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MatériaMais Notícias

Veterano e líder, Rafinha se consolidou como uma das principais peças no São Paulo de Dorival Júnior. Aos 37 anos, é titular absoluto na lateral-direita, mas não cumpre somente as funções da posição. O jogador é visto como um dos grandes ‘guias’ do elenco.

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Nesta quarta-feira (5), Rafinha viveu um dos momentos mais especiais da sua trajetória no São Paulo. Contra o Palmeiras, um dos maiores rivais do clube, foi o responsável pelo gol da vitória no jogo de ida pelas quartas de final da Copa do Brasil. E se vale a título de curiosidade, a última vez que Rafinha marcou um gol em território nacional tinha sido em 2005.

Dentro de campo, a postura é de líder. Pela experiência, o próprio jogador sempre conta que ajuda os atletas mais jovens e dá orientações. Em alguns bastidores divulgados pelo clube, antes de várias partidas, Rafinha dá discursos motivadores e serve como um apoio para a equipe.

+ ATUAÇÕES: São Paulo se organiza, e Rafinha garante vantagem contra o Palmeiras na Copa do Brasil

+ Todos os jogos do Brasileirão você encontra no Prime Video. Assine já e acompanhe o seu time do coração!

Neste ano, esteve presente em 22 partidas, com um gol e uma assistência. Mas desde quando Dorival Júnior assumiu, tem sido o principal nome do lado direito e jogando praticamente os 90 minutos de todos os confrontos.

Este reconhecimento de liderança e a da presença que Rafinha tem na equipe é algo que foi ressaltado pelo próprio treinador no término da partida contra o Palmeiras. Dorival disparou: é o líder do time. Além disso, não poupou elogios quando o assunto foi a questão tática do veterano.

– Rafinha vem sendo importante, em um esquema que ele trabalha até como lateral construtor. Ele dá o timing do nosso time, vem sendo muito importante nos vestiários. Ele não tem só a braçadeira de capitão, mas também a atitude. Você pode ter capitães que não assumem nada que é decidido, mas aqui é o contrário. Jogadores que não precisam ter uma braçadeira pela atitude que toma. Rafinha é assim. Ele passa uma segurança muito grande – destacou Dorival.

Mas Rafinha pensa em aposentadoria?

Com contrato até o final da temporada, Rafinha evita falar de futuro a longo prazo. De acordo com o lateral-direito, o objetivo é ‘desfrutar o agora’ e pensar no que irá fazer mais para frente. O jogador afirmou que pretende ir ‘até onde seu corpo está deixando’, sem ficar fora de nada. Para ele, está em alto nível e quer focar nos desafios do São Paulo neste ano. Aos 37 anos, Rafinha renovou seu vínculo no final do último ano, até o final de 2023.

– Eu quero desfrutar, estou desfrutando. Quero ir até onde meu corpo está deixando, estou em alto nível. Não quero ficar fora de nada, quero continuar jogando, isso eu deixo para o futuro. Não penso nisso não, agora é concentrar no São Paulo, para a gente desfrutar esse ano – disse recentemente, após a vitória contra o Fluminense.

Gary Neville has suggested a Manchester City star “doesn’t get involved enough” and “could do so much more” after the Sky Sports pundit’s former club suffered a 3-0 defeat in the Manchester derby.

Man City back on track after derby triumph

Man City endured a difficult start to the Premier League season, losing two of their opening three games, but Pep Guardiola will be hoping the 3-0 victory over bitter rivals Manchester United can be an early turning point.

Phil Foden opened the scoring for the hosts just before the 20-minute mark, with a second-half Erling Haaland brace wrapping up all three points for Guardiola’s side, who always looked in control of the game.

Guardiola waxed lyrical about the Norwegian striker after the match, saying: “Erling has been incredible since the start but this season he is better than ever. I would say better than the Treble year. He’s dynamic and I don’t judge him for the clearance, we want him to score goals and to help us.”

While Neville was also left impressed by Haaland’s performance, the Manchester United legend queried why the striker is unable to put in similar displays on a more regular basis, saying on his podcast: “Obviously he sometimes doesn’t get involved in the game enough.

