Achraf Hakimi had to be helped off the pitch and looked to be in tears after being on the receiving end of a reckless challenge by Luis Diaz during Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League clash with Bayern Munich on Tuesday. The winger saw red for his challenge, while Hakimi is now facing an anxious wait to determine the severity of the injury. It's a huge blow for PSG and Hakimi, particularly with the Africa Cup of Nations now only weeks away.

• Diaz sent off for brutal challenge on Hakimi

  Diaz had put Bayern 2-0 up in the game at Parc des Princes but went from hero to zero when he lunged in on Hakimi just before half-time. The forward was originally shown a yellow by the match referee card but the decision was upgraded to a red after a VAR check. As for Hakimi, he was clearly in pain on the turf and had to be helped off the pitch. The Morocco star also appeared to be in tears and the fear is that he has sustained a serious injury that will keep him out of action for some time.

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• Morocco captain Hakimi to miss AFCON?

  Hakimi is not just a crucial player for PSG, he is also vital for the Morocco national team and captains the side. The 2025 AFCON tournament is due to start in December in Morocco, and the concern will be that Hakimi will not just miss game time for PSG, but he will also be ruled out of the tournament. Hakimi has spoken previously about how determined he is to lift the trophy on home turf. He told reporters earlier this year: "The tournament is approaching fast, and it remains our top priority. We have a big responsibility to win it in front of our fans. We know the expectations are high, but we’re ready to give everything for our country."

• AFP
  

  Hakimi spotted on crutches

  PSG must now wait to see how serious the injury to Hakimi is, although the defender was spotted leaving the stadium on crutches and wearing a protective boot after the game. Captain Marquinhos was quizzed on the situation afterwards and said only: "We have to wait for the tests, they've done some minor tests. They'll give you more information later."

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• Luis Enrique reacts to PSG defeat

  Luis Enrique spoke about his team's defeat after the game. He told : "At 11 against 11, Bayern were stronger, without a doubt. We gave the opposition some very nice gifts in the first half. We could have conceded more. In the second half, it was different because we had an extra player. Consequences? I can't talk about the future. We know our schedule is the worst. The next few will be difficult."

  Hakimi wasn't the only PSG player to suffer injury against Bayern. Talisman Ousmane Dembele also went off in the first half, and Luis Enrique offered a brief update on his condition: "I don't know. I think it has nothing to do with the previous injury. It's something new. We need to be very careful, we're looking to improve the players' condition."

MatériaMais Notícias

Os torcedores do Corinthians ficaram na bronca com a arbitragem na partida de volta da semifinal da Copa Sul-Americana e se revoltaram com a não expulsão de Tomás Pochettino, do Fortaleza, após entrada forte em Gabriel Moscardo. Nesta quarta-feira (4), a Conmebol divulgou o diálogo entre o árbitro Andrés Rojas e Nicolás Gallo, comandante do VAR na Arena Castelão. Veja no vídeo acima!

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+ Garanta a sua vaga no curso que formou craques como Pet, Dante e Léo Moura! Cupom: LANCE1000

O lance em questão aconteceu aos 27 minutos do primeiro tempo, quando o meia do Fortaleza disputou a bola com Moscardo e acabou acertando a canela do jogador corintiano.

O argumento usado por Gallo para não recomendar a revisão e seguir com o cartão amarelo é que Pochettino recolheu o pé no momento do choque com Moscardo, caracterizando um lance sem a intensidade necessária para um cartão vermelho.

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Veja como foi a conversa: 

VAR: Deixe-me ver essa possível entrada. (Coloque) Lento.

Árbitro: Ele disputa e bola e em seguida acerta a parte de cima (da perna de Moscardo). VAR: Ele [Pochettino] recolhe o pé. Volte a imagem. Ele recolhe o pé, com a (câmera) invertida eu vejo isso. Disputa a bola e depois lhe toca [Moscardo], mas recolhendo a perna, para mim. Para mim, não tem a intensidade necessária (para cartão vermelho direto). Pronto. Ele toca, mas tira o pé depois que disputa a bola. Vamos ver em velocidade normal, por favor.

Árbitro: É possível ver o ponto de contato, mas ele [Pochettino] primeiro toca a bola e depois recolhe o pé.

VAR: Toca e recolhe (o pé). Justo no momento em que ele toca (a perna de Moscardo), está recolhendo o pé.

AVAR: Vou repetir com a câmera invertida.

VAR: Essa já vi também.

AVAR: Muito bem.

