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Chelsea have opened talks with the representatives of a big-name player after their triumph over Barcelona in the Champions League, according to a fresh update on Wednesday morning.

Chelsea seal statement win over Barcelona on dream European night

Enzo Maresca’s side put in a scintillating performance at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night, dismantling Barça 3-0 in a European encounter that underlined their credentials as genuine contenders for silverware this season.

Chelsea dominated from start to finish, displaying an intensity and quality that left the five-time European champions thoroughly outclassed.

The Blues flew out of the blocks with relentless energy, pressing Barcelona high and refusing to allow the Spanish side any time on the ball. Their attacking intent was evident throughout a pulsating first half that saw Chelsea create numerous opportunities, though they endured frustration as two goals were chalked off for offside and handball before finally breaking through.

The first goal arrived when Marc Cucurella’s dangerous cross deflected off Jules Koundé, giving Chelsea a deserved advantage after 27 minutes of intense pressure.

As good as Estevao: £60m star is on his way to becoming "a Chelsea legend"

Estevao was the star of the show as Chelsea beat Barcelona in the Champions League.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Nov 26, 2025

It got from bad to worse for Barça, with captain Ronald Araujo receiving a second yellow card for his reckless challenge on Cucurella near the touchline. The sending-off proved catastrophic for Hansi Flick’s side, allowing Chelsea to seize complete control after the restart.

The second half belonged to 18-year-old sensation Estevao, who produced a moment of individual brilliance that will be remembered for years in west London.

Collecting the ball wide on the right, the Brazilian winger embarked on a mesmeric dribble, gliding past Pau Cubarsí before cutting across Alejandro Balde and unleashing an unstoppable finish into the roof of the net. The stunning strike showcased his exceptional technical ability and composure, stealing the show in a much-anticipated head-to-head with Barcelona’s own teenage prodigy Lamine Yamal.

Liam Delap then rounded off a superb Chelsea display with his first Champions League goal for the club after initially seeing it chalked off, with Cucurella getting a lot of plaudits too for his exceptional display against Yamal.

It was a statement win for Chelsea, who now go into their mouth-watering Premier League tie against Arsenal this weekend in very high spirits.

Now, according to Sky Switzerland reporter Sacha Tavolieri, supporters could have more reason to get excited.

Chelsea reopen talks with Mike Maignan who's "very keen" to join

AC Milan keeper Mike Maignan has long been a target for Chelsea amid their hunt for an elite-level keeper, with his contract expiring at the end of this season and potentially up for grabs at zero cost.

As per Tavolieri, Chelsea have reignited negotiations with Maignan and his camp, as the French international edges closer to departing the San Siro.

BlueCo are seizing on a developing contract standoff that could see the 30-year-old leave Italy as a free agent next summer, with Maignan reportedly informing Milan that he will not sign a new deal despite the club offering improved terms that would double his current salary.

The France number one can begin formal discussions with foreign clubs from January onwards, positioning Chelsea favourably in the race for his signature.

Maresca apparently views the experienced shot-stopper as a potential solution to Chelsea’s ongoing goalkeeping concerns. While Robert Sanchez has featured regularly this season, Filip Jorgensen could leave in January, and neither have fully convinced Chelsea’s manager.

Maignan is also “very keen” on the idea of joining them, so this could be one to watch closely as we fast approach the winter window.

The former Lille star is widely regarded as one of Europe’s top shot-stoppers, with Liverpool’s Alisson describing him as a world-class keeper at a truly elite level.

Barcelona boss Hansi Flick has addressed the frustration of Robert Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal following their substitutions against Young Boys.

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• Barca stars visibly upset over subs
• Polish forward was on a hat-trick
• Spaniards cruised to 5-0 win

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Flick is unfazed over Lewandowski and Yamal's frustrations, which were evident as the pair were substituted in Barcelona's 5-0 win against Young Boys in the Champions League. Lewandowski was on the brink of a hat trick when he was substituted with 15 minutes remaining, while Yamal – who was criticised for his reaction by former Barcelona forward Jonathan Soriano – was taken off without scoring or assisting as the Blaugrana held a 4-0 lead.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Of course, the Poland striker had his eyes on the match ball while Yamal also wanted to score against opponents who allowed 20 shots on goal in the match. But they are two of Barcelona's most important players and, with the three points already secure, Flick was keen to manage their minutes ahead of a trip to Alaves in La Liga this weekend.

• WHAT FLICK SAID

  "It's normal that they get angry if you change them. Everyone wants to play 90 minutes," Flick said. "But things were as they were and changes had to be made. I make decisions and they accept them. Lamine's attitude is very positive."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA?

  Barcelona, who suffered their first league defeat of the season against Osasuna last weekend, will look to put things right when they take on Alaves on Sunday.

Shadman’s maiden Test century in Bangladesh’s second innings helped them get into a winning position against Zimbabwe in Harare

Mohammad Isam13-Jul-2021According to Bangladesh batter Shadman Islam, the team was so moved by Mahmudullah’s retirement announcement during the Harare Test against Zimbabwe, that the players felt motivated to win the match and dedicate it to the 35-year old. The young opener who made his maiden century in the second innings, said that they were all taken aback by Mahmudullah’s decision.”When we heard from (Mahmudullah) Riyad bhai that this was to be his last Test, we got very motivated to do well in the Test. We were all upset. He has done a lot for this team. We wanted to win the match for him. We all decided to dedicate the win for Riyad , and thankfully that’s what happened,” said Shadman, shortly after arriving in Dhaka with the rest of the Test specialists.Shadman’s response on Mahmudullah’s retirement has, so far, been the most direct from any Bangladesh player. Other Bangladesh players have been glowing in their tribute of Mahmudullah in social media posts after the match. But they have not directly mentioned his retirement, conceivably not to draw the ire of BCB president Nazmul Hassan who criticised Mahmudullah for announcing it midway through a match.Captain Mominul Haque mumbled a reply when the traveling media asked him repeatedly about the retirement in the post-match post conference in Harare. But he did credit Mahmudullah for his unbeaten 150 that put Bangladesh on top after a difficult start to their batting innings.Shadman and Najmul Hossain Shanto took full advantage of the 192-run lead, reaching centuries during their 196-run second wicket stand in the second innings. Shanto made 117 while Shadman reached his first ton.”What makes me happy is that my century helped the team to a Test win. We always believed that we were the better team, even in their conditions. Riyad , Taskin and Mominul made things easier for us with their batting.”The wicket was slightly different in the second innings, so we believed that we could give Zimbabwe a tough total in the fourth innings,” he said.Shadman is one of eight cricketers who returned home after the one-off Test. Captain Haque, Shanto, Saif Hassan, Yasir Ali, Nayeem Hasan, Abu Jayed and Ebadot Hossain were the others. They will most likely sit out for the next three months when Bangladesh play plenty of white-ball cricket. The BCB hasn’t announced any red-ball competition.”One has to come to terms with how things are at the moment. The pandemic is not in anyone’s control,” Shadman said. “There’s no point getting disappointed [with lack of matches]. I will just keep training, and try to play well.”

Remembering the Australia opener, ten years on from his tragic death

Ian Chappell17-Nov-2024Prior to Phillip Hughes’ untimely passing in 2014, I suspect that most cricketers felt that by walking through the gate they might get injured but never killed.Following Hughes’ tragic accident that line of thinking changed dramatically.A 2016 New South Wales coronial inquiry concluded no one was to blame for Hughes’ death. That investigation only served to confirm just how unlucky Hughes was to suffer a terminal injury.Related

• How soon will we need to reconsider how essential bouncers are to cricket?

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Sensibly, Cricket Australia decided to implement a safety review following this Sheffield Shield tragedy. Imagine my surprise when I asked CA CEO James Sutherland whether the review included technique.”I don’t know,” came Sutherland’s surprise reply.When I eventually obtained an answer from a CA employee, technique was not included in the review. This is nonsensical as the quickest way to improve safety is for a player to develop a good technique to combat the short-pitched delivery.The ten-year anniversary of Hughes’ demise, coming up in ten days, is a timely reminder of what he meant to the Australian players. I spoke to former Australian opener David Warner, a good friend, who acknowledged Hughes’ image at the SCG every time he walked past the dressing room wall.Warner described Hughes as a player who was “flamboyant at times with a good defence and the mentality of a stroke-maker.”As a character, Hughes was popular with other players because of his loyalty and ability to make them smile and keep the game in perspective. When Hughes, a man off the land in northern New South Wales spoke about cattle, Warner remembers him saying: “You keep feeding them and they get fat.” When players asked Hughes if he was going to join them for a round he would laughingly respond, “Why would I play golf?”Warner explained how difficult it was to play the Test match following Hughes’ passing. “We were all very shaken up,” recalled Warner, “but we asked ourselves: what would Phil want?”

