All posts by n8rngtd.top

Gujarat Titans will be rooting for LSG on Tuesday against RCB

ESPNcricinfo staff26-May-20254:02

Moody: Can’t expect Hazlewood to come flying off the blocks

Punjab Kings (PBKS) have confirmed a top-two finish after beating Mumbai Indians (MI) in Jaipur on Monday. The result also left MI at No. 4 on the points table, meaning they will play the eliminator on May 30 in Mullanpur.Since PBKS will play Qualifier 1 on May 29 whether they finish first or second, the final league fixture of IPL 2025 between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) will decide the first opponents for PBKS and MI in the playoffs.While the winner of Qualifier 1 will go straight to the final, the loser of that game will get a second chance to make the final by playing Qualifier 2 against the winner of the Eliminator on June 1 in Ahmedabad. Let’s look at how the final standings could be decided.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru

(Points: 17, NRR: 0.255)RCB have the advantage of playing the last game of the league phase, against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Tuesday. They simply need to win that game to finish in the top two. In order to displace PBKS (NRR 0.372) from No. 1, they need to beat LSG by 34 runs (after scoring 200) or with 21 balls to spare (after conceding 200).If RCB end up losing to LSG, then they will finish third and play the eliminator against MI.

Gujarat Titans

(Points: 18, NRR: 0.254)If RCB beat LSG, GT will slip to third and play the Eliminator against MI. The only way GT can finish second is if LSG win the game on Tuesday.

Stars from Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal all grace Goal's list of flops thus far this season

• Getty Images
  

  Joe Hart | West Ham United

  The sheer ineptitude of Joe Hart's entire season cannot truly be explained. Once Manchester City and England's undisputed No.1, a loan move to West Ham has led to him being dropped, and placed into doubt his participation at next summer's World Cup. Hart has conceded 30 goals in just 14 games; Gareth Southgate would do well to steer well clear.

Advertisement

• Getty Images
  

  Cedric Soares | Southampton

  No player in the Premier League has committed more errors leading to goals than Cedric. The Southampton defence has not been as leaky as others in the division, but the whole cannot function as effectively when carrying a passenger at right-back.

• Getty Images
  

  Victor Lindelof | Manchester United

  Buying defenders appears to be something of a kryptonite for Jose Mourinho, with Lindelof a player who is seemingly unable to do even the simplest defensive tasks without needing to be covered by a team-mate. In his first start of the season, United lost to Huddersfield Town, with Lindelof culpable for both goals. He was hooked in the 67th minute.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

• Getty
  

  Ashley Williams | Everton

  One would struggle to find a more uncomfortable looking defender in the Premier League than Williams. A major part of Everton's malaise under Ronald Koeman, Williams may well be moulded into an effective blockade by Sam Allardyce, but it must be said that he has been something of a comedy figure in recent months.

The usual suspects are doing battle for top spot again, but who is the most effective dribbler on FIFA 20?

• Getty Images
  

  22Marcelo – Real Madrid – LB – 89 DRI

  It's a surprise to see a player like Marcelo this far down the list, but that's testament to the amount of dribbling talent on show in the modern game. Tied with a couple of modern greats on 89 dribbling, he's the only defender to make this countdown.

Advertisement

• Getty Images
  

  21Cristiano Ronaldo – Piemonte Calcio – ST – 89 DRI

  Didn't expect to see him this far down, did you? Piemonte Calcio's finest is the second-best player in the game but finds himself a way off the number one in terms of dribbling. He's got those ridiculous physical attributes and 5* skills to go with his 89, though, so he's still a fairly useful player if you're short of a striker.

• Getty Images
  

  20Mohamed Salah – Liverpool – RW – 89 DRI

  Mo Salah, Mo Salah, running down the wing has become a fairly routine sight in the Premier League and with the Egyptian king reaching 90 overall this year, he'll be doing it to good effect on FIFA 20 as well. With 91 agility and 89 ball control, he'll be a difficult man to stop. 

