Unai Emery delivered a scathing assessment of Aston Villa’s performance after their 1-1 draw with Sunderland, accusing his side of being “lazy” and straying from their identity.
Still winless after five Premier League games, Villa sit 18th with just three points. The match appeared to swing in their favour when Sunderland were reduced to 10 men in the 33rd minute, after Reinildo Mandava was sent off for lashing out at Matty Cash.
Cash soon opened Villa’s Premier League account for the season with a superb long-range strike, but Wilson Isidor’s 75th-minute equaliser earned the visitors a point and extended Villa’s dismal start.
A visibly frustrated Emery vented post-match: “We were lazy sometimes. Lazy. The goal we conceded, we were lazy. Perhaps that’s because we didn’t play in our style.”
Paris Saint-Germain winger Ousmane Dembele is being tipped to beat Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal to the men’s Ballon d’Or when the award is handed out Monday in Paris.
The Théâtre du Châtelet will once again host football’s biggest stars as they await the latest winners of the game’s most prestigious individual prize. For more than a decade, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo dominated the honor, winning it 13 times between 2008 and 2023. That era ended last year when Manchester City’s Rodri lifted the trophy after captaining Spain to Euro 2024 success.
With Rodri out of contention following an injury-hit season, Dembele has emerged as the frontrunner among a field heavy with PSG talent. Nine players from the club’s Champions League-winning squad, including Gianluigi Donnarumma, Achraf Hakimi, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and Nuno Mendes, made the 30-man shortlist.
On the women’s side, Aitana Bonmatí is chasing a third consecutive title, though competition is expected to be fierce.
Cremonese have enjoyed a flying start to life back in the top flight, winning both of their opening fixtures — including an impressive 2-1 victory away at AC Milan.
“I’m settling in really well and just can’t wait to get going now,” Vardy told DAZN. “It’s all about match days and wanting to pick the results up, so now it’s about just knuckling down when I get given the opportunity, helping my teammates out as much as I can, and hopefully chipping in with some goals.”
Vardy will be hoping to make an immediate impact as Cremonese aim to build on their strong early form.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca explained that Cole Palmer’s early withdrawal during the loss to Manchester United was down to fitness concerns, not Robert Sanchez’s red card.
The England midfielder was substituted inside the opening 20 minutes, sparking suggestions the change was a tactical response to Robert Sanchez‘ dismissal. However, Maresca dismissed that claim, revealing Palmer had been a doubt ahead of kick-off.
“Cole tried this morning, he had a test this morning to play this game, he was not 100 per cent fit,” Maresca said. “He made a fantastic effort to play, but after 20 minutes he started to feel something, so we decided to change him.”
Quick Hit: Maresca insists Palmer’s early exit was injury-related, not linked to Sanchez sending off.
Gian Piero Gasperini marked his first Derby della Capitale in charge of Roma with a battling 1-0 win over Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico.
The 163rd Serie A meeting between the eternal city rivals was every bit as fiery as expected, opening with crunching tackles and little attacking fluency. Lazio threatened first through former Roma striker Pedro, who blazed over before setting up Nuno Tavares for another miss.
Roma, meanwhile, struggled to impose themselves until Mile Svilar tipped over Mattia Zaccagni’s effort, and Andrea Romagnoli narrowly missed with a header from the ensuing corner. But it was the Giallorossi who struck first, capitalizing on a Lazio mistake. Devyne Rensch robbed Tavares deep in his own box, Matías Soulé picked up the loose ball, and Lorenzo Pellegrini buried a composed first-time finish into the bottom corner on 38 minutes.
Roma held firm from there, seeing out the heated clash to take the bragging rights in Gasperini’s debut derby.
On June 4, 2023, RCD Espanyol staged one of the most symbolic protests in Spanish football that season. The 1xBet sport betting platform is also perfect for wagering on Spanish football too.
In a home match against Almería, the players stood still and refused to touch the ball for the 1st full minute after kickoff. The demonstration was a powerful response to what the club and its supporters saw as unjust refereeing decisions that had heavily influenced their relegation battle. At 1xBet punters can also make sport betting on various things that can happen during football matches too.
The protest came after a series of controversial VAR and referee calls in previous matches, notably in fixtures against 3 particular teams:
Atlético de Madrid;
Real Madrid;
and Mallorca.
