Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has hailed the game-changing contribution of Manchester United loanee Marcus Rashford, crediting the English forward with providing the crucial width needed to unlock Eintracht Frankfurt's stubborn defence. The England international helped the Catalan giants fight back from a difficult first half to secure a vital victory in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

Rashford helps inspire Barca comeback

The encounter at Camp Nou was far from the comfortable evening many home fans had anticipated as the visitors from the Bundesliga arrived with a game plan designed to frustrate. For 45 minutes, it worked perfectly, stifling Barcelona’s creative engines and forcing them into congested central areas where chances were scarce.

However, the introduction of Rashford in the second half proved to be the catalyst for a tactical shift that turned the tide. The England international, who has settled quickly since his loan move from Old Trafford, replaced Ferran Torres and immediately offered a direct, vertical threat that stretched the German defence to breaking point, allowing Barcelona to eventually claim three points via two headed goals scored by Jules Kounde. It took just four minutes for Rashford to make his impact, whipping the ball into the back post for the Frenchman to level the tie.

AdvertisementAFPFlick delighted with Rashford role

Speaking to the media after the match, Flick offered a candid assessment of his team's tactical struggles in the first half and explained exactly why Rashford was the solution. The German coach admitted that his players, particularly the energetic Raphinha, had been too eager to get on the ball, drifting out of position and clogging the middle of the pitch.

"I wasn't surprised by Eintracht's approach," Flick stated. "I told my players to forget the past game [Frankfurt's 6-0 loss in Leipzig] because they are a good team.

"In the first half Raphinha was everywhere and maybe that wasn't the best, but his attitude is good. In the second half, we tweaked some things and Marcus was important to give width and stretch the lines."

Winning ugly at the new Camp Nou

Tuesday night proved that this Barcelona side possesses the grit to win ugly. The deadlock was eventually broken not through a flowing passing move, but via dead-ball situations—a testament to the work being done on the training ground.

"We scored two goals from set pieces but that is also part of the game," Flick noted pragmatically.

The manager knows that in the Champions League, particularly against physically robust Bundesliga opposition, the method of victory is secondary to the three points. The win is their third in six European matches this season, leaving them in 14th place in the table and two points outside of the top eight. 

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AFPRashford's growing influence

This performance serves as another significant moment in Rashford's Spanish adventure. Having already drawn praise from club legends like Gerard Pique for his surprisingly quick adaptation, the 28-year-old is fast becoming a vital weapon for Flick.

Initially viewed as a luxury depth signing, Rashford is making a compelling case for a permanent starting berth. His unique profile gives Barcelona a "Plan B" that effectively rescued them on Tuesday. Whether starting or coming off the bench to exploit tired legs, he is proving to be a difference-maker on the biggest stage.

The comeback victory puts Barcelona in a commanding position in the Champions League group table, taking a significant step towards automatic qualification for the round of 16, though they will still need to climb into the top eight over their last two matches of the round if they are to avoid the knockout play-off.

For Rashford, the focus will now turn to the weekend's La Liga action. With his impact from the bench undeniable, the question for Flick will be whether to unleash him from the start against Osauna, or continue to use him as the ultimate impact sub against tiring defences.

The Philadelphia Phillies beat the Boston Red Sox 4-1 on Tuesday night. For Philadelphia it was its first time with back-to-back wins since early in July. The prospect that they could accomplish this feat was brought up by Michael Barkmann on NBC Sports Philadelphia's .

As the show headed to a break Barkmann's co-host Ruben Amaro Jr. jumped in with one last reason he was optimistic about the Phillies chances in the game—Cristopher Sanchez was on the hill.

Unfortunately for Amaro, he did not say hill. He said another four-letter word that nearly caused Ricky Bottalico to do a spit-take.

Shield your ears if you don't want to hear the NSFW word.

In the end, Amaro was right. Sanchez, fresh off an All-Star snub, went out there and threw a complete game, striking out 12 and giving up just four hits and one run. With Sanchez on the hill Philadelphia is a formidable opponent.

