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Inter head coach Cristian Chivu has warned his squad not to underestimate a faltering Liverpool side in the Champions League, insisting that Mohamed Salah remains a world-class threat despite his public fallout with manager Arne Slot and the Reds' inconsistent Premier League form this season, demanding maximum "intensity" at the San Siro to cope with the English giants' high-pressing style.

Chivu ignores the 'decline' narrative

The narrative surrounding Liverpool’s trip to the San Siro has been dominated by their stumbling defence of the Premier League title and the supposed fragility of the squad under Arne Slot. Salah shocked Liverpool fans and pundits alike with his comments regarding Slot after his side's dramatic 3-3 draw with Leeds at the weekend, resulting him being dropped from the squad for the Inter clash. However, Chivu has moved quickly to stomp out any complacency within the Nerazzurri camp. Speaking to ahead of the crucial European tie, the Inter boss rejected the idea that the English champions are a spent force, attributing their current struggles to a natural post-title hangover rather than a terminal crisis.

"Liverpool is one of the most successful teams," Chivu asserted, reminding the Italian press of the pedigree arriving in Milan. "They just won the Premier League. They had a good start and then a decline, which is normal. They have players capable of understanding the moments and being ready for the games that matter, and tomorrow is one of those."

AdvertisementGetty Images SportSalah vs Slot civil war "not my concern"

The build-up to the match has been overshadowed by the explosive breakdown in relations between Salah and manager Slot. With the Egyptian forward publicly questioning the Dutchman's tactics and his goal return drying up, many in Italy view this as the perfect time to face the Reds. Chivu, however, refuses to be drawn into the soap opera. When pressed on whether Salah’s unhappiness gives Inter an edge, the Romanian coach was dismissive, insisting that Liverpool's threat extends far beyond one individual.

"Momo is important on a world-class level, but these are not problems that concern us. It’s not my concern," Chivu stated bluntly. "I know that they have players who can replace him, and that Liverpool will therefore maintain a high level as they always have done throughout their history." He doubled down on the need for collective focus, warning that focusing too much on Salah's drama could leave them exposed to other threats "We’re talking about teams, not individuals. That is why we have to worry about what the group does, not about individuals. They have a lot of quality."

The intensity trap: Chivu warns of Klopp's lingering legacy

While results may have dipped, the physical data suggests Liverpool remain a ferocious opponent. Chivu highlighted that the "heavy metal" identity forged by Jurgen Klopp has been successfully retained by Slot, even if the execution has stuttered recently. The Inter boss described this specific English style as a cultural phenomenon that Italian teams often struggle to replicate due to the grueling nature of the calendar.

"I think they're a team that has made intensity their motto, part of their identity," Chivu explained during his press conference. "Klopp brought it, Slot is trying to maintain it and he's succeeded. We want to do like them, but they were born that way… it leads to a certain approach to matches."

He also touched on the physical toll this approach takes, referencing a conversation with his own striker, Marcus Thuram, to illustrate the difficulty of matching Liverpool's running stats. "Playing every three days is not easy… You have to understand the moments and not lose your balance… At times you also need to rest, if you ask Marcus he'll tell you that it's not easy to press for 90 minutes straight." The key for Inter will be managing energy levels without being overrun by the Red wave.

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Getty Images SportCarrying the flag: Inter demand respect

Finally, Chivu took a moment to defend his own team's standing in Europe. Inter have been Italy's most consistent continental performer in the 2020s, and the manager feels that their recent record – including two Champions League final appearances in three years – warrants immense credit, regardless of the outcome against Liverpool.

"Inter have carried the Italian flag high around the world," Chivu said. "You don't reach two Champions League finals and a Europa League final in five years so easily, and they deserve to be celebrated. An Italian team that plays like this deserves some praise, aside from the final result."

Tom Scriven frustrates hosts with fifty before Foxes are bowled out for 249

ECB Reporters Network26-Sep-2022England Lions fast bowler Sam Conners returned his best Championship figures of the season as Derbyshire made the early running on the opening day of the LV=Insurance match against Leicestershire at Derby.Conners took 5 for 51 and pace partner Ben Aitchison 3 for 46 to bowl Leicestershire out for 249 with all-rounder Tom Scriven scoring 53, his third first-class half-century.When bad light ended play three overs early, Derbyshire openers Billy Godleman and Luis Reece had moved to 57 without loss, 192 behind.Derbyshire’s decision to bowl first was influenced by a green tinge to the pitch and threatening cloud cover but initially, they failed to exploit the conditions.Aitchison was inconsistent in his opening spell and Nick Potts served up too many loose deliveries which allowed Sol Budinger and Sam Evans early momentum.Leicestershire were going well until Budinger top-edged a pull at Aitchison and Brooke Guest leapt to take an excellent catch above his head.The introduction of Conners and Anuj Dal slowed the scoring rate and the pressure was rewarded when Evans pushed at a ball he could have left and Guest pouched his second victim.Even so, Leicestershire were still well placed at lunch on 90 for 2 but the frailty of their batting was again exposed as four wickets went down in an afternoon session shortened by rain.Louis Kimber was bowled by one from Aitchison that straightened and Lewis Hill followed six overs later, caught low down at first slip as he played forward.Rehan Ahmed and Harry Swindells added 41 in 10 overs before Conners struck twice in three balls with Ahmed bowled aiming to drive and Swindells getting a leading edge as he looked to work the ball through midwicket.But Derbyshire were frustrated by Scriven who played the best innings of the day to take his side past 200. He launched Alex Thomson over wide long-on for six and completed a deserved fifty when he steered Conners wide of third man for his sixth four.By then, Roman Walker had clipped Thomson into Dal’s hands at midwicket and Conners wrapped up the innings in the space of four balls as Leicestershire fell one short of a second batting point.Scrivens was lbw as he tried to work the fast bowler to leg and Callum Parkinson could only edge one that left him to give Guest his 50th championship catch of the season, the first Derbyshire wicketkeeper to reach the milestone since Luke Sutton in 2011.Derbyshire were left with 19 overs to bat and their reply started to the surreal backdrop of fireworks exploding in bright sunshine above the City End of the Incora County Ground.There were no batting pyrotechnics as Godleman and Reece accumulated steadily to the close although Reece was given a reprieve on 10 when he edged Scriven to third slip where Budinger spilled the chance.

Plays of the day from the World T20 match between England and West Indies

David Hopps16-Mar-20162:13

Star of the day: Chris Gayle

The variety
Dwayne Bravo had the audacity to begin with an over of slower balls, the last of them full and loopy outside off stump which Alex Hales mistimed into the coversThe fielder
There are few more electrifying fielders in the world than Andre Russell. One of several boundary saves came when Joe Root clipped Jerome Taylor to long-on and, even though he didn’t quite time it, must have imagined a boundary was on the cards. Russell’s sprint, dive over the boundary, and dash back to return the ball restricted him to two.The impetus
England were beginning to stall at 106 for 2 midway through the 14th over when Jos Buttler slapped Samuel Badree over long-on for six, giving the first sign of the steely wrists that have been valued so highly this season in IPL on the ground where he will star for Mumbai Indians.The captain’s intervention
There was much work to do when Eoin Morgan came to the crease. Russell spat a bouncer at him, second ball, and Morgan was up to the challenge, depositing it into the second tier.Remember me
Chris Gayle was staved off the strike in the early overs while Marlon Samuels set about England. He announced himself with a 98m straight six into the top tier off Adil Rashid and, for good measure, repeated it against the next delivery.The break
It is a rare sight to see a Super Sopper at work midway through an innings, but that was the decision midway through West Indies’ innings. At 85 for 2, West Indies were well in control and, having won the toss, would have been happy with as much dew on the outfield as they could get.The boss
Successive sixes off Ben Stokes took Gayle past Brendon McCullum as the leading six-hitter in T20 internationals. Just for once, he did not connect perfectly, but his pull cleared the leaping Root on the square-leg boundaryThe triple decker
Three successive sixes by Gayle off Moeen Ali settled the contest. Moeen had conceded 20 from his first 3.3 overs, but another 18 came from his last three balls, the last blow – a full toss, unceremoniously dragged over long-on – leaving England with nowhere to go.

30 clubs have won the Europa League since its inception as the UEFA Cup in 1971.

The competition has given an opportunity to those unable to shine in the Champions League to succeed in Europe, with the likes of Atalanta and Villarreal winning their first European trophies in recent years.

But who are the usual suspects when it comes to Europa League glory? As of 2025, 14 teams have won the tournament on multiple occasions. Here, we have listed them all, from least to most successful.

Rank

Club

Times won

Last win

Sevilla

2023

Tottenham Hotspur

2025

Atletico Madrid

2018

Liverpool

2001

Inter

1998

Juventus

1993

Frankfurt

2022

Chelsea

2019

Porto

2011

Feyenoord

2002

Parma

1999

IFK Goteborg

1987

Real Madrid

1986

Borussia Monchengladbach

1979

14 Borussia Monchengladbach 2 titles (1975, 1979)

Borussia Monchengladbach were the most dominant force in German football in the 1970s, winning the Bundesliga title five times. During that period, they also won the UEFA Cup twice, first in 1975 and then in 1979.

Monchengladbach made the final in 1973 and 1980, but lost to Liverpool and Eintracht Frankfurt respectively.

Former Bayern Munich boss Jupp Heynckes was one of the heroes in 1975, scoring two goals in the second-leg final win over Dutch side Twente.

13 Real Madrid 2 titles (1985, 1986)

Real Madrid are the most dominant club in Champions League history, having won European football’s elite club competition a record 15 times.

They’ve also won the UEFA Cup twice, recording back-to-back wins in 1985 and 1986. In 1985, Los Blancos beat Hungarian side Videoton in the final, while the following year, they got the better of German side Koln. Attacker Emilio Butragueno was among those to play in both triumphs.

Given their success in Europe’s premier competition, Madrid last competed in the UEFA Cup back in the 1994/95 season.

12 IFK Goteborg 2 titles (1982, 1987)

IFK Goteborg remain the only Swedish team in history to have ever won a major European title, having scooped the UEFA Cup in 1982 and 1987. Goteborg beat Hamburg in the final in 1982 under the guidance of Sven-Goran Eriksson, before repeating their feat against Dundee United in 1987.

Striker Stefan Pettersson was on the scoresheet against Dundee United, and when he scored again in the 1992 final – this time for Ajax against Torino – he became the first player in UEFA Cup history to score in multiple finals.

11 Parma 2 titles (1995, 1999)

During the peak of their powers in the 1990s, Parma never won the Italian Serie A, but they did manage to win the Coppa Italia and UEFA Cup twice each during that decade.

Their first UEFA Cup victory came in 1995 when they beat domestic rivals Juventus. Their second came four years later when they beat Marseille after the arrival of a host of would-be and established superstars like Hernan Crespo, Juan Sebastian Veron, Fabio Cannavaro, Lilian Thuram and Enrico Chiesa, scoring some great goals along the way.

10 Feyenoord 2 titles (1974, 2002)

Feyenoord first clinched the UEFA Cup in 1974 when they beat Tottenham Hotspur in the final.

Nearly three decades later in 2002, they won the competition for a second time by beating Borussia Dortmund 3-2 in a thrilling affair on home soil at De Kuip. No Dutch club has won a major European competition since.

9 Porto 2 titles (2003, 2011)

In 2002, Jose Mourinho took charge of Porto after barely a season of managing at the top level under his belt.

His limited experience proved not to matter, as in his first season in charge at the Estadio do Dragao, he guided the club to their first-ever UEFA Cup. The following year, he left to join Chelsea.

In 2011, this time under the guidance of Andre Villas-Boas, Porto again won the competition, beating Braga in the final in Dublin. A month later, Villas-Boas left for Chelsea.

9 of the best Jose Mourinho quotes

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ByBarney Lane Dec 2, 2024 8 Chelsea 2 titles (2013, 2019)

Speaking of Chelsea, like Porto, the Blues have also won the Europa League twice. The first time was in 2013 when they were managed by Rafael Benitez, beating Porto rivals Benfica in the final.

