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Bernardo Silva led the way for Pep Guardiola's side as they dethroned the European champions and booked their ticket to Istanbul

The best performance by Manchester City since Pep Guardiola's arrival? The best performance by Manchester City ever? Superlatives do not do what City produced against Real Madrid on Wednesday justice, and they will take some stopping in their quest to win the treble now.

Guardiola's side are now just three wins from becoming just the second English side to win the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League in the same season. Inter in Istanbul is all that stands between them and a first European Cup. Playing like this, it's difficult to see how they don't make this a historic campaign.

Bernardo Silva led the way against Madrid, his two first-half goals just rewards for 45 minutes of football that saw City have 13 shots on goal – the joint-most Madrid have faced in a first half of Champions League football since such statistics were first collected almost 20 years ago.

Second-half goals from Manuel Akanji, via an Eder Militao deflection, and Julian Alvarez ensured the final scoreline reflected City's dominance, and ensured Madrid suffered their joint-worst defeat in the competition.

For Carlo Ancelotti and his team, their European magic finally ran out, and time will tell whether the Italian coach will be kept on given his side's struggles in La Liga this season. On this evidence, they need more than just a new coach and Jude Bellingham to get to City's level.

For City, though, their season and how successful it is will now be decided over the next 24 days. By the end of it, they may well add three more pieces silverware to their ever-growing trophy cabinet.

GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from the Etihad Stadium…

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  WINNER: Bernardo Silva

  Just two days after it was reported that Paris Saint-Germain had set their sights on the midfielder, Bernardo gave City every reason to tell any potential suitors to get lost. This was a career-defining performance. And it was not just because of the goals.

  The game was only a few minutes old when Bernardo weaved his way past Eduardo Camavinga and Vinicius Jr, and was then felled but somehow was not awarded a foul. He was at the heart of every move City made, so it was fitting that he opened the scoring, latching on to an incisive pass from Kevin De Bruyne and hammering it past Thibaut Courtois, who was in a confident mood.

  His second goal was less emphatic but no less impressive, as he followed the loose ball after Courtois had sent Ilkay Gundogan's shot into the air and glanced it into the net. He became the first player in a decade to score twice against Real Madrid in a Champions League semi-final, following in the footsteps of Robert Lewandowski (four goals for Borussia Dortmund in 2013) and Lionel Messi (two in 2011). And it's not like Madrid don't play many semi-finals.

  Bernardo signed his last contract with City in 2019 and it runs until 2025. But after a night like this, it shouldn't be hard for him to get a new one, especially if PSG are calling. With Gundogan at the end of his contract, City can't afford to lose both of their utterly brilliant midfielders.

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• LOSER: Madrid midfield

  If Real Madrid had any reason for optimism coming to an Etihad Stadium that was this loud, it would be based on experience. Indeed, the cool heads of Toni Kroos and Luka Modric have survived many a night like this — and some arguably even more difficult.

  But, for perhaps the first time ever, the duo went missing. Modric gave the ball away from the first minute, and was simply overwhelmed by a relentless City press. Kroos was a bit more steady on the ball, but constantly exposed in transition when Los Blancos didn’t have it. Fede Valverde, meanwhile, was nowhere to be found.

  There are already and will be more reinforcements on the way. Jude Bellingham seems likely to arrive, while Aurelien Tchouameni will certainly improve. But this trio, complete with two of the game’s greats, fell apart on Wednesday.

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  WINNER: Pep Guardiola

  The Catalan has suffered some of the worst moments of his otherwise remarkable coaching career against Real Madrid. There was the 5-0 aggregate thrashing when he was coach of Bayern Munich in the semi-finals in 2014. And there was last year's agonising defeat, when City lost the semi-final second leg by conceding twice in added time, which Guardiola compared to "swallowing poison".

  It would have been easy for him to have tried something different, but instead he stuck with what he knew best and trusted that his players would make no mistake this time.

  On Tuesday, Guardiola joked he would not "over-think" the game too much as he has been criticised for doing in the past, insisting he had "nothing special" planned. That was not entirely true. This was a truly special performance and was not the result of an inspired one-off tactical innovation.

  It was instead exactly what City have been doing this season, and in particular the last three months, which is to blow teams out of the water. This season, Guardiola's side have beaten Manchester United 6-3, Liverpool 4-1, Tottenham 4-2, Arsenal 4-1, RB Leipzig 7-0, Bayern Munich 3-0 and now Real Madrid 4-0. A simply stunning set of results, and Guardiola has been the mastermind of them all.

