Tag Futebol

Offspin, legspin or left-arm orthodox – this is the choice facing Australia as they evaluate their support spinners

Alex Malcolm11-Jan-2023Australia could consider playing two offspinners in the same Test team in India after uncapped 22-year-old Todd Murphy was named in their Test squad, but Ashton Agar remains the preferred option to partner Nathan Lyon despite a modest return to Test cricket in Sydney last week.Australia’s selectors named four spinners, including two offspinners in Lyon and Murphy, a legspinner in Mitchell Swepson, and a left-arm orthodox in Agar for Australia’s four-Test tour of India starting in Nagpur on February 9.Australia played two spinners in their last Test match, with Agar playing his first game alongside Lyon since 2017, while legspinner Swepson partnered Lyon in four of five Test matches in Pakistan and Sri Lanka last year.Australia have had moderate success with two spinners in the same XI over the past 12 months, claiming two wins, two draws and one loss in Galle. Australia did win one Test in India on their last tour in 2017 off the back of playing two spinners, with left-arm orthodox Steve O’Keefe claiming 12 for 70 in Pune.Part of the reason for Agar’s return in Sydney, despite a very modest first-class record over 10 years and 64 games, was because Australia’s selectors would prefer a left-arm orthodox bowler in India both to complement Lyon and replicate the success of O’Keefe in India, and the success of India duo Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel.Australia’s chairman of selectors George Bailey believes that Agar would be better for the run in Sydney ahead of the tour of India.”Certainly in India, we would like to have the availability of a left-arm orthodox,” Bailey said. “[It’s] great that we have the opportunity to get Ash a game. He hasn’t played a great deal of red-ball cricket and then in horse-racing terms I think he will be better for the run. [It was] great to have him around the group again and with a focus to sort of build his red-ball stuff up over the next little period until we get to India.”Agar has played just seven first-class matches since the start of 2020, taking just 17 wickets at 50.64 and striking at 109.5 with an economy rate of 2.78. He took figures of 0 for 58 from 22 overs in Sydney, and was bowled sparingly by captain Pat Cummins compared to Lyon’s 55 overs for the match. But Cummins was pleased with Agar’s efforts.Todd Murphy has made an excellent start to his first-class career, but are Australia willing to play two offspinners?•Getty ImagesCould Murphy’s emergence prompt Australia to play two offspinners?
While a left-arm orthodox spinner is preferred in India, Bailey conceded that Murphy’s emergence has made the selectors consider playing two offspinners in the same side. Murphy has only played seven first-class matches in his short career for Victoria, Australia A and the Prime Minister’s XI, all in the last two years, but has taken 29 wickets at 25.20, striking at 57.6 with an economy rate of 2.62.”Absolutely, he’s a chance to play,” Bailey said. “[It’s] certainly not a development tour. So he’s earned his spot through his performances and what we think he can do, clearly.”Whether he can play alongside [Lyon] is a question but they are different as far as offspinners go. So I don’t think you’re necessarily looking at the same type of bowler. We’ll get across and assess the conditions and what we think we need once we hit the ground.”Bailey and his fellow selectors, Tony Dodemaide and coach Andrew McDonald, have been consistent in their messaging around picking a complementary spinner to partner Lyon in order to balance out the attack. McDonald stated on record prior to Agar’s selection in Sydney that having a spinner who complemented Lyon by turning the ball away from the right-handers was more important than picking the next-best spinner.That desire is exacerbated by the development of Travis Head as a part-time offspinner within Australia’s XI. The idea of picking two specialist offspinners, along with the part-time offspin of Head, with only the part-time legspin of Marnus Labuschagne and Steven Smith to complement them, could leave Australia’s attack unbalanced in spinning conditions, particularly given most of India’s top six will be right-handers in the absence of Rishabh Pant.Mitchell Swepson took 10 wickets at 45.80 on the tours of Pakistan and Sri Lanka•Getty ImagesThe case for Swepson
Australia selectors have selected one legspinner in Swepson but have cooled on the idea of using him to complement Lyon. He bowled well at times without luck in Pakistan and Sri Lanka but took just 10 wickets at 45.80, striking at 89.2. He also didn’t quite contain the run-rate in the way Australia would have liked while they attacked with reverse swing from their quicks at the other end.There was a consideration to pick Australia’s white-ball spinner Adam Zampa after he made a return to first-class cricket for the first time in three years in December. But Bailey confirmed that Swepson remains Australia’s number one legspinner in red-ball cricket.”Swep’s on the tour because if we feel that we need a legspinner we think he’s our best option,” Bailey said. “I think Zamps has displayed a real keenness to be around the Test squad. And we just probably haven’t seen enough red-ball cricket from him. And to be fair to Swep we’ve liked what he’s given us when he’s had his opportunities and [we’ll] continue to invest in him.”But Australia’s selectors are aware of the difficulties overseas legspinners have had in India, with Australia’s greatest ever Shane Warne struggling in three tours of India, averaging 43.11 and striking in 81 with an economy rate of 3.19. But Warne played a pivotal role in Australia’s 2004 series triumph in India, though he played more of a defensive role as the lone spinner in Australia’s two Test wins in Bengaluru and Nagpur while Australia’s three fast bowlers in Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie and Michael Kasprowicz did the bulk of the damage.

