Dribble Diaries

The La Liga match between Barcelona and Osasuna has been postponed due to the death of the Catalan club's doctor, Carles Minarro Garcia. Following Garcia's death earlier on Saturday, the postponement was announced just minutes before the match was scheduled to begin at Olympic Stadium. Both teams had announced their lineups, and the players had entered to warm up before Barcelona announced the game's postponement over the stadium's speakers. According to La Liga, the competition committee will set a new date in the coming days. "FC Barcelona is deeply saddened to announce the passing of first-team doctor Carles Minarro Garcia this evening," the club said in a statement. "For this reason, the match between FC Barcelona and CA Osasuna has been rescheduled for a later date. "The FC Barcelona Board of Directors and all staff extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends during this difficult time." Barcelona leads the La Lig...

Mohamed Salah has joined Sergio Agüero as the Premier League's fourth highest goal scorer. The Liverpool player scored his second penalty on Saturday, giving his team a 3-1 lead over Southampton. The Egyptian King does it again! 🇪🇬👑 1. Only two players have scored more goals for Liverpool than Mo Salah! 2. Mo Salah has scored more goals at Anfield than Wayne Rooney did at Old Trafford 🏟️. 3.Only Sergio Aguero and Thierry Henry have scored more goals in one Premier League stadium. 4. Mohamed Salah of Liverpool has scored 10+ goals at home and away in three Premier League seasons (2017-18, 2021-22). ⚽🔥. Salah had earlier in the day converted another spot kick, making several historical records... How many goals will Salah score by the end of this extraordinary season?

FIFA will consider expanding the World Cup to 64 teams in 2030, according to a proposal made at the governing body's meeting on Wednesday. According to the New York Times, Ignacio Alonso, president of the Uruguayan Football Association, made the proposal following a FIFA council meeting. Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA, was reportedly interested in the idea. A FIFA spokesperson told The Guardian that "a proposal to analyze a 64-team FIFA World Cup to celebrate the centenary of the FIFA World Cup in 2030 was spontaneously raised by a FIFA council member in the 'miscellaneous' agenda item near the end of the FIFA council meeting held on 5 March 2025. "The idea was ­acknowledged as FIFA has a duty to analyze any proposal from one of its council members." The World Cup will already expand once this decade, from 32 to 48 teams at next year's tournament in Mexico, Canada, and the United States. The tournament will expand from 64 to 104 matches ...

Brazil's number 10 shirt is arguably the most famous in world soccer history. From Pelé to Ronaldinho, Zico to Rivaldo, La Seleçao's yellow number 10 shirt carries a weight and responsibility that only the brightest Brazilian stars are capable of shouldering. Following Ronaldinho's retirement, Neymar Jr. inherited the honor and burden of wearing the number 10 on the back of his shirt. On June 2, 2013, Neymar wore the iconic shirt number for the first time; a month later, he led Brazil to the Confederations Cup title, defeating reigning World Cup champions Spain 3-0 in the final. Two months later, he made his European soccer debut for Barcelona. The rest is history; Neymar grew into one of the best players of the twenty-first century, wearing the number ten jersey in three World Cups for Brazil, becoming the country's all-time leading scorer with 79 goals and the second most capped player in history. Fast forward to the present day, and the former Barcelona and Pari...

Postecoglou Ange has emphasized Despite their important Europa League last-16 matchup with AZ Alkmaar next week, Tottenham cannot ignore Sunday's Premier League visit from Bournemouth. Spurs' 1-0 first-leg loss means the possibility of winning a trophy this season is in jeopardy after their lackluster performance at the AFAS Stadion on Thursday. Bournemouth and highly regarded manager Andoni Iraola arrive ready to put more pressure on Postecoglou, who will have crucial players Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero available, as Tottenham tries to advance to the Europa League quarterfinals. "Sunday first is the season's biggest game," Postecoglou stated. "On Thursday night, we must win; otherwise, we will be eliminated. Yes, it's the biggest game in that aspect because it's the last competition remaining for us to try to win something, but I have to make sure that none of them are considering that. "Sunday is really important to us, so I h...

Six theaters in France will showcase the forthcoming match between Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique de Marseille in IMAX format, bringing Le Classique to the big screen. According to La Provence, the plan is the result of a partnership between the French big film production and distribution company Pathé and the Ligue 1 broadcaster DAZN. The match is scheduled to be shown at six Pathé theaters (five in Paris and one in the department of Bouches-du-Rhône); tickets are already available for €20. The match, which will be played on March 16 at the Parc des Princes, will be the last meeting of the rivalry this season. PSG won the last meeting 3-0 in late October. Even though first will probably face second, there isn't much at stake in this matchup because Les Parisiens leads the standings by 13 points right now.

Our top football choices for the next weekend are dominated by Italy and England. These five games are a must-watch. Tottenham Versus Bournemouth Spurs' midweek loss to AZ Alkmaar in Europe has put a lot of pressure on Ange Postecoglou. The North Londoners have work to do in the return after a dismal performance, but the Europa League is their last-ditch effort to salvage their season. With Bournemouth's performance this season, Postecoglou's preparations for this one might cause him to focus on next week, but it might be a bad idea. Despite consecutive losses, the Cherries are only four points outside of the top four after defeating Manchester United and Newcastle on the road this season. According to reports, Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola has been targeted as a possible Postecoglou replacement. Napoli Versus Fiorentina Is it possible for Napoli to resume their title challenge? Antonio Conte's team has lost five straight games in Serie A, but they are stil...

Inter and Napoli are separated by a whisker at the top of the Serie A table following their 1-1 draw last weekend. Both teams have 17 wins after 27 matches, but the Nerazzurri lead the standings by one point. Juventus could gain vital ground if Atalanta wins. On Sunday, fourth-placed Juventus will host third-placed Atalanta at the Allianz Stadium, with a lot at stake for both sides. Despite having already exited the Champions League, Thiago Motta's side has put together a strong domestic run, winning each of their last five games, the last time they did so in January 2023. However, the Bianconeri have been prone to drawing matches this season, with 13 stalemates in 27 games in 2024/25, more than any other team in the league. Atalanta has also been putting in some strong defensive performances recently, keeping a clean sheet in four straight Serie A games for the first time since 2000. Khéphren Thuram is in top form for Juventus, having scored two goals in his last two games. ...

Liam Roberts has received a six-game suspension for his horror challenge on Jean-Philippe Mateta. The Millwall goalkeeper was given a straight red card for a high-footed lunge on the Palace forward during last weekend's FA Cup fifth-round match at Selhurst Park. Mateta was taken to the hospital and required 25 stitches after the tackle, which the Football Association attempted to extend beyond a standard three-game suspension. On Friday, English football's governing body confirmed that they had achieved their goal and had imposed a six-match suspension on the Lions' goalkeeper. "The FA claimed that - in the circumstances - the standard punishment for this offence was clearly insufficient, and Liam Roberts subsequently denied this" in a press release. "After a hearing, the Regulatory Commission upheld The FA's claim, overturned the standard three-match punishment, and imposed a six-match ban. "The Regulatory Commission's written reasons for i...

FC Barcelona Femení defeated Real Madrid Femenino 5-0 in the first leg of their Copa de la Reina semi-final. From the first whistle, Barça's high pressing and relentless attacking movement proved too much for their opponents, dictating the pace of an intense match. Salma Paralluelo scored the game's first goal in the second minute. A precise ball from one side of the pitch to the other enabled Paralluelo to move in at the back post and score with ease. The early goal set the tone for Barcelona, who used aggressive pressing to keep Madrid at bay. It wasn’t long before Ewa Pajor doubled the lead in the 13th minute. After an initial shot from Paralluelo was parried, Pajor reacted instinctively in the box, following up to tuck away the rebound. The Polish striker's poacher instinct was on full display as he punished Madrid's defense. Madrid did manage to generate some attacking opportunities, but Barcelona's high defensive line consistently caught them offside. ...

Nearly 17 months after suffering a knee injury against Uruguay that sidelined him for over a year, Neymar Jr. has returned to the Brazil national team. Following a failed stint in the Saudi Pro League with Al Hilal, Neymar returned to his childhood club, Santos FC. Since returning to Brazil, the 33-year-old has played in seven games, scoring six goals in his last four. Neymar is the Seleçao's all-time leading scorer with 79 goals, and he is second only to Cafu as the most capped player of the world's most successful national team. The former Barcelona player has made his desire to compete in his fourth FIFA World Cup in 2026 abundantly clear. Brazil manager Dorival Júnior announced his full squad on live TV. Neymar posted a picture on Instagram of himself watching the broadcast with the caption, "Happy to be back." Without their leader and star player, Brazil struggled in the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers. The Seleçao is currently ranked fifth in the standings,...

Sunil Chhetri, an Indian football icon, has decided to come out of retirement to help the national team in a FIFA friendly match scheduled for this month, the sport's governing body in the country announced on Thursday. Chhetri returns to the team he led for more than a decade at the age of forty. “Sunil Chhetri is back. "The captain, leader, and legend will rejoin the Indian national team for the FIFA International Window in March," the All India Football Federation (AIFF) announced on its official 'X' handle. Chhetri, who made his international debut in 2005 and retired as India's all-time leading scorer and most-capped player, has been named to coach Manolo Marquez's squad of 26 players for the March FIFA international window. The move comes less than a year after announcing his retirement after a successful career, leaving a massive void that has yet to be filled. Chhetri's departure made headlines, with FIFA, world football's global go...

Liverpool stunned Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes, winning 1-0 in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League round of 16 match. It wasn't pretty, but the Reds will be happy to have a 1-0 lead going into the second leg at Anfield. Liverpool were dominated by a PSG team that took 27 shots but struggled to beat Alisson Becker in goal after a remarkable shot-stopping performance. With talisman Mohamed Salah underperforming, Liverpool manager Arne Slot rolled the dice and brought on the underused Harvey Elliott, who scored the winner with his first touch of the ball. When the excitement of this smash-and-grab victory fades, the Red will realize they were not good enough for much of the game. Salah went on an anonymous outing. With 52 goals for Liverpool this season, he was expected to be the Reds' danger man on the night. Salah, on the other hand, failed to cross twice and hit a long ball once. He lost possession 16 times, won 0 of 8 ground duels, and failed ...