The second time was in 2019 under Maurizio Sarri, when they thumped Arsenal 4-1 in Baku thanks to a brace from Eden Hazard and goals from Olivier Giroud and Pedro.

7 Eintracht Frankfurt 2 titles (1980, 2022)

Eintracht Frankfurt’s two triumphs in European football’s second-tier competition were separated by a whopping 42 years.

The German club first won the title when it was the UEFA Cup in 1980, and then for a second time in 2022. In the 2022 final, Frankfurt beat Scottish club Rangers on penalties after a 1-1 draw, with Colombian Rafael Santos Borre scoring the winning spot-kick.

6 Juventus 3 titles (1977, 1990, 1993)

Juventus are one of only four clubs to have won the UEFA Cup on three occasions.

The Old Lady first scooped the title in 1977, before winning it in 1990 and 1993. In 1993, Juventus thrashed Borussia Dortmund 6-1 across a two-legged final thanks to three goals from Dino Baggio, two from Roberto Baggio and one from Andreas Moller.

However, Dortmund got revenge four years later in the Champions League final when they beat Juve 3-1 with Moller in their team, with the German having moved between the two clubs in 1994.

5 Inter 3 titles (1991, 1994, 1998)

Inter didn’t win a single domestic trophy in the 1990s, but they did win the UEFA Cup three times.

The 1998 final is best remembered for Ronaldo’s masterclass performance, which saw him run Lazio’s Alessandro Nesta ragged and score Inter’s third in an utterly dominant 3-0 win.

Reflecting on Ronaldo’s performance, Nesta later said: “I have watched that game on video so many times since then, trying to work out what I did wrong. We lost 3-0, but I don’t think now it was my fault. Ronaldo was simply unstoppable.”

A pundit has claimed that one member of the Tottenham Hotspur squad won’t be happy with the treatment he’s had from some supporters, and it could be “bugging him” behind-the-scenes at Hotspur Way.

Tottenham face Bournemouth after disappointing 1-1 draw against Fulham

Ange Postecoglou cut a frustrated figure on the touchline after his side dropped points at home to mid-table Fulham over the weekend, with their disappointing 1-1 draw following up their very impressive 4-0 win away to Premier League champions Man City.

New target: Spurs now want to sign £25m defender for Postecoglou in January

He would help fix a major problem area in north London.

ByBen Browning Dec 2, 2024

This has been a reoccurring theme of Spurs’ season so far – wins against elite opposition overshadowed by poor results against teams they’re favourites to beat – with Postecoglou gifting both Crystal Palace and Ipswich Town their first victories of 2024/2025.

Alongside those poor outings, the Lilywhites beat Man United 3-0 at Old Trafford, knocked City out of the Carabao Cup, demolished London rivals West Ham and beat top four rivals Aston Villa 4-1.

Bournemouth vs Tottenham

December 5

Tottenham vs Chelsea

December 8

Southampton vs Tottenham

December 15

Tottenham vs Liverpool

December 22

Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham

December 26

Tottenham are blowing very hot and cold, with Postecoglou not helped by a plethora of injuries to key players, including number one goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario and a domestic ban for mainstay midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur.

Spurs take on Bournemouth next week, off the back of this questionable run, but one very bright spark of their season so far has been Wales international winger Brennan Johnson.

The £70,000-per-week forward has scored 10 goals in all competitions, standing out as one of their star players, after he was forced to delete his social media accounts due to abuse from a section of critics online.

Johnson’s bagged seven goals in his last nine league games, whilst also playing a major role in their Europa League campaign with three goals in five matches against Ferencvaros, Qarabag and Roma.

He’s a real Postecoglou success story, and it is safe to say that the £47 million signing is proving all of his doubters wrong with some prolific performances on the field. Johnson is also impressing for Wales at international level, and right now, the sky appears the limit for Spurs’ rejuvenated 23-year-old.

Pundit claims Brennan Johnson remains unhappy with Tottenham fans

However, speaking to Tottenham News, pundit and former Spurs scout Bryan King says that Johnson could still be unhappy with a section of Tottenham fans for the abuse he received online – specifically after what he spotted the winger do against Fulham.

“We saw Johnson’s reaction when he scored,” King said.

“He is obviously still not happy with Tottenham fans and comments that have been made about him on social media because he didn’t exactly go into a jubilant celebration when he scored. He made sure people knew how he felt about the way he has been treated by the supporters.

“I thought he had moved past that. However, it still seems to be bugging him.”

Johnson has a chance to prove his worth yet again when Spurs take on Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Thursday, and he could continue to be a key talking point campaign.

Wrexham captain James McClean was allegedly involved in an altercation with a fan after the Red Dragon's controversial 1-0 win over Stockport.

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McClean exchanged words with Stockport fan near tunnelBelligerent fan removed from Racecourse Ground after throwing punchJay Rodriguez scores first goal for WrexhamFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

An angry away fan appeared to engage McClean by the tunnel at half-time. The other party was eventually removed by stewards and police after the fan allegedly aimed a punch at the former Republic of Ireland star. Wrexham and North Wales Police have yet to comment on the incident, per the Mirror.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The incident could do little to sour the mood around the Racecourse Ground on Saturday. Wrexham shot back up into an automatic promotion sport after Jay Rodriguez scored his first goal for the club. The veteran striker's poor penalty was initially saved by Corey Addai, but the ex-Burnley man recovered to scuff the rebound between the onrushing keeper's legs. The penalty was awarded after McClean's header across goal struck defender Ibby Touray's arm.

WHAT DAVE CHALLINOR SAID

Stockport manager Dave Challinor heavily criticised the decision. He said: "I am not going to get myself into trouble by saying what I truly believe.

"It’s not cost us three points because we weren’t good enough to score, but it has cost us point because it was a really, really poor decision."

DID YOU KNOW?

Saturday's latest 1-0 win was Wrexham's 12th victory by that scoreline in the 2024/25 season. Rodriguez's first goal for the Red Dragons came in his tenth appearance for the club.

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Jan-2016Martin Guptill, however, was in his zone•AFPHe found support from the ever-consistent Kane Williamson•Getty ImagesTheir 122-run partnership ended when Williamson was caught behind via a deflection off the glove, for 61•Getty ImagesRoss Taylor then joined Guptill and pulled New Zealand further ahead•Getty ImagesGuptill went on to bring up his hundred off 107 balls•Getty ImagesLuke Ronchi and Mitchell Santner provided the finishing touches as New Zealand set Sri Lanka 295•Getty ImagesMatt Henry made early strikes and reduced Sri Lanka to 33 for 3 in the chase•Associated PressAngelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal, though, put their side back on track•Associated PressChandimal was removed for 50 and Thisara Perera followed for 17…•Getty Images…but Mathews, aided by Milinda Siriwardana, pushed on to keep the chase alive•Getty ImagesHenry then came back to pick up the key wicket of Mathews to douse the chase. The visitors eventually fell short by 36 runs•Associated PressThe quick finished with 5 for 40 as New Zealand took the series 3-1•Getty Images

Adam Zampa also collected three wickets, before Steven Smith batted in T20 mode to finish off the match in less than 43 overs

