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Na última vez em que o Palmeiras jogou na cidade de Pereira, o time era aquela “máquina” dirigida por Vanderlei Luxemburgo, em 1994. Nesta quarta-feira (23), 29 anos depois, o Verdão retorna para enfrentar o Deportivo Pereira-COL em busca de uma vaga na semifinal da Libertadores. Para isso, conta com um retrospecto bastante favorável na Colômbia.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasPalmeirasNa Colômbia, Palmeiras treina completo e fecha preparação para encarar o Deportivo Pereira; veja provável timePalmeiras22/08/2023PalmeirasDeportivo Pereira x Palmeiras: onde assistir, desfalques e prováveis escalações do jogo pela LibertadoresPalmeiras22/08/2023PalmeirasVitória é obrigação? Elenco do Palmeiras vale 12 vezes mais do que o do Deportivo PereiraPalmeiras22/08/2023

+ Veja tabela da Libertadores-2023 clicando aqui

Em 12 de junho de 1994, três dias depois de empatar com o Deportivo La Coruña-ESP em amistoso disputado no Palestra Itália e três dias antes de conquistar a Copa Lev Yashin na Rússia, o Palmeiras foi a Pereira encarar a seleção colombiana, que se preparava para a disputa da Copa do Mundos nos EUA.

O Alviverde entrou em campo com: Gato Fernández; Cláudio, Antônio Carlos, Cléber e Roberto Carlos; César Sampaio, Amaral e Edílson; Maurílio (depois Tonhão), Evair e Jean Carlo.

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Se o Verdão tinha uma “máquina”, a Colômbia não ficava para trás e trazia a sua melhor geração: Córdoba; Herrera, Perea, Escobar e Pérez; Gómez, Álvarez e Valderrama; Rincón, Asprilla e Valencia.

Os donos da casa venceram por 3 a 0, com dois gols de Freddy Rincón, que naquela janela estava se transferindo do Palmeiras para o Napoli-ITA. Valencia fez o outro gol, após pênalti sofrido por Asprilla, que defenderia o Verdão em 1999 e 2000. No jogo, Antônio Carlos, Roberto Carlos e Amaral foram expulsos.

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+ Deportivo Pereira x Palmeiras: onde assistir, desfalques e prováveis escalações do jogo pela Libertadores

Mas essa derrota não é algo que resume a passagem palmeirense pela Colômbia. Segundo dados levantados pelo “Análise Verdão”, o clube esteve em território colombiano em 16 partidas, venceu dez, perdeu três e empatou três. Aproveitamento de 68,75% dos pontos disputados. Ou seja, um desempenho bastante favorável. Além disso, são 27 gols marcados e 15 sofridos.

Se pegarmos apenas o retrospecto na Libertadores, os números também são bem interessantes. Ao todo, o Alviverde fez cinco jogos pela competição na Colômbia, vencendo três, empatando um e perdendo outro. Aproveitamento de 66,7% dos pontos que disputou. A única derrota foi na partida de ida da final de 1999, diante do Deportivo Cáli. Na volta, os palmeirenses levaram o título após vitória nos pênaltis.

+ Palmeiras vai fazer ‘despedida’ do terceiro uniforme diante do Deportivo Pereira

Com esses números favoráveis, o Palmeiras enfrenta o Deportivo Pereira-COL, nesta quarta-feira (23), às 21h30 (de Brasília), no estádio Hernán Ramírez Villegas, pela ida das quartas de final da Libertadores.