Manchester United's Harry Maguire and Manuel Ugarte will miss the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie against Real Sociedad after missing training on Wednesday. Both players were left out of United's 18-man travelling party after suffering minor injuries in Sunday's FA Cup penalty shootout defeat at home to Fulham, adding to the club's already long list of absences. Ruben Amorim is already without several players for Thursday's match against La Real, including Amad Diallo, Kobbie Mainoo, and Lisandro Martinez. Luke Shaw, Jonny Evans, and Mason Mount are still out and undergoing rehabilitation away from the group, as are goalkeepers Altay Bayindir and Tom Heaton. However, there was some good news: young midfielder Toby Collyer trained on Wednesday morning before taking the afternoon flight to Spain. Ayden Heaven, who made his United debut at the weekend, has made his first European trip, and January signing Patrick Dorgu is available despite a three...

On a miserable night for Bayer Leverkusen, Die Werkself lost 3-0 to Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday. On the hour mark, with Bayern leading 2-0, Nordi Mukiele received his second yellow card for a foul on Kingsley Coman, complicating matters for Leverkusen even further. Granit Xhaka slammed his teammate after the game, calling his red card "stupid". "Despite falling behind, we were well into the game. Then we received a stupid red card, which was completely unnecessary. This should not happen to us. It was so far from the goal. But I believe there are more stories to tell today," the Swiss midfielder told DAZN. In a separate interview in the mixed zone, Xhaka criticized referee Michael Oliver's decision to award the penalty that resulted in Bayern's 3-0 win. "That type of penalty would not be given by him in the Premier League. Disappointing. "I know Michael from En...

Écraser et attraper, as those at the Parc des Princes would say. What else can you say after a victory that defied most, but not all, logic? Liverpool FC got away with one, and they must now believe that their stunning 1-0 away win against Paris Saint-Germain puts them halfway through the quarter-finals. A young Paris Saint-Germain will now only have regrets after what must have been one of the greatest unfulfilled Champions League performances. It should have been a standout performance. That could be said about Alisson Becker, who did far more than just set up impact substitute Harvey Elliott's 87th-minute winner or keep Liverpool in the game. He kept them from being hammered. "If we got a draw, we would have been lucky," Arne Slot admitted. Luis Enrique lamented that "football is often a game of injustices". "We were very superior," he stated. If Liverpool were hugely unfortunate to have to face Paris Saint-Germain having finished first in...

Lyon's head coach, Paulo Fonseca, has been banned for nine months following a confrontation with Ligue 1 referee Benoit Millot during his team's 2-1 victory over Brest on Sunday. The incident occurred during a league game between Lyon and Brest, when Millot was summoned to the pitch side monitor to review a last-minute penalty call against Fonseca. The Lyon manager confronted the referee, who issued a red card and dismissed Fonseca. The 52-year-old then squared up to Millot, their heads touching as the coach continued to express his displeasure. Lyon midfielder Corentin Tolisso stepped in to separate the two men. On Wednesday, March 5, the Ligue 1 Disciplinary Committee announced that Fonseca would be banned until November 30. The harsh punishment was expected, as confronting an official carries a minimum seven-month suspension, which Fonseca would have known about. The Disciplinary Committee issued a statement titled: "Behavior of Paulo Fonseca, coach of Olympique...

Following Arsenal's victory over PSV on Tuesday, four more Champions League round of 16 matches were scheduled for Wednesday evening. Lautaro Martínez creates Inter history Inter has had a long and illustrious history since its inception 118 years ago, winning Europe's elite competition three times and lifting the Scudetto 20 times. Lautaro Martínez made history as the club's all-time top scorer in the Champions League with 18 goals. The man he overtook was Sandro Mazzola, widely regarded as one of the greatest Italian footballers of all time, having won the European Cup in 1964 and 1965. Kane becomes one of England's best European performers When Bayern Munich took the lead against league rivals Bayer Leverkusen in under ten minutes, it was easy to guess who had scored. Of course, Harry Kane scored his 30th goal of the season for the Bundesliga club in all competitions, marking the seventh time in his career. The Englishman now has 47 total Champions League goa...

"The games against Leverkusen are always good," said the Canadian, "but it's been a long time since we've beaten them. It's going to be a great game." After failing to beat die Werkself since Xabi Alonso took over in 2022, Davies commented on the difficulty of the task ahead: "Because of the intensity, they're a very good team, but so are we." He added, "It's a good rivalry that has resulted in important games. We will try to do our job. We're playing at home tomorrow. We're going into the game with enthusiasm and motivation." Davies, who recently extended his contract with Bayern, stated: "I'm very happy and excited to have extended my contract. It took a long time, but we finally finished the job. I intend to stay in Munich for at least the next five years. Key points discussed included Jamal Musiala's recent extension and Joshua Kimmich's potential one. "This is very important. W...