The late change has been necessitated due to a yellow alert issued by the meteorological department in Bengaluru

Shashank Kishore20-May-2025

RCB’s fixture against KKR last Friday was washed out•Associated Press

The IPL has relocated Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) final home fixture against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), on May 23, from Bengaluru to Lucknow due to adverse weather conditions in South India.As a result, RCB will now play their last two matches – against SRH and their final fixture against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on May 27 – at the Ekana Stadium.SRH, who were scheduled to fly to Bengaluru on Tuesday evening, have been advised to stay put in Lucknow, where they had played against LSG on May 19. The late change has been necessitated due to a yellow alert issued by the meteorological department in Bengaluru that has predicted “heavy to very heavy rainfall” in the city until Thursday.RCB’s previous home game, against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) last Saturday, was abandoned without a ball bowled after incessant rainfall lashed the city.Since then, RCB have stayed indoors owing to rains and thunderstorms that have ravaged all of Bengaluru and led to several parts of the city being waterlogged.Related

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RCB were informed of this development late Tuesday afternoon, just prior to a scheduled optional session, their first since Friday’s pre-match session ahead of the KKR match, with rains having briefly relented. However, the forecast for Tuesday night is for more showers.The late switch gives RCB a clearer runway to finishing in the top two, which may have otherwise been on shaky grounds had their next fixture at home too been rained out. RCB are currently placed second on the points table, just one point behind Gujarat Titans’ (GT) tally of 18.New Chandigarh, Ahmedabad to host IPL 2025 playoffsThe BCCI has finalised New Chandigarh and Ahmedabad as the two venues for the four playoff games of IPL 2025, as the schedule was revised after a brief suspension earlier this month.ESPNcricinfo has learnt that Mullanpur will host qualifier 1 on May 29 and the eliminator the next day, whereas Ahmedabad will host qualifier 2 and the final on June 1 and June 3, respectively. As per the original schedule, Hyderabad and Kolkata were slotted to host those four games at the end of this month. The change in venues was decided by the IPL Governing Council “keeping in mind the weather conditions and other parameters.”Punjab Kings (PBKS), RCB and GT have confirmed their place in the playoffs, while Delhi Capitals (DC) and Mumbai Indians (MI) will fight it out for the fourth spot.

أوضح آرني سلوت، المدير الفني لفريق ليفربول الإنجليزي، سبب التغييرات التي أجراها على التشكيل خلال مواجهة كريستال بالاس، بما في ذلك غياب النجم المصري محمد صلاح.

ولم يتواجد محمد صلاح في قائمة ليفربول لمباراة اليوم أمام كريستال بالاس، بدور الستة عشر لكأس كاراباو.

طالع | تشكيل ليفربول أمام كريستال بالاس في كأس كاراباو.. موقف محمد صلاح

وقال سلوت في تصريحاته لشبكة “سكاي سبورتس”: “أعتقد أن متابعي هذا النادي ومعرفتهم الواسعة به يدركون أيضًا أننا نعتمد في هذه البطولة على اللاعبين الشباب، نريد أن نمهد لهم الطريق للعب أمام 60 ألف متفرج، أمام جماهيرنا”.

وأضاف: “هذا أحد الأسباب، والسبب الآخر هو أن لدينا أربع أو خمس إصابات فقط، ولكن إذا اضطررنا للعب بنفس اللاعبين، فأعتقد أن هناك أسبابًا متعددة لخسارتنا هذا العدد الكبير من المباريات، وجميع هذه الأسباب لا تزال قائمة، فلا مبرر لخسارة هذا العدد الكبير من المباريات”.

وأشار مدرب ليفربول: “لكن أيضًا، لم يكن من المفيد أن يكون الفاصل بين المباريات التي لعبناها خارج أرضنا يومين فقط تقريبًا”.

وأتم: “لذا، إذا استمررنا في اللعب بنفس اللاعبين، كما فعلت مع ألكسندر إيزاك، الذي غاب عن فترة ما قبل الموسم، فهذه بالطبع فرصة أخرى للإصابة، ولدينا حاليًا 15 أو 16 لاعبًا فقط متاحين”.

Glasgow Rangers have made a “genius” compared to the legendary Brian Clough a frontrunner for the Ibrox vacancy alongside former Gers boss Steven Gerrard.

