Bright and sunny in Colombo ahead of India vs Pakistan Super Four match

If the match cannot be completed on Sunday, there is a provision of a reserve day as well

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Sep-2023 • Updated on 10-Sep-2023It was bright and sunny on Sunday morning in Colombo, the venue for the India vs Pakistan Super Four game in the 2023 Asia Cup.*Till Saturday, there was a significant risk of rain interrupting the game, with Colombo having experienced a wet week in the approach to the match, and with the forecast suggesting there is a chance of thunderstorms on the match day. There is still a forecast for rain in the evening, but the showers that were expected around the same time yesterday never made an appearance, and the Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh game went on uninterrupted.There is a reserve day for the India vs Pakistan match as well – the only Super Four game to have that luxury. However, the umpires will try to achieve a result on the match day itself. In case there is a delay or an interruption, the hours of play can be extended by 90 minutes. If the match cannot be completed on Sunday, the teams will attempt to finish it on Monday, continuing from where they left off.Colombo does not usually see this amount of rain in September, and has hosted ODI cricket successfully at this time of year in the past, though some matches have been rain-reduced. The northeast monsoon generally starts in mid-October, and September often falls within the less wet inter-monsoon season.The PCB had been on board with plans to move the Colombo Asia Cup matches to Hambantota – a drier venue at this time of year – but those plans were abandoned at the last minute by the Asian Cricket Council. The ACC essentially claimed that it was too late to move the matches, as travelling fans would have already made plans to watch the games in Colombo.The first match between these two teams had been rained out, but that was in Pallekele. On that occasion, India were dismissed for 266 in 48.5 overs. Pakistan could not begin their chase because of the weather.0620 GMT Sep 10, 2023 The story was updated with the latest information.

Wolvaardt to take over as full-time South Africa captain

Laura Wolvaardt is set to be confirmed as South Africa’s permanent captain after taking on the job in a temporary capacity for the series against Pakistan and New Zealand earlier this year.At the time of accepting the job on an interim basis, Wolvaardt had said she wanted to assess whether the leadership would impact her batting, but ESPNcricinfo understands that after topping the run-chart in the T20 series against Pakistan and finishing second on the list for in the ODIs against New Zealand, she has decided she wants the job full-time.Wolvaardt is expected to be unveiled in the role ahead of South Africa’s next assignment, against Bangladesh at home in December. That series will also be the final one for the current coaching staff, led by Hilton Moreeng, who has been in charge of the side since 2012 and oversaw their progression to the T20 World Cup final earlier in this year. Moreeng’s contract ended at the conclusion of that tournament but CSA dragged its heels in advertising for the post and, in August, his tenure was extended to the end of 2023 despite player grievances.Moreeng’s post has since been advertised and interviewed for and a new coach is set to be announced before South Africa tour Australia earlier next year.”We had interviews last week and we are still finalising a couple of things. As soon as we are done with the post-interview process, we will be able to make an announcement,” Enoch Nkwe, CSA’s director of cricket, said in Ahmedabad, where he is attending the men’s ODI World Cup. “The current coaching team will carry on until the end of December, but we want to give clarity as soon as possible because it will impact the Australian tour.”CSA is also set to put in place a head of women’s cricket, who will report to Nkwe. Applications for that post closed on July 14 but Nkwe indicated that the appointee is yet to be decided on.”The head of women’s cricket [role] has taken a while [to finalise]. We want to make sure the person that is going to take that position is not short-term,” Nkwe said. “We’ve just professionalised the domestic structure and there are plans within the high performance to get a South Africa A women’s side over the next 12 months, so we have the same structure as the men’s. The women’s structure is really growing nicely and we are really excited about it.”As part of the legacy of hosting the T20 World Cup, South Africa have taken significant steps to professionalise the women’s game. Their top-six domestic teams can now contract up to 11 players each and the national women’s players now get equal match fees as the men.