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

• Getty Images
  

  19David Silva – Manchester City – CAM – 89 DRI

  Still mixing it with the whipper-snappers, 33-year-old Silva's touch shows no sign of deserting him just yet. With close to perfect close control and faultless passing stats to boot, Silva is still perfectly capable of giving your squad the added guile you've been crying out for, while his lack of pace means he's generally pretty affordable.

The temporary boss has propelled the Red Devils into top-four contention and progressed to the Champions League last eight but will it be enough?

When Ole Gunnar Solskjaer became Manchester United’s caretaker-manager on December 19, he was given six months to make a case for the right to be Jose Mourinho’s permanent successor.

A little over halfway into the temporary job, Solskjaer has worked wonders to this point but has yet to be confirmed as the long-term United boss, with executive vice-chair Ed Woodward and the United board yet to make a final decision on who will take charge in 2019-20.

With a number of criteria to fulfil, the Norwegian has excelled in some but how has he performed across the board so far?

Goal takes a look at how he has managed to impact Manchester United to date.

• Julian Finney
  

  Results

  Fourteen wins in 19 ensures an immediate pass mark in this category, even if that comes with the qualifier that things were looking even more impressive until defeats to Arsenal and Wolves in their last two fixtures.

  The FA Cup exit will have hurt Solskjaer more than it might have stung some of his predecessors, so intent has he been on hunting down silverware above and beyond any other targets.

  However, his excellent return across the three months he has been in charge has put United in far better shape than they were in in December.

  Back in with a shout of a top-four finish in the Premier League and looking ahead to a Champions League clash with Barcelona, United are a world away from the train wreck Jose Mourinho left behind.

  Indeed, the Portuguese claimed shortly before his dismissal that it would be “almost a miracle” for them to get back into the top four yet here they are, in fifth place, just two points behind Arsenal and with eight games still to play.

Advertisement

• Getty
  

  Tactics

  The Norwegian has brought a real Manchester United edge back to his team’s play, with the greater urgency injected into their football resulting in greater rewards.

  He has not changed their shape too dramatically, alternating primarily between the 4-3-3 employed by Mourinho in the second half of his reign and a diamond midfield which has similarly promoted a more dynamic style of play.

  His greatest success has been in getting better performances out of Paul Pogba, with the Frenchman revelling in the opportunity to play with greater freedom thanks to the deployment of Nemanja Matic and Ander Herrera in clearer roles than was once the case.

  It has also been to Pogba’s – and United’s – advantage that the forward players have been encouraged to ask more questions of opposition defenders, with bigger spaces opening up for the World Cup winner to exploit as a result of a more energetic attack and a higher pressing game off the ball.

  Also, the victory at Tottenham early in Solskjaer’s reign was achieved thanks in large part to the decision to pick Marcus Rashford on the right of attack rather than through the middle, with Jesse Lingard being asked to act as a conduit between the midfield and the forward line in the centre of the pitch.

  That success was just one of a number of examples of Solskjaer making slight alterations, and he has often made in-game changes which have addressed issues when things haven’t quite gone to plan, such as switching to a back three away to Arsenal in order to regain a foothold in the game after some early struggles.

• Getty Images
  

  Players' Form

  Not only has Pogba become an entirely different player under Solskjaer, but the likes of Marcus Rashford, Luke Shaw and Anthony Martial have also excelled since the change of management.

  Rashford was actually starting to find his stride towards the end of Mourinho’s time in charge, but he has reached a new level under Ole.

  A run of 10 goals in 21 games, including eight in 18 since Solskjaer came in, marks his greatest streak of scoring form at first-team level, and his composure in front of goal has reached heights that he barely seemed capable of troubling during some of his more profligate moments of seasons gone by.

  Shaw has clearly benefitted from the new levels of attacking freedom allowed by the caretaker-manager, and the departure of a man who publicly undermined him so relentlessly can surely only have helped his development too.

  Martial may not have delivered the goals return of some of the other forwards, but he has looked a much greater threat when given licence to attack space.

  Victor Lindelof has also gone from strength to strength, while even Romelu Lukaku has rediscovered his scoring touch despite going through a period during which he was basically asked to play the role of super-sub.

