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Real Madrid endured a miserable afternoon against Rayo Vallecano on Sunday as they offered little attacking threat on their way to settling for a frustrating 0-0 draw. The high-powered attacking corps of Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr and Jude Bellingham were kept quiet in a frustrating contest for manager Xabi Alonso as Los Blancos failed to bounce back from their midweek defeat to Liverpool.

Madrid offered little in the way of attacking threat in the first half., but there were a few chances. Arda Guler, who looked much improved after a dull performance at Anfield, stung the goalkeeper's palms early while Raul Asencio failed to convert from a diving header. Rayo, meanwhile, weren't afraid to hit on the break, and drew a duo of signature stops out of Thibaut Courtois as the half wore on. 

Mbappe had a good effort on the hour mark, but skewed wide, while Bellingham went close after, but saw his poke denied by a late sliding challenge. The home side, in fact, looked more likely to score after the break as they peppered the Madrid goal and created opportunities on the break. At the other end, Mbappe lost his positional disclipline and Bellingham tried to do too much through the middle.

There will, admittedly, be games like this for Madrid – especially away from home – but with the title race poised to be as tight as ever, it could be costly. 

GOAL rates Real Madrid's players from Vallecas…

GettyGoalkeeper & Defence

Thibaut Courtois (7/10):

Made a few important saves, as per usual. Didn't put a foot wrong. 

Federico Valverde (7/10):

Motored up and down the right. His side was mostly quiet and he had little to do. 

Raul Asencio (6/10):

Had a good chance denied. Kept things tidy otherwise. 

Dean Huijsen (6/10):

A pretty poor first half. Got himself booked and looked a little unsteady. Hooked at the break. 

Alvaro Carreras (7/10):

Another mightily composed showing at left back. Tried to smash one into the top corner and put it comically wide. 

AdvertisementGettyMidfield

Eduardo Camavinga (6/10):

Snapped into tackles, circulated the ball effectively. 

Jude Bellingham (7/10):

Full of creativity in the middle, and was a couple of tidy blocks away from a goal. 

Arda Guler (6/10):

Much more lively in the first half after a tepid midweek showing. Put one narrowly wide in the second. Saw his influence wane as the game wore on. 

GettyAttack

Brahim Diaz (6/10):

Lively on the wing, but could have released the ball more effectively. Replaced after 70 minutes. 

Kylian Mbappe (5/10):

Rather shut down in the middle, and started to lose his positional discipline. A rare off day. 

Vinicius Jr (6/10):

Relatively quiet, and saw his wing crowded by the impatient Mbappe. 

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GettySubs & Manager

Eder Militao (5/10):

His side of the pitch looked very vulnerable in the second half.

Dani Ceballos (5/10):

Brought on for a little more midfield control, which he didn't really offer.

Rodrygo (5/10):

Chucked on late, and didn't provide much. 

Trent Alexander-Arnold (N/A):

No time to make an impact.

Xabi Alonso (5/10):

Went for an attacking setup against an opponent that figured to dig in a bit. Questionable to bring Ceballos on when needing a goal. His side didn't deserve more than a draw.

Tottenham Hotspur have not been good enough this season, and it’s clear that Thomas Frank needs to find a solution both in regard to results and the excitement factor that has been lacking.

Having lost each of their past three matches in all competitions, including the miserable home loss against Fulham on Saturday evening in the Premier League, a response is sorely needed, but Newcastle United at St. James’ Park has hardly been a happy hunting ground for the Lilywhites in recent years.

Frank’s tactics have yet to click together, but the players also need to take responsibility for their shoddy showings, with Pedro Porro among the guilty members to have flattered to deceive all term.

Pedro Porro's Spurs form this season

Porro, 26, is one of the most talented right-backs in Europe. He has played 126 matches for Tottenham, scoring 11 goals and supplying 23 assists.

The Spaniard’s gloomy, incensed demeanour at full-time on Saturday was indicative of the wider malaise at the club, but he surely must hold his hands up and acknowledge that he wasn’t good enough, with Sofascore recording that he found the mark with only three of 16 attempted crosses, losing eight of 11 duels and being caught out numerous times.

It was, frankly, a pitiful first-half performance, with Porro utterly toothless in his creative role and more than susceptible against the rampant Samuel Chukwueze and beaten far too easily in the build-up to Kenny Tete’s opening goal after just a few minutes.

He was hardly the only one to hang his head in shame, though, with his counterpart on the left serving up an equally frustrating performance.

Spurs defender is now becoming a liability

At his best, Destiny Udogie is a machine. Ferociously athletic, fleet-footed on the ball and attuned in crucial defence phases, he took the Lilywhites faithful’s breath away when he charged the left side of Postecoglou’s system during the halycon days of 2023/24, before things went wrong.

