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Liverpool have not been very good this season. Viewed through the prism of extensive summer spending – more, in fact, than any other club in a single summer transfer window – some of the criticism concerning Arne Slot’s side has been justified.

But some of it has been blown out of proportion. The Reds are a team in transition, and while six defeats from seven matches in all competitions were inexcusable, the response to put Aston Villa and then Real Madrid away in the space of four days underscores the quality rippling through this team.

One of the Premier League champions’ biggest problems this year has been a lack of physicality and control in the engine room. And so, against Los Blancos on Tuesday evening, Slot reverted to type.

How Liverpool won the midfield battle vs Real Madrid

In short, Liverpool played like they wanted it more. Gone was the lethargy and limpness of recent months, and Slot grinned as he watched his outfit rekindle that irresistible quality of last year.

Real Madrid might have won 55% of the duels on the evening, but Liverpool’s midfielders were economical in their performances, far more reliable and robust than we have been forced to watch for much of the campaign.

Dominik Szoboszlai was as brilliant as ever in the ten role, unplayable at times and unquestionably in the form of his Liverpool career. Moreover, Ryan Gravenberch instilled calm in an assured showing as the anchor. It is no coincidence that Liverpool’s return to form comes after last season’s midfield have been moulded back together.

After all, it was Alexis Mac Allister who bagged himself a goal after Szoboszlai’s whipped delivery, showcasing the direct danger this midfield can pose against opponents, marrying that with slick passing and crisp defending.

A header from a midfielder against a Spanish giant on a big European night. It was reminiscent of Gini Wijnaldum against Barcelona.

However, there was another man on the field to show Slot that he could be his version of the iconic Dutchman, with a statement showing in a red shirt.

Slot's own Gini Wijnaldum

Liverpool were deserving victors against Real Madrid on Tuesday, and Wirtz played a crucial part in claiming three points, hailed post-match by Szoboszlai, who said, “What a game! He just kept on running.”

Wirtz has flattered to deceive since joining Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen for £116m this summer, but he looks to be turning a corner, settling into the rigours of football in Slot’s Anfield side.

Despite still searching for that elusive first goal in a Liverpool shirt, the German international oozed class of a different kind against Xabi Alonso’s side, and marrying that with a remarkable physical shift, he has set the foundation for an upswing in performances over the next months.

Liverpool 1-0 Real Madrid: Most Distance Covered

Player

Minutes played

Distance covered

Florian Wirtz

88′

11.37km

Dominik Szoboszlai

90′

10.61km

Aurelien Tchouameni

90′

10.51km

Jude Bellingham

90′

10.50km

Hugo Ekitike

79′

9.87km

Data via DaveOCKOP

Hailed as being “something special” by writer Eddie Gibbs, the 22-year-old glittered against the most dominant and destructive European side around, and it’s curious that he has shuffled into a wider berth than the number ten role assigned to him for much of the season so far.

Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger offered an interesting take on the situation. The 76-year-old suggested that the inculcation of Wirtz into the midfield had been to the detriment of Liverpool’s overall fluency.

But, shaped into a more unnatural role on the left, Wirtz’s energy and incredible work ethic played into Liverpool’s victory.

In this way, he could become Slot’s own version of Wijnaldum, who would not have envisaged a permanent remould into an industrious, box-to-box midfielder at the heart of Jurgen Klopp’s team when joining the Reds from Newcastle United in 2016.

And yet Wijnaldum became one of the staples of Liverpool’s incredible successes, featuring 237 times for the club but only posting 22 goals and 16 assists across all competitions.

Wirtz will still hope to provide a prolific dimension at Liverpool over the years of his stay, but it might be that his adaptation to this new land requires something of a shift akin to Wijnaldum’s way back when.

And with such indefatigable performances as the one earlier this week, it’s surely only a matter of time until he announces himself as a superstar.

Related Arne Slot has just unlocked Liverpool's new Coutinho vs Real Madrid

Liverpool may have unearthed their next Philippe Coutinho after getting the better of Real Madrid 1-0.

