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Se na prática o Sport conta com três reforços para o seu plantel visando a temporada 2022, no aspecto verbal o clube já tem acerto formatado com outros quatro nomes, podendo chegar a sete o número de contratações que enriquecerão as opções do técnico Gustavo Florentín.

RelacionadasSportGustavo Florentín indica dois nomes para o SportSport09/01/2022SportHernanes não renovará com o Sport e fará ‘pausa’ na carreiraSport08/01/2022SportAndré relembra passagem conturbada pelo SportSport07/01/2022

>Aplicativo de resultados do LANCE! está disponível na versão iOS

Os atletas que precisam passar ainda pelos tradicionais exames médicos antes de suas chegadas poderem ser oficializadas são do zagueiro Fábio Alemão, do lateral-esquerdo uruguaio Lucas Hernandez, o meio-campista Denner e o atacante Jáderson.

Fábio, Denner e Jáderson são nomes em situação mais avançada, pois estão na capital pernambucana e passam pelas devidas avaliações, assinando seus acordos em caso de não haver nenhum tipo de problema capaz de fazer o rubro-negro desistir da negociação.

Por sua vez, o uruguaio que tem direitos ligados ao Atlético-MG, mas que atuou pelo Cuiabá em 2021, está de férias em seu país natal, retornando ainda nesta semana ao Brasil para cumprir com os mesmos procedimentos.

O primeiro jogo oficial do Sport no ano será pela Copa do Nordeste onde irá até Maceió, no próximo dia 22 de janeiro, em visita ao CRB, no Estádio Rei Pelé.

Big picture

It’s funny to think that a series of this magnitude – with these teams and these players – has flown under the radar over the last month. Relatively speaking.Trent Bridge was doused in the Hundred’s branding a couple of days ahead of the first Test, and even when it’s not on, the IPL has influenced cricket scheduling across the world, including pushing an England tour of Bangladesh 18 months into the future. That the ECB’s and the BCCI’s premium products will hold sway in this day and age is understandable, perhaps, but it is hard to imagine this series won’t be front and centre when it kicks off on Wednesday.Related

• Kohli: Challenge is 'wanting to win in conditions which are not ours'

• Joe Root on Ben Stokes: 'I just want my friend to be okay'

• Concussion rules Mayank Agarwal out of first Test

• Ben Stokes to miss India series, takes an 'indefinite break'

For one, it will be played to a full house. For another, it’s rare that a team can lose a series 3-1 and have a chance at a comeback in the same year – over five Tests, no less. England’s defeat in India this year meant the end of their WTC ambitions. Now, it’s a chance to set the tone early against the runners-up, who have managed two wins in their last three tours of England.India’s leadership has argued that the 4-1 scoreline on their 2018 tour was not an accurate reflection of how closely fought the series was, and upon that will rest their approach this time around. In the time since, this is a squad that has grown in depth and shown it can find ways to win overseas; they haven’t yet done it in swing-friendly conditions, however, and it’s a challenge that Virat Kohli said his team is craving.1:47

Anderson vs Kohli? Pant vs Buttler? And who will win the series?

They won’t be the only ones. England are without Ben Stokes, which could potentially pave the way for Sam Curran to be a designated gamechanger, as opposed to the surprise package he proved to be in 2018. Both sides also have team compositions to figure out, and top-order batters who are either new, or returning, or searching for form. Throw that together with two of the best fast-bowling line-ups over a month-and-some of cricket, and we could have a series for the ages.

