Tag Futebol

Manchester City are now willing to make a £70m January bid for an “absolutely incredible” Real Madrid star, with Pep Guardiola personally a fan.

Man City looking to boost title push by signing new forward

Man City have bounced back from their 2-1 loss at Newcastle United by winning their last two Premier League games on the spin, but they haven’t made easy work of it, scraping past Leeds United 3-2 courtesy of a late Phil Foden winner.

City then travelled to Craven Cottage to take on Fulham and raced into a 5-1 lead, but they only just managed to get over the line, with the hosts fighting back to 5-4, which will be a worrying sign for Guardiola.

Conceding six goals in the last two matches, against two of the weaker sides in the Premier League, suggests the Blues could do with strengthening their defence in January, and a new right-back is of interest, with Newcastle’s Tino Livramento being identified as a target.

However, Guardiola is also eager to upgrade his attacking options, with a report from Spain revealing Real Madrid star Rodrygo is one of the Man City manager’s top targets for the January transfer window.

City are determined to make a move for the Brazilian, with it being revealed they are willing to make a €80m (£70m) offer for his services, and Guardiola believes the forward would be a perfect fit in his system.

The 24-year-old’s agents have been working to secure their client a move away from the Spanish club this winter, offering him to a number of top Premier League clubs, but the Blues are making the most decisive moves to get a deal done.

"Absolutely incredible" Rodrygo may need fresh start

The Brazil international has been a fantastic servant to Real Madrid, with journalist Bence Bocsak praising him for the impact he’s made in the Champions League.

However, the former Santos man, who is regarded as one of the best wingers in the world, may be in need of a fresh start, given that he has now gone 31 games without a goal for the La Liga side, which is the worst streak ever for a Real Madrid attacker.

That’s not to say the Osasco-born forward wouldn’t make an impact at the Etihad Stadium, however, as he has previously shown a keen eye for goal, chipping in with 68 goals and 53 assists in 286 matches for the Spanish side.

Related Man City now favourites to sign "incredible" £88m star, Pep's captivated by him

City have taken the lead in the race for a Premier League star, with Pep Guardiola a big fan.

Posts ByDominic Lund Dec 2, 2025

£70m would be a huge fee to pay for a player in such poor form though, and Man City should test the waters with a lower offer to begin with.

Keep up to date with all the movements around the counties ahead of the 2026 men’s county season

