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Jules Kounde was the unlikely hero for Barcelona on Tuesday in the Champions League. Eintracht Frankfurt silenced the Camp Nou by taking a shock lead in the first half through Ansgar Knauff. but were pegged back after the break. Marcus Rashford was the catalyst for the hosts, coming off the bench and teeing up Kounde to level matters minutes after the break, and the French full-back then sealed the 2-1 win with his second of the game from a Lamine Yamal cross.

Barcelona have made a habit of conceding first this season and did so again at Camp Nou midway through the first half. Nathaniel Brown clipped a superb ball over Barca’s backline to find Knauff running through on goal, and the winger managed to fend off Alejandro Balde and fire past Joan Garcia to hand Eintracht a shock lead.

Hansi Flick's side enjoyed plenty of possession after the goal, but struggled to create clear-cut chances, meaning it was no surprise to see the German coach tweak his side at the half-time break. The ineffective Fermin Lopez was replaced by Rashford as Flick sought more cutting edge and threat in attack.

The England international made an instant impact after being played through by Pedri down the left. Rashford could have gone for goal himself, but cut the ball back to Raphinha, who could only blaze wildly over the crossbar. Minutes later and Rashford's impact really was felt by the visitors, as the Manchester United loanee's deep cross from the left was headed home by Kounde to make it 1-1.

Kounde may have been an unlikely goal-scorer for Barcelona, but the France international was celebrating again just three minutes later. This time it was Yamal who swung in a cross from deep for Kounde to head Barcelona in front. The goals seemed to drain the belief out of Eintracht as Barca went on to dominate proceedings and secure the win that keeps alive their hopes of automatic qualification from the league phase.

GOAL rates Barcelona's players from Camp Nou…

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  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Joan Garcia (7/10):

  Couldn't do too much about the goal but dealt confidently with everything else thrown at him.

  Jules Kounde (8/10):

  Still looks miles below his best form but popped up with two crucial headers to seal the win. He also becomes the first Barca player to score two headers in a Champions League match.

  Pau Cubarsi (7/10):

  Looks far happier with Martin alongside him. Put in a super challenge to deny Eintracht midway through the second half.

  Gerard Martin (6/10):

  Stretched out a leg but couldn’t block the pass to Knauff for the opening goal. Had a great effort in the first half which flew just over.

  Alejandro Balde (6/10):

  Chased back desperately with Knauff but could not prevent him opening the scoring.

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  Midfield

  Eric Garcia (6/10):

  Should have closed down Brown quicker for the opener, but otherwise put in another solid shift. Much better in the second half.

  Pedri (8/10):

  The classiest operator on the pitch by some distance and helped Barcelona take control of the game after half-time.

  Fermin Lopez (5/10):

  Looked lost on his return to the team. Struggled to connect with his team-mates and his usual goal threat was missing. No surprise to see him hooked at half-time.

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  Attack

  Lamine Yamal (7/10):

  Looked isolated in the first half and lost the ball in the build-up to Frankfurt's goal. He was better after the break and grabbed an assist for Kounde to make it 2-1, but picked up a booking which rules him out of Barca's next Champions League game.

  Robert Lewandowski (5/10):

  Scored an early goal which was ruled out for offside but otherwise offered very little. Taken off for Ferran just after the hour.

  Raphinha (6/10):

  Back in the starting XI but never really got going and was hooked early in the second half.

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  Subs & Manager

  Marcus Rashford (8/10):

  Made the difference off the bench at half-time. Was really lively throughout and bagged an assist for Kounde. Could have scored himself but saw an effort deflected over the bar.

  Ferran Torres (7/10):

  Added more energy and invention to the attack. 

  Frenkie de Jong (6/10):

  Came on to firm things up and help Barcelona see out an important win. Not afraid to attack the box.

  Andreas Christensen (N/A):

  Late sub for Yamal.

  Roony Bardghji (N/A):

  Another late sub.

  Hansi Flick (7/10):

  Made changes to his team and they simply didn't pay off as Barca struggled in the first half. Made the right decision to send on Rashford at half-time which helped spark the comeback.

Middlesbrough’s search for their new manager looks set to be over, with a significant update emerging regarding the club’s process to replace Rob Edwards.

The exit of Edwards to Wolves has hurt Boro at a key point in the season where they are sitting second in the Championship table and pushing for promotion. He sent a message to the supporters upon leaving for Molineux, wishing the club well.

“This has been one of the toughest decisions of my career. In truth, I wouldn’t have considered leaving Middlesbrough for any other club. Wolves is a special club for me. It’s where I grew as both a player and a coach, it’s still where my family calls home. It has always been my dream to come back and these opportunities do not come around too often.

“Middlesbrough is an incredible club, with a fantastic owner, staff and passionate supporters. I want to thank everyone at the club for the opportunity to lead this squad, it is a great group of players that I genuinely hope and believe will deliver success this season. I could not be prouder of the environment we built together and how it all gelled together so quickly – the players, the staff, and the fans, who drive it all. I sincerely wish everyone at Middlesbrough all the very best for the rest of the season and beyond. Rob.”

It’s now a case of Boro nailing Edwards’ successor at the Riverside Stadium, and it looks as though their new boss may have been found, following a big new claim.

Middlesbrough reach verbal agreement with Kim Hellberg

According to Fotboll Skanalen, Middlesbrough have now reached a verbal agreement with Kim Hellberg over a move to the club, seeing him as the right man to come in for Edwards.

Boro look set to swoop in from under the noses of Championship rivals Swansea City, with the club having a meeting with Hellberg’s representatives in London.

Hellberg may be something of an unknown to some Boro supporters, considering he is only 37 and hasn’t managed in Europe’s top leagues yet, but he looks like an exciting young choice.

IFK Varnamo sporting director Enes Ahmetovic, who worked with the Swede in the past, has said of him: “An incredibly skilled football coach. He spends a huge amount of time on every detail. I’m completely convinced that Hellberg will coach much bigger clubs than IFK Varnamo.”

"Impressive" manager now interested in taking Middlesbrough job after talks

Would he be the right man to replace Rob Edwards?

ByHenry Jackson Nov 16, 2025

The 4-2-3-1-playing Hellberg is something of a gamble, at a time when promotion has to be the aim for Boro, but assuming he is the choice to come in, it will be fascinating to see how he fares.

How Middlesbrough feel about Raphael Wicky as Swiss manager holds Riverside talks

A remarkable and unexpectedly bountiful domestic season has left Hasan Ali on the verge of a national team comeback, as Pakistan prepare to take on South Africa in Tests and T20Is from the end of January at home.Pakistan announce their squad for South Africa’s visit later this week, and one of the key questions is likely to revolve around strengthening an attack that has taken 20 wickets just twice in their last 13 Tests away from home. Ali is expected to be part of it, putting him in line for a first Test appearance in two years.”I didn’t watch the New Zealand games, but followed them,” he told ESPNcricinfo. “Performances obviously weren’t great and it gets you down. But I’m looking forward to hopefully returning to all formats with the national team. It’s up to the selection committee and team management if they think I can be a part of the team.”Ali’s last international was the World Cup game against India in June 2019 when he returned 1 for 84 in nine overs, the culmination of a period of poor white-ball form. Since then he has been through the wringer, with a series of injuries, to the back, ribs and groin. He returned this season and after yet another injury, he took on the captaincy of Central Punjab, and took them to the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final – they were in last place when he took over – where he played a central role in a historic tied game. A century in the chase of 356, plus five wickets, capped off an impressive individual season in which he took 43 wickets and scored runs at just under 25.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

No fast bowler took more wickets, and no fast bowler has been as impressive in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy since domestic cricket underwent its last major revamp two seasons ago, with fewer teams and batsman-friendly wickets.”When you’re out, you have to show your fitness and performances,” Ali said. “What was in my control – my fitness – I showed by bowling 260 overs [in the season], 43 wickets, runs too, played nine back-to-back four-day games, that too in Karachi with tough conditions for bowlers. I think there isn’t anything lacking in my case, the ball is in the selection committee’s court.”With his workload in mind, Ali has sat out the opening matches of Central Punjab’s one-day campaign in the Pakistan Cup, but he is expected to return. Meanwhile, the glow and regret from the Quaid-e-Azam season longers. Ali was at the non-striker’s end at the climax of the game as his new-ball partner and last man Waqas Maqsood chipped a catch to mid-on with one to win. He had asked his colleague not to panic.”When he was facing, I had a lot of belief in him because he can bat,” Ali said. “He can stick around. He took a couple of runs. I just said to him don’t panic, we’re just a run a way. All we need is a single. He couldn’t control his nerves, I guess, went for a big hit. Afterwards he cried, (he) was really disappointed. It really hit him later.”We got so close but couldn’t quite get over the line. We started off [this season] very slow as a unit. We lost our first two games. Players went off on national duty and we got players below them, and it takes some time to adjust to a bigger stage. I just clarified roles for each player.”At one stage, we had lost that final. Our main batsmen were out but what we had was that we could play with this positive mindset and see what happens. We got really close but just couldn’t win it. Obviously, there is some sense of regret after doing all that hard work as a team and then to not win it. As a team, we’re satisfied. We’ve learnt a fair bit and gained a lot of experience which will be good for us in the future.”

Worrying questions get some answers after picking up first points of the ODI World Cup

Shashank Kishore21-Oct-20237:49

Maharoof: The new-ball spell of Madushanka and Rajitha set up the win

It’s the 47th over of Netherlands’ innings. Logan van Beek, running between the wickets, is nowhere near safety and has resigned to fate. Substitute fielder Dunith Wellalage flicks the throw from cover to Chamika Karunaratne, who botches a simple run out chance at the bowler’s end. Van Beek gets to his maiden ODI half-century.Then in the penultimate over, van Beek heaves Kasun Rajitha’s slower ball to the deep midwicket. Charith Asalanka covers some ground first before throwing himself full stretch on the edge of the boundary. It was towards the shorter side and momentum could’ve taken it over, but for Asalanka’s athleticism and balance.These are just two of several instances in a game where Sri Lanka fluctuated from sloppy to the sublime. But again, if you’re in their shoes, you’d be mighty relieved at grabbing the two points any which way, not necessarily fussed about how they were earned.Sri Lanka’s campaign has thrown up far too many questions, and few answers. Against South Africa, they conceded 428. Against Pakistan, they failed to defend 344. Against Australia, they went from cruise control at 125 for 0 to crash landing: 209 all out. On Saturday in Lucknow, they were in choppy waters at 52 for 2 in the 10th over chasing 263, after losing the advantage in the bowling innings after having Netherlands at 91 for 6 at one stage.Van Beek and Sybrand Engelbrecht put up 130 for the seventh wicket to revive an innings that appeared to be stuck in second gear for a good chunk. Sri Lanka would not have felt particularly good at the break between innings but they willed themselves to victory, courtesy key performances from individuals who have elicited varied opinion.Kasun Rajitha single-handedly gave Sri Lanka the early advantage•Associated PressTake Kasun Rajitha for example. It’s hard to imagine how someone who burst onto the scene and rolled over a strong India line-up on a spicy Pune deck in a T20I in 2016, with the kind of pace, seam presentation and subtle variations in length he showed that night, hadn’t played more than 29 ODIs prior to this.Rajitha’s has been a case of frustrating injuries, poor form and being stuck in a selection mire. Yet, when he bounds in and threatens the top of off regularly like he did on Saturday, it seems he’s destined for brighter days.It’s likely he was force-fitted into an XI desperately short of options, especially in the wake of an injury to Matheesha Pathirana. After conceding 1 for 90 against South Africa and then sitting out of the next two games, he returned to deliver a top opening act: seven high-intensity overs, three wickets for 23 to walk off to a job well done.His late inswing accounted for Vikramjit Singh in his second over. His deceptive pace and skid off the pitch had Max O’Dowd chopping on. Then, Colin Ackermann, perhaps best suited to handle pace and bounce given his rich county experience and regular game time, was done in by a short ball. All told, it was a spell Sri Lanka needed, especially after the tough time they’ve had with the ball at this World Cup.Then there’s his partner in crime Dilshan Madushanka. He burst on the scene by splaying Virat Kohli’s stumps with a zinger in Dubai last year. He nearly didn’t make it here, after suffering a torn oblique muscle in August prior to the Asia Cup, but his potential was too tempting for the selectors to ignore even if his chances of being picked, forget playing, was borderline.Madushanka was among those instrumental in Sri Lanka qualifying for this tournament; he picked up eight wickets in four games at the Qualifiers in June, a tournament where he wasn’t picked, only to be summoned late to replace Dushmantha Chameera.Such are the strange ways of life that Madushanka has gone from being on the fringes of the Sri Lanka A team to one of their main bowlers in a few months. Three nights ago, he delivered a telling spell up top against Australia, eliciting comparisons with the great Chaminda Vaas. In Lucknow, it was merely a reiteration that he is quality.Much of Rajitha’s success was down to Madushanka’s control at the other end with the new ball. It also helped that Netherlands surprisingly opted to bat, not wanting to waver from their set template of putting up a score, even if conventional wisdom demanded doing the opposite.On a deck with moisture and some grass, Madushanka was effective, if not menacing, with his control. He eventually finished with 4 for 49, the strike of Engelbrecht to break a 130-run stand in the 46th over may have perhaps led to Sri Lanka chasing 20 fewer.Then there’s Sadeera Samarawickrama. Another of those maverick batters who you watch and go ‘wow’, but then do a double take when you see his career stats. For someone with that ability of picking lengths early, cutting and pulling with the kind of power he possesses, it’s rather strange he’d played just 26 ODIs since his debut in 2017.He was particularly impressive in combating Netherlands’ spin threat, ensuring he was always getting right to the pitch while driving and outside the line of the stumps while sweeping, especially against Roelof van der Merwe’s left-arm spin. His leg-side game, a result of months of work, especially in terms of being able to access the area square of the wicket, was impressive to watch. This came handy especially when the faster bowlers went short of a length after being picked off for boundaries in trying to go fuller.Samarawickrama’s bugbear has been his inability to carry on and make tall scores. On Saturday, he batted those choppy waters to take Sri Lanka home, finishing unbeaten on 91 in a chase he’d decided to take deep. This, coming on the back of what seemed a seminal hundred against Pakistan in Hyderabad two weeks ago, could well signal a new dawn.Sri Lanka will dearly hope it’s also the start of a new dawn for their World Cup campaign which may not be all that doom and gloom, especially considering their next opponents, England, are in a similar situation.

Harry Kane made the difference yet again with two late goals as England beat Albania 2-0 in their final World Cup qualifier and made history in the process. The captain broke the deadlock from close range in the 74th minute then netted a header eight minutes later to ensure Thomas Tuchel's side became the first European team to win every game in a World Cup qualification campaign without conceding a goal.

The Three Lions produced an unflattering display overall in a match which had nothing riding on it as they had secured qualification last month while Albania were already assured of a play-off spot. Dean Henderson did his part in keeping the all-important eighth consecutive clean sheet with an excellent display, especially in the second half, before Kane got the breakthrough goal in

The striker turned in a Bukayo Saka corner in the 75th minute and seven minutes later he nodded home a cross from substitute Marcus Rashford. It was far from a statement performance, but it means England head to North America as one of the teams to beat.

GOAL rates England's players from Air Albania Stadium…

• AFP
  

  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Dean Henderson (8/10):

  Put under the cosh early in the second half and dealt with it well, making an impressive stop from Hoxha before coming out of his area to make a vital tackle on Laci. His first clean sheet in a third England start and a happier occasion than his last game against Senegal.

  Jarell Quansah (6/10):

  A competent albeit unremarkable debut from the Bayer Leverkusen defender. Didn't show loads of ambition going forward although dealt well with the danger coming down his side.

  John Stones (6/10):

  Played an advanced role, frequently pushing into midfield and rotating with Wharton. He gave England extra presence going forward but it didn't help them break down Albania for much of the game.

  Dan Burn (5/10):

  Struggled at times, particularly when Albania made a good start to the second half. A display which underlined why he is a squad player more than a starter.

  Nico O'Reilly (7/10):

  A positive second start for England after making his debut on Thursday, getting forward frequently and looking hard to beat. Looks a strong contender to be the first-choice left-back at the World Cup right now.

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  Midfield

  Declan Rice (6/10):

  Far from his most memorable England display as he didn't influence the play or have his usual attacking input, and yet still did little wrong.

  Jude Bellingham (7/10):

  A lively performance which was a reminder of how important he can be for England all over the pitch, even if things didn't quite come off for him going forward.

  Adam Wharton (6/10):

  Made his long-awaited first start for England, and although he didn't do much wrong, he didn't quite live up to the hype around him or give Anderson too much to worry about.

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  Attack

  Jarrod Bowen (6/10):

  Had England's best chance of the first half when he forced Strakosha to fly across goal and turn away his shot. 

  Harry Kane (7/10):

  It was the story of much of his England career. Did very little of note over the 90 minutes but came up with the goods thanks to his sheer know-how in the penalty area and then added an impressive second with his head.

  Eberechi Eze (5/10):

  A disappointing display as a starter, not looking on the same page as Rice and fluffing his only chance when he failed to beat Strakosha from close range. Replaced by Saka in the 62nd minute.

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  Subs & Manager

  Phil Foden (6/10):

  Gave England a bit more spark in attack with his movement, albeit without having much tangible impact.

  Bukayo Saka (6/10):

  Botched one half-chance and one great opportunity after replacing Eze, but went some way to making up for it by putting in the delivery for the crucial opening goal.

  Marcus Rashford (8/10):

  An excellent impact from the bench as he energised England's left side and put in a perfect cross for Kane as well as flashing a shot just wide.

  Elliot Anderson (N/A):

  Introduced in the 75th minute and helped England win a sixth consecutive game he has participated in.

  Morgan Rogers (N/A):

  Replaced Bellingham in the 84th minute.

  Thomas Tuchel (6/10):

  Made seven changes from the Serbia game and it showed as his side had their lowest expected goals total of his tenure in the first half. The overall performance highlighted a lack of strength-in-depth, but his substitutions helped get the job done and he has his own little piece of history to hold on to no matter what happens next summer.

After fielding a group of teenagers in their Champions League clash against Ajax earlier this week, Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca is now seemingly set to hand a 15-year-old youth player his senior debut. Resting most of their first-team stars in the European clash, Maresca banked on the youth and they did not disappoint the coach as the Blues registered a thumping 5-1 win over the Dutch giants.

The new kid on the block

Per The Sun, 15-year-old Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli is being considered for his Stamford Bridge debut by manager Maresca. The wonderkid is widely considered as the best player in the world in his age category and has already attracted interest from several top clubs across Europe. So high is the hype around Nicoll-Jazuli that he is being tipped to become the next Jude Bellingham because of the striking similarities between the Real Madrid star and the youngster's playing style.

The report adds that Chelsea head coach Maresca is known to be an admirer of the youngster and the Italian recently invited the player to train with the first team ahead of their Champions League fixture against Ajax. Nicoll-Jazuli does not turn 16 until January but Maresca is already planning to hand him his senior debut in the near future. The midfielder has already represented England at the U-17 level, although he is just 15 at the moment.  

AdvertisementGetty Images Sport'He will be the next big thing'

Hyping the young Blue, a source told : "You have to keep an eye on Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli, he will be the next big thing to come out of Cobham and plays like Jude Bellingham. You only have to see him play once to realise he’s a different kind of talent. The manager is so impressed with him that he plans to hand him his first-team debut soon."

Chelsea youth created Champions League history

The Blues, like many other Premier League clubs, are amid a hectic fixture crunch which prompted Maresca to rest a host of first team stars and field a bunch of young players to take on Ajax in the Champions League this week. The youngsters repaid the faith shown by their manager as the English giants marched to a thumping 5-1 over the Eredivisie side. In the process, Chelsea also scripted a Champions League record as they became the first team ever in the competition to have three different teenagers – Marc Guiu (19), Estevao Willian (18), and Tyrique George (19) – on the scoresheet in the same match. 

The head coach also handed a European debut to Reggie Walsh, who, at just 17, became the youngest player in Chelsea’s Champions League history and the second youngest Englishman to ever play in the competition after Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere. Overall, ten Chelsea players aged 21 or younger featured in the match, a staggering testament to the club’s youth-driven strategy.

After the game, Maresca had heaped praise on his young guns, as he said: "It's the strategy of the club. We have so many young players. I think already last season we were the youngest squad in the history of the Premier League, so this season we continue in the same way. I work with them every day, I know what they can do. I know also that we're going to have moments where we struggle a little bit more, for sure. But I think the good thing about them is that they want to learn, they want to improve and I think it's good."

Getty Images SportNicoll-Jazuli better than Arsenal's Dowman?

Arsenal recently proved that age is just a number as Mikel Arteta handed their wonderkid Max Dowman his senior debut against Leeds United in the Premier League before he turned 16. The Sun report further adds that the Blues consider Nicoll-Jazuli even more talented than Dowman. The youngster's passing is crisp, his vision is outstanding and his eye for the goal makes him a complete package. The teenager recently became the youngest Chelsea player to start in a UEFA Youth League match.

Maresca's men will be back in action on Saturday as they host Sunderland in a crucial Premier League fixture.

Who was sold to whom, and who didn’t get a bid?