VAR: Para mim, ele [Pochettino] não tem a força necessária (para vermelho direto). Confirmo o cartão amarelo ao nº 7. [Chamando o árbitro]. Andrés, é o Nico [Nicolás Gallo] te chamando.

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Árbitro: Sim, Gallo? VAR: Te confirmo o cartão amarelo ao nº 7. É correto. Ele recolhe a perna depois que disputa a bola. Certo?

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Com a vitória por 2 a 0, o Fortaleza irá disputar sua primeira final em uma competição continental, enquanto o Corinthians luta contra o rebaixamento e busca uma vaga para a Libertadores via Brasileirão. Os comandados de Mano Menezes enfrentam o Flamengo, no sábado (7), às 21h, na Neo Química Arena.

England captain Ben Stokes hinted that the hosts will need “fresh legs” after nearly 900 overs in the field across the first four Tests

Matt Roller27-Jul-2025

Ben Stokes felt some discomfort in his shoulder•Getty Images

England captain Ben Stokes told his players “pain is just an emotion”, as they toiled through 143 overs in India’s second innings at Old Trafford. But he has hinted that England would freshen up their bowling attack for the fifth and final Test at The Oval.Stokes bowled 11 overs – including eight in a row – on Sunday, but grimaced throughout and repeatedly clutched his right shoulder. He revealed after the teams shook hands on a draw that he had a sore biceps tendon. He said he had “been better” physically, but considered it “very unlikely” that he would not be fit enough to play in the fifth Test on Thursday.After taking his first five-wicket haul in eight years in India’s first innings, Stokes retired hurt while batting on Friday but re-emerged that evening and went on to score his first Test hundred in two years the following day. He did not bowl at all on Saturday, but after his spells on Sunday has bowled 140 in this series, a personal record.Related

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“It’s been a pretty big workload so far in the series,” he said. “I had a big week last week at Lord’s, with time spent out in the middle with bat in hand and obviously overs bowled, and then same again this week. I said it a few times to the guys out there: ‘pain is just an emotion.’ It’s just one of those things.”It is actually my bicep tendon. It obviously had quite a lot of workload through it, just been creeping around. But yeah, [I spent] a lot of time out in the middle doing my job as an allrounder this week and [it] just got a little bit flared up… It didn’t get any worse throughout the day, just stayed the same, so that’s why I kept on going.”England do not play another Test after this series until the Ashes in November, and Stokes has not played a white-ball international for nearly two years. He therefore expects to play at The Oval: “Hopefully, it settles down and we’ll be good as gold for the last game… I don’t want to eat my words, but the likelihood that I won’t play is very unlikely.”4:53

Stokes: ‘Too many loopholes’ in injury replacements idea

However, Stokes implied that England would need “fresh legs” for the fifth Test after nearly 900 overs in the field across the first four. Brydon Carse and Chris Woakes have played all four Tests, while Jofra Archer has played two in a row after a four-year absence from Test cricket. Gus Atkinson, Sam Cook, Jamie Overton and Josh Tongue are the other available options.”If you look at how long we’ve been out in the field and the overs that we bowled as a bowling unit, everyone is going to be pretty sore and pretty tired going into the last game of the series,” he said. “There’ll be an assessment of everyone, and hopefully we can use these next two or three days’ rest period wisely and then have to make a decision.”These recovery days are going to be pretty important and we might have to make a few decisions to get some fresh legs in. But that won’t be decided until we get closer to the last game.Chris Woakes has played all four Tests so far in the series•Getty Images

“We generally like to get our team out a couple of days before but we might have to just take a little bit longer going into this last game, because we want to give everyone as long as we possibly can to be able to recover.”Stokes was named Player of the Match for the second Test in a row after his all-round efforts at Lord’s. He has now won 12 of those in his Test career, the joint-second-most (with Ian Botham) for England, behind Joe Root (13), but told the BBC’s that it meant very little to him after the game petered out into a draw.”When you put in good performances for the team, your enjoyment of those is dictated by how you feel at the end of the Test match with the result,” he said. “I would obviously give the bottle of champagne and the medal back in a heartbeat if we ended up being on the right side of the result that we wanted.”He also refused to criticise the Old Trafford pitch, despite only 24 wickets falling across five days – including only two in the final five sessions. “I think ‘unacceptable’ is probably a bit too much,” he said. “It was a lot easier for the left-handers throughout this Test match… It certainly seemed a little more dead bowling to left-handers than it did to right-handers.”

