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Principal artilheiro do Palmeiras no ano, com 16 gols, Raphael Veiga vai reencontrar nesta quinta-feira (19), a sua principal vítima nesses mais de cinco anos defendendo a camisa alviverde.

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+ Veja tabela e classificação do Brasileirão-2023 clicando aqui

O Grêmio é o time que mais sofreu gols do camisa 23 do Verdão no futebol brasileiro.

Já foram oito bolas na rede diante do tricolor gaúcho em 14 jogos, sendo um com a camisa do Coxa e os outros sete pelo Verdão.

Aliás, nesta quinta-feira, Veiga pode se tornar o jogador com mais gols sobre o Grêmio na era dos pontos corridos. Atualmente ele está atrás de Fred, D’Alessandro e André, com nove.

Além dos gols, Raphael Veiga também se especializou em dar assistências diante do Grêmio, incluindo dois passes para gols na grande final da Copa do Brasil de 2020, quando ele acabou terminando o torneio como craque da competição.

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Além de balançar as redes do time de Renato Gaúcho, Veiga nunca perdeu para o Grêmio quando marcou ou deu assistência.

+ Weverton fala sobre cobranças da torcida por causa de pênaltis e crava: ‘Uma hora eu vou pegar!’

Depois do Grêmio, o Flamengo é o segundo time que mais sofreu gols de Raphael Veiga, com sete gols sofridos.

أثار جوسيب ستانيسيتش، لاعب الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي بايرن ميونخ غضب جماهير باريس سان جيرمان بعد تصريحاته الساخرة من إصابة أشرف حكيمي.

واستضاف ملعب “حديقة الأمراء” مباراة باريس سان جيرمان وبايرن ميونخ، في إطار منافسات الجولة الرابعة من مرحلة الدوري لبطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.

وحقق بايرن ميونخ فوزًا رائعًا أمام باريس سان جيرمان بثنائية مقابل هدف في المباراة التي جمعتهما أمس، الثلاثاء.

وشهدت اللحظات الأخيرة من عمر الشوط الأول، في الوقت المحتسب بدلًا من الضائع، تعرض النجم المغربي أشرف حكيمي لإصابة خطيرة بعد تدخل عنيف من لاعب بايرن ميونخ، لويس دياز.

وتعتبر تلك الضربة هي الثانية لـ باريس سان جيرمان حيث اضطر عثمان ديمبلي إلى مغادرة الملعب، في الدقيقة 25، بسبب الإصابة.

وتدخل لويس دياز بعنف وقوة على ساق أشرف حكيمي، مما جعل الأخير يسقط أرضًا ويبكي بشدة من تأثير الألم الذي يشعر به وغادر الملعب وهو يبكي من قوة الإصابة.

لم يُشهر الحكم البطاقة الحمراء مباشرةً لكن حكم تقنية الفيديو طلب منه العودة للنظر مرة أخرى إلى اللعبة وبالفعل لم يستغرق وقتًا طويلًا وأشهر البطاقة الحمراء للكولومبي.

وأصبح موقف أشرف حكيمي مهددًا بقوة في المشاركة مع منتخب المغرب خلال كأس أمم إفريقيا والتي تحتضنها دولته والمقر إقامتها في ديسمبر المقبل، (للمزيد من التفاصيل اضغط هنا)

وفي ضوء ذلك، أثارت تصريحات مدافع بايرن ميونخ غضبًا واسعًا على مواقع التواصل الاجتماعي، حيث أشار العديد من الجمهور إلى افتقاره للروح الرياضية.

وعندما سأله الصحفي حول تقديم اعتذار لأشرف حكيمي من لويس دياز بعد التدخل القوي، أجاب في تصريحات نقلتها صحيفة “ليكيب”: “لا، لم يفعل، شكرناه (يضحك)، أمزح بالطبع، كان سعيدًا مثلنا جميعًا”.

Manchester United are now readying a £70m bid for a “world-class” midfielder, who could join as part of a Kobbie Mainoo swap deal.