Steven Gerrard holds positive talks over Rangers return

Rangers are now on the search for their fourth manager of 2025, with the 49ers Enterprises’ move for Russell Martin lasting just 123 days.

Martin was sacked by Rangers following Sunday’s 1-1 Scottish Premiership draw with Falkirk which has left the Gers on just eight points from their opening seven league games.

Rangers have recorded just one league win during that time, with chairman Andrew Cavenagh and vice-chairman Paraag Marathe already opening the process of hiring Martin’s successor.

One name who has been heavily linked with a move to Ibrox is Gerrard, who enjoyed three years in Glasgow before departing for Aston Villa, winning Rangers’ only Scottish Premiership title in the last 14 years.

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It has been reported that Rangers have already held positive talks with Gerrard over a sensational return to the club, although negotiations are thought to be complex.

Gerrard isn’t the only candidate on the Rangers shortlist, though, and it has been revealed that he is joined by one manager at the top of the Ibrox wishlist.

Sean Dyche another frontrunner for Rangers job with Gerrard

According to The Scottish Daily Mail, relayed by Ibrox News, Rangers are keen to act swiftly and appoint a new manager as soon as they can.

It is claimed that as well as Gerrard, Sean Dyche is the other frontrunner for the Rangers job, with the ex-Everton manager keen on a move to Ibrox.

Dyche, called an “absolute genius”, has been out of work since January after leaving the Toffees, where he was replaced by David Moyes.

The 54-year-old, who plays a 4-2-3-1 system, has plenty of experience in England with Burnley, and during his time with the Clartes, he was even compared to former Derby County and Nottingham Forest manager Clough by ex-winger Michael Kightly.

By the looks of things, either Dyche of Gerrard could well be the manager in charge of Rangers following the international break against Dundee United at Ibrox on 18 October, providing this latest claim is accurate.

Liverpool have won five games in a row this season, first losing the Community Shield against Crystal Palace. It hasn’t been easy. It hasn’t been straight-forward.

But Liverpool rarely take the easy route, and it’s exciting to think that the Reds perch atop the Premier League pile and kicked off their Champions League campaign with three points, having looked below their best.

Florian Wirtz hasn’t yet clicked the pieces together following his £116m move from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer, but he will. The German created five chances against Atletico Madrid, and his neat touches and link-up play made a convincing comment on his class.

And, moreover, Liverpool have now integrated Alexander Isak into their playing squad, the Sweden striker joining in a British record £116m deal on deadline day and bringing with him one of the most dangerous striking skillsets in world football.

On Wednesday, he made his debut under the European lights, and he showed plenty of promise.

Alexander Isak's Liverpool debut

Isak looked bright on his Liverpool debut, especially considering he has played a paucity of football across the past three months.

Liverpool know what they have paid for. Last season, the 25-year-old scored 27 goals across all competitions, including the winner against Arne Slot’s side in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley.

Now, he’s Anfield’s, and fans can expect many goals across the coming years, and silverware besides.

He might not have bagged himself a debut goal against the Spaniards, but the Sweden star looked sharp, with signs of an elite partnership with the aforementioned Wirtz evident throughout. One analyst marvelled at the duo, saying their “link-up looks terrifying”.

Minutes played

58′

Goals

0

Assists

0

Touches

25

Shots (on target)

2 (1)

Accurate passes

13/16 (81%)

Key passes

1

Dribbles

1/3

Tackles

2

Ground duels

3/6

This is Liverpool’s now. These are the superstars who have been signed for significant fees to propel Slot’s project even further forward after the Premier League title was so confidently claimed last year.

Liverpool broke any number of financial records this summer, but this was achievable after many years of calculated diligence. FSG are nothing if not prudent, after all.

But this spills into every corner of Liverpool’s wider system, and it’s not just the big-money buys who are shaping the Anfield side’s future, with one teenager in particular boasting the talent to one day become the cream of the crop, perhaps even ahead of Isak.

Liverpool may have a bigger talent than Isak

Liverpool are in good hands. There will be peaks and troughs over the coming years, but it’s pretty nailed-on that the Reds will challenge for the biggest honours nine times out of ten across the coming years.

