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Leeds United have to win their next Premier League clash away at Nottingham Forest otherwise the Whites will be plunged even deeper into relegation trouble.

Indeed, Daniel Farke’s men now sit precariously above the drop zone after a pitiful 3-0 loss at the hands of Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday, with the five-point gap between themselves and Forest shaved to just two points if Sean Dyche’s side gets the better of the West Yorkshire outfit.

To further pile on the worry, Dyche also has six career wins under his belt as a manager when facing the Whites, with Leeds also winless – and goalless – on the road since a 3-1 success against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Farke will need to see an immediate reaction from this devastating defeat on the South Coast, with several of his summer recruits potentially being dropped, despite many making positive starts, away from the loss at the Amex.

Why Leeds' summer business must be questioned

Across the ranks, not a single player could trudge off at the end of the 3-0 loss to Fabian Hurzeler’s Seagulls, satisfied with their efforts.

Not even their marquee signing, Noah Okafor, is immune to criticism.

The tricky number 19 did try his best to unlock a stern home side with five successful dribbles. But, former Leeds player Jon Newsome has harshly called the ex-AC Milan winger a “passenger” for how easily he can give up the ball, and that was the case, again, versus Hurzeler’s hosts when ceding possession a costly 19 times.

Moreover, Dominic Calvert-Lewin could also find himself dropped up top after another goalless showing passed him by, with just one goal still next to his name since leaving Everton behind in the summer. He arguably has to be the most questionable signing of the summer, even if he did arrive on a free transfer.

Central defender Jaka Bijol might also be made to sit out after a two-game stint in the first team, with Pascal Struijk perhaps the most logical replacement, as the £15m summer recruit failed to win a single tackle, and just one duel, as Brighton ran the hopeless away side ragged all afternoon.

Despite the hosts’ blistering nature, Bijol and the rest of the backline did make it very straightforward for Diego Gomez to kickstart his brace, when he was left in acres of room to tap home his first effort of the day for 2-0.

Farke really could ring the changes for the crunch tie at Forest, therefore, with one summer signing also at risk of being cut from the German’s starting XI.

The bold selection Farke could make

It hasn’t been exclusively doom and gloom all season long in West Yorkshire, with some positive performances potentially standing Farke and Co. in good stead to beat the drop.

Chalkboard

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

The aforementioned 3-1 away win at Wolves, in particular, saw everything click as new signings Anton Stach, Calvert-Lewin, and Okafor were all amongst the goals.

Gabriel Gudmundsson also put in a sterling effort against the now managerless Old Gold after joining from Lille in July.

Indeed, Leeds-based social media account The Leeds Press hailed the Swede as an asset that “gives everything” after the Wolves win, as seen in him registering eight clearances and winning three duels to keep the Molineux hosts at bay.

With 3.5 ball recoveries also averaged across his ten Premier League games, on top of two big chances being created, it felt as if Leeds had hit the jackpot on a perfect Junior Firpo replacement on the left flank.

Journalist James Marshment even boldly stated in late September that he has been “one of the best left-backs in the Premier League this season”. At just £10m, he had certainly proved himself to be a bargain.

Unfortunately for the Sweden regular, though, he put in a horror-show performance on the South Coast, as a rapid Yankuba Minteh turned him inside out all match.

Minutes played

90

Goals scored

0

Assists

0

Touches

72

Accurate passes

35/42 (83%)

Possession lost

16x

Dribbled past

2x

Tackles won

1/2

Total duels won

7/12

The strong and resilient full-back that had bounced back from his own-goal at Fulham in style was nowhere to be seen against the Seagulls.

He was dribbled past twice as a weak member of Farke’s defence, on top of also falling victim to an Okafor-like display, with possession given up 16 times.

James Justin could well get the nod to come in for Gudmundsson at the City Ground, therefore.

It is unlikely to be the only alteration, as Farke attempts to pick a refreshed side that can halt Leeds’ shambolic offerings on the road.

Rarely-seen Leeds talent could be a surprise Aaronson replacement

Daniel Farke could soon surprisingly throw this Leeds United academy gem into the first team.

