The pitch, according to reports, has 3.5mm of grass on it, unusual for Abu Dhabi
ESPNcricinfo staff09-Sep-2025
Gulbadin Naib came in for Darwish Rasooli•Getty Images
Toss Rashid Khan says in T20s the toss doesn’t matter as much as giving yourself the best chance. By his own logic, he thinks batting first in Abu Dhabi is the way to go because that’s what he’s done when the coin fell in his favour. Afghanistan are in a run where they are playing six T20Is in 13 days and that’s resulted in a slight reshuffling of personnel. Rashid confirmed one change from the team that stumbled badly in the tri-series final against Pakistan just two days ago, with batter Darwish Rasooli stepping out for allrounder Gulbadin Naib.The pitch, reports suggest, has 3.5mm of grass on it, which is unusual on this ground. Hong Kong might have taken that into considering during their pre-match plans because their captain Yasim Murtaza wanted to bowl first. He also invited the world to keep an eye on 22-year-old batter Kalhan Challu, whose power-hitting has rescued the team from difficult situations as recently as July against Samoa.Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Sediqullah Atal, Ibrahim Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Karim Janat, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan (capt), Noor Ahmad, AM Ghazanfar, Fazalhaq Farooqi.Hong Kong: Anshuman Rath, Zeeshan Ali (wk), Babar Hayat, Kalhan Challu, Nizakat Khan, Aizaz Khan, KD Shah, Yasim Murtaza (capt), A Shukla, Ateeq Iqbal, Ehsan Khan.
Glasgow Rangers head coach Danny Rohl has already achieved something that Russell Martin did not manage in his time at Ibrox by winning successive Scottish Premiership matches.
The German head coach oversaw a 1-0 win at Easter Road against Hibernian on Wednesday night, after beating Kilmarnock 3-1 at Ibrox at the weekend.
A brilliant Jack Butland save from the penalty spot was needed to secure all three points, but it was a resolute display that was worthy of a win.
The match-winner, in terms of the goal that was scored, was Brazilian centre-forward Danilo, who has seemingly revived his career at Ibrox under Rohl.
How Danilo has revived his Rangers career
Prior to Rohl’s arrival in Glasgow, Danilo had been an unused substitute in three of his last four appearances in the matchday squad, and had not featured in the Scottish Premiership since August.
Since the German head coach came through the door, though, the former Feyenoord marksman has scored two goals in two games to lead the Gers to two wins.
Danilo, as you can see in the clip above, brilliantly found the back of the net with a blistering left-footed finish into the bottom corner from the edge of the box to win the game for the Gers.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
His career at Ibrox, which looked on the ropes under Martin, appears to have been revived because of Rohl’s trust in him, and his performances when called upon in the last two games.
Danilo is not the only star who has revived his career at Rangers since the new manager arrived at the club, though, as Nasser Djiga falls into the same category.
How Nasser Djiga has saved his Rangers career
Prior to Rohl’s first match in charge, Football FanCast suggested that the Wolves loanee could be in danger of being ditched in January, because of his errors during Martin’s time in charge.
Before Wednesday night’s win over Hibs, Djiga had been an unused substitute in six of his last eight appearances in the matchday squad, which shows that he fell way down the pecking order under the former Gers head coach.
Rohl’s decision to go to a back three system has provided the Burkina Faso international with an opportunity to revive his career at Ibrox, and his performance against Hibernian suggests that he has taken it.
Minutes
90
90
89
Tackles won
2/3
0/0
1/2
Clearances
9
7
4
Interceptions
3
0
1
Last man tackles
1
0
0
Ground duels won
3/4
2/2
4/7
Aerial duels won
4/4
2/3
0/0
As you can see in the table above, the Wolves loanee was the standout defender in the back three with his exceptional display at Easter Road, winning more duels, making more clearances, making more tackles, and making more interceptions than John Souttar and Derek Cornelius.
He was incredibly aggressive in his defending to mop up situations before they got too close to Butland, and his standout moment came when he recovered brilliantly to make a last-man challenge in the box in the first half to prevent a one-on-one situation.
