For a second season in a row, the same contest at the same ground produced the same, pulsating finish

ESPNcricinfo staff03-May-2025It’s Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Chennai Super Kings at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. Yash Dayal has the ball. MS Dhoni is on strike. Ravindra Jadeja is at the other end. A 200-plus chase at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium has come down to the final over. Sounds familiar? For a second season in a row, the same contest at the same ground produced the same, pulsating finish. And yet again, when all the nerves and dust settled, it was the left-arm quick Dayal who held his own.Here’s how Shashwat Kumar called it on ESPNcricinfo’s ball-by-ball commentary:Related

• Dayal trumps CSK in last over again to take RCB to the top

19.1 Yash Dayal to Dhoni, 1 run
low full toss on middle and leg. Dhoni cannot get under this and scuffs it down the ground to long on. Throws his head back in disappointment soon after19.2 Yash Dayal to Jadeja, 1 run
full toss on middle and leg and Jadeja cannot put it away. Drags it towards deep mid wicket and this over has begun with two singles off two balls19.3 Yash Dayal to Dhoni, OUT
massive lbw shout, and the finger goes up! No MS Dhoni magic at the Chinnaswamy tonight! Low full toss slanting into leg stump. Dhoni has a massive swipe at it but does not get any bat on it. Gets rapped on the pads and the finger goes up. Dhoni has reviewed this but it could be more in hope than anything else. The impact is in line and Ball Tracking has the ball crashing into leg stump. A monumental moment in this game, and Dayal has outwitted Dhoni two years in a row at the Chinnaswamy!19.4 Yash Dayal to Dube, (no ball) SIX runs
that is a high full toss and Dube smashes it out of sight! Borderline waist-high full toss outside off and Dube cannot believe what has been dished out. After scratching his eyes, he thumps it over deep mid wicket. No ball not given, and Dube has reviewed this. This could be touch-and-go! Dube’s waist is measured at 1.11m, and Ball Tracking shows the ball to be passing him at 1.14m. That will be a No ball – oh dearie me!19.4 Yash Dayal to Dube, 1 run
full toss just outside off. Dube swings at it with all his might and scuffs it down the ground to long off. Just a single, and the onus shifts back onto Jadeja19.5 Yash Dayal to Jadeja, 1 run
zipped in very full on off. Jadeja looks to go downtown but can only find the inside edge and then the front pad. Rolls away harmlessly into the off side19.6 Yash Dayal to Dube, 1 run
Dayal wins it for RCB again! Up against the five-time champions, Dayal shows that he is a champion to be reckoned with too. Under extreme pressure, and under extreme duress, RCB pull a win out of the fire, and they are going absolutely bonkers. It was proper carnage at the Chinnaswamy and after 40 overs of high-octane cricket, RCB stand atop the team that has caused them so much pain in the past! Full toss just outside off. Dube clears his front leg and swings for the hills. Cannot get under it and cannot find the gap either. Drilled straight to long on and that will be just a single. Spare a thought for CSK. They came so close, but in the end, fell short. A truly remarkable game of cricket, and one that those at the ground will reminisce and rejoice in years to come!

Pollard smashed the fastest half-century of this CPL, off 17 balls, but it wasn’t enough