Form guide

England LDLLL (last five completed matches, most recent first)
India LWWWL

In the spotlight

Sam Curran told ESPNcricinfo that Stokes is someone he looks to emulate, and this series will bring him both the opportunities and some of the heft that comes with being Stokes. There is perhaps no better replacement in the England roster as they attempt to fill such a role – Curran is only 23 but has already built a reputation for making things happen, across formats, and in multiple roles. There will be eyes on him, and not just from English supporters; the wounds he inflicted on the Indian team in 2018, no doubt, continue to linger.0:50

Ian Bell: Curran would do Stokes’ role for me

KL Rahul‘s last big moment as a Test opener came in the last Test of the 2018 series. Following that 149 at The Oval, it has been a wobbly, uncertain career in red-ball cricket even as he has established himself as a limited-overs giant in Indian cricket. He was thought to be on this tour primarily as a middle-order option, but injuries to the main openers and good form in the warm-up games in Durham could mean Rahul comes back in as an opener in what will be his first game of competitive first-class cricket since the Ranji Trophy semi-final in March 2020 [he played the three-day tour game against County Select XI too].

Team news

England are almost certain to play four fast bowlers, and the batting talents of both Curran and Ollie Robinson mean they could be tempted to fit Jack Leach in there for a five-pronged attack. Ollie Pope could be a doubt after his injured quadriceps suffered a reaction to training, putting Jonny Bairstow potentially in line for a return to Test cricket.England (possible): 1 Rory Burns, 2 Dom Sibley, 3 Zak Crawley, 4 Joe Root (capt), 5 Ollie Pope/Jonny Bairstow, 6 Jos Buttler (wk), 7 Sam Curran, 8 Ollie Robinson, 9 Stuart Broad, 10 Jack Leach, 11 James AndersonMore than anything else, India would be thinking about who slots in at No. 7. Ravindra Jadeja’s rise as a reliable batter in the format, alongside his runs during the warm-up games, would make him frontrunner for No. 7. It’s also difficult to imagine that India would drop R Ashwin in the sort of form he has been in, and so it’s the same quandary for India as they had during the WTC final; two spinners or one spinner and Shardul Thakur? The former beefs up a thin lower order, the latter keeps India’s frontline seamers fresher.India (possible): 1 Rohit Sharma, 2 KL Rahul/Abhimanyu Easwaran, 3 Cheteshwar Pujara, 4 Virat Kohli (capt), 5 Ajinkya Rahane, 6 Rishabh Pant (wk), 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 R Ashwin, 9 Ishant Sharma, 10 Mohammed Shami, 11 Jasprit Bumrah2:00

Laxman: Would pick KL Rahul to open alongside Rohit Sharma

Pitch and conditions

It has been cloudy, but warm, in the lead up to the first Test. Temperatures are expected to hover in the high teens. The pitches in the square have been green but have shown signs of getting drier and changing colour.

Stats and trivia

• James Anderson is three wickets away from overtaking Anil Kumble’s 619.
• India’s last three five-match series have all been against England.

Quotes

“I think it’s a tricky one because there is a bit of grass on it but it’s definitely changed colour in the last few days, it’s starting to turn a bit brown as well. So I’m sure there will be a spinner in our 12 for tomorrow.”
“I don’t really believe that some series matter more than the others, because then you’re really picking and choosing what you want to do. And that’s not being honest to the game in my opinion. So any match that you play for your country, and any series, is as important as any other series that you play around the world. And for us it’s wanting difficult cricket, wanting tough cricket. And wanting to win in conditions which are not ours.”

Manchester City are back in Premier League action this weekend as they face Brentford, but ahead of that game it has emerged that a key player for Pep Guardiola is wanted by a Saudi Pro League team. It has been a strong start to the 2024/25 season for City and they will be looking to continue that without any uncertainty around their key players' futures on Saturday.

£100m+ Kevin De Bruyne successor who Pep loves now open to joining Man City

Man City have just received a transfer boost in finding their long-term replacement for Kevin de Bruyne.

1 ByBrett Worthington Sep 9, 2024 Man City transfer news

The Blues had a quiet but productive summer transfer window, as they added two players to the squad and allowed several unwanted individuals to leave. While concentration will be on the campaign ahead, it appears as though the club's higher ups already have targets in mind for 2025.