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  LOSER: Eduardo Camavinga

  Camavinga has, effectively, been playing out of position for nearly four months. Naturally a defensive midfielder, he has done a fine job at left-back. But on Wednesday, he was finally exposed.

  It was a shame that his first big blunder as a full-back came on the biggest stage, when he was entirely lost as Bernardo snuck into the box for City’s opener. But perhaps that revealed his clear issues at the position. Camavinga is a fine one-on-one defender, who can hunt the ball down in central areas, but defending space, as he had to do here, has never been his strong suit. City exploited that to no end.

  After a night like this, he might want to be moved back to his more traditional spot on a more permanent basis.

Dean Windass has exclusively told The Transfer Tavern that he expects Liverpool to go after a “bigger name” than Ollie Watkins.

Following his impressive first campaign in the Premier League, recent reports believe that the Reds are keen on bringing the former Brentford man to Anfield this summer to bolster their misfiring attack, with Jurgen Klopp describing him as “undefendable” following his team’s 7-2 defeat at Villa Park earlier in the campaign.

Watkins, who is Villa’s only outfield ever-present player this season, is the club’s top scorer having notched 12 goals in his 30 Premier League appearances.

Seven of those goals have come against sides in the traditional top-six, four of which were against Liverpool, including a incredible first-half hat-trick in the 7-2 mauling over the Reds back in October.

Despite his form, Windass has raised concerns over Watkins’ lack of Premier League experience, and doesn’t think Liverpool to pursue a deal for the Villa frontman.

He told The Transfer Tavern:

“I can’t see it happening. He’s done great, he’s done absolutely fantastic.

“First season in the Premier League, you’re a young boy, you’re going to play every week. Is he going to play at Liverpool?

“I’m not saying he’s a bad player, because he’s done unbelievable since he left Brentford. The proof will be in the pudding, can he do it next year? He’s got 12 goals, which is an unbelievable return for a club like that. I can’t see that happening, if Firmino leaves, I think they’ll got for a better player and a bigger name.”

How to watch Manchester United against Arsenal in the Women's Super League in the USA, as well as the kick-off time and team news.

Current leaders Manchester United Women and Arsenal Women are playing for a top of the table finish in the Women's Super League this season, and the two sides are set to lock horns at the Leigh Sports Village on Wednesday.

💻 Watch Manchester United Women vs Arsenal Women live on Paramount+ today!

The hosts enter the tie on the back of a double over Brighton as the Red Devils picked up a 4-0 league win before pipping the Seagulls to a spot in the FA Cup final against Chelsea.

Meanwhile, Arsenal are preparing for both legs of the Champions League semi-finals against Wolfsburg after the United tie, and trail Wednesday's opponents by three points. However, the Gunners have a game in hand as they were not in action at the weekend after the 2-1 league win over Manchester City.

GOAL brings you details on how to watch the game on TV in the U.S., as well as how to stream it live online.

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  Kick-off time

  Game:	Manchester United Women vs Arsenal Women
  Date:	April 19, 2023
  Kick-off:	2:15pm EDT
  Venue:	Leigh Sports Village

  The Women's Super League game between Manchester United and Arsenal is scheduled for April 19, 2023, at Leigh Sports Village in Leigh, Greater Manchester, England.

  It will kick off at 2:15pm EDT in the USA.

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  How to watch Manchester United Women vs Arsenal Women online – TV channels & live streams

  TV channels & streaming options

  Country	TV channel	Live stream
  U.S.	N/A	Paramount+

  In the United States (USA), the game can be watched live on Paramount+.

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  Team news & squads

  Manchester United Women team news

  Maria Thorisdottir and Lisa Naalsund remain unavailable due to injuries, while Rachel Williams may start on the bench again as Man Utd boss Marc Skinner is likely to name an unchanged XI.

  With 10 goals this season, Alessia Russo should be the preferred choice up front.