This was Ireland’s third T20I win over Bangladesh

Mohammad Isam27-Nov-2025After the Tector brothers – Tim and Harry – powered Ireland to an above-par score, their bowlers ensured a 39-run win over Bangladesh in the first T20I in Chattogram. The hosts have now lost four T20Is in a row while the visitors won their first match of the year.Harry struck five sixes in his unbeaten 45-ball 69, after his younger brother Tim had given Ireland a sound start, with a 19-ball 32. The Tector brothers struck big ones in both ends of the Ireland innings, before their bowlers managed to bowl through the wet conditions due to dew in Chattogram.Fast bowler Mark Adair, playing his first international series since his knee surgery in August this year, sunk Bangladesh in the powerplay. Left-arm spinner Matthew Humphreys took 4 for 13, and took three wickets with the wet ball in his fourth over.

Adair forces Bangladesh to crash

Humphreys had Tanzid Hasan caught at mid-on in the first over to give Ireland a perfect start with the ball. Adair got a wicket-maiden in his first over back in competitive cricket after five months. He removed Litton Das playing a double-minded cut, easily caught inside the circle for one. Bangladesh sunk to 5 for 3 in the fourth over, when Adair had Parvez Hossain Emon caught at midwicket.Saif Hassan, recently elevated to the vice captaincy in the T20I side, struck the team’s first boundary in the fifth over. He however was clean bowled by Barry McCarthy, who replaced Adair after he bowled a scintillating spell that read 2-1-3-2.

Jaker, Hridoy offer brief respite

Towhid Hridoy tried to haul Bangladesh out of a desperate situation, with four wickets down and the required run-rate touching 12 per over. He struck Josh Little for four over mid-off, before hitting Gareth Delany for a square-cut boundary. Both Hridoy and Jaker Ali lofted Delany for a six each in the tenth over, as Bangladesh looked to this middle-order pair to get them out of trouble. Jaker however continued his batting struggle, getting caught at deep third after making 20 off 16 balls.Humphreys skins Bangladesh tail

Returning to bowl his last over, Humphreys had quite the mixed bag. He had Tanzim’s wicket with the first ball, caught at long-on. Humphreys bowled three wide deliveries, struggling to keep the wet ball in his grip. He however dried up his hands real good, when he had Rishad Hossain lbw and Nasum Ahmed stumped off consecutive deliveries.After the eighth wicket fell, Ireland dropped several catches mainly due to the wet ball. Hridoy meanwhile reached his fifth half-century, apart from adding 48 runs for the ninth wicket with Shoriful Islam, but it had little consequence on the match.Harry Tector finished unbeaten on 69•BCB

Tim Tector blazes along the ground

When Ireland batted first, captain Paul Stirling struck three early fours before it was the Tim Tector show. He clattered Shoriful for four boundaries in the third over, which went for 18 runs. Stirling fell in the fifth over after which Tim was joined by Harry, and the Tector brothers exchanged more boundaries from either ends.Tim’s inside-out shot over the covers brought up Ireland’s fifty in the seventh over, before he struck Tanzim Hasan through point. Rishad removed Tim in the ninth over, when Tanzim took the catch at long-on.

Harry Tector goes aerial

Harry had already got two boundaries including a straight six, before Tim departed the crease. Harry also went for straight sixes off Rishad before Shoriful removed Lorcan Tucker for 18, in the thirteenth over.Curtis Campher aided Harry with three more fours in his 17-ball 24. Harry hammered Shoriful for his third six, pulled over midwicket, before hitting two more sixes in the last over, both over long-on.

كشف أشرف عبد العزيز، محامي رمضان صبحي لاعب نادي بيراميدز، عن تفاصيل جديدة حول قضية اللاعب، مؤكدًا تقديمه شكوى رسمية ضد محامي الطرف الأول عمر هريدي بسبب المسلك غير المألوف الذي اتبعه في القضية، ومشيرًا إلى أن موكله موجود حاليًا في محبسه وينتظر حكم المحكمة.