“He scores so many goals, but then I always think, you could do so much more, you could hold it up, you could rag-doll defenders, you could chase things down, you could defend it in your own box, you could win headers, you could do everything, because you’re that good – you’re that good a player, and today was that performance.”

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Posts BySean Markus Clifford Sep 15, 2025 Haaland has made flying start to the campaign

The 25-year-old has been called out on his general play in the past, with former Man United man Roy Keane comparing the centre-forward to a League Two player after the Blues’ 0-0 draw against Arsenal in the 2023-24 season.

However, one thing that cannot be questioned is the Man City star’s goal-scoring ability, having won the Premier League Golden Boot award in his first two campaigns at the Etihad Stadium, while also maintaining a fantastic record in front of goal last season.

Season

Premier League appearances

Goals

2022-23

35

36

2023-24

31

27

2024-25

31

22

As pointed out by Neville, the Norway international also showed signs that his all-round game has improved against United too, making six clearances, creating one big chance and completing two dribbles throughout the match.

Although Man City have endured a difficult start to the season, having Haaland at their disposal should mean they always have a chance of competing for major honours, and Guardiola will be hoping the centre-forward can continue his fantastic form.

Starc’s maiden five-for in T20s overshadowed Aniket Verma’s 41-ball 74

Shashank Kishore30-Mar-20255:41

Do SRH’s batters lack a plan B?

Mitchell Starc’s T20 best powered Delhi Capitals (DC) to a second straight win in Vizag as Sunrisers Hyderabad’s (SRH) all-out approach backfired for the second time in two games.Faf du Plessis then set the tempo for the chase with a half-century and despite Zeeshan Ansari’s three quick wickets on his T20 return after six years, DC’s strong 81-run opening stand set up an easy win in 16 overs with seven wickets in hand.This meant Aniket Verma’s blazing 41-ball 74, highlighted by his takedown of Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav, was overshadowed as SRH slumped to their second straight loss.Related

Rookie Aniket Verma and his incredible six sense

Starc's 'out of the box' ways prove too good for Head

Starc 2-0 HeadLike he did in last year’s IPL final, Starc proved menacing, but he was aided along the way. Abhishek Sharma ran himself out in the first over, Ishan Kishan slashed to deep third, and local boy Nitish Reddy heaved a slow offcutter to mid-on.Head vs Starc was brewing to be a contest within a contest. Head began by hitting him for two back-to-back fours, but after the flurry of wickets, Axar Patel’s decision to persist with Starc for a third over paid off when Head’s attempted ramp against him found KL Rahul’s gloves. SRH were 37 for 4 in the fifth over.Mitchell Starc picked up his maiden five-for in T20s•BCCI

Aniket, Klaasen lead recoveryAniket, 23, was all of three T20s old coming into this game. But he showed why SRH have so much faith in him. His incredible 41-ball 74 formed the bedrock of the SRH innings. He hit five fours and six sixes in his innings, twinning with Heinrich Klaasen during a 77-run stand off just 40 balls to lift the team after the Starc menace.Aniket shouldn’t have lasted that long, though. In the fourth over, he survived a run-out chance when Tristan Stubbs missed a direct hit at the striker’s end. In the sixth, his leading edge off Axar was put down by Abishek Porel circling from extra cover.Aniket made them pay – well, almost – by hitting Axar for back-to-back sixes in his next over. Klaasen, whose first six was a whip off Starc, wasn’t too far behind, but when he was out to Mohit Sharma after being brilliantly caught by Vipraj Nigam running back from point, SRH needed a semblance of stability at 114 for 5 in the 11th over.Kuldeep shines, Starc finishes it offSRH’s lower order was put to the test, and they were undone by DC’s spinners. Kuldeep had Abhinav Manohar slicing one to long-off and Cummins holing out to the lone man at deep midwicket. Aniket then decided to take control, hitting Axar for 4, 6, 6 to start the 16th over. Fraser-McGurk and Axar’s athleticism – at deep midwicket and mid-off, respectively – then helped close out the innings as SRH left eight deliveries unused.Faf du Plessis was quick off the blocks•BCCI

