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Reported: Raphinha is expected to miss El Clásico after new physical issues felt

After beating Comoros by 1-0 at Round 10 of World Cup Qualifiers, Ghana become the 21st team that will participate FIFA World Cup 2026.

Palmer handed injury update as worst-case Chelsea absence revealed
an hour ago / autty
Cole Palmer has missed Chelsea’s last two matches with a groin injury and is not expected to take to the pitch any time soon in what could turn into a nightmare scenario for the Blues

Cole Palmer has been warned that he could miss as much as THREE MONTHS of action if he had surgery on his groin injury. The England star has missed Chelsea’s last two games against both Brighton and Benfica.

Blues boss Enzo Maresca has suggested that the issue should not keep him sidelined for very long, with Palmer expected to return after the international break. But 23-year-old Palmer has been told that he could actually be ruled out for the rest of the year if he went under the knife.

Injury expert Ben Dinnery suggests that the forward would miss three months of action should it be decided that he needs to undergo surgery.

Speaking to Esports Bets, he said: “Cole Palmer has been struggling with an ongoing groin injury and there will certainly be discussions within Chelsea with regards to the best course of action to take and how best to manage him.

“Behind the scenes they’ll be weighing up whether it is best just to have him out for two to three weeks, see how he responds to that and bring him back after the next international break, as opposed to going straight to surgery and potentially ruling him out for three months.

“Given how valuable he is to that Chelsea team, what’s another couple of weeks if they can have him back in the squad by the end of October? If you go under the knife, that could be the end of his 2025.”

Palmer, 23, had started the season in fine form for Chelsea, having scored two goals across his opening four appearances in all competitions.

Who are Kairat Almaty, Real Madrid’s opponents in the Champions League?

Kairat Almaty: a brief history
If you hadn’t heard of Kairat (who are officially named Football Club Kairat, and not Kairat Almaty) until recently, there’s good reason. Although they were crowned champions of Kazakhstan for the fourth time in their 71-year history in 2024/25, this is their first time facing Europe’s elite. Their previous best Champions League run came in 2021/22, when they reached the second qualifying round.

This season, after wins over Olimpija Ljubljana of Slovenia, KuPS of Finland, and Slovan Bratislava of Slovakia, they were expected to fall to Scottish champions Celtic in the playoff round. Instead, Kairat advanced to the league phase on penalties after two scoreless draws.

Madrid’s marathon journey for historic game
Tuesday’s home game against Real Madrid will be by far the most high-profile match in the club’s history and their biggest home contest of the league phase. Kairat will also host fellow Champions League debutants Pafos, Greek side Olympiacos and Club Brugge of Belgium, while traveling to Inter Milan, Copenhagen and Arsenal.

For Madrid, the trip to Almaty is their longest away journey by a considerable margin. The air distance between the Kazakh city and the Spanish capital is just under 4,000 miles, more than one and a half times the distance from New York to Los Angeles. Kylian Mbappé, Vinicius Jr., Jude Bellingham and their teammates will take the field at Kairat’s Central Stadium, which has a capacity of a little under 24,000, after a 13-hour flight.

Why Kazakhstan plays in Europe
Kazakhstan is the world’s ninth-largest country by area, but only about 15 percent of its territory, west of the Ural River, lies in Eastern Europe. However, the Kazakhstan Football Federation has been a UEFA member since 2002, which allows Kazakh teams to compete in European competitions regardless of geography.

Glasner: I'm neutrally following all the rumors, including coaching MU.

Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner has emerged as one of the managers linked with potentially replacing Amorim, and he secured another victory against Liverpool on Saturday. Following the triumph, he faced questions about a possible move to Old Trafford - but remained coy about his future.

"I follow all the rumours – and that's all there is – neutrally and completely relaxed," Glasner told Kicker's Austrian edition. "Focusing on the daily work with my players and coaches, and trying to enjoy it as much as possible.

Palace are now the only side yet to taste defeat in the Premier League following their victory over rivals Liverpool which ended the Reds' flawless start. Eddie Nketiah netted a crucial late goal at Selhurst Park, propelling Glasner's team to third place in the standings.

Dembele: ‘Being the best player in the world doesn’t mean anything to me’
55 mins ago / autty
2025 Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé has given a wide-ranging interview to France Football, the French monthly football magazine that created the sport’s greatest individual prize back in 1956. The France international comfortably won the Ballon d’Or accolade, which rewards his contribution in PSG’s run to their maiden Champions League title.

HT-Atletico 2-2 Real Madrid: Güler shines with goal and assist, Sørloth scores

Line-ups
Atletico XI: Oblak, Koke, Lenglet, Sørloth, Llorente, Le Normand, Dávid Hancko, N. Gonzalez, Alvarez, Giuliano Simeone, Barrios

Subs: Griezmann, Musso, Galan, Molina, Giacomo Raspadori, Gallagher, Álex Baena, Matteo Ruggeri, Marc Pubill, Ilias Kostis, Carlos Martín, Taufik Seidu

Real Madrid XI: Courtois, Carvajal, Mbappe, Valverde, Militao, Tchouameni, Vinicius, Bellingham, Güler, Álvaro Carreras, Dean Huijsen

Subs: Alaba, Ceballos, Brahim, Lunin, Fran García, Rodrygo, Camavinga, Gonzalo García, Raúl Asencio, Endrick, Sergio Mestre, Franco Mastantuono

HT-Crystal Palace 1-0 Liverpool: Sarr finishes, Alisson makes huge saves

Match Events
0' The match is about to start!

9' Poor defending from a corner and Sarr scores! Crystal Palace 1-0 Liverpool

12' Incredible Allison Becker save stops Crystal Palace from making it 2-0

17' The game has been delayed for what appears to be a medical incident in the crowd

19' Dean Henderson tips Ryan Gravenberch's fierce shot on to the post

22' Another brilliant save from Allison Becker to keep out Daniel Munoz

23' What a save from Alisson!

37' Highlight from Crystal Palace vs Liverpool

40' A lovely piece of skill by Adam Wharton

51' Mateta off the post. Crystal Palace could be out of sