بالفيديو | برشلونة ينجو من فخ ريال أوفييدو ويحقق فوزًا ثمينًا بالدوري الإسباني

تمكن نادي برشلونة من مواصلة انتصاراته في بطولة الدوري الإسباني للدرجة الأولى، وحقق انتصارًا جديدًا على حساب نظيره ريال أوفييدو بثلاثة أهداف مقابل هدف واحد، ضمن منافسات الجولة السادسة من عمر المسابقة المحلية.

ودخل برشلونة بتشكيلة فيها مداورة بعض الشئ في عناصره الأساسية، وذلك في ظل ضغط المباريات الذي يمر به الفريق الكتالوني.

وعول مدرب برشلونة، هانز فليك، على مارك كاسادو في وسط الملعب بدلًا من فرينكي دي يونج الذي بقى بديلًا، في حين تواجد ماركوس راشفورد بشكل أساسي على حساب روبرت ليفاندوفسكي.

اقرأ أيضًا .. ريفالدو: حزين بسبب ترتيب ثنائي برشلونة في جائزة الكرة الذهبية

برشلونة بدأ لقاء اليوم بضغط كبير بحثًا عن تسجيل الهدف الأول، لكن دفاع ريال أوفييدو كان متميزًا بشكل كبير وحرم الفريق الكتالوني من فرض سيطرته.

وكشر لاعبو ريال أوفييدو عن أنيابهم وأظهروا سعيهم لتحقيق نتيجة جيدة أمام برشلونة مع تواجد عامل الأرض والجمهور.

وفاجأ ريال أوفييدو برشلونة وسجل الهدف الأول عن طريق ألبرتو رينا في الدقيقة 33، بعدما استغل اللاعب خطأ من حارس مرمى البلوجرانا، خوان جارسيا، ليسدد الكرة من خارج منطقة الجزاء ولتسكن شباك البرسا الخالية.

وفي الشوط الثاني ضغط برشلونة لتعديل النتيجة وهو ما تحقق بالفعل في الدقيقة 56 عن طريق إريك جارسيا، مستغلًا كرة مرتدة من حارس مرمى ريال أوفييدو ليودعها الشباك.

وفي الدقيقة 70 ومن رأسية رائعة أضاف روبرت ليفاندوفسكي هدف برشلونة الثاني ، حيث دخل الدولي البولندي كبديل ووضع الكرة برأسه في شباك ريال أوفييدو.

وأمن رونالد أراوخو فوز برشلونة وسجل الهدف الثالث في الدقيقة 88، مستغلًا ركنية نفذها فرينكي دي يونج، حيث سدد الكرة برأسه لتسكن الشباك.

بتلك النتيجة رفع برشلونة رصيده إلى 16 نقطة في المركز الثاني خلف ريال مدريد المتصدر بفارق نقطتين فقط، في حين تجمد رصيد ريال أوفييدو عند ثلاث نقاط في المركز ال18.

ونقلنا لكم عبر موقع بطولات تغطية حية ومباشرة للقاء برشلونة وريال أوفييدو على مدار شوطي المباراة.

  تشكيل برشلونة لمواجهة ريال أوفييدو 

حراسة المرمى: خوان جارسيا.

خط الدفاع: إريك جارسيا، رونالد أراوخو، باو كوبارسي، جيرارد مارتن.

خط الوسط: مارك كاسادو، بيدري.

خط الوسط الهجومي: داني أولمو، رافينها دياز، ماركوس راشفورد.

خط الهجوم: فيران توريس.

ويجلس على مقاعد بدلاء برشلونة كلًا من: فرينكي دي يونج، روني بردجي، أندرياس كريستنسن، فويتشيك تشيزني، دييجو كوشين، جول كوندي، جوفري تورنتس، توني فيرنانديز، مارك بيرنال.

تشكيل ريال أوفييدو لمواجهة برشلونة

حراسة المرمى: آرون إسكانديل.

خط الدفاع: عبد الرحيم، دافيد كارمو، إريك بايلي، لوكاس أهيجادو.

خط الوسط: إلياس تشايرا، لياندير ديندونكير، هيثم حسن.

خط الهجوم: سالومون روندون، سانتي كازورلا.

البدلاء: مولدوفان، داني كالفو، خافي لوبيز، ماركو استيبان، أوير لونيجو، سانتياجو كولومباتو، لوكا إيليتش، براندون دومينجيز، كواسي سيبو، يوسيب بريكالو، أليكس  فوريس، لامين جايي. الشوط الأول

1′ بداية المباراة والكرة بين أقدام لاعبي ريال أوفييدو.

1′ ضربة مرمى لصالح ريال أوفييدو.

2′ خطأ لصالح بيدري على لاعب ريال أوفييدو.

2′ فيران توريس يحاول التمرير وخطأ لصالح برشلونة.

3′ هدف ضائع لبرشلونة بعدما سدد داني أولمو كرة من الجهة اليمتى ذهبت خارج الملعب وركلة مرمى لريال أوفييدو.

4′ رمية تماس لصالح ريال أوفييدو.

4′ ضربة ركنية لريال أوفييدو.

5′ محاولة مراوعة من جناح أوفييدو، هيثم حسن ، لكن فيران توريس يقطعها وتذهب لركنية لأصحاب الأرض.

6′ ركنية جديدة لريال أوفييدو ، عرضة من سانتي كازورلا ولكن مدافع أوفييدو يرسل الكرة برأسه خارج الملعب وركلة مرمى لبرشلونة.

7′ ضربة ركنية لريال أوفييدو.

8′ الكرة مع حارس مرمى برشلونة، خوان جارسيا، بعدما تصدى لرأسية لاعب ريال أوفييدو.

8′ رمية تماس لبرشلونة.

9′ تسديدة من ماركوس راشفورد يتصدى لها دفاع ريال أوفييدو وركنية لبرشلونة.

9′ عرضة من راشفورد لكن دفاع ريال أوفييدو يبعدها وتماس لبرشلونة.

10′ هدف ضائع من برشلونة بعدما أرسل رافينها كرة عرضية إلى راشفورد الذي سدد الكرة في القائم.

11′ ضغط كبير من برشلونة بحثًا عن تسجيل الهدف الأول.

12′ رمية تماس لريال أوفييدو.

13′ رمية تماس لمصلحة برشلونة واستحواذ كتالوني على مجريات المباراة.

14′ خطأ لرافينها على لاعب ريال أوفييدو وضربة حرة مباشرة لصالح برشلونة من الجهة اليمنى.

15′ تسديدة من كاسادو يتصدى لها دفاع ريال أوفييدو.

16′ تسلل على ريال أوفييدو لصالح برشلونة.

17′ الكرة بين أقدام لاعبي برشلونة.

18′ تسلل على ريال أوفييدو لصالح برشلونة.

19′ تماس لصالح ريال أوفييدو.