For India, Rishabh Pant walked off the field due to a finger injury, with Dhruv Jurel coming on as substitute wicketkeeper

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Jul-2025Tea Joe Root and Ollie Pope batted through an uncharacteristically sedate second session at Lord’s, as India plugged away without rewards in the London sun and lost Rishabh Pant to a finger injury. England’s third-wicket stand had reached an unbroken 108 runs by tea, with Root and Pope adding 70 since the lunch interval.The stump microphones picked up Mohammed Siraj telling Root that he wanted to see some “Bazball” but England eschewed their usual attacking intent with the bat. India’s seamers went wide outside off stump, hanging in and waiting for a mistake that never came as Pope and Root left the ball alone and played with huge restraint.Root became the first man to get to 3000 Test runs against India shortly before going past fifty for the 103rd time in Tests, equalling Jacques Kallis and Ricky Ponting’s tallies, with only Sachin Tendulkar (119) ahead of him. He handed the strike to Pope during Jasprit Bumrah’s five-over spell after lunch, facing only two balls, and put away occasional bad balls from Nitish Kumar Reddy.It was Reddy who prised the game open for India in the morning session, removing both England openers in his first over after Ben Stokes had chosen to bat first. But Reddy and the rest of the Indian attack struggled with the softer ball. Shubman Gill eventually convinced the umpires to change it after 43 overs, but the replacement did not appear to move significantly more.Pant’s injury was a concern for India. He hurt his index finger while attempting to gather a rare ball down the leg side from Bumrah, and received treatment on the field before trying to continue. But after five balls, he left the field and continued to receive medical attention in the dressing room, as substitute fielder Dhruv Jurel deputised behind the stumps.

Birmingham Bears opened the Vitality Blast North Group right up with a 36-run victory over leaders Lancashire Lightning at Edgbaston.Warwickshire stacked up 203 for nine, their first 200-plus total against Lancashire in the Blast, thanks to Dan Mousley’s thunderous 32 from 12 balls, which took them to 74 in the powerplay, and Ed Barnard’s luscious 54 (34). Jack Blatherwick and Tom Hartley emerged from the onslaught with a creditable three for 29 and two for 29 respectively.Lancashire replied with 167 all out from 18.1 overs, their chase undone right at the start when George Garton (four for 28) dismissed both openers in the first over. They slumped to 111 for seven and Hartley’s violent late 35 (16) was in a lost cause as the Lightning faded to defeat beneath the beautiful, burgundy Birmingham sunset.The Bears’ win means just eight points separate the top six as the North group heads towards its denouement.After the Bears were put in it was a case of two fours and out for openers Alex Davies and Tom Latham, both back in the pavilion before the end of the second over. That paved the way for a dazzling cameo from Mousley who hit James Anderson for four fours in an over before leading-edging Luke Wood to mid off.Barnard smote his first ball for six and timed the ball exquisitely in a stand of 74 in 47 with Sam Hain (36, 27) before the latter drove Hartley to extra cover. The spinner soon added the wicket of Barnard who passed his third T20 half-century, from 30 balls, then slogged to deep mid-wicket.Rob Yates (19, 14) and Garton (16, eight) kept the momentum high, the latter falling to a wonder catch by Green who hurled himself far and low to take a skier in front of the Hollies Stand.Lancashire’s quest for 204 started horribly – after one over, from Garton they were two for two. Keaton Jennings chipped his first ball to deep mid-wicket and Jos Buttler was lbw to his third. Phil Salt then fell to another stunning catch, by Yates, again right in front of the Hollies, from a pull off Garton.Already needing more than ten per over, there was no way back for Lightning. Luke Wells chipped Craig Miles to extra cover and Ashton Turner slog-swept Danny Briggs’ fourth ball to Hain at deep mid-wicket. That was Briggs’ 303rd T20 wicket and Hain’s 85th T20 catch and sent Lancashire into the last ten overs needing 119 with five down.Hartley’s 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th T20 sixes achieved no more than taking his side to respectability. Anderson has performed many excellent feats on the cricket field but finding 37 from the last two overs here was beyond him and the Lightning’s run of four successive wins was over.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Boca Juniors acabou se tornando uma grande pedra no sapato do Palmeiras quando o assunto é Libertadores. Porém, a história começou a mudar no ano passado, quando a equipe feminina do Verdão bateu o time argentino na grande final da Libertadores e garantiu o título inédito para a modalidade.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasPalmeiras#CantaComigo Torcida do Palmeiras cria campanha pra estremecer Allianz Parque contra o BocaPalmeiras04/10/2023PalmeirasRegulamento da Conmebol impede festa da torcida do Palmeiras nas arquibancadasPalmeiras04/10/2023PalmeirasPalmeiras e Boca Juniors já foram considerados ‘espelhos’ há 30 anos; entenda a históriaPalmeiras03/10/2023

+ Veja tabela da Libertadores-2023 clicando aqui

Uma das principais jogadoras da campanha e autora do gol que abriu a goleada de 4 a 1 sobre o Boca na grande final, Ary Borges falou com exclusividade com o Lance! e revelou estar muito na torcida para que o Palmeiras bata o Boca novamente, dessa vez pelo masculino.