1 ByKelan Sarson Nov 4, 2025

This isn’t a title-decider, but if Australia win in Adelaide – as they should – Head’s century will carry enormous significance

Andrew McGlashan07-Dec-2024There were many shots from Travis Head that stood out on the second day in Adelaide. But one in particular caught the eye – it came against Harshit Rana, when he produced a back-foot square drive on his tiptoes, which rocketed to the point fence. It was a fantastic piece of power and placement. It also took him into the 90s.Another similar boundary came next ball in the following over, when he tapped R Ashwin into the leg side to reach his eighth Test century. The arms went aloft and the first acknowledgement was to his family, including his new-born son, in the stands before the trademark helmet-on-the-bat celebration as he took in the ovation of a 51,642-strong home crowd.It was the third time he’d been able to soak in a Test century at the ground following hundreds in the last two seasons against West Indies. “A home Test match is very special. Can’t quite believe I’ve been able to do it three in a row,” he said.Related

Super sub Boland could make way again as Hazlewood's recovery gains progress

Siraj vs Head: The send-off that turned Adelaide Oval into the Colosseum

Stats – Head's pink-ball delight and Rohit's 2024 misery

Australia scorch India after Head ton and Boland-Cummins spells

India will also have felt they had been here before. This is shaping as the third match of huge significance that Head has defined against India. In last year’s World Test Championship final he made a thrilling 163 off 174 balls at The Oval, and then a few months later broke the hearts of a nation with a barnstorming display in the ODI World Cup final.Head’s history against India creates an interesting set of markers through his career.In 2018-19, he made 72 in Adelaide in just his third Test as India narrowly prevailed, before another half-century in Perth where he was twice caught at deep third playing the type of attacking cricket that is now part and parcel of his make-up, but at the time did not appear to come naturally in the Test arena.During India’s visit in 2020-21, Head’s career briefly hit the buffers when he was dropped after two Tests. In the end, his absence only lasted two games and he was back for the start of the Ashes the following summer. Since then, he has averaged 45.20 with a strike-rate of 79.68, instilled with the belief, confidence and backing to play in the style that was so evident in this innings. Of the 44 players to score at least 1000 runs in that period, only two Bazballers – Ben Duckett and Harry Brook – along with Rishabh Pant have a higher strike rate than Head.ESPNcricinfo LtdThis wasn’t a title decider, but it has carried similar importance for Australia after the heavy loss in the opening Test in Perth, where Head’s second-innings 89 offered a rare bright spot.On the second day in Adelaide, Australia were threatening to totter when he walked to the crease after Nathan McSweeney was caught behind off Jasprit Bumrah, having added just one to his overnight score, and Steven Smith glanced the same bowler down the leg side.India weren’t completely back in the game at 103 for 3, but another wicket or two quickly would have changed that. At that point, Australia were scoring at 2.57. Instead, Head produced such a dominant display that when he departed it was hard to see a way back for India even before they lost five wickets in the final session.In the 41 overs he was at the crease, runs came at five an over. Credit must be given to the previous night’s work of McSweeney and Marnus Labuschagne – the latter who went to make 64 in an innings where he looked much more like his old self – which meant the ball was 40 overs old when Head arrived.As often, there was some living on the edge. Head was beaten second ball by a gem from around the wicket by Bumrah, but he drove the next delivery through the covers to get off the mark. The next over against Mohammed Siraj he played and missed three times. When Ashwin was introduced, it took Head two balls to advance down the pitch and send him straight for six. A slog-sweep for six would follow. After dinner, he sent Ashwin straight over the sightscreen again, and then came a life when he tried a repeat and Siraj couldn’t hold a tough chance running back from mid-on. Next over, Head edged Rana between Pant and a wide slip.

“Very pleased with the way I was able to play against Ashwin, pick my moments and manoeuvre the field. I sensed where the game was at and problem solved through that going into the new ball”Travis Head