Andrew McGlashan30-Aug-2022Australia raced to an eight-wicket victory in Townsville as the second ODI lasted less than 43 overs after Mitchell Starc had blown Zimbabwe’s top order away to leave him on 199 wickets, and the visitors dismantled for 96.On a pitch that offered considerable help to the fast bowlers, Starc claimed 3 for 15 in his first five-over spell, and would have become the fastest to 200 wickets had Glenn Maxwell held a sharp chance at backward point offered by Luke Jongwe late in the innings. However, he still has two matches in hand to beat Saqlain Mushtaq’s mark of 104 games.Richard Ngarava struck twice in his second over of the defence, including the wicket of Australia captain Aaron Finch for another low score, but the home side needed just 14.4 overs, with Steven Smith playing the “free” T20 mode he spoke about the day before the match as he finished unbeaten in the 40s again.After a few early wides, Starc found the target with a pinpoint yorker to remove Innocent Kaia and then swung one back into Wessly Madhevere to remove the top-scorer from the previous match for a duck. His third wicket was not quite a classic though, as Tadiwanashe Marumani flicked a ball off his pads straight to square legAt the other end, Josh Hazlewood and been miserly with the new ball, and found significant movement off the seam to cause a host of problems which continued when he changed ends to replace Starc. Briefly, he was put under pressure when Sikandar Raza, who had been on 7 off 33 balls until then, pulled him through midwicket and then drove the next ball over long-off for a spectacular six.But two deliveries later, he top-edged a short delivery to deep square leg to remove one of Zimbabwe’s best hope of making it a contest. Speaking the day before the game, coach David Houghton had said he wanted his side to stitch together runs throughout the order, having had various parts of it perform in different matches; but this would not be the day for it.Steven Smith finished unbeaten in the 40s again•Getty ImagesBatters continued to struggle to find the balance between attack and defence, as captain Regis Chakabva followed a couple of handsome shots down the ground by picking out mid-off against Ashton Agar, who had been recalled in place of the injured Mitchell Marsh.Cameron Green, who took a five-wicket haul in the opening match, was the sixth bowler used, but it only took him three deliveries to make an impression with a lifting ball which found Tony Munyonga’s outside edge.Sean Williams, back in the side after an elbow injury kept him out on Sunday, tried to hold the innings together but got a thick edge to short third. That was the first of three quick wickets for Adam Zampa, who helped wrap things up in the 28th over.There appeared to be a Snicko failure when Brad Evans reviewed his lbw, but replays suggested he hadn’t hit it anyway.In the run chase, David Warner was in the mood to get things done quickly but carved down to deep third where Brad Evans held an excellent catch running in. Two balls later, Finch fenced outside off stump and was held at the second attempt by Raza at first slip to once again leave the focus on the captain’s form.There were a few uneasy moments for Smith and Alex Carey as the ball continued to move for the seamers, but the target was quickly hunted down. Smith played one of the shots of the day when he carved a six over deep point and continued to pepper the boundary, but couldn’t take advantage of a free hit from what became the last ball of the game to reach fifty, as it scuttled for four byes.Those attending the final match of the series on Saturday will hope for a better contest, which may require Australia to bat first if they win the toss.

India chase down the target of 100 with 38 balls to spare to improve their net run rate

S Sudarshanan31-Jul-2022India strengthened their dominance over Pakistan in women’s cricket, inflicting a tenth defeat over their neighbours in twelve T20 internationals with an eight-wicket win during their Commonwealth Games clash at Edgbaston on Sunday.In a game that began 55 minutes late owing to on-and-off drizzle and was reduced to 18 overs per side, Pakistan were bowled out for 99 after they opted to bat. Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma then made short work of the chase with a 61-run opening partnership to help India pick up their first win in the competition.The victory with 38 balls to spare helped India improve their net run rate to 1.17 from -0.56 after their loss against Australia, while Pakistan’s slid to -1.77 from -0.75, inching them ever so close to an early exit.The gallop to the victory
Chasing 100, Mandhana and Shafali got going against Anam Amin’s spin. Mandhana slinked down the track to smash Amin over mid-on for a six before hitting a full toss past mid-on for four. Mandhana then followed up with three fours in Diana Baig’s next over.Shafali hit Amin for a four and a six in her next over as India raced to 41 in four overs. When the left-right combo took 16 off the last over of the powerplay, bowled by Fatima Sana, they had galloped to 52 for no loss – their seventh fifty-plus partnership in 31 innings.Tuba Hassan was welcomed with a four each by Mandhana and Shafali before the latter feathered an edge to the wicketkeeper. An over later, Mandhana charged to hit Hassan straight over her head to bring up her 15th T20I half-century.Even though Pakistan dismissed S Meghana, Mandhana took India home in the 12th over. She finished unbeaten on 63, her best score in the format against Pakistan and her third fifty-plus score in T20Is in England.Pakistan’s base goes waste
Pakistan’s start with the bat was shaky. Renuka Singh, fresh from a four-wicket haul in the opening game against Australia, began with a maiden over that had Muneeba Ali in a tangle. At the other end, Meghna Singh managed to catch the outside edge of Iram Javed’s poking blade to jolt Pakistan early.But Bismah Maroof and Muneeba steadied the innings with a fifty-run stand for the second wicket. Muneeba was the aggressor, scoring back-to-back fours off Renuka before hitting Meghna for a four – via a top edge – and a majestic six over deep midwicket. Using singles to keep the scorecard moving, Muneeba and Maroof’s scoring pace increased and their alliance got to fifty in just 40 balls. And then it was stalled.Rana turns it around
Sneh Rana had been rested from India’s tour of Sri Lanka in late June and she used the time to work on her fitness at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru. She was not picked for the game against Australia but came back into the XI against Pakistan, replacing Rajeshwari Gayakwad.After a quiet first over in which she had both the left-hand batters in a tangle, Rana first trapped Maroof lbw – the Pakistan captain wasted a review too – and a couple of deliveries later, she deceived a set Muneeba with flight and dip to have her caught and bowled. Pakistan were 51 for 3 after nine overs.Ayesha Naseem came in at No. 5 in the absence of Nida Dar, who missed the match with a concussion, and showed a glimpse of why she is highly rated. Using her quick hands, she pulled a length ball from Radha Yadav through midwicket for four. But her attempt at hitting Renuka over cow corner was caught by Jemimah Rodrigues running in from the deep.Radha and Shafali’s spin then managed to keep the rest of the batting quiet as Pakistan lost their last five wickets for three runs in just eight balls to fold for 99.It was never going to be enough.