Autora também do primeiro gol do Brasil na última Copa do Mundo Feminina, quando fez logo um ‘hat-trick’ na estreia da Seleção diante do Panamá, Ary Borges se transferiu para o Racing Louisville-USA, no início deste ano, mas segue sempre na torcida pelo Verdão, tanto no feminino quanto no masculino.

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Confere aí as respostas de uma das maiores promessas do futebol feminino brasileiro para os próximos anos:

Vai assistir o jogo na quinta? Qual dica você dá pro Palmeiras bater o Boca e passar pra final da Libertadores?

– Com certeza vou estar assistindo, já assisti o da semana passada e foi bem tenso. Acho que algo que pode ser fundamental para o Palmeiras é conseguir trazer a torcida para dentro do jogo, o Allianz Parque tem um fator importantíssimo nesse jogo, o time conseguir se impor nos primeiros minutos, inflamar a torcida, acho que isso pode fazer a diferença, essa seria a minha dica!

Qual seu jogador preferido desse elenco? Acredita que quem pode fazer a diferença no jogo de quinta?

– Tenho alguns jogadores preferidos, caras que eu gosto, mas acho que escolho dois: Dudu, que infelizmente está machucado e o outro é o Zé Rafael. Pra mim ele é o jogador mais regular do elenco, tive a chance de ver o jogo da volta das oitavas contra o Atlético-MG no Allianz Parque e pra mim foi uma das partidas mais monstruosas que eu já vi de um jogador. Acredito que quem pode fazer a diferença nesse jogo é o Veiga ou nosso rei da Libertadores, Ronielson!

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No feminino as argentinas também são muito catimbeiras? Qual a melhor saída pra manter a cabeça fria e o coração quente em um jogo desse?

– O Palmeiras está muito bem vacinado pra jogar contra esse estilo argentino, o clube tem muita tradição na Libertadores e sabe muito bem a forma que esses times lidam com a competição. O Boca deve vir querendo arrastar o jogo para os pênaltis. Como eu falei antes, o Palmeiras tem que conseguir chamar a torcida, começar bem o jogo, sentir que o torcedor está do lado do time e está gostando do que está vendo, esse é um fator que pode fazer o time ficar mais tranquilo dentro de campo.

+ Lance! Betting oferece cashback de 25% em apostas nas semifinais da Libertadores

Você conhece bem o gramado do Allianz Parque. Os argentinos estão preocupados com o sintético. É muito diferente do natural mesmo? Ou isso é desculpa de perdedor?

– Olha, realmente o gramado do Allianz Parque é diferente do natural, mas não existe isso de que é pior, em determinadas situações o gramado é até melhor que o natural, por não sofrer com oscilações de eventos e essas coisas do tipo. Eu sinto muito se o Boca tem reclamado, se acha que isso pode atrapalhar eles, o que importa é que o Palmeiras está muito bem acostumado a jogar no Allianz Parque e repito o quanto isso pode ser importante para a classificação. Eu espero que no final o Boca tenha apenas o sintético como uma desculpa de perdedor, pois espero muito que o Palmeiras saia vencedor e vá pra final.

Ary Borges deixou o Palmeiras com 86 jogos e 36 gols marcados. No Verdão, Ary conquistou três títulos: Copa Paulista (2021), a Libertadores (2022) e o Paulistão (2022), com gols marcados em cada uma das finais desses três títulos alcançados pelo elenco feminino alviverde.

Kent seamer turned down contract extension but Tawanda Muyeye has agreed new deal

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Jul-2025

Nathan Gilchrist, the Zimbabwe-born English-qualified seamer, has turned down a contract extension at Kent and will move to Warwickshire at the end of the season.Kent have however received a boost with the news that highly rated batter Tawanda Muyeye has signed a new deal until the end of the 2027 season, with the option for a further year.Gilchrist, 25, came through Somerset’s academy before joining Kent in 2020. He initially broke into the red-ball team, and has since taken 107 first-class wickets for the club at an average of 32.40.In 2022, he was part of the Kent team that won the Royal London One-Day Cup, claiming 3 for 65 in the final. He only made his T20 debut last year, but has since taken 29 wickets at 18.93, albeit at an economy of over 10.”This was an extremely tough decision for me to make, but this is the best move for me, and for my career, at this point in time,” Gilchrist said.Related

