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Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane's injury frustrations intensified on Tuesday, but he was pleased his squad responded well to the ongoing crisis with a 2-0 win against Getafe.

Zidane said after the match that he had planned to sub off Vinicius Junior in the 55th minute and needed to quickly adapt his plans once Marvin Park was hurt. Five minutes later, Vinicius was involved in Karim Benzema's opener.

The victory moved Real Madrid five points behind Atletico Madrid, though Los Blancos have played two more matches than La Liga's frontrunner.

What's been said

“Yes, we planned to take Vinicius off," Zidane told reporters. "But then Marvin Park hurt himself and we changed our plans.

“Today we did this because we had to adapt to the situation with lots of absences. We interpreted the match very well and I’m happy for the players, because that’s not easy. We were really good, especially defensively.

"I don't think there are Madridistas who think we can't win the league. It's the opposite, they always think we can change things, that's what we'll try to do.

"With difficulties of course, but we'll keep going, believing in what we do. There's a lot ahead of us."

Added Benzema: "This win gives us a lot of confidence, I think we are on our way back to our best."

The bigger picture

Real Madrid are in an almost impossible position with the likes of Eden Hazard, Rodrygo, Sergio Ramos, Fede Valverde, Dani Carvajal and Lucas Vazquez sidelined. But the flexible showing from their remaining healthy bodies against Getafe buys time for injured players to return before La Liga floats completely out of reach.

Inter head coach Antonio Conte has demanded "more sportsmanship and respect" from Juventus chairman Andrea Agnelli after the pair clashed on Tuesday.

Juve and Inter drew 0-0 in the second leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final, with Juventus advancing to the final through a 2-1 aggregate win.

During and after the match Conte and Agnelli appeared to trade insults, with the Juventus president seen in the stands shouting at the Inter boss on the field. 

What did Conte say about the clash with Agnelli?

Speaking to Rai 1 after the match, Conte said: “Juventus should tell the truth. I think the fourth official heard and saw what happened throughout the match.

“They should be more polite in my opinion. They need more sportsmanship and respect for those who work.”

In his post-match press conference, Conte added: "What happened at the end of the game? I have neither the desire nor the pleasure to comment on anything. I think that in all things there must be education. Enough."

What is the history between Conte and Agnelli?

Conte was a star for Juventus as a player, making more than 500 appearances for the club and winning five league titles. 

In 2011, Conte returned to Juve to serve as head coach and oversaw a period of great on-field success, winning three consecutive Serie A titles. 

But Conte's relationship with the club and Agnelli soured and he stepped down in 2014 during the club's pre-season.

Conte further angered Juve supporters in 2019 when he took over as head coach of the club's fierce rivals Inter. 

What did Conte say about the match?

“In my opinion we should have scored the chances we created and it’s a shame, because after 180 minutes we saw two teams that fought until the end,” Conte told Rai 1 about the scoreless draw.

“We paid for the first leg, for some gifts we gave them. We tried to score until the end, because with one goal, they would have had more difficulty.

“I’m sorry because these are matches that are played in 180 minutes. Today we tried in every way, with desire and determination.

“You make mistakes, you have to learn from mistakes and then start over and try again.”

Further reading

€7m-a-season substitutes? Dzeko & Sanchez left in limbo after failed Inter-Roma swap deal

'His numbers must be better' - Conte says goal-shy Inter forward Alexis Sanchez is prey to 'merciless' stats

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer defender Donny van de Beek’s performance after Manchester United struggled past West Ham to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals.

Scott McTominay scored the only goal in extra time after a tepid affair at Old Trafford which saw only six shots on target in 120 minutes.

Van de Beek, a £35 million (€39m/$46m) summer signing from Ajax, started in midfield with Bruno Fernandes benched and Paul Pogba missing from the squad entirely.

In the absence of their playmakers-in-chief, United struggled to find a way through a defensively-minded West Ham side, but Solskjaer was pleased with the role Van de Beek performed.