Du Plessis sets the tempoFraser-McGurk’s powerplay salvo set the tempo for DC last year, but he struggled for rhythm for large parts tonight. This was offset by du Plessis’ fluency as he raced to a 26-ball half-century during the course of an 81-run opening stand. Du Plessis took a liking to Abhishek early on, and was equally brutal when Pat Cummins erred in length.Ansari strikes but Porel sees DC throughAnsari, 25, last played a T20 in 2019. But he got a second wind when he ended up as the highest wicket-taker in the latest UP T20 League. On Sunday, he began with a series of half-trackers but settled in to have du Plessis miscue to long-on and Fraser-McGurk chip one back on either side of a sequence of 4, 6, 6.In his first innings for DC, Rahul thrilled briefly when he got stuck into Mohammed Shami, muscling him over deep midwicket for a six and then launching him up and over the infield for a four. Rahul became Ansari’s third wicket when he was bowled around his legs. Porel and Stubbs put together 51 off just 28 balls to see DC home without further alarms.

يستعد فريق بيراميدز لخوض مواجهة قوية مساء اليوم أمام نظيره التأمين الإثيوبي، في إطار منافسات ذهاب الدور التمهيدي (دور الـ 32) من بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا، وذلك على استاد الدفاع الجوي بالقاهرة.

ويدخل بيراميدز اللقاء بمعنويات مرتفعة بعدما نجح في تحقيق لقب السوبر الإفريقي للمرة الأولى في تاريخه، عقب الفوز على نهضة بركان المغربي بهدف دون رد، أحرزه المهاجم الكونغولي فيستون ماييلي.

ويأمل بيراميدز في استكمال سلسلة نجاحاته القارية، وقطع خطوة مهمة نحو دور المجموعات من البطولة الأغلى في القارة، وتكرار الإنجاز التاريخي بعد الفوز بلقب النسخة الماضية.

طالع أيضًا | الفرق المتأهلة إلى دور المجموعات من دوري أبطال إفريقيا (محدث باستمرار) قائمة بيراميدز لمباراة التأمين الإثيوبي في دوري أبطال إفريقيا

في حراسة المرمى: أحمد الشناوي – شريف إكرامي – محمود جاد.

خط الدفاع: محمود مرعي – أحمد سامي – محمد الشيبي – محمد حمدي – علي جبر – طارق علاء – كريم حافظ.

خط الوسط: مصطفى فتحي – مهند لاشين – وليد الكرتي – أحمد عاطف قطة – أحمد توفيق – محمود دونجا – محمود زلاكة – مصطفى زيكو – إيفرتون داسيلفا – بلاتي توريه.

خط الهجوم: فيستون ماييلي – مروان حمدي – دودو الجباس. موعد مباراة بيراميدز والتأمين الإثيوبي اليوم

من المقرر أن تنطلق مباراة بيراميدز والتأمين الإثيوبي اليوم الأحد في تمام الساعة السادسة مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، على ملعب الدفاع الجوي، ضمن منافسات ذهاب الدور التمهيدي من بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا.

ومن المنتظر أن يخوض بيراميدز اللقاء بهدف تحقيق نتيجة إيجابية تمنحه أفضلية قبل مباراة الإياب في العاصمة الإثيوبية أديس أبابا، في ظل رغبة الجهاز الفني في مواصلة الانتصارات والحفاظ على النسق التصاعدي للفريق منذ بداية الموسم.

Leeds United would have traveled to Molineux on Saturday hoping to kick Vitor Pereira’s Wolverhampton Wanderers when they’re down.

After all, the hosts had lost every Premier League game they had competed in before Daniel Farke’s men came to town. That misery continued against the Whites, as the often goal-shy visitors managed to collect a convincing 3-1 win on their travels.

Both Noah Okafor and Dominic Calvert-Lewin would break their ducks in the forward areas, with Calvert-Lewin’s bullet header proving to be vital in turning around a contest that saw Wolves take an early lead.