The right-arm seamer is line to become the first Southlander to debut for NZ since Jeff Wilson in 1993

Deivarayan Muthu16-Dec-2020Around this time nine years ago, a 17-year-old Jacob Duffy made his T20 debut under Brendon McCullum for Otago and took out Northern Districts’ top three, including Kane Williamson and Tim Southee. Come Friday in the absence of a number of New Zealand seniors including Williamson and Southee, Duffy, now 26, could potentially make his international debut against Pakistan at Eden Park.The right-arm seamer is line to become the first Southlander to debut for New Zealand in international cricket since Jeff Wilson in 1993.”It’s amazing how many people reach out when you sort of get the call-up,” Duffy said two days out of the series opener in Auckland. “No, it’s pretty exciting, especially for a small community like that. I’ve really enjoyed growing up there, playing all my cricket there, and a little bit of Hawke Cup cricket and stuff. People down there are really fizzed. I remember they were fizzed up when I first played for Otago, so this is another step-up and it’s really cool.”Duffy, the Otago white-ball captain, has been among the most consistent performers in domestic cricket, and has also impressed for New Zealand A in recent times. He joins the senior side on the back of a six-wicket haul against the touring West Indians in a four-day fixture in Mount Maunganui. Earlier, in the 2019-20 Plunket Shield, he was the leading wicket-taker, with 22 strikes in five matches at an average of 22.86. He was also the second-highest wicket-taker in last season’s 50-over Ford Trophy with 21 scalps.Jacob Duffy has been among the most consistent performers for NZ A and Otago•Getty ImagesA tall bowler, Duffy can hit heavy lengths and extract extra bounce, but it is his ability to pitch the ball up and swing it which makes him an exciting addition to New Zealand’s already well-stocked seam attack. As for his T20 credentials, Duffy fronts up to bowl the tough overs at the death, and nobody has taken more wickets than him during this phase in the past four years in New Zealand’s domestic T20 competition. He has grabbed 15 wickets in 18 innings in the slog overs at an economy rate of 9.36. Duffy reckoned that his experiences of dealing with batting-friendly tracks and smaller boundaries at the domestic level would tune him up for international cricket.”You just have to play like another game,” he said. “I’ve been lucky enough in the last couple of years to play a little [bit] of A cricket, so you get to experience the international flavour and see what other people around the world have. I guess the good thing about that is you realise you’re not far off in terms of skill levels and things like that. You can actually compete with guys at the international level. So, I think that’s a big part of learning out of the [A] series and just got to take that into this [international cricket] and back your skills.”It’s about doing what I’ve been doing to get here. I’ve got a particular brand of cricket I like to play and sort of things that have worked for me in the last few years – I will just be sticking to my guns.”The Duffy brand of cricket also involves scouting and looking for clues to outsmart the opposition. “I go home and watch a lot of footage,” he said. “I’ve got my own individual plans and cater the batsmen to what plan suits best.”Duffy attributed his recent success and international call-up to remodelling his action and straightening his follow-through. After being sent to a bowling boot camp by Otago coaches Rob Walter and Anton Roux in 2016-17, Duffy missed a major chunk of on-field action but worked on his control and ability to swing the ball during his time away from the side.”Coach Rob Walter and Anton Roux sort of sent me down to…They hadn’t seen a lot of me [then], but knew something was off,” Duffy said. “I went back to the drawing board and missed a lot of cricket that summer. Honestly, that turned my career around, and I’m honestly grateful to those guys for seeing something like that. That was a massive turning point in my career and I’ve been chipping away ever since.Jacob Duffy has been Otago Volts’ go-to death bowler in the Super Smash•Getty Images”I was falling away and wasn’t swinging the ball anymore and a little bit inaccurate, doing no good to anyone. [I] just got taller at the crease and a bit straighter [with my followthrough].”New Zealand bowling coach Shane Jurgensen, who has previously worked with Duffy during his A team stint, was pleased with the seamer’s progress and looked ahead to comparing scouting notes with him.”That’s [reworking the action is] hard for a bowler, particularly for a young bowler who has sort of been in New Zealand cricket’s High Performance systems for a long time. He had to rejig a few things and he’s done so well,” Jurgensen said. “He has performed well for Otago and he has been the captain. He has had a great opportunity to control his destiny and it’s a testament to the hard work he has done. He stepped up for the New Zealand A team last year against India, which was a great series I was involved in…. He is still a young man and has a lot of time in his cricketing career.”Duffy has a few tricks up his sleeve as a bowler in T20 – he has done very well. It’s about trying to marry his strengths with what we might plan to do at this venue but also against Pakistan.”A debut at Eden Park, where the straight boundaries are ultra-short, could mean a tough initiation into international cricket for Duffy, but he hopes that his “best will be good enough.”

