تواصلت شكوى نادي بيراميدز من المضايقات التي تتعرض لها بعثة الفريق الكروي الأول في المغرب، قبل مواجهة الجيش الملكي في إياب الدور ربع النهائي من دوري أبطال أفريقيا.
وأصدر نادي بيراميدز بيانًا رسميًا حصل بطولات على نسخة منه كشف فيه عن واقعة جديدة تمثلت في إطلاق عدد كبير من الألعاب النارية من قِبل جماهير الفريق المغربي أمام فندق إقامة بعثة بيراميدز بمدينة مكناس، في الساعات الأولى من صباح الإثنين.
موعد والقناة الناقلة لمباراة بيراميدز والجيش الملكي اليوم في دوري أبطال إفريقيا.. والمعلق
وأوضح البيان أن أفراد البعثة قد استيقظوا عند الساعة الخامسة فجرًا على أصوات مرتفعة نتيجة تجمع مشجعي الجيش الملكي أمام الفندق وإطلاقهم الألعاب النارية بكثافة أمام غرف اللاعبين، في محاولة واضحة لإزعاجهم ومنعهم من الحصول على قسط كافٍ من الراحة قبل المواجهة المرتقبة.
وأشار نادي بيراميدز إلى أن البعثة قد تعرضت، مساء الأحد، لمضايقة مماثلة خلال التدريب الختامي على ملعب المباراة، بعد أن تم إطفاء إضاءة الاستاد الشرفي بمكناس بشكل مفاجئ، قبل نهاية المران المقرر من قبل الاتحاد الأفريقي لكرة القدم (كاف) بأكثر من 10 دقائق، رغم استمرار الفريق في أداء تدريباته.
وقدمت إدارة نادي بيراميدز شكوى رسمية جديدة إلى الجهات المختصة، تضمنت تفاصيل الواقعة الأخيرة التي حدثت فجراً، مؤكدة أن مثل هذه التصرفات لا تليق بالأجواء التنافسية التي يفترض أن تسود في البطولات القارية.
ويستعد بيراميدز لمواجهة الجيش الملكي المغربي في تمام الساعة التاسعة مساء الثلاثاء على ملعب الشرفي بمدينة مكناس، ساعيًا لحسم بطاقة التأهل إلى نصف نهائي دوري أبطال إفريقيا، بعد فوزه ذهابًا في القاهرة بنتيجة 4-1.
Wolverhampton Wanderers will be hoping to remain outside of the bottom three in the Premier League as they prepare to take on Bournemouth at the Molineux on Saturday.
Gary O’Neil’s side are above 18th-placed Ipswich Town on goal difference and are one point above Crystal Palace in 19th, which means that they could end the weekend in 19th place if results do not go their way.
A win against the Cherries would almost guarantee their place outside of the relegation zone, though, unless Ipswich and other teams muster up big wins, and that should be the aim on Saturday.
The Old Gold secured their second win of the Premier League season last time out, beating Fulham 4-1 at Craven Cottage, and have to follow that up with another positive performance and result.
Goals from Matheus Cunha (x2), Joao Gomes, and Goncalo Guedes sealed all three points for Wolves against Marco Silva’s side, as Cunha starred once again for the club this season.
The Brazilian magician has enjoyed a terrific start to the 2024/25 campaign and has emerged as a huge talent and asset for O’Neil in the midlands.
Matheus Cunha's form this season
The 25-year-old forward has showcased his ability as both a scorer and a creator of goals on a regular basis in the Premier League so far this term, to become a shining light in a disappointing team that has only won two matches.
As a goalscorer, Cunha has found the back of the net seven times from an xG of just 3.13 and he has only missed one ‘big chance’. This shows that the attacker has been incredibly ruthless in front of goal as he has not wasted many opportunities to score.
The Brazil international scored 12 goals from 9.49 xG across 32 appearances in the Premier League during the 2023/24 campaign, and is now on course to better his tally in the current term.
