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Marseille striker Mason Greenwood has won the Ligue 1 Player of the Month award for October, marking the second time he has received the accolade since his transfer from Manchester United in the summer of 2024. The 24-year-old England international scored five Ligue 1 goals last month, including a remarkable four-goal haul during Marseille’s dominant 6-2 victory against Le Havre.

• Greenwood's dominant October performance

  The English international has been named Ligue 1 Player of the Month for October, as announced by the UNFP (Union Nationale des Footballeurs Professionnels), the players' union, on Sunday. This marks a significant achievement for Greenwood, who has continued to rebuild his career in France following his move from Manchester United.

  Greenwood's exceptional form in October saw him net five goals in Ligue 1. A standout performance included scoring four goals during Marseille's emphatic 6-2 win against Le Havre. He also contributed a goal in a narrow 2-1 loss against Lens, demonstrating his consistent attacking threat. This impressive tally of goals and overall contribution saw him beat out competition from Strasbourg's Joaquin Panichelli and OGC Nice's Sofiane Diop for the individual honour, securing 38% of the vote.

  This is the second time Greenwood has received the Ligue 1 Player of the Month award since joining Marseille in the summer of 2024. His consistent recognition underscores his impact on the French top flight.

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  Impressive season statistics and previous achievements

  Greenwood's current season statistics highlight his ongoing influence at Marseille. So far this season, he has scored nine goals and provided four assists across 15 appearances in all competitions. This follows a highly successful debut campaign in 2024-25, where he made an immediate impact after his permanent transfer from Manchester United.

  In his first season in Ligue 1, Greenwood scored an impressive 21 league goals in 34 matches, tying with PSG's Ousmane Dembele for the French Golden Boot. Marseille finished second behind Paris Saint-Germain in that campaign, a testament to Greenwood's vital contribution to their league challenge. His overall record with OM stands at 31 goals and ten assists in 51 games played across all competitions, as reported by AFP.

  Marseille are currently in a close contest for the Ligue 1 title, trailing league leaders PSG by just two points. Greenwood's prolific scoring and creative play are central to their ambitions.

• International aspirations: England or Jamaica?

  Despite his strong club form, Greenwood's international future remains a significant talking point. He made his only senior international appearance for England in 2020 in a Nations League clash against Iceland. Following serious criminal allegations, which were later dropped, his journey with the Three Lions appeared to end, leading to him being "blacklisted by the FA and head coach Thomas Tuchel from selection," according to the Daily Mail.

  Earlier this year, Greenwood acquired Jamaican citizenship through his lineage, making him eligible to represent the Jamaican national team. Jamaica's manager, former England boss Steve McClaren, even called him up for World Cup qualifiers in September. However, Greenwood did not commit at that time.

  McClaren explained in September: "We acquired a passport and we expected him to be coming to this camp but on a conversation with his family, he's not going to commit at this time to anybody. So he's taking his time over that." He added: "We will keep pursuing him because I know from my conversations with Mason that he loves Jamaica, he respects Jamaica. He wants to concentrate on club football and not commit to an international team at the moment."

  Despite this, reports suggest Greenwood is "obsessed" with the idea of returning to St George’s Park and still believes he can play for England again, even with the FA and Tuchel's current stance. With the 2026 World Cup approaching, a comeback for England appears improbable, yet Greenwood's ambition persists.

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• Potential Premier League return and European interest

  Greenwood's impressive performances in France have inevitably sparked speculation about a potential return to the Premier League. While a return to English top-flight football is considered "extremely unlikely" in the short term due to the significant public scrutiny an English club would face, reports suggest interest from Premier League sides.

  TEAMtalk reported interest from Tottenham and West Ham in signing Greenwood in 2026. Spurs are reportedly seeking a "dynamic, energetic player," while West Ham see him as a "potential game-changer." However, the report also indicates strong interest from other European clubs, with Atletico Madrid, impressed by his loan spell at Getafe, keen to bring him back to La Liga. Saudi Pro League clubs like Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr are also reportedly preparing lucrative offers, though Greenwood's current preference is to remain in Europe and compete in the Champions League.

Newcastle United defender Sven Botman was dubbed “utterly embarrassing” after the role he played in Brentford’s third goal on another afternoon to forget for the Magpies on their travels.

Tierney took centre-stage, the former denying Brentford what looked a clear penalty for a foul by Dan Burn – instead booking Dango Ouattara for a dive – and the latter surprisingly agreeing.

But, lo and behold, a few minutes later when Ouattara went down again under Burn’s challenge, Attwell this time pointed to the spot and showed the hapless Burn a second yellow card.