Posts ByKelan Sarson Nov 5, 2025

Derbyshire four-down at the close with an uphill battle awaiting them

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay31-Jul-2025

Derbyshire 377 (Andersson 105, Chahal 6-118) and 52 for 4 trail Northamptonshire 550 for 9 dec (Broad 171, Keogh 125*) by 121 runsAllrounder Justin Broad hit a brilliant 171, his second score in excess of 150 this month amid a Northamptonshire run-fest against Derbyshire at Wantage Road as the hosts racked up a mammoth 550 for nine declared.Returning from a wrist injury, Broad struck 18 fours and a six, following his maiden first-class ton, 157 not out at Canterbury at the beginning of July. On a day of records, his 171 was the highest score ever made by a number seven from any team against Derbyshire.With Rob Keogh also striking an excellent unbeaten 125, the pair put on 208, the highest seventh-wicket partnership for Northamptonshire against Derbyshire as the visitors’ attack wilted in the afternoon sunshine.Luis Reece was the pick of Derbyshire’s bowlers, finishing with figures of three for 114.Northamptonshire declared 173 ahead and reduced Derbyshire to 52 for four at stumps, Indian legspinner Yuzvendra Chahal picking up two wickets in two balls. It leaves the visitors with a mountain to climb on a pitch offering turn and bounce, still trailing by 121 at the end of day three of this Rothesay County Championship fixture.Earlier, resuming on 265 for five, Broad and George Bartlett extended their sixth-wicket partnership to 127, also the highest for Northamptonshire against Derbyshire. But after posting 66, his highest score this season, Bartlett was trapped lbw by a Ben Aitchison delivery which nipped back and kept low.Broad and Keogh though looked relatively untroubled by a lacklustre Derbyshire bowling display throughout the morning as they focused on building a partnership and taking a first innings lead, picking up a handful of boundaries along the way. Broad, 64 overnight, deployed the pull against Zak Chappell and on drove handsomely, while Keogh swept and reverse swept against Joe Hawkins’ spin.Broad lunched nervously on 99, but despite flashing outside off stump against Martin Andersson after the break, he took a single off Hawkins to celebrate his first century at home.With the scoring rate accelerating, Keogh drove Andersson sweetly through midwicket to reach his second successive half-century off 112 balls and crunched Andersson through extra cover to bring up the 100 partnership and put Northamptonshire ahead. Broad then punched Blair Tickner down the ground for another boundary.Derbyshire plugged away, trying several short-term experiments to try to force a breakthrough. Andersson bowled consistently wide outside off-stump to Broad, while Aitchison reverted to bowling spin. Then for Chappell, three fielders were stationed in the area between mid-on and short midwicket.But Northamptonshire’s batters continued unabated, Keogh cutting Tickner to backward point to bring up the 150-partnership before passing the previous highest seventh-wicket stand (163) by Josh Cobb and David Willey at Derby in 2015.Frequent Northamptonshire milestones continued to keep the public address announcer busy, Keogh turning Andersson away for two to bring up his century, Broad taking a single next ball off Hawkins to reach his 150.In a scrappy passage of play before tea, Derbyshire’s tired fielders shelled three catches, but picked up one vital wicket in between. First, Keogh, on 101, swept Hawkins firmly to short midwicket where Madsen put down a straightforward chance. Then after Broad smashed Reece through extra cover, Caleb Jewell dropped one at backward point off an attempted reverse sweep.Undeterred, Broad and Keogh celebrated their 200 partnership, Broad swinging Reece for six into the sightscreen as Northamptonshire accelerated further. Broad’s 273-ball knock finally ended though when he hit Reece down the ground again but was caught just inside the ropes.George Scrimshaw won an immediate reprieve when Aitchinson failed to hold a one-handed grab at first slip off Reece. But his intentions were evident as he quickly went on the offensive against Hawkins.Tickner struck after tea castling Scrimshaw with a full and straight delivery, but Keogh found good support from Liam Guthrie (22), Northamptonshire declaring when Hawkins had the Australian caught hitting down the ground.Derbyshire’s reply started ominously when Jewell flashed outside off, Ricardo Vasconcelos snatching the ball at first slip.Promoted to opener Zak Chappell made 22 before Chahal’s double strike. First Chappell reverse swept straight to backward point, then Harry Came was lbw playing back to a slider. Finally skipper Wayne Madsen edged Keogh to Broad at first slip to further compound Derbyshire’s woes.