  The main concern in this area right now is Alexis Sanchez, with the Chilean still dropping way short of the performances he delivered in the colours of Arsenal, Barcelona and Udinese.

  His latest injury setback has hardly helped his cause and it is he who provides Solskjaer with his biggest question mark at this point, even if the boss has left it on the player’s shoulders to find a long-term solution.

  “I can’t do anything about Alexis Sanchez. When he plays he needs to find himself, because we know there is a quality player there,” said Solskjaer in February.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

• Getty Images
  

  Substitutions

  It took Lukaku only two minutes to score after coming on against Bournemouth in Solskjaer’s third game in charge, and when he netted within a minute of entering the following match at Newcastle to break the deadlock, it looked as though the caretaker had a golden touch.

  But it hasn’t been plain sailing in this regard since then, even if some of his decisions of late have been conditioned by a mounting injury list which has left him dipping into the academy ranks.

  In the home leg against Paris Saint-Germain it took him until six minutes from time to release Lukaku into the game, leaving the Belgian with little chance to affect the 0-2 scoreline, while in the recent FA Cup reverse to Wolves, Solskjaer failed to make a move until after an opening Wolves goal which had been coming for some time.

  He also left it until the last five minutes to throw in Juan Mata and Scott McTominay rather than looking to change his side’s fortunes immediately after falling two goals behind.

  For the most part he has proved adaptable, though, and his great relationship with his coaching staff has helped to bring about considered changes at crucial times in other games.

  He encourages input from Mike Phelan, Michael Carrick and Kieran McKenna at all times, ensuring that while he makes the final call, there is always group input into any switch made during matches.

Jonas Eidevall's team is stacked with talent, but so are Emma Hayes' champions…

After an incredible summer of football in England saw the Lionesses bring football home, the Women's Super League returns this weekend and it promises to pick up the Euros' baton and provide plenty of drama and entertainment.

Arsenal get the campaign underway on Friday night at home to Brighton, looking to start a season they will hope ends in style – with some silverware.

Last year was the Gunners' first under head coach Jonas Eidevall and the big positive is that they finished just one point behind champions Chelsea despite it feeling like they can go up another level.

With Eidevall's January signings having had more time to settle in now and the squad as a whole having got a proper grasp on his ideas, Arsenal should be even better this time around. But will it be enough to win the title?

• Getty
  

  The Squad

  A quick glance at the ins and outs at Arsenal this summer and some might be concerned.

  They've seen six regular first team players leave while only bringing three in, one of whom – Gio Queiroz, the Brazilian teen who ranked at No.10 in this year's NXGN list – has immediately joined Everton on loan. Their other signings have been Kaylan Marckese, a back-up goalkeeper, and Lina Hurtig, the energetic Swedish forward who arrives from Juventus.

  However, the Gunners did a lot of good business in the January window, with striker Stina Blackstenius and centre-back Rafaelle immediately becoming key figures in the starting XI. Moreover, their most important move this summer was to keep a certain Vivianne Miedema, the WSL's all-time top goal-scorer signing a new contract amid interest from Barcelona.

  With star names like England captain Leah Williamson and Euros hero Beth Mead, this is a strong squad with a lot of depth across different areas. In midfield and attack in particular, those options are varied and will all bring different things to the team when Arsenal face different challenges in the opposition.

Advertisement

• Getty
  

  The Hopes

  Silverware. Arsenal is the most decorated team in English women's football and has an incredible history that includes winning the quadruple in 2007. However, they've not won a trophy since lifting the WSL title in 2019.

  Chelsea have won every league title since and the Gunners would certainly love to end their dominance, particularly after coming so close last year. Had they not lost 2-0 to eventually-relegated Birmingham in January, a win that was the Blues' first in the league for over a year and one of just three they got all season, they would've pipped Emma Hayes' side to top spot.

  It's not just about winning the league though. Fans would love to see a good showing in the Champions League, too, and there are two cup competitions for them to have a real go at to bring that winning culture back.

• Getty
  

  The Fears

  This is a strong squad. It's a squad with lots of different midfield options and a variety in profiles across the forward line, but that doesn't mean there are not players that would struggle to be replaced should injury strike them down.