The New York Yankees are expected to be buyers at this year's MLB trade deadline, but fortifying their roster for a shot at a World Series run could come at the expense of some key pieces of the organization.

According to Joel Sherman of the , multiple teams have expressed interest in Yankees slugger Ben Rice. The team is determined to keep him on the roster, but there have been multiple organizations inquiring about his ability to play behind the plate, as Rice was a catcher throughout much of his time in the minor leagues.

Of course, moving Rice is something the team would hope to avoid, but it may be necessary if they're to acquire some of the top players on the trade market.

Among the teams the Yankees have been closely linked to at this trade deadline include the Arizona Diamondbacks, who, after being swept by the Astros, appear destined to be sellers at the month's end. Some intriguing options in Arizona include Eugenio Suarez, who would alleviate a glaring need a third base while providing elite power, as well as pitchers Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly.

This season, Rice is slashing .232/.323/.468 with 15 home runs, 32 RBIs and 45 runs. He's played two complete games behind the plate in 2025 and has 12 total appearances at the position. Obviously, his profile as a hitter is hard to find for a player capable of playing solid defense at catcher, so if he's able to catch at an MLB level, it makes sense that'd be of intrigue to teams.

Glasgow Rangers are back in action once again in the Scottish Premiership this evening as they prepare to take on Kilmarnock away from Ibrox.

The Light Blues are looking to finally get back to winning ways after frustrating draws with Falkirk and Dundee United in their last outings in the league under Danny Rohl.

A 98th-minute penalty from Nedim Bajrami salvaged a point against Dundee United, and the Gers head coach may want to make several changes to the team after that disappointing showing, including dropping Bojan Miovski from the side.

Why Bojan Miovski should be dropped

The Macedonia international has been a regular starter in the Premiership, starting nine of his 11 appearances in the league (Sofascore), and led the line on Wednesday night.

