The New York Yankees are set to acquire Pittsburgh Pirates closer David Bednar, according to a report from ESPN's Jeff Passan. Ken Rosenthal of first reported that talks were gaining traction.
The trade lands the 30-year-old Bednar in New York to shore up the back-end of the Yankees' bullpen. The appeal of a Bednar trade with any team was that he had another year of team control into 2026.
After a rough start to the season following a poor 2024, the two-time All-Star was sent down to Triple-A in March. Since returning, he has thrown 37 innings with a 1.70 ERA, re-establishing himself as one of the best relievers in baseball.
He will certainly get plenty of high-leverage work in the second half of the season for the Yankees.
Coming through trials and tribulations, Renegades pulled off a remarkable comeback to claim their maiden title
Alex Malcolm01-Dec-2024On the wall in the changerooms at the MCG on Sunday hung a Melbourne Renegades shirt. It’s a shirt that Renegades had carried with them throughout the entire WBBL and had in part carried them to their first WBBL final.The shirt was Josie Dooley’s. But the wicketkeeper-batter couldn’t wear it this season after suffering a life-threatening neurological disorder in May. She is still in the midst of a long recovery just to get back to a normal life, let alone play cricket again.On the back it had Dooley’s name and her number three. But there was also four words written on it. Renegades had asked Dooley to write an inspirational message for her teammates to read when they left the rooms.Related
Helmot at the helm of Renegades WBBL team for three more seasons
All-round Matthews leads Melbourne Renegades to maiden WBBL title
The words on the shirt said, “Don’t f*** it up”.They didn’t f*** it up. Renegades won the WBBL title for the first time in the club’s history, having previously been one of the worst performing franchises in the competition.Their coach Simon Helmot has just about seen it all in cricket. He’s an infectious, energic, endlessly positive character who has won trophies all around the world in the men’s game. But after winning the WBBL title, when talking about Dooley and others within Renegades’ family, he broke down.”She came to all the important games,” Helmot said fighting back tears. “I said, ‘Josie we need you here for the team meeting’ yesterday, and she turns up.”Cricket … it’s more than just a game.”It’s about people and their trials and tribulations.”
229 days after a life-threatening medical episode, @RenegadesBBL coach Simon Helmot hands over his Champions medallion to Josie Dooley
— Weber Women's Big Bash League (@WBBL) December 1, 2024
The club had been through more trials and tribulations than just about any other. And their title-winning captain Sophie Molineux had seen it all. She has been present for all 10 seasons. In the previous nine, Renegades had made the playoffs just three times and finished in the bottom two four times, including in each of the last two seasons.Just moments after holding the trophy aloft as the franchise’s first WBBL-winning captain, she was more stoic than her coach but every bit as proud of what her team had achieved.”We’ve probably had a few really bad seasons,” Molineux said. “To be able to turn that around, and just to be able to do it the way we have, it’s been enjoyable. I feel really proud. It’s been a great season.”There were moments, though, where they thought they might have f****** it up. Renegades started the season 0-2 after finishing last the previous year.Helmot recounted a phone call he had with his star allrounder Hayley Matthews prior to those two losses, one of which Matthews had missed to fly home to Barbados for five days following the T20 World Cup in the UAE.”She rang me to say she’s not going to be here first game,” Helmot said. “I was pretty disappointed at the time thinking, oh my goodness, our overseas pro is not going to be here at the start. But I remember how fatigued she was after the international calendar last season, coming straight into the WBBL. She made all those runs and then didn’t quite work out for us, so we let Hayley have that game off, and she’s repaid us.”Sophie Molineux has been with Melbourne Renegades since the start of the WBBL•Getty ImagesIt was Matthews who starred in the final, producing a clutch 69 off 61 with the bat to hold her team together and help post a total of 141 for 9 before taking two key wickets with the ball and a crucial catch to be named Player of the Match.”Cricket is such a mentally straining game, and I feel like you really do need to refresh,” Matthews said. “Big thanks to Helmo. Obviously, I think he noticed that big time last year, and he gave me the opportunity to get to go home and have a few days where I saw some family and friends and just rested up and come down here as fresh as possible.”Matthews looked nerveless when it could have gone pear-shaped for Renegades in the final. Having not played for eight days after finishing top of the table, they slumped to 23 for 3 after being sent again by Brisbane Heat.Matthews has been there and done it before in big finals, producing match-winning hands in the finals of the 2016 T20 World Cup, and the WCPL and Fairbreak in 2023. But she revealed her nerveless performances are fuelled by intense nerves.”I feel like I am someone who gets really nervous,” Matthews said. “Shaky hands and some butterflies.”I