Category: Football

Man City’s fresh faces offer hope of Madrid miracle

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola said his side have just a one percent chance of progress to the Champions League last 16 against Real Madrid on Wednesday but the English champions’ new recruits could offer a lifeline.

City blew a late 2-1 lead in the first leg of the play-off tie last week at home to lose 3-2 to the holders.

That collapse was part of a wider trend this season as Guardiola’s ageing squad have struggled to last the pace, particularly when the intensity is turned up on Champions League nights.

As a consequence, City broke with their usual transfer policy to spend big in January, bringing in Omar Marmoush, Abdukodir Khusanov, Vitor Reis and Nico Gonzalez for fees totalling £170 million ($214 million).

However, none of them started the first leg against Madrid. Marmoush was the only one to even make an appearance for the final few minutes off the bench, as Gonzalez and Khusanov were unused substitutes and Reis was not registered in City’s European squad.

Guardiola may now regret that decision after Marmoush, Gonzalez and Khusanov all played pivotal roles in arguably City’s best performance of the season on Saturday when Newcastle were blown away 4-0 at the Etihad.

Marmoush hogged the headlines thanks to his first-half hat-trick, finally offering City another potent scoring threat to compliment Erling Haaland.

Khusanov recovered from his nightmare Premier League debut against Chelsea last month when he gave away a goal inside three minutes and could have been sent-off shortly afterwards.

This time the Uzbek showed why City paid Lens a reported 40 million euros (£33 million, $42 million) for his services.

The 20-year-old’s pace helped sniff out the danger posed by Newcastle’s Alexander Isak and could be what the visitors need to combat the threat of Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo in the Santiago Bernabeu.

Guardiola, though, reserved special praise for the impact of Gonzalez in bringing the City midfield the stability they have lacked since Ballon d’Or winner Rodri suffered a serious knee injury in September.

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The Barcelona academy graduate seems certain to start on his return to Spain with his manager already hailing the 23-year-old as a “mini Rodri.”

– Gonzalez a game changer –

“The balance of the team looks much, much better already with Gonzalez in it,” said former City defender Micah Richards.

“City have got players who can score goals and hurt Real, but he brings some stability behind them, which they will need if they are to manage the game in Madrid.

“Do they have more chance of beating Real with him in the starting 11? Without a doubt.”

Yet, even at their best during the golden years of Guardiola’s reign in Manchester, City have often found the might of Madrid too tough a nut to crack in the Champions League.

This is the fourth consecutive season the sides have met, with a 5-1 aggregate rout en route to winning the competition for the first time in 2023 City’s only success.

Three years ago they seemed to be cruising into the Paris final with a two-goal lead heading into stoppage time of the second leg before Rodrygo’s quickfire double sent the tie to extra-time and ultimately Madrid to a 14th European crown.

Last year it was penalties that got the Spanish giants over the line after City dominated the majority of two score draws in the quarter-finals.

Guardiola conceded the prospect of his side finding their best again when they need it most is unlikely.

“This season the reality is we have been miles, miles away. If you tell me that we would perform like today (against Newcastle) and finish 22nd in the Champions League (table), of course not. We would finish higher,” said the former Barcelona boss.

“The results have been poor this season. Just for one game I’m not going to change my opinion.

“If you ask anybody before that game, we have one percent but as much as we have a chance we will try. That’s for sure.”

However, a timely injection of fresh blood does give hope that a miracle in Madrid is possible.

February 18, 2025
‘Full-time move a challenge I’m really enjoying’

“It’s important it’s the right move for the right person at the right time.”

Joely Andrews may only be 22 years of age but she feels like a seasoned international with 25 Northern Ireland caps to her name.

A star with Glentoran after breaking into the team as a teenager, she had long spoken about her desire to step into full-time football, but had been biding her time in Northern Ireland’s domestic league until July of last year.

A move to Scotland with Hearts followed last summer and, after a strong start to life in Edinburgh, it appears that was the right move at the right time.

“It’s been challenging and that’s what I wanted from the move,” said Andrews.

“It’s been really good for me and I’m really enjoying it.”