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Sep-2025Dwaine Pretorius’ late sixes trumped Kieron Pollard’s in a tense chase of 168 to start Guyana Amazon Warriors’ home stretch with a victory and boost their playoff chances. They are fourth now on the points table, just one point behind Antigua and Barbuda Falcons, but with three matches in hand compared to one for Falcons. Trinbago Knight Riders, second on the table and already through to the playoffs, were lifted to a competitive score single-handedly by Pollard’s unbeaten 54 off 18, but it didn’t prove to be enough on a night where batting got easier later on, according to Pretorius.Amazon Warriors were in a spot of bother once their set batters Shai Hope and Shimron Hetmyer were gone by the 16th over and they needed 38 to win off 18. Pretorius, fresh on the back of his 53 off 34 against Barbados Royals two days ago, ended the 18th over, from Andre Russell, with consecutive sixes to bring it down from 19 to 12, and further eased the nerves in the last over, of which they needed nine, with a hack over wide long-on off Pollard before they reached the target with a ball to spare.TKR got off to a sedate start after they were put in to bat. They kept attempting boundaries, but kept losing wickets in the process as Romario Shepherd rattled Alex Hales’ stumps and Moeen Ali did the same to Nicholas Pooran, leaving them on 40 for 3 at the end of the powerplay. Moeen and captain Imran Tahir slowed them down further with a spin strangle, conceding just 18 in the next four overs with just one boundary. Moeen finished with 4-0-11-1 before Darren Bravo broke the shackles but soon holed out off Tahir for 33 off 35.On 100 for 4 after 16, TKR got a massive late lift when Pollard faced 17 off the last 24 balls and smashed the fastest half-century of the season, off 17 balls, studded with his trademark swings across the line after going back and across. He started with consecutive fours against Pretorius and smashed back-to-back sixes off Shepherd before Keacy Carty retired out for 29 off 34 at the end of the 18th. Pollard took on Tahir too, with a six that travelled 103 metres back over the bowler. The innings ended with a sequence of 6, 6, 4 and 4 as Pollard tore into Shepherd for a 21-run over.Amazon Warriors’ start wasn’t very impressive either, as Akeal Hosein sent back Moeen and Keemo Paul in his first eight balls. Hope, however, broke free with 6, 6 and 4 off Russell before Hetmyer hammered Usman Tariq for three sixes in an over to place them on an impressive 66 for 2 after six overs. But Amazon Warriors, too, slowed down after the powerplay, with the introduction of Sunil Narine. He added to the hosts’ woes by having Hetmyer hole out for 49 and trapping Hope lbw for 53. But Pretorious held his nerve by being prepared for yorkers and variations, and putting a bunch of them away to the ropes to see Amzaon Warriors home.

Manchester United will pay tribute to late Stone Roses star Mani ahead of Monday's Premier League clash with Everton at Old Trafford, after the huge Red Devils fan passed away on Thursday aged 63. The Stone Roses bassist, real name Gary Mounfield, will receive an emotional tribute at the stadium with which he once said he hopes his iconic band will be "associated".

Man United to pay tribute to Mani after passing aged 63

A Mancunian by birth and life-long United fan, Mani will be honoured by a few words and music prior to Monday’s top-flight clash, a club source has said as per reports by The Sun.

The Stone Roses’ famous track This Is The One continues to be played at Old Trafford each matchday prior to kick-off, reflecting the band’s importance to the club and local Manchester culture, and the song's place within the stadium will now hold particular poignancy after the passing of one of the band’s much-loved members. He was also previously a member of fellow rock band Primal Scream.

Mani’s passing comes almost exactly two years on from the passing of his late wife Imelda from bowel cancer. He had lived in Heaton Moor, Stockport since 1991 and has received many touching tributes from friends, family and fans alike.

Mani and the Roses’ close ties with United will remain, beginning with a touching tribute on Monday, where the club will pay their respects to one of their own.

AdvertisementGetty Images'Part of his DNA' – United to honour Mani on Monday

A Manchester United club source stated: “There will be some words and music as a tribute during the build-up to kick-off including the usual playing of This is the One — but on this occasion with added poignancy.”

United said in a statement after his passing: “The club was part of his DNA and he was proud to be Red.”

Mani’s brother Greg posted on Facebook: “On behalf of myself and my family I would like to say a massive thanks for all the messages and tributes to RKid. RIP Gaz.”

Mani was a huge Manchester United fan

A true Red Devils fan, Mani once expressed his love for the club and how United was in his blood. He added that he hoped the Stone Roses would be associated with United, Old Trafford and the club as a whole, which has undoubtedly become a reality and will remain this way following the untimely news of his passing.

“I’m a Manc and support United,” Mani said. “It was pre-ordained because all my family are Reds, my dad is a nuts fan.

“I always wanted the Roses to be associated with United and the terraces.”

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Getty ImagesTributes to continue after Mani's untimely passing

Tributes have poured in from close friends such as Liam Gallagher of Oasis, who was informed of Mani’s death ahead of it becoming public earlier this week.

A source close to the family said: “Mani’s death has rocked everyone.

“Noel and Liam Gallagher were phoned before the news of his passing was made public.

“They’re on tour in South America and were informed by telephone. Likewise with the Stone Roses and Primal Scream. It’s an incredibly sad time and everyone is shocked.”

Liam shared his tribute to Mani on X: “In total shock and absolutely devastated on hearing the news about Mani. My hero. RIP.”