  That can apply to names like Williamson, one of the best centre-backs in the WSL who captained England to glory at the Euros this summer, and Miedema, who is one of the best players on the planet.

  Yet, it's Lia Walti, their holding midfielder, that most Arsenal fans will be focusing their hopes and prayers on when it comes to staying fit. The Swiss international missed a number of games last season and there is no natural replacement for the important role she performs.

  Eidevall believes there are several players in his squad that can adapt to play in that position but excellent, natural No.6s like Walti are at a premium in the women's game – there's a reason that Barcelona just set a new transfer record for Keira Walsh, after all.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

• Getty
  

  The Hero

  Beth Mead's past 12 months have been quite remarkable. After the disappointment of being left out of Team GB's Olympic squad last summer, the Arsenal winger had her best season yet, scoring 11 goals and providing a league-best eight assists in 22 games.

  She backed that up with an heroic tournament for England, winning the Euros, the golden boot and the best player award. It's a summer that plunged her into the mainstream. In fact, when the women's squad were at the Emirates for the men's game against Fulham earlier this season, even the away fans wanted pictures with Mead.

  She returns to north London as a national hero and it's difficult to imagine her not continuing this momentum to try and bring a trophy to her club this season, just as she helped bring one home for her country.

A quick look at the most expensive transfers in Bayern Munchen's history!

Bayern Munchen are one of the most successful clubs in world football. Period.

They have won the Bundesliga title a record 32 times, while also lifting the Champions League on six occasions over the course of their illustrious history.

And they have had some absolute ballers representing them on their way to all that silverware.

Just think Franz Beckenbauer, Gerd Muller, Lothar Matthaus, Franck Ribery, Arjen Robben and many more.

Many of these high-profile names were brought in from other clubs as Bayern have historically proven they are not afraid to splash the cash if they feel the opportunity is right.

That approach has earned them plenty of rewards throughout the 21st century as they have secured the services of some true superstars.

Who have cost them the biggest transfer fees, though?

Bayern Munich most expensive transfers by season

*All figures are taken from Transfermarkt unless stated otherwise.

Bayern Munich top 10 most expensive transfers

• Getty
  

  10Benjamin Pavard | €35 million | VfB Stuttgart | 2019

  Pavard announced himself to the wider public with his incredible performances for France at the 2018 World Cup, including a beauty of a goal against Argentina, and Bayern decided to make a move for him in January 2019, with the Bavarians paying €35 million to sign him.

  The versatile defender made his debut in a 10-minute substitute appearance in August 2019 in a 2-0 defeat to Borussia Dortmund.

  In 2021, the Frenchman scored Bayern's only goal in the 2020 FIFA Club World Cup final win against Tigres UNAL, thus helping his club complete a sextuple of trophies.

Advertisement

• Getty/Goal
  

  9Mats Hummels | €35 million | Borussia Dortmund | 2016

  After graduating from Bayern Munich's youth academy, Hummels left for Borussia Dortmund on loan in January 2008 before signing permanently with them in February 2009 for €4 million.

  He led Dortmund to two consecutive league titles in 2010-11 and 2011-12 respectively and helped them finish runner-up in the 2012-13 Champions League.

  Hummels was also part of the German team that won the World Cup in 2014.

  After the best part of eight years in Dortmund, Hummels returned to Bayern in the summer of 2016 in a transfer worth €35 million.

  Overall, in his time with the Bavarians, he won the Bundesliga title four times along with three DFL-Supercups and a DFB-Pokal.

  Three years later in 2019, Bayern agreed to sell him back to Dortmund for €30.50m. 

• AFP
  

  8Mario Gotze | €37 million | Borussia Dortmund | 2013

  Once considered the future of German football, Gotze was signed for €37 million by Bayern Munich as a 21-year-old from Borussia Dortmund in 2013.

  A year later, he was on top of the world, scoring the winning goal against Argentina at the World Cup in Brazil.

  At club level, however, Gotze did not seem to settle in well at Bayern and after a three-year stint in Bavaria, he returned to Dortmund, where he spent four years.