Indeed, when he burst onto the scene as a teenager under Postecoglou’s wing, journalist Hunter Godson remarked that he was “sickeningly good” and would get into “nearly every team in the world already”.

Such was his power and pace and balance down the left lane that he was considered by Clinton Morrison on BBC Sport to be “the best left-back” in the country during that first foray into English football.

But it might be fair to say that Udogie has yet to raise his game in the Premier League. Sure, he’s been unfortunate with injuries, but this is now his third season in English football and he is no longer an up-and-coming prospect but a talented member of the first team who is expected to provide an outlet while protecting his box.

Goals scored

0.08

0.00

Assists

0.11

0.17

Shot-creating actions

2.15

2.25

Touches

66.81

69.71

Pass completion (%)

85.8

85.0

Progressive passes

5.83

5.72

Progressive carries

3.12

3.47

Successful take-ons

0.90

0.52

Ball recoveries

6.36

5.72

Tackles + interceptions

3.95

2.43

Clearances

3.01

Aerials won

0.83

0.69

It may take a moment to look at the various elements of Udogie’s game, but it’s worth a closer inspection, with Udogie yet to raise his creative levels and indeed provide greater security at the back.

In fact, as per Sofascore, he has only completed 30% of his dribbles and won half of his duels in the Premier League this year.

This remains a talented full-back with the capacity to perform as one of the best in the division, but Udogie is not pulling his weight right now, and it’s clear to see that Frank’s system is being hindered by the lackadaisical performances of Udogie and Porro, two wide players who are considered among the most talented in the country, if not the continent.

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Manchester United have now reportedly been offered the chance to sign an England midfielder for just £26m when the January transfer window arrives.

Man Utd seeking midfield reinforcements

In the summer, it was Ruben Amorim’s frontline that took the focus as INEOS welcomed Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko in an impressive window. Now, when 2026 arrives, it looks as though Sir Jim Ratcliffe is set to turn his attention towards Man United’s midfield.

Those at Old Trafford were eyeing a move for Carlos Baleba at the end of the summer window, before Brighton & Hove Albion priced them out of a move. Months on, it seems as though the midfielder has fallen down Man United’s shortlist of targets, with Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson now taking centre-stage.

The 23-year-old is quickly becoming the most sought-after player in the Premier League, but he’s not the only option on United’s list of targets in the middle of the park.

They’ve also reportedly been told that they can now sign Conor Gallagher from Atletico Madrid at a bargain price in January. The former Chelsea man could be on his way back to the Premier League as he looks to earn his way back into Thomas Tuchel’s England squad ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

Man Utd now offered bargain Conor Gallagher deal

According to Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider, Man United have now been told that they can sign Gallagher for just €30m (£26m) when 2026 arrives. The England international has become surplus to requirements at Atletico Madrid and he’s now ready to leave the club in pursuit of consistent game time.

Dubbed “intense” by Simeone, Gallagher could provide the legs in United’s midfield that Casemiro is otherwise unable to provide these days. The 25-year-old is a true midfield workhorse, who also has a knack for popping up with goals when needed.

Although United’s big target is Anderson, they’d be doing their top four prospects no harm by welcoming Gallagher in the January transfer window, especially at just £26m.

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Whether INEOS will be willing to act as early as the winter window remains to be seen, however. They may yet put all of their funds towards winning what is looking likely to be a hectic race for Anderson next summer.

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Her promotion to No. 6 raised a few eyebrows, but she showed her finishing chops with a match-winning, unbeaten 62 in the first ODI

Shashank Kishore17-Jul-2025There’s little doubt that Deepti Sharma could walk into India’s ODI squad as a bowler alone. Her three five-wicket hauls – the most by an India player in Women’s ODIs – speak volumes of her bowling pedigree. Her batting, however, has often been a subject of debate – not over her ability but her approach.Across 92 ODI innings, Deepti’s strike rate sits at a modest 67.91. For someone who usually bats in the lower middle order, there’s a general sense that she hasn’t quite unlocked her full potential, despite being nearly a decade into her international career.She has struck at 77.74 since the start of 2022, but that’s still in the bottom half (35th) of the 57 batters to have scored at least 500 ODI runs in this period.Related

