Manchester United are reportedly considering a move for Jude Bellingham's brother Jobe as Ruben Amorim sees the young midfielder as a perfect fit for his 3-4-2-1 system. Bellingham followed in his elder brother Jude's footsteps and signed for Borussia Dortmund in the summer transfer window from Sunderland but the youngster has struggled for regular game time in Germany under Niko Kovac.

Bellingham struggling in Germany

After starring for Sunderland in the Championship last season and helping them secure a promotion to the Premier League, Bellingham attracted interest from Borussia Dortmund, a club where his elder brother Jude had previously thrived. He eventually sealed a move to the Bundesliga, as Dortmund agreed to pay the Black Cats a €33 million (£28m/$38m) transfer fee. Jobe was expected to have a similar impact as his sibling, however, so far this season, the midfielder has struggled to solidify a place in Dortmund's starting lineup. He has featured in eight matches across all competitions, accumulating just 281 minutes of action. He has been named in the starting XI only three times – twice in the Bundesliga and once in the Champions League – while failing to register a goal or an assist.

Bellingham has also been accused of holding back Dortmund this season, as Germany legend Dietmar Hamann said: "The momentum Niko Kovac has brought to the table is truly impressive. Finally, consistency. The whole team is finally working for the win. I don't think they'll be able to keep up with Munich until the end, because Bayern seem to be able to step up a gear when necessary. But BVB's development is really good. Just imagine if they had even won the games in Turin and at St. Pauli. Then they'd be on Bayern's level. The only cause for concern seems to be Jobe Bellingham. Young, expensive and, so far, not even half as good as Jude Bellingham. It's not getting any easier for him."

AdvertisementGetty Images SportUnited eyeing a move for Bellingham

Despite signing a five-year contract only a few months ago, Bellingham is already being linked with a move away from Dortmund and according to , United are closely monitoring the youngster's situation, potentially plotting a move to bring him back to his homeland. The report adds that Red Devils boss Amorim is an admirer of the midfielder and he believes that Bellingham would nicely fit his complex 3-4-2-1 setup, as his physical strength will be of great use at the centre of the park. 

However, United are not the only club chasing Bellingham as they are likely to face competition from Premier League rivals Crystal Palace, who are also in search of a midfielder. Palace know that their star player Adam Wharton could depart Selhurst Park next summer, amid interest from European giants like Real Madrid, while United also have their eyes on the England international. As a result, the Eagles have seemingly begun their search for Wharton's replacement already. 

United looking to bolster midfield

Amorim spent heavily to strengthen United's attack in the last summer transfer window, as the club brought in big names for big money, in Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo. Midfield, however, still remains an area of concern. The Red Devils need a long-term replacement for an ageing Casemiro, while home-grown star Kobbie Mainoo could exit Old Trafford due to a surprising lack of game time this season. 

United had also pushed to sign Carlos Baleba from Brighton towards the end of the summer transfer window but a move for the Seagulls star failed to come to fruition due to his massive £115m ($156m) price tag ($156m). Some reports have suggested that United could make another move for the youngster at the turn of the year.

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Getty Images SportLiverpool test up next for United

After a series of poor results throughout September, which saw United drop to the 14th position on the league table, the team finally regained confidence by comprehensively beating Sunderland just before the international break. Amorim's team will now aim to make it two wins in a row next Sunday as they visit Anfield to take on champions Liverpool in a key Premier League clash. The Merseysiders are in a slump after three straight defeats, so now could be the perfect opportunity.

Steven Gerrard admits he is still haunted by failing to win the Premier League title with Liverpool, saying the memory of his infamous slip against Chelsea still rears its head from time to time. The Reds legend remains one of the greatest midfielders to ever grace the game but was unable to lead his boyhood club to a league title during an illustrious spell at Anfield.

