يرى مدرب مارسيليا، روبرتو دي زيربي، أن ضربة الجزاء التي تم احتسابها لخصمه ريال مدريد مخزية، ورفض التشكيك في أنه تم احتسابها كتعويض للنادي الإسباني عن طرد داني كارفاخال.
وتغلب ريال مدريد على مارسيليا بهدفين مقابل هدف، ضمن مباريات الجولة الأولى لمرحلة الدوري في بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.
وتحصل ريال مدريد على ضربتي جزاء، وتلقى مدافعه داني كارفاخال بطاقة حمراء، لاشتباك بالرأس مع حارس مرمى مارسيليا بدون كرة.
ونشرت صحيفة “ماركا” الإسبانية تصريحات دي زيربي بعد اللقاء وقال: “كان بإمكاننا الفوز بالمباراة لو بذلنا جهدًا أكبر، نحن فريق يضم العديد من اللاعبين الجدد، وليس من السهل إيجاد إنسجام سريع”.
وأضاف: “لكنني أعتقد أنه كان بإمكاننا تقديم أداء أفضل، بالنظر إلى الجودة التي نمتلكها، أعتقد أننا كنا خائفين بعض الشيء، ما أشعر به هو أنه بعد طرد كارفاخال، لم نتمكن من الوصول إلى الكرة”.
وعن ركلة الجزاء الثانية المحتسبة لريال مدريد، علّق: “ركلة الجزاء كانت مخزية بعض الشيء، وكنت سأقول ذلك حتى لو كانت لصالحنا، لم تكن ركلة جزاء، لكن لا أعتقد أنهم احتسبوها لتعويض الطرد أو أي شيء من هذا القبيل… لا، بالطبع لا”.
اقرأ أيضًا | تشابي ألونسو: ريال مدريد استفاد من طرد كارفاخال أمام مارسيليا.. وهذه حقيقة إهانة فينيسيوس
وشدد دي زيربي: “كان علينا تقديم أداء أفضل بعد طرد كارفاخال، هذه هي الحقيقة، نغادر ونحن نعلم أن هذه المباريات يجب أن تكون أمرًا معتادًا بالنسبة لما، وأن نلعب في البرنابيو كل عام، هذا ما يحتاجه الفريق لتحقيق قفزة نوعية في العقلية والطموح”.
وعن طرد كارفاخال، أردف: “تلك الاصطدامات بالرأس أحيانًا تكون مبالغًا فيها قليلًا، لكن هذه هي القوانين… لا أعتقد أن هناك خطأ قبل ذلك، إذا كان الأمر مجرد تلامس بالرأس، فلن أُشهر البطاقة الحمراء”.
وسُئل عن كيليان مبابي، وأجاب: “مهاجميهم قدموا أداءً رائعًا، لكننا كنا بطيئين بعض الشيء، ووجد جولر وماستانتونو مساحات جيدة في الشوط الأول، مبابي خطير جدًا عندما يحصل على المساحة في العمق”.
Celtic have plenty of money in the coffers and could be set to make even more financial capital amid interest in one of their fringe men from a European outfit, according to a report.
Celtic set their stall out ahead of the new season
With Brendan Rodgers now privy to the working order of his side’s Scottish Premiership fixtures this campaign, the Irishman can get to work on laying the groundwork for another successful year at Parkhead.
Kieran Tierney has already signed on the dotted line at Parkhead. Meanwhile, Benjamin Nygren, Callum Osmand and Hayato Inamura appear primed to join Celtic amid significant progress being made on their respective situations.
Brendan Rodgers
Speaking ahead of the new season, Rodgers has made it clear that the Hoops will look to set their own benchmarks rather than looking across the city despite Rangers’ recent appointment of Russell Martin.
He stated: “We create our own benchmark and our own levels, and we’ve been doing that consistently now. But there’s no doubt competition makes you better in whatever sport it is, or whatever pursuit of anything that you’re trying to achieve.