ESPNcricinfo staffKeep up to date with all the movements around the counties as preparations are made for the 2026 men’s county seasonDerbyshireIN: Matt Montgomery (Nottinghamshire)
OUT: David Lloyd (retired), Alex Thomson (released)
OVERSEAS: Caleb JewellDurhamIN: Kasey Aldridge (Somerset), Archie Bailey (Gloucestershire)
OUT: Mitchell Killeen (Essex), Paul Coughlin (Lancashire)
OVERSEAS:EssexIN: Mitchell Killeen (Durham), Zaman Akhter (Gloucestershire)
OUT: Nick Browne (retired), Adam Rossington, Jamal Richards (both released)
OVERSEAS: Simon HarmerGlamorganIN: Sean Dickson (Somerset)
OUT: Sam Northeast (Kent), Tom Bevan (released)
OVERSEAS: Colin IngramGloucestershireIN: Craig Miles (Warwickshire), Will Williams (Lancashire), Dawid Malan (Yorkshire)
OUT: Archie Bailey (Durham), Ajeet Singh Dale (Lancashire), Zaman Akhter (Essex), Dom Goodman (Sussex), Tom Price (Sussex), Josh Shaw (Somerset)
OVERSEAS: Cameron Bancroft, Gabe Bell (April-May), D’Arcy Short (T20), Liam Scott (May-July)HampshireIN: Jake Lehmann (UK passport)
OUT: Keith Barker (Warwickshire), Benny Howell (Nottinghamshire), Joseph Eckland (released)
OVERSEAS: Kyle Abbott, Michael Neser (April-May)KentIN: Sam Northeast (Glamorgan), Matt Milnes (Yorkshire)
OUT: Jack Leaning (Sussex), Nathan Gilchrist (Warwickshire), George Garrett (retired), Marcus O’Riordan, Mohammed Rizvi (both released)
OVERSEAS: Keith DudgeonLancashireIN: Paul Coughlin (Durham), Ajeet Singh Dale (Gloucestershire)
OUT: Will Williams (Gloucestershire), Josh Boyden (released)
OVERSEAS: Marcus Harris, Chris Green (T20)LeicestershireIN: Stephen Eskinazi (Middlesex), Jonny Tattersall (Yorkshire), Josh Davey (Somerset), Ben Green (Somerset)
OUT: Louis Kimber (Northamptonshire), Chris Wright, Harry Swindells (both retired), Matt Salisbury, Roman Walker (both released)
OVERSEAS: Peter Handscomb, Keshav Maharaj (April-July)MiddlesexIN: Caleb Falconer (academy)
OUT: Stephen Eskinazi (Leicestershire)
OVERSEAS:NorthamptonshireIN: Louis Kimber (Leicestershire), Calvin Harrison (Nottinghamshire)
OUT: Freddie Heldreich (released)
OVERSEAS: Matthew Breetzke, Nathan McSweeney, Harry Conway (April-May), Yuzvendra Chahal (July-Sept)NottinghamshireIN: Benny Howell
OUT: Calvin Harrison (Northamptonshire), Matthew Montgomery (Derbyshire), Sammy King, Dane Schadendorf (both released)
OVERSEAS: Kyle Verreynne, Fergus O’Neil (April-June)SomersetIN: Josh Shaw (Gloucestershire)
OUT: Kasey Aldridge (Durham), Sean Dickson (Glamorgan), Josh Davey (Leicestershire), Ben Green (Leicestershire), Andrew Umeed (released)
OVERSEAS: Riley Meredith (T20), Migael PretoriusSurreyIN: Ralphie Albert (academy)
OUT:
OVERSEAS:SussexIN: Danny Briggs (Warwickshire), Jack Leaning (Kent), Dom Goodman (Gloucestershire), Tom Price (Gloucestershire)
OUT: Ari Karvelas, Bertie Foreman, Archie Lenham, Zach Lion-Cachet, Henry Rogers (all released)
OVERSEAS: Jaydev Unadkat (June-Sept)WarwickshireIN: Keith Barker (Hampshire), Nathan Gilchrist (Kent), Jordan Thompson (Yorkshire)
OUT: Danny Briggs (Sussex), Craig Miles (Gloucestershire), Moeen Ali (retired)
OVERSEAS: Beau Webster (April-July)WorcestershireIN:
OUT: Tom Hinley, Yadvinder Singh (both released)
OVERSEAS: Usama Mir (T20), Ben Dwarshuis (T20)YorkshireIN:
OUT: Matt Milnes (Kent), Jordan Thompson (Warwickshire), Jonny Tattersall (Leicestershire), Dawid Malan (Gloucestershire)
OVERSEAS:

Weeks do not come much bigger than this for Arsenal.

On Sunday, Mikel Arteta’s team return to action, following the international break, with a bang, hosting Tottenham in the North London derby.

Then, on Wednesday, the top two in this season’s Champions League will go head-to-head, with Bayern Munich and Arsenal both putting their 100% records in the competition on the line, before the Gunners face the small matter of another London derby against Chelsea next Sunday.

If the Premier League leaders are going to still be sitting pretty at the top in ten days time, Arteta will need his key figures to perform at their best, but is sporting director Andrea Berta already putting plans in place to sign a “monster” hybrid of two of Arsenal’s most pivotal players?

Arsenal targeting a midfield monster

Two of Arsenal’s most important signings in recent seasons have inarguably been Declan Rice and Mikel Merino.

The former has been transformational in midfield, potentially now the best in his position in the Premier League, while the Spaniard has been integral in a completely unforeseen way, excelling as the emergency makeshift striker even since he was thrust into the role off the bench at Leicester in February, poised to lead the line again against Spurs on Sunday.

Now, according to TEAMalk, the Gunners and Andrea Berta are targeting another midfield star, reporting that Arsenal are one of many Premier League clubs interested in signing Scott McTominay from Napoli.

They add that the Gunners are exploring a move for a star who is valued at €80m (around £70.5m), by the Partenopei, noting that it would take an ‘astronomical’ fee for them to sell the ‘linchpin’ in Antonio Conte’s team, while noting that the Scotland international would like to return to the Premier League one day.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

In history, only 15 men have ever made a senior appearance for both Arsenal and Manchester United, Robin van Persie, Alexis Sánchez, Danny Welbeck and Henrikh Mkhitaryan among the recent high-profile examples, so could McTominay soon join this exclusive list?