“I probably batted better last week than I did this week,” he said afterwards. “Made use of some chances [and] put us in a good position.”Head’s fifty had come from 63 balls, the century needed just a further 48. After that, he really turned on the afterburners. He had a strike rate of at least a run-a-ball against all the quicks including a notable 119 facing Bumrah. His rate of scoring meant Australia were 111 ahead when the second new ball arrived at 80 overs, so even though India claimed the last five wickets for 55 the lead was a healthy one.”I was very pleased with the way I started,” Head said. “Very pleased with the way I was able to play against Ashwin, pick my moments and manoeuvre the field. I sensed where the game was at and problem solved through that going into the new ball. Thought that was a great opportunity to put some pressure on before that new ball and try to maximise runs. Knew the new ball was going to be very difficult. Nice to move through the gears and game situation.”Siraj did not take kindly to being disdainfully whipped over backward square-leg for Head’s fourth six and when he got one under the bat next ball, gave Head a verbal volley of a send-off – the first time in the series the spirit between the teams has been tested. The crowd made its feelings known and what followed was a theatrical passage of play where everything Siraj did was booed. He had, in fact, also been the bowler to remove Head in the WTC and World Cup finals. As on those days, this one felt about 100 runs too late.

For the first time this season, Rangers have won a home Premiership match; Danny Röhl working wonders already!

On Sunday, the Gers beat Kilmarnock 3-1 at Ibrox, with Derek Cornelius breaking the deadlock, only for Killie to equalise on the cusp of half time, but goals from Danilo and Youssef Chermiti after the interval cemented the victory.

This is just the Gers second league victory of the season, beating Livingston at Almondvale in the last minute in September, thereby moving them up to fifth, just five points behind Celtic, albeit still 13 adrift run-away league-leaders Hearts.

New manager Röhl may only have been in situ for a week, but now faces a crucial seven days, with a tricky trip to Hibernian to come on Wednesday, before the small matter of a Glasgow derby at Hampden in the League Cup semi-finals next Sunday.

Ahead of these massive games, has Röhl unearthed an “exciting” talent who could replicate, arguably, the Premiership’s best striker?

Why Rangers should have signed Lawrence Shankland

During the summer, Rangers were heavily linked with a move for Scotland international striker Lawrence Shankland, given that his contract at Heart of Midlothian expired on 30 June.

After only a few days unemployed, Shankland decided to stay at Hearts, signing a new contract on 3 July, and he certainly showed Rangers what they could have had last month, scoring both as the Jambos won 2-0 at Ibrox.

Well, Heart of Midlothian are certainly the talk of Scottish football at this moment in time.

On Sunday, Derek McInnes’ side beat Celtic 3-1 at a raucous Tynecastle, going in front thanks to an early own goal, before quick-fire strikes from Alexandros Kyziridis and then Shankland from the penalty spot cemented a 3-1 victory.

This leaves Hearts eight points clear at the top, looking to become the first non-Old Firm champions of Scotland since Aberdeen 41 years ago, not facing one of the Glasgow giants again until they travel to Celtic Park on 7 December.

Shankland himself has now scored eight goals this season, five of which have come in the Premiership.

In contrast, right-back James Tavernier is the only Rangers player to have scored more than one league goal across their nine fixtures to date.

Thus, the Hearts captain, a boyhood Rangers fan, spotted at Ibrox for April’s Europa League quarter-final against Athletic Club, would unquestionably improve the Gers’ current team, but did Röhl discover his answer to Shankland during Sunday’s match, a forgotten star who could propel Rangers up the table?

Rangers have their own answer to Shankland

Sunday was certainly a memorable afternoon for new signing Youssef Chermiti, scoring his first senior goal since May 2023, but Danilo was the striker who caught the eye.

When he joined the club from Feyenoord for a reported fee of £6m in the summer of 2023, then-manager Michael Beale labelled him an “exciting player who likes to create and score goals”.

Meantime, Melvin Dupper of the Rangers Review described him as ‘quick’ and an ‘amazing instinctive finisher’, praising his work rate and pressing ability, but supporters have seen very little of any of that in the two and a bit years since.

Chalkboard

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

The Brazilian has scored just 14 goals in 61 outings for the club, sitting out 65 matches due to injury.

Sunday’s header was just his second goal since netting during the 3-0 demolition of Celtic in January.

Overall, as the table below outlines, Danilo had a very productive afternoon against Kilmarnock, despite limited involvement.

Goals

1

1st

Shots on target

1

2nd

Accurate passes

11

19th

Duels won

3

19th

Touches

18

22nd

Sofascore rating

7.3

4th

As the table documents, Danilo was not often involved in build-up play, emphasised by the fact he touched the ball just 18 times in 69 minutes on the park, three touches fewer than goalkeeper Jack Butland.