Djiga was even better than Danilo, who lost 100% (2/2) of his duels on the night, because it was his all-round defensive dominance that played a major role in Rangers coming away with all three points, whilst the Brazilian had one moment of magic in an otherwise uneventful outing.
Overall, a mixture of Rohl’s tactical tweak and Djiga’s brilliance when called upon has seemingly saved the loanee centre-back’s career at Ibrox, for now.
Rohl could now turn "exciting" Rangers star into his own Shankland at Ibrox
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Is everything finally beginning to click into place for Ruben Amorim at Manchester United?
It feels as if Amorim has constantly been under pressure since taking on the poisoned chalice of the Red Devils gig, but recent results are now pointing in the direction that the Manchester side’s ongoing patience with their ex-Sporting boss is finally paying off, with an emphatic 4-2 win over Brighton and Hove Albion picked up on Saturday pushing the regular Premier League underachievers into a temporary top four position.
While a number of his new flashy summer recruits did stand out against the Seagulls, it was another night where Bruno Fernandes shone in attack, too, with the Portuguese playmaker very rarely falling victim to an off-day.
Why Bruno Fernandes was a standout
The alleged £47m forked out to land the skillful 31-year-old back in 2020 continues to look like a very wise use of cash.
Indeed, although he didn’t get in on the goalscoring act during the impressive 4-2 victory, he still managed to be a driving force for his team centrally to push them up the pitch, with three successful marauds forward tallied up by the much-loved number eight come the full-time whistle.
With nine ground duels won, the ever-present ace is still definitely proving his worth as a livewire, with plenty of credit in his bank for the season overall, as well, having assisted Harry Maguire’s late dramatic winner against Liverpool the match before this jubilant win back at Old Trafford.
With 187 goal contributions now next to his name donning United red, per Transfermarkt, it’s clear that Fernandes is one of the Premier League’s greatest transfer steals in recent memory.
Yet, there is a fresh, emerging hero in Amorim’s ranks who could already be viewed as another Bruno-like swipe, with the ace in question instantly hitting the ground running at the Theatre of Dreams after a statement £65m switch in the summer.
Man Utd have now uncovered their "best signing since Bruno"
Significant changes were needed in the summer in the Old Trafford attacking department, with a goal-shy Rasmus Hojlund not cutting the mustard up top.
Benjamin Sesko has already shown signs of promise as the Red Devils’ new leading marksman with two Premier League strikes next to his name, but it’s his attacking teammate against the Seagulls in Bryan Mbeumo who has been receiving the highest possible praise, having bagged a blistering two goals up against a leaky Bart Verbruggen.
Mbeumo doesn’t look fazed whatsoever by the pressures of being one of United’s main attacking sparks, much like Fernandes, who instantly slotted into the daunting Old Trafford environment all those years ago, with both of his confidently dispatched efforts against Brighton taking his Premier League goal tally to a weighty 46 overall for both Amorim and Co. and Brentford.
Five of those strikes have already come about as United’s flashy new number 19, but it’s his overall attacking game – away from his clinical edge in front of goal – that further places him on the pedestal of being the illustrious club’s “best signing since Bruno” in the eyes of statistician Statman Dave.
Mbeumo’s performance in numbers vs Brighton
Stat
Mbeumo
Minutes played
90
Goals scored
2
Assists
0
Touches
59
Shots
3
Accurate passes
34/38 (89%)
Key passes
2
Big chances created
2
Successful dribbles
4/5
Stats by Sofascore
On another night, the Cameroonian could well have had an assist next to his name, with two big chances created off the back of Mbeumo, constantly wanting to bomb forward and entertain, much like a relentless Fernandes has shown he is capable of across his successful spell in England to date.
Deservedly so, Mbeumo would also be handed a 9/10 post-match rating by the Daily Express’ Archie Griggs, who simply stated that the red-hot 26-year-old was ‘the best player on the pitch’.
Further hailed as a star who has the “hunger to deliver a different level” by Sky Sports’ Gary Neville, it will be intriguing to see if United can keep up this winning sequence of games moving forward, as an Mbeumo-led effort potentially restores the Red Devils to their former glories.