  Manchester United Women possible XI: Earps; Batlle, Le Tissier, Turner, Blundell; Ladd, Zelem; Garcia, Toone, Galton; Russo

  Position	Players
  Goalkeepers	Emily Ramsey, Mary Earps, Sophie Baggaley
  Defenders	Ona Batlle, Aoife Mannion, Hannah Blundell, Jayde Riviere, Maya Le Tissier, Aisstou Tounkara, Millie Turner, Tara Bourne
  Midfielders	Jade Moore, Ella Toone, Vilde Boe Risa, Katie Zelem, Leah Galton, Hayley Ladd, Kirsty Hanson, Carrie Jones, Grace Clinton, Estelle Cascarino
  Forwards	Martha Thomas, Ivana Ferreira Fuso, Lucia Garcia, Adriana Leon, Nikita Parris, Alessia Russo, Rachel Williams

  Arsenal Women team news

  Arsenal have confirmed that captain Kim Little is ruled out for the rest of the season with a hamstring injury, while fellow midfielder Lia Walti has returned to training after taking a 10-day "personal break".

  Vivianne Miedema and Beth Mead also miss out for the long term, with Steph Catley not likely to be risked into action by coach Jonas Eidevall.

  The team could be similar to the one in the 2-1 win over City.

  Arsenal Women possible XI: D'Angelo; Maritz, Wubben-Moy, Rafaelle, McCabe; Williamson, Walti; Pelova, Maanum, Foord; Blackstenius

  Position	Players
  Goalkeepers	Manuela Zinsberger, Sabrina D'Angelo, Kaylan Marckese
  Defenders	Rafaelle Souza, Lotte Wubben-Moy, Jennifer Beattie, Leah Williamson, Steph Catley, Noelle Maritz, Laura Wienroither, Teyah Goldie
  Midfielders	Frida Maanum, Lia Walti, Victoria Pelova, Kathrine Kuhl
  Forwards	Katie McCabe, Lina Hurtig, Caitlin Foord, Gio Queiroz, Stina Blackstenius, Jodie Taylor

  Head-to-head record

  Date	Result	Competition
  October 29, 2022	Hull City 0-1 Blackburn Rovers	Championship
  January 20, 2022	Hull City 2-0 Blackburn Rovers	Championship
  September 15, 2021	Blackburn Rovers 2-0 Hull City	Championship
  February 12, 2020	Blackburn Rovers 3-0 Hull City	Championship
  August 21, 2019	Hull City 1-0 Blackburn Rovers	Championship

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  Useful links

  • Manchester United women team page

  • Live soccer on TV in the U.S.

  • Katie McCabe is super human!

While Patrick Bamford has led the line superbly for Leeds this season, there’s no doubting that Marcelo Bielsa’s side could do with some reinforcements ahead of their second campaign back in the Premier League.

Bamford has bagged an impressive 14 goals and provided a further eight assists in the top flight alone, but the strength in depth up top is virtually non-existent for the Whites.

However, with reports linking the club with a summer transfer move for Barnsley’s Daryl Dike, the Elland Road club could unearth a striker who has a large resemblance and many similarities to one of the Argentine’s most feared centre-forwards in his time in management: Fernando Llorente.

The Spaniard’s name may be best known to fans of English football from his time at Tottenham, but it was with his performances back in his native country with Athletic Bilbao under Bielsa that he truly made a name for himself.

In the two full seasons for which the pair worked together, Llorente smashed in 34 goals and provided another eight assists in 89 games, to this day remains the second-most prolifc player in terms of most goals scored for Bielsa.

Standing at 6 foot 2, and with a real presence in the air just like Llorente – he wins a monstrous 6.4 aerial duels per game in the Championship (the fifth-most of any player in the division and comfortably more than everyone in the Leeds squad) – the £4.5m-rated Dike is a proper handful inside the penalty box.

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He was dubbed a “revelation” by former Salford City manager Richie Wellens, who also added: “I can’t see Barnsley paying £17m for him, but I take my hat off to him for swapping the Orlando weather for Barnsley. But seriously he’s done great, he scores goals, he’s powerful and he’s given Barnsley a whole new dimension to their game.”

That new “dimension” is what Llorente brought to the table at Bilbao, combining a mix of technical quality and aerial dominance to fire the Basque club to a whisker away from lifting both the Copa Del Rey and Europa League under Bielsa’s management.

Given the kind of success that Llorente enjoyed under Bielsa whilst at the San Mames Stadium, Dike would surely fancy his chances of replicating the Spaniard’s work at Elland Road if the Whites were to sign him this summer.