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Which is why eyebrows were raised when she was promoted to No. 6, ahead of Richa Ghosh and Amanjot Kaur, in the first ODI against England on Wednesday in Southampton. India were 127 for 4 in the 28th over, with the required rate already nudging six an over.Deepti responded with an unbeaten 64-ball 62, forging crucial partnerships with Jemimah Rodrigues (48 off 54) and Amanjot (20* off 14) to help seal a four-wicket win with 10 balls to spare.”Whatever matches I’ve played, I’ve batted in similar situations,” Deepti said at the post-match press conference. “I knew the calmer I am, composed I am… that was the turning point. The focus was on building a partnership with Jemimah. I knew if we worked on the partnership, we could take the game close.”Deepti turned the strike and kept milking runs along with Rodrigues, with the pair adding 90 for the fifth wicket off just 86 balls. Deepti had only hit two boundaries until her 32nd ball – when she gave Lauren Bell the charge and walloped a six over deep midwicket – but had made 29 off her first 31 deliveries with largely risk-free cricket.Deepti hit three fours and this one-handed six over midwicket•Getty Images”I was not nervous because I’ve played in these kinds of situations earlier,” Deepti said. “I knew if I play till the end with Jemi, we can take the game deep. I was confident that if I was there till the end, I could finish the game. I was focusing on that. If Jemi hadn’t got out we could’ve finished the game earlier. After that, Richa and Aman played well, finishing the game with two boundaries. Credit to her.”Deepti spoke of communicating well with Rodrigues during the partnership. One of the plans was to be prepared for Lauren Filer’s bristling pace and potential short-ball tactics. Filer, easily the quickest bowler in sight in the first ODI, extracted lift off the surface every time she hit hard lengths.The ball she bowled to dismiss Rodrigues in her second spell – her sixth over – didn’t come out of the blue. Rodrigues attempted a scoop behind the wicket but only managed a tickle to the keeper with Filer finding extra bounce with her short ball. At that stage, India still needed 45 off 51 with five wickets in hand.Filer continued to trouble the batters – Deepti got lucky on 53 when she got cramped for room and sent a top-edged pull flying to the boundary – but England couldn’t quite exert pressure from the other end. And Deepti’s pragmatism helped India ride the wobbles.”We knew she’ll have to bowl in the end, and we planned really well for that,” Deepti said of the tussle with Filer. “We knew she’ll bowl short balls. We were pretty ready. The fields she put behind the stumps, it was clear. We were clear of our plans.”The win marked India’s fourth straight ODI victory in England, building on from their 3-0 sweep in 2022. They are building momentum heading into the World Cup, which they will host from September 30, but Deepti isn’t looking that far ahead yet.”As a team we’ve done some really good things, in Sri Lanka [where India won the tri-series in April] and here also. The World Cup is a little too far. We’re not thinking about that. We’re just thinking one match at a time.”

Tottenham Hotspur have some painful attacking teething problems under Thomas Frank. Everything is relative, and there are variables at play, but the struggle to impress on the playmaking front is becoming an unwelcome narrative for the club this season.

But that aside, there is also the sense that purses may need to be pulled out for a new centre-forward in 2026. It feels like Richarlison’s days are numbered at number nine, and Dominic Solanke hasn’t fared all that well since his £55m move from Bournemouth last year, too often injured and too often unconvincing.

Both strikers are 28 years old, and while service has proved thin in recent months, Tottenham will need to consider their options in January.

There is another solution, of course. Randal Kolo Muani appears to have replaced Richarlison as Frank’s first-choice frontman, having started two games in a row in the Premier League.

But, unless a formula is discovered to support him, the Frenchman’s season-long loan spell is going to be a forgettable one.

Randal Kolo Muani's opportunity to shine

Tottenham have more than their share of issues at the moment. It’s an interesting one. They are more stable with Frank at the helm, competitive at the upper end of the Premier League and unbeaten on their return to the Champions League, three games in.

But we cannot ignore the depletion of creativity that has left things feeling rather pedestrian, and even with James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski sidelined since the start of the campaign and a distance away from returning, there is much to improve upon down N17.

Kolo Muani has not scored or assisted across his six outings in a Spurs shirt so far, and the 26-year-old may well feel somewhat aggrieved by the lack of service that came his way against Chelsea, taking only 16 touches across 76 minutes of action, creating a chance and getting stuck in but failing to unleash a single shot (as per Sofascore).

One content creator acknowledged the Les Bleus star for his exciting, progressive efforts when on the ball. However, such efforts were, as stated, few and far between, and he said it “must be absolutely horrible playing up front for this team”.

Premier League 25/26 – xG Leaders

Club

Goals Scored

xG

(1) Crystal Palace

13

18.2

(2) Man City

18

17.8

(3) Man United

15

17.5

(4) Chelsea

18

17.1

(5) Arsenal

18

16.9

(=5) Liverpool

18

16.9

(15) Tottenham

16

10.1

Data via FBref

Tottenham don’t create enough chances, and this is impeding Kolo Muani in his desire to get going in white. However, given that he’s only here for the season, it’s unlikely a permanent deal would be explored if things continue as they are.

Especially when the Lilywhites have an exciting up-and-comer making his way toward the surface.

The Spurs talent who could end Kolo Muani's stay

Tottenham have long boasted one of the most efficient production lines in Europe, and Mason Melia is set to make his way as the latest in this long line of hopefuls.

However, while the pathway from youth to professional football is long and treacherous, Melia is regarded as a rising star with the potential to nail down a place under Frank’s wing, with The Athletic’s Connor O’Neill saying he’s “easily the best young talent I have seen in the League of Ireland”.

The 18-year-old striker has already played 98 senior matches for St. Patrick’s Athletic, scoring 25 goals and registering eight assists. Across the 2024/25 campaign, he posted 14 goals and four assists. As a Republic of Ireland U21 international, he has bagged three goals from just four caps so far.

Both confident in front of goal and athletic enough to drive into the danger area himself, not reliant on his creative teammates, Melia could provide a tonic to Spurs’ current tactical pecadillos, lacking as they are in attack.

He is very young, of course, and could hardly be expected to waltz in and prove an instant upgrade on an established European star like Kolo Muani, but Harry Kane proved in the past that a young striker stands a chance of succeeding where senior peers fail.

Tottenham signed the teenager earlier in 2025 for a record-breaking £3m fee, making him the most expensive footballer to leave Ireland’s top flight. However, he has yet to wear the Spurs shirt in a professional capacity, having agreed to leave his homeland in January 2026.

St. Pat’s’ Young Player of the Year last season, he is widely regarded as one of the most exciting talents in Irish football, with his touch and speed and awareness in the final third all suggesting he has the bearing of a Premier League-level striker.

Given the paucity of reliable options in the final third at Tottenham right now, and with Richarlison among those slated to leave next year, Melia could find himself fast-tracked under Frank’s wing, earning regular opportunities in the first team and potentially even outperforming someone like Kolo Muani, who must continue adapting to the English game himself.

Tottenham might need to play the waiting game for now, but with Melia set to arrive in just a few months, he may find himself earning a string of opportunities before the end of the campaign.

And should he impress as if talent suggests is within his capacity, then it’s hardly out of the question to imagine that Melia could be leading the line in the not-too-distant future.

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Across every major event in Carse’s professional career, there has been one recurring presence – Stokes

Vithushan Ehantharajah01-Dec-2024There was a point on Saturday afternoon, as Brydon Carse was walking back to the top of his mark, that he turned to his captain. The fields were fine and the plans clear, but Carse had noticed something he wanted to relay.The grass banks were throbbing with anticipation, the air filled with that loud hum you get when a bowler is in the midst of a Test-tilting spell. This one in particular aimed at New Zealand’s middle order. “This is pretty cool,” said Carse – the man responsible – without breaking stride.”Just lap it all up and take it in,” replied Ben Stokes, “because this pretty special.”Related

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About 24 hours later, both Carse – player of the match gong in his possession – and Stokes were sat on the outfield of a now empty Hagley Oval, quiet but for idle conversation and the noise of team-mates kicking around a football. Beers in hand, smiles on the go. This, too, was something to lap up.England had beaten New Zealand – for just the second time in 11 matches on their patch – and Carse had driven it with a match-wide 10 for 106 of historical and cultural significance. All under the guidance of a close friend.An England bowler has not taken a ten-for overseas in the last 12 years before Carse took four in the first innings and added six in the second, with the final three arriving on the final day. You have to go even further back – to Ryan Sidebottom in Hamilton in 2008 – for the last time a seamer did so.Neither James Anderson nor Stuart Broad could manage it, and they played 151 away Tests between them. Carse has done it in just three attempts.

“He’s turned out to be the cricketer I always thought he could be.”Ben Stokes on Brydon Carse

His first three, by the way, which is part coincidence and circumstance. It has not been a straightforward journey.”Timing is obviously everything,” Carse said, reflecting on this first crack of Test cricket in which he currently boasts 19 wickets at an average of 17.10. “I’ve had my fair share of bad luck with certain things. I don’t want to say I knew this day would come, but I was always ambitious to think I can play cricket and I can play at that level. I’m just very proud of today’s performance.”The principle of time is an important one as far as Carse’s story goes. Because across every major event in his professional career, there has been one recurring presence – Stokes. Guardian angel might be lacing that with too much narrative. But Carse’s Test captain was also his first international captain, when a debut sprung out of the blue in 2021. Covid forced a complete squad change for a home ODI series against Pakistan. Stokes, who was recovering from a broken finger, was drafted in to run the ringers.A two-year central contract in 2023 came on merit, but it helped that Stokes had been tipping Carse as one to watch, particularly for Test cricket despite a modest first-class record for Durham, with an average of 33.25 from 44 domestic matches. Ironically, it was Stokes’ delay in returning from a hamstring tear that handed Carse his debut in the first Test of the Pakistan tour. Stokes had the honour of bestowing Carse with cap No. 717. Nine impressive wickets on tough decks underlined the qualities that had not been made clear on the county circuit.

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