Espanyol had formally filed complaints with the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and the Technical Committee of Referees, citing what they believed to be a pattern of unfair officiating.
Full support from the fans
The unusual silence on the pitch was mirrored in the stands. If you also like this sport, you can also try the best football bets today by becoming a member of the 1xBet platform.
Espanyol supporters, many dressed in black as a symbol of mourning for sports justice, created a somber atmosphere. To emphasize their anger, tennis balls were thrown onto the pitch from the stands, causing a brief delay in play. The visual message was clear: the integrity of the competition was under protest. Remember that 1xBet also allows punters to try all sorts of bets on football competitions like the Spanish La Liga too.
A symbolic sanction
Following the protest, the RFEF’s Competition Committee fined Espanyol €400, citing a “slight alteration of the order of the match.” The tennis ball incident was also noted, but no further sanctions were imposed on the club or players. Speaking about tennis, this is another sport that can be wagered on the go if you get the 1xBet download app today.
This act of defiance didn’t change the final outcome. This was because Espanyol was ultimately relegated from La Liga. However, it resonated deeply with fans and sparked broader discussion in Spanish media about the transparency and consistency of refereeing in the league. For Espanyol, the protest was more than a reaction to a few bad calls. It was a public, unified demand for accountability and fairness in football. Though brief, that 1 minute of stillness captured the frustration of an entire season, and a fan base that felt their club’s fate was not decided solely on the pitch. It is very easy to download the 1xBet app and then use it to bet on Espanyol and other football teams from Spain and other countries too.
West Ham United are holding internal talks over possible replacements for manager Graham Potter after a poor start to the season.
Potter’s position has come under further scrutiny following Saturday’s 2-1 home defeat to Crystal Palace, a result that sparked fan protests against the board outside London Stadium.
According to BBC Sport, candidates being considered include former Wolves boss Gary O’Neil, who previously played for the Hammers, as well as ex-manager Slaven Bilic. Both are currently free agents.
Potter has managed just six wins from 25 games since his appointment, raising doubts about his long-term future in charge.
Wolves manager Vitor Pereira says he is not concerned about his position despite his side’s poor start to the Premier League season.
Saturday’s 3-1 defeat at Leeds United left Wolves without a win from their opening five matches, piling early pressure on the Portuguese coach, who only recently signed a new contract.
Pereira admitted his side were too passive defensively in the first half but praised their improved display after the break. “We are trying to correct the mistakes, but they happen again,” he said. “The second half was different. We didn’t concede anything to them… We created some chances to score, but it’s not easy because they defended with a low block.”
Asked if poor results could cost him his job, Pereira was defiant: “I am not worried about my future. I am worried about the results. Of course I am confident I can turn it around.”
Chris Wilder has returned for a third spell as Sheffield United manager. He stepped in just days after Ruben Selles was sacked following a nightmare start to the Championship season.
The Blades were thrashed 5-0 at Ipswich Town on Friday night, leaving them rooted to the bottom of the table with zero points. That defeat sealed Selles’ fate, with supporters voicing relief at his exit after just five matches in charge.
For Wilder, the return is both personal and professional. A lifelong Blades supporter, he has already overseen two promotions during previous stints and now faces the challenge of reviving a team in crisis. His last spell ended in a play-off final defeat to Sunderland, who have since established themselves in the Premier League.
The legal battle between Cardiff City and Nantes over compensation for Emiliano Sala tragic death has been delayed. The hearing has been rescheduled for December 8. The session, originally set for September 22, was postponed after Cardiff submitted new evidence.
Sala, the 28-year-old Argentine striker, died in a plane crash over the English Channel in January 2019, just two days after sealing a move from Nantes to Cardiff. The transfer fee dispute has dragged on ever since, as Sala never played for the Welsh club but the deal had already been agreed.
FIFA previously ruled in Nantes’ favour, ordering Cardiff to pay over €11 million — the final instalments of the €17 million deal. However, Cardiff continue to contest liability, insisting the crash cost them not only Sala but also their Premier League status, which they estimate at €120 million in damages.
The Welsh club criticised Nantes’ latest stance, accusing them of avoiding accountability. “Six years after the tragedy that claimed the life of Emiliano Sala, FC Nantes must be held accountable — both for the world of football and for the player’s loved ones,” their statement read.
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