What Scott McTominay would bring to Arsenal

McTominay was in the news this week by virtue of scoring this jaw-dropping overhead kick to help Scotland qualify for a first World Cup in 28 years, breaking the deadlock as his side beat Denmark 4-2 at Hampden in ultra-dramatic fashion; if you somehow haven’t seen this goal, it is well worth your time!

Well, if you think McTominay is popular in Scotland, he holds god-like status in Naples, having been the key figure in their Serie A triumph last season, clinching only the Ciucciarelli’s fourth Scudetto, named the league’s player of the season, with the statistics below underlining why.

As the table documents, McTominay is the complete all-rounder, ranked highly for a wide variety of metrics.

He scored 12 goals from just 33 shots on target, thereby behind only Capocannoniere winner Mateo Retegui in terms of non-penalty goals – expected goals, including this strike on the final day against Cagliari to secure the Scudetto, a goal recently relegated to the second-best bicycle kick on his showreel.

As well as his goal-scoring exploits, McTominay ranked in the top 20 for successful take-ons, ground duels won and ball recoveries, further emphasising his all-action nature.

Ole Gunnar Solskjær, his manager at Manchester United, labelled him a “physical monster”, while Adam Joseph described him as a “true superstar of European and world football”.

So, McTominay appears to have combined all the best attributes from both Merino and Rice.

Like Merino, the Scotsman has harnessed his goal-scoring instincts, as well as being excellent in the air, as underlined by the fact he scored three headers and won 67 aerial duels in Serie A last season.

Meantime, just like Rice, McTominay is an asset all across the pitch, able to cover a lot of ground and help win back possession when his team do not have the ball, while contributing driving dribbles and goal-scoring actions in the final third.

Thus, the World Cup-bound 28-year-old has flourished into one of the planet’s very best all-round midfield players, so would surely be an exceptional addition for Arsenal.

Eze upgrade: Arsenal submit bid for "one of the best wingers in the world"

As Arsenal seek attacking reinforcement to get their title push over the line, will they target “one of the best wingers in the world” valued at £80m?

By
Ben Gray

Nov 20, 2025

From Scott McTominay overhead kicks to Troy Parrott mania and the stuff of dreams for Curaçao and Haiti, the November international break has been one full of drama.

It has also provided a far clearer picture of what the 2026 World Cup may look like. All but six countries have now booked their places in North America, with the remaining spots to be determined by playoffs taking place in March 2026, which will see four additional European teams qualify.

Along with Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, Italy are the biggest name in the European playoffs, with Poland, Denmark, Ukraine, Turkey and the Czech Republic among others being forced to take that route.

England World Cup Squad Tracker

England 2026 World Cup Squad Tracker

Who is in line to make Thomas Tuchel’s 26-player squad?

By
Charlie Smith

Nov 13, 2025

The remaining two places will come from the inter-confederation playoffs featuring Iraq, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Jamaica, Suriname, Bolivia and New Caledonia.

The draw for the finals will take place in Washington on Friday, December 5 at midday local time (5pm UK time), but AI has jumped the gun and predicted every group including those teams yet to be officially decided.

Group A – USA, Denmark, Norway, Japan

According to the supercomputer, hosts USA will meet Denmark, Norway and Japan in the group stage. Having qualified automatically due to their host status, America will hope to advance into the knockouts in what would be an interesting group. A lot, of course, relies on whether Denmark can qualify through the playoffs.

The Danes lost late on against Scotland and were forced to settle for a place in the playoffs rather than automatic qualification. Japan, meanwhile, could be ones to watch after they lost just once in World Cup qualifying, and Norway could yet cause a few upsets thanks to Erling Haaland. In a well-balanced group, though, both USA and Denmark would be favourites to advance.

Group B – Mexico, Ecuador, South Africa, Iraq

Like USA, Mexico have had their 2026 place sealed ever since it was announced that they would host the World Cup and the supercomputer predicts that they’ll be handed a fairly routine group to match. Joined by Ecuador, South Africa and Iraq – who just kept their qualification hopes alive with a late victory over UAE – Mexico would be expected to advance in such a group.