Mainoo fails to force his way into Amorim's plans

It is clear that Ruben Amorim isn’t the biggest fan of Kobbie Mainoo, who is still yet to start a Premier League game this season, despite Man United making an awful start, with their most recent setback coming in a 3-1 defeat against Brentford.

With Casemiro suspended, Manuel Ugarte came into central midfield, alongside Bruno Fernandes, and Mainoo once again had to settle for being a substitute, with the 20-year-old being brought on for the final 25 minutes of the game.

Having been unable to force his way into Amorim’s plans, there have been suggestions the Englishman could be ready to move to a new club this winter, and rivals Manchester City have even been named as surprise potential suitors.

That said, with Amorim now under significant pressure, receiving criticism from club legend Wayne Rooney, the midfielder may soon have a new manager, who is more willing to give him consistent game time.

For now, however, INEOS are persisting with the 40-year-old, and Mainoo’s future remains up in the air, with a report from Spain revealing the youngster could be used as part of a swap deal for Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde.

Man United are said to be preparing an offer of around €80m (£70m) for Valverde, but they may be willing to use their youth product as a makeweight in negotiations, in order to reduce the cost of the operation.

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However, Real Madrid are currently showing little interest in sanctioning a departure, with the midfielder emerging as one of their most ‘trusted’ players, so it remains to be seen whether a deal will be possible.

"World-class" Valverde could take Man Utd's midfield to next level

Let’s make it clear — Man United definitely shouldn’t consider letting Mainoo leave, given that the England international has previously shown he has what it takes to perform at the top level, excelling in the 2024 FA Cup Final.

That said, signing the Real Madrid star for straight cash should still be a very attractive proposition, having proven himself over a number of years in La Liga and the Champions League, with Jurgen Klopp once dubbing the maestro “world-class”.

Casemiro has made it clear he is unreliable, with the Brazilian naively getting himself sent off in the 2-1 victory over Chelsea, and at 33-years-old, United are in need of a long-term replacement in the middle of the park.

Statistic	Average per 90 (past year)
Pass completion %	89.5% (89th percentile)
Assists	0.20 (89th percentile)
Interceptions	1.48 (86th percentile)

Over the past year, Valverde has shown that he is a well-rounded midfielder, capable of making an impact at both ends of the pitch, and the Uruguayan would undoubtedly be an exciting signing for the Red Devils.

Mo Salah has taken drastic action on his social media channels the morning after he was sensationally dropped to the bench by Liverpool boss Arne Slot for the crucial Champions League clash with Eintracht Frankfurt. Salah’s move has created a stir with suggestions that this is a clear indication the Egypt international wants to leave Anfield and comes after his well below-par start to the season.

Mo problems as season stutters

It’s been a very tricky start to the season for Salah, with a noticeable decline in the quality of his performances, marked by reduced goal-scoring and fewer chances created. His goal involvements are down, with his shooting accuracy and expected goals per 90 minutes both significantly lower compared to his best seasons. He has also shown a worrying drop in his dribbling success rate and fewer touches in the opposition's penalty area, indicating a decrease in his effectiveness. His lacklustre form has prompted Slot to bench him, a rare move for a player who has consistently been one of Liverpool's most reliable performers. This dip in form has contributed to the Premier League champions' inconsistent results, with some pundits and fans suggesting his place in the starting lineup is no longer guaranteed.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportChampions League drama as Salah strops

Despite Liverpool's comfortable 5-1 victory in Frankfurt, Salah's performance was notably poor after he was introduced in the 74th minute, and the Egypt international continued his  goal drought, making little impact in his brief appearance and he faced an avalanche of criticism for choosing to shoot instead of passing to an unmarked Florian Wirtz. Fans and pundits called the decision "greedy," especially as Wirtz is still waiting for his first goal.
Fans were quick to ask questions of why Salah is being so selfish. @TheKopWatch posted on social media: "That’s so greedy from Salah, Wirtz is right there for his first goal ffs." @CiebacT added: "Salah personally hates Flo, no other explanation." As that debate continued, @_bubblxs said: "Imagine how good we could be if Salah played WITH wirtz instead of against him." And @SanchezKing13 chimed in with: "If I’m Wirtz I’m airing Salah and not passing him the ball for the next 8 games".