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Lauren Winfield-Hill continued her fine form with a matchwinning 60 from 35 balls, and in the process set up an intriguing clash with her soon-to-be team-mates at Essex, as Yorkshire overpowered Staffordshire in the second round of the Vitality T20 Women’s County Cup.After winning the toss at Weetwood, captain Winfield-Hill found a key ally in Rebecca Duckworth, who made 51 from 54 balls, as Yorkshire set their Tier 3 opponents 177 to win.Olivia Thomas took 3 for 17 from four overs of legspin, while Claudie Cooper and Beth Langston claimed two wickets apiece as Staffordshire were bowled out for 108 off the penultimate ball of their chase.Winfield-Hill made 88 in Yorkshire’s round-one victory over Derbyshire on Monday, and was soon into her stride, hitting four boundaries in the second over, bowled by Staffs captain Lucy Shenton.She was given two chances en route to a 28-ball fifty, then picked off the first six of the innings before Georgie Harrison bowled her for 60 to end a 91-run stand with Duckworth.Staffordshire’s hopes were dented by a tight start from Yorkshire’s bowlers, who conceded nine runs in the first three overs of the chase, before offspinner Cooper struck courtesy of Winfield-Hill’s smart stumping of Helen Hughes for 3.Staffordshire recovered to 50 for 1 but fell away to 67 for 4 at the halfway mark, and never threatened thereafter. It means Yorkshire will host Tier 1 opposition for the first time when Essex visit next weekend, with Winfield-Hill due to join her opponents on loan later this season when the T20 Blast gets underway.Elsewhere, Glamorgan secured a home tie against Tier 1 side Lancashire by overcoming Sussex by 48 runs in Cardiff. Batting first, Glamorgan racked up 156 for 7 in their 20 overs, Bethan Gammon top-scoring with 41 from 30 balls. In reply, Sussex’s first two wickets fell for ducks as they were restricted to 108 for 7.Oxfordshire will host The Blaze in round three after seeing off Hertfordshire by 24 runs at St Edward’s School. Their imposing total of 191 for 7 was built on Sophie Grayson’s 48 from 37 balls, and a fast-paced finish from captain Ellie Ingram, who was unbeaten on 53 from 29. Hertfordshire battled hard, reaching 80 for 1 at the halfway mark, but could only tally 167 for 3.Leicestershire made light work of Cheshire at Grace Road, restricting their visitors to 93 before easing to victory in 12.1 overs, with Becki Brooker top-scoring with 42 from 37. Cambridgeshire, meanwhile, beat Northumberland by 18 runs at Corbridge, with Kelly Haynes’ 3 for 13 proving instrumental in their defence of 131.In Sunday’s ties, Northamptonshire overcame a dramatic top-order wobble to see off Shropshire at Shrewsbury, recovering from 50 for 6 to post 137 for 7, thanks to Mabel Reid’s 54 not out from 34 balls. In reply Shropshire were rolled aside for 66.At Butleigh Salterton, Devon saw off Suffolk in a tense 14-overs contest, eventually chasing 67 with two balls to spare. While at Wokingham, Kent marched into round three with an emphatic 47-run victory over Berkshire.

Arsenal summer signing Viktor Gyokeres has impressed since arriving from Sporting Lisbon in a deal which could rise to £64 million, but only in certain Premier League games.

Mikel Arteta’s long wait for a prolific striker was brought to an end by sporting director Andrea Berta in the Italian’s first window at the Emirates, and supporters eagerly awaited the Swede’s debut whilst expecting big things.

Gyokeres bagged an unbelievable 97 goals in 102 appearances for Sporting before his switch to north London – spearheading the Primeira Liga champions to a domestic double last season – and Arteta is hoping his new number nine can replicate those heroics on British shores.

Despite Arteta’s fondness for Benjamin Sesko, who Arsenal tried to sign in the summer of 2024 and in January, Berta reportedly swayed Arsenal chiefs into moving for Gyokeres instead (The Athletic).

Kepa Arrizabalaga

£5m

Martin Zubimendi

£60m

Christian Norgaard

£15m

Noni Madueke

£52m

Cristhian Mosquera

£13m

Viktor Gyokeres

£55m

Eberechi Eze

£67.5m

Piero Hincapie

Loan

Thus far, the signs have been fairly promising, but some criticism has surrounded Gyokeres’ lacklustre link-up play compared to the likes of Liverpool star Alexander Isak, who was also once a “dream” target for Arteta.

Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville also believes that Gyokeres won’t be a big-game player for Arsenal, with the 27-year-old failing to make an impact against both Man United and Liverpool this season.

His goals so far have come in a 5-0 win over Leeds United, and most recently, the Gunners’ 3-0 dispatching of Ange Postecoglou’s Nottingham Forest last Saturday.

Troy Deeney tips Arsenal to replace Viktor Gyokeres with Kai Havertz

Once £280,000-per-week star Kai Havertz is back from injury, talkSPORT pundit Troy Deeney is convinced that Arteta will bench Gyokeres for the big games in favour of their versatile German.

Football is often reactionary at the best of times, and we believe that Gyokeres simply needs more time to settle in Europe’s most competitive division.