تواجد فريق بيراميدز ضمن القائمة المختصرة الخاصة بـ جائزة أفضل نادي في قارة أفريقيا لعام 2025، الصادرة عن الاتحاد الإفريقي لكرة القدم “كاف”.

ومن المنتظر أن يُعلن الاتحاد الإفريقي عن الفائز بالجائزة خلال الحفل السنوي لتوزيع جوائز “كاف”، والذي سيُقام في العاصمة المغربية الرباط يوم 19 نوفمبر الجاري.

وأخطر كاف مسؤولي نادي بيراميدز بتواجدهم ضمن القائمة المختصرة للفوز بجائزة أفضل نادي في قارة إفريقيا لعام 2025.

ولم يتم الإعلان حتى الآن عن القائمة المختصرة النهائية لجائزة أفضل نادي في إفريقيا، ولكن بيراميدز تلقى إخطارًا بتواجده بها فقط.

وكان الكاف أعلن في وقت سابق اختيار بيراميدز على رأس الأندية المرشحة للفوز بجائزة أفضل نادي في القارة بعد الإنجازات والبطولات العديدة التي حققها النادي السماوي.

اقرأ أيضاً.. بيراميدز يتفوق على الأهلي.. الاتحاد الدولي للتاريخ والإحصاء يعلن تصنيف الأندية

وخلال عام 2025، توج نادي بيراميدز بلقب دوري أبطال إفريقيا، قبل الفوز بلقب كأس القارات الثلاث لبطولة كأس الإنتركونتيننتال وتأهل للدور نصف النهائي، قبل أن يتوج بلقب كأس السوبر الأفريقي، ويحتل حاليًا صدارة التصنيف قاريًا وعربيًا.

MatériaMais Notícias

O jogo entre Criciúma e ABC representa dois lados completamente opostos na tabela. O time catarinense é o atual 6º colocado com 57 pontos e busca uma vitória para se manter vivo na briga pela vaga na Série A. Já o ABC, é o lanterna da competição, com o número impressionante de três vitórias na competição e 21 pontos somados.

➡️ Siga o Lance! no WhatsApp e acompanhe em tempo real as principais notícias do esporte

LUTA EM BUSCA DO ACESSO

Em um confronto crucial, o Criciúma espera manter a sequência de vitórias, diante do ABC. A equipe, em boa fase, busca uma posição no G-4, aproveitando a oportunidade para aumentar sua pontuação e consolidar seu caminho para o acesso à Série A. Com um desempenho consistente nas últimas partidas, o Criciúma enfrenta o time de Natal-RN com a confiança de manter sua sequência invicta e seguir firme na busca pelo acesso.

SEM MOTIVOS PARA COMEMORAR

Por outro lado, o ABC, situado na 20ª colocação com 21 pontos, já está matematicamente rebaixado. Com apenas três vitórias ao longo do campeonato, a equipe potiguar busca terminar o campeonato de forma digna. Nesse sentido, no jogo contra o Criciúma, o ABC precisa superar as adversidades e aproveitar cada oportunidade para buscar uma vitória que pode confortar o coração do torcedores.

FICHA TÉCNICA
Criciúma x ABC
35ª rodada da Série B

Data e horário: terça-feira, 7 de novembro de 2023, às 19h30 (de Brasília)
Local: Estádio Heriberto Hülse, em Criciúma (SC)
Onde assistir: SporTV (TV fechada) e Premiere (pay-per-view)

PROVÁVEIS ESCALAÇÕES
Criciúma (Técnico: Claudio Tencati) Gustavo; Claudinho, Walisson Maia, Rodrigo e Marcelo Hermes; Arilson, Léo Costa (Miqueias), Fellipe Mateus e Marquinhos Gabriel; Hygor e Eder.

Desfalques: Barreto

CRB (Técnico: Argel Fuchs) Michael, Gedeilson, Habraão, Fabrício e Jhonnathan; Daniel, Ramon e Matheus Anjos; Andrey, Anderson Cordeiro e Paulo Sérgio.

