Manchester United’s run of three wins in a row came to an end away to Nottingham Forest.

The Red Devils were held 2-2 by Sean Dyche’s side. A late goal ensured that Ruben Amorim’s side will travel back up to Manchester with a point.

It was the Red Devils who took the lead in the first half. United midfielder Casemiro got himself on the scoresheet for a second consecutive game, this time scoring a header from a corner, delivered by Bruno Fernandes.

Despite going into the break 1-0 up, United were soon trailing. Within five minutes of the restart, Forest took the lead. Morgan Gibbs-White headed home a cross from Rob Yates before Nicolo Savona got on the end of a scrap in the penalty box and tapped in from yards out.

It needed something special for United to find an equaliser, and luckily, that was provided to them by Amad. The Ivorian winger sweetly struck a volley from the edge of the area on his left foot, with his first-time effort nestling into the back of the net.

Despite the result, Casemiro’s performance will certainly please Amorim.

Casemiro's performance vs. Forest

Brazil international Casemiro has enjoyed a spectacular rejuvenation under Amorim. Once told to “leave the football before the football leaves you” by Jamie Carragher, United’s number 18 showed at the City Ground why he is such a key player.

After his goal and assist against Brighton last weekend, the experienced midfielder was back in the goals. His header came relatively unchallenged from Fernandes’ corner, although there is a debate as to whether or not a corner was the right decision. It is not clear that the ball went out.

His numbers across the game show how well he played. Casemiro completed 82% of his passes and created an impressive three chances. The former Real Madrid star also won 10 duels and three out of three tackles.

Steven Railston, Red Devils journalist for the Manchester Evening News, gave United’s midfield general a 6/0 for his efforts. He noted the “brilliant” goal and explained that it was his first 90 minutes of the season in the top flight.

Casemiro’s performance was certainly an impressive one. He has been able to turn his career under Amroim around and is now a key player.

However, he is not the only player in that mould who stood out at the City Ground.

Another Man Utd star has revived his career

There were certainly some strong performers in a United shirt despite the fact that they could only manage a draw in Nottingham. Casemiro was, of course, one of those players, and he ended up scoring a crucial goal.

At the other end of the pitch, it was another experienced player who stood out for the Red Devils. Luke Shaw has enjoyed a huge rejuvenation under Amorim this season, too, and his performance against Forest was commanding.

Operating in that left centre-back role once again, the England international was excellent off the ball, winning seven duels from nine attempted. As you would expect from a player with his technical quality, Shaw completed 61 out of 67 passes.

Touches

79

Pass accuracy

91%

Passes completed

61/67

Opposition half passes completed

26/31

Ground duels won

4/5

Aerial duels won

3/4

Tackles won

3/3

One person who saw how well Shaw played against the men in Garibaldi Red was United fan channel host Mark Goldbridge. He said the Red Devils’ number 23 was the “best player on the pitch” in the first half.

That certainly sums up how well the England defender performed at the City Ground. He was excellent off the ball and offered great progression when he had it. After a tough season with injury last year, the United defender has shone in 2025/26.

Shaw has certainly turned his career under Amorim around, becoming a key part of his back three. The game against Forest was a prime example of his class.

Amorim has homegrown Wharton in Man Utd star who had a "meteoric rise"

Manchester United may already have their own version of Adam Wharton at the club.

ByDan Emery Oct 31, 2025

Robert Lewandowski is approaching a defining moment in his career, as the Barcelona striker’s contract expires in June 2026 and while his priority is to stay, the club has yet to make a decision on whether to offer him an extension. Saudi Arabia is not an attractive option, and if Barcelona close the door, retirement is now a genuine possibility for the legendary goalscorer.

Lewandowski's future remains a mystery

The veteran striker Lewa has reached a crossroads, as his contract runs until June 2026, but Barca have not yet committed to extending or redefining his role, leaving one of Europe’s most iconic strikers in an unusual position of waiting. Despite a reduced role this season, Lewandowski remains Barca’s top scorer in La Liga with seven goals, ahead of Fermin Lopez, Lamine Yamall and Ferran Torres, proving his efficiency even in limited minutes.