• PL title was the only major club honour Gerrard failed to win

  Emerging through Liverpool’s youth academy in 1998, Gerrard established himself as one of English football’s most iconic players during his 17-year period on Merseyside. The midfielder scored 186 goals in 710 appearances in a trophy-laden spell which saw him lift two FA Cups, three League Cups and the 2005 Champions League amongst several other honours. However, the only major trophy Gerrard was unable to lift with Liverpool was the Premier League title, coming desperately close on a couple of occasions.

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  Famous Chelsea loss saw Liverpool concede 2013-14 title initiative

  Having finished second in the 2008-09 season, just four points behind eventual champions Manchester United, Gerrard and Liverpool put together another title tilt in 2013-14 under Brendan Rodgers. However, with destiny in their own hands as the club chased a first league title since 1990 at the time, Liverpool fell to a 2-0 home defeat against Chelsea on April 27, 2014, with Gerrard making an unfortunate error during the match. Dominating possession against Jose Mourinho’s stubborn Blues, Gerrard suddenly slipped as he failed to control the ball, leading to Demba Ba racing through on goal to put Chelsea in front. Willian then doubled Chelsea’s lead late on in a result which saw Liverpool lose control of the title race to Manchester City, who went on to win the league under manager Manuel Pellegrini.

• Gerrard is occasionally tormented by memory of Chelsea slip

  And while Gerrard says he generally does not think about his fatal slip against Chelsea, the 45-year-old has revealed that – along with mistakes he made with England on the international stage – he is occasionally tormented by mishaps which prevented him adding more gloss to what was a legendary playing career.

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• Revealed: Gerrard opens up on his mistakes during iconic career

  Speaking to the podcast, Gerrard opened up about the mistakes he made during his playing days, saying: “I'm not sure what comes up the most. I feel good speaking about the good stuff. Istanbul, Olympiacos, the FA Cup, you know… anyway, you feel great.

  “And when I do interviews or I see a clip on the telly or blah, blah, blah… and I see a s*** backpass I gave away for England, or I underperformed for England, missed a penalty for England, I feel s***.

  “The Chelsea thing is exactly the same. It makes me feel s***. It is what it is. I've got to live with it, I've managed it, I control it. Does it pop up every day of my life? No, it doesn't. Do I have to accept it and be man enough? Yeah, I can't change it.

  “But all the s*** moments I have in my career, they rear themselves every now and again. But so does the good stuff. So I have to take the rough with the smooth. But I hate losing football matches. I hate underachieving.

  “And I sit here now still here not winning the Premier League. Not just that year, every single year I competed in it. Because I felt at Liverpool, being the captain, I should have delivered that. So I have to take the responsibility and own that.

  “But I don't overthink about individual moments, good or bad. I just deal with them as and when they come up. But they do come in and out of my thoughts.”

Chelsea are now willing to pay nearly £87m to ensure they win the race for an “unbelievable” attacker in 2026, having identified him as a major target.

Blues willing to spend big on "unbelievable" attacker

With Cole Palmer recently spending time on the sidelines due to a groin injury, Joao Pedro has moved into a slightly deeper role, playing in-behind striker Liam Delap, but the Englishman has also now been ruled out for an extended period.

Enzo Maresca has confirmed Delap is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines, saying: “Hopefully it’s not long, but this kind of case can be six, eight weeks.”

Subsequently, the Blues have now bolstered their attacking options even further by bringing in Facundo Buonanotte on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion until the end of the season.

However, given the nature of the deal, which does not include an option or obligation to buy, Buonanotte is unlikely to be a long-term solution in attacking midfield, and the west Londoners are now prepared to spend big to win the race for a Premier League star.

That is according to a report from Spain, which states Chelsea are now willing to pay almost €100m (£87m) for Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers, with a new approach for the attacking midfielder being planned for 2026.

Rogers was identified as a target during the summer transfer window, but they were unable to prise him away from Villa, who have set an asking price of £100m to deter potential suitors, with Tottenham Hotspur also thought to be keen.

Boehly ditched Chelsea's own Alexander Isak in "unbelievable" talent

The talented international could have an excellent season away from Chelsea.