  In 2020, Gotze made the move to PSV and after two seasons there, he returned to Germany with Eintracht Frankfurt in the summer of 2022.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

• Getty
  

  7Arturo Vidal | €39.25 million | Juventus | 2015

  After five successful seasons with Juventus, Vidal made the move to Bayern in the summer of 2015 for a handsome €39.25 million.

  He spent three seasons at Bayern and played a major role in the 2016-17 campaign, ensuring that the club went a whole league campaign without defeat at the Allianz Arena for the first time since 2008.

  In the 2017-18 season, Vidal suffered a season-ending injury during training in the second half of the campaign.

  At the end of that season, the Chile ace left for Barcelona.

The Brentford striker has earned his chance on the international stage having established himself as one of the Premier League's top forwards

It would be a surprise if, by the end of this week, England had not capped its 1,272nd senior men’s international player. What a deserved cap it would be, too. Few players are in better form than Ivan Toney right now, and having missed out agonisingly on Gareth Southgate’s squad for the World Cup in Qatar, the Brentford striker will be desperate to make his mark as England launch their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign with games against Italy and Ukraine.

At 27, Toney has certainly taken the long road to the top level, but his performances for Brentford this season place him, unquestionably, among the country’s best players. His tally of 16 Premier League goals is bettered only by Erling Haaland and Harry Kane, and has the Bees dreaming, improbably, of European qualification.

“He deserves his opportunity,” said Southgate when announcing his squad last week. Off-field issues may change things but Toney has, for now it seems, moved ahead of the likes of Callum Wilson, Ollie Watkins, Tammy Abraham and Dominic Calvert-Lewin in the battle to be the understudy to captain Kane.

🖥️ Where to watch England Euro 2024 qualifying games

👕 England kits: Buy new jerseys & retro clobber

🎟️ How to get tickets to England home & away games

Nobody can say he hasn’t earned his chance…

• Getty
  

  The hard yards

  It is more than 10 years since Toney made his professional debut, doing so as a 16-year-old for hometown club Northampton Town in an FA Cup first-round defeat to Bradford City.

  He had been rejected by Leicester City as a schoolboy, but he would go on to make 60 appearances for Northampton in League Two, working under the likes of Aidy Boothroyd and Chris Wilder before being signed by Premier League club Newcastle for £250,000 ($306,000) in 2015, aged 19. 

  Ironically, his debut for the Magpies would come against Northampton in a League Cup tie, before he made his Premier League bow in September 2015 as a late substitute in a 2-2 draw with Chelsea, replacing the current Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic.

  Toney would, however, only play one more league game for the club – another late cameo in a 3-3 draw with Manchester United – and managed only four sub appearances in total.

  Instead, his time on Tyneside became a series of Football League loan spells. He played for Barnsley and Shrewsbury Town, had two stints at Scunthorpe United and another at Wigan Athletic.

  He collected experience and games, more than 100 in total, and scored goals too, but it wasn’t until a £650,000 ($800,000) move to Peterborough United in 2018 that Toney’s career really started to take off.

Advertisement

• Getty
  

  Hitting the bigtime

  Toney, according to Peterborough owner Darragh MacAnthony, rejected offers from the Championship to join the League One side, but it wasn’t long before his decision was vindicated.

  He scored 23 goals in his first season with the Posh, and then netted 26 in the following campaign, earning him the League One Player of the Year award.

  Celtic tried to sign him that summer, Middlesbrough too. He was reportedly recommended to Tottenham, but it was Brentford who agreed a deal worth an initial £6.5 million ($8m), with a series of add-ons which would eventually take the fee past £10m ($12.25m).

  Those add-ons, it’s safe to say, have been met. Toney scored 31 goals in his first season with Brentford, including one in the play-off final win over Swansea City at Wembley which secured promotion to the Premier League.

  Once back in the bigtime, he swiftly made himself at home. He helped Brentford beat Arsenal in their first Premier League game, and a fortnight later scored his first top-flight goal away to Aston Villa. By the end of the campaign, he’d netted 14 times as the Bees finished a more-than-respectable 13th.