Desfalques: Wellington Reis

The Pakistan players remained at the hotel beyond the scheduled departure time until they were given the go-ahead by the PCB from Lahore to leave for the venue

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Sep-2025

The ICC has retained former Zimbabwe batter Andy Pycroft as the match referee for Pakistan’s must-win fixture against UAE in the Asia Cup on Wednesday. It did so despite the PCB’s insistence on having him removed, an insistence which eventually delayed the start of the game by an hour; there had been worries through the day that Pakistan may pull out of the game and tournament altogether. The match eventually began, the PCB claiming Pycroft apologised for the “miscommunication” in the India-Pakistan game on Sunday that led to the handshake controversy.The PCB issued the apology statement minutes before the delayed toss at 7pm local time, though by then it had been confirmed that the game was going ahead.”Andy Pycroft had barred the captains of India and Pakistan from shaking hands during their match,” the statement said. “The Pakistan Cricket Board had strongly reacted to Andy Pycroft’s actions. Andy Pycroft termed the September 14 incident a result of miscommunication and apologised. The ICC has expressed its willingness to conduct an inquiry into the code of conduct violation that occurred during the September 14 match.”Once the match between Pakistan and UAE had begun, the PCB and ACC head Mohsin Naqvi held a press conference where he said there had been a “crisis” following the India-Pakistan match on September 14. “We requested the ICC to do an inquiry on the code of conduct violations on 14th September,” he said. “Politics and cricket shouldn’t be mixed. Leave cricket as a sport.”It brought to an end days of uncertainty during which Pakistan cancelled their pre-game press conference on Tuesday, though the subsequent training session went ahead as planned. Later that evening, around midnight, the PCB issued a statement that said “consultations were underway” regarding Pakistan’s participation in the Asia Cup as the fallout from the handshake controversy after their loss to India continued. The board said a decision would be taken keeping the “interest of Pakistan” in mind.On Wednesday, there was fevered speculation of what the PCB might do ahead of the game against UAE. The first signs of trouble came in the afternoon, when the Pakistan players were told to stay at their hotel beyond their scheduled departure at 4.30 pm local time. At the same time came news that Naqvi would announce a decision in a press conference in Lahore. Soon it emerged that Naqvi had invited former PCB heads Ramiz Raja and Najam Sethi to Gaddafi Stadium to discuss the situation. The PCB did not expand on what decision they reached but Naqvi eventually announced at 5.45 pm local time that the Pakistan team had been told to leave for the venue. They arrived just before 6.30 pm, with the toss scheduled for 7pm and the start for 7.30 pm.The PCB had blamed Pycroft following the conclusion of Sunday’s clash between India and Pakistan, during which the Indian players refused to shake hands with the Pakistanis at the toss and at the end of the game. Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha skipped the post-match presentation in protest, though the coach Mike Hesson did appear at the post-game press conference.The PCB claimed Pycroft had told Agha that there would be no handshakes at the toss, which it argued in its complaint was in breach not only of the Spirit of Cricket but also of the ICC’s code of conduct regulations. In the complaint to the ICC general manager Wasim Khan, the PCB insisted that he be removed from the remaining Asia Cup fixtures. ESPNcricinfo understands the ICC rejected that request and conveyed it to the board the following day, though discussions between them and the PCB continued.Soon after they put out the statement claiming Pycroft had apologised, the PCB also released a video of the meeting in which Pakistan’s manager Naveed Akram Cheema, captain Agha and coach Hesson are seen talking to Pycroft, with the ICC’s Wasim Khan also in attendance.

يواجه فريق الكرة الأول بنادي بيراميدز نظيره ريفرز يونايتد النيجيري في الجولة الأولى من دور المجموعات من بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا. 

وكان بيراميدز قد صعد إلى دور المجموعات من بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا، عقب تخطيه التأمين الإثيوبي في دور الـ32.

ويقع بيراميدز في المجموعة الأولى من دوري أبطال إفريقيا رفقة فرق باور دينامو ونهضة بركان وريفرز يونايتد. 