Viktor Gyokeres to deliver on big stage for Arsenal in time

The striker’s lack of impact against Man United and Liverpool is a concern, but that could simply be put down to Gyokeres finding his feet at brand-new club amid plenty of pressure to deliver.

At Sporting CP last season, the Swede produced 54 goals and 13 assists across competitions, thriving under the pressure of title races and European nights. His record shows he doesn’t just score against weaker opposition, either.

Gyokeres regularly delivered goals or assists in decisive matches, including against Porto and Benfica, where his work rate, strength, and ability to lead the line stood out.

His six goals in eight Champions League games for Sporting last season, including a stunning hat-trick against Man City, also work wonders to highlight that Gyokeres can indeed deliver on the biggest occasions.

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

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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.

It has been a hectic 24 hours or so for Nottingham Forest. The East Midlands side have a new manager, with Ange Postecoglou now at the helm after sacking former boss Nuno Espirito Santo following a successful stint that lasted almost 18 months.

The Australian manager is back in the game after a short time away, following his dismissal from Tottenham Hotspur at the end of last season. That was despite the Europa League victory, which saw him guide Spurs to their first trophy since 2007/08.

Forest, a defensively sound and counter-attacking side under Nuno, will see what one analyst described as a “drastic shift” in style. Postecoglou is famed for his high line and intense counter pressing, a huge difference in approach.

With that in mind, here is a look at the Australian manager’s dream Forest side ahead of his new role at the City Ground….

1

GK – Matz Sels

It seems highly likely that Belgian goalkeeper Matz Sels will keep his place as Forest’s number one despite the change of manager. He was an integral part of Nuno’s side, keeping 13 clean sheets and conceding just 46 times in 38 Premier League games last season.

This term has not been quite the start he might have wanted. Sels has already let in five goals in just three appearances, but with a good campaign under his belt, there is little reason to think Postecoglou will drop him from the side.

2

RB – Ola Aina

Another one of Forest’s stars from last season was Nigerian international Ola Aina. The right-back featured 35 times for the club, chipping in with two goals and assisting another on top of that.

Again, it doesn’t seem likely that Forest’s new boss will change such an important player. Jamie Carragher said at the start of 2025 that Aina “could play for a team who expects to be in the Champions League every season”, and with Europa League football now at the City Ground, Postecoglou will surely rely on that quality.

3

CB – Murillo

One half of a formidable centre-back pairing last season, 23-year-old Murillo was part of the reason why Forest were so hard to breach. He’s a fantastic box defender and will put his body on the line to keep the ball out. Indeed, in 2024/25, he averaged 6.7 clearances per 90 minutes.

Yet, there are surely question marks over his suitability to play in Postecoglou’s system in the long term. As we saw at Spurs, the Australian manager loves to push his centre-backs up as high as possible, which can leave them with a lot of running back.

It certainly doesn’t play to Murillo’s biggest strength of defending the box, albeit with the former Corinthians man no slouch in possession, having regularly been seen tearing up the field with a positive dribble and carry.

4

CB – Nikola Milenkovic

Just as there are questions raised about Murillo under Forest’s new manager, much the same can be said about Serbian defender Nikola Milenkovic. Like his defensive partner, he is a top box defender, and made 5.6 clearances each game, but it would be a huge ask to ask him to cover the large spaces he may need to.

Journalist Tom Allnutt said the pair would have to be “hugging the halfway line” under Postecoglou. That is a huge difference to sitting deep and defending the box.

Milenkovic should keep his place in the team, but whether he can keep up with the demands of the system is another question.

5

LB – Oleksandr Zinchenko

The first of Forest’s new signings to get into the team under Postecoglou could be Arsenal loanee Oleksandr Zinchenko. BBC Sport analyst Umir said he is “such a Postecoglu player”, and it is easy to see why.

Pedro Porro was tasked with playing as an inverted full-back under the former Spurs boss, and it is a role Zinchenko knows well. He has played as a midfielder for Manchester City and Arsenal, as well as playing that inverted role.

It seems that, if Postecoglou is to stick with it at Forest, the Ukraine international could be a dream option.

6

CM – Elliot Anderson

There is no doubt that new England star Elliot Anderson has to slot into the side somehow under Postecoglou. Well, that could be as the deepest midfielder, controlling play and looking to break up attacks.