Warner said that it was eerie how he would occasionally glance at an Oval clock and the time would show 4:08. At other times he’d check the scoreboard and somewhere there’d be the figure 63

“We decided he would want us to play,” said Warner, “and that was part of the healing process.”That process worked well for Warner, who scored a memorable century in each innings. Australia finished up winning a thrilling Test against India, as Virat Kohli also produced skilful twin tons. The game featured both teams honouring Hughes by standing in remembrance as the clock ticked 408, his Test player number.Warner admitted that for the rest of his career it was eerie how he would occasionally glance at an Oval clock and the time would show 4:08. At other times he’d check the scoreboard and somewhere there’d be the figure 63, the final score Hughes was on when he was hit at the SCG. “It was uncanny,” sighed Warner, “but he was always with us.”Hughes had an up-and-down career, with the highlight being a century in each innings of the Kingsmead Test in 2009. It was only Hughes’ second Test and he faced a quality South African pace attack of Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Makhaya Ntini and Jacques Kallis.Warner said there was a large expectation lumped on to bright prospects. However, he explained, “Hughes’ final average didn’t reflect the quality of player he was.”He displayed his quality and versatility in scoring two limited-overs centuries for Australia. In 2014 he reconfirmed his ability by making his highest first-class score of 243 not out for Australia A.Hughes’ mammoth score looked as though it would result in yet another recall to the Australian Test side. Sadly this never occurred, as just a few months later he suffered that fatal blow while batting for South Australia in the SCG Shield match.The passing of Phil Hughes is a stark reminder of the danger that players face on the cricket field. However, there is only one response to the occasional preposterous suggestion that the bouncer be eradicated from the game: “If you want to avoid the risk of injury then don’t walk through the gate.”

GOAL USA writers analyze Pochettino's first squad selection, and what will define success this window

And so it begins. Mauricio Pochettino has announced his first USMNT squad. And on first glance, the new boss hasn't shaken things up much. Most of the familiar faces are here. The injured Gio Reyna is the most notable absentee. But otherwise, this is a squad similar to the those that Gregg Berhalter assembled during his last few windows.

The squad is headlined – no surprise – by Christian Pulisic, with Weston McKennie, Tim Weah and Antonee Robinson all returning to the squad after missing out in September. Former U.S. No. 1 goalkeeper Zack Steffen returns for the first time since 2022, and Gianluca Busio has a chance to make his first appearance since 2023.

But for all of the recognizable names, there remains some debate as to how exactly it will all come together. And there seem to be one or two players that perhaps haven't done enough over the first few weeks of the season to warrant inclusion.

Beyond that, how will this team play? What will be considered a success in this window? Can Pochettino show that he is worth all of the hype? Is it time for hope?

Those questions will continue in the days, weeks, and months to come as the men's national team gears up for the 2026 World Cup. But for now, GOAL US writers react to Pochettino's first squad in a USMNT edition of… The Rondo.

• Who was the biggest snub?

  Tom Hindle: Not quite sure there is one – even if you factor in the injuries here. Pochettino, for all of the talk, has played it reasonably safe. All of the big names are present, while the fringe guys have more or less stayed in the squad. At a , you could make a case for Gaga Slonina's inclusion. There's also maybe a shout for Benjamin Cremaschi or Kevin Paredes here. Otherwise, there's not much to be angry about, which is admittedly refreshing.

  Jacob Schneider: There’s no real snub, with injuries being the cause for any real notable absences. With winger depth being so light, perhaps it would have been nice to see Alex Zendejas in the mix, or defensively, Richard Ledezma included. However, this feels like a strong group.

  Alex Labidou: This list feels about right, with no real head-scratchers. Clutching at straws a bit, this list feels incredibly safe and almost vanilla. Where's the random Alfredo Morales-type of call-up? Jurgen Klinsmann's first squad, for example, had a ton of surprises, not all for the best.