قال أشرف عبد العزيز، في تصريحات عبر برنامج “الصورة” على قناة “النهار”: “هل تقدمت بشكوى ضد عمر هريدي محامي الطرف الأول في قضية الامتحانات؟ أولًا، هذا الأمر لا يمكن مروره مرور الكرام، لقد تقدمت بشكوى إلى نقابة المحامين ضد المسلك غير المألوف الذي قام به الزميل المحامي دفاعًا عن المتهم”.

وتابع: “ويعد ذلك سابقة غير محمودة في العمل المهني، ولأنني من أبناء نقابة المحامين، فضلت اللجوء إلى نقابتي بدلاً من نشر الشكوى على صفحات التواصل الاجتماعي، حفاظًا على الفصل بيني وبين الزميل، حتى لا يُقال إننا تركنا قول المحاماة وذهبنا إلى الشكاوى، وهذا ما تعلمناه”.

وأضاف: “التحدث في أمور قضية يحضر فيها المدافع عن المتهم الأول، ويأتي بالأقوال والأفعال والبيانات، وهو مس سمعة موكلي وقلل مكانته، فقد وردت ألفاظ على لسانه رغم حضوره في أولى جلسات المحكمة واطلاعه على أوراق الاتهام، لكنه ذكرها وتحدث في اتهامات لمجرد الظهور الإعلامي، وتحدث عن موكلي بأنه يتاجر بالبشر، وهو أمر لم تتضمنه النيابة العامة في قرار الإحالة، وخلط بين الأوراق والاعترافات بشكل غير مألوف”.

طالع أيضًا | بيراميدز: الأهلي أكبر قلعة رياضية في مصر.. وما فعله مع رمضان صبحي ليس غريبًا

وعن غياب عمر هريدي عن الجلسة الماضية، قال: “هو غاب عن القضية، سواء لشعوره بالتعب أو انسحابه، هذه مسألة تخصه هو وموكله ولا تعنيني، في الجلسة الأولى حضرت مع رمضان صبحي، والجلسة التالية كانت مؤجلة من 25-10 إلى 22-11، غيابه أو تأخره لا يخصني، مشكلتي أنه تحدث عن القضية وأفشى أسرارًا محجوزة للحكم بتاريخ 30-12”.

وتابع: “عندما تم التواصل معي وحضر رمضان صبحي إلى النيابة، لم أنطق بكلمة واحدة عن المتهمين أو القضية، فوجئت بأن عمر هريدي يتحدث في القضية، ولولا كونه مدافعًا لكان لا يعرف شيئًا عن تفاصيلها، أنا أتكلم هنا عن مخالفة قانون المحاماة في المواد 69 و70، ولهذا لجأت إلى نقابتي”.

وبخصوص ما أزعجه في تصريحات هريدي: “ما أزعجني شخصيًا ليس الحديث، فأنا محامٍ لا أنزعج، لكن ما أزعجني أنه تحدث عن أقوال واتهامات لم ترد في أمر الإحالة، واتهم موكلي بالاتجار بالبشر، وهو لم يرد في قرار الإحالة، في مخالفة لنصوص المواد 69 و70 من قانون المحاماة، والنقابة العامة هي صاحبة القرار”.

وعن وضع رمضان صبحي الحالي، قال: “المحكمة قررت حبس المتهم على ذمة القضية، والحكم يوم 30-12-2025، ورمضان الآن في محبسه، أتواصل معه بصفتي محاميه ولي الحق في زيارته”.

واختتم: “أشكر الأهلي وبيراميدز على متابعتهما للقضية، لكن قضيتي محجوزة للحكم بتاريخ 30/12، ولا يمكننا فعل أي شيء قبل ذلك، القانون يسير بمسطرة واحدة على الجميع، ولا يمكننا التعقيب على قرار حبسه، فالمحكمة لها الصلاحية الكاملة في إخلاء سبيله أو حبسه”.

