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Newcastle United were hit with a big blow in the summer transfer window when Alexander Isak opted to pursue a move to Premier League champions Liverpool.

The Magpies raked in a British record fee of £125m for the Sweden international, who scored 52 goals in his last two full seasons at St. James’ Park in all competitions, per Sofascore.

That meant that Eddie Howe and the recruitment team had plenty of work to do in the summer to bring in players to carry a goal threat, and they did a fairly decent job.

Ranking Newcastle's summer signings

The headline signing for the Magpies was, of course, the £69m addition of Nick Woltemade as a replacement for Isak, and he has scored a respectable five goals in ten Premier League games this season.

£55m signing Yoane Wissa from Brentford, though, is yet to feature for the club, due to injury, which makes it hard to judge how good of a signing he will turn out to be.

Whilst Wissa is impossible to rank, Jacob Ramsey ranks at the bottom of the pile of summer signings, right now, having failed to provide a goal or an assist in ten appearances this season for the Magpies.

As you can see in the table above, Malick Thiaw ranks at the top of the pile after his brace against Everton, as he has provided a solid presence at the back for Newcastle.

The German giant, signed from Milan for £30m, has started nine Premier League games and won a whopping 72% of his duels, per Sofascore, which makes him the most dominant defender in the squad.

Whilst Thiaw has been a brilliant signing for the club, there is a pre-existing member of the squad who may have the potential to be their next Isak-esque superstar.

The Newcastle ace who could be their next superstar

Lewis Miley was given a rare opportunity to impress in the middle of the park against Everton, in what was his third start of the Premier League season, and he showcased his class, winning 100% (3/3) of his physical duels, per Sofascore.

The Newcastle academy graduate also scored the second goal of the match, firing past Jordan Pickford with his weak foot, which came after his brilliant corner was nodded in by Thiaw in the opening minute of the game.

Miley was once hailed as “England’s next superstar” by BBC pundit Pat Nevin. Performances like his one against the Toffees at the weekend only help to back up that claim, as he looks to make his mark at senior level.

The 19-year-old whiz has made 60 first-team appearances for the Magpies to date, per Transfermarkt, but the next step for him is to nail down a place as a regular starter in midfield, which means that he will need to get in over Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali, or Joelinton.

That is no easy task, but it is one that he is capable of completing, as his performance against Everton proved, because the youngster has the talent to be impactful at Premier League level, despite his age and inexperience.

As a young midfielder who can score and assist goals, with four goals and six assists at first-team level so far, Miley is an even more exciting talent than Thiaw, who is not as flashy a talent as a centre-back.

The England U21 international has the chance to be a superstar for the Magpies because he is an English and academy-grown prospect who the fans can get behind and champion as ‘one of their own’ from the local area, which adds an extra special dynamic to his potential rise to stardom.

Miley, given that he is not a regular starter yet, still has a long way to go before he is at Isak’s level of stardom at St. James’ Park, but the potential is there for him to eventually hit those heights.

It is now down to the English midfielder, though, to deliver quality performances whenever he is called upon, as he did against Everton, to prove to Howe that he has the consistency required to start week-in-week-out.

Newcastle chasing £88m Barnes upgrade who's "one of the best in the world"

The league-winning international superstar would be bad news for Harvey Barnes but a game-changer for Eddie Howe and Newcastle United.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Nov 30, 2025

After Miley achieves that, the teenage talent can focus on being a real difference-maker at the top end of the pitch with goals and assists to take him from being a key player to a superstar.

Thomas Frank is not concerned about losing his job at Tottenham, expressing unwavering confidence that the club’s "intelligent" owners will remain patient amid the team's dismal run of form. The Spurs manager cut a composed figure in the wake of Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Fulham, even as frustration inside the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium boiled over and supporters turned on goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario.

• Vicario booed after crucial error sparks fury

  Fans lost their cool following a calamitous mistake by Vicario that led to Fulham's second goal. As Frank’s side struggled to recover from recent defeats to Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain, they were stunned by two goals in a breathless opening six minutes that silenced the home crowd and turned nervousness into hostility. Kenny Tete’s early strike put Marco Silva’s team ahead after just four minutes. Moments later, Spurs were rocked again. Vicario raced off his line to close down Raul Jimenez, yet his attempt to control the ball with his weaker left foot went horribly wrong. His scuffed clearance rolled straight to Josh King, who calmly squared the ball for Harry Wilson to curl into an empty net. Vicario’s error became the focal point for simmering anger, with pockets of supporters jeering the Italian every time he touched the ball. Frank, visibly annoyed by the treatment of his goalkeeper, later described those leading the booing as "not true fans," arguing that loyalty matters most during moments of adversity.

