JAMAL MUSIALA SPARKS MAJOR SCARE AFTER COLLAPSING ON PITCH JUST MINUTES AFTER SCORING IN BAYERN'S WIN OVER LEIPZIG

Jamal Musiala collapsed minutes after scoring for Bayern against Leipzig, prompting a medical scare before walking off after treatment at the Allianz Arena.

Bayern Munich star Jamal Musiala sparked worrying scenes after suddenly collapsing on the pitch during his side's 3-1 pre-season victory over RB Leipzig in the Telekom Cup at the Allianz Arena.

Musiala, making his first appearance of Bayern's pre-season, had only been introduced in the 69th minute alongside Ismael Saibari and Alphonso Davies. Twelve minutes later, the Germany international marked his return by scoring Bayern's third goal, converting Saibari's cut-back in the 81st minute to put the result beyond Leipzig.

However, celebrations soon gave way to concern. Only a few minutes after scoring, Musiala appeared disoriented while standing on the pitch and began losing his balance. Saibari spotted his teammate struggling and rushed towards him, helping Musiala down before he could fall heavily.

Joshua Kimmich and other Bayern players immediately called for medical assistance as Musiala remained on the turf. An emergency doctor and members of the medical staff hurried onto the pitch, while a stretcher was also brought out as the Allianz Arena fell silent.

Bayern provide reassuring Musiala update after collapse

There was eventually relief when the emergency doctor signalled with a thumbs-up. Musiala was able to get back to his feet and leave the pitch without being carried off, although he appeared dazed as he made his way towards the tunnel.

Bayern sporting director Max Eberl later offered an encouraging update on the 23-year-old's condition.

"The most important thing is that he's OK," Eberl said, while declining to provide further medical details. Bayern had not announced an official diagnosis in the immediate aftermath of the incident.

The match was played in demanding conditions, with Bayern's official website recording temperatures of around 33 degrees Celsius in Munich. Reports in Germany subsequently suggested Musiala had experienced dizziness and circulatory problems, potentially linked to the extreme heat, although the club has not formally confirmed that as the cause.

The incident was particularly alarming given Musiala's recent injury history. He suffered a fractured fibula and a broken and dislocated ankle during Bayern's Club World Cup quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain in July 2025, an injury that kept him out for more than six months. Bayern confirmed last month that he had also undergone a small, planned follow-up operation related to that injury.

Musiala had only recently resumed full team training, and the Leipzig match represented another important step in his preparations for the new campaign.

Before the medical scare, Bayern had taken the lead through Luis Diaz in the 13th minute before Brajan Gruda equalised for Leipzig shortly after half-time. Nathaniel Brown restored Bayern's advantage in the 57th minute before Musiala's 81st-minute strike completed the 3-1 victory.

The result, however, was overshadowed by the sight of Musiala collapsing just minutes after scoring, with Bayern now expected to closely monitor his condition ahead of the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup against Borussia Dortmund on August 22.

- Probuddha Bhattacharjee

REAL MADRID SET TO SIGN ONE OF THE WORLD'S HOTTEST TALENT AFTER $195M BID

 

Photo: Getty Images

Real Madrid look set to sign RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande after Paris Saint-Germain withdrew from negotiations, according to The Athletic’s David Ornstein.

Diomande is one of the hottest properties in this transfer window, having starred for Ivory Coast at the World Cup, following a breakout season where he scored 12 goals and provided nine assists in the Bundesliga.

Ornstein reports that Los Blancos had a bid rejected by Leipzig ‘around 10 days ago’ and returned with a new offer ‘worth €120million (A$195m, which includes a €100m (A$163m) fixed fee.’

The German outfit are reportedly yet to respond to that proposal, which is ‘expected to be turned down’, but the two clubs expect a deal will eventually be reached.

Meanwhile, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano reports that a deal has been reached for a fee ‘in excess of €100m’.

He reports that Diomande will fly to Madrid this week for medical tests and to sign a five-year deal.

Real Madrid expected to sign Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig. 1st bid rejected ~10 days ago, 2nd (€100m fixed, €120m package) set to be rejected but agreement likely soon. #PSG out; 19yo returns to #RBLeipzig on Mon with wish to join #RMFC @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/xc6EPzjCdr — David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) July 26, 2026

PSG were right in the mix to sign Diomande, who was said to be keen on joining the reigning Champions League winners, but were put off by the asking price and have now turned their attention to other options, amid reports Bradley Barcola is set to leave the club.

The Athletic report that Leipzig are ‘holding out for a fee closer to €130m (A$212m).

Should they achieve that, Diomande would become the eight most expensive player in football history, behind Neymar, Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, Alexander Isak, Morgan Rogers, Elliott Anderson and Philippe Coutinho, per Transfermarkt.

That would be quite extraordinary when you consider where the 19-year-old was just a few years ago.