Nevertheless, when his sole opportunity of the afternoon came, he took it, heading past Killie keeper Eddie Beach.

It may be stating the obvious, but having a reliable goalscorer could transform this team, with new manager Röhl attempting to rebuild a sinking ship that has hit rock bottom, following Russell Martin’s catastrophic if only brief reign.

Hearts would not be clear at the top if it wasn’t for the goals scored by Shankland and summer signing Cláudio Braga, with Rangers still searching for their own talisman in attack, following a scattergun summer of recruitment.

New signings Youssef Chermiti and Bojan Miovski look substandard when compared to the pair they are supposed to be replacing, namely Cyriel Dessers and Hamza Igamane, so could Danilo, a player they already had, but many had written off, prove to be the centre-forward Röhl can hang his hat on?

0 passes made: Rohl must drop Rangers flop who was worse than Aasgaard

Danny Rohl must drop this Glasgow Rangers flop who was even worse than Thelo Aasgaard against Kilmarnock.

1 ByDan Emery Oct 27, 2025

The Detroit Tigers are in a predicament.

They had an incredible first half of the season and were the first team in Major League Baseball to reach 60 wins. The hot first half comes off an improbable run to the postseason last year, where they earned one of the final wild card spots before they were eliminated by the Cleveland Guardians in the American League Division Series.

American League Cy Young Award winner and this year's All-Star Game starter Tarik Skubal was a major force behind that run, which has continued into his dominant 2025 campaign. Through 21 starts this year, he has a 10-3 record with a 2.09 ERA and 171 strikeouts. The bad news for Detroit, though, is that they are in the midst of a serious slide while Skubal only remains under team control through the '26 season, when he's likely in store for the largest free-agent contract for a pitcher ever.

Still gripping onto an eight-game lead in the AL Central after losing 12 of their last 14 games, the Tigers need to go for it this year and add some talent ahead of the July 31 trade deadline. Their biggest need is for a high-leverage relief pitcher, maybe even two, to help support their 4.18 team ERA amongst relievers this season. But they could also use a big bat to lift their slumping offense. And if the price is right, they could even use another starter behind Skubal if Jack Flaherty, who had a solid outing Sunday, continues his disappointing season down the stretch.

That's a lot of needs, but their top-tier farm system could certainly help bring in some high-level talent at the deadline. That is, if the Tigers are willing to part with any of their top prospects which is a big risk, especially when you take Skubal's uncertain future into consideration. MLB Pipeline's No. 6 prospect Kevin McGonigle is likely off limits, but they also have No. 10 prospect Max Clark should they be open to including him in a trade for a big return. There's also No. 34 prospect Bryce Rainer, No. 51 Josue Briceño and No. 77 Thayron Liranzo who round out Detroit's top-five. Rainer is likely off limits too as he was just drafted last year, but Briceño and Liranzo could be included in deals for the right price.

With plenty of top farm talent to help them get one or multiple win-now pieces, here are four targets that make sense for the Tigers as the trade deadline quickly approaches:

Eugenio Suárez — Third Baseman, Arizona Diamondbacks

Aston Villa are now considering a January move for a “fantastic” Champions League player, but they will have to shell out a huge fee to get a deal over the line.

Villa looking to boost push for Europe by strengthening in January

Villa have surged up the Premier League table in recent weeks, courtesy of winning seven of their last eight matches, although there have been some suggestions that their current run of form could end soon, given that they have been defying xG.

The Villans’ 16 goals this season have come from an xG of just 11.88 xG, and they have been relying on players scoring from outside the box, with Boubacar Kamara the most recent example, firing home from distance in the 1-0 victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Regardless of how they’ve managed to win games, Unai Emery’s side have placed themselves very much in contention to qualify for Europe yet again, and they are now looking to strengthen in January to bolster their chances.

That is according to a report from Leonino (via Sport Witness), which states Aston Villa are now considering a January bid for Sporting CP defender Ousmane Diomande, but they may have to break the bank, with the Portuguese club demanding his €80m (£70m) release clause is paid in full.

Sporting have been struggling to tie Diomande down to a new contract, with his current deal set to expire in 2027, which could open the door for a move to Villa Park. However, several Premier League clubs are in the race for his signature, including Crystal Palace.