Some fans have claimed that Mohamed Salah's chances of winning the Ballon d'Or this year are "dead" after Liverpool's exit from the Champions League.

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Fans says Salah's Ballon d'Or hopes overLiverpool exit Champions League at the hands of PSGRaphina billed as new favourite for Golden BallFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Salah, who has had a stellar outing with Liverpool in the 2024-25 campaign so far, was being considered as one of the frontrunners to win the Ballon d'Or in 2025 until Liverpool's Champions League round of 16 second-leg fixture against Paris Saint-Germain. As the French champions progressed to the quarter-finals after beating the Reds 4-1 on penalties at Anfield on Tuesday, many fans claimed that Salah's hopes of winning the Golden Ball are now over. Salah was seen breaking down in tears after the defeat, and some social media users attempted to rub salt in his wounds.

AdvertisementWHAT THE FANS ARE SAYING

On X, reacting to photos of the emotionally-drained Liverpool star, a fan named Juje Punter wrote: "Balon d'or hopes are dead now. That's his pain. The best chance he possibly got. Soon to be Raphina's award."

Barca Spaces posted: "No Ballon d’Or for him. It’s Raphinha’s."

An X handle named DesmundOris wrote: "He knows his chances of getting the Ballon D’Or just got slimmer. The fear of Raphinha is real."

MOOD-Football posted: "Salah gave everything this season, but football is cruel. From Ballon d'Or frontrunner to crashing out early, this one hurts deep."

Imran Rafiq sympathised with the Egyptian star as he wrote: "Mo Salah has had an outstanding season, but Liverpool's loss to PSG yesterday likely ended his Ballon d'Or chances. This Liverpool side relies heavily on him. He’s bailed them out countless times this season, but yesterday just wasn’t his night."

AFPTHE BIGGER PICTURE

On the day Salah failed to deliver for his team, Barcelona winger Raphinha once again starred for his club with a brace as they thrashed Benfica 3-1 in ther second leg of their tie to progress to the quarter-finals 4-1 on aggregate. The Brazilian is now the top scorer in the Champions League with 11 goals to his name. He has also scored 13 goals in La Liga, which makes him the fourth-highest scorer in Spain. As Raphinha continues with his incredible form, he has now emerged as a serious contender to bag his maiden Ballon d'Or in France later this year.

Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR MOHAMED SALAH?

Salah will now dust himself off before trying to bag his first trophy of the season for his club on Sunday as Liverpool lock horns against Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup final.