خاص | لاعب الأهلي يرفض محاولات تجديد عقده ويُصِر على الرحيل

يتمسك أحد لاعبي الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بالنادي الأهلي بمغادرة القلعة الحمراء خلال فترة الانتقالات الصيفية الجارية، رافضًا تجديد عقده الذي ينتهي بنهاية الموسم المقبل، في ظل رغبته القوية بخوض تجربة احترافية خارج مصر.

وعلم بطولات أن اللاعب أحمد نبيل كوكا، أبلغ إدارة النادي الأهلي بموقفه النهائي، وذلك خلال جلسة جمعته بمحمد يوسف المدير الرياضي، الذي حاول إقناعه بتجديد عقده والاستمرار مع الفريق، إلا أن اللاعب تمسك بالرحيل.

وكان الأهلي قد تلقى عرضًا رسميًا من نادي قاسم باشا التركي للتعاقد مع أحمد نبيل كوكا مقابل 600 ألف دولار، وهو ما قوبل بالرفض من جانب الإدارة، التي حددت مليون ونصف المليون دولار للموافقة على البيع، إلى جانب نسبة من إعادة البيع وبعض البنود والامتيازات الإضافية.

طالع أيضًا | بايرن ميونخ يُربك حسابات لاعب الأهلي.. وثنائي الشباب يحظى بإعجاب ريبيرو

جدير بالذكر أن الأهلي كان يطلب في البداية 2 مليون دولار للتفريط في خدمات كوكا، قبل أن يوافق على خفض مطالبه، مراعاة لرغبة اللاعب، خاصة مع اقتراب عقده من نهايته.

ويُعيد هذا الموقف إلى الأذهان سيناريو المهاجم وسام أبو علي، الذي نجح في الضغط على إدارة النادي للموافقة على رحيله نحو الدوري الأمريكي، وهو ما قد يتكرر مع كوكا حال وصول عرض مالي مُرضٍ.

Liverpool emerge as suitors for cut-price Bundesliga centre-back – but Reds face transfer competition from Bayern Munich & Tottenham

Liverpool are targeting a cut-price deal for a Bundesliga centre-back but face competition from Bayern Munich and Tottenham.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Liverpool want Bundesliga centre-backCan get cheap dealFace competition from Bayern and TottenhamFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

According to , the Reds are keen to add to their defensive options after the sale of Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen. That has seen them turn their attentions to Castello Lukeba, the 22-year-old RB Leipzig centre-back.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Lubeka could be available for less than his €90 million (£78m/$106m) release clause, having made it clear to the club he would like to leave following the failure to qualify for the Champions League. He has a contract that runs until 2029 and has appeared for France but it seems a cut-price deal could be a possibility.

DID YOU KNOW?

Liverpool face plenty of competition if they are to seal the deal. Bayern Munich and Tottenham want to sign the defender themselves, while Manchester United, Chelsea and Real Madrid have all reportedly shown previous interest.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR LIVERPOOL?

Liverpool have already spent around £200m ($273m) on Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez this summer and seem prepared to shell out more as they aim to defend their Premier League title next season.

'This win tastes nice' – Afghanistan jubilant after historic win against Pakistan

“It’s a big moment for the whole team, but also whole Afghanistan as well,” Mohammad Nabi says

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Oct-20232:38

Mumtaz: Panic should have set in for Pakistan during the Asia Cup

After seven defeats to Pakistan in ODIs, Afghanistan finally got one back, in Chennai on Monday. While Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi, who scored the winning run, said the win “tastes sweet”, veteran allrounder Mohammad Nabi said this win was bigger than the one against England earlier in the tournament.”This win tastes nice. The way we chased was very professional,” Shahidi said at the post-game presentation ceremony. “The quality cricket we are playing for the last couple of years… the belief was there when we were playing Asia Cup also. At the start of the tournament, I said we want to make this tournament historic for our country’s people. First was England, today Pakistan, and looking forward for the other games.Nabi was thrilled to finally get a win over Pakistan in the format. “It’s a big moment for the whole team, but also whole Afghanistan as well,” he said. “We have been waiting for the last 10-12 years. We have played around eight games against Pakistan, and we won one game in a big event.Related