Srinidhi Ramanujam23-Dec-2022

2023 IPL auction sold playersShakib Al Hasan (Base price INR 1.5 crore) sold to KKR for INR 1.5 crore (USD 150,000)Joe Root (Base price INR 1 crore) sold to Rajasthan Royals for INR 1 crore (USD 121,000)Abdul Basith sold to Rajasthan Royals for INR 20 lakh (USD 24,000)Raghav Goyal (Base price INR 20 lakh) sold to Mumbai Indians for INR 20 lakh (USD 24,000)Yudhvir Singh (Base price INR 20 lakh) sold to LSG for INR 20 lakh (USD 24,000)Naveen-Ul-Haq (Base price INR 50 lakh) sold to LSG for INR 50 lakh (USD 60,000)Akash Vasisht (Base price INR 20 lakh) sold to Rajasthan Royals for INR 20 lakh (USD 24,000)Mandeep Singh (Base price INR 50 lakh) sold to KKR for INR 50 lakh (USD 60,000)M Ashwin (Base price INR 20 lakh) sold to Rajasthan Royals for INR 20 lakh (USD 24,000)KM Asif (Base price INR 30 lakh) sold to Rajasthan Royals for INR 30 lakh(USD 36,000) Anmolpreet Singh (Base price INR 20 lakh) sold to SRH for INR 20 lakh (USD 24,000)Adam Zampa (Base price INR 1.5 crore) sold to INR Rajasthan Royals for INR 1.5 crore (USD 182,000)Akeal Hosein (Base price INR 1 crore) sold to SRH for INR 1 crore (USD 121,000)Litton Das (Base price INR 50 lakh) sold to KKR for INR 50 lakh (USD 60,000)Rilee Rossouw (Base price INR 2 crore) sold to Delhi Capitals for INR 4.6 crore (USD 560,000)Shivam Singh (Base price INR 20 lakh) sold to Punjab Kings for INR 20 lakh (USD 24,000)Bhagath Varma (Base price INR 20 lakh) sold to CSK for INR 20 lakh (USD 24,000)Nehal Wadhera (Base price INR 20 lakh) sold to Mumbai Indians for INR 20 lakh (USD 24,000)Mohit Rathee (Base price INR 20 lakh) sold to Punjab Kings for INR 20 lakh (USD 24,000)Ajay Mandal (Base price INR 20 lakh) sold to CSK for INR 20 lakh (USD 24,000)Kulwant Khejroliya (Base price INR 20 lakh) sold to KKR for INR 20 lakh (USD 24,0000)Sonu Yadav (Base price INR 20 lakh) sold to RCB for INR 20 lakh (USD 24,000)Kunal Rathore (Base price INR 20 lakh) sold to RR for INR 20 lakh (USD 24,000)Avinash Singh (Base price INR 20 lakh) sold to RCB for INR 60 lakh (USD 73,000)Nitish Kumar Reddy (Base price INR 20 lakh) sold to SRH for INR 20 lakh (USD 24,000)David Wiese (Base price INR 20 lakh) sold to KKR for INR 1 crore (USD 121,000)Shams Mulani (Base price INR 20 lakh) sold to Mumbai Indians for INR 20 lakh (24,000)Swapnil Singh (Base price INR 20 lakh) sold to LSG for INR 20 lakh (24,000)Mohit Sharma (Base price INR 50 lakh) sold to Gujarat Titans for INR 50 lakh (USD 60,000)Josh Little (Base price INR 50 lakh) sold to Gujarat Titans for INR 4.4 crore (USD 536,000)Suyash Sharma (Base price INR 20 lakh) sold to KKR for INR 20 lakh (USD 24,000)Rajan Kumar (Base price INR 20 lakh) sold to RCB for INR 70 lakh (USD 85,000)Vidwath Kaverappa (Base price INR 20 lakh) sold to Punjab Kings for INR 20 lakh (USD 24,000)Vishnu Vinod (Base price INR 20 lakh) sold to Mumbai Indians for INR 20 lakh (USD 24,000)Urvil Patel (Base price INR 20 lakh) sold to Gujarat Titans for INR 20 lakh (USD 24,000)Donovan Ferreira (Base price INR 20 lakh) sold to Rajasthan Royals for INR 50 lakh (USD 60,000)Prerak Mankad (Base price INR 20 lakh) sold to LSG for INR 20 lakh (USD 24,000)Duan Jansen (Base price INR 20 lakh) sold to Mumbai Indians for INR 20 lakh (USD 24,000) Mayank Dagar (Base price INR 20 lakh) sold to SRH for INR 1.8 crore (USD 219,000) Manoj Bhandage (Base price INR 20 lakh) sold to RCB for INR 20 lakh (USD 24,000)Harpreet Bhatia (Base price INR 20 lakh) sold to Punjab Kings for INR 40 lakh (USD 48,000)Amit Mishra (Base price INR 50 lakh) sold to LSG for INR 50 lakh (USD 60,000)Piyush Chawla (Base price INR 50 lakh) sold to Mumbai Indians for INR 50 lakh (USD 60,000)Kylie Jamieson (Base price INR 1 crore) sold to CSK for INR 1 crore (USD 121,000)Daniel Sams (Base price INR 75 lakh) sold to LSG for INR 75 lakh (USD 91,000)Romario Shepherd (Base price INR 50 lakh) sold to LSG for INR 50 lakh (USD 60,000)Will Jacks (Base price INR 1.5 crore) sold to RCB for INR 3.2 crore (USD 390,000)Manish Pandey (Base price INR 1 crore) sold to Delhi Capitals for INR 2.4 crore (USD 292,000)Himanshu Sharma (Base price INR 20 lakh) sold to RCB for INR 20 lakh (USD 24,000)Mukesh Kumar (Base price INR 20 lakh) sold to Delhi Capitals for INR 5.5 crore (USD 670,000)Shivam Mavi (Base price INR 40 lakh) sold to Gujarat Titans for INR 6 crore (USD 731,000) sinYash Thakur (Base price INR 20 lakh) sold to LSG for INR 45 lakh (USD 54,000)Vaibhav Arora (Base price INR 20 lakh) sold to KKR for INR 60 lakh (USD 73,000)Upendra Yadav (Base price INR 20 lakh) sold to SRH for INR 25 lakh (USD 30,000)KS Bharat (Base price INR 20 lakh) sold to Gujarat Titans for INR 1.2 crore (USD 146,000)N Jagadeesan (Base price INR 20 lakh) sold to KKR for INR 90 lakh (USD 109,000)Nishant Sindhu (Base