Weir and Caldwell called into Northern Ireland squad
‘It’s not a dream come true as it wasn’t a dream’
Andrews admits it has been a “step up” as she progressed into a full-time environment with Hearts, but she feels she has developed into a more accomplished player.

“Being on the pitch every day and getting touches has improved me and my game, I have definitely developed.

“Training has been a challenge, but it’s been good for my game. My game understanding has improved.

“Especially at the higher level, you can’t play the same way for 90 minutes and you have to be adaptable.

“That’s been a big thing for me from the summer to now.”

Fast start ‘important’ for NI

Andrews is speaking on Northern Ireland duty ahead of their opening Nations League opener in Poland on Friday.

It is the first time Tanya Oxtoby’s side have been in action since their heavy Euro 2025 play-off defeat by Norway before Christmas, though the 7-0 scoreline doesn’t tell the full story.

Norway were always favourites to progress from the moment the draw was made, and most of the damage was done as a youthful Northern Ireland side were caught in the headlights in the first leg in Larne.

But in the second leg, Oxtoby’s side made the star-studded Norway side work for their goals. NI handed the hosts the first two goals with mistakes, before a deflected third sealed the win.

For Andrews, who has become a crucial cog in Oxtoby’s machine, the difference between the two legs was clear.

“When you play top teams like Norway, even if the result doesn’t go your way you can still learn a lot of it.

“That was definitely the case with us. Between the first leg and second leg, we can take a lot from the performance.

“That’s the standard. We’ve set the bar. In the long run that game will stand us in good stead.”

Joely Andrews played in both legs of NI’s Euro 2025 play-off with Norway

Andrews says Northern Ireland “want to hit the ground running” in League B in Gdansk on Friday, before Bosnia-Herzegovina, who NI defeated twice in Euro 2025 qualifying, visit Larne on Tuesday.

The Nations League has implications for World Cup qualifying in the next campaign, with promotion and relegation in play.

“We have grown a lot as a team and a squad from the last campaign, so it’s important to get off to a good start,” she added.

“We weren’t satisfied with the result [against Norway] but the process was in the right direction.

“We’re aiming to be right up there pushing for the top of the group and League A. We’re in League B and our aim is to get out of it.

“We’re not going to go into any game just to play it for the sake of it. We’ll go to take points.”

February 18, 2025
Williams departs but Swansea’s issues remain

Nobody will be more disappointed about Luke Williams’ departure from Swansea City than the man himself.

Williams walked away from Notts County to try his luck at Swansea after the Welsh club eventually turned to him having failed to appoint Chris Davies as successor to Michael Duff.

This was Williams’ chance to prove himself in the Championship, to show that he could cut it at a club attempting to swim with some much bigger fish in the second tier.

With Swansea in dire form and Williams gone after a little more than 13 months in charge, those looking on from outside may judge that he has failed.

The counter argument, however, is that Williams was not the problem at Swansea.

As the head coach, he has paid the price for an alarming slump in form which has Swansea glancing nervously towards the bottom three with 13 league fixtures remaining.

As the old line goes, you cannot sack the players.

Andy Coleman, Swansea’s under-fire chairman, is presumably not about to jettison himself, either, while the club’s director of football, Richard Montague, cannot carry the can for the club’s dreadful run given that he does not start work until Tuesday.

The fact that Montague, who had success working with Williams at Notts County, arrives at Swansea the day after his old Meadow Lane colleague departs says something about the muddle his new club finds itself in.

Williams’ exit had seemed increasingly possible with almost every game that has gone by in recent weeks, aside from the gutsy victory over Bristol City eight days ago.

Sadly for Swansea, success at Ashton Gate was followed by losses against Sheffield Wednesday and Stoke City.

Defeat by Stoke, another struggling side, proved to be the last stand for Williams, who will leave with a feeling of what might have been.

Did Williams have the tools to succeed?

Was Williams properly backed during his time at Swansea? Did he have the tools to mould a team capable of competing on a consistent basis in the Championship?

The likelihood is that he would say no.

Swansea were 16th in the second tier when he arrived in January 2024, midway through what was an arduous season.