طالع.. قائمة بيراميدز لمباراة ريفرز النيجيري في دوري أبطال إفريقيا

جدير بالذكر أن بيراميدز هو حامل لقب دوري أبطال إفريقيا النسخة الماضية على حساب صن داونز الجنوب إفريقي للمرة الأولى في تاريخه.  موعد مباراة بيراميدز وريفرز يونايتد اليوم في دوري أبطال إفريقيا 

وستنطلق مباراة بيراميدز أمام ريفرز يونايتد النيجيري، في تمام الساعة التاسعة من مساء اليوم السبت بتوقيت القاهرة، العاشرة مساء بتوقيت السعودية، على ملعب “الدفاع الجوي”. القنوات الناقلة لمباراة بيراميدز وريفرز يونايتد اليوم 

تذاع مباراة بيراميدز وريفرز يونايتد النيجيري على شبكة قنوات “بي إن سبورتس”، بالإضافة إلى قناة “أون تايم سبورت” على التردد الأرضي.

ويُمكنكم متابعة أحداث مباريات اليوم لحظة بلحظة من مركز المباريات من هنـــا 

Liverpool know that things need to improve when club football returns this weekend.

The final international break of the calendar year has offered a welcome reprieve for Arne Slot and co following the dour 3-0 defeat at Manchester City, stunting any hopes of short-lived growth and condemning the champions to five defeats from six Premier League matches.

Concerning stuff, to be sure. Liverpool were outthought and outfought, a common theme that must not be given another through line over the winter months, with the Reds sat in eighth place and already such a far cry away from table-topping Arsenal.

Despite the record-breaking summer of spending, Liverpool need some more attacking inspiration from out wide.

It was a mistake not to directly replace Luis Diaz after his £66.5m move to Bayern Munich, but sporting director Richard Hughes is now looking to rectify that.

Liverpool chasing Semenyo upgrade

It has emerged this week that Bournemouth talisman Antoine Semenyo has a £65m release clause. The versatile Ghanaian forward’s buyout option will diminish further at the end of the campaign.

Liverpool are among the frontrunners for his signature, though Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur have also been credited with an interest.

Competition will be thick, and according to Spanish sources, Liverpool have earmarked an alternative who might actually prove an upgrade on Semenyo in Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior.

It is claimed that, with the 25-year-old currently in the penultimate year of his Los Blancos contract and without a renewal in sight, suitors such as Liverpool smell blood, with the Reds believed to be willing to submit an £88m offer to prise him away from Spain.

Vinicius Jr is one of the finest forwards in the world, and he would certainly be worth chasing over Semenyo, even at a more expensive outlay.

How Vinicius Junior compares to Semenyo in 2025/26

Semenyo is a special athlete, and he has been one of the Premier League’s most dangerous players under Andoni Iraola’s wing at Bournemouth this season.

However, Vinicius Jr is among the finest in the world, and the murmurs of discontent at Real Madrid suggest a transfer to a club such as Liverpool might not be as far-fetched as it might seem.

Brazil boss Carlo Ancelotti said that his protege is “unstoppable” when on his A-game, and with 111 goals and 87 assists across 338 senior showings with Real Madrid, this certainly looks to be the case.

This is a man who is made for the big moments, having scored in two successful Champions League finals at Madrid.

He is a cut above someone like Semenyo, who is endowed with such athleticism and pace and power across both wings, but lacks the proof of elite-level performances that Vini has been producing since he burst onto the scene as a teenager.

It would not be unfair to say that Real Madrid’s mercurial winger has been out of sorts this season, and yet he has still maintained a level that would be considered top-notch for most other players.

League Stats 25/26 – Semenyo vs Vinicius Jr

Stats (* per game)

Semenyo

Vini Jr

Matches (starts)

11 (11)

12 (10)

Goals

6

5

Assists

3

4

Shots (on target)*

2.1 (1.3)

2.8 (1.3)

Big chances missed

5

5

Accurate passes

19.8 (77%)

28.4 (82%)

Chances created*

1.0

2.3

Succ. dribbles*

1.9

2.5

Tackles*

1.6

1.3

Duels won*

6.5

6.0

Data via Sofascore

This is Vinicius Jr we are talking about. This is a player that Liverpool knows well.

Described as “the best player in the world” by his Real teammate Jude Bellingham, the South American would light the Premier League up and offer a new dimension to Slot’s Liverpool team.

Semenyo would also be a fine addition, but Vinicius Jr is quite simply on another level.

Related Bad for Wirtz: Liverpool plan serious bid to sign future big-money superstar

Liverpool are looking for ways to add creativity to Arne Slot’s team.

