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Kylian Mbappe has officially joined Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in one of world football’s rarest elite clubs after hitting 60 goals in the 2025 calendar year during Real Madrid’s draw with Girona. His penalty at Montilivi not only marked an extraordinary milestone but also cemented his place in French football history as the first since Just Fontaine to reach such a total.

Mbappe hits 60-goal mark for 2025

Mbappe reached the 60-goal mark for the 2025 calendar year when he converted a penalty during Real Madrid’s 1-1 draw against Girona on Sunday night. The Frenchman was frustrated throughout the scrappy contest, repeatedly crowded out by defenders and denied a second goal after an inadvertent handball moments before Girona struck the opener. Despite Madrid controlling phases of the match, they were forced to settle for another draw away from home, allowing Barcelona to grab La Liga's top spot.

The equaliser carried historic significance even as Real Madrid’s performance raised concerns, extending their run without an away win to a third league match. The result also increased pressure on Xabi Alonso, whose side have struggled to maintain consistency in recent weeks despite Mbappé’s extraordinary scoring output. Girona, who have historically troubled Madrid at Montilivi, again proved difficult to break down and came close to taking all three points before late Madrid pressure fizzled out.

Mbappe’s goal ensured he remained at the heart of the title race narrative, but the shared points exposed deeper vulnerabilities in Madrid’s current form. With Barcelona surging, Madrid’s margin for error grows thinner, and the reliance on their superstar has become increasingly obvious. Even on a historic night for him personally, the broader implications of the draw left Madrid with more questions than answers.

AdvertisementGettyJoins Messi, Ronaldo and Lewandowski in special club

Mbappe’s 60th goal of the year places him alongside Messi, Ronaldo and Robert Lewandowski as the only players in the 21st century to hit such a tally in a single calendar year. His achievement is particularly significant in French football history, as he becomes the first French player since Fontaine in 1958 to score 60 goals for club and country within the same year. 

It also underscores the unique pressure he carries at Madrid, where he has instantly become the focal point of the team’s tactical structure. His prolific output has masked wider issues within the squad, with Madrid lacking the stability needed to keep pace with Barcelona despite possessing one of world football’s most lethal forwards. The club’s form in late 2025 has made Mbappe’s reliability even more important, especially in tight matches where he is often required to produce decisive moments alone.

Still, the broader context of his performance reveals a player thriving even amid turbulence. Between league matches, Champions League fixtures, and international duty with France, Mbappe has maintained an elite level of efficiency in both scoring and chance creation. His ability to sustain such production across competitions highlights why he is now mentioned in the same breath as Ronaldo and Messi when it comes to calendar-year scoring feats.

Mbappe's spectacular 2025 calendar year

The 2025 calendar year has been a definitive turning point for Mbappe, marking his transition from global superstar to Real Madrid’s undisputed centrepiece and leader. His first full year at the Bernabeu failed to bear fruit as Los Blancos went trophyless. However, across the first six months of 2025, he delivered crucial goals in the Champions League knockout rounds and formed threatening partnerships across Madrid’s front line.

As the 2025–26 season began, Mbappe immediately picked up where he left off, scoring at a remarkable rate and reinforcing his status as the league’s most dangerous forward. He combined his individual brilliance with increased leadership responsibility, while also taking on a central tactical role in Alonso’s evolving system. His contributions for France during this period were equally significant, as he captained Les Bleus through qualifiers and continued to deliver decisive goals.

By late November, his statistical profile reflected one of the most complete individual years in modern football, with 60 goals across club and country and a growing list of match-winning displays. This figure included goals in league action, European competition, domestic tournaments, and international matches.

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Getty ImagesMbappe looking to help Real Madrid catch up with Barcelona

Real Madrid will now look to stabilise their league form as they enter a crucial stretch of winter fixtures, with Mbappe expected to continue carrying much of the attacking responsibility. Upcoming matches, particularly their trip to San Mames to face Athletic Club, will test whether the team can convert individual brilliance into sustained collective momentum. With his goals keeping Madrid firmly in the title hunt, the club will hope their superstar’s historic year becomes the catalyst for a stronger run heading into 2026. 

يشهد اليوم السبت الموافق 29-11-2025 زخمًا كرويًا كبيرًا، حيث تُقام مجموعة من أبرز المواجهات على المستويين المحلي والدولي، وتتوزع اللقاءات بين كأس مصر ودوري أبطال إفريقيا وكأس الكونفدرالية، إضافة إلى مواجهات حاسمة في الدوريات الأوروبية الكبرى التي قد تُحدث تغييرات مهمة في جداول الترتيب.