The previous summer, Swansea had replaced Russell Martin with Duff who, alongside sporting director Paul Watson, brought in 13 new players.

Duff was gone inside five months, Watson lasted only 16 months in his job and the majority of those signings did not come off.

There were some difficult days in the early throes of Williams’ reign, with Swansea taking time to adapt as he attempted to restore a possession-based style while delivering enough points.

Yet they eventually secured survival with something to spare, finishing 2023-24 in 14th with Williams looking ahead with optimism to last summer’s transfer window.

Once again, however, Swansea’s business had proved questionable.

The two players Williams wanted most were striker Tyrese Campbell, a free agent following his exit from Stoke, and West Brom midfielder John Swift, who he had worked with at Swindon Town.

The two players would have been high earners in Swansea terms, in a bracket with Matt Grimes.

Image source,Getty Images
Image caption,

Swansea have struggled to adjust to the loss of Matt Grimes

As a result they did not arrive, with Swansea’s hierarchy opting instead to sign young players with development potential from cheaper foreign markets. As yet, most of those players are yet to prove their worth.

Swansea’s issues are not all down to last summer’s new recruits, who joined a squad lacking depth in almost every department.

A lack of firepower, in particular, has proved a problem throughout this campaign.

Williams had hoped reinforcements would arrive in January, but was instead left bemoaning the club’s recruitment work after another botched transfer window.

Two years on from Martin’s memorable post-January press conference, it was a bit like deja vu.

In the end, Swansea’s most notable piece of January business by some distance was to sell Grimes, the club captain and Williams’ most influential player, to Coventry City.

Williams is an open book, a coach who would not hide his feelings when facing the media, and his frustration was obvious.

The same was true after almost every Swansea game in 2025, with their collapse eventually leading him to the exit door.

Head coach Williams leaves Swansea

Williams feels pressure as Swansea slump goes on

Latest Swansea City news, analysis and fan views

No easy task for Swansea’s next permanent boss

After victory over Luton Town on 29 December, Swansea were four points adrift of the play-offs in ninth place and playing bright, attacking football.

They had won six of their previous 12 games and looked capable of a top-half finish, which would have been a significant achievement given the club’s budget and resources.

Since then, however, they have produced relegation form.

The start of the slump coincided with speculation linking Williams with a move to West Bromwich Albion.

Williams’ failure to kill off speculation immediately harmed his relationship with some Swansea supporters.

As a result, perhaps, there was less patience among some sections of the fanbase as Williams’ team lurched from one poor result to another during January and February.

After seven defeats in the past nine league matches – as well as an FA Cup loss at Southampton – Williams knew he was on thin ice before news of his departure came on Monday Andy Coleman will again lead Swansea’s search for a head coach having previously appointed Michael Duff and Luke Williams

Each Swansea loss prompted a flurry of criticism on social media, with Williams blamed for the failings of a squad who have not been able to deliver any consistency this season.

And so the reins are handed to Alan Sheehan, the assistant head coach who was brought in by Watson and takes caretaker charge of Swansea for a second time.

He did a decent job following Duff’s dismissal 15 months ago, securing 11 points from seven games in charge, and Swansea need something similar now as they look to stave off the threat of relegation.

Coleman, meantime, will set about trying to find Williams’ long-term successor, presumably with a helping hand from Montague.

The challenge will be to find a coach capable of getting results while playing attractive football with a squad built on one of the smaller budgets in the Championship.

It will be no easy task.

February 18, 2025
Dortmund want £85m for Gittens – Tuesday’s gossip

Jamie Gittens could cost Premier League clubs £85m, Manchester United hit a snag in their Victor Osimhen pursuit and Manchester City will battle their neighbours for a young midfield talent.