'It inspires another generation' – Jonathan Trott believes his team is inspiring Afghanistan's youth

Young stars Noor and Ibrahim light the way on famous night for Afghanistan

Relax, Pakistan have got this

Gurbaz, Ibrahim, Rahmat boss 283 chase in Afghanistan's first ODI win over Pakistan

“It’s a big achievement for the guys. From the last three months, we’ve been working very hard. We played a series against Pakistan, then Asia Cup, and then come here to the World Cup. It’s a lovely moment today. We beat England as well, and now Pakistan. The team is confident now. And the team knows if we score around 280-290 on this kind of surface, it’s defendable and chaseable as well.”I think this is the favourite win, against Pakistan, because [earlier] in the last moments, we used to lose the game [to Pakistan]. Now the way Ibrahim [Zadran] and[[Rahmanullah] Gurbaz started the game, it was a fantastic start. The momentum from that, Rahmat Shah and the captain gave a lovely partnership.”We play against them the first game in 2014 [2012]. Then Asia Cup, then 2015 World Cup [they didn’t play each other in that tournament], then again Asia Cup, T20 World Cup and 2019 World Cup… a lot of close games. And this is a fantastic moment.”Half-centuries from Abdullah Shafique and Babar Azam helped Pakistan post 282 in Chennai but a 130-run opening partnership between Ibrahim and Gurbaz laid the platform for Afghanistan’s chase, which was then completed by Rahmat and Shahidi without any hiccups.1:21

Has Noor Ahmad done enough to be a regular in the first XI?

Ibrahim earned the Player-of-the-Match award for his assured 87 in the chase, putting on big partnerships with first Gurbaz and then Rahmat. In the eyes of the adjuticators, that topped Noor Ahmad’s 3 for 49, the wickets those of Abdullah Shafique, Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam.”Thankful that I performed well in this kind of big event,” Ibrahim said after the match. “I would say I wanted to play with a positive intent, with a positive mindset, so that’s why I did it.”He credited his long history of playing with Gurbaz for giving Afghanistan solid starts with the bat at the World Cup so far – this was the fourth 100-plus partnership between the two, all of them coming in 2023.”Many times Gurbaz and me, we have done a brilliant partnership together,” he said. “Few times, not [just] today. We have played a lot of cricket together, right from the Under-16 days. We have a good communication while batting.”

Rodada positiva! Internacional reduz a diferença para o líder

MatériaMais Notícias

Na noite deste domingo, o Internacional foi até o Rio de Janeiro e bateu o Botafogo por 1 a 0, placar que deu alegria ao torcedor Colorado.

Além de somar três pontos na classificação, o Inter se manteve firme na briga pelo título do Campeonato Brasileiro e começa a fazer contas.

Com seis jogos pela frente, o Internacional precisa tirar oito pontos de desvantagem do Palmeiras para assumir a liderança do torneio.

Vale citar, que o Colorado tem encontro marcado com o Alviverde na 38ª rodada do Brasileirão, no estádio Beira-Rio.

Veja o calendário do Inter até o final do Campeonato Brasileiro:

33ª rodada – Coritiba (F)

34ª rodada – Ceará (C)

35ª rodada – América-MG (F)

36ª rodada – Athletico (C)

37ª rodada – São Paulo (F)

38ª rodada – Palmeiras (C)

RelacionadasBotafogoTchê Tchê lamenta derrota do Botafogo: ‘Difícil identificar por que não estamos vencendo em casa’Botafogo16/10/2022BotafogoJogadores do Botafogo discutem após derrota para o InternacionalBotafogo16/10/2022BotafogoBotafogo: Tchê Tchê recebe cartão e é desfalque contra o FluminenseBotafogo16/10/2022

India keep it light to deal with the pressure of a World Cup

Ahead of the semi-final against New Zealand, Rohit Sharma says the team environment isn’t dictated by results