With Sporting unwilling to listen to winter bids, Villa may have to wait until the summer to pursue the centre-back, unless they trigger the release clause, although it is unclear how feasible that would be, given their well-documented PSR issues.

"Fantastic" Diomande could be exciting long-term addition for Villa

The 21-year-old, who is represented by the same agency as Harvey Elliott, is at the right age to be a long-term success at Villa Park, and he impressed right across the 2024-25 campaign, as highlighted by scout Jacek Kulig.

A modern defender, the Ivorian, who has made three Champions League appearances this season, is very comfortable in possession of the ball, as showcased by his performance across some key statistics over the past year, while the youngster also has a keen eye for goal.

Ousmane Diomande’s key statistics

Average per 90 (past year)

Non-penalty goals

0.09 (88th percentile)

Passes attempted

67.57 (90th percentile)

Pass completion %

92.7% (98th percentile)

That said, Villa have one of the best defences in the Premier League, having conceded just 11 goals, so there is no pressing need to sign a centre-back, and it may be better to wait until next summer to sign Diomande, at which point Sporting’s asking price will hopefully drop.

Wolves' home ground Molineux was half-empty during the first half of their Premier League clash against Manchester United on Monday. Wolves have made a nightmare start to their 2025-26 campaign as they are yet to win a match in the Premier League after 15 games and are placed at rock bottom on the league table with only three points, as they stare at possible relegation.

• Wolves fans turned up late for Man Utd clash

  Wolves' famous fan group the Old Gold Pack (OGP) organised a protest where they encouraged fellow supporters not to enter Molineux for the first 15 minutes of their Premier League fixture against United on Monday evening. Some fans stayed outside the ground at kick-off as empty seats were spotted in the South Bank and parts of the North Bank. The protest was aimed at owners Fosun and club chairman Jeff Shi as the club struggle at the bottom of the Premier League table, with the possibility of relegation from the top flight growing more real every week.

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• AFP
  

  Wolves fans protest explained

  Speaking to , Kieran Newey from the OGP said: "We’ve arranged the 15-minute boycott because we care deeply about Wolves and feel the club’s leadership is ignoring key issues raised by fans. By missing the first 15 minutes, we’re sending a clear, peaceful message that fans want better for Wolves and won’t accept this continuing trend. It shows that supporters are united together and serious about wanting change. An empty stadium or empty seats, even for a short time, is a powerful visual that says we’re not being listened to, and we won’t just sit back and watch the club drift away any further than it already has. 

  "We hope this makes the owners realise how much fans care, and sparks real dialogue. A lot of supporters don’t feel confident that Jeff Shi is the person to take this club forward. Our aim is for the owners and club to reconnect with the wider group of supporters, listen to our concerns, and restore the ambition and pride Wolves deserve."

  He added: "It’s heartbreaking. Wolves means everything to us, and it hurts to have to do this just to feel like we’re being heard. We’re doing this because we care, and because we want to see our club competing, with a solid plan and leadership model for everyone who loves it."

• Protest gaining traction

  While the initial plan to protest came through OGP on social media, it was quickly backed by other Wolves supporters' groups like the Wolves 1877 Trust, Talking Wolves, Wolves Fancast, The Wolves Report, Wolves 77 Club, Always Wolves, Punjabi Wolves and The Wolfpack, who all released a joint statement, encouraging fans to take part.

  The fan groups, however, conducted a peaceful protest and urged the masses gathered to remain respectful of those fans who wished to watch the game from kick-off.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Man Utd eye full points

  After a heartbreaking result against West Ham last weekend which saw United drop crucial two points after Soungoutou Magassa equalised for the Hammers in the 83rd minute. Ruben Amorim will now hope that his team walks away with all three points against the struggling Wolves side and move up in the league table.