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  Frank remains confident despite slippery form

  Saturday’s defeat added to an increasingly grim home record for Tottenham this season. Spurs have also suffered losses at their own stadium to Bournemouth, Aston Villa and Chelsea. Draws against Wolves and Manchester United have compounded the sense of crisis, leaving Frank’s men searching for answers in a stretch of the season that is becoming more punishing with each passing week.

  The sense of a team stuck in reverse has been exacerbated by November’s torrid sequence, in which Tottenham lost four matches and claimed a solitary draw from their five domestic fixtures. Their only moment of respite came in the Champions League, where a hard-fought win over Copenhagen briefly lifted the mood before the subsequent dip washed away any lingering optimism.

  Nonetheless, Frank believes that he still enjoys the backing of the ownership group, led by chief executive Vinai Venkatesham. 

  "It seems like they’re good guys, intelligent people," Frank said. "They know how to run businesses and are learning about football, learning more now they’ve become owners.

  "When we’re dealing with intelligent people they can see every successful dynasty, every successful club has taken time. Yes, you have one where you maybe win one year or the second year, but you can’t sustain it if you don’t build something sustainable."

• Frank challenges narrative of losing support

  When asked about whether he has lost the fans, Frank pushed back against the idea that supporter confidence has evaporated entirely. He questioned the premise itself, wondering aloud what proportion of the fanbase such claims even refer to and insisting that football crowds are never monolithic in their opinions.

  "I’m pretty sure every fan wants to win and wants to support," he said. "If you’re not going to plan, then maybe some get more frustrated than others. There’s always some that shout louder than others. When you say you lose the fans, how many is that? Five per cent, 10%, 15%, 20%? How much is it? I don’t know. We would like to get all 100% on board."

  Frank also addressed comments made by defender Pedro Porro on social media following the Fulham defeat. The Spurs full-back had publicly expressed his frustration at the abuse directed toward teammates, and Frank backed the player’s right to speak his mind. He noted: "The players, they are individual people that can have their own opinions. What he put out there was fair in every aspect."

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  Pivotal festive period for Frank & Spurs

  There is an acknowledgement that December could determine the trajectory of Spurs’ season. A demanding run of fixtures looms, with clashes against Newcastle, Liverpool and Crystal Palace approaching rapidly. Positive results would ease scrutiny on Frank and restore belief among players whose confidence has taken visible blows in recent weeks.

The Athletics have been one of baseball's worst teams over the last three years, haven't made the playoffs since 2020 and annually field one of the lowest payrolls in the MLB. Throw in the fact that the franchise is currently calling a minor league ballpark in West Sacramento home, after fleeing Oakland in hopes of one day playing in Las Vegas, and it is little surprise that players don't have great things to say about the organization.

In fact, based on an anonymous poll of more than 100 big leaguers by , the A's are the most disliked franchise in the entire MLB.

The outlet asked which franchises have good and bad reputations among players. The Dodgers overwhelmingly came out on top, with 82 of the 126 total responses listing them among the teams with a good reputation. No players said they have a bad one.

The Athletics, on the other hand, received zero votes for good reputation and a league-high 39 votes for a bad reputation.

“Because they’re cheap,” one anonymous player said in the survey, while another mentioning the franchise's current minor league arrangement.

“I had a buddy who was traded to the A’s as a minor leaguer. … He went to Oakland and said the way they were fed, the places they stayed were just not good," a third respondent answered.

Of the league's 30 teams, 20 received at least one vote for bad reputation, including three votes for the New York Yankees (who have 30 votes as a team with a good one) and the first-place Detroit Tigers. Nine franchises only received bad votes, but no one topped the Athletics' 39 negative votes.

Paul Scholes might be of the bizarre opinion that he “takes too many touches”, but is there truly any reason to suggest why Arsenal’s Declan Rice isn’t one of the top five midfielders in the world right now?