It was barely 18 months ago that Diamonde was playing for DME Sports Academy in Florida, before joining LaLiga side Leganes, where he made three reserve team appearances before being called up to the first team.

Leipzig paid his €20m release clause to bring him to the Bundesliga, where he exploded immediately. They look set to make a huge profit on the winger.

He could become the most expensive Real Madrid player ever, surpassing the fee the Spanish giants paid to sign Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund in 2023, with the club set for an enormous transfer window having brought Jose Mourinho back as head coach.

They’ve already signed Marc Cucurella, Denzel Dumfries, Ibrahima Konate and Bernardo Silva, while reports suggest Madrid are also working on a deal to sign World Cup-winning Spain captain Rodri from Manchester City.

- JAKE ROSENGARTEN

YAN DIOMANDE MAKES FINAL TRANSFER DECISION AS REAL MADRID JOIN ARSENAL AND LIVERPOOL FOR £100M RB LEIPZIG STAR

Getty Images 

RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande has outlined his transfer preference amid mounting interest from Real Madrid, PSG, Arsenal, and Liverpool. The £100m-rated Ivory Coast international impressed during a breakout season in Germany and at the 2026 World Cup, leaving him keen on a summer departure despite Leipzig's public stance that he is not for sale.

Diomande signals summer exit

Leipzig winger Diomande has reportedly made his final decision regarding his next destination amid a fierce transfer battle involving PSG, Liverpool, Arsenal and Madrid. According to The Athletic, Los Blancos have even opened direct negotiations with Leipzig to sign the £100 million-rated winger after he registered 12 goals and eight assists in the Bundesliga and impressed in leading Ivory Coast to the last 32 of the 2026 World Cup. Despite Leipzig sporting director Marcel Schafer insisting the player is going nowhere, Diomande remains hopeful of finalising a move this summer.

Getty Images 

Winger outlines transfer stance

Asked about the speculation surrounding interest from Europe's elite during the World Cup, the young Ivorian star openly confirmed his expectation to leave Leipzig while leaving negotiations in his agent's hands.

Speaking to reporters, he stated: "First of all I think, like I said, my dream is playing for my country, and to make history with my country. I don't have Instagram anymore. I don't have TikTok as well, so I can't see anything! But I expect to leave, of course. And I have an agent, he's going to manage the rest. But for me, the most important thing right now is the focus on the World Cup with my country."

Meanwhile, regarding his boyhood club, Diomande previously told French media: "Paris Saint-Germain is a team I've loved since I was little. I think my father was a PSG supporter. It's a team I admire as a football fan."

Mourinho enters transfer race

A separate report from TEAMtalkclaims that Diomande's primary preference remains a move to PSG, though the winger is open to joining Madrid if the French giants fail to agree a fee with Leipzig. The race has intensified further after the Spanish giants, now led by new manager Jose Mourinho, entered the frame for the attacker as part of their squad overhaul. Elsewhere, Arsenal have also joined the pursuit after their attempt to sign Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa ended in failure.

Getty Images 

Leipzig demand premium fee

Diomande has now returned to pre-season training with Leipzig following his post-World Cup break. PSG are expected to submit a formal offer swiftly to prevent Madrid or the Premier League duo from hijacking the deal for their top target. Leipzig hold a strong negotiating position and are adamant they will only part ways with their prized asset if a suitor meets his valuation.

- Adhe Makayasa

LISA BAUM FROM TANZANIA & GERMANY | RB LEIPZIG WOMEN'S TEAM

 

BUNDESLIGA TABLE | TOP 5

 

BENJAMIN SESKO PUTS RIVALS ON NOTICE AS HE EXPLAINS EARLY MAN UTD STRUGGLES

Benjamin Sesko does believe he's improving everyday at Manchester United but accepts that the Premier League requires him to hit a new level as he seeks his first goal

Benjamin Sesko is still waiting for his first Man Utd goal(Image: Nigel French/Allstar)

Benjamin Sesko is adamant that his top form at Manchester United is coming as he concedes the level of the Premier League is "certainly much higher" than he's been used to.

The Slovenian made a £74million switch from RB Leipzig in the summer and has been tipped to help solve the goalscoring issues at Old Trafford. So far though Sesko has only been used from the bench, appearing as a substitute in all three league matches.

In those cameos he's struggled to make much of an impact and is still waiting for his first goal in his new colours. The 22-year-old arrived with a reputation as one of Europe's best young forwards and hit double figures in the Bundesliga last season.

Now in England though Sesko has acknowledged that the demands are far higher with the level of football going up. As a result he's improving as he rubs shoulders with some high quality players and believes his best football will come.

He told Ekipa: “The level of the matches is certainly much higher, the players and teammates are also at a higher level. After all, English football is at the highest level in the world of football.

"But I am very much looking forward to the coming period, also because I am getting better and faster in every training session, and I am also progressing in my football mentality every day. I wanted to move to England and fortunately my wish came true.”