The Stone Roses said on their official X account: “RIP our wonderful brother Mani. The greatest bass player and friend we could ever have wished for.”

While Primal Scream bassist Simone Butler wrote on Instagram: “Truly in shock at this. An incredible loss to everyone who knew and loved him. The moment you met Mani you loved him. The most brilliant and wickedly sharp sense of humour and the biggest heart and generosity. The smile in that first pic was so absolutely him. He called me his Scorpio bass sister. My heart is breaking for his boys, family and loved ones. Was meant to see him tomorrow in Manchester.

“A terrible and sad loss. An amazing person, so so loved by everyone all over the world X just heart-breaking.”

Hampshire captain on the playing and personal reasons for his decision to turn back on Championship

Matt Roller20-Jan-2025James Vince believes that the ECB’s new policy on No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) is inadvertently driving players away from first-class cricket and towards the franchise T20 circuit. Vince, who stepped down as Hampshire’s club captain last week, will not play in the County Championship this year and expects “more and more” English players to follow suit.Vince’s decision was primarily informed by family reasons: after unexplained attacks on their home in Hampshire last year, his family – his wife, Amy, and their two young children – are relocating to Dubai. The move made playing in the Championship impractical, not least because playing the full English domestic season would have significant tax implications.But it was also a necessary step in order for him to be granted an NOC for the Pakistan Super League by the ECB, following changes in the board’s policy in late November. While designed to “protect” English competitions, according to chief executive Richard Gould, the details went down poorly with players and the threat of legal action continues to linger in some cases.”When they first mentioned it, a WhatsApp group of players was created and there was a lot of discussion,” Vince tells ESPNcricinfo from Dubai. “The initial feeling was that it was going to drive people away from red-ball cricket. It felt like it was going to limit opportunities. Players were frustrated by it… There were a few things in there that [we] didn’t really understand.”A scheduling pile-up has pushed the PSL back into an April-May window for 2025, clashing with both the IPL and the start of the county season. Vince, retained on a six-figure contract by Karachi Kings, is among six English players with deals and believes that number would have been significantly higher if not for franchises’ fears about their availability.Vince is the fifth of those players to have signed a white-ball county contract, while Tom Kohler-Cadmore is set to renegotiate his Somerset deal along similar lines. Some players have privately expressed their frustrations that the IPL is being treated as an outlier, with English players granted NOCs for that tournament regardless of their contractual situation.”That’s a big one that has caused a lot of confusion,” Vince said. “It’s got to be something to do with relationships between the ECB, PCB and BCCI as to why they’ve come up with that rule. The PSL’s a shorter competition, so if you’re going to play in that, you’re probably missing less domestic cricket than if you’re going to the IPL… It just didn’t seem right.Vince has been a stalwart for Karachi Kings in the PSL•PCB”There’s more and more opportunities for guys to play white-ball cricket and earn decent money during our domestic season… You’re talking quite large sums of money in terms of what they forego by playing red-ball cricket. Particularly further down their careers, when there’s a big difference in those numbers, I’m sure more and more people will go down that route.”Vince will be a significant loss not only to Hampshire, but to the Championship as a whole: he has played 197 first-class games for his county across 15 years, captained them 92 times, and led them to three consecutive top-three finishes. He insists he is not “officially retired” from red-ball cricket but, turning 34 in May, his career in the format is likely over.He has also come to terms with the end of his international career, two years on from the most recent of his 55 appearances for his country. “I’d say it’s probably pretty much done,” Vince concedes. “There’s no point announcing your retirement when you’re not playing for England, but in my head I’ve kind of moved on from the possibility.”It’s certainly not something where, when squads get announced, I’m looking at my phone expecting someone to call me. I had a taste of it, which was good; I obviously would have liked to have done better and played more for England but as that hasn’t worked out, I’m trying to make the most of my career.”It will be April when Vince’s decision sinks in, when Hampshire start their season against Yorkshire without their long-serving captain. “When I’m there in Pakistan, no doubt I’ll flick the live stream on and be looking at the scorecards. That’s when it’ll really hit home that something I’ve been involved in for the last 15 years, all of a sudden I’m not… It’ll be a strange feeling.”Related

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Moeen Ali set to skip Hundred as part of English domestic retirement

New PCA chair: Hundred gender pay gap 'needs to be addressed'

Brown: Hampshire can win Championship despite 'huge' Vince hole

A typewriter in a smartphone world: has first-class cricket become irrelevant in India?