price INR 20 lakh) sold to CSK for INR 60 lakh (USD 73,000)Sanvir Singh (Base price INR 20 lakh) sold to SRH for INR 20 lakh (USD 24,000)Samarth Vyas (Base price INR 20 lakh) sold to SRH for INR 20 lakh (USD 24,000)Vivrant Sharma (Base price INR 20 lakh) sold to SRH for INR 2.6 crore (USD 317,000)Shaik Rasheed (Base price INR 20 lakh) sold to CSK for INR 20 lakh (USD 24,000) Mayank Markande (Base price INR 50 lakh) sold to SRH for INR 50 lakh (USD 60,000)Adil Rashid (Base price INR 2 crore) sold to SRH for INR 2 crore (USD 243,000) Ishant Sharma (Base price INR 50 lakh) sold to Delhi Capitals for INR 50 lakh (USD 60,000)Jhye Richardson (Base price INR 1.5 crore) sold to Mumbai Indians for INR 1.5 crore (USD 182,000)Jaydev Unadkat (Base price INR 50 lakh) sold to LSG for INR 50 lakh (USD 60,000)Reece Topley (Base price INR 75 lakh) sold to RCB for INR 1.9 crore (USD 231,000)Phil Salt (Base price INR 2 crore) sold to Delhi Capitals for INR 2 crore (USD 243,000)Heinrich Klaasen (Base price INR 1 crore) sold to SRH for INR 5.25 crore (USD 640,000)Nicholas Pooran (Base price INR 2 crore) sold to LSG for INR 16 crore (USD 1,951,000)Ben Stokes (Base price INR 2 crore) sold to CSK for INR 16.25 crore (USD 1,981,000)Cameron Green (Base price INR 2 crore) sold to Mumbai Indians for INR 17.5 crore (USD 2,134,000)Jason Holder (Base price INR 2 crore) sold to Rajasthan Royals for INR 5.75 crore (USD 701,000)Sikandar Raza (Base price INR 50 lakh) sold to Punjab Kings for INR 50 lakh (USD 60,000)Odean Smith (Base price INR 50 lakh) sold to Gujarat Titans for INR 50 lakh (USD 60,000)Sam Curran (Base price INR 2 crore) sold to Punjab Kings for INR 18.5 crore (USD 2,256,000)Ajinkya Rahane (Base price INR 50 lakh) sold to CSK for INR 50 lakh (USD 60,000)Mayank Agarwal (Base price INR 1 crore) sold to SRH for INR 8.25 crore (USD 1,006,000)Harry Brook (Base price INR 1.5 crore) sold to SRH for INR 13.25 crore (USD 1,615,000)Kane Williamson (Base price INR 2 crore) sold to Gujarat Titans for INR 2 crore (USD 243,000)2023 IPL auction unsold playersEkant Sen (Base price INR 20 lakh)Prashant Chopra (Base price INR 20 lakh)Luke Wood (Base price INR 1 crore)Johnson Charles (Base price INR 50 lakh)Dilshan Madushanka (Base price INR 50 lakh)Tom Curran (Base price INR 75 lakh)Rehan Ahmed (Base price INR 50 lakh)G Ajitesh (Base price INR 20 lakh)Sanjay Yadav (Base price INR 20 lakh) Sumeet Verma (Base price INR 20 lakh)Himanshu Bisht (Base price INR 20 lakh)Shubhang Hegde (Base price INR 20 lakh)Deepesh Nailwal (Base price INR 20 lakh)Trilok Nag (Base price INR 20 lakh)Shubham Kapse (Base price INR 20 lakh)Utkarsh Singh (Base price INR 20 lakh)Jitendar Pal (Base price INR 20 lakh)B Surya (Base price INR 20 lakh)R Sanjay (Base price INR 20 lakh)Priyank Panchal (Base price INR 20 lakh)Varun Aaron (Base price INR 50 lakh)Richard Gleeson (Base price INR 50 lakh)Jamie Overton (Base price INR 2 crore)Yuvraj Chudasama (Base price INR 20 lakh)Tejas Baroka (Base price INR 20 lakh)Paul van Meekeren (Base price INR 20 lakh)Akash Singh (Base price INR 20 lakh)Karan Shinde (Base price INR 20 lakh)B Indrajith (Base price INR 20 lakh)J Suchith (Base price INR 20 lakh)Suryansh Shedge (Base price INR 20 lakh)Wayne Parnell (Base price INR 75 lakh)Will Smeed (Base price INR 40 lakh)Blessing Muzarabani (Base price INR 50 lakh)Dushmanth Chameera (Base price INR 50 lakh)Taskin Ahmed (Base price INR 50 lakh)Sandeep Sharma (Base price INR 50 lakh)Riley Meredith (Base price INR 1.5 crore)Dasun Shanaka (Base price INR 50 lakh)Jimmy Neesham (Base price INR 2 crore)Mohammad Nabi (Base price INR 1 crore)Daryl Mitchell (Base price INR 1 crore)Dawid Malan (Base price INR 1.5 crore)Travis Head (Base price INR 2 crore)Sherfane Rutherford (Base price INR 1.5 crore) Rassie van der Dussen (Base price INR 2 crore)Paul Stirling (Base price INR 50 lakh)S Midhun (Base price INR 20 lakh)Shreyas Gopal (Base price INR 20 lakh)Izharulhaq Naveed (Base price INR 20 lakh)Chintal Gandhi (Base price INR 20 lakh)Lance Morris (Base price INR 30 lakh)Mujtaba Yousuf (Base price INR 20 lakh)Mohammed Azharuddeen (Base price INR 20 lakh)Dinesh Bana (Base price INR 20 lakh)Sumit Kumar (Base price INR 20 lakh)Shashank Singh (Base price INR 20 lakh)Abhimanyu Easwaran (Base price INR 20 lakh)Corbin Bosch (Base price INR 20 lakh)Saurabh Kumar (Base price INR 20 lakh)Priyam Garg (Base price INR 20 lakh)Himmat Singh (Base price INR 20 lakh)Rohan Kunnummal (Base price INR 20 lakh)Shubham Khajuria (Base price INR 20 lakh)LR Chethan (Base price INR 20 lakh)Mujeeb Ur Rahman (Base price INR 1 crore)Tabraiz Shamsi (Base price INR 1 crore)Kusal Mendis (Base price INR 50 lakh)Tom Banton (Base price INR 2 crore)Chris Jordan (Base price INR 2 crore)Adam Milne (Base price INR 2 crore)

