Italy have failed to qualify for the World Cup for the third time in a...

Rodri will miss Manchester City’s clash with Burnley, offering Arsenal a small boost as Pep Guardiola’s side chase top spot in the title race.

Manchester City head coach Pep Guardiola revealed that star Rodri will be missing the next game against Burnley amid the Premier League title race. Rodri has been one of Manchester City‘s most indispensable players, and the club felt his absence acutely during his lengthy injury layoff last season. Now, with the Premier League title race heating up, head coach Pep Guardiola has confirmed that the Spanish midfielder will miss the team’s upcoming fixture due to injury. With the FA Cup semifinal on the horizon, City have scheduled their Matchday 34 Premier League clash against Burnley for Wednesday, April 22, at Turf Moor. Sitting just three points behind Arsenal at the top of the table with a game in hand, a victory would pile further pressure on the Gunners in the closing stretch of the season. At Tuesday’s press conference, however, Guardiola confirmed that Rodri will not be available for the trip to Burnley due to a groin problem. “I think for tomorrow he will not be ready,” the City manager said. The concern appears to stop there for now, with Guardiola suggesting Rodri could return either for the FA Cup semifinal against Southampton or the subsequent Premier League fixture. “We will see for the next games. Maybe against Southampton or maybe in 12 days,” he added. Rodri of Manchester City runs with the ball whilst under pressure from Dominik Szoboszlai. Since returning from the ACL injury that ruled him out for the majority of last season, Rodri has featured in 31 matches across all competitions for City. His direct goal contributions have been modest, with two goals and no assists, but his presence in the engine room has restored the midfield stability that was so sorely missed in his absence, re-establishing him as the linchpin of Guardiola’s system. Rodri and Bernardo Silva: the core of City’s win over Arsenal City are in excellent form, with their recent momentum tracing back to a January 17 victory over Manchester United, a result that served as a turning point in the club’s season and reignited their title challenge. The game that truly shifted the tone of the race, however, was Sunday’s 2-1 win over Arsenal, in which Guardiola singled out both Rodri and Bernardo Silva for their leadership and composure in a high-stakes encounter. “Both are experienced, they have a huge special personality,” Guardiola said. “They are not young guys anymore, experienced guys, but played a lot of this type of games and know how it must be played. They were exceptional,” the manager added. The praise comes at a poignant moment, with Silva set to leave at the end of the season when his contract expires, while Rodri’s own future is the subject of growing speculation amid reported interest from Real Madrid.

Manchester City will be without Rodri for tonight’s Premier League fixture against Burnley. Paul Hirst has reported for The Times that Manchester City’s midfield general that Rodri sustained a calf injury in the second half of City’s 2-1 win over Arsenal. As per Hirst’s report, Rodri’s injury isn’t believed to be too serious, but he […] The post A player who will play a pivotal role for Manchester City tonight knows the challenge ahead appeared first on Esteemed Kompany.

European champions Spain will be one of the favourites for this summer's World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico

Let's dive into the World Cup field by placing all the teams into distinct tiers and who to keep an eye on.

Both Yamal and Mbappe fail to make the top three, while Bayern have the top two

A round-up of all the games on Tuesday night in La Liga, as the stakes grow ever higher in the final stages of the season. RCD Mallorca 1-1 Valencia: Mallorca rue chances Martin Demichelis was left ruing his side’s missed opportunity at Son Moix on Tuesday night, after RCD Mallorca drew with Valencia. Following a […] The post La Liga Round-Up: Isco makes long-awaited return for Betis as Unai Simon digs out Athletic Club appeared first on Football España.

Real Madrid manager Alvaro Arbeloa was forced to answer multiple questions on his players being whistled by their own fans for a third time this season, following Los Blancos’ 2-1 win over Alaves. Vinicius Junior was the main target for the Santiago Bernabeu again, despite turning out to be the match-winner. Of course the main […] The post “I was whistled as a player too” – Real Madrid manager Alvaro Arbeloa on Vinicius Junior reaction appeared first on Football España.

With Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres reportedly failing to earn the undisputed spot as striker, Julian Alvarez is see as FC Barcelona's dream signing. Julian Alvarez has long been linked with FC Barcelona as the ideal candidate to anchor the club’s attack for years to come, and those links have now grown considerably stronger. With Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres reportedly falling short of expectations at the Blaugrana, the Argentine has emerged as the club’s primary transfer target. While Barcelona remain one of the most potent attacking sides in the world, a specific weakness has emerged at center forward. With Lamine Yamal firmly established on the right and Raphinha on the left, the wide positions are well covered at the highest level, but the striker role has become the club’s most pressing concern heading into the transfer window. According to a report by Laia Cervello Herrero and Pol Ballus in The Athletic, both Lewandowski and Ferran Torres have failed to fully convince at Barcelona, casting serious doubt over their futures at the club. Despite being given equal opportunities, neither has established himself as a reliable and consistent goal threat in the 2025-26 campaign, a deficiency that has cost the team dearly in key moments throughout the season. Against that backdrop, Julian Alvarez has been identified as Barcelona’s dream solution. The Argentine fits the tactical profile that coach Hansi Flick is reportedly looking for, and the striker himself has not closed the door when asked publicly about interest from the Blaugrana. Julian Alvarez of Atletico de Madrid celebrating. The primary obstacle standing in the way of a deal would be the fee Atletico Madrid would demand for a player under contract until June 2030. According to The Athletic‘s report, any offer would need to start at a minimum of €100 million, roughly $117 million. That price tag represents a significant hurdle given Barcelona’s well-documented financial constraints. However, the potential savings from releasing Lewandowski’s substantial salary, combined with the cooling of the Marcus Rashford purchase option situation, are expected to give the Catalan club enough room to mount a serious push for the 26-year-old in the upcoming summer window. Lewandowski and Ferran Torres facing uncertain futures at Barcelona Lamine Yamal’s position as the team’s top assister with 18 underlines his role as the creative engine, but the fact that he also leads the scoring charts with 23 goals says as much about the underperformance of those specifically tasked with putting the ball in the net. Ferran Torres sits second with 19 goals and Lewandowski fourth with 17, numbers that fall short of what Barcelona requires from a lead striker at the highest level. Beyond their performances, the contract situations of both players do little to support their long-term futures at the club. On Lewandowski’s side, Sky Sports‘ Florian Plettenberg has reported that president Joan Laporta is open to an extension but with a significant wage reduction on the table, while Saudi Arabia and MLS club Chicago Fire have both registered interest, though formal discussions have yet to take place. As for Ferran Torres, his contract runs through June 2027 with no new deal in sight, and The Athletic reports that Barcelona would be willing to entertain offers for the forward. His inconsistency and inability to fully claim the starting striker role have only strengthened the club’s desire to bring in a more dependable option, making the pursuit of Álvarez all the more pressing.