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Victor Lindelof has expressed his belief that Manchester United "can beat every team" when at their best.

United picked up their first victory of the season against one of the traditional 'Big Six' on Sunday, bringing Manchester City's 21-game winning streak to an end in the process.

Lindelof claims the 2-0 triumph at the Etihad Stadium proves that the Red Devils are a "great team" and has called on his team-mates to maintain the same high level until the end of the season.

What's been said?

“We are always confident going into every game. We know we can beat every team,” the Swedish centre-half said.

“It’s a very tough away game to play against a really good team. It shows what a great team we are and what we can do on the pitch.

“We need to keep working hard and hopefully we can get some more wins.”

Man Utd's record against the 'Big Six' in 2020-21

United's first game against fellow 'Big Six' opposition this season was a 6-1 home defeat by Tottenham in early October, which was also the only match in which they had scored prior to Sunday's win over City.

They subsequently drew 0-0 at home against Chelsea and City, either side of a 1-0 home defeat by Arsenal. In January, they drew 0-0 away to Liverpool and Arsenal before holding Chelsea to the same scoreline last month.

Luke Shaw's goal against City was their first in open play against the 'Big Six' this season, and they still have Tottenham away and Liverpool at home to come.

What can Man Utd achieve in 2020-21?

United cut the gap on Premier League leaders City to 11 points by winning at the Etihad, but they only have 10 games left to prevent their neighbours from lifting the title.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side will likely have to settle for second place, provided they can go on and put together a consistent run of wins, with Leicester and Chelsea hovering just below them in the final Champions League places.

The Red Devils still have two other avenues open to their first major trophy since 2017, having reached the FA Cup quarter-finals and the last 16 of the Europa League.

The bigger picture

United are not quite ready to return to English football's summit, but significant progress has been made under Solskjaer once again in 2020-21.

Improving on last season's third-place top-flight finish will be another step in the right direction, and their performance against City will surely provide an extra injection of confidence in their ongoing bid for domestic and European silverware.

The Red Devils will face AC Milan in the first leg of their European tie on Thursday, while their last-eight meeting with Leicester in the FA Cup is due to take place on March 21.

Further reading

Simba SC have claimed they will only be comfortable during the group stage of the Caf Champions League when they reach 10 points.

The Msimbazi giants are currently leading Group A with seven points from three matches, having won their first two 1-0, against AS Vita Club of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Al Ahly of Egypt - and managing a 0-0 draw against Al Merrikh of Sudan.

Despite topping the group, Simba CEO Barbara Gonzalez has maintained they will only be comfortable with their pursuit to reach the quarter-finals of the competition when they get another win.

“We are ready to reach the quarter-finals and if we end up topping the group or coming second, we don’t know but our main target is to reach the quarters,” Gonzalez told Talent TV.

“In terms of what position we finish in the group, we leave that one to God, but for now we are topping the group, with a clean sheet and seven points, and we are expecting when Al Merrikh come for the fourth match, we get three points so we can sit comfortably at the top of the group with 10 points.

“We don’t know what will happen with our two remaining matches after we play Al Merrikh against AS Vita and Al Ahly.

“Our target still remains, to reach the quarter-finals and we are now targeting a minimum of ten points to achieve our goal.”

On how the team received the result of Al Ahly and AS Vita after they battled to a 2-2 draw in Cairo, Gonzalez said: “It was good news for us, it is a big advantage for us because, first of all, our opponents [two of them] dropped points, and secondly, it shows you how tough this group is.

“It shows you AS Vita is a big and dangerous team, and Al Ahly are also a big team, but remember we beat both of them, and for them to draw it is a big advantage for us, and it also shows that our team is also big because we managed to beat both teams.

“It also shows that this group will not be easy, it will be tough and we need to plan and prepare well to make it out of the group.

“On our way to Dar es Salaam after our game against Al Merrikh we met AS Vita in Ethiopia and I personally talked to their coach and congratulated him for the 2-2 draw against Al Ahly, and told him it was very entertaining football, they put up in Cairo.”

Simba will next face Al Merrikh in their fourth match on March 16, and on the same day Al Ahly will play away against AS Vita in Kinshasa.

Liverpool should be sending Mohamed Salah the same way as Philippe Coutinho says Robbie Fowler, with the Reds urged to consider selling the prolific Egyptian frontman in order to fund a summer rebuild.