Manchester United are keen on signing Victor Osimhen, who is on loan at Galatasaray from Napoli, but the 26-year-old Nigeria striker’s Champions League aspirations and wage demands might make any deal tough to complete. (Teamtalk), external

Manchester United’s Brazilian midfielder Casemiro, 32, wants to see out the remaining 16 months of his £300,000 per week contract, dealing a blow to the club’s plans to sell him to raise transfer funds. (Mirror), external

Manchester City’s interest in 21-year-old Bayer Leverkusen and Germany midfielder Florian Wirtz, who would cost more than £85m, is increasing as the club plans for a future without Belgium’s Kevin de Bruyne, 33. (Mail), external

Borussia Dortmund want £85m (102m euros) for Jamie Gittens, with Arsenal, Tottenham and Chelsea among the 20-year-old England U21s winger’s suitors. (Bild – subscription required – in German), external

Manchester City are braced for offers for Portugal midfielder Bernardo Silva this summer, with clubs in Spains, Portugal and Saudi Arabia interested in the 30-year-old. (Football Insider), external

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Argentinia U20s attacker Claudio Echeverri, 19, will join Manchester City’s squad this week after spending the last year on loan at River Plate. (Fabrizio Romano), external

Manchester City could face competition from rivals Manchester United for Atalanta’s 23-year-old Belgium midfielder Charles de Ketelaere. (Teamtalk), external

Tottenham tried to sign Mexico striker Santiago Gimenez from Feyenoord late in the January transfer window, but the 23-year-old decided to join AC Milan instead. (Calciomercato – in Italian, external)

Bayern Munich have dropped out of the race to sign Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah, which has cleared the path for Barcelona to sign the 29-year-old Germany international on a free when his contract expires in the summer. (Sport – in Spanish), external

Manchester United will earn £31m if Marseille sell English attacker Mason Greenwood, 23, to Paris St-Germain this summer, as they hold a 50% sell-on clause. PSG have offered Marseille 75m euros (£62m). (Fichajes – in Spanish), external

Bournemouth and Spain under-21s defender Dean Huijsen, 19, has a £50m release clause in his contract which can be activated from this summer, with Liverpool among the clubs interested. (Fabrizio Romano), external

February 18, 2025
Kelly called into England squad as Mead drops out

Chloe Kelly has been called into the England squad to replace the injured Beth Mead for their Women’s Nations League matches this month.

The 27-year-old joined Arsenal on loan from Manchester City on deadline day in January after saying she “wanted to be happy again” in a social media post.

The forward has made just one Women’s Super League start this season and was not named in the original Lionesses squad by Sarina Wiegman last week.

However, Kelly made her return to action in Sunday’s 5-0 win over Tottenham at Emirates Stadium and hit the crossbar in a bright appearance as a substitute.

Mead was on the bench for that game but has withdrawn from the England squad with an injury, as has defender Lotte Wubben-Moy, who missed Sunday’s north London derby victory.

‘Smiling and having fun’ – Kelly’s ‘amazing’ Arsenal return

Kelly features as Arsenal hit five past Spurs in WSL derby

England name squad for Nations League

Arsenal manager Renee Slegers said Wubben-Moy had picked up “a minor muscle injury” and was scheduled for a scan on Monday.

Aston Villa defender Lucy Parker, 26, has been called up to replace Wubben-Moy as part of Wiegman’s 24-player squad.

The Lionesses arrived at St George’s Park on Monday morning and will travel to Portugal for Friday’s game (19:45 GMT).

They face world champions Spain at Wembley Stadium on Wednesday, 26 February at 20:00 GMT.

Revised England squad

Goalkeepers: Mary Earps, Hannah Hampton, Anna Moorhouse

Defenders: Millie Bright, Lucy Bronze, Jess Carter, Niamh Charles, Maya Le Tissier, Esme Morgan, Lucy Parker, Millie Turner, Leah Williamson

Midfielders: Laura Blindkilde-Brown, Grace Clinton, Ruby Mace, Jess Park, Ella Toone, Keira Walsh

Forwards: Aggie Beever-Jones, Lauren James, Chloe Kelly, Jess Naz, Nikita Parris, Alessia Russo

February 18, 2025
Rodgers urges Celtic bravery as Kane misses Bayern training

Champions League play-off, second leg: Bayern Munich v Celtic (2-1)

Where: Allianz Arena, Munich When: Tuesday 18 March Kick-off: 20:00 GMT

Coverage: Radio Scotland and Radio 5 Live commentary, text updates on BBC Sport website & app

Brendan Rodgers wants Celtic to come away from their Champions League play-off against Bayern Munich with no regrets.