Igor Thiago rolled in the penalty and added a third in stoppage time to condemn Newcastle to more misery on their travels on the fourth anniversary of Eddie Howe’s appointment as manager.

The big controversy erupted when Ouattara tumbled, Burn protested his innocence and Attwell waved away Brentford claims for a spot-kick and flashed the yellow card instead.

Replays showed Burn had clearly made contact with Ouattara’s foot before he went down but Tierney upheld Attwell’s decision, “minimal contact” was the official explanation.

Then came the reprise; Ouattara brought down again by Burn. This one was maybe less convincing, but Attwell pointed to the spot.

Sven Botman dubbed "utterly embarrassing" in Newcastle defeat

A lot of the blame will be put on Burn for his second yellow card and the penalty that he conceded as a result, but the rest of the Newcastle squad didn’t exactly enjoy excellent outings, either. Nick Woltemade came away with an assist, but largely struggled to make the ball stick for the Magpies going forward and Sven Botman looked a shadow of his best self.

At the centre of criticism, Sky Sports’ commentary team took aim at Botman after Thiago scored his second of the afternoon, saying: “Sven Botman, I don’t think he knows that Thiago is behind him, he thinks Ramsdale is coming, he stops running, it’s going to end a sorry afternoon this for the Geordies.”

The criticism didn’t end there, either. Newcastle reporter Joel Bland dubbed Botman “utterly embarrassing” for Brentford’s third and final goal – a verdict that is hard to dispute.

The Dutchman was all too casual before Thiago took full advantage to leave Newcastle on just three Premier League wins in their opening 10 games. Alan Shearer accused the Newcastle squad of being “lazy” when they lost 3-1 against West Ham United last week. Now, a week later, Botman has been accused of not running.

Real Madrid prepared to make Tonali move as Newcastle star reveals exit stance

The Italian’s new deal was just announced.

3

By
Tom Cunningham

Nov 8, 2025

Whilst they continue to thrive in the Champions League, Newcastle remain in the bottom-half of England’s top tier following a disastrous start.

Newcastle have "one of the best teen prospects" & he can surpass Woltemade

After a winter of financial wrangling, arrivals of Williamson and Paterson offer an overdue sense of optimism

Andrew Miller02-Apr-2025It’s hard these days to claim that the clouds at Middlesex have ever entirely rolled away. And yet, with the sun beating down on a glorious April afternoon at Lord’s, ahead of Lancashire’s visit for Friday’s County Championship opener, it felt possible for a moment to believe in new beginnings – even if several cold hard realities remain lurking on the fringes of the club narrative.”It’s always niggling away in the background, obviously, but I think the club as a whole have navigated through really well,” Richard Johnson, Middlesex’s head coach, told ESPNcricinfo, after a winter of discontent and, at times, outright rancour. “This group have been amazing to be honest. We haven’t let it affect the changing-room at all, and you feel like you’re coming to the other side now.”In terms of the club’s immediate balance sheet, that would appear to be the case. In February, Middlesex’s ugly and protracted row with their former CEO Richard Goatley reached a conclusion of sorts with the recovery of some £100,000 of unauthorised expenses, while the club’s slender profit of £131,000 in 2023 – attained largely through the cost-cutting that contributed to that season’s relegation – has allowed them to shake off the spectre of ECB special measures.And now, in theory, it’s onwards and upwards into a brighter new era, as epitomised by Middlesex’s trio of overseas signings for the coming season … which is three more than they allowed themselves last time out while still deep in the depths of austerity.Related

• Middlesex recover £100,000 of missing funds but former CEO avoids criminal charges

• Corey Flintoff signs rookie contract with Kent

• Williamson backs international windows and WTC 'tweaks'