And Salah’s frustration was evident post-match when he stormed down the tunnel "in a strop". But Slot's bold decision to drop Salah came after a run of disappointing performances, and was vindicated as the team ended a four-match losing streak without their talisman on the pitch from the start.

Liverpool wiped from social media

And now the morning after the Frankfurt match Salah has taken the decision to remove all mention of Liverpool from his social media channel's biographies, including Instagram and X, replacing the previous Liverpool-related content and pictures of him with his team-mates for generic images of himself and others with his two daughters. 

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Getty Images SportWill Mo make return to starting XI?

Next steps lay firmly with the boss Slot, he could hand a starting place back to Salah away to Brentford this weekend and the storm will blow over. But if he’s left out again the chatter about Salah leaving will only grow louder. The Reds host Crystal Palace in the League Cup on October 29th and there’s the massive Champions League fixture against Real Madrid on the horizon next month, too. 

Ahead of the clash with Frankfurt, Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher said Salah must understand his starting place is no longer guaranteed. He said: "When Mo Salah isn't being the legendary Mo Salah, he gets treated like one of the other players, which is right. He's 33 years of age and Liverpool will have three games in six days. At the moment, if he isn't at his best, he shouldn't play three games in six days. There are other options there as well. We know Liverpool have spent a lot of money. Liverpool have got a big game at the weekend as well, so great decision, Arne."

Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernández is attracting serious interest from Real Madrid, with manager Xabi Alonso urging Los Blancos to strike a deal.

Real Madrid eye 2026 deal for Chelsea star Enzo Fernández

It’s approaching three years since Enzo Maresca’s side broke the British transfer record by signing Fernandez in a deal worth £107 million, and while Alexander Isak’s move to Liverpool has since smashed that fee, the midfielder remains one of Chelsea’s most expensive ever buys.

Chelsea’s most expensive signings of all time

Rank

Player

Fee

Signed from

Year

1

Moises Caicedo

£115m

Brighton

2023

2

Enzo Fernández

£107m

Benfica

2023

3

Romelu Lukaku

£97.5m

Inter

2021

4=

Kepa Arrizabalaga

£71m

Athletic Club

2018

4=

Kai Havertz

£71m

Bayer Leverkusen

2020

Click here to see the rest…

The £180,000-per-week star endured a very difficult first year at Stamford Bridge, failing to justify his mammoth price tag whilst even getting involved in a racism scandal in 2024, but he’s since been rejuvenated by Maresca.

The Italian shocked on-lookers by naming Fernandez as a captain just one month after his racism debacle with the Argentina national team. However, the 24-year-old repaid Maresca’s faith by becoming one of the linchpins of his engine room.

Since Maresca’s appointment, Chelsea’s tactical setup has played to Fernandez’s strengths, allowing him more freedom to influence the game in a more advanced role while also allowing him to maintain some defensive responsibilities.

This new place in the team has elevated his performances, and amid Fernandez’s surge in form, reports are seriously linking Real with a keen interest in signing the ex-Benfica star.

Some sources have suggested that Chelsea could be open to a part-exchange deal involving Fernandez and Fede Valverde, but a new report from Spain has made the Blues’ demands crystal clear.

Chelsea set mammoth price tag for Enzo Fernández amid Real Madrid interest

It is now believed that Real’s interest has intensified, with Alonso personally telling the La Liga giants to pursue Fernandez in a bid to upgrade his midfield.

However, Chelsea have placed a £100 million price tag on Fernandez, so if Real want to open talks, they could have to make him the Londoners’ biggest-ever sale.