“If you have competition that really narrows in the focus, we always have to keep an eye on our rivals in terms of what they do and players that they might bring in, and systems they play and tactics they use, and managers.”
Dream Jota replacement: Celtic in talks to sign "amazing" star after Nygren
With Jota sidelined for up to 9 months due to an ACL tear, Celtic are in the market for a new winger.
ByBen Gray Jun 20, 2025
Without blowing his own trumpet, the former Liverpool boss is aware that Celtic hold the monopoly in terms of recent success, in part down to the club’s financial prowess.
Now, they could be set to offload a fringe star that would add another little boost to the coffers if interest in his services is to advance.
Austria Vienna interested in landing Kwon Hyeok-kyu
According to journalist Mark Hendry on his Substack, Austria Vienna could offer Kwon Hyeok-Kyu a permanent escape route from Celtic after a loan spell at Hibernian that saw the South Korean midfielder make 22 appearances across all competitions.
The Austrian Bundesliga outfit were keen on bringing the Busan-born man to the continent at the beginning of the season, but had already reached their limit of six foreign loan players and were unable to strike a deal.
Kwon’s time in Scottish football – loan spells at St Mirren and Hibernian
Appearances
31
Goals
0
Assists
0
Previously spending time out at St Mirren, where he was labelled “dominant” by Stephen Robinson, Kwon has never made a senior appearance for Celtic after his £1 million move to the club in 2023 from Busan IPark.
Admittedly, he has suffered from the deep level of competition in the Bhoys’ engine room, though there is a feeling among many that he never really got started in Glasgow’s east end.
Having the chance to start afresh may be the best course of action for all parties, and Celtic could bring in a small windfall if he were to be sold permanently.
Manchester City mean business at this summer’s Club World Cup.
On Wednesday, the Citizens announced their squad for this summer’s tournament in the United States and it is certainly star-studded, featuring new recruits Rayan Cherki, Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Aït-Nouri.
The Sky Blues commence their campaign against Wydad Casablanca on Wednesday, before also taking on Al Ain and then Juventus in the group phase, with many backing Pep Guardiola’s team to go all the way.
Meantime, back home, as they turn their attention to the future, are Man City about to secure the services of the “exceptional” next Phil Foden?
Manchester City's spending spree continues
Man City can no longer register any new players for the group stages of the Club World Cup, but that doesn’t mean transfer activity doesn’t continue behind the scenes.
The Citizens have already splashed out around £30m on Cherki, while spending bigger fees of £46.5m on Reijnders and £31m on Ait-Nouri. Their next move could be a great deal cheaper.
Rayan Cherki
Indeed, according to a report by David Ornstein and Jordan Campbell of the Athletic, Manchester City are ‘close to reaching an agreement’ as they seek to sign Sverre Nypan from Rosenborg.
Subject to personal terms being complete, it will be a record fee for a player from the Norwegian top-flight, said to be around £17m according to previous reports.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
The plan is for Nypan to spend next season on loan at La Liga side Girona, also part of the City Football Group network of course, so it’ll be a little while before we see him donning a sky blue shirt, but Man City supporters should still be excited.
How Sverre Nypan compares to Man City's current midfield star
Despite being just 18 years old, having made only 70 appearances for Eliteserien side Rosenborg, scoring 14 goals, Nypan is one of the most highly sought-after young players in the world.
Seb Stafford-Bloor of the Athletic documents his ‘remarkable’ rise, labelling him a ‘mighty prospect’, outlining that he is predominantly a number eight, but can also be deployed as a number ten.
Nypan is Rosenborg’s youngest-ever player, debuting at the age of just 15 years and 322 days back in November 2022, before also becoming the Troillongan’s youngest-ever goalscorer, netting against champions Bodø/Glimt in the Arctic Circle the following May.
As part of the Guardian’s Next Generation of 2023 series, Michael Yokhin praised Nypan’s “superb ability to read the game and vision”, analyst Ben Mattinson believes he is an “exceptional talent”, while Jacek Kulig from Football Talent Scout asserts that he has a “huge future ahead”.