On top of both the Swiss international and the ex-Everton marksman combining to devastating effect, the midfield ranks also stood out throughout, with Farke now hopeful he has Leeds’ next Kalvin Phillips at his disposal, having had a whole host of midfield talents come and go during his up-and-down stint in the Elland Road dug-out.

Leeds' best midfielders since Phillips left

Farke would never have the privilege of working alongside the beloved former Whites midfielder, with the Yorkshire-born favourite already deep into his poor playing days at Manchester City when the German took on the managerial reins.

Still, since taking on the esteemed job post, Farke has come face-to-face with some top talents in the middle of the park, with Archie Gray shining on occasion centrally under the ex-Norwich City manager’s wing, when he wasn’t being drafted into the lineup as a makeshift full-back.

Unfortunately, while Gray, who mainly played at right-back, was solid and composed, he just didn’t offer the same goal and assist threat as Phillips before him, with Glen Kamara, the same season the 19-year-old had his breakthrough moment, also providing a steady, if unflashy, presence in the midfield department.

As per Opta, Kamara would average a stunning 93.4% pass accuracy across the full second-tier season, but again, the goals and assists weren’t there.

Thankfully, new recruit last season in Ao Tanaka managed to combine both goals and calm play on the ball to be an instant success story, with Farke even going as far as to laud the Japanese international as “unbelievable” for what he can provide.

Yet, Leeds might well have an even brighter talent now that rivals Tanaka’s burst onto the scene, with Farke possessing the next coming of Phillips subsequently.

The Leeds player who is the new Kalvin Phillips

While Phillips did routinely compete in the second tier during his celebrated Leeds stay, the former England international really did make a name for himself at his boyhood club at the very top of the English game.

Therefore, a second coming of Phillips will also have to look assured and lively in the Premier League, with Anton Stach definitely passing that test against Wolves last time out.

Indeed, with the game finely poised at 1-1 after Calvert-Lewin’s equaliser, Stach would hammer home this outrageous free-kick to hand Farke and Co. the slim 2-1 lead.

Amazingly, that effort, sailing past Jose Sa, was the first time a Leeds player had scored their first-ever Premier League goal via a direct free kick since Phillips pulled off the ridiculous same feat back in 2021.

Stach’s PL numbers (25/26) vs Phillips’ debut PL season (20/21)

Stat – per 90 mins*

Stach

Phillips

Games played

5

29

Goals scored

1

1

Assists

1

2

Touches*

56.0

65.0

Accurate passes*

29.6 (77%)

41.0 (85%)

Tackles*

2.0

2.6

Clearances*

2.6

1.7

Total duels won*

5.8

5.3

Stats by Sofascore

The table above further suggests that Stach has even more common in his overall play with that of the 29-year-old during his peak years at Elland Road, away from just comparing audacious free-kick goals.

Overall, Stach is a tenacious and tireless midfield talent, away from firing home sweet strikes like the one at Molineux, with a high 5.8 duels won on average so far this season, even bettering Phillips’ 5.3 average during his debut standout season in the Premier League.

The hope will be that the German goes down as being as beloved as Phillips, as Leeds make instant survival look easy, with the 26-year-old often flying under the radar in his native country as an “underrated” gem, as he was once labelled by journalist Bence Bocsak.

Now, away from lining up for Hoffenheim, the brand new Whites number 18 on English soil might find he grows more and more into a Phillips-level player, as Leeds commend their transfer business in landing the well-rounded battler for just £17.4m.

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Posts ByKelan Sarson Sep 21, 2025

Prolific county seamer could be in contention for Zimbabwe Test next month as selectors expand pace stocks

Vithushan Ehantharajah17-Apr-20251:05

Should we expect to see Sam Cook in England’s Test squad?

