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India Test squad for the five-match tour of England will be picked on Saturday

Nagraj Gollapudi23-May-202513:19

Will Shardul Thakur make it and Mohammed Shami miss out?

Fast bowler Mohammed Shami is unlikely to be picked in India’s squad for the five-Test tour of England starting on June 20.While Shami is fit to bowl for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the ongoing IPL, ESPNcricinfo has learned he has not built up the necessary workload for Test cricket. He has not played a Test match since the World Test Championship final against Australia in June 2023.It is understood that a member of the BCCI medical staff travelled to Lucknow this week to assess Shami ahead of SRH’s game against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on May 23. The selectors had wanted to include Shami as part of the India A squad. However, with no certainty on his fitness to bowl long spells, that option was struck off. While it could not be confirmed whether the selectors have made up their mind regarding the Test selection, it is likely they might play safe and not pick him unless there is a favourable report from the medical staff.Related

• There's a 'serious question mark' over Shami – Aakash Chopra

• Gill or Bumrah as captain? Sai Sudharsan at No. 3?

Shami, 34, had recovered successfully from the ankle surgery he had in February 2024 but started to experience pain in his right knee, for which he has been seeking treatment. It hasn’t prevented him from bowling, but it has hindered his plan to gradually increase his workloads toward Test-match levels, raising concerns in India’s selection panel about the viability of picking him for the tour of England.Before his ankle injury troubles, Shami was the leading wicket-taker at the 2023 ODI World Cup, playing through pain during India’s run to the final. He then missed all of India’s fixtures in 2024 due to his injury, recovery from surgery, and knee issues, and only made his international comeback during the limited-overs series against England in January this year.Shami had said he felt like a “toddler learning to walk” during his recovery from ankle surgery, and feared his career might have ended abruptly. However, he was the joint second-highest wicket-taker during India’s victory in the 2025 Champions Trophy.He hasn’t been in good bowling form for SRH during IPL 2025, though, playing only nine of their first 13 league games, and taking just six wickets at an average of 56.16 and economy rate of 11.23.If Shami is not picked, India’s selectors are likely to choose his replacement from a pool that includes Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Mukesh Kumar, Yash Dayal, Anshul Kamboj, Khaleel Ahmed and Harshit Rana.India’s selectors are expected to announce the squad for the five-Test series in England on Saturday afternoon.

The Egypt international was one of three Reds stars to make the XI after a big win over Watford, with Bournemouth also well represented

Mohamed Salah's integral performance for Liverpool in Saturday's 5-0 win over Watford earned him a prominent place in the Premier League team of the week.

The attacker netted four times and set up the remainder as Jurgen Klopp's side strolled to three points.

The convincing win at Anfield saw two more Reds players secure their spot in the team, while Bournemouth also have three players included after they beat West Bromwich Albion 2-1.

Check out the full team below…

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  Asmir Begovic | Bournemouth

  The 30-year-old goalkeeper made four saves in helping Bournemouth to a 2-1 victory against West Brom, lifting them up to 10th in the table.

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  Aaron Wan-Bissaka | Crystal Palace

  The right back made six tackles for Roy Hodgson's side as they won 2-0 at Huddersfield Town on Saturday, a joint-high alongside teammate Luka Milivojevic.

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  James Tomkins | Crystal Palace

  Not only did the centre-back open the scoring at Huddersfield, Tomkins also made a team-high 11 clearances.

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  Phil Jagielka | Everton

  The centre-back was the Everton player with the most clearances (five) and recoveries of possession (11) in their 2-1 win at Stoke City.

With five World Cup wins the Selecao has an unmatched prestige in international football, and have also boasted some of the game's greatest players

Few nations, if any, can match Brazil's storied past as a footballing nation. But who is the greatest player to ever represent the Selecao? Goal ranks the top 20 to have ever worn the famous yellow jersey…

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  20Gerson

  While Pele was his team's symbol and Jairzinho and Tostao the goalscorers, Gerson was the man that made Brazil's famous 1970 World Cup winning side tick.

  The former star is considered one of the best passers football has ever known, a worthy successor to the great Didi in the national team who bounced back from 1966's disappointment to thrill the world in Mexico.