There really isn’t anything that the Englishman can’t do, be it from whipping in a delicious corner, or rifling home a free-kick from range, having also been an ever-present fixture this season, prior to missing the trip to Bruges through illness.

He’s always up and at ’em, tearing from box-to-box in almost a Steven Gerrard, Roy Keane style of yesteryear. The true all-round midfielder.

It does boggle the mind that this was once a player shackled to a centre-back role in his youth at West Ham, before emerging as something of a safe and steady defensive-minded midfielder under David Moyes – scoring just 15 times in 245 games for the Hammers.

In the red and white of Arsenal, however, the 26-year-old has been a man unleashed, with Mikel Arteta’s handling of the all-action star proving to be something of a masterstroke.

Declan Rice's record as a No.6 vs a No.8

For all the attention surrounding West Ham’s Conference League captain, having emerged as a leading target for both Manchester clubs prior to 2023, there were still eyebrows raised at the £105m figure that the Gunners forked out to get their man just over two years ago.

Indeed, as already stated, the Three Lions star had only provided 28 goals and assists in total at the London Stadium, with the aforementioned Keane one of the more vocal sceptics at the time:

A solid, albeit unspectacular, debut season followed in north London, with 31 of Rice’s 51 games in all competitions coming in a number six role, as per Transfermarkt, with Arteta experimenting with Kai Havertz in the first half of the season in that left-sided number eight role.

Those 31 games yielded just three goals and four assists, although with the likes of Jorginho and Thomas Partey deployed more frequently heading into 2024, Rice’s 19 games as more of a box-to-box central midfielder saw him register ten goals and assists.

Indeed, that shift became something of a permanent one in 2024/25, with the one-time Chelsea youth man registering 16 goals and assists from his 37 games as a central midfielder, while providing just three goal involvements from 15 games in his deep-lying berth.

Of course, shifting into a more attacking role has aided that increase in final third contributions, although plaudits should fall to Arteta for spotting his attacking potential from the off.

Perhaps, a similar scenario could lie in store for Rice’s midfield colleague, Martin Zubimendi…

Arsenal's new Declan Rice

Part of the Gunners’ success again this term has been the continued deployment of Rice as a number eight, with the arrival of an orthodox midfield metronome, in the form of Zubimendi, bringing real balance to Arteta’s midfield unit.

Signed for a fee of around £60m from Real Sociedad, following prior interest from Liverpool, the Spaniard has taken to Premier League life like a duck to water, starting every league game to date this season.

As Rice has said himself, his new teammate is “so easy to play with”, with the pair seemingly hitting it off right from the start, rather than needing any period of adaptation.

Sitting in that role in front of the back four, Zubimendi is a master at pulling the strings, both for club and country, currently ranking in the top 11% of Premier League midfielders for pass completion, as well as in the top 9% for attempted passes per 90, as per FBref.

Also ranked in the top 16% for aerial duels won, the 26-year-old mops up so effectively in the centre of the park, rubberstamping the opinion that he is something of a ‘Rodri clone’, in the view of Spanish football expert, Graham Hunter.

Like 2023 Champions League final goalscorer, Rodri – and like Rice too – might there be more to Zubimendi’s game than just prioritising his defensive work? Could Arteta also get a tune out of him in an attacking sense, too?

Indeed, Zubimendi’s midweek performance away in Bruges showed flashes of what he can do in the final third, having provided two assists in Arsenal’s comfortable 3-0 victory.

Of course, with Rice already the all-action figure in the midfield, it’s not as Zubimendi would suddenly join him in bombing forward at every opportunity, albeit with Wednesday highlighting that Arteta should allow his compatriot to let the handbrake off on occasion.

While his first assist for Noni Madueke was nothing to shout about, the new man’s second was far more eye-catching, bursting down the left wing before producing a delightful back-post cross on his weaker foot.

In all, in the absence of Rice, the £60m man registered six key passes in total on the night, while creating three big chances, as per Sofascore, indicating that he can emulate the Englishman, if and when he is needed.

Already, he looks like the greatest success story of the Gunners’ summer recruitment, with Viktor Gyokeres scoring just four league goals, while Eberechi Eze was notably hooked at the break against Aston Villa, following arguably his poorest display to date.

