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European Leagues

Xavi, Cancelo wary of Osimhen

Xavi Hernadez has warned his Barcelona stars to be wary of the threat posed by striker Victor Osimhen in Tuesday’s round of 16 second leg UEFA Champions League clash with Napoli.

Osimhen rescued a merited draw from the first leg in Naples when he smashed in a Frank Anguissa’s pass in the 75th minute.

Barcelona had taken the lead on the hour-mark courtesy of Poland striker Robert Lewandowski’s 93rd career goal in the Champions League from Pedri’s delightful through ball.

Since his return from the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, the 25-year-old has scored five goals in five games for Napoli a form Xavi sees as a threat.

“We saw them from the first leg — Osimhen and Kvaratshkelia are top-level players and dangerous, Xavi said.

“For us, it is essential to defend well against them against and limit the chances they get to hurt us. He (Osimhen) scored from the real chance he had in the first leg and we must not let that happen.”

Barcelona defender Joao Cancelo also has praised Osimhen ranking him among the best players in the world currently. Both teams meet again at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on Tuesday (today) in a winner-takes-all clash.

And Cancelo adds that Osimhen must be watched.

“Kvaratskhelia, Osimhen, and Politano are exceptional talents. Osimhen scored against us in the first leg with half a chance. He is one of the best strikers in the world,” Cancelo told La Gazzetta dello Sport ahead of Barcelona’s UCL clash against Napoli.

“In the first leg, Napoli were poor and created very few chances. But Osimhen had just one crack at goal and scored.”

Since that game, Napoli have scored 10 goals in five matches with Osimhen involved in six of them (five goals and one assist).

Napoli are expected to present a sterner test for the reigning Spanish champions, and Osimhen would be leading that charge.

Meanwhile, Last season’s Capcannoniere is expected to lead a front three also featuring Kvaratskhelia and Matteo Politano.

Osimhen will aim to score his 10th Champions League goal which will make him Nigeria’s most prolific player in the competition, moving clear of Obafemi Martins who scored nine goals in 34 UCL games.

 

Premier League

Man Utd Player Asked Ruben Amorim To Sell Him In January During Bournemouth Defeat

Man Utd Player Asked Ruben Amorim To Sell Him In January During Bournemouth Defeat

Ruben Amorim will have learnt plenty about his Manchester United squad during Sunday’s woeful Premier League defeat against Bournemouth. Tyrell Malacia – a surprise starter at left-wing-back – was among a handful of players essentially asking to be sold in the January transfer window.

United were beaten for a third time in four league games at Old Trafford – losing 3-0 at home to the Cherries in a second straight season.

Dean Huijsen headed the visitors ahead in the first half before a Justin Kluivert penalty doubled the advantage on the hour mark.

Antoine Semenyo added a third minutes later to inflict the latest in a string of dark days during United’s troublesome season.

Malacia’s first-half struggles summarised the Red Devils’ afternoon and sparked serious debate over his future in M16.

Is the Dutch defender still finding his feet after spending 18 months on the sidelines with multiple knee injuries?

Or is he simply one of many poor signings sanctioned by Amorim’s predecessor, Erik ten Hag?

Either way, Malacia looked like a player who won’t be starting games for United next season once Amorim dips into the transfer market.

Express

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Premier League

Ex-Man Utd star Ashley Young suffers horror ‘ripped neck’ injury in Everton draw with Chelsea

Ex-Man Utd star Ashley Young suffers horror 'ripped neck' injury in Everton draw with Chelsea

Ashley Young suffered a nasty neck injury during Everton’s Premier League clash against Chelsea on Sunday.

The ex-Manchester United star started as a right-back in Everton’s goalless draw against Chelsea on Sunday and was substituted in the 73rd minute as Seamus Coleman replaced him on the pitch. After the game, manager Sean Dyche confirmed that Young ‘ripped his neck’ during the game and was subbed off as a precaution.

Speaking to reporters, the Toffees boss said: “Youngy is suspended anyway but he ripped his neck then he did a brilliant header at the far stick. We had to take him off for both reasons – to make sure he was OK physically and was on a yellow card.”

The 39-year-old was already suspended for the upcoming Boxing Day clash against Manchester City after he picked up his fifth yellow card of the season against the Blues. The Merseyside club will conduct medical tests to find out the degree of the player’s injury and the exact time he will take to recover.

The former England international will hope that his injury is not too serious so that he can return to action at least before January 9 and take the field against Peterborough United in the FA Cup where his 18-year-old son Tyler plays.

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European Leagues

Kvaratskhelia Or Yunus Akgün? Victor Osimhen Speaks On His Preferred Teammate

Kvaratskhelia Or Yunus Akgün? Victor Osimhen Speaks On His Preferred Teammate

Super Eagles and Galatasaray striker, Victor James Osimhen, refused to pick a side when he was quizzed about who’s better amongst the players he has been in the same team with, Soccernet.ng reports.

The 25-year-old joined Turkish Super Lig side, Galatasaray, on loan from Napoli after he fell out with the club’s hierarchy in a bid to force an exit from the Estadio Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.

Since joining Okan Buru’s side, Osimhen has been in brilliant form, scoring 12 goals and providing five assists in 15 games across all competitions for Galatasaray, and has already been linked with a move Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United due to his efficiency in front of goal.

The Napoli loanee scored a brace at the Enerturk Energy Stadium yesterday evening as Galatasaray downed Kayserispor to go eight points clear at the top of the league summit heading into Christmas.

After the game, Osimhen credited his teammates for a job well done away from home, and urged them to keep building their performances so they can be crowned champions at the end of the season.

Quizzed about who’s the better player between Napoli’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Yunus Atgun, Osimhen said;

Osimhen has had a decent relationship with Atgun on the pitch, as they’ve directly combined for three goals since the ex-Lille man moved to RAMS Park. Back in Napoli, Kvara and Osimhen had great chemistry on the pitch as they won the Serie A title together. They directly combined for 15 goals during the Nigerian’s time in Italy.

Osimhen’s response to the question shows his professionalism on and off the pitch and utmost respect to both the players he’s shared the dressing room with.

soccernet

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