Questions continue to be asked of the superstar performer at Anfield, with hints being offered by the 28-year-old winger and his agent regarding possible moves elsewhere.

Liverpool have shown in the past that they can become stronger when parting with supposed key men, with Coutinho offloaded to Barcelona in January 2018, and Fowler believes a similar approach should be taken with Salah.

What has been said?

The former Reds striker told The Mirror: “I’m not having a go at Salah - I love him to bits - but I truly believe that transfers now are largely about what players want, so the ball is in his court not Liverpool’s.

“If he wants to go, then he should go. If a player wants to leave, we have to accept it’s in the mix. I’m a firm believer that if they are unhappy and want to be going, then they should be going. Jurgen Klopp has said the same, too – he doesn’t want anyone at the club who doesn’t want to be there.

"It is my belief that was his attitude with Philippe Coutinho. He agitated for a move. Liverpool turned it down in the summer because it didn’t suit them financially and in terms of bringing players in, but they did the deal in January and used the money to buy Virgil van Dijk and Alisson.

“Klopp didn’t want Coutinho because he thought his attitude wasn’t right, and he didn’t want that poison in his camp in the end.

“So if Salah is truly ­unhappy, if he is upset he hasn’t been given a new contract or whatever, then cash in, get as much as you can for him and use the money to make tweaks with the current team.

“I’m a fan of Salah, obviously, who wouldn’t be, but Liverpool didn’t miss Coutinho that much, did they?

“It turned out that he wasn’t quite so good as people thought anyway – the system he was playing in made him look better.

“Perhaps that’s the same with Salah. You’d miss his goals, but is it possible to find someone better – not necessarily as a direct ­replacement, but in strengthening the team as a whole?”

Salah’s record at Liverpool

Jurgen Klopp moved to bring the former Chelsea flop back to English football during the summer of 2017. An immediate return was offered on that investment, with Salah claiming the Premier League Golden Boot and PFA Player of the Year award in his debut campaign.

Remarkable standards have been maintained since then, with 118 goals in 190 appearances. Champions League, Premier League and Club World Cup crowns have been captured along the way.

Liverpool have Salah tied to a contract through to 2023, but tempting offers may be considered as the Reds endeavour to work their way out of a slump that has seen them hit historic lows in the current campaign.

Further reading

Zlatan Ibrahimovic says he is eager to extend his stay at San Siro because a day without his AC Milan team-mates "is like one without my children".

Ibrahimovic has been a talismanic figure in Stefano Pioli's squad since returning to Milan on a free transfer in January 2020, but only has a few months left to run on his current contract.

The Swedish frontman, who missed the Rossoneri's latest win against Hellas Verona through injury, claims to be in the dark with regards to a possible renewal, however, he has now made it clear that he would welcome to chance to commit to fresh terms with the club.

What's been said?

Asked if he will still be a Milan player next season, Ibrahimovic told the Che Tempo Che Fa TV show on Rai Play: “I don’t know, let’s see. If Paolo [Maldini] wants, I am up for it.

"I wanted to be there [for the Verona game], because I feel too much inside and I missed the team too much.

"When I spend a day without them, it's like one without my children."

Ibrahimovic's record for Milan this season

Despite the fact injuries have significantly limited Ibrahimovic's playing time in 2020-21, he has still managed to score 16 goals in 21 appearances across all competitions.

The 39-year-old has also recorded two assists while helping Milan rise to second in the Serie A standings and reach the last 16 of the Europa League.

Ibrahimovic added on his role in the team: "At Milan, I have many responsibilities, and I feel like a leader.

"This team is the only team where I am excited, I want to give a lot and teach a lot to be a guide, because when they look at me they expect something from me."

Can Milan win Serie A?

Milan led the way in the Serie A table throughout the first half of the season, but Inter managed to leapfrog their rivals into first place after beating Lazio on February 14.

The Nerazzurri won the Derby della Madonnina a week later to open up a four-point lead at the summit, while Milan also dropped valuable points against Udinese at the start of the month.

However, Pioli's side cut the gap at the top down to three points by beating Verona, and although Inter still have a game in hand, Ibrahimovic still believes the Scudetto is up for grabs.