Sesko's only start came in the embarrassing Carabao Cup loss at League Two Grimsby Town. The striker copped criticism for stepping up late in the shootout, but it later emerged that the Slovenian had been struggling with cramp, hence his late inclusion.

Ruben Amorim passed up the chance to bring on Sesko during Saturday's win over Burnley, which did raise eyebrows. When Matheus Cunha was forced off in the first-half the United boss instead chose to bring on Joshua Zirkzee, with Sesko getting 20 minutes at the end.

Nevertheless Amorim is adamant that Sesko has a huge ceiling and believes he will enjoy a stellar career at Old Trafford. He said when he signed: “I think he has great potential in everything he does.

"He can play different types of football. He's going to feel that the Premier League is really aggressive, he's going to learn, but he has a great potential and I can see Ben being a striker for Manchester United for a lot of years. That's why we paid so much money - to have a striker that will have his history in our club."

- Samuel Meade

BENJAMIN SESKO TO MAN UTD TRANSFER AGREED AS

Benjamin Sesko is closing in on a move to Manchester United (Image: Getty Images)

Manchester United have now agreed terms with RB Leipzig for the transfer of Benjamin Sesko, who will complete a move to the Premier League pending a medical and paperwork

Manchester United have moved a step closer to signing Benjamin Sesko after striking a deal in principle with RB Leipzig for the sought-after striker.

Sesko, 22, had emerged as a priority target for United in recent weeks amid their search for a new No 9. And following fresh talks with Leipzig over a transfer package they have now beaten Newcastle to a deal for the Slovenia international.

Per The Athletic, United will pay €76.5m (£66.4m) up front and a further €8.5m (£7.4m) in add-ons to sign Sesko, who has already agreed personal terms.

The former RB Salzburg man is now poised to fly to Manchester on Thursday to undergo a medical and complete the move.

Sesko's arrival means United could start the new Premier League campaign with a brand new front three after concluding deals for Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo earlier this summer.

The striker scored 21 goals in all competitions for Leipzig last season and was always expected to seal a blockbuster transfer ahead of the 2025-26 campaign.

United's work in the transfer market to secure deals for three new attackers this summer follows the club's worst ever Premier League campaign, where they finished 15th. The Red Devils scored just 44 goals in 38 games during the season: the fifth worst record across the entire top-flight.

Sesko had been heavily linked with Arsenal earlier in the summer and the Gunners, like United, are long-term admirers of the striker.

However, talk of a move to the Premier League was put on ice when Arsenal instead chose to pursue a move for Viktor Gyokeres, who joined the Londoners from Sporting Lisbon.

And while Newcastle also made a play to sign the striker after that development, it quickly emerged that Sesko's preference was a move to Manchester United.

Sesko's arrival should be confirmed in good time ahead of the new season, which starts next week. United face Arsenal at Old Trafford in their season opener on Sunday 17 August.

- Dan Marsh

BENJAMIN SESKO 'SETTING OFF ALARM BELLS' GUVE MANCHESTER UNITED CAUSE OF CONCERN

Arsenal were heavily linked with a move for Benjamin Sesko before eventually signing Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting CP, with the RB Leipzig ace now a top target for Manchester United

Benjamin Sesko has yet to decide his future, with Manchester United interested in signing the striker(Image: Getty Images)

Arsenal chose against pursuing Benjamin Sesko in favour of securing Viktor Gyokeres after considering the RB Leipzig forward too much of a gamble.

Mikel Arteta's team eventually confirmed the Swedish striker's arrival last month following one of the summer's most protracted transfer sagas. The Gunners had narrowed their striker hunt down to Gyokeres and Sesko, but ultimately plumped for the 27-year-old, leaving Sesko embroiled in a tug-of-war between Manchester United and Newcastle United.

The Slovenian international had previously appeared destined for north London given the club's extensive 12-month scouting operation monitoring his development at RB Leipzig, according to ESPN.

Following initial discussions with the German side, Arsenal executives quickly discovered that any move for the talented striker would prove too costly for a player still developing his game, reports the Mirror.

The report highlighted three primary concerns that triggered "alarm bells" over a potential Sesko deal, including Leipzig's hefty asking price alongside his wage demands.

With just two campaigns under his belt in Europe's elite leagues - netting 21 goals in all competitions during the previous term - sources revealed the club harboured doubts about Sesko's psychological readiness to spearhead Arsenal's frontline and cope with the accompanying pressure.

The future of Rasmus Hojlund remains uncertain(Image: Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)

Despite Gyokeres not yet making his mark in one of Europe's top domestic leagues, his impressive record of 97 goals in 102 games for Sporting CP and Arsenal's faith in his character led them to secure a deal for the striker.

Sesko is reportedly still weighing up his options, with Newcastle having their bid of just under £70m turned down after they rejected Liverpool's £110m offer for Alexander Isak. Despite United not yet making a formal offer for the 22-year-old, they remain keenly interested in enhancing their attack with his signature.