The numbers behind Anderson’s excellent 202/25 season at the City Ground suggest this role could suit him well. He has the technical talent on the ball to keep things ticking over, and had an 82.3% pass accuracy last season.

Anderson key stats 2024/25
Stat	Per 90	Season total
Key passes	1.2	37
Dribbles completed	1.2	36
Pass accuracy	82.3%	82.3%
Accurate long balls	1.5	45
Tackles and interceptions	4	123
Stats from Sofascore

Out of possession, he averaged four tackles and interceptions. He is the perfect option if Postecoglou wants a controller as his number six.

7

CM – Morgan Gibbs-White

Anderson’s England teammate Morgan Gibbs-White will also be an essential part of this Postecoglou side. His influence on Nuno’s Forest side last season was incomparable, and he scored and assisted 17 Premier League goals.

Ange tends to ask two of his midfielders to push up into the half spaces and operate high up the pitch. Given the fact that Gibbs-White created ten big chances last season, his creative nous fits the bill perfectly.

8

CM – James McAtee

New summer signing James McAtee, who joined from Manchester City, could also fit the bill quite well for one of those advanced midfielders. Despite limited opportunities for his boyhood club in 2024/25, he still impressed with seven goals in 24 games across all competitions.

Last season for Pep Guardiola’s side, he averaged 0.8 key passes per game, and has already played an average of one per game in a Forest shirt. The extra goal threat and creativity between the lines should make McAtee a good option for Postecoglou.

9

RW – Dilane Bakwa

Although he is yet to make his debut for Forest, new £30m signing Dilane Bakwa could be an exciting option out wide for Postecoglou. Described as a “menace” of an attacker by football scout Antonio Mango, he managed 12 goals and 21 assists in 71 games for former club Strasbourg.

The fact he is a true playmaker out wide might pique Postecoglou’s interest when it comes to starting Bakwa, especially since he can play on either flank. However, it would mean fellow new addition Dan Ndoye is dropped, despite scoring and assisting already this season.

10

LW – Callum Hudson-Odoi

Next up in Postecoglou’s dream side for Forest this season is Callum Hudson-Odoi. The former Chelsea star was key for Nuno last term, and chipped in with eight goals and assists in the Premier League.

Under Postecoglou, his creativity in the final third from wide areas will be key, just as it is for Bakwa. Last term, the former Chelsea star averaged 1.5 key passes per 90 minutes, so he has that creative nous from out wide to provide a regular service.

After a dramatic victory on Saturday night for Chelsea, everyone at Stamford Bridge is feeling optimistic once again.

At the weekend, the Blues beat champions Liverpool 2-1, thanks to an absolute rocket from Moisés Caicedo, before the winner came deep in stoppage time, with Marc Cucurella’s low cross turned home at the back post by Estêvão Willian.

Enzo Maresca was shown a red card following a José Mourinho-esque dash down the touchline, but he surely won’t mind too much, given that his side had yielded just a solitary point from their previous three Premier League matches, making this a much-needed statement victory.

Plenty of Chelsea players caught the eye, but is there a future young star, currently out on loan at… yes, you guessed it, who supporters should be even more excited about?

How Estêvão Willian has announced himself at Chelsea

As has been their want, Chelsea have signed countless young attacking players in the last three seasons, but few surely boast as much potential as Estêvão Willian.

Despite only celebrating his 18th birthday as recently as March, he has already earned seven senior caps for Brazil, scoring against Chile at the Maracanã last month, making 83 appearances for Palmeiras, scoring 27 goals and registering 15 assists.

With the Verdão, he won a Brasileirão title as well as firing the São Paulo-based side to the quarter-finals of last summer’s Club World Cup, on target against his future employers in defeat in Philadelphia in July, giving Chelsea fans an amuse-bouche of what he would bring.

Thus, by the time he arrived in West London, he did so with sky-high expectations; former Chelsea player and manager Roberto Di Matteo for one asserted that he will become one of the best players in the world.

Well, having been somewhat in and out of the team to date, Saturday’s last-gasp winner against Liverpool could be the moment Estêvão announces himself to the world, but do Chelsea have an even bigger talent waiting in the wings?

Chelsea's next Eden Hazard could rival Estêvão

Chelsea acquire so many attacking teenagers that one often wonders if they remember they’ve signed them all, but in Kendry Páez, they may have stumbled across a future world-beater.