That viewpoint is reinforced by his rising market value too, with Zubimendi now deemed to be €75m (£66m), according to Transfermarkt, while Gyokeres and Eze are deemed to be valued at €70m (£61m) and €65m (£57m), respectively.

Unlike that attack-minded pairing, the Euro 2024 winner has hit the ground running at the Emirates. As Wednesday indicated, however, there’s plenty more to his game still be discovered.

£45m star who plays a "bit like Henry" could end Gyokeres' Arsenal career

The incredibly talented Arsenal star could spell trouble for Gyokeres.

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Jack Salveson Holmes

4 days ago

The draw for the 2026 World Cup is finally over! After what seemed like an eternity, the real business finally got underway in Friday's ceremony in Washington DC, with Rio Ferdinand leading the way and sporting icons such as Tom Brady, Shaquille O'Neal and Wayne Gretzky teaming up to throw up some intriguing groups for next summer's tournament in North America.

Reigning champions Argentina are in with Austria, Algeria and Jordan, while 2022 runners-up France have been placed in the closest thing to a 'Group of Death' alongside Senegal and Norway. As for England, they were paired with Croatia, Panama and Ghana, while things went reasonably well for all three of the co-hosts – United States, Mexico and Canada, although the Canucks may well be hoping that Italy don’t belatedly qualify via the European play-offs.  

So, who were the big winners of the draw? Whose hopes of winning the tournament have been boosted? And which nations will be fearing an humiliating first-round exit? And GOAL breaks it all down below…

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  WINNER: The USMNT

  Things are suddenly looking up for U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino. The Argentine came in for plenty of stick during a trying start to his tenure that featured some desperately disappointing defeats and very worrying signs of a strained relationship with 'Captain America' Christian Pulisic. However, after a run of five games without defeat, including a 5-1 demolition of Uruguay achieved without some of his most talented players, Pochettino will now be very confident of avoiding an early exit at next summer's World Cup.

  Truth be told, there's absolutely no reason why the co-hosts can't progress as winners of Group D because the draw couldn't have gone much better for them: Australia were among the weakest sides in Pot Two, Paraguay finished sixth in CONMEBOL and, like the Socceroos, struggle to score goals; while Turkey/Romania/Slovakia/Kosovo was the weakest of the UEFA play-off brackets.

  All things considered, a first World Cup quarter-final appearance since 2002 is a distinct possibility for the Americans if Pochettino can maintain the momentum he's built up in recent months.

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  LOSER: France

  As one of the seeded sides in a 48-team World Cup, Dider Deschamps' France would have been forgiven for anticipating a rather straightforward group-stage assignment. What they've received, though, is a very early and very tricky test of their credentials.

  In Norway, Les Bleus drew the team that absolutely nobody wanted from Pot Three, meaning the French are definitely going to have a fight on their hands for top spot in Group I – and not just because they'll have to figure out a way to stop Erling Haaland.

  The 2022 runners-up have also been landed in the same pool as Senegal, who are ranked 19th in the world and showed just how dangerous they are by dismantling England in a friendly at the City Ground earlier this year. It's also worth noting that The Lions of Teranga upset France at in the opening round of games at the World Cup in South Korea and Japan 23 years ago. If history were to repeat itself in the U.S. next summer, France would actually be at risk of suffering another humiliatingly early exit.

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  WINNER: The surviving members of Belgium's Golden Generation

  A bit like Kevin De Bruyne all the way back in 2022, we'd pretty much given up on Belgium's 'Golden Generation' ever realising their potential. However, all hope is not yet lost. While several stars retired after the Red Devils' calamitous campaign in Qatar, De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, Axel Witsel and Thibaut Courtois are still knocking about and, fitness-permitting, all four will feature at next summer's tournament in North America.

  Granted, the Belgians performed pretty poorly in qualifying. As winger Jeremy Doku admitted, the majority of their displays were sub-standard and we're not going to suddenly tout them as potential World Cup winners.

  However, Rudi Garcia's squad does not lack quality or experience, and should (in theory, at least) cruise through a group containing Iran, Egypt and New Zealand, with only The Pharaohs looking remotely capable of challenging them for top spot.

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  LOSER: Scotland

  When Scotland last appeared at the World Cup, in 1998, they were drawn in the same group as Brazil, Morocco and Norway. This time around, they've managed to avoid the Scandinavians, but having to once again tackle the Selecao and The Atlas Lions means the Scots could well struggle to reach the round of 32.