• Getty
  

  Going up a level

  That form has continued, and even improved, this season. Toney started the campaign with a goal at Leicester and has carried on scoring since. 

  There was a hat-trick against Leeds, two in the home win over Brighton and, best of all, another brace in a brilliant victory over Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium just before the World Cup.

  Southgate watched that game with a wry smile, having already opted for Newcastle’s Wilson ahead of Toney in his squad for Qatar, but if the Brentford man was disappointed by his omission then it hasn’t shown in his performances. Since the World Cup, he has scored six times in 11 matches, his displays including a centre-forward’s masterclass at league leaders Arsenal last month.

  “I like his presence in games,” Southgate said last week, and Toney is certainly a player who gives defenders a hard time whenever he plays. Only Mitrovic has won more aerial duels among Premier League strikers this season, while only five forwards – Haaland, Kane, Mitrovic, Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez – have taken more shots. Toney’s expected goals (xG) tally is bettered only by Haaland and Kane.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

• Getty
  

  The penalty king

  Another of Toney’s big assets, and one which could come in more than a little handy should he ever find himself at a major international tournament, is his ability to score penalties.

  Of the 28 spot-kicks he has taken as a professional, he has scored 27, with his sole miss coming for Peterborough against Barnsley in October 2018.

  His style is unique, his eyes remaining fixed on the goalkeeper even as he strikes the ball. “The ball doesn’t move,” he once said, deadpan, although earlier this season he offered a deeper insight into his mindset around penalties.

  "The keeper's trying to give the talk and everybody's trying to get in my head,” he said. “But I just walk away, compose myself, think of different things, think of being on the beach with a cocktail and put it in the back of the goal.”

  In the Premier League, Toney has scored all 10 of the penalties he has taken. Only Yaya Toure, with 11, has a better 100 percent record. “He is the best penalty taker in the world,” says Brentford boss Thomas Frank. “It’s a unique skill.”

L'Equipe's release of the best paid players in Ligue 1 emphasises just how much spending power Paris Saint-Germain have

There are some bloated salaries in Ligue 1. With massive investment from the Qatar Sports Investment fund into PSG, as well as other wealthy owners at Monaco and Rennes, the French top flight has plenty of cash to throw around.

That was all quantified recently by list of the highest-paid players in the league. As expected, some of the numbers are staggering.

And although Ligue 1 is still dominated by the spending power of one club, various teams have their names among the top 20 earners in the division. Unsurprisingly, Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and Lionel Messi lead the way, while PSG have a firm hold on the top 10. But the likes of Alexis Sanchez, Wissam Ben Yedder and Alexandre Lacazette are also in the mix.

GOAL takes a look at the highest earners in Ligue 1 by gross pay per annum below…

• Getty Images
  

  20Hugo Ekitike

  Club: PSG

  Salary: €4.80 million (£4.20m/$5.20m)

Advertisement

• Getty
  

  19Alexandre Lacazette

  Club: Lyon

  Salary: €5.40m (£4.70m/$5.90m)

• Getty
  

  18Eric Bailly

  Club: Marseille

  Salary: €5.40m (£4.70m/$5.90m)

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

• Getty
  

  17Alexis Sanchez

  Club: Marseille

  Salary: €6.0m (£5.30m/$6.50m)

Carlo Ancelotti could leave the Santiago Bernabeu at the end of the season and there are several possible replacements…

Carlo Ancelotti hasn't done much wrong as Real Madrid coach. Since arriving for the second time 18 months ago, he has won La Liga and the Champions League – and could win the latter again this season.

He has revived an ageing squad, helped Karim Benzema become a Ballon d'Or winner, and developed Vinicius Jr into a world-class winger.

But now, his job is being called into question. Barcelona are running away with La Liga and with Ancelotti increasingly linked to the Brazil national team gig, it appears his days in Spain could be numbered.

That leaves Madrid potentially looking for a new manager this summer, and they can likely get whoever they want.

Such is the pull of the club, and the relentlessness of President Florentino Perez, that Los Blancos are very hard to turn down. Still, this could be a particularly appointment to make.

In Ancelotti, Madrid had the right kind of character for the job. The famously sound man-manager has brought the team immense success on confidence alone, allowing a world-class squad to play to their own beat.