When Manchester City signed Gianluigi Donnarumma, most of the reaction focused on his ability, or lack thereof, with the ball at his feet, in sharp contrast to the man he was replacing, Ederson. But nearly three months into his spell with City, the Italian is struggling with a different challenge: the Premier League’s attitude to pushing in the box.

City’s defeat at Newcastle on Saturday showed Donnarumma at his best and his worst. He won an intriguing battle with Magpies' striker Nick Woltemade, becoming the first goalkeeper in the league to make a save from the towering German, who had scored with all six of his previous shots on target. 

Donnarumma made three big saves to keep a hugely entertaining first half goalless, and had Phil Foden and Erling Haaland taken their chances down the other end, the Italian would likely have had his praises sung. But goalkeepers are inevitably judged on their mistakes, and Donnarumma was caught out for the crucial moment when Newcastle won a second-half corner.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Aerial bombardment

  Donnarumma would have conceded an ‘Olimpico’ straight from the dead ball had it not been for Josko Gvardiol heading the curling delivery from Sandro Tonali away. The goalkeeper lay on the floor for a couple of seconds, but when he rose he was unable to deal with more aerial bombardment as Bruno Guimaraes’ header hit the bar and Harvey Barnes bundled in the rebound.

  Donnarumma was furious with the contact he had received from Barnes at the corner, although it was hardly a wrestling move and no different to the treatment Premier League goalkeepers regularly receive. His angry protest to referee Sam Barrott saw Donnarumma earn his third yellow card in nine Premier League games, leaving him two more bookings from a suspension. 

  Donnarumma had a reputation for ill-discipline before arriving in England, being shown 29 yellow cards and two reds for club and country between his debut for AC Milan in 2017 and joining City in 2025. And if he keeps up his current rate of bookings, he will earn a ban every 15 matches.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Needs to learn

  Donnarumma was not the only City representative to lose his rag at St James’ Park. Pep Guardiola ranted at Barrott and – bizarrely – a cameraman, while Ruben Dias said the Premier League needed clearer rules. 

  "Where's the sense in their player pushing our 'keeper out of the goal? What are we allowing and for how long?" asked the defender. "In the second goal, Gigi is being pushed outside his area and there is no consequence."  

  Guardiola was more realistic, saying, "He believes when he goes there and touches the ball, he wasn’t stable. What can I say? Gigio will learn."

  Donnarumma will have to, because the Premier League is not going to change its ways to suit one unhappy newcomer. Physical contact is one of the English top-flight’s hallmarks, and Donnarumma is not the first player to be left surprised by it.

• AFP
  

  'War in the six-yard box'

  Manchester United’s new goalkeeper, Senne Lammens, said of the Premier League last month: "I've never seen players get away with the things they do to the goalkeeper. Sometimes it turns into a war inside the six-yard box. They grab you and hold you back and do everything, and usually the referees allow play to continue. This is the nature of the Premier League, and you have to adapt to it and train for it, but it's a bad thing for any goalkeeper."

  Ruben Amorim was also taken aback by the importance of set pieces in England compared to Portugal. "It’s the one thing I feel here is completely different than when you play abroad, the contact with the defenders, especially the goalkeepers," the United manager said.

  Donnarumma must adapt to the ways of the Premier League, which is becoming even more determined by set pieces and long balls this season. If he does not, then Guardiola should consider bringing James Trafford back into the fold as he has spent his whole career facing the physical challenges when dealing with crosses which Donnarumma is only just needing to get to grips with.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Card marked

  Saturday was the second time in a month that Donnarumma had been caught out at a corner, only to blame the referee rather than taking responsibility himself. He was incensed when Bournemouth scored following a corner as Donnarumma felt had had his arm held by David Brooks while waiting for the cross to come in. 

  It did not impede his ability to reach the ball but he still bungled the punch, leading to Tyler Adams pouncing on the rebound. Donnarumma shouted at referee Anthony Taylor after the goal was given and then again at half-time, but there was little sympathy overall for the Italian given his poor-quality punch. 

  That play likely alerted Newcastle when they did their opposition analysis to Donnarumma's weakness in dealing with crosses on top of his head, and more clubs are likely to take note. 

  Donnarumma's role and reaction to Barnes’ winner, meanwhile, overshadowed another questionable moment from the goalkeeper, as he nearly conceded a goal in the first minute after ill-advisedly playing a short pass to Foden on the edge of his area, leading to Joelinton mugging the England midfielder and Barnes firing straight at goal. 

And is Harry Brook the youngest Test triple-centurion?

Steven Lynch15-Oct-2024Pakistan lost the first Test against England by an innings despite scoring over 550 in their first innings. What’s the highest score for a team losing by an innings? asked Bernard Woodhams from New Zealand

Pakistan’s 556 against England in Multan was the highest in any Test that was not enough to avoid an innings defeat. The previous record was set fairly recently: Ireland made 492 in Galle in April 2023 , but went on to lose by an innings and ten runs after Sri Lanka declared at 704 for 3.There have been only four higher Test totals that were not enough to insure against defeat. The highest of all remains Bangladesh’s 595 for 8 declared against New Zealand in Wellington in January 2017. Australia made 586 against England in Sydney in December 1894, but lost narrowly even though England followed on; Pakistan scored 579 against England in Rawalpindi in December 2022 but lost; and they also tasted defeat despite making 574 for 8 declared against Australia in Melbourne in 1972-73.This list shows all 19 occasions when a total of 500 or more has not been enough to avoid defeat in a Test. This was the third time in the current century that a team had been bowled out for exactly 556 in a Test – and all three of those ended in defeat.The only higher total in all first-class cricket to result in an innings defeat is Leicestershire’s 584 in a County Championship match at Grace Road in July 2022 – Glamorgan replied with 795 for 5 then bowled the home side out for 183.Six Pakistan bowlers conceded 100 runs in England’s huge innings at Multan. Has this happened before in a Test? asked Aminul Islam from Bangladesh

You’re right that six Pakistan bowlers conceded at least 100 runs in England’s massive total of 823 for 7 in Multan last week. This has happened only once before in a Test: six Zimbabweans went for 100 or more as Sri Lanka hurtled to 713 for 3 declared in Bulawayo in May 2004. But there was a near-miss in Kingston in June 1955, when five West Indians conceded at least 100 runs in Australia’s total of 758 for 8 declared, while Garry Sobers finished with 1 for 99.Was Harry Brook the youngest to score a Test triple-century? asked Casey Dewar from Australia

Rather surprisingly perhaps, 25-year-old Harry Brook comes in quite low on this particular list: ten of the 28 Test triple-centurions were younger when they first achieved the feat. Youngest of all was Garry Sobers, who was 21 when he made 365 not out against Pakistan in Kingston early in 1958. Don Bradman was also 21 – but about three months older – when he hit 304 for Australia against England at Headingley in July 1930.The only younger man to score a triple-century for England is another Yorkshireman, Len Hutton, who was 22 when he amassed 364 against Australia at The Oval in August 1938.England do have the two oldest Test triple-centurions: Andy Sandham was three months short of his 40th birthday when he made 325 (the first Test triple-century) against West Indies in Kingston in April 1930, while Graham Gooch was 37 when he cracked 333 against India at Lord’s in July 1990.Brook is the 11th youngest batter to score a triple-hundred, and the second youngest from England•Getty ImagesBrydon Carse hit the second ball he faced in a Test for six at Multan. Was this a record? asked Jim Macaulay from England

You’re right that Brydon Carse got off the mark in Tests with a six off Saim Ayub in Multan last week. He was the 15th* man whose first scoring shot in Tests was a six, but the first for England.Carse hit his six off the second ball he faced. The only man to hit the first ball he received in a Test for six was the New Zealander Mark Craig, off Sulieman Benn of West Indies in Kingston in June 2014. India’s Rishabh Pant also got off the mark with a second-ball six on debut, off England’s Adil Rashid at Trent Bridge in August 2018.Was India’s 297 the other day the highest score in a T20 international? asked Vivek Vishwarao from India