وفي الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، يترقب عشاق كرة القدم مواجهة مانشستر سيتي أمام ليدز يونايتد، وهي مباراة يسعى من خلالها فريق المدرب بيب جوارديولا إلى العودة لطريق الانتصارات بعد خسارته في الجولة الماضية أمام نيوكاسل، إلى جانب هزيمته الأوروبية أمام باير ليفركوزن، ويأمل السيتي في استغلال عاملي الأرض والجمهور على ملعب “الاتحاد” لتحسين موقعه في جدول الترتيب.

أما في البطولات الإفريقية، فيخوض فريق الزمالك اختبارًا صعبًا خارج الديار أمام كايزر تشيفز الجنوب إفريقي، ضمن الجولة الثانية من دور المجموعات لكأس الكونفدرالية، ويدخل الأبيض اللقاء بمعنويات مرتفعة بعد فوزه في الجولة الأولى على زيسكو يونايتد، بينما يسعى الفريق الجنوب إفريقي لتعويض خسارته السابقة والعودة للمنافسة داخل المجموعة.

وفي بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا، يدخل فريق بيراميدز مواجهة قوية أمام باور ديناموز الزامبي، طامحًا إلى مواصلة نتائجه الإيجابية بعدما حقق فوزًا عريضًا على ريفرز يونايتد في الجولة الأولى، وتبدو المجموعة مشتعلة في ظل تصدر نهضة بركان للمشهد برصيد 6 نقاط، ما يزيد من أهمية لقاء اليوم بالنسبة لبيراميدز للحفاظ على حظوظه في المنافسة.

وفي الدوري الإسباني، يخوض برشلونة مواجهة مهمة أمام ديبورتيفو ألافيس على ملعب “كامب نو”، ضمن منافسات الجولة الرابعة عشر، ويطمح الفريق الكتالوني بقيادة هانز فليك إلى مصالحة جماهيره بعد الخسارة الثقيلة أمام تشيلسي في دوري أبطال أوروبا، بينما يسعى ألافيس إلى الخروج بنتيجة إيجابية تُحسن موقعه في جدول الترتيب.

ولا يخلو اليوم من مواجهات قوية في الدوريات الأوروبية الأخرى، وعلى رأسها الدوري الإيطالي الذي يشهد مباريات أبرزها لقاء ميلان أمام لاتسيو، بجانب مواجهة يوفنتوس وكالياري، إضافة إلى عدة مباريات في الدوري الفرنسي والألماني.

طالع أيضًا | جوارديولا يلوم لاعبي مانشستر سيتي بسبب عمر مرموش.. ويتحدث عن مشاركته في أمم إفريقيا مواعيد مباريات اليوم السبت 29-11-2025 والقنوات الناقلةمواعيد مباريات كأس مصر اليوم

الاتحاد ضد كهرباء الإسماعيلية، الساعة 5 مساءً بتوقيت مصر، 6 بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة on sport. مواعيد مباريات دوري أبطال أفريقيا اليوم

باور ديناموز ضد بيراميدز، الساعة 6 مساءً بتوقيت مصر، 7 بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة beIN SPORTS XTRA 1.

بيترو أتلتيكو ضد الترجي، الساعة 6 مساءً بتوقيت مصر، 7 بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة beIN Sports HD 2. مواعيد مباريات كأس الكونفيدرالية اليوم

أوتوهو ضد شباب بلوزداد، الساعة 3 عصرًا بتوقيت مصر، 4 بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة beIN Sports HD 9.

كايزر تشيفز ضد الزمالك، الساعة 3 عصرًا بتوقيت مصر، 4 بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة beIN Sports HD 2. مواعيد مباريات الدوري الإنجليزي اليوم

برينتفورد ضد بيرنلي، الساعة 5 مساءً بتوقيت مصر، 6 بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة beIN Sports HD 6.

مانشستر سيتي ضد ليدز يونايتد، الساعة 5 مساءً بتوقيت مصر، 6 بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة beIN Sports HD 3.

سندرلاند ضد بورنموث، الساعة 5 مساءً بتوقيت مصر، 6 بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة beIN Sports HD 5.

