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Na última terça-feira (4), a Ilha do Retiro, casa do Sport e palco de capítulos importantes na história do futebol nacional, chegou a marca de 86 anos de existência. Diante do momento de celebração, o clube aproveitou para ressaltar os próximos planos e reforçar a estratégia de reformulação estrutural sob a direção do presidente Yuri Romão, eleito no final de 2022.

– Estamos certos de que o projeto da Ilha do Retiro saia do papel para que consigamos alcançar os nossos próximos objetivos com excelência”, afirma o mandatário do Leão.

Além disso, o Sport finalizou a reforma das cadeiras do setor de numerada, chegando a R$ 5,5 milhões em obras, bem como melhorias na estrutura que dá acesso ao estádio.

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Como parte deste planejamento, o clube tem apostado fortemente em novos processos tecnológicos. Após fechar com a empresa Imply, considerada uma das principais empresas em acesso, ticketing e autoatendimento em arenas, o Leão obteve a implementação do sistema de biometria para as partidas em casa, assim como ajustes em check-in gratuito para todos os jogos da temporada por R$ 55 reais, considerado um dos melhores custo-benefícios em programa de sócio no país.

– Mais uma vez, estamos mostrando o nosso crescimento, que não para por aqui. Além da prioridade com a nossa campanha dentro de campo, temos a preocupação com o que a nossa torcida merece e que caminha junto conosco. Também iniciamos um ano de modernização e a chegada da Imply reforça esse cuidado tecnológico para as nossas campanhas – agregou o presidente rubro-negro.

O processo de acordo com a mudança no modelo de gestão para a Sociedade Anônima do Futebol (SAF) também é uma realidade para a organização. Segundo Romão, o delicado momento financeiro do clube precisa de uma atenção especial que seria obtido por meio de um investidor. Algo que contribui, sobretudo, para um grande salto de gestão.

>Olho no Brasileirão! Assine o Prime Video e acompanhe todos os jogos do seu time do coração!

– Ainda neste meio de ano, focaremos nas tratativas e alinhamentos junto ao Conselho sobre a SAF de modo que o desenvolvimento deste acordo esteja avançado para os próximos meses. Queremos ver o Sport cada vez mais em ascensão e estamos no caminho certo – entende Yuri Romão.

Outro ponto crucial para o Leão da Ilha é a proximidade do time, neste momento, em busca do retorno à Série A do Campeonato Brasileiro. O Sport ocupa a liderança da Série B, com 31 pontos, três a mais do que o quinto colocado, Vitória. Nesta quarta, a equipe entra em campo fora de casa, contra o CRB, em jogo adiado da 1ª rodada.

– Com planejamento e a nossa previsibilidade de receita, seguimos confiantes de que conseguiremos evoluir rumo à elite do futebol brasileiro novamente -sacramenta o presidente rubro-negro.

Referee Jarred Gillett broke PGMOL protocol in the process of denying Arsenal a penalty at Newcastle last weekend. While Arsenal went on to win 2-1 at St. James' Park courtesy of late goals from Mikel Merino and Gabriel Magalhaes, fans were incensed as Gillett overturned his decision to award a penalty in the 14th minute when it looked as though Nick Pope had fouled Viktor Gyokeres.

Getty Images SportGillett overturned penalty call following VAR intervention

Arsenal striker Gyokeres sought to capitalise upon a short Jacob Murphy backpass early on and looked to have been fouled by Newcastle goalkeeper Pope. Gillett initially pointed to the spot but was instructed by the VAR to review replays on the pitchside monitor that suggested the Magpies shotstopper got to the ball first despite subsequently wiping out the Swedish forward.

And after reviewing the footage, Gillett overturned his penalty decision, much to the dismay of Arsenal supporters.

AdvertisementPremier League official broke PGMOL protocol

Gillett then announced his decision at St. James' Park, telling the home crowd: "After review, the Newcastle goalkeeper plays the ball and there is no foul. The final decision is a drop ball."