Chelsea’s most expensive sales of all time

Rank

Player

Fee

Sold to

Year

1

Eden Hazard

£89m

Real Madrid

2019

2

Kai Havertz

£65m

Arsenal

2023

3

Oscar

£60m

Shanghai SIPG

2017

4

Álvaro Morata

£58.3m

Atlético Madrid

2020

5

Diego Costa

£57m

Atlético Madrid

2017

Sky Sports pundit Micah Richards best summed up Fernandez’s newly-found importance to Chelsea, praising him as a “leader” in the squad who has a “little bit of everything” after yet another great performance against Liverpool just prior to the international break.

He would now be difficult to replace, and Chelsea will hope that Fernandez’s knee problem isn’t too serious after he was forced to withdraw from international duty.

Chelsea hasn’t always been viewed as the perfect environment for youngsters to thrive in.

Indeed, both Jamal Musiala and Declan Rice spring to mind as notable examples here, with both world-class players once part of the Blues academy set-up as wide-eyed starlets, before having to make an unbelievable name for themselves away from the stifling nature of Cobham.

Thankfully, this negative image the Premier League giants once had attached to them seems to be changing in real time, with Estevao arguably a Musiala-style talent in the making for Enzo Maresca right now.

Estevao's blistering form since moving to Chelsea

It had been a long time coming for the Brazilian to announce himself in West London.

Indeed, way back in the summer of 2024, Chelsea unveiled that they had forked out an initial £29m to land the hotly-tipped 18-year-old, with suggestions even coming from scout Jacek Kulig – despite Estevao still being just a teenager at Palmeiras – that he was a “world-class” prospect.

Kulig’s comments don’t look so far-fetched now, with Estevao going to become the youngest Brazilian to ever score a winning goal in the Premier League when he was in the right place, at the right time, to break Liverpool hearts, just before the international break.

He hasn’t downed tools over the break, either, with a quickfire brace against South Korea, handing his nation a comprehensive 5-0 win.

Having averaged just 44 minutes of Premier League action this season from four starts, the 18-year-old ace will surely be hunting for more consistent moments in the Blues senior mix moving forward.

He looks every bit a phenomenal player in the making and more top-drawer performances are likely to make him a guaranteed starter for Maresca, even when Cole Palmer returns.

Estevao isn’t the only rising gem Chelsea has smartly acquired, though.

Indeed, Geovany Quenda is set to be the next hyped up youngster to move to Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2026, having amazingly scored in the Champions League this campaign for Sporting at just 18 years of age.

Yet, Quenda and Estevao must watch out. Chelsea’s pool of young attackers extends beyond them.

Chelsea have another "future Ballon d'Or winner"

Quenda will be hopeful that he can instantly make waves in the Chelsea first-team, like his South American counterpart, considering he already has four goals and 12 assists next to his name in the senior mix in Portugal.

But, there is another youngster being spoken about with great regularity and that’s breakout striker Dastan Satpaev.

While Quenda will likely be a name that rings a bell to the average football supporter, the five-time Kazakhstan international’s insane journey with Kairat Almaty might not be so well known.

But, with a ridiculous 45 strikes across all age groups at the Premier Liga side – who are even in the Champions League this season – Chelsea swooped in to capture him in February, with Satpaev set to remain in his native country until he turns 18.

Games played

74

Age

17

Goals scored

45

Assists

18

Champions League appearances

9

Maresca and Co will just be praying that Satpaev can keep up this electric form for the time he remains in Kazakhstan, with Estevao going on to bag a whopping 12 goals for Palmeiras earlier this year, before coming over to England looking calm ahead of the pressures of attempting to cut it in the Premier League.

Much like Estevao, who has been tipped to reach dizzy heights already with his world-class shouts, Satpaev has also been boldly declared as a “future Ballon d’Or winner” by one analyst, off the back of his frightening record for Kairat.

Of course, the Premier League is a different beast altogether from what the teenager is currently used to.

But, his soon-to-be teammate at Chelsea is yet to look fazed by the challenge ahead of him after maturing more at his boyhood club, with Satpaev desperate to follow in his esteemed footsteps when he takes that next scary leap.