Group C – Canada, Iran, Uzbekistan, Republic of Ireland

Canada, the final hosts of the tournament, will be joined in Group C by Iran, Uzbekistan and Ireland – who will need to qualify through the playoffs – according to the supercomputer.

Canada should feel confident if the AI prediction is right. They could top the group in front of their home crowd.

Group D – Argentina, Switzerland, Ivory Coast, Haiti

Can Argentina retain their crown on Lionel Messi’s likely last appearance on the big stage? That’s the question. They turned on the style at times in qualifying and will be expected to advance in a group with Switzerland, Ivory Coast and Haiti if the supercomputer’s prediction comes true.

That’s not to say it’s the most routine group, though. Ivory Coast have a strong team in their own right, boasting the likes of Amad Diallo, Simon Adingra and Evann Guessand. The same, meanwhile, can be said for Switzerland, who have the likes of Granit Xhaka to call on. Argentina should top the group, but then the fight for second place would be on, especially if Haiti cause any upsets.

Group E – Brazil, Croatia, Tunisia, New Zealand

Out of all the groups that the supercomputer has predicted, Group E stands out as the most routine so far. Both Brazil and Croatia would likely compete for top spot, with Carlo Ancelotti’s side favourites to come out on top, whilst Tunisia and New Zealand battle it out for third place.

There would still be room for some shocks, but the dominance of Brazil and Croatia would likely prove too strong. Ancelotti’s side will especially be one to watch, as they weigh-up whether to bring Neymar to the World Cup and others in pursuit of glory at long last.

Group F – Uruguay, Netherlands, Egypt, Jordan

If anyone was ever keen to see Darwin Nunez up against Virgil van Dijk then Group F will be the one for you, according to the AI prediction. It has predicted that Uruguay will square off against Mohamed Salah’s Egypt, Jordan and the Netherlands at the 2026 World Cup.

On paper, it looks like a routine draw for the two favourites of the group to go through, but seven-time AFCON winners Egypt are not to be taken lightly as long as Salah is fit and firing.

Group G – Belgium, Italy, Senegal, Saudi Arabia

Despite the fact that they’ll need to go through the playoffs, the supercomputer has predicted that Italy will take part in their first World Cup in over 10 years. It would signal a huge sigh of relief around the country if that proved to be the case, but their recent form suggests that it could yet be a playoff to forget once again.

Meanwhile, if they do reach the World Cup, they may still face their demise. The computer has predicted that Italy will meet a brutal group including Belgium and Senegal, one of Africa’s strongest sides, while don’t ignore Saudi Arabia, who beat eventual champions Argentina at Qatar 2022.

Group H – England, Austria, Algeria, Curacao

The supercomputer has predicted that England will be drawn into a group with Austria, Algeria and the smallest-ever country by population to feature at a World Cup, Curacao.

It wouldn’t get much more routine for the Three Lions, who are looking to finally bring football home in the men’s game to follow in the footsteps of the successful Lionesses.

They couldn’t have asked for a better qualification process under Thomas Tuchel, either. England were untouchable going forward and going the other way. They’ve got the players and they’ve got a winning manager. Will this finally be the year?

Group I – France, Scotland, Ghana, Australia

It could be good news for Scotland. The computer believes they’ll be drawn with France, Australia and Ghana. It would be an ideal draw for Steve Clarke’s men, who just defeated Denmark in dramatic fashion to qualify.

The fact they’ve reached the World Cup is an achievement in itself, but they won’t just be there to take part. In a group with France, who are likely to top the group, Australia and Ghana, they should expect to compete for a place in the knockouts.

Group J – Spain, Morocco, Paraguay, Jamaica

Drawn in a group with Morocco, Paraguay and Jamaica, Spain will be expected to dominate and send an early statement at the World Cup. They already have the Euros under their belt and will now be gunning for World Cup glory.

They’re a country full of great footballing history and many are backing them, led by the talent of Lamine Yamal, to create even more.

Group K – Portugal, Colombia, Qatar, Cape Verde

Group K, according to the supercomputer, will be centred around Cristiano Ronaldo and what is likely to be his final chance to win the World Cup. He’s watched as Messi has lifted it in dramatic style and will now be desperate to get his own glory to truly cement his Portugal legacy.

In a group with Luis Diaz’s Colombia and underdogs Qatar and Cape Verde, Ronaldo will be expected to shine.