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“I’d like to thank everyone at Kent for believing in me from day one when I arrived here as a 20-year-old looking to prove myself back in 2020. I hope that I have done just that and I’m extremely proud to have been a Kent cricketer.”I’ve made some lifelong friendships during my time at the club, and under Adam Hollioake, I can definitely see a bright future for Kent. I’d also like to give a big thank you to the Kent Members and supporters for all the support that they have given me during my time here.”It’s not quite goodbye just yet, and I’m fully focused on ending this season on a high note. Hopefully we can make some more great memories together to go with all of the others that we’ve made over the past five years.”Warwickshire subsequently confirmed that Gilchrist had agreed a three-year deal with the club. “Nathan is a proven performer at county level who has demonstrated real quality with the ball,” Ian Westwood, Warwickshire’s head coach, said.Kent’s director of cricket, Simon Cook, said: “We’re disappointed that Nathan has chosen to not sign a new contract here and move to Warwickshire, but we wish him all the very best for the future. He will always be welcome back at the Spitfire Ground.”The retention of Muyeye is a positive, with the 24-year-old having topped Kent’s run-scoring charts as they qualified for the quarter-finals of the Vitality Blast. As well as recording a maiden T20 hundred this season, he has made 570 runs at 35.62 in Division Two of the County Championship.Muyeye was also born in Zimbabwe but came to the UK as a refugee before attending Eastbourne College. He signed for Kent in 2021 and has since played more than 100 times for the county.”This club is now my home, and I’m delighted to commit my future to Kent,” Muyeye said. “Ever since I arrived here, I’ve been so grateful for the support that my team-mates, coaches and the Kent supporters have given me.”I’m determined to continue to develop as a player in a Kent shirt and put in more match-winning performances.”Price signs for SussexTom Price gets a hug from James Bracey•Getty Images

Another promising young player on the move is Gloucestershire allrounder Tom Price, who has agreed a three-year deal with Sussex. He will also move at the close of the 2025 season.Price, 25, made his Gloucestershire debut in a tour match against Australia in 2019. His most-memorable moment came in 2023, when he became the first player in history to score a century and take a hat-trick on the same day of a first-class match, against Worcestershire at New Road.Overall, he made 35 first-class appearances, taking 94 wickets at 31.11. His time at Gloucestershire was disrupted by injury, and he only featured sporadically in white-ball cricket – but he did feature in Gloucestershire’s T20 Blast win last season, playing in both games on Finals Day.”I’m really excited by and grateful for this amazing opportunity at Sussex Cricket,” Price said. “It’s a very impressive club, with a lot of ambition, a squad that’s going from strength to strength and a highly respected group of coaches and support staff – it was always going to be a hard decision for me to leave my home club but I’ve had some very positive conversations and really believe this is a great fit.”I’m really grateful the club are putting their faith in me for the next few years. I’m excited to continue developing my game, and will give everything I can to help the club win games and trophies. I look forward to meeting everyone when I join up in November.”Paul Farbrace, Sussex’s director of cricket, said: “We are all delighted that Tom has committed to joining us at Hove for the next stage of his career. He has been so impressive during the recruitment process, that involved our full coaching staff.”Tom is someone I have followed closely for a few years now, he is a genuine all round cricketer who will really enhance our talented squad, and I look forward to him being a central player for us in all forms of the game.”Price is the second Gloucestershire player to agree a switch to Hove for next season, after tall seamer Dom Goodman signed a three-year contract with Sussex earlier this month.

GOAL looks at the biggest storylines among Americans Abroad, including Champions League hopes for Adams and Bournemouth

While most European league titles are decided in the late spring, November is when contenders start to take shape. 

That's when teams start to take stock and make concerted pushes toward their season ambitions. It's no coincidence that in the Premier League, the team that tops the table by Boxing Day is often the eventual winner. That might bode well for USMNT's Tyler Adams, then. 

Just under a third of the Premier League season is complete, and Bournemouth – traditionally a relegation fighter – are sitting second on the table. The skeptics remain, but just might be for real.

Yet, things aren't as rosy for one of Adams' former 2022 World Cup midfield partners, Yunus Musah. There was considerable optimism when the 22-year-old landed at Atalanta on loan from AC Milan, but he's playing less than he did at By a lot.

And then there's Gio Reyna, who is in a similar situation to Musah in the sense that his move to Gladbach hasn't panned out in the way expected. But for whatever reason, he decided to open old wounds by discussing his issues at the 2022 World Cup – only increasing the pressure on the once-promising American midfielder. 

