The Los Angeles Lakers suffered a 131-114 defeat to the Memphis Grizzlies, marking their fourth loss on a road trip that has left them at a 4-4 record overall and 1-4 on the trip. The game highlighted the Lakers’ struggles in the absence of Anthony Davis, who was sidelined due to a bruised left heel, along with starting forward Rui Hachimura. Without their All-Star big man, the Lakers were outmuscled inside, with the Grizzlies dominating in the paint, scoring 60 points, adding 15 second-chance points off 12 offensive rebounds, and finishing with 27 fastbreak points. Despite the loss, LeBron James…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
Former Champions League winner Thierry Henry launched a sharp critique of Kylian Mbappé after Real Madrid’s disappointing 3-1 home defeat to AC Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday. This loss followed a crushing 4-0 defeat to Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabéu at the end of October, leaving Carlo Ancelotti’s side struggling with form. The Italian coach admitted that his team “is not playing well,” and the pressure is mounting. Mbappé, who joined Madrid this summer, has been a focal point of criticism due to his underwhelming performances, managing only five non-penalty goals in 15 appearances across all competitions this…
Chelsea’s crowded attacking lineup has made it challenging for Joao Félix, as he competes for playing time with the likes of Cole Palmer, Nicolas Jackson, and Noni Madueke. Ahead of Chelsea’s Conference League clash with Armenian side Noah, Enzo Maresca admitted feeling “shame” over Félix’s limited opportunities. “I feel shame about Joao,” Maresca said to reporters. “I would like to give him more minutes in the Premier League, but I’ve said many times, we need defensive balance. We can’t play with Joao, Cole [Palmer], and Christo [Nkunku] all at once.” Maresca explained that while he would love to field all…
Kylian Mbappé Left Out of France Squad for Upcoming UEFA Nations League Fixtures Kylian Mbappé has been excluded from Didier Deschamps’ squad for France’s upcoming UEFA Nations League matches, following a difficult start to the 2024/25 season at Real Madrid. The French forward has been in the spotlight for his struggles to find his footing at Madrid, as the team has faced challenges under Carlo Ancelotti, sitting behind Barcelona in both La Liga and the Champions League standings. Mbappé’s omission from the Nations League squad has raised questions, but Deschamps addressed the decision during his squad announcement, explaining: “I had…
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has played down concerns over Kai Havertz’s health after the German forward suffered a bloody head injury during Wednesday’s 1-0 defeat to Inter Milan. Havertz, who started as the central striker for the Gunners in their Champions League encounter at San Siro, was forced off in stoppage time after a clash with Inter’s Yann Aurel Bisseck. Havertz’s face was left covered in blood, prompting goalkeeper Yann Sommer to call for medical assistance. Despite Arsenal’s dominance in possession and 20 shots on goal, they were unable to break down Inter’s defense following Hakan Calhanoglu’s first-half penalty. Arteta…
Zinedine Zidane urged Vinicius Junior to follow the example of two Real Madrid icons in order to achieve long-term success. Having enjoyed a standout year with victories in both La Liga and the Champions League, along with a match-winning performance in the Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund, Vinicius is at the peak of his career. However, despite his achievements, the Brazilian was outshone by Manchester City’s Rodri in the 2024 Ballon d’Or voting, which left him disappointed. Real Madrid, feeling disrespected by the Ballon d’Or organizers—particularly after the result was leaked before the official announcement—decided to boycott the ceremony.…
Manchester United’s interim manager, Ruud van Nistelrooy, has unexpectedly revealed that he has yet to make contact with the club’s incoming permanent head coach, Ruben Amorim. Van Nistelrooy was appointed on a temporary basis after Erik ten Hag was dismissed in late October. The former striker had only rejoined United as part of the coaching staff over the summer and is set to hand over the reins to Amorim when the Portuguese manager leaves Sporting CP to take charge on November 11. Although United reached an agreement with Amorim on November 1, Van Nistelrooy confirmed that there had been no…
Tottenham’s Late Rally Falls Short as Galatasaray Prevail 3-2 Tottenham’s perfect start to the Europa League came to a dramatic end on Thursday as they were defeated 3-2 by a dominant Galatasaray, despite a spirited late comeback. Victor Osimhen’s brace and Yunus Akgun’s early strike sealed the win for the Turkish side, who dominated throughout but should have scored more, registering 28 shots on goal. The match came to life early when Akgun struck a sensational effort from the edge of the box to give Galatasaray the lead just six minutes in. Tottenham quickly responded with a well-worked goal, as…
Chelsea ran riot in the Conference League with a commanding 8-0 win over Armenian side Noah, continuing their perfect start to the competition. Enzo Maresca’s team showed no mercy, overpowering their opponents with speed, precision, and clinical finishing, despite a promising early display from Noah. The floodgates opened in the 12th minute when Tosin Adarabioyo scored his first goal for Chelsea, heading in from an excellent Enzo Fernandez corner. Moments later, Noah handed Chelsea another goal after Marc Guiu intercepted a poor pass, calmly slotting home. Axel Disasi then added a third with a header almost identical to Adarabioyo’s. Noah’s…
Since his return to the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL), Ahmed Musa has continued to make an impact, both on and off the pitch. The 32-year-old’s leadership and experience have been instrumental in raising expectations within the league, where he has become a major figure, reminiscent of his rise to prominence as a teenager in 2009. Musa has carved out an iconic legacy over the years, and it seems there may still be more to give. His future could involve leading a team to the African Nations Championship (CHAN), an opportunity he may choose to pursue if the stars align.…