  Jokes aside, it's better to be safe than send the wrong message with these call ups and it will be interesting to see how things develop over the next few months in the build up to the World Cup.

  Ryan Tolmich: Because of the injury situation, there really weren't any snubs. With stars such as Sergino Dest, Chris Richards, Gio Reyna and Tyler Adams out injured, spots were opened up for players that were on the fringes of this squad. If there was one, it's probably Tanner Tessmann. He was fantastic at the Olympics this summer and made a big move to Lyon as a result. The midfielder could have been in this squad, but you can't complain too much about Pochettino going with his former Gianluca Busio instead. Overall, it's a fair squad, but one limited a bit by injuries.

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  Who's the biggest surprise pick?

  TH: Zack Steffen, even if it is good to see him back in the setup. The Rapids keeper hasn't been in the U.S. squad for two years now, and after a good season between the sticks, it's only appropriate that he gets rewarded. At his opening press conference, Pochettino talked quite a bit about utilizing MLS talent. Steffen in as a goalie would seem to be the embodiment of that – even if he doesn't sniff the field.

  JS: Biggest surprise is definitely Steffen. He had a phenomenal Leagues Cup, but the underlying numbers from his MLS performances this season are not particularly something to boast about. It’s not entirely his fault, as the Rapids defense absolutely has its flaws, but there is a hierarchy in the goalkeeping tiers right now and I’m not so sure he warrants a return
  AL: Steffen's inclusion did come as a surprise, not because of his talent, but due to his apparent exile from the program since losing the No. 1 goalkeeper spot. Given the USMNT's well-documented struggles in goal, it was puzzling that he wasn't called up once he regained form with the Rapids, hinting at potential internal issues. With a new manager at the helm, there's a clean slate, and it's great to see Steffen, whom former U.S. goalkeeper legend Tim Howard continues to praise, getting another opportunity.

  RT: Probably Miles Robinson? There's a depth issue at centerback, particularly with Richards and Cameron Carter-Vickers nursing injuries. Realistically, there aren't many other experienced centerbacks in the pool, so Robinson does fit there. Still, could Pochettino have looked elsewhere? Could he have taken a shot on a younger option? Maybe but, overall, this is nitpicking, isn't it?

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  Who are you most excited to watch?

  TH: Malik Tillman, Malik Tillman, and more Malik Tillman. The attacking midfielder has been excellent for PSV this season – and was good last year, too. In 14 caps, he hasn't quite had his moment for the USMNT. Here's to hoping that a new manager can figure out how to best use him – and perhaps unlock a secret weapon for this side. Also, that Christian Pulisic fella is OK at this sport.

  JS: Most excited to see what Poch can do with Tillman, for sure. Without a healthy Reyna, you should be looking at him and Brenden Aaronson competing for the starting no. 10 role. Simply based on form, one would think Tillman gets the nod ahead of the Leeds United man.
  AL: It would be easy to say that it will be fascinating to see Pulisic under Pochettino, but that's an obvious one. So instead, let's look at what is going to happen at goal and defense. Richards' absence due to injury means there could be an entirely new centerback pairing when the U.S. lines up against Panama on Oct. 10. Tim Ream is probably a safe bet, considering Pochettino has seen him in action in the Premiership, but who plays alongside him? Will Auston Trusty be given this opportunity?

  The same goes for goal. Matt Turner has been the No. 1 since the 2022 World Cup, but his form and playing time for the past year have not warranted security in that position. Could Pochettino elect to go with Patrick Schulte or Steffen? It will be fun to see what he decides.

  RT: It has to be Aidan Morris. Last camp, he looked like one of very few players really energized by wearing the USMNT shirt, and that's something that brings life to a group. He's been a regular at Middlesbrough, which has launched him up the depth chart. But even so, it's all about sustained USMNT performances. Another strong camp from Morris will have him challenging for a starting spot. His energy, tenacity and work-rate are key for any team, and they'll be key again this camp.

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  Who made it, but should have been left off?

  TH: Yunus Musah is having a pretty poor season, although it's a big ask to get into that Milan midfield. If he hadn't already impressed for the national team, it would be pretty difficult to make a case for him. But for the sake of contrarianism and probably being wrong, Johnny Cardoso is a pretty puzzling one. No coach has been able to figure exactly what the Real Betis midfielder can be. Maybe Pochettino reckons he can turn him into a more workmanlike destroyer that some people figured he could be, but he hasn't showed much to suggest he's actually that guy.