Sam Cook’s wait for a Test debut could be coming to an end. The seamer has been rested for Essex’s upcoming County Championship clash at home to Worcestershire, with a view to playing in England’s opening Test this summer against Zimbabwe next month.Cook boasts 318 first-class wickets at an average of 19.77, and has long been on England’s radar without ever earning a cap. That now looks set to change with Essex collaborating with England to manage the 27-year old’s workloads ahead of the one-off fixture with Zimbabwe, which begins on May 22 at Trent Bridge.It was at the same venue last week that Cook took five wickets in a draw with Nottinghamshire, including 4 for 44 in the first innings, with men’s managing director Rob Key in attendance. Though it may seem overly cautious to rest Cook after just two rounds of the Essex’s Division One campaign, he has already bowled 75 overs across four innings, taking his seven wickets at 28.42. His domestic tally for the club is now 301 dismissals at 18.30.The right-armer came close to debuting last summer, only for a hamstring injury to rule him out of contention for the three-match Test series against West Indies. Now, injuries to others provide a clearer route into the squad, both for Zimbabwe and the five-Test series against India, although he could yet be vying for a spot with the 22-year-old fast bowler Sonny Baker, who was handed a development contract in February, and has been rested by the ECB for Hampshire’s home match against Somerset this week.Mark Wood and Olly Stone are ruled out until the end of July, while there remains uncertainty over Brydon Carse’s recovery from a toe issue. Chris Woakes is also dealing with an ankle issue. Dillon Pennington, the Nottinghamshire seamer who featured in England’s Test squads last summer, is also out of action for the time being with a side strain.Surrey’s Gus Atkinson is in line for his first appearance of the season this week, with Josh Tongue returning for Nottinghamshire after resting for the second round. The squad for the opening Test will be selected in the next two weeks, and no players will be called back early from the IPL.Despite Cook’s injury at the end of last May against Kent, he finished the 2024 season with 43 wickets at 17.30. And he restated his case over the winter on an England Lions tour of Australia, taking 13 wickets including 3 for 58 in the unofficial Test against Australia A.Sam Cook has been an outstanding performer for Essex since 2017, but hasn’t yet broken into the England Test team•Getty Images

His presence alone on that trip impressed selectors, having spurned Lions commitments the previous winter to focus on honing his white-ball skills at the Abu Dhabi T10 and SA20. This time, his priorities flipped.”I give him a lot of credit – he gave up going to franchise cricket to prove his point in the Lions,” England selector Luke Wright said on the latest Sky Cricket podcast. “It’s great when we get the players that want to do that, because we get a lot of guys that turn us down for franchise cricket. So, when you get players like him who get away from just the money side of it and prove their point, that’s exactly what you want as a selector.”Despite not being on the ECB’s central contract list, Cook has had regular conversations with the management, particularly as to where he sits in their bowling stocks. The recent onus on bolstering the battery of quicks has seen Atkinson, Josh Hull and Carse handed debuts since the start of last summer, while Baker’s development contract was earned through his exploits on that same Lions tour.However, the desire for a balanced attack means Cook’s skills have him in a separate queue, vying with Woakes and Matthew Potts for the “mid-to-low” 80mph seamer slot, following James Anderson’s retirement.Ahead of the Ashes, Cook’s recent work in Australia highlighted his red-ball skills, transferring them from the regular Dukes ball to the newly designed Kookaburra with a more prominent wide seam. He showcased as much last season when taking 23 wickets with the latter across four rounds of the County Championship.”We have never not thought about Sam Cook,” Wright said. “Over the last couple of years, I’ve spoken to Sam Cook a lot. Each time we picked someone else out of County Cricket, you know, we picked the phone up to Sam Cook to sort of explain why.”It was explaining to Cooky that you’re competing with the likes of Woakes or Potts and those guys you want in a varied attack. They’re certainly those guys that are bowling with high skill, not necessarily 85-plus, but they’ve still got a definite part to play in a bowling attack. And people like Sam, Woakesy are going to be massive going into Australia.”Though Essex will miss Cook, even with Sri Lankan quick Kasun Rajitha recruited for their next five matches, they should benefit in the long term from England’s vested interest in their premier seamer. Cook’s contract with the club is set to expire at the end of the summer, and concrete international recognition will likely prevent him joining the litany of bowlers who have recently moved to Test match venues in a bid to further their England causes.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Atlético-MG venceu o Bahia por 1 a 0, na manhã deste domingo (13), com gol de Paulinho, no Mineirão, pela última rodada do primeiro turno do Brasileirão. Resultado dá fôlego ao trabalho de Felipão e pode fazer o Tricolor de Aço terminar rodada na zona de rebaixamento.