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ByDominic Lund Oct 13, 2025

Despite some nervy moments, Manchester United managed to hold on against Chelsea last weekend to win 2-1 at Old Trafford. The Red Devils secured the three points thanks to goals from Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro, despite a late Trevoh Chalobah header.

Despite playing against 10 men for much of the first half after Robert Sanchez’s early red card, Ruben Amorim’s side also had a man sent off. Casemiro was dismissed late in the first 45 minutes for a second bookable offence. It means that the experienced Brazilian will miss their Saturday lunchtime trip to the capital to face Brentford.

Amorim certainly has options as to who could replace Casemiro in the lineup, however.

The options to replace Casemiro?

Losing Casemiro in the centre of midfield is a huge blow for the Red Devils. However, it does give Amorim the chance to test the depth of his squad and allows another player to stake a claim and start more often.

It is incredibly puzzling that Kobbie Mainoo is unable to get into the starting lineup at Old Trafford. He burst onto the scene and is a sensational talent, but can’t get into the team under Amorim. Ex-United midfielder Owen Hargreaves said after the Manchester Derby loss, “I’ll never know” how he doesn’t get into United’s XI.

Mainoo is yet to start in the Premier League, and has played just 174 minutes across all competitions, despite performing strongly when given the chance.

Against City, he completed 100% of his passes, won 100% of both his duels and tackles, and created two chances.

If Amorim does choose to keep Mainoo out of the side, then Manuel Ugarte is another option. The Uruguay midfielder has struggled in that famous Red shirt of United, and has never managed to lock down a permanent starting spot under Amorim.

The former Paris Saint-Germain man perhaps lacks the on-ball quality needed in that pivot under Amorim. Last season in the Premier League, he averaged just 39 completed open play passes and lost the ball an average of 9.1 times per 90 minutes.

If Amorim continues to stubbornly overlook Mainoo, or deems Ugarte not the right profile for the trip to Brentford, there is another option he could go with.

United’s alternative to Casemiro

So, the obvious choice would surely be to pick Mainoo, or Ugarte if Amoirm decides against selecting the youngster again. But he does have another player in his squad who could be the ideal alternative to Casemiro.

Although he has operated as a number ten this season, Mason Mount could be ideal for the pivot next to Fernandes. Firstly, the pair played next to each other in that role earlier this season, away to Fulham.

Mount, with major injury issues now hopefully a thing of the past, has been a vital cog in the works for the Red Devils in 2025/26.

The 26-year-old has played five games across all competitions and has one assist in that time, against Grimsby in the Carabao Cup.

In terms of what he can offer United, playing in a deeper role, he obviously brings lots of quality on the ball. This season, he’s created 2.3 chances on average per 90 minutes.

Off the ball, he’s also impressed, winning five duels and making 4.1 ball recoveries.

Forward passes

8.6

19

Chances created

2.3

5

Through balls

1.4

3

Duels won

5

11

Ball recoveries

4.1

9

Statman Dave said Mount is a “pressing monster”, and it is the out-of-possession energy the England star can bring that could mean Amorim selects him in the pivot. He’s no slouch on the ball either, with two of his four United goals to date having come against the Bees.

With Mount’s ability to press high from midfield and spring attacks from deep, it could be a shrewd selection from the Portuguese boss if he wants to add quality on the ball in midfield.

It would certainly be a bold call away to a physical Brentford team, but one that could be a good decision.

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ByRobbie Walls Sep 23, 2025

The centre-forward position at Celtic has been a tricky one for Brendan Rodgers to deal with for a long time now, possibly stretching back to January 2024.

Adam Idah was brought in to compete with Kyogo Furuhashi in the second half of the 2023/24 campaign, before they battled it out again in the 2024/25 season.

Both Idah and Kyogo left the club this year, the latter in the summer and the former in January, and Kelechi Iheanacho is currently the first-choice number nine at Parkhead.