With Matheus Cunha also at Amorim’s disposal, it really does feel like now or never for the Lisbon-born manager to bring successful days back to the red half of Manchester, with Fernandes lurking in the background also a wonderful asset to have on side.
Amorim must boldly bench Mount and unleash Man Utd's "monster"
Manchester United face Brighton & Hove Albion this afternoon looking to extend their current winning run.
Chelsea are one of the world’s most active clubs in the transfer market, and they could now be set to beat Liverpool and PSG to the signing of a proven Premier League star.
Chelsea left with problems to juggle amid hectic fixture schedule
Winning the Club World Cup was a momentous moment in recent Chelsea history, and particularly for the club’s finances.
BlueCo took home over £80 million worth of prize money after reigning victorious in the States, and this helped them end last summer’s window as one of England’s biggest spenders.
However, if recent developments are anything to go by, the physical output expended by players over what was a very long 2024/2025 season, with the CWC to blame for this, may have created some frustrating consequences for Enzo Maresca.
Cole Palmer is out for six weeks due to a groin problem, meaning the England international now joins Benoit Badiashile, Liam Delap, Dario Essugo and Levi Colwill as long-term absentees from the line-up.
Chelsea manager EnzoMarescabefore the start of the second half
Offering his honest opinion, former Blues star Pat Nevin believes Chelsea’s pre-season has something to do with the recent absences they are experiencing.
Either way, there will be opportunities for other Chelsea players to stake their claim in light of Palmer’s absence, including Blues loanee Facundo Buonanotte.
Nevertheless, January will be very important, given it offers a chance for Chelsea to strengthen their lighter areas by recruiting top talent.
Chelsea now frontrunners to sign Morgan Rogers
According to CaughtOffside, Chelsea are now the frontrunners to sign Aston Villa midfielder Morgan Rogers, and could beat rivals Liverpool to capture the England international.
Starting off this term with two assists in his opening ten appearances across all competitions, the 23-year-old is valued at around £80 million, and he is also being closely tracked by Paris Saint-Germain.
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Amid a return of 30 goal contributions in 2024/25, Chelsea have identified Rogers as a “key target” moving forward, and they believe internally that he is ‘well-suited to both the intensity of the Premier League and the competitive demands of European football’ present at Stamford Bridge.
Fotmob shows that the Halesowen-born playmaker, previously labelled “excellent” by Thomas Tuchel, has created seven chances and completed seven dribbles in the Premier League this campaign. He is beginning to motor after a slow start to life following a difficult summer where speculation over his future was rife.
Looking to steal a march on their rivals, Chelsea could now be set to tap into his long-term potential by offering a package that reflects his scope to develop into a world-class star.
Manchester United are in a tricky situation under Ruben Amorim, and a high-profile manager is now interested in taking over at Old Trafford.
Manchester United lacking focus amid Brentford defeat
Soon enough, the Red Devils’ defeat at Brentford will be cast to the back of collective minds at Old Trafford. However, their performance on the day epitomised the inconsistency in performances across the board at the Premier League giants.
Leaky at one end of the field and profligate at the other, Manchester United have fallen to 14th in the top-flight standings, something that has left Amorim under increasing pressure as he aims to turn the fortunes of his side around.
Matthijs De Ligt has admitted the Red Devils lacked concentration at key moments, something the Netherlands international and his teammates will be keen to sort out before the visit of Sunderland this weekend.
He told BBC Sport: “It’s always easy to look at the manager, but in the end the players on the pitch have to do it. The goals we conceded, the chances we conceded, are because of what? You guys (the media) always talk about the system, but it also has a lot to do with focus and concentration.
“If that’s lacking in key moments, it is going to make a difference. When you’re up against a Brentford team who play like they do, they will kill you.”
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Graham Potter has been earmarked as a surprise Manchester United candidate to succeed Amorim, as has Gareth Southgate, though there may be another high-profile name on the Old Trafford wishlist should they part ways with the Portuguese boss.
Romano: Xavi interested in Man Utd managerial job
Speaking on his YouTube channel, renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano has made it clear former Barcelona manager Xavi would go ‘immediately’ to Manchester United if INEOS follow through and make an approach.
