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Yanga SC winger Carlos Carlinhos has apologized to the fans after he was red-carded in their domestic Cup fixture against Kengold FC on Saturday.

The Angolan star was shown a straight red card for punching a Kengold defender but Yanga held on to win the match 1-0 and qualify to the fifth round.

Carlinhos, who came on for Deus Kaseke in the 66th minute, has now taken to his social media pages to apologise to fans for the incident and promised to come back a better player after serving his suspension.

“I apologise to all Yanga fans, especially colleagues, coaches, and team leaders for the red card I got today [Saturday]. now I will raise my head so that after the suspension I will come back stronger and help the team achieve the main goal of the season,” Carlinhos wrote on his Instagram page.

Carlinhos has struggled to nail down a starting place in the Yanga team since he signed for them at the start of the 2020-21 campaign, with injuries putting him out of action.

In the first round of the Mainland Premier League, Carlinhos missed a number of matches including the derby against Simba SC which ended 1-1 at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

His efforts to return to the team suffered another blow during the Mapinduzi Cup held in Zanzibar, as he aggravated the injury while in training, forcing the club to release him from camp.

Yanga went on to lift the trophy after beating Simba 4-3 on penalties after the final had ended 0-0 in regular time.

Against Kengold, Burundian import Fiston Razack scored the solitary goal to send his side to the next round courtesy of a 40th-minute spot-kick against a team that defended well to avoid conceding more goals.

The goal was the first for the former Sofapaka player in a competitive game since he signed for the Jangwani-based club and he was later substituted in the 88th minute for Michael Sarpong.

Yanga have made it clear their target this season is to win all the titles they will be playing in hence the domestic cup win will see them move close to their set targets.

If anyone needed proof of the dissimilar styles of Crystal Palace and Fulham, both sides’ last Premier League games were the perfect representation.

Roy Hodgson’s Eagles made more blocks (18) than they had attempts (three) but somehow managed to nick a 2-1 win at Brighton & Hove Albion via an improvised Jean-Philippe Mateta flick and late Christian Benteke volley.

Contrast this with Fulham’s encounter with Sheffield United at Craven Cottage last time out, where Ademola Lookman got the Cottagers a deserved winner having played on the front foot for nearly 90 minutes.

The 1-0 victory over the almost condemned Blades put Scott Parker’s men within three points of safety, opening up the possibility of escaping the bottom three this weekend if they win at Selhurst Park and 17th-placed Newcastle United are defeated by Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Lookman’s involvement in that success by and large typifies his overall influence this term in which he’s functioned as one of the side’s creative outlets even when results were at a premium. He’s created seven big chances (seven), ranking in the top 10 in the entire league and with the highest goal involvements in the side (seven).

Particularly noteworthy has been the importance of his contributions so far, which not only helped to secure maximum points last week but saw him assist in creditable draws vs Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool.

The RB Leipzig loanee also netted in the huge 2-1 win at Leicester City while he was minutes away from being the match-winner at Bramall Lane before Billy Sharp’s 85th-minute equalizer meant the London outfit settled for a point.

While the 23-year-old's season has largely been an individual success, the jury remains out on Eberechi Eze’s, despite Palace’s higher standing in the competition.

The talented playmaker has had his moments in South London in his maiden campaign in the top flight but has been somewhat limited by Hodgson’s conservative tactics. This is a disappointment owing to pre-season expectations to see a Palace side with more ambition to their approach.

The predicted deadly menace of a Wilfried Zaha-Eze double act has been few and far between this term, with the 5-1 defeat of West Bromwich Albion in early December probably one game that highlighted their potential when the shackles are off.

Still, the fact Hodgson needed a first-half red card to the hosts — a side that had conceded 18 times (only Fulham with 19 had a worse defensive record at the time) and scored seven times (third-lowest in the league) — to alter his approach at the Hawthorns was telling.

Even though the 22-year-old’s talent has shone through regardless, the level of his productivity could have been higher at a more progressive side than Palace. Queens Park Rangers averaged 52 percent possession in the Championship last season with Eze averaging 60 touches per game.

While the increased competitiveness of the Premier League and the presence of Zaha at Selhurst Park meant this was likely to be lower this term, Crystal Palace’s average possession of 41 percent has contributed to a mixed debut campaign in top-tier football.

Only two sides (West Bromwich and Newcastle United) have had less of the ball than Hodgson’s team and it’d be a surprise if the Eagles change their approach against a Fulham side whose mean currently reads 49.2 percent.