  JS: Steffen likely should not be in the squad. Among others, not sure Trusty is at the USMNT level at the moment. However, injuries to Carter-Vickers and Richards are likely the reason for his inclusion.

  AL: Musah comes to mind, as he has seen limited playing time for both club and country. Aside from one standout assist for Milan this season, his overall form hasn’t been strong. While it may seem nitpicky and Pochettino likely wants to assess the midfielder in person, Musah will need to elevate his performances to secure future call-ups.

  RT: As has been said, no real complaints. At the end of the day, you're nitpicking when it comes to the final spots on a friendly roster. Just about everyone here has a reason for being here, whether that's providing veteran leadership or filling an injury gap. The call-ups make sense.

Arsenal suffered a devastating 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa at Villa Park on Saturday lunchtime, surrendering their five-point lead atop the Premier League table in dramatic fashion.

Emiliano Buendia’s stoppage-time winner completed a remarkable comeback for Unai Emery’s side, dealing a significant blow to the Gunners’ title aspirations.

Matty Cash gave Villa a deserved first-half lead with a thunderous finish at the back post in the 36th minute, capitalizing on Arsenal’s struggles to contain the hosts’ energetic pressing.

The right-back’s half-volley from a deflected cross caught David Raya off guard, sending Villa Park into raptures and rewarding the home side’s dominant opening period.

Mikel Arteta responded decisively at the interval, introducing Leandro Trossard and Viktor Gyokeres for the ineffective Eberechi Eze and Mikel Merino.

Aston Villa now want to tempt Chelsea summer signing with surprise January move

It would be a head turner.

By
Emilio Galantini

7 days ago

The Belgian substitute made an immediate impact just seven minutes into the second half, converting a rebound after Emiliano Martínez could only parry Bukayo Saka’s initial effort. Trossard’s poacher’s instinct at the back post hauled Arsenal level and appeared to shift momentum decisively in the visitors’ favour.

Arsenal dominated possession throughout the second period, creating numerous opportunities to snatch victory. Noni Madueke struck the side netting late on when well-positioned, while Declan Rice orchestrated attacks from deep despite struggling with the calf complaint that troubled him against Brentford midweek.

However, Villa refused to surrender tamely.

Emery’s tactical substitution proved inspired as Buendia replaced Matty Cash in the 85th minute, pushing the hosts into a more aggressive attacking shape with Lamare Bogarde dropping to right-back.

The Argentinian playmaker delivered the decisive intervention deep into stoppage time, reacting quickest to a loose ball inside Arsenal’s penalty area and firing home to secure all three points.

The defeat represents Arsenal’s second loss of the campaign and ends their 18-match unbeaten run across all competitions. More significantly, it allows Man City the opportunity to reduce the gap at the summit to just two points, should they defeat Sunderland later today.

For Villa, the victory extends their remarkable home form to just one defeat in their last 25 league matches at Villa Park, maintaining their challenge for Champions League qualification while sitting third in the table.

It also begs the question, are Emery’s men now genuine title contenders?

Stuart Pearce says Youri Tielemans stole the show against Arsenal

With that debate now set to rumble on, former England defender Stuart Pearce has picked out one Villa star to thank for an absolutely incredible afternoon for Emery in the Midlands.

Commenting on the game for talkSPORT, Pearce named his Player of the Match — £150,000-per-week midfielder Youri Tielemans.

The Belgian international apparently stole the show against Arsenal, with Pearce calling his display in the engine room ‘outstanding’.

Tielemans, who is out of contract in 2027, has just made a firm case to the Villa hierarchy when it comes to his long-term future.

The 28-year-old returned to full fitness fairly recently after missing six league games with a calf problem and was left out of the starting eleven for Villa’s thrilling 4-3 win at Brighton.

Emery’s decision to start Tielemans today was a masterful decision, and that performance will give the player huge confidence ahead of Villa’s trips to FC Basel and West Ham.

Ben Stokes, Ben Duckett and former team-mates react to the news of Graham Thorpe’s death

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Aug-2024

pic.twitter.com/NeaX5dDwzg

— Ben Stokes (@benstokes38) August 5, 2024