Group L – Germany, South Korea, Panama, Wales

Whilst Germany likely ease to top spot, South Korea could grab second place in Group L. Up against Panama and playoff contenders Wales, they could have a routine run at second, assuming Germany take control.

The 2014 World Cup winners should be desperate to improve on their recent record and reclaim their throne, although they may have to stifle a Welsh side boosted by scoring seven times in their final qualifying game.

John Sterling retired from his role with WFAN calling New York Yankees games on the radio early last season after recognizing he just couldn't do the day-in, day-out grind of the job anymore.

For the remainder of the year, the Yankees rotated some fill-ins to Sterling's longtime chair in the booth to varying degrees of success. Sterling also returned to call postseason games. It was clear that WFAN needed to spend the offseason finding a long-term replacement for Sterling.

Thursday night, it was reported they're closing in on Dave Sims to fill the role, and Sims acknowledged the news in a classy social media post to Seattle Mariners fans. Sims has been the play-by-play announcer for the Seattle Mariners television broadcast since 2007.

Shortly after the news, a video from three years ago showing Sims calling an important end-of-season game for the Mariners resurfaced. It was his call of a Mitch Haniger hit that kept the Mariners' postseason hopes alive.

Take a listen:

So much intensity and excitement, a great call from a great broadcaster. Sims worked around the New York area for much of the early days of his career, and returns for a huge role with WFAN.

Fans are excited:

MatériaMais Notícias

Corinthians e América de Cali se enfrentam neste domingo (15), às 17h30 (de Brasília) no Estádio Pascual Guerrero, em Cali, na Colômbia. O duelo é válido pela quartas de final da Libertadores Feminina e terá transmissão do SporTV, canais Goat, Meu Timão (YouTube) e PlutoTV (streaming).

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasCorinthiansCom eleições no horizonte, Corinthians vive entre certezas e incógnitas no planejamento para 2024Corinthians13/10/2023CorinthiansLateral do cabelo rosa, Yan Couto foi alvo do Corinthians antes de estrear pela SeleçãoCorinthians13/10/2023CorinthiansCorinthians goleia o Libertad Limpeño pela Copa Libertadores Feminina e garante classificaçãoCorinthians12/10/2023

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

As Brabas terminaram com 100% de aproveitamento na fase de grupos, derrotando Always Ready-BOL, Colo-Colo-CHI e Libertad Limpeño-PAR. A equipe do técnico Arthur Elias, que se despede do Corinthians Feminino após o término da competição, tem o segundo melhor ataque e ainda não sofreu gols na competição.

Já o América de Cali terminou em segundo lugar do Grupo D, com uma vitória, um empate e uma derrota. A equipe colombiana ficou atrás do Internacional, mas eliminou o Boca Juniors

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Quem avançar vai enfrentar o Inter ou Colo-Colo na semifinal da Libertadores Feminina.

+ Renove o seu estoque de camisas do Timão com o cupom LANCEFUT 10% OFF

CORINTHIANS X AMÉRICA DE CALI
QUARTAS DE FINAL – LIBERTADORES FEMININA

Data: 15 de outubro de 2023, domingo
Horário: 17h30 (horário de Brasília)
Local: Estádio Pascual Guerrero, em Santiago de Cali, na Colômbia
Onde assistir: SporTV, canais Goat e Meu Timão (YouTube) e PlutoTV (streaming).

PROVÁVEIS ESCALAÇÕES

CORINTHIANS (Técnico: Arthur Elias)
Lelê; Kati, Tarciane, Mariza e Yasmim; Luana (Duda Sampaio), Jaqueline, Vic Albuquerque, Tamires; Gabi Portilho e Jheniffer.

continua após a publicidade

AMÉRICA DE CALI (Técnico: Gustavo Pineda)
Giraldo; Arias, Natis, Ospina e Bahr; Pineda, Usme e Cortes; Restrepo, Castañeda e Candelo