The experienced English manager may not flinch over the criticism of his side’s approach and will point to three wins in their last five which leaves them 10 points above Sunday afternoon’s visitors as justification for his generally negative approach.

Regardless, neutrals won’t help but think the football shouldn’t be so tepid and undesirable owing to the improvement in overall attacking quality in South London.

A whole lot has changed since the reverse fixture at the Cottage in October where the visitors won 2-1 despite having 36 percent of the ball. Parker’s team have improved significantly at the back and concede fewer chances, which began after a switch to a three-man defence in the winter.

The young manager has reverted to playing a back four since early February in a bid to increase the attacking potential of the side, though, prompting a four-game unbeaten run with four goals scored and the concession of one.

Andre Zambo Anguissa ran the show in midfield against the Blades but Lookman came up trumps in the final third to steer Fulham closer than ever away from the dreaded dropzone. He was involved in a game-high six shot-creating actions, created the joint-highest chances in the game and was generally positive in possession.

It wasn’t the same for Eze, hamstrung by the team’s passive approach as his manager sought to prevent a third straight league defeat.

Both exciting attackers face off in South London with the on-loan Fulham man out to invalidate the current standings and demonstrate the Cottagers' obvious superiority.

Kakamega Homeboyz coach Nicholas Muyoti has stated their readiness to take on AFC Leopards in an FKF Premier League match on Sunday.

The two teams will face off at Bukhungu Stadium with Ingwe having a bad run against their opponents but according to Muyoti, they are psychologically prepared to beat them again.

“I need to appreciate the efforts put by the players to get where we are right now,” Muyoti told Goal ahead of the game. “Psychologically we are at a good place and our confidence is back.

“Our focus is on us and not on AFC Leopards, as much as they are doing well, that is their own effort and we will strive to take our chances and not concede when we play them.

“We’ve beefed our striking force with two players, midfield with three players. I hope the additions will add more strength to the team.

“We started slow, not to the expectations of fans but as a technical bench, we have seen improvements. We are now scoring goals at will and fans should come with the belief that this is a home match and we need to win.”

In an earlier interview, Homeboyz chairman Cleophas Shimanyula maintained his side will carry the derby bragging rights when they come up against Ingwe.

“You want to know who will win the derby between Homeboyz and AFC Leopards? That is an obvious answer…Homeboyz will beat them [AFC] even with our eyes closed,” Shimanyula told Goal ahead of the match.

“We will beat AFC Leopards and they also know very well they will lose against us, AFC are our wives and they know it, even if we play at night, in the morning, or lunchtime, we will beat them.

“For me, nothing will change, we have beaten them for the past three or four matches and it will remain the same, they know when they come up against us, they already have less three points [from the fixture], I am saying what I know and the truth of the matter, and I know they [AFC Leopards] know the same.”

Last season, Homeboyz beat AFC Leopards 1-0 in the first round meeting with former Nzoia Sugar player Steven Etyang notching the all-important goal but the second round tie was cancelled owing to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic in the country.

In the 2018 season, Homeboyz clobbered AFC Leopards 3-0 in the first meeting before Ingwe managed a 1-1 draw in the second round fixture. AFC Leopard slast managed to beat Homeboyz in the 2018 season when they got a 2-1 win.

FKF Premier League side Tusker are on the verge of signing former Gor Mahia striker Nicholas Kipkirui.

Goal can exclusively reveal the former Zoo FC player has already received his release letter from the league champions and is currently negotiating with the Brewers over a possible move.

A source privy to the transfer has confirmed to Goal Kipkirui could be unveiled before Monday and also rubbished reports he had signed for Ulinzi Stars.

“Nicholas [Kipkirui] is currently a free agent after he received his release letter from Gor Mahia and he is currently talking with Tusker over a possible move,” the source, who did not want to be named, told Goal.

“He is no longer a Gor Mahia player, and is the reason he has not been able to play for them in recent weeks, Tusker have talked to him and he should be unveiled anytime soon, he has not signed for Ulinzi as reported, those are lies.”

Meanwhile, Ulinzi Stars chairman Eric Oloo has dismissed reports they have signed the player.

“We have not signed Kipkirui, and we don’t need his services and I don’t know where the reports came from,” Oloo told Goal over social media reports that Kipkirui has signed for the Soldiers.