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By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Sep 6, 2025

Several elite clubs are in the race for the 23-year-old, with the west Londoners identifying him as a major target off the back of an impressive 2024-25 campaign, but the Villans are hoping to retain their prized asset, suggesting negotiations could be tricky.

"Unbelievable" Rogers would provide Maresca with great depth

Buonanotte could be considered a strange signing, given that the 20-year-old has only joined on loan, but it may actually be a savvy move, given that there are few players in the world capable of displacing Palmer in the starting XI.

Consequently, it makes sense to have a younger back-up option, who may be more content with receiving limited game time, but that is unlikely to be the case for Rogers, who has established himself as a Premier League star at Villa.

Indeed, the attacking midfielder has received plenty of plaudits for his performances in a Villa shirt, with agent Hesham Bilal-Hafiz singling him out for particular praise.

Given that the England international is capable of playing on both wings, scoring 21 goals in 85 appearances on the left, he could also push for a starting spot out wide, meaning he would provide Maresca with great depth in attack.

Big picture: Time running out for KKR

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) aren’t out of the playoffs race yet, but the margin for error has all but vanished. They can still reach 17 points, but that requires a perfect run in their final four games. Two of these games are at Eden Gardens, where they’ve managed just one win in four completed matches this season. Saturday afternoon’s match marks their penultimate home game.To stay in the hunt for a top-four finish, KKR need to break new ground this season by stringing together back-to-back wins for the first time. Their last game, against Delhi Capitals (DC), wasn’t perfect, but a few performances offered some hope that there’s still fight left in them. Rinku Singh and Andre Russell found their spark, Sunil Narine dismissed three high-quality batters, and the openers finally laid a solid foundation. For KKR, replicating all of that – and getting more out of Venkatesh Iyer – is essential for their playoff hopes. A loss wouldn’t eliminate them outright, but it would leave them hanging by a thread.Up against them are Rajasthan Royals (RR), already eliminated, but a side that’s hurting. The Vaibhav Suryavanshi – Yashasvi Jaiswal show against Gujarat Titans was scintillating, but what followed was a tame submission against Mumbai Indians, when they went down by 100 runs.Lifting themselves up to produce a performance with Sanju Samson still injured and Sandeep Sharma out of the tournament will be difficult, but a hurting side with nothing to lose can be a dangerous unit. And as their bowling coach Shane Bond suggested on the eve of the game, there’ll be some players waiting to make full use of any opportunities afforded to them in their last few fixtures, with the management having one eye on IPL 2026 and beyond.

Form guide

Kolkata Knight Riders: WLLWL
Rajasthan Royals: LWLLL

The big question

KKR have three overseas players locked in: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Narine and Russell. But how do their best use their fourth? It appears Spencer Johnson and Anrich Nortje are not in the mix right now. Rovman Powell, the current preference, has been carded at No. 8 for their last two games, and a batter at that position averages fewer than six balls per game.

In the spotlight: Venkatesh Iyer and Dhruv Jurel

Venkatesh Iyer is being plagued by inconsistency. In seven innings this season, a struggling top order has offered him ample opportunity. But he has been out in single digits four times, and has crossed 40 only once. Compared to last season, Venkatesh’s average has dropped from 46.3 to 20.3, while his strike rate has fallen from 159 to 139. Only Rishabh Pant and and Abdul Samad have poorer averages this season (minimum 100 runs). With the batters above and below Venkatesh beginning to stitch together scores, it’s time for KKR’s vice-captain to do the same with qualification for playoffs still a possibility.5:35

What all went wrong for Rajasthan Royals this IPL?

RR have shown a lot of faith in Dhruv Jurel, but his role this season has been a bit muddled. He has always been inventive and attacking against pace, but at both No. 4 or No. 5, his game against spin has been tested. Jurel strikes at only 110 against spinners this season, and it’s 179 against pace while boasting an average of 81.5. Is it time for RR to utilise him differently?