GOAL looks at the biggest storylines among Americans Abroad this weekend.

Getty Images SportIll-advised comments

"I'm not just going to sort of sit here and take all the blame for something that was made out to be completely my fault, which I believe it wasn't, and also my family's, too."

That was what Reyna told the Associated Press this week, words that quickly made the rounds on social media. Even in the best of circumstances, the comments were ill-advised. But given the midfielder’s current situation at Gladbach, they came across as tone-deaf.

Reyna has logged just 122 minutes this season, limited by both injuries and a poor tactical fit amid Die Fohlen’s struggles – they  sit 18th in the Bundesliga. His move initially carried excitement, reuniting the 22-year-old with former NYCFC academy teammate Joe Scally at a club that usually battles in the top half of the table. Instead, little has gone to plan.

Rather than deflecting blame about past World Cups, Reyna would be better served proving why he belongs in Mauricio Pochettino’s plans moving forward. At this point, is anyone confident he’ll even make the November USMNT roster?

Still, things move fast in football. Reyna will have a chance to turn the page when Gladbach travel to St. Pauli on Saturday. After a brutal early schedule that included Leverkusen and Bayern Munich, Gladbach now face a more manageable run – starting with St. Pauli, who sit 14th, just four points ahead.

Reyna, if he plays, could even line up opposite another NYCFC product, James Sands. It won’t be easy – Gladbach remain the only winless side across Germany’s top two divisions – but this is the kind of fixture they have to circle on the schedule as a win.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportChampions League anthem for the Cherries?

Bournemouth's Vitality Stadium is the Premier League's smallest venue. It holds just 11,364 fans. Yet, if Andoni Iraola's side keeps their momentum, the stadium could be hosting Champions League football next season. 

Right now, that is looking likely, and the South Coast club has its American midfielder Adams to thank. The 26-year-old doesn't get many headlines in England, but statistically speaking, he might be the best defensive midfielder in the country right now. According to FotMob, he's in the 94th percentile among players at his position in the league for defensive contributions, and he's in the 65th percentile for aerial contributions.

And as he's shown against Nottingham Forest, he can also be a factor in attack, as he set up one of the team's two goals in the win. More impressively, Adams is looking like a bargain for Bournemouth, who purchased him for $25.4 million two years ago. While there aren't rumors of imminent departure, quality defensive midfielders are hard to find, and it wouldn't be a surprise if The Cherries either extend Adams if they make the Champions League, or cash in at potentially triple the cost if they don't. 

In the interim, Bournemouth face their toughest test of the season when they travel to face Pep Guardiola's Manchester City, who are also in a surprising spot in the table at fifth. If naysayers were to poke a hole at Bournemouth's success, it's that they haven't beaten any top sides yet – unless you count Tottenham.

They lost to Liverpool and drew against Newcastle and Crystal Palace – two top-half teams also aiming for spots in Europe. Man City are tied with Chelsea for the best scoring team in the Premier League, but their inconsistent efforts on defense explain their current situation.

Bournemouth have scored one fewer goal than Man City, and are even leakier in the back – conceding 11. There should be plenty of fireworks in Sunday's contest.

Getty Images SportConcern for Musah

Atalanta spent all of August pursuing Musah, but he's played just 60 league minutes in five matches. Is there a case of buyer's remorse in Bergamo?

Musah was once considered one of the brightest U.S. prospects, but a quick scan of his match log would indicate things are trending downward for the 22-year-old. After starting and getting 74 minutes in a blowout defeat to European Champions PSG in the Champions League, Musah's last appearance was just nine minutes off the bench against the club he's currently on loan from, at AC Milan. 

More concerning for Musah is that Atalanta don't have any real financial commitments to the American. He's on a one-year prove loan deal with an option to buy. At this rate, it looks very likely he will return to Milan with more questions than answers in the summer. Not ideal considering this is a World Cup year. 

If there is any hope for Musah, it is that his side faces a struggler in Udinese this weekend. sit 13th while Atalanta are ninth – thought just one point separate the two. Defense has been costly for Udinese as they've conceded a league-high 15 goals in nine games. La Dea excel in that area with just seven allowed.

If Atalanta get off to a early strong lead, it could open the door for Musah to prove himself in the second half.  Considering he's played just 26 minutes in the last two league outings, he needs it. 

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AFPAmericans factoring in Ligue 1 race

This is almost hard to fathom, but U.S. internationals might determine the Ligue 1 title race. After a brief blip, PSG are back to the top of the table, but they hold a one-point lead over Folarin Balogun and Monaco. Then, sitting at third, at just two back, are Tim Weah and Marseille, and then at fifth, Tanner Tessmann and Lyon are also two points back. 