RelacionadasBrasileirãoAtlético-MG vence o Bahia pelo Brasileirão e Felipão respira; veja o resultadoBrasileirão13/08/2023VascoConsórcio nega pedido do Vasco para jogar no Maracanã contra o Atlético-MG; clube vai entrar na JustiçaVasco12/08/2023PalmeirasSaiba por que a câmera estava tão alta no jogo Palmeiras x Atlético-MG pela LibertadoresPalmeiras10/08/2023

+Atlético-MG vence o Bahia pelo Brasileirão e Felipão respira; veja o resultado

Felipão saiu em defesa de Paulinho após o atacante assumir responsabilidade da eliminação contra o Palmeiras.

– Quem fez o gol? Foi o Paulinho. Não está afetando. Quem fez o gol contra o Flamengo? Paulinho. Se ele faz dois, três gols, em quatro, sete jogos, ele tem que errar uma ou duas oportunidades, porque senão seria o maior jogador do mundo.

O gol de Paulinho saiu no início do segundo tempo. Depois de boa triangulação com Igor Gomes e Hulk, o campeão olímpico ficou de frente com Marcos Felipe para fazer o único gol da partida.

Quem chegava com mais frequência era o Bahia, mas quem levava mais perigo era o Atlético. A primeira boa chance do Tricolor foi uma finalização de fora da área de Ademir. Éverson encaixou sem muitos problemas. Thaciano também raspou a trave após finalizar depois de um rebote na área. Do lado do Galo, além do gol de Paulinho, no final do primeiro tempo, Hulk chegou com perigo na área. Embolado com Kanu, o atacante tentou cavar um pênalti, mas Sávio Pereira Sampaio não marcou nada.

O jogo foi bastante movimentado. Ao todo, foram 25 finalizações. Uma grande partida para os dois goleiros. Éverson, inclusive, comemorando data especial, 200 jogos pelo Galo.

+Galo: Éverson completa 200 jogos hoje contra o Bahia

Data especial no dia de hoje também por conta do dia dos pais. Na saída do gramado, Paulinho ressaltou a importância do pai na sua vida e na sua carreira.

– Na verdade hoje, um dia muito especial, feliz de poder comemorar esse dia dos pais com uma vitória seria importante depois de uma eliminação. Às vezes, a gente não faz um bom jogo, e ali dentro a gente tem que se cobrar e conversar, e foi isso que aconteceu no vestiário.

Partida de hoje pode ficar marcada também como uma das despedidas do Atlético no Mineirão. Diretoria já tenta liberação da Arena MRV para o próximo jogo do Brasileirão, contra o Santos, no dia 27.

O próximo jogo do Atlético-MG é contra o Vasco, no domingo (20), às 11h (de Brasília) em São Januário. O Bahia enfrenta o Red Bull Bragantino, no mesmo dia, às 16h, na Fonte Nova.

MatériaMais Notícias

Após folga neste último domingo, o elenco do Palmeiras se reapresentou nesta segunda-feira (11), na Academia de Futebol para iniciar a preparação para o duelo diante do Goiás.

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+ Veja tabela e classificação do Brasileirão-2023 clicando aqui

Com um compromisso em um dia inusitado desta semana, Abel Ferreira terá quatro dias de trabalho antes de pegar o Esmeraldino na ‘balada’ de sexta-feira no Allianz Parque.

Luís Guilherme e Atuesta fizeram trabalhos separados dos demais e seguem o cronograma de transição física para retornarem aos gramados em breve.

continua após a publicidade

Abel só deve contar com Gustavo Gómez, Richard Rios, Piquerez e Raphael Veiga na atividade de quinta-feira, quando o quarteto retorna das eliminatórias.