But he will return at the end of May to captain them in the Blast, and says Hampshire have been “very supportive” since his stable family life was upended last year. The Vinces have been living in hotels for nine months after two attacks on their home, which they have now sold, but will soon relocate to Dubai where they hope to resume “a fairly normal life”.”The instances themselves were fairly scary,” Vince recalls. “It was people causing damage, smashing windows and stuff as opposed to actually coming into the house. The police said straightaway it looked like a threat of some sort… We haven’t had concrete information of exactly what happened, but we’ve got a fair idea that it wasn’t intended for us.”It was pretty scary. It was more as the man of the house, making sure the kids and Amy weren’t affected by it was my main priority… We sat down as a family and tried to make a plan going forwards, left the UK in mid-October, came away for a month in Dubai before the Abu Dhabi T10 and the Big Bash, and took the time to do a bit of exploring the option of moving across here.”They hope to have the keys to their new home by the end of the ILT20, where Vince is captaining Gulf Giants for the third year in a row. It will leave him with a short break before the PSL starts in April to reflect on the most turbulent year of his life, one which culminated in the major career decision Hampshire announced last week.”My wife and the kids are quite excited about the prospect of living over here. We don’t really have a timeframe on how long that’ll be. If we like it, it could be indefinitely; if, after a couple of years, we feel it’s not for us, then I guess we’ve got the option to move back to the UK. It’s a case of taking it step by step and seeing where it leads us.”

The BCCI has filed an official complaint against Pakistan cricketers Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan with the ICC for their on-field gestures during the Asia Cup Super Fours game in Dubai last Sunday. It is reliably learnt that the BCCI filed the complaint via an email on Wednesday, and the ICC is in receipt of it.In case Farhan and Rauf deny the allegations in writing, an ICC hearing could take place to address the matter for the hearing. They might have to appear before match referee Richie Richardson – the second match referee at the tournament, Andy Pycroft being the other.Farhan’s celebration after getting to his half-century and Rauf gesturing towards a section of fans while fielding at the boundary – the incidents the BCCI has complained about – have been all over social media since that day.Related

• Suryakumar found guilty of breaching code of conduct; verdict on Rauf and Farhan awaited

• Pycroft given barely any notice ahead of handshake-gate

• Suryakumar: India vs Pakistan isn't a rivalry anymore

“Let me first say, the amount of pressure that’s been heaped on the players because of the situation, it’s very difficult to control your behaviour,” India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate said on Tuesday when asked about Haris’ provocative gestures.”I did see some of the things Haris did and that’s not our concern. Like I said earlier, we’re really proud of how the guys carried themselves. They fought fire with their bats on the field. Other teams may have had issues with some of the things we’ve done. But from our side, we’re proud of how the guys have carried themselves.”The PCB has also lodged an official complaint with the ICC against Suryakumar Yadav for the India captain dedicating the win over Pakistan in the first round, on September 14, to “the families of the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack” in April this year, which led to cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan.”Want to dedicate the win to all our armed forces who showed a lot of bravery. Hope they continue to inspire us all, and we give them more reasons on the ground whenever we get an opportunity to make them smile,” Suryakumar said in the presentation ceremony after that match, which made headlines for events before and after the match – the captains didn’t shake hands at the toss, the players didn’t greet each other after the match, and “handshakegate” has continued to be a subject of talk and debate at the Asia Cup ever since.The PCB has alleged that Suryakumar’s comments were “political”.Sunday’s Super Fours match, the second meeting between the two teams during the Asia Cup, witnessed several heated moments including exchanges between Pakistan quicks Shaheen Shah Afridi and Rauf and India openers Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill.

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Se tem São Paulo e Palmeiras em campo, tem jogão! Isso porque os rivais paulistas vêm protagonizando um dos duelos mais quentes no cenário nacional atualmente. E, nesta segunda-feira (29), às 20h, o Choque-Rei fechará a quarta rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro, no Estádio do Morumbis. O Verdão, no entanto, tem uma missão: melhorar seu desempenho fora de casa nesta temporada.

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➡️ Tudo sobre o Verdão agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso novo canal Lance! Palmeiras

Em 2024, o time comandado por Abel Ferreira disputou seis clássicos, sendo dois fora de casa e, até aqui, não conseguiu sair de campo com o trifunfo. Um deles foi contra o próprio São Paulo, pelo Paulistão, ainda na fase de grupos, e terminou empatado por 1 a 1, com gols de Alisson e Raphael Veiga.