New South Wales seamer Sean Abbott became the first player to be subbed out of a Sheffield Shield match for an injury other than concussion under Cricket Australia’s new trial rule after he split the webbing in his right hand while fielding a ball off his own bowling on the opening day against Victoria at the Junction Oval in Melbourne.Charlie Stobo was subbed in as the first-ever injury replacement player under the new rule that is being trialed across the first five rounds of the 2025-26 Sheffield Shield competition.Abbott, who is among the contenders to be part of Australia’s extended Ashes squad if Pat Cummins is ruled out of the early part of the series, split the webbing in his right hand while stopping a firmly struck straight drive from Victoria batter Peter Handscomb in the 43rd over of the opening day.Related

• Edwards called up for Sydney ODI, Beardman added to T20 squad, Maxwell returns

• Ashes tracker: Weatherald makes a statement as Boland primes for Perth

• Neser and Swepson take four apiece to cut through South Australia

• Konstas' Test hopes fade with a duck on 13-wicket day

• Labuschagne dropped from Australia ODI squad, Renshaw earns call-up

Abbott left the ground immediately, and team-mate Ryan Hadley completed the over. After being assessed in the rooms, New South Wales made an application to the match referee to have Abbott replaced by another bowler and that request was immediately granted.Stobo bowled his first over of the match immediately after tea having warmed up during the interval.Handscomb is not a fan of the new rule which CA hope will provide insights for the ICC who are considering subs for international cricket.”Not really,” he said after play on Wednesday. “I think first-class cricket and Test cricket is a game of attrition. And if you pick a team and then you can just sub a bloke out halfway through, it takes that factor away.”This is a bloody hard game for four days, and you’ve got to keep backing up and fronting up and doing everything. So I’m all aboard the concussion sub. I think that’s a really good rule. But injuries are part of the game. I think unfortunately, you just kind of have to deal with them and they haven’t.”New South Wales fast bowler Liam Hatcher didn’t mind the new rule. “I’d much rather have Stobes in than be a man down, especially when you get a flat wicket and stuff that’s out of your control like that,” he said. “Yeah, I don’t mind it.”As part of the new rule, Victoria also now have the opportunity to make a tactical substitution of one like-for-like bowler if they feel they need to but can only do so before stumps on day two of the match.”That’s an interesting one, because we’ve got one free hit basically,” Handscomb said. “A bowler gets to bowl his heart out and then we can sub them out if we want to. But we’ve obviously gone into this game under the assumption that we’re going to use just the 11 players and everyone’s ready to go. We know how we can rotate our bowlers through.”We’ve got four seamers and a spinner. Unless something really drastic happens, I’m not sure we’ll be using it and we’ll just be backing in the guys that we picked first up.”The injury to Abbott is untimely. He had missed out on Australia’s ODI squad to face India in part to give him the chance to play a rare first-class game to press his Ashes case before being part of Australia’s T20I squad.As part of the injury substitution rule, Abbott has to undergo a mandatory 12-day non-playing period from the start of day three of the match he was subbed out of, which is October 17, before being allowed to play again. It means he would still be available for Australia’s first T20I against India in Canberra on October 29 provided his hand has recovered in time. But if he was not in the T20I squad he would not have been eligible to play in New South Wales’ next Shield game against Queensland which starts at the Gabba on October 28.”He’s got a few stitches in it, but I think he’s fine,” Hatcher said.Abbott had bowled very impressively in the first session on day one at the Junction Oval in seam-friendly conditions. He picked up the wicket of Victoria opener Harry Dixon caught behind. He also ruffled Handscomb with some hostile short balls with one gloved over the keeper and another glancing off his shoulder and helmet.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Flamengo abriu uma bela vantagem sobre o Nova Iguaçu no primeiro jogo da final do Carioca. Com dois gols de Pedro e um contra de Ronald, o Rubro-Negro fez 3 a 0 e colocou uma das mãos na taça do Carioca. Antes do segundo jogo, o Fla entra em campo na estreia da Libertadores nesta terça-feira (2), contra o Millonarios, às 19h, em Bogotá.

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Tite descartou poupar no segundo jogo da final, entre os dois jogos da Libertadores na primeira fase, mesmo com a vantagem no Carioca.

– Não (vou poupar). Eu aprendi na vida que, sempre, o próximo passo é o mais importante. E isso me fortalece numa coincidência, se eu ficar olhando por cima da situação. Estou falando de coração aberto – disse o treinador.

Sobre o confronto da final, Tite também comentou o bom trabalho de Carlos Victor, treinador do Nova Iguaçu.

– Foi confronto do melhor ataque contra o terceiro melhor ataque. Com opções ofensivas. Com duas equipes que gostam de bola, gostam de jogo, o Carlos está muito de parabéns, mas não pouco, é muito. Falei pra ele pessoalmente, falo de forma pública. A qualidade da equipe da Nova Iguaçu não é o acaso – completou Tite.