Isak leads the line, and he’s flanked by so many talented players. One of whom is Rio Ngumoha, the 17-year-old winger who announced himself emphatically at the start of the season.

Liverpool poached one of Chelsea’s prized Cobham talents in 2024 and swiftly integrated him into the youth set-up on Merseyside, with a pathway lit up toward the senior side.

Ngumoha started on the left wing as Liverpool beat Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup third round last season, and he caught the eye with his snappy footwork and slick dribbling.

But it was against Newcastle United at the start of the current campaign that Ngumoha truly made his name known.

Liverpool had squandered their lead against the ten-man Magpies, and it looked like they were heading for a draw. But up stepped the 17-year-old, off the bench and crackling with energy as he converted Mohamed Salah’s cross-box pass.

Hailed as a “special” player by journalist Bence Bocsak, it looks like this could be a season of numerous achievements for the England U18 star, who is very much on the fast track to the top.

He’s not the tallest, but Ngumoha is stocky and powerful and purposeful on the ball. He is endowed with the athleticism needed for someone of his profile, carrying the ball upfield and into the danger area.

His development must not be rushed, but it’s hard to contain such a thrilling talent. If Ngumoha keeps on as he is, there’s every chance he will meet his high-ceilinged potential and smash through it, becoming a player who dominates and dictates for Liverpool. A talisman for Slot’s side.

1

James Vaughan

16 yrs, 8 months, 27 days

2

James Milner

16 yrs, 11 months, 22 days

3

Wayne Rooney

16 yrs, 11 months, 25 days

4

Rio Ngumoha

16 yrs, 11 months, 26 days

5

Cesc Fabregas

17 yrs, 3 months, 21 days

Development is not a linear thing in football. Salah only achieved worldwide recognition after signing for Liverpool aged 25, while Virgil van Dijk was 26 when he completed his record-breaking move from Southampton to Merseyside.

Isak is the now, but is Ngumoha not too? The teenage prodigy scored the winner at St. James’ Park when Isak was still contracted to Newcastle, did he not?

His emergence stopped sporting director Richard Hughes from moving to sign a new left-sided forward after Luis Diaz’s sale to Bayern Munich.

But it’s more than fair to say that Ngumoha has plenty of potential yet to tap into, and that’s an exciting thing.

As he continues to go from strength to strength, there’s no doubt in Slot and the Liverpool coaching staff’s minds that this is a potential superstar, one who has already proved his worth in one of the best teams in the world and one who, soon, could be rivalling Isak as the superstar in Slot’s Liverpool team.

New Suarez & Gerrard: Slot has unearthed a "terrifying" Liverpool duo

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ByAngus Sinclair Sep 18, 2025

There was a bit of concern among some sections of the fanbase heading into this season because Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke does not have an impressive record in the Premier League.

He was relegated with Norwich City in the 2019/20 campaign before being sacked during his second attempt at managing in the division in the 2021/22 season with the Canaries.

However, the West Yorkshire outfit have picked up eight points from six matches in the Premier League this season, losing just two of their games, in what has been a very solid start to the campaign.

Farke’s side have been competitive in every game barring the 5-0 loss to Arsenal, who are title challengers, and were held to a 2-2 draw by Bournemouth on Saturday.

In that 2-2 draw with the Cherries, Leeds supporters were provided with a reminder of where the club went wrong the last time they were in the top-flight.

Tyler Adams lined up in central midfielder for the away side at Elland Road, a few years on from when he failed to replace Kalvin Phillips under Jesse Marsch.

Why Tyler Adams was a poor replacement for Kalvin Phillips

The Whites sold Phillips to Manchester City in the summer of 2022 after the England international had helped the team to stay in the Premier League for two years.

Jesse Marsch and Victor Orta decided to bring Adams in from RB Leipzig for a fee of £20m to replace what they had lost in the middle of the park, but he was a poor replacement for the Yorkshire-born star.

Adams offered bite in the middle of the park, averaging 5.2 tackles and interceptions per game (per Sofascore), in the Premier League for the Whites, which shows that he was combative and got around the pitch to disrupt the opposition.