• Switch Hit: New season, fresh vibe

• James Anderson to sit out April but refuses to bow out yet

The great Kane Williamson is clearly the biggest deal of these (even if the nature of that arrangement, as a spin-off of his Hundred deal with London Spirit, begs as many questions as it answers). However, the most immediately consequential could be South Africa’s former Nottinghamshire stalwart, Dane Paterson, who has a date with destiny looming at the World Test Championship final on June 11, and four home matches in the meantime in which to hone his Lord’s length.”It’s a win-win, he’ll be highly motivated,” Johnson said. “He can’t wait to get over and start playing. His performances for Nottinghamshire over the last three or four years have been amazing – 180 wickets at 23 – so he’s full of experience, and someone you can lean on as a player and a coach to perform.”Add to the mix Ireland’s Josh Little, primarily for the T20 Blast, plus Gloucestershire’s ex-Pakistan spinner Zafar Gohar, and such is the quality, it’s easy to overlook the fact that Middlesex have actually streamlined their squad since last season – with the departures of Ethan Bamber to Warwickshire and Mark Stoneman to Hampshire among the most significant.”We’ve recruited really well, even though we’ve had to let some good people go,” Johnson said. “Kane brings that stardust, and he’s not even someone I can say we lacked when we weren’t able to bring in overseas players, because to get a player of that quality is quite unusual.Kane Williamson will feature for Middlesex as part of his deal with London Spirit•Getty Images”I don’t even know how that side of things works,” he added. “All I got was a phone call to say, ‘do you fancy Kane Williamson playing for you?’ And I was like, ‘yeah, okay, no problem!’ To have someone of his stature around, one of the top-four batters of his generation, is just brilliant for our younger players and senior players alike, because you can gain so much from having a guy like him in your changing room.”For Toby Roland-Jones, Middlesex’s veteran seamer and Championship captain, Williamson’s arrival is no less of a surprise, but one that he is eager to lean into, not least given his long and successful stint in charge of New Zealand, which culminated in victory in the inaugural World Test Championship final in 2021.”When someone of that magnitude comes in, his impact can spread a little bit further than just runs on the pitch,” Roland-Jones said. “I’m looking forward to picking his brains, and exploring how he sees the game, once you’re over the ropes.”With captaincy, everyone tries to be themselves and have their own stance,” he added. “But you’re always learning on this job, whether you’re 37 or 21, and fundamentally, any chance you get to see a different side of the game, or even just get a bit of confirmation that you’re aligning with certain views, is great. That’s the thing that keeps us all coming back.”Dane Paterson was a quality performer for Nottinghamshire before his move to Middlesex•Getty ImagesRoland-Jones himself is back for a third season as captain, conscious of the creep of time as he enters his 38th year, but no less committed to the cause than he was when taking a hat-trick to seal Middlesex’s last County Championship title way back in 2016.”I do feel good,” he said. “I’m probably somewhere in the middle of those two adages, of knowing when it’s time, but also of pulling the pin too early. But my mentality towards the game and bowling has always been to push things as far as I can. If I can find the right balance over the next year or two years, or whatever it is, then I’ll be in a good place to know when it’s right. It certainly doesn’t feel like that at the moment, but ask me in October when I’m struggling to get out of bed in the morning!”Last summer’s haul of 52 wickets at 22.55 backs up Roland-Jones’ assertion that he’s still got what it takes. Sadly, however, the chance to compare his creaking bones with those of English cricket’s most venerable seamer, James Anderson, will not come to pass this week. Anderson had been due to lead Lancashire’s attack at the age of 42, but has now been ruled out until May with a calf strain.”I was also looking forward to seeing him run in, and I feel for him,” Roland-Jones said. “I think the boys were excited to match up and test themselves out too, and I hope he has a speedy recovery. But, fundamentally, arguably the best English bowler of all time is missing the first game of the year here in April, and that serves us better than him playing. So from that side of things, I can probably accept it.”The chance to get out there and play – in what should be perfect spring conditions, and in what on paper promises to be a clash between two of the likelier promotion candidates – could be just the tonic that Middlesex need. After a glut of negative headlines, and amid that nagging existential angst, it’s time to let the cricket do the talking.”We’ve been close in two different ways the last two years,” Roland-Jones said, reflecting on the narrow margins by which Middlesex were relegated in 2023 and then missed out on an immediate return with last summer’s third-place finish. “In those situations, you probably get a clearer picture of the good parts of your squad, as well as those bits that are missing.”Certainly, the guys upstairs have tried to address that. I do feel like we’re going into this campaign with more depth in key positions, and a bit of added confidence and experience from some of the guys who are still establishing themselves and hopefully maturing and growing more and more. It feels like we’re really nicely placed.”

The Reds live to see another day in the National League wild-card race. Cincinnati escaped with a win over the rival Pirates on Thursday, thanks to some late defensive heroics from Noelvi Marte, who reached over the wall to rob a Pittsburgh home run in the ninth inning.

Marte, who was the Reds' top prospect and played in the infield throughout his time in the minor leagues, recently moved to the outfield in order to stay in the everyday lineup. He's played a total of 50 games in the outfield in his career, all of which came this season. But with the season potentially on the line, the 23-year-old made an incredibly difficult and important catch in order to help secure the win.

Marte's defensive highlight came with one out in the ninth inning. A home run from Brian Reynolds would've tied the game, and potentially forced extra innings for the second consecutive night. Fortunately, Marte was there to make a sensational play.