He stated: “Xavi is studying the Premier League. Xavi is monitoring the Premier League, and Xavi would go immediately to Man United, even without European football – he would go immediately to the Premier League.”
Xavi won the La Liga title with Barcelona in 2023 alongside a Spanish Super Cup in the same year. His only other experience in management came at Al-Sadd, where he won the Qatar Stars League in 2021, the Qatar Cup twice, the Qatari Stars Cup, the Emir of Qatar Cup and the Sheikh Jassim Cup in 2019.
Favouring a 4-3-3 formation, the former La Liga legend enjoyed a magnificent career as a player, although he has been out of work since May 2024, having been replaced by Hansi Flick.
Clearly, the 45-year-old is someone who knows what it takes to win, though he did struggle towards the end of his Barcelona tenure and would be walking into an entirely different set of circumstances at Old Trafford.
Leeds United might well look back on this summer’s transfer window with plenty of regrets come the end of the long and hard Premier League season.
Indeed, no deadline day signings ended up being sealed by the Whites, with the forward areas – in particular – crying out for some fresh blood, considering Daniel Farke’s men have only netted once in league action so far, from three contests.
Leeds United manager DanielFarkereacts
It wasn’t through a lack of trying, arguably, as Leeds did look set to bring in Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Facundo Buonanotte to Elland Road as the days grew ever closer to the chaos of deadline day.
However, at the final hour, the Argentine playmaker chose Chelsea instead as his next onward destination on loan, leaving Leeds with the bitter feeling of what could have been if the South American had entered the building to save the day.
What Buonanotte would have offered Leeds
Unfortunately, the glitz and glamour of lining up for Enzo Maresca’s men swayed the 20-year-old creator to move to West London over West Yorkshire.
He already has an early bump to contend with, though, as he has been shockingly left out of the Italian’s Champions League squad, just a matter of days after penning a loan move.
Still, there will be plenty of opportunities presumably handed to him in the bread and butter of Premier League action, after a loan stint last season out to Leicester City saw him dazzle top-flight defences regularly, despite the Foxes succumbing to relegation.
From 35 appearances at the King Power Stadium, the up-and-coming 20-year-old would pick up an impressive six goals and three assists, with a further seven goal contributions also coming his way back at Brighton, before finding his first-team minutes had dried up.
Leeds would have loved to welcome Buonanotte in on a short-term basis, with plenty more goals and assists registered by the entertaining South American at Elland Road, potentially helping Farke and Co beat the drop.
Instead, the goal-shy Whites will have to make do with Brenden Aaronson as one of their only recognisable number ten options, with the arrival of the two-time Argentina international also allowing them to explore more formations, away from the combative 4-3-3 preferred by Farke currently.
Frustratingly, this selection dilemma could actually be solved right now if Leeds hadn’t discarded a Buonanotte-style ace for just £1m two years ago.
Leeds' original Buonanotte
Farke has gone about making his side far more militant in the midfield ranks, with faces such as Ilia Gruev and Sean Longstaff not the most creative presences imaginable.
This is where Mateusz Bogusz could have come to the rescue, with the Polish midfielder very much a forgotten relic of Leeds’ recent past.
Before going on to make a name for himself as an attacking menace at both LAFC and Cruz Azul, Bogusz was a rising star tipped for greatness in West Yorkshire, having once been dubbed as a “very talented” player by his ex-U23s coach at Leeds in Carlos Corberan.
While he was showered with praise behind the scenes, the now 24-year-old would never go on to make the grade at a senior level, with three unmemorable men’s games passing him by, before he was offloaded for a bargain £880k to the MLS.
Bogusz’s numbers since leaving
Stat
Bogusz
Games played
120
Goals scored
26
Assists
26
Trophies
2x
Sourced by Transfermarkt
Looking at the table above, this was an unwise decision to make with hindsight on side, with Bogusz now boasting a high 52 goal contributions post his frustrating Elland Road stay.