The USA international, however, did not showcase the quality on the ball that made Phillips so special to Marcelo Bielsa and Marsch in his two seasons in the top-flight with the West Yorkshire outfit. That lack of quality played a part in the team’s relegation to the Championship in the 2022/23 campaign.

Appearances

29

24

Goals

1

0

Big chances created

5

1

Assists

2

0

Possession lost per game

11.7

12.2

Tackles + interceptions per game

4.2

5.2

Ground duel success rate

53%

55%

As you can see in the table above, Adams did not offer anywhere near as much to the team in possession as Phillips did at his best, losing the ball more frequently whilst creating way less.

These statistics show that Orta and Marsch failed in their attempts to replace Phillips in midfield in the summer of 2022, and the Whites were relegated from the Premier League, in part, because of that. Of course, losing Raphinha from that team did not help matters.

Fast-forward to the present day, Leeds look competitive in the middle of the park thanks to the recruitment work that was done in that area of the pitch during the summer transfer window.

German giant Anton Stach has caught the eye, having scored a stunning free-kick against Wolverhampton Wanderers, since his £17m move from Hoffenheim.

However, it is another Leeds United central midfielder who has emerged as Farke’s own version of Kalvin Phillips at Elland Road in the Premier League this season.

Chalkboard

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

Sean Longstaff joined the club from Premier League rivals Newcastle United for £12m to bolster their options in the middle of the park, and he has been an excellent addition on current evidence.

Why Sean Longstaff may be the new Kalvin Phillips

The English midfield star may be the new Phillips at Elland Road because, unlike Tyler Adams, he has the defensive and technical qualities to be a well-rounded and influential presence in and out of possession for Leeds.

Longstaff really announced himself to the Elland Road supporters, of course, with his strike in the 2-2 draw with Bournemouth in the Premier League on Saturday, finding the corner with an excellent strike, as shown in the clip below.

It has been his all-round play in midfield that has impressed the most, though, as Longstaff has also averaged 3.8 tackles and interceptions per game in the league for the Whites this season, per Sofascore.

That is 1.2 more tackles and interceptions per match than Stach has managed in midfield in the top-flight. This suggests that the former Newcastle man is closer to Phillips, from a defensive perspective, than the 6 foot 4 German is, as he covers plenty of ground to disrupt opposition attacks.

Longstaff, who was tipped to be an “unbelievable” player by Alan Shearer, has the quality on and off the ball to help Leeds in all phases. He can sit and be compact to stop teams playing through the Whites, but he can also play a killer pass in the final third when needed to spark attacks or break down low blocks.

Appearances

29

6

Goals

1

1

Big chances created

5

2

Key passes per game

1.2

1.3

Tackles and interceptions per game

4.2

3.8

Ground duel success rate

53%

55%

Aerial duel success rate

47%

71%

As you can see in the table above, the £12m signing’s statistics in and out of possession so far this season make him very comparable to Phillips in his best season in the Premier League under Bielsa in the 2020/21 campaign.

1.3 key passes per game for Longstaff shows that he has a creative side to his game, whilst his assist for Joe Rodon on Saturday came from a corner, and that means that he adds value in the final third as well as being a combative and defensively strong operator.

Signing a player with bags of Premier League experience has turned out to be an incredibly shrewd move by the Whites, as he has been able to hit the ground running since his move to Elland Road.

He may not have been the most exciting signing when he arrived at the club in the summer transfer window, but Longstaff may well turn out to be the club’s next version of Kalvin Phillips.

Not just Longstaff: 7/10 Leeds star is now completely undroppable for Farke

Leeds drew 2-2 at home to Bournemouth on Saturday and this star made himself undroppable.