So, let’s assess his statistics.
Minutes
2,106
64th
Goals
8
15th
Assists
6
6th
Big chances created
7
22nd
Shots per 90
2
18th
Key passes per 90
1.4
25th
Successful dribbles per 90
1.4
12th
Average SofaScore rating
7.28
18th
As the table outlines, Nypan is the creative hub of Rosenborg’s team, ranking very highly for all metrics included, which is very impressive for an 18-year-old, especially when considering that, according to Global Football Rankings, the Eliteserien is the 26th strongest league in the world.
Right now, Man City’s creator in chief, following the departure of Kevin De Bruyne, is likely to be Phil Foden.
Manchester City star Phil Foden
The England international was sensational in 2023/24, picking up every individual accolade going, as the numbers below highlight.
Statistics
Foden
Man City rank
Minutes
4,114
2nd
Goals
26
2nd
Assists
13
2nd
Shots
154
2nd
Shot-creating actions
182
2nd
Goal-creating actions
31
1st
Attempted take-ons
118
2nd
Carries into final third
92
2nd
At his best, Foden is the heartbeat of this Man City side, ranking incredibly highly for every attacking metric, something Nypan is replicating, albeit of course at a lower level for now.
Stefan Bienkowski of Transfermarkt praises Nypan’s ‘exceptionally high football IQ’, adding that he handles the ball very well, much like Foden.
Thus, it is clear that the teenager is a high-potential player, surely making him a Man City star of the not-too-distant future.
Bid incoming: £67m star is now finished at Man City after Cherki arrival
With Rayan Cherki having arrived at Manchester City, as part of the Sky Blues’ big spending spree, one star could be on his way to a PL rival.
Leeds United aren’t gripped with dread this summer that a whole host of their star players could be exiting Elland Road.
That was the overwhelming emotion last summer, however, after Daniel Farke’s Whites heartbreakingly lost the Championship playoff final to Southampton. Now, with a title success under their belt, the West Yorkshire giants don’t have that same level of worry to contend with.
Old wounds could soon be reopened by their emergence into the Premier League, though, as the likes of Georginio Rutter and Crysencio Summerville potentially line up against their former employers next season for Brighton and Hove Albion and West Ham United respectively.
Crysencio Summerville for Leeds
Alongside that magic duo, ex-Thorp Arch product Archie Gray could also clash with Leeds, having also shone in glimpses for new side Tottenham Hotspur.
Gray's sad Leeds exit
Amazingly, the versatile 19-year-old has already collected silverware since donning Spurs white, memorably lifting the Europa League recently, which is some feat just one season into his North London adventure.
This would have been one key factor as to why he left his boyhood employers behind after just one mere season in the senior ranks, knowing he could cut it at an elite level already.
There was clearly a hunger to succeed up a level, whilst Farke and Co. were left to battle away again to try and finally get out of the unforgiving Championship.
RB
30
0
2
CM
10
0
0
DM
6
0
0
AM
3
0
0
Still, there is a lack of visible bad blood on Leeds’ end as Gray gave everything across the 2023/24 season for the cause, with the teenage sensation lining up wherever needed and impressing under Farke’s stewardship.
The Whites would have at least been glad to get £30m out of Ange Postecoglou’s men, but there will be a worry that Gray left prematurely, and he will soon become even more of a classy talent for the Lilywhites, away from Elland Road.
History could unfortunately repeat itself too if Leeds were to sell an equally exciting youngster who has shown flashes of his obvious quality during their promotion-winning heroics.
£10m attacker may never play for Leeds again
Whilst Farke was the boss to gift Gray his first tastes of senior action in West Yorkshire, the German might not be prepared to be as charitable up a division when handing equally promising starlets more chances.
That might be why Mateo Joseph is eyeing up the exit door this summer, with a new report from French outlet L’Equipe stating that Liam Rosenior’s RC Strasbourg are keen on adding the raw Spaniard to their camp if he does fancy an exit route out of England.