With an ability to fire home a fierce effort, on top of picking out a teammate with ease, the 25-year-old might well have gone on to be success in the long-term if given more chances to impress, with his “dangerous” style of play – as it was described by reporter Greg Beacham – in the here and now also making him an apt fall back option for Buonanotte’s move being dead in the water.
Instead, there’s just more regrets piling up at Leeds on what could have been, as Farke now just has to make do with what he’s got until January rolls around.
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Nuno Espírito Santo’s spell at Tottenham Hotspur was certainly one to forget for the manager and the supporters after the dismal form endured during his tenure.
In the 17 matches he was in charge of the Lilywhites, the 51-year-old only won 52% of the matches he was in charge of – subsequently only being in the role for a total of four months.
Such an appointment raised eyebrows at the time, with the former Wolves boss tasked with the responsibility of taking the side to the next level after José Mourinho’s tenure.
The aforementioned period may not have been enough to make the desired changes, with Daniel Levy arguably making a harsh decision in cutting ties so early into his spell in North London.
The decision allowed the former Portuguese goalkeeper to make an impact elsewhere in the Premier League – subsequently making himself a success at Nottingham Forest.
Morgan Gibbs-White’s time under Nuno at Forest
Nuno joined Forest back in December 2023, leading the club back to European football for the first time in 30 years – but was handed his marching orders earlier this week after a fall-out with owner Evangelos Marinakis.
He was overseeing the progress of attacking midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White at the City Ground, once again linking up with the Englishman after their previous spell together at Wolves.
Morgan Gibbs-White for Nottingham Forest.
The 25-year-old enjoyed an incredible campaign throughout 2024/25, subsequently registering his highest tally of combined goals and assists in the Premier League under Nuno’s guidance.
He ended the year with 15 goal contributions, a tally which saw the Lilywhites even make a £60m bid for his services during the recent summer transfer window.
Such a deal was agreed between all parties for Gibbs-White to join Thomas Frank’s side, but Marinakis voiced his displeasure at the transfer and publicly threatened legal action against the club.
As a result, a deal hit a stumbling block, leading to the Englishman penning a new three-year contract at the City Ground and putting a deal off until January at the earliest.
There’s no denying that the failure to secure his signature would’ve been a disappointment to the fanbase, but they needn’t worry, given the talent already on their books in North London.
The Spurs star who’s a bigger talent than Gibbs-White
Whilst Nuno was only in the role for a short period of time, he managed to have a positive impact that has been showcased in recent months – arguably laying some of the foundations for the recent Europa League triumph.
He oversaw the arrival of centre-back Cristian Romero, with the Argentine now a key member of the first-team squad four years on from his switch to England from Atalanta.
The 27-year-old has been named the club captain in recent months, highlighting the importance to the side, with Frank putting huge faith in the defender to lead the club forward.
However, he wasn’t the only first-team member brought in during Nuno’s tenure, with midfielder Pape Matar Sarr also making the move to North London in the summer of 2021.
Whilst he spent his first year back out on loan at Metz, the Senegalese international has established himself as a key member of the side over the last couple of months.
The 22-year-old has started all three of the Lilywhites’ Premier League outings this campaign, showcasing the backing he has from Frank to make an impact in their quest for added success.
Sarr’s importance is further highlighted by his tally of 55 appearances in all competitions last campaign, starting and playing the vast majority of the Europa League final in Bilbao.
Despite being a deeper-lying option than Gibbs-White, he’s also operated in a number ten role in recent months – even managing to outperform him in numerous areas, subsequently making him a bigger talent at present.
Sarr, who’s been labelled “incredible” by journalist Umir Irfan, managed to post a higher shot on target accuracy rate (38%) than Gibbs-White in the Premier League last season.
Games played
36
34
Goals & assists
5
15
Shot on target accuracy
38%
34%
Pass accuracy
86%
78%
Passes into final third
4.2
4.1
Carries into final third
1.7
1.6
Tackles made
1.7
0.7
Aerials won
1.6
1.2
Such a tally showcases the threat the youngster possesses in attacking areas, arguably making him more of a goal threat when in possession of the ball in attacking areas.