The visitors trail 2-1 going into Tuesday’s second leg at the Allianz Arena and the manager accepts it will take a performance of the highest quality to be successful but stresses that it is a challenge he and his players “want to embrace”.

“There’s no second chance,” said Rodgers. “We’ve got to be clever, bright and brave and if we can do that, history has shown that in sport anything can happen.

“You come to this level and you have to play without any fear. There’s worse things in life than losing a game of football so we want to ensure when we come in after the game, if we don’t go through, we’ve given it absolutely everything.”

Bayern, tournament winners on six occasions, are unbeaten in their past 20 Champions League home matches.

The Bundesliga leaders have never lost to Celtic, winning four of the five previous meetings, while Celtic are still waiting for a first win in Germany after 15 attempts.

But Rodgers is taking heart from a strong finish in Glasgow, with Daizen Maeda pulling a goal back for his side after strikes from Michael Olise and Harry Kane.

“I’m so happy I have this group of players with incredible mentality and professionalism,” added Rodgers. “If they show that then we know we’re in with a chance.

“As long as you can take that opportunity to give your very best, you can come in and say ‘we were beaten by the better team’. The regret is if you don’t and you just turn up too late.

“We’ve shown that when we can play at the very top of our game and if a team are not quite at their best, then we can punish them.

“We’ve done very well to get to this point and when you do that you’re going to play top-level teams. This is a team that has world-class players. For us it’ll be about our collective.

“Everyone will look at this game with us as underdog but we’re still very mindful to be super-competitive and, if we can play to our level, we can make the game very difficult for Bayern.”

Kompany plays down Kane’s absence from training

Kane suffered a knock to the face during Saturday’s 0-0 draw away to Bayer Levekusen

Bayern Munich star Kane sat out training on Monday but head coach Vincent Kompany said the striker’s facial injury is “nothing too bad”.

The England captain, who has 29 goals for the season, took a knock in Saturday’s goalless draw at Bayer Leverkusen, although he lasted the whole match.

“It’s nothing really serious but we have not had much time to recover,” explained Kompany. “Tomorrow morning we will see how he feels but I think it’s nothing too bad.”

Joao Palhinha and Alphonso Davies missed the first leg and neither are expected to return in time for the hosts, but central defender Kim Min-jae is likely to be back after playing at the weekend.

Celtic have a full squad, with Rodgers saying Jota is fit enough to start and that deploying fellow winger Maeda in a central role is “certainly something we have talked about”.

He added: “We design a plan for the game, knowing whatever team starts will need players coming off the side. It’s such a demanding level, physically.”

Kane goal proves winner as Celtic lose to Bayern in Champions League

Celtic take German lessons to avert ‘absolute thum

Prospect of home final spurs Bayern on

Liam McLeod, BBC Sport Scotland match commentator

Bayern have had their problems on the road in the Champions League recently. They had only won once in seven trips before beating Celtic.

At home in this competition, it’s a different story, without a loss since going down 3-2 at the hands of a Kylian Mbappe-inspired Paris Saint Germain in April 2021.

That defeat is their only Champions League home reverse in almost six years.

Vincent Kompany has come in for some local criticism following the draw at title rivals Bayer Leverkusen, with his side second best for much of the game against last season’s champions, who just happen to be the only team to win at the Allianz Arena this season.

But they are eight points clear and heavy favourites to secure a last 16 tie against Leverkusen or Atletico Madrid when the draw is made on Friday.

Bayern are under pressure to reach the final given Munich is hosting it.

Lifting the famous trophy for a seventh time in their own city would feel all the more special and Kompany and his players know it.

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Match stats

Bayern Munich have won their last five home European matches against Scottish opponents and have never lost at home against a Scottish team (W7 D3).

Celtic have played 15 away games against German opposition in Europe and are still looking for their first victory (D3 L12).

Celtic have been eliminated in their past nine major European knockout ties when they’ve lost the first leg, since going through against FC Koln in the first round of the 1992-93 Uefa Cup (0-2 first leg, 3-0 second leg).