Journalist Graeme Bailey has also weighed in on the speculation surrounding Joseph by exclusively revealing he is considering his options and is now ready to bid farewell to the Whites, despite looking at home in a Leeds starting lineup on occasion, especially when he bagged this quickfire brace against Chelsea last year.
He also showed off his clinical edge in the Leeds first team last season when sparingly handed minutes by Farke, with a standout tally of three goals and three assists coming his way in league action, despite only being gifted 11 starts.
Much like Gray, this is undoubtedly an impressive season for an academy product who had only experienced youth football before this big leap under the ex-Norwich City boss.
But, with £10m bids reportedly coming Leeds’ way for Joseph’s services from the likes of La Liga outfit Real Betis, Leeds could soon cash in on another of their top youth players before they have fully blossomed.
These added funds might well boost Leeds if they are keen on adding in some star quality for the Premier League, yet in the long term, Joseph could go on to establish himself as a top attacker elsewhere in another regrettable Gray-style repeat.
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After crashing out of the Champions League on Wednesday night, it looked like Arsenal were set to end the week with a humbling at the hands of Liverpool at half-time on Sunday afternoon.
Fortunately, Mikel Arteta’s team talk seemed to do the trick, and his side came out, fought back to parity and ensured the travelling fans at least had something to celebrate.
While a fair few of the Gunners’ starters put in a good showing in the second 45, Gabriel Martinelli was the most impressive, and thanks to his goal and general centre-forward play, he was awarded the man of the match award.
However, even though the 23-year-old looked bright, his time in the starting lineup could be coming to an end, as recent reports have linked the club with another Premier League star who’d be a significant upgrade on the Brazilian.
Arsenal's winger search
Before getting to the player in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other wide players who have been linked with moves to Arsenal this summer, such as Nico Williams and Rodrygo.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
The former is set to be available for just £48m thanks to a release clause in his contract, and, just like last year, has enjoyed a stellar campaign in which he’s scored 11 goals and provided seven assists in 44 games.
Likewise, Rodrygo has been relatively effective for Real Madrid this season, scoring 13 goals and providing ten assists in 50 appearances, although with a reported price tag of £85m, he might be a little out of range if Andrea Berta and Co also plan to invest heavily in a striker.
Moreover, the Gunners might want a Premier League-proven winger to come in and bolster the team, which is where Antoine Semenyo comes in.
According to a recent report from Spain, Arsenal have maintained their interest in the Bournemouth star.
In fact, the report goes a step further, revealing that due to growing problems in the North Londoners’ attack, their pursuit of the 25-year-old, who is valued at €50m – £42m – has now gained momentum.
While he might not be the big name some fans are after, Semenyo is a sensational footballer and one Arsenal should be doing all they can to sign, even if his arrival could spell trouble for Martinelli.
How Semenyo compares to Martinelli
Now, one of the really significant advantages of signing Semenyo is that, thanks to him being so strong with both feet, he’s able to play in a multitude of positions on both sides of the pitch.
However, while this would certainly allow Arteta to rest Bukayo Saka more often, there is no way that the Bournemouth star would replace the Englishman on the right on a permanent basis.
Therefore, to get regular game time, the Ghanaian international would have to start on the left, putting him in direct competition with Martinelli, but how do the pair stack up against one another?
Well, when it comes to the most important metric of all, raw output, it’s the Cherries ace who comes out ahead.
For example, in 40 appearances this season, totalling 3382 minutes, he’s scored 11 goals and provided seven assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.22 games, or every 187.88 minutes.
AFC Bournemouth's AntoineSemenyolooks on
In contrast, the former Ituano gem has scored ten goals and provided six assists in 49 appearances, totalling 3403 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 3.06 games or every 212.68 minutes.
Unfortunately for the Gunners’ ace, the one-sided nature of this comparison only continues when we take a look under the hood at their underlying numbers.