In a deal agreed over two years ago, the 18-year-old arrived from Independiente del Valle this summer for a reported fee of £17.27m, before being immediately loaned out to Strasbourg; must’ve been some tough negotiations.

Despite his youthful age, he has already accumulated 20 caps for World Cup-bound Ecuador, scoring during just his second appearance for la Tricolor against Bolivia in La Paz, before also converting a Copa América penalty as his side beat Jamaica 3-1 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

His club performances in Ecuador, as well as in the Copa Libertadores, certainly caught the eye, with Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout labelling him a “pure quality talent”, while Jack Manship of Total Football Analysis praised his ‘remarkable feat’ and ‘dazzling’ dribbling ability, outlining how he can be both deployed centrally or on either flank.

Páez has adapted quickly to life at BlueCo’s other club, Strasbourg, scoring his first Ligue 1 goal last month, heading home at Stade Jean-Bouin as Liam Rosenior’s side beat Paris FC 3-2 in the capital.

So, let’s assess his statistics in France so far this season.

Minutes

355

10th

Goals

1

4th

Shots

7

4th

Shots on target

3

2nd

Passes into box

10

3rd

Progressive carries

13

2nd

Carries into box

7

1st

Attempted take-ons

12

5th

Touches in box

15

2nd

As the table documents, it is early in both Páez career in general but also his time at Stade de la Meinau, how ever long that may be, but he is already having an impact for les Bleu et Blanc.

His numbers in terms of progressive carries and carries into the opposition’s penalty area are both particularly eye-catching, reminiscent of, arguably, Chelsea’s greatest ever attacker, another winger who made his name in Ligue 1.

Before moving to West London in 2013, Eden Hazard featured 194 times for Lille, scoring 50 goals and registering 53 assists, winning both the Ligue 1 title and Coupe de France with les Dogues in 2011.

He would go on to star for Chelsea, scoring 110 goals in total, many of which were spectacular and mesmerising, none more so than this solo effort against West Ham in 2019, his best and final season for the Blues, scoring 21 times as Maurizio Sarri’s side picked up the Europa League trophy in Baku.

Well, if Páez turns out to be half the player Hazard was, the £17m paid to secure the teenager’s signature will prove to be money well spent.

In wide attacking areas, Alejandro Garnacho, Jamie Gittens, Pedro Neto and match-winner Estêvão all featured during the victory over Liverpool, not forgetting the injured talisman Cole Palmer, but Páez could prove to be the best of the lot.

83 touches, 8 duels won: Chelsea star is even more undroppable than Caicedo

Estêvão Willian’s stoppage time winner saw Chelsea beat Liverpool 2-1 on Saturday, but another star in Blue impressed even more than Moisés Caicedo.

ByBen Gray Oct 5, 2025

As Real Madrid continue to plot their move for Ibrahima Konate, Liverpool have now reportedly set their sights on a signing of their own from the Spanish club.

Real Madrid plotting Konate move

Anyone else feeling a bit of Déjà vu? This time last year, it was Trent Alexander-Arnold who Liverpool were desperately trying to keep hold of in the middle of contract negotiations. Eventually, the full-back ditched Anfield for Real Madrid as the Reds lost one of their best players in a free deal. Now, one year later, they’re facing a repeat courtesy of Konate.

The Frenchman is yet to put pen to paper on a new deal and has less than 10 months left before he can leave as a free agent. As such, Real Madrid are already sniffing around and like Alexander-Arnold, it is rumoured that Konate is likely to join the La Liga giants if he fails to sign a new Liverpool deal.

Liverpool star who's "on par with Salah & VVD" had his worst game under Slot

Liverpool endured a night to forget as they were beaten by Galatasaray in the Champions League.

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That is partly why the defender’s disappointing form comes at such a bad time. As Liverpool begin to stutter – losing consecutive games against Crystal Palace and Galatasaray – it is Konate who has stood out as one of their points of vulnerability.

The Frenchman was dominated by Jean-Philippe Mateta against Palace and struggled to keep possession altogether in Turkey. If Madrid are watching on, then they’re unlikely to be impressed.

The numbers don’t make for pretty reading, either. Against Galatasaray, Konate won none of his three ground duels and completed just three of eight long balls. Alongside the rest of his teammates, it was an evening to forget.

Alas, if Real Madrid do come calling in the summer, reports are suggesting that the Reds could yet land a player of their own in some unexpected revenge.