The main responsibility of a number ten is creativity, but Sarr managed to complete more passes into the final third per 90 (4.2), along with a higher tally of carries into the final third per 90 (1.7).
The aforementioned tallies once again highlight the quality the youngster possesses in dangerous areas – something which will develop further given his tender age.
Many supporters will have been bitterly disappointed by the failure to land Gibbs-White, but it’s clear they already have a top-level talent on the books with the Senegalese international.
Nuno’s time at the club may have been one to forget, but the fanbase certainly must be thankful for his dealings in the market, which have given the Lilywhites the chance to compete with Europe’s elite once again.
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Ousmane Dembele was presented with the Ballon d'Or for 2025 at a typically lavish ceremony in Paris on Monday night, capping a remarkable redemption at Paris Saint-Germain for a player regarded by Barcelona fans as one of the worst signings in the club's history.
Dembele's triumph meant Lamine Yamal was forced to settle for second spot but it still feels like only a matter of time before the teenage sensation claims the ultimate individual honour in football.
Truth be told, it wouldn't come as a surprise to see the winger standing on stage with the Ballon d'Or in his hands in 12 months' time, particularly as Spain are one of the favourites to win next summer's World Cup in North America.
But who else is likely to be in the running for the 2026 Ballon d'Or? GOAL runs through all of the leading contenders below…
Getty Images Sport
10Cole Palmer
Cole Palmer unquestionably has an issue with consistency – but the Chelsea ace is the definition of a big-game player. After going missing for the majority of the second half of last season, he returned to form in the Europa League Conference final win over Betis before playing a starring role in his club's surprise Club World Cup success in the United States.
As a result, Palmer is a dark horse for next year's Ballon d'Or, given Chelsea are back in the Champions League and England are near-certainties to go deep at the World Cup – meaning the 23-year-old attacker is going to get even more opportunities to impress on the game's grandest stages in 2026. The big challenge for him, though, will be turning up week-in, week-out. If he can do that, he's got a shot.
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9Achraf Hakimi
As arguably the most complete defender in the game today, Achraf Hakimi would have made a very worthy winner of this year's Ballon d'Or. The Moroccan may be a right-back but he's utterly integral to Paris Saint-Germain's game plan, as one of their best ball-winners and most creative attacking outlets.
After finishing sixth this year, he obviously might never rank so highly again but it is worth noting that Morocco, who are on the verge of sealing their spot at the 2026 World Cup, are being heavily backed to win the Africa Cup of Nations on home soil in January.
Hakimi, then, could be right in contention for the 2026 Ballon d'Or before we even reach the business end of the European club season – even if the fact that he's a defender would likely count against him again.
Getty Images
8Ousmane Dembele
It feels unfair to be wondering if Dembele can win back-to-back Ballons d'Or the morning after claiming his first – but it genuinely will be fascinating to see if the notoriously inconsistent winger can actually maintain his fine form for more than six months.
Remember, Dembele only really started delivering for PSG on a regular basis in 2025, after being moved into the middle of their three-pronged attack by Luis Enrique at the tail end of last year.
The Frenchman certainly has the talent to repeat and it's hugely encouraging that he finally seems to have got his head together. The only major concern, then, is his ability to stay fit for a significant period of time, so it doesn't bode well that he's presently sidelined by injury, after playing 53 games at club level alone last season…
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Getty Images Sport
7Vitinha
One could easily argue that Vitinha will never get a better chance to win the Ballon d'Or. He was sensational for both Paris Saint-Germain and Portugal last season, winning the treble with the former and the Nations League with the latter, but he had to settle forthird spot in this year's vote.
However, there's no reason to think that the 25-year-old Vitinha is going to suddenly stop improving. He's been an upward curve since his frustrating loan spell at Wolves and is universally regarded as one of the best midfielders on the planet.
Most importantly of all, PSG are very well-placed to retain their Champions League title, while Portugal are potential World Cup winners. In that context, it would be a surprise if Vitinha is in the Ballon d'Or conversation again in 12 months' time.