Matheus Cunha (Premier League)
23/24
24/25
Appearances
32
12
xG
9.49
3.13
Goals
12
7
Big chances created
7
9
Assists
7
3
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Cunha’s current form would mean that he would end the season with more goals, more ‘big chances’ created, and more assists than he managed in the previous campaign.
He has, quite simply, been electric for Wolves and his quality in the final third will be crucial to their chances of avoiding relegation down to the Championship. The Brazilian ace, in fact, scored two and provided one assist in the 4-1 win over Fulham to lift the team out of the bottom three last weekend.
Whilst Cunha thrived at Craven Cottage, one player who could be dropped from the starting XI after an underwhelming display is attacking midfielder Jean-Ricner Bellegarde.
Why Jean-Ricner Bellegarde should be dropped
The French gem started as one of the two number tens behind Jorgen Strand Larsen, alongside Cunha, but was unable to produce a quality performance with his work in or out of possession for the Old Gold.
It was his first start since the 2-1 defeat to Liverpool in September and he did not do enough to suggest that O’Neil should select him from the start for a second match in succession.
Bellegarde has managed one goal and one assist in 11 appearances and seven starts in the Premier League so far this season, after he was unable to add to his tally of goals or assists in the convincing win over the Cottagers.
Vs Fulham
Jean-Ricner Bellegarde
Minutes
87
Shots
0
Key passes
0
Dribbles completed
1/2
Duels won
3/7
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, the 26-year-old attacking midfielder had very little impact on the game as he ended his appearance with zero shots and zero chances created for his teammates.
The former Strasbourg star also failed to offer much out of possession for his side, with three of his seven duels won and one tackle completed, whilst being dribbled past once.
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O’Neil must, now, ruthlessly ditch the former Ligue 1 ace from the starting XI for this home clash with Bournemouth, as Goncalo Guedes could come in as a superior option at the top end of the pitch.
Why Goncalo Guedes should be unleashed
The Portuguese whiz returned to Molineux in the summer after spells with Benfica and Villarreal on loan during the 2023/24 campaign and is now fighting for a regular spot in the team under O’Neil.
Guedes scored one goal in 13 Premier League matches during the 2022/23 season, after his move from Valencia, but seemed to find his form again in Spain last term.
Goncalo Guedes
In nine starts in LaLiga during the second half of last season, the 28-year-old whiz produced three goals from 2.3 xG and two assists from four ‘big chances’ created.
Guedes, who was once hailed as a “great talent” by ex-PSG icon Pauleta, has since shown plenty of promise in limited minutes with Wolves in the current campaign.
The experienced forward came off the bench against Fulham last weekend to score the fourth goal in the game, getting on the end of Larsen’s pass to rifle an accurate shot into the bottom corner.
24/25 EFL Cup
Goncalo Guedes
Appearances
2
Starts
2
Goals
3
Big chances missed
0
Big chances created
1
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Guedes also caught the eye with his performances in the League Cup earlier this term, with three goals and one ‘big chance’ created in starts against Burnley and Brighton.
This means that the Portuguese winger has produced four goals, one assist, and two ‘big chances’ created in 11 appearances and two starts in all competitions for Wolves this season.
The former Valencia star’s goalscoring form for Villarreal and Wolves in 2024 suggests that he could be perfect alongside Cunha as a second attacking midfielder, as the Brazilian has only been rewarded with three assists from nine ‘big chances’ created in the league.
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Guedes is a player with the finishing quality to make the most of Cunha’s creativity and that is why Bellegarde should be dropped from the XI for the 28-year-old against Bournemouth.
It has been an appalling few weeks for Manchester City. Pep Guardiola’s side are on an unimaginable run of form, having won just one game in their last ten outings in all competitions. That victory came against Nottingham Forest, a 3-0 win in the Premier League at the Etihad Stadium.
After Wednesday night’s loss to Juventus, Guardiola’s side have slipped to 22nd in the Champions League table, and their eight points place them just one point inside the playoff zone. They are really cutting it fine to qualify for the next round.
The Cityzens have been arguably let down by some of their star men this season.
City’s worst performers in 2024/25
It has certainly been a tough season for the 2022/23 treble winners, who are failing to live up to the expectations surrounding them after dominating English, and European football, for the last few seasons.