What did Solskjaer say about Van de Beek?

“I thought in the first half, we and Donny played really well,” Solskjaer told reporters.

“We created spaces and he was part of that. He did his job neat and tidy, had a half chance. In the second half, the whole team fell off a little bit and we just wanted to make a few changes.”

Van de Beek was taken off after 73 minutes, with Fernandes coming on in his place.

Which players did well?

As well as Van de Beek, Solskjaer took time in his press conference to praise Dean Henderson and Mason Greenwood.

West Ham only had one shot on target in the game but Henderson saved from Said Benrahma late in extra time, while Greenwood got another 86 minutes under his belt in a more difficult season which has brought only four goals so far.

“Mason did really well,” Solskjaer said. “He played well managing his minutes, played the last three [games]. Anthony [Martial] played a game the other week and we wanted him to complete the game.

“I always hope our keeper has a quiet night when we play and most of the time it's happened that way.

“Today [Henderson] was clearing everything, apart from the last header. As a keeper, David [De Gea] has been used to this for years; to keep concentrated, keep your eye on the ball, then suddenly one moment comes up and you have to make a save. Hopefully that's the way for many years.”

Further reading

Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have completed a takeover of National League side Wrexham AFC, the club have announced.

The duo have made a £2 million equity investment into the club, who are currently in the fifth tier of English football.

Reynolds and McElhenney initially announced in September 2020 that they were interested in purchasing the Welsh club. 

Who are Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney?

Reynolds is a film star from Canada who is perhaps best known from his roles in the "Deadpool" franchise, earning a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in 2017.

McElhenney is best known as the creator and one of the stars of the TV show "It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia."

Who are Wrexham AFC?

Wrexham, who play in the fifth tier of the English football league system, were founded in 1864 and are the third-oldest professional football club in the world, as well as the oldest Welsh club. 

In 2007-08, the club were relegated from League Two and have been in the fifth-tier National League since that time. 

What did Reynolds and McElhenney say about the takeover?

“It is a special day for the two of us to become the latest stewards in the long and storied history of Wrexham AFC," the duo said in a statement on the club's website.

"Together with the players, the staff, the fans, and the local community, we can now pursue our goal to grow the team and return it to the EFL in front of increased attendances, and in an improved stadium, while making a positive difference to the wider community in Wrexham.

“Wrexham AFC is only in a position to thrive because of the incredible efforts of the Wrexham Supporters Trust.  Their members are a fitting reflection of the integrity and spirit of the town and they will always have an important role at the club."

Further reading

Film star Reynolds aiming to purchase Wrexham AFC

Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney set to complete stunning Wrexham takeover

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says he was pleased with the "authority" match-winner Scott McTominay showed in Manchester United's FA Cup victory over West Ham on Tuesday evening.

The Red Devils had their spirits lifted by a 1-0 win over the Hammers in extra time, with midfielder McTominay providing the match's lone goal.

What's been said?

"I felt we dominated," Solskjaer told BBC Sport. "I thought we were in complete control of the first half.

"In the second half it became more of a game. When it's only 1-0 and we are wasteful, anything can happen to us - we knew that from the last game It's just about finishing the game off but we're through. We're in the hat and that's what we wanted.

"I think we got about 15 to 17 shots in the end but we need to be more clinical. We should've finished the game off earlier and finished in 90 minutes but sometimes it doesn't happen.

"We needed to have a good result and a good feeling after today because we were low after Everton game. It's hard to take but they were really focused and did the job.

"Of course you want to win every game. We want to challenge and we want to go to the final. That's what we're here at Man United for. Sometimes you're lucky with draw in the cup - we haven't been that lucky - but obviously we move another step closer to the final."

On McTominay, he said: "Scott used to be a striker and I think he finishes with authority. You see that he doesn't mind being in those positions. He just smashed the ball into the net."