Team news and probable XIIs

With only two right-handers in the RR top five, and KKR trusting Russell more with the ball, Anukul Roy, who picked up 1 for 27 against DC, might make way for Ramandeep Singh to get more batting power. Ajinkya Rahane had his right hand bandaged after being injured against DC, but Powell suggested he should be available.Kolkata Knight Riders: 1 Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), 2 Sunil Narine, 3 Ajinkya Rahane (capt), 4 Angkrish Raghuvanshi, 5 Venkatesh Iyer, 6 Rinku Singh, 7 Andre Russell, 8 Rovman Powell/Moeen Ali, 9 Ramandeep Singh/Anukul Roy, 10 Harshit Rana, 11 Varun Chakravarthy, 12 Vaibhav AroraAkash Madhwal got his first opportunity with Sandeep’s injury in RR’s last game, and should keep his place. Left-arm spinner Kumar Kartikeya remains a tempting option against KKR’s line-up. Wanindu Hasaranga could be back for his googlies against Russell.Rajasthan Royals: 1 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 2 Vaibhav Suryavanshi, 3 Nitish Rana, 4 Riyan Parag (capt), 5 Dhruv Jurel (wk), 6 Shimron Hetmyer, 7 Shubham Dubey, 8 Jofra Archer, 9 Maheesh Theekshana/Wanindu Hasaranga, 10 Fazalhaq Farooqi/Kwena Maphaka, 11 Akash Madhwal, 12 Yudhvir Singh/Kumar Kartikeya

Pitch and conditions

A look at the surface showed rough marks outside both off and leg stump, and it could be a drier pitch that assists spin just a bit more. The last few days have been hot, with a short stormy period to cool the city down every evening. Chances of the game being affected by rain remain high.Yashasvi Jaiswal has struck four fifties in his last six outings•BCCI

Stats and trivia

• RR’s spinners have the second-lowest average (36.7) and economy (9.4) this season. Only SRH are worse.
• While Angkrish Raghuvanshi has a dazzling strike rate of 170 in his first ten balls in IPL 2025, it dips to 106 by the time he moves on to play his 21st ball and beyond.
• Jaiswal has struck four fifties in his last six outings. He has also hit the most sixes (18) in the powerplay this season. It has helped RR maintain the highest powerplay run rate (10.8) this time.
• The middle-order struggles for KKR and RR are evident in their dot-ball percentage between overs 7 and 16: KKR (37.2%) are the worst, while RR (32.9%) are right behind them.

Quotes

“Whatever happened before in the first half of the competition is history. We all know that in the IPL, it is important for teams to find their momentum at the back end of the competition. If we can do that, we give ourselves the best chance of being back-to-back champions.”
“Regardless of whether you’re in the competition or not, you’ve got the RR badge on your chest, and you’ve got players with the attitude of wanting to turn up, compete, win, and that shouldn’t matter if you’re in the competition or not. So that energy and intensity is expected from the players regardless of the points table, and we didn’t do that very well the other night [against Mumbai Indians]. It will be a hot day in Kolkata, and it will be challenging, but that’s what’s expected, and I want to see that from the boys.”

سجل الإسباني تشابي ألونسو رقمًا مميزَا بعدما قاد ريال مدريد للفوز على نظيره برشلونة في المباراة التي جمعتهما ضمن منافسات الدوري الإسباني.

وحقق الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي ريال مدريد فوزًا مهمًا على حساب نظيره برشلونة في إطار منافسات “لا ليجا”.

واستضاف ملعب “سانتياجو برنابيو” مباراة الكلاسيكو بين ريال مدريد وبرشلونة، ضمن منافسات الجولة العاشرة من بطولة الدوري الإسباني “لا ليجا”.

وتمكن ريال مدريد من حسم نتيجة المباراة بثنائية مقابل هدف، في المباراة التي جمعتهما اليوم، في تمام السادسة والربع مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة ومكة المكرمة.

بتلك النتيجة، تصدر ريال مدريد جدول ترتيب الدوري الإسباني برصيد 27 نقطة، فيما تجمد رصيد برشلونة عند 22 نقطة.