Posts ByAngus Sinclair Nov 18, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

O presidente do Corinthians, Augusto Melo, e o diretor de futebol, Rubens Gomes, vão viajar na próxima semana para a Europa em busca de reforços para o Timão. A dupla espera deixar o Brasil com uma definição envolvendo Matheuzinho e Pedro Raul, e mira mais três reforços para fechar o elenco.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasOnde AssistirSão Bernardo x Corinthians: onde assistir, escalações e horário do jogo do PaulistãoOnde Assistir27/01/2024NotíciasPaulistão: como foram os últimos jogos entre São Bernardo e Corinthians?Notícias27/01/2024Fora de CampoÍdolo do Corinthians anuncia oficialmente sua aposentadoria; saiba próximos passosFora de Campo26/01/2024

➡️ Siga o Lance! no WhatsApp e acompanhe em tempo real as principais notícias do esporte

Após desistir do empréstimo, o Timão enviou uma proposta de 3 milhões de euros (R$ 16,1 milhões na cotação atual) ao Flamengo para contratar Matheuzinho. Caso o lateral cumpra metas estabelecidas no contrato, o Corinthians desembolsaria mais 1 milhão de euros (R$ 5,37 milhões) ao Rubro-Negro. Porém, o Botafogo monitora a situação do atleta e pode apresentar uma oferta ao rival.

A situação com Pedro Raul é mais complexa. O Toluca cedeu nas negociações e topou negociar o centroavante, mas deseja recuperar os 5 milhões de dólares (R$ 24,5 milhões na cotação atual) investidos no atleta. A diretoria conta com a vontade do atacante em atuar no Corinthians para concluir a negociação.

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Caso consiga fechar com Matheuzinho e Pedro Raul, a diretoria do Corinthians irá priorizar um atacante de velocidade. O clube também busca um zagueiro após a saída de Lucas Veríssimo, e deseja um volante para fechar o elenco.

➡️ Veja os grupos e datas dos confrontos no Paulistão

+ Corinthians

Tudo sobre

CorinthiansPedro Raul

Despite registering an assist against Nottingham Forest, Leeds United attacker Brenden Aaronson has struggled to find his best form this season. Indeed, that strike he set up at the City Ground was only the second time in 2025/26 he’s chipped in with a goal or assist, despite playing 11 Premier League games.

It might not be a surprise to see the United States international struggling for form in the Premier League. Despite a dominant season in the Championship last term, former Leeds man Jon Newsome told BBC Radio Leeds that he doesn’t think he is “good enough to play in the Leeds United team.”

With Aaronson’s poor form continuing, it might lead Daniel Farke to look at alternative options on the right wing against Aston Villa.

Farke's options to replace Aaronson

One candidate to replace the American international against Villa is Wilfried Gnonto. The 22-year-old Italian is on the cusp of returning from a calf injury which has kept him out for most of the season, but Farke confirmed pre-match that his side have “not one player injured” this weekend.

Assuming the former Inter winger is back, he could get some involvement this weekend. Last term, Gnonto was excellent, scoring nine goals and assisting six in 43 second-tier games, and his direct nature could offer a new threat for Leeds.

However, given his recent fitness issues, this game may have come too soon for him to start.

An alternative option could be Jack Harrison. The 29-year-old Englishman has had a bit-part role this season in the Premier League, playing ten games, but featuring for just 262 minutes in total.

He is a player who certainly splits opinion at Elland Road. The former Everton loanee returned to the club this season after two years on Merseyside. He was not given a warm reception upon that return, though, and was booed by fans in preseason.

With Gnonto’s lack of game time and Harrison’s lack of form, there could be an ideal alternative to replace Aaronson.

Farke’s perfect Aaronson replacement

It would certainly be a fair call if Farke were to drop Aaronson from the side against Villa. He has struggled to have a real impact on the Leeds side this season, and has left a little to be desired creatively.

If the American were to be dropped from the side against the Villans, the man who could replace him is Daniel James. The Wales international has also not been fully fit this season, having racked up just eight Premier League appearances.

Yet, he played an hour for Wales over the last week as they beat Liechtenstein, a game in which he grabbed an assist, and North Macedonia, against whom he scored.

He is back fit and firing and in good form, which is a huge positive for Farke and Leeds.