All three players are in form, which is pivotal in a World Cup year – and their club managers won't complain. Yet, it is the resurgence of Balogun that has to be highlighted. The striker decided to play for the USMNT in a buzz-generating moment  after he had a dominant 21-goal season for Reims. That 2022-23 campaign earned him a big-money move to Monaco, where he's struggled due to injuries and inconsistent form. 

Balogun's numbers this season don't jump off the page – he's got three goals in eight appearances. But watch the tape, and it's clear he's impacting matches, pressing high and serving as a connective part of his team's attack. However, against Paris FC, the 24-year-old should have an opportunity to pad his numbers. 

Paris's other club is having a surprisingly effective season, with the newly promoted side sitting 12th. But they are one of the worst teams in France's top flight – conceding 20 goals in 10 matches. On paper, this is a match Monaco should win comfortably. Expect Balogun to be a part of it. 

Marseille’s Champions League campaign has unravelled under Roberto De Zerbi, with just one win in four games and mounting criticism over his tactics and squad choices. After a frustrating 1-0 home loss to Atalanta, former France international Jerome Rothen blasted the Italian coach’s approach, saying he “can’t find the ingredients” to make Marseille click – while labelling everyone but Mason Greenwood and goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli “useless.”

• Atalanta exposed Marseille’s flaws

  The mood in the stands turned bitter as Marseille fell 1-0 to Atalanta via a last-minute goal at the Velodrome on Wednesday. A penalty appeal that went unanswered only deepened the frustration, but the result laid bare deeper issues within De Zerbi’s side. Marseille’s fourth Champions League game of the season left them with a record of one win and three defeats, sparking fierce criticism from former Paris Saint-Germain player and France international, Rothen, who didn’t hold back as he called De Zerbi’s European campaign “ridiculous”.

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  Rothen’s rage gets a fiery response from Marseille

  Rothen blasted Marseille and coach De Zerbi after their disastrous run in their European campaign. The French pundit said on : "OM's results are ridiculous, that's the reality. They're struggling and in a group of teams that are currently eliminated and look more like Europa League teams than Champions League teams . Let's call a spade a spade. When you look at De Zerbi's record, it's 10 Champions League matches and one win. That sums it up. Tactically, he doesn't have the tools, he can't find the ingredients and the skills to push OM to be better. He was outmaneuvered by Juric, the Atalanta coach. There was a casting error."

  He further added: "Who recruited and built this team? When you see OM's resources, which are not Atalanta's resources, and you see such a difference in performance and technical execution. In yesterday's match, apart from Greenwood and Rulli, the rest is useless. The players who were there yesterday, who have special statuses and who are highlighted like [Pierre-Emile] Hojbjerg. They highlight that he is an experienced player, but he is an average player! You look at his big matches in the Champions League and you will see that he is nothing."

  Rothen’s outburst didn’t go unnoticed. His remarks about Marseille's “Europa League-level” football and De Zerbi’s poor Champions League record drew a sharp response from inside the club. Ali Zarrak, assistant of Marseille sporting director Medhi Benatia, took to social media to hit back at Rothen, posting screenshots of private conversations between the two.

  “It’s ugly to bite the hand that feeds you,” Zarrak wrote. “Last year, when you were asking for VIP lounge seats for every game, OM wasn’t a pushover. Things were going well then.”

  The exchange quickly went viral, adding fuel to a situation already tense after Marseille’s recent struggles.

• De Zerbi’s stuttering European experiment

  De Zerbi’s Champions League campaign tells a story of contrast, from the brilliance of a 4-0 win over Ajax to the disarray of defeats against Real Madrid, Sporting CP and Atalanta.

  In Madrid, Marseille were overwhelmed despite early promise; against Sporting, they lost control and organisation; and versus Atalanta, they lacked creativity and edge. Injuries and fatigue have taken a toll, but critics argue De Zerbi’s unwillingness to adjust his high-pressing, possession-heavy approach has been his undoing.

  He continues to trust experienced names like Hojbjerg and Matteo Guendouzi, yet performances remain uneven. Marseille’s midfield struggles to link defence and attack, and their pressing often collapses under well-drilled opponents. Rothen’s accusation of a “casting error” in recruitment stings but the imbalance between De Zerbi’s vision and Marseille’s reality is becoming impossible to ignore.