Meanwhile, Leeds could finally wave goodbye to this liability…

The former Borussia Dortmund winger is yet to find his feet at Old Trafford, and its not clear how he fits into Erik ten Hag's long-term plans

Jadon Sancho was handed only his 12th Premier League start of the season for Manchester United against Brentford on Wednesday, with Erik ten Hag taking the decision to bring him in ahead of misfiring frontman Wout Weghorst.

Asked why he opted for Sancho ahead of kick-off, the Dutch coach told : "Creativity. Jadon has made good progress since he came back. You know he can play the final pass, he can make action one-on-one, he can move in behind and score a goal, so that's the reason why."

Sancho had some bright moments during the 1-0 win at Old Trafford, but was ultimately unable to live up to Ten Hag's pre-match billing before being substituted in the 71st minute.

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The 23-year-old was exiled from the United squad during the Christmas period after Ten Hag expressed concern over his fitness and mental strength, with the team flourishing him in his absence.

He worked hard to turn that situation around, but is still by no means guaranteed a place in United's line up, and has yet to prove he can deliver the goods in the final third on a consistent basis.

After almost two seasons at the club, United have to demand more from Sancho and he has to demand more from himself.

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  Price tag pressure

  After a drawn-out transfer saga spanning the best part of two years, United finally managed to prise Sancho away from Dortmund in a £72 million deal on July 23, 2021.

  At the time, the huge fee felt justified, and perhaps even a bargain given how far Dortmund came down from their initial £108m asking price.

  Sancho was nothing short of phenomenal at Dortmund, registering 50 goals and 64 assists across 137 appearances, while also earning a place in the Bundesliga Team of the Season for both 2019 and 2020.

  He became one of the best young players in Europe during his four-year stay in Germany, but has not played with the same freedom at Old Trafford.

  The large gulf in quality between the Bundesliga and Premier League cannot be disputed, and a settling-in period was expected for Sancho, but he has often looked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders at United.

  When asked about Sancho's failure to hit the ground the running mid-way through the 2021-22 campaign, then-interim manager Ralf Rangnick gave a telling response: "The level of expectation was a lot lower [at Dortmund] compared to the situation where you come to a club like United for a high transfer fee. He’s playing in a different league and is playing for one of the biggest clubs in the world. It’s also got to do with a lot of the things up here in his head."

  Sancho turned 23 last month, which is often the age that talented prospects start to blossom into the finished article, but he is still yet to find a way to handle the pressure of life at United.

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  Lack of confidence

  At Dortmund, Sancho was fearless. When he received the ball, the crowd would hold its breath in anticipation of something special, and he rarely disappointed.

  He glided past defenders with ease and provided Dortmund's frontmen with a constant stream of incisive passes, while also showing off his eye for goal.

  That's why United invested so heavily in Sancho. He seemed to have all the necessary attributes to follow in the footsteps of some of the club's all-time great wingers such as George Best, Ryan Giggs and Cristiano Ronaldo.

  Unfortunately, Sancho seems to lack the inner belief that those icons had in spades.

  He has recorded only 14 goal contributions in 64 outings for United to date, which highlights the fact that he is no longer taking risks in possession.

  Indeed, former United defender Rio Ferdinand recently issued a warning to Sancho and another of the club's big-money signings, Antony, on his FIVE YouTube channel: "There’s one part of Antony and Jadon Sancho’s game that I think needs to improve, and that’s taking more risks. You don’t have success without taking risks, you don’t win trophies without taking risks. [Sir] Alex Ferguson used to say to us all the time that he doesn’t want safe from forwards."

  Sancho's cautious game underlines just how low on confidence he is. Until he can rediscover the bold mindset that saw him thrive at Dortmund, Ten Hag will have little reason to keep him in the starting XI.

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  Doesn't have Ten Hag's full trust

  Ten Hag has been very open with his concerns about Sancho this season. He was omitted from England's 2022 World Cup squad after falling out of favour at United, and suffered another blow when Ten Hag decided not to take him on the club's winter training camp in Spain.

  "We got a drop of level and what happens sometimes you don't know why or what is causing it," the United boss said. "That is what we're doing now, trying to research and now we try to get him back there. It's a combination of physical but also mental."

  Sancho finally returned to action for United's 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest in the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final tie, and has made 12 more appearances since then, but has only scored twice.

  He hasn't set up any goals in that period either, which leaves Ten Hag in something of a bind when trying to fit him into his team.

  Marcus Rashford, United's top goal-scorer in 2022-23, is at his best when cutting in from the left. Alejandro Garnacho, who is currently out injured, has also impressed on that flank and has been earmarked as one of the club's brightest talents.