The bigger picture

United have progressed to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup as they seek their first piece of silverware under Solskjaer and their first major trophy since 2017. The draw for the last eight of the competition takes place on Thursday.

Further reading

Van de Beek again fails to impress for United (Feb 9)

United equal 109-year-old club record (Feb 9)

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola says Kevin De Bruyne is doing "really good" in his recovery from injury.

City have been without the Belgium star since he pulled up with a hamstring issue in the 2-0 win over Aston Villa on January 20.

They have remained in unstoppable form despite that blow, winning all five of their games since and going five points clear at the top of the Premier League.

What has Guardiola said?

Guardiola says De Bruyne isn’t ready to return to full team training yet, but seemed upbeat about his recovery.

“He is getting well he is already training, not with the team but alone and he is feeling well,” he told reporters. “It’s good, really good.”

When will De Bruyne be back from injury?

After De Bruyne suffered his injury, Guardiola said he was expected to be out for between four and six weeks.

"It's a big blow, isn't it? It is, but we have to move forward,” he said at the time. "I'm not saying anything that anyone doesn't know, it is unfortunate for him and for us and we have to find a solution because everyone in their own life is struggling in the situation we are living and we have to adapt."

Which games will he miss?

If the best-case scenario meant De Bruyne was out for exactly four weeks, he could return for the trip to Arsenal on February 21.

That would mean him missing games with Tottenham and Everton, as well as Wednesday's FA Cup trip to Swansea.

If his absence stretches closer to six weeks, some key fixtures are in doubt. After Arsenal, City start the knockout stage of the Champions League away at Borussia Monchengladbach - at a neutral venue in Budapest - on February 24.

City then host high-flying West Ham before a home derby against Manchester United on March 6.

Further reading

Sheyi Ojo opened scoring for Cardiff City in Tuesday’s 2-1 Championship victory over Rotherham United.

Having silenced Bristol City their last time, Mick McCarthy’s men travelled to the New York Stadium with the aspiration of extending their impressive away form.

In the keenly-contested fixture, they enjoyed a bright start with Ojo and Kieffer Moore combining effectively to cause a moment of panic for the hosts.

Few minutes later, Rotherham settled into the contest and began to dominate ball possession. Curtis Nelson planned his tackle on Matt Crooks carefully to extinguish an attack, while English forward Michael Smith tested goalkeeper Dillon Phillips on two occasions.

Looking like the first half would end in a no winner, no vanquished note, Ojo put the visiting team ahead in the 42nd minute thanks to an assist from Harry Wilson.

After battling splendidly at the back, Wilson picked up a loose ball and teed up the 23-year-old through on the halfway line. The English winger of Nigerian descent raced towards goal unopposed before showing first-rate composure to beat goalkeeper Viktor Johansson.

A minute after the hour mark, the Millers were back on level terms through Matt Crooks – turning home an inch-perfect cross from Smith.

As the game progressed, weather conditions declined with heavy snow calling for the change to a yellow ball. That did not deter both teams as they pushed harder in their quest to seal all maximum points.

Five minutes to full time, nevertheless, Joseph Bennett had the final say after turning home Josh Murphy’s superb left-footed cross.

Ojo was in action for 53 minutes before he was replaced by Murphy. As expected, Cote d'Ivoire defender Sol Bamba and English full back of Ghanaian background Jordi Osei-Tutu were not available for selection owing to their injury setbacks.

For Rotherham, Nigeria prospect Michael Ihiekwe was on parade from start to finish for Paul Warne's team , while his compatriot Freddie Ladapo was introduced for Daniel Barlaser in the 81st minute.

With this win, Cardiff moved to 11th in the Championship log having garnered 37 points from 28 games. Whereas, defeat places Rotterham United in the 20th position with 29 points from 27 outings.

A representative from Bournemouth saved Burnley by telling them that they had put the ineligible Erik Pieters in their starting line-up prior to Tuesday's FA Cup fifth-round clash, Clarets manager Sean Dyche said.