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O duelo de volta do Carioca está marcado para o próximo domingo (7), às 17h, no Maracanã. O Flamengo pode até perder por dois gols de diferença que ainda fica com a taça.

Tudo sobre

Campeonato CariocaFlamengoFutebol NacionalNova Iguaçu

Atalanta have dismissed head coach Ivan Juric after a disastrous start to the Serie A season left them languishing in mid-table and far from the European places. The Croatian, appointed to succeed the legendary Gian Piero Gasperini in June, managed just two wins in 11 league games and failed to recreate the intensity, flair, and success that defined the Gasperini era in Bergamo.

Juric sacked five months into Atalanta tenure

Juric's brief and turbulent reign as Atalanta manager came to an abrupt end following the club's 3-0 home defeat to Sassuolo at the weekend – a result that proved to be the final straw for the Bergamo hierarchy. The loss marked Atalanta's eighth consecutive league match without a win, leaving the team 13th in the Serie A table and already 11 points behind leaders Inter Milan after just 11 games. Appointed in June 2025 to continue Gasperini's transformative legacy, Juric's tenure failed to take off, marked by inconsistent results, tactical confusion, and a noticeable drop in the team's trademark attacking energy.

The 50-year-old's sacking came just five months into his appointment, making his spell one of the shortest managerial reigns in Atalanta’s modern history. Juric was tasked with maintaining the club's Champions League-level standards after last season's third-place finish, but the team's regression was clear from the opening weeks. A run of six straight draws followed by back-to-back defeats against Udinese and Sassuolo exposed deep structural flaws in Juric's system, as Atalanta's high press lacked coordination while their defensive shape collapsed under pressure.

Atalanta confirmed the news in an official statement on Monday, thanking Juric and his staff for their "hard work and professionalism" but admitting the need for change ahead of a challenging winter period. Club officials are believed to have made their decision shortly after full-time against Sassuolo, having already drawn up contingency plans during the international break. Local reports in Bergamo immediately identified Raffaele Palladino as the frontrunner to replace Juric, with an announcement expected before the club's trip to Napoli on November 22.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportJuric failed to replicate Gasperini's success

Juric's downfall was perhaps inevitable given the near-impossible task of succeeding Gasperini. His nine-year tenure stands as one of the most transformative managerial reigns in modern Italian football, revolutionising both the club's identity and the perception of smaller-market teams in Serie A. When he arrived, Atalanta were perennial mid-table battlers focused on survival; when he left, they were established European contenders, having als won the Europa League in 2023-24.

Gasperini's tactical philosophy – built around a fearless, high-pressing 3-4-2-1 formation and relentless man-to-man marking – turned La Dea into a thrilling, high-scoring powerhouse. His side not only earned three straight top-three finishes between 2018 and 2021 but also broke records, including an extraordinary 98-goal Serie A campaign in 2019/20, the highest tally by any Italian club in over six decades.

The crowning moment of Gasperini's era came in 2024 when Atalanta defeated Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 to win the UEFA Europa League, the club’s first major European trophy. By the time he departed for Roma in June 2025, he had secured five Champions League qualifications, two Serie A Coach of the Year awards, and an enduring legacy. Juric's attempt to replicate that legacy faltered from the outset, with the team appearing tactically disoriented and emotionally flat compared to the high-energy sides of the Gasperini years.

Palladino the front-runner to succeed Juric

Attention now turns to Palladino, who is widely expected to be appointed as Atalanta’s new head coach in the coming days. At just 41, the former Fiorentina and Monza boss has developed a reputation as one of Italy’s most promising young tacticians, known for blending disciplined structure with attacking ambition. His approach mirrors many of the principles Gasperini once instilled, making him an appealing candidate to reawaken Atalanta’s trademark intensity.

Palladino's rise through the coaching ranks has been rapid. After starting in Monza's youth setup in 2019, he made an immediate impact when unexpectedly promoted to the first team in 2022, leading them to a shock 1-0 win over Juventus in his debut match. His Monza side went on to comfortably avoid relegation and earned praise for their bold, compact style, which relied on coordinated pressing and positional flexibility.