Man City’s hierarchy are said to be looking to sit down with Kevin de Bruyne and Rodri over new contracts at some point this season. De Bruyne is in the final year of his contract at the club, and interest from Saudi Arabia emerged over the summer but never materialised. Meanwhile, Rodri still has three years left to run on his current deal, but the club are worried about Real Madrid sniffing around.

While they hope to sit down over a new deal for de Bruyne, it has also been reported that they have their eyes on a potential successor for the Belgian. Bayern Munich and Germany international Jamal Musiala is open to joining City in 2025. The 21-year-old has reportedly delayed contract talks with the European giants, and with him having one year remaining on his contract from next summer, a move could be on the cards.

Munich are said to be wanting £100 million+ for the player, but he is said to be someone that Guardiola has been “dreaming” of signing for a while now.

Man City star braced for £40m-a-year Saudi offer

According to Football Insider, Saudi side Al Nassr are interested in signing Mateo Kovacic in the January transfer window. The Saudi Arabian team, who have Cristiano Ronaldo on their books, were interested in signing the Croatian in the summer but failed to land the midfielder.

Now, the report goes on to add that Ronaldo has asked the club to sign Kovacic, and they are said to be preparing a contract offer worth £800,000 a week, which is just over a frankly ridiculous £40 million a year.

However, Man City and Guardiola, who is said to be a “big fan” of the player, are expected to stand in the way of the move, as they are unwilling to sell Kovacic in January.

Apps

50

Goals

4

Assists

1

Kovacic has been a key player for the Blues early in this season, as the Croatian has stepped up in the absence of Rodri. Kovacic has started all three of City's league games and scored in the opening day win against Chelsea. The midfielder is under contract at the Etihad until the summer of 2027, so City are in no rush to move the player on.

Khawaja’s 70 in vain as Islamabad United fall short by 30 runs

Varun Shetty21-Jun-2021Multan Sultans beat Islamabad United for the first time this season to seal their spot in Thursday’s PSL final. The win in the first qualifier also put aside their dubious record of being the only PSL side without a final appearance so far; league-toppers United head into the second eliminator on Tuesday for another shot at the finals.Sultans were set in motion by Sohaib Maqsood after they elected to bat, gained momentum after a slump though Johnson Charles’ cameo, and finished strong with a blitz from Khushdil Shah who hit four sixes in the 19th over to help them post 180.In chase, United were three down before their powerplay was halfway through and never really recovered. Sohail Tanvir had only one wicket in the season before the game, but this three-for proved timely, and the experience of Imran Tahir – and his two wickets – meant that any potential scares from United’s lower order were safely handled.Tanvir bosses the defense and Khawaja’s lone battleUnited probably aren’t intimidated by most totals given their campaign so far, but Tanvir certainly put the fear in them with the new ball. Colin Munro walked down the pitch to him, first ball, in an effort to negate his inswingers – only to york himself and have middle stump tonked.Tanvir then had Shadab Khan lunging at a slower delivery to be caught at point; in between it all, No. 3 Muhammad Akhlaq was sent back with a direct hit from Imran Khan at short fine leg. United were 14 for 3 in the third over; historically, not a lot of teams have won in this format after losing that many wickets in the powerplay. And that would eventually be the case for United.Khawaja was the only batter – even during the collapse – to have a plan to score, using characteristic touch play to minimise risk and still find boundaries. But the chase did hinge on whether he could take the innings deeper with Iftikhar Ahmed and Asif Ali, the two other experienced batters in the side, and that wasn’t to be. Iftikhar was done by bounce trying to cut Blessing Muzarabani, and Asif walked past Imran Tahir’s legbreak to be stumped.At 61 for 5, the chase was all but done. Khawaja did open up – getting 18 off four Muzarabani deliveries at one point – and the batting depth meant United did throw in a late flourish. But the damage at the top was too much to overcome.Maqsood keeps the rate flowingMohammad Rizwan’s decision to bat first didn’t begin well on a personal front; he was adjudged caught behind off the glove – on review – for a duck. But a tight first two overs from United was only a temporary win as Maqsood stamped himself on the game next over onwards, starting Faheem Ashraf’s over with a dominant slap over extra cover and following it up with two more perfectly timed drives. It was the first indication that this was a pitch that assisted boundary-scoring.The next few also came from Maqsood’s bat, in the form of two sixes over square leg, one off the front and one of the back foot. While Shan Masood was kept quiet at the other end, the scoring rate did stay up – they finished the powerplay on 44 for 1.Shadab punches, Charles and Khushdil punch backAny indications of the pitch being a pure belter were put to doubt when Shadab brought himself on. After being pulled through midwicket off his first two balls – in the first instance, literally through Hasan Ali’s legs – he got one to rip back into Masood and trapped in front. Two balls later, Rilee Rossouw played for the googly on the front foot and was also trapped lbw – on review – when the legbreak caught him in front of middle. Sultans were suddenly 59 for 3 after a budding partnership of 53 had stabilised them.But Johnson Charles was in the mood for attack – and it showed from his first ball, when he brought out a controlled sweep against Shadab for four. From there, he took on the aggressor’s role. A knock of 41 off 21 balls, with a boundary almost every over he was in, and three slogged sixes took Sultans to 122 in the 15th over before he was dismissed.Maqsood eventually holed out in the 17th over, and United seemed to have pulled things back – only eight runs came off the eight balls after his dismissal. But the 19th over went woefully wrong as Khushdil hauled them from 145 to 174, with four sixes in a row against Akif Javed; three of them swung over the leg side, and one ending up at third man as he looked to swing it over the leg side. It was the finish Sultans needed after seemingly falling away on a good pitch.