While Arsenal fans were incensed, Gillett could then be heard telling Gunners star Bukayo Saka about the reasoning to avoid a drop ball rather than a penalty, saying: "Before there is any contact, the goalkeeper gets a toe on the ball, that’s why."

Arteta was fuming, adding: “Well, I watched it back and watched it live as well. And if it’s not a clear and obvious error, VAR should not intervene. We’ve been told this for a few years, this style of decision again, and for me, it’s very clear that it doesn’t have to intervene because it’s a penalty.”

He added: “We fully deserved the win. The way we played, the way we competed. We fully deserved the win.

“The chances we generated. I think we fully deserved to win the game. We did it in a dramatic manner, but so happy and so proud of the team.”

AFP'VAR should not intervene'

Despite coming away with a huge three points, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta wasn't pleased about VAR intervening on the penalty incident, saying after the full time whistle: "If it is not a clear and obvious error, VAR should not intervene. We have been told this for a few years and at the start of this season again."

And Saka, despite being informed of the reasoning, added: "The fact that it took the ref that long to decide shows it is not a clear and obvious error."

On Match of the Day, Joe Hart backed the decision, saying: “Pope, with those size 13 feet of his, gets a toe on it. Not only does he get a toe on it, he manages to divert the ball away from goal. But that’s not the most important point. As Pope plants his foot, he’s deemed not to be using a forward motion towards Gyokeres.

“Therefore, as Gyokeres’ knee clashes into Pope’s knee, it is just seen as a clash of bodies. It’s not Pope taking him out. It’s not a foul. Not a penalty.”

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Arsenal back at home this weekend

Arsenal return to league duties at home on Saturday afternoon as they welcome West Ham to the Emirates. The Gunners, who boast a 100% start to their Champions League campaign with a 2-0 win over Olympiacos on Wednesday night, are unbeaten at home in the league this season having claimed seven points from three matches.

Big picture – KL Rahul set to make DC debut

Travishek fear no one. Except, maybe, Mitchell Starc. Travis Head does not like facing Starc, and after taking strike and being bowled by the big left-arm quick for a two-ball duck in Qualifier 1 of IPL 2024, he let Abhishek Sharma take first strike in the final, and you know what happened next.Starc now takes the new ball for a different team, and he’ll be up against Sunrisers Hyderabad’s (SRH) gun opening pair again on Sunday afternoon. If Starc can have the same sort of impact, it would be a major relief for a Delhi Capitals (DC) bowling unit that also includes Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel and Mukesh Kumar. Last season, these three were on the receiving end of an onslaught from Head and Abhishek that blasted SRH to a record IPL powerplay score of 125 for 0. That was in Delhi. This time, the battle shifts to Visakhapatnam, where DC staged a stunning comeback win against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in their most recent game. SRH, meanwhile, are coming off a defeat to the same opponents.Related

• LSG mute SRH with death bowling before the death overs

• Awe-inspiring Ashutosh brings DC back from the brink

• The two Starora overs that defined the IPL final

DC’s opening victory was built on resilience. With the ball, they clawed back to restrict LSG to 209 despite letting them get to an ominous 161 for 2 in 13 overs. With the bat, they resurrected themselves from 66 for 5 to scrape past their target with three balls to spare. Even when they crumbled in both powerplays and both post-powerplay phases, they refused to tap out.That resilience will be key as they seek a second win, armed with fresh insights on containing SRH. LSG’s strategy of treating the full 20 overs like the death proved effective, and DC have the personnel to replicate it. Mohit Sharma and Mukesh have the skillsets, and Axar and Kuldeep bring another year of wisdom.But DC are not without problems of their own. Their top order misfired against LSG, and they can’t keep relying on their lower order to keep bailing them out. New father KL Rahul is set to make his franchise debut, and DC will have to figure out the best way to fit him into their line-up. And they’ll be wary of an SRH unit that will be desperate to prove that Thursday’s loss was a mere aberration.Away game for SRH, home game for Nitish Kumar Reddy•Associated Press