Liverpool considering huge Camavinga proposal

According to reports in Spain, Liverpool are now considering a huge proposal to sign Eduardo Camavinga. The Real Madrid midfielder is represented by the same agency as Konate, which could hand the Reds a familiarity boost if negotiations reach an advanced stage next summer.

Of course, given how talented Camavinga is, Liverpool aren’t the only side interested. Both Chelsea and Arsenal are also reportedly sniffing around as the Frenchman considers his Real Madrid future before a potential move to the Premier League.

Dubbed “incredible” by scout Jacek Kulig last year, Camavinga could offer Liverpool the midfield balance that they’ve so desperately lacked so far this season. Securing his signature will be no easy task, however.

None of the four teams that have made the IPL 2025 playoffs – Gujarat Titans (GT), Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Mumbai Indians (MI) – have sealed a place in the top two yet.The teams that finish No. 1 and 2 in the points table play each other in Qualifier 1 on May 29 and the winner of that match goes straight through to the final. The loser of Qualifier 1 gets a second chance to make the final by playing Qualifier 2 against the winner of the Eliminator, which is a knockout match between the teams that finish Nos. 3 and 4 in the points table.Gujarat Titans (Points: 18, net run rate: 0.309)
GT are on top of the points table at the moment but defeats to Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in their last two league games have ensured they will not finish No. 1.The winner of the game between PBKS and MI on Monday will move to No. 1 ahead of GT, who will slip to No. 3 if RCB beat LSG on Tuesday. If RCB lose to LSG, then GT will finish No. 2, behind the winner of the PBKS-MI game.Punjab Kings (Points: 17, net run rate: 0.327)
Mumbai Indians (Points: 16, net run rate: 1.292)
PBKS play MI in Jaipur on Monday – a game that will definitely decide one of the top two spots. The winner will overtake GT and go to the top of the points table; the loser will not finish in the top two.If PBKS win, they will be guaranteed a top-two finish, and can only be dethroned from No. 1 if RCB beat LSG on Tuesday by a particular margin to overtake them on net run rate.If MI win, they will go to 18 points but overtake GT at No. 1 on net run rate. In that case, RCB could overtake them on points by beating LSG.Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Points: 17, net run rate: 0.255)
RCB have the advantage of playing the last game of the league phase, against LSG on Tuesday. They simply need to win to finish in the top two.If PBKS have beaten MI, then RCB will need to win by a particular margin to finish No. 1. If MI have beaten PBKS, then an RCB win by whatever margin will take them top of the table.If RCB lose to LSG, then they will finish third or fourth.

Max Aarons hopes his stoppage-time winner at Livingston signals the beginning of his Rangers redemption arc following his Champions League woe in Belgium last month.

The on-loan Bournemouth full-back was widely pilloried after being sent off early on for a last-man foul, leaving his team-mates in the lurch as they crashed to a 6-0 defeat and 9-1 aggregate loss against Club Brugge in the play-off round.

Aarons paid the price for a red card described by former Rangers favourite Ally McCoist as “absolute car-crash material” by not featuring in any of the Light Blues’ next four matches.

Following a soul-searching month on the sidelines, however, the 25-year-old returned to the fray as a 73rdminute substitute away to Livi on Sunday and secured Gers’ first league win of the season with a close-range finish in the fourth minute of stoppage-time.

“No one was more disappointed than myself with that,” Aarons said of his chastening night in the Jan Breydel Stadium. “I’ve never been sent off in my career.

“A moment like that, a lapse in concentration, was extremely disappointing for me, especially in a crucial game like that.

“It was always going to be a difficult game for the team, let alone with 10 men, so I knew I wanted to make up for that as quickly as possible and the first chance since that game, on the pitch, was Sunday, so hopefully in a small way I’ve done that.”

Even aside from his costly red card, Aarons – like most of his team-mates – has endured a torrid start to his Gers career, with the players and manager Russell Martin coming under heavy fire from their supporters after winning just five of their 15 matches in all competitions.

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The former Norwich player admitted he had never experienced the level of intense scrutiny that he had encountered at Ibrox.

“No, it’s different,” he said. “I don’t mean that in a bad way. I think it’s just something that in your first few games you really realise and then it’s about overcoming that and showing that character to deal with that.

“I also think it’s a privilege to have that support, coming here to an away stadium and having three stands, it felt like a home game. And then it’s on us to reward them with a good performance, but most importantly a win.