“We only wanted to sign Kipkirui when he was at Zoo but after approaching him, he took the contract papers and promised to return them, we never saw him again but instead, we were shocked to see him unveiled by Gor Mahia, we are not after his services.”

Ulinzi Stars coach Benjamin Nyangweso also told Goal he was not aware Kipkirui had signed for his side.

“I don’t know anything about Kipkirui joining my team, in fact you are the one telling me about it,” Nyangweso told Goal. “If he has signed for us, he should be in training or camp, but I have not seen him, I don’t know anything to do with him.”

Tusker are searching for a striker to boost their chances of winning the title and Kipkirui could be just the man for the task.

On Saturday, Tusker’s title ambitions suffered a dent after they lost 2-1 to promoted side Bidco United at Kasarani Stadium.

Former Buccaneer Teko Modise was impressed by Orlando Pirates' intensity and application in the second half of their Nedbank Cup last-16 win against Maritzburg United at the Harry Gwala Stadium on Saturday night.

The Soweto side were a goal down at the interval but rallied after the break to secure a convincing 3-1 victory, with Kabelo Dlamini and Deon Hotto especially influential.

"The attitude that came also in the second half - I think Orlando Pirates came with a better attitude in the second half, and that's a big change," Modise said after the game in his role as a SuperSport TV pundit.

Hotto assisted for the first goal, scored by Dlamini, and also netted the second goal as Bus scored twice in a minute, 10 minutes into the second stanza.

The third goal was scored by Vincent Pule, with Dlamini again involved - his dipping shot was pushed by Maritzburg keeper Marcel Engelhardt into Pule's path.

"The introduction of Dlamini [on as a half time substitute for Ben Motshwar] changed the mobility in the midfield," Modise added.

"They started being more patient on the ball and also they started creating chances. It was the personnel change. Not a tactical change, but the personnel change, because now there was more mobility in midfield, they started creating chances.

"I think for Pirates it was a shock. Maritzburg started very well. They started very aggressive and they pressed very high and Orlando Pirates could not grasp the game very well, they couldn't get hold of the game.

"Second half everything changed, the introduction of Dlamini, scoring that goal, I think it brought belief back into the team, and they started creating chances.

"You always know with Hotto, especially with the system that they play - the false nine area - Hotto enjoys getting into that space and yet he's there in the box to score goals, he's there to create goals as well."

Pirates are in search of their second piece of silverware this season having ended a six-year trophy drought by winning the MTN8.

Marcel Kaizer's troops are in a good rhythm as they remain unbeaten in five consecutive games following their 3-0 win over erstwhile league leaders Sharjah FC away from home. 

The Dutch coach wants to continue with this momentum and is eager to take on Shabab Al-Ahli in their next match, although he feels that it will be a difficult fixture. In the reverse fixture between the two sides, riding on a brace by Ali Mabkhout, they had pumped in five goals past against the Dubai-based club. 

"Next game is against Al-Ahli. So we have a difficult schedule at the moment. We know we have to fight there again. It will be a very difficult game but we have confidence and we will prepare well," stated the manager after the resounding win over Sharjah. 

Midfielder Khalfan Mubarak played an instrumental role at the centre of the park and he was elated after the win. 

"It was a pressure game with the top two teams in the league and we managed to handle that pressure by imposing our style of play tonight,” he said.

“We had an exceptionally good first half and then we did well to hold Sharjah after Abdalla Ramadan received the red card for two bookable offences. We are very happy with tonight’s work and hopefully, we can take the momentum forward.”

However, Sharjah's Brazilian playmaker Caio insisted that their title hopes are not up in smoke after a disappointing loss which saw them surrender their top spot. 

“The loss to Jazira isn’t going to end our season and our objective is still to win the league. There are many matches left (eight) and we’ll try to win all of them and hope for some results of the other games to come in our favour.”

The player went on to defend their style of play under manager Abdulaziz Al Anbari, which has faced flak from certain fans. 

“Many people are commenting on Sharjah’s style of play but we have been successful in winning many games. When the team is winning we all win, and people start to praise, and when we lose we all lose, and people start to comment. Nobody can single out the coach for tonight’s defeat.

“The coach has done a good job before and now, and in the future too. So nobody can pass judgment on his capabilities after this defeat. Everything will be okay if we win the next two or three games.”

Sharjah have managed to get only two points from their last five matches. Sharjah will face another difficult opponent in Al-Nasr on March 7 away from home in their bid to return to winning ways. However, they had lost to Al-Nasr in the President's Cup 3-0 recently.