Pieters had picked up bookings in the previous two rounds of the competition, meaning he was suspended for the game against the Championship side.

The Dutchman was replaced before kick-off by Anthony Glennon, with the Cherries going on to win the game 2-0 and advance to the quarter-finals.

What did Sean Dyche say about the mistake?

After the match, the Burnley boss said: "It was just a simple admin error. We have people who keep an eye on situations, unfortunately it got away from that moment where someone found clarity.

"To be fair to Bournemouth, they flagged it and mentioned it, so credit to them for a bit of gentlemanly conduct. We jumped on it straight away and people at our club held their hands up in the right slots."

Who advised Burnley about the mistake?

Bournemouth caretaker manager Jonathan Woodgate said the club's head of media Anthony Marshall recognised the error and made Burnley aware.

"Fair play to the staff who did it and told Burnley," Woodgate said. "We all want a fair game, so I thought it was important we did that. I think it was Anthony, our press officer, who did it. It's good sportsmanship at the end of the day." 

What would have happened if Pieters played?

Burnley could have faced disqualification from the FA Cup had the full-back participated in the match, or they could have been forced to replay the game.

Clubs in the past, including Bury, Bradford City and Chesterfield have been hit with such punishments for fielding ineligible players.

Further reading

FA Cup 2020-21: Draw, fixtures, results & guide to each round

Manchester United won their ninth straight home FA Cup match on Tuesday with a 1-0 result over West Ham.

The Red Devils' streak at Old Trafford in the competition takes them level with their all-time best mark, which was set in 1912.

It took Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's team 97 minutes to break through against the Hammers, but Scott McTominay's precise strike made the wait worthwhile.

Manchester United's home FA Cup run

Manchester United have won their last nine home FA Cup matches, their joint-longest home winning run in the competition, equalling their nine consecutive home wins between 1908 and 1912.

West Ham woes vs. Manchester United

West Ham have been dreadful against Manchester United in the FA Cup this century. They've been eliminated in each of their last four FA Cup ties against the Red Devils, going out in 2002-03, 2012-13 and 2015-16 before their latest defeat.

McTominay's scoring form

Scott McTominay wasn't known as much of a scoring threat before this campaign, but he's been a source of key production from his midfield role in 2020-21. With his extra-time winner on Tuesday, he's now scored seven times in 30 appearances for Manchester United this season, which is as many as he scored in 84 appearances in his first four seasons with the club.

Rashford makes 250th appearance

At 23 years old, Marcus Rashford became the fourth-youngest Manchester United player to reach 250 appearances. He trails only Norman Whiteside, George Best and Ryan Giggs in that regard.

Further reading

Manchester United Europa League clash with Real Sociedad moved to Turin due to Covid-19 restrictions

Shaw never considered Man Utd exit after being publicly criticised by Mourinho

Manchester United’s FA Cup win over West Ham on Tuesday didn’t bring a lot of excitement, but it did include a small piece of English football history.

Ryan Fredericks ensured his place in quiz questions for years to come when he came on as English football’s first concussion substitute.

The right-back came on in place of Issa Diop after the Frenchman had a clash of heads with Anthony Martial.

Why does it matter?

This is the first usage of a new system which started trials in the Premier League and FA Cup, among other competitions, on February 6.

It allows teams to make up to two permanent substitutions per game for players who have or are suspected to have concussion, without affecting the number of other changes a manager can make.

The measure had long been called for in the interests of player welfare.

Why have concussion substitutes been introduced?

The concussion substitute protocol has been introduced to protect players’ health in both the short and long term.

“The trial is a result of the IFAB’s consultation with stakeholders and recommendations from their concussion expert group to allow additional substitutions for players with actual or suspected concussion,” the FA said.

Concussions can cause serious health problems and research has shown that attempting to play on with a head injury can substantially lengthen the time it takes to recover.