A presença dos quatro no jogo diante do Goiás ainda é incerta.

+ Artur enfrenta maior jejum de gols desde que retornou ao Palmeiras; veja números

O Palmeiras treina novamente nesta terça-feira (12), a partir das 10h (horário de Brasília) na Academia de Futebol.

Warwickshire fight back with the ball but face deep fourth-innings chase

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay17-May-2025

Kyle Abbott put Hampshire in charge•Dave Vokes/Hampshire Cricket

High-class fast bowling from Kyle Abbott put Hampshire in command against Warwickshire in their Rothesay County Championship tussle at Edgbaston.Abbott took five for 47, his second five-for in successive games, as Warwickshire were bowled out for 194 to sustain a first innings deficit of 106. It was superb, pitched up, swing bowling at the head of a strong collective effort from a seam attack against which only Ed Barnard (58, 55 balls) looked comfortable.Hampshire then leaned hard on Fletcha Middleton’s 76 (124 balls) as they reached 159 for six in their second innings. They lead by 265 overall, a significant advantage on a pitch still assisting the seamers.Warwickshire resumed on the second morning on 27 for two and swiftly lost both overnight batters. Nightwatcher Olly Hannon-Dalby edged Abbott to first slip before John Turner struck a crucial blow when Tom Latham, fresh from 184 on his debut last week, fell for just five when he edged to third slip.On a grey morning, against a swinging ball, batting was tricky. Sam Hain and Beau Webster grafted hard to add 62 in 21 overs, but Hampshire’s seamers sustained the pressure and Abbott removed both just before lunch. Hain’s dogged 23 (77 balls) was ended by a perfect outswinger. A nifty inswinger brought Webster’s fluent 41 (66) to a close when he inside-edged a drive on to his middle stump.Barnard, nudging the England selectors in this match with a half-century to follow his four wickets, defied with discipline but without support. Zen Malik was late on a straight ball from Brad Wheal and Ethan Bamber flicked James Fuller to mid-wicket. Barnard reached an accomplished 43-ball 50 but then nicked Abbott to wicketkeeper Ben Brown who collected again when Che Simmons edged Turner.Hampshire’s second innings began in the game’s first sunshine but the ball continued to move around and while Middleton settled, partners came and went. None of the other top six batters passed 15 as Mark Stoneman edged Hannon-Dalby to first slip, Bamber drew fatal edges from Nick Gubbins and Tom Prest and Webster removed Ben Brown, lbw, and Liam Dawson, caught at second slip, in three balls.At 99 for five, Hampshire were in danger of relinquishing their advantage but Middleton and Toby Albert added 52 in 15 overs to reassert their side’s control. Albert (29 not out, 52 balls) made important runs for the second time in the match while Middleton reached 50 (71 balls) for the first time in ten attempts this season. Though he was bowled by Simmons just before the close, on a pitch which examines the batters’ powers of technique and diligence, his work, like Fuller’s in the first innings, was of immense value.

Glasgow Rangers head coach Russell Martin will have been delighted that his side picked up their first win of the Scottish Premiership season last weekend.

The Gers had failed to win any of their opening five matches in the division, their worst start to a league campaign in 47 years, but picked up a last-gasp winner on Sunday thanks to Max Aarons.

His excellent finish, as shown in the clip above, won the match for the Ibrox giants after they found themselves drawing 1-1 heading into stoppage time.

It was Aarons’ first minutes on the pitch for Rangers since he was shown a straight red card against Club Brugge in the 6-0 loss in Belgium back in August, and what a return to action it was for the full-back.

Whilst the Bournemouth loanee was finally brought back into the fold after being an unused substitute for three successive matches, there was another player who was suffering a similar fate on the bench.

Mohamed Diomande was an unused substitute against Livingston after he was shown a straight red card in the 1-0 defeat to Genk in the Europa League at Ibrox last week.