Semenyo vs Martinelli
Statistics
Semenyo
Martinelli
Non-Penalty G+As
0.43
0.40
Progressive Passes
3.18
1.88
Progressive Carries
4.08
4.71
Shots
3.60
2.07
Shots on Target
1.15
0.93
Passing Accuracy
73.1%
71.0%
Shot-Creating Actions
3.78
2.82
Goal-Creating Actions
0.39
0.23
Tackles Won
0.99
0.53
Successful Take-Ons
1.99
1.53
Ball Recoveries
4.52
3.15
Aerial Duels Won
1.85
0.65
All Stats via FBref for the 24/25 Season
For example, in almost every relevant metric, the “unplayable” 25-year-old, as dubbed by journalist Ed Aarons, comes out top; metrics such as non-penalty goals plus assists, progressive passes, passing accuracy, shot and goal-creating actions, successful take-ons, aerial duels won, tackles won and more, all per 90.
Ultimately, while Martinelli could certainly still be an incredibly valuable squad player next season, it’s evident that Semenyo is the superior winger in practically every way. Therefore, Arsenal should do what they can to sign him this summer.
Shades of Aubameyang: Arsenal lead race to sign "mind-blowing" goal machine
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Manchester City are eyeing a £30 million-plus move for a former Real Madrid defender this summer, as Pep Guardiola looks to shore up his side’s shaky backline, according to a new report.
City eyeing Champions League qualification
After a poor start to the campaign, City have shown signs of resurgence in recent months. While they’re still not quite at the level that brought them sustained domestic dominance in recent years, Pep Guardiola’s side are now firmly back in the hunt for Champions League qualification — a prospect that seemed highly unlikely just a few months ago.
Speaking to the club’s official website, midfielder Ilkay Gundogan recently addressed the importance of securing a top-four finish, calling it a “responsibility” to ensure City remain among Europe’s elite despite an underwhelming season.
“Our team is made and built to be more than this — it’s built to be a contender for the title every single year.For various reasons, we haven’t been at our best for a long period of the season. We are where we are right now, and we need to accept the situation.
“There are minimum targets that have to be achieved at this club, and that’s definitely qualifying for the Champions League next season. We have to do it – it’s our responsibility.”
City eyeing move for Lazio defender Mario Gila
One of Manchester City’s most pressing issues this season has been their defensive frailty. In the Premier League, Guardiola’s side have already conceded more goals than in any previous campaign under the Spaniard — and the most since the 2009/10 season, when Mark Hughes and Roberto Mancini led the team to a fifth-place finish.
Not just De Bruyne: Pep's 5/10 star could now be finished at Man City
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ByBen Gray Apr 19, 2025
Guardiola attempted to bolster his defensive options in January, bringing in centre-back Abdukodir Khusanov from RC Lens and highly rated teenager Vitor Reis from Palmeiras. However, Khusanov has struggled to impress since his arrival, and reports suggest he could already be sent out on loan this summer. As for Reis, the 19-year-old is seen more as a long-term prospect rather than an immediate solution to City’s defensive issues.
According to CaughtOffside, City are now eyeing Lazio centre-back Mario Gila as a key target for the upcoming transfer window. Pep is reportedly a fan of the 24-year-old’s “composure, passing ability and understanding of defence”.
The report adds that Lazio are open to selling the former Real Madrid defender for a fee in the region of £34–39 million. However, City will face stiff competition for his signature, with Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain and Madrid themselves all monitoring the situation closely.
Gila has been one of Lazio’s key players this season, starting 26 of the club’s 28 Serie A games, winning an impressive 33 tackles and making 118 recoveries.
Jen Pawol officially made history on Saturday when she became the first female to umpire a regular season game in Major League Baseball.
Pawol was one of the field umpires for Saturday's contest between the Miami Marlins and Atlanta Braves. She will work both games of Saturday's doubleheader and Sunday's series finale as well, when she will serve as the home plate umpire.
Pawol's ascent to this historic day began in February of 2024, when she became the third woman to ever umpire a spring training game. A year-and-a-half later, she gets an opportunity in a regular season contest.
The spring training game came one year after she became the first woman to umpire at the Triple-A level in 34 years in 2023.