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Nov-2023

Rohit Sharma takes a look at the Wankhede pitch on the eve of India’s semi-final•Getty Images

When they step over the boundary at the Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday, India will confront head-on the pressure of a World Cup semi-final – a heightened version, perhaps, of the feeling that’s enveloped them right through this tournament. While this pressure is unavoidable once they step on the field, India have made every effort to minimise it when the team is away from the ground.On the eve of the semi-final against New Zealand, Rohit Sharma detailed the efforts the team management has made to create a relaxed environment, going back to the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia.”We started in Australia in the last World Cup, we started there the same way,” Rohit said. “We reached Australia 10 or 15 days early. And we had set up a small camp in Perth for seven or eight days. There is an island near Perth, we went there. We went away from cricket. Wherever we get a chance, we try to do activities like that. To keep the team’s environment light. It’s not like it’s only happening in the last two years. It used to happen before as well. But now, I don’t know. I don’t know if it’s more visible now.”Related

India vs NZ: don't lose the game inside the first 15 overs

Samiuddin: Bumrah is a species of exactly one

India vs NZ: The unstoppable force and the shape-shifting object

Williamson: 'When you get to finals, things start again'

This has continued into this World Cup, where the team’s off-field activities have even included the players putting on a fashion show – the finer details of which Rohit declined to go into.”Our conscious effort has been on this, that the team’s environment does not change based on the results,” he said. “We have to create the environment that is needed for the team and that is mandatory. And this cannot be done by one or two boys. It is important for all the boys to come together, including the support staff.”So, like we were in Dharamsala, we had a five or six-day break there. We stayed in Dharamsala for two days. We did a lot of team activity there. We did a fashion show there, but no one knows about that. It’s a good thing that no one knows about it.”So, all this effort, the environment of the team that we always talk about, this is the environment where we like to be very relaxed. And all the boys like this a lot. Because you know when you come on the ground, there will be pressure, pressure of performance, pressure of winning the match. That can’t be changed. Because once you reach the ground, it is then up to the individuals how they want to take it forward.”But before that, we have done everything we can to make the team’s environment easy. The team’s atmosphere is very good. It is very relaxed. So, this is a good thing.”On an individual level, Rohit said having his family with him during the tournament has allowed him to take his mind off cricket whenever possible.”I have a family with me, so my mind goes here and there, which is a very good thing,” he said. “When I go to my hotel room, we completely stay away from cricket. We discuss a lot of other things. It’s a good thing. You think a lot about cricket, yes, but when you have time, when you have a chance to not think, then you shouldn’t think. Because, even if you think all day, what will happen? So it is important to think about something else.”One contributing factor to the relaxed dressing-room atmosphere, Rohit suggested, is the security players have enjoyed of having clear roles in the side and the faith of the team management in their ability to perform those roles even through lean runs.”I just believe that as a captain, if you have decided that this is how you want to play as a team, then there needs to be a clarity among the team,” Rohit said. “And then if a certain player wants to go out there and play in the way that you want him to play, then you’ve got to back that player to the hilt. And that is what we’ve done.”We’ve backed certain players because we’ve given them a different role. And if they perform the role, well and good, but even if they don’t, which will not come off in every game, we have got to back that player and tell him that we stand by you. That is something that I believe in and I want to do it as much as I can from my side and also got to give credit to Rahul [Dravid] as well, to buy into that thought of not changing too much when the player doesn’t come off with that plan.”So yeah, that is something that we have stuck by right from the beginning. And we will continue to do that even in the future as well. But yeah, that is something that I feel is quite important. And giving freedom to each player to go out there and perform their role. That is also again another important aspect of the game and how you want to play as a team. So, these are the two things, role clarity and giving the guys that freedom and going there and expressing themselves.”

محمد النني ينافس على جائزة أفضل لاعب في الدوري الإماراتي

ينافس المصري محمد النني، لاعب فريق الجزيرة، على جائزة أفضل لاعب في الدوري الإماراتي من اختيار الجمهور.

