The World Series matchup isn't set in stone just yet, but Tampa Bay took a major step towards being the one that will face Milwaukee in the Fall Classic. They took two out of three in Cleveland to return home with a 3-2 series lead heading into a big Game 6 tonight, where they'll start Freddy Peralta who has been dealing this postseason while the Guardians will scramble to piece their way through a bullpen game after having to get 21 outs from their relievers yesterday. Thanks to the postponed Game 4 eating up the travel day, even if they do win tonight they'll also be forced to play the potential do-or-die Game 7 on four straight days without a night off — it's not looking pretty for Cleveland, to say the least.
We've got a full slate for you ahead of this critical Game 6 later tonight, starting with Jake's recap of Game 5's action in the Roundup. Michael hands out a stellar grade to David Bednar to kick off our annual Report Card series, and Kevin recalls Sandy Alomar Sr. and his days with the Yankees on his birthday. Then in the afternoon Jonathan goes over the Yankees' longest home runs of the season and Estevao reflects on the gap between Giancarlo Stanton and 500 career home runs before I return to open up the mailbag for more of your questions.
American League Championship Series Game 6
(Rays lead series, 3-2)
Cleveland Guardians vs. Tampa Bay Rays
Time: 8:00 p.m. EST

#series #cleveland #home #tonight

Chelsea welcome newly promoted Hull City to the Bridge today, though Hull have not been playing like newcomers, earning seven points from their first three games, keeping three clean sheets along the way. Can they resist our free-scoring attack? Let's hope not!
Xabi Alonso has made a couple changes to the usual early mix, with Maxence Lacroix taking a seat on the bench after starting every single game so far and Malo Gusto deployed at nominal left wing-back, at least according to the published lineup.
Here we go!
Chelsea starting lineup (3-4-2-1)
Martínez | Hato, Colwill, Fofana | Gusto, Lavia, James (c), Neto | Rogers, Palmer | João Pedro
Substitutes from: Penders, Acheampong, Lacroix, Chavarría, Barco, Quenda, Gittens, Estêvão, Welbeck

#Chelsea #lacroix #gusto

In a long interview with France Football just a few weeks before the Ballon d'Or, Kylian Mbappé opened up about the players who will shape football in the years to come.
Mbappé then revealed a short list and was full of praise for a certain Lamine Yamal.
"To determine the ten to fifteen best players in the world, I think everyone agrees. Among the youngsters? Lamine Yamal. He has everything [...] I really like Estevao, he has a certain creativity. Here, Arda Güler can go very far. Endrick has potential, he's a goalscorer. Warren (Zaïre-Emery), Désiré (Doué), they're going to have great careers, that's for sure," he explained.
It's a gesture that could prove costly for Memphis Depay.
During the first leg of the Copa Libertadores quarter-final between Corinthians and Estudiantes, the Dutch forward lost his cool by making an obscene gesture toward the Argentine crowd after his club's equalizer in the second half.

#mbapp

Captain Martin Odegaard scored the winner as ****** nal secured an impressive 2-1 home victory over Chelsea.
Club-record £117m signing Morgan Rogers put Chelsea ahead after just two minutes, but Kai Havertz equalised against his former club before Odegaard struck early in the second half to seal the win.
Here's how I rated the players and you can see how you scored them below.
What do BBC Sport's player ratings mean?
David Raya: The ****** nal goalkeeper was beaten by the quality of Rogers' finish but dealt comfortably with the other efforts he faced and produced one stunning save late on from Estevao. 6

#odegaard #scored

Chelsea's season is barely underway, yet questions are already emerging around Estêvão's role under new head coach Xabi Alonso.
According to ESPN Brazil, the young Brazilian is concerned that his opportunities could be reduced under Alonso, despite wanting to remain at Stamford Bridge. The report, written by Renato Senise, suggests the player has privately discussed his situation with close ****** ociates.
The timing is significant. Estêvão missed the final stretch of last season because of a right thigh muscle injury suffered in April, which also ruled him out of the World Cup. Having returned to Chelsea, he now faces a difficult battle for regular first team football.
Alonso has taken charge of only three Chelsea matches so far, two in the Premier League and one in the English League Cup, but the early signs have prompted concern.
Estêvão made a seven minute appearance against Fulham before starting against Luton Town in the cup. He was then an unused substitute during Chelsea's 4-3 victory over Brighton.

#brazilian #stamford

CBF president Samir Xaud visited Pedro Pedrossian Stadium, known as Morenão, in Campo Grande on the morning of this Wednesday (2), on the eve of the inauguration of the Football Development Center of the State of Mato Grosso do Sul. Opened in 1971 and with a capacity of more than 40,000 fans, the main stage of football in Mato Grosso do Sul is receiving an investment of around R$ 1 million from the CBF to revitalize the pitch.
Xaud was accompanied by the president of the Mato Grosso do Sul Football Federation (FFMS), Estevâo Petrallás, who presented the stadium's history and detailed the progress of the work, as well as the president of the Mato Grosso Football Federation (FMF), Diogo Pécora, and the State Secretary of Tourism, Sports and Culture (Setesc), Alessandro Menezes.
CBF president Samir Xaud visited Morenão Stadium, which is receiving CBF investment to revitalize the pitchCredits: Rodrigo Moreira/CBF
In an interview with CBF TV, the CBF president commented on the importance of the institutional agenda in Mato Grosso do Sul and praised the history and renovation work at Morenão. The stadium has also hosted Brazil national team matches: a 1-1 draw with Paraguay on February 27, 1991, in a friendly; and a goalless draw with Venezuela on October 14, 2009, in the qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup.
"Today we began our institutional visit to Mato Grosso do Sul, continuing our work toward more participatory management and closer ties with the federations. We are here at Morenão, a stadium with a history shared by the entire state population, and where the CBF has provided funds to help revitalize the stadium, including replacing the pitch, irrigation and drainage. For us, it is another joy to work to help Brazilian football as a whole and the smaller federations," he said.

