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Barcelona are in action against Alavés in La Liga later today and Pedri is in the frame to make his first appearance since last month’s leg-muscle tear but the centre-back Ronald Araújo will miss the game with a stomach virus.
Hansi Flick said he was happy with the way his players had reacted in training after Tuesday’s 3-0 loss at Chelsea in the Champions League as Barcelona renew their efforts to catch up with the league leaders, Real Madrid, who are one point ahead.
[Pedri] will play some minutes, but [won’t be in the starting] lineup. If it’s possible, then he will come on in the second half. We’ll see. [Araújo] has a stomach virus, and he’s out for today and also for tomorrow.
Flick was excited by the return of Raphinha, who has made two appearances as a second-half substitute after missing nearly two months with a hamstring injury.
I missed [Raphinha]. I see him as one of the most important players in our team … he also has the hunger and the will to show how good he really is.
I really appreciate what I see in training. We’re focused, we have a lot of quality. And of course, players coming back now, Pedri is back … Raphinha, Marcus [Rashford] from the cold he had. We nearly have everyone.”
Flick brushed aside the on-field reactions of Lamine Yamal during the loss to Chelsea, after the 18-year-old looked visibly frustrated after his substitution at Stamford Bridge.
I was also a player and maybe sometimes I did not show the right reaction. But it’s emotion.
The next step for Lamine must be to show, again, it’s not about this match, forget it. Alavés is now the important thing and he has to show his best level.
We’re all in a bad mood after the defeat against Chelsea. We were very disappointed about that … but it’s done. Now we’re looking forward, we’re looking positive for the next match to the end of this year.
The early kick-offs in the Championship today see Leicester host Sheffield United, Portsmouth welcoming Bristol City and Hull at Stoke.
Not many would have expected Leicester to be languishing in 15th while United down in 22nd at the start of the season. The visitors have seen an upturn in form though and are hoping to record successive away league wins for the first time since March last season (run of six).
In his pre-match press conference Chris Wilder revealed more on his interview with Leicester in the summer and his disappointment in not getting the job.
It’s mad. I spoke to Leicester City in the summer and was impressed with what they had to say.
At the time I was out of work so disappointed not to get that gig but you move on and I enjoyed the interview process. I was disappointed not to get the job because I’d like to think it would be one that would’ve worked well for myself and the coaches we’d have brought in.
I know a lot about the club over a number of years, I know about the players, worked with Luke Thomas, Hamza [Choudhury], Harry Souttar and talking to them they had a very positive view on the club. What Enzo [Maresca] did as well, we share the same agent.
It’s a big club and I wanted to get back in to work and I thought I could’ve done a decent job for them, but it’s worked out fabulously for me to be back at my club.
England are also in action today, taking on China in the first of two friendlies for the final international window of the year. The match has been billed as two continental heavyweights going head-to-head and, as Sophie Downey writes in her preview, Sarina Wiegman’s side will learn a lot against a side they last played in 2023.
Traditionally, China have set up in a strong structure, operating in a mid-defensive block. They have not always looked to dominate the ball and instead have tried to exploit transitions. The Lionesses have struggled in recent years against counterattacking teams and in breaking down compact opponents, so this will be a test of how they have developed in this area.
The talk has a roundup of the best lines from Premier League managers ahead of the weekend. Enzo Maresca has teased a Cole Palmer cameo against Arsenal after a broken toe delayed his return, David Moyes lamented Everton’s rejected appeal after Idrissa Gueye saw red for slapping his own teammate and Oliver Glasner is optimistic despite Crystal Palace’s poor showing in Europe. All that and more below.
Spurs need to adopt a “front-footed” approach in their games, said Thomas Frank, even if it ends in a loss.
Frank was heavily criticised for fielding a back five for a 4-1 defeat against Arsenal and his side responded with a more ambitious display against PSG. Spurs led twice before being overwhelmed by Vitinha’s hat-trick,
Over all the years I’ve been in charge, no matter if it was when I was with my under-eights team in Frederiksværk 30 years ago to now, I want to play offensive front-footed football. But probably also in those 30 years they could pick games from the under-eights at Frederiksværk to Brentford where it didn’t work for whatever reason.
It didn’t work Sunday against Arsenal. The plan was to be front foot-footed. We weren’t. After Sunday I was angry, painful, hurt. [After PSG] I was irritated, but the feeling in the body was better because we really, really, really competed. There was more of the identity I want to show.
Frank’s side will host an inconsistent Fulham in tonight’s Premier League London derby.
Updated at 04.03 EST
Leeds hope to also find some form at the Etihad Stadium with Daniel Farke’s position is slight jeopardy. His side are 18th in the table, and after Manchester City, a pivotal week looms for the German who, only last spring, celebrated promotion from the Championship. Will the Leeds hierarchy back him or sack him?
I’ll be honest, it’s not very enjoyable at the moment; we’re getting a lot of stick. But I don’t need to hide. I was aware of how passionate this club is from the first day here. If you can’t handle the heat don’t become manager of Leeds United. I never expected this season to be an easy ride.
Read Louise Taylor’s full feature below.
ShareGuardiola accuses City of playing with fear in Leverkusen loss
Manchester City will hope to bounce back when they host Leeds later today after losing back-to-back matches against Newcastle (Premier League) and Bayer Leverkusen (Champions League).
Here is what Pep Guardiola had to say about the defeat in Europe:
Maybe I think higher of them than they think about themselves. It was a good lesson for me, as experienced as I am as a manager it was a good lesson for me for the future.
The Manchester City manager is likely to recall those he rested against the German team against Daniel Farke’s side.
Premier League: Matchday 13 … where has the time gone? Can Manchester City get their title tilt back on track? How bleak will Rob Edwards’s winter be at Wolves? And has Estêvão put himself in starting contention against Arsenal?
Our writers ponder all these talking points and more in our 10 things to look out for this weekend.
SharePreamble
Hello, football. A jam packed day awaits. Readers, any football plans for the day? What ground are you heading off to? How optimistic are you that your team will get the win this weekend? Let me know in the comments below the line or via our dedicated matchday live email.
Join me as we get stuck in with the buildup to today’s matches and as we go through any breaking news and big stories.