Team news and likely XIIs

With Rahul set to play, he is expected to slot in at No. 4, likely replacing Sameer Rizvi. Mukesh’s availability remains uncertain after he sustained an ankle sprain against LSG, while T Natarajan, who is recovering from a shoulder issue, is unlikely to feature against his former team. If Mukesh is ruled out, Darshan Nalkande could step in. Another possibility is retaining Rizvi, dropping Fraser-McGurk, and bringing in fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera.Delhi Capitals: 1 Jake Fraser-McGurk, 2 Faf du Plessis, 3 Abishek Porel (wk), 4 KL Rahul, 5 Axar Patel (capt), 6 Tristan Stubbs, 7 Ashutosh Sharma, 8 Vipraj Nigam, 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Kuldeep Yadav, 11 Mohit Sharma, 12 Mukesh Kumar/Darshan Nalkande.There are no injury concerns in the SRH camp and they could field an unchanged team.Sunrisers Hyderabad: 1 Abhishek Sharma, 2 Travis Head, 3 Ishan Kishan, 4 Nitish Kumar Reddy, 5 Heinrich Klaasen (wk), 6 Aniket Verma, 7 Abhinav Manohar, 8 Pat Cummins, 9 Harshal Patel, 10 Mohammed Shami, 11 Simarjeet Singh, 12 Adam Zampa.

Big question

Where is Rahul best used? No. 4 seems to be the likely slot, and why not: that’s his best position (min. five innings) in terms of both average (49.08) and strike rate (139.90).It’s as opener that Rahul made his mark in the format, however, and a position from where he once smashed a 14-ball fifty, at the time the quickest in the IPL. With Fraser-McGurk out of form, is there a case for Rahul to partner Faf du Plessis at the top?In the spotlight – Kuldeep Yadav and Nitish Kumar ReddyAgainst SRH in Delhi last season, Kuldeep Yadav endured a brutal start, getting hit for four sixes in his first seven balls by Abhishek. But he responsed by dismissing Abhishek, Head, Aiden Markram and Nitish Kumar Reddy, three of whom will feature on Saturday. He conceded 55 in four overs, but his breakthroughs prevented SRH from soaring beyond their final total of 266. Head, in particular, has shown signs of struggling against left-arm wristspin, being dismissed twice in nine balls against that style of bowling in the IPL, which makes Kuldeep a option to bring on early if the South Australian starts ominously against the new ball. As LSG proved against SRH, wickets are the only way to contain their explosive line-up.Though SRH play this as an “away” game in Visakhapatnam, Nitish Kumar Reddy will be right at home in the city of his birth. SRH have earmarked him as a long-term player and he has started the season with scores of 32 and 30. Sandwiched between them at No. 4, Reddy is the perfect foil for Ishan Kishan and Heinrich Klaasen, and he’s a major threat against spin, as his IPL strike rate of 170.19 since the start of 2024 suggests.Last year in Delhi, Kuldeep Yadav was instrumental in DC ‘restricting’ SRH to 266 after they flew to 125 for 0 in the powerplay•Associated Press

Pitch and conditions

It’s an afternoon game on a batting-friendly surface, so a 200-plus first-innings score should be the expectation. In the IPL, the team batting first has won 50% of all matches in Visakhapatnam. The last three first-innings totals in the IPL here have been 191, 272 and 209.

Key stats

• Head vs Starc in all recognized cricket: seven innings, eight runs, 29 balls, five dismissals, 0 boundaries. Of the five dismissals, four have been bowled and one caught behind.
• Faf du Plessis has a favourable match-up against Mohammed Shami in the IPL, scoring 106 runs in 61 balls for only two dismissals. However Shami has been brilliant against KL Rahul, allowing only 28 runs to be scored in 31 balls while dismissing him twice.
• In the IPL, Axar Patel has an economy rate of just 6.51 against right-hand batters, but has gone at 9.07 against left-hand batters.