Contra o Santos, em duelo que aconteceu na Vila Belmiro também pelo Estadual, o Peixe venceu a partida por 1 a 0, com gol de Otero.

A boa do Lance! Betting: vamos dobrar seu primeiro depósito, até R$200! Basta abrir sua conta e tá na mão!

Houve, ainda, outro confronto contra o São Paulo, este pela decisão da Supercopa do Brasil, mas realizado em campo neutro – o jogo aconteceu no Mineirão – e, na ocasião, apesar do empate sem gols, o Tricolor venceu o Verdão nos pênaltis por 4 a 2.

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Para o clássico, Abel Ferreira pode promover algumas mudanças visando poupar os atletas mais cansados. Desgastado após uma longa sequência de jogos, Raphael Veiga pode dar lugar ao jovem Luís Guilherme, de apenas 18 anos, que decidiu a vitória na Libertadores no meio de semana.

O jovem, inclusive, já disse que gosta de jogar no mesmo setor do camisa 23. Rômulo e Jhon Jhon correm por fora como opções no elenco para substituir Veiga.

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BrasileirãoFutebol NacionalPalmeiras

تفاعلت الصحف البلجيكية مع قرعة بطولة كأس العالم نسخة 2026، والتي تم إجراء مراسمها مساء يوم الجمعة في مركز “جون كينيدي” في الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية.

وتستضيف كل من الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية، كندا والمكسيك نهائيات النسخة المقبلة من بطولة كأس العالم، في الفترة بين 11 يونيو و19 يوليو.

وتُعد تلك هي النسخة الأولى من بطولة كأس العالم، بعد استحداث نظامها، حيث سيشارك فيها 48 منتخبًا، سيتم تقسيمهم على 12 مجموعة، ويتأهل متصدر ووصيف كل مجموعة إلى دور الـ32، بالإضافة إلى أفضل 8 منتخبات في مركز ثالث.

وشهدت القرعة تواجد كل من: بلجيكا، مصر، إيران ونيوزيلندا في المجموعة السابعة في بطولة كأس العالم الصيف المقبل (لمطالعة التفاصيل كاملة عن القرعة من هنا).

وقالت صحيفة “7sur7” البلجيكية: “يعرف الشياطين الحمر الآن مصيرهم، وقد وقعوا في مجموعة سهلة نسبيًا، نظريًا ستكون مصر أقوى منافس لـ بلجيكا في المجموعة السابعة من كأس العالم، إيران ونيوزيلندا هما الفريقان الآخران في المجموعة، يستهل الشياطين مشوارهم في كأس العالم بمواجهة الفراعنة في 15 يونيو في لوس أنجلوس”.

وأضافت: “ستكون مصر أول منافس لـ بلجيكا في كأس العالم، في 15 يونيو في لوس أنجلوس، وهي نظريًا المنافس الأصعب في مجموعتها، في الواقع، الفراعنة هم ملوك إفريقيا برقم قياسي في الفوز بكأس الأمم الإفريقية سبع مرات، لقد هيمنوا بوضوح على مجموعتهم في التصفيات، (ثمانية انتصارات وتعادلين)، دون أي خسارة، لكنهم لم يتألقوا بعد في كأس العالم، ففي ثلاث مشاركات، لم تفز مصر بأي مباراة في البطولة، وهي إحصائية سلبية سيسعى محمد صلاح وزملاؤه جاهدين لتغييرها الصيف المقبل”.

وقالت صحيفة “sporza” البلجيكية: “سيواجه الشياطين الحمر كل من إيران، مصر ونيوزينلدا في بطولة كأس العالم، في قرعة سهلة المنال، حيث ستواجه منتخب مصر الذي تواجد في التصنيف الثالث، ويضم الفريق محمد صلاح وعمر مرموش، وهما نجمان كبيران في الدوري الإنجليزي، كما كان لديه سجل مميز في التصفيات الإفريقية حيث لم يخسر أي مباراة، ولكن لم يسبق له تحقيق الفوز في مباراة في كأس العالم”.