  On the right, £85m summer addition Antony continues to be Ten Hag's go-to man, and although the Brazilian has also been criticised for a lack of end product, he has an aggressive, combative streak that often helps spark United into life – not to mention a wand of a left foot.

  With Anthony Martial now returning to full fitness, it will be even harder for Sancho to get a look-in. He has only completed four 90-minute matches this season, and after his early exit against Brentford, it's clear that he still does not yet enjoy Ten Hag's full trust.

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  Better options on the market

  If Sancho doesn't start fulfilling his potential soon, his future at Old Trafford will become even more uncertain.

  He is under contract until 2026, but according to the , Ten Hag is growing impatient with the England forward, and United may consider cutting their losses on a prized asset.

  The Red Devils have also been linked with a number of players that are ahead of Sancho in their development right now, including Napoli's Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

  Former Italy forward Christian Vieri has even gone so far as to say of the Georgian sensation, who has helped Napoli storm to the top of Serie A and reach the Champions League quarter-finals: "If he goes toManchester United,the days of George Best will return. Kvaratskhelia is the same."

  Ten Hag is also reportedly weighing up a move for Mohamed Kudus, who could follow in the footsteps of Antony and Lisandro Martinez in making the jump from Ajax to Old Trafford this summer.

  Brighton's Kaoru Mitoma is another exciting name said to be on United's shortlist, and the Japan international has already proved he can cut it in the Premier League with a string of superb performances for Roberto De Zerbi's side.

  It has also been reported that United could rival Chelsea for the permanent signing of Atletico Madrid's Joao Felix, and Sancho would likely see his minutes reduced even further if the club is able to pull off one or more these deals when the transfer market reopens.

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The best of adidas classics with a modern twist

adidas Originals trainers are inspired by iconic, classic designs from the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s, but new shoe tech has turned these vintage styles into comfortable, versatile lifestyle shoes.

The collection features former sports shoes converted into everyday trainers and retro designs brought into the modern-day, with several picks containing recycled materials as the German company looks to become more sustainable. There are bright, bold and intricately designed trainers, while others are more stripped-back, low-key and simplistic.

We’ve put together the best Originals you can get on the market today, depending on what you want out of your style game.

What are adidas Originals?

adidas Originals are what their name suggests – various models of shoes with a retro feel that play on the brand's history.

There are many lines within the banner – from Gazelles to Hamburgs – but each one shares the distinction that they were born in-house. They also all feature the iconic trefoil stripes logo.

What kind of adidas Originals are there?

There are well over two-dozen types of Originals out there, and each comes with its own calling card.

There's the Stan Smith, the Forum, Gazelles, the Samba and twists on the classics through collaborations with Disney and Star Wars, to name a few.

What is the difference between adidas Originals and other adidas footwear?

While varying lines within the Originals ranges will give you specific additional functions over others, all are generally designed for everyday usage.

For example, these are trainers, not boots – you won't be able to play great football in them, much like you wouldn't find a walk to the shops easy on studded soles. With that in mind, here are the best adidas Originals you can get right now.

• Shop: The best of adidas Originals trainers

  Best overall adidas Originals

  adidas Originals Gazelle

  adidas$100.00 at adidas

  The original, the best, the undisputed king of the adidas Originals range – the Gazelle is the ultimate original that showcases style for all those who wear it.

  Its low-profile and iconic three-stripe piping overlays its leather upper and rubber outsole, matching smooth comfort with keen traction, while an additional sock liner helps secure a snug fit. This is a reissue of the classic 1991 incarnation and is still sublime after all these years.

• Best adidas Original for style

  adidas Originals Samba

  adidas$100.00 at adidas

  The shoe of 2022. The adidas Originals Samba has been everywhere, and for good reason. Born for the pitch, and made an icon on the streets, the Samba stays true to its origin and legacy, reinvented for your everyday.

  Available in endless colourways to match your style, the Originals Samba is a coveted trainer you need to get your hands on.

• Best budget-friendly adidas Originals

  adidas Originals Delpala

  adidas£60.00 at adidas

  There's no need to break the bank in your hunt for adidas Originals – the Delpala proves you can get high-quality style at a reasonable price.

  That chunky rubber sole is of the vulcanised gum variety and offers heavy reinforcement for day-to-day wear, while a canvas and leather upper combine for a sturdy result. It's proof that you don't need to blow open your wallet to get good results.

