Barca’s injury crisis deepens as Pedri diagnosed with leg muscle tear

Barca’s injury crisis deepens as Pedri diagnosed with leg muscle tear
Barcelona midfielder Pedri has been diagnosed with a muscle tear in his left leg, the club confirmed on Wednesday, adding to the LaLiga side's mounting injury list. (Reuters/File)
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Barca’s injury crisis deepens as Pedri diagnosed with leg muscle tear

Barca’s injury crisis deepens as Pedri diagnosed with leg muscle tear
  • The 22-year-old Spanish international is expected to be sidelined for at least four weeks
  • The injury compounds Barcelona’s struggles, with 12 players sidelined

BARCELONA: Barcelona midfielder Pedri has been diagnosed with a muscle tear in his left leg, the club confirmed on Wednesday, adding to the LaLiga side’s mounting injury list.
The 22-year-old Spanish international is expected to be sidelined for at least four weeks, missing three upcoming matches for Barcelona, club sources indicated.
Pedri would also miss Spain’s crucial World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and Turkiye in November.
“First team player Pedri has suffered a tear in the distal biceps femoris muscle in his left thigh. The player’s recovery will dictate his return to action,” Barcelona said in a statement.
The injury compounds Barcelona’s struggles, with 12 players sidelined since the start of the season.
Key absentees include Robert Lewandowski, Gavi, Raphinha, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, and Dani Olmo.
Barca are second in LaLiga with 22 points, trailing leaders Real Madrid by five points.


Arsenal depth fuels Saka’s belief in Premier League title charge

Arsenal depth fuels Saka’s belief in Premier League title charge
Updated 16 sec ago

Arsenal depth fuels Saka’s belief in Premier League title charge

Arsenal depth fuels Saka’s belief in Premier League title charge
Saka is among the Arsenal stars, also including Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz and William Saliba, to have already been sidelined by injury at times this season
“This year I feel we’re a very strong group and we’ve got a lot of quality,” Saka told Sky Sports

LONDON: Bukayo Saka believes Arsenal’s strength in depth can be the difference for the Gunners this season as they look to end a wait since 2003/04 to win the Premier League.
Mikel Arteta’s men are four points clear at the top of the table from Bournemouth, with their realistic title challengers Manchester City and Liverpool six and seven points adrift respectively.
Arsenal have finished second for each of the past three seasons when injury problems at times derailed their title challenge.
However, Arteta now has a far deeper pool of resources to call on after a £250 million ($333 million) spend on eight sigings during the transfer window.
Saka is among the Arsenal stars, also including Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz and William Saliba, to have already been sidelined by injury at times this season.
But Arteta’s side have relied on their strength from set pieces and an excellent defensive record to win seven consecutive games in all competitions.
“This year I feel we’re a very strong group and we’ve got a lot of quality. We’ve suffered already a lot of injuries, but the players that have come in have shown that we can all keep the level at the highest,” Saka told Sky Sports.
“I think that’s where we’ve slipped off in a few seasons, but this season, we’ve got that and it’s making me really believe we can do it.”
Next year could be a memorable one for Saka as he also aims to end England’s long wait since 1966 to win a major tournament at the World Cup.
“That’s my prayer. Of course it is doable,” he added on the prospect of a Premier League and World Cup double in 2026.
“You can’t really do anything if you don’t believe in it. I believe it is possible. It won’t be easy, definitely won’t be easy, but yeah it is possible.”
Saka was part of the England sides that lost two European Championship finals under Gareth Southgate.
The Three Lions are the only European side to qualify so far for the World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico after a flawless start to their qualifying campaign since Thomas Tuchel took charge.
Saka has been impressed by Tuchel and hopes his experience at the highest level of the club game with Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Bayern Munich can be key to England’s chances.
“I think he is a top coach, tactical understanding and with people as well he is very demanding, he knows how to get the best out of the players I would say,” said the 24-year-old.
“He has shown in the past he can win at the highest level and won the biggest of trophies. He has competed in many finals as well, so he has definitely got the experience and hopefully he can guide us to victory.”

Real Madrid seeking compensation from UEFA in Super League case

Real Madrid seeking compensation from UEFA in Super League case
Updated 13 min 43 sec ago

Real Madrid seeking compensation from UEFA in Super League case

Real Madrid seeking compensation from UEFA in Super League case
  • “This ruling opens the way to claiming the substantial damages suffered by the club,” Real said

MADRID: Real Madrid are seeking compensation from UEFA after the club said on Wednesday that the Provincial Court of Madrid had dismissed appeals filed by UEFA, the Spanish football federation and LaLiga in the matter of the Super League.
“This ruling opens the way to claiming the substantial damages suffered by the club,” Real said in a statement.


African World Cup playoffs to be held in Rabat

African World Cup playoffs to be held in Rabat
Updated 45 min 31 sec ago

African World Cup playoffs to be held in Rabat

African World Cup playoffs to be held in Rabat
  • A draw, to be held on Thursday, will decide which game is played at the Stade El Barid
  • The semifinal winners then meet in a deciding game on November 16

CAIRO: Morocco’s capital Rabat will host next month’s African World Cup playoffs, using three different stadiums for the three matches, the Confederation of African Football said on Wednesday.
Nigeria take on Gabon on November 13 at 1600GMT, followed by Cameroon against the Democratic Republic of Congo at 1900 GMT.
A draw, to be held on Thursday, will decide which game is played at the Stade El Barid and which will go ahead at Prince Heritier Moulay El Hassan Sports Complex.
The semifinal winners then meet in a deciding game on November 16 at the Stade Prince Heritier Moulay Abdellah with the winners advancing to the inter-continental playoffs in March.
Nine African teams have already qualified for the World Cup, each finishing top of their groups, and the March playoff will decide the continent’s 10th representatives at next year’s finals in Canada, Mexico and the US
The four teams in the November playoffs were the best runners-up across the nine African qualifying groups.
Four different stadiums in Rabat will be used at the Africa Cup of Nations finals, which start on December 21. The newly built Stade Prince Heritier Moulay Abdellah will host the Cup of Nations final on January 18.