Why Mohamed Diomande was rightfully dropped

Even taking the red card out of the equation, the Ivorian midfielder was rightfully dropped from the starting line-up for that Premiership clash because his performances in the league have not been up to scratch this season.

The left-footed star may have been punished against Livingston because of his red card in Europe, but his league form overall this season warranted him being left out of the side regardless of what happened against Genk.

Diomande had caught the eye in the Premiership last season with a return of four goals and seven assists, per Sofascore, which led to a bid from Besiktas in the summer transfer window.

The central midfielder put in impressive performances on a consistent basis, delivering quality in the final third, which is why he had interest from elsewhere.

Unfortunately, Diomande’s form since Martin came through the door at Ibrox has nosedived to the point where it was justified to leave him out on Sunday.

Mohamed Diomande (Premiership)

24/25

25/26

Appearances

36

5

Sofascore rating

7.19

6.38

Goals

4

0

Assists

7

0

Dribbled past per game

0.5x

0.6

Ground duel success rate

57%

49%

Aerial duel success rate

48%

17%

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Ivorian lightweight has been dominated in duels on the deck and in the air in the Premiership this season, without making up for it with any goals or assists for the team.

Given his dismal start to the season in the Premiership and in the Europa League, Diomande should now be worried that the club are reportedly looking at a free agent midfielder.

Rangers considering free agent swoop

According to journalist Mark Hendry, via his Substack, Glasgow Rangers have been offered the chance to sign free agent central midfielder Pierre Ekwah after his exit from Saint-Etienne.

The former West Ham United and Sunderland midfield whiz ripped up his contract with the Ligue 2 club on deadline day at the start of September, which means that he is now free to discuss a move elsewhere and can be registered before the January window.

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Hendry’s report adds that Ekwah has been offered to both Celtic and Rangers in a bid to find a new club after his ext from the French team, but it remains to be seen whether either of the Scottish giants are willing to take a punt on him.

The Gers are considering whether or not to make a move for the midfield star, but they were linked with a move for the Frenchman towards the end of the summer transfer window.

This suggests that the recruitment team at Ibrox and Martin are well aware of the 23-year-old and his talents, which is why they should push to get a deal done for him as a free agent in the coming days or weeks.

Why Rangers should sign Pierre Ekwah

The Ibrox giants should swoop to sign Ekwah ahead of Celtic to bolster their options in the middle of the park because he could come in as an immediate and instant upgrade on Diomande.

As aforementioned, the Rangers central midfielder’s levels have dropped off this season, which has left a gap to fill in midfield for Martin because the Ivorian was such an important player for Philippe Clement and Barry Ferguson in the 2024/25 campaign.

Ekwah’s performances in Ligue 1, one of Europe’s major leagues, last season suggest that he has the quality to come in and hit the ground running as a key player for the Gers if he is fit and ready to go.

The left-footed central midfielder left Saint-Etienne after they were relegated to Ligue 2, but his displays in their relegation campaign showed that he was good enough to play at the top level.

24/25 Ligue 1

Pierre Ekwah

Percentile rank vs CMs

Tackles

57

Top 17%

Duels won

145

Top 11%

Duel success rate

57%

Top 14%

Aerial duel success rate

71%

Top 7%

Interceptions

47

Top 3%

Blocks

12

Top 6%

Ball recoveries

157

Top 8%

Stats via FotMob

As you can see in the table above, the 23-year-old star was one of the most effective defensive midfielders in Ligue 1, as he ranked very highly among his positional peers in a host of statistics.

Ekwah, who former manager Tony Mowbray claimed could do “amazing” things with his feet, is a powerful and combative central midfielder who has shown that he can compete physically in a major European league, whilst Diomande has struggled badly with the physicality in the Premiership this season.

Along with his defensive attributes, the former Saint-Etienne star also completed 88% of his passes in Ligue 1 last season, per Sofascore, whilst Diomande has completed 84% of his attempted passes in the Premiership this term.

Therefore, Rangers and Martin could land an instant upgrade on the struggling Ivorian midfielder by swooping to sign a free agent star who excelled in Ligue 1 in the 2024/25 campaign.

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