Miovski lost three of his five ground duels and four of his five aerial duels, per Sofascore, against Dundee United, whilst he also missed his only ‘big chance’ in front of goal, which sort of sums up his season so far.

The former Aberdeen marksman has lost 69% of his duels and missed five ‘big chances’ to go along with his one goal in his 11 league outings, per Sofascore, which shows that he has struggled physically and in front of goal in a Gers shirt.

These statistics show that the 26-year-old striker has not delivered enough quality on the pitch, in or out of possession, which is why Rohl should drop the forward from the starting line-up for this clash with Kilmarnock this evening, to give Danilo or Youssef Chermiti a chance to lead the line.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Miovski is not the only player who should be dropped from the side that started against Dundee United, though, as Connor Barron should also be ruthlessly ditched.

Why Connor Barron should be dropped

Rohl should drop the Scotland international from the starting line-up because his performances in the last two league games have not been at a high level.

Barron started against Falkirk and Dundee United alongside Nicolas Raskin in the middle of the park, ahead of Mohamed Diomande, but failed to offer enough quality on or off the ball.

Minutes

76

90

Pass accuracy

90%

83%

Big chances created

0

0

Tackles made

0

1

Fouls committed

2

1

Ground duels won

3/6

1/5

Aerial duels won

0/1

0/2

As you can see in the table above, the former Aberdeen star lost the majority of his physical duels across both games, including 86% against Dundee United, whilst he did not create any ‘big chances’ for the team.

This shows that Barron has been a lightweight in his duels in recent games, as opposition players have found it too easy to get the better of him, which has made the Rangers midfield too easy to play against.

On top of struggling out of possession, the 23-year-old central midfielder has no goals, no assists, and no ‘big chances’ created in 12 appearances and seven starts in the Premiership this season, per Sofascore.

He does not offer much of a threat at the top end of the pitch and that has played a part in Rangers scoring just one non-penalty goal in 180 minutes against Falkirk and Dundee United.

Rohl has Diomande, who scored in his last league start against Livingston, available for selection and should bring him into the team to replace Barron for this clash with Kilmarnock this evening.

The Ivorian talent, who is off to the African Cup of Nations later this month, produced five goals and nine assists in midfield for the Scottish giants in the 2024/25 campaign, per Sofascore, which shows that he has the quality to make an impact in the final third when he is at his best.

Raskin repeat: Rohl lining up Rangers move to sign exciting "unicorn"

Rangers are reportedly eyeing up a move for a star who could be a Nicolas Raskin repeat.

ByDan Emery Dec 5, 2025

It is down to Rohl, though, to unleash him alongside Raskin against Kilmarnock tonight to provide him with another chance to remind the supporters of his quality before his absence due to international duty, because Barron has not done enough in his place.

Big picture: Pakistan 0, Australia 16

Pakistan have never beaten Australia in any format of women’s international cricket. And if that trend continues on Wednesday, their path forward in the ODI World Cup will become very complicated given they have already lost their opening two matches to Bangladesh and India.What might be even more concerning for Pakistan is that in 16 ODIs against Australia, they’ve not even come close to victory, with the narrowest margins of defeat being 37 runs and four wickets, both way back in 2014.Pakistan’s most recent contest against Australia, a three-match rubber in 2023, had these results: eight-wicket defeat, 10-wicket defeat, 101-run defeat. And while they are also yet to beat India (12 tries) or England (15 tries) in women’s ODIs, their 16 defeats to Australia make them, statistically, the toughest opponent.Related