  Brazil may not be the force they once were, but they're still the record five-time champions and results have certainly picked up since Carlo Ancelotti took over during the summer. It certainly wouldn't be a surprise if the former Real Madrid boss were to coax the best out of Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo next summer.

  As for Morocco, they're once again Africa's best hope of finally winning the World Cup. They finished fourth in 2022 and are presently on a 19-match unbeaten run.

  Bottom line: Scotland might need to produce the kind of heroics they pulled out of the bag in their dramatic and decisive qualifying win over Denmark just to make the knockout stage. And who knows, with the support of the travelling Tartan Army, maybe it's not beyond the realms of possibility?!

ATLANTA — It was nearing midnight in Georgia, magic hour in song and, as it would happen, baseball history. It was March 2, 1974, when Gladys Knight & The Pips won a Grammy and carved a phrase forever into musical amber with “Midnight Train to Georgia.”

Thirty-seven days later, Hank Aaron hit one of the most meaningful home runs in baseball history, No. 715, to pass Babe Ruth as the home run king. In the last hours of Tuesday night in Georgia, in which 715 was honored on 7/15 at the All-Star Game, history seemed to appear out of nowhere.

The All-Star Game was tied, a source of embarrassment for MLB in 2002 when the teams ran out of pitchers and MLB sent everybody home without a conclusion, as dispiriting as the film projector conking out at an old movie theater. Baseball’s fix, which has been in place for several years, was to arrange a mini-home run derby to decide the winner: three players for each side get three swings each.

Privately, no one in MLB was sure they wanted to see it. The biggest stars of the game are long gone from playing by the ninth inning. Who would care about a “swing-off” between the back ends of All-Star rosters?

But then, midnight approaching, the voice of Gladys Night and the majesty of Hank Aaron redolent in the thickness of the air, something almost magical happened. Before leadoff hitters Brett Rooker of the Athletics and Kyle Stowers of the Marlins—great hitters but not exactly A-list baseball celebrities—took the first hacks, players from both teams swarmed out of the dugout and filled the track and area near home plate. Tarik Skubal, the AL starting pitcher almost four hours ago, came out in his street clothes.

You could feel a buzz growing. The All-Star Game stopped being meaningful years ago. But here were the best players in the game acting as if they were back in an American Legion tournament. They . It was the best kind of historic moment: organic, unexpected, fun.

Kyle Schwarber would decide the game and win the MVP by hitting home runs with all three of his swings, giving the NL a 4-3 edge in the swing-off without the need for NL closer Pete Alonso to take his mighty hacks.

But to best understand why the night succeeded, you were best off checking in with Jonathan Aranda, the third hitter for the AL who did not homer with his three swings, though one smacked off the brick wall in rightfield a few feet below clearing it.

“I saw all of my teammates out there,” Aranda says. “And everybody was happy. Everybody is a part of history.”

Gladys Knight sang of a Los Angeleno going back to find “a simpler place and time” and buying “a one-way ticket back to the life he once knew.” The 95th All-Star game moved in an opposite direction: forward. Not only was the swing-off a hit that now looms over the game as dessert rather than a side of overcooked string beans, but the game also gave us the first use of the Automated Ball-Strike challenge system in full MLB competition. (It was tried out in spring training to rave reviews.)

In a literal sign of the future, the line score lit up on the huge videoboard at Truist Park included “R, H, E, ABS,” with the tote of challenges remaining sitting right there with the traditional categories of runs, hits and errors. Players and fans delighted in each use of the challenge system.

More than anything else, what made the night memorable was the delightful buy-in from the players about the swing-off. When much of the noise entering the game was the downbeat from player after player bagging out of the game for various reasons, the care from the players who stuck around to midnight was downright charming. The ones who could not be bothered with showing up and playing in the Midsummer Classic should know they missed a gem.

Aranda, the 27-year-old Tampa Bay Rays first baseman, would not have missed it for the world. Aranda grew up in Tijuana, Mexico, playing baseball since the age of four with Alejandro Kirk, who would sign with the Toronto Blue Jays and be teammates again with Aranda at the All-Star Game.