ByJoe Nuttall Sep 28, 2025

Surrey dismissed Essex for 217 as events on day one at the Kia Oval followed a familiar pattern.Having won the toss, the champions fielded first on a well-grassed surface and despite Michael Pepper’s 75 they bowled Essex out in two sessions.Australian left-hander Kurtis Patterson led the reply with 51 as Surrey reached 94 for three at stumps, 123 behind.Pepper provided much of the resistance in front of a crowd of 5,861 and helped Essex’s last three wickets add 71 while at the start of the day Surrey didn’t use the new ball particularly well. But Surrey have got themselves into a familiar position and will try to bat into the third day before putting Essex back under pressure in their second innings.There had been the promise of a different story unfolding in the first half hour when Dean Elgar and Paul Walter helped themselves to ten boundaries in the opening eight overs as they posted a half-century stand with few alarms against some unusually indifferent new-ball bowling by Dan Worrall and Nathan Smith. But when Sam Curran, who was making his first Championship appearance of the season, replaced Worrall at the Vauxhall End he broke through with his second ball, which darted off the seam and Elgar edged it to second slip.From 50 without loss Essex slipped to 95 for four as the Surrey seamers profited from bowling a better length. Walter played well for his 38 but was one of three wickets to fall in 7.4 overs for seven runs as the champions tightened the screw before lunch.Wicketkeeper Ben Foakes snapped up a simple opportunity when Walter poked at Jordan Clark’s outswinger but there was nothing ordinary about his next intervention when he dived in front of first slip to remove Charlie Allison after Smith had switched ends – a fine way for Foakes to claim his 450th catch in first-class cricket.Smith had a second wicket before lunch and Foakes a third catch after skipper Tom Westley was surprised by extra bounce and Essex would have been in further strife had Jamie Overton, like Curran playing his first Championship game of the season, not dropped straightforward catches at slip to reprieve first Pepper and then Matt Critchley off successive deliveries. Overton took himself out of the cordon but Pepper apart, Essex failed to make the most of their good fortune.Critchley, aiming to leg, was beaten by Tom Lawes’ late inswing and Foakes had his fourth catch – and Worrall his first wicket – when Noah Thain followed an away swinger. Simon Harmer was lbw unwisely offering no shot when Curran switched ends.But from 146 for seven Pepper led a tail-end revival, first with Shane Snater with whom he added 51 in 65 balls. Snater contributed 28 before edging to second slip in Overton’s third over but Pepper brought up Essex’s 200 by driving Overton handsomely over long-on for six while adding another 24 with Sri Lankan Kasun Rajitha. Rajitha eventually played on to Smith and Pepper holed out to deep mid-wicket for a season’s best 75 from 94 balls with nine fours.Burns was caught at slip aiming an expansive drive at Jamie Porter and Surrey suffered a setback when Patterson was squared up by Porter shortly after the Australian left-hander had reached an attractive half-century. Nightwatchman Lawes fell in the penultimate over but Surrey are still well placed.

The fast bowler suffered a hamstring strain during England’s one-off Test against Zimbabwe

ESPNcricinfo staff27-May-2025England are hopeful that Gus Atkinson will be available to face India in next month’s Test series despite a hamstring strain that has ruled him out of their upcoming ODI series against West Indies.Atkinson bowled a single three-over spell on the third and final day of England’s innings win over Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge, and was seen holding his hamstring. He has since been ruled out of the three-match ODI series, which starts on Thursday. “He will now undergo a period of rehabilitation under the supervision of the England medical team,” an ECB spokesperson said.Since making his debut last July, Atkinson has been a consistent threat for England in Test cricket with 55 wickets at 22.30 in his first 12 matches. He would be a significant loss ahead of a five-match series against India, but England have insisted that he will be available for the first Test at Headingley on June 20.England’s fast-bowling resources were depleted against Zimbabwe, but Brydon Carse (toe) and Chris Woakes (ankle) have returned from injuries in the County Championship this month and Jofra Archer (thumb) is targeting a Test comeback at some stage in the India series. Mark Wood (knee) has already been ruled out of the series.Related

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Archer was also ruled out of the ODI series against West Indies this week, with Luke Wood replacing him in England’s squad. Atkinson will not be replaced, with Carse, Saqib Mahmood, Jamie Overton and Matthew Potts comprising England’s other seam options for Thursday’s series opener at Edgbaston.Woakes will step up his return this week by playing for England Lions against India A at Canterbury. Sonny Baker and Josh Hull, who both have England development contracts, are other fast-bowling options in the Lions squad, along with Hampshire’s Eddie Jack – who is yet to make his first-class debut – and Gloucestershire’s Ajeet Singh Dale.

Manchester United are now racing Barcelona for the signature of a “wonderful” rising star, who’s keen on a move to the Premier League.