However, Arsenal's decision to withdraw from a deal could raise eyebrows at United, who are all too familiar with the pitfalls of investing heavily in young strikers who fail to live up to their hefty price tags.

The potential signing of Sesko might signal the end of Rasmus Hojlund's time at Old Trafford, as Ruben Amorim confessed he is uncertain whether the Dane - who has expressed his desire to fight for his place - will still be a United player by month's end.

Ruben Amorim did not confirm whether Hojlund would be a Manchester United player by the end of the summer transfer window

United shelled out £72m on the 22-year-old in 2023 and, according to The Athletic, acknowledge internally that they might now have to accept lower than his book value, which stands at a little under £45m.

Following the striker's goal in United's 4-1 pre-season victory over Bournemouth, the Red Devils manager commented: "I'm really happy with Rasmus, but I don't know what is going to happen until the end of the market.

"The important thing is that the strikers who are here are working really well, they are improving, they are helping the team and that's the most important thing. The important thing is that Rasmus is scoring goals.

"He's connecting really well with the team. He's improving. Again, I don't know what is going to happen until the market is closed. We suffered a a lot because of the lack of goals last season. But I think not just the goals, but the way Rasmus connects the play.

"Every time we have to kick the ball, we are kicking the ball when we are more pressed. The ability for him to hold the defender and to connect in the support is helping us to play a lot better and we are playing better because he's playing better."

The arrival of Sesko would certainly come with the expectation that he provides consistent goals, especially after the dire season they had in front of goal. United netted just 44 league goals this past campaign, with only four teams scoring fewer, including all three of the relegated sides.

Amorim has taken note of their troubles in front of goal, given the summer signings of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, who scored 35 combined league goals last season.

- Fasika Zelealem

ARSENAL TRANSFER NEWS: BENJAMIN SESKO BOOST AS SIGNING DRAWS NEAR AND TARGET RE-EMERGES

Arsenal are looking to strengthen their attacking department ahead of the 2024/25 campaign, with RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko the top target for the Gunners

Benjamin Sesko has admirers at Arsenal(Image: Getty Images)

Another day, another round of transfer talk about strikers as Arsenal's current squad enjoy their holidays before getting down to serious business.

Mikel Arteta is set to fix his centre forward woes this summer as he bids to go one step further after three successive second-placed finishes in the Premier League. Benjamin Sesko, Viktor Gyokeres and Ollie Watkins have all been discussed as forward targets.

A stalemate appears to have developed surrounding Swedish hotshot Gyokeres, with Sporting Lisbon playing hardball for their star player. This has sparked renewed whispers about a potential swoop for Aston Villa's Watkins, who was on the radar back in January,, reports the Mirror.

A deal for RB Leipzig's Sesko might be inching closer following reports that the Bundesliga side are in discussions to sign striker Romulo from Turkish outfit Goztepe.

Leipzig won't let their main man go until they've got a replacement sorted and a deal for Sesko could set the Gunners back a cool £65m.

The situation with Gyokeres is still up in the air, with Sporting sticking to their guns that any bids around the £60m mark touted by his reps will be swiftly binned.

Sporting maintain they've not had any offers yet and the friction between the club's top brass and their leading scorer looks set to drag out into a long-winded saga... unless a club steps up with a hefty offer straight off the bat.

That pause has now turned the attention to Premier League-proven Watkins, who will hit the big 3-0 next season, with speculation ratcheting up several notches.

Arsenal made a clear overture to snag him back in January, but the Midlands outfit weren't tempted by the Gunners' proposal since the money wasn't right.

Lewis-Skelly update

Myles Lewis-Skelly is one of Arsenal's brightest young talents(Image: undefined via Getty Images)

Real Madrid whispers about prising academy gem Myles Lewis-Skelly away from the Emirates, with a single year left on the latter's deal, haven't given the Gunners' hierarchy any concern, with an insider noting the North London giants remain "very calm".

Transfer sagas with Real's name in it demand a pinch of caution; the hullabaloo about another Three Lions full-back with a dwindling contract possibly trading England for the Spanish giants seems, on cue, to have set tongues a-wagging.

And it's been fuelled no doubt by the cautionary Trent Alexander-Arnold tale of Liverpool losing their homegrown superstar with a wand of a right foot to the La Liga giants for a paltry £10m fee after he let his deal run out at Anfield.

- Alan Smith & Neil Docking 

FABRIZIO ROMANO: ARSENAL TURN BACK ON 'MONSTER' STRICKER, TALKS 'NOT DEVELOPING '

Arsenal's interest in Viktor Gyokeres isn't developing, and their full focus is on signing RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The Gunners are set to sign a new number nine this summer, and it has long been speculated that Gyokeres and Sesko were their top two targets. Both enjoyed superb past seasons at Sporting CP and Leipzig, respectively, and are the centre-forward profile that Mikel Arteta is crying out for.