Indian Super League (ISL) club Kerala Blasters have wrapped up a deal to sign Indian defender Sanjeev Stalin, Goal can confirm. 

The 20-year-old defender, who is ambidextrous, is set to be the latest addition to a pool of talented young players at Kerala Blasters ahead of the 2021-22 season of the ISL.

Who is Stalin? 

Stalin, who was part of the India U-17 team for the U-17 World Cup and started all three group stage games, started his professional career with the All India Football Federation's (AIFF) developmental side Indian Arrows from 2017. 

After 28 appearances in the I-League over two seasons, the defender signed for Portuguese top-tier club CD Aves in early 2020. He then signed on the dotted line for Sertanense FC, a club that plies their trade in the Campeonato de Portugal, the third-tier football league in the country. 

Youngsters at Blasters

Stalin will join the likes of Sahal Abdul Samad, Jeakson Singh, Rahul KP, Givson Singh, Prabshsukhan Gill and Ruivah Hormipam at Kerala Blasters.

Young full-back Nishu Kumar and defender Sandeep Singh who recently signed a contract extension are also part of the defensive lineup of the club for next season. 

Blasters ended the current campaign at the 10th position in the standings with 17 points from 20 matches. They could only win three games this season and recorded the second-worst defence in the league, having conceded 36 goals. Only bottom-placed Odisha have let in more goals than the Kochi-based club. 

The Yellow Army parted ways with their head coach Kibu Vicuna after they crashed out of the top-four race and are yet to appoint a new head coach. 

Further reading

Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta believes Willian is finally starting to show why the club invested so heavily in the former Chelsea winger.

Arteta admitted the Gunners "were expecting many more things" when signing the Brazilian on a free transfer in the summer.

Willian, who is reportedly being paid about £200,000 per week, recorded a mid-week Europa League assist against Benfica, a feat Arteta is optimistic can become a confidence-boosting moment for the player.

What did Arteta say about Willian?

“I was really pleased with Willian on Thursday," Arteta told reporters. "He totally deserves some credit because of the way he trains every day and he is trying.

“In games now you can see that he is starting to produce what we think he can do for the team so everyone has to step up and create big moments in games, because the front players in the end have to be the ones that decide the game for us.

“His team-mates like him and we were expecting many more things from him since he joined but for many different reasons he hasn’t found his best performances.

“But hopefully Thursday’s performance is going to give him the platform and belief that he is a really important player - he is a player I really like and I did a lot to bring him in and hopefully he can still give us more."

The bigger picture

Willian's lack of production in 2020-21 (no goals and four assists in 26 appearances) has been one of the main reasons Arsenal's attack ranks in the bottom half of the Premier League.

He will likely be called upon in March regardless of his form, as the Gunners must play five games in 21 days because of a two-leg Europa League tie against Olympiacos.

Improvement from the former Chelsea man would not only help vindicate his costly salary, but also boost the entire squad by reducing pressure on others to create chances.

Further reading

Jurgen Klopp believes Mohamed Salah is fully committed to Liverpool in the long term.

The Egyptian forward’s future at the club was cast into doubt towards the end of last year when he spoke in glowing terms about La Liga giants Barcelona and Real Madrid.

The speculation has not impacted on Salah’s output for Liverpool, as he leads the Premier League scoring charts with 17 goals so far this term, and the Reds boss feels his leading marksman is not looking for a route out of Anfield.

What did Klopp say about Salah?

"It's just a bit awkward when I have to praise my own players, which I like to do to be honest, but especially in Mo's case, the numbers speak for themselves," Klopp told the Liverpool Echo.

"Mo is not only a goalscorer, he has developed as a footballer as well. He is a very, very important player for us and hopefully he will be that for a very long time of course."

What did Salah say?

The Egypt international raised eyebrows shortly before Christmas when he talked positively about the Spanish sides.

"I think Madrid and Barcelona are two top clubs,” Salah said. "Who knows what will happen in the future, but right now I am focused on winning the Premier League and the Champions League with Liverpool again."

The speculation went into overdrive in the weeks following Salah’s comments, with some reports suggesting the Reds were ready to cash in on an unhappy player.

Klopp has never shifted from his stance that the 28-year-old remains committed to the club and his form in front of goal has reinforced the belief that the player is happy at Anfield.

Further reading

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has said he is the worst loser at Manchester United, even surpassing the highly expressive Bruno Fernandes.