just tried to channel those nerves in the right direction. I feel as though they almost helped me to focus a bit more. And yeah, clearly it seems to be working. So I should probably try getting nervous a bit more often.”There were more nerves to come when Heat captain Jess Jonassen threatened to pinch the game late with a stunning innings. But it was Matthews and Molineux who combined to deliver the last two overs that closed out the game and left Jonassen visibly emotional at the end, after Heat had lost their second consecutive WBBL final by less than seven runs.”I know people say it’s all well and good getting into a final but I think I’ve lost my last six now across franchise cricket, so they’re starting to pile up,” Jonassen said. “It’s been all in the last 12 months, so I think it’s just sort of come to a head.”It would have been nice to be the first team to get those three [WBBL] titles, but obviously, for some reason, it’s just not meant to be right now.”It was meant to be for Renegades. Helmot revealed that the team knew that something was brewing after they recovered from their 0-2 start to record back-to-back nail-biting wins on the first weekend of November.”Both Hayley and Soph said over that weekend, we have the makeup to do something really special,” Helmot said. “And that probably gave me the inspiration to remind the girls that, yeah, it’s been a tough start, zero and two. We got those two wins back at home, and all of a sudden, we made that place a fortress, and only dropped one game after that. It was a fantastic effort.”
Belligerent Travis Head allows Smith to “take second fiddle and do my thing”
Andrew McGlashan15-Dec-20243:30
Smith on why batting has become harder ‘since 2021’
Not out of form, just out of runs. That was the distinction made by Steven Smith when he was interviewed before the resumption of the second day’s play at the Gabba.A first-ball duck against a fired-up Jasprit Bumrah, a superb delivery by Mohammed Siraj and a tickle down the leg side had been his three dismissals to date. It was a small sample size in itself, but overall for 2024 he was averaging 23.20 from a more substantial 13 innings. He was on his longest stretch of innings without a Test century.To no one’s surprise, Smith had been tinkering ahead of the Brisbane Test as he returned to an exaggerated trigger movement across the stumps. There was also a sense from some that he just needed a little luck. He certainly had a dose of that as he battled against a ball nipping around on a surface that had only had 13.2 overs on it during the first day.Related
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India targeted him straight, which has brought success for the bowlers over the last two years that have included eight of Smith’s 32 lbw dismissals. His first ball was a strangled shout as the trigger took him across the crease against Bumrah. Later, Rohit Sharma was persuaded to review an lbw when Smith shouldered arms at Mohammed Siraj which proved to be umpire’s call. When Akash Deep completed the over that Siraj aborted to leave the field, only a nick saved Smith against a full ball.Shortly after lunch, he got an inside edge against a terrific delivery from Bumrah which Rishabh Pant had no chance of reaching to as it flew to fine leg. The raise of his bat for fifty, which came from 128 balls, felt almost a little apologetic. At the other end, Travis Head sat on 73 from 95 balls.
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As Smith and Head had done during the World Test Championship final at The Oval last year, this was a perfect example of partnership batting. The similarities of the stands were almost unnerving, at least from India’s point of view.On that day, the pair came together on 76 for 3 while in Brisbane it was 75 for 3. On both occasions Head (whose previous three innings at the Gabba were first-ball ducks) was out of the blocks quickly and Smith played in his slipstream. At The Oval, the split of the first 100 runs of their stand was Head 65, Smith 29; at the Gabba it was Head 65, Smith 30. Last year the stand ended at 285; this one was finally halted at 241 but the damage was done.Steven Smith found his hands…and more•Chris Hyde / Getty ImagesSignificantly, and as in Adelaide last week, Head had walked to the crease after the 30-over mark. While runs had not come at a gallop, the work to varying degrees of Usman Khawaja, Nathan McSweeney, Marnus Labuschagne and Smith had taken off the early shine, albeit there remained assistance for the quick bowlers.”If we can get to 30-odd overs when Travis comes in it makes a big difference to the team,” Smith said after play. “The seam probably starts to settle down around 30-40 overs and the ball stays quite hard. You see guys batting at five, six, seven that are able to hit the ball hard and get good value for their shots. That’s the kind of way we’ve been shaping up.”When Head brought up his second century in consecutive innings, this one from 115 balls, Smith was on 64 from 143.”The way he came out and just smacked it, I could take second fiddle and do my thing,” Smith said. “It’s nice to get in a partnership with him because the scoreboard moves extremely fast. We don’t say too much to each other, he just says ‘do your thing’, I just say ‘do your thing’ and we move on. It was cool to witness that again, he’s a special player at the moment.”
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There were signs before tea that the benefits of Smith’s early graft were starting to pay dividends and in the final session freedom returned to his stroke play. The trigger looked much more fluid the longer the innings went on.”I’ve changed my set up pretty much every game I’ve played for 15 years so it’s nothing new to me,” he said. “If I want to change a few things it really doesn’t take me long to do it. Sometimes I do it in the middle of an innings.”I try to adapt and figure the best way to play for each surface I’m facing. I was batting out of my crease a little bit, trying to get to the bowler a bit, walking across my stumps but leaving my left leg a little bit open. Thought my movements were pretty good today, maybe a bit bigger than I would have liked early on but felt like I was moving into the ball nicely.”Steven Smith and Travis Head added 241 for the fourth wicket•Associated PressThere was a cracking back-foot drive when Reddy dropped short at medium pace; he advanced down the pitch to the ineffective Ravindra Jadeja who Australia had clearly targeted; he drove Reddy wide of mid-off; he went into the 90s when he bisected the covers against Jadeja with precision; he drove Siraj on the up down the ground with a hint of distain.But one of his best took him to 99, a pristine on drive against Akash Deep which made a wonderful sound off the bat. There are a few trademarks of Smith at his best – the on drive might top the list.The next delivery was on his pads and he turned it down to fine leg for century No. 33. It moved him ahead of Steve Waugh into second position alone on Australia’s all-time list. His second fifty had taken just 57 balls. Smith started to pump his fists as he completed the single, removed his helmet, mopped his brow, and held his bat aloft, then gave it an exaggerated swing although played down suggestions the celebration had any extra edge.”You’ve got to keep the faith and know things will turn around if you keep doing the hard work and I’ve been putting the hard work in,” he said. “Rode my luck today, had some early on for sure, got beaten a few times which is going to happen on that wicket. On another day I might nick one of those. I had to earn every run out there.”He could not last much longer, driving at Bumrah and sending an edge to Rohit at slip who flung the ball away with more than at hint of anger, or at least frustration.Smith, too, was frustrated with himself as he walked off. But while he was out, he was no longer out of runs.
For the first time in the MLB, Shohei Ohtani pitched against former Angels teammate Mike Trout. More than two years after Ohtani struck out Trout to win the World Baseball Classic for Japan in 2023, he took the mound to face Trout again.
Ohtani hit a leadoff triple in the top of the first inning to help the Dodgers take an early 3–0 lead. He then took the mound and struck out Angels' leadoff Zach Neto before Trout came up to the plate.
The at-bat began with a nod of acknowledgement from both Ohtani and Trout. Ohtani then threw two strikes against Trout on four-seam fastballs, reaching as high as 98 miles per hour. With a 3–2 count, Ohtani delivered the final strike on a sweeper, one Trout didn't even swing on.
Trout, who said "He won Round 1" after Ohtani struck him out during the WBC, was simply left smiling after Ohtani took Round 2 this time.
Ohtani played alongside Trout on the Angels from 2018 to '23 before signing with the Dodgers in free agency in late 2023. Ohtani made his return to pitching earlier this season after suffering a torn UCL in 2023, and has now taken the mound for the first time against his former team.
After not allowing a run in the first inning, Ohtani did up two runs in the second—including a solo home run from Taylor Ward and a sacrifice fly from Luis Rengifo that drove in Yoán Moncada. The Dodgersadded two runs in the fourth, and lead the Angels 5–2 through three and a half innings as they look to claim their first game of the series.
The 2025 World Series is set, as the defending champion Dodgers will face off with the Blue Jays in the Fall Classic.
Toronto finished the season as the top seed in the American League, but was taken to the brink of elimination in the ALCS by the Mariners. Down 3–2 in the series, the Blue Jays used home-field advantage to take the final two games and earn a trip to their first World Series since 1993.
On paper, the Dodgers are an overwhelming favorite. They are the defending champions and have four former MVPs, four legitimate aces and a $350 million payroll. But they don’t play the game on paper. Here’s a position-by-position breakdown of the two teams in the series. It’s worth noting the Blue Jays have rotated their lineups based on matchups and we’re not yet sure of how Bo Bichette will fit in, so this is our projection of how manager John Schneider will fill out the lineup card.
Catcher: Will Smith (Dodgers) vs. Alejandro Kirk (Blue Jays)
This one will surprise people, but the game isn’t just played with the bat. Kirk is a phenomenal defensive catcher, and that ultimately gives him the advantage here. The veteran backstop had nine defensive runs saved in 2025, while his 22 fielding run value (FRV) ranked second in baseball. Smith’s FRV was -6. Smith is better on offense, but Kirk is no slouch in that regard.
2025 Stats
Slash Line
Home Runs
RBIs
wRC+
fWAR
Kirk
.282/.348/.421
15
61
116
4.7
Smith
.296/.404/.497
17
76
153
4.1
In the playoffs, Kirk has produced a .752 OPS and blasted three home runs, while Smith is at .661 with no dingers. This is close and could easily be a push, but Kirk’s superior defense and current form give him the edge.
Advantage: Blue Jays
First base: Freddie Freeman (Dodgers) vs. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Blue Jays)
Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was named the ALCS MVP. / Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
Freddie Freeman is a nine-time All-Star, a two-time World Series champion, the reigning World Series MVP, has an NL MVP trophy in his case and is having a great 2025 campaign. If this were solely about the regular season, Freeman might have the edge.
2025 Stats
Slash Line
Home Runs
RBIs
wRC+
fWAR
Guerrero Jr.
.292/.381/.467
23
84
137
3.9
Freeman
.295/.367/.502
24
90
139
3.8
That’s about as close as it gets—but that hasn’t been the case in the playoffs, where Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has been incredible. He’s slashing .442/.510/.930 with six home runs, 12 RBIs and an absurd wRC+ of 280. Freeman has struggled a bit, slashing .231/.333/.410 with one home run, one RBI and a pedestrian wRC+ of 105. Guerrero has had an all-time great postseason and has to get the nod here.
Advantage: Blue Jays
Second base: Tommy Edman (Dodgers) vs. Isiah Kiner-Falefa (Blue Jays)
This is another close one that is going to be tipped by postseason performance. Tommy Edman was a shrewd pickup by the Dodgers before the 2024 trade deadline, winning the NLCS MVP award, but he had a relatively poor regular season in 2025. Isiah Kiner-Falefa, however, was even worse while splitting time between the Pirates and Blue Jays.
2025 Stats
Slash Line
Home Runs
RBIs
wRC+
fWAR
Kiner-Falefa
.262/.297/.334
2
40
75
0.7
Edman
.225/.274/.382
13
49
81
1.2
Edman has again turned his game up in that time, slashing .286/.306/.486 with two home runs and a wRC+ of 118. Kiner-Falefa, meanwhile, has been even worse with a 54 wRC+. Both are premier defenders, which is their real value, but Edman has shown he can swing a better bat in the playoffs.
Advantage: Dodgers
Shortstop: Mookie Betts (Dodgers) vs. Andrés Giménez (Blue Jays)
Mookie Betts has been a much improved fielder in his second season regularly playing shortstop for the Dodgers. / Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Mookie Betts has had the worst season of his career, slashing .258/.326/.406 with career lows in wRC+ (104), wOBA (.318), and fWAR for a full season (3.4). But, unlike his counterpart, he’s Mookie Betts.
We’re projecting Andrés Giménez to stick at shortstop for Toronto despite Bo Bichette’s expected return to the lineup after suffering a knee injury last month. Giménez is an outstanding defender at short, but has never had much with the bat. In 2025, he slashed .210/.285/.313 with a wRC+ of 70. He has turned things up in the postseason, but Betts has improved as well.
Betts is an eight-time All-Star and has won three World Series, an MVP and seven Silver Sluggers. He also showed this season he can play elite defense at shortstop. There’s no question which team wins this matchup.
Advantage: Dodgers
Third Base: Max Muncy (Dodgers) vs. Ernie Clement/Addison Barger (Blue Jays)
We know who Max Muncy is at this point in his career. He’s going to get walks, slug a lot, and strike out at a decent clip. He’s also going to be a minus on defense and be banged up most of the time. In 2025, all of those things came true. He played in 100 games, slashed .243/.376/.470, with 19 home runs and a wRC+ of 137. He has fallen off a bit in the postseason, as his batting average has dropped to .214, and he's only slugging .357 with a 115 wRC+.
Ernie Clement is a phenomenal defender at the hot corner who didn’t hit much during the regular season, but he’s come alive in October. During the regular season, he slashed a weak .277/.313/.398, with a below-averaged wRC+ of 98. In 11 postseason games he’s been a different guy. So far, he’s hitting .429, with an on-base percentage of .444, and is slugging .619, with an incredible 195 wRC+.
Addison Barger has also picked up his game in the playoffs, with a 149 wRC+ against 107 during the regular season. We’re gonna roll with the guys who are rolling.
Advantage: Blue Jays
Left field: Kiké Hernández (Dodgers) vs. Davis Schneider/Nathan Lukes (Blue Jays)
It has been yet another year in which Kiké Hernández has conjured the magic that turns him into a postseason superstar. The career utility guy has been huge for the Dodgers again during the playoffs, playing far above his career regular-season numbers.
In 10 playoff games this year, Hernández is slashing .306/.375/.417 with a 125 wRC+ after going .203/.255/.366 with a 70 wRC+ during the regular season. He has a career .707 regular season OPS, but in 96 games spanning 10 trips to the postseason, he’s at .863. The man plays his best when the lights shine the brightest.
Schneider and Lukes are solid, but can’t match the magic their counterpart produces. Lukes has had a nice postseason, hitting .333, with a .381 on-base percentage and a 125 wRC+, but he and Schneider simply can’t match the Kiké magic.
Advantage: Dodgers
Center field: Andy Pages (Dodgers) vs. Daulton Varsho (Blue Jays)
Pages had a breakout 2025 campaign, looking like a future cornerstone for the Dodgers. Unfortunately, he has utterly disappeared in the postseason. The 24-year-old hit 27 home runs while notching a wRC+ of 113 in the regular season, but the playoffs have been a nightmare. In 10 games, he’s slashing .086/.135/.114 with a wRC+ of -31. You read that last number right. The thing is, he’s so good defensively that the Dodgers can’t take him out of the lineup.
Varsho is also a stellar defender who turned in a career-best season, hitting 20 home runs and slugging a career-best .548, with a career high 123 wRC+. The difference is he has brought that success with him to October, slashing .273/.304/.500 with a wRC+ of 121. Pages has disappeared while Varsho has continued to be a steady presence in the lineup.
Advantage: Blue Jays
Right Field: Teoscar Hernández (Dodgers) vs. George Springer (Blue Jays)
Blue Jays right fielder George Springer hit the go-ahead home run in Game 7 of the ALCS. / Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
George Springer had arguably the best season of his career in 2025 at 36 years old, and has also been incredibly clutch for the Blue Jays. Which was basically Teoscar Hernández’s story in 2024.
Springer had a career-high wRC+ of 166 while Hernández fell off after signing a three-year, $66 million deal with Los Angeles in the offseason. His wRC+ dropped to 102 from the mark of 132 he hit in 2024, and his wOBA fell to .315 from .360.
2025 Stats
Slash Line
Home Runs
RBIs
wRC+
fWAR
Springer
.309/.399/.560
32
84
166
4.8
Hernández
.247/.284/.454
25
89
102
1.5
Hernández has picked things up in the postseason, though, which makes this call more difficult. He’s slashing .268/.302/.585 with four home runs and 11 RBIs in the postseason, and his wRC+ has jumped to 142. Springer has matched him, slashing .239/.321/.690 with four homers, nine RBIs, and a 150 wRC+. Both players have won titles before, but Springer was named World Series MVP for the Astros in 2017. He’s had the better season and has history on his side.
Advantage: Blue Jays
Designated hitter: Shohei Ohtani (Dodgers) vs. Bo Bichette (Blue Jays)
Come on, really? I have to write this one out? Fine, if you insist.
Ohtani is the most singular player in the history of baseball. I could put up a bunch of numbers here to prove that, but it would be a waste of everyone’s time. I mean, the guy just turned in arguably the greatest playoff performance in sports history during Game 4 of the NLCS.
Bichette had a phenomenal season, and his return should be a huge bonus for the Blue Jays, but nothing can match what Shohei can do.
Advantage: Dodgers
Starting rotation
Dodgers starting pitchers Yoshinobu Yamamoto, left, and Shohei Ohtani have both been excellent on the mound in the playoffs. / Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
The Blue Jays have some names in their rotation, but this one isn’t even close. I mean, Shohei Ohtani is L.A.’s starter. That’s wild.
In 10 games this postseason, the Dodgers’ rotation is a combined 7–1 with a 1.40 ERA, 0.75 WHIP and 81 strikeouts. Those numbers all lead postseason rankings. Blake Snell has been phenomenal, going 3–0 with a 0.86 ERA and 0.52 WHIP, while Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Tyler Glasnow have combined to go 2–1 with a 1.36 ERA. Ohtani has pitched twice, both victories, and in Game 4 of the NLCS, he pitched six shutout innings, allowing two hits and two walks while striking out 10. L.A.’s rotation struggled with injuries all season, but now it’s whole—and dominating.
Toronto’s starters have been really good in the postseason as well. They're a combined 5–2 with a 3.33 ERA and 1.17 WHIP. Kevin Gausman has led the way in his three starts, going 2–1 with a 2.00 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP. Meanwhile, Shane Bieber and rookie Trey Yesavage have made big starts. Max Scherzer also turned in a huge performance in Game 4 of the ALCS. The 41-year-old turned back the clock, allowing two runs on three hits in 5 2/3 innings in a key spot.
While the Blue Jays have shown up and pitched well, the Dodgers have dominated. More than anything, their starting pitching is the biggest advantage in this series.
Advantage: Dodgers
Bullpen
This has been a weak spot for both teams all season. During the regular season, the Blue Jays ranked 16th in bullpen ERA (3.98), while the Dodgers were 21st (4.27). Things haven’t been much better in the playoffs as L.A.’s pen has posted a 4.88 ERA and a 1.66 WHIP, and Toronto’s group has a 5.52 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP. It’s been ugly on both sides.
While the Dodgers don’t have a shutdown bullpen, Roki Sasaki has managed to solidify the back end. In seven postseason appearances, the rookie has a 1.13 ERA and 0.63 WHIP to go along with three saves. Alex Vesia has also been reliable, while Blake Treinen and Emmet Sheehan haven’t been. The one thing L.A. has going for it is that its bullpen arms are fresh thanks to some dominant outings by the team’s starters. Dodgers relievers have only thrown 27 2/3 innings this postseason as opposed to 45 2/3 for the Blue Jays.
Toronto got a great performance from its bullpen in Game 7 of the ALCS, but that has been the exception, not the rule. Closer Jeff Hoffman has logged two saves and posted a 1.23 ERA and 0.68 WHIP in six appearances, but seemingly everyone else has had at least one meltdown.
Months ago, this would have been flipped, but the Dodgers have the better of the shaky bullpens.
رفض جيرارد مارتن، مدافع برشلونة، التحدث عن المنافسة مع ريال مدريد على لقب الدوري الإسباني، موضحًا أن فريقه يركز على نفسه فقط، عقب الانتصار على أوساسونا اليوم السبت ببطولة الدوري الإسباني.
وتمكن برشلونة من مواصلة عروضه المميزة خلال الفترة الأخيرة من هذا الموسم، وحقق فوزًا جديدًا وهذه المرة على أوساسونا بهدفين مقابل لا شيء في الجولة السادسة عشر من عمر الدوري الإسباني للدرجة الأولى على ملعب “كامب نو”.
وقدم مارتن مباراة رائعة في لقاء اليوم، في مركز قلب الدفاع الذي بات ابن الـ23 عامًا لاعبًا أساسيًا فيه بصفوف برشلونة ولا غنى عنه مع المدرب هانز فليك.
اقرأ أيضًا.. رجل مباراة برشلونة وأوساسونا في الدوري الإسباني
وقال مارتن في تصريحات إلى قناة الدوري الإسباني عقب نهاية المباراة: “إنه فوز ذو قيمة عظيمة، بفضل الاستحواذ والمثابرة، تمكنا من حصد النقاط الثلاث”.
وأضاف: “لدينا مهاجمون بارعون في التسجيل، وعادةً ما تسجل الأهداف من أدنى فرصة، كما يجب أن نشيد بالعمل الدفاعي”.
وأوضح: “نحسن أداءنا أسبوعًا بعد أسبوع، وهذا ينعكس على نتائج المباريات، نركز على أنفسنا فقط، ولكن بالطبع كلما اتسع الفارق مع من هم خلفنا، كان ذلك أفضل”.
وعن عدم استقبال برشلونة لأي هدف اليوم: “الحفاظ على نظافة الشباك أمر بالغ الأهمية، لأنه يشير إلى أننا قدمنا أداءً دفاعيًا جيدًا”.
A Seleção Brasileira tem o seu desafio final na Copa Ouro Feminina contra os Estados Unidos, anfitriãs do torneio. O Brasil está invicto na competição e vai decidir o título com uma das mais consolidadas do cenário do futebol feminino. O confronto vale o primeiro título da Era Arthur Elias, após decepção na Copa do Mundo.
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Para o confronto final, a Seleção chega com força máxima e com a confiança em alta após vencer bem as cinco últimas partidas. A Amarelinha chegou na grande decisão depois de vencer o México por 3 a 0, enquanto os EUA ficaram no empate com o Canadá em 2 a 2 e avançaram nos pênaltis.
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✅ FICHA TÉCNICA Brasil x Estados Unidos Copa Ouro Feminina – Final
Data e horário: domingo, 10 de março de 2024, às 22h15 (de Brasília) Local: Snapdragon Stadium, em San Diego, nos EUA Onde assistir: ESPN e Star+
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⚽ PROVÁVEIS ESCALAÇÕES BRASIL (Técnico: Arthur Elias) Luciana; Antônia, Bia Menezes, Tarciane, Rafaelle Souza; Gabi Portilho, Vitória Yaya, Duda Santos; Bia Zaneratto, Gabi Nunes e Duda Sampaio.
ESTADOS UNIDOS (Técnica: Emma Hayes) Alyssa Naeher; Naomi Girma, Tierna Davidson, Emily Fox e Samantha Coffey; Lindsey Horan, Korbin Albert e Alex Morgan; Trinity Rodman, Jenna Nighswonger e Jaedyn Shaw.
Following Brendan Rodgers’ shock exit, former player Chris Sutton has told Celtic to go and get a title-winning manager to replace the 52-year-old at Parkhead.
Desmond slams "self-serving" Rodgers
This all feels eight months too early, but Rodgers simply couldn’t wait until his contract expired and has pulled the plug on his time at Celtic. With the Bhoys eight points behind Hearts in the Scottish Premiership off the back of their 3-1 defeat against the unexpected league leaders, the manager has made the decision to resign.
To say that not everyone is happy about Rodgers’ exit would be quite the understatement. Majority shareholder Dermot Desmond pulled no punches in his statement following the news, slamming the manager as “self-serving”.
In a scathing review, he said, in part: “When his comments were made publicly, I sought to address them directly. Brendan and I met for over three hours at his home in Scotland to discuss the issue.
“Despite ample opportunity, he was unable to identify a single instance where the club had obstructed or failed to support him. The facts did not match his public narrative. Regrettably, his words and actions since then have been divisive, misleading, and self-serving.
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“They have contributed to a toxic atmosphere around the club and fuelled hostility towards members of the executive team and the Board. Some of the abuse directed at them, and at their families, has been entirely unwarranted and unacceptable.”
Rodgers will likely have his own say on that statement, but for now the focus around Glasgow will be set on finding his replacement. And Sutton has already told Celtic to go and get a title winner.
Sutton tells Celtic to bring back Postecoglou
Instantly reacting to Rodgers’ exit, Sutton told Celtic to “bring back” Ange Postecoglou, who was recently sacked by Nottingham Forest after just 39 days in charge. At this stage, the Australian arguably needs the Bhoys just as much as they need him in what would be yet another managerial reunion at the club.
As things stand, Martin O’Neill is in charge on an interim basis, but Celtic will be hoping to end that spell and appoint a permanent manager as soon as possible.
It must be said that, despite his recent failings, Postecoglou wouldn’t be a bad option. He’s been there and done it in the Scottish Premiership, winning the title twice in two seasons, and drew plenty of praise from top managers like Pep Guardiola and Arne Slot during his time in England.
In fact, responding to comments from Slot that the Liverpool managed hoped Tottenham won a trophy, Ange joked: “I’m not an evangelist. To quote Monty Python, I’m just a naughty little boy!
“[Slot’s opinion] is what I love about football. There’s got to be differences, people who are prepared to do things a little bit differently.
Nottingham Forest managerAngePostecoglouarrives inside the stadium before the match
“There’s that variety, that opinion and that allows emotion to come into it. I hate to think people think I’m just some kind of showman or something. I want to win.
“That’s still the core of my being, I hate losing, I want to win and I want to be successful.”
The 60-year-old desperately needs redemption in the dugout after his spells at Tottenham and Forest, whilst Celtic need to get their next appointment right if they are to bridge the gap on Hearts. As of right now, it’s arguably the perfect match.
A rising star who has been called a “young Xabi Alonso” is “one to watch” in the upcoming transfer windows as Manchester United seek to reinforce their midfield.
Man Utd set to replace Casemiro in 2026
Casemiro has enjoyed some improved form of late, rolling back the years and playing an important role in the 2-1 win away to Liverpool. It looks almost certain that the Brazilian will depart United at the end of this season, however, with the 33-year-old out of contract at that point and unlikely to be offered an extension.
Despite showing flashes of his former self, the Real Madrid legend has been criticised heavily throughout his time at United, including by Jamie Carragher, who famously told him to “leave the football before the football leaves you”.
Assuming Casemiro does move on for a new challenge, a top-quality younger replacement will be needed, in terms of someone who can provide a similar level of expertise in front of the defence and give Ruben Amorim midfield balance, allowing Bruno Fernandes to shine.
Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos has been linked with a move to United, with the 21-year-old reportedly wanting to emulate Casemiro’s career, while Benfica ace Florentino Luis has also been backed to come in once his loan spell at Burnley reaches its conclusion next summer.
Man Utd eyeing move for Bayern Munich star
According to Caught Offside‘s Mark Brus, Bayern Munich midfielder Aleksandar Pavlovic will be “one to watch” at Manchester United and Sir Jim Ratcliffe next summer, as they do not believe Manuel Ugarte is good enough to succeed Casemiro.
“United see Pavlovic as one option to replace Casemiro. Manuel Ugarte is also not seen as a long-term option. A move in January is unlikely, but he’ll be one to watch next summer.”
Bayern Munich'sAlphonsoDaviescelebrates scoring their fifth goal Bayern Munich's Aleksandar Pavlovic
Ugarte makes £6,240,000-a-year at United, but this would certainly be a worthy upgrade – Pavlovic is an enormous talent who has already become a key man for one of the best teams in Europe at the age of just 21, already making 65 appearances for Bayern.
The German has even been compared to former Liverpool and Real Madrid star Alonso by Bayern president Herbert Hainer, which is high praise.
Whether Bayern are willing to let such a prized asset in Pavlovic leave the club in 2026 is certainly up for debate, though, so it won’t be easy for United to entice him to the club.
A return to Champions League football arguably feels like a must if the Red Devils are to have any chance of signing him, but it is clear why he would be a leading target to replace Casemiro.
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Pavlovic already plays with a level of maturity beyond his years, both in and out of possession, averaging 1.5 tackles per game and completing 95.2% of his passes in the Bundesliga so far this season.
Em solidariedade com a tragédia que vem assolando a população no Rio Grande do Sul, o Corinthians irá disponibilizar o CT Joaquim Grava para o Grêmio. O clube gaúcho usará as instalações do Timão a partir do dia 17 de maio.
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– O Corinthians reforça seu compromisso de solidariedade com o povo do Rio Grande do Sul e com os clubes e instituições esportivas que foram afetadas pelas chuvas no estado, colocando a Neo Química Arena, o Parque São Jorge e os centros de treinamento do futebol profissional e de base à disposição das equipes gaúchas – publicou o Corinthians em nota.
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Com a CBF confirmando a paralisação do Brasileirão pelas próximas duas rodadas, o Grêmio deve voltar a campo apenas no dia 29 de maio, contra o The Strongest, pela fase de grupos da Libertadores. Já o Corinthians enfrenta o São Paulo, na Neo Química Arena, no dia 2 de junho.
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➡️ Veja tabela com datas e horários de todos os jogos do Brasileirão