Next three fixtures

DC are on the road next to play against Chennai Super Kings (Apr 5) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Apr 10) before returning to Delhi for a home match against Mumbai Indians on April 13.SRH fly to Kolkata for a match against Kolkata Knight Riders (Apr 3) before playing Gujarat Titans (Apr 6) and Punjab Kings (Apr 12) at home.

Quotes

“KL Rahul is back in our team and that will help us a lot with our balance. But you can’t judge any team from one game. All our players are really good, they are experienced, and hopefully we’ll do well in this match.”
“The press has made 300 a target [for us], but we have [almost] achieved it, [with totals of] 286, 287. You never know if it will happen. Two batters have to score big and get it there. Nothing is impossible in cricket.”

RR have left out left-arm quick Fazalhaq Farooqi

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Apr-2025

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) won the toss and chose to bowl on a Jaipur pitch that both captains thought would get better for batting later on in the day. In a sign of the faith that RCB have in their current squad, Rajat Patidar did not feel the need to make any changes to the XI even though they lost their last game to Delhi Capitals a few days ago.Sanju Samson though was able to welcome back one of Rajasthan Royals’ key players, Wanindu Hasaranga. The Sri Lankan legspinner has picked up six wickets in three matches, all of them in the middle-overs (7-16), in IPL 2025 and his return, at the cost of left-arm quick Fazalhaq Farooqi, might be crucial to a side looking to bounce back from a defeat of their own, to Gujarat Titans.Rajasthan Royals: 1 Sanju Samson (capt, wk), 2 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 3 Nitish Rana, 4 Riyan Parag, 5 Dhruv Jurel, 6 Shimron Hetmyer, 7 Wanindu Hasaranga, 8 Jofra Archer, 9 Maheesh Theekshana, 10 Tushar Deshpande, 11 Sandeep SharmaRR Subs: Kumar Kartikeya, Yudhvir Singh, Shubham Dubey, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Kunal RathoreRoyal Challengers Bengaluru: 1 Phil Salt, 2 Virat Kohli, 3 Rajat Patidar (capt), 4 Liam Livingstone, 5 Jitesh Sharma (wk), 6 Tim David, 7 Krunal Pandya, 8 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 9 Josh Hazlewood, 10 Yash Dayal, 11 Suyash SharmaRCB Subs: Devdutt Padikkal, Rasikh Salam, Manoj Bhandage, Jacob Bethell, Swapnil Singh

Sunderland’s return to the Premier League has been nothing short of eventful.

Their campaign began with a resounding 3-0 win over West Ham in front of a bouncing Stadium of Light.

A 2-0 defeat away at Burnley quickly reminded them of the challenges ahead, but the Black Cats hit back with a dramatic 2-1 home victory against Brentford.

A stalemate with Crystal Palace and a hard-fought 1-1 draw with Aston Villa – where Sunderland played the majority of the game with ten men – showcased resilience.

Victory in that match would have propelled them into fourth place, remarkable for a club that was battling in the Championship just last season.

Next up is a trip to Nottingham Forest, who are still adjusting to life under Ange Postecoglou.

While the focus is rightly on Sunderland’s bright start and their new arrivals – such as Granit Xhaka, Nordi Mukiele, Habib Diarra and Simon Adingra – it is impossible not to think back to some of the players who once wore red & white.

Among them are high-profile names like Jobe Bellingham, but also a forward who is currently one of the Premier League’s most electric performers.

How Jobe Bellingham is doing at Borussia Dortmund

When Jobe Bellingham joined Sunderland from Birmingham in 2023, the 20-year-old midfielder carried immense expectation.

A product of the same footballing family that produced Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham, he quickly became a focal point in Sunderland’s Championship promotion campaign.

Jobe made 40 league appearances last season, scoring four times and assisting three.

He played a vital role as the Black Cats edged their way through the play-offs to seal their return to the top flight.