اقرأ أيضًا.. فيديو | “تتحدث كثيرًا”.. لاعب ريال مدريد يوبخ لامين يامال بعد خسارة برشلونة

ويعتبر هذا الكلاسيكو الأول الذي يحقق فيه ريال مدريد الفوز بعدما خسر في آخر 4 مواجهات الموسم الماضي خلال حقبة كارلو أنشيلوتي.

ويعتبر هذا أول كلاسيكو في مشوار تشابي ألونسو التدريبي خلال فترة قيادته لريال مدريد واستطاع أن يفوز به ليكون المدرب الأول الذي يحقق الفوز في أول كلاسيكو له منذ زين الدين زيدان بموسم 2016.

أي أنه مع آخر 8 مدربين لريال مدريد تاريخيًا لم يستطع أي مدرب تحقيق الفوز في أول كلاسيكو له سوى زيدان وألونسو.

ويقدم ألونسو موسمًا متميزًا حتى الآن رفقة ريال مدريد إذ يتصدر جدول الدوري الإسباني لكرة القدم برصيد 27 نقطة من 10 مباريات، كما يتصدر جدول ترتيب دوري أبطال أوروبا برصيد 9 نقاط بالعلامة الكاملة.

Only 10.1 overs were possible on Thursday evening before the game was called off

Sreshth Shah08-May-2025The Punjab Kings (PBKS) vs Delhi Capitals (DC) match in IPL 2025 in Dharamsala has been called off after 10.1 overs.”The Punjab Kings v Delhi Capitals match (Match#58) in Tata IPL was forced to be abandoned due to a significant technical failure at the HPCA stadium in Dharamsala,” an official statement from the IPL said. “Due to a power outage in the area, one of the light towers at the HPCA stadium malfunctioned. BCCI regrets the inconvenience caused to the in-stadium attendees.”In the 10.1 overs possible, PBKS openers Priyansh Arya (70) and Prabhsimran Singh (50*) dominated proceedings, stitching up a 122-run opening stand off 61 balls.Arya fell in the first ball of the 11th over, top-edging a T Natarajan slower-ball bouncer onto his helmet, which popped up for a simple catch. The players then left the field due to a floodlight failure at the stadium. Around 9.40pm IST, the match was called off.Before the abandonment, Arya and Prabhsimran took down Mitchell Starc and Dushmantha Chameera in the powerplay as PBKS raced away to 50 for no loss in four overs.After the powerplay, the pair took down Kuldeep Yadav as well, smashing him for two sixes and two fours. Arya reached his third fifty-plus score of the season in the seventh over off just 25 balls. Prabhsimran reached his own fifty in the tenth and in the process became the first uncapped batter to hit four half-centuries in a row in the IPL.PBKS next play Mumbai Indians (MI) on May 11, a game that was shifted from Dharamsala to Ahmedabad. DC will play Gujarat Titans (GT) in Delhi on the same day.

Bangladesh’s first Test centurion assumes the BCB president’s role at a difficult time

Mohammad Isam30-May-2025

Aminul Islam has been elected president of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) after a board meeting in Dhaka on Friday, following the removal of Faruque Ahmed by the sports ministry. Aminul is a former Bangladesh captain who led the side at the 1999 World Cup, and was their first Test centurion in 2000.Aminul’s ascent comes less than 24 hours after Faruque lost his place as the sports ministry’s representative on the board of directors, effectively ending his reign as the board president.The sports ministry said in a statement that it took the decision after eight BCB directors tabled a no-confidence motion against Faruque. It also based the decision on a fact-finding committee’s report on corruption within the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).Related

Anatomy of a fall: How the BCB presidency changed hands

'It is totally performance-based' – Bangladesh's sports adviser on Faruque's removal

Aminul is BCB president for a 'quick T20 innings'