Aston Villa will be featuring in the Champions League for the first time in a generation this season – an unthinkable feat before the appointment of Unai Emery.

The former Arsenal boss has transformed the club in just a couple of years, giving the fan base an experience they will never forget with their European adventures in the Europa Conference League last season, and also in the Champions League this year.

However, the added fixtures will cause congestion during some parts of the campaign, increasing the risk of injury and fatigue to the club’s first team.

On the flip side, it may allow numerous fringe players to gain a needed run in the side, with one player hugely benefitting from the European run this season.

Jhon Duran’s stats in 2024/25

Despite not starting a single game in the Premier League this season, striker Jhon Duran has enjoyed an impressive start to the new campaign for Emery’s side.

The 20-year-old has already scored twice in just 82 minutes, outscoring number one forward Ollie Watkins, showcasing his excellent abilities in front of goal.

The Colombian was strongly linked with a move to join West Ham United this summer, before landing the hammer blow as the Villans claimed a 2-1 victory over Julen Lopetegui’s side.

Villa’s decision to keep hold of Duran this summer looks to be a great call, with the talent having the ability to provide excellent cover to Watkins, whilst also pushing the England international for a starting role.

However, the same can’t be said for one player who has struggled in recent times, with the club potentially needing to offload the big-money signing at the next available opportunity.

How much Diego Carlos earns in 2024

After joining Villa in a £26m deal from Sevilla back in 2022, centre-back Diego Carlos has struggled with injuries and fitness during his time at Villa Park, with the Brazilian often spending time on the sideline.

During his two-year stint in the West Midlands, the 31-year-old has only made 43 appearances in all competitions, missing the start of the new campaign with yet another injury setback and thus failing to feature at all.

However, he was subject to interest from Fulham during the transfer window, with the club needing to offload him given his injury record coupled with his high weekly wage.

The former Sevilla ace earns a whopping £100k-per-week as per Capology, a figure that is nearly three times more than teammate Duran, who only earns £30k-per-week despite his stellar start to this season.