Following Thursday's win, Cincinnati now sits just one-half game behind the Mets in the wild-card race. New York is set to play the Cubs in the evening, with first pitch slated for 7:40 p.m. ET. A Mets loss would see the Reds take control of the final wild-card spot with just three games left to play.

West Ham United’s return to Premier League football didn’t entirely go to plan on Saturday afternoon.

Nuno Espírito Santo’s side looked on course to win their third game on the bounce when Callum Wilson made it 2-0 against Bournemouth in the 35th minute. However, the Cherries fought back, and thanks to a penalty and a goal from Enes Unal, came away with a point.

With that said, in the context of the season at large, it’s still a good point for the Hammers, especially as they had to make do without dynamic Crysencio Summerville and Lucas Paqueta.

Unfortunately, the Dutchman won’t be fit for the Liverpool game, but Nuno might have the perfect solution, one that involves dropping Luis Guilherme.

Guilherme's game vs Bournemouth

Now, the first thing to say is that Guilherme is still a promising talent and someone who could develop into a real star for West Ham.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

However, what is equally true is that he failed to make a case for why he should be in the starting lineup in place of the injured Summerville next time out.

The young Brazilian wasn’t terrible on Saturday, but he was almost entirely ineffective, looking unable to create chances for his teammates or get himself into positions where chances could be supplied to him.

Moreover, the 19-year-old still looks as slight as ever and lacks any real power or pace, which are two traits becoming increasingly important for attackers in the Premier League.

Unsurprisingly, the manager decided to take him off at the break, which only made his dire statistics even more pitiful.

In his 45 minutes of inaction, the Brazilian registered an expected assists figure of 0.01, failed to take a single shot, took just 21 touches, failed in 66% of his dribbles, lost the ball nine times, completed ten passes, was dribbled past and lost seven of eight duels.

In short, Guilherme proved he cannot come in for Summerville again, so Nuno has to bring in one of the club’s most exciting prospects instead.

West Ham's Summerville solution

The player Nuno should bring into the squad to replace Guilherme and help solve the blow of Summerville’s injury is George Earthy.

Now, that might sound bold, and perhaps it is, but the academy gem has long been talked about as one of the club’s next stars, and his time at youth level and out on loan suggests as much.

For example, in 60 appearances for the u18s, totalling 4804 minutes, he scored 25 goals and provided 18 assists, which is an average of a goal involvement every 1.39 games, or every 111.72 minutes.

Then, during his time with the u21s, he scored 18 goals and provided 14 assists in 55 appearances, totalling 3618 minutes, which is an average of a goal involvement every 1.71 games, or every 113.06 minutes.

In other words, the Havering-born gem is a dual threat: a goalscorer and a creator.

Moreover, with 40 appearances for Bristol City last season, during which he was named young player of the year, he has plenty of genuine first-team experience under his belt already.

With all of that said, the “priceless” youngster, as dubbed by coach Steve Potts, is primarily an attacking midfielder, and so it would make sense to play him there against Liverpool, which means the man who’d actually outright replace Guilherme is actually Paqueta.

Yes, the Brazilian is also primarily a central player, but has made 36 club appearances on the left-hand side in his career, as well as six for the Brazilian national team.

Anyway, having the former Lyon gem further forward could help make the team more dangerous in attack, while also allowing the 21-year-old to get up to speed in a more familiar position.

Ultimately, it is not ideal, but Guilherme made it clear against Bournemouth that he cannot start games at the moment. Therefore, bringing the incredibly talented Earthy into the middle and allowing Paqueta to play on the left could be the answer to Summerville’s absence – at least for now.

West Ham dealt Jarrod Bowen blow as Nuno faces fresh concern about star winger

The England international is their most crucial man by some distance.

By
Emilio Galantini

Nov 21, 2025

Marco Verratti could be set for a stunning reunion with former Paris Saint-Germain teammates Edinson Cavani, Ander Herrera and Leandro Paredes, with Boca Juniors exploring an ambitious move for the Italian midfielder. With the 33-year-old looking to leave Al Duhail and Boca preparing for a high-profile Libertadores return in 2026, president Juan Roman Riquelme has quietly opened the door to a sensational transfer.

• Boca open talks as Verratti considers next move

  Boca Juniors have begun planning their 2026 Copa Libertadores return, and head honcho Riquelme is already targeting elite reinforcements. According to , one name at the top of the list is Verratti, who left PSG in 2023 for a new chapter in Qatar but is now looking for a fresh challenge after a difficult campaign marked by injury and limited minutes.

  The Italian midfielder joined Al Duhail this summer after two seasons at Al Arabi, yet spent much of November recovering from a muscle injury. Despite signing a contract through June 2026, the Italian has privately explored the possibility of leaving early, speaking with clubs in Italy including Inter, AC Milan and Juventus as he weighs his next step.