Gyokeres, 27, is the finished article, given his age, and he has previously spent time in English football with Coventry City. But Sesko, 22, looks to be Arteta's preferred choice and the club are pursuing the Slovenian's signature.

Romano: Arsenal Put Gyokeres On Backburner

The Gunners are advancing for Sesko

Sesko is a long-term target who was on Arsenal's radar last summer but turned down a move to the Emirates over doubts over his game time. He instead opted to continue his development at Leipzig, where he has earned a reputation as one of Europe's most highly regarded target men.

Romano has revealed that work on a deal for the 41-cap Slovenia international is "advancing very well" and that he's "sold on Arteta's project". He suggested that there are "concrete possibilities" of the frontman getting "closer and closer to possibly completing his move".

Gyokeres, meanwhile, could be set to miss out on a switch to North London, with Romano stating on his YouTube channel:

"It's important to say that at the moment, the other situation on the Arsenal side, Viktor Gyokeres, the other name in the list of Arsenal, at the moment, the situation is not developing. Arsenal are focused on Benjamin Sesko, discussing and advancing for Benjamin Sesko… for Viktor Gyokeres, I'm not aware of an official bid from Arsenal or any sort of agreement."

Gyokeres, whose teammate Zeno Dabast called 'a monster', has been widely tipped to arrive in the Premier League this summer and join a Champions League club. Arsenal looked favourites to sign the Swede, but Chelsea were also touted as a possibility before they signed Liam Delap for £30m.

Manchester United may now have a free run at Ruben Amorim's former Sporting striker amid the Gunners seemingly preferring Sesko. He is reportedly "very keen" to join the Red Devils, despite the club's lack of participation in the Champions League next season.

Arsenal's long-standing interest in Sesko means they have done extensive groundwork not only on a deal but also on how the player will fit Arteta's system. GIVEMESPORT sources learned in January that the Spanish coach's admiration of the Slovenian is "undeniable" and he'd "love to have him on board".

All statistics courtesy of SofaScore - correct as of 08.06.2025

- Matthew Guyett

BAYERN MÜNCHEN DENIED BUNDESLIGA TITLE AFTER RB LEIPZIG'S LAST-GASP EQUALISER

Harry Kane was made to wait to clinch the first silverware of his career after RB Leipzig’s dramatic late equaliser in a 3-3 draw with Bayern Munich.

The Bundesliga leaders were seconds away from moving to an insurmountable 11 points ahead of defending champions Bayer Leverkusen when Yussuf Poulsen struck in the fifth minute of added time.

With suspended top scorer Kane watching from the stands, Bayern had overturned a two-goal half-time deficit thanks to Eric Dier, Michael Olise and Leroy Sane.

The state of play. 🤏 pic.twitter.com/4GbsmUP96R

— FC Bayern (@FCBayernEN) May 3, 2025

But Champions League-chasing Leipzig, who had looked set to spoil the party following first-half goals from Benjamin Sesko and Lukas Klostermann, had the final say courtesy of a clever dinked finish from substitute Poulsen.

Kane had made his way pitchside in anticipation of joining in the celebrations before being left crestfallen by the last-gasp leveller.

Bayern will be crowned champions on Sunday if Xabi Alonso’s second-placed Leverkusen side fail to win at Freiburg.

Borussia Dortmund boosted their Champions League hopes with a 4-0 hammering of Wolfsburg, Serhou Guirassy and Karim Adeyemi both scoring braces.

Hoffenheim are not yet assured of safety after Tim Kleindienst scored a stoppage-time equaliser for Borussia Monchengladbach in an eventful 4-4 draw.

Getty

Union Berlin fought back from two down to draw 2-2 against Werder Bremen while Nick Woltemade scored a late goal to earn Stuttgart a 1-0 win over St Pauli, who finished the match with nine men.

A much-changed Barcelona avoided a misstep in LaLiga as they fought back from a goal down to defeat bottom side Real Valladolid 2-1.

Valladolid already know they will be playing in the second tier next season, but they threatened to cause a huge shock when Ivan Sanchez’s deflected effort put them ahead after only five minutes.

Hansi Flick had made nine changes to the side which drew 3-3 with Inter Milan in midweek with the second leg of the Champions League semi-final coming up on Tuesday and El Clasico next weekend.

But Flick turned to some of his big guns and they changed the game, with Raphinha and Fermin Lopez netting early in the second half to ensure Barca will have at least a four-point lead over Real Madrid going into next weekend’s clash.

Third-placed Atletico Madrid were surprisingly held to a 0-0 draw by lowly Deportivo Alaves while Villarreal, in fifth, defeated Osasuna 4-2, with Ayoze Perez scoring twice.

Las Palmas’ hopes of survival were dealt a blow by a 3-2 home defeat against Valencia. Oli McBurnie set up an exciting finish by pulling one back seven minutes from time, but Valencia held on.

In Serie A, Napoli remain three points clear of defending champions Inter with three games left after both claimed narrow victories.