Man Utd set sights on another young defender

It has been a subpar start to the season for Man United, with being knocked out of the EFL Cup by Grimsby Town a low point, but young defender Leny Yoro has managed to catch the eye, having been singled out for praise by Rio Ferdinand.

Ferdinand said: “Leny Yoro’s got pace, going to get more time. Yeah, I love him. I think his ceiling, I don’t know where his ceiling, how high, [it] could be anything. He just needs the pieces around him as well to help him as a young kid, but I think he has the nucleus of all the right traits to be a top centre-half and he will be because he wants to be.”

Yoro has started all three Premier League games up to this point, forming a partnership with Matthijs De Ligt and Harry Maguire, who is now arguably in the latter stages of his career at 32.

As such, it now appears as though United are looking to bring in a long-term replacement for Maguire, having joined the race for a rising star.

That is according to a report from TEAMtalk, which states Man United are battling the likes of Barcelona, Liverpool and Chelsea for the signature of Ajax defender Aaron Bouwman, having consistently scouted the 18-year-old.

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Dominic Lund

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Bouwman, who idolises Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk, is said to have world-class potential, which explains the interest from some of Europe’s biggest clubs, and the teenager has previously made it clear he would be keen on a move to England.

The Ajax defender said: “The top four of the Premier League is my ultimate dream, although playing at the top in Spain or another major footballing country would also be amazing.”

"Wonderful" Bouwman is one for the future

Despite his age, the youngster has already managed to force his way into the Ajax team, helping his side keep a clean sheet against Telstar back in August, having previously impressed scout Antonio Mango at youth level.

In the 2-0 victory over Telstar, the young centre-back made 10 defensive actions, the joint-highest number of any player on the pitch, while also winning three duels.

Statistic	Number completed
Clearances	3
Blocked shots	3
Interceptions	1
Tackles	3

That said, Bouwman has still only made one senior appearance for Ajax, so it is perhaps too early to judge whether he would be a suitable signing for Man United, despite showing the hallmarks of a future star.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Vasco repetiu o roteiro do primeiro turno e venceu o Atlético-MG, por 1 a 0, mais uma vez com gol no início da partida, marcado por Serginho, logo aos 4 minutos. O Cruz-Maltino teve chances de ampliar, mas desperdiçou chances claras e diversos contra-ataques. O Atlético-MG tentou o empate, mas parou em Léo Jardim, que fez boas defesas.

RelacionadasFora de CampoTorcedores do Vasco exaltam Vegetti nas redes sociais: ‘Monstruoso’Fora de Campo20/08/2023VascoPayet é apresentado no Maracanã, recebe camisa da neta de Dinamite e em português afirma: ‘Aqui é Vasco’Vasco20/08/2023VascoConheça Emiliano Díaz, auxiliar de Ramon que vai comandar o Vasco contra o Atlético-MGVasco20/08/2023

Com o resultado o Vasco chega aos 16 pontos, ultrapassa o Coritiba e chega a 18ª posição. Já o Atlético-MG está na 11ª colocação, com 27, mas pode ser ultrapassado ao final da rodada.

+ Confira a classificação do Campeonato Brasileiro

CINCO LANCES QUE MARCARAM A PARTIDA
>!Aposta certa! Serginho, escolhido para substituir Orellano suspenso, marcou logo aos 4 minutos de jogo
>Vaias no cria. Paulinho, atacante do Atlético-MG, foi vaiado muitas vezes pela torcida do Vasco neste primeiro encontro com o seu ex-clube no Rio de Janeiro.
>Na força não rola. Hulk recebeu na meia-lua, livre de marcação e soltou a bomba, de bico, para a grande defesa de Léo Jardim.
>Com emoção. O Vasco perdeu chance com Gabriel Pec e desperdiçou inúmeros contra-ataques que poderiam ter custado a vitória.
>Choro e drama: Gabriel Dias voltou a jogar depois de 1 ano, mas saiu machucado com poucos minutos em campo.

COMO FOI O PRIMEIRO TEMPO?

O Vasco abriu o placar logo aos 4 minutos com Serginho, que aproveitou o rebote de Everson em cabeçada de Vegetti. O atacante quase ampliou na sequência, mas cabeceou no travessão. Passado a pressão dos donos da casa, o Atlético-MG conseguiu ter mais a posse de bola, rondou a área adversária, mas sem conseguir ser efetivo, já que o Vasco estava muito seguro na marcação, dificultando a situação do Galo.