That success paved the way for a move to Fiorentina, where Palladino guided the club to sixth place in the 2024/25 Serie A campaign and qualification for the UEFA Conference League. His teams are characterised by aggressive transitions, width through dynamic wing-backs, and a preference for formations like the 3-4-2-1 – all features that align with Atalanta’s footballing DNA.

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Getty ImagesWhere do Atalanta go from here?

Atalanta's immediate priority will be stabilising results under a new manager as they prepare to face Napoli after the international break. With the team struggling for confidence and consistency, Palladino's first challenge will be to reintroduce tactical clarity and rebuild morale within a squad accustomed to the high standards of the Gasperini years. Restoring the attacking spark of players like Gianluca Scamacca, Ademola Lookman, and Teun Koopmeiners will be essential if Atalanta are to climb back into the top half and, eventually, Serie A's European places.

For Juric, however, the dismissal adds another abrupt end to a turbulent managerial stretch following disastrously brief stints at Roma and Southampton.

Ravindra Jadeja has been building a case to be one of the best allrounders in the game. A four-for to follow a hundred against West Indies to start the new home season was just the latest evidence he offered in favour of that argument. On the back of his 104 not out and 4 for 54, India completed an innings win with two-and-a-half days to spare.A proud record stood tall between February 22, 2013 and October 25, 2024. It buckled 24 hours later. India lost a Test series on home soil for the first time in nearly 12 years. Many of the players who had contributed to that run are now retired, including Virat Kohli, R Ashwin and Cheteshwar Pujara. But Jadeja remains.He was there when India began that run against Australia in Chennai. He was there when New Zealand broke them last year in Pune. And he was there once again, lifting them back up against West Indies now. At 36 years old, it is unclear how much cricket is left in him but it was poetic that in the first of 66 Tests that India had to play at home without R Ashwin, his old pal came up with a hundred and a four-for.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Alick Athanaze carried the West Indies flag, showing why he is rated as a good player of spin. He picked up length well. He was decisive going forward or back. And he remembered to put pressure back, two rock-solid reverse sweeps for four and one sumptuous cover drive for three highlighted his process. All of those scoring shots were against half-volleys that were well wide of the stumps. This is the judgment and the competence that convinced the coach Daren Sammy and the management to bring him back into the Test side.India, though, kept placing new threats in front of Athanaze. Jasprit Bumrah hit him on the helmet. Washington Sundar tested him with the ball turning away. They were waiting for Athanaze to be just slightly off with his process and eventually, after 73 balls, he was, closing the face of the bat, baited by an offbreak that pitched on middle. Washington took a simple catch, which then led to a symbolic representation of West Indies’ batting in this Test.Jomel Warrican tried to impose himself on Mohammed Siraj, swinging as hard as he could, only for his bat to fly out of his grip and land at square leg. The ball meanwhile settled in mid-off’s hands.Alick Athanaze offered some resilience for West Indies•Getty Images

West Indies are a side still building its best batters. Ahead of this tour, they were shorn of two of their best bowlers. This informed the challenge they could pose. They are struggling to find a better opener than John Campbell, 32, who is the third-most experienced player in this XI. He has 23 caps and in all that time, he has no centuries. Even in first-class cricket, after 101 matches, he has only nine centuries. In Ahmedabad, he fell for 8 and 14. The only slightly younger Tagenarine Chanderpaul finished with 0 and 8. Top-order returns like that just won’t do.Jadeja is sometimes accused of being that left-arm spinner who just fires the ball in and lets the pitch do its work. But he knows how to work batters out too. He saw Brandon King lunging forward to try and smother the turn and that helped him once. He hit a crisp cover drive for four. It also led to his downfall as Jadeja recalibrated his flight. It was still full so it triggered King’s instinct to get on the front foot. But he had no way of getting to the pitch of this one. Having committed to the shot, he ended up vulnerable to the turn and presented a straightforward catch to slip. All this happened in the space of two overs. In that small period of time, Jadeja turned what the batter thought was a strength into a weakness.Siraj was the other bowler among the wickets, taking five or more over the course of a home Test for the first time.West Indies lost 10 wickets in two sessions on the first day. They did it again on the third day. Only two players got into the 30s. Only two faced 50 or more balls. They have five days to address these problems before the start of the second game in Delhi. The wait to win a Test match against India in India, which is into its 31st year, continues.