Giacomo Raspadori scored the only goal for Napoli midway through the first half as they saw off Lecce 1-0, while Kristjan Asllani’s ninth-minute penalty was enough for Inter to defeat Verona by the same scoreline.

See you Wednesday at the Parc! 👊🔴🔵 pic.twitter.com/eMn5RZ9vWC

— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) May 3, 2025

Simone Inzaghi’s side returned to winning ways in Serie A after back-to-back losses ahead of their huge Champions League tie on Tuesday.

Parma remain in danger after a 1-0 home defeat against Como, while Udinese were 2-1 winners at Cagliari.

Having not lost in Ligue 1 until last weekend, champions Paris St Germain suffered a second straight league defeat, going down 2-1 against Strasbourg.

Luis Enrique made 10 changes to the side that beat Arsenal in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final in midweek, and a Lucas Hernandez own goal and one from Felix Lemarechal put Champions League-chasing Strasbourg two up at the break.

Bradley Barcola pulled one back moments after the resumption, but PSG’s focus is on completing victory against the Gunners.

Monaco moved into second place with a 3-1 victory over St Etienne, while Toulouse defeated Rennes 2-1.

- Pa Sport Staff

DANI OLMO SAGA: BARCELONA'S HANS FLICK CONFIDENT OF REGISTRATION

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said he remains confident that Dani Olmo and Pau Víctor will be able to play for the club again this season.

LaLiga and the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) announced Saturday they had rejected Barça's request to re-register the duo after the Catalan club missed a Dec. 31 deadline to prove they were compliant with the league's financial fair play (FFP) rules.

Olmo, a €60 million ($61.9m) summer signing from RB Leipzig, has a clause in his contract which would allow him to leave for free if he remains unregistered for the second half of the season, but Flick says the Spain international is committed to Barça.

"I have the confidence that the club will do it," Flick said in a news conference after Saturday's 4-0 Copa del Rey win at Barbastro, a match which Olmo and Víctor were both forced to miss.

"This morning I spoke with Dani and Dani wants to play for Barça. We need him and also Pau Víctor. They are very good players. We need both of them. We have to wait. This is the only thing we can do now."

A brace from Robert Lewandowski and goals from Eric García and Pablo Torre helped Barça book their place in the Copa round of 16, with Flick insisting the drama around Olmo and Víctor will not affect the team.

Dani Olmo would be available to leave for free if he remains unregistered. Getty Images

"I think everyone wants that both of them are back because they are important players for our offence," he added.

"Today we played very focused. We played like we want. There was nothing to see or to feel that the team suffered about that. We are professional, we have to play and the team did really good."

Defender Ronald Araújo, who made his first appearance of the season against Barbastro, also expressed his desire for Barça to find a fix to the Olmo and Víctor situation as soon as possible.

"It's left a bad taste because they are our teammates," he told reporters. "We hope the club can resolve the issue. Meanwhile, we now have to turn our attention to Wednesday's Supercopa [semifinal] against Athletic Club."

Araújo had not played since injuring his hamstring representing Uruguay at the Copa América last July, but he managed to complete 90 minutes on Saturday.

"I'm really happy to win the game, but also on a personal level to be back and play 90 minutes," he added.

"I didn't know if I could play the whole match. The coach was asking me if I felt OK [to continue] and I did. It's important to build up minutes. I'm delighted."

Flick said Lamine Yamal should also have recovered from an ankle injury to feature in the Supercopa next week, while Raphinha will travel to Saudi Arabia with the squad despite missing the Barbastro game with a "small problem."

Barça meet Athletic in Jeddah on Wednesday, with the winners facing either Real Madrid or Mallorca in the final on Jan. 12.

- Sam Marsden and Moises Llorens

BUNDESLIGA TOP FIVE

 

'BIG VIC' EXPRESSES GRATITUDE IN HEARTFELT MESSAGE AFTER NOSTALGIC CELTIC CELTIC PARK RETURN

Former Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyama returned to Celtic Park, receiving a warm welcome and reuniting with fans and former teammates.

Former Celtic midfielder Victor Wanyama has expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Celtic fans and the club after a nostalgic visit to Celtic Park on Tuesday night.

The Kenyan powerhouse, who famously scored against Barcelona in Celtic's historic 2012 Champions League win, made a triumphant return to witness Celtic’s recent 3-1 victory over RB Leipzig in the Champions League.

The visit was a warm and emotional homecoming for Wanyama, who was visibly moved by the reception from fans.

Reflecting on his experience at halftime, he participated in the popular Paradise Windfall draw, delighting supporters with remarks about his time at the club.

Celtic Park, thank you for your warm welcome,” Wanyama tweeted on Thursday.

The night served not only as an evening of European football for Wanyama but also as a reunion with old teammates and friends.

Among them was Scott Brown, his former midfield partner at Celtic, and current Hoops standout Alistair Johnston, with whom he shared the pitch while playing at Montreal.

