Indore, Australia started fast and stumbled, but like an unrelenting force, they just kept coming. In the end, their victory was less about outplaying New Zealand and more about brute-forcing the result. As far as early tournament markers go, it was an impressive one.Against India in their opener, Sri Lanka too set an early marker of the sort of side they are. They had India reeling at 124 for 6 but then proceeded to drop each of the next four chances that came their way to let the hosts claw themselves back into the contest and register a fairly comprehensive win eventually. Discipline followed by indiscipline; bad undoing the good.Related
'Good to start with best teams' – Sri Lanka's Athapaththu ready for Australia after India
Sri Lanka have not played an ODI against Australia since 2019, but they know what they need to do. Resilience has been a buzzword for Chamari Athapaththu, and in that sense it’s clear that any lingering hang-ups from that opening defeat will be well behind them come Saturday. But execution might be the more pertinent declaration if they’re to show their best selves against the defending champions.With free entry being granted to the stadium, Sri Lanka will also be hoping for substantial home support. They’re also very familiar with the Khettarama surface, as the high-performance centre where the national players train is located there. So while Sri Lanka have never beaten Australia in an ODI, the conditions for an upset are nevertheless in place.
Form guide
Australia WWLWW (last five ODIs most recent first) Sri Lanka LLLWWVishmi Gunaratne’s form is a concern for Sri Lanka•ACC
In the spotlight: Ashleigh Gardner and Vishmi Gunaratne
Like the surprise manifestation of a final boss’ second health bar after you think you’ve finally got them beat, Ashleigh Gardner sits spearheading Australia’s lower middle order. Her 115 off 83 against New Zealand served to highlight not just the resilience of this Australian outfit, but their entire aura. While her role is a challenging one, it’s invaluable in that it affords the licence for those above her to play with freedom, while allowing her to provide guidance to those below her. And it means that while she is at the crease, Australia are never beat.In August 2024, Vishmi Gunaratne struck her maiden ODI hundred against Ireland. Her three innings in the lead-up to that read 40, 50, 44. But in ten innings since then, she has not been able to cross 36. While Athapaththu would be the obvious pick for this section, if Sri Lanka are to challenge Australia, they need the rest of their batting to chip in in a big way. Gunaratne has been out of sorts, but Sri Lanka will be banking on her rediscovering her groove even though it’s her first ODI against Australia.
Team news: Brown or Schutt?
Australia are unlikely to make any changes to the batting, though it remains to be seen if Darcie Brown continues in place of Megan Schutt.Australia (probable): 1 Alyssa Healy (capt & wk), 2 Phoebe Litchfield, 3 Ellyse Perry, 4 Beth Mooney, 5 Annabel Sutherland, 6 Ashleigh Gardner, 7 Tahlia McGrath, 8 Sophie Molineux, 9 Kim Garth, 10 Alana King, 11 Darcie BrownSri Lanka played their first-choice XI against India, and it’s unlikely there will be any changes.Sri Lanka (probable): 1 Hasini Perera, 2 Chamari Athapaththu (capt), 3 Harshitha Samarawickrama, 4 Vishmi Gunaratne, 5 Kavisha Dilhari, 6 Anushka Sanjeewani (wk), 7 Nilakshika Silva, 8 Sugandika Kumari, 9 Inoka Ranaweera, 10 Achini Kulasuriya, 11 Udeshika PrabodhaniAshleigh Gardner scored a brilliant hundred against New Zealand•Getty Images
Pitch and conditions: Rain could play spoilsport
The pitch at the R Premadasa Stadium has traditionally offered up an even contest between bat and ball. However, efforts have been made recently to make it more batting-friendly, so there may not be as much in it for the spinners as usual. As for the weather, there is a distinct chance of rain in Colombo throughout the afternoon.
Stats and trivia: Australia 11-0 Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka have lost each of their 11 ODIs against Australia.
Athapaththu is 80 runs away from 4000 ODI runs.
Gardner’s 51 wickets are the most by an Australian since the 2022 World Cup. They are the joint-third-most in that period among all players.