“The more we can do that now, hopefully those wins are going to really push us forward and build a stronger relationship now with the group, the fans, everyone.”

Aarons was optimistic that the dramatic nature of their 2-1 win at Livingston could be a catalyst for an upturn in form.

“It was massive,” he said. “We know being this far into the season now and it being our first win is not good enough for this club, we know that.

“But, moments like that, they build character and they build a trust within the team that we can get through the difficult spells. Every game isn’t going to be an easy coast, we have to dig in on moments like that.

“Like I said from the start here, the aim is to be at the top part of the table and that’s what we’ve got to do.”

Legendary coach Fabio Capello has lauded the breathtaking impact of Cristian Chivu at Inter, calling the in-form Serie A side "a spectacle to watch." Capello praised the new manager for reconnecting the squad and implementing a more direct, vertical style of play that has propelled the Nerazzurri to second in the table with a difference of one point for the top.

• Capello hails 'spectacle' of Chivu's growing Inter

  Capello has heaped praise on Chivu's Inter, declaring the team "a spectacle to watch" and crediting the new coach with reconnecting the squad and implementing a dynamic, vertical style of play. Speaking in his regular column for , the former AC Milan and Real Madrid boss hailed the transformation at the Nerazzurri, who have won four of their last five Serie A matches.

  Following a hard-fought 1-0 victory away to Roma, Capello asserted that the team has now fully taken on the identity of their new manager. He lauded the visible progress and cohesive spirit, highlighting the post-match celebrations at the Stadio Olimpico as a clear indicator of the bond Chivu has forged.

  "Yes, we can now say it: this is Chivu's Inter. And it's a spectacle to watch," Capello stated. "It's wonderful to see the players rally around their coach like the other night at the Olimpico, because that embrace captures the bond that has been created. But it's also wonderful to see the Nerazzurri play, because everything is working wonderfully now and the team continues to grow. From game to game, from victory to victory."

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  How Chivu 'reconnected' with the squad and boosted self-esteem

  Capello was keen to emphasise that Chivu's primary impact has been on the players' mentality and unity, rather than overhauling an already talented group. The decorated coach believes Chivu has successfully won over the entire dressing room, from established stars to promising youngsters, by improving their self-belief.

  "This is Chivu's Inter because now all the players, from Lautaro [Martinez] to [Nicolo] Barella, from [Alessandro] Bastoni to [Hakan] Calhanoglu and [Federico] Dimarco, right down to the explosive youngsters like [Ange-Yoan] Bonny and Pio Esposito, are perfectly in tune with Cristian," Capello explained. "Chivu has got into the players' heads and reconnected. He hasn't improved the level, because that was already very high and the value of the Nerazzurri squad is beyond question, but he has improved their self-esteem, that's true, and that's a huge credit to him."

  Before Inter, Chivu had been in charge of Parma for just over a year and guided them to a 16th place finish in Serie A last season. When Simone Inzaghi left Inter for Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal, he took the opportunity to return to San Siro, having previously coached the club's youth teams. As a player, he won three Serie A titles and the Champions League crown with the Nerazzurri.

• Vertical thinking and forward pressing: The new Nerazzurri style

  Beyond the psychological improvements, Capello pinpointed a clear and effective tactical shift under the former Inter defender. He praised the move away from a dogmatic, possession-based build-up in favour of a more direct and aggressive approach that prioritises forward momentum.

  "Beyond the team's spirit and resources, there's the play, and in this sense too, Chivu has more than one reason to be proud," he wrote. "Because Inter thinks vertically, always presses forward, and has finally minimized the obsession with building from the back for its own sake." This change has yielded impressive results, with Inter scoring 18 goals in their opening seven league games, the highest tally in Serie A.

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  What next for Chivu's Inter?

  The Nerazzurri's excellent form has them sitting second in the Serie A table, just one point behind city rivals AC Milan. Chivu’s side now faces a demanding run of fixtures that will test their title credentials and European ambitions. They travel to Belgium to face Union Saint-Gilloise in a crucial Champions League group stage match on Wednesday, before a top-of-the-table clash away to third-placed Napoli next Saturday. A home fixture against Fiorentina follows shortly after, completing a challenging period that could define the next phase of their season. Maintaining their new-found momentum will be crucial if they are to challenge on multiple fronts.