Wanyama’s return also highlighted the enduring bond he shares with Johnston, whom he advised before the Canadian's move to Celtic in December 2022.

Alistair Johnston, who joined Celtic shortly after Wanyama’s encouragement, has since become a celebrated player for the club, winning a treble within six months and making a strong impression on the Celtic faithful.

Big Vic, legend. What a guy. We’re still in contact. He keeps sending me texts congratulating me on winning trophies. That’s one of the funniest things he said. ‘Alistair, you’ve got to get in the gym so you can work on picking up the trophies.’ Fair enough, because he’s a big lad," Johnston said on Celtic TV.

 - Festus Chuma 

BUNDESLIGA TOP SIX

 

SLOT'S LIVERPOOL SETS 132-YEAR CLUB RECORD WITH WIN

Liverpool's relentless start to the season under new manager Arne Slot is seeing the team pump out record after record, and the scene of their latest win felt poignant.

Liverpool ground out a 1-0 victory in the Champions League on Wednesday at RB Leipzig, one of the clubs that former manager Jurgen Klopp, who recently left the Reds after nearly nine years as its popular manager, will soon be overseeing in his new role as head of global soccer at Red Bull.

Few can have imagined that Slot would escape Klopp's shadow at Liverpool this quickly.

After all, Liverpool has now won the opening six away games of a season for the first time in the club's 132-year history and Slot is the first manager to win as many as 11 of his first 12 games in charge across all competitions in English top-flight history.

The Dutchman has already guided Liverpool to the top of the Premier League eight games into the season. Now, a third straight win in the Champions League has left Liverpool as one of only two teams -- along with Aston Villa -- on a maximum nine points so far.

"So many great teams have worn this shirt, so many great managers have been at this club," Slot said. "So if you can achieve something that hasn't been achieved before, it is almost impossible at a big club like this. To achieve it is always nice.

"Records are nice, but there is something else that is more nice than records and we both know what I mean, I think, that's trophies."

No wonder Liverpool's traveling contingent applauded Slot as he walked toward them after the final whistle on Wednesday.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot congratulates Alexis Mac Allister after their Champions League win over Leipzig. Getty Images

"He just has to keep going, keep improving us, keep showing what he wants from us, and have fun with it -- and I think we are showing that on the pitch," Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk said. "But the season is so long. We'll stay humble and keep going."

Darwin Núñez scored the only goal of the game in the 27th minute, with Liverpool needing two smart saves from back-up goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher -- filling in for the injured Alisson Becker -- to preserve the win.

"If we had left this place with a draw, I would have really felt we had lost something," Slot said. "For the 70 previous minutes, except maybe for the first 10, we dominated."

Mohamed Salah was spared the last 30 minutes in Leipzig as he was substituted and while the Egyptian looked aghast at going off, even that decision worked out well for Slot.

"We have some injuries now so I have to take good care of the players that have played a lot and Mo is one of them and on Sunday, a big game is coming up again," Slot said ahead of their weekend match against Arsenal.

"So, I need to use as many players as I can use for these next tough weeks and these tough months that are coming up, so that they are all prepared to play."

Information from Reuters and The Associated Press was used in this story.

- 

'TOGETHER WE CAN DISCOVER WHAT IS POSSIBLE': JURGEN KLOPP TAKES NEW JOB

Former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp will take up the role at Red Bull in January

Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says he “could not be more excited” after he was appointed Global Head of Soccer at Red Bull’s multi-club network.

Klopp, who left Liverpool in the summer after nine glorious years at the club, will start in January at the group, where he will oversee teams including RB Leipzig and Red Bull Salzburg.

“After almost 25 years on the sideline, I could not be more excited to get involved in a project like this,” he said.

“The role may have changed but my passion for football and the people who make the game what it is has not. 

“By joining Red Bull at a global level, I want to develop, improve and support the incredible football talent that we have at our disposal. 

“There are many ways that we can do this front using the elite knowledge and experience that Red Bull possesses to learning from other sports and other industries. Together we can discover what is possible. 

“I see my role primarily as a mentor for the coaches and management of the Red Bull clubs but ultimately, I am one part of an organisation that is unique, innovative and forward looking.”

Red Bull, bankrolled by its energy drink business, has pioneered the multi-club model that has since been further developed by City Football Group and others.

Besides their German and Austrian teams, they also own New York Red Bulls and two clubs in Brazil, and this year took a minority stake in Leeds United.

Red Bull clubs are known for their canny identification of young talent, player development and a high-energy playing style that shares similarities with Klopp’s favoured tactics.

While Klopp, 57, appears to have left management behind, he is reported to have a clause in his contract allowing to leave if offered the German national team job.

“We are very proud of this outstanding and certainly the strongest signing in Red Bull’s soccer history,” said Oliver Mintzlaff, CEO Corporate Projects and Investments at Red Bull.