Phil Foden is one of the players who is struggling this term. The England international has looked a shadow of his former self, having won the PFA Player of the Year award for last season.
He has played 17 games in all competitions so far this term, scoring three goals and assisting two. His only goal contribution at home was a goal in a 5-0 thrashing of Sparta Prague.
Another player who has not performed well this season is new signing Savinho. The Brazilian joined the Cityzens over the summer for £30.8m from Troyes but has not managed to score his first goal in Blue yet. He has grabbed five assists in 20 games across competitions, but it has been a disappointing start to life in East Manchester.
Kyle Walker has been a key component of City’s success in the last few seasons, but he has had a rapid decline. Although he has played 14 times in all competitions, he has struggled. The Guardian journalist Ben McAleer explained there have been “clear indications of a Walker decline for months”, dating back to Euro 2024.
It has been sad for City fans to see their star players out of form and their new signings struggling to adapt. Someone who could fit in both of those categories is Ilkay Gundogan.
Gundogan’s stats in 2024/25
German midfielder Gundogan returned to Manchester City in the summer after spending a season away from the club at La Liga giants Barcelona. He signed a one-year deal with the option of a second season.
It was certainly an exciting move for the club, with outgoing Director of Football Txiki Begiristain full of praise for the midfielder. He called him an “exceptional” footballer, which is more than fair given what he achieved at the club in his first spell.
During his first stint as a Cityzen, the former Borussia Dortmund midfielder played 304 games, scoring 60 goals and grabbing 38 assists. He played a crucial role in their trophy success, capping it off by winning the treble in 2022/23. That season, the German played 51 games, scoring 11 goals and grabbing eight assists.
However, this season the 34-year-old has been a far cry from that form. The City number 19 has played 21 games in all competitions, scoring twice and grabbing just one assist.
It is perhaps no coincidence that his poor performances have coincided with this lull in form for his team.
Gundogan stats by competition this season
Stat
Premier League
Champions League
Carabao Cup
Games
14
6
1
Minutes
955
375
45
Full 90s
10.6
4.1
0.5
Goals
0
1
0
Assists
2
0
0
Stats from Transfermarkt
Football analyst and City supporter Umir explained earlier in the season that the German can, at times “look fatigued” and also “lacks a bit of sharpness”. It is fair to say the City legend has not left a lasting impression on supporters so far during his second spell
Given he is earning an eye-watering £230k per week at the Etihad Stadium, there is an argument to say that City got this signing wrong.
He has not been anywhere near as good as during his first spell, and for the money they spend on his weekly wage, it is an expensive investment for disappointing performances.
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With Inter Milan reportedly keen to snap him up in 2025, perhaps it might be wise for Guardiola and co to cut this second stint short…
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Pep Guardiola has some key decisions to make regarding his squad at Manchester City.
Javagal Srinath says the surface didn’t offer an even contest between bat and ball
ESPNcricinfo staff20-Mar-2022
Twenty-six of the 39 wickets in the Bengaluru Test fell to spin•BCCI
The pitch for the second India-Sri Lanka Test in Bengaluru, which finished inside three days, has been rated as “below average” by ICC match referee Javagal Srinath.An office bearer of the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) in the past, Srinath felt “the pitch offered a lot of turn on the first day itself and though it improved with every session, in my view, it was not an even contest between bat and ball,” as per an ICC media release.Twenty-six of the 39 wickets in the Test fell to spin. The first day accounted for 16 wickets, while days two and three produced 14 and nine, respectively.Related
Rawalpindi pitch gets 'below average' rating
Shreyas Iyer, who was named Man of the Match for his twin half-centuries, felt the pitch was “not that great” during a press conference after his counterattacking 92 gave India a strong first-innings total.”You saw the players who defended the ball, there was a lot of chance of nicking, and there was variable bounce on that wicket,” Iyer said after the opening day.”You can’t just play very negatively on that wicket and just keep defending the ball. You’ve got to have that positive intent when you step out on the field. The wicket is not that great. It’s obviously bowler-friendly.”Srinath, the former India fast bowler, has submitted a report that has been forwarded to the BCCI. The venue, meanwhile, has received one demerit point under the ICC Pitch and Outfield Monitoring process.Demerit points remain active for a rolling five-year period. If a venue accumulates five demerit points, it will be suspended from hosting international cricket for a 12-month period.Bengaluru became the second venue in two weeks to receive a “below average” rating. Rawalpindi, which kickstarted Australia’s first tour to Pakistan in 24 years, also received a similar rating from match referee Ranjan Madugalle after the Test produced 1187 runs for the loss of just 14 wickets over five days.While the Chinnaswamy surface offered variable bounce from day one, the Rawalpindi track “hardly changed over the course of five days” and that there had been “no deterioration apart from the bounce getting slightly lower.”For the record, India claimed the series 2-0, with Dimuth Karunaratne’s fighting century in the fourth innings merely delaying the inevitable. The Test marked the first time Jasprit Bumrah picked up a five-for in a home Test.