One day in the spring of 2015, a Rays executive named Carlos Rodriguez went to Tijuana to attend a workout of Randy Arozarena, an international free agent. But Arozarena, also an AL All-Star this year, didn’t show for the workout. A local Rays scout essentially told Rodriguez, “Hey, as long as you’re here, you might as well take a look at a few promising teenage players.” One of those players was Aranda, a 17-year-old middle infielder then who bats left and throws right. Thanks to Arozarena’s absenteeism, the Rays signed him for $130,000.

It took Aranda seven years to reach the big leagues and another three to lock down regular playing time, which he has done this year at first base with a .324/.399/.492 slash line. On Monday, Yankees manager and AL manager Aaron Boone asked Aranda if he would like to be one of his three swing-off hitters.

Manchester United have now reportedly held internal talks about signing a Premier League midfielder who will be cheaper than Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson.

Man Utd prioritising Anderson move

Anderson has quickly become the most sought-after midfield talent in the Premier League. The Nottingham Forest star has forced his way into Thomas Tuchel’s best England side and put himself on the radar of Liverpool, Manchester City and those at Old Trafford.

In terms of the physical profile that thrives in the Premier League these days, he ticks several important boxes. They are, as things stand, boxes that Man United’s current options struggle to meet, which makes it no surprise that the Red Devils have reportedly identified Anderson as their top transfer priority.

A deal to sign Anderson will not come cheap, however. Some reports have claimed that he will cost clubs as much as £100m to sign in the summer. Whether United have the spending power to match the likes of City as a result is the question that those around Old Trafford will now be asking themselves.

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It’s clear that Ruben Amorim is seeking reinforcements too, having laughed off suggestions that Kobbie Mainoo could solve some of Man United’s problems. The United boss said when asked about the midfielder: “I see it. I just want to win, I try to put the players, I don’t look who it is, I don’t care about that, I’m just trying to put the best players on the pitch.”

As the Premier League’s top clubs chase Anderson and Forest set their price, however, United may have no choice but to turn towards Mainoo or cheaper alternatives in the market like Joao Gomes.

Man Utd hold internal talks about Joao Gomes

According to the Daily Mail, Man United have now held internal talks about signing Gomes to fix their midfield problems in 2026. The Wolverhampton Wanderers man will be cheaper than Anderson at a reported £44m and it will be interesting to see if the price drops if the Midlands club drop down to the Championship this season.

Gomes may be a fair bit cheaper than Anderson, but the quality drop off is there for all to see. The Brazilian has by no means endured a poor season on a personal front even as Wolves have struggled. Alas, Anderson has blown him away in comparison both on and off the ball.

Dubbed a “super talent” by former Wolves boss Gary O’Neil, it’s not a major surprise that Gomes has found himself on United’s radar. He ticks the box for Premier League experience for a bargain price tag, but he is ultimately not on the same level as the likes of Adam Wharton and Anderson.

He’s "similar to Xhaka": Man Utd to push Madrid for £30m Wharton alternative

Raphinha's brace sent Barcelona seven points clear at the top of La Liga with a hard-fought 2-0 win over Osasuna. Hansi Flick's team were toothless in front of goal for long periods but the former Leeds United star came up trumps just when his team needed him in the second half. The result widened the gap to rivals Real Madrid, with Xabi Alonso under increasing pressure to keep his job.

Barcelona made a bright start to the game, with Ferran Torres twice going close, while Marcus Rashford had a penalty appeal turned down. At the other end, Ante Budimir worked Barca goalkeeper Joan Garcia and the pacey Victor Munoz caused the home defence a number of problems. It looked like the hosts had taken the lead in the 24th minute when Ferran Torres headed in Rashford's pinpoint cross, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside in the build-up from the corner. 

Torres was a whisker away from breaking the deadlock with an overhead kick, while Munoz shot just wide on the counter-attack. Rashford brought out a good save from keeper Sergio Herrera from a free-kick, and then some desperate defence denied the 28-year-old soon after. Just when it looked like the away side would frustrate the league leaders, captain Raphinha produced something out of nothing when his 20-yard shot whipped into the corner in the 70th minute. 

Jorge Herrando tucked the ball in the net five minutes from time but the goal was ruled out for a foul on goalkeeper Joan Garcia, and shortly after, Raphinha volleyed in from three yards to well and truly end Osasuna's stubborn resistance. The Blaugrana are now seven points clear but Madrid could cut that to four if they beat Alaves on Sunday night.