Celtic have never progressed when losing the first leg at home (seven previous instances).

Bayern Munich have progressed from their last 13 Champions League knockout ties after winning the first leg. The last time they were knocked out was in the last 16 against Internazionale in 2010-11, winning 1-0 in Italy before losing 3-2 at home and going out on away goals.

Celtic have lost on their past five trips to Germany by an aggregate score of 18-4, with their most recent game in Germany being a 7-1 defeat to Borussia Dortmund.

Bayern Munich are unbeaten in their past 20 home matches in the Champions League (W16 D4). That record is the longest active one in the tournament.

Since the start of last season, Harry Kane has scored more Champions League goals than any other player (15 in 20 games). Kane is the first Bayern player to hit 15 Champions League goals in 20 or fewer games, breaking Roy Makaay’s record (21 games).

February 18, 2025
Arsenal fined for reaction to Lewis-Skelly red card

Arsenal have been fined £65,000 for failing to control their players after Myles Lewis-Skelly was sent off during their Premier League win at Wolves. The Football Association (FA) charged Arsenal with failing to ensure their players “did not behave in an improper manner,” at Molineux on 25 January. The club admitted the charge before an independent regulatory commission imposed the sanction. Arsenal players surrounded referee Michael Oliver in the 43rd minute of their 1-0 victory after he showed Lewis-Skelly a straight red card for a foul on Matt Doherty. Video assistant referee (VAR) Darren England upheld Oliver’s decision that Lewis-Skelly committed serious foul play. The Gunners appealed against the decision and the 18-year-old’s three-match ban was subsequently overturned. After the match referees’ body Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) said police were investigating “threats and abuse” directed at Oliver and his family on social media.

February 18, 2025
Fewer goals than Antony and January regrets – the problems facing Amorim

When Manchester United sacked Erik ten Hag in October, they were 14th in the Premier League table and seven points from both the top four and the bottom three.

Fast forward three and a half months and the club are 15th, 15 points from the top four and 12 points above the relegation zone after suffering a 1-0 defeat by Tottenham – the eighth league defeat under new manager Ruben Amorim.

There has been no ‘new manager bounce’ with Portuguese coach Amorim saying he has “a lot of problems” and his job is “so hard”.

It is no secret that United are enduring a historically poor Premier League campaign but just how large are the problems facing Amorim?

The worst United team in Premier League history

Amorim may have jumped the gun when he described this side as “the worst team maybe in the history of Manchester United” in January.

After all, the club were relegated from the first division in 1974.

But in the Premier League era, they are the worst statistically at this stage of a season.

United’s tally of 29 points from 25 matches is their lowest at this stage of a Premier League season

United have lost 12 times in 25 matches, a loss rate of 48%.

The club are averaging 1.16 points-per-game, which, if continued, would give them an end-of-season points tally of 44 points from 38 matches. That would be their lowest Premier League points tally.

United have won four, drawn two and lost eight of Amorim’s 14 Premier League matches.

Only Tottenham, Wolves, Ipswich, Leicester and Southampton have earned fewer points than United’s 14 in their 14 Premier League matches under Amorim.

Amorim has managed 21 matches since joining United. He has won nine, drawn three and lost nine of those matches, giving him a win rate of 43%.

That is the lowest of any permanent Manchester United manager since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013 over their first 21 matches in charge, with Louis van Gaal (48%) the next lowest.

Jose Mourinho (52%), David Moyes (57%), Erik ten Hag (67%) and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (71%) all had significantly better records in all competitions from their first 21 matches in charge.

Amorim ‘not worried’ about mounting pressure following Spurs defeat

Problems in front of goal

Of all of United’s problems under Amorim, their inability to score enough goals is the most glaring.

A deeper look at the numbers does not make for happy reading.

United have scored 28 goals in 25 Premier League matches this season – a rate of 1.12 goals-per-game.

Only four teams in the division – Ipswich, Southampton, Leicester and Everton – have scored fewer.

Amad Diallo, who has been ruled out of the remainder of the season with an ankle injury, is the side’s top scorer in the Premier League (six) and all competitions (nine), while centre forwards Rasmus Hojlund (two) and Joshua Zirzkee (three) have managed just five goals in 45 Premier League appearances between them.