إيفرتون ضد نيوكاسل يونايتد، الساعة 7:30 مساءً بتوقيت مصر، 8:30 بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة beIN Sports HD 1.

توتنهام هوتسبير ضد فولهام، الساعة 10 مساءً بتوقيت مصر، 11 بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة beIN Sports HD 1. مواعيد مباريات الدوري الإسباني اليوم

مايوركا ضد أوساسونا، الساعة 3 عصرًا بتوقيت مصر، 4 بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة beIN Sports HD 4.

برشلونة ضد ديبورتيفو ألافيس، الساعة 5:15 مساءً بتوقيت مصر، 6:15 بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة beIN Sports HD 1.

ليفانتي ضد أتلتيك بيلباو، الساعة 7:30 مساءً بتوقيت مصر، 8:30 بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة beIN Sports HD 3.

أتلتيكو مدريد ضد ريال أوفييدو، الساعة 10 مساءً بتوقيت مصر، 11 بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة beIN Sports HD 3. مواعيد مباريات الدوري الإيطالي اليوم

جنوى ضد فيرونا، الساعة 4 عصرًا بتوقيت مصر، 5 بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة AD Sports 1 HD.

بارما ضد أودينيزي، الساعة 4 عصرًا بتوقيت مصر، 5 بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة AD Sports 2 HD.

يوفنتوس ضد كالياري، الساعة 7 مساءً بتوقيت مصر، 8 بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة AD Sports 1 HD.

ميلان ضد لاتسيو، الساعة 9:45 مساءً بتوقيت مصر، 10:45 بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة AD Sports 1 HD. مواعيد مباريات الدوري الفرنسي اليوم

موناكو ضد باريس سان جيرمان، الساعة 6 مساءً بتوقيت مصر، 7 بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة beIN Sports HD 4.

باريس ضد أوكسير، الساعة 8 مساءً بتوقيت مصر، 9 بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة beIN Sports HD 5.

مارسيليا ضد تولوز، الساعة 8 مساءً بتوقيت مصر، 9 بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة beIN Sports HD 4. مواعيد مباريات الدوري الألماني اليوم

بايرن ميونخ ضد سانت باولي، الساعة 4:30 مساءً بتوقيت مصر، 5:30 بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر تطبيق شاهد.

هوفينهايم ضد أوجسبورج، الساعة 4:30 مساءً بتوقيت مصر، 5:30 بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر تطبيق شاهد.

يونيون برلين ضد هايدينهايم، الساعة 4:30 مساءً بتوقيت مصر، 5:30 بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر تطبيق شاهد.

فيردر بريمن ضد كولن، الساعة 4:30 مساءً بتوقيت مصر، 5:30 بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر تطبيق شاهد.

باير ليفركوزن ضد بوروسيا دورتموند، الساعة 7:30 مساءً بتوقيت مصر، 8:30 بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر تطبيق شاهد. مواعيد مباريات كأس خادم الحرمين اليوم

الهلال ضد الفتح، الساعة 4:40 مساءً بتوقيت السعودية، 3:40 بتوقيت مصر، وتُذاع عبر قناة Thmanyah 1.

الاتحاد ضد الشباب، الساعة 7:30 مساءً بتوقيت السعودية، 6:30 بتوقيت مصر، وتُذاع عبر قناة Thmanyah 2.

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

The last wicket pair survived 28 overs to take the game to the final session before Riley Meredith’s pace finished the game off

AAP and ESPNcricinfo staff25-Nov-2025

Riley Meredith celebrates taking the match-winning wicket•Getty Images

Jackson Bird and Gabe Bell shared six wickets to dismantled New South Wales’ second innings and secure Tasmania a crushing innings and 58-run Sheffield Shield victory over Tasmania.In a match in which neither team was able to take all 10 wickets in the first innings, NSW collapsed on day four to be all out for 174 in 92 overs at Cricket Central in Sydney.Related

Chaudhary stars with maiden first-class hundred in Tasmania's 623

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After falling to 143 for 9, NSW captain Jack Edwards (38 off 137 balls) dug in with No. 11 Liam Hatcher (8 not out off 79 balls) for 28 overs to frustrate the Tigers, before Riley Meredith took the final wicket, nipping one past Edward’s edge to take off stump, to finally sink the the home side.Tasmania became the first team to secure an outright win in a Shield game at Cricket Central, with the previous four matches at the venue ending in draws.Cruising at 102 for 2, NSW lost 8 for 41 in the next 25 overs to hand Tasmania their second win of the season. Bell took three wickets in an over: Josh Philippe glancing down the leg side, Charlie Stobo lbw and Tanveer Sangha edging behind. Edwards was clearly unhappy with the umpire’s decision for the latterAfter a breezy 43 on day one, Sam Konstas struggled for his 19 in the second innings before being dismissed by Bird against his former team.Gabe Bell ripped out three wickets in an over•Getty Images