#mato #xaud #work #state

Liverpool's pursuit of Ismaïla Sarr appears to be moving with purpose, with confidence growing around the proposed transfer as the club continues to shape its attacking options for Andoni Iraola. Credit to Khadim Diakhate, whose report indicates there is increasing belief among those close to the situation that the move can be completed.
There is also a significant detail on Liverpool's side of the negotiations. The report suggests the club are expected to improve their offer for Sarr, with that revised bid likely to be their final proposal. That usually signals a club entering the decisive phase of talks, trying to establish whether an agreement can be reached without allowing the process to drag on.
The wider picture is also revealing. Liverpool are said to want two wingers, with Sarr part of that plan alongside either Yankuba Minteh or Estêvão, who is referenced as Chelsea. That points to a recruitment drive focused on adding pace, directness and flexibility in the attacking line, particularly after a summer of change and the need to refresh options in the final third.
Sarr's appeal appears to go beyond the wing. He is viewed as someone capable of playing through the middle too, which may carry extra relevance if Alexander Isak fails to deliver at the required level, while Hugo Ekitike is currently unavailable through injury. That versatility could be a major factor in Liverpool's thinking.
From Liverpool's perspective, this looks like a deal built around tactical utility as much as raw talent. Sarr has long been **** ociated with speed, running power and vertical threat. For a head coach like Iraola, those qualities can be valuable across multiple attacking roles, especially in a system that asks forwards to attack **** e quickly and work intensely without the ball.

#sarr #appears #options #without

It has been a few years since we last faced Juventus on the pitch. We've been on similar paths even if not exactly parallel, with the (once) Italian juggernauts failing to win their national league for six years and counting.
As always fitness, tactics and team chemistry take precedence in a preseason game. But if we can come out on top against a fellow embattled giant, then why not push for it?
Chelsea starting lineup (4-2-3-1):
Sánchez | Palestra, Fofana, Tosin, Hato | Caicedo (c), Nicoll-Jazuli | Quenda, João Pedro, Gittens | Welbeck
Substitutes from: Penders, Sharman-Lowe, Curd, Slonina, Sarr, Subuloye, Anselmino, Acheampong, Diakité, Essugo, Lavia, Walsh, Watson, Kellyman, Satpayev, Kavuma-McQueen, Estêvão, Mudryk, Neto, Jackson, Delap
Juventus starting eleven:
Di Gregorio | Kalulu, Gatti, Kelly, Çelik, Locatelli (c), Douglas Luiz, Cambiaso, Miretti, Boga, Milik

#juventus #starting #palestra #fofana

England international? Tick. Premier League winner? Tick. At least 35 years old? Erm, tick that too. Chelsea's transfer policy has taken a surprising turn this summer, ripped up and rewritten, and it's led the club to the doors of Jordan Henderson and Danny Welbeck.
Chelsea are working on deals to add both to Xabi Alonso's squad in time for the start of the new season. They have also missed out on other experienced targets such as John Stones, 32, who is set for a move to Inter Milan, and Granit Xhaka, 33, who Sunderland are determined to keep as captain.
It is a stunning departure from one of the most aggressive youth-focused transfer strategies in Premier League history, which has brought waves of potential to Stamford Bridge replete with lavish decade-long contracts. BlueCo have been dogmatic, signing only one player over 25 – defender Tosin Adarabioyo – since the summer of 2023. Last season, Chelsea signed 10 players ranging in age from 18 (Estevao, Kendry Paez) to 23 (Joao Pedro).
Danny Welbeck could be heading to Stamford Bridge (Getty)
It would be wrong to say the transfer policy has been completely flawed. Nurturing young talent and investing in sellable ******* ets is the modus operandi of many well-run clubs. Cole Palmer and Moises Caicedo were youthful signings, as were Enzo Fernandez and Wesley Fofana. Estevao and Joao Pedro had excellent debut seasons in an underwhelming Chelsea team.

#transfer #danny #bridge #estevao

The boys are back in town — or at least those boys who were not at the World Cup (or those still at the World Cup, obviously) — and we’ve also got the new gaffer taking charge of his first official training as Chelsea boss. Though it may be a bit hard to spot him: he looks like he could lace them up for real still in an actual game!
So that’s all pretty exciting, with the likes of Cole Palmer, João Pedro, and Estêvão all getting to work with the new manager from day one. That surely will be beneficial for the season ahead, as will the rare weeks off they got from football. They can channel their frustrations about the World Cup into stellar performances for the Blues!
There were some fresh faces as well, including the just announced Geovany Quenda. Striker Emmanuel Emegha was also present, as was, apparently, wonderboy Dastan Satpaev who doesn’t turn 18 for another month but was given special dispensation by FC Kairat to come train with the squad already.
Check out the gallery below for some of the day’s best images. Liking the sleeveless training shirts, but of course, as disappointingly usual, it’s not available to buy at the Megastore.

Liam Rosenior gives Estevao Willian and Enzo Fernandez injury updates in fresh Chelsea setback

Liam Rosenior has shared how Chelsea star Estevao Willian cried following an injury setback in the 1-0 defeat to Manchester United.
It is the latest setback for the Blues in their pursuit of a top-five finish and Champions League football next season.
While Enzo Fernandez, captaining the side yesterday after an internal two-game suspension, was also forced off with a worrying calf problem.
The injury for Estevao could put his appearance at this summer’s World Cup with Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil a