Celtic secured their place in the semi-finals of the League Cup on Sunday with a fantastic 4-0 win over Partick Thistle away from Parkhead at Firhill.

The Hoops strolled to a comfortable victory against the second tier outfit, who have not been in the Scottish Premiership in seven years, with four different goalscorers.

Hyun-jun Yang, Liam Scales, Sebastian Tounekti, and Luke McCowan all got their names on the scoresheet, and Tounekti was particularly impressive again.

The summer signing from Hammarby caught the eye against Kilmarnock, creating four chances (per Sofascore), and played an important role in the first goal against Partick Thistle with his pass for Benjamin Nygren, before going on to score his first goal for the club.

Brendan Rodgers will hope that the comfortable win will provide his squad with the confidence that they need to hit the ground running in the Europa League against Red Star Belgrade on Wednesday night.

One Celtic player who needs to step up on the pitch in the coming weeks after a string of unimpressive displays is central midfielder Reo Hatate.

Why Reo Hatate needs to step up for Celtic

The Japan international put in a decent showing against Partick Thistle, a Championship outfit, but it was not a mesmerising performance that made up for some of his recent outings.

Hatate’s form has not been up to the standards that he has set himself throughout his Celtic career, particularly with his displays in the Champions League qualifier clashes against Kairat.

The Hoops failed to qualify for the league phase of the competition, losing on penalties after two 0-0 draws, and the midfielder’s lack of contributions in and out of possession played a part in that.

Reo Hatate vs Kairat

1st leg

2nd leg

Minutes

90

105

Shots on target

1

0

Pass accuracy

84%

68%

Big chances created

0

1

Duels won

0/8

3/15

Fouls committed

3

4

Possession lost

16x

25x

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Hatate was far too wasteful with the ball at his feet and weak off the ball, losing the majority of his duels, across the two matches.

The 27-year-old star also failed to score a goal or create a ‘big chance’ for the team in his last two appearances in the Scottish Premiership for the Hoops, which shows that he has struggled in recent weeks outside of his showing against a lower tier opponent.

Hatate scored ten goals, including the one in the clip above, and created 14 ‘big chances’ for his teammates in the Premiership in the 2024/25 campaign, per Sofascore, but he has been unable to deliver the same level of consistency in the final third this term.

This is why the Japan international needs to step up for the Scottish giants, because he is capable of being an exceptional performer for the club in the middle of the park with his ability at the top end of the pitch.

If Hatate is unable to recapture the form that his output last season proved he is capable of, Rodgers must consider removing him from the starting XI for a period of time.

The emergence of Colby Donovan, who has started the last two matches at right-back, shows that the manager is willing to provide academy talent with a chance if they are ready to be thrown in.

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With this in mind, Rodgers could find the next version of Donovan, who has been a solid performer in the last two matches with his defensive reliability and composure in possession, by unleashing Sean McArdle to replace Hatate in the XI.

Why Sean McArdle could replace Reo Hatate for Celtic

Of course, the manager does have club-record signing Arne Engels, who joined for £11m from Augsburg last summer, Luke McCowan, and Paulo Bernardo also at his disposal to select in midfield.

However, the minor success of Donovan, who won five of his nine duels and had 101 touches (per Sofascore) against Kilmarnock, could inspire the head coach to look to the academy once again.

McArdle is not a complete stranger to first-team football at Parkhead. Rodgers rewarded his strong form for the B team with two appearances for the senior side in the Premiership towards the end of the 2024/25 campaign.

The 18-year-old star made his first-team debut as a 17-year-old against Hibernian in the Premiership, playing eight minutes off the bench in a 3-1 win.

As the manager said in the clip above, the young sensation earned his chance through his form for the B team, and it is down to him to take the next step in his career.

McArdle, who Rodgers claimed has “got a wee edge to him”, then played a second match against Aberdeen, again off the bench, and showed promising signs in both outings.

Sean McArdle (Premiership)

Vs Hibernian

Vs Aberdeen

Minutes

8

9

Passes completed

8/8

11/12

Key passes

0

1

Dribbles completed

0

1

Duels won

1/2

1/1

Possession lost

1x

1x

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the teenage whiz only lost possession twice in those 17 minutes, plus stoppage time, of football, whilst creating one chance for the side.

McArdle’s form at youth team level for Celtic also suggests that he can provide the goal threat that Hatate offers at his best, with seven goals in 53 matches, per Transfermarkt.

The Scottish starlet has scored in both of his appearances in the Challenge Cup this season, per Sofascore, including one against Alloa Athletic earlier this month.

These statistics show that he can provide a threat at the top end of the pitch to go along with his composure in possession, as evidenced by his pass accuracy in his first two first-team outings.

He was not phased by the occasion against Hibernian or Aberdeen, showing his class on the ball in both games, and this suggests that he has the mentality to take that next step to be Donovan 2.0 this season.

Related As good as Tounekti: 7/10 Celtic star is now a player "to be excited about"

This Celtic star was as good as Sebastian Tounekti in the comfortable win over Partick Thistle.

Posts ByDan Emery Sep 21, 2025

It is now down to Rodgers to provide McArdle with that opportunity to impress once again to see if he can emerge as a genuine alternative to Hatate, who has been a shadow of himself of late.

Leeds United had a disappointing end to the summer transfer window because they failed to bring in the attacking reinforcements that Daniel Farke wanted for his squad.

The Whites reportedly had a deal agreed to sign Harry Wilson from Fulham on a permanent deal before their Premier League rivals backed out of a move at the last-minute.

Farke did not get any new attackers through the door on deadline day, partly because of the Cottagers pulling the plug late in the day, and will now have to work with what he has at his disposal.

The Championship champions did add attackers in other positions earlier in the summer transfer window, signing Noah Okafor, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and Lukas Nmecha.

Leeds won their opening game of the season, against Everton, thanks to a penalty from Nmecha on his debut, but they have failed to score in their two Premier League outings since then.

The centre-forward position is an intriguing one for the Whites because they do not appear to have a clear, standout, starter at this moment in time.

Why Leeds have a striker problem

Farke has a problem with his number nine position because Calvert-Lewin, Nmecha, and Joel Piroe are all fairly unconvincing options on current evidence.

It does not seem realistic to expect any of them to score goals on a regular basis in the Premier League when you consider their form this season and in recent seasons.

Calvert-Lewin, for example, scored three goals in 26 Premier League games for Everton last season, and has failed to score more than seven goals in a league season in each of the last four campaigns, per Sofascore.

The former England international has also missed four ‘big chances’ and missed in a penalty shoot-out against Sheffield Wednesday in the League Cup in his first two appearances for Leeds, per Sofascore.

These statistics do not suggest that Calvert-Lewin is likely to establish himself as a regular scorer for the Whites, but his physicality could still give him the edge over Piroe.

Piroe (25/26 Premier League)	Vs Everton	Vs Arsenal
Minutes	78	58
Goals	0	0
Key passes	0	0
Assists	0	0
Ground duels won	0/3	0/0
Aerial duels won	1/5	0/3
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Dutch striker struggled badly in the first two games of the season, particularly in physical battles, and was then an unused substitute against Newcastle United.

This has not come as a surprise, though, because Piroe lost a whopping 73% of his duels in the Championship last term, but was able to score 19 goals, per Sofascore, because of how dominant his team were in possession.

Calvert-Lewin, meanwhile, won 45% of his duels and 51% of his aerial contests in the Premier League with the Toffees in the 2024/25 campaign, which suggests that he can provide significantly more to the team as a physical presence up front.

However, the English forward’s lacklustre goal return in recent seasons suggest that there could still be a chance for Piroe to get game time if the former Everton man fails to deliver in front of goal.

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Whilst Calvert-Lewin, despite his physicality, may not put an end to Piroe’s career at Elland Road, there is a player in the academy who could make the step up to make the Dutchman reconsider his future in West Yorkshire.

We have seen Rio Nguhoma, 16, and Max Dowman, 15, make their Premier League bows for Liverpool and Arsenal this season, and Leeds could follow suit by unleashing Harry Gray in the top-flight.

Why Harry Gray could end Joel Piroe's Leeds career

Supporters already know his brother’s story and how Farke trusted him to play week-in, week-out in the Championship as a 17 and 18-year-old, which led to him moving to Tottenham Hotspur and winning the Europa League.

Farke handed Harry Gray his debut at the age of 16 against Stoke City in the Championship in April, which shows that the youngster is a player who is in the manager’s mind for the first-team.

The England youth international, who turns 17 next month, has enjoyed a sensational start to the current campaign at U21 level and the manager could end Piroe’s career by taking inspiration from Dowman, Nguhoma, even Lamine Yamal, to unleash Gray in the Premier League.

Analyst Ben Mattinson, as shown in the post above, described the teenage forward as a ‘powerful’ and ‘pacy’ player, two attributes that could make him more effective as a physical presence than Piroe, who would not typically be described as either of those things.

Gray, who has also been described as “the real deal” by Mattinson, also has an impressive goalscoring record to back up his physical attributes in the number nine position.

Harry Gray (Leeds)	U18	U21
Appearances	11	11
Minutes	819	848
Goals	8	6
Minutes per goal	102	141
Assists	0	2
Stats via Transfermarkt

As you can see in the table above, the 16-year-old marksman has scored 14 goals in 22 games for the club at U18 and U21 level to date, which speaks to his ability to find the back of the net on a regular basis.

That haul includes three goals and two assists in four matches for the U21s in all competitions during the 2025/26 campaign, showing that he is currently in form and flying in front of goal.

This plays into why now could be the perfect time for Farke to make the bold call to unleash him at Premier League level, because Gray is full of confidence and on fire for the U21s, which could provide him with a fearless and confident attitude to take into the first-team.

If the England U17 international can make that step up, whether it comes now or in the coming months or seasons, then it could spell the end of Piroe’s time at Elland Road.

Leeds can forget Wilson by signing "extraordinary" free agent once worth £33m

Leeds United could solve their right-wing woes with a move for this free agent star.

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The Dutchman was an unused substitute behind Nmecha and Calvert-Lewin last time out and Gray’s emergence in the senior side could leave him struggling to make the bench, and forcing him to consider his future.

Bangladesh returned to the top of the Women’s ODI World Cup Qualifier points table with a 34-run win over Scotland, who remain in third place. Scotland have only one match left in the competition and must beat Ireland on Friday and hope one of Pakistan or Bangladesh loses both their remaining matches to give themselves a chance of making it to the World Cup. Bangladesh, with a game in hand, only need another victory to confirm their spot for the main event in India later this year and look set to make a second successive World Cup appearance.Their victory was built on their captain Nigar Sultana’s third fifty-plus score in as many matches, which has also put her on top of the qualifiers run-scorers table. Bangladesh boast two of the top three batters so far. Sharmin Akhter, who scored her second fifty in three matches is the other.Sharmin and Fargana Hoque’s second-wicket stand of 103 runs put Bangladesh on track for a big score after the early loss of Ishma Tanjim, who got into double figures for the first time in her career after debuting against Thailand last week. She was caught at mid-off in the ninth over, off Priyanaz Chatterji, which left the experienced Hoque and Sharmin to help Bangladesh recover. They each scored 57 and took their partnership deep to set a platform for Joty. She was in to bat in the 30th over and wasted little time as she struck her first boundary off the 13th ball she faced and quickly got her strike rate over a run a ball. Her fifty came off 39 balls and she was unbeaten on 83 at the end of the innings.All of Scotland’s frontline bowlers, apart from legspinner Abtaha Maqsood, were among the wickets but none were able to keep Joty quiet and she was the major contributor in each of the four partnerships she was part of. Her 61-run sixth-wicket stand with Fahima Khatun took Bangladesh over 270 and ensured they set Scotland a challenging target.In 21 previous ODIs, Scotland had only chased seven times before today and won chasing once. They successfully reached a target of 134 against Netherlands in Amstelveen last year. Today’s task was to score more than double that number of runs and it was always going to be tough.They were off to a speedy start with 12 runs from the first two overs before Abbi Aitken-Drummond played an expansive drive and edged Marufa Akter onto her own stumps. That was Marufa’s first wicket of the qualifying campaign. Left-arm spinner Nahida Akter made the big incision when she bowled Scotland captain Kathryn Bryce with a delivery that snuck through the bat-pad gap and onto middle stump and then caught Pippa Sproul off her own bowling. Scotland were 31 for 3 in the eighth over and struggling.Sarah Bryce and Ailsa Lister put on 47 for the fourth wicket but Lister was run out for 18 and Bryce was left to marshal the rest of the middle and lower order against a Bangladesh attack that have skill and variety in their arsenal. Legspinner Rabeya Khan had Megan McColl out lbw and though Sarah Bryce looked composed for most of her 42 but popped one back to offspinner Jannatul Ferdus. She bowled Katherine Fraser in her next over to sit joint second on the tournament’s leading wicket-takers list, two behind Hayley Matthews.Chatterji and Rachel Slatter scored a pair of 61 – both career-bests – and shared in a record 115-run eighth wicket stand, the highest for Scotland for that wicket but their efforts came too late. Though they frustrated a Bangladesh attack that went searching for wickets, the margin of Scotland’s defeat makes the contest look closer than it was. They were never really in the chase and Bangladesh’s net run-rate did not take that much of a hit. Theirs is the highest of the six teams at 1.49.File photo: Amy Hunter scored 76•Getty Images

In the day’s earlier match, Ireland, already out of contention for the World Cup, recorded their first win of the campaign over Thailand. Ireland’s win by 46 runs also confirmed Thailand, who are winless after three matches, have no chance of making it to the World Cup. Ireland have lost three of the four matches they have played so far and will be particularly disappointed with their struggles to close out this game quickly. Thailand were never in the hunt to chase 306 but batted until the last over and scored their highest ODI total in response.Ireland’s batting came to the party with the first total over 300 of the World Cup Qualifier. Gaby Lewis, Amy Hunter and Leah Paul all scored half-centuries at a good clip but none of them went on to three figures. Paul’s 67* came off just 40 balls as Ireland posted their fourth-highest ODI total of 305 for 4. They would have thought they had enough, especially with Thailand 76 for 4 in the 18th over.But there was plenty of fight in Thailand’s middle and lower order. Naruemol Chaiwai and Phannita Maya put on 90 runs for the fifth wicket and though the required run-rate climbed above eight runs an over in their time together, they frustrated Ireland in the field.Ireland’s catching also left a lot to be desired. After putting down six chances against West Indies and three against Bangladesh, they dropped two of legspinner Cara Murray and two off debutant offspinner Kia McCartney in this match. Both Murray and McCartney were expensive and conceded 68 and 73 runs but bowled a full allocation of 10 overs each.Thailand’s No.7 Suwanan Khiaoto scored her first ODI half-century and put on 71 off 69 balls with Thipatcha Puttawong in a stubborn eighth-wicket stand. Louise Little separated them and took three wickets in two balls to finish with career-best figures of 4 for 5 for 28.

Adrien Rabiot didn't hold back while speaking about his AC Milan team-mate Rafael Leao, stating that "it would be a shame if he were to remain just a potentially great player" amid the Portuguese's middling performances for the Rossoneri. After spending more than a month on the sidelines due to an injury he picked up in August, Leao missed golden opportunities to help Milan clinch all three points against Juventus last weekend.

Leao continues to frustrate with AC Milan

Long stretches of inconsistency interspersed with flashes of brilliance – that has been the story of Leao's career at Milan so far. Now 26, the former Sporting CP and Lille wonderkid can be called a man who should be entering his prime. Somehow, he leaves a lot to be desired with his poor work ethic and lapses in concentration. In his six seasons at San Siro, Leao has managed to hit double digit tally for goals in Serie A just twice. There's a real cause for concern in the offices of Milan, who might be left with no option but to sell their once-promising talent in the next year. Last weekend, the left winger, who is being employed as a centre-forward by head coach Massimiliano Allegri, came off the bench in the second half in the 0-0 draw against Juventus and had two great opportunities to break the deadlock. However, he spurned both of them, much to the disappointment of Allegri, as Milan failed to keep hold of their place at the top of the Serie A table.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportRabiot urges Leao to focus on himself

Speaking in an interview with , Rabiot said: "I know there's a lot of talk about him. He's a player with potential, but at 26, you're no longer young. At his age, there's no time to waste. Time flies. It would be a shame if he remained just a potentially great player. I hope he realises he has the means to compete with the best. But maybe he doesn't have the willpower or passion of a Luka Modric. Leao needs to ask himself where he wants to go, or if he's content with what he's doing, or if his goal is to become what he can be. It would be a shame for us, because it would be a waste if he didn't reach his full potential and focus 100% on his work. Allegri knows how to get the best out of players. I hope it has a positive impact on him too. Maybe this is the right opportunity for Leao." 

Milan in great form at the start of the 2025-26 season, without Leao…

Milan currently sit third in the league table with 13 points from six games, just two points behind defending champions Napoli and Roma. They've also triumphed in their Coppa Italia matches against Bari and Lecce, as Allegri continues to shape Milan in his vision, steadily positioning them as genuine contenders for the Scudetto.

Leao, however, was absent for 45 days before returning to action in the 2-1 win over Napoli at the end of last month. He suffered an injury in his right calf during the win over Bari on August 17, coming off after playing just 17 minutes and scoring a goal. 

With Christian Pulisic indespensible, and Christopher Nkunku (when fit) and Santiago Gimenez proving their worth, Leao will have to step up and reach the next level if he wants to be Milan's decisive star.

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Getty Images SportWhen will Leao play for AC Milan again?

With the October international break already underway, Leao will have to wait until October 19 to put on the Milan shirt again in his bid to continue building rhythm after his injury. Allegri's side will host Fiorentina at the San Siro, with the objective to continue piling pressure on Napoli and Roma at the top of the table.

وجه الحساب الرسمي لنادي برشلونة رسالة للاعبيه بعد الخسارة أمام ريال مدريد بهدفين لهدف واحد في الكلاسيكو، ضمن منافسات الدوري الاسباني لكرة القدم.

وكان ريال مدريد قد سجل هدفيه في المباراة عن طريق كيليان مبابي في الدقيقة 22 بصناعة من جود بيلينجهام، وأحرز الإنجليزي الهدف الثاني في الدقيقة 43.

بينما سجل برشلونة هدفه الوحيد في المباراة عن طريق لاعب خط الوسط فيرمين لوبيز في الدقيقة 38، وشهدت المواجهة طرد بيدري في الدقيقة الأخيرة من الوقت بدل الضائع.

اقرأ أيضاً.. تشابي ألونسو: مواجهة برشلونة ليست عبئًا.. ونستعد لهم مثل خيتافي

وعبر الحساب الرسمي لنادي برشلونة على وسائل التواصل الاجتماعي، نشر النادي رسالة تحفيزية للاعبيه بعد الخسارة: “الطريق طويل جداً والرغبات لا تزال قائمة”.

وقد ارتفع رصيد ريال مدريد بعد الفوز في مباراة الكلاسيكو إلى النقطة 27 في المركز الأول، وتجمد رصيد برشلونة عند النقطة 22 في المركز الثاني.

Spain manager Luis de la Fuente gave a huge billing to Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino as the La Roja boss claimed that the Gunners star is as good as Rodri and Pedri. On Tuesday, Merino scored twice as Spain thrashed Bulgaria 4-0 in a World Cup qualifying game at home. The win also helped the reigning European champions maintain their 100 per cent record in the qualifying rounds.

• Merino enjoying purple patch with Spain

  After featuring in six out of Arsenal's seven Premier League matches in the 2025-26 campaign and scoring one goal, Merino is enjoying the form of his life for the national team. On Tuesday, the Spaniard found the back of the net twice to help Spain register a thumping 4-0 win over Bulgaria and maintain their perfect record in their 2026 World Cup qualifying matches. Spain can now secure a berth in the World Cup next summer by winning their next game in November, provided Turkey drop points.

  Merino now has six goals to his name in the last four matches he has played for Spain, and only Manchester City goal-machine Erling Haaland and former Manchester United star Memphis Depay have more goals than the Spaniard in the qualifying rounds in the UEFA region.

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• AFP
  

  Merino at Pedri and Rodri's level

  Following a sensational performance against Bulgaria, Merino received praise from Spain head coach De La Fuente, who spoke particularly about the Arsenal midfield star's versatility on the pitch.

  Speaking to reporters, the 64-year-old coach said: "He is an exceptionally complete player with great adaptability. There are few players as versatile as him, and it is a privilege to have him with us. He reads opponents and situations superbly. He is a fantastic footballer, on the same level as Pedri, Oyarzabal, Rodri… we have an outstanding squad."

  De La Fuente added: "It’s not a coincidence, but you need a little bit of luck to score. I’ve been wanting to improve this aspect of my game for years and also be more decisive with assists. I hope I can keep this streak going. All teams are well prepared physically and technically. When you build up a group of players in a low block, it’s always difficult, but the credit lies in the number of chances we created and in controlling the game from start to finish. We have little time left, and the team knows that until everything is finalised, nothing is certain. Now it’s time to focus on the club and keep this momentum going."