وكان محمد النني، لاعب خط وسط منتخب مصر، قد انتقل إلى الجزيرة في الصيف الماضي، قادمًا من آرسنال الإنجليزي.

طالع| فيديو | محمد النني يوجه رسالة إلى إبراهيم عادل بعد انضمامه لـ الجزيرة الإماراتي

وكشف حساب رابطة الدوري الإماراتي للمحترفين، عن قائمة المرشحين للحصول على جائزة أفضل لاعب عن موسم 2024-2025 من اختيار الجمهور.

كما أعلن حساب نادي الجزيرة الإماراتي على “فيس بوك”، تواجد النني ضمن المرشحين للجائزة، مع تعليق: “فخر أبو ظبي ينافس على 5 جوائز في حفل جوائز رابطة المحترفين الإماراتية”.

ويتنافس النني على الجائزة مع صانع الألعاب البرازيلي الذي يحمل الجنسية الإماراتية، فابيو ليما لاعب الوصل ولوكاس بيمنتا لاعب الوحدة.

وشارك النجم المصري محمد النني في 24 مباراة مع الجزيرة، وسجل هدفًا وصنع 3 آخرين.

ODI World Cup digest: New Zealand continue perfect start, England face early crunch game

Mitchell Santner had a starring role against Netherlands while Sri Lanka will hope to recover from their South Africa drubbing

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Oct-20231:25

McClenaghan: Ravindra could bat at No. 4 upon Williamson’s return

–Fixtures | Squads | Points table | Tournament IndexTop Story: Five-star Santner and New Zealand’s batters make it two in twoNew Zealand’s innings started with three maidens in a row but ended with them bashing 50 off the last three overs, courtesy Tom Latham, Mitchell Santner and Matt Henry, which propelled them to 322. Netherlands started the chase slowly and never shifted gears as they folded for 223, as New Zealand further consolidated their position at the top of the points table after making it two in two.Player-of-the-Match Santner, who clubbed an unbeaten 36 from 17 balls with the bat, then grabbed 5 for 59 with the ball, and in the process became the first New Zealand spinner to claim a five-for in a men’s ODI World Cup. He varied his pace consistently on a spin-friendly pitch – exactly the trait which makes him threatening – as the highlight of all his wickets was that of Scott Edwards’.Full reportMatch analysis: New Zealand’s problems of plentyRachin Ravindra has had a memorable start to the World Cup•ICC via Getty ImagesNew Zealand came into the tournament with only 12 of their 15-player squad available for the first game, with Kane Williamson and Tim Southee recovering from serious injuries and Lockie Ferguson suffering back stiffness. By the time they play their next match, on Friday, they should have all 15 players available and the performance against Netherlands could help them decide who to pick.Let’s start with the obvious: when captain Williamson is ready for competitive cricket, he’ll slot straight back in at No. 3, which would ordinarily leave room for only two of Devon Conway, Will Young and Rachin Ravindra. All three have put good numbers on the board at this tournament, Young becoming the latest to do so. He came back from a second-ball duck against England to score his sixth half-century this year and third in six innings, making a strong claim to continue as an opener.Read the full analysis from Firdose MoondaNews headlinesFormer England captain Eoin Morgan has played down Jofra Archer’s hopes of featuring in any part in the World Cup as he continues his comeback from long-term injuries.
India opener Shubman Gill will again be absent from their next match against Afghanistan as he continues his recovery from dengue.
Steven Smith hopes Australia can learn lessons from their opening defeat against India where they were tied in knots by the spinners.

Match previewBangladesh vs England, Dharamsala (10.30am IST; 6.00am GMT; 4.00pm AEDT)1:22

Buttler: ‘If players can’t dive, does that question the integrity of the game?’