It is thought managers will be less reluctant to take off an influential player in the event of a suspected concussion if they are still able to use their full quota of changes.

Calls for concussion subs are not entirely new but the desire for them grew after Raul Jimenez and David Luiz’s collision during Wolves’ win over Arsenal in November.

Jimenez was left with a fractured skull but Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta did not immediately take Luiz off. He later said the Brazilian had been “uncomfortable” after the collision.

Further reading

Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho has expressed his sympathy for Mike Dean after the referee was on the receiving end of death threats.

Dean has been threatened online after giving a red card to West Ham United's Tomas Soucek near the end of Saturday's 0-0 draw with Fulham.

The referee joins a number of people involved in Premier League football who have been abused online recently, including Manchester United's Axel Tuanzebe, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial, and Chelsea's Reece James.

What did Mourinho say?

"Of course I feel very sorry for Mike Dean. I feel very sorry with Tuanzebe, and with every Mike Dean and every Tuanzebe of this world," the Portuguese said.

"This week was for them, the week before was for others, and if the situation goes in the same direction, next week will be others.

"I think something has to be done, because one thing is professional life and what we do in our professional lives, and the success we have, the mistakes we make, the frustrations we have.

"Another thing is to go to the private life and go to the social life. Then, of course, something has to be done."

What did Soucek do to get sent off?

Near the end of the Premier League match against Fulham, Soucek was trying to create space and appeared to accidentally catch Aleksandar Mitrovic with his elbow.

Dean was summoned by the VAR and following a review of the replay, the referee gave the Hammers star a straight red card.

After West Ham appealed the decision, the red card was overturned and the Czech star's three-match ban was overturned.

What was the reaction to Dean's decision?

Dean has asked to not be involved in any Premier League games this weekend after he and his family were targeted with death threats online.

Soucek took to Twitter on Monday upon learning of the abuse Dean has received.

"Whatever decisions are made on the pitch should stay on the pitch," Soucek wrote.

"I don’t like hearing about it interfering with personal life and I send Mike Dean and his family my support. There is no place for abuse of any kind. It is in the past and I’m now focused on the rest of the season."

Dean has reported the threats to the police. 

Further reading

Mike Dean & VAR face backlash again after controversial red card for Soucek

Soucek’s controversial red card overturned on appeal after Dean's VAR decision left West Ham baffled

Soucek angered by reported death threats aimed at Premier League referee Dean

Chennaiyin are looking for their first win in six games when they face Jamshedpur in a 2020-21 Indian Super League (ISL) encounter at the GMC Stadium in Bambolim, on Wednesday evening.

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

Chennaiyin Possible XI:

Injured - Aman Chetri
Doubtful - None
Suspended - Jerry Lalrinzuala

Key Players - Isma, Manuel Lanzarote

Jamshedpur Possible XI: 

Injured - None
Doubtful - None
Suspended - None

Key Players - Nerijus Valskis, Nick Fitzgerald 

Thiago Silva says a “nice surprise” from Frank Lampard immediately assured him he made the right choice when joining Chelsea over the summer.

The Brazil defender moved to the Premier League shortly before his 36th birthday, bringing to an end his eight-year spell at Paris Saint-Germain.

Silva says he had no doubts about his decision to head to Stamford Bridge, but appreciated a gesture he received from his new manager as he prepared for the move.

What did Lampard send Thiago Silva?

"As soon as I said yes, he sent me a picture of us both shaking hands as national team captains in 2013," Silva told FourFourTwo. "It was a nice surprise. He understood exactly what I needed at this stage of my career, probably because he had made a similar move when he was also 36, from Chelsea to Manchester City.

"I didn’t think twice when I heard Chelsea were interested in me – not only because of their history, but also because Willian and David Luiz invariably spoke highly of them.