Emi Martinez

£150k-p/w

Boubacar Kamara

£150k-p/w

Youri Tielemans

£150k-p/w

Ollie Watkins

£130k-p/w

Lucas Digne

£120k-p/w

Leon Bailey

£120k-p/w

John McGinn

£120k-p/w

Diego Carlos

£100k-p/w

Given his ludicrous weekly incoming, the club desperately need to cut ties with Carlos and invest in a less injury-prone talent who can lead them further up the Premier League table.

With concerns over their PSR standing, a departure could allow Emery’s side to free up funds, potentially avoiding a repeat of this summer which saw them sell star man Douglas Luiz to Juventus.

There is no denying the defender's quality, but unfortunately, if the club are to reach the next level under Emery's guidance, they have to be brutal in their decision-making, with Carlos one player who could find himself on his way out of Villa Park.

Aston Villa struck gold on free signing who's now worth more than Martinez

The club have certainly bagged themselves a gem.

ByEthan Lamb Sep 3, 2024

Reliable transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano has claimed that another £51 million player has also agreed to join Chelsea after Pedro Neto, in what has been a whirlwind last 72 hours at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea sign Pedro Neto as Samu Omorodion deal collapses

On Sunday, the big-spending west Londoners officially confirmed the signing of Neto in an initial £51.3 million deal from Wolves, coming after RMC Sport reporter Fabrice Hawkins originally broke the news last Friday.

Chelsea ace just proved he's already at risk of being replaced by Omorodion

Chelsea create chances but fail to score until 90th minute

ByConnor Holden Aug 11, 2024

The transfer was completed in quick-fire fashion, with Neto agreeing to join Chelsea sharply and the Portugal international was unveiled as a new player soon after, just two days after Hawkins' report. Head coach Enzo Maresca expressed his delight over Neto's arrival, claiming he can offer the team "many things" whilst hailing the 24-year-old's versatility.

“I’m very excited, he can offer many things,” said Maresca on Chelsea signing Neto.

“He can play on the right side, he can play on the left side, he’s very good one-on-one. It is one more option we have because there will be many, many games in the season, so we need a big squad."

Player

Average match rating (WhoScored)

Cole Palmer

7.48

Conor Gallagher

7.13

Nicolas Jackson

7.07

Moises Caicedo

6.85

Noni Madueke

6.84

In quite a turn of events, Neto's signing isn't actually the biggest transfer story to come out of the club within the last few days. Indeed, Atletico Madrid striker Samu Omorodion looked set to join Chelsea with Conor Gallagher heading to Spain, but the transfer domino has taken a real turn.

Chelsea's signing of Omorodion, as reported by an array of reliable media sources, has now collapsed – and this could have a big effect on Gallagher's La Liga switch.

It is believed the England midfielder is waiting to complete his move to Atletico after Omorodion's move got called off, with Diego Simeone's side now needing to find a different source of cash to complete Gallagher's signing (Fabrizio Romano).

The move is not off, but Chelsea and Atletico are still working to find a solution. This has prompted them to open talks over re-signing Joao Felix from the Spanish heavyweights as they set their sights on another one of Simeone's players – which could re-open the door for Gallagher to leave.

Joao Felix agrees to re-join Chelsea from Atletico Madrid

According to Romano, taking to X with an update on the situation, Felix has already agreed to re-join Chelsea with negotiations ongoing.

He adds that this is "crucial" to the Gallagher deal as well, but it is unclear how much Atletico will demand after reports earlier this summer that the Portuguese could cost as much as £51 million.

"João Félix has already said yes to Chelsea return," said Romano.

"His agent Jorge Mendes was informed yesterday. Negotiations ongoing between Chelsea and Atléti, as revealed last night — it’s up to Chelsea now. This is also crucial for Conor Gallagher deal."

Felix spent the second half of 2022/2023 on loan at Chelsea, scoring four goals in 16 Premier League appearances for the club, all while averaging a solid 2.9 shots per 90 according to WhoScored.

Chelsea are readying a £43m bid to sign a new striker this summer, it has been claimed, as they look to hand Enzo Maresca a new option for his frontline ahead of the upcoming Premier League season.