21′ تمريرة من رافينها إلى راشفورد لكنها تذهب إلى خارج الملعب وتماس لصالح ريال أوفييدو.

22′ تسديدة رائعة من راشفورد من خارج منطقة الجزاء ، لكن حارس مرمى ريال أوفييدو يتصدى وركنية لبرشلونة

23′ تسديدة جديدة من راشفورد بقدمه اليسرى يبعدها دفاع أوفييدو وركلة مرمى لأصحاب الأرض.

24′ تماس لصالح ريال أوفييدو.

24′ هدف ضائع من ريال أوفييدو بعد عرضية ذهبت إلى سالومون روندون، لكن إريك جارسيا يبعد الكرة وتذهب إلى خوان جارسيا.

25′ تمريرة من بيدري إلى فيران توريس الذي يسددها ودفاع أوفييدو يتصدى، ركلة ركنية لبرشلونة.

26′ ركنية جديدة لبرشلونة بعدما أبعد الكرة دفاع ريال أوفييدو.

26′ خطأ لسانتي كازورلا على ماركوس راشفورد والكرة بين أقدام لاعبي ريال أوفييدو.

27′ رمية تماس لصالح برشلونة.

28′ خطأ لبرشلونة بعد احتكاك بين لاعب ريال أوفييدو وإريك جارسيا.

29′ خطأ لسالومون روندون على باو كوبارسي والكرة مع ريال أوفييدو.

30′ توغل من هيثم حسن ، لكن جيرارد مارتن يقطع الكرة وركنية لريال أوفييدو.

30′ فيران توريس يسدد كرة من داخل منطقة الجزاء، لكن إريك بايلي يبعدها وتماس لصالح برشلونة.

31′ ركنية لصالح برشلونة.

32′ رافينها يسدد الكرة من خارج منطقة الجزاء، لكن العارضة تتعاطف مع ريال أوفييدو، ترتد الكرة إلى بيدري الذي يسددها لكن حارس مرمى صاحب الأرض يتصدى وركنية لبرشلونة.

33′ رمية تماس لريال أوفييدو.

33′ هددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددف أول لصالح ريال أوفييدو عن طريق ألبرتو رينا، بعدما استغل خطأ من حارس مرمى برشلونة، خوان جارسيا، ليسدد الكرة من خارج منطقة الجزاء حيث سكنت الشباك.

35′ رمية تماس لصالح ريال أوفييدو.

36′ خطأ لصالح برشلونة بعد عرقة على مارك كاسادو.

38′ رمية تماس لصالح برشلونة.

39′ ضغط من برشلونة، لكن الكرة تذهب خارج الملعب وضربة مرمى لريال أوفييدو.

41′ ضغط من برشلونة بحثًا عن إدراك هدف التعادل.

42′ رمية تماس لصاالح برشلونة.

44′ الكرة بين أقدام لاعبي برشلونة وبحث عن تسجيل التعادل.

44′ رمية تماس لصالح برشلونة.

45+1′ ضغط من برشلونة ورمية تماس لصالح البلوجرانا.

45+1′ نهاية الشوط الأول. الشوط الثاني

46′ الكرة بين أقدام لاعبي برشلونة.

46′ تبديل أول لبرشلونة، خروج مارك كاسادو ودخول فرينكي دي يونج.

47′ توغل من هيثم حسن من الجهة اليمنى وعرضية بقدمه اليمنى ، لكن إريك جارسيا يتصدى.

49′ مرتد لصالح ريال أوفييدو ، لكن الكرة تذهب خارج الملعب ورمية تماس لبرشلونة.

50′ خطأ لصالح ريال أوفييدو على رونالد أراوخو.

52′ رمية تماس لصالح ريال أوفييدو.

53′ تسلل على ريال أوفييدو لصالح برشلونة.

55′ توغل من رافينها من الجهة اليمنى وعرضية ، لكن دفاع ريال أوفييدو يبعدها.

55′ تسديدة من فيران توريس من داخل منطقة الجزاء ودفاع ريال أوفييدو يتصدى، ركنية لصالح برشلونة.

56′ هدددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددف التعادل لصالح برشلونة عن طريق إريك جارسيا، حيث استغل الأخير كرة مرتدة من حارس مرمى ريال أوفييدو بعد تسديدة من فيران توريس ليتابعها في الشباك.

57′ الكبرة بين أقدام لاعبي برشلونة وفرصة ضائعة لرافينها من انفراد مع حارس مرمى ريال أوفييدو.

58′ عرضية من رافينها ورأسية من فيران توريس، لكن حارس مرمى ريال أوفييدو يمسك الكرة.

60′ ضغط كبير من برشلونة بحثًا عن تسجيل الهدف الثاني.

61′ توغل من هيثم حسن من الجهة اليمنى ، لكن جيرارد مارتن يقطع الكرة وركنية لريال أوفييدو.

62′ تسديدة قوية من لاعب ريال أوفييدو، لكن خوان جارسيا يمسك الكرة على مرتين.

62′ تسديدة من رافينها من الجهة اليسرى، لكن مدافع ريال أوفييدو يبعدها وركنية لبرشلونة.

64′ هجمة منظمة لبرشلونة على حدود منطقة جزاء ريال أوفييدو، لكن إريك بايلي يشتت الكرة.

64′ تبديل أول لريال أوفييدو  ، خروج سانتي كازورلا ودخول لوكا إيليتش.

64′ تبديل ثاني لبرشلونة، خروج رافينها ودخول روبرت ليفاندوفسكي.

67′ تسلل على راشفورد وضربة حرة غير مباشرة لريال أوفييدو.

69′ خطأ لصالح سالومون روندون على باو كوبارسي وضربة حرة مباشرة لريال أوفييدو.

70′ رمية تماس لصالح برشلونة.

70′ هددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددف ثاني لصالح برشلونة عن طريق روبرت ليفاندوفسكي، بعد رأسية رائعة عجز حارس مرمى ريال أوفييدو عن التصدي لها.

71′ سيطرة من برشلونة على مجريات الأمور بعد تسجيل الهدف الثاني.

72′ رمية تماس لصالح ريال أوفييدو.

73′ خطأ لصالح فيران توريس على لاعب ريال أوفييدو والكرة مع برشلونة.

73′ دخول جول كوندي بدلًا من جيرارد مارتن وتبديل ثالث لبرشلونة.

75′ خطأ لصالح ريال أوفييدو على رونالد أراوخو.

76′ تبديل لصالح ريال أوفييدو ، دخول أليكس فوريس بدلًا من ألبرتو رينا.

76′ توغل من الجانب الأيمن من ريال أوفييدو ودفاع برشلونة يتصدى.

77′ خطأ لصالح فرينكي دي يونج على لاعب ريال أوفييدو والكرة مع برشلونة.

78′ تسديدة من روبرت ليفاندوفسكي ، لكن حارس مرمى ريال أوفييدو يمسكها بسهولة.

78′ كوندي يبعد كرة خطيرة على حدود منطقة جزاء برشلونة.

80′ خطأ لصالح كوندي وركلة حرة مباشرة لبرشلونة من على حدود منطقة جزاء ريال أوفييدو.

81′ فيران توريس يسدد الكرة في حائط صد ريال أوفييدو والكرة تعود لبرشلونة.

83′ مرتدة من قبل ريال أوفييدو، لكن الكرة تذهب إلى خارج الملعب وتماس لصالح برشلونة.

84′ تمريرة من دي يونج إلى ليفاندوفسكي ، لكن حارس مرمى ريال أوفييدو يلتقط الكرة.

85′ رمية تماس لصالح ريال أوفييدو.

85′ ضربة مرمى لصالح برشلونة.

87′ سيطرة واستحواذ من برشلونة ورمية تماس للبلوجرانا.

88′ تسديدة من إريك جارسيا داخل منطقة جزاء ريال أوفييدو، لكن دفاع أصحاب الأرض يتصدى وركنية لبرشلونة.

88′ هدددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددددف ثالث من برشلونة عن طريق رونالد أراوخو ، حيث استقبل الأخير ركنية لعبها دي يونج ليضع الكرة برأسه في شباك ريال أوفييدو.

90′ خوان جارسيا يبدع ويتصدى لانفراد محقق من قبل لاعب ريال أوفييدو والكرة تعود إلى برشلونة.

90+1′ تبديل رابع لبرشلونة بدخول مارك بيرنال بدلًا من بيدري، وتبديل خامس كذلك بدخول أندرياس كريستنين بدلًا من ماركوس راشفورد.

90+2′ خطأ لمصلحة برشلونة على لاعب ريال أوفييدو، إريك بايلي.

90+3′ رمية تماس لصالح ريال أوفييدو.

90+4′ الكرة تعود إلى برشلونة وخطأ لجول كوندي.

90+5′ نهاية المباراة.

 

Suryakumar: 'Mayank has the X factor, important to manage him well'

India’s T20I captain expected the Gwalior pitch for the first T20I to be conducive to run-scoring

Hemant Brar05-Oct-20242:03

Suryakumar Yadav ‘enjoying’ his role as captain

India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav is aware of the impact Mayank Yadav can create with his express pace but he says it is important to “manage him well”.Mayank took everyone by storm with his 155kph pace during IPL 2024. Playing for Lucknow Super Giants, he picked up the Player-of-the-Match award in his first two games but was ruled out of the tournament soon after with an abdominal injury. He has not played any cricket since then but Suryakumar said he was back to full fitness.”He definitely has the X factor – it was evident when he played franchise cricket,” Suryakumar said ahead of the first T20I against Bangladesh in Gwalior. “He has that extra pace. I didn’t face him in the nets; our net plan was such that someone else faced him. But I have seen what potential he has and what difference he can make for the team. From that point of view, I feel he is a good addition to the Indian team and I am hoping he will do well.Related

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“It’s important to manage him well because of the amount of cricket being played. Everyone is playing for their state too. There was the Duleep Trophy recently. So it is important to pay proper attention and the BCCI is doing that.”Sunday’s match will be the first international at the Shrimant Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Stadium. In fact, the venue has not hosted any domestic cricket either. So there is an element of surprise about the conditions.While Bangladesh batter Towhid Hridoy expected the pitch to be “slow and low” with not much chances of a high-scoring game, Suryakumar Yadav had different views.”As you saw in Sri Lanka, Riyan [Parag] bowled four overs. If someone says he can bowl in the pressure situation, then why not”•Associated Press”The pitch looks good,” he said. “We practised on the centre wicket, just two pitches away. We didn’t find it that low and slow – we practised all three days. So it [the match pitch] should not be much different.”For T20 cricket, these are good wickets. There will be good competition [between the bat and ball] but at the same time it looks good [for run-scoring]. The rest we will get to know tomorrow.”Yes, it’s a new ground but having practised here for three days, we know what the conditions are, how the pitch is, how the outfield is, what the wind factor is like, whether the dew settles in or not. We will like to play the way we did in the last T20I series. And if everyone does their job, you will get the desired results.”Until recently, India had the problem of their batters not chipping in with the ball in white-ball cricket. But that seems to be changing now, with India’s T20I squad including a plethora of allrounders and part-time bowling options.”It’s good if your batters can bowl an over or two,” Suryakumar said. “I think there is hardly anyone in this squad who doesn’t bowl. That gives you more bowling options on the ground. As you saw in Sri Lanka, Riyan [Parag] bowled four overs. If someone says he can bowl in the pressure situation, then why not.”

Gyokeres alternative: Man Utd submit bid to sign their own Kane after talks

Manchester United failed to impress last season, and won’t play any football overseas next season. Ruben Amorim’s side finished 15th in the Premier League and lost to Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final.

And yet…

And yet Man United have moved with vicious intent in the summer transfer window, winning the race for Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Matheus Cunha before setting their sights on Brentford talisman Bryan Mbeumo.

Mbeumo, 25, scored 20 league goals last year as he underscored his credentials as one of English football’s finest goalscorers. Many teams have registered their interest, but the Cameroonian has reportedly informed the Bees that if he is to leave the Gtech this summer, Old Trafford is the sole destination he has in mind.

With Arsenal, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur among the curious parties, it’s a fine representation of the Theatre’s unbreakable pull.

However, will that influence be enough to convince Viktor Gyokeres?

The latest on Viktor Gyokeres to Man Utd

As soon as Amorim was confirmed last autumn, rumours surfaced pertaining to Gyokeres’ eventual transfer to Manchester.

Those rumours persist still, but the forward’s hesitance to commit to the move, with Arsenal also chasing his signature, comes as a by-product of last season’s struggles.

Sporting CP's ViktorGyokereskisses the trophy as he celebrate after winning the Taca de Portugal

Having played under Amorim’s wing at Sporting, Gyokeres’ skill set has been infused with a natural grasp of the way United are now trying to play. He’d be perfect, no doubt.

However, the Sweden striker is 27, and thus it’s understandable that he’d want to make the most of his prime years by playing at the highest level.

Still, United aren’t out of the equation, with Caught Offside revealing it is a matter of time until Gyokeres completes his big move – and the Red Devils very much remain in the race.

1.

Viktor Gyokeres

33

39

2.

Kylian Mbappe

34

31

3.

Mohamed Salah

38

29

4.

Robert Lewandowski

34

27

5.

Harry Kane

31

26

With Arsenal believed to be favourites, though, it would be remiss of INEOS not to identify an alternative, and talks have indeed commenced for the transfer of a former Premier League sensation.

Man Utd enter race for Gyokeres alternative

According to reports in Spain, Man United have entered the race for Al Ahli striker Ivan Toney, who left Brentford to join the Saudi Pro League in a £40m deal last summer.

In fact, the English outfit have already placed a proposal on the table worth €35m (£30m), which could lead to Amorim securing a bargain for a Premier League-proven frontman.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Discussions between United and the 29-year-old’s entourage are also underway, and the feeling at Old Trafford is that a shrewd signing can be completed in the coming weeks.

What Ivan Toney would bring to Man Utd

With Rasmus Hojlund set to leave Manchester after a pretty abject year, United desperately need to sign a centre-forward who will provide and sustain a strong, prolific presence.

Former Brentford superstar Toney would certainly arrive with the reputation of carrying such qualities, with his strength and potency exactly what Amorim is looking for.

Brentford striker Ivan Toney

Toney’s 2023/24 campaign was marred by a lengthy suspension, but he still chipped in with four goals and two assists in the Premier League, having returned in January.

And the term before, the Three Lions star, of course, illustrated his ability to throw down with the finest strikers the Premier League had to offer; namely, Erling Haaland and Harry Kane at Tottenham.

Erling Haaland

35

36

Harry Kane

38

30

Ivan Toney

33

20

Mohamed Salah

38

19

Callum Wilson

31

18

In fact, Toney’s physicality and completeness even led Arsenal’s Declan Rice to declare he’s “like Harry Kane”, with some elements of his game like that of a throwback striker, albeit one who has an eye for playmaking and sharp link-up play.

When plying his trade for Brentford in 2022/23, Toney scored 20 goals in the league but also created 12 big chances for his teammates, as per Sofascore, also averaging a rather remarkable 6.7 duels per game.

We all know Kane’s qualities as a creator, influencing matches in a multiplicity of ways, far removed from the bulk of strikers competing across the globe.

As per FBref, the Bayern Munich star ranked among the top 6% of positional peers across Europe last season for progressive passes and the top 12% for shot-creating actions per 90.

Toney, moreover, isn’t really a striker who relies heavily on his pace, and so while he stares at the arrival of his 30th birthday, there’s every sense he could emulate his countryman Kane in producing elite-level performances across the coming years.

Brentford striker Ivan Toney

There’s also the matter of his tried-and-tested success in the Premier League, something Gyokeres has not yet fulfilled (in fact, the Sporting star has yet to even compete in one of Europe’s top five leagues, and he’s only two years older than Toney).

Toney has, of course, stepped away from European football and into the Gulf region, taking a lucrative payday at the expense, ostensibly, of playing at the highest level.

However, he’s kept himself sharp, all right, scoring 30 times across 44 matches for Al Ahli. Furthermore, Thomas Tuchel was not dissuaded from calling the £411k-per-week striker up for England duty last month, making an interesting comment on the view he is still regarded in.

Ivan Toney for England

All told, here we have a proven, powerful and prolific forward who has earned praise in the past for his “world-class” skills by manager Thomas Frank.

United could do a lot worse, and if Gyokeres does prove to linger out of reach, Toney might be the perfect alternative. In fact, this Kane-esque star may be the better pick altogether.

Their next McTominay: Wilcox in talks to sign £51m "machine" for Man Utd

Manchester United could win themselves a new version of Scott McTominay by signing this £51m machine.

ByKelan Sarson Jun 29, 2025

Outscored Beto: Leeds in talks to sign "generational" CF who's like Sesko

Despite Leeds United having enjoyed a superb 2024/25 campaign in the Championship, this summer is a vital one for their future, desperately needing to get their business spot on.

Promotion to the Premier League brings in huge money for the football club, but there is a huge gap between the two divisions, with additions needed to bridge the gap this window.

Daniel Farke will need signings in key areas of the pitch to allow him to have the best possible chance of securing survival from the Premier League for the first time in his career.

Leeds United manager DanielFarkebefore the match

The German has attempted to achieve such a feat with Norwich City in the past, but has so far been unable to do so, with this season crucial for his tenure at Elland Road.

With the new season already less than two months away, work has already begun behind the scenes in Yorkshire to help the manager in his quest throughout 2025/26.

The latest on Leeds’ hunt for new additions this summer

Over recent days, a new striker has been on the agenda for Farke, as he looks to add another dimension to his already potent attack, which helped claim promotion to the Premier League.

The likes of Jamie Vardy, Rodrigo Muniz and Callum Wilson have all been touted with a switch to Elland Road, but no deals have yet been completed this summer.

However, a new name has entered the mix in recent days, with Wolves striker Fabio Silva the latest player on their shortlist, according to ABC Sevilla via Birmingham World.

It’s reported that the Whites have entered talks with fellow Premier League outfit Wolves over a deal for the 22-year-old talisman, who only has one year left on his contract.

His current situation at Molineux remains unclear, but he’s demonstrated his quality over recent times, scoring 10 times in LaLiga this season whilst spending the year on loan at Las Palmas.

Why Leeds’ latest target could be their own Sesko

Beto is another striker who’s been hugely linked with a summer move to join Leeds, with the Everton talisman yet to reach his full potential at his current side, Everton.

The 27-year-old joined the Toffees in a £30m deal back in the summer of 2023, but has been unable to take the starting role on a consistent basis, often having to settle for time on the bench.

He’s managed to score eight times in the Premier League this season, subsequently being outscored by fellow target Silva, with the Whites needing to shift their focus to the Portuguese star.

The 22-year-old has been ranked as a similar player to RB Leipzig star Benjamin Sesko by FBref, with the Slovenian international linked with the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United this summer.

He’s also valued at around £60m this summer, highlighting the impressive nature of Silva’s play if he’s been compared to such an impressive big-money talent.

When comparing the pair’s respective figures from the 2024/25 campaign, Silva has managed to match or better Sesko in various key areas, highlighting how much of a crucial addition he would be to Farke’s side.

Silva, who’s been labelled “generational” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, may have scored fewer goals, but has achieved a better goal per shot on target rate – highlighting the clinical threat he poses in front of goal.

Games played

24

33

Goals scored

10

13

Shot on target accuracy

44%

43%

Goal per shot on target

0.4

0.3

Shot-creating actions

2.1

1.9

Carries into opposition box

1.1

0.5

Aerials won

2.7

2.6

Passes into opposition box

0.7

0.3

The Wolves loanee has also registered more shot-creating actions and won more aerial battles, offering Farke’s side an all-round option within attacking areas.

His dominance doesn’t stop there, completing more passes and carries into the opposition box, handing other players around him the opportunity to impress in Yorkshire.

Whilst it’s unclear how much a deal for the Portuguese sensation would set the club back this summer, his talents are there for all to see – potentially being a bargain if he can reach Sesko’s levels.

Given the fact he’s outscored Beto, the hierarchy must look to prioritise a move for the Wolves star, with the youngster having the opportunity to improve further given his tender age.

Better than Beto: Leeds set to make bid for "one of the best CFs in the PL"

Leeds United could finally be about to land a talisman to catapult them to Premier League survival.