Why Celtic may sign another striker in January

Iheanacho has scored three goals in six matches for the Hoops in all competitions since his move to the club on a free transfer from Sevilla, but two of those three goals came from the penalty spot, per Transfermarkt. One goal from open play in six matches is not an ideal return for the Nigeria international.

Celtic bid £10m to sign Kasper Dolberg from Anderlecht on deadline day, only to miss out on his signature to Ajax, which suggests that there is cash in the bank to spend on a striker when the January window rolls around.

This means that the Hoops may dip back into the market to sign a striker in the hope of bringing in a reliable goalscorer who Rodgers can trust to deliver consistent quality.

The arrival of a new centre-forward at Parkhead in January could spell the end of Johnny Kenny’s time at Celtic, as he has not kicked on in Glasgow this year.

Why Johnny Kenny is on borrowed time at Celtic

The Irish number nine returned to the club in January after a loan spell with Shamrock Rovers to play a supporting role in the second half of last season.

Kenny scored one goal in eight appearances in the Scottish Premiership as a back-up to Idah and was only handed one start by Rodgers. This did not suggest that he was likely to kick on and become a regular in the 2025/26 campaign.

English League One side Bolton Wanderers had a bid of £500k turned down by the Hoops during the summer transfer window, as they decided to keep him as part of their squad for the first half of this season.

Appearances

8

3

Starts

1

0

Unused substitute

6x

2x

Goals

1

1

Big chances missed

2

3

Big chances created

1

0

Assists

1

0

As you can see in the table above, Kenny has only made three appearances as a substitute in the Premiership so far this term, which shows that Rodgers does not trust him to play regular minutes.

At the end of last season, former Fulham and Leeds star Ross McCormack suggested that he needed to go to League One or the Championship in England.

McCormack said: “I would imagine you’re probably looking at maybe a loan down south somewhere, bottom end of League One or top end of the Championship and see how he goes.”

Bolton are currently ninth in League One in England, so not quite the bottom end of League One. They were willing to pay £500k to sign the Irishman from the Hoops in the summer, and that would have given him an opportunity to go away and play regular minutes to develop as a player.

Instead, Kenny is rarely getting on the pitch for Celtic. His development is stalling by not gaining experience in a competitive environment, which is why he should be looking to move on in the next window to take the next step in his career.

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ByDan Emery Oct 14, 2025

When you take that and the idea that Celtic may want to enter the market to sign another striker in January, the Irishman may be on borrowed time at Parkhead, as moving away from the club could be the best for all parties involved.

Once a young star and now a veteran leader, Lavelle continues to play a key role as the next generation of U.S. players develops

There was no moment of celebration or, in reality, even reflection for Rose Lavelle. Almost exactly 45 minutes after she'd scored the U.S. women's national team's opening goal against Portugal, Lavelle showed up for her halftime interview totally out of breath. Exhausted, huffing and puffing, Lavelle talked of the need to be better, of the need to push harder.

It didn't happen that way. After conceding from a corner kick just before halftime, the USWNT conceded from another in the second half and went on to lose, 2-1 on Thursday night. It was, in many ways, a stunning loss, even for a friendly. Portugal were an opponent that seemed to be overmatched. Instead, it was the USWNT that struggled to create positive moments in a game that was crying out for them.

The one they did generate was Lavelle's goal, and the performance of the veteran midfielder was a key takeaway, despite the defeat. After missing so much time earlier this year due to injury, Lavelle seems to be fit and fully back, which is massive news for a USWNT currently undergoing a generational shift. 

In this kind of form, the 30-year-old's role cannot be ignored. As USWNT boss Emma Hayes so eloquently put it, "There's only one Rose Lavelle." Thursday was a reminder of that, and why the veteran star still has a major part to play in this World Cup cycle.

• Getty Images
  

  Returning to form

  Since the Olympics, the USWNT has dealt with a number of major absences. The "Triple Espresso" attacking core of Sophia Wilson, Mallory Swanson and Trinity Rodman have been almost entirely out since announcing themselves to the world in that gold medal run. Naomi Girma has missed significant time, robbing the U.S. of its defensive leader.