  Those conversations led to a new idea, sparked by discussions with former PSG teammates Cavani, Herrera and Paredes. The trio encouraged him to consider Argentina and the possibility of joining Boca, prompting Riquelme to step in. The club chief has already made direct contact with Verratti and even started wooing his wife, Jessica Aidi, by introducing opportunities in Buenos Aires – a clear signal of Boca’s intent.

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  A reunion years in the making and a Libertadores vision

  This potential move reflects Boca’s broader strategy ahead of the 2026 Libertadores campaign. Riquelme is determined to assemble a veteran core with international pedigree, and Verratti fits the blueprint perfectly: a Champions League-proven midfielder, a former Italy international, and a player who has spent a decade competing at the top of European football. It also underlines Boca’s ongoing effort to build a squad capable of dominating South America, much like their “Euro Boca” phase in past years. 

  Cavani, signed in 2023, was the first major piece, followed by Herrera and Paredes, who helped advocate for Verratti. The possibility of a PSG-style midfield reunion in Buenos Aires signals just how far Boca are willing to go to regain continental supremacy. Meanwhile, Verratti’s desire to return to high-level competition works in Boca’s favour. After exploring Serie A interest and considering a return to Italy, a Libertadores challenge offers both prestige and a new kind of sporting motivation, one he appears increasingly open to.

• Contract status, departure dynamics & a Dybala twist

  Despite the excitement surrounding the move, the deal is complicated. As Verratti is still under contract with Al Duhail, Boca must either negotiate an early exit or hope the midfielder presses for a release. For now, the player’s camp has begun sounding out exit options, and the Qatari club are aware of his desire to leave.

  Beyond Verratti, Boca fans have also been buzzing over a separate rumour involving Paulo Dybala. The Roma star has been loosely linked with the club due to his contract situation in Italy and past comments about Argentine football. While the Dybala talk remains speculative, his name adds even more intrigue to Boca’s 2026 project. If both moves somehow materialised, Boca would suddenly boast a squad filled with some of the biggest names to ever play in South America.

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  Negotiations underway as Boca push for a blockbuster signing

  Verratti is Boca’s clearest target, and Riquelme has already activated the early steps of his recruitment strategy. The midfielder’s openness to leaving Qatar combined with encouragement from Cavani, Herrera and Paredes makes this more than just a dream. Progress now depends on whether Boca can strike an agreement with Al Duhail or find a creative exit route before mid-2026. With the Libertadores return looming, the Argentine giants want the deal done well before the continental campaign begins.

  One thing is certain, if Verratti completes the move, Boca’s ambition for 2026 becomes unmistakable. And with Cavani, Herrera and Paredes already in the dressing room, the stage is set for one of the most surprising South American reunions in recent memory.

Adam Zampa will remain at home with his pregnant wife but is likely to play the last two ODIs of the series against India

Alex Malcolm13-Oct-2025Australia legspinner Adam Zampa and wicketkeeper Josh Inglis will miss the first ODI against India in Perth with Matthew Kuhnemann and Josh Philippe called in.Zampa is missing for paternity reasons while Inglis has not recovered from a calf strain with Philippe set to keep in an ODI for the first time while Alex Carey plays a Sheffield Shield match as part of his Ashes preparation. Inglis has also been ruled out of the second ODI in Adelaide next Thursday when Carey returns to the side, but Australia are hopeful Inglis will be fit for the third match in Sydney on October 25.Zampa’s wife Harriet is in the late stages of pregnancy with their second child and with the due date not far away, Zampa has elected to remain at home in northern New South Wales as Perth is quite a difficult place to return from quickly.He is likely to play the second and third matches in Adelaide and Sydney as traveling home from those two cities is much shorter and easier. He is still due to play in the five-match T20I series that follows with all five of those matches being played on the east coast.Related

• Green ruled out of ODI series against India with side soreness, Labuschagne called up