بينما قالت صحيفة “standaard” البلجيكية: “تبشر القرعة التي تواجد بها منتخب بلجيكا بإمكانية استمرار الشياطين الحمر في البطولة، مع العلم إنه في حال تصدر بلجيكا للمجموعة، ستواجه فريقًا يحتل المركز الثالث من مجموعة أخرى، ولو احتلت المركز الثاني، ستواجه ثاني المجموعة الرابعة التي تضم الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية، باراجواي وأستراليا، أسهل مجموعة نظريًا”.

في حين قالت صحيفة “hln” البلجيكية: “الشياطين الحمر يواجهون محمد صلاح! ستواجه بلجيكا منتخب مصر، وهو منتخب غاب عن كأس العالم 2022 في قطر لكنه تأهل الآن إلى كأس العالم 2026 متصدرًا مجموعته، ومثل الشياطين الحمر، لم يخسر المصريون أي مباراة في التصفيات”.

وأوضحت: “على الرغم من مشاركاتهم الثلاث السابقة، تسعى مصر لتحقيق أول فوز لها في كأس العالم، نجم الفريق هو محمد صلاح، ومدربه هو المهاجم السابق حسام حسن، ويُعد الفائز بكأس الأمم الإفريقية 7 مرات، خصمًا قويًا، لا يُضاهي إيران، ولكن من ناحية أخرى لن يُشكل المصريون أي مشكلة للشياطين الحمر”.

أما صحيفة “brf” البلجيكية فقد قالت: “أوقعت القرعة بلجيكا في مواجهة مصر، التي تشارك في كأس العالم لكرة القدم لأول مرة منذ عام 2018، وستكون هذه المشاركة الرابعة لمصر في كأس العالم، وستخوض بلجيكا مباراتها الافتتاحية ضد مصر في 15 يونيو 2026”.

من جهة أخرى، قالت صحيفة “sudinfo” البلجيكية: “قبل ستة أشهر من انطلاق كأس العالم، اكتشف الشياطين الحمر منافسيهم في دور المجموعات، ولا شك أن المدرب رودي جارسيا سيكون سعيدًا نسبيًا بترتيب فريقه في المجموعة السابعة إلى جانب إيران ومصر ونيوزيلندا”.

Friday night was filled with celebration at Dodger Stadium as the team paid tribute to pitcher Clayton Kershaw in the final regular season start of his career.

Kershaw announced his intention to retire at the end of this year’s campaign earlier in the week, after spending 18 seasons in the majors, all with the Dodgers. He will go down in history as one of the best pitchers the game has ever seen.

The tributes for Kershaw started early, with his teammates allowing him to take the field alone at the start of the game to soak in the praise from the crowd. After a bit of time on the mound, Kershaw cheekily encouraged his teammates to join him out on the field.

Listen to this ovation.

On the mound, Kershaw delivered a strong performance for his final act, though it started out a bit rough. Giants outfielder Heliot Ramos apparently didn’t get the memo that it was Kershaw’s big night, and hit a leadoff home run to start the game.

But Kershaw would settle in from there, pitching 4 1/3 innings and giving up two runs while striking out six. He would not be credited with the win, but the Dodgers would score enough late to seal the victory for the team.

After the game, Kershaw was again praised by the crowd, and offered his thanks back to the fans that had cheered him on for nearly two decades.

For Kershaw and the Dodgers, the journey isn’t over quite yet. With the win, Los Angeles clinched their spot in the postseason, where they will look to defend their World Series title.

Trouble may be brewing at Real Madrid, with Los Blancos’ dressing room said to be divided when it comes to head coach Xabi Alonso and the methods that he has introduced since taking the reins in the Spanish capital. Precious points have been dropped over recent weeks, leading to uncomfortable questions being asked of those underperforming on and off the field.

• Precious points: Real have slipped from La Liga summit

  Real’s latest setback came in a 1-1 draw with relegation-threatened Girona. They have been held in their last three La Liga fixtures – having also failed to emerge victorious against Rayo Vallecano and Elche – and now trail Clasico rivals Barcelona by one point in another intriguing title race.

  Alonso’s side have played four successive games away from home in all competitions – battling to a 4-3 victory over Olympiacos in the Champions League – since their Santiago Bernabeu home played host to an NFL fixture on November 16.

  Travel sickness appears to have set in, with reporting on a “certain division of opinion in the dressing room” following a run of forgettable results and performances. That is not considered to be terminal just yet, with no “significant impact on the relationship between the players” being seen.