• Ellyse Perry and Sidra Amin highlight the contrasts in Australia and Pakistan

• Schutt praised for response to omission as another selection call awaits

All this is to say that Pakistan have a considerable mountain ahead of them. As for Australia, their opening game against New Zealand was an ultimately comfortable win, and their second against Sri Lanka was washed out. They are also a team in near-invincible form. In 32 matches since the last World Cup, they’ve won 27 and lost just four. Pakistan in that same period have played 34 ODIs, won 13 and lost 18.So what exactly are the straws Pakistan might look to clutch here? One, Australia haven’t played since October 1 as a result of their washout against Sri Lanka. They are also yet to play at the R Premadasa stadium, where conditions don’t necessarily seem conducive to free-flowing batting. With Pakistan already having experienced these conditions in their defeat to India, there could be an advantage to be exploited.Finally, Pakistan will be hoping the law of averages catches up and gives them the crucial win and points that they need.2:40

Australia exude an attitude of ‘we know how to win this’

Form guide

Australia WWLWW (last five ODIs most recent first)
Pakistan LLWLL

In the spotlight: Sandhu and Mooney

Since the 2022 World Cup, no Pakistani bowler has picked up more wickets than spinner Nashra Sandhu – her 42 strikes in this period coming from 28 matches. But more interestingly her 248.1 overs are the sixth-most bowled by any bowler in the last three and a half years. This serves to highlight just how much Pakistan lean on Sandhu. This year has also been her most impactful one – she’s picked up 17 wickets in 10 games, including a six-wicket haul against South Africa. The only thing is, in her past five matches, she’s gone wicketless three times. Pakistan will need her at her best if they are to upset Australia.You’d be hard pressed to find a team Beth Mooney doesn’t like batting against, but even so, her ODI record against Pakistan is better than most. Across eight innings she’s struck 279 runs at an average of 69.75, an average that has been boosted by the fact that she’s only been dismissed four times. Mooney’s recent form too has been ominous, with a century and two fifties across her last five innings.Megan Schutt has a good record against Pakistan: 10 wickets in nine ODIs•Getty Images

Team news: Will Schutt get a look in?

With a week’s break since their last game, Australia will be itching to get out on the field. Their biggest dilemma is down to healthy competition, as it remains to be seen if Darcie Brown continues to keep Megan Schutt out of the XI.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 Alana King, 10 Kim Garth, 11 Darcie BrownOmaima Sohail was replaced at the top of the order by Sadaf Shamas last time out, but with both openers struggling Sohail might find herself back in the side.Pakistan (probable): 1 Muneeba Ali, 2 Sadaf Shamas, 3 Sidra Amin, 4 Aliya Riaz, 5 Natalia Pervaiz, 6 Fatima Sana (capt), 7 Rameen Shamim, 8 Diana Baig, 9 Sidra Nawaz (wk), 10 Nashra Sandhu, 11 Sadia Iqbal

Pitch and conditions: Tricky batting conditions

Rain has been pestering Colombo and its surrounding suburbs over the past week, but Wednesday should arrive with clear, if cloudy, tidings. The pitch at the Khettarama has stayed true to form in the first two games its hosted at this World Cup, making life tricky for batters – expect that to stay the same.

Stats and trivia: Australia’s return to Colombo

• This will be Australia’s first women’s ODI in Colombo since 2016
• Only against Ireland (17-0) do Australia hold a more dominant ODI record than the one they have against Pakistan
• Australia have won their last 10 completed Women’s World Cup matches
• Annabel Sutherland is four away from 50 WODI wickets

Quotes

“We do have an edge but it all depends on what the team does with this advantage. We were unlucky to have our warmup game against Sri Lanka washed out but we’ve also played two games here and know the conditions very well.”