Despite a lack of involvement this term, the former Manchester United star has previously impressed for the West Yorkshire side. In their Championship title win last term, he chipped in with a strong tally of 12 goals and nine assists in just 36 appearances.

He averaged 0.72 goal involvements per 90 minutes, which ranked him in the top 2% of Championship attackers.

James – 24/25 Championship stats

Stat (per 90)

Number

Percentile

Goals and assists

0.72

98th

Passes into penalty area

2.17

97th

Crosses into penalty area

0.9

96th

Goal-creating actions

0.52

90th

Progressive carries

4.04

87th

Stats from FBref

The Welsh international could hurt Villa in transition, too. It is no secret that he is lightning fast, with a top speed of 31kph, according to Speeds Database. Well, if Leeds decide to sit in a low block and hit Unai Emery’s side on the counterattack, James could be imperative to executing those fast transitional moments.

Statman Dave once described the 28-year-old as someone who is “unstoppable on the break.” If Leeds do decide their best way of winning is to try and hit the Villans on the counter, his pace and recent form in the final third could be pivotal.

It would be a bold call for Farke to drop one of his most trusted lieutenants in Aaronson, but James has the skillset to really hurt Villa and help his side pick up a huge win in dire circumstances.

Related Leeds flop is turning into an even bigger waste of money than Illan Meslier

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Posts ByKelan Sarson Nov 20, 2025

استنكر تشابي ألونسو مدرب ريال مدريد، تقنية الفار خلال المباراة أمام جيرونا، بسبب ركلة جزاء محتملة لم تحتسب لصالح فريقه، وشدد على ضرورة الفوز في المباراة القادمة أمام أتلتيك بلباو.

وتعادل ريال مدريد بهدف لمثله أمام جيرونا في الجولة الرابعة عشر للدوري الإسباني، خارج أرضه، ويتواجد في المركز الثاني بفارق نقطة خلف برشلونة المتصدر.

وقال تشابي في تصريحات نشرتها صحيفة “ماركا” الإسبانية: “هناك مراحل مختلفة في الموسم، في البداية، كنا ثابتين في مستوانا خارج أرضنا، كانت المباريات القليلة الماضية مختلفة، كان الشوط الثاني أفضل بكثير من الأول، تمكنا من العودة”.

وأضاف: “كان الفريق متحمسًا لتجاوز تأخره بهدف نظيف، أتيحت لنا ثلاث أو أربع فرص سانحة لتسجيل الهدف الثاني والفوز، علينا الحفاظ على المستوى العالي الذي يتميز به اللعب مع ريال مدريد، وهذا موسم طويل”.

وواصل تشابي: “ليس لدي أي شكوى بشأن اللاعبين، فقد كان رد فعلهم جيدًا، بدون توجيه لوم، علينا الحفاظ على هذه الوحدة، مع نقد ذاتي كافٍ وضروري، والرغبة في الفوز خارج أرضنا”.

وتابع: “مع هذا الجدول الذي منحنا هذا العدد الكبير من المباريات، لدينا الفرصة لتحقيق ذلك يوم الأربعاء في بلباو، والعودة لتحقيق الانتصار خارج الديار، الترتيب سيشهد الكثير من التقلبات، وسيصبح متقاربًا جدًا”.

اقرأ أيضًا | رجل مباراة ريال مدريد وجيرونا في الدوري الإسباني

وأردف: “افتقرنا إلى القدرة على الهيمنة لفترات أطول، هذا ما نريده، علينا أن نحلل سبب عدم قدرتنا على تحقيق ذلك، لماذا لم نتمكن من ذلك منذ البداية؟”.

وشدد: “إنها فرصة للفوز خارج أرضنا في سان ماميس، لا تزال هناك تقلبات كثيرة في ترتيب الدوري، إنه وقت مناسب للفوز في بلباو، نحن بحاجة إليه وسنسعى إليه”.

وعن وجود ركلة جزاء محتملة لصالح رودريجو، أتم: “من المدهش أن تقنية الفيديو المساعد لم تُراجعها، كانت لعبة يجب مراجعتها، هذه ألعاب حاسمة قد تُغير مجرى المباراة، لم أشاهدها، ولكن قيل لي إنه كان هناك تلامس”.