Dorival Júnior está literalmente fazendo história no São Paulo nesta segunda passagem pelo clube. A sequência inicial de dez jogos invictos já garantiram ao treinador, mesmo que perca o duelo ante o Goiás, às 21h30 (de Brasília) deste sábado (27), no Morumbi, pelo Campeonato Brasileiro, o posto de um dos técnicos com melhor início de trabalho no Tricolor.
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Não é pouca coisa. Primeiro que Dorival é o único deste século a não saber o que é perder nos dez primeiros jogos sentado no banco de reservas.
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Além do atual técnico são-paulino, somente outros cinco em toda a história alcançaram o feito: Ramón Platero (1930), Rubens Salles (1931), Eugênio Medgyessy (1932), Alfredo Ramos (1972), Pepe (1986) e Muricy Ramalho (1996).
Destes, somente dois conquistaram títulos oficiais pelo Tricolor: Salles (Paulista) e Pepe (Brasileiro). Isso apesar do recorde ser de Platero, que engatou 18 jogos iniciais sem derrota.
Dorival conquistou nesses dez jogos invictos um aproveitamento de 73,3%. Um dos maiores índices de um técnico são-paulino contando apenas a mesma série inicial de partidas (uma dezena).
O líder nesse quesito também é Pepe. O ex-ponta-esquerda histórico do Santos conseguiu 95% de aproveitamento em seus primeiros dez jogos na campanha do Brasileirão de 1986.
+ Todos os jogos do Brasileirão você encontra no Prime Video. Assine já e acompanhe o seu time do coração!
Nottingham Forest have submitted a £10 million bid to sign a new 23-year-old ace, and they have already had a reply, according to a recent report.
Nottingham Forest face fierce competition to sign a new winger
The Reds have just seen Anthony Elanga swap the City Ground for St James’ Park, so for what remains of this transfer window, Forest and owner Evangelos Marinakis are going to be in the market for a new winger to replace the Sweden international.
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1 ByBrett Worthington Jul 13, 2025
It was revealed over the weekend that Forest were progressing in talks to sign Johan Bakayoko from PSV Eindhoven and were even considered one of the frontrunners to sign the Belgian. The 22-year-old is out of contract next summer, and a deal of £22 million could be enough to bring him to England.
However, the Premier League side now face strong opposition in their pursuit of Bakayoko, as according to Florian Plettenberg, RB Leipzighave reached a verbal agreement with Bakayoko. The Bundesliga side are in talks with PSV over agreeing a fee, which could be less than the £22 million that was originally reported. The Belgian international has already agreed terms with Leverkusen on a five-year deal.
Fortunately for the Reds, he is not their only option when it comes to replacing Elanga, as Forest are ready to return with their pursuit of Yoane Wissa, but they do face competition from Tottenham Hotspur to secure his signature.
Nottingham Forest submit £10m offer to sign new 23 y/o and have had a reply
As the Premier League side weigh up their attacking options, according to Turkish outlet Sporx, relayed by Sport Witness, Forest and Marinakis have placed a €12 million (£10 million) bid to sign defender Arseniy Batagov, which has been turned down by Trabzonspor.
The report states that while Batagov has impressed during his time with the Turkish outfit, and they would ideally like to keep hold of the player, they are looking to get around €17 million, which is roughly £15 million, instead of the £10 million Forest bid.
The Reds are not the only team chasing the 23-year-old, as Brighton & Hove Albion and Lazio are interested, with the Italian side said to have made an offer worth €10 million, which again was rejected.
Apps
18
Starts
18
Goals
1
Passing accuracy per game
54.8 (87%)
Big chances created
3
Clean sheets
8
Interceptions per game
1.5
Tackles per game
1.6
Clearances per game
5.4
Total duels won
3.8 (59%)
The Ukraine under-21 international, who is under contract at Trabzonspor until 2028 with the club having a one-year option, played 18 times in the Süper Lig last season, during which he grabbed one goal and recorded one assist.
Forest already have the likes of Murillo, Nikola Milenkovic, Willy Boly, and Morato, to name a few, in central defence, but Nuno Espirito Santo is obviously keen to strengthen his options further, and the fact that Batagov can play left-back and midfield as well as centre-back means he would bring versatility to the Reds.