But Madrid have become predictable, and perhaps need a more astute tactical mind. The board are reportedly starting to realise this.

Indeed, the experienced squad that grinded their way to a European-domestic double is on their way out, while a wave of youth talent could still do with moulding and guidance.

The current options, though, are mixed. Thomas Tuchel was the most obvious candidate before he was snapped up by Bayern Munich last week.

Still, there are a few managers of interest on the market, including reported top candidate Mauricio Pochettino.

GOAL takes a look at who could take the helm next at the Santiago Bernabeu…

• Getty Images
  

  Mauricio Pochettino

  Numerous outlets are reporting that the former Tottenham and PSG man has piqued the interest of Madrid's board. And he certainly meets some of the criteria.

  Pochettino's sides try to play exciting football, and he has the charisma and energy of a manager capable of leading a big side. His domestic success has been admittedly limited, but he took Tottenham to the 2019 Champions League final, and also won Ligue 1 with PSG in 2022.

  At Tottenham, he worked wonders with a relatively small budget and Spurs were among the most entertaining teams in Europe on their day.

  With creative players such as Dele and Christian Eriksen playing behind an ever-improving Harry Kane, Pochettino pieced together a side that finished second in the Premier League in 2016, and knocked Manchester City out of the Champions League in 2019.

  It's not hard to see him doing something similar with a young squad in Madrid – especially if Los Blancos sign a certain English midfielder to bolster the ranks.

Advertisement

• Raul Gonzalez Twitter
  

  Raul

  Madrid don't mind an internal replacement. It's brought them plenty of success in the past, notably with the promotion of Zinedine Zidane from reserve side Castilla. The club legend went on to win two league titles and a trio of Champions League winners' medals at the helm.

  And Raul could be next in line. Zidane's former team-mate's managerial path is remarkably similar to that of the former Madrid boss.

  Raul took over the Madrid U15s in 2018, and was made manager of Madrid Castilla less than a year later. The B team have enjoyed success under the club legend's tutelage, with the academy side third, and four points behind Alcoron in the Primera Federacion.

  Players such as Rodrygo, Alvaro Rodriguez and the soon-to-return Fran Garcia have all cracked into the senior side after developing under Raul, too.

  Leeds were reportedly interested in hiring him, and a handful of German clubs were also sniffing around. But he spurned all interest, presumably with his eyes on a different job…

• (C)Getty Images
  

  Julian Nagelsmann

  Nagelsmann was recently let go by Bayern Munich, and is reportedly determined to take a few months off before returning to management. If he's refreshed by this summer, he could be a shrewd appointment for Los Blancos.

  The German was hailed as a young tactical mastermind when he was hired by Bayern 18 months ago. But he never quite worked out at the club.

  Although Bayern won the league during his first season in charge – and could still do so this year – Nagelsmann had a tricky relationship with the board. Valid, but perhaps harsh concerns over the style of football and consistency of the side saw his tenure end prematurely.

  But that shouldn't put other teams off. Indeed, Nagelsmann lost Robert Lewandowski, turned Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting into a top-class striker, and before his firing, had Bayen in the last eight of the Champions League. That isn't an easy thing to do.

  Madrid would present a different challenge, but one Nagelsmann certainly has the brain to approach.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

• (C)Getty Images
  

  Xabi Alonso

  Alonso has worked wonders at Bayer Leverkusen. The German side were fighting a relegation battle when the former Liverpool and Real Madrid midfielder took over. A few months later, they are fighting for a European spot.

  This is no accident. Alonso has a young, energetic side playing to its full potential thanks to a number of shrewd tactical moves. He has given the talented Florian Wirtz licence to create, utilised the pace of Moussa Diaby, and reinforced what was a leaky back line.

  That this is his first senior management job makes it all the more impressive.

  Alonso is a product of the Madrid coaching system, taking over the U14s before moving to Real Sociedad B in 2019, and, after spending some of his best years as a player at the Santiago Bernabeu, he certainly has a strong connection to the club.