"There are still many matches, everything is possible," he said. "They only have one match a week and have more time to recover. My job is to win trophies, and I came to Milan to win."

Further reading

Bruno Fernandes claims to live for the pressure that accompanies being Manchester United’s penalty taker, with the Portuguese playmaker showing nerves of steel in an impressive derby win over arch-rivals Manchester City.

The Red Devils got off to the perfect start in their latest Premier League outing, with a clumsy challenge from Gabriel Jesus on Anthony Martial presenting them with a spot-kick inside two minutes.

Ederson got a hand to Fernandes’ effort, but he could not keep it out and a perfect response was offered to those who had been questioning his input in crunch clashes with fellow members of the so-called ‘big six’.

What has been said?

Speaking to MUTV about the responsibility piled onto his shoulders, Fernandes said: “Every penalty has the same pressure for me.

“It’s always pressure to take a pen, doesn’t matter if it’s against City, or another team. It’s always pressure to take the pens.

“I like that kind of pressure. It’s good pressure. I knew what I had to do. I did it in the right way with the right power and I’m happy to score, of course.

“Honestly for us it’s about winning. People will always complain about everything. Today it will still be Bruno never scores in big games.

“They will put open play no goals, it was a penalty [and say] it doesn’t count! So for us the most important thing is winning the game.

“It doesn’t matter how you score, when the ball touches the net it’s a goal. I will be happy and it doesn’t matter if it’s me or another one scoring.”

Fernandes’ record at Man Utd

The 26-year-old has become a key part of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s plans, with a leading role taken on at Old Trafford from the moment he arrived from Sporting during the winter transfer window of 2020.

A steady stream of end product has been contributed to the collective cause in Manchester, allowing plaudits and individual prizes to rain down on the talented midfielder.

On the back of his efforts against City, Fernandes now boasts 35 goals and 21 assists through 63 appearances for United.

How many penalties has Fernandes scored for Man Utd?

Fernandes has taken 19 penalties for the Red Devils, with Solskjaer’s side handed opportunities from 12 yards on a regular basis.

He has converted all but one of those, with his only failure from the spot coming in a Premier League meeting with Newcastle in October 2020.

Further reading

Steven Polack has explained why Gor Mahia risks giving away the FKF Premier League title with the league yet to conclude the first-round matches.

The Kenyan champions have struggled in the current campaign and with only 12 matches played so far, they have already suffered five defeats.

It is a huge contrast to the team’s last campaign under coach Polack when they were declared winners of the top-flight after the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic in the country in March.

During that period, Gor Mahia were leading the 18-team table on 54 points from 23 matches and they had only lost on three occasions, while second-placed Kakamega Homeboyz had amassed 47 points with a match in hand.

After suffering their latest defeat, 2-0 against KCB, the British tactician has told Goal why losing too many games will affect the team’s chances of retaining the title.

“There is a lot of games still to be played but to win any league you can’t lose too many games and get away with it,” Polack told Goal from his base in England.

“You have to be tight defensively and productive in the offensive area, I don’t know why it is not going well for them [Gor Mahia], but playing with confidence is a must and that comes from within the club and also from the players themselves.”

On what Gor Mahia should do to retain the title, Polack explained: “They should continue to fight, that is a given, they have to stay positive and keep working hard to give themselves a chance of winning the league.

“Until they do so, then it is not possible to retain the title.”

Apart from KCB, other teams that have managed to get maximum points from Gor Mahia are Nzoia Sugar who beat them 2-1, Vihiga United who won 1-0, Tusker 2-1, and Kariobangi Sharks 4-3.

The defeat against the Bankers left Gor Mahia in position eight on the table with 19 points, 16 fewer than table-toppers Tusker, who have played three matches more.

Gor Mahia will next face promoted side Bidco United on Sunday before they travel to face Sofapaka at Wundanyi ground, Taita Taveta.

Georginio Wijnaldum spoke out on his contract situation after Liverpool's defeat to Fulham on Sunday, while insisting "the most important thing right now is that we fix things as a team".

Wijnaldum is now into the final few months of his current deal at Anfield, and has yet to extend his stay with the reigning Premier League champions.

The Dutchman was part of the Liverpool team that suffered a sixth successive home loss at the hands of Fulham on Sunday, and addressed the speculation surrounding his future after the game.

What's been said?