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  19Claudio Taffarel

  With such brilliant attacking stars lighting up Brazil's football history, it is not easy for a goalkeeper to make his name. But Claudio Taffarel has his own place in the annals thanks to his heroics in bringing home World Cup number four for the Selecao.

  The devout Christian's prayers prior to that do or die penalty shoot-out against Italy in the 1994 World Cup final form an iconic image from that tournament, as he made a decisive save from Daniele Massaro before Roberto Baggio blazed over the bar to hand Brazil the trophy.

  In all Taffarel represented his nation at three World Cup finals, helping them to a runners-up spot in 1998, while his club career saw him win major honours in his native Brazil as well as national and international titles at Italy's Parma and Turkish giants Galatasaray.

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  18Marcelo

  When Roberto Carlos retired from international football Brazil fans might have been forgiven for thinking nobody could step into his boots. They were wrong.

  Marcelo has become a great in his own right over a decade of unbroken success for Real Madrid, and it is difficult to imagine the Merengue reaching the heights of four Champions League crowns in the last five years without their Brazilian superstar.

  He may at times seem more interested in scoring goals than stopping them, but Marcelo has few real rivals when it comes to picking the best left-back of the last generation.

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  17Rivaldo

  For a time around the turn of the millennium it appeared that for aspiring Brazil stars a catchy nickname beginning with the letter R was obligatory. Romario, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Roberto Carlos were ruling the roost – and so was Rivaldo, the Selecao's midfield playmaker extraordinaire.

  Having risen to fame first with Palmeiras and then in Spain as part of Deportivo's famous 'Super Depor' side of the 1990s, Rivaldo became an idol with Barcelona during five seasons of awesome creative and attacking play. That time at Camp Nou yielded two Liga titles, while he was also a pivotal part of the 2002 World Cup winning side.

The Champions League sees Neymar, Mbappe and Cavani of PSG face Liverpool's Salah, Mane and Firmino – are they among the best triumvirates ever?

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  MSN

  Neymar may have broken up Barcelona's band of brothers last season when he fled to France after a shock €222 million move to Paris Saint-Germain, but the legend of the MSN partnership will live on.

  With the brilliant Brazilian lining up in attack alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, the Blaugrana won the Champions League, Club World Cup and La Liga (twice), tearing defences to shreds with their incredible pace, skill and movement

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  BBC

  While MSN was forming at Camp Nou, Real Madrid saw their own attacking triumvirate become an institution within the Spanish capital.

  Cristiano Ronaldo, who has since moved to Juventus, was the undisputed star of the show but the addition of Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema added more blistering pace, power and, of course, goals to a forward line that fired the Blancos to four Champions League triumphs in five years.

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  BBC2

  Leonardo Bonucci, Andrea Barzagli and Giorgio Chiellini formed a formidable defence in front of legendary goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon as Juventus set about re-establishing themselves as a major European force.

  Together, the BBC provided the foundation on which the Bianconeri's resurgence was founded, helping the Old Lady win six successive Scudetti before Bonucci departed for AC Milan last year only to return this summer.

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  AC Milan's Dutch gold

  The arrival of Marco van Basten and Ruud Gullit at San Siro in 1987 proved instrumental in AC Milan winning a first Serie A title in nine years, but the signing of Frank Rijkaard propelled the Rossoneri to glory on a world stage.

  The Dutch trio became the stars of Arrigo Sacchi's wonderful team, helping the Italian outfit win two European Cups and two Club World Cup crowns.

The MLS has been home to some of the most innovative shirt designs to ever grace the pitch

The 2022 MLS season is reaching its final stages, with Los Angeles FC currently sitting on top of the table with seven regular season games to go. To mark the business end of the tournament, we’ve compiled the best home kit from every MLS season so far, beginning with the loud and the garish 26 years ago, and continuing to today’s more sophisticated designs.

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  1996 – New England Revolution

  The MLS was a different beast in its inaugural season than it is today, and nowhere is that more exemplified than in some of the absolutely wild kits. New England Revolution is the pick of the bunch, with a huge graphic at the top of the shirt, somehow emanating from the Reebok logo. The shirt also dispenses with a host of traditional features: the sponsor is replaced with the word “Revolution” in a blood red scrawl, while the club crest appears halfway down the shirt. From the get-go, the MLS was doing things differently.

