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Corinthians e Cruzeiro se enfrentam neste domingo (14) para definir o primeiro finalista da Copa do Brasil. Além de manter vivo o sonho do último título em disputa na temporada, o confronto coloca em avaliação dois trabalhos distintos, que poderão ser celebrados ou questionados conforme o resultado.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasCorinthiansHistórico de Dorival na Copa do Brasil é trunfo do Corinthians rumo à finalCorinthians13/12/2025

+ Corinthians x Cruzeiro: o retrospecto em defesas de pênaltis de Cássio e Hugo Souza

De um lado, o Corinthians, campeão estadual sobre o maior rival, mas que conviveu com turbulências durante a campanha no Brasileirão e acabou na metade inferior da tabela. Do outro, um Cruzeiro que rivalizou com duas das principais potências do país no torneio nacional, mas ainda não levantou taças.

Os paulistas têm vantagem mínima após a vitória na partida de ida, fora de casa, e decidem a eliminatória na Neo Química Arena, que anunciou ingressos esgotados para a semifinal. Ainda assim, dependem do título para disputar a próxima edição da Libertadores, enquanto os mineiros já têm vaga assegurada na fase de grupos.

continua após a publicidadeEquipes buscam evitar crise no fim da temporada

O Corinthians chega para a partida de volta com o objetivo de manter vivo o sonho do segundo título na temporada e afastar a sequência negativa nesta reta final do ano, período em que o clube caiu diversas posições na tabela do Campeonato Brasileiro.

Além da vaga na Libertadores, a conquista garantiria ao Corinthians uma premiação milionária, considerada essencial para o clube, que enfrenta problemas financeiros recentes.

continua após a publicidade

Já a equipe comandada por Leonardo Jardim busca evitar uma temporada sem títulos e encerrar o ano em alta, após eliminações precoces na Copa Sul-Americana, ainda na fase de grupos, e no Campeonato Mineiro.

O campeão da Copa do Brasil irá embolsar R$ 77,175 milhões, enquanto o vice-campeão do torneio ficará com aproximadamente R$ 33 milhões.

➡️ Tudo sobre o Timão agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso novo canal Lance! Corinthians

Eliminatória entre Corinthians e Cruzeiro

O Corinthians venceu o confronto de ida por 1 a 0, no Mineirão, em partida disputada na última quarta-feira (10). O gol alvinegro foi marcado pelo atacante Memphis Depay, que finalizou livre após cruzamento de Yuri Alberto, ainda na primeira etapa.

O jogo de volta acontece neste domingo (14), na Neo Química Arena, onde o Corinthians joga por um empate para chegar à decisão. O vencedor da eliminatória enfrentará o ganhador do duelo entre Vasco e Fluminense, que se enfrentam no mesmo dia, no Maracanã.

Tudo sobre

Copa do BrasilCorinthiansCruzeiro

Mexico have officially confirmed upcoming friendlies against Portugal and Belgium as part of their preparations for the 2026 World Cup. The match against the Portuguese side is set for March 28 at the newly renovated Estadio Banorte (Azteca), while the clash with Belgium will take place on March 31 at Soldier Field in Chicago.

Getty Images SportRumors are over: Portugal and CR7 set to reopen the Azteca

Through an official press release, Mexico confirmed what had been anticipated for weeks: a marquee friendly against Portugal in Mexico City, followed by a matchup with Belgium, which was finally locked in for Chicago. Both opponents are currently ranked in FIFA’s Top 10 and will serve as Mexico’s final two tests before kicking off their 2026 World Cup campaign.

“The Sporting Directorate of the Mexico National Team confirms Portugal and Belgium – two national teams positioned within the FIFA Top 10 ranking – as the opponents for the March 2026 FIFA window,” the statement announced.

AdvertisementAFPRonaldo set for first match on Mexican soil

The news has generated major excitement among fans, particularly with the possibility of Ronaldo playing his first-ever match on Mexican soil, should he be called up for the fixture. The event will carry additional significance, as it will be the national team’s debut at Estadio Banorte following its extensive renovation.

Located in Santa Úrsula, the venue is undergoing a full modernization ahead of the World Cup, where it will become the first stadium in history to host three tournament openers (1970, 1986 and 2026).

