Xavi brought Jules Kounde straight back into Barcelona s team for Sunday s Clasico clash with Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Kounde, a big-money signing from Sevilla, returned to training earlier this week after recovering from a hamstring issue sustained on international duty with France in September.
His return to the starting XI, which marks his Clasico debut, came at the expense of Gerard Pique, who was culpable for one of Inter s goals in Wednesday s 3-3 draw in the Champions League, which left Barca on the brink of an early exit from the competition.
Frenkie de Jong also came into the team, replacing Gavi, while Marcos Alonso made way for Alejandro Balde at left-back.
Xavi stuck with the same front three that started against Inter, with Ousma…
Juventus have confirmed defender Bremer has sustained a hamstring injury that will keep him out for close to three weeks.
Bremer, who signed for Juve from Torino ahead of this season, has started all 10 of the Bianconeri s Serie A games this season.
The 25-year-old made his debut for Brazil in September, playing 44 minutes as a substitute in a 3-0 friendly win over Ghana.
However, he now faces a race to be fit in time to make Tite s squad for the World Cup.
Medical Update | Gleison Bremer
— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen)
Juve confirmed on Monday that Bremer, who was taken off in the 52nd minute of Saturday s win over his former side Torino, had suffered a low-grade lesion to the hamstring of the left thigh .
Bremer faces approximate…
Fenerbahce picked up the point they needed to secure their 19th league title with a 0-0 draw against Rizespor on Sunday.
Ersun Yanal s side started the day 12 points ahead of the then-second-placed Besiktas and knew that a draw would be enough regardless of what their rivals did.
And their goalless stalemate in Istanbul was enough to give them their first title since the 2010-11 season.
Their triumph was witnessed by only women and children inside the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium, as men were banned for previous crowd trouble.
But it did not dampen the mood as the title was wrestled back after finishing second to arch-rivals Galatasaray for the last two seasons.
As it turned out, the point was not necessary as Besiktas lost 3-0 at Sivasspor, who remain level on …
Hull City midfielder David Meyler said he appreciates the importance of their FA Cup final appearance, more so after his serious injuries.
Meyler, 24, has twice undergone rehabilitation on his right knee, with one prognosis fearing the Ireland international would be unable to resume walking without discomfort.
The Cork-born midfielder first injured his knee in May 2010 when playing Manchester United, before a recurrence in January 2011.
I was told I might never walk properly again, Meyler said.
That gives you a bit of context, to play in an FA Cup final. I don t know if I will be playing yet, obviously, but to have the opportunity would be fantastic.
I had made a right mess of my leg, I thought I would not be right for a long time. The first time (it was) b…
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is yet to decide on his first-choice formation for the 2017-18 season.
Klopp has brought in Mohamed Salah from Roma in a deal that could reach a value of €50million, but the winger and young striker Dominic Solanke, signed from Chelsea, are the only fresh arrivals so far ahead of the new Premier League campaign.
As well as adding more names to Liverpool s ranks, the former Borussia Dortmund boss is hoping to increase the squad s tactical flexibility, as he decides on the strategy that will work best with the Reds looking to improve on a fourth-place finish last year.
Tactically-wise, getting more flexible depending who is there and when and introducing different systems, Klopp told the club s website when asked for his pre-seas…
Jan Kirchhoff has likened Sunderland securing Premier League survival to winning a title after they beat Everton 3-0 to ensure another season in the top flight.
Kirchhoff won the Bundesliga title and DFB Pokal with Bayern Munich in 2013-14, but left the Bavarians for the Stadium of Light in the January transfer window in order to get regular first-team football, having previously been sent on a long-term loan to Schalke.
He quickly became an important member of the first team after a difficult start to life at Sunderland and was understandably delighted with their successful battle against relegation.
It is really nice, almost like winning a title, it s unbelievable, Kirchhoff told Sky Sports on Wednesday.
We went through dangerous and difficult situati…
Paris Saint-Germain coach Thomas Tuchel is hopeful of having Kylian Mbappe available to face Nice on Sunday.
Mbappe is yet to play for PSG in 2020-21 after testing positive for coronavirus while on France duty earlier this month.
PSG lost their opening two games of the Ligue 1 season, but recorded a much-needed 1-0 win over Metz on Wednesday.
Tuchel said he was hoping to have Mbappe, who scored 30 goals in 2019-20, available against Nice.
Kylian is feeling good. He doesn t have any symptoms, he told a news conference.
He has been tested positive for COVID-19 but he didn t have any symptoms. He is feeling good. He had some individual training sessions.
Maybe we will do the same thing we have done with Angel [Di María], Marquinhos and Ma…
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Serie A heavyweights Milan travel to Atalanta in an attempt to strengthen their top four chances and end a poor patch of results against the in-form Bergamo-based side.
Atalanta
With only one defeat in their last eleven games in all competitions and nine in the league, Atalanta find themselves only one point short of the Champions League spot in the Serie A standings. They are, in fact, trailing behind their Saturday’s rivals and the game at the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d[Italia will be a great chance to test their top-four credentials.
Atalanta have been demonstrating their warrior spirit for a while now in the Italian top flight and it has been particularly strong this season with La Dea averaging…