"If you’re a fan and you support the team - you support the player and what they do with me," Wijnaldum told beIN Sports.

"You want to hear what’s going to happen but on the other side, for me, if there’s nothing to say and no news I cannot say something.

"I hope they can understand that and I hope they will stay patient until there’s news.

"The most important thing right now is that we fix things in the game as a team and we get results.

"Talking about an individual, in this case about me and my contract situation - because I just said there’s no news, I think we can focus on better things than on my situation.

"When there is news, we will bring it out."

Who has Wijnaldum been linked with?

Barcelona has been mooted as the most likely next destination for Wijnaldum should he end up leaving Liverpool this summer.

Ronald Koeman is reportedly eager to arrange a reunion with the midfielder at Camp Nou, having previously worked with him while in charge of the Netherlands national team.

The Blaugrana have been hit by a financial crisis which will likely prevent them from making big-money signings, but Wijnaldum will become available on a free transfer when his contract expires at the end of June.

Wijnaldum's record for Liverpool

Liverpool snapped Wijnaldum up from Newcastle for £23 million ($32m) back in 2016, and he has since established himself as one of the most important members of Jurgen Klopp's squad.

The 30-year-old has featured in 224 games in all competitions for the Reds to date, scoring 22 goals, while also getting his hands on the Premier League, Champions League and FIFA Club World Cup.

Further reading

Bidco United head coach Anthony Akhulia has insisted his main target in the Football Kenya Federation Premier League this season is to survive.

The Thika-based charges were promoted to the Kenyan top tier this season and have surprised many with their decent results.

They are currently placed in the seventh position on the table having collected 21 points from 15 matches they have played.

The soft-speaking tactician has now revealed his target for the team in their debut season.

"We have come a long way and finally we are dining with the big boys," Akhulia told Goal on Monday.

"My main objective this season is to help the team survive. It does not matter whether we finish the league on top or second, or even 15th as long as we survive.

"From there we will have enough experience on how to approach our second season in the league and set attainable objectives."

On Saturday, Bidco were away to Wundanyi Stadium where they played Sofapaka FC and settled for a goalless draw. However, the tactician believes the officials made wanting decisions that denied his team maximum points.

"We played the game well according to the plan and I take the one point," Akhulia added.

"But there were obvious calls that went against us; for example, Erick Gichimu was fouled by the last man when clear on goal, and we were surprised the referee yellow carded the involved player instead of sending him off.

"It was a big decision that might have impacted the outcome of the game and we complained about the same.

"Apart from that incident, we played well and limited Sofapaka on the ball; even their chances came late into the game." 

Prior to their game against Batoto ba Mungu, the debutants had defeated Tusker 2-1 and Akhulia explained what the results meant to his players.

"They are big points for us in the sense that they help in building our confidence in the league," he concluded.

"We are taking every game with the seriousness it deserves. No team is underrated; our aim remains one, give the best with a target of maximum points. It is always the same regardless of who we are playing."

Barcelona legend Lionel Messi, Manchester City superstar Gabriel Jesus, and Grand Slam tennis champion Serena Williams star in a new ad for sports drink Gatorade.

The new campaign, ‘The Greatest Never Settle’, highlights brand’s ongoing commitment to inspire the next generation of athletes on their path to greatness.

The new spot looks to motivate today’s athletes and encourage the belief that, no matter how great you are today, there is always potential to be greater tomorrow, and that settling can never be an option on your path to greatness.

“This Gatorade campaign demonstrates the importance of pushing yourself to be better and believing you can go further, even when you have been successful,” said Messi. 

“It takes hard work, on and off the pitch, to try and get to a place where you can perform on the world’s biggest stages, and I hope this campaign inspires both fans and young athletes to never settle as they journey on their own paths to greatness.”

Watch the video in full below.

Baghdad Bounedjah has won his second Qatar Stars League title with Al Sadd after they defeated Umm Salal 3-0 on Sunday.

The 29-year-old opened the scoring at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium as former Barcelona captain Xavi claimed the first league crown of his managerial career.

Al Sadd were confirmed champions on Sunday after claiming 50 points from 18 games, with a 13-point lead above closest rivals Al Duhail.

Aside from the overall team effort, Bounedjah is also the leading scorer in the Qatari top-flight with 20 goals in 16 matches, and he is in contention to reclaim the honour he won in the 2018-19 season after he scored 39 goals in 22 league matches.