India’s remarkable 20-over total of 297 for 6 in Hyderabad at the weekend, which set up a big win and a series sweep over Bangladesh, was the second-highest in all men’s T20Is, behind Nepal’s 314 for 3 against Mongolia (who were then bowled out for 41) in the Asian Games in Hangzhou (China) in September 2023.The previous-highest total in a match involving Test-playing nations was Afghanistan’s 278 for 3 against Ireland in Dehradun in 2019.There have been five totals of over 300 in women’s T20Is, with the highest being an eye-watering 427 for 1 by Argentina against Chile in Buenos Aires in October 2023. Two days later, Argentina ran up 333 for 1 against the Chileans. The highest in a match involving two Test-playing nations is England’s 250 for 3 against South Africa in Taunton in June 2018.*Oct 16, 02:20 GMT: A correction was made to reflect that Carse was the 15th and not the 13th man whose first scoring shot in Tests was a six.Shiva Jayaraman of ESPNcricinfo’s stats team helped with some of the above answers.Use our feedback form, or the Ask Steven Facebook page to ask your stats and trivia questions

MatériaMais Notícias

O Atlético-MG anunciou, nesta quinta-feira (22), a ampliação de contrato com o atacante Hulk até dezembro de 2026. O antigo vínculo do atleta com o clube mineiro era válido até o fim deste ano.

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➡️ Siga o Lance! no WhatsApp e acompanhe em tempo real as principais notícias do esporte

Contratado em 2021, o jogador se transformou na principal referência do Galo. Em sua primeira temporada na equipe, Hulk anotou incríveis 36 gols e conquistou o título do Campeonato Mineiro, o Brasileirão e a Copa do Brasil.

Após se lesionar na reta final da temporada 2022, o atacante retomou a grande fase na temporada seguinte e ajudou o Atlético-MG a conquistar novamente o campeonato estadual.

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Perto de atingir a marca de 100 gols com a camisa do time mineiro, Hulk já defendeu o Galo em 178 partidas. Ao todo, o jogador totaliza 99 bolas na rede e 34 assistências.

Hulk até 2026! 🐔📝✍🏼

Um jogador que chegou ao #Galo, se tornou ídolo e hoje coleciona quase 100 gols com o Manto Alvinegro! Que sua história vestindo o preto e branco possa ser a cada dia mais bela, craque! Seguimos juntos! 👊🏽🔥 pic.twitter.com/16nqwHLJz9

— Atlético (@Atletico) February 22, 2024

CONFIRA OS NÚMEROS DE HULK NO ATLÉTICO-MG

⚽ 99 gols
🦶 34 assistências
🏆 Campeonato Mineiro (2021, 2022 e 2023); Campeonato Brasileiro (2021); Copa do Brasil (2021); Supercopa do Brasil (2022)

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Atlético-MGFutebol NacionalHulk

The New York Mets are in a prolonged slide, having dropped 13 of their last 16 games on the heels of a torrid 45-24 start. This has moved them out of the top of the National League East and caused much frustration for fans. Owner Steve Cohen, the highest-profile of these supporters, acknowledged that things aren't going well in a Monday morning post on X.

"Tough stretch," Cohen wrote. "No sugarcoating it. I didn’t see this coming. I’m as frustrated as everybody else. We will get through this period. Our injured pitching will come back over the next few weeks. It is unlikely the team’s hitting with RISP will continue at this weak pace. Keep the faith!"

These seem like fairly reasonable points. Kodai Senga, Tylor Megill and Sean Manaea are all on the injured list with hopes to return in July. Losing this many starting pitchers at once is not a good recipe for success. As for the clutch hitting, New York is 29th in baseball with runners in scoring position and the season is past the midway point. So that might actually be a problem.

With the highest payroll in MLB, big things are expected for the Mets. Optimism at the highest level remains.