Mushfiqur Rahim, Najmul Hossain Shanto and Litton Das scored 401 runs among them, but the complexion of the game changed after a two-hour rain interruption as Sri Lanka came roaring back late in the day, to leave Bangladesh on 484 for 9 at stumps of day two in Galle.It meant the 20.4 overs bowled in the final session saw five wickets fall for 61 runs, and resulted in a dramatic Bangladesh collapse following two mammoth back-to-back stands – 264 and 149 – between Shanto and Mushfiqur, and then Mushfiqur and Litton.Milan Rathnayake, who had toiled with little reward, was the chief beneficiary of the rain break. His 22.4 overs went for just 38 runs, but once some moisture had returned to the surface, he became instrumental, running through the lower order and tail.Jaker Ali was his first victim, when an 123kph inswinger snuck through his defences. He then got one to seam away from Nayeem Hasan, who edged behind, before angling one into Taijul Islam and castling him.Asitha Fernando, meanwhile, was responsible for breaking both monster partnerships. Shanto had chipped a drive to mid-off in the morning session, and then late in the day Asitha angled one back into Mushfiqur to trap him leg before – a decision that was held up upon referral on umpire’s call.Debutant Tharindu Rathnayake, meanwhile, frustrated Litton Das with defensive leg-stump lines, which eventually resulted in an ill-judged reverse sweep that popped up for Kusal Mendis to come around and grab.In terms of a mood-shifting session, Sri Lanka couldn’t have asked for more, particularly as for most of the day it looked like Bangladesh would continue to pile on the runs in the aim of batting just once this Test.Up until the rain break – and a little after that – rather than Bangladesh getting bowled out, the more immediate prospect seemed to be of them reaching 550, or possibly 600.Sri Lanka had had their chances, but none truly clear cut. Either side of the morning drinks break there were run-out opportunities that went begging. The first a result of the throw being sent to the wrong end, the second a missed direct hit.The very next over, Mushfiqur took on Prabath Jayasuriya, and laced one inches over his head. By the time Prabath put his hands up, the ball had already passed – a half-chance at best. Then at the start of the next over, Litton shanked one low and hard to midwicket, where Pathum Nissanka couldn’t hold on.Milan, who had exited the field earlier in the day with a seeming muscle strain, was back in action after lunch and his persistence seemed to have paid off when he eventually drew a false stroke from Mushfiqur, jagging one back from a good length between bat and pad. The ball struck the back pad in front of middle stump and Milan set off on a celebrappeal. Except the umpire was unmoved.Rain halted Bangladesh’s march in Galle•AFP/Getty Images

The instant review from Sri Lanka showed that the ball had deviated just enough to be hitting the wickets, but not enough to overturn the umpire’s call. The look of frustration, disbelief and defeat on the Sri Lankan faces told a story.The rain came shortly after, and Sri Lanka were forced to sit with that feeling. It was particularly galling in that, at the start of the day, Asitha had similarly trapped Shanto, and that time the finger had gone up only for the DRS to reveal there was some bat involved.But with a change in weather, so did Sri Lanka’s fortunes shift. Litton took it up himself to up the tempo, targeting Prabath in particular – the highlight a pair of delectable late cuts. Mushfiqur however was being kept quiet at the other end, and that allied with some tiredness was probably what led to his dismissal.Perhaps, in hindsight, Bangladesh may also wonder if they should have pressed the scoring rate a little higher when so little was on offer for the bowlers for most of the day. But as it was, Sri Lanka stuck to steady lines and lengths and Bangladesh were happy to proceed at a scoring rate of around three an over. To put it into context, Australia had earlier this year romped at roughly four an over in Galle to really put the pressure on the bowlers.There were periods to be fair when Bangladesh would seek to up the scoring, with Litton in particular happy to take on the bowling – the last ten overs prior to lunch for example went at five an over – but such periods were few and far between and it meant the scoreboard ticked along steadily, but not at a rate Sri Lanka would have been unduly concerned by.In the end it meant the batting line-up apart from Litton, Mushfiqur and Shanto has been limited to 68 runs.

The big picture: RCB hope to get some cricket

On May 7, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) rolled into Lucknow brimming with the confidence of a rare double over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and hungry to strengthen their chances of a top-two finish. But just hours prior to their scheduled fixture against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), they were informed that IPL 2025 was being temporarily suspended.It has been more than two weeks since then and RCB are still searching for a game of cricket. The in-between period had seen players head home only to quickly dash back (except for Josh Hazlewood who is nursing a shoulder niggle but is expected to return soon), even as Bengaluru has seen relentless rain.Their home fixture against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) that should have restarted the season last Saturday was abandoned without a ball bowled. And for three full days after that, RCB were left wondering if the Friday fixture would suffer a similar fate.Related