• Konstas vs Boland as Ashes selection looms closer

• Labuschagne dropped from Australia ODI squad, Renshaw earns call-up

• Inglis out of T20 tour of New Zealand with a calf strain, Carey called up

Kuhnemann has been called up for Sunday’s Perth fixture and looks set to play his first ODI in three years, his first on Australian soil, after playing four matches in Sri Lanka in 2022.He has travelled non-stop with the Australia team throughout the winter as part of squads for the World Test Championship final, the three-match Test tour and five-match T20I tour of the Caribbean, the three-match T20I and three-match ODI home series against South Africa, and the three-match T20I tour of New Zealand. But he played just one match across those tours, the second T20I against West Indies in Jamaica back in July.Kuhnemann has only played three domestic 50-over matches for Tasmania since then, picking up figures of 1 for 34, 1 for 74 and 2 for 51 in three wins, but also made a stunning 56 not out against New South Wales in the first game of the new domestic season.Meanwhile, Inglis is still recovering from the calf injury that kept him out of the tour of New Zealand. Sunday’s opening ODI against India is just over four weeks from when he strained it while doing a running session in Perth and he has not recovered in time. Whether he is fit by the third ODI in Sydney remains to be seen.Carey is in Australia’s first-choice ODI XI as a specialist batter and was named in Australia’s squad for the matches against India. But he won’t be in Perth as he will remain in Adelaide to play a Sheffield Shield match for South Australia against Queensland that starts on Wednesday.Josh Philippe played three ODIs as a batter in 2021•Getty Images

Australia’s selectors face a delicate balancing act of managing their three-format players ahead of the Ashes. Allrounder Cameron Green is set to play the first two ODIs in Perth and Adelaide but could miss the third in Sydney in order to play a Shield game in Perth that starts on October 28.Green is also unlikely to bowl against India but is instead set to ramp his loads up in the Shield game against South Australia after only bowling four overs in the first Shield match of the summer against NSW last week.Carey missed South Australia’s opening Shield match because he was called into the New Zealand tour at late notice due to Inglis’ injury. Philippe will now miss two consecutive Shield matches for NSW after he was also a late call-up to New Zealand as wicketkeeping cover for Carey when Glenn Maxwell was ruled out with a fractured wrist.Philippe has not played an ODI since the 2021 three-match tour of the Caribbean when he played as a specialist opening batter under Carey’s captaincy, a year before Inglis made his international debut. Philippe has not played in any format for Australia since 2023 but has been in impressive form for Australia A in red-ball cricket and has an excellent domestic one-day record for NSW and Western Australia

Australia ODI squad vs India

Mitchell Marsh (capt), Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey (wk), Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Matthew Kuhnemann, Mitchell Owen, Josh Philippe (wk), Matt Renshaw, Matthew Short, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa

All the records and RCB and Jitesh Sharma broke against LSG on Tuesday

Sampath Bandarupalli27-May-2025228 Target that Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) successfully chased on Tuesday. It is the third-highest successful chase in the IPL. Punjab Kings (PBKS) had chased 262 against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in 2024 but were on the losing side earlier this season when Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) chased 246.204 Target RCB chased against Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) in 2010, their previous highest successful chase in the IPL. Overall, the 228-run chase was only the third successful 200-plus chase for RCB in the IPL.7-0 RCB became the first team to win all their away matches during the league stage of an IPL edition. KKR and Mumbai Indians (MI) also won seven away matches in the 2012 season, but it was across eight games, and they lost one. Gujarat Titans (GT) lost only one away match in 2023, winning their remaining six.Only three teams before RCB had won all their away matches during the league phase of a T20 tournament, involving five-plus teams (minimum of five away matches). Otago in the HRV Cup 2012-13, Titans in Ram Slam T20 Challenge 2015-16, and Guyana Amazon Warriors in CPL 2019 won all their five away matches in the league phase of the respective tournaments.85* Jitesh Sharma’s score in the chase on Tuesday is the third highest while batting at No. 6 or lower in the IPL. Hardik Pandya’s 91 against KKR in 2019 and Andre Russell’s 88* against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in 2018 are ahead of Jitesh’s knock.Jitesh’s effort is also comfortably the highest in a successful IPL chase, with the previous highest being 70*.8 Fifty-plus scores for Virat Kohli in IPL 2025, all of them resulting in wins for RCB. These are the most fifty-plus scores by any batter in wins in an IPL season. Kohli and David Warner in 2016 and Shubman Gill in 2023 had seven fifty-plus scores in wins.5 IPL editions where Kohli has scored 600-plus runs, including the IPL 2025. These are the most for any batter, surpassing KL Rahul, who did it four times.1 Rishabh Pant’s unbeaten 118 is the first individual hundred across 22 IPL matches in Lucknow. It was his second hundred in the IPL, having scored 128* against SRH in 2018, but he ended up on the losing side both times.203 Runs scored by the captains on Tuesday – 118* by Pant and 85* by Jitesh. Only once did the captains aggregate more runs in an IPL match – 210 by KL Rahul (91 for PBKS) and Sanju Samson (119 for RR) in 2021 at Wankhede.74 Runs conceded by Will O’Rourke in his four overs are the third most by any bowler in an IPL match. The 76 runs Jofra Archer conceded against SRH and 75 by Mohammed Shami against PBKS are higher than O’Rourke’s 74, all in the IPL 2025.9030 Runs scored by Kohli for RCB in all T20s. He is now the first player to aggregate 9000-plus runs for a team in this format. The next highest is 6030 by Rohit Sharma for MI.