A week ago, the Algeria star helped Al Sadd win the Qatar Cup after scoring a brace in their 2-0 win over Al-Duhail.

Xavi described his reaction after winning the Qatar Stars League title as both a player and a coach.

“I’m overjoyed to win this title for Al Sadd, we’ve made history, I won the league as a player and as a manager for this team,” the Spanish coach said .

“I feel honoured to work with such professional managerial, professional and medical team.

“Our goal is to win every possible trophy there is, I thank everyone who helped us reach our goals, and special thanks to our fans who stood by us. I promise you to work hard toward our goals and to win more trophies.”

Al Sadd will be aiming to stretch their unbeaten league run when they host Al Wakrah for their next league match on Thursday.

They are also in the running for the 2021 Emir of Qatar Cup and the AFC Champions League.

The race for the UAE Arabian Gulf League title got more intense with Al Jazira drawing with Shabab Al Ahli and Sharjah FC losing to Al Nasr, while Bani Yas picking up three points against Al Ittihad Kalba. 

Milos Kosanovic's late goal ensured that the league leaders did not walk away empty-handed as the match ended in a 1-1 draw when they hosted Al Ahli at the Mohammad Bin Zayed Stadium on matchday 19 of the Arabian Gulf League.

The visitors had their noses in front at the hour mark when Brazilian midfielder Carlos Eduardo scored at the end of a brilliant team move. Al Jazira threw caution to the wind after conceding and their persistence finally paid off deep into injury time when their lanky Serbian centreback equalised. 

Meanwhile, Bani Yas moved to the second spot in the league table with 39 points courtesy of a comfortable 2-0 win over Ittihad Kalba. It was an eventful second half which saw two goals and a red card to Mohammed Sabeel of Ittihad Kalba. 

Daniel Isaila's men made the most of the numerical advantage and scored the first goal in the 74th minute, through Gaston Suarez who pulled off a brilliant header. Within five minutes, they scored the insurance goal when Nicolas Gimenez's piledriver beat the keeper and rippled the net. 

On the other hand, Sharjah's dismal form continued as they lost 2-1 to Al Nasr on Sunday at the Al Maktoum Stadium. They were winless in AGL in February and now have made a disappointing start to March which push them to third place in the league table with 37 points four behind table-toppers Al Jazira. 

Al Nasr were dominating proceedings right from the first whistle and their efforts bore fruits when they broke the deadlock just at the nick of half time. Toze's freekick rattled the crossbar but an alert Sebastian Tagliabue tapped home the rebound to score the opener. 

In the second-half, Saif Rashid erased the deficit but their joys were cut short when Tagliabue scored his second of the night to restore Al Nasr's lead. The veteran player latched on to a well-measured cross from Ryan Mendes and made no mistake to score his seventh goal of the season. 

Leicester City centre-forward Kelechi Iheanacho has highlighted a number of reasons why he likes to play along with Jamie Vardy.

The Nigeria international has been delivering impressive performances for the King Power Stadium outfit this season.

The 24-year-old attacker has bagged seven goals, including his strike against Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday, and provided four assists in 26 appearances across all competitions.

Iheanacho is delighted with his contribution to the Foxes and revealed his desire to play along with Vardy, who won the Premier League Golden Boost last season, rather than serving as his back-up.

“It’s a bit difficult for the manager because he needs to use everybody, and then we have to have an impact,” Iheanacho said, as per Independent.

“I need to wait for my time but I’m confident with how things are going right now. I just have to keep working hard and keep taking the opportunities.

“I like playing with him (Vardy) because he can run in behind and gives me options, or he can get the ball and go deep. I like playing with him but when he’s not around I can play by myself.

“I’m happy with the goals that are coming now. I feel good.”

Leicester have eight players on the sidelines, including Harvey Barnes, James Maddison and Ayoze Perez, which has helped Iheanacho to enjoy more playing time in recent weeks.

The Super Eagles forward wants to make meaningful impacts for the Foxes in order to make the absent players ‘proud.’

“We have injuries but we have players who can do the job, so we just need to keep our heads up and be hungry,” he continued.

“We have so many quality players, these players are massive, we really miss them and all of their individual qualities.