  As is the case with Raul, it is largely assumed that Alonso will take the Madrid job someday. Is now the right time?

How to watch Inter vs Lazio in Serie A in the US as well as kick-off time and team news.

Inter will lock horns with Lazioin a Serie A fixture at San Siro on Sunday.

▶ Watch Inter vs Lazio live on Paramount+ today!

The last nine Serie A meetings between Inter and Lazio have seen four wins apiece (D1), and interestingly during this period, the same result has not been repeated in consecutive games.

Inter have won each of their last three home games against Lazio in Serie A and another three points over the weekend will be a major boost to their top-four aspirations. However, it will be a tough task as Lazio have not conceded a single goal in their last five away games in Serie A and the Biancocelesti have never enjoyed a longer such streak.

On the other hand, although the Nerazzuri have qualified for the Champions League semifinal and the Coppa Italia final, they have failed to replicate their cup form in the league and have lost each of their last three Serie A home games, without scoring a single goal. Never in their history have they suffered more consecutive home defeats in a single season in the competition.

GOAL brings you details on how to watch the game on TV in the UK as well as how to stream live online.

• Getty
  

  Kick-off time

  Game:	Inter vs Lazio
  Date:	April 30, 2023
  Kick-off:	7:30 am EDT
  Venue:	San Siro

  The game is scheduled for April 30, 2023, at San Siro. It will kick off at 7:30 am EDT in the US.

Advertisement

• Getty
  

  How to watch Inter vs Lazio online – TV channels & live streams

  TV channels & streaming options

  Country	TV channel	Live stream
  US	NA	Paramount+

  In theUnited States (US) it can be streamed live on Paramount+.

• Getty Images
  

  Team news & squads

  Inter team news

  Inter have an almost fit squad and will miss only the services of Milan Skriniar (back injury).

  Nicolo Barella and Hakan Calhanoglu are available despite suffering minor injuries against Juventus in the Coppa semi-final.

  Romelu Lukaku should start upfront along with Lautaro Martinez.

  Inter possible XI: Onana; Darmian, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Correa, Lukaku

  Position	Players
  Goalkeepers	Onana, Handanovic, Cordaz
  Defenders	Bastoni, De Vrij, Acerbi, Dimarco, Fontanarosa, Dalbert, Bellanova, Darmian, Zanotti, D'Ambrosio.
  Midfielders	Brozovic, Asllani, Barella, Gagliardini, Dumfries, Gosens, Mkhitaryan, Carboni, Calhanoglu
  Forwards	Correa, Martinez, Lukaku, Dzeko

  Lazio team news

  Ciro Immobile is fit to start and should be the focal point in attack with Felipe Anderson and Mattia Zaccagni on the flanks. Danilo Cataldi is also back from suspension.

  Whereas, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic has scored five times against Inter in Serie A and could be well on his way to clinching his 100th goal involvement in the domestic league. He currently has 54 goals and 45 assists to his name.

  Lazio possible XI: Provedel; Marusic, Casale, Romagnoli, Hysaj; Milinkovic-Savic, Cataldi, Alberto; Anderson, Immobile, Zaccagni

  Position	Players
  Goalkeepers	Maximiano, Provedel, Adamonis.
  Defenders	Romagnoli, Casale, Gila, Radu, Kamenovic, Marusic, Hysaj, Lazzari, Patric.
  Midfielders	Cataldi, Bertini, Milinkovic-Savic, Alberto, Antonio, Basic, Vecino, Fares.
  Forwards	Felipe Anderson, Cancellieri, Pedro, Immobile, Zaccagni

  Head-to-head record

  Date	Result	Competition
  08/01/2023	Lazio 3-1 Inter	Serie A
  10/01/2022	Inter 2-1 Lazio	Serie A
  16/10/2021	Lazio 3-1 Inter	Serie A
  15/02/2021	Inter 3-1 Lazio	Serie A
  04/10/2020	Lazio 1-1 Inter	Serie A

  In their last five meetings, both teams have won two matches apiece and one has ended in a draw.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

• Getty
  

  Useful links

  • Transfer News

  • Live soccer on TV in the U.S.

  • GOAL Featured Stories