• Merino showed his versatility for Arsenal last season

  The Gunners lost their first-team forwards, Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz, to injuries in the second half of last season, which prompted Mikel Arteta to turn Merino into Arsenal's makeshift No.9. The Spaniard performed his duties with distinction despite being in an unconventional role as the Gunners finished second behind Liverpool in the Premier League.

  Merino later told that he initially laughed when the idea was proposed to him. The 29-year-old said: "We’re on a training camp in Dubai and Kai Havertz unfortunately gets injured. There’s a plague of injuries and we don’t have any attackers. On social media, even from friends, I was seeing messages about me playing up front and just laughed. I’m thinking ‘the things people come up with’, ‘the stuff they invent’. But during the morning stroll before the Leicester game, one of the analysts mentions playing as a forward, a false nine: drop to receive, ‘fix’ the centre‑backs. He asks how I feel about it, was I OK with it? And I said: ‘Whatever you need.’ I think they did it deliberately, not telling me until the last minute because they know I like to have everything under control, have lots of information, and by not telling me earlier they removed the ‘stress’."

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  De La Fuente's side equal record set by World Cup-winning squad

  With the win over Bulgaria, the current Spain squad equalled their own record of 29 unbeaten games in competitive matches. The milestone was previously set by Vicente del Bosque’s legendary World Cup-winning team. In November, the European champions are scheduled to take on Georgia and Turkey.

Erling Haaland scored for the 12th game running for club and country as Manchester City cruised to a 2-0 victory over Villarreal in the Champions League on Tuesday. Bernardo Silva also netted to rubber-stamp City's first away win in Europe's top competition for more than a year, taking Pep Guardiola's side on to seven points from their three games in the league phase.

Haaland missed the target with a free header less than three minutes into the game, but he soon made amends by firing in a cut-back from Rico Lewis after patient build-up play from the visitors. It was the Norwegian's 53rd Champions League goal and saw him move past Mohamed Salah and into the competition's top 10 all-time scorers, while it was his 15th goal in 11 games for City this season.

City monopolised possession and looked comfortable for most of the game against the team placed third in La Liga, illustrating the widening gap between the top divisions in Spain and England, and they doubled their lead with a header from captain Bernardo Silva, who scored his first goal of the season five minutes before half-time.

City's dominance was all the more impressive as they were still without Rodri while he recovers from a hamstring injury, though the Spaniard still travelled to the club where he launched his career as he was inducted into their Hall of Fame. And there was more injury concern for City when Nico Gonzalez pulled up in the second half and hobbled off the pitch.

Villarreal finally woke up and had a go in the final 20 minutes as Gianluigi Donnarumma was forced to make an impressive save from Pape Gueye's piledriver while Nicolas Pepe hammered a close-range volley over the bar and Tani Oluwaseyi hit the woodwork. City also finished strongly, though, and Haaland could have scored twice more.

GOAL rates Man City's players from the Estadio de la Ceramica…

Getty Images SportGoalkeeper & Defence

Gianluigi Donnarumma (7/10):

A passenger for most of the game but did well when called in to action and flew across his goal to turn away Gueye's effort.

Matheus Nunes (7/10):

Combined well with Savinho as City took the game right to the hosts and had none of his occasional lapses defensively.

Ruben Dias (6/10):

Had little to worry about until late in the second half when he mucked in to protect the clean sheet.

John Stones (7/10):

Villarreal's lack of pressing played right into his hands and he was able to maraud forward and help out the midfield.

Josko Gvardiol (5/10):

Lacked concentration at times and got a dressing down from Guardiola for sending a pass to an opponent.

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Nico Gonzalez (7/10):

Looked very comfortable back in his homeland and meant that City barely noticed Rodri wasn't there. As cruel luck would have it, he looked in pain when he came off and could be set for a spell on the sidelines just as he was hitting form.

Rico Lewis (8/10):

Played a dictating role and exploited Villarreal's lack of intensity by running rings around them and causing havoc with his slick passing, including assisting Haaland's goal.

Bernardo Silva (7/10):

His tireless running and precision passing helped dissect the hosts.

AFPAttack

Savinho (8/10):

Tormented Villareal in the first half with his trickery, also setting up Bernardo's goal.