“We need to come out and represent them so well so that when they watch from home they are proud of us and so we are in a good place when they recover and come back.”

Iheanacho will be expected to be part of Nigeria’s squad for the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against the Republic of Benin and Lesotho later in the month.

After Barcelona's presidential election on Sunday, Joan Laporta again focused on his top campaign priority - convincing Lionel Messi to stay at the Catalan club.

He claimed it was a "very telling" moment to see Messi vote in the election because it confirmed the forward's enduring love for his boyhood side.

Laporta's relationship with Messi dates back decades, as he was previously president from 2003-10. He has used his connection with the Argentinian to tout himself as the perfect person for the presidential position at a perilous moment for Barcelona.

What has Laporta said about Messi?

"Seeing Lionel Messi coming to vote today, seeing him taking part, that is very telling," Laporta said in a press conference.

"Twenty years ago [he] made his debut with Barca's youth team. Seeing the best player in the world come out to vote today is a clear sign of what we keep saying. Leo loves Barca.

"The best player in the world loves Barca and I hope that is a sign that he will stay at Barcelona, which is what we all want."

Messi's contract status

His contract is up this summer, leaving little time for Laporta to make the case the attacker should re-commit to Barcelona.

Messi's expiring deal, signed in 2017, is worth a reported €555 million (£491m/$674m).

Further reading

Ashalata Devi is one of the softspoken players in the Indian squad. But beneath the calm demeanour, there is character forged in fire. She is the perfect embodiment of the phrase, 'action speaks louder than words.' 

When she was discouraged and rebuked by her family for playing football in childhood she would silently sneak out and go to practice. Braving the naysayers in her close quarters she has followed her heart and now she is the captain of the Indian women's football team. 

On the field, she remains calm and composed but does not hold back her aggression if the opposition striker tries to be cheeky. 

" I just say it on the face, that don't try to rub me off or challenge me. I will go for the ball," stated Ashalata to Goal without mincing words. 

She hates to get dribbled past in one-on-one situations but is not shy to acknowledge if a striker has troubled her. 

"We were playing against Romania in Turkey. Their forward, who was also the captain (Florentina Olar-Spânu) was simply brilliant. It was difficult to contain her. She is the mother of a child and yet she is so fit and skilful," reminisced the player. 

India is currently ranked 53rd in the world and the defender thinks that a change in approach and playing more friendlies against stronger opponents has helped the team get better.

"There has been a change in outlook. We are focussing on fitness and diet. These things were not done even a few years back. We have played a lot of friendly matches in these past two-three years. That counts a lot. We have won some good matches that helped in rankings. Also having Maymol (Rocky) ma'am as a coach has helped us. She is a helpful and smart coach." 

However, she believes that Indian football has the potential to achieve greater things and for that, the domestic structure needs to be strengthened. She lauded AIFF (All India Football Federation) for introducing an Indian Arrows team for women which would take part in the next IWL (India Women's League), but at the same time urged Indian Super League (ISL) teams to introduce women's team for the betterment of Indian football. 

"We play in IWL. But there are not many teams. It will be great if ISL teams join IWL and float a women's team. We will get to play a lot more matches and we need to have a long league. 

"The Indian Arrows football team is a great initiative by the AIFF. At that age, we had never thought of playing football in a professional league. They are getting such an opportunity at a young age it will help them greatly. The senior team will be benefitted as well."

The country will host the AFC Asian Cup in 2022 and although the Indian team is assured of a berth by virtue of being the hosts, Ashalata wants to get an entry on merit rather than privilege. 

"We want to qualify on merit by participating in the qualifiers. But I also want to qualify for the World Cup before I hang up my boots. That is my dream. I want to qualify on merit as India has never played in that tournament before." 

There's little doubt that the 27-year-old has set her eyes for the stars. She has defied excruciating odds in the past, and with perseverance, even mountains can move. More power to her to fulfil her dreams. 

Faouzi Ghoulam will undergo tests after complaining of knee discomfort in Napoli’s 3-1 victory over Bologna in Sunday’s Serie A game.

The 30-year-old was handed his third league start of the season against the Red and Blues but only featured for 22 minutes in the encounter.

The defender was forced off and replaced by Elseid Hysaj after a knee problem but will be further examined to ascertain the nature of his injury.