GOAL rates Barcelona's players from Camp Nou…

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  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Joan Garcia (7/10):

  Had to be alert to the dangers of Budimir and particularly Munoz and did a decent job in goal.

  Jules Kounde (6/10):

  Wasn't able to get forward in an attacking sense as much as usual as Osasuna's swift offence were a handful.

  Pau Cubarsi (5/10):

  The young centre-back didn't have a great night. He was sloppy at the back and found it difficult to keep a lid on Osasuna's attack.

  Gerard Martin (6/10):

  Struggled to handle the rapid Munoz but also showed good pace when getting back to clear the danger. 

  Alejandro Balde (6/10):

  Had some good races with Munoz, and sometimes came off second-best, but largely had a competent evening. 

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  Midfield

  Eric Garcia (5/10):

  Didn't add a great deal to Barcelona's midfield at a time when they needed more creativity to break down a stubborn away team. 

  Pedri (7/10):

  The Spaniard worked his socks off and kept chugging away when trying to unlock the away defence. He got an assist and is such a force for Barca.

  Raphinha (8/10):

  The Brazilian wasn't at his best on the whole but he took his first goal in brilliant fashion. Then was in the right place at the right time for his second.

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  Attack

  Lamine Yamal (7/10):

  While the teenager was a threat, Osasuna's Abel Bretones did a decent job against the Spanish winger. Still showed off some lovely bits of skill, mind. 

  Ferran Torres (6/10):

  Was unlucky to have an excellent header ruled out but other than that, should have scored a couple. 

  Marcus Rashford (7/10):

  Continues to earn his place in Barcelona's starting XI, with his trickery and crossing ability a real bonus. After a lively first half he wasn't quite as good in the second, though.

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  Subs & Manager

  Fermin Lopez (7/10):

  The attacking midfielder looked sharp off the bench.

  Frenkie de Jong (6/10):

  Was about to come on to turn the tide in Barca's favour but Raphinha did that so his impact wasn't really needed or felt.

  Marc Casado (N/A):

  Too little time to make an impact.

  Andreas Christensen (N/A):

  Came on with minutes to spare.

  Roony Bardghji (N/A):

  Barely touched the ball when brought on.

  Hansi Flick (7/10):

  His team created a hatful of chances and had the lion's share of possession but they weren't clinical in front of goal for the majority of the contest. Will be thankful he has Raphinha back fit again as he resisted going to his bench for a long time.

Elly De La Cruz's curiosity got the best of him during a Cincinnati Reds pitching change Monday night.

As Reds manager Terry Francona made the call to the bullpen during the fifth inning against the Washington Nationals, De La Cruz grabbed Francona's glasses to try them on for size. Francona's eye prescription appeared to be so strong that it nearly blinded De La Cruz as he put the specs on his face.

Francona let out a big laugh as De La Cruz winced and immediately handed the frames back.

The first-year Reds manager and star shortstop have managed to have some fun throughout their first season together. In June, Francona said he found a good way to get under the star's skin, telling him he'd make a really good designated hitter. Francona also hilariously mimicked De La Cruz's home-run celebration after a win last month, although he didn't do it exactly right.

There's never a dull moment between the two.

The Reds fell to the Nationals Monday night 10-8. De La Cruz scored three runs after he walked three times. The third-year star is slashing .281/.357/.486 with 18 home runs, 65 RBIs and 25 stolen bases this year.

Mere minutes after reportedly acquiring shortstop Carlos Correa from the Minnesota Twins, the Houston Astros seemingly showed they aren't done.

The Astros are acquiring outfielder Jesus Sanchez from the Miami Marlins for pitcher Ryan Gusto, according to a Thursday afternoon report from Mark Feinsand of MLB.com.

Sanchez, 27, has played his entire six-year career for the Marlins. He's seen action in 86 games this season, slashing .256/.320/.420 with 10 home runs and 36 RBIs. Sanchez has career averages of 21 home runs and 69 RBIs per 162 games, though he has played more than 100 just twice.

Houston is enjoying a five-game lead over the Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers in the American League West division despite a glut of injuries.

Gusto, who will reportedly go to the Marlins in the deal, has started 14 games for the Astros this season. He's currently 7-4 with a 4.92 ERA and 87 strikeouts in 86 innings pitched.