O Fortaleza já sabe quem vai enfrentar na próxima fase da Copa do Nordeste. Com a vitória em cima do Botafogo-PB, o Náutico se credenciou a disputar uma vaga com o Leão na final do torneio regional.
– VEJA A TABELA DA SÉRIE A DO BRASILEIRÃO
O jogo entre Fortaleza e Náutico acontece no próximo sábado, a partir das 17h45 (Horário de Brasília), na Arena Castelão.
Último encontro
Na primeira fase do torneio regional, os rivais se encontraram e o equilíbrio prevaleceu, já que o duelo nos Aflitos terminou empatado por 2 a 2.
Agora, caso o placar final não tenha vencedor, a vaga será definida na disputa de pênaltis.
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Along with an undisclosed sum, New Zealand will play extra games when the two sides meet in Pakistan next year
ESPNcricinfo staff19-May-2022
New Zealand’s next visit to Pakistan in 2023 will include extra matches•Getty Images
New Zealand have come to a agreement to compensate Pakistan for pulling out of a bilateral series last year. It involves New Zealand Cricket (NZC) paying an undisclosed amount to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), as well as agreeing to play extra games when the two sides meet in Pakistan next year. New Zealand have also invited Pakistan to take part in a T20 tri-series at home ahead of the World Cup in Australia, which Pakistan have in principle accepted. That series is understood to include Bangladesh as the third team.New Zealand pulled out of their scheduled white-ball tour of Pakistan minutes before the start of the first ODI of the tour, citing a “specific and credible” security threat. The PCB made their displeasure plain over the days that followed, and demanded financial recompense for broadcasting, logistics and security expenses incurred.ESPNcricnfo understands the issue has been resolved although neither board has made any official public pronouncement on the matter.New Zealand’s pull-out citing security reasons last September was viewed as a major setback for Pakistan in their bid to ensure international cricket returns home. It was followed by England pulling out of a short tour the following month, though that decision generated significant blowback, both in Pakistan and beyond. Pakistan has since undone much of the damage those withdrawals caused, hosting West Indies in December, a full Pakistan Super League season as well as a historic all-format tour of Australia.Pakistan are next due to host West Indies for the ODI leg of a bilateral tour that had to be postponed due to a Covid outbreak in the West Indies camp last December.
O Fluminense voltou a erguer a taça do Campeonato Carioca dez anos depois, mas não pôde contar com Felipe Melo no jogo decisivo. O volante sofreu uma lesão no menisco do joelho direito e deve passar por uma cirurgia nesta terça-feira. Ele também destacou que pretende retornar aos gramados dentro de 20 ou 25 dias e que tem se cuidado.