O’Neill took 5 for 26 while Boland claimed three as Victoria claimed a sizeable lead, but Liam Hatcher continued his fine game

Alex Malcolm16-Oct-2025Fergus O’Neill continued to push his case to be part of an extended Ashes squad with yet another five-wicket haul while Scott Boland bagged three to hand Victoria an important lead in their Sheffield Shield clash with New South Wales at the Junction Oval.After the pair had scythed through the NSW top-order on the opening night, including Boland bagging Sam Konstas for a duck, O’Neill continued the carnage on the second day picking up 5 for 26 while Boland claimed 3 for 59 as NSW were bowled out for just 163.Related

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It handed Victoria a first innings lead of 77 which they pushed to 149 for the loss of only one wicket into the evening session but then suffered a late collapse under gloomy skies, losing 4 for 21 before bad light stopped play with 45 minutes left. Liam Hatcher claimed another three wickets to go with his five on day one.At the start of the day Matthew Gilkes and nightwatcher Ryan Hadley provided stubborn resistance in the first hour but when O’Neill replaced Boland from the northern end he showcased why he is the reigning Sheffield Shield player of the year. After a close shout for caught behind he pinned Hadley lbw for 5 off 54 balls with a delivery that jagged sharply in off the seam.O’Neill could have had Ollie Davies out three times after he was dropped twice at cover by Harry Dixon. But he did not survive his third chance in 15 balls when he edged another probing delivery to Peter Handscomb at second slip.Gilkes had fought harder than any other NSW batter to reach 41 off 98 deliveries before becoming O’Neill’s fifth scalp. O’Neill angled in from around the wicket with the keeper up to the stumps to prevent Gilkes from batting outside his crease to negate the impeccable length. Gilkes edged to Will Sutherland at first slip to hand O’Neill his eighth five-wicket haul in first-class cricket and bring his bowling average back under 21.Boland was more expensive than usual when he returned for his second spell of the day with Will Salzmann and Jack Edwards playing positively. After coming together at 96 for 6 they raced to a near run-a-ball 62-run stand. Boland looked visibly frustrated as they drove him on the up without much fear on a surface that had offered plenty of sideways movement.Salzmann finally paid a price on 33 when he didn’t offer a shot, trying to leave a good length delivery from Boland that nipped back sharply to clip the off bail.Edwards then ran out of partners to be left stranded on 33, as the last three batters, including injury substitute Charlie Stobo, fell for ducks with Boland claiming one of them while Mitchell Perry picked up the other two.Victoria were then cruising at 72 for 1, with a lead of 149, as Campbell Kellaway and Marcus Harris took control after the early loss of Dixon despite dark clouds lingering over Junction Oval for most of the afternoon.Kellaway played impressively to reach 47 while Harris rode his luck having been dropped by Gilkes off Nathan Lyon before tea. But his luck ran out on 20 off 80 balls when he cut Hatcher straight to backward point. Kellaway chopped Hatcher on not long after, three shy of a deserved fifty, before Ollie Peake was cleaned bowled through the gate two balls later attempting a loose flat-footed drive on the up.The umpires checked the light but allowed play to continue in the gloom. Handscomb then gloved Hadley to Gilkes attempting a pull shot. Three balls later the umpires sent the players off for bad light with Victoria only 170 in front with just five wickets in hand.

Nottingham Forest have made a frustrating start to life under Ange Postecoglou, albeit they will feel hard done by after a controversial defeat to Sunderland on Saturday evening.

Nottingham Forest lose out in tight contest with Sunderland

Balancing commitments domestically and in the Europa League, the Tricky Trees found themselves on the end of a narrow loss to Sunderland at the City Ground on Saturday courtesy of Omar Alderete’s first-half winner.

Admittedly, Nottingham Forest were the dominant side against the Black Cats and created far more on the day. However, Postecoglou has been left with plenty to ponder after making it five games without a win since taking charge.

Hovering just above the relegation slots in the Premier League, the Australian boss made it clear that his side are on the right trajectory despite losing out on a frustrating day in the East Midlands.