In 14 matches under Ten Hag this season, United’s Expected-Goals-per-game (xG) was 1.7. This has fallen slightly under Amorim, with United’s xG 1.6-per-game since he took charge.

United’s ‘big chances’ created record is identical under Ten Hag and Amorim this season, with the side creating 2.9 big chances each match.

Despite United’s struggles, captain Bruno Fernandes is fourth highest for chances created in the league (53). Cole Palmer (66) is top.

United finished last season with a goal difference of -1, this the first time they had ended a Premier League campaign with a negative goal difference. However, they are on course to eclipse that with a -7 goal difference this term.

Similarly, while the 57 goals they scored during the 2023-24 campaign was their joint-lowest in the Premier League, they are on course to score fewer this season. If they maintain their rate of 1.12 goals per game, they would finish with 44 scored.

Mounting injury problems

During the early weeks of Amorim’s reign, the former Sporting boss bemoaned the lack of time he had been to spend with his players on the training ground.

However with a less packed schedule with qualification for the Europa League knockout stages assured and a Carabao Cup exit at Tottenham’s hands, Amorim has been able to spend more time on the training ground.

But a “free week” before Sunday’s trip to Tottenham proved anything but productive.

Between the 2-1 win against Leicester City in the FA Cup on 7 February and Sunday’s loss to Spurs, United lost six players.

Diallo, Kobbie Mainoo, Manuel Ugarte and Toby Collyer were ruled out of the trip through injury, while Leny Yoro and Christian Eriksen fell ill.

Their absences added to the long-term casualties of Luke Shaw, Mason Mount, Lisandro Martinez and Jonny Evans.

It meant Amorim was forced to name an inexperienced bench against Spurs with Victor Lindelof joined by Elyh Harrison, Harry Amass, Tyler Fredricson, Jack Fletcher, Jack Moorhouse, Chido Obi, Ayden Heaven and Sekou Kone.

Sweden defender Lindelof was the only one of those to have previously played for the first team.

January transfer window regrets

Manchester United made two signings in the January window, bringing in Patrick Dorgu from Italian club Lecce and defender Ayden Heaven from Arsenal but squad was thinner by the end of the window than when it started as Marcus Rashford, Antony and Tyrell Malacia departed on loan.

Dorgu, a multi-functional left-footed Denmark international, should provide balance at wing-back to Amorim’s 3-4-3 system.

But the decision to allow both Antony and Rashford to leave without signing a replacement looked risky at the time and is proving so now.

Their departures left Hojlund, Zirzkee, Diallo and Alejandro Garnacho as the side’s only recognised forwards. That list is down to three now, given Diallo’s season-ending injury.

Garnacho has no Premier League goals or assists since Amorim joined.

Rashford has made two eye-catching substitute appearances for Aston Villa since moving to Birmingham, and he played a hand in Ollie Watkins’ equaliser against Ipswich on Saturday.

As for Antony, the Brazilian has scored three times in four matches for Real Betis since moving to Spain. This matches the tally he managed during 38 appearances for United last season and means he has scored more so far in February than United have.

February 18, 2025
Barcelona 1 0 Rayo Vallecano

Barcelona saw out a nervy win against Rayo Vallecano to return to the top of La Liga for the first time sinceough the Barcelona centre-back was never close to getting to the ball ahead of goalkeeper Augusto Batalla.

The visitors were incensed when they were denied a penalty following a similar incident, this time Ciss going to ground.

The controversy continued as Rayo thought they had equalised when Jorge de Frutos latched on to a through ball and finished past Wojciech Szczesny, but striker Randy Nteka – standing in an offside position – was judged to have interfered with Martinez’s ability to make a tackle.

Barcelona spurned several chances to score in the second half, and were fortunate not to concede a late equaliser when De Frutos headed over following a Rayo counter-attack.

Hansi Flick’s side go top of the table with 51 points, ahead of Real Madrid on goal difference, and one point above Atletico, with 14 games left to play.