MatériaMais Notícias

Botafogo e Vasco se enfrentam neste domingo (18), às 16h (de Brasília), no Nilton Santos, pela 9ª rodada do Campeonato Carioca. O jogo terá transmissão de Band, Bandsports e Canal GOAT (YouTube). O Glorioso ocupa a quarta colocação, com 14 pontos conquistados, enquanto o Gigante da Colina é o quinto na tabela do estadual, com 15 pontos.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasDicasFlamengo x Boavista: estatísticas e informações para apostar no jogo pelo CariocaDicas20/02/2024NotíciasCarioca: como foram os últimos jogos entre Botafogo x Vasco?Notícias18/02/2024Campeonato CariocaBotafogo x Vasco: onde assistir, horário e escalações do jogo pelo Campeonato CariocaCampeonato Carioca18/02/2024

➡️ Siga o Lance! no WhatsApp e acompanhe em tempo real as principais notícias do esporte

✅ FICHA TÉCNICA
Botafogo x Vasco
9ª rodada do Campeonato Carioca

Data e horário: domingo, 18 de fevereiro de 2024, às 16h (de Brasília)
Local: Estádio Nilton Santos, no Rio de Janeiro (RJ)
Onde assistir: Band, Bandsports e Canal GOAT (YouTube)

⚽ PROVÁVEIS ESCALAÇÕES
BOTAFOGO (Técnico: Tiago Nunes)
Gatito Fernández; Damián Suárez, Lucas Halter, Bastos e Hugo; Danilo Barbosa, Newton e Jefferson Savarino; Júnior Santos, Matheus Nascimento e Diego Hernández

continua após a publicidade

FLUMINENSE (Técnico: Ramón Diáz)
Léo Jardim; Léo, Robert Rojas e Maicon; Paulo Henrique, Zé Gabriel, Pablo Galdames, Dimitri Payet e Lucas Piton; David e Pablo Vegetti

➡️ Veja os grupos e datas dos confrontos no Paulistão

Tudo sobre

BotafogoCampeonato CariocaVasco

Lauren Bell, Mady Villiers restrict Originals to 95 for 8 before Laura Wolvaardt sees visitors home

ECB Reporters Network06-Aug-2025

Lauren Bell struck to leave Manchester Originals in tatters•Getty Images

Southern Brave started life after Charlotte Edwards with a convincing win over Manchester Originals at Emirates Old Trafford.The damage was all done with the ball, as Lauren Bell took 3 for 28 and Mady Villiers 2 for 19 to limit the hosts to just 95 for 8 from their 100 balls.Seren Smale fought a lone hand for Originals on a wicket that none of her team-mates ever looked at home on, making 40 from 34 balls to give her side the faintest hope at the halfway mark but no side has ever defended fewer than 109 in the Hundred women’s competition and their total never looked like enough.And while Brave were rarely fluent, they were always comfortable – easing to a six-wicket win with 11 balls to spare. Former Originals batter Laura Wolvaardt, a direct signing for Southern Brave this season, showed her old team what they were missing with an assured and unbeaten 42.She was supported by Danni Wyatt-Hodge, who made 32, as Brave’s batting line-up eased over the line in first gear. Having endured a surprising eighth-placed finish last summer, with just one win, Brave – and their new head coach Luke Williams in particular – will have been pleased to start the campaign with a victory.For Originals it was a disappointing start to the season and, Smale’s innings aside, a day of few positives – they’ll hope to demonstrate it was mere blip next time out at the Kia Oval on Saturday.Meerkat Match Hero Bell said: “It’s great to get our first win on the board. In tournament cricket it’s really important to get a good start, and it was a good team performance.”The girls stuck in. The wicket was a bit tricky but we’ve got a great line-up and the batters did the job. We’ve had a lot of really good chats about being really confident, backing our strengths, and having fun out there.”

Paul Pogba’s long-awaited Monaco debut has been delayed yet again after the midfielder picked up an ankle injury in training just 24 hours before his expected return. The 32-year-old, who last played competitively over two years ago, is now set to miss this weekend’s Ligue 1 clash against Paris FC, with his first appearance for the club pushed back beyond the November international break.

• Paul Pogba's return to action delayed again

  Just as anticipation built around Pogba’s long-awaited return to competitive football, the Monaco star has suffered another unfortunate setback. The 32-year-old picked up an ankle injury during Thursday’s training session, ruling him out of Saturday’s Ligue 1 fixture against Paris FC. Monaco boss Sebastien Pocognoli had raised hopes earlier in the week by suggesting Pogba could finally be named in the matchday squad, potentially ending his 26-month absence from professional football.