ByEthan Lamb Jun 11, 2025

Leeds: 49ers lead race to sign £20m+ La Liga attacker who Chelsea wanted

Leeds United are reportedly in pole position to sign a £20m+ attacker who Chelsea wanted to sign last year.

Leeds on the search for attacking additions in Premier League

The Whites are yet to make their first signing of the summer transfer window following promotion to the Premier League, despite the 49ers promising a busy market.

Talking after their Championship title win, chairman Paraag Marathe said that the club would “spend to be competitive in the Premier League”.

Leeds’ 2024/25 signings by 49ers

From

Fee

Joe Rodon

Tottenham

£10m

Largie Ramazani

Almeria

£10.5m

Jayden Bogle

Sheffield United

£5m

Ao Tanaka

Fortuna Dusseldorf

£2.95m

Isaac Schmidt

FC St Gallen

£2.5m

Alex Cairns

Salford

Undisclosed

Joshua Guilavogui

N/A

Free

Manor Solomon

Tottenham

Loan

Joe Rothwell

Bournemouth

Loan

Daniel Farke and those behind the scenes at Elland Road have a lot to do before 2025/26 season, and attacking additions are required in Yorkshire.

A new number 10 is wanted with Emiliano Buendia, Gus Hamer and Gabriel Sara all linked with moves to Leeds in recent weeks, whereas it remains to be seen if winger Manor Solomon will return on a permanent basis from Tottenham.

Leeds make contact to sign free agent star who scored 23 goals this season

The Whites are looking for some attacking flair after claiming promotion to the top-flight.

BySean Markus Clifford Jun 2, 2025

When it comes to a new striker, Leeds have had their reservations over Championship Golden Boot winner Joel Piroe and the experienced Patrick Bamford, leading to rumours of a new centre-forwards arriving.

Forwards with Premier League experience such as Callum Wilson and Jamie Vardy have been mooted as targets, and there has been a new Leeds update on another attacking addition.

Leeds in pole position to sign £20m+ Christantus Uche

According to reports from SER journalist Jose David Palacio, relayed by MOT Leeds News, Leeds are in pole position to sign Getafe attacker Christantus Uche.

The La Liga ace is looking to leave his current employers, and alongside the Whites, Brentford are also at the front of the queue for Uche, who has a £21m release clause in his current contract.

The Nigeria international is primarily an attacking midfielder but can also drop deeper as a central midfielder or turn out slightly further forward as a second striker. At the age of 22, Uche has a career-high €8m Transfermarkt valuation and has been catching the eye over the last 12 months, with Chelsea making contact over a deal last year.

As can be seen, Uche, who actually doesn’t have a weak foot, has had quite the rise in recent years, playing amateur football at the age of 19, but by the looks of things, a move to the Premier League with Leeds could now be on the cards.

The new Van Nistelrooy: Man Utd make approach for £55m Delap alternative

As Manchester United prepare to head into the defining game of their season on Wednesday night, a key dilemma for manager Ruben Amorim to contemplate is the centre-forward berth, amid the continued woes of young Rasmus Hojlund.

Despite showcasing flickers of life with goals against Bournemouth and Athletic Club in recent weeks, the 22-year-old has still scored just ten goals in all competitions this season, with just four of those coming in the Premier League.

The Europa League – or European competition in general – has been a welcome solace for the Dane following his £64m switch in 2023, although even his 11 goals on the continent to date should not cloud Amorim’s judgement considering the wretched campaign that the former Atalanta man has endured.

Against Chelsea on Friday night, for instance, the struggling striker won just two of 11 duels and lost the ball on 13 occasions, with there a very real debate to be had over whether the former Sporting CP boss can find a wildcard solution to replace the club’s number nine in Bilbao.

As for the long-term, meanwhile, Hojlund’s woes have indicated that signing an upgrade is essential this summer. On the evidence of recent reports, that work has already begin, amid the speculation surrounding Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap.

Latest on Man Utd's interest in Liam Delap

While a deal for Wolverhampton Wanderers man Matheus Cunha appears to be edging ever closer to an agreement, the suggestion is that United are also looking to raid the Premier League for young Delap, following an encouraging first campaign in the top-flight.

Cunha, Delap, Amorim

Despite playing his part in a side that has slipped back into the Championship under Kieran McKenna, the 22-year-old has still managed to rack up 12 league goals thus far, with no player back at Old Trafford even reaching double figures, by contrast.

Reportedly available for just £30m this summer amid the presence of a relegation clause in his contract, the England U21 star represents an affordable option ahead of next term, with The Athletic’s Laurie Whitwell outlining that talks have already been held with the player regarding a move.

As per Whitwell, however, the Red Devils are set to face competition from the likes of Chelsea, with Delap set to engage in negotiations with a number of suitors before making his decision.

The suggestion is that the club could afford to sign both Cunha and the former Manchester City starlet, even if Champions League qualification is not secured. That said, might it be worth stretching the budget just a little further?

Man Utd chasing Delap alternative

Having signed Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee in successive summers, the decision to plump for another young striker like Delap could prove another mistake for those at Old Trafford, with the club simply needing to get it right in the centre-forward department.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast

According to reports in Spain, the Red Devils are seemingly in the mix for a prolific alternative, amid claims that they are among the Premier League clubs to have made an approach for Sporting sensation, Viktor Gyokeres.

As per the report, while it is Arsenal who remain in the ‘best position’ to sign the 26-year-old, United are said to have emerged as a ‘strong competitor’ of late, amid the forward’s prior relationship with Amorim.

Sporting Club's Viktor Gyokeres.

The suggestion is that the former Coventry City man will end up back in England this summer, with Fabrizio Romano having outlined in recent days that he could be available for around €65m (£55m),

That extra £25m, in relation to Delap, would prove worth the investment for a player who could prove to be the next Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Viktor Gyokeres

Why Gyokeres could be the new Van Nistelrooy

It is not too difficult to argue that not since the days of Van Nistelrooy have United truly had a reliable goalscoring presence at the club, with the clinical Dutchman chalking up 150 goals in 219 games in all competitions, including 95 in just 150 Premier League outings.

Signed from PSV Eindhoven in 2001 for a then British-record fee of around £19m, having seen a deal collapse a year earlier due to injury, the beloved striker hit the ground running in a United shirt, having scored twice on debut against Fulham.

In truth, the then-24-year-old had picked up where he left off in his homeland, having netted 77 times in just 90 games for PSV, after previous stints with Den Bosch and Heerenveen.

Any fears over whether he could cut it in English football were swiftly eased, with Van Nistelrooy proving that a goalscorer of that ilk can deliver the goods wherever they are plying their trade.

Hopefully, the same can be true of Gyokeres, with the “ball-striking monster” – as hailed by analyst Ben Mattinson – enjoying a similar record to what Ruud recorded at PSV, having netted 96 times in just 101 appearances in Lisbon.