“Faouzi Ghoulam, who came out in the first half of Napoli-Bologna, reported a sprained trauma to his left knee. Tomorrow the player will undergo tests,” read a statement from the club website.

Ghoulam watched the remaining game from the stands as Napoli extended their winning run to three games.

The left-back’s teammate and Nigeria international Victor Osimhen returned for the Parthenopeans in the encounter.

The centre-forward has been out of action since February 21 when he suffered a head trauma against Atalanta.

The Super Eagles scored in the outing and his strike along with Lorenzo Insigne brace ensured Napoli secured all three points at Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.

The victory moved the Parthenopeans to the sixth spot on the Serie A table after accruing 47 points from 25 games. 

Ghoulam has made 17 appearances across all competitions for Gennaro Gattuso’s in this campaign and has one assist to his credit.

The defender has been with Napoli since 2014 when the teamed up with the side from Ligue 1 club Saint-Etienne.

The 30-year-old full-back has featured in more than 15o games for the Parthenopeans since his arrival at the club.

It is uncertain if the Algeria international will be fit to feature for Napoli when they take on AC Milan in their next league game on March 14.

Ghoulam will hope to be fit in time for Algeria's 2022 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers later in the month.

Soumya Guguloth hails from the small village of Kunepally of Raljal Mandal in the Nizamabad district of Telangana. The region which once used to be a powerhouse of Indian football in the 1950s and 60s now seldom produces any special talent. 

Needless to say that the footballing culture has withered away and it came as no surprise when a young girl was frowned upon when she started practising with boys due to the lack of girls in her bid to pursue the sport. Her father Gopi Guguloth was also apprehensive about the choice of her sport. 

"Yeh ladkiyo ki game nehi hai. Kya kar legi khel ke? (It is not a sport for girls. What will you do playing it?)," the question was flung on her face on several occasions. 

In spite of several rebukes, she did not give up. 

" I used to attend the training sessions in my local ground, without their knowledge. After school, I would say that I am going to a friend's house and then I would instead go on and train. I was training with senior girls. But since my family didn't know I could not participate in any competition," reminisced Soumya to Goal. 

However, there was one person who had an eye for talent and persuaded a young Soumya not to give up on her dreams. The dream of putting on the national jersey and playing for India. 

"My physical education teacher Nataraj Sir, believed in me. Previously I used to be in athletics running in 200m, 400m, in urban meets and school tournaments. When my coach saw that I have pace, he asked me to start playing football." 

Within a brief period, she progressed by leaps and bounds and made it to the U-14 India squad that left for Nepal to participate in the Asian Football Confederation (South and Central) tournament at Dasarath Stadium in Kathmandu in 2015. 

Her first international tour became a memorable one not because of the exploits on the field but for something that is not even remotely related to football. 

"The Nepal earthquake happened. I thought I would give up football. I even told my parents that I would not play football anymore. I was supposed to play in the starting XI for the third-place match. The earthquake ruined it all," recounted the striker with a tinge of disgust. 

However, on her next international trip, she made sure that it became special for all the right reasons. 

"I went with the India U16 team to play in China in the qualifiers of the AFC U16 Championship. I scored a hat-trick against Malaysia and also became the top-scorer for India with four goals. This performance somehow made up for my earlier disappointment in Nepal."

Soumya continued to soar as she was named the skipper of the India U17 team that departed to participate in the BRICS tournament in South Africa. 

"I followed closely how the Chinese played and trained. I used to watch their skill and pace. They were following a strict diet from such a young age. But that hardly happened in India," opined the player. 

Soumya now plies her trade in Kenkre FC and helped her side reach the IWL (Indian Women's League) semifinals. She was an instrumental figure in the squad and scored seven to propel her team to the semi-finals against KRYPHSA where they lost 3-1. 

But her sojourn off the pitch in Mumbai is more remarkable. 

"I stay in a rented room in Dadar. Every morning I have to go to Church Gate via local train and then I walk to the field. It becomes pretty late when I return home. After getting I cook my own meal and other household chores. So by four when I have lunch, I am completely drained. Mumbai ghoomne ka takat nehi rehta (There's no energy left to roam around in Mumbai)," explained the player. 

Nevertheless, she was rewarded for her hard work when she got called up for the national camp in late 2020 as the squad was preparing to tour Turkey. In the first match against Serbia she fulfilled her dream to play for the Indian national team, but unfortunately got injured and had to be subbed at the half-hour mark. 