"Marina [Granovskaia, club director] called me after I’d agreed, then passed me on to Frank. It was through a translator, because I still don’t speak English and his accent was even tougher for me!"

What did Lampard say to him?

While Silva has now been reunited with his old PSG manager in Thomas Tuchel, it seems he had a positive relationship with Lampard before his sacking.

He added: "He [Lampard] hit the nail on the head from day one, saying, 'Thiago, you don’t need to worry about your age – it’s not a concern for me at all. I’ll count on you absolutely, and I want to listen to what you have to say.'

"I was over the moon with that; knowing everyone at the club, top to bottom, wanted me here. My mission now is to keep up with what everybody expects from me."

Further reading

Ghana international Richmond Boakye-Yiadom has joined Polish side Gornik Zabrze, the club has announced.

The striker joins the The Miners as a free agent on a short-term deal which lasts until the end of the season.

Gornik are 14-time Polish champions, a record jointly held with Wisla Krakow and Legia Warsaw.

"Richmond Boakye has become the newest footballer of Gornik Zabrze. The Ghana national forward has a contract with the club binding at least until the end of the current season," the Polish team said in a publication on their official website.

Boakye was last on the books of Serbian outfit Red Star Belgrade, with whom he recently parted ways following the expiration of his contract.

"Behind us are a few very intense days of hard work, which ended with success. Needless to say, bringing such a player in is not commonplace. I dare say that after 1989, a footballer with such papers, with such a CV has not come to Gornik," Gornik president Dariusz Czernik remarked.

"I think that Artur Płatek will soon tell you more about the backstage of Richmond's transfer. I will only reveal that the player's decision to say 'yes' was helped by his girlfriend, who has been studying in Poland for several months, and the gigantic work of our scouting department.

"There were many offers on the table, the footballer chose ours. We believe that it will give the team quality, help us score goals and points, and will also be a fantastic training partner for our youth.

"At this point, a big bow to the club's friends, who got involved in this project in a very specific way. Once again it turned out that Gornik is more than a club.

"I would like to ask the fans to keep their fingers crossed for us and that we can show Richmond together as soon as possible that he can play in many great clubs."

Boakye, once with Italian heavyweights Juventus, has played for Genoa, Sassuolo, Atalanta, Latina - all also in Italy - Spanish fold Elche, Dutch side Roda JC Kerkrade and Jiangsu Suning in China.

Orlando Pirates head coach Josef Zinnbauer was a 'little disappointed' to see his side score just two goals against Cape Town City on Tuesday.

The Buccaneers returned to winning ways in the PSL by securing a 2-0 win over the Citizens at Orlando Stadium with Deon Hotto and Vincent Pule scoring for the Soweto giants.

Bucs had lost to Lamontville Golden Arrows in their previous league game before they faced City and Zinnbauer admitted that his side was under pressure. 

What's been said

"I think from the first minute until the last minute we were in the game, we had a lot of possibilities in the first half to score, in the second half also, that was unbelievable," Zinnbauer told SuperSport TV

"But it was a good game, a top performance, a team effort, it was important for us. But I was a little disappointed with the chances that we had, at the end of the day you know how football can be, they can get a goal.

"We had a lot of chances and the game is changing but I say again the defence was top, the offence was top, there was always a solution, the team made good work against a top team from Cape Town, they have good players, in their last games they made top games. I'm happy with my team, they made a top job."

"It was not my management or the staff, it was the team that did what we want, we had a good team talk today, we had good individual sessions in the last days, the midfielder Ben [Motshwari] and [Thabang] Monare in the first-half their defensive line was top, also with Happy [Jele] and 'Tyson' [Hlatshwayo] they made a good shifting," he added.

"You see what [Siphesihle] Ndlovu did on the right side, it is not his position, he made a top game, [Paseka] Mako also in defence, they closed the space for Cape Town [City] and Cape Town [City] always search for space and we closed the space.