Chelsea’s Cole Palmer is at risk of missing Sunday’s highly anticipated Premier League clash against Arsenal after suffering a knee injury during the recent match against Manchester United, according to the Daily Express. The 22-year-old winger was forced off the pitch at Old Trafford after a rough tackle from United’s Lisandro Martinez, which Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca described as “not a normal one.” The challenge, which took place in stoppage time and earned Martinez a yellow card, has left Palmer unable to train since. “He didn’t train on Tuesday; we’ll see today if he’s able to join us,” Maresca…
Departing Sporting CP manager Ruben Amorim has shared his thoughts on how his team managed to defeat Manchester City 4-1 in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday. Viktor Gyokeres was the hero for Sporting, scoring a brilliant hat-trick to lead his team to victory over Pep Guardiola’s side. City also had a chance to get back into the game, but Erling Haaland missed a late penalty with the score at 3-1. Amorim, who is set to join Manchester United, reflected on the victory, attributing the result to the team’s collective effort and the atmosphere at the stadium. “It was written,”…
Al-Hilal are reportedly considering terminating Neymar’s contract, according to Saudi outlet Action Ma3 Waleed. Since joining the club in the summer of 2023 for a fee of around €90 million, Neymar has struggled with injuries. The Brazilian forward suffered an ACL injury last year, which kept him sidelined until his return on October 21 against Al-Ain from the UAE. However, Neymar was forced off with another injury just 30 minutes after coming on as a substitute in Al-Hilal’s AFC Champions League win over Esteghlal. Now, the Saudi club is reportedly contemplating an early termination of Neymar’s two-year contract in January.…
Barcelona are reportedly eyeing a potential move for Liverpool star Mohamed Salah, who is set to become a free agent at the end of the current season. Despite being 32 and undergoing a managerial change at Liverpool, Salah has continued to perform at an elite level in the 2024/25 campaign, with 16 goal contributions in 15 appearances across all competitions. According to SPORT, Barcelona officials have once again discussed the possibility of signing Salah, a player they had shown interest in back in 2022. However, that pursuit stalled due to Liverpool’s high asking price and Salah’s wage demands. While Barcelona’s…
FIFA President Gianni Infantino congratulated US President-elect Donald Trump, assuring him that football fans will enjoy a fantastic World Cup in 2026. Infantino’s message came as he extended his congratulations to Trump following his victory in the US presidential election, where he defeated Democrat Kamala Harris. “Congratulations, Mr. President!” Infantino posted on Instagram on Wednesday. “We will have a great FIFA World Cup and a great FIFA Club World Cup in the United States of America! Football unites the world!” The 2026 World Cup will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
French defender Benjamin Mendy has won a legal battle against Manchester City over unpaid wages while he was facing rape charges. Mendy, who was acquitted of raping one woman and attempting to rape another after a trial in 2023, had his £500,000-per-month salary halted by City in 2021 when he was arrested for a second time. The former Monaco player, who joined City for £49 million in 2017, filed a claim for ‘unauthorized deductions’ from his wages, seeking around £11 million before tax. After a tribunal ruling, Mendy is entitled to most of this amount, though not all, given that…
Real Madrid’s 3-1 defeat to AC Milan in the UEFA Champions League has sent shockwaves through the fanbase, with Kylian Mbappé at the center of the backlash. The highly anticipated summer signing, who arrived amid much fanfare, has come under intense criticism following a subpar performance in which he missed crucial opportunities, with some fans going as far as to label him the “worst signing in football history.” Despite being hailed as one of the world’s top talents, Mbappé’s performance against Milan fell far short of expectations. Although Real Madrid controlled 57% of possession, the French forward struggled to make…
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has revealed that star player Cole Palmer may miss the upcoming Premier League match against Arsenal on Sunday. Palmer has not trained since suffering a strong challenge from Manchester United’s Lisandro Martinez last weekend. The Argentine defender was booked for the tackle, which caught Palmer on the right knee, but Maresca argued that the yellow card was an insufficient punishment. To ensure Palmer gets the necessary rest, he was left out of Chelsea’s Conference League squad for their Thursday clash with Armenian side Noah. Maresca has now confirmed that it would be a risk for Palmer…
Pep Guardiola took a swipe at Ruben Amorim and Manchester United following Manchester City’s 4-1 defeat to Sporting CP in the Champions League. The loss in Lisbon marked City’s third consecutive defeat, with earlier setbacks against Tottenham Hotspur and Bournemouth raising concerns about their form. Guardiola’s side struggled to break down Amorim’s tactics, and key players like Erling Haaland and Matheus Nunes were criticized, with Haaland missing a penalty that could have given City a lifeline. Frustrated by the performance, Guardiola aimed a pointed remark at United, who are set to be managed by Amorim in the near future. “We…
Manchester United’s incoming manager, Ruben Amorim, is reportedly keen on re-signing a player the club recently sold. The 39-year-old Portuguese coach will take over at Old Trafford on November 11th, following the conclusion of his duties at Sporting CP during the international break. According to The Sun, Amorim has asked United to bring back 21-year-old left-back Álvaro Fernández Carreras, who has impressed during his loan spell at Benfica since moving there last winter. The deal includes a buyback clause, allowing United to re-sign him for a relatively low fee.