According to a , inside the club offices, there are contrasting evaluations. On one hand, Lewandowski’s continued scoring gives Barca guaranteed quality and leadership. On the other, his departure would free up huge salary space to sign the long-term No.9 the club has been scouting across Europe.

For the Polish international and his family, the preference is clearly to remain in Barcelona. They feel settled in the city and deeply connected to the environment. Moving to Saudi Arabia for a massive contract has not been appealing to him, as per the report, his priority is both competitive level and lifestyle stability. However, the club’s planning is tied to financial structure as much as sporting performance, meaning the coming months will be decisive.

AdvertisementStriker fine with reduced role under Hansi Flick

The 37-year-old does not expect to keep star status or the symbolic leadership role in the dressing room. Instead, he is open to adapting his responsibilities, taking fewer minutes, and even accepting a substitute role if a new striker arrives to lead the project.

His aim is to remain competitive at the highest level, contributing in decisive phases, winning duels in the box and closing the circle of his journey at the club he joined in 2022 with the goal of conquering Spain. The Poland captain views the evolving situation pragmatically, as he will assess his body, performance and the sporting project across this season before making any final judgment.

The club, meanwhile, insist there is time and that no decision will be rushed. Executives point to the second half of the season as the real measure: his influence in big games, physical consistency, and the team’s direction under Hansi Flick will all shape the outcome.

New records and numbers strengthening his case

Lewandowski has continued to produce and, in doing so, has strengthened his argument for staying. His recent hat-trick against Celta Vigo took him to 106 Barcelona goals in just 159 appearances, passing Neymar in the club’s all-time scoring list. He remains within reach of the top 10, a remarkable feat for a player who joined the club in his mid-thirties.

Last season was his best in terms of output at Barca, with 42 goals in 52 matches. This season’s return of seven goals in nine La Liga matches shows he continues to convert chances with elite efficiency. For a club seeking stability upfront while it rebuilds around young players, Lewa continues to offer reliability.

However, the financial reality remains difficult to ignore, shedding his salary next summer would allow Barca to accelerate the signing of their striker of the future. Dusan Vlahovic, Julian Alvarez and Levante prospect Karl Etta Eyong are reportedly among the profiles being monitored.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

AFPIs retirement now a real possibility?

While discussions continue, an unexpected reality has emerged, if Barcelona decide not to renew and no external offer meets both his competitive standards and personal priorities, retirement is a genuine option. 

Should he choose to stop, it would be on his own terms, rather than being pushed out by decline or forced into a league he does not believe aligns with where he wants his career to end. For him, the decision is not about one more contract, but about the value of exiting the game as he entered it: sharp, respected, and fully competitive.

The outcome will likely rest on performance and fitness across the second half of the campaign, but if Lewandowski continues scoring at his current rate, the club will face strong pressure to retain him in a reduced but meaningful role. If form dips, Barcelona may consider an earlier transition.

Meanwhile, the interest from Saudi will remain, and European suitors will wait to see if Barcelona step back. For now, Lewandowski continues to let the football speak. And for now, the goals keep coming.

It’s an excellent time to be an Arsenal fan at the moment.

Mikel Arteta’s side are four for four in the Champions League, through to the next round in the League Cup and top of the Premier League.

However, the North Londoners still have their problems, such as the growing number of injuries.

Moreover, Arteta now has to make do without summer signing Viktor Gyokeres, although the good news is that he has a solution in Arsenal’s best finisher since Robin van Persie.

Arsenal's solutions to Gyokeres' injruy

With Kai Havertz still out and Gabriel Jesus only just returning to first-team training, Arteta can get a little creative with his Gyokeres replacement.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

One option could be moving Leandro Trossard into the middle, as, unlike last season, he seems to be getting back to his dangerous best.

In fact, the Belgian international has already amassed an impressive tally of three goals and four assists for the side in 13 appearances.

Moreover, while the 30-year-old is primarily a winger, he’s no stranger to playing up top, having done so 49 times across his career.