"But the key was the offence, we had a lot of chances you see with Lorch, Pule, Hotto he had a good timing and a good feeling for space, he did this very well today, that's why we have the three points," he continued.

"We had the pressure, we needed three points and the team is always working when we're under pressure, I hope we get this pressure in but we don't need this normally, we need the goals, the game is coming, we need the three points and we get it."

Why does it matter and what's the bigger picture?

Further reading

Mohamed Salah is “the Messi of Africa”, according to Bayern Munich CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

Particularly since his move to Liverpool in 2017, Salah has become a superstar in his native Egypt, and one of the continent's most popular athletes.

He has been perhaps the key player in Jurgen Klopp's Premier League and Champions League winning side, and Rummenigge believes his achievements in football are comparable to those of the very best.

What has been said?

“In my opinion, Salah is the Messi of Africa and of course he has the skills to play for the best teams in the world,” Rummenigge told ON Time Sports.

“What he [Salah] has achieved can be compared to what Messi and [Cristiano] Ronaldo did with Barcelona and Real Madrid.”

Could Bayern Munich try to sign Salah?

This season more than ever, Salah has been linked with a move away from Liverpool.

Barcelona and Real Madrid are frequently talked about as potential destinations but it seems unlikely either club could afford to sign him given their current financial problems.

Rummenigge is clearly a huge fan of Salah’s, but he said the forward is not currently transfer target for Bayern.

“At the moment we don’t plan on signing Salah, but certainly it would be an honour to have him,” Rummenigge said.

How does Salah compare with Messi?

As something of a late bloomer at the very top level, the bare statistics of Salah's career are some way off Messi's.

Salah is close to scoring the 200th goal of his club career, while Messi recently passed 650. 

Salah has won one Premier League title and two Swiss Super Leagues to Messi's 10 titles in La Liga, while Messi has won four Champions Leagues to Salah's one.

At international level, however, things are closer. Salah has scored fewer goals for his country but at a faster rate, netting 43 in 68 games compared to Messi's 71 in 142.

Neither player has won an international trophy. Salah and Egypt finished second at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, while Messi has lost the finals of both the Copa America and the World Cup.

Further reading

Eibar coach Iker Dorronsoro has lauded Thembi Kgatlana for her contribution, describing her as the benchmark for the Gunsmiths. 

Kgatlana joined the Spanish outfit from Portuguese Liga BPI side SL Benfica on a one-year deal in July 2020, with an extension option.

The South African's 2018 breakthrough year saw her named the Player of the Tournament at the 2018 Africa Women's Cup of Nations and was voted the African Women's Player of the Year. 

Since her arrival in Spain, the 24-year-old has not taken her foot off the pedal as she has bagged eight goals in 16 outings despite only lasting the duration in eight of those matches.

Following eye-catching performances so far, the Banyana star has continued to earn reviews in Spanish football and the coach has extolled her quality and on-the-field contributions.

"She [Thembi Kgatlana] is the benchmark player for us," Dorronsoro told the  media  during the press conference on Tuesday.

"There's a lot of talk about her and I think that's good for both her and the team. She is a benchmark player not only because of the goals she scores. 

"She is a player who is not selfish, who squeezes, who works a lot without the ball."

Despite a recent 3-1 defeat at home to Sevilla, Kgatlana registered her third consecutive goal in three matches for the Gunsmiths.

Ahead of Wednesday's Primera Iberdrola showdown with Deportivo La Coruna, the Eibar manager believes the South African can make the difference for his team at Ciudad Deportiva Abegondo.

"She will also appear tomorrow [on Wednesday], and hope that she scores again and continue on this streak," he concluded. 

Dorronsoro is hoping to lead Eibar to finish on a high following a return to the Spanish top-flight for the first time since 2009 and will be counting on Kgatlana to achieve his ambitions.

Eibar are 10th on the Spanish Primera Iberdrola log with 21 points after 17 matches and will eye a return to winning ways at A Coruna.