Questions over Chelsea's frontline

Though there are several options already at Maresca's disposal, things are set to change at Stamford Bridge ahead of the transfer window slamming shut on August 30th. David Fofana is expected to leave the club on loan this summer, with Fabrizio Romano revealing that the striker's departure could include an obligation to buy the attacker.

Meanwhile, summer addition Marc Guiu may be another player set to leave on loan: “I still don’t know if I will go on loan… but I think I'm ready for the Premier League,” the Spanish striker revealed. “It was tough decision to leave Barça, for sure — but I always wanted to play in the Premier League”.

And striker Armando Broja is another expected to depart ahead of the end of the transfer window, with the Albanian likely to make a permanent departure if an offer comes in. He struggled on loan with Fulham in the second half of the 2023-24 campaign and there have been few suitors for his signature thus far, though Juventus are reportedly considering him.

That will leave only Romelu Lukaku, who is reportedly training alone as he looks to push through an exit amid interest from Napoli and a return to Serie A seemingly beckoning.

Should all that transpire, the Blues will have just Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson as options to lead the line. As a result, they are now in the market for another.

Chelsea preparing £43m bid for La Liga talent

Now, it is being reported that the Blues are once again chasing Atlético Madrid talent Samu Omorodion as they look to add more depth to their frontline, and are even readying a bid for his services.

Chelsea had already seen one bid turned down for the 20-year-old this summer, but have resumed negotiations and Sky journalist Gianluca di Marzio reports that the Blues are "pushing hard" for the Spaniard, who is currently at the Olympic Games with his nation.

Personal terms done: Senior Chelsea player agrees £10m-a-year deal to leave

His time at Stamford Bridge is rapidly coming to an end.

18 ByBen Browning Aug 5, 2024

Now, he adds that talks are on to sign the 20-year-old in a deal worth 50m euros (£43m), with the two clubs also in talks over a deal for Conor Gallagher to join the Rojablanco in the coming days. Indeed, the two sides are in "continuous contacts" to complete both deals, which would see Chelsea finally land their no.1 summer target.

Yet to feature for the Atletico senior side, Omorodion spent last season on loan with Deportivo Alaves, where he scored eight times.

Omorodion's La Liga season 2023/24

Appearances

35

Starts

21

Goals

8

Assists

1

Shots on target per 90

1.13

As for style of play, he was dubbed "Haaland-esque" for one particular finish last season by Football analyst Ben Mattinson on X, who concluded that Atletico "have a star in their ranks". Now, it seems that Chelsea are set to add him to theirs instead.

Leeds United could yet be involved in a potential £40m piece of business during the summer transfer window, according to an update from journalist Ben Jacobs.

Leeds transfer news

The Whites suffered the agony of missing out on promotion from the Championship to the Premier League last season, losing in the play-off final to Southampton. They will again go into the 2024/25 campaign as one of the favourites to go up, but Daniel Farke will know the importance of making important new signings.

Couhaib Driouech has been linked with a summer move to Leeds, with the 22-year-old Excelsior attacker seen as an ideal replacement for current Elland Road star Wilfried Gnonto, with the Italian potentially moving on to pastures new.

While Archie Gray moving to Tottenham has been disappointing for Whites fans, Joe Rodon completed a permanent move from the north London club. Elsewhere, Gent ace Jordan Torunarigha is viewed as a possible candidate to come in and partner him at the heart of Farke's defence.

Away from incomings, there is also the constant threat of certain influential figures moving on in the current transfer window along with Gray, including the likes of Illan Meslier, Georginio Rutter, Crysencio Summerville and Gnonto. A new update has now dropped regarding one such figure.

Journalist drops £40m Leeds update

Speaking to The Boot Room, Jacobs admitted that Summerville could still leave Leeds this summer, with the Whites demanding up to £40m for his services, at which point they would likely accept an offer:

"I still wouldn’t rule out a move for Crysencio Summerville who will be available for between £35-40m. Because Leeds sold Archie Gray they are in a stronger position to try to rebuff it, but I’m told that if the player said he wanted to leave for a big Premier League club like Chelsea then Leeds wouldn’t stand in his way."