"The dream got fulfilled. But the injury was disappointing. The focus remains to get fit and make it to the final squad of the AFC Asian Cup 2022."

Soumya got a rousing welcome in her district of Nizamabad when she returned from South Africa (BRICS football tournament in 2018). The same people who once mocked her for playing football had gathered in hundreds just to get a glimpse of their local prodigy. One can only imagine the kind of reception that will be greeting her if she manages to score for India at the continental stage. 

Joan Laporta was elected as Barcelona’s president on Sunday with about 58 per cent of the vote, putting him charge of an organisation in dire need of positive leadership after his predecessor resigned in October and the pandemic strained club finances.

It's Laporta's second time in charge of the Blaugrana; he last served in 2010, when a 22-year-old Lionel Messi was entering the stratosphere of global influence. Laporta used his background with Messi to convince voters his deep ties to the Argentinian star could help him prevent a summer transfer exit.

Much has changed since Laporta's last term, but he claims he knows the correct strategy to return Barcelona to the relative stability they enjoyed a decade ago.

Who is Joan Laporta?

Laporta was previously Barcelona's president from 2003 through 2010 - a stretch recognized as successful on almost all fronts for the Catalans.

During that period, Barcelona won four league titles and two Champions Leagues and graduated the likes of Messi and Andres Iniesta into their first team while adding key stars via transfer such as Ronaldinho and Samuel Eto'o.

After this election, Laporta is set to be in power until 2026.

What issues did Laporta campaign on?

Laporta framed his run for president around his experience at Barcelona, telling voters he would be able to convince an unhappy Messi to stay because the forward trusted him. He also pledged an expansion project for Camp Nou.

"I tell the truth, I am the one with the most experience and determination, as well as the most credibility in [Messi's] eyes," Laporta said to Goal earlier this year. "It fills me with pride that [Messi] tells me that everything I told him was fulfilled.

"The issue of Leo is easier than the stadium. It would be very nice to get to this [125-year anniversary of Camp Nou in 2024] with Messi, it would be good final fireworks."

Who were the other candidates?

Victor Font and Toni Freixa were also on the ballot, but they always faced a difficult campaign with Laporta considered the favourite from the beginning.

Font, who earned 30 per cent of the vote, is a member of the club's board.

Freixa, who earned 9 per cent of the vote, is a former spokesperson for the organisation.

What happened to Josep Maria Bartomeu?

The former Barcelona president resigned last year amid the 'Barcagate' controversy that led to his arrest this past week. He has since been released from custody.

Bartomeu and close aides have been accused of paying a PR company to burnish Bartomeu’s image through tactics that included disparaging the reputation of a number of current and former players – including Lionel Messi, Gerard Pique and Xavi. Those allegations and the team's financial problems created a toxic climate.

Bartomeu is assumed innocent in all criminal matters until proven otherwise.

What is Barcelona's debt?

The club has a gross debt of nearly €1.2 billion ($1.4b), prompting unpopular wage reductions for some squad members.

So much money owed has fueled transfer rumours about Messi and other highly paid members of the team.

How likely is Messi to stay?

Messi at one point made it clear he wanted to leave Barcelona and told his side of the story in an exclusive interview with Goal expressing his complaints about Bartomeu's leadership. He said he was told he would need to pay out a €700 million clause to exit this year.

“I wanted to go because I thought about living my last years of football happily," Messi said. "Lately I have not found happiness within the club.”

Further complicating matters is that the club's debt could limit the amount they can pay him in wages. His contract expires this summer, meaning Laporta will now need to work quickly to secure a deal even as the financial toll of the pandemic lingers.

But the myriad obstacles have not prevented Laporta from exuding confidence he can keep Messi, and the morning of Sunday's election, he said "I can call Jorge Messi tonight if I win". He also claimed Messi would leave if he wasn't elected.

Will Laporta seek a new manager?

One of the big questions each candidate faced was whether to keep Ronald Koeman in the dugout or to appoint a new boss.

Goal has reported that Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is not a candidate to take over, contrary to prior speculation, but Koeman could still be ousted if the 2020-21 campaign finishes in a disappointing manner. Laporta hasn't yet made a definitive statement on the long-term future of Koeman.

Further reading