That impact saw Borussia Dortmund move quickly, paying £27 million to secure his services in the summer.

While the Bundesliga giants recognise his potential, his time in Germany has so far been one of adjustment.

Opportunities in the starting XI have been limited, and the young midfielder is still searching for consistency at the highest level. Premier League sides like Crystal Palace were interested, but Bellingham opted for Dortmund, hoping to follow in his brother’s footsteps.

Despite his high-profile move, Bellingham has not yet hit the heights Sunderland fans might have expected.

Instead, it is another former Black Cat, less heralded during his time on Wearside, who is making waves and establishing himself as one of the Premier League’s standout performers.

Antoine Semenyo – tearing it up in the Premier League

While Jobe Bellingham carried the headlines, Antoine Semenyo is another former Sunderland player truly shining in Europe.

The 25-year-old winger had a fleeting spell with the Black Cats, joining on loan from Bristol City in 2020 when the club were fighting in League One. He was valued at just £436k by Transfermarkt at the time.

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He made just seven appearances, leaving only a modest impression at the time, per Transfermarkt, and the club did not decide to pursue a permanent deal for the winger, which has turned out to be a big mistake.

Fast-forward to today, and Semenyo is among the most sought-after forwards in England.

Since joining Bournemouth in a £10 million move from Bristol City in 2023, he has blossomed into a complete forward.

Last season, he scored 11 goals and provided six assists in 37 league appearances.

His form prompted Bournemouth to slap a £70 million price tag on him this summer amid interest from Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.

This season, he has started even stronger.

Antoine Semenyo – 2025/26

Matches Played

5

Goals

3

Assists

2

Progressive Carries

15

Progressive Passes

16

Source: FBref

The stats underline just how effective he has become.

He ranks in the 87th percentile for shots per 90 (3.15), the 74th percentile for successful take-ons (2.04), and the 70th percentile for touches in the attacking penalty area (5.22), per FBref.

He is also defensively diligent, sitting in the 98th percentile for blocks per 90 (1.84) and an extraordinary 97th percentile for aerial duels won (2.01).

EBL on X described Semenyo as a “£100m player” – high praise, but one that feels increasingly justified.

His combination of work rate, direct running, and physical dominance makes him the exact type of modern forward that elite clubs crave.

For Sunderland supporters, watching Semenyo thrive may stir mixed emotions.

His spell on Wearside was brief and largely unremarkable, yet his career trajectory is proof of how unpredictable football development can be.

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While their current squad has plenty of fresh talent, it is hard not to reflect on what might have been had Sunderland kept hold of him during his formative years, which is why they messed up by failing to identify his talent and pursue a permanent deal after his loan stint.

Left-arm spinner had retired last year citing racial discrimination

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Apr-2025Cricket Scotland says it has reached an “amicable resolution” with its former player Hamza Tahir, who had alleged he was the victim of racial discrimination when announcing his retirement from international cricket last year.Tahir, a left-arm spinner who made a total of 49 appearances across ODIs and T20Is, announced in June 2024 that he would be pursuing an unfair dismissal case after losing his Cricket Scotland contract earlier that year.Speaking at the time at a press conference in Edinburgh, alongside another former Scotland player Majid Haq as well as anti-racism campaigners, Tahir claimed he had to “work twice as hard to be on the same level as others” within the international set-up, adding that “enough was enough”.Tahir’s retirement followed separate complaints by Majid and another former Scotland player Qasim Sheikh, whose allegations in 2022 prompted an independent review, Changing the Boundaries. This listed 448 examples of racism and discrimination within cricket in Scotland, while finding the governance and leadership of cricket in the country to be institutionally racist.The findings of that report, however, have since been queried, with only five incidents detailed within the report progressing to disciplinary measures.In a statement, Cricket Scotland acknowledged Tahir’s claims of unfair treatment, adding: “Both parties are pleased to confirm that a claim of unfair dismissal has now been brought to an amicable resolution.””In a demonstration of positive action, Cricket Scotland and Hamza Tahir have agreed to work together to show their collective commitment to improve player equality and ensure there is no place for discrimination in Scottish cricket.”There will be no further comment made by either party on this matter.”