However, should the manager wish to keep Trossard on the right, he could go with an even bolder choice: starting Ethan Nwaneri up top.

After all, only last season he told the press that the youngster “can play as a right winger and there is another position I think he can develop into – No9.”

Moreover, with an impressive tally of nine goals and two assists in just 1378 minutes last season, the teenager clearly has an eye for goal that’s hard to teach.

However, while Trossard and Nwaneri would probably do a fine job leading the line for a game, there is another player Arteta will almost certainly turn to, a player who could be looked at as Arsenal’s best finisher since Van Persie.

Arsenal's best finisher

While he does have a few options at his disposal, it seems almost certain that Arteta will opt to play Mikel Merino up top against Sunderland.

After all, over the last year or so, the Spaniard has put forward a very good case for him being the club’s best finisher since Van Persie.

Now, that is not to say that he’s been the best centre-forward since the Dutchman, as he hasn’t and wouldn’t even claim to be one.

However, his quality of finishing is superb, and his utterly outrageous catalogue of goals proves as much.

For example, in his very first game as the side’s striker, against Leicester City last season, he scored an excellent header and another one-touch finish into the bottom corner.

Then, at home to Real Madrid in the Champions League, he once again scored a sensational one-touch goal, but this time from the edge of the penalty area.

In fact, when looking back on the goals he has scored for the club, it becomes apparent that he’s at his very best when he has less time to think and has to finish with a single touch.

Fortunately for him and the rest of the team, he is something of a “magnet in the box,” per Arsenal writer Adam Keys, and so he often has just one opportunity to bury a chance.

Ultimately, it might sound hyperbolic, and Arteta won’t want him playing up top for much longer, but it’s hard to deny that Merino currently looks like Arsenal’s best finisher since Van Persie.

Arsenal have their next Xhaka who's one of the best in "world football"

The international gem could end up being an even better version of Xhaka for Arsenal and Arteta.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 7, 2025

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

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay31-Jul-2025

Rob Keogh made a fine century in a 208-run stand for the seventh wicket•Getty Images

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.

Ed Barnard rewarded for saving follow-on with unbeaten century

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay01-Aug-2025 Warwickshire 485 (Barnard 108*, Bamber 107, Mousley 75, Davies 52, Critchley 5-171) drew with Essex 602 for 6 dec (Westley 134, Allison 133, Pepper 107*, Walter 86) and 96 for 1 Tom Westley passed fifty for the fifth time in eight Rothesay County Championship innings before rain arrived at Chelmsford to confirm the inevitable draw between Essex and Warwickshire.The rejuvenated Essex captain was 51 not out, with seven fours in his 103-ball innings, to follow his 148 first time round. He had put on 86 in 28 overs with Paul Walter for the second wicket before umbrellas went up and the players scampered for shelter. Walter had contributed 35 to a stand that took Essex’s lead to a nominal 213.The match was effectively over as a contest late on the third evening when Ed Barnard struck the boundary that took Warwickshire past their follow-on target of 453, despite having just one wicket in hand. What had become a damp squib was officially called off at 3.25pm.The 14 points Essex gained kept them just ahead of the relegation places in Division One, while Warwickshire’s dozen points mean they are safely in mid-table.Barnard, meanwhile, gained reward for his overnight effort the morning after when he was left unbeaten on 108 in Warwickshire’s first-innings 485, 117 behind Essex’s 602-6 declared. The remarkably consistent all-rounder’s 123-ball knock took his season’s tally to 815 runs with three centuries. Matt Critchley’s marathon spell of 40 overs for Essex returned figures of 5 for 171.With Dean Elgar absent from the field since day one with a calf injury, Essex promoted Noah Thain to open their second innings. But Essex’s faith in the up-and-coming all-rounder was not fulfilled as Ethan Bamber got one to lift off the pitch and take the outside edge with only two against his name.Westley drove his first ball for four, but was fortunate when he reached 19 that a diving Kai Smith could not cling on to a catch in Beau Webster’s first over.Westley reached his fifty from 103 balls, clipping Hannon-Dalby past an unusual legside field comprising six fielders in a semi-circle between short mid-on and square leg. It turned out to be the last meaningful action before rain set in a 2.24pm.Walter had been comparatively subdued at the other end, though he did strike two boundaries in the last over before lunch that brought up the fifty partnership from a leisurely 18 overs.Barnard, 90 not out overnight, had become the game’s fifth century-maker when he swept Critchley for four from the 114th ball he faced. He had already launched the leg-spinner over midwicket for six during the 23 minutes that Warwickshire’s first innings extended into the fourth morning.Oliver Hannon-Dalby had kept Barnard company the previous evening when the ninth-wicket pair ensured Warwickshire moved safely beyond the follow-on mark. He remained unfazed for 27 balls in total, 15 in the morning, before Westley introduced his occasional off-breaks and had the No11 lbw with his fourth delivery.