Hathurusinghe questions BCB's motives after sacking

BCB director Fahim threatens to quit over fallout with Faruque

The sports ministry made Faruque one of its two directors on the BCB board on August 21, 2024, following the resignation of Nazmul Hassan, who was also the country’s sports minister during the Awami League regime. On the same day, the directors elected Faruque as the BCB president.Nazmul Abedeen Fahim, one of the signatories to the no-confidence letter, was the other sports ministry representative in the board. Aminul made his way into the BCB through the same path. The sports ministry added Aminul as one of its representatives in the board, making him a director first. Then the nine other directors elected him board president.ESPNcricinfo understands that Aminul will continue until the next BCB election, which is likely to take place by October this year. He has taken leave from his work as an ICC development manager based in Melbourne.Faruque Ahmed’s tenure lasted nine months and eight days•BCB

Aminul assumes the BCB president’s role at a difficult time. There were several controversies during Faruque’s nine months as the board chief. On his first day in charge, Faruque questioned head coach Chandika Hathurusinghe’s position, before sacking him two months later. The BCB directors, in their letter to the sports ministry, said Faruque had ignored the BCB constitution, which expects the president to inform the board directors on decisions such as hiring or firing a coach.ESPNcricinfo has learned that Faruque’s handling of BPL 2025 was a key reason behind his losing his job. Bangladesh’s interim government head Dr Muhammad Yunus had taken a keen interest in the BPL, but the controversy surrounding the Durbar Rajshahi franchise marred the tournament. The government had to intervene when the Rajshahi owner failed to pay players on time, even ignoring to pay their hotel bills in Chattogram and Dhaka. It led to a player revolt.Faruque also clashed with an assistant of the sports adviser, and his fallout with board director Nazmul Abedeen Fahim also became public. Dr Yunus didn’t attend the BPL’s final match as planned, which many believed was viewed negatively by the sports adviser Asif Mahmud.The BCB has continued to be mired in controversy since. The Dhaka cricket clubs were angered when the BCB was in the process of amending its constitution, before questions began to emerge about certain Dhaka Premier League (DPL) matches. The situation came to a head after a stumping incident in the Shinepukur-Gulshan club match. The start of the investigation process was also criticised after the BCB’s head of anti-corruption asked the same players to enact the incident publicly at the Shere Bangla National Stadium on the following day.Last month, Faruque said in an interview on YouTube that he would contest the upcoming board elections. Some board directors told ESPNcricinfo that his focus on the upcoming elections alienated him from the other directors. In all, Faruque lasted nine months and eight days on the hot seat.

Thomas Frank has confirmed Tottenham forward Dominic Solanke has undergone minor surgery to get to the bottom of his troublesome ankle injury.

Solanke, who last played for Spurs on August 23 against Manchester City, was absent from training again on Monday ahead of the Champions League fixture away to Bodo/Glimt on Tuesday.

England forward Solanke had returned to training earlier this month before he was pulled out last week, but Frank revealed in Norway that a final decision had been made to go down the surgery route.

Frank had played down concerns over Solanke’s fitness in Friday’s press conference before a 1-1 draw at home to Wolves on Saturday night.

Solanke, on £140,000-a-week, missed the majority of pre-season with an ankle issue, but it appeared to be fixed by the start of August after he featured in matches against Paris St Germain, Burnley and Manchester City.

However, with the 28-year-old not able to play for Tottenham during the last five weeks, Frank was asked whether the club could have opted for surgery sooner.

He said: “No, I think you can look at it two ways. That is the easy answer but it is not that easy because if we knew we could have done the surgery a month ago, we probably would have done it.

“For me I am always ‘it is what it is’. We deal with it now and no doubt the way we dealt with it was because we thought that was the right thing. In general no one wants surgery.”

Frank provides update on Kolo Muani

Surgery for Solanke leaves Frank light on attacking options in Bodo, with Paris St Germain loanee Randal Kolo Muani unable to train on Monday.

Frank provided a positive update on the France international, but he will be unavailable for this rematch with Bodo four months on from a Europa League semi-final victory at Aspmyra Stadion.

