Author: Kayode Akinwumi

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has confirmed that the club has requested Lamine Yamal be released from the Spain national team due to injury. The 17-year-old winger suffered a “severe contusion” during Barcelona’s 5-2 Champions League victory over Red Star Belgrade. Yamal missed Barcelona’s 1-0 La Liga loss to Real Sociedad on Sunday. He was replaced by Fermin Lopez, who unsuccessfully filled in on the right wing. Barcelona ultimately lost the game 1-0, their second league defeat of the season. The Blaugranas also notably failed to register a goal for the first time this season. Yamal has been called up to…

Following the recent anterior cruciate ligament injuries to both Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao, Real Madrid are actively searching for defensive reinforcements in the upcoming January transfer market. The club is reportedly considering three main options: Aymeric Laporte from Al-Nassr, Castello Lukeba from RB Leipzig, and Jonathan Tah from Bayer Leverkusen. Real Madrid’s top choice is Aymeric Laporte, a left-footed center-back currently playing for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia. Laporte is seen as a reliable defender who can make an immediate impact. However, his high wages (€8 million net per season) and transfer fee (€15-20 million) present potential obstacles. The second…

Barcelona missed the chance to extend their lead atop La Liga after losing 1-0 to Real Sociedad at the Reale Arena. Sheraldo Becker scored the only goal of the game in the 33rd minute, handing Barcelona their second league defeat of the season. Barcelona failed to score in a La Liga match for the first time this season. Barcelona manager Hansi Flick was dealt a blow before the match when Lamine Yamal was ruled out due to injury. Yamal, a rising star for Barcelona, had also missed international duty with Spain due to the injury. Barcelona remain six points clear…

Arsenal’s hopes for a Premier League title took another hit as they drew 1-1 with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. The draw leaves Arsenal winless in their last three league matches. Chelsea’s Pedro Neto scored a stunning goal from 25 yards out to equalize for the home side, canceling out Gabriel Martinelli’s opener for Arsenal. Neto, who joined Chelsea from Wolves, has become a key player for the Blues, particularly on the left wing. His crossing created several chances for Chelsea in the first half. Before Neto’s equalizer, Chelsea had controlled the game, playing with energy and bite. Cole Palmer, who…

Chelsea are set to face off against rivals Arsenal at Stamford Bridge in a highly anticipated Premier League clash. The Blues, currently ahead of Arsenal on goal difference, are hoping to secure their first victory against the Gunners since August 2021. It’s predicted that Chelsea will field a strong lineup in a 4-2-3-1 formation, aiming to capitalize on their recent 8-0 victory against Noah FC in the Conference League. Despite a recent 1-0 loss to Manchester United, manager Enzo Maresca is expected to stick with goalkeeper Robert Sánchez. The predicted backline consists of Reece James, Wesley Fofana, Levi Colwill, and…

Arsenal are hoping to snap their two-game losing streak in the Premier League with a win against rivals Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Sports Illustrated predicts that Arsenal will return to their favored 4-3-3 formation if captain Martin Ødegaard is fit to start after recovering from an ankle injury. The predicted lineup features David Raya in goal, a backline of Jurrien Timber, Gabriel, William Saliba, and Ben White, and a midfield trio of Thomas Partey, Mikel Merino, and Ødegaard. Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka are expected to start on the wings, with Kai Havertz leading the line against his former club.…

Brighton & Hove Albion secured a thrilling 2-1 victory over Manchester City at the Amex Stadium, marking City’s fourth consecutive loss. This defeat is particularly notable as it’s the first time Pep Guardiola has experienced four consecutive losses in his managerial career. Manchester City, despite their recent struggles with injuries and three consecutive losses prior to this match, initially seemed to have regained their footing. Erling Haaland scored for City in the 23rd minute, capitalizing on a precise pass from Mateo Kovacic. Haaland’s goal, his skillful positioning between Brighton defenders Igor Julio and Jan Paul van Hecke, and his determination…

Liverpool secured a 2-0 victory over Aston Villa, propelling them to a five-point lead at the top of the Premier League. This win capitalized on Manchester City’s earlier defeat to Brighton, bringing Liverpool to 28 points, a feat surpassed only once in the past 34 seasons. During the 2019-20 season, they achieved 31 points at this stage and ultimately won the league title. Darwin Nunez played a crucial role in the win, scoring one goal despite missing two other chances. His performance reflected his time with Liverpool: impactful but inconsistent. In the 20th minute, Nunez reacted swiftly to a loose…

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard is fit and available for Sunday’s Premier League match against Chelsea, manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed. Odegaard had been sidelined since September with an injury sustained on international duty. He made a late substitute appearance in Arsenal’s midweek loss to Inter Milan. Arteta stated that all squad members are fit, but will make a late decision on whether Odegaard will start. However, there is less certainty surrounding the availability of midfielder Declan Rice, who is nursing a toe injury. Arteta admitted that there is “no clarity if he’s going to be fit on the weekend,” as…

Liverpool striker Diogo Jota will be out for longer than initially anticipated, manager Arne Slot confirmed. Jota suffered an upper-body injury after a collision with Chelsea defender Tosin Adarabioyo during Liverpool’s 2-1 victory on October 20. The injury was expected to sideline Jota until after the upcoming international break, which would have allowed him to return for Liverpool’s match against Southampton on November 24. However, Slot revealed that Jota’s recovery will take longer, and he is now expected to be back one to two weeks after the international break. This means he will likely miss crucial matches against Real Madrid…