At this point, it would be a surprise if Summerville was still a Leeds player when next season gets underway, considering he may feel he is at a level where he should be playing in a top league following his exploits last term.

The Dutchman was voted the Championship's best player for the past season, scoring 20 goals and chipping in with nine assists in the competition. Farke is also a big admirer of the winger, saying of him: "His reaction, not just in possession, because he’s an outstanding creative player, we know this, but also how hard he worked for the team. This is exactly what we need and many compliments to him."

Should Summerville move on, it is imperative that Leeds get every last penny for him, making sure they receive the desired £40m and use it to bring in a number of important additions.

Player wants to quit Leeds with Steinsson ready to take £18 million loss

He could leave for a meagre fee.

2 ByEmilio Galantini Jul 6, 2024

However, it would still be preferable for the Whites to keep hold of their star performer, in what would be a huge boost ahead of another promotion charge in the Championship.

Kylian Mbappe just stopped short of matching Cristiano Ronaldo's despicable offside record at Real Madrid after a nightmarish El Clasico performance.

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Mbappe struggled against Barcelona in ClasicoWas caught offside eight times by Barca's high-lineCame close to matching Ronaldo's 2013-14 offside metricsFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

In a one-sided El Clasico showdown at the Santiago Bernabéu on Saturday, Barcelona overwhelmed Real Madrid with a stunning 4-0 victory, leaving the European champions searching for answers. Robert Lewandowski led the charge with two goals, and Lamine Yamal and Raphinha contributed to complete the rout. For Mbappe, it was a horrific introduction to the historic fixture as he struggled to make an impact.

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Despite his undeniable skill and goal-scoring prowess, the French forward was repeatedly caught offside, underscoring his difficult night against Barcelona’s organised defence. Mbappe had two goals disallowed for offside, and in total, he was flagged offside a staggering eight times, unable to find the rhythm to break through Barcelona’s meticulously executed defensive line.

This performance brought Mbappe dangerously close to a record associated with one of Madrid’s all-time greats, Ronaldo. During the 2013-14 season, the Portuguese was caught offside 22 times in his first 10 La Liga games, a statistic that Mbappe now approaches with his tally of 17 offsides in the current season, the highest of any player in Europe’s top leagues – surpassing players like Dominic Calvert-Lewin of Everton and Fiorentina’s Moise Kean, both with 16 offsides each.

DID YOU KNOW?

The record for the most offsides in a single game is a three-way tie at 10 offsides, held by Kevin Phillips (for Southampton against Wolves in 2004), Steven Savidan (for Valenciennes versus Sochaux in 2006), and Sergio Pellissier (for Chievo against Roma in 2010). Although Mbappe came close with his eight offside calls against Barcelona, the 2018 World Cup winner fell just short of this dubious benchmark.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR MBAPPE?

In his 14 appearances across all competitions for Madrid this season, Mbappe has notched eight goals and provided two assists. He will look to make amends to his form when he travels to Mestalla over the weekend. However, concerns are mounting that the fixture might be postponed due to heavy flooding in the Valencia area. If the game proceeds, it presents a chance for Mbappé and Real Madrid to reset their campaign and return to winning form before hosting AC Milan in a Champions League clash at the Santiago Bernabeu on November 5.