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  Greenwood’s spark amid the chaos

  Amid the criticism, one player continues to shine – Greenwood. The English forward, now in his second season at Marseille, has been the club’s one consistent bright spot. With seven goals in 10 league games and decisive contributions in Europe, Greenwood embodies the efficiency and hunger lacking elsewhere in the squad.

  His four-goal performance against Le Havre earlier this season drew comparisons to club legend Jean-Pierre Papin, and even in the Atalanta defeat, his energy stood out. As Rothen noted, Greenwood and goalkeeper Rulli are among the few who have “earned their place.”

  De Zerbi’s challenge now is to channel Greenwood’s form and rediscover Marseille’s rhythm before the season unravels completely. With Champions League qualification slipping away and internal tensions mounting, the Italian coach must prove he still has the tactical spark – or risk losing a project that once promised revival but now flirts with collapse. Marseille currently stand 25th in the Champions League table and are set to face Newcastle United next in the European competition on November 25.  

South African returns from Test duty with a bang to reignite Northamptonshire’s Blast hopes

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay11-Jul-2025Matt Breetzke blazed 93 off 45 balls, just one short of his highest T20 score, to reignite Northamptonshire Steelbacks’ Vitality Blast campaign by setting up a 13-win over bottom-placed Derbyshire.The victory puts the Steelbacks’ quest for qualification back on track, after they lost their previous five games, following six straight wins at the start of the tournament.Back from Test duty with South Africa, Breetzke adjusted instantly to the change of format, setting the pace with nine fours and five sixes in a partnership of 125 in 10.4 overs with skipper David Willey who made 53 off 33 deliveries (six fours, two sixes).With Saif Zaib also making an unbeaten 53 from 20 balls (three fours, four sixes), Northamptonshire finished with 237 for four, equalling their highest ever T20 score scored away against Yorkshire earlier this season.Derbyshire looked on course to chase down the target and post their highest ever T20 total. In a display of ferocious hitting, Aneurin Donald smashed 71 off just 22 balls (eight fours, six sixes) in a blistering opening stand worth 112 in just 7.4 overs with Caleb Jewell (39). But Australian leg-spinner Lloyd Pope made the crucial double breakthrough, removing both Donald and Jewell in his opening over. George Scrimshaw then struck twice in his second over to further arrest Derbyshire’s hopes.The match saw the highest aggregate score between these two sides in T20 cricket.Earlier, Allah Ghazanfar trapped Ricardo Vasconcelos lbw and almost picked up Breetzke but shelled a simple return catch. The South African responded by pulling Aitchison for six and taking three consecutive boundaries off Zak Chappell as Northamptonshire finished the powerplay on 51 for one.Breetzke progressed to his half-century off just 24 deliveries, pummelling Alex Thomson through extra cover before dispatching consecutive sixes.Willey got into the groove too, hitting Aitchison over his head before running a single to bring up the Steelbacks’ 100 at the end of the tenth over. Breetzke then flat-batted Ghazanfar straight for six to bring up the 100 partnership off 54 balls. Later in the over, Derbyshire incurred five penalty runs for a Level 2 disciplinary offence when Ghazanfar threw the ball in what was deemed an inappropriate or dangerous manner.Willey hit Samit Patel for consecutive straight sixes before he was caught in the deep. Such was their rate of acceleration, he and Breetzke had added 81 in the previous six overs.Zaib made a blistering start, clubbing Patel down the ground and sweeping for six. Meanwhile Breetzke paddled Aitchison round the corner for a huge six, but fell next ball, edging behind. The 200 came up courtesy of four overthrows, while Zaib continued his assault.Donald struck five boundaries off Willey’s opening over in the chase. He attacked Scrimshaw too, the former Derbyshire man leaking 24 off his opening over, Donald sending one ball sailing over fine leg for six, Derbyshire reaching 50 off just 19 balls.Jewell went after left-arm spinner Zaib too, sweeping him for six. But Northamptonshire missed a tough chance to remove Donald on 41 when keeper Lewis McManus slipped attempting a catch off a skier.Donald pulled Willey for six to close out the powerplay at 85 without loss before bludgeoning consecutive sixes off Luke Procter to reach his half-century and Derbyshire’s 100.But Pope’s double-wicket strike lifted the spirits of the home fans, as first Jewell was trapped lbw before Donald was caught behind chasing a wide one. Scrimshaw then struck twice in the 11th over, having Ross Whiteley caught at mid-on and bowling Martin Andersson.Wayne Masden (29) and Harry Came (35*) continued to attack before Masden holed out in the deep off Procter. While Northamptonshire shelled other chances, McManus made no mistake in the final over, catching Patel off a skier, off Procter’s bowling.