The 48-year-old Pawol played collegiate softball at Hofstra and was a member of the 2001 U.S. women's national team that won the first Baseball Women's World Series.
Aston Villa are now prepared to make a £52m offer for a “baller” in the January transfer window, with Unai Emery personally keen.
Villa make major statement in dramatic Arsenal victory
Villa sent out a message to the rest of the Premier League by picking up a dramatic late victory against league leaders Arsenal on Saturday afternoon, with Emiliano Buendia firing home in stoppage time to secure a 2-1 win.
In the wake of the result, which leaves Emery’s side just three points behind the Gunners, Mikel Arteta has admitted the Villans are genuine Premier League title contenders.
When asked whether the Villa Park outfit can challenge, Arteta said: “They are. When you look at where they are, the way they play, they have beaten some big teams, especially at home. Everybody is going to have to play everybody, so at the moment they are where they are and we are there as well.”
That said, it is still early days, given that we aren’t even at the half-way stage of the season just yet, and Emery is eager to bring in some new reinforcements, who could boost his side’s title push, during the January transfer window.
That is according to a report from Spain, which states the Aston Villa manager is now personally keen on signing Athletic Club star Mikel Jauregizar next month, but a deal could be on the expensive side.
Villa are prepared to offer up to €60m (£52m) to secure Jauregizar’s signature, with the Spanish club reluctant to sanction a departure unless they receive an ‘irresistible’ bid.
Emery believes the central midfielder would be an ideal fit in his system, and the Villans are now determined to get a deal done, so much so that they may even be willing to make an even higher bid.
"Baller" Jauregizar impressing in the Champions League
If Villa are going to make a genuine push to win the Premier League title, they may need to bring in some new players with experience at the highest level, and the 22-year-old has been impressing in the Champions League this season, chipping in with two assists in five matches.
Hailed as an “underrated baller” by scout Ben Mattinson, the maestro is also strong at winning back possession, averaging 2.87 tackles per 90 over the past year, placing him in the 89th percentile, when compared to other midfielders.
Aston Villa now want to tempt Chelsea summer signing with surprise January move
It would be a head turner.
ByEmilio Galantini 7 days ago
Jauregizar is clearly a very well-rounded midfielder, capable of making an impact at both ends of the pitch, and Aston Villa could strengthen their title chances by getting a deal done in January.
Fora de casa, o Palmeiras derrotou o Liverpool-URU, pela 4ª rodada da Libertadores, nesta quinta-feira (9). Veiga, Endrick, Rony e Gustavo Gomes foram os autores dos gols do triunfo do Verdão. Assista aos melhores momentos no vídeo acima.
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Sri Lanka have promised to field a “full-strength side”, and that might mean Maheesh Theekshana getting in keeping in mind the conditions in Dubai
Madushka Balasuriya14-Sep-20258:05
Should SL play Wellalage or Theekshana?
Big picture – Can Sri Lanka continue to play like ‘defending champions’?