West Ham striker Niclas Füllkrug is facing his final two months at the club, amid credible reports that the injury-prone forward is eyeing a January exit.

Fullkrug, who missed 28 games for club and country combined last season, has looked more and more like yet another torrid centre-forward investment by David Sullivan, Karren Brady and the Hammers board since his £27 million arrival from Borussia Dortmund last year.

Achilles tendon

08/09/2024

02/12/2024

16

Hamstring injury

11/01/2025

01/04/2025

12

The 32-year-old’s stay in east London has been marred by constant fitness issues and a struggle to adapt to Premier League football, with his stellar Euros and 16-goal haul for Dortmund at the end of 23/24 seeming like a lifetime ago.

Fullkrug’s managed three goals and two assists in 27 total appearances for West Ham when he has been available, but even that return is uninspiring at best.

Nuno Espirito Santo is poised to welcome Fullkrug back from his latest injury after the November international break, according to reliable club insider ExWHUemployee, but the former Bundesliga star may not be donning Claret and Blue for too long afterwards.

Supporters and critics alike held hope that Nuno could inspire a ‘Chris Wood-esque’ transformation for Fullkrug.

However, as backed up by Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, the number nine has already decided to depart Rush Green once the transfer window reopens at the turn of the year.

The main questions now are: who would buy Fullkrug given his injury record, who could West Ham sign to replace him, how much money could the London side realistically recoup from his sale and what are the key conditions of his departure?

Well, as per an unnamed football agent, at least one of these queries has been answered.

West Ham set out key Niclas Füllkrug transfer condition before January

Speaking to West Ham insider Claret & Hugh, the mystery representative explained that, while the Hammers are actively looking to find him a new club, West Ham will not let Fullkrug leave at all unless they source a replacement first.

The attacker was brought in with high hopes of ending West Ham’s long line of failed striker signings, but Fullkrug actually ended up being one of their more disappointing buys in that area.

Right now, Nuno has precious few alternatives, with fellow injury-prone ace Callum Wilson and youngster Callum Marshall standing out as their only natural options.

West Ham’s boss experimented with Lucas Paqueta as the false nine against Brentford and Leeds to no avail, prompting him to start Wilson against his former club Newcastle last weekend as the Irons won their first home game of the season.

Even if they can’t find a buyer for Fullkrug, West Ham simply must bring in a number nine when the winter window opens, and it is believed that they’ve reached out to former Brentford star Ivan Toney over a potential loan to buy deal.

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.