Major League Baseball features one of the most grueling schedules in sports, with 162 games spread out over six-plus months. Players who can perform when everyone else is worn down are worth their weight in gold to contending teams.

As we turn to September and October, teams in the playoff hunt will lean on those with extensive track records of success to lift them into the postseason. What follows is a look at each player on a National League contender with the best and worst September track records. We've lumped October numbers from the regular season into these calculations since the sample sizes are too small to warrant their own category.

It's fascinating to see which guys step up when the games matter most.

Milwaukee Brewers

Best: William Contreras

Contreras is having another excellent season, and he could really put the hammer down in the season's final month, judging by his past track record. In 80 career September/October games, Contreras is slashing .305/.402/.462 with 10 home runs and 35 RBIs. That on-base percentage is his highest in any month, his .864 OPS is excellent, and his wRC+ of 139 is stellar for a catcher.

Worst: Andrew Vaughn

Vaughn has been great for the Brewers since they traded for him in June. That said, he's traditionally been pretty bad late in the season. In 91career games in the season's final month, Vaughn is slashing .235/.279/.372, with 11 home runs, 41 RBIs and 76 strikeouts against 19 walks. Only his March/April OPS of .647 is worse than his September/October mark of .651. His wRC+ of 81 is also brutal, though he rebounded last September with a mark of 131. So maybe things are looking up.

Philadelphia Phillies

Best: Bryce Harper

Like Shohei Ohtani with the Dodgers, this shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone. While Harper got a run for his money from Kyle Schwarber, his late-season track record is the best on the team. In 329 career September/October games, Harper is slashing .274/.390/.509 with 61 home runs and 167 RBIs. The future Hall of Famer boasts an OPS of .900 and a wRC+ of 139. Last season, that mark was 157, so he may overperform his career numbers again.

Worst: Bryson Stott

While Harper is outstanding late in the season, Stott is not. The 27-year-old former first-rounder has played in 77 career games in September and October and is slashing .242/.295/.335, with four home runs and 26 RBIs. His OPS of .630 is only five points better than his worst month (.625 in May) and that .295 on-base percentage is his worst. His wRC+ of 75 is woeful and the bad news is that it is buoyed by one average season. He posted a mark of 100 in 2022, then dropped to 52 in 2023 and 72 in 2024.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Best: Shohei Ohtani

Shocking that the best player on the planet would be L.A.'s best player in the final month of the season. The three-time MVP has a career September slash line of .291/.385/.551 with 29 home runs, 87 RBIs and an OPS of .936 in 136 games. His wRC+ for the month is 151, and he was even better in 2024 when he posted a ridiculous OPS of 1.225 and a wRC+ of 232. Of course, Ohtani will be on the mound in September for the first time since 2022, and his track record is stellar. In 65 2/3 career September innings, he's 5–3 with a 2.47 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, and opposing hitters have a .581 OPS.

Worst: Tyler Glasnow

It's tough to find a Dodger with a truly bad track record in the season's final month, but Glasnow gets the nod here. In 29 career games in September/October, Glasnow is 7–8 with a 4.38 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, and 162 strikeouts against 56 walks in 123 1/3 innings. Those are his highest ERA and WHIP totals in any month. The 2023 season was the last time he saw action in September, and he posted a 4.86 ERA. We'll see if he can bounce back this season.

Chicago Cubs

Best: Seiya Suzuki

Researching articles like this is always fascinating because you learn unexpexted things. Like how I had no idea Suzuki is an absolute monster in September. In 71 career games, the 31-year-old is slashing .333/.422/.564, with 13 home runs and 41 RBIs. His OPS of .986 is his highest in a month by 107 points, and his wRC+ of 172 is only two points behind Aaron Judge as the best among active players. What did to Gen Z brains this summer, Suzuki does to pitching in September.

Worst: Carson Kelly

I'll admit some of these were difficult to parse, going through long track records to compare players. This was by far the easiest selection on this list because Kelly has been in September throughout his career. In 147 career games in the season's final month, Kelly is slashing .186/.252/.299, with 10 home runs and 43 RBIs. His .551 OPS in September is 132 points lower than any other month, and his wRC+ is 50, meaning he’s half as good as the average major league hitter in September.

The veteran catcher has revitalized his career in Chicago, so maybe this year will be different.