Tala Al-Mazrou makes history as first Saudi woman to win gold at Asian Youth Games

Tala Al-Mazrou makes history as first Saudi woman to win gold at Asian Youth Games
Updated 29 October 2025

Tala Al-Mazrou makes history as first Saudi woman to win gold at Asian Youth Games

Tala Al-Mazrou makes history as first Saudi woman to win gold at Asian Youth Games
  • Al-Mazrou defeated Laos’ Viengxila Thammavong in the semifinals before securing the gold medal with a clean three-game victory over Thailand’s Supawadee Dunyachit in the final
  • Saudi Esports Federation CEO Rawan Al-Butairi: Tala Al-Mazrou is more than a champion; she is a pioneer and a symbol of the ambitious spirit of Saudi youth

RIYADH: ’s Tala Al-Mazrou made history after winning gold in the eFootball competition at the 3rd Asian Youth Games 2025 in Bahrain — becoming the first Saudi female athlete to claim a gold medal in the history of the Asian Games.

The milestone marks a major breakthrough for Saudi women in esports, highlighting the rapid progress of female athletes under the support and guidance of the Saudi Esports Federation.

A graduate of the Saudi Esports Academy’s FIFA program, Al-Mazrou dominated the tournament with an unbeaten record, concluding her run with a commanding performance in the final. Her journey in esports began through the Schools eLeague on EAFC, where her standout performances helped her qualify for the online stage and later the Saudi eLeague. She went on to represent the Kingdom in the Arab eLeague on eFootball.

At the Asian Youth Games, Al-Mazrou showcased exceptional skill and composure against Asia’s top youth players. She defeated Laos’ Viengxila Thammavong in the semifinals before securing the gold medal with a clean three-game victory over Thailand’s Supawadee Dunyachit in the final.

“Tala Al-Mazrou is more than a champion; she is a pioneer and a symbol of the ambitious spirit of the Saudi youth,” said Rawan Al-Butairi, CEO of the Saudi Esports Federation.

“This gold medal, the first by a Saudi woman in the history of the Asian Youth Games, reflects the Kingdom’s growing leadership in the global esports arena. This milestone proves that our investment in structured talent development, from the grassroots Schools eLeague to the professional academy level, is yielding world-class athletes. Tala has set the benchmark and opened the door for countless other young Saudi women to pursue their dreams in competitive gaming.”

The Saudi Esports Federation said it remains committed to supporting local talent, providing clear pathways for aspiring athletes such as Al-Mazrou. The federation emphasized that this achievement underscores the success of its vision to build a sustainable ecosystem that nurtures talent and ensures the Kingdom continues to lead in the global esports landscape.


Report: Dustin Johnson agrees to new deal with LIV Golf

Report: Dustin Johnson agrees to new deal with LIV Golf
Updated 29 October 2025

Report: Dustin Johnson agrees to new deal with LIV Golf

Report: Dustin Johnson agrees to new deal with LIV Golf
  • Johnson re-signing with LIV Golf does not come as a big surprise
  • The 41-year- old has said he enjoys freedom the league’s schedule affords him

NEW YORK: Dustin Johnson is among the early signings for LIV Golf who have reportedly agreed to second contracts with the Saudi-backed league.

Johnson originally signed with LIV Golf in June 2022 for a contract that is believed to be in excess of $100 million. While terms of his new agreement aren’t known, he is staying with the league.

“Multiple sources confirm that Dustin Johnson has signed a new contract with LIV Golf,” the golf site Flushing It, which is known to have strong sources within the league, posted on X. “The details of the deal are unknown at this stage, but the 2022 Individual Championship winner was in New York recently to meet with officials and will be returning as captain of 4 Aces GC in 2026.

“There’s been lots of speculation about star names leaving the league, but we understand that most players up for renewal this year have already agreed terms and will be teeing it up next season, with all players not released or relegated also expected to do so.”

Johnson re-signing with LIV Golf does not come as a big surprise. The 41-year- old has said previously that he enjoys the freedom that the league’s schedule affords him and that he does not envision playing well past his prime.

Johnson is coming off a disappointing 14th-place finish in the individual race this year, while the 4Aces finished seventh in the team competition. He has also fallen to 595th in the Official World Golf Ranking while struggling in recent majors.

The winner of the 2016 US Open and 2020 Masters missed the cut at both this year, along with the PGA Championship, before finishing his major season with a T23 at the Open Championship.

Johnson fell as low as 907th in the world following the US Open, but reclaimed some points by making the weekend at The Open and tying for 15th at the International Series Philippines last week, where he finished 11 shots behind winner Miguel Tabuena.

There has been speculation that some of the early defectors to LIV Golf may be considering a return to the PGA Tour as their paths into future majors dwindle. Chief among them is Brooks Koepka, whose initial contract is believed to expire after the 2026 season.

Like Johnson, Koepka made the cut at only one major this year, finishing T12 at the US Open. The 35-year-old has fallen to 227th in the world, but a potential return to the PGA Tour is clouded by the one-year wait currently mandated by the tour for players who depart LIV Golf.