Prior to Sri Lanka’s tournament opener against Bangladesh at the Asia Cup, Charith Asalanka had reminded people that his team was, indeed, the defending T20 Asia Cup champions. A fact not strictly inaccurate but one that might have raised a few eyebrows when put in context: Sri Lanka’s form in major tournaments in the three years since that momentous victory has been less than stellar.But for Asalanka, the psychological boost that it had provided was something he was sure would spur his side on. And so it proved to be against Bangladesh on Saturday, when whatever confidence or motivation was being derived was on total display – they dominated a contest that was expected to be much more closely fought, and quite frankly looked every bit the champions.Related
No mystery spinner, no problem for Sri Lanka
How Martin Coetzee fell in love with Hong Kong cricket
Consistency, however, has been Sri Lanka’s Achilles’ heel, and against Hong Kong on Monday, they have a chance to build up a head of steam ahead of their final group game against Afghanistan.As for Hong Kong, two defeats already means they are out of the qualification reckoning, but they will no doubt want to bow out on a high note. And who better against the “defending champions”?While this Sri Lankan side seems to be ironing out weaknesses, their middle order is still on the soft side. Kamil Mishara has added some much-needed aggression, but in general there is still a heavy reliance on the opening pair of Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka. Get them early and who knows what’s possible.Against both Afghanistan and Bangladesh, seamers Ayush Shukla and Ateeq Iqbal showed they can pick up wickets in the powerplay. Where the Hong Kong bowling struggled was in limiting scoring through the middle overs – a period Sri Lanka’s batters have been known to struggle. That heavy collapse against Zimbabwe just three games ago has also served to highlight this Sri Lanka batting line-up’s propensity to unravel, and with the pitch expected to be on the slower side, the stage is as set as can be for a low-scoring contest.But to be clear, Sri Lanka are overwhelming favourites and, considering their clinical performance against Bangladesh, are also right on top of their game. It’s an uphill task for Hong Kong whichever way you slice it, though not impossible.Ayush Shukla has shown he can pick up wickets early on•Getty Images
Form guide
Sri Lanka WWLWL Hong Kong LLLWW
In the spotlight: Ehsan Khan and Wanindu Hasaranga
If Hong Kong are to pull off an upset, their best path will be to limit Sri Lanka’s batting. While there are plenty of dangerous batters in the Sri Lanka line-up, their sometimes brittle middle order has no less than four left-hand batters – Kamil Mishara, Kusal Perera, Asalanka and Kamindu Mendis. With offspinner Ehsan Khan being Hong Kong’s most prolific wicket-taker – 128 wickets in 94 innings at an economy rate of 6.29 – the match-ups are tailor-made.Wanindu Hasaranga didn’t look like he had missed a step on his return to the side against Bangladesh. His googly caused chaos as he ended with figures of 2 for 25, and it might have been more had heavy bails not been used with Jaker Ali surviving one that grazed his off stump. On a surface where spin has been at the forefront, it would take a special effort from Hong Kong to keep Hasaranga from adding to his 133 T20I wickets.Does Maheesh Theekshana fit into Sri Lanka’s “full-strength” side?•Getty Images
Team news: Will Maheesh Theekshana return?
Hong Kong are likely to be unchanged, but with this being their final match of the tournament, it would be unsurprising to see some bench players get a game.Hong Kong (probable): 1 Zeeshan Ali (wk), 2 Anshuman Rath, 3 Babar Hayat, 4 Nizakat Khan, 5 Kalhan Challu, 6 Kinchit Shah, 7 Yasim Murtaza (capt), 8 Aizaz Khan, 9 Ayush Shukla, 10 Ateeq Iqbal, 11 Ehsan KhanSri Lanka have stated that they will go with a full-strength side, which means there are unlikely to be any changes in the batting unit. On the bowling front, there could be a return for Maheesh Theekshana as the pitch is likely to aid spin.Sri Lanka (probable): 1 Pathum Nissanka, 2 Kusal Mendis (wk), 3 Kamil Mishara, 4 Kusal Perera, 5 Charith Asalanka (capt), 6 Kamindu Mendis, 7 Dasun Shanaka, 8 Wanindu Hasaranga, 9 Maheesh Theekshana, 10 Dushmantha Chameera, 11 Nuwan Thushara
Pitch and conditions: Spin, what else?
The pitch in Dubai hasn’t necessarily proved conducive to high scores over the past year, with spinners generally finding conditions to their liking. For example, of the 17 wickets to fall in the Oman vs Pakistan game, nine fell to spin, while pace-off deliveries were regularly employed by the seamers.
Stats and trivia
This will be the first match between Sri Lanka and Hong Kong in any format in international cricket.
The side batting first has won seven of the last ten T20Is played in Dubai.
Sri Lanka last played in Dubai in 2022, in the final of the Asia Cup that they won.
Nissanka’s 902 runs are the most by a player from a Full-Member nation in T20Is since the start of 2024.
Quotes
“We don’t want to take any chances. In this format, everybody is tough to beat. We will go with our full-strength side.”