The Portugal star wears his heart on his sleeve on the pitch, and isn't shy about showing his frustration when things aren't going the Red Devils' way.

But the club's manager said he is an even worse loser than Fernandes – though he admitted he doesn't express his emotions in such a public fashion.

What was said?

"If you are at Man Utd and enjoy losing, you are at the wrong place," said Solskjaer.

"I don't show my frustration maybe so much as Bruno but I think maybe I am the worst loser at the club. You have probably not seen it but some of the players have."

Solskjaer backs Tuchel over Hudson-Odoi substitution

United will face Chelsea on Sunday in an important Premier League clash at Stamford Bridge.

Solskjaer is relishing the chance to face his opposite number Thomas Tuchel – and backed the German boss over a controversial call he made last weekend.

Tuchel introduced Callum Hudson-Odoi as a half-time substitute against Southampton, only to take him off the pitch in the 75th minute.

“Thomas is one of these coaches who loves football, knows his football and has the team very well prepared for every game," Solskjaer said.

"Managers live by results and if you feel something has to change, you change it.

"You have got to make some tough decisions because at the end of the day it's down to results, which are down to the manager. It doesn't really matter if it's someone who has played 75 minutes or 30 minutes."

Further reading

Andrea Pirlo has claimed Juventus lacked the experience required to close out the game with Verona, and said the Old Lady are in an “emergency situation” when asked if they are too reliant on Cristiano Ronaldo for goals.

Ronaldo netted his 19th goal of the Serie A season to fire Juve ahead, but they were pegged back by an Antonin Barak header  in a 1-1 draw on Saturday.

The draw leaves Juve seven points adrift of leaders Inter, and Pirlo pointed to a lack of experience in his side.

What was said?

“It’s disappointing, as we knew it would be a difficult and hard-fought game," Pirlo told DAZN . "We managed to take the lead, which was the most difficult part, then didn’t keep hold of it.

“There are these small details that unfortunately young players don’t understand can make the difference and lead to points.

“When you are in front, you must try to bring these games home. We were missing a lot of experienced players, so the younger elements didn’t understand the way the match was going.

"I asked Cristiano and Alex Sandro to speak to them and make their voices heard, but it wasn’t enough.”

Is Pirlo justified in his thinking?

Juventus have defensive problems, with Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Bonucci, Danilo and Juan Cuadrado all absent for the trip to Verona.

There was a youthful makeup to the team, with six of the starting 11 aged 25 or under.

But as well as Ronaldo, Wojciech Szczesny, Alex Sandro, Federico Bernardeschi and Aaron Ramsey have a wealth of experience to draw on.

Ronaldo on target again

Juventus have struggled for goals when Ronaldo has not been on target, and Pirlo admitted the side are missing the absent pair of Alvaro Morata and Paulo Dybala.

When asked if Juve were overly reliant on Ronaldo, Pirlo said: “We’re in an emergency situation, but try to work well with what we have. It’s not just us who miss players like Paulo Dybala and Alvaro Morata, but any team would miss them.”

Further reading

Thomas Tuchel believes that Chelsea's style of play sometimes holds Timo Werner back as the possession-hungry side cause opponents to sit in defensive shapes.

Chelsea have averaged 69 per cent possession in the six league games since Tuchel has taken over, which has caused their rivals to sit deep and hit them on the counterattack.

Werner has scored just once in the eight matches since Tuchel came in. Although the forward has shown signs of improvement, the Blues will demand more from their £47.5 million signing from RB Leipzig.

What Tuchel said?

Tuchel said he sympathised with Werner's struggles and explained why he continues to select him despite a lack of goals.

"Maybe it is our fault because we have a lot of possession and we push opponent teams very, very deep in their half so spaces are not too big," Tuchel said.

"The biggest strength of Timo is to attack the space behind the last line so it is maybe also our fault in the dominant game that we play in the moment, it is very natural that the spaces are closed by the opponents.

"A game like against Atletico, is there any team out there in the world that can close spaces like Atletico? I don’t know. This is not exactly the opponent that you wish for Timo to show all his skills, so what is left for him is to not lose faith and work for the team.

"We are reflecting a lot about this and working a lot with him.

"There are also solutions in tight spaces to use his speed in the first metres, to use his acceleration.

"But it is not easy for him and I can totally see this and it is why I am very patient and very supportive and I believe in his potential and character and of course his goalscoring skills."

How has Werner fared at Chelsea?