Six matches down, 42 to come… it’s too soon to form any broad judgements about the destiny of the 2023 World Cup. However, as England’s chastened cricketers head for the tournament’s highest peak in Dharamsala, they do so with clear reason to doubt their readiness to scale the heights that they conquered so memorably on home soil four years ago.It’s not that Jos Buttler’s men cannot bounce back from that unfathomably vast drubbing against New Zealand in Ahmedabad. Resilience has been an under-appreciated feature of the champion team that they have built up over the past eight years – perhaps never better demonstrated than in their backs-to-the-wall escape from the group stage in 2019.Full previewBangladesh (possible): 1 Tanzid Hasan, 2 Litton Das, 3 Najmul Hossain Shanto, 4 Shakib Al Hasan (capt), 5 Towhid Hridoy, 6 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 7 Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 8 Mahmudullah/Mahedi Hasan, 9 Taskin Ahmed, 10 Shoriful Islam, 11 Mustafizur RahmanEngland (possible): 1 Jonny Bairstow, 2 Dawid Malan, 3 Joe Root, 4 Harry Brook, 5 Jos Buttler (capt & wk), 6 Liam Livingstone, 7 Sam Curran, 8 Chris Woakes, 9 Mark Wood, 10 Adil Rashid, 11 Reece Topley.Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, Hyderabad (2pm IST; 8.30pm GMT; 7.30pm AEDT)Saud Shakeel is a form player for Pakistan•Associated PressBoth sides have played one game in this World Cup, have shaken hands and introduced themselves to this World Cup. Neither has quite made the best first impression, but Pakistan have two points and a win pinned to their lapel, while Sri Lanka remain unadorned at the points table. The mitigating circumstance, of course, is that Pakistan played Netherlands and still looked shaky during certain passages of play, while Sri Lanka took on a South African batting juggernaut, and for a while gave as good as they got in a frenetic, if ultimately unsuccessful, chase.Full previewTeam newsPakistan (possible) 1 Abdullah Shafique, 2 Imam-ul-Haq, 3 Babar Azam (capt), 4 Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 5 Saud Shakeel, 6 Iftikhar Ahmed, 7 Shadab Khan, 8 Mohammad Nawaz, 9 Hasan Ali, 10 Shaheen Shah Afridi, 11 Haris RaufSri Lanka (possible) 1 Pathum Nissanka, 2 Kusal Perera, 3 Kusal Mendis (wk), 4 Sadeera Samarawickrama, 5 Charith Asalanka, 6 Dhananjaya de Silva, 7 Dasun Shanaka (capt), 8 Dunith Wellalage, 9 Maheesh Theekshana, 10 Matheesha Pathirana, 11 Dilshan MadushankaFeature: Bairstow, England cricket’s ‘great servant’ who always comes back very strongJonny Bairstow will win his 100th ODI cap for England when they play Bangladesh in Dharamsala on Tuesday. It is an achievement he said will make him “immensely proud” and a milestone in a journey he acknowledged has not always been easy: “There’s been a few ups and downs, hasn’t there?”It has been a career of two halves in this format. Bairstow found things difficult during his first six years as an ODI cricketer, spending three years out of the side after his first seven appearances and then forcing his way into the squad more regularly, generally as batting cover for the first-choice side.Read the full feature from Matt Roller in Dharamsala

Club World Cup 2025 Power Rankings: PSG reclaim top spot after Inter Miami 'bloodbath' – but the draw has really opened up for Chelsea

After a round of 16 featuring some big upsets, GOAL ranks the remaining eight teams hoping to lift the trophy in New Jersey on July 13

Exclusive Ticket Packs

FIFA

  • Buy direct from FIFA.com and secure your place at the world’s biggest club tournament.
  • Each pack includes guaranteed access to purchase tickets for the FIFA World Cup 2026.
  • Follow the action across select U.S. host cities with a single, convenient ticket pack – perfect for fans planning the ultimate summer of football.