  And Alyssa Naeher retired from international play, kickstarting a USWNT goalkeeping competition.

  For much of the year, Lavelle was missing, too. After undergoing ankle surgery in December, Lavelle missed the first seven games of 2025, a run that included USWNT losses to Japan and Brazil in the spring. She returned with a bang, netting and assisting in the 4-0 rout of Ireland on June 26. After making a cameo in her hometown of Cincinnati in another blowout of the Irish team,  Lavelle then started against Canada on July 2 as Hayes seemed content to ease her back into the fold.

  "We're all delighted for Rose because there's only one Rose Lavelle," Hayes said over the summer. "There really is, both on and off the field, as a character, as a football player, as a human being. [It's] been a tough injury to recover from, but she's such a professional, also a perfectionist.

  "I think Rose is a special player, I always have. I did before I took this job, but now I work with her and I've been able to put her in positions where she can thrive even more, giving her the right structure, and I'm looking forward to many more of those moments."

  Those moments are, ultimately, what have come to define Lavelle's career. It's what put her on the world's stage at the 2019 World Cup, at which she won the competition's Bronze Ball. In truth, though, those moments haven't happened quite as often in recent years.  She struggled with a knee injury at the 2023 World Cup, limiting her impact, and was then overshadowed by the younger goalscorers at last summer's Olympics. She featured in every match, but then did not appear in the final.

  This week seems something of a reminder, then, of what those Lavelle moments can look like.

Advertisement

• Getty Images
  

  Magical moments

  With just a few minutes left in their NWSL regular season, Gotham FC needed a goal. They'd assembled something of a superteam in recent years, yes, but the Bats knew they needed at least a point in their regular season finale against Racing Louisville if they wanted into this season's playoffs. And, in that moment, Lavelle stepped up as only she does.

  Given a set piece just outside of the box, Lavelle made the most of it. With her side down 2-1 and desperately needing a goal, the midfielder provided it, turning a dead-ball situation into one of those moments of magic that can, ultimately, define a season. It did that for Gotham, who are now into the playoffs.

  "I think the profile of Rose Lavelle is probably the most rare to find when it's a player that can basically do everything at such a high level," Gotham FC head coach Juan Carlos Amoros said earlier this season. "And then on top of that she does the special things on the ball that create – it's why we all watch the sport.

  "Obviously, you want to see goals, but those actions that she produces and how she understands the game is something very different to everyone else and that's what makes her special."

  That free kick was on Sunday. On Thursday, Lavelle didn't have to wait until the game's final moments to make her mark. She did it instantly. Although it should be acknowledged that she was almost certainly offside on her finish, the goal just 33 seconds into the match it was another example of what Lavelle adds to the team: game-defining moments.

  Unfortunately for her, it didn't ultimately define Thursday's game. The U.S. shut off after that opening goal, never really getting back in the game after conceding in the first half.

  "I think it felt like a good, fun start," Lavelle said. "I think we needed to keep on that momentum. Unfortunately, we weren't able to. But I think it's always good to get an early goal. I think it helps set the tone. But I don't think we were able to really keep up with it after that."

  It was a bitter defeat for the USWNT, but also a valuable one that sets the team's leaders, including Lavelle, up for a chance to guide the group's younger stars.

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  The value of experience

  It's easy to forget just how inexperienced this current USWNT group is. Of the 26 players on the roster, 18 have 12 or fewer caps. Only four have played in multiple major tournaments. Only three are over the age of 30. Lavelle is one, alongside Lindsey Heaps and Emily Sonnett. Their leadership, particularly coming out of a loss, is vital.

  "You can't compete to win without experience. You cannot. Some of that experience is not just in the things you see on the pitch, it's the sort of things you do not see," Hayes said earlier this week. "I think about Lindsey. Since I've come to this country, what an unbelievable leader she's been, in terms of driving standards, I would say, alongside Emily Sonnet, alongside our Rose in different ways.