The Germany international got off to a strong start under Frank Lampard, scoring eight times in his first 12 matches in all competitions. 

But as Chelsea's form dipped under Lampard, so did Werner's. The striker went 14 consecutive league matches without a goal – a run that stretched between November and February.

Lampard was replaced by Tuchel in January and though Werner has shown signs of life under the former PSG boss, his goal against Newcastle on February 15 is his only strike under Tuchel thus far.

What else was said?

Tuchel went on to talk about his six wins and two draws since coming in to replace Lampard at the end of January. Asked when would be the time to judge his impact, Tuchel began with a joke.

"How about now? It is a very good moment! Excellent moment for a five-year contract," Tuchel said with a laugh.

"You know how it is. The point is to not get affected too much also in moments where you have good results, keep your feet on the ground and that is the big challenge as we know very well that you get judged on results."

Further reading

Thomas Tuchel has revealed that he wanted to sign Bruno Fernandes at PSG before the Portugal star joined Manchester United.

Chelsea are now charged with keeping the £47 million signing from Sporting quiet on Sunday at Stamford Bridge when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side visit.

Antero Henrique, PSG's former sporting director, alerted then-manager Tuchel to the talents of Fernandes. Tuchel now believes that the 26-year-old is among the best players in the world.

What Tuchel said about Fernandes?

"With my first sporting director in Paris, Antero Henrique, a Portuguese sporting director, and he knew [Fernandes] very well," Chelsea boss Tuchel told reporters ahead of Sunday's match.

"We fought hard to have a connection to him and to bring him to our team. I got made aware of him more in detail, so we watched more and more games about him and followed him and tried to be in touch with him to make it happen.

"Obviously, he decided [to sign for Man Utd] and I was never personally in touch with him, but we tried and he went another way. [It is] bad for us that we have to play against him."

What does Tuchel think of Fernandes's impact at Man Utd?

"The impact he has had since he arrived at Manchester United is indescribable and unbelievable," Tuchel added.

"To come from Portugal, from a competitive team, a big club but not from the strongest league and stepping in a year to one of the biggest clubs in the Premier League and the strongest league in Europe and to have this kind of impact, I have nothing but the biggest respect for this guy.

"It is outstanding. He is one of the best midfielders in the world, attacking midfielders, and he has a huge, huge impact and to have this as a single person in football, you must be absolutely top level because this is almost impossible.

"But he has such a big influence on their game, on their attacking game and that it is a big key to defend against him, to be around him and close to him and he is a key player of Man Utd in a way that is outstanding."

How impressive is Fernandes?

Fernandes has the most goal involvements in the Premier League this season after racking up 15 goals and 10 assists in the division.

In all competitions, Fernandes has 22 goals and 13 assists and he has been an ever-present in Solskjaer's line-up, playing 2,940 minutes in 38 appearances.

Further reading

After the fourth team in the 2020-21 Indian Super League (ISL) between FC Goa and Hyderabad has been decided on Sunday, Mumbai City take on ATK Mohun Bagan at the GMC stadium in Bambolim with the ISL League Shield on the line.

TV CHANNELS & LIVE STREAM

The Star Sports Network have the exclusive broadcasting rights of the ISL in India.

Commentary will also be available in vernacular languages across India.

 TEAM NEWS

Mumbai City Possible XI:

Injured - None
Doubtful - None
Suspended - Hugo Boumous, Vignesh Dakshinamurthy

Key Players - Adam le Fondre, Ahmed Jahouh
 

ATK Mohun Bagan Possible XI:

Injured - Michael Soosairaj
Doubtful - None
Suspended - Subhasish Bose

Key Players - Roy Krishna, Manvir Singh

FC Goa are fourth with 30 points from 19 games and can at best finish third with a win over Hyderabad (28 points) who need to displace the Gaurs for a place in the play-offs in season 7 of the Indian Super League (ISL) when the two teams lock horns at the PJN Stadium in Fatorda, in the first of Sunday's fixtures. The second match is set to witness a battle between Mumbai City and ATK Mohun Bagan for the summit spot.

TV CHANNELS & LIVE STREAM

The Star Sports Network have the exclusive broadcasting rights of the ISL in India.

Commentary will also be available in vernacular languages across India.