Liverpool are one of several top Premier League clubs who are interested in signing a “quality” young Dutch defender from one of Europe’s greatest football institutions.

Ekitike excited to link-up with Isak at Liverpool

The Reds return from the international break this weekend, making the trip to newly-promoted Burnley and looking to keep up their 100% winning start to the season.

Alexander Isak could potentially make his Liverpool debut, following his record-breaking move from Newcastle United, and while the Swede could push Hugo Ekitike down the pecking order, the Frenchman cannot wait to play alongside his new teammate.

“It’s fun. When you play for the best teams, you expect to be competing with the best players. Isak is a player I’ve watched too, so seeing him arrive is a pleasure. It’s going to be tough competition, but I’m going to focus on performing well so that it’s a problem for the manager.

“Obviously my life has changed. It’s a big move and I’m watched a thousand times more but I’m taking it positively, it’s really good. It’s the position I wanted to be in. When you have this kind of standard, you have to show that you belong here and you have to continue to perform. But it’s a position that I like and that I want to keep.”

Liverpool have broken their transfer record twice this summer, making huge statements by signing Isak and Florian Wirtz, but now a huge young talent is being linked with a move to Anfield.

Liverpool keen on signing "quality" young star ahead of Man Utd and Man City

According to a fresh update from TEAMtalk, Liverpool are among the clubs showing “intense interest” in signing towering 6ft2in Ajax teenager Aaron Bouwman.

The 18-year-old centre-back is considered a player with a bright future in the game and called a ‘towering defender’, with Chelsea, Manchester United, Barcelona and Manchester City also “circling” for his signature.

Bouwman wouldn’t be joining Liverpool as an immediate starter if they did get their man, but like new signing Giovanni Leoni, he would be considered a massive part of the club’s future.

At just 18 years of age, the Dutchman has already made his debut for Ajax, and featured in three separate youth age groups for the Netherlands, and scout Elijah Michiels has hailed him as a “quality” player.

Bouwman also couldn’t ask to have a better centre-back to learn alongside than compatriot Virgil van Dijk if he does join, given the Liverpool captain’s status as one of the greatest defenders of his and any generation.

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The level of competition for the teenager’s signature shows just how highly he is thought of, but the Reds should be seen as an exciting proposition as anyone currently, excelling both on and off the pitch over the past decade or so.

Tottenham Hotspur breezed into the fourth round of the Carabao Cup last night, after beating League One outfit Doncaster Rovers 3-0 in North London.

Goals from Joao Palhinha, Brennan Johnson and an own goal from Jay McGrath secured the win for Thomas Frank’s men, setting up a fifth-round clash with Newcastle United at St James’ Park.

The showing on home soil last night was an extremely professional one, avoiding a slip-up and keeping their hopes alive of securing a trophy during the Dane’s maiden campaign in charge.

A strong side was certainly fielded in the meeting with Grant McCann’s side, as the new boss looked to keep the continuity that he’s built in recent weeks flowing ahead of Premier League action this weekend.

However, numerous players failed to grab their first-team opportunity with both hands, potentially leading to the 51-year-old looking past them for their clash with Wolves on Saturday.

Spurs’ poor performers against Doncaster last night

Brennan Johnson has seemingly fallen down the pecking order over the past couple of weeks, subsequently being named as a substitute in each of the last three of Spurs’ league outings.

However, the Welsh international was handed a start against Doncaster last night, subsequently getting on the scoresheet in the closing minutes of the encounter in North London.

The 24-year-old had the least amount of touches of any player to play 90 minutes (36), whilst also being caught offside three times – showcasing his lack of positive impact against the League One outfit.

Johnson wasn’t alone in failing to capture the opportunity handed his way, with Djed Spence also looking lacklustre against the opposition two divisions below them in the pyramid.