  "And not just upholding standards, but actually bringing people into it, so people belong, so they feel valued. And also adapt with the changes that come with the differences in generations, to be able to meet them where they're at. I always say to our less experienced players, 'Look up to these people.'"

  For anyone who has followed Lavelle's career, it is difficult to grasp her status as a USWNT vet. She burst onto the scene so spectacularly during that 2019 run, cementing her place as a rising star next to legends such as Megan Rapinoe, Becky Sauerbrunn, Tobin Heath, Carli Lloyd, Julie Ertz and Alex Morgan.

  She's cemented her place among them already but, at 30, she's now heading towards the place in her career where those players were at that 2019 tournament. She's no longer the hot prospect, but the experienced leader, one who, ultimately, will have a big part to play going forward.

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  Lessons from Portugal

  Lavelle said it after the match: she's looking forward to Sunday's rematch, as the USWNT and Portugal will meet again in East Hartford, Connecticut. It'll be a chance to bounce back, and an opportunity for this evolving group to show how they respond to adversity.

  "That's the lucky part about this: we have another opportunity to go out, be better and play more as a team and get on the same page," Lavelle said. "I think we're excited for that opportunity to grow over these next three days and talk about what went right and what went wrong."

  What went wrong, in Hayes' eyes, was clear: the team's play was too individualistic. As Portugal continued to put pressure on the U.S., players tried to break through by themselves, not as a unit. It led to a disjointed performance, one that Hayes is eager to see her team learn from.

  "We didn’t look like a team the whole evening, on both sides of the ball," the USWNT boss said. "We didn’t press together, we didn’t possess together, it felt like a yard off in our brain. I could see that.”

  Unsurprisingly, as a veteran leader, Lavelle agreed.

  "I think we've got to play more together," the midfielder said. "I think we need to find better spacing for everybody to get on the ball. Again, credit to them, they're a great team. But we need to be better in a lot of areas and make little adjustments."

  Only Hayes knows whether or not Lavelle will get that opportunity on Sunday. Rotation is surely coming, and that was guaranteed even before Thursday's performance. With a game on Sunday and then another on Wednesday, Hayes may look to change things up.

  Going forward, though, expect to see more of Lavelle. The U.S. continues to grow as a unit, finding young, exciting players to fill gaps and, in some cases, seize roles previously held by veterans. As long as Lavelle keeps providing moments of magic, though, she'll remain a key part as she helps usher in a new era after being so vital to defining the previous one.

تلقى الفريق الأول لكرة اليد بنادي الزمالك، خسارة صادمة أمام سموحة، في اللقاء الذي أقيم اليوم الأربعاء، ضمن منافسات كأس السوبر المصري.

وخسر فريق كرة اليد بنادي الزمالك أمام سموحة بفارق هدف وحيد، 29-28، في نصف نهائي كأس السوبر المصري، ليودع البطولة من الدور قبل النهائي.

طالع.. الزمالك: أولى صفقات يناير محسومة.. لا أزمة في القيد وهذا موقفنا من تجميد حسام عبد المجيد

أنهى الزمالك الشوط الأول متقدمًا 17-16، لكن سموحة نجح في قلب النتيجة خلال الشوط الثاني وحسم اللقاء في الدقائق الأخيرة، ليحجز بطاقة التأهل إلى المباراة النهائية.

ويقود سموحة في هذه البطولة حسين زكي، نجم الزمالك السابق، الذي تمكن من قيادة فريقه للتأهل إلى النهائي بعد أداء دفاعي وهجومي مميز، ليصبح الفريق السكندري على بعد خطوة واحدة من التتويج بالسوبر المحلي.

وسيلتقي سموحة مع الفائز من مباراة الأهلي وسبورتنج، المقرر إقامتها مساء اليوم في تمام الساعة السادسة والنصف، على أن يقام النهائي يوم 12 نوفمبر في صالة العاصمة الإدارية الجديدة بالإمارات.