He told BBC Sport: “It was one of those evenings where we should’ve got the outcome we wanted. We had enough chances to certainly win the game.

“We conceded a really poor goal, albeit from a poor decision from the official, but after that we had enough chances to win the game. We are in a cycle at the moment where we are getting every outcome out of the game except the win – and that is the most important thing.”

While Nottingham Forest are producing encouraging signs, football is ultimately about winning and supporters will feel that points are an infinitely better outcome than performance, albeit the latter may suggest their long-term future under Postecoglou is looking bright.

Even with that in mind, it would be remiss not to delve into some of the refereeing controversies on show at the City Ground, something that individuals within their camp feel contributed to their defeat.

Neco Williams fumes at officials as Sunderland defeat Nottingham Forest

Speaking after the match on Sky Sports, Neco Williams made it clear that he feels Sunderland’s goal should’ve been ruled out for two reasons, claiming the Black Cats were awarded an unjust free-kick and that he was fouled in the build-up to Alderete’s decisive effort.

The £65,000-a-week full-back also made clear that he has ‘never seen’ such a decision made to award a free-kick during his career, indicating how furious he was at the controversial indicent.

He stated, cited via BBC Sport: “It’s a tough one to take. It was a game where we just didn’t finish off our chances. We created many chances but just couldn’t put it to bed.

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“We should have defended the free-kick better but, at the same time, I’ve never seen a referee give one of those free-kicks before in all my time of playing football.

“There was contact, so he got it wrong, and for the goal I was held back. He had two arms around my waist and that played a key factor in their goal. It is two poor decisions, especially by the referee and then the people on VAR.”

In truth, the Welsh international may have a point as he was visibly tugged back in an attempt to stop the ball, albeit supporters will never know if he would’ve covered the ground needed to intercept the situation at hand.

Either way, Nottingham Forest will rue missing a whole host of missed chances, which is something they will hope to use as fuel for their upcoming Europa League encounter against FC Midtjylland on Thursday.

Germany legend Lothar Matthaus has praised Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany for showing the courage to bench stars Harry Kane, Michael Olise and Luis Diaz in Bayern Munich’s 3-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen. The World Cup winner believes Kompany’s rotation policy has not only helped manage the players’ workload but also shown his trust in the entire squad, keeping morale high.

Bayern stroll to victory without Kane or Olise

Kompany made seven changes to his starting lineup from the win against Koln as Bayern cruised to a 3-0 Bundesliga victory over Leverkusen on Saturday. The Bayern manager opted to rest key players such as Kane, Diaz and Olise, giving several squad members the opportunity to impress. Nicolas Jackson, Serge Gnabry and Tom Bischoff were among those who came into the starting XI, and all three played crucial roles in Bayern’s dominant performance.

The changes paid off handsomely as Bayern maintained their perfect start to the season. Gnabry opened the scoring with a composed finish following a swift counter-attack, before Jackson doubled the lead with a well-timed header between two defenders. The victory was sealed when Raphael Guerreiro’s dangerous cross was deflected into his own net by Leverkusen defender Loic Bade. 

At his post-match press conference, Kompany said he felt the game against Leverkusen was the ideal moment to rotate the squad, given that Bayern face Paris Saint-Germain in a crucial Champions League fixture on Tuesday. “Of course we’re always better when Harry plays and is in top form," he said. "But today it felt like the other guys were also ready – and now we have a rested Harry. Everyone always asks me: When does Harry get a break? When does Lucho [Diaz] get a break? Today just felt like the ideal moment.

“Many thought something could go wrong today. The opponent probably thought that too. But for me, the important thing was to attack it with fire. It’s sometimes dangerous, but at some point, you have to do it, otherwise you don’t need to build a squad.”

The courage to make these changes was lauded by former Germany midfielder Matthaus, who applauded Kompany for the bravery he showed.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportMatthaus praises Kompany's selections

In his column for , Matthaus praised the courage shown by Kompany to rest his star players and show faith in the rest of the squad to get the job done. He wrote: "Kompany showed courage. Kane, Diaz and Olise might have liked to play from the start, but it's also about the atmosphere in the team and the trust that the manager shows in the other players."

He added that rotating the squad not only helps with workload management but also boosts team morale, as Kompany chose to play the reserve players against a strong Leverkusen side. "After the exhausting cup match in Koln, the changes to the starting line-up were important, and not just for managing fatigue.

"He showed his trust in them by playing them against a Leverkusen side that had recently been in good form, rather than against a relegation candidate."

Recipe for Bayern's success

Bayern have made a perfect start to the season, winning all 15 matches across the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal, DFL-Supercup, and Champions League. Their flawless form has led Koln coach Lukas Kwasniok to label them strong contenders for the treble. Their success can be attributed to manager Kompany, who has introduced a tactical system built on perseverance and sacrifice. The approach has brought the best out of his squad, particularly Kane and Konrad Laimer, who was recently labelled "world-class" by Austria teammate David Alaba.

Matthaus believes that continuing the winning streak is entirely up to the players themselves, noting that their recipe for success has been hard work, speed, and intensity.

"It is entirely up to Bayern themselves to extend their winning streak. They are not arrogant, but remain humble. Their work rate is outstanding," he added.

“Everything is executed by every player in every position at top speed and with maximum intensity.“

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Getty Images SportBayern face big test against PSG

Kompany and Bayern will look to make it 16 wins in 16 games when they face PSG in the group stage of the Champions League on Tuesday. Kompany will hope that the rest given to his three star players will provide them with renewed energy to help Bayern secure a win over PSG.