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– Creio que amanhã (terça-feira), vou estar fazendo esta cirurgia. Os médicos falaram entre um mês, um mês e 10 dias. Mas eu creio que em 20 a 25 dias eu estarei de volta. Confio muito que Deus possa me capacitar e que eu possa voltar antes do momento. Já estou me cuidando, fazendo todo o necessário já. Graças a Deus, apenas uma artroscopia, o mais breve possível estarei de volta – disse o jogador em entrevista ao ‘Globo Esporte’
+ Confira e simule a tabela da Copa Sul-Americana
O “pitbull” tricolor, dono da comemoração “ruf ruf”, também comentou sobre a conquista do Campeonato Carioca sobre o Flamengo, clube que o revelou. Ele contou estar feliz com a camisa do Fluminense e destacou a alegria do grupo ao levantar o troféu no Maracanã, diante da torcida.
– Feliz demais por estar vivendo este momento no Fluminense, este título tão almejado por nós, todos torcedores do Fluminense. Começaram a gritar “ruf, ruf” no vestiário, aí eu tentei imitar um “pitbull”, mas foi um “pitbull perneta”, digamos assim, por conta do problema no joelho, mas valeu a comemoração e a felicidade de todos ali. Costumo dizer que o próximo título é sempre o mais importante. Comemorei muito a Taça Guanabara e o Carioca também – afirmou.
+Cano diz que vive ‘momento especial’ e projeta estreia na Sul-Americana: ‘Fluminense pode chegar muito longe’
O Fluminense volta a campo nesta quarta-feira, às 19h15, novamente no Maracanã, para a estreia na Copa Sul-Americana, diante do Oriente Petrolero, da Bolívia. No sábado, o adversário será o Santos, na primeira rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro, às 16h30, também no Rio de Janeiro.
Celtic extended their unbeaten run in the Scottish Premiership with their 15th win in 17 matches by beating Motherwell 4-0 at Parkhead on Boxing Day.
A first-half penalty from Arne Engels gave the hosts a narrow lead, before Daizen Maeda, Nicolas Kuhn, and Reo Hatate all scored in the second 45 to secure all three points.
Brendan Rodgers will surely be delighted with yet another win and another clean sheet for Kasper Schmeichel, who did not have a save to make in the match.
Celtic managerBrendanRodgerscelebrates after winning the League Cup
However, it was not a perfect performance from the Hoops, who needed a penalty to go into the break ahead, and one player who did not take their chance to impress was Adam Idah.
Adam Idah's performance against Motherwell
The Ireland international was named in the starting line-up for just the sixth time this season in the Premiership, with Kyogo Furuhashi dropped to the bench after the 0-0 draw at Tannadice Park against Dundee United.
Unfortunately, though, the former Norwich City centre-forward did not catch the eye in the right way, as he struggled – particularly out of possession. Idah lost 100% (4/4) of his duels and this shows that Motherwell players found it too easy to get the better of him in physical contests.
Adam Idah
The 6 foot 3 marksman also failed to find the back of the net with any of his three shot attempts, registering one on target, and failed with his only attempted dribble.
Idah did create one ‘big chance’ for the team, to his credit, but his overall performance was not enough to put a marker down and convince Rodgers that he should be the man moving forward.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast's Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
As well as the Irishman, another Celtic player who failed to make the most of their opportunity to impress from the start was central midfielder Paulo Bernardo.
Paulo Bernardo's performance in numbers
The Portuguese maestro fluffed his chance to put a marker down, like Idah, to nail down a regular place in the starting line-up, as he has only started eight of his 16 appearances in the division.
Bernardo played the opening 63 minutes of the match and was not directly involved in any of the goals, before being taken off for Reo Hatate – who came on to score.
His midfield competitor came on to score the fourth goal and won more duels (two) than the ex-Benfica starlet managed (one) in his time on the pitch.
Paulo Bernardo
Vs Motherwell
Minutes
63
Shots
0
Big chances created
0
Duels won
1/8
Fouls committed
4
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Bernardo did little to help the team out of possession, losing 88% of his duels and committing four fouls, as he struggled to deal with the physicality of the match, much like Idah.
The summer signing needed to make up for that with his quality in possession, but failed to do so. Zero shots and zero ‘big chances’ created paints a picture of his performance on the day – uneventful.
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Both Idah and Bernardo are now in danger of dropping back out of the starting line-up once again, as they failed to take their chance to shine.