Pochettino gets unexpected triple Chelsea boost for Man City amid Nkunku injury message – Newstrends
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Pochettino gets unexpected triple Chelsea boost for Man City amid Nkunku injury message

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1 year ago

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Pochettino gets unexpected triple Chelsea boost for Man City amid Nkunku injury message

Christopher Nkunku is nearing his long awaited return from injury and once he is back, Chelsea’s squad will look significantly better. Still not complete, but a whole lot better.

The France international is yet to feature in a competitive match for the Blues since making the £52million move from RB Leipzig in the summer transfer window. Nkunku limped off in Chelsea’s final pre-season match of their tour of the United States in the summer, suffering a serious knee injury.

Mauricio Pochettino, though, recently gave Chelsea fans a positive update on Nkunku. Pochettino said: “He is doing really, really well; is working really hard.

“He is close and hopefully as soon as possible we can have him involved again. He is a really important player for us. Maybe after the international break [this month] he will be involved, maybe. It’s not sure.”

So Chelsea will have Nkunku back soon, but he will not be available this weekend as they welcome Premier League champions – and current leaders – Manchester City to Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon. Either way, football.london takes a look at what – in a more ideal world – Chelsea’s lineup would look like this weekend if everyone was fit and available.

Goalkeeper would of course be Robert Sanchez. The Spaniard has enjoyed a mixed start to life at Stamford Bridge since his summer move from Brighton but overall it has been positive and he has made himself – for the time being at least – the undisputed first-choice goalkeeper under Pochettino.

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At right-back would be club captain Reece James, who has recently made his return from injury. When he is fit and available, we all know James is one of the best in his position and he showcased that when trying to break down a high back-line against Tottenham on Monday night.

Thiago Silva and Levi Colwill, on paper, look to be Chelsea’s two strongest central defenders. There is of course an argument that Benoit Badiashile should be there but there seems to be more of a balance with Silva and Colwill at the moment.

Ben Chilwell, once he returns from injury, is Pochettino’s first-choice left-back – and rightly so. Marc Cucurella has been in good form recently but Chilwell is the superior player; giving Chelsea more in attack and also does not leave the side as vulnerable in defence.

Conor Gallagher has arguably been Chelsea’s most consistent player in the early stages of the season, so there is no question that he gets in the team. Alongside him will be Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo, Chelsea’s two most expensive players of all time.

The three, in recent weeks, have started to form a brilliant relationship. Chelsea’s midfield has quickly turned into one of the strongest parts of their team.

In attack is where it gets tricky because Nkunku simply has to be there. He will offer Chelsea a constant goal threat – something they do not possess with him out of the team. So there is a shout that he goes as the No.9.

Despite Raheem Sterling’s strong start to the season, it feels like Mykhailo Mudryk offers more on the left-hand side. And then, of course, the brilliant Cole Palmer would go on the right-hand side.

Pochettino gets unexpected triple Chelsea boost for Man City amid Nkunku injury message

(FOOTBALL LONDON)

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Osimhen scores hat-trick as Galatasaray demolish Antalyaspor

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7 hours ago

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March 15, 2025

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Victor Osimhen

Osimhen scores hat-trick as Galatasaray demolish Antalyaspor

Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen scored a hat trick as Galatasaray defeated Antalyaspor 4-0 on Friday night.

Álvaro Morata scored from the penalty spot, completing the overwhelming victory.

Osimhen opened the goal at Rams Park in the 30th minute, completing Morata’s assist.

Morata scored a penalty in the 45th minute, followed by Osimhen’s second goal assisted by B. Yılmaz three minutes later.

The Nigerian striker completed his hat trick in the 52nd minute, with an assist from Y. Akgün.

The Nigerian striker completed his hat trick in the 52nd minute, with an assist from Y. Akgün.

This hat trick brings Osimhen’s season total to 20 league goals in 22 appearances, making him the leading scorer in the Turkish Süper Lig.

Since joining Galatasaray on loan from Napoli following the fourth game of the season, Osimhen has 26 goals and 5 assists across all competitions in 30 appearances.

Galatasaray’s strong performance cements their place at the top of the Süper Lig.

Prior to this match, they lead the rankings with 68 points from 26 matches, having won 21 and drawn 5.

Their closest competitors, Fenerbahçe, have 61 points after 25 games.