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• Best all-black adidas Originals

  adidas Originals Ozweego

  adidas$120.00 at adidas

  A retro yet futuristic trainer with impeccable detailing and distinctive midsole lines on a big, bold design featuring the iconic eyestay and recognisable translucent nylon tube for support – the Ozweego is one-of-a-kind.

  The innovative result is lighter than its size would indicate and provides targeted support and impact absorption in the forefoot and heel to create an incredibly comfortable, cushioned shoe.

Southampton have faced criticism for some terrible transfer decisions in recent seasons, with the likes of Jordy Clasie, Guido Carrillo and Wesley Hoedt memorable disasters, but there is no doubt that the club’s deal for Dejan Lovren eight years ago was a good one.

The Saints signed the centre-back from Lyon in the summer of 2013 in a deal worth £9m and he became a regular in Mauricio Pochettino’s side during the following season.

The Croatian international was hugely impressive in his only year with the Saints, making 31 appearances in the Premier League, contributing two goals and one assist, which helped him average a superb 7.32 WhoScored average rating.

As a result of his excellent performances, Liverpool shelled out £20m to sign him the following season, meaning Southampton were able to make a very quick £11m profit on the former Dinamo Zagreb man.

During his time with the Reds, the centre-back would go on to make 185 appearances and won both the Champions League and the Premier League under Jurgen Klopp, yet was regularly criticised by Premier League supporters and Liverpool fans alike for his error-prone nature.

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Lovren was seen as a liability for much of his time on Merseyside and, despite playing a part in their title triumph last season, the 31-year-old was allowed to join Zenit St Petersburg in the summer, something the Reds may have lived to regret due to the long-term injuries to both Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez this season.

Fortunately for Southampton, they saw the best of Lovren during his time on the south coast, and his signing was a rare transfer success when you consider some of their recent dealings.

If Lovren had stayed with the Saints rather than joining Liverpool, then perhaps they wouldn’t have signed Virgil van Dijk from Celtic in 2015, a deal which proved to be an incredible bargain for the south coast club.

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Therefore, there is no doubt that Lovren’s signing in 2013 was a huge success for Southampton for a number of reasons, but it is something they have arguably been unable to replicate in recent years.

And, in other news… Hasenhuttl hint on £5.4m-rated speedster could be bad news for rising Saints star

Ligue 1 and La Liga are the first continental divisions to get back under way following the break for the World Cup

In 2022-23, there's little time to recover after the World Cup. After less than two weeks since the final in Qatar, club football is already on the horizon around Europe, with Ligue 1 and La Liga both set to resume before the turn of the year.

Serie A and the Bundesliga will soon follow before the Champions League restarts in February, and after the slog to the World Cup break, it now becomes something of a sprint to the end of the season around the continent.

Almost every major league has something of a live title race, while European spots are also still to be figured out for next season.

The World Cup also brought us some breakout players that we're keen to see kick-on for their clubs, while established superstars are either looking to build on or recover from their tournaments in Qatar.

But what are we most looking forward to from the return of football around Europe? GOAL breaks it all down…

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  Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Neymar reuniting

  Stories of internal strife within the Paris Saint-Germain camp have been all too common over the 18 months.

  Although the Neymar-Messi-Mbappe trio undoubtedly makes for fantastic viewing, transfer rumours, contract disagreements and behind-the-scenes issues have dominated headlines.

  And after the World Cup final, it's hard to imagine things getting easier.

  Though Neymar was able to move on from the disappointment of Brazil's quarter-final exit to offer congratulations to Messi for Argentina's victory over France, public communication between the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner and Mbappe has been limited at best.

  Instead, rumours of Mbappe leaving for a new club have begun to swirl again, while Messi's request to parade the World Cup trophy at Parc des Princes has reportedly not gone down well.

  It could be a turbulent time for PSG in 2023 – and we've got the popcorn out ready to watch it all unfold.

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  Barcelona vs Real Madrid in La Liga's title race

  Although much of Barcelona's season has been defined by their group-stage exit from the Champions League, Xavi and his players have quietly pieced together a solid league campaign so far.

  They hold a narrow two-point lead over arch rivals Real Madrid at the top of the table, and have only lost once in the league, with that defeat coming at Santiago Bernabeu.

  Madrid, then, are still very much in the running, and with Carlo Ancelotti at the helm, cannot be ruled out.