• Hazlewood expected to return to IPL for playoffs

• RCB bring in Muzarabani as Ngidi's temporary replacement

• Seifert named as Bethell's temporary replacement at RCB

Just as all that bottled-up intensity began to find refuge at pickleball and badminton, RCB were informed of another late move: head to Lucknow, again. First for a “home” fixture against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) before rounding off their league phase with an “away” fixture at the same venue. RCB shouldn’t mind that, really – they have a flawless away record this season.The only difference from when RCB last came to Lucknow is that they have one more point in the kitty that has guaranteed a playoffs spot – their fifth in the last six seasons. But they are trying to scale peaks they haven’t since 2016 – a top-two spot. For that, it could yet be possible that RCB will need to win both of their remaining games and hope for other results to go their way. They will have the advantage of knowing what they should do. Ironically, even this season, the calculators continue to torment them.SRH haven’t had a lot of cricket themselves. They utilised the break, thanks to the scheduling prior to the tournament’s suspension, to dash off to the Maldives for rejuvenation. They had barely regrouped when asked to disband. Upon resumption, they put together a complete game to see off LSG three nights ago.While SRH are already eliminated from the playoffs race, they have two more games to aim for a mid-table finish and try the combinations that could lay the foundation for 2026.2:25

Moody: Too long a break for RCB

Form guide

Royal Challengers Bengaluru WWWWL
Sunrisers Hyderabad WLWLL

In the spotlight: Rajat Patidar and Travis Head

Rajat Patidar’s form had dipped significantly before the IPL took a pause, as he averaged just 10.6 in his last five innings, compared to 37.2 in his first five games. Heading to Lucknow, Patidar can take solace in the fact that his away form has been far more promising than his form in Bengaluru, where he has averaged just 14.4 at a strike rate of 101. Both his half-centuries have come on the road, where his strike rate is 169. While a hand injury had only added to his growing concerns, the extended break has allowed him time to recover.It’s been a frustrating season for Travis Head, whose average has dropped from 40.5 in 2024 to 28.1 this year. The once-feared opening pair of Head and Abhishek Sharma, dubbed Travishek, hasn’t had the same impact, with their average falling from 49.4 to 36.5. Apart from a 171-run stand in a chase against Punjab Kings (PBKS), they have struggled to make a mark. Now fully recovered from Covid, can Head rejoin Abhishek to deliver a parting gift for SRH fans in the remaining games?4:12

What went wrong for Ishan Kishan at SRH?

Team news and probable XII

Hazlewood is yet to return, but all other squad members are available. RCB will have a decision to make on their No. 3 in the wake of Devdutt Padikkal’s injury. Indications are it will be the experienced Mayank Agarwal.Royal Challengers Bengaluru (probable): 1 Phil Salt, 2 Virat Kohli, 3 Mayank Agarwal, 4 Rajat Patidar (capt), 5 Jitesh Sharma (wk), 6 Romario Shepherd, 7 Tim David, 8 Krunal Pandya, 9 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10 Yash Dayal, 11 Lungi Ngidi, 12 Suyash SharmaHead has been declared fit and is likely to slot back into the XII. Jaydev Unadkat, who missed the previous game, has also rejoined the squad.Sunrisers Hyderabad (probable): 1 Travis Head, 2 Abhishek Sharma, 3 Ishan Kishan (wk), 4 Nitish Reddy, 5 Heinrich Klaasen, 6 Aniket Verma, 7 Abhinav Manohar, 8 Pat Cummins (capt), 9 Harshal Patel, 10 Harsh Dubey, 11 Eshan Malinga, 12 Jaydev Unadkat

The big question

Pitch and conditions

The LSG-SRH game three nights ago was played on a black-soil deck. Friday’s fixture will be played on a red-soil pitch at RCB’s preference, as they are the home team. That means more bounce and carry, and a possibility of sharp turn. RCB also have the advantage of significant intel on the venue, with Andy Flower having coached LSG for two seasons, and Krunal Pandya having played under him there.

Stats and trivia

• Virat Kohli is one away from surpassing David Warner (62) for the most half-centuries in IPL history. Kohli comes in on the back of four consecutive 50-plus scores.
• RCB’s economy of 10.2 is the second-best among all teams in the death overs.
• Since starting the season with a century, Ishan Kishan has averaged just 13.9 and crossed 30 only twice in ten games.
• SRH have taken the least wickets by a spin unit (ten) while also having the highest economy (10) for this variety of bowling.
• Tim David’s 11 sixes are the most by a batter between overs 17-20 this season. It mirrors RCB’s death-overs scoring, which is the highest (12.4) for any team.