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  Who is to blame? Finger pointing at the Bernabeu

  Alonso has, however, found himself under scrutiny for some time. It was revealed back in October that his “personal approach and some of his footballing concepts had not gone down well with a significant number of the first team” in Madrid.

  It is claimed that a meeting has taken place at the Bernabeu which saw Alonso and his players attempt to get to the bottom of any supposed issues. First-team stars such as Kylian Mbappe, Federico Valverde and Eduardo Camavinga have attempted to quash talk of their being rifts in the Real camp.

  claims that there is “currently a mix of players who remain unconvinced about Alonso’s methods and others who argue that the manager is not to blame”. Someone that falls into the latter of those two camps has said: “This is not the coach’s problem, it’s very obvious.”

  Another source at the Bernabeu has said: “The problem is not Xabi. Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and (Jude) Bellingham are incompatible; you can’t have a balanced team with those three.” It is said that Alonso’s messages are “not getting through to the players”, leading to disjointed displays.

• Alonso challenges: Tricky tests for Blancos boss

  Others inside the coaching team have acknowledged the difficulty that Alonso faces when it comes to “changing the dynamic” that he inherited from predecessor Carlo Ancelotti. There is seemingly no quick fix to the problems that he faces.

  With that in mind, the former Blancos midfielder is not under immediate pressure when it comes to his job. It is, however, being reported that upcoming clashes – starting with another away game at Athletic Club on Wednesday – are “important not just in terms of results, but in terms of image”.

  An insider has conceded that things look “very difficult” at the moment because Real are “playing very badly”, with that stalemate on the road at struggling Girona being viewed as a “disaster”.

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  Right man for the job? Alonso must prove his worth

  That does not bode well for Alonso, who has only taken in 25 games at the helm – winning 18 of those matches and coming unstuck in only three. He was brought back to Madrid after impressing as a coach in Germany with Bayer Leverkusen, whom he led to an unbeaten Bundesliga title triumph in 2023-24.

  Some prominent figures there questioned his approach on the back of a return to Spain, with success not enough to keep everybody happy. Similar discussions are now taking place at the Bernabeu.

  Alonso still has plenty of time in which to get things right this season – having already overseen a win over Barcelona – and has enough talent at his disposal in order to deliver major silverware. Mbappe, Bellingham, Vinicius and Co must, however, buy into his vision in order for collective triumphs to be enjoyed.

Manchester City have now made contact over a deal for a 58-cap international, who is able to play in a number of positions.

Man City looking to increase squad depth after Bayer Leverkusen defeat

Pep Guardiola clearly had a lot of faith in some of his back-up options heading into the Champions League tie against Bayer Leverkusen, having made ten changes to his starting XI, but his side came up short in a 2-0 defeat.

The Spaniard has since admitted he probably made too many alterations, saying: “I always had the belief of the long season and everyone had to be involved but maybe it was too much. They played not to make mistakes instead of doing what we had to do.

“It was not the performance that we thought. I take full responsibility. We missed something. We missed an incredible opportunity and now we need to fight in the next games.”

Despite limiting the German side to an xG of just 0.51, the Blues conceded two goals for the second game on the spin, and having kept one clean sheet in their last seven games, they have now joined the race for a new defender.

That is according to a report from TEAMtalk, which states Man City have now made contact over a deal for versatile AS Roma defender Zeki Celik, who is able to play as a wing-back, full-back and at centre-back.

Celik could be available for a bargain fee in the January transfer window, given that his contract is set to expire at the end of the season, but if the Italian club are unwilling to sanction a departure, City could wait to snap him up on a free next summer.

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There may be competition for the defender’s signature from a plethora of rival Premier League clubs, however, with Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea also making enquiries of their own.

"Perfect player" Celik impressing for club and country

The 58-cap Turkey international was recently lauded by national team manager Vincenzo Montella, who said: “He’s the perfect player for any coach,”

“Celik is professional, reliable, does his job wherever you play him. In a locker room it is always needed to have guys like him.”

The 28-year-old has also put in some impressive performances for AS Roma as of late, recently scoring and recording a 95% pass-completion rate in his side’s 2-0 victory over Udinese, with the latter statistic indicating he could be ideal in a Pep system.

As such, Celik could be a solid addition to the Man City squad, particularly on a free transfer, with Guardiola clearly keen on bolstering his options at full-back, given that a Bundesliga star has also been identified as a potential target…