Competition

Games

Goals

Assists

Liga Portugal

33

39

8

Taca de Portugal

6

4

3

Champions League

8

6

0

Allianz Cup

3

4

0

Supertaca

1

0

2

Competition

Games

Goals

Assists

Liga Portugal

33

29

9

Taca de Portugal

6

6

4

Europa League

9

5

2

Allianz Cup

2

3

0

Like Van Nistrelrooy too – who provided 20 assists in Eindhoven, as per Transfermarkt – the former Coventry hero can also create chances for others too when leading the line, having chipped in with 28 assists of his own.

In essence, Gyokeres is the complete striker, possessing that ability to lead the line on his own in impressive fashion, much like Van Nistelrooy was able to do in Sir Alex Ferguson’s 4-5-1 formation in the early 2000s.

The “hottest striker in Europe” right now, as per ESPN’s Mark Ogden, the one-time Brighton and Hove Albion asset is in simply blistering form. A reunion with Amorim could represent the dream alternative to chasing Delap, even if it comes at a greater cost.

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1 ByDan Emery May 19, 2025

Forget Darlow: Farke can replace Meslier with Leeds' 18-year-old "starlet"

When Leeds United supporters glanced at the line-up chosen by Daniel Farke in the build-up to their side’s lunchtime kick-off versus Luton Town, many would been relieved to see one glaring alteration.

Indeed, Farke’s patience with usual first-choice goalkeeper Illan Meslier has now seemingly expired, with backup shot-stopper Karl Darlow handed a rare start away at the Hatters.

This had been a long time coming, with Meslier far too prone to an error or two this campaign that could cost his side dear in the automatic promotion race and resign them to another sorry season in the Championship.

Meslier's woes this season

Taking in the Frenchman’s numbers at a surface level would indicate that he is a top ‘keeper for the challenging division, considering Meslier can boast a sturdy 21 clean sheets from his 39 Championship outings this season.

But, when you dig deeper, his flaws begin to become more noticeable, with the ex-Lorient stopper guilty of three errors this campaign that have led to opposition goals trickling in.

His biggest blunder to date came way back in October when this innocuous Sunderland effort somehow got the better of him, but it was two errors against Swansea City the match before the trip to Luton that proved to be the straw that broke the camel’s back.

Meslier would drop the ball perfectly for Harry Darling to convert during the 2-2 draw, before allowing Swans striker Žan Vipotnik to be the hero of the day for the visitors when his last-gasp effort was too fierce for the Frenchman to thwart.

Darlow didn’t exactly have the smoothest of games away at Luton either when picking out Isaiah Jones’ first half goal, meaning Farke could be prepared to think outside the box in the goalkeeper department by potentially gifting this Leeds youngster some unexpected senior chances.

Leeds' unexpected new 'keeper

Also axing first-team stalwart Brenden Aaronson ahead of the clash at Kenilworth Road, the German is cutting an unafraid figure now in the Whites dugout involving his lineup selections.

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Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

Therefore, his boldest switch to date could come soon in dropping Darlow for promising ‘keeper talent Rory Mahady, with the 18-year-old Scotsman a regular over many seasons now in the U18 and U21 set-ups.

In total, the former Celtic “starlet” – as described by journalist Mark Hendry – has now tallied up 47 appearances in both youth structures, and whilst he has leaked 96 goals along the way, a route into the senior side isn’t completely off the cards.

After all, Farke has shown a willingness to bump up exciting starlets when the time is right, seen in Archie Gray’s unbelievable rise to stardom under his tenure, on top of Mateo Joseph’s background presence in the first-team ranks currently.

Gray + Joseph’s development under Farke

Player

Senior games played under Farke

Goals scored

Assists

Gray

52

0

2

Joseph

65

6

3

Sourced by Transfermarkt

As can be seen when looking at the table above, the ex-Norwich City boss has worked wonders previously on some rising stars at Elland Road, with Gray becoming a first-team regular during the 2023/24 season before a move to Tottenham Hotspur took off.

Moreover, in the example of Joseph, all nine of the Spaniard’s senior goal contributions for the Whites have come under the wing of Farke, meaning the German could get more out of a promising Mahady if the first team comes knocking.

Leeds United manager DanielFarkeapplauds fans

It would be an almighty risk to launch the Scotland U19 international into the first team picture in the midst of a promotion fight, but in terms of finding a long-term Meslier replacement, the answer could be right at home instead of landing a new ‘keeper for a high amount.

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ByKelan Sarson Apr 7, 2025

Abhishek Sharma takes T20 hitting out of this world

It’s a format where you need a slice of luck to be able to showcase your skill, which Abhishek did, and how!

Karthik Krishnaswamy13-Apr-20251:54

Jaffer: Abhishek has given SRH a new lease of life

“He was a bit lucky as well, even though he played an exceptional knock which was out of this world, to be honest.”This was Shreyas Iyer, interviewed immediately after his team, Punjab Kings (PBKS), had suffered an extraordinary defeat at the hands of Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), who had chased down 246 with nine balls to spare courtesy a 55-ball 141 from Abhishek Sharma.If you hadn’t watched the match, Iyer’s words may have come across as a little churlish, a losing captain’s immediate reaction to losing a match from a position of immense strength.As a description of this innings, though, it was spot-on. Abhishek played an exceptional, out-of-this-world knock. He was also lucky. More than a bit.Related

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Abhishek Sharma's whirlwind 141 leads SRH to second-highest IPL chase

We’ll come to the luck, but first, a recap of Abhishek’s form coming into this game. His last four innings had brought him scores of 6, 1, 2 and 18. Abhishek’s top-order colleagues had also experienced lean runs over these four games, and SRH had lost all of them. At the start of IPL 2025, much of the talk surrounding SRH revolved around whether they could break the 300 barrier. Five games into the season, they had just one win and had lost more powerplay wickets (12) than anyone else. The approach of their top order, which had driven them to so many stratospheric totals, was now coming into question.Even SRH’s head coach seemed to be feeling the heat. He wasn’t yet asking his batters to tone down their aggression, but he was asking them to “respect conditions”, and “respect how well other teams are bowling”.As things turned out, those options weren’t exactly open to SRH when they began their innings on Saturday. They had just been asked to pull off the second-biggest chase in IPL history.This was the kind of chase that called for frantic boundary-hitting. It also called for a bit of luck.And luck smiled on SRH from the start. Both their openers got off the mark with boundaries that went in unintended directions, Abhishek’s via a slice to the deep-third boundary. And Abhishek hit his next ball in the air, over the fielder at short cover, where the leaping Marcus Stoinis only managed to get his fingertips to the ball.How good do you have to be for an opposition quick to give you a warm hug?•Getty ImagesLuck. It has four letters, but cricket discourse tends to treat it like a four-letter word, something to be spoken of in whispers, if spoken of at all. It has a significant influence on the fortunes (a revealing word in itself) of players and teams, but to talk about luck is to risk being accused of downplaying skill and effort.Let’s talk about luck, then, but let’s talk about both kinds of luck. Go back to Abhishek’s four previous innings before this one: 6, 1, 2, 18. A lot of things went into those scores: the bowlers and conditions he faced, the oppositions’ plans and how they were executed, and so forth, and also luck. Over those four innings, he only played seven false shots, and they brought about three dismissals. That’s outrageously bad luck by itself, before you factor in how his other dismissal came about: a mix-up when he was at the non-striker’s end.Abhishek was due a bit of luck when he began his innings against PBKS. And so were his top-order colleagues. Travis Head had been dismissed four times off 15 false shots, and the desperately unlucky Ishan Kishan four times off eight false shots.It’s unusual for every member of a top three to endure this sort of wretched luck at the same time. Perhaps SRH’s issues coming into this game didn’t stem from their approach, or not respecting conditions and their opponents’ plans. Perhaps they had just been plain unlucky.SRH were due a bit of luck, then, and they found it on Saturday. Abhishek was the biggest recipient, surviving seven false shots within the powerplay alone, including that chance to Stoinis and a catch at the backward-point boundary in the fourth over when Yash Thakur overstepped. The luck extended beyond the powerplay too, with mishits falling into no-man’s land multiple times, and a high, swirling chance that Yuzvendra Chahal couldn’t quite hold on to after aborting his follow-through and running towards the mid-on region.2:44