Erling Haaland (8/10):

Had four chances and will be disappointed he only scored one of them. His glancing header was his worst miss, but he bounced back quickly to score his fourth Champions League goal in three games before being denied by two good saves late on.

Jeremy Doku (7/10):

Created a good chance to score in the opening minute and played his part in the early blitz.

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AFPSubs & Manager

Mateo Kovacic (5/10):

Got 33 minutes after a cameo against Everton, but his arrival coincided with Villarreal improving.

Tijjani Reijnders (6/10):

Linked up nicely with Haaland when he came on.

Oscar Bobb (6/10)

Got some joy down the right and created a half-chance for Reijnders.

Omar Marmoush (N/A):

Brought on late to make his first appearance since August.

Rayan Cherki (N/A):

Brought on in the 86th minute.

Pep Guardiola (7/10):

Watched his side walk all over Villarreal and quickly put the game to bed, although he will be a bit concerned with how they sat off later in the game.

Micah Richards criticised two Manchester United players for the role they played against Brentford as the Red Devils were put to the sword once again at the Gtech Community Stadium by Brentford.

Brentford heap more misery on Amorim

Fresh from defeating Chelsea last weekend, Man United had the task of handing Ruben Amorim back-to-back wins for the first time in the Premier League almost nine months on from arriving. With 20 minutes on the clock, however, it was an all too familiar story for the Manchester club, as Igor Thiago struck not once but twice.

The opening goal saw Harry Maguire fall culrpit to a tight offside call, as Thiago took full advantage to sprint in behind and fire home a tremendous finish.

As for the second, the forward had a far simpler task after getting the best out of Matthijs de Ligt and then on the end of Altay Bayindir’s spilled save straight into his path. In 20 minutes, the Brentford star had his brace gift-wrapped.

Benjamin Sesko’s first Man United goal then gave the Red Devils plenty of hope when he slammed home at the third time of asking midway through the first period and a comeback certainly looked on the cards.

Alas, it almost summed up United’s afternoon, their season and arguably Amorim’s tenure when Bruno Fernandes missed his second penalty of the season to deny United their equaliser late in the second-half. The Portugal international, often so reliable, has fallen short of his standards so far this season.

Caoimhin Kelleher’s save put the writing on the wall for the Red Devils, who had their misery compilled by a stunning late strike from substitute Mathias Jensen to make it 3-1.

Richards slams "shambolic" Maguire & De Ligt

Among those critical of Man United following yet another defeat, former Man City defender Richards slammed Maguire and De Ligt as “shambolic” for their actions in Brentford’s two goals.

There will now be questions asked of Amorim’s position once again, but whether defeat at Brentford is INEOS’ final straw remains to be seen. There’s work to be done, that cannot be denied.

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Up next for United is the visit of Sunderland next Saturday. Defeat against newly-promoted opposition would be yet another low for Amorim, who simply has to change things if he is to turn his tenure around at Old Trafford.

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O Santos divulgou os bastidores da virada heroica contra o Grêmio, pela 20ª rodada do Brasileirão. Na sua luta contra o rebaixamento, o Peixe deu um passo importante ao se reencontrar com as vitórias depois de cinco jogos sem triunfar. Confira tudo no vídeo acima!

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Na produção publicada pelo clube da Vila Belmiro, o time revela imagens da reunião que rolou entre torcedores e elenco antes do importante compromisso. Com palavras de apoio, membros de torcidas organizadas do Alvinegro Praiano selam pacto de união com os atletas para tentar livrar a equipe da atual situação no campeonato.

+ Já atualizou sua camisa de 2023? Confira os novos uniformes do Peixe!

Além disso, o vídeo mostra a festa da torcida realizada no pré-jogo, durante a partida e depois da vitória. O maior destaque fica para a recepção do ônibus do clube, onde milhares de santistas embalaram os jogadores antes mesmo da bola rolar.

Fora as imagens inéditas, o Santos mostra por várias óticas o gol épico de Julio Furch, aos 44 minutos do segundo tempo, que surgiu após a insólita situação dos atletas do Grêmio acreditarem que a bola iria sair do campo de jogo.

VAI ROLAR CONTINUAÇÃO?

Com um belo resultado frente ao seu torcedor, o Peixe quer embalar uma sequência de vitórias na competição nacional. Para isso, precisa triunfar contra o Atlético-MG, na inauguração do novo estádio do Galo, no próximo domingo (27).