Mathys Tel featured in the 2-0 win in the Arctic Circle, but is not registered for Tottenham’s Champions League squad, which is also the case for summer recruit Kota Takai and Yves Bissouma.

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ByDominic Lund Sep 29, 2025

Takai and Bissouma took part in training on Monday along with Ben Davies – after a minor knee issue – but Frank revealed captain Cristian Romero has been left in England as a “precaution” after a bruising encounter with Wolves.

Frank added: “Kolo Muani, I think now we’re finally on top of his dead leg, so that is also progress there and good. Cuti was just a precaution.”

Danish coach Frank heaped praise on Norwegian minnows Bodo after their historic run to the Europa League semi-final was followed by qualification for the Champions League for the first time.

Asked about Spurs’ 2-0 win under his predecessor Ange Postecoglou, Frank admitted: “How many months is that? Four months ago? With all due respect, I was not the coach. This is a new game. This is a new situation.”

Ahead of the highly anticipated Clásico Joven, Cruz Azul manager Nicolás Larcamón said the rivalry between La Máquina and América continues to grow in importance – and is now the biggest fixture in Mexican football. Los Azulcremas enter the weekend sitting second in the table with 27 points, while the Celestes are in fourth with 25.

Getty Images SportThe biggest rivalry

As the latest edition of the Clásico Joven approaches, Larcamón made it clear that facing América means more than just history and rivalry – it’s a game that continues to gain weight within Liga MX.

“In recent years, Cruz Azul vs América has undoubtedly become one of the most important games in Mexican football,” Larcamón said. “The northern clubs have set their own standard, and Toluca has also been consistent. But because of its history, this clásico is getting stronger. It might well become the most important rivalry in the league."

AdvertisementGetty Images Sport'The motivation isn’t the opponent'

Despite the pressure surrounding such the high-stakes match, Larcamón insisted that his motivation doesn’t come from facing América.

“The motivation isn’t the opponent, it’s the badge and our people,” he said. “We focus on preparation, on arriving fresh and ready to perform at our best. That’s what drives us.”

Cruz Azul enter the match in solid form, showing consistency and balance throughout the tournament. However, Larcamón emphasized that the team’s ambitions go beyond records or statistics.

“Cruz Azul is a massive club, and we have to aim higher than just maintaining a streak,” he said.

The coach referred to La Máquina’s unbeaten run at Estadio Olímpico Universitario, a streak that represents more than just numbers – it’s a reflection of the team’s mentality and commitment.

“We want to extend that record because of what it means to us,” he said. “Of course, it matters in terms of points and format, but it’s more about ambition, about continuing to build and grow.”

AFPAmerica’s dominant record under Jardine

On the other side, André Jardine’s América continues to thrive under the Brazilian’s leadership. Since his arrival, Jardine has delivered impressive results and built a reputation as a coach who knows how to handle the big games. Cruz Azul, in fact, have been Jardine’s most frequent opponent in Liga MX.

Here’s how his record stacks up across the following opponents:

+ Cruz Azul: 6 wins, 5 draws, 4 losses

+ Chivas: 6 wins, 5 draws, 3 losses

+ Querétaro: 6 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss

+ Atlas: 6 wins, 2 draws, 0 losses

When counting only his matches in charge of América, Cruz Azul remains his most defeated rival. A victory this weekend would give Jardine his sixth triumph over the Cementeros since arriving in Coapa.

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Getty Images SportStakes are high for both sides

Cruz Azul looks to confirm its progress under Larcamón and prove they can be true title contenders, while Jardine’s América – dealing with several injury absences – aim to extend their dominance.

Henry Martín appears to be ruled out, although Alejandro Zendejas could make the bench after withdrawing from the United States national team call-up.

Newcastle United eased some of the concerns surrounding their early-season form with a 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest on Sunday.

For Eddie Howe, it was an important three points, but the performance also highlighted ongoing areas for improvement.

The Magpies have had a mixed start to the campaign.