February 18, 2025
Leeds United 2 1 Sunderland

Substitute Pascal Struijk headed a dramatic 95th-minute winner as Leeds United came from behind to beat promotion rivals Sunderland and return to the top of the Championship.

The defender had levelled with 12 minutes to go when he glanced in Joe Rothwell’s wicked free-kick and then won it in added time with another header from another Rothwell cross.

Sunderland had taken the lead against the run of play when French striker Wilson Isidor got on to defender Dan Ballard’s clipped pass into the inside right channel and did excellently to spin Leeds skipper Ethan Ampadu before lashing a low shot in off the far post.

The Whites had not been behind at the break in a league match at Elland Road since their only home defeat this season by Burnley in September.

But this time they turned it around in the most unlikely of endings and are now seven points clear of the third-placed Clarets with 13 games to play.

The win stretches their unbeaten run to 15 league games and they remain undefeated in front of their own fans since 15 September.

Sunderland’s players dropped to the ground as Leeds’ bench emptied to celebrate the late, late winner and their slim automatic promotion chances look distant now.

Super sub Struijk shocks Sunderland

The visitors made a good start in West Yorkshire and could have led in the second minute when Enzo le Fee’s cutback to the edge of the area was met by Jobe Bellingham but his low shot was too close to Illan Meslier, with the Frenchman then getting up quickly to thwart Patrick Roberts.

Leeds then got on top in terms of possession but struggled to break the well-drilled Black Cats down and were then caught with a sucker punch.

Ballard, who had also set Le Fee going for their early chance, was given too much time to clip a ball into the path of the rampaging Isidor and he showed Premier League quality with strength, skill and composure to score a 12th of the season.

Thereafter the Whites threatened through widemen Dan James and Manor Solomon but a James header hacked away from in front of the line by Luke O’Nien just before the break was as close as they came to levelling.

Barring a very early foray, the Wearsiders were pinned back for much of the second half but Anthony Patterson was only called upon for one fairly routine stop from Joel Piroe before Struijk headed in.

That lifted the energy among the home fans but Sunderland looked like they had done enough to at least claim the point they deserved.

However, with seconds remaining Rothwell collected Largie Ramazani’s mishit shot out wide on the right and hammered a vicious cross-shot that beat Patterson’s attempted punch and was headed in once more by Dutchman Struijk to spark chaos.

Skipper Ampadu gathered his team into a huddle in the centre circle after the final whistle blew on a night where Leeds showed a title-winning mentality.

Farke to miss Yorkshire title shootout

Leeds boss Daniel Farke was given a yellow card for celebrating his side’s winner

Leeds now face second-placed Sheffield United at Bramall Lane next Monday (20:00 GMT).

A win would send them five points clear at the top of the Championship and potentially as many as 10 points clear of third place.

Farke was shown a yellow card by Stuart Attwell, his third of the season, in the bedlam that followed his side’s winning goal.

It means the German will serve a one-game touchline ban for the short trip to South Yorkshire.

Sunderland, who are unbeaten at the Stadium of Light, host struggling Hull City on Saturday.

Leeds boss Daniel Farke toldTodayPriceNG Radio Leeds:

“These type of wins are the best kind you can have in football for the supporters and the whole group.

“They are priceless points. It’s a great night for everyone connected to Leeds United.

“We haven’t won anything yet but to do this against one of the best sides in the league in a difficult game.

“We were there with almost 70% possession so it was well deserved but once they led it is so difficult and complicated.

“I had only one yellow card before this season and now I have had a couple of doubtful ones.

“If I miss the game at Bramall Lane because of a celebration to a 95th minute goal then I have to adapt to the rules. We live by the rules but I doubt if it makes sense. It is what it is.”

Sunderland boss Regis le Bris:

“The crowd, the energy of the stadium was always increasing and we couldn’t break it.

“We can be proud of our way of playing. We were brave and played as a team but without the small details that can change the dynamic.

“We need a bit more depth in our squad. We have three or four players who weren’t fit but they can be back next week and make a difference. We are still in a good place and the team is still improving.

“You have to admit that Leeds were very good this evening. Sometimes you can’t find solutions.”

February 18, 2025