When everything comes together as it did on this surreal Saturday, Abhishek Sharma can make things look absurdly easy

Luck. It isn’t the opposite of skill, but as a batter, you sometimes need one to be able to showcase the other.Showcase was just what Abhishek did. Take the two balls either side of the Thakur no-ball, both hit for effortless sixes over the on side. Both balls were angled across Abhishek, one pitching on a good length and finishing around the top of off stump, and the other full enough to deny most batters elevation. He made light of the difficulty of working against the angle and slightly inconvenient lengths, putting both balls away with mere flicks of his wrist.Both these shots came within the first ten balls Abhishek faced. He’s made a habit of playing these types of shots early in his innings, and it perhaps takes a run of bad luck to truly appreciate how difficult it is to get off to starts like he does.His opening partner Head is blessed with this rare ability too, but even he wasn’t his usual self on Saturday; he went as far as leaving alone two of the first three balls he faced. It’s possible that the low scores and defeats leading up to this game had some effect on how he started.”Giving ourselves a chance,” Head said, when asked what he had discussed with Abhishek before SRH began their chase. “I was probably a little bit more patient in the first couple of overs in this game. They’ve got a quality couple of new-ball bowlers, I knew the sort of plans they were going to come [with]. Yeah, probably a little bit more quiet, and Abhi got off to a flier. So just trying to support him as much as I can.”You’ve got to be some player to make Travis Head, of all people, take on a supporting role.

“They had a pretty good plan for us, outside off [stump], but I just wanted to invent a few shots, which I think was very easy on this pitch because of the bounce and the size of one side”Abhishek Sharma

You’ve got to be some player to take a good-length ball from wide outside off stump and helicopter it 106m over midwicket. You’ve got to be some player to do this against a bowler as tall and bouncy as Marco Jansen. Abhishek played this shot because PBKS were trying to force him to hit to the longer square boundary on the off side, and he wasn’t going to let their plans constrain him.There were even two occasions – off Jansen and then Thakur – when he walked right across his stumps, exposed all three, and clipped yorker-length balls to the fine-leg boundary.”If you’ve seen me close enough, I never play anything behind the wicket, but still I was trying a few shots,” Abhishek said during his Player-of-the-Match interview. “They had a pretty good plan for us, outside off [stump], but I just wanted to invent a few shots, which I think was very easy on this pitch because of the bounce and the size of one side.”Yes, this was a beautiful pitch to bat on, and yes, Abhishek was hitting these shots to the smaller boundary. But no, they weren’t “very easy”. Not for most others.For Abhishek on this unreal day, though, anything seemed possible. SRH, chasing 246, became favourites nine overs into their innings, according to ESPNcricinfo’s Forecaster. Six balls later, their win probability had climbed to 79.38%.Abhishek Sharma finished on 141 off 55 balls, the highest individual score for an Indian at the IPL•Getty ImagesBy this stage, Abhishek had already reached 87. Three overs later, he went from 98 to 100 with an utterly uncharacteristic pair of clipped singles to long-on. Despite that hint of slowing down as he neared the landmark, he had brought it up in just 40 balls.To get to a century at that rate demands sustained risk-taking, and pulling it off demands an extraordinary amount of skill – and, sometimes, a little bit of luck. This was Abhishek’s third T20 hundred in 40 or fewer balls; no one else has done it as many times, and only three other batters have even done it twice.For a batter to score big and quick and do it on multiple occasions requires an ability to hit boundaries from the get-go and sustain that momentum through an innings, against pace and spin, within the powerplay and outside it. Abhishek can do all of that. And he has the self-belief to keep backing his methods even when he’s gone through streaks of low scores and rotten luck.When everything comes together as it did on this surreal Saturday, Abhishek can make things look absurdly easy. Don’t ever let that fool you.

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Interviews by Alex Malcolm and Andrew McGlashan05-Jul-20232:51

Steven Smith joins an elite club

What is Smith like to bat with?

Usman Khawaja (10 century stands with Smith, partnership average 60.51): He doesn’t really say much and I know what he’s like. I don’t really speak to him much. ‘How are you going?’ ‘Good’, ‘Anything?’ That’s as deep as our conversations get unless something really sticks out. Smithy really locks in, he zones in, I know he does so I just let it be. We’ve batted pretty well together, had a lot of partnerships since I’ve been playing for Australia. I understand when Smithy is batting you just let him be.Shane Watson (Two century stands, partnership average 62.37): Steve is just so assured of his game that whatever anyone threw at him, he knew he had the skill to combat it. He was always very, very assured of what he needed to do, what the conditions were, and how they were trying to bowl to him. That confidence was always there. A quiet confidence.You just knew that the bowlers are going to have to do something pretty special to get him out. It wasn’t an over-the-top energy, or arrogance, or anything like that. You can tell he had it and was ready to just go out and take them on.Related

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Adam Voges (Three century stands, partnership average 60.33): The main thing that stood out was just his ability to understand what the opposition were trying to do to him and be able to combat it. You always felt that he had things under control when you were batting with him. That was the general sense that I got with him. And when you feel like your partner is in that space it probably helps you as well.Peter Siddle (Three half-century stands, partnership average 37.25): Batting with him at Edgbaston [in 2019] and just seeing first hand the frame of mind that he gets into and the space that he’s in when he’s out in the middle, it’s different. It just becomes all about batting.He just gets so focused that even the chats between overs were very limited. It was usually me doing the chatting and I think he just gets into a different place. Obviously, he feels comfortable in the way that he knows how to make runs, and it does feel like he’s in a different place than all of us when he’s out there batting. It just felt like he was at a different level in terms of his ability to understand how the game was being played and how he could go about it, and the rest of us just went on for the ride.Adam Voges on Steven Smith: ‘You always felt that he had things under control when you were batting with him’•Getty Images

What makes Smith so special?