Prices start at

$80.00

Get tickets

The last 16 of the revamped Club World Cup drew to a close on Tuesday, with Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund progressing to the quarter-finals as expected, after wins over Juventus and Monterrey, respectively. However, the first round of knockout games in the United States still produced plenty of shocks, the biggest of which saw Al-Hilal dump Manchester City out of the tournament with a sensational 4-3 win over Pep Guardiola's side.

There was also a massive surprise in Charlotte as Fluminense defeated Champions League runners-up Inter by playing the kind of catenaccio game for which the Nerazzurri were once famous.

Elsewhere, Palmeiras sprung a minor surprise by winning their all-Brazilian battle with Botafogo, Chelsea beat Benfica after extra-time, Bayern Munich got the better of Flamengo in a very entertaining encounter, while Paris Saint-Germain eliminated the 'hosts', Inter Miami, with a 4-0 rout of Lionel Messi & Co.

So, how do things stand now? Who's got a real shot at lifting the trophy at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 13? And who's likely to be heading home after this weekend's quarter-finals? GOAL rates and ranks the eight remaining participants…

  • Getty Images Sport

    8Borussia Dortmund ⬆️

    Dortmund have rather gone under the radar at the Club World Cup, primarily because their group-stage campaign was more than a little underwhelming. However, they demonstrated a mix of attacking class and defensive resilience to see off a dangerous Monterrey side in the last 16 to set up a quarter-final clash with Real Madrid, which is obviously a repeat of the 2024 Champions League final.

    It's hard not to see Saturday's game going the same way, but BVB will be buoyed by the fact that star striker Serhou Guirassy opened his Club World Cup account with a decisive double in Atlanta on Tuesday.

  • Advertisement

  • AFP

    7Palmeiras ⬆️

    Palmeiras may have got through the group stage undefeated, but their only win had come against Al Ahly, so they were undeniably underdogs going into their all-Brazilian last-16 showdown with Botafogo, who had upset PSG on matchday two. However, Abel Ferreira's side performed excellently against their compatriots and were good value for their 1-0 victory, which came courtesy of Paulinho's extra-time cool finish.

    So, while key defender Gustavo Gomez will definitely be missed against Chelsea, after getting himself sent off for two bookable offences against Botafogo, Palmeiras will be able once again call on the services of Estevao Willian, the Stamford Bridge-bound teenager who has been one of the most exciting attacking talents on show in the tournament so far.

  • AFP

    6Al-Hilal ⬆️

    While the strength of the Brazilian contingent has rightly received plenty of attention, Al-Hilal are undoubtedly the revelation of the 2025 Club World Cup. The Saudi Arabians may have spent a colossal amount of cash strengthening their squad over the past few years, but nobody expected them to make the quarter-finals in the States.

    Al-Hilal are there on merit, though. After drawing with Real Madrid during an undefeated group-stage campaign, they produced the shock of the tournament so far by beating free-spending Manchester City in a seven-goal thriller in Orlando. As Simone Inzaghi said, they essentially had to "climb Mount Everest without oxygen – but we were great."

    Consequently, Al-Hilal have absolutely nothing to fear from Fluminense – not with Yassine Bounou performing miracles in goal, Ruben Neves and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic excelling in midfield and Marcos Leonardo proving a menace in attack.

  • ENJOYED THIS STORY?

    Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

  • Getty

    5Bayern Munich ⬇️

    After following up a record-breaking rout of Auckland City with a comfortable win over Boca Juniors, Bayern Munich blew top spot in Group C by losing 1-0 to Benfica. However, Vincent Kompany had rung the changes for the Bavarians' final group, in an understandable attempt to give some of his key men a break from the sweltering conditions in the States, and a stronger Bayern side re-established themselves as a potential title-winner in the last-16 win over Flamengo.

    Perhaps the most encouraging aspect of the 4-2 win over a team that hadn't tasted defeat for 11 games was the performance of Harry Kane, who struggled at times in the group stage but found the back of the net with two fine finishes in Miami. Bayern will undoubtedly need their talisman performing at the peak of his considerable powers if they're get past PSG on Saturday.

Game
Register
Service
Bonus