He does not believe the India attack will be able to replicate the short-pitched approach of Neil Wagner last summer

Daniel Brettig24-Nov-20202:12

Smith: Stepped away from my natural game during the IPL

No matter how many “controllables” Cricket Australia have tried to control in the lead-up to a Covid-affected summer, how many biosecurity protocols, meetings with government or compromises with broadcasters, there will always be imponderables of sport that dictate how the season plays out.To the evident delight of Australia’s cricketers and coaches returned from the IPL and currently quarantining in Sydney ahead of the ODI, T20I and Test series against India, perhaps the most important of them all clicked into place over the weekend: hold the front page, because Steven Smith has figured out how to hold his bat again.That he has been able to return to the simplicity of long training sessions in between quiet hotel contemplations already looks to have been a blessing. Away from the relative cacophony of the IPL in the UAE, where he was captain of an unsuccessful Rajasthan Royals campaign, Smith has been able to find the clarity of mind and body he needs to hit a million-odd balls and, in his words, “find my hands”.”I was pretty disappointed actually with my batting throughout the IPL,” Smith said. “I never really got into a good rhythm, but I think the last few days actually I’ve found something. People close to me that know me well, I’ve found my hands the last few days, which I’m extremely excited about.ALSO READ: David Warner says Australia ‘trying not to engage’ in verbal volleys”It’s taken me probably about three and half or fourth months to do it, but found them now, which is pleasing and I actually look forward to going back to the nets again this afternoon to have another hit and just reinforce it and get started again in a few days’ time. Theoretically it is a simple thing, but it’s just getting that feel and the look of the bat behind my toe the right way and the way my hands come up on the bat.”It’s hard to explain but it just hasn’t quite been right until probably two days ago, I found a little something and everything just clicked in. I had a big smile on my face after training the other day, because I walked past [Australia’s senior assistant and also Rajasthan head coach] Andrew McDonald I think it was and said ‘I found ’em again’, I was really excited.”All the way through his career, including Newlands and after, Smith has always retained an almost childlike love of batting and at the same time a sense of mystery to it: Smith knows how good he is but there are times when even he doesn’t know exactly how to find his best, other than to face countless throwdowns and hope that the old rhythm comes back. He is known for a recurring nightmare where he is timed out because he can’t find his bat, and has often spoken about the need to find his hands and all else that flows from that.Steven Smith glances fine•Getty Images

The weeks prior to the 2017-18 Ashes series were another such time. “The first Shield game or two I remember I was struggling with it…I remember I found it in the game against Western Australia at Hurstville Oval, something sort of clicked halfway through that innings I reckon, and then I was good to go,” Smith said.”It’s taken me a lot longer than usual, I don’t know why, whether it was a big [break], I pretty much didn’t bat for about four months during the start of Covid-19, maybe a bit longer, but I’m glad I’ve been able to find something the last few days.”The training time in Sydney has been valuable too for Smith to reflect on how his IPL approach will need to be massaged into something more rounded for the ODI and T20I series that prelude the Tests. “I think for me in white-ball cricket, it’s about playing my game in the way that I do it,” he said. “I think in IPL I got a bit caught up with trying to be a bit too powerful and that’s not quite my game I don’t think.”You know there are those players around the world who can hit sixes at will. I’m probably not one of those. For me it’s about hitting proper cricket shots and hitting the gaps and manipulating the field as much as I can. I probably went away from that a bit throughout the IPL. I know that’s the best way that I play. So keeping my thoughts clear and hitting the ball in my areas where I want to hit them. I still think there’s a need for a player like that in the short form of the game that’s for sure.Smith’s excitement inevitably features at least some element of making up for the summer he lost in 2018-19, when he could do nothing more than watch as the Australian batting order was unable to compile the sorts of tallies required to pressure India often enough. Certainly the Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney Tests look as though they could easily have come to different conclusions with the addition of Smith’s presence at No. 4 for the hosts.”I don’t know if it makes me hungrier. I’m always pretty hungry to go out there and perform well,” Smith said. “I guess it was tough having to watch from the sidelines, particularly with the team not doing as well as they would have liked. And losing that series was difficult to watch knowing that I felt like I could go out and have an impact if I was playing. That was hard but certainly looking forward to this series. Two of the top teams going at it, two quality pace line-ups, two quality batting line-ups, and I think it makes for an interesting and exciting summer.”