E A ETAPA FINAL?

Atrás no placar, o Atlético-MG passou a dar muitos espaços para o Vasco, no entanto o time da casa não aproveitou. Gabriel Pec perdeu chance cara a cara com Everson. A equipe também desperdiçou pelo menos três contra-ataques com superioridade numérica. Ao não matar o jogo, o Cruz-Maltino tomou alguns sustos que poderiam ter custdo a vitória se não fosse as defesas de Léo Jardim.

+ CLIQUE AQUI E CONFIRA MAIS DETALHES DA PARTIDA

NÚMEROS DA PARTIDA

O QUE VEM POR AÍ?

O Vasco volta a jogar no próximo domingo, às 18h30, contra o Palmeiras, no Allianz Parque. Já o Atlético-MG recebe o Santos em Belo Horizonte. A partida está marcada para o Mineirão, mas o clube pretende estrear a sua nova casa, a Arena MRV.

FICHA TÉCNICA
Campeonato Brasileiro 2023 – 20ª rodada
Vasco 1 x 0 Atlético-MG

Local:Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro (RJ)
Data e horário:Domingo (20/08), às 11h (Brasília)
Árbitro:Braulio da Silva Machado (Fifa-SC)
Assistentes:Nailton Junior de Sousa Oliveira (Fifa-CE) e Kleber Lucio Gil (SC)
Árbitro de Vídeo (VAR): Rafael Traci (Fifa-SC)

Público e renda: 53.549; R$ 3.034.502,00

Cartões amarelos: Paulinho, Praxedes, Serginho, Medel, Léo (Vasco); Battaglia, Jemerson, Saravia (Atlético-MG)
Cartão vermelho:

GOL: Serginho (4′ do 1ºT/1-0)

VASCO (Técnico: Emiliano Díaz)
Léo Jardim; Robson (Gabriel Dias/22′ do 2ºT; Maicon/34′ do 2ºT)), Medel, Léo e Lucas Piton; Zé Gabriel; Serginho (Rossi/25′ do 2ºT), Paulinho, Praxedes e Gabriel Pec; Vegetti (Sebastian Ferreira/35′ do 2ºT).

ATLÉTICO-MG (Técnico: Carlos Pracidelli)
Everson; Saravia (Pedrinho/29′ do 2ºT), Mauricio lemos, Jemerson e Guilherme Arana; Battaglia (Vargas/12′ do 2ºT), Otávio, Igor Gomes (Patrick/12′ do 2ºT) e Edenilson; Paulinho (Alan Kardec/39′ do 2ºT) e Hulk

To be heralded as Arsenal’s signing of the summer takes some doing. After all, this was one of the best transfer windows we’ve ever seen in the club’s illustrious history.

It didn’t take Andrea Berta long to settle into his role, replacing Edu as the Gunners’ Sporting Director.

While his biggest project was to sign a new striker, notably welcoming Viktor Gyokeres to the Emirates Stadium, the Italian transfer chief did not stop there.

What a window this was. Even when you thought they were done with the signing of Eberechi Eze from Crystal Palace, Berta surprised us all by completing a deal for Bayer Leverkusen defender Piero Hincapie on Deadline Day. It wouldn’t be a transfer window at Arsenal without a hybrid defender arriving during the Mikel Arteta era.

Eze’s acquisition was exciting, as was Gyokeres’. In adding those two players, they’ve strengthened two of the big weak points in the side; goals and unpredictability from the left flank.

Yet, Berta made a number of underrated signings during his first window at the club.

Arsenal's most underrated signings of 2025

It remains to be seen how someone like Christian Norgaard settles in at Arsenal. While the Dane played a prominent part in pre-season, he’s not been seen in competitive action yet due to injury.

However, having captained Brentford under Thomas Frank, he will no doubt bring valuable experience to what is still a relatively young crop of players.

For those we have seen, two players immediately stand out. Noni Madueke is one of them.