Arsenal have had a testing and trialling start to the new season. They’ve already visited Old Trafford, Anfield and St James’ Park. They’ve also faced Manchester City. Therefore, to come away with 13 points from their opening six matches isn’t bad at all.

They’ve spent most of the campaign watching Liverpool come up with late goals. The Reds have galloped to the top of the Premier League by scoring late goals aplenty. It was in the 83rd minute that they scored the winner against Arsenal while against Burnley and Newcastle, they left it until injury time.

Well, in response, Mikel Arteta’s men have delivered late drama themselves. They needed Gabriel Martinelli’s injury-time equaliser a week ago and against Newcastle on Tyneside, it required an 84th-minute header from Mikel Merino and another header from Gabriel Magalhaes in the sixth minute of stoppage time.

It was dramatic, it was chaotic, but for Arsenal, it was oh so lovely.

Merino and Gabriel were the heroes but a special mention must go Declan Rice’s way for the manner in which he helped power the away side to victory.

Declan Rice's performance vs Newcastle in numbers

Towards the end of last season, Rice firmly established himself as one of the finest midfielders in Europe.

That stunning pair of free-kicks against Real Madrid put him on the map, with Rio Ferdinand remarking that the England star was one of the finest players on the park.

In comparison, the former West Ham star has had a slower start to 2025/26 but he’s beginning to motor now, really proving that in Sunday’s win over Newcastle.

Truth be told, Rice was playing far too deep in the opening 45 minutes of the game but as he began to move further forward in the second period, he came alive.

It was Rice’s perfectly weighted delivery from the left-hand side that led to the Gunners’ equaliser, playing the ball into Merino who glanced home.

The club-record signing’s display was much more than just that assist, however.

Indeed, it was a display in which he showcased why he is “one of the best midfielders in world football” in the words of analyst Raj Chohan.

Throughout his 90 minutes on the field, the 26-year-old did it all, completing 88% of his passes and amassing 104 touches. He also completed three key passes and won seven of his nine duels.

It was an imperious performance from Rice, a player who is perhaps proving to be the club’s most complete midfielder since the days of Patrick Vieira.

He’s not the only one evoking memories of the great Frenchman, though.

Arsenal's "colossal" star is showing shades of Patrick Vieira

Rice has continued to prove that he’s one of the most important players in the squad. He’s also demonstrated why he’s one of the most clutch players at Arteta’s disposal. He simply comes alive in the big moments and in the big games.

Another player who embodies that is Gabriel. The Brazilian has been an enormous part of Arsenal’s rise during Arteta’s reign and nothing summed up his time at the club more than Sunday’s win against Newcastle.

It actually didn’t start particularly well for the central defender, who was certainly at blame for the game’s opening goal.

The ball was swung in toward the Toon’s towering striker, Nick Woltemade. The German gently leaned on Gabriel who, instead of challenging for the ball, threw himself to the floor in a wildly embarrassing moment.

However, Gabriel responded emphatically with a phenomenal second-half performance, in particular, that culminated in the game’s winning goal.

While the centre-back’s late header sparked pandemonium among the Arsenal players and staff, it was certainly no surprise that he popped up when he did.

After all, like Rice, like Vieira 20 odd years ago, Gabriel is one of the most clutch players we’ve seen at the club. He’s scored 18 Premier League goals, at least six more than any other defender since he made his English top-flight debut back in September 2020.

Like Vieira he’s a warrior, a leader, a titan and a gladiator amongst men. In the words of Statman Dave, via X, his display against Newcastle was “colossal”.

Minutes played

90

Touches

81

Accurate passes

51/60 (85%)

Clearances

9

Blocks

2

Interceptions

3

Tackles

3

Ground duels won

4/4

Aerial duels won

7/11

Woltemade goal aside, it certainly was sublime. Gabriel won more duels (11), made more clearances (9) and won more aerial battles (7) than any other Arsenal player at St James’ Park.

Meanwhile, no player in red or white made more than the defender’s three tackles and three interceptions.

While it would have been easy for the 27-year-old to get carried away after being bundled over easily for the opener, the way in which he bounced back was characteristic of the way he plays his football.

Like Rice, he’s Vieira-esque, a warrior with the heart of a lion, somebody you can never write off. If Arsenal win the league come May, then Gabriel will have had a huge say in that triumph.

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