San Diego Padres

Best: Luis Arraez*

Arraez is at his best to open and close the season. The three-time batting champion consistently struggles in August only to turn it on in September and finish strong. In 126 career games, he's slashing .336/.371/.458 for an OPS of .829, his best of any month. His career September wRC+ of 128 is excellent and is buoyed by an incredible finish to 2023 when he hit .384 with a 1.038 OPS and a 175 wRC+.

Worst: Jake Cronenworth

Cronenworth has quietly had a solid season for the Padres, but given his track record, that could come to a screeching halt this month. The 31-year-old has consistently tailed off in September during his career. In 96 career games, she's slashing .208/.294/.341, all of which are his lowest numbers for any month. His .636 September OPS is brutal, as is his wRC+ of 82. His wRC+ has never topped 93 in September during his five-year career.

New York Mets

Best: Juan Soto

Given that Soto is a generational hitter, you'd expect to find him here. He doesn't necessarily get better as the season goes along, but he certainly stays consistent. In 188 career games in the season's final month, the $765 million man is slashing .290/.440/.528, with 36 home runs, 126 RBIs and 169 walks against 134 strikeouts. That OBP is his best in any month, his .969 OPS is tied as his second-best monthly mark and his 160 wRC+ is one of the best among active players. It's not hard to see why the Mets handed him all that money.

Worst: Mark Vientos

While Vientos doesn't have a ton of late-season experience, he certainly hasn't been at his best in the home stretch. In 63 games during the season's final month, he's slashing .217/.274/.419 with 13 home runs, 28 RBIs, and 77 strikeouts against 15 walks. His .694 OPS is his worst of any month, and his wRC+ of 92 is pretty dismal.

Cincinnati Reds

Best: Ke'Bryan Hayes

Again, research leads to shocking outcomes, and this one ranks up there. You'd expect this result to be flipped, but I assure you it's correct. Hayes is a below-average hitter, but for some reason, he's great late in the season. In 93 career games, he's slashing .299/.344/.475, his best monthly marks across the board. His .819 OPS in September is remarkable considering his career mark is .677. Likewise, his wRC+ in September is 118, while his career mark is 85. It's mind-boggling.

Worst: Elly De La Cruz

De La Cruz remains one of baseball's most electric players, but not during the month of September. In 50 career games, the dynamic shortstop is slashing .219/.308/.374, with five home runs, 25 RBIs and 76 strikeouts against 23 walks. His .682 OPS is his second-worst of any month, and his 85 wRC+ is well below his talent level. Those numbers are ominous for the Reds as they try to make a late-season playoff push.

Vitor Matos now reportedly wants to take the Swansea City job in a major boost for the Championship club, who are preparing to trigger his big-money release clause.

It’s been a chaotic search for a new manager in Wales. The Swans decided to sack Alan Sheehan at the same time that Southampton, Norwich City and Middlesbrough all moving on from their own coaches – sending the Championship into a managerial merry-go-round.

Ultimately, it was Swansea who were made to pay for their timing, with top target Kim Hellberg now heading to Boro to replace Rob Edwards and send his first admirers back to square one.

With the Championship set to make a return from the international break this weekend, Swansea remain without a manager and will be led by Darren O’Shea on an interim basis.

Up against Bristol City on Saturday afternoon, Swansea will be looking to avoid a fifth-straight game without a victory and avoid dropping down to as low as 20th in the Championship.

Just when they’ll have their next permanent manager in charge is the big question. The Jacks head straight from their game against Bristol into a Tuesday night clash against Derby County and with the fixtures coming thick and fast, they need a permanent appointment sooner rather than later.

According to some recent reports, however, they could be in for some good news in their chase to sign Matos, who has made his decision.

Swansea preparing to trigger Matos release clause

According to reports in Portugal, as relayed by Wales Online, Swansea are now ready to trigger Matos’ release clause following rumours that the Maritime manager has decided to take the job if the opportunity comes his way.

Meanwhile, although other reports have claimed that Maritime are not willing to enter negotiations under any circumstances, those in Portugal have revealed that Matos has a release clause worth €1m (£900k) in his current contract – allowing Swansea to bypass club-to-club talks.

It’s good news for Swansea that the 37-year-old is keen to take the job, but there’s no denying that hiring him would be a gamble. The former Liverpool coach is incredibly inexperienced and the Swansea job would be his first as a manager in England.

Jurgen Klopp would be the first to hand the 4-3-3 coach rave reviews, but even the German is yet to see Matos in a potential relegation scrap. Those in Wales currently sit just seven points clear of the Championship’s dropzone and simply cannot afford to get their next appointment wrong in the coming weeks.

Instant blow for Matos as "one of Swansea's key players" could now leave