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  1997 – Kansas City Wizards

  By its second season, some MLS teams were still determined to push the boat as far as they could. Sporting Kansas City — or the Kansas City Wizards as they were known then — adopted a wavy rainbow pattern across the top half of their shirt. The MLS still eschewed sponsors at this time as well, with the team’s Kansas City home printed in the middle of the shirt instead.

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  1998 – MetroStars

  Back in 1998, the idea of the New York Red Bulls was still a long way away. Back then, they were known simply as MetroStars and their sponsor's logo was nowhere near their shirt. Instead, they wore a red shirt adorned with yellow and black stripes. The kit was finished with a black and white collar, and it's impossible to imagine it being worn by anything other than a 1990s MLS team.

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  1999 – Colorado Rapids

  There are a number of different details that make Colorado Rapids’ 1999 home kit an underrated classic. Firstly there’s the white and green colourway — complete with a wave-like green pattern — then there’s the Colorado Rapids logo. Once again sitting where you’d perhaps expect to find the sponsor’s logo, the team's name comes in bright yellow and is finished with a crashing blue wave graphic.

As iconic as the players who wore them on the pitch

Earlier this year, Sotheby’s sold Diego Maradona’s match-worn shirt from Argentina’s 1986 World Cup win over England. That was the game in which Maradona scored both the Goal of the Century and the Hand of God, making the shirt one of the most famous ever. Something reflected in its final sale price just shy of $10 million USD.

Sought-after vintage shirts don’t have to be match worn or cost millions, though, and certain replicas have also increased in value over the years. We worked with Classic Football Shirts to compile a list of grails spanning modern classics, ‘90s shirts which have since surged in value and all-time grails.

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  20Real Madrid Third 2015-16 – £100

  Showing how quickly a shirt can gain value – and fitting firmly into Classic Football Shirts’ “modern classics” description – is Real Madrid’s third shirt from the 2015-16 season. The shirt’s design was inspired by Madrid’s night sky, and features two different shades of blue. It’s easy to see why it’s become so sought after so quickly, with its three-button collar adding to its smart aesthetic.

  Get it from Classic Football Shirts for £99.99 +

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  19Inter Home 2014-15 – £150

  Another shirt that has shot up in value in a relatively short time is Inter Milan’s 2014-15 home shirt. It wasn’t a vintage year for the club – they finished 8th – but there was a definite vintage influence on the kit design. The classic stripes were gone, and an all-black base was used instead. The key feature, though, is the light blue pinstripes which help to elevate the whole thing.

  Get it from Classic Football Shirts for £149.99 +

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  18Nigeria Home 2018 – £150

  It’s a shirt that needs no introduction. When Nigeria’s home kit for 2018 was launched websites crashed and records were broken. Eventually, news sites were breathlessly running stories every time it restocked. In just four years, the shirt – which was even nominated for the prestigious Beazley Design Award – has climbed in value to around the £150 mark.

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  17Roma Third 2019-20 – £175

  The youngest kit on this list comes from Roma. The 2019-20 season saw Nike use its Vector logo on a number of third kits, but it was Roma that wore it best. The kit combines the club’s Giallorossi colours with a deep blue shirt. The design was finished with a repeated pattern of the Lupetto logo – depicting a wolf’s head – inside a circle.

Everything you need to know about Sweden sensation Alexander Isak!

Alexander Isak is a Swedish professional football player who currently plays as a striker for Newcastle United in the Premier League and the Sweden national team. He was born on September 21, 1999, in Solna, Sweden, and has emerged as one of the most promising young strikers in the world in recent times.

Isak began his football career at the AIK Solna junior system, where he swiftly climbed up the ranks to make his senior debut in 2016 at the age of just 16. His outstanding performances piqued the interest of scouts from all across Europe, and he was soon snapped up by Borussia Dortmund in January 2017 for a fee in the region of €9m.

Despite his tender age and lack of experience, Isak was immediately thrust into the first team at Dortmund and made his first-team debut two months later, aged just 17.

However, he found playing time hard to come by in Germany, and was limited to just 13 appearances for the Bundesliga club in his debut season, scoring one goal in the process.