Patterson made 80 in his first innings, but could only manage 1 when batting again as Tasmania captain Jordan Silk pulled off a stunning catch in slips off Bird’s bowling.That made Bird the fourth-highest wicket-taker in Shield history with 421, only behind legendary legspinner Clarrie Grimmett (513) and Queensland pair Michael Kasprowicz (441) and Andy Bichel (430).After being dropped from Australia’s Test team following a difficult tour of the Caribbean, Konstas is yet to recapture his best since going back to domestic cricket this season. He will get another opportunity this weekend when he plays for the PM’s XI against the England Lions in Canberra.Patterson, who played the last of his two Tests in 2019, has experienced a mixed start to the season but scored a century against Queensland in November.Former NSW coach Phil Jaques was scathing in his assessment of the Blues’ last day collapse.”The second innings there’s been no fight, no plan and no effort,” Jaques said in commentary, before the recovery from Edwards and Hatcher. “That might sound harsh, but there’s got to be some application. There’s got to be some fight. It fell away badly in the field too.”Tasmania, who had been bottom of the table, took full advantage of a good batting wicket to belt their way to 623 for 8 dec declared as Nikhil Chaudhary, Tim Ward and Caleb Jewell all made centuries.

Another week, another dollar for Liverpool. Up next is an Anfield clash against PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League, and Arne Slot knows he has to win this one.

That should go without saying, of course, but the fact of the matter is that Liverpool have lost eight of their past 11 matches across all competitions, and two of their past three at Anfield.

A big response is needed, and curiously, it feels like there’s a good chance that will be delivered against the Dutch side. Whether it will be sustained is another matter, though, and Slot needs to find and instil a formula that can be carried back over to the Premier League, with West Ham United waiting in London on Sunday.

The Reds have to overcome their current malaise, and maybe they need to start Alexander Isak once again.

Why Isak should start vs PSV

Hugo Ekitike is waiting in the wings, and having been Liverpool’s most efficient forward this season, may well be disheartened by being benched once again here, especially after his side and Isak produced a staggeringly bad performance at the weekend against Nottingham Forest.

Minutes played

68′

Goals

0

Assists

0

Touches

14

Shots (on target)

1 (0)

Accurate passes

5/7 (71%)

Possession lost

7x

Chances created

1

Dribbles

0/1

Tackles won

0/0

Duels won

0/7

The Sweden striker, who joined Liverpool from Newcastle United for a British record £125m fee on transfer deadline day this summer, has not yet scored in the Premier League, his only goal coming against Southampton in the Carabao Cup.

The 26-year-old is one of the best strikers in the world and a proven behemoth in England. But it’s not worked out thus far, and Slot has to find some answers – quickly.

Liverpool cannot allow this rut to devolve into something more permanent. Already, chatter concerning the boss’s future is rising, and he needs to prove he can rewire his team to overcome their many problems.

The free-scoring success of Isak will be essential in righting the wrongs of recent months.

If Isak is to be handed another chance to develop his fitness levels under the European lights on Wednesday, Slot should also consider handing another rarely-seen star a role from the opening.

Slot must unleash Liverpool's Semenyo-esque talent

While Cody Gakpo has played many minutes off the left wing this season, there is a sense that Liverpool need a contrasting profile. Someone like Luis Diaz.

But, with Diaz sold to Bayern Munich, rumours are rising regarding Liverpool’s interest in Antoine Semenyo, who has been in fine fettle for Bournemouth this season.

Semenyo, 25, has notched six goals and three assists from 11 Premier League matches this season, and he has been hailed as a “world-class” forward by his teammate Justin Kluivert.

He’s available in January, his £65m release clause then becoming active, but whether Liverpool should strike a deal for the Ghanaian when they have a talent like Rio Ngumoha in their ranks remains to be seen.

Ngumoha, 17, announced himself and then some earlier this season when scoring a last-gasp winner away at Newcastle in August, but Slot has since proved reluctant to hand him minutes on the biggest stage.

Given that Liverpool opted against paying out for a direct Diaz heir to keep a pathway open for the England U19 star, whose five Premier League cameos this term combine for a total of 42 minutes of action, this is questionable.

Now, while Liverpool need to win against PSV, Ngumoha could be handed a significant show of faith by starting in the Champions League, with his pace and potency and willingness to be direct potentially perfect for Isak. Just look at the connection the Swede forged with Anthony Gordon over the past few years on Tyneside.

Described as a “generational talent” by journalist Kevin Fernandes, Ngumoha was given 12 minutes off the bench at the weekend, and while he was unable to turn the tide against the Tricky Trees, he certainly offered more than Gakpo, with Sofascore recording that he completed all three attempted dribbles and won three duels.

This could be a move that not only bears dividends for Isak and Ngumoha, but also rekindle the belief in Slot’s vision. Liverpool fans are passionate, and the rise of a homegrown hero could project the kind of shining light Slot needs to prove he has what it takes to lead this club forward in the long run.

After all, Ngumoha has already demonstrated this season his capacity to succeed in the Premier League, and that winner at St. James’ Park established him as one of the competition’s youngest goalscorers of all time.

#

Player

Age

1

James Vaughan

16 yrs, 8 months, 27 days

2

James Milner

16 yrs, 11 months, 22 days

3

Wayne Rooney

16 yrs, 11 months, 25 days

4

Rio Ngumoha

16 yrs, 11 months, 26 days

5

Cesc Fabregas

17 yrs, 3 months, 21 days

He might be a raw and unpolished prospect, but Ngumoha is the real deal, and while we are not advocating for him to start every single match, it might be worthwhile to enforce a degree of rotation here ahead of Sunday’s must-win Premier League match at West Ham.

It would also help stabilise Isak, providing a presence to dart forward and stretch lines, playing into the record striker’s fast-running and line-breaking style of play.

The rumours concerning Liverpool’s interest in Semenyo are only going to intensify as the winter transfer window draws nearer.

But Liverpool already have a prodigious talent whose talent left FSG and Hughes opting against sourcing a direct Diaz replacement. Now it is time to unleash him.

Mac Allister upgrade: Liverpool set to launch bid for £140m superstar

Liverpool could win a big upgrade on Alexis Mac Allister by landing this £140m superstar.

ByKelan Sarson Nov 24, 2025

Cal Raleigh is on the brink of greatness, but the Rockies aren't interested in helping him achieve it.

Raleigh hit his 60th home run of the season on Wednesday night, and now just needs two more to tie Aaron Judge for the American League record. He came up to the plate in a big spot during the Mariners' clash against Colorado on Thursday, but the Rockies chose to give him first base without even pitching to him, rather than risk letting him go yard.

Fans at Seattle's T-Mobile Park were fuming with the cowardly decision from the Rockies, and they let the team hear it as Raleigh took first base. Boos were cascading across the stadium from disgruntled fans who felt robbed of their chance to witness a piece of history.

Raleigh didn't look too thrilled either, remaining straight faced as he walked to first base.

Colorado was already trailing 5–0 at the time, and they weren't willing to let Raleigh make it an 8–0 game with one thunderous swing of the bat.

If the superstar catcher isn't able to leave the yard on Thursday, he'll only have three more chances to catch Judge's home run record. Seattle is hosting the Dodgers for a season-concluding three-game series starting on Friday.

Liverpool are a team with distinct flaws, and yet they are also breathtaking and brilliant when firing on all cylinders.

Too often this season, Arne Slot’s side have failed to get going, outthought and outfought across the past few months, losing six of seven matches across all competitions before a controlled win over Aston Villa in the Premier League stopped the rot.

The 1-0 victory over European nemeses Real Madrid was something different, though. Anfield roared and cheered Virgil van Dijk and his Redmen, bayed and bellowed at Los Blancos and ex-Liverpool man Trent Alexander-Arnold, who received a frosty reception when welcomed after 80 minutes.

Liverpool 1-0 Real Madrid
Liverpool	Stats	Real Madrid
1	Goals	0
2.51	Expected goals (xG)	0.45
17 (9)	Shots (on target)	8 (2)
4	Big chances	1
111.4km	Distance covered	112.7km
38.8%	Possession	61.2%
4	Corners	2
45%	Duels won	55%
Data via Sofascore

This is the Liverpool we know. Energy and intensity and purpose across every area of the field. However, while Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate stood firm against Kylian Mbappe, with the full-backs excelling too, the plain truth remains of the Merseysiders’ desperate need for reinforcements in central defence.

Liverpool searching for a centre-back

Of course, Liverpool did sign a centre-back this summer, adding Giovanni Leoni to their ranks for a £26m fee. The 18-year-old is worth his wait in gold, but ruptured his ACL on his debut against Southampton and now sits sidelined for around a year.

The inability to prise Marc Guehi away from Crystal Palace, however, is surely the bigger blow. A deal was almost in place on deadline day, but the Eagles had not found a suitable replacement, and with such little time to pull out the stops, the move disintegrated, with the player having been permitted to carry out a medical with the Anfield side.

It still could come together. Guehi, 25, has entered the final year of his contract at Selhurst Park and has no desire to pen a fresh deal. The issue now is that a host of Europe’s top outfits want his signature, though Spanish paper AS have confirmed with week that, alongside Bayern Munich, the Reds are still leading the race, ahead of the likes of Real Madrid.

Liverpool will hope to snap Guehi up on a Bosman by the end of the campaign, but if they fall short in that race, sporting director Richard Hughes has lined up the perfect alternative in Inter Milan’s Alessandro Bastoni.

As per further Spanish sources, Liverpool have been named as potential suitors for Italian defender Bastoni, with FSG considering making a €100m (£87m) bid this January.

The veracity of this developing story is uncertain at this stage, but the 26-year-old is undoubtedly talented enough to stand out under Slot’s wing, with the style and experience to make a marked difference as Van Dijk inches ever closer to the autumn of his illustrious Anfield career.

What Bastoni would offer Liverpool

Liverpool need a centre-back; they’ve needed one for some time. While Guehi was the first-choice option this summer, Bastoni might actually prove a more compelling option for the Anfield side, having been hailed for his “world-class” ability by commentator Matteo Bonetti.

This is a defender who is at the top of their game, one of the most important cogs in an I Nerazzurri machine that has won two Scudettos and two Coppa Italia titles in five recent seasons, winner of the 2021 European Championship with Italy besides.

And, aged 26, he falls into a similar bracket as Guehi: a centre-back with the talent to make an instant impact and the prime years still ahead to grow deeper into their role in Slot’s squad and reach entirely new levels of performance.

He’s one of the best players in his position worldwide. In Serie A this season, Bastoni has scored a goal and supplied two assists across nine outings, winning 70% of his aerial duels and averaging 1.8 tackles per game (data provided by Sofascore).

A strong passer and outside-the-box thinker, he could even trump Guehi across ball-playing metrics, with the Palace man renowned for his cool, composed and creative presence on the ball.

Bastoni vs Guehi (past 12 months)
Stats (per 90)	Bastoni	Guehi
Goals	0.05	0.06
Assists	0.05	0.09
Touches	89.54	60.67
Pass completion (%)	86.5	83.5
Progressive passes	5.29	4.09
Shot-creating actions	2.36	1.53
Progressive carries	1.88	0.77
Successful take-ons	0.31	0.26
Ball recoveries	3.53	4.12
Tackles + interceptions	2.62	3.12
Clearances	2.85	4.56
Aerial duels won	1.53	1.91
Data via FBref

As you can see, Guehi has been more active in defensive contributions over the past year. This you would expect from an outfit like Palace in the Premier League when compared to Italian giants like Inter. But Bastoni is slicker and more able on the ball, and that when Guehi shines in that regard.

Sure, Guehi is a free agent come the end of the campaign, and that counts for a lot, but whether Liverpool and FSG would be willing to pass up an opportunity to sign a talent of Bastoni’s ability is another question entirely. After all, the reports suggest that a bid is currently being packaged together.

Here is a fearsome centre-half with the passing range of a maestro. Liverpool could do a lot worse than add Bastoni to their ranks, securing a long-term Van Dijk heir with the perfect skillset to ease the agony of his moving on.

Bastoni. The perfect, elite bastion to secure Liverpool’s backline for many years to come. He has a wealth of experience at the highest level and the hunger to achieve even more.

He is immensely talented, perhaps more so than Guehi, and Slot’s defence would reach frightening levels of security and balance and progression with him added into the mix.

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By
Kelan Sarson

Nov 6, 2025

Mikel Arteta has built a squad full of superstars at Arsenal over the last six years.

From William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes at the back, to Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice and Eberechi Eze in midfield, there is quality everywhere you look.

However, when it comes to the Gunners’ most important player, it’s hard to look past Bukayo Saka.

On top of being an exceptional player, the Englishman has become the face of the club, so fans should be excited about reports linking them to an international star who has been compared not only to Saka but also to Michael Olise.

Arsenal target Saka & Olise hybrid

With the transfer window now less than a month away, Arsenal have unsurprisingly begun to be linked with a host of brilliant players.

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For example, Real Madrid’s £70m Eduardo Camavinga has been touted for a move to the Emirates, as has Nottingham Forest’s monstrous centre-back Murillo.

However, as talented as those two players are, neither one can be compared to Saka nor Olise, unlike Rodrygo.

Yes, according to a recent report from TEAMtalk, Arsenal are once again in the picture for the Madrid star.

In fact, the report has revealed that the Brazilian is now keen to leave the Spanish giants in January, and his camp has been back in talks with several sides, including the Gunners.

However, in addition to convincing the player of the project, the North Londoners will have to offer a fee tempting enough for Madrid, who, according to the report, value their player between £70m and £79m.

Therefore, it would likely be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given Rodrygo’s immense ability, it’s one worth pursuing for Arsenal, especially since he’s been compared to both Saka and Olise.

How Rodrygo compares to Saka & Olise

So, before getting to his output and other reasons Arsenal should be looking to sign Rodrygo, it’s worth examining these comparisons to Saka and Olise and where they come from.

Well, in this instance, both stem from FBref, with the Bayern Munich star being ranked as the 6th most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the Brazilian in Europe’s top five leagues across the last 365 days.

The Englishman, on the other hand, was ranked as the third most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the Real Madrid star in the Champions League last season.

You can gain a better understanding of how these conclusions were reached by looking at the underlying numbers in which the wingers rank or ranked, in the case of Saka, closest in.

In the case of the Frenchman, these metrics include things like passes into the final third, successful take-on percentage, carries, ball recoveries and more, all per 90.

Rodrygo & Olise
Statistics per 90	Rodrygo	Olise
Passes into the Final Third	3.33	3.80
Passing Accuracy	83.8%	81.4%
Successful Take-On %	34.4%	37.5%
Ball Recoveries	4.87	4.60
Carries	51.0	59.5
All Stats via FBref for the 25/26 League Season

The metrics that formed the basis of the comparison to the Gunners’ mercurial number seven last season included shots, assists, clearances, successful take-ons, shot-creating actions, and more, all per 90.

In other words, the former Santos gem was contributing in attacking phases for Madrid in the Champions League last year, but also chipped in defensively here and there.

Rodrygo & Saka
Statistics per 90	Rodrygo	Saka
Progressive Passes Received	10.3	10.2
Shots	2.57	2.61
Assists	0.21	0.24
Shot-Creating Actions	3.70	3.67
Clearances	0.72	0.60
Successful Take-Ons	1.8	1.67
All Stats via FBref for the 24/25 UCL

With all that said, another reason the North Londoners should be all over this signing, in addition to the comparisons, is the fact that, at his best, the 24-year-old winger can be a reliable source of goals and assists.

For example, since moving to Spain, he has racked up a brilliant tally of 68 goals and 53 assists in 286 appearances, totalling 16599 minutes.

That comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.36 games, or every 137.18 minutes, which is made all the more impressive given that Real arguably are the most high-pressure club in world football, with sky-high standards and expectations.

Moreover, the Osasco-born monster has racked up a sensational tally of 25 goals and 16 assists in 67 Champions League games, which, when considered alongside his two titles in the competition, more than justifies Luka Modrić’s claim that he’s a “world-class superstar.”

Ultimately, while it won’t be easy, Arsenal should do all they can to sign Rodrygo in January, as he could be a totally game-changing addition to Arteta’s squad.

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Pundit Jamie Carragher has issued an apology to Eberechi Eze after seeing the Arsenal star bag a hat-trick for the Gunners in a 4-1 north London derby victory over Tottenham. The Liverpool legend admits he has "undervalued" the transfer and now feels the former Crystal Palace man has the ability to make a real impact for Mikel Arteta's side as they bid to land the Premier League title.

• Eze steals show in north London derby win

  Eze was the hero for Arsenal in a 4-1 win over Tottenham at the Emirates on Sunday, scoring three times and taking home the match ball as the Gunners extended their lead at the top of the table to six points. The England international, who came close to joining Spurs in the summer before making the switch to Arsenal instead, admitted after the game it was "special" to score his first professional hat-trick as he became just the fourth player to net three times in a north London derby. His performance also ensured Carragher has been forced to change his mind about the forward after initially being sceptical of his big-money move to the Gunners from Crystal Palace.

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• Carragher apologises to Arsenal and Eze

  Carragher apologised to Eze after the game and explained why he was initially unimpressed with the transfer. He told Sky Sports: "I must be honest, I think in the summer when Arsenal signed him and I had my Liverpool hat on and I looked at the signings Arsenal made and besides [Victor] Gyokeres, it felt a lot of them were to strengthen the squad really. So where Arsenal had problems the year before was when Saka was out, so they bought Madueke. Odegaard was out, they got Eze. One of the centre-backs was missing so they got another couple of centre-backs. It was only really Gyokeres you felt was going to go into the team and if I’m being honest, I think if Havertz was 100 per cent fit, Havertz would have probably been the centre-forward in this team.  

  "So when Eze came in, I thought 'OK maybe it’s not a game-changer' and Les [Ferdinand] knows him a lot better than me and he still said earlier in the show that there’s still more to come. But we are still seeing some of his highlights this season, a few great goals in there and then he goes and gets a hat-trick. So, apologies. I’ve certainly undervalued the importance of that signing because he looks like he could make the real difference for Arsenal this season and going on to win the title."

• Eze 'could have scored four or five'

  Arsenal boss Arteta was full of praise for Eze after the win and felt his summer signing could have scored even more goals against Thomas Frank's side. He told BBC Sport: "That tells you about the difficulty and what he's done today. To be fair he could have scored four or five. He's a big player who can create magic moments which unbalance a team. We dominated every part of the game. We created massive chances and had a lot of actions that we were very close to scoring. We stayed patient. Whoever we put in there they do the jobs for us. This squad has the belief and quality to deliver consistently. We have really good momentum but you can see how difficult every game in the Premier League is. It's a long run, let's go game by game. Let's enjoy tonight, then we have Bayern here and Chelsea away. We have a tough week."

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  Arsenal up against Kane and Bayern next

  Arsenal and Eze will now switch focus to the Champions League and a visit from Harry Kane's Bayern Munich next. The former Tottenham man heads to the Emirates in prolific form, having scored 14 goals in just 11 Bundesliga outings and five goals in four Champions League matches for Bayern so far this season. Both teams go into the match with perfect records in the competition so far in 2025-26, meaning something will have to give at the Emirates on Wednesday night.

So far this season, roughly one out of four chances have been put down

Namooh Shah22-Apr-20253:05

IPL 2025 so far: CSK’s Chepauk shocker, Shreyas’ impressive captaincy

Batting standards have been continuously improving in the IPL with more sixes and higher run rates being achieved every year, but the same can’t be said about the fielding standards. After 39 games this season, 103 out of 431 chances have been spilled, resulting in a catching efficiency of just 76.1%, the worst the league has seen at a similar stage in the last five years.In fact, catching efficiency has dropped season-on-season over the last five years. In 2021, 85.5% of total catching chances were taken. That number has now gone down considerably. This season has already seen two matches where nine catches were dropped: in the Rajasthan Royals (RR) vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) game in Jaipur, and the Punjab Kings (PBKS) vs Chennai Super Kings (CSK) match in Mullanpur. According to ESPNcricinfo’s logs, those are the most catches dropped in a match in IPL history. The previous worst was eight, in the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) vs Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) game at Eden Gardens in 2023.

Which teams have struggled the most?

The teams at the bottom of the points table are also the ones struggling to hold on to their catches. CSK have an abysmal 64.3% catching efficiency, while RR haven’t done much better either. For CSK, some of those missed chances have cost them heavily: PBKS’ Priyansh Arya was dropped second ball and went on to score a hundred, while RCB’s Rajat Patidar was reprieved on 18 and scored a half-century. Both went on to win Player-of-the-Match awards.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

The butterfingered fielders

Among those who have had four or more catching chances, Yuzvendra Chahal (PBKS), Vijay Shankar (CSK) have fared the worst. Just below them are Abdul Samad (Lucknow Super Giants) and Vaibhav Arora (KKR). One of the chances Chahal missed was of SRH’s Abhishek Sharma, on 57; he went on to score 141 in a successful chase of 246.