“Jurgen Klopp is one of the greatest and most influential figures in world soccer, with extraordinary skills and charisma. 

“In his role as Head of Soccer, he will be a game changer for our involvement in international soccer and its continued development. 

“We are hoping for valuable and decisive impulses in key areas to make the clubs even better, both collectively and individually.”

- Frank Dalleres

BUNDESLIGA TABLE | TOP SIX

 

DANI OLMO SEALS BARCELONA WIN WITH GOAL IN 'DREAM' DEBUT

Dani Olmo celebrates after scoring for Barcelona in his debut for the club in a win over Rayo Vallecano. Getty Images

Dani Olmo celebrated a "dream debut" on his return to Barcelona as he scored the winning goal in Tuesday's 2-1 comeback win against Rayo Vallecano in LaLiga.

Olmo, 26, missed Barça's first two games of the season as the Catalan side were unable to register him because they remained in excess of their league-imposed spending limit, but his signing was finally processed this week and he made an instant impact in Vallecas.

The Spain international came off the bench at half-time and struck the decisive goal in the 82nd minute as Barça made it three wins from three to start of the season after Pedri had earlier cancelled out Unai López's ninth minute opener.

"I am really happy, really happy with the game and with the win," Olmo told ESPN. "It was a dream debut for me."

Olmo had been made to wait to make his competitive debut after signing in a €55 million deal from RB Leipzig earlier this summer following his exploits for Spain as La Roja won the European Championship.

However, the versatile forward, who came through Barça's academy before leaving for Dinamo Zagreb as a 16-year-old, said he always trusted the club would resolve the financial problems holding up his registration.

"It was a dream, of course, to come back," Olmo added. "I had no doubt when Barcelona knocked on my door. So I'm really happy to be here.

"I was confident the club [would sort out the registration]. I was ready, physically preparing for when I had the chance to start playing. Today I could make it, so I'm really, really happy how it went, how it finished and how it was really important for the team."

Barça coach Hansi Flick was also delighted with Olmo's performance after bringing him on for Ferran Torres at the break with his side trailing 1-0.

"He was waiting a long time to score a goal for Barça," Flick said in a news conference. "When he came on you saw we had more control with the ball. It was really good.

"For him, he brings that, the ball possession is really safe and also in front of the goal he knows how to score goals. For a midfield player it's not normal, but he's really good in this.

"I think the start of the second half was good for us and was the reason he was on the pitch. He's doing great, also without the ball, we are nearer the ball and pressing the opponent very good. He made the difference in the second half."

Olmo's winning goal ensured Barça became the only team in LaLiga to start the season with three straight wins -- a feat they have not achieved since the 2018-19 campaign under Ernesto Valverde.

Flick, though, is not getting carried away after wins against Valencia, Athletic Club and Rayo, insisting his thoughts are firmly fixed on the weekend's game at home Real Valladolid.

"Now we have nine points end everything is good, but it's not like this," Flick said. "We will analyse [the game] and on Saturday we have our next match and we have to play much better than in the first half.

"We defended good, but not perfect in the first half. At half-time I said to the team with 80% it's not possible to win here in this atmosphere with Rayo playing well, many long balls with fast players. It's not easy to defend this. We have to put more pressure on the ball and we did better in the second half."

Barça's win was tainted by a late injury to Marc Bernal, with sources telling ESPN the club fear the 17-year-old has suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury that could rule him out for the majority of the campaign.

"It's a sad victory because Marc is injured and it looks not so good," Flick said. "We have to wait until tomorrow to see how heavy it is. When you see the dressing room nobody is happy. He made a fantastic match -- 17-years-old and such a performance. It hurts."

- Sam Marsden and Moises Llorens

LIVERPOOL MIDFIELDER CARVALHO SIGNS FOR BRENTFORD

Getty Images 

Brentford signed attacking midfielder Fabio Carvalho from fellow Premier League side Liverpool on a five-year deal, the West London club announced on Monday.

The financial details were not disclosed but British media reported that the deal was worth around £27.5 million ($35.10 million).

The 21-year-old represented England at various youth levels before switching to Portugal, where he was born, at Under-21 level. He joined Liverpool in 2022 from Fulham.

Carvalho, who spent last season on loan at Bundesliga club RB Leipzig and English Championship side Hull City, made 21 appearances for Liverpool across all competition, scoring three goals. He also scored in the preseason wins against Arsenal and Manchester United this summer.

Earlier on Monday, Serie A side AC Milan announced that they had signed Brazilian defender Emerson Royal from Tottenham Hotspur on a contract until June 2028 with an option for a one-year extension.

The 25-year-old Brazil international, capped 10 times, joined Spurs in 2021 from Spanish side Barcelona. He also had spells at Brazil's Atletico Mineiro, having started his youth career at Ponte Preta.

Emerson, who made 101 appearances for Spurs across all competitions, will wear the No. 22 shirt at Milan.

Information from Reuters was used in this story.

- ESPN News Services