Isak was loaned out to Dutch club Willem II for the 2017-18 season in a bid to gain vital first-team minutes. This was a turning point in his career since he was given regular playing time and was able to showcase his talent on a consistent basis. He featured in 18 games for the club, scoring 13 goals and delivering three assists.

Following his successful loan spell in the Netherlands, Isak returned to Dortmund, but struggled to make an impact at the club once again and joined Spanish side Real Sociedad on a permanent transfer in 2019 for a fee that eventually rose to around €10m.

Isak excelled in the Basque country, and scored 44 goals from 132 appearances across all competitions for Real Sociedad, playing a part in La Real's remarkable 2020 Copa del Rey triumph as they ended a 34-year trophy drought.

His talent, and high-potential prompted nouve-riche Newcastle United to break the bank in order to bring the Swedish striker to St. James' Park last summer in a club-record deal worth over €70m including add-ons.

While he has an injury-riddled start to his Newcastle career, the Swede has already shown flashes of his talent and goal-scoring prowess, and will have a major role to play in the second half of Newcastle's exciting season as they aim for Champions League qualification this season.

He has also established himself as a key player for Sweden and has shown that he has the potential to take the baton from icon Zlatan Ibrahimovic as Sweden's new poster boy in the coming years.

But what are the 13 things you absolutely need to know about the Newcastle speedster?

• Moulded in Sweden, but steeped in Eritrean culture

  While Isak was born in Solna, Sweden, he is of Eritrean origin, the country his parents fled because of a long civil war, and seeking better opportunities for their children.

  Although he grew up as a Swede, the striker has always been loyal to his Eritrean culture. He remains closely attached to his roots and currently collaborates in several soccer projects for children in the capital Asmara. In 2018, Isak even himself travelled to East Africa to explore Eritrea.

  Furthermore, Isak has been involved in various charitable activities and has supported organizations that work with disadvantaged children and youth.

  In 2020, Isak donated his jersey and boots to an auction to raise funds for a Swedish organization called "Min Stora Dag" (My Big Day), which helps children with serious illnesses or disabilities fulfil their dreams and wishes.

  Isak's donation garnered over 18,000 euros for the noble cause.

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• Nicknamed 'The New Zlatan' and 'Giraffe' 🦒

  Isak was likened to Ibrahimović when he burst onto the scene with AIK as a 16-year-old.

  Their playing styles, demeanour, and personalities differ, but Isak is tall and Swedish, so the comparisons were inevitable. There was also something similar in the combination of graceful athleticism and raw power between the two.

  The 6ft 2in striker also earned the nickname 'Giraffe', coined by former teammates due to his slim build and long neck.

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  The youngest Swedish national team goalscorer in history

  His record-breaking spell didn’t stop there. In January 2017, Isak was called up to the Sweden first-team squad for two friendly fixtures. After making his debut off the bench against the Ivory Coast, he was handed his first start against Slovakia four days later, scoring the first goal in Sweden's comprehensive 6-0 victory.

  Isak became the youngest goalscorer in his country's history aged 17 years, three months, and 22 days old, and smashed a 105-year-old record in the process.

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• The Next Thierry Henry?

  Every athlete has an inspiration and somebody that they look up to, and Isak is no different. In an interview with , Isak admitted his childhood footballing idol was none other than Gunners legend Thierry Henry.

  Standing tall at 6ft 4in, Isak's style of play is also deemed to have a lot of similarities with the Arsenal great.

  With a tall, slender figure and a devastating combination of technical brilliance and free-flowing quick feet, both can be dangerous from open play build-ups, as well as in the box and love to find the back of the net.

  Like Henry, he’s got a bit of everything.

  The youngster is an instinctive finisher, strong dribbler, and a cool customer in front of goal. He has poacher instincts, and the ability to latch onto passes, slalom his way past opponents and then nonchalantly fire beyond the keeper.

After picking up a serious knee injury against Ireland on Saturday, the striker will miss this summer's tournament in Australia and New Zealand

Devastating, just devastating. That's all you can really say. Even as she left the field seemingly in good spirits, we all knew what this meant for Mallory Swanson. Her hands may have formed a heart as she thanked the crowd for support, but there was nothing to love about any of this.

The moment Swanson was carted off against Ireland on Saturday, the U.S. women's national team's World Cup hopes dramatically shifted. And, perhaps most importantly, a person's life changed, as Swanson was robbed of a chance to become a true superstar on the biggest stage.

That's what the 24-year-old was on her way to becoming: A superstar. She has been the USWNT's best player in 2023, the leader of a new generation desperate to make their own mark by bringing another World Cup home.

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And the USWNT still could do that. The talent is there to do so, but if they are to find success in Australia and New Zealand this summer, it will have to come without Swanson.

Her devastating injury is a blow for her, for the U.S. and for the women's game in general, as the World Cup will be missing a true breakout star candidate.

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  A devastating injury

  From the start, it just seemed like it wasn't Swanson's day.

  The forward suffered an early injury against Ireland in a scary collision, requiring a few minutes of attention before carrying on. It was a frightening sequence as Swanson smashed into Courtney Brosnan, but the USWNT star was lucky to avoid serious injury to her head or neck.

  Unfortunately, she wasn't able to avoid what came a few moments later.

  Her knee injury, since diagnosed as a torn patella tendon, came after another collision with an Irish player, this time Aoife Mannion, and, from the moment it happened, it didn't look good. Swanson went down clutching her knee and her team-mates looked visibly saddened by what they'd just witnessed.

  Swanson was subsequently carted off, making her hands into a heart to thank the fans as she departed, but make no mistake, there was nothing to love about this.

  She is now undergoing further evaluation in Chicago, according to a U.S. Soccer spokesman and, in time, she'll make her own announcement about her injury timeline.

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  Derailing a dominant year

  What makes all of this so frustrating is just how good Swanson had been up until this point. It's almost impossible to make the case that, through the first four months of 2023, any member of the USWNT had played anywhere close to her level.

  Swanson has scored seven goals in her six national team games in 2023, having been an NWSL MVP finalist in 2022. After missing much of the previous two seasons due to injuries and form, Swanson had 14 goal involvements in 2022, including a team-high seven assists, before scoring in five consecutive games to start 2023.

  Since bursting onto the scene as a teenager in 2016, the forward had finally truly reached her world-class potential. She was a world-beater, a star, an unstoppable force in the USWNT attack, but all of that has been derailed at the worst possible moment, just three months before a World Cup.

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  Somehow, still upbeat

  USWNT coach Vlatko Andonovski is, quite frankly, shocked. Not just about the injury, but rather how his superstar has handled herself since it happened.

  "Mal is doing good," Andonovski said. "Honestly, she's doing better than I thought. She's stronger than me, let's put it that way."

  It's a wonder that Swanson is finding a way to stay positive, given what all of this means. This injury, barring an incredible miracle, will rob her of a chance to play at the World Cup, the biggest stage of them all. And that's sad, no matter which way you slice it.

  Sure, she's played in a World Cup before, having been a part of the 2019 squad that lifted the trophy. She wasn't a key figure, though. She would have been more than that this time around, and may very well have been a player pushing for the Golden Boot if healthy. She won't get a chance to and, even if there's still a 2027 tournament likely in her future, missing out on this one won't feel any better.

  Swanson, though, is determined to smile through it, and it appears she's ready to accept her new role as the USWNT's biggest supporter.

  "I had a chance to talk to her and had really good conversation," Andonovski said. "Even before we knew what the injury is, when she was walking out, she had this big smile on her face and said 'Coach, I'm fine, I'll be good'.

  "She was very thankful for all the support that she got from from the staff, from players and outside of this environment. All she wants is for the team to be successful. She has been our biggest supporter. Very, very good mindset, very good mentality, and she has things planned right away in terms of the timeline of how everything is going to play out for her from the rehab and medical side of it.

  "She's in a good place, as good as she can be at this moment. We're gonna miss her but, at same time, Mal wants us to move on and be successful and do it right for her."

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  A loss for the USWNT, a loss for all

  This, obviously, is horrible news for Swanson, who will miss out on what could have been a career-defining summer. Its also horrible news for the USWNT, who will now be missing their most in-form superstar heading into a major tournament.

  And it's also bad news for the women's game in general, as this summer's tournament will go on with a player that looked destined to announce herself as part of the next generation of stars.