Quotes

“We’ve got a good record away, we’ve been able to flex for the away conditions really well and I am backing our players to do that again tomorrow. So we’re okay playing here at this point.”

Greg Vanney knows LA Galaxy’s season has been a disappointment, with the reigning MLS champions bottom of the Western Conference and out of the playoffs. But on Wednesday at Dignity Health Sports Park, the Campeones Cup final against Toluca offers a chance to salvage something meaningful, with Vanney viewing a trophy as a vital boost for his players and the club.

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  Contrasting champions

   Vanney reflected on the team’s performance and the challenge ahead against Toluca.

  “The first half of the season was a bit disappointing, but in the second half we’ve been much more solid and consistent,” Vanney said at the Campeones Cup media day. “We performed well in the Leagues Cup, our results and play have been steadier, and this is a great opportunity to finish the season strong.”

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  Vanney eyes Champions Cup momentum

  Vanney stressed that beating Toluca would be a valuable momentum boost. 

  “We’ve secured a spot in the next Champions Cup, which is definitely a positive. Now we have the chance to add another trophy to our cabinet – a milestone for the players who have been with us all season," Vanney said. 

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  'You have to respect their efficiency'

  Vanney compared Toluca, the defending Liga MX champions, to Cruz Azul, a team they previously drew with in the Leagues Cup but ultimately lost to on penalties. 

  “They’re a team with quality across the pitch and presented some interesting challenges when we faced them. Defensively, they can be very aggressive and mark tightly, yet they maintain a solid structure. In attack, they have versatile players who can score with very few chances. You have to respect that efficiency.”

  Toluca, for their part, have also stressed winning the Campeones Cup would be vital for their side. 

  “We’re motivated to keep competing for every trophy. There’s no clear favorite; it will be a very even match, but we trust in our strengths to reach the goal,” Manager Antonio Mohamed said. “We didn’t lose any game on the field, only on penalties. 

  "That was hard to take, but since then, the team has improved in many areas – competitiveness, fitness, and mentality. We’re in a much better moment now."

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  Confidence is high

  Galaxy midfielder Edwin Cerrillo, who helped the team lift the 2024 MLS Cup, echoed Vanney's sentiments. 

  “This is a big chance to win another title with this club. Thanks to our strong performance last year, we’re in this position. Toluca is a strong team that deserves respect, but we also have confidence in ourselves," he said. 

First three overs: 53 runs, Last two overs: 36 runs, 15 overs in between: 74 runs.In what was a bizarre innings, Delhi Capitals (DC) restricted Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to 163 for 7 in their second away match in IPL 2025. But, for a while, it seemed the narrative would be a lot different.Sent into bat, Phil Salt had just one agenda on mind: to send every ball he faced out of the stadium. He wreaked havoc in the first three overs smashing four fours and three sixes as he finished with 37 off just 17 balls.The highlight of his knock was laying into Mitchell Starc. Salt smoked him for three fours and two sixes in the third over of the innings, which went for 30 in all as RCB crossed the 50 mark in three overs. This was RCB’s second-quickest team fifty of all time.But then it all went downhill.Salt flat-batted Axar Patel to extra cover and set off. Virat Kohli also took a few steps down before backtracking and Salt, who slipped mid pitch, was run out. RCB, who had scored 53 runs in the first three overs, added just 11 in the next three with Mukesh Kumar also slipping in a wicket-maiden.Vipraj Nigam was smashed for six over long-on by Kohli, but the legspinner came back in style. He kept tossing the ball up and Kohli’s attempted inside-out shot ended up in the hands of Starc who took a good catch running to his left from long-off.The middle overs belonged to DC through and through. Kuldeep Yadav was relentless with his lengths and also got the wickets of Jitesh Sharma and Rajat Patidar as he finished with 2 for 17 off his four overs. Nigam was also frugal as he picked 2 for 18 in his four overs.That RCB reached 163 was down to Tim David’s late bash where he smashed four sixes and two fours in the last two overs to finish unbeaten on 37 of 20 balls.