Quotes
“The beauty of a World Cup is you play every different side and you have to prepare. You don’t really get time to learn. You’ve got to come out firing. But I think our group’s got some awesome heads on our shoulders and we are able to assess conditions and adapt to whatever’s thrown at us.” “We’re playing against the best team. The world champions. But if we can execute the right plan at the right time, I know we can beat any team. But execution is the most important thing, rather than the skill and the mindset. So we’ll have to play our best game tomorrow.”
Juan Soto would like to see Pete Alonso back in a Mets uniform next season.
Speaking with reporters at the MLB Awards in Las Vegas, Soto addressed the fact that Alonso is hitting free agency this offseason after opting out of a one-year, $24 million contract option with the Mets.
“I hope nothing but the best and I’m excited to see where he’s going to end up,” Soto said [via the Mike Puma]. “He’s one of the best power hitters in this generation. I really enjoyed my moment with him in a Mets uniform and I hope we can have more times to come.
“We can have fun together.”
Soto and Alonso did indeed have fun in the lineup in their first season together in New York. Soto shook off a slow start to the 2025 campaign and finished the year batting .263/.396/.525 with 43 homers, 105 RBIs and a career-high 38 stolen bases.
Alonso played all 162 games for a second straight year and batted .272/.347/.524 with a career-high 41 doubles and 38 home runs. He ranked in the top five percent of all MLB hitters in average exit velocity, barrel percentage and hard-hit percentage.
Alonso was also a free agent last offseason. When he didn’t find the long-term contract he was looking for on the open market, he signed a two-year, $54 million contract to return to the Mets with the aim to perform well, opt out of ‘25 and hit free agency again. One year later, MLB Trade Rumors predicts he’ll sign a four-year contract worth $110 million this offseason.
RELATED: Pete Alonso Destinations: Best Landing Spots for Mets Star in Free Agency
The Mets and their $342 million payroll missed out on a playoff berth by one game this past season thanks in large part to an eight-game losing streak in September. Soto is looking to right that wrong in 2026, and he’s hoping Alonso will be back in the heart of the Mets’ order along with him.
Jorginho analisou o desempenho do Flamengo na vitória por 2 a 1 sobre o Cruz Azul, nesta quarta-feira (10), no Estádio Ahmad bin Ali, e destacou a dificuldade do confronto e a necessidade de adaptação para garantir a classificação às semifinais da Copa Intercontinental. O jogador afirmou, ainda, que o elenco ainda não projeta um eventual duelo contra o PSG, e tem o foco voltado para o Pyramids, do Egito.
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O Mais Querido encontrou dificuldades na etapa inicial, quando o time mexicano controlou mais ações ofensivas e impôs intensidade. Jorginho ressaltou que não há partidas simples no Mundial, e o time precisou corrigir posicionamentos para melhorar o desempenho no segundo tempo.
— Você chega nesse nível, e nesse nível não tem jogo fácil. Quem acha que vai chegar e ganhar fácil, futebol hoje em dia não tem mais essa de entrar e saber quem vai ganhar. Mais uma vez hoje um jogo bem difícil, com uma equipe muito boa, bem preparada, que nos colocou em dificuldade no primeiro tempo e depois conseguimos ajustar algumas coisas e acredito que fomos melhores no segundo tempo. Encontramos um gol, e é importante quando você não está no seu melhor dia, quando o outro time está um pouco melhor, você encontrar a maneira de marcar, de ganhar o jogo. No fim das contas, acredito que a gente mereceu a vitória, mas foi um bom jogo — declarou ao Grupo Globo.
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Questionado sobre uma possível expectativa para enfrentar o PSG na final, o ítalo-brasileiro afirmou que o foco imediato é o duelo de sábado (13) contra o Pyramids.
— Acredito que não, porque hoje foi mais uma prova que quem está aqui merece, e com certeza todos são equipes qualificadas. A gente precisa conhecer bem o Pyramids e que com certeza vai ser um jogo difícil. E a gente precisa estar preparado para, sim, depois pensar no próximo — disse.
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➡️Jogadores do Flamengo estão pendurados na Copa Intercontinental? Entenda regulamento
Jorginho também comentou o nível físico da equipe, destacando que o grupo tem conseguido manter intensidade mesmo na reta final da temporada.