  Swanson is not yet in her prime, a scary thought considering what we've seen from her so far. Still, this tournament was set to be her first World Cup in the spotlight as she, like Naomi Girma and Sophia Smith, have become household names over the past year or so.

  Some members of the old guard are still around, legends like Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe, Becky Sauerbrunn and Julie Ertz, but Swanson is a key part of the USWNT's present and future. Yet, she won't get the chance to show it.

  The World Cup is all about showcasing the best the game has to offer. It's a moment in time, a chance to make history, for countries and players all over the world.

  Yet, it's still a tournament determined by its star teams and star players. It'll be a tournament defined by Alexia Putellas or Lauren James or Debinha or Morgan or Smith or whoever. There will be no shortage of superstars on display in Australia and New Zealand this summer.

  But every one counts, and the absence of any will be felt. Swanson is one of those stars, and the tournament is just a little bit worse not having her involved.

How to watch Barcelona vs Girona in La Liga from the US, as well as kick-off time and team news.

Barcelona can extend their lead at the top of La Liga to 15 points with a win against Girona at the Camp Nou on Monday. The Catalan giants are currently 12 points ahead of second-placed Real Madrid with a game in hand, and look set to clinch the title this season.

💻 Watch El Clasico live on ESPN+ in the U.S.

Barcelona are enjoying a phenomenal 2022-23 league season and have a brilliant record in front of their home crowd. They have only lost one out of their last 18 league matches at home. However, Xavi's team are heading into this home fixture on the back of a Copa Del Roy semi-final exit at the hands of arch-rivals Real Madrid, and will be motivated to get back on track quickly.

Girona's form, on the other hand, has been mixed. They are currently 11th in the standings and recently beat Espanyol to pick up their first win in four matches.

GOAL brings you everything you need to know about how to watch Barcelona vs Girona, plus team news, recent form and more.

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  Kick-off time

  Date:	April 10, 2023
  Kick-off time:	4pm EDT
  Venue:	Camp Nou

  The game is scheduled for April 10, 2023 at Camp Nou.

  It will kick off at 4pm EDT in the U.S.

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  How to watch Barcelona vs Girona online – TV channels & live streams

  TV channels & streaming options

  Country	TV channel	Live stream
  U.S.	ESPN Deportes	ESPN+

  In the US, the match between Barcelona and Girona will be broadcast on ESPN+.

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  Team news & squads

  Barcelona team news

  Xavi will not be able to call upon the injured Ousmane Dembele, Pedri, Andreas Christensen and Frenkie de Jong for the clash against Girona.

  The likes of Ansu Fati and Jordi Alba could feature in the starting lineup as Xavi may rotate the squad following his team's mid-week Cup game against Real Madrid.

  Barcelona predicted XI: Ter Stegen; Araujo, Kounde, Alonso, Alba; Roberto, Busquets, Gavi; Fati, Lewandowski, Raphinha.

  Position	Players
  Goalkeepers:	Ter Stegen, Pena, Tenas
  Defenders:	Alonso, Alba, Kounde, Garcia, Balde, Araujo
  Midfielders:	Busquets, Gavi, Kessie, Roberto, Torre, Casado, Garrido
  Forwards:	Lewandowski, Ansu Fati, Torres, Raphinha, Alarcon, Estanis

  Girona team news

  Borja Garcia, Joel Roca, Alexander Callens, Yangel Herrera and Ibrahima Kebe are in the treatment room for Girona and will be unavailable for selection against Barcelona due to injuries. Reinier will also miss out as he is suspended.

  Girona predicted XI: Gazzaniga; A Martinez, Bueno, D Lopez, J Hernandez; Romeu, A Garcia, Martin; Tsygankov, Castellanos, Villa

  Position	Players
  Goalkeepers:	Gazzaniga, Carlos, Fuidias
  Defenders:	Espinosa, Juanpe, Gutierrez, Hernandez, Martinez, Bueno
  Midfielders:	Romeu, A. Garcia, Martin, Villa, Tsygankov, Riquelme, Fernandez, Lopez
  Forwards:	Castellanos, Stuani

  Head-to-head record

  Date	Result	Competition
  January 2023	Girona 0-1 Barcelona	La Liga
  July 2021	Barcelona 3-1 Girona	Friendly
  September 2020	Barcelona 3-1 Girona	Friendly
  March 2019	Barcelona 0-1 Girona	SuperCopa
  January 2019	Girona 0-2 Barcelona	La Liga

  Aside from a shock win for Girona in the Supercopa de Catalunya back in 2019, Barcelona have been the winning team in the last five meetings between these two sides.