  Pogba last played for Juventus in September 2023 before being handed a doping suspension that initially ran for four years but was later reduced to 18 months. He had spent the last three months on a rigorous fitness programme following his June arrival at Monaco, working to rebuild both physical strength and sharpness after a long layoff. His debut was already delayed once due to a minor knock before the Angers match, and this latest ankle issue now prolongs his wait for a first appearance in Ligue 1.

  Monaco confirmed that they are awaiting confirmation of the injury’s severity but remain hopeful that Pogba will only be sidelined for a further two weeks. “We are awaiting confirmation of the severity, but it’s hoped he’ll only miss two weeks,” Pocognoli told reporters. “We’re all disappointed,” he added, explaining that the team now hopes to have the Frenchman fit in time for their home clash with Rennes on November 22.

Advertisement

• Getty Images
  

  What the Monaco move means for Pogba…

  Pogba’s repeated setbacks have cast a shadow over what was supposed to be a redemptive new chapter in his career. After signing a two-year deal with Monaco as a free agent in June, the move was seen as both a fresh start and a statement of intent; a chance for one of France’s most gifted midfielders to reclaim his place in the footballing elite. However, since his arrival, the World Cup winner has been restricted to gym work, recovery sessions, and individual training routines, with fans still waiting to see him in Monaco colours.

  At 32, Pogba is no longer the explosive presence he once was at Manchester United or Juventus, and his transition back to top-flight football has required patience and careful management. Monaco’s coaching staff have publicly backed his rehabilitation process, with Pocognoli and his medical team determined not to rush him back prematurely and risk further injury setbacks.

• Pogba's footballing journey: A mix of high highs and low lows

  Pogba’s footballing journey has been one of the most eventful of his generation. A product of Manchester United’s academy, he first burst onto the scene with Juventus, winning four consecutive Serie A titles before returning to Old Trafford in 2016 for a then-world record £89 million fee. Across his two spells with United, he made over 150 appearances, winning the Europa League and Carabao Cup while establishing himself as one of France’s most technically gifted midfielders.

  His international career reached its pinnacle in 2018 when he played a pivotal role in France’s World Cup triumph, scoring in the final against Croatia. Yet injuries and inconsistency began to plague his club form in subsequent years. The doping suspension handed down in 2023 proved to be the lowest point of his career.

  Joining Monaco represented a chance to rebuild. The emotional scenes that accompanied his signing, Pogba was seen breaking down in tears as he put pen to paper, capturing how much the return meant to him personally. His stated goal has been to “rediscover happiness through football” and, eventually, earn a recall to Didier Deschamps’ France squad ahead of the 2026 World Cup. For now, though, his dream remains on hold, with recovery once again his main focus.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Pogba's debut could now come after the November international break

  Pogba’s immediate objective will be to recover in time for Monaco’s November 22 clash against Rennes, which now stands as the new target for his long-awaited debut. The club’s medical team is monitoring his ankle closely, and while the injury is not thought to be serious, Monaco are taking a cautious approach given his recent history. If all goes to plan, the Rennes fixture could mark his first appearance in professional football in more than two years.

  Until then, Monaco’s focus will remain on maintaining form in Ligue 1 as they juggle a busy schedule without their marquee summer signing. Pocognoli’s men face Paris FC this weekend and Reims shortly after, fixtures that could prove decisive in maintaining their early-season momentum. The team will continue to rely on the likes of Mohamed Camara and Eliot Matazo to anchor the midfield while Pogba completes his recovery programme.