  It will likely all come down to the next Clasico, scheduled for March 19. Whoever wins that one will likely be in pole position ahead of the run-in.

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  Europe's great entertainers: Napoli are back!

  With an unbeaten record and an eight-point lead at the top of Serie A, it's hard to see Napoli losing momentum in Italy. But how far can they go in the Champions League?

  Their performances in Europe this season have been electric, with Luciano Spalletti's side winning five of six games, including a 6-1 battering of Ajax in Amsterdam.

  Although there's quality all over the pitch, breakout winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has been the star. Known locally as "Kvaradona", the Georgian has been a joy to watch since arriving in the summer.

  Assuming Napoli hold on to the key pieces in their squad during the January transfer window, the sky is the limit for the Partenopei.

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  The rise of Jamal Musiala

  Germany's World Cup was one they will want to forget in a hurry.

  Embarrassed by Japan and eliminated in the group stage, Hansi Flick's side fell miles short of expectations.

  Still, among the negativity, youngster Jamal Musiala shone. One of the standout midfielders at the tournament at just 19, though he still has a long way to go, he is already a key player for both club and country.

  He returns to an unstable Bayern Munich camp that has been rocked by injuries to Sadio Mane, Manuel Neuer and Lucas Hernandez, and so they will need Musiala's quality to ensure they both remain top of the Bundesliga table and go deep in the Champions League.

  Musiala tends to thrive regardless of the situation, and so we can't wait to see how the ex-Chelsea trainee continues to step up over the next few months.

Aston Villa are reportedly worried they have made a mistake regarding midfielder Morgan Sanson.

That’s according to an exclusive report from Football Insider, who have been informed from a club source that the Villa hierarchy feel they “haven’t done their homework” over the Frenchman.

Sanson difficult to manage

Sanson joined in the January window on a four-and-a-half-year deal from Marseille but has made just two starts under Dean Smith.

The 26-year-old has made eight appearances in total, picking up three yellow cards in just 224 minutes of Premier League action so far.

The report claims that the midfielder is very difficult to manage, with two of his former agents deciding to let him go.

Transfer Tavern take

Smith was hoping Sanson would improve his midfield ranks, however, he’s struggled to really make his mark in the Midlands so far.

Valued at £16.2m by Transfermarkt, it’ll be interesting to see what Villa decide to do with Sanson, should these inside sources prove accurate.

Who knows, the club may even decide to cash in on him less than 12 months into his Villa Park career if they feel they have made a big mistake.

In other news: Villa open to offers for 25-year-old this summer, find out more here. 

Raphinha becomes the latest Brazilian sensation to join FC Barcelona…

Brazilian winger Raphinha has joined Barcelona from Leeds United, with both the clubs agreeing on a deal which could see the LaLiga giants end up paying €65 million to the Premier League club.

FC Barcelona have seen several Brazilian players don their famous shirt in the past and some of them are legends of the game. Players like Ronaldinho, Neymar, Luis Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Romario have played for the Blaugrana and have found success.

There have also been Brazilians who have failed to live up to the expectation. Philippe Coutinho, for example, was acquired in January 2018 for a club-record transfer fee of €160m.

Coutinho remained at the club until 2021 but failed to make much impact. He was sent on loan to Bayern Munich and then Aston Villa before the Premier League club bought him permanently for €20m at the end of 2021/22 season.

As Raphinha becomes the latest Brazilian star to join Barcelona, we take a look at the top 10 Brazilian footballers to play for the Catalan side.

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  Ronaldinho

  FC Barcelona stint: 2003-2008

  Trophies: LaLiga (2), Supercopa de Espana (2), Champions League (1)

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  Dani Alves

  FC Barcelona stint: 2008-2016, 2021-2022

  Trophies: LaLiga (6), Supercopa de Espana (4), Copa del Rey (4), Champions League (3), Copa Catalunya (2), Supercopa de Catalunya (1), UEFA Super Cup (3), FIFA Club World Cup (3).

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  Neymar

  FC Barcelona stint: 2013-2017

  Trophies: LaLiga (2), Supercopa de Espana (1), Copa del Rey (3), Champions League (1), FIFA Club World Cup (1).

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  Ronaldo

  FC Barcelona stint: 1996-1997

  Trophies: UEFA Cup Winners' Cup (1), Supercopa de Espana (1), Copa del Rey (1).