TEAM NEWS

FC Goa Possible XI:

Injured - Brandon Fernandes
Doubtful - None
Suspended - None

Key Players - Igor Angulo, Alberto Noguera

Hyderabad Possible XI: 

Injured - None
Absent - Roland Alberg
Suspended - Chinglensana Singh, Aridane Santana

Key Players - Fran Sandaza, Joel Chianese

Barcelona have confirmed Pedri will undergo tests on a leg injury on Sunday after he was filmed arriving at the club’s hotel on crutches.

The teenage midfielder has been in excellent form in recent weeks, but went off with an injury to his left leg during the win over Sevilla in La Liga on Saturday.

He arrived at the club’s hotel later in the day on crutches, and did not put any weight on his left leg as he left the bus and entered the lobby.

What was said?

“Pedri has a muscle problem in the lower part of his left leg,” Barcelona confirmed in a statement on their official website. “Tomorrow, Sunday, he will have more tests to find out the exact extent of the injury.”

Barcelona’s upcoming fixtures

There has been no word on the extent of the problem, but it was a worrying sign that he did not take any weight on the leg on Saturday afternoon.

Barcelona face Sevilla again on Wednesday in the second leg of their Copa Del Rey semi-final. Ronald Koeman’s side trail 2-0 from the first leg.

The Catalans have hauled themselves back into the Liga title race and now trail leaders Atletico Madrid by two points - albeit having played two games more.

La Liga would appear to be Barca’s best chance of securing silverware this season as they trail Paris Saint-Germain 4-1 after the first leg of their Champions League last-16 clash. The second leg in the French capital is on March 10, meaning Pedri would have a little over a week to shake off the problem if he is to face Mauricio Pochettino’s side.

As well as the Copa Del Rey and Champions League games, Barca face Osasuna, Huesca and Real Sociedad in La Liga in March. 

Further reading

Umar Sadiq scored a goal and provided an assist in Almeria's 4-1 victory over Lugo in Saturday's Segunda division encounter.

Sadiq who joined the Rojiblancos on a five-year deal from Partizan Belgrade in October 2020, is enjoying the best goalscoring return of his career in Spain.

Following their 2-0 defeat to Mallorca last Sunday, the Nigeria youth star's efforts inspired Jose Gomes' men back to winning ways.

Sadiq won a penalty for the Rojiblancos in the 10th minute and he stepped forward to take the resulting kick.

His attempt was first stopped by goalkeeper Ander Cantero, but he followed it to put the rebound in the back of the net.

Sadiq's strike was his 13th goal of the season in the Spanish second division and he is the leading top scorer for Almeria this season.

The 24-year-old's opener was, however, cut short after Manu Barreiro scored a penalty for Lugo in the 45th minute.

Jose Carlos Lazo's goal and Jose Corpas' brace in the second half secured maximum points for Almeria at the Estadio de los Juegos Mediterraneos.

Sadiq helped Corpas score his second goal in the 75th minute before he was replaced three minutes later.

Almeria remain third in the Segunda Division table with 52 points after 27 matches and Saturday's win leaves them two points behind leaders Mallorca who have a game in hand.

The Rojiblancos narrowly missed out on La Liga promotion last season after a fourth-place finish, but they will be focused on boosting their chances of returning to the Spanish top-flight when they travel to Girona for their next league match on March 7.

Former Italy international Antonio Cassano has said signing Cristiano Ronaldo has proven to be a mistake by Juventus.

The Portuguese superstar arrived in Turin in 2018 with the aim being to propel Juventus to Champions League glory.

That aim remains unfulfilled, and Cassano feels Juve erred in signing the five-time Ballon d’Or winner from Real Madrid.

What was said?

"Juventus signed him to win the Champions League, but they've done worse with him than they've done before," Cassano said to Corriere dello Sport.

"They would have won the Scudetto [Serie A title] without him. It was the wrong project.

“He'll keep scoring goals because he knows how to do that no matter what. He'll cut in from the left, get the ball on his right foot and fire it in. His headers are unique.

“But [head coach Andrea] Pirlo wants to build the play, pressure the opposition and play between the lines, and this means Cristiano doesn't participate much.

"I think he will have done badly unless they manage to win the Champions League."

Ronaldo’s record at Juventus

The 36-year-old has won back-to-back Serie A titles with Juventus, along with two Supercoppas, and he was named Serie A player of the year in 2019.

However, in his two completed Champions League seasons with the club, they have been knocked out in the quarter finals and the round of 16. 

In the current campaign, Juventus trail Porto 2-1 following the first leg of their last-16 tie, with the second leg to take place on March 9.

Further reading