Watson: The thing that probably stands out to me the most is just his ability to be able to adapt his game to how bowlers are bowling to him.For example, if a bowler starts bowling a little bit more to middle and leg stump then he’ll just shuffle across to the offside a bit more and just keep working into the legside. If they start to bowl a bit shorter then he’ll just make his adjustment to be able to either get inside of the line or just make little adjustments in his setup, so he’s got access to the ball.Most other batters will just continue to bat the same way, react and trust their instincts and trust that that will be good enough to be able to get through different plans of attack from the opposition bowlers. So that’s the thing that has always stood out to me, is just how adaptable his game is depending on the conditions or how the bowlers are trying to bowl to him … it’s a freakish skill and it’s a reason why he has been able to find ways to get through different situations of games and come out on top a lot of the time.Voges: Contact points. He is able to hit the ball under his eyes from a technical point of view. He gets himself into a position where he is able to then manipulate the ball where he wants it to go. And that’s the art of scoring. Being able to hit the ball where the fielders aren’t, and that’s his great strength, his ability with his movement patterns, with his hands, with where he hits the ball, that just gives him that unbelievable ability to hit good balls and be able to score off them.Khawaja: Consistency, averaging 60 after 100 games. And his average hasn’t dropped, other than the start where he was batting lower. He’s been unbelievably consistent. For me that’s why, in my personal opinion, he’s the best Test batter in my era. It’s hunger, work ethic, understanding the game, understanding your skills. He’s got a very good cricket brain, especially when it comes to batting, understanding bowlers and what they are trying to do. He’s also got a skillset to back that up. He’s just got that something extra which a lot of players don’t have, hence why players don’t average 60 throughout their careers.Usman Khawaja says Steven Smith doesn’t talk very much when batting•CA/Cricket Australia/Getty ImagesWatson: He just hits a lot of balls. He has an insatiable appetite for hitting balls. I didn’t play the Test match, but he got 215 at Lord’s in 2015 and before the second innings of the Test match, he still had an hour’s net of throw-downs, which blew me away considering he had batted for a long period of time and batted incredibly well to get 215. He wasn’t saying ‘I’m going to freshen up’ or ‘I’m good, I’m hitting the ball nicely.’ He still wanted to do what he needed to do in the lead-up to that second innings in the morning. It’s obviously one of the reasons why he’s able to bat for long periods of time. And he’s unrelenting with it.

What’s it like watching opposition bowlers try to get him out?

Siddle: It’s quite phenomenal to see how the game changes when he’s out there. The confidence in the opposition definitely drops a lot when he’s in, especially once he’s been in probably for 20 balls. Initially, they probably think they’re a chance but once he’s locked in and that first little period is done the confidence in the whole group drops.They go to plan B, plan C and they just kept changing. He just goes about his business and I think that’s probably the thing that makes him so great, is when the opposition change plans and try different things it does tend to draw out different shots and make you play in a different way. But Steve has that ability to continually play his way and it sort of draws teams into bowling in the end how he wants them to bowl, which I guess is why he’s been so successful.Peter Siddle on Steven Smith: ‘The confidence in the opposition definitely drops a lot when he’s in, especially once he’s been in probably for 20 balls’•Associated PressKhawaja: I’ve only been on the opposition a few times. He scored a hundred in one of them. It’s funny, Smithy just makes the game look very easy at times. Even watching him at the World Test Championship, he scored a hundred first innings and he batted beautifully. In the second innings I batted for an hour and thought it was a bit of a grind, but he just made that wicket look so easy and it wasn’t. It was going up and down a bit. India have good fast bowlers but he made them look like club cricketers for about an hour and a half. We looked up and he was 30 off 30 balls. That’s Steve Smith, when fast bowlers are bowling he makes them look so slow. It’s a skill to have.Siddle: He is weird to play against. It’s hard to keep your consistency as a bowler. He’s just so patient. And he waits for you to make mistakes. The way he bats tends to make you make more mistakes as well. He’s getting into positions where you think you can search a little bit more and get him out a certain way. And then next minute he’s hit a couple of boundaries off you, you’ve leaked and he’s away and the partnership is away. It’s very frustrating.Voges: You can understand why [bowlers try and bowl straight to him] because if he does miss it, he’s out. But he just never misses. So the temptation is always there. And it’s clever from a tactical point of view. Bowl there if you dare to, knowing that it was a genuine strength. He always puts the temptation there in front of the bowler to go straight and he doesn’t miss.

Stats: West Indies' 200th Test defeat, South Africa's first away win since 2017

All the statistical highlights from South Africa’s innings-and-63-run win in the first Test

Sampath Bandarupalli13-Jun-20219 Consecutive Test losses for South Africa while playing away from home before defeating West Indies in St Lucia. South Africa’s last away Test win came against England back in 2017 at Trent Bridge.259 Runs aggregated by West Indies in this Test match, their second-lowest in a home Test where they got bowled out twice. Their worst effort at home came in 1999 against Australia, scoring only 218 runs at Port of Spain. The 259 runs are also the lowest West Indies made in a Test match anywhere in the 21st century while being bowled out twice.200 Matches lost by West Indies in Test cricket. Only England (308) and Australia (226) have suffered more defeats than West Indies in this format, but the two teams won twice the number of Tests than the remaining sides.6 Innings defeats for West Indies out of 253 Test matches they played at home, including the latest loss to South Africa. Their previous innings defeat at home came against India in 2016 at North Sound.ESPNcricinfo Ltd1 Total lower than 322 for South Africa that resulted in an innings win. They defeated Zimbabwe by an innings and 120 runs at Port Elizabeth in 2017 after declaring their first innings on 309 for nine.2 Players with more than 3000 runs in Test cricket as a wicketkeeper for South Africa. Quinton de Kock joined Mark Boucher in this club during his career-best 141 not-out, in what was his 50th Test as a wicketkeeper.
In terms of innings, only Adam Gilchrist (63 innings), Andy Flower (78 innings) and Kumar Sangakkara (78 innings) got to the milestone of 3000 Test runs as keeper quicker than de Kock (83 innings).Related

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10 Five wickets or more in a Test innings for Kagiso Rabada. The latest one against West Indies is his first five-for since the Port Elizabeth Test in March 2018 against Australia, where he took 11 wickets with two five-plus wicket hauls.13 Captains to have won a Test match before Dean Elgar without contributing any runs, wickets or catches towards the result. Elgar bagged a five-ball duck and did not bowl in any of the innings. He is also the second South African on this list, with Hansie Cronje against England in 2000 being the first.

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