Lamine Yamal has risked the wrath of Real Madrid supporters once again after the Barcelona forward sent out a defiant message ahead of the first Clasico of the season. Having already received scorn from the Blaugrana’s bitter rivals, the 18-year-old decided to prod them for a second time before Sunday’s mouth-watering fixture at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Getty Images SportIn-form Barcelona and Real lead the way at the top of La Liga

All eyes will be on Madrid this weekend when Barcelona and Real renew hostilities in La Liga. The Spanish giants have set the pace in 2025-26, occupying the top two spots in the table. Xabi Alonso’s Real sit at the summit after winning eight and losing one of their nine league games this term, while Hansi Flick’s Barcelona are second and just two points behind, having won seven from the same number of fixtures. The Catalan side drew 1-1 with Rayo Vallecano on 31 August, before losing 4-1 to Sevilla earlier this month.

AdvertisementYamal stokes fire with tongue-in-cheek remark about Real

While the fixture does not need any extra hype, extra spice has been added following pre-match comments from Yamal. Igniting controversy before a ball has been kicked, the wonderkid – speaking during a broadcast on Kings League – made tongue-in-cheek remarks about Real, which have not gone down well at the Bernabeu.

In comments which went viral on social media, when asked by Ibai Llanos – owner of Kings League side Porcinos FC – whether his team reminded him of Real, Yamal said: “Yes, of course, they steal, they complain…”

Prompting laughter from those on the stream, Llanos, a well-known Real supporter, immediately pushed back by asking: “Real Madrid steals?”

Laughing nervously, Yamal then said: “Well, let’s see, let’s see.”

AFPSpain star goes one step further with new social media post

Not content with his cheeky remarks, Yamal has lit the touch paper once again by taking to social media to send a bold message before El Clasico. In a post on his Instagram stories, the Spain international uploaded a picture which sees him blurred out and a sea of angry Real supporters brought into focus. Yamal was victorious in all four Clasico fixtures last season as Barcelona defeated Real twice in La Liga, while they also got the better of their old foes in the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Wonderkid on song as Barcelona downed Olympiacos in midweek

Yamal and Barcelona head into Sunday’s Clasico in great spirits following their comprehensive 6-1 win over Greek side Olympiacos in the Champions League on Tuesday. The winger recorded one goal and one assist as Flick’s side got back on track in Europe’s elite club competition, having suffered a late 2-1 defeat against defending champions Paris Saint-Germain in their second fixture. Barcelona opened their Champions League campaign with a 2-1 victory over Newcastle on 18 September, with in-form forward Marcus Rashford scoring twice.

Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs made a huge prediction regarding his former club and Liverpool back in 2011, and they are coming back to haunt him now.

Liverpool and Man Utd's spells of success

The Red Devils and the Reds remain the two biggest clubs in English football, enjoying a great rivalry throughout history and having different periods of success.

Liverpool were on top for much of the 1970s and 1980s, winning First Division titles and European Cup glory, but their era of glory ended around 1990, prior to United becoming the dominant force in the Premier League.

For nearly 20 years, they ruled the roost, even though the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal enjoyed strong periods as well, and it felt as though they would go nowhere with Sir Alex Ferguson in charge.

Since the Scot departed, however, United have fallen away dramatically, not winning the league since 2013 and often being a laughing stock, while Liverpool have returned to the top, winning two Premier League titles in the past five years.

Giggs' bold Man Utd and Liverpool prediction in 2011

Speaking back in 2011, Giggs boldly claimed that Manchester United would never collapse and fade away like Liverpool after a period of dominance, which in hindsight, has ended up looking foolish.

It’s fair to say that Giggs’ comments now look foolish, considering United’s period of dominance in the 1990s and 2000s is long gone, having not won a Premier League title in 12 years.

Liverpool are now streets ahead of their rivals, excelling under both Jurgen Klopp and Arne Slot, and it feels like a long time before United will be able to compete for the top honours again.

History has shown that both the Reds and Red Devils are far too big not go away forever, though, and there is every chance that United will be back again at some point.

Man Utd’s most embarrassing defeats since Sir Alex Ferguson left Old Trafford

The Red Devils have had multiple humiliating losses since 2013.

ByCharlie Smith Aug 28, 2025

Liverpool could just do without one of their current players tempting fate like Giggs did all those years ago.