Getty Images SportBelgium await Mexico in Chicago

Three days later, Mexico will face Thibaut Courtois, Kevin De Bruyne and company when they take on Belgium at Chicago’s Soldier Field. The two nations have met seven times, with Mexico holding a slight edge in the all-time series: three wins, two draws, and two losses. Their most recent matchup came in 2017.

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Getty Images SportWhat comes next?

In addition to these high-profile matches, Mexico are expected to play a series of friendlies in February against Central American clubs. Only Liga MX players will be called up, as it is not an official FIFA window. These games are still pending confirmation.

Ruben Amorim’s tenure at Manchester United has finally shown glimpses of lift off over the last couple of weeks, with the first-team squad now adapting to the demands of his 3-4-2-1 system.

Ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, his future at Old Trafford was massively up in the air, especially after only being able to register a 15th-place finish in the Premier League last season.

However, he maintained the backing of the board, with such a decision now proving to be the right one, especially if their recent run of form is anything to go by.

The Red Devils remain unbeaten in each of their last five outings, winning three in a row in the process, leading to the 40-year-old claiming the division’s Manager of the Month award.

However, one player who joined the club during the off-season has somewhat struggled to make the desired impact in recent weeks, leading to question marks around his future.

What former Man Utd players have made of Sesko’s start at the club

Benjamin Sesko joined United in a £74m transfer from RB Leipzig, with the fanbase having real expectations on the centre-forward to change their fortunes in the final third.

The Slovenian has already featured in 11 league outings to date, but has only managed to find the net twice, failing to score in any of the last four matches in the Premier League.

Given his lack of goals, questions have been asked about the 22-year-old’s role at Old Trafford, with many former players voicing their concern over his struggles in England.

Former right-back and now pundit, Gary Neville, spoke about Sesko early this month and gave an honest review on the youngster’s start to life at the club.

The 50-year-old stated: “The jury is out. He’s well off it compared to the other summer signings Manchester United made up front, like Cunha and Mbeumo.

“He looks awkward. He had a couple of good opportunities against Forest, but his touch wasn’t quite right. For £80 million, you can say he’s young and settling in, but you still want to see a bit more.”

He wasn’t the only former Red Devils first-team member to speak out on the striker’s lack of form at present, with Peter Schmeichel also questioning the big-money transfer.

The former goalkeeper said: “You spend £70 million-plus on Sesko, when we don’t have the number six we should have, and there’s the goalkeeping position as well.

“Why did we bring someone in that we didn’t need? Because the head of recruitment [Christopher Vivell] comes from Leipzig and he’s got to make a mark.”

However, Wes Brown has jumped to Sesko’s defence in the last couple of weeks, with the Englishman offering a more open-minded view on his early months in Manchester.

He claimed that: “The quality in wide areas is very good now, so this season can be a positive one for Manchester United. I think Sesko has all the attributes to score plenty of goals for Manchester United. He is mobile, good in the air and with his feet, so it all bodes really well for the club.”

If he is to reach the heights many anticipated earlier this summer, he will definitely need time to adapt to the demands of the Premier League, with Amorim needing to show patience in the talisman.

The United star who’s becoming INEOS’ worst signing

Despite Sesko needing time to prove his worth at United, the same can’t be said about numerous other talents who were brought to the club by INEOS in recent years.

Manuel Ugarte was signed for a reported £50m from PSG last summer, but his move to Old Trafford has fallen way below the expectations many had upon his arrival.

The Uruguayan was seen as the perfect ball-winning option at the heart of the side, but he’s struggled to cement his place in the starting eleven under Amorim.

It’s evident that the manager currently doesn’t trust the 24-year-old at present, with the boss currently selecting 33-year-old Casemiro ahead of him in the pecking order.

Given his tally of just two starts in the league throughout 2025/26, it would be a surprise to no one if he was sold in January, with the club needing to recoup as much of their investment as possible.

However, he might not be alone in that aspect, with forward Joshua Zirkzee another player who has struggled with the expectations after his own move 18 months ago.

INEOS forked out a reported £36m for his signature last summer, but the Dutchman has massively struggled to adapt to life in the Premier League.

The 24-year-old featured in 49 matches across all competitions last season, but was only able to register a measly tally of seven goals – an average of one goal every seven games.

This season has been a new low for the Dutchman, with the attacker only making four appearances in the league under Amorim – none of which have been from a starting position.

During those outings, he’s only featured for a combined total of 82 minutes, with the likes of Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha ahead of him in the pecking order.

His struggles may be down to his own confusion, with Zirkzee even stating that he sees himself as a 9.5, often liking to drop deeper and affect the player – with the manager’s system just not suiting his playstyle.

Games played

32

Goals & assists

4

Pass accuracy

72%

Shots taken

1.8

Chances created

0.8

Dribble success

38%

Aerials won

29%

Times dispossessed

2.8

His performances have unfortunately fallen way below what many expected last summer, leading to one analyst dubbing him as “terrible” after being hooked before half time against Newcastle United.

Given his lack of impact, there’s no denying that his move to Old Trafford has been a failure, with the board desperately needing to offload him in the upcoming window.

Whilst Sesko has had his own doubters in recent months, Zirkzee is on another level in terms of failures at the club – potentially going down as one of their worst dealings in the last couple of years.

Their own Anderson: Man Utd to make £53m bid to sign "world-class" CM

Manchester United are set to make a January move for another top-level central midfielder.

ByEthan Lamb Nov 13, 2025

Between breakout performances and returning stars making noise, the U.S. leave November camp with momentum – and something close to genuine belief. GOAL’s writers unpack the key storylines that emerged.

Right, then – we’ve got some results. And they’re good ones, too. The USMNT have taken plenty of heat – and rightly so – for leaning too much on the good-vibes narrative. The message has long been that winning doesn’t matter all that much. That may or may not be true, but this is America, and American fans like it when their teams win.

And how about two of them? Including one emphatic battering of a top-tier team? The U.S. played two, won two, scored seven, and conceded two. They brought some old faces back into the fray and got some real promise out of new ones, too. And perhaps most importantly, there's real hope where there was once total apathy. Suddenly, we're all allowed to be excited, and that's a good thing.

But zoom out for a second, and what are the takeaways here? Sure, Gio Reyna impressed, but what does that actually mean? Is Alex Freeman good enough to, you know, be any good long term? And, on the slightly negative side, who showed that they might not be good enough for the big time? GOAL U.S. writers break it all down in another edition of… . 

GettyBiggest takeaway from the thrashing of Uruguay?

Tom Hindle: That Sebastian Berhalter can BALL. There will be a lot of chat about the depth of the player pool – and rightfully so. But the center midfield options are plentiful here, and Berhalter turned in a fine audition for a spot.   

Ryan Tolmich: The player pool is deeper than many would think. After the game, Pochettino was upset by the idea of “regular” players, and he’s right; this team is much more than a few names now. There are now so many players who will believe that they won’t just make the World Cup, but make a difference once there, and that’s a pretty damn good thing considering where this team was just a few months ago.

AdvertisementImagnIs this Mauricio Pochettino's best result?

TH: By a country mile, with the minute caveat that Uruguay were really rather bad on the day. 

RT: Certainly, and not just because of the scoreline. This was a team playing in perfect harmony with fight, energy and intention. Despite making wholesale changes, the standards didn’t drop at all. It’s a testament to the work the staff has put in to get everyone humming and on the same page.

GettyWho stood out over the course of the camp?

TH: Gio Reyna. Cooked from the start against Paraguay, balled in the second half against Uruguay. A proper player.

RT: Alex Freeman is the easy answer, and he’s also the right answer. He’s become so much more confident over the last few months, and that confidence resulted in two goals. That won’t be the norm, but it shows how dangerous he is as an attacking weapon. He's gotten much better defensively, too, so the sky seems to be the limit.

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AFPWho missed their shot to impress?

TH: Brenden Aaronson. He's clearly a talented footballer, and could really do with showing a bit more when he puts his national team kit on. This was another near miss. 

RT: No one really? If you’re nitpicking, you could say that Ricardo Pepi will really wish he buried that shot against Paraguay to put some pressure on Balogun, but at the moment, he just isn’t fully fit. Generally, though, everyone performed well enough to keep themselves in the mix.

Derbyshire romp home at Headingley after limp home effort relieved only by Dom Bess’s fifty

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Jul-2025

Seamer Ben Aitchison’s maiden T20 five-wicket haul set Derbyshire on their way to hammering Yorkshire for the second Sunday running, ending the hosts’ already slim Vitality Blast quarter-final hopes in the process.Excellent Aitchison was potent en route to a superb 5 for 29 at Headingley and Afghanistan overseas spinner Mohammad Ghazanfar miserly in returning 2 for 5 from four overs as Yorkshire were limited to 151 for 9.The Falcons won at Chesterfield last Sunday, and here they deepened their local rivals’ misery by reducing them to 17 for 4 in five overs. Ghazanfar struck twice early and returned the joint-second most-economical four-over spell in Blast history.In a clash between the bottom two sides in the North, Dom Bess’s career best 53 off 37 balls at least gave Yorkshire a fighting total. But Derbyshire eased home by eight wickets inside 17 overs thanks largely to opener Aneurin Donald’s 54 off 30 balls.Derbyshire were already out of knockout contention, but this was their fourth win in 13 games and Yorkshire’s eighth defeat in 12.Yorkshire were left shell-shocked in the powerplay, which ended with them stranded on 28 for 4 having been inserted. Jonny Bairstow was bowled for a five-ball duck playing back to the offspin of Ghazanfar, who also had James Wharton caught at short cover.Sandwiched in between, Will Luxton was caught at short third-man and Dawid Malan at short fine-leg off Aitchison’s seam.On Thursday, Derbyshire reduced Worcestershire to 10 for 4 and lost. So they will have been wary not to let their foot off the gas. And they did not.Pakistani overseas batter Abdullah Shafique was next to go for 26, caught at mid-on off a miscued pull at Zak Chappell as Yorkshire reached the 10-over mark at 55 for 5. Chappell struck again in the 16th with the score on 97 when he had Will Sutherland caught at deep midwicket following a miscued pull.Bess, who hoisted two leg-side sixes off Pat Brown’s seam, kept Yorkshire afloat with his second career Blast fifty, this off 36 balls. But he fell to his next, caught at deep midwicket off Aitchison, who struck three times in four balls in the 19th over.Either side of dismissing Bess, he had Jordan Thompson caught behind and Jafer Chohan caught at backward point in posting only Derbyshire’s second ever T20 five-for.At Chesterfield last weekend, opener Donald smashed 85 off 30 balls as the Falcons chased 201. Here, their task was much more straightforward, and Donald was in the mood again.He ramped Sutherland’s seam for six and went on to reach his fifty off 24 balls – his sixth fifty of the campaign. By the time that was recorded, Derbyshire were motoring at 70 without loss in the sixth over. From there, with Yorkshire sloppy in the field, the result was inevitable.Donald miscued to point off Dan Moriarty’s left-arm spin having shared 78 inside eight overs with Australian Caleb Jewell.Jewell went on to post 41 not out and share an unbroken third-wicket stand of 73 with Wayne Madsen, who finished 51 not out off 28 balls and reached his fifty with the winning blow – a six over long-on off Jafer Chohan.

تحدث عصام الحضري نجم الكرة المصرية السابق عن تأهل فريق الزمالك إلى نهائي كأس السوبر المصري عقب الفوز على بيراميدز.

وفاز فريق الزمالك على نظيره فريق بيراميدز، بركلات الترجيح، في نصف نهائي بطولة كأس السوبر المصري، في المباراة التي جمعت بين الفريقين اليوم على ملعب آل نهيان بأبو ظبي. 

 طالع.. حازم إمام: أداء بيراميدز كان غريبًا.. والأهلي والزمالك سيظلا قطبا الكرة المصرية

 وقال عصام الحضري على قناة “أون سبورت”: “ركلات الترجيح هي حظ، لكن ما أطلبه طوال حياتي إن حارس المرمى لا بد أن يكون جاهزًا، ومحمد عواد اليوم كان جاهزًا، وهذا ما أطلبه دائمًا من كل الحراس إن لو سنحت لك الفرصة لا بد أن تكون جاهزًا”.

وأضاف: “طالما هناك منافسة فحراس المرمى سيكونوا جيدين، وأصعب ركلة ترجيح على حارس المرمى الأولى والخامسة، وعواد تصدى للركلة الخامسة، وقدم مباراة جيدة”.