— Claro que você sente, mas acredito que a gente está bem preparado. E demonstrou. No segundo tempo, acredito eu, correndo mais que eles, que eles também correm muito, colocam muita intensidade, então acredito que a gente subiu, conseguiu subir de nível, a essa altura do ano no segundo tempo — então é porque a equipe está bem, encaixando as coisas que a gente prepara, que a gente modifica durante o jogo, acredito que foi um bom jogo da nossa parte — concluiu.
➡️Tudo sobre o Mengão agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso novo canal Lance! Flamengo
O Flamengo volta a treinar nesta quinta-feira (11), em Doha, com preparação voltada para a semifinal de sábado (13), novamente no Ahmad bin Ali. A equipe busca vaga na decisão contra o Paris Saint-Germain, campeão europeu, na próxima quarta-feira (17).
Para acompanhar asnotícias do Flamengo, acompanhe o Lance! Todas as informações e acontecimentos atualizados em tempo real.
Tudo sobre
Copa IntercontinentalFlamengoJorginho Frellomundial
أدلى النرويجي إيرلينج هالاند، مهاجم مانشستر سيتي، بتصريحات أعقبت الفوز أمام ريال مدريد في بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا، مساء الأربعاء.
وتغلب مانشستر سيتي على ريال مدريد بهدفين مقابل هدف، وسجل هالاند لصالح فريقه من ضربة جزاء، على ملعب “سانتياجو برنابيو”.
وقال هالاند في حديثه مع قناة “TNT Sports” عقب المباراة: “كان من الصعب المجيء إلى هنا، إنه ملعب صعب، كانت المباراة فوضوية بعض الشيء، ولم نتمكن من السيطرة عليها، لكننا حققنا الفوز في النهاية، وأنا سعيد للغاية”.
وأضاف: “هذا ملعبٌ تتمنى اللعب فيه، وهذه مباريات تتمنى خوضها، مع هذا النظام الجديد لدوري أبطال أوروبا، ستلعب مباريات أكثر، وهذا أمر رائع، أنا معجب به”.
وأردف: “كان من الممكن أن يكون الوضع مختلفًا تمامًا اليوم لو لم نفز بسبب هزيمتنا أمام باير ليفركوزن، هذا الفوز مهم للغاية، تبقى مباراتان، علينا أن ننهي الموسم بقوة، ونأمل أن نكون ضمن الثمانية الأوائل، لأننا بذلك سنتأهل”.
اقرأ أيضًا | رجل مباراة ريال مدريد ومانشستر سيتي في دوري أبطال أوروبا
وإذا كان غياب كيليان مبابي عن ريال مدريد منح مانشستر سيتي دفعة معنوية، رد هالاند: “نعلم بإصاباتهم، لدينا بعض الإصابات أيضًا، لكن إصاباتهم كثيرة، لا أحد يرغب في إصابة أي لاعب، لكننا توقعنا مشاركته”.
وأكمل: “كنت أتوقع مواجهة كيليان اليوم، لكن عندما يغيب لاعب مثله، لا تشعر بالسعادة لأنك تريد إشراك الأفضل، لكن هذا يمنحك دفعة معنوية”.
وأكد: “نريد إشراك أفضل اللاعبين، وبعد دقيقة واحدة حاول راؤول أسينسيو دفعي وافتعال مشكلة معي، وهو أمر يعجبني شخصيًا، لا أمانع فيه، خضنا أيضًا بعض المواجهات الرائعة مع أنطونيو روديجر، لكنه اليوم بالغ في رغبته وحصلنا على ركلة الجزاء”.
وعن إمكانية اللحاق بآرسنال المتصدر في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، أفاد هالاند: “لا أحب الخوض في هذا الموضوع كثيرًا لأننا يجب أن نركز على أنفسنا، وقد برع السيتي في ذلك طوال عشر سنوات، لا نفكر في الآخرين ونركز على أنفسنا”.
وأتم: “الآن علينا التركيز على مباراة الأحد، من سيواجهنا؟ كريستال بالاس يوم الأحد، والمباريات تتوالى بسرعة، انظر إلى الجدول، إنه مذهل، والأمر يتعلق بالحفاظ على اللياقة البدنية والتركيز على كل مباراة على حدة، ونأمل أن نفوز يوم الأحد”.