While their Champions League adventure produced a resounding 4-0 victory over Belgian champions Union Saint-Gilloise last week, the Premier League has been more testing.

Before the Forest clash, Newcastle were near the bottom of the table in expected goals created, their attack lacking sharpness despite the arrival of high-profile summer signings such as Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa.

Sunday’s victory, alongside the midweek European triumph, suggested signs of improvement.

Howe’s side have now scored six without reply across their last two matches, showing greater cohesion in both attack and defence.

Importantly, these results came despite a growing injury list.

Full-backs Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall are both facing extended spells on the sidelines, Wissa is yet to even train for the club, and Ramsey is only just nearing a return.

Squad depth will be vital if Newcastle are to juggle the demands of domestic and European competition.

Newcastle's performance vs Forest in numbers

The win over Nottingham Forest was, in many respects, Newcastle’s most complete attacking performance of the Premier League season so far.

The Magpies generated an expected goals tally of 3.28 – their highest in a single match this campaign – and created six big chances while taking 18 shots. On another day, the margin of victory could have been far greater.

Bruno Guimarães was the standout performer.

Wearing the captain’s armband, the Brazilian midfielder dictated the tempo and constantly found space to progress play.

He scored a wonderful curling strike from outside the area in the 58th minute to break the deadlock and later won the penalty, courtesy of a foul by former Newcastle player Elliot Anderson, that Woltemade converted to seal the points.

Guimarães’ match rating, via Sofascore, of 9.4 reflected his dominance.

Elsewhere, however, not everything clicked – Newcastle’s wingers continue to underwhelm.

Both Anthony Gordon and Anthony Elanga found it difficult to impose themselves, struggling to provide consistent service into the box. The latter walked from the field after 70 minutes having delivered just one accurate cross from nine attempts. He also only won three of his 12 duels.

Howe will be concerned by their lack of productivity, especially given the volume of chances wasted.

The positives outweighed the negatives on this occasion, but the game underlined that Newcastle are still searching for fluency in certain areas of the pitch.

Joelinton's struggles vs Forest

One of the more disappointing displays came from Joelinton.

The Brazilian midfielder has become a divisive figure within the Newcastle fanbase, admired for his physicality and work rate but also criticised for his inconsistency.

Against Forest, like Elanga and Gordon, he struggled to impact the game in a positive way.

He registered 50 touches and attempted 35 passes, completing 32 of them with a strong 91% accuracy.

However, his influence largely stopped there. He failed to complete a single dribble, won only two of his seven ground duels, and missed a big chance in the first half.

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His tendency to concede unnecessary fouls also stood out, with three infringements breaking up momentum and handing Forest opportunities to relieve pressure.

At times, Joelinton looked more focused on disrupting the opposition than building play.

Joelinton vs. Forest

Match Rating

6.7

Minutes Played

89

Expected Goals

0.49

Expected Assists

0.02

Big Chances Missed

1

Source: Sofascore

He lost possession four times and rarely provided the driving runs that have made him such an effective marauding presence in midfield.

Substituted for Lewis Miley, his performance was a reminder that fatigue may be playing a role – with Newcastle now playing every few days due to Champions League and domestic cup commitments, he appears less able to sustain his usual high-intensity style.

For Howe, the return of Jacob Ramsey cannot come soon enough.

The England U21 international is expected to challenge directly for Joelinton’s spot, and his arrival could provide both competition and inspiration.

Joelinton has shown before that he can rise to the occasion when pushed; now, he may need that extra spark to rediscover his best form.

While there is plenty to work on, Newcastle’s recent results have helped ease the pressure that was beginning to mount.

Back-to-back wins, six goals scored, and two clean sheets point towards progress, even if performances are not yet polished.

Howe has weathered the early storm, but the weeks ahead will test just how deep and adaptable this Newcastle squad really is.

Related 90-touch Newcastle ace is now as undroppable as Bruno Guimaraes & Woltemade

Newcastle United secured a vital 2-0 win against Nottingham Forest this afternoon.

Posts ByEthan Lamb Oct 5, 2025