وتابع: لا أعلم هل أحمد الشناوي درس الخصم جيدًا أم لا، لأنه لم يتصدى لأي ركلة ترجيح، ولم تكن هناك فرص كثيرة على مرمى الفريقين، لكن الفرق بين حارس وحارس هو التركيز ودراسة المنافس مثلما فعل محمد عواد اليوم”.  

Wolves have endured a bruising start to the 2024/25 Premier League campaign.

Six matches in, they sit bottom of the table after losing five and drawing once, that solitary point coming in heartbreaking fashion against Spurs when Joao Palhinha struck a 94th-minute equaliser.

A goal difference of -9 reflects the struggles Vítor Periera’s side have faced both in attack and defence.

The Carabao Cup has offered a rare glimmer of light, with Wolves progressing past Everton to set up a fourth-round clash against Chelsea.

But in the league, their attack remains toothless: their expected goals tally ranks fifth-worst in the division, better only than Newcastle, West Ham, Aston Villa, and Burnley.

Lowest Expected Goals (xG) – 2025/26

Burnley

4.5

Aston Villa

5.0

West Ham

5.0

Newcastle United

5.2

Wolves

5.6

Source: Fotmob

Wolves must find a spark quickly, and they are already feeling the absence of their departed talisman, Matheus Cunha.

Cunha’s £62.5m exit was compounded by the sale of Rayan Aït-Nouri to Manchester City for £31m.

Though Wolves managed to retain Jørgen Strand Larsen – who contributed 22% of their goals last season and has since committed his future until 2030 despite heavy interest from Newcastle – Pereira’s squad is still adjusting.

Several arrivals, including Tolu Arokodare, Ladislav Krejci, and John Arias, add depth, but none will be expected to bear the same creative burden that Cunha once carried.

That responsibility may fall on the shoulders of a new arrival.

The loss of Cunha – the man who made it all tick

Cunha was central to Wolves’ survival push last season.

Arriving from Atlético Madrid in 2023, he went on to score 31 goals in 76 appearances across all competitions.

His 2023/24 league campaign was particularly vital: 15 goals and six assists in 33 appearances ensured Wolves had a fighting chance after a bleak first half of the season.

The Brazilian forward was not just about end product; his underlying numbers highlight how complete his game had become.

He averaged 0.48 non-penalty goals per 90 minutes, ranking him among the very best attacking midfielders in Europe, and his 3.87 shots per 90 placed him in the 99th percentile.

That volume alone kept defenders occupied, but Cunha also created for others, producing 4.68 shot-creating actions and 5.30 progressive passes per 90.

He combined that with 2.05 successful take-ons per game, showing he could beat a man as well as pick a pass.

For a side that already struggles to generate quality chances, losing his mix of direct shooting threat, creativity, and dribbling power is a hammer blow.

Wolves have not only lost their goalscorer but also the man who made their attack tick.

His sometimes volatile personality – including controversial outbursts on social media directed at fans – was tolerated precisely because of the quality he brought on the pitch.

Wolves' perfect Cunha replacement

Into that void steps Fer Lopez.

Signed from Celta Vigo in the summer for £19m, the 21-year-old Spaniard is being backed to take on the creative mantle.

Still developing, Lopez has already shown at youth level why he is regarded so highly, earning his Spain U21 debut in September.

Wolves see him as a player who, like Cunha once did, can gradually grow into a leader in the final third.

Lopez’s statistical profile underlines his potential. In La Liga last season, he averaged 2.68 shots per 90, enough to place him in the 77th percentile for his position throughout Europe’s top five leagues.

More importantly for Wolves, he created 4.19 shot-creating actions per 90, showing he can be a reliable source of chances for teammates.

His passing metrics are particularly impressive: a completion rate of 83.4% puts him in the 94th percentile, while his 6.52 progressive passes per 90 are elite, ranking in the 93rd percentile.

Add to that 2.33 successful take-ons per 90, and you have a “tremendous ball-carrier” – in the words of one analyst – who is capable of driving through lines and committing defenders.

Fer Lopez – 2024/25

Matches Played

17

Goals

2

Shot-Creating Actions

30

Progressive Carries

27

Progressive Passes

43

Source: FBref

Those metrics echo some of Cunha’s strengths.

Where Cunha was known for his shooting volume and chance creation, Lopez’s passing reliability and ability to progress play stand out.