Gloucestershire 289 for 5 (Bancroft 143*) beat Glamorgan 288 for 9 (Byrom 94, Northeast 52, van Buuren 3-33) by five wicketsCameron Bancroft scored a superbly-judged unbeaten hundred to guide Gloucestershire to a convincing five-wicket victory over Glamorgan and extend their winning start to the Metro Bank One-Day Cup campaign to four games at Bristol’s Seat Unique Stadium.Set 290 to win and retain top spot in Group A, Gloucestershire were indebted to their overseas star, who carried his bat in posting 143 from 144 balls, striking 17 fours and two sixes and sharing in stands of 72 and 84 with Ben Charlesworth and Graeme van Buuren for the third and fifth wickets respectively as the home side reached their target with 20 balls to spare.Recalled to the team, allrounder van Buuren had earlier claimed 3 for 33 with the ball to ensure Eddie Byrom’s outstanding innings of 94 from 108 balls was made in a losing cause. Byrom staged a stand of 127 in 22.1 overs for the second wicket with Sam Northeast, who raised a 59-ball 52 after Gloucestershire had won the toss. Dan Douthwaite weighed in with a hard-hitting 43, but seamers Matt Taylor and Josh Shaw took three wickets apiece to restrict the Welsh county to 289 for 9.Gloucestershire remain the only side to boast a 100 percent record after four matches, but 2024 competition winners Glamorgan are still seeking their first victory and will have to win all of their remaining fixtures if they are to stand any chance of making the knockout stages.Gloucestershire inserted their neighbours on a flat surface and Matt Taylor struck an early blow, luring Asa Tribe into driving low to mid-off in the second over.Initially tied down by nagging line and length, Byrom and Northeast eventually broke the shackles, both heaving Taylor over the mid-wicket boundary rope as their alliance raised 50 in 49 balls.Gloucestershire engineered an opportunity with the advent of Ollie Price’s off-breaks, Northeast hitting to deep midwicket on 19. Although Zaman Akhter took the catch, his momentum carried him over the boundary and the batter enjoyed a fortuitous escape. There were no such issues for Byrom, who moved smoothly to a 46-ball half-century with his seventh four, a fluent straight drive off Craig Miles.The hundred partnership occupied 16.4 overs as Gloucestershire’s seamers struggled to contain the second-wicket pair, who were further aided by some uncharacteristically loose fielding from the Group A leaders. Making good his earlier escape, Northeast posted 50 from 57 balls, only to give van Buuren’s slow left arm the charge and be stumped by James Bracey immediately afterwards with the score 135 for 2.This was the breakthrough Gloucestershire had been wanting and experienced allrounder van Buuren then removed the in-form Kiran Carlson for nine in his next over, Glamorgan’s captain nicking behind as the visitors slipped to 151 for 3 at the halfway stage. Welsh ambition required Byrom to bat on and register a substantial score, but the Zimbabwe-born left-hander fell to a superb catch by Tommy Boorman on the deep square leg boundary as van Buuren struck another potentially crucial blow.Byrom had provided the innings with a solid platform but with the score 194 for 4 in the 35th, Gloucestershire felt they were back in the game, an impression confirmed when Will Smale edged a catch behind off the bowling of Matt Taylor and departed for 26.Just when Glamorgan looked as though they might fall short, Douthwaite launched a counter-attack, including four sixes and dominating a stand of 52 in 7.2 over for the sixth wicket with Zain-ul-Hassan before falling to the returning Shaw.Bracey afforded Gloucestershire’s chase a super-charged start, raising 34 from 25 balls in an opening stand of 43 in 5.3 overs with Bancroft. But Ned Leonard redressed the balance in his first over, taking two wickets in three balls to reduce the home side to 43 for 2. Bracey was caught at the wicket and then Price was out slashing at a delivery outside off stump, Northeast palming the ball into the air for Tribe to complete the dismissal at first slip.Bancroft and Charlesworth responded to adversity in positive fashion, finding the gaps and running hard between the wickets to add 50 in 10 overs and rebuild the innings without taking undue risk. Having contributed 37 to a stand of 72 for the third wicket, Charlesworth then lost concentration, lofting Carlson to wide long-off where Douthwaite took a superb catch on the run to reduce the home side to 115 for 3 in the 20th.Undeterred, Bancroft went to 50 from 59 balls and he and Jack Taylor advanced the score to 145 for 3 at halfway, at which point Gloucestershire were required to score a further 145 at 5.8 an over. The home side’s task was rendered more difficult when Taylor was deemed to have feathered a catch behind off the bowling of Harris in the 26th.Guiding the pursuit thereafter, Bancroft moved to his sixth career List-A hundred off 100 balls by lifting Andy Gorvin over the long-on boundary. He found an able ally in van Buuren, who proved especially strong off the back foot, scoring at a run a ball to ensure the rate stayed below six an over.Glamorgan lost wicketkeeper Alex Horton to a hand injury and he was replaced behind the stumps by Smale, but Gloucestershire’s fifth-wicket pair were already in control, combining deft placement with quick running to keep the scoreboard moving. Harris returned to pin van Buuren lbw for 36, but Boorman contributed a brisk 27 not out to an unbroken stand of 57 for the sixth wicket with Bancroft to calm any nerves and render the outcome a formality.