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  Useful links

  • Barcelona team page
  • Live soccer on U.S. TV
  • La Liga top scorer
  • Barcelona prepared to sell Raphinha, Ferran Torres AND Ansu Fati

It's set to be a busy summer of incomings and outgoings at Stamford Bridge, but who is the club most likely to spend big on?

After two transfer windows of unprecedented expenditure, Chelsea are facing what will be a defining summer in the club's modern history. Incoming head coach Mauricio Pochettino will be charged first and foremost with trimming the blubber from a bloated squad packed full of underperforming talent, but there is some targeted spending to be done, too.

Pochettino is believed to want a new core of players; a goalkeeper, central midfielder and striker are top of his shopping list, while Premier League experience is a bonus. One deal is already tied up, but who else are Chelsea most likely to sign in the upcoming transfer window?

GOAL runs through the names below…

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  Christopher Nkunku (RB Leipzig)

  A shoo-in. While we are still awaiting an announcement, by all accounts Chelsea are certain to bring in RB Leipzig forward Christopher Nkunku as soon as the window opens in mid-June. A deal has been in place for some time, with the Blues set to fork out £52 million ($64m) on the Frenchman.

  It's a move that will raise some eyebrows given the Blues' already overflowing attacking ranks, but you need only take a quick glance at the 25-year-old's output to understand that he be a significant upgrade on the current batch of ineffectual forward players – with an injury-hit 20-goal season following a ridiculous campaign where he made 55 goal contributions.

  However, Chelsea have been stung in the past with big-money signings from Leipzig…

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  Romeo Lavia (Southampton)

  A host of leading clubs are certain to be queuing up for Romeo Lavia after Southampton dropped out of the Premier League. There's no way in hell he's going down with them. It's been widely reported that Chelsea will pursue a new No.6, with incoming manager Pochettino seeking Premier League experience to form the new core of his side, and NXGN Nine inductee Lavia may well fit the bill.

  His press-resistance, ball-carrying ability and progressive passing would unquestionably be an asset to Chelsea, in an area of the pitch where they are lacking a player with the quality to supplement January arrival Enzo Fernandez. He is now certain to be available for a cut price after the Saints suffered relegation; Lord knows Chelsea could do with saving themselves some cash this summer.

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  Joao Felix (Atletico Madrid)

  The jury will be out on whether Chelsea should pursue another deal for Joao Felix after his short-term loan at Stamford Bridge. A permanent transfer should be out of the question, with Atletico Madrid still demanding €100m (£87m/$107m) for the mercurial attacker.

  However, a second temporary deal would make sense if an agreement can be found for a relatively low fee. Although his form has oscillated, Felix has largely been one of Chelsea best performers in an extremely challenging period for the club, scoring four of the club's measly 15 goals since he signed in January. It would be fascinating to see the possibilities in an in-form side – at his flying best he has shown that he can be truly world-class.

  What's more, he seems genuinely happy at Stamford Bridge, although Chelsea's failure to qualify for the Champions League could be a factor in his decision-making. "I don't know yet about my future," he said recently. "It's four or five months and I love it. It's a top club, everyone in the club was very good to me. My team-mates were unbelievable and I really like to be here."

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  Andre Onana (Inter)

  Chelsea will pursue a new goalkeeper this summer, and Inter's Andre Onana currently seems like the most likely option. There will be very few objections to the decision among the fanbase, with neither Kepa Arrizabalaga nor Edouard Mendy proving themselves to be long-term No.1 options for an elite football club, although the former enjoyed an improved season between the sticks.

  Onana fits the archetype of the desirable modern-day goalkeeper, equally as comfortable stepping out from the back to become a pseudo extra centre-back as he is commanding his penalty area. His agility and shot-stopping ability are exceptional, and given Inter's well-documented financial struggles, he would potentially be a cheaper option.