His 6.52 progressive passes per 90, ranking in the 93rd percentile, indicate a willingness to move the ball quickly through midfield into dangerous zones – something Wolves badly need as their chance creation dries up.

Importantly, Lopez offers versatility. He can operate as an advanced midfielder, threading passes into the front line or drop slightly deeper to dictate play in possession.

His intelligence in tight spaces could become crucial against compact defensive blocks, a recurring obstacle for Wolves last season.

The task of replacing a proven Premier League attacker like Cunha is daunting, especially for a 21-year-old still adapting to English football.

If Wolves are to climb away from the relegation zone, giving Lopez responsibility sooner rather than later may be their best route forward.

With Strand Larsen carrying the goalscoring burden and Lopez supplying the creative spark, Wolves might yet find a way to recalibrate their faltering attack.

كشف الإعلامي أحمد شوبير عن رؤيته لملف تدعيمات الأهلي خلال الفترة المقبلة، مؤكدًا أن الحديث عن الصفقات الجديدة أصبح متداولًا بشكل مبالغ فيه عبر وسائل التواصل الاجتماعي، في حين أن الفريق لا يحتاج سوى لتدعيمات محددة ومدروسة.

وقال شوبير في تصريحاته عبر برنامجه الإذاعي صباح اليوم: “قضية الصفقات أصبحت أكثر الكلمات تداولًا على ألسنة الجماهير ومواقع التواصل الاجتماعي، لكن المسألة ليست بهذه البساطة، فالموضوع لا يتعلق بعدد الصفقات بقدر ما يتعلق باحتياجات الفريق الحقيقية”.

وأضاف: “الأهلي بالفعل يحتاج إلى مهاجم صريح، كما يحتاج إلى ظهير أيسر إلى جانب محمد شكري، وربما ظهير أيمن أيضًا، لكن في المقابل يمتلك وفرة كبيرة في مركز قلب الدفاع، أو كما كنا نسميه قديمًا (السرد باك)، فالفريق لديه عدد كبير من اللاعبين في هذا المركز”.

طالع أيضًا | إصابات الأهلي قبل السوبر وحقيقة العرض الليبي لـ أشرف داري

وتابع: “ترددت أنباء عن وجود تواصل مع محمد عبد المنعم لبحث إمكانية عودته على سبيل الإعارة، ولكنني لا أؤكد صحة ذلك، لأنني لم أتواصل معه شخصيًا، عبد المنعم متواجد حاليًا في قطر يخضع للعلاج الطبيعي، ويحاول بكل الطرق اللحاق ببطولة أمم إفريقيا في شهر ديسمبر المقبل”.

وأردف: “هناك من يتحدث عن حاجة الأهلي إلى ظهير أيمن وآخر أيسر، وإلى قلبَي دفاع، واثنين في خط الوسط، وجناحين ومهاجم، أي نحو تسعة لاعبين! فهل هذا منطقي؟ من أين سيتم التعاقد مع كل هؤلاء؟ وكم لاعبًا أجنبيًا سيرحل وكم لاعبًا محليًا سينضم؟ لا بد أن تكون الأمور أكثر واقعية”.

واختتم: “ليس كل ما يُقال صحيحًا، يجب أن تكون الصفقات مدروسة ووفقًا لاحتياجات الفريق الفنية، لا مجرد استجابة لأحاديث الجماهير أو مواقع التواصل”.

The home team Lucknow Super Giants made no changes

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Apr-20252:09

How do PBKS contain red-hot Pooran?

Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and opted to bowl on a red-soil surface in Lucknow’s first match of IPL 2025. While Iyer was unsure about how the pitch would behave, he expected dew to set in later in the evening.Lucknow Super Giants captain Rishabh Pant didn’t mind batting first. While LSG made no changes to their XI, PBKS made one, bringing in New Zealand fast bowler Lockie Ferguson for Afghanistan allrounder Azmatullah Omarzai. Curiously, they left out their match-winner from the last game, Vijaykumar Vyshak, from the bowl first XI throwing doubt over the identity of their likely Impact Sub. It could be Nehal Wadhera.This will be Ferguson’s first competitive game since early February, when he hurt his hamstring while playing for Desert Vipers in the UAE’s ILT20. He was subsequently sidelined from the Champions Trophy. Red-soil pitches usually help pace and bounce and Ferguson has plenty of that. He also has a good record against Nicholas Pooran in T20 cricket: four wickets in 17 balls at a strike rate of 7.05. Prince Yadav, who impressed with his pace against Sunrisers Hyderabad, is frontrunner to be their Impact Sub.Punjab Kings: 1 Priyansh Arya, 2 Prabhsimran Singh (wk), 3 Shreyas Iyer(c), 4 Shashank Singh, 5 Marcus Stoinis, 6 Glenn Maxwell, 7 Suryansh Shedge, 8 Marco Jansen, 9 Lockie Ferguson, 10 Yuzvendra Chahal, 11 Arshdeep SinghImpact sub options: Vyshak Vijaykumar, Pravin Dubey, Nehal Wadhera, Harpreet Brar, Vishnu VinodLucknow Super Giants: 1 Mitchell Marsh, 2 Aiden Markram, 3 Nicholas Pooran, 4 Rishabh Pant (capt, wk ), 5 Ayush Badoni, 6 David Miller, 7 Abdul Samad, 8 Digvesh Singh Rathi, 9 Shardul Thakur, 10 Avesh Khan, 11 Ravi BishnoiImpact sub options: Prince Yadav, M Siddharth, Shahbaz Ahmed, Himmat Singh, Akash Singh

Crystal Palace will no doubt be eager to put this hectic summer transfer window behind them.

Unfortunately, not even sealing a double whammy of successes in the FA Cup and Community Shield would be able to keep Eberechi Eze fixed at Selhurst Park, with the former Eagles attacking midfielder poached by fellow Premier League side Arsenal late on.

However, Palace could make the window look a tad more rosy very soon, with a verbal agreement now reportedly in place for Oliver Glasner’s men to sign this £17m attacker.

Palace verbally agree deal for £17m star

The Eagles might well still wave goodbye to Marc Guehi before the 7pm deadline, but there will be rays of positivity all the same regarding one incoming.

As has been reported by Fabrizio Romano, via X, Getafe ace Christantus Uche is now in London to seal a late switch to Palace, with a deal between the La Liga outfit and Glasner and Co. verbally agreed.

Uche has been subject to widespread interest from the Premier League this summer, with Wolverhampton Wanderers even close at one point to bringing in the £17m star.

But, it looks as if the Eagles will be the winners for his coveted signature after all, as Uche now dreams of forming a terrifying duo up top with Palace man of the moment Jean-Philippe Mateta.

How Uche and Mateta could link up

Mateta would get the ball rolling for his beloved side against Aston Villa last time out, as this calmly tucked away penalty then opened the floodgates to hand the visitors a comfortable 3-0 victory.

That bumps up the clinical Frenchman’s early-season total to three goals from six clashes, and with Uche soon to be by his side by all accounts, his overall tally of 49 strikes for the Eagles will surely just rise and rise.

Uche’s La Liga numbers for Getafe (24/25)

Stat – per 90 mins*

Uche

Games played

33

Goals scored

4

Assists

6

Touches*

34.4

Accurate passes*

11.6 (67%)

Big chances created

7

Total duels won*

6.8

Stats by Sofascore

The £17m Nigerian already has a goal and assist next to his name this season from just three La Liga encounters, but it’s his consistent excellence last season in the testing Spanish top-flight that will be music to the ears of Palace – and Mateta in particular – with Uche picking up six assists, despite only averaging a low 11.6 accurate passes per clash.

Mateta often only needs a split second to wreak havoc himself, with a mere 22.6 touches averaged per league game across his standout 2024/25 offering for Palace in the Premier League, but a lethal 14 strikes would still arrive at his door, nonetheless.

Moreover, the one-time Wolves target often uses his strength to fire away goals, as seen in his high 6.8 duels won on average during his breakout campaign in Spain, with four strikes also coming his way to be branded a “defender’s nightmare” by scout Antonio Mango.

Of course, Mateta – coming in at a lofty 6-foot-4 frame – has also often used his brute power as an advantage, with Arsenal great Thierry Henry even going as far as to herald the Selhurst Park fan favourite as an “old-fashioned striker” for his physical approach.

With Eze heartbreakingly gone, adding in Uche could get the Palace fanbase back on side, particularly if he goes on to get even more out of an already red-hot Mateta.

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Posts ByTom Cunningham Aug 30, 2025