The full-back failed to complete any of the dribbles he attempted, whilst only winning one of the five duels he entered – often struggling to get the better of his opposite number.

However, despite the showings of the aforementioned duo, one other starter for Frank’s side looked way below the level expected, which should result in the player being dropped once again.

The 5/10 Spurs player who must be axed

Coming up against League One opposition was always going to be a tricky task for Spurs and Frank, but it was one that the side navigated with flying colours.

The Lilywhites restricted Donny to just two shots on target in the 90-minute display in North London, subsequently keeping their fifth clean sheet in the 2025/26 campaign to date.

Whether it be Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, Kevin Danso or Palhinha at the heart of the defence, the side have still managed to thrive without the ball.

Frank’s arrival has certainly added the needed defensive solidity that has been greatly missed in recent years – hopefully allowing the club to compete for more trophies in the months ahead.

In the attacking third, Richarlison has been one of the side’s leading talismen, scoring three times to date, but the Brazilian was handed a needed rest in the win last night.

Such a decision gave Mathys Tel the chance to start just his second outing of the new campaign, but it was one that he failed to take – ultimately enduring a night to forget.

The Frenchman featured for 87 minutes and failed to get himself on the scoresheet, but it was his underlying stats which highlighted his lack of impact in Frank’s side.

Minutes played

87

Touches

29

Shots on target

1/2

Big chances missed

1

Dribbles completed

0/2

Duels lost

60%

Possession lost

6x

Fouls committed

2

The 20-year-old registered two shots on goal, only one of which was on target, whilst also missing one big chance – showcasing his wasteful nature when in possession.

He also failed to complete any of the dribbles he attempted, whilst losing 60% of the duels he entered – often being dominated by the side two divisions below the Lilywhites.

Tel could only register a total of 29 touches during his time on the pitch, a total fewer than that of goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky, who registered 35 – further highlighting his lack of positive impact.

To top off his dismal showing, the former Bayern Munich talent was handed a measly 5/10 match rating by Football London’s Alasdair Gold – the lowest of any player who started the encounter.

As a result of his showing, Frank desperately needs to drop the youngster from his starting eleven, with the Dane currently having numerous better alternatives already at his disposal.

The decision to leave Tel out of the Champions League squad now appears somewhat respectable, with the player evidently lacking huge confidence after his summer transfer.

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Rohit Sharma had a quiet start to the season, but has notched back-to-back scores in the 70s in his last two games

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Apr-20251:35

‘Once Rohit gets going, no one can stop him’

Mumbai Indians (MI) batting coach Kieron Pollard is ecstatic that his prediction about Rohit Sharma has come true.Rohit has turned his season around with back-to-back 70s in his last two innings, both coming in comfortable wins for MI. But it was hardly this rosy at the start of IPL 2025 for the former MI captain.He had scored just 82 runs in his first six innings and was also struggling with an injury, which forced him to miss a game. It was around this time that Pollard was grilled about the form of MI’s most experienced batter. He had at the time said that Rohit should not be judged after a few low scores and that he would bounce back. As he has.Related

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Rohit stays true to himself to keep the doubts away

Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants meet at a crossroads

“If my memory serves me right, at the start of this competition, that question was different,” Pollard said when asked about Rohit’s surge in form. “I said sitting right here, we are also going to be singing his praises as an individual. For us, we always had that belief that he is going to come good.”There are dips. There is low confidence. But for someone who has played this sport for a long time, you have these moments. Sometimes you just need that extra support from people. Now we are singing his praises. We are all very happy in the Mumbai dressing room. We were happy at the start as well, knowing that it is going to happen, and long may it continue.”The headlines are going to be about that. But for us, in our entire batting unit, we look for guys to perform at different junctures in a tournament. We are not going to individualise it.”MI had a torrid run at the start of the season, losing four of their first five games. Since then, though, they have won four in a row. It is not the first time that MI’s season has started slowly before they have picked up pace. Pollard said it was down to some teams gelling faster, while some teams take time. He also said MI have now “found a sort of a method”, which was working for them.”There is no ‘more important’ part in IPL,” Pollard said when asked if the second half of the season carried more significance than the first half. “It all depends on form and confidence of the team. In the second half, you build a bit of momentum. You will tend to say now is more important. But you have 14 games in a tournament. Each and every game is important. Some teams gel faster than some or they start off pretty quickly. Some teams build the momentum and come into the back end.”The most important thing is trying to qualify for the playoffs and get into the final and see if you can win. That is important.”Pollard also heaped praise on MI captain Hardik Pandya, particularly the way he’s handled himself after last season. Hardik had an acrimonious start to his MI captaincy stint where he was welcomed with loud boos wherever he went. However, things have been much smoother this year.Hardik Pandya has proven to be an able leader•AFP/Getty Images

With the bat, Hardik is striking at 170.49 so far in IPL 2025, while with the ball, he has 12 wickets in nine innings at an economy of 9.08.”It is great to see a human being that has been challenged in different facets of not only cricket but of life come out and continue to show what cricket and what winning means to him as a human being,” Pollard said. “I know he is enjoying cricket as we have all seen from international cricket, winning World Cups, to Champions Trophy. It is an individual that has gone through a lot.”For me, I am happy to see where he is at right now. And as I said previously, we are all human beings in this world. So sometimes we need to give a bit of leeway to some individuals at certain times.”Who says he won’t have another down? And who says he is not going to have another up as well? So that is what life is about and that is what the journey is about. So I am happy for Hardik.”

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O São Paulo anunciou a contratação de Lucas Moura nesta quarta-feira (2). Revelado pelo clube, o jogador de 30 anos assinou contrato até o final da temporada. O Lance! conta alguns bastidores da negociação.

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Lucas Moura e Júlio Casares, presidente do São Paulo, mantêm uma amizade de longa data. Desde que o jogador saiu para jogar na Europa, os dois mantiveram contato. Tanto que sempre que o futebol europeu estava com alguma folga nas partidas, não era raro ver Lucas assistindo a algum jogo do São Paulo no Morumbi.

Sua última aparição pública no estádio aconteceu em maio de 2022, no empate por 2 a 2 contra o Ceará, na época comandado por Dorival Júnior. Sempre que teve oportunidade, Lucas aproveitou também para matar as saudades do CFA Laudo Natel, em Cotia, além do CT da Barra Funda.

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Nessas visitas, Casares fazia questão de conversar com Lucas e até mesmo almoçar junto com o jogador no Morumbi. Essa relação próxima foi essencial na condução das negociações para o seu retorno. O presidente teve papel importante e ajudou nas conversas com os representantes do jogador para costurar o vínculo válido até o final da temporada.

“Esse é um momento de muita alegria para todos os são-paulinos. O filho voltou para casa. Além de ser um jogador com qualidades indiscutíveis, ele tem um caráter ímpar. Tínhamos uma relação próxima e, também por isso, havia a certeza na minha cabeça de que ele voltaria desde o início de nossas conversas. Seja bem-vindo, Lucas”, disse Casares, ao site oficial do São Paulo.

O plano inicial do São Paulo era o de acertar o empréstimo de Lucas até janeiro após ele assinar um contrato de longa duração com o Los Angeles FC. Isso porque a franquia da MLS atualmente preenche todas as vagas para jogadores estrangeiros em seu plantel. O jogador só teria espaço na próxima temporada. Com isso, o Tricolor seria a melhor das alternativas para que ele mantenha o ritmo de jogo.

O Tricolor monitora desde o início do ano a situação de Lucas. Conversou com seu estafe e com ele várias vezes e, sem fazer proposta, deixou as portas abertas para o retorno do atacante, vendido em 2012 ao PSG, da França, após ajudar na conquista da Copa Sul-Americana.