Ousmane Dembele s latest injury lay-off has affected the player and represents a big loss for Barcelona, according to head coach Ernesto Valverde.
The 22-year-old injured his right hamstring in the first half of Barca s 3-1 win over Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday and is expected to be sidelined until February.
It is the latest in a string of fitness issues Dembele has suffered since his €105million transfer from Dortmund in August 2017, including three thigh problems, two damaged hamstrings and an ankle sprain.
Valverde is unsure why the France international has been regularly struck down by injuries over the past few seasons and wants others to fill the void.
I m not a specialist in muscle fibres, he said at Saturday s news conference. I say that eve…
Newcastle have completed the signing of Southampton defender Tino Livramento for an undisclosed fee.
The England Under-21 international has agreed a five-year deal with the Magpies after the two clubs agreed a reported fee which could rise to around £35million.
Livramento told the club’s official website: “I’m really excited to have signed for Newcastle United and I’m looking forward to playing in front of the fans.
We are delighted to announce the signing of Tino Livramento from Southampton!
Welcome to Newcastle United, !
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC)
“I was here for the games over the weekend; even though they were friendlies, there were so many fans and they were still so loud so I can’t wait to see what it feels like …
Managing to pick up a 2-0 win away at and keeping alive their Champions League adventure in midweek, it is no secret that Real Madrid have largely struggled to find their best this season.
Only collecting a point away at Villarreal last weekend and entering November s international break with a 4-1 drumming at the hands of Valencia, there is still plenty of questions over Zinedine Zidane s position in the dugout.
Already watching Gareth Bale make his Tottenham return in a loan deal over the summer, we have taken a look at three other Los Blancos superstars who appear to be heading out of the Bernabéu.
Arguably the biggest name that appears to be destined for the Madrid exit sooner rather than later, Isco has drastically struggled to settle in during Zidane s s…
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer dismissed the suggestion Manchester United s defending is hindering a Premier League push as he claimed they should not even be in the title picture.
United missed the chance to move level with rivals Manchester City at the top of the table on Saturday when they drew 3-3 at home to Everton.
Solskjaer s side led 2-0 and 3-2 before Dominic Calvert-Lewin coolly slotted in a 95th-minute equaliser that will allow City to pull five points clear if they beat Liverpool on Sunday in the first of their two games in hand.
The United manager was critical of his team s defending, although they allowed only six shots and three on target, having 14 attempts at the other end.
But mention of sloppiness at the back impeding their hopes this season brou…
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With their relegation from the Serie A very likely to be confirmed this week, bottom side Salernitana travel to face Frosinone at the Stadio Benito Stirpe on Friday evening for a clash within the 34th round of the 2024/25 season in the Italian top flight.
Meanwhile, Frosinone are in a difficult situation themselves, sitting just two places above Salernitana, but the 13-point advantage over the visitors in this game still gives them realistic hope of survival.
Frosinone
While Frosinone have remained undefeated in Serie A for over a month, the need for victories is pressing for Eusebio Di Francesco s team as their top-flight status hangs in the balance.
Their last defeat dates back to a 3-2 loss against Lazio on March 1…
Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski surpassed Gerd Muller s long-standing Bundesliga calendar-year scoring record with his second-half finish against Wolfsburg.
Muller found the net 42 times in the German top flight in 1972, but Lewandowski set a new record with his 43rd league goal of 2021.
Thomas Muller opened the scoring for Bayern after just seven minutes on Friday, while Lewandowski volleyed over as he searched for the landmark goal.
Dayot Upamecano and Leroy Sane netted the second and third goals for Julian Nagelsmann’s side, before Lewandowski’s milestone strike eventually arrived in the 87th minute when he smashed into the roof of the net following Jamal Musiala s header.
The Poland international has now scored 24 goals in 21 Bundeslig…
Erling Haaland is the name on everyone s lips as Europe s elite queue up to get their hands on Borussia Dortmund s prized asset.
From Real Madrid, Manchester City, Barcelona and Manchester United, to Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus and Bayern Munich there is no shortage of interest in the Norwegian sensation.
I don t think there s a sports director or trainer in the world who would say not interested , Haaland s agent Mino Raiola told BBC Sport in February. It s like saying: Is there a Formula 1 team who would not be interested in having Lewis Hamilton?’
The issue is, only a handful of clubs – in a coronavirus-impacted transfer market – could realistically afford to prise the €180m-rated Haaland from Dortmund, where the 20-year-old is contracted …
Carlo Ancelotti emerged with a sense of personal satisfaction after Karim Benzema s two late goals secured a 3-1 win for Real Madrid at Espanyol.
The head coach saw his substitutes come good in the closing stages of the game to pave the way for Benzema s heroics.
Regarded as a humble man, this time Ancelotti was happy to take credit for the decisions that saw him shuffle his Madrid pack in the second half of a hard-fought contest.
He brought off Luka Modric and Federico Valverde in the 58th minute, introducing Eduardo Camavinga and Rodrygo, before replacing Toni Kroos with Dani Ceballos.
Camavinga brought fresh vibrancy to the Madrid midfield, Rodrygo set up Benzema s first goal in the 88th minute, and Ceballos was fouled for the free-kick that led to a …
Everything appeared to be heading towards Barcelona and Ousmane Dembele parting on poor terms after a largely unsatisfactory association.
Either he renews, or we look for an exit, Xavi said in January, fielding the latest in a series of questions about the winger.
With Dembele failing to agree to a new Barcelona contract at the start of 2022, director of football Mateu Alemany was even more forthright, declaring: He must leave the club immediately.
Fast forward eight months, and the unpredictable attacker has emerged as a key cog in a revitalised Barca side, one tipped to compete with Real Madrid after making an unbeaten start in LaLiga.
Having been in the cold since Euro 2020, Dembele is also back in the France squad for their upcoming Nations League m…
Milan announced the re-signing of Real Madrid s Brahim Diaz on Monday on a two-year loan deal and the 21-year-old feels the Rossoneri can compete to achieve great things under Stefano Pioli.
Diaz spent the 2020-21 campaign on a season-long loan at the San Siro, managing four goals and three assists in 27 Serie A outings, 17 of which Pioli s men ran out victors in.
Formerly of Manchester City, Milan s loanee is aware of the pressures that come with a club like the Rossoneri but he insists he will not shy away from the battle next campaign.
I ll give my all to show my talent and I ll give my blood, sweat and tears for this great club , Diaz told the in-house media on Tuesday.
I ll fight to make it a great season. I ve learnt how important Milan are and…