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With this victory, Galatasaray expands their lead to 71 points, increasing their bid for the league championship.
According to a post-match statement on the club’s website, this was Okan Buruk’s 100th game as head coach.

“Galatasaray faced Onvo Antalyaspor in the 28th week of the Trendyol Super Lig. Our team won the match played at Ali Sami Yen Sports Complex RAMS Park with a score of 4-0.

“Our goals came from Victor Osimhen (30′, 45+3′, 52′) and Alvaro Morata (45+2′).

“Continuing their undefeated lead, the team increased its points tally to 71 and increased it to 10 with two games more than its opponent.

“Before the match, our coach Okan Buruk was presented with a plaque to commemorate his 100th match as a coach at Galatasaray,” it read.

Yunus Akgün, Lucas Torreira, and Victor Osimhen were replaced by Roland Sallai, Dries Mertens, and Mario Lemina in the 68th minute.

Muslera blocked Van de Streek’s kick for Antalyaspor in the 73rd minute.

This was Antalyaspor’s only attack in the second half, according to the club’s statement.

Kaan Ayhan replaced Davinson Sanchez in the 77th minute. In the 79th minute, Kaan Ayhan attempted to score from a free kick, but his shot was saved by custodian Piric.

In the 83rd minute, Berkan Kutlu replaced Barış Alper. In the remaining portion, we will travel to Beşiktaş with a 4-0 victory, as the positions we found with Morata and Sara yielded no results.

 

Osimhen scores hat-trick as Galatasaray demolish Antalyaspor

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Fernandes nets hat-trick in Man United big win over Real Sociedad

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1 day ago

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March 14, 2025

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Fernandes nets hat-trick in Man United big win over Real Sociedad

Man United skipper Bruno Fernandes scored a hat-trick to lead his side to victory against 10-man Real Sociedad at Old Trafford and book a Europa League quarter-final encounter with French club Lyon.

Needing a victory to keep alive their hopes of marking Ruben Amorim’s first year in charge with silverware and knowing the tournament is their only realistic chance of securing European football next season, Man United got off to the worst possible start as Mikel Oyarzabal scored from the spot after being brought down by Matthijs de Ligt.

Thankfully for the hosts, the were level within six minutes as Fernandes kept his cool after Igor Zubeldia had taken Rasmus Hojlund down as the Dane was bearing down on the Sociedad goal.

Remarkably, it took a third penalty of the night to get United’s noses in front.

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Aritz Elustondo complained long after it was ruled he had fouled Patrick Dorgu. It made no difference, and for the third time, the goalkeeper went the wrong way as Fernandes found the net for from the spot for his 14th goal of the season.

The Spanish visitors’ last chance seemed to disappear midway through the second half when Jon Aramburu was sent off for hauling down Dorgu, who would have been through.

But just for good measure, Man United struck twice more before the end.

Fernandes completed his second hat-trick for the club with a low finish across goal and into the far corner before fellow Portugal international Diogo Dalot drilled home a fourth in stoppage time.

 

Fernandes nets hat-trick in Man United big win over Real Sociedad

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Real Madrid beat Atletico after bizarre penalty disallowed

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2 days ago

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March 13, 2025

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Real Madrid beat Atletico after bizarre penalty disallowed

Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez had a penalty dramatically ruled out in the shootout as Real Madrid edged out their city rivals to reach the quarter-finals.

They will face Arsenal in the last eight, having kept alive their hopes of winning a record-extending 16th Champions League trophy.

Neither side could find a winning goal before the end of extra time after Conor Gallagher’s strike – just 27 seconds into the game – had levelled the tie on aggregate after Real Madrid’s 2-1 first-leg win.

That meant penalties were needed to determine the outcome and, after the first three had been converted, former Manchester City forward Alvarez stepped up to take Atletico’s second.

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He slipped while taking it, but the ball ended up in the back of the net. While it was initially given, the successful spot-kick was subsequently ruled out by the video assistant referee (VAR), with Alvarez having been deemed to have touched the ball twice as he struck his effort.

Fede Valverde converted his penalty to put Real 3-1 ahead and although Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak saved Lucas Vazquez’s spot-kick to briefly give Atletico hope, Marcos Llorente hit the bar.

Antonio Rudiger then stepped up to squeeze home the decisive penalty to send Real Madrid through by a 4-2 margin.

 

Real Madrid beat Atletico after bizarre penalty disallowed

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