Brazil boss Carlo Ancelotti has told Chelsea that they are 'lucky' to have a player like Estevao Willian after the teenager dazzled with a goal in the Selecao's 2-0 win over Senegal in an international friendly on Saturday. The Blues wonderkid and Manchester United midfielder Casemiro were on target as the five-time world champions secured the victory.

• Estevao stars in Brazil victory

  Brazil handed Senegal their first defeat in over two years as they beat the African giants 2-0 at Emirates Stadium on Saturday, courtesy of goals from Estevao and Casemiro. United's star forward Matheus Cunha hit the woodwork twice before Estevao broke the deadlock around the half-hour mark.

  Casemiro then doubled his team's lead minutes later as he finished off a free-kick from Rodrygo. It was a stellar performance from the five-time world champions, who have now won four out of the six games they played under Ancelotti. The match also witnessed some heated moments as Arsenal's Gabriel and Tottenham's Pape Matar Sarr were forced off with injuries ahead of next week's north London derby. 

Advertisement

• Getty
  

  Ancelotti sends message to Chelsea fans

  After the game, Selecao boss Ancelotti lavished praise on Estevao for yet another impressive outing with the national team as he told reporters: "Estevao has incredible amount of talent. It’s a surprise this level at his age. He’s good at finishing, has a lot of magic… and he works very hard. I can say this: with Estevao, Brazil have a guaranteed future."

  The Italian coach added: "He’s a very talented player. He is able to show every game, in Chelsea too, and he doesn’t need a lot of minutes to show his quality. He can play five minutes and he can show his quality. I think the Brazil national team is really lucky to have him, and also Chelsea."

• Ancelotti apologises to Arsenal

  Following Gabriel's injury, which came as a major blow for Arsenal, Ancelotti apologised to the club's fans as he said of the issue: "Bad? I don't know, he had a problem on his adductor, the medical staff have to check tomorrow. We are really sorry for this, really disappointed. When players have an injury, I hope they can recover well and soon." 

  The Brazilian centre-back has displayed stellar form for the Gunners in the 2025-26 campaign, scoring two goals in all competitions. Such is the former Lille defender’s importance to the Gunners that he has featured in all 17 of their games this season, helping Mikel Arteta’s side rise to the Premier League summit in addition to being joint-leaders in the Champions League standings.

  Arteta would hope that Gabriel's injury is not too serious and he recovers in the remaining few days of the international break and returns to action by November 23 when the Gunners face Spurs in the north London derby. 

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  How is it going for Estevao?

  Estevao has appeared in 16 matches across all competitions for the Blues, although his game time has been limited as Enzo Maresca remains sceptical of giving the teenager too much exposure. The Chelsea coach, however, has always been full of praise for the youngster, as he said earlier this season: "It’s exciting to see him. The good thing about Estevao, sometimes with young players we are worried, because they have one good game and they think they are already [at the] top. Estavao, he’s playing well but he’s polite, he’s humble, he wants to learn. I think his family are also doing a big job there, so we are very happy not only with the way he’s performing. But he’s a nice boy, a good boy.

  "In the Premier League he needs a little bit more time. I think he’s more [of a] winger, but he’s going to finish playing inside the pitch, in the pockets. For me, it’s very, very similar to Cole [Palmer]. I had Cole at the same age as Estevao at [Manchester] City Under-23 and they are very similar. Cole started playing wide because he needed a bit [more] physicality; now he’s playing inside. And Estevao, they are quite similar, now he’s playing wide but in the future I think he’s more of an inside player."

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