When the winger arrived at Arsenal during pre-season, it’s safe to say fans were unhappy. Not another Chelsea reject, they cried. Quite. That being said, protests that were lodged disapproving of the deal were rather bizarre.

Since moving to the red side of London, it’s safe to say that Madueke has proven a number of supporters wrong. Against Liverpool prior to the international break, the 23-year-old looked like Arsenal’s best player.

Despite not scoring or assisting against Nottingham Forest on Saturday, he also arguably looked like the best player on the park.

The England international was relentless in his endeavours down the right flank, twisting Morato and Neco Williams inside and out. Madueke completed a whopping five dribbles and also completed five key passes.

Madueke vs Forest
Minutes played	78
Shots	0
Successful dribbles	5/8
Touches	65
Accurate passes	22/31
Key passes	5
Accurate crosses	4
Duels won	10
Tackles	3
Stats via Sofascore.

In previous years, when Arsenal have been without Bukayo Saka due to injury, they have struggled. However, with Madueke now in the squad, they look far better equipped to deal with a problem like that one.

Another hugely underrated signing is Cristhian Mosquera. Arriving from Valencia for just £13m in the summer, very few expected the Spaniard to play too many minutes this campaign.

Aware of the player’s potential, the 21-year-old has already exceeded all expectations, standing in for the injured William Saliba.

When the Frenchman hobbled off in the early exchanges of the clash at Anfield two weeks ago, everyone feared the worst. That said, Mosquera stood in with ease and looked at home next to Gabriel Magalhaes in Arsenal’s backline.

The same could be said of the youngster’s performance against Forest this weekend. Mosquera was phenomenal, notably making a last-man tackle in the second half to deny what looked like a certain goalscoring opportunity.

Chalkboard

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Described as “an incredible signing” by Gunners writer Dan Critchlow, the centre-back looks like he could dominate Premier League attackers for years to come.

Despite his impressive start to life in the English capital, he’s not quite the best signing Berta made during the summer months.

Arsenal's signing of the summer is emulating Xhaka

When Granit Xhaka left the Gunners behind in the summer of 2023, very few expected to see him back in the Premier League two years later.

Well, Xhaka left Bayer Leverkusen behind as a league champion and came back to England, moving to newly-promoted Sunderland.

Since returning, we’re seeing more of the Xhaka of old. A deeper-lying playmaker who breaks up the play.

Yet, that hasn’t always been the case, as his final season at the Emirates proved. That campaign was arguably the best of his career, scoring nine goals and assisting seven in all competitions.

Since then, Arteta has been searching for a replacement. He initially struggled to do so.

Kai Havertz was signed with the idea of filling the Swiss’ void in the left 8 position but ultimately ended up being better as a striker. Declan Rice has perhaps found the most success in that role, involved in 19 goals last term.

However, in £60m arrival Martin Zubimendi, they’ve signed another player capable of emulating the former club skipper.

Zubimendi isn’t the aggressive tackler that Xhaka is or was, but there are certain qualities that the Spaniard has offered and will offer that are reminiscent.

Like Xhaka, the 26-year-old controls and dictates the tempo of a game brilliantly. In fact, in that regard, he’s probably even better.

Spain manager Luis de la Fuente has already described him as “the second best” midfielder in the world behind Rodri. Speaking of Rodri, talking about his international colleague last week, he said: “He [Zubimendi] has the discipline and mentality that can lead him to become one of the best, if he isn’t already.”

The Spaniard is certainly more disciplined than Xhaka ever was but in their ability to break up the play and dictate, they are alike. Zubimendi showed during the 3-0 win over Forest that he can contribute in the final third like Xhaka too.

The Switzerland star has near immaculate technique and we all know how much of a rocket his left foot was. Well, the former Real Sociedad star emulated just that on Saturday, hammering home a volley from the edge of the area.

Not usually a goalscorer, Zubimendi rolled back the years at the Emirates with a Xhaka-like goalscoring display from the middle of the park.

It was the summer arrival who rounded off the scoring late on when he headed home Leandro Trossard’s cross. It was the first brace of his professional career and a 10/10 performance that cemented him as “the signing of the summer” in the words of club insider AFC Camden.

If he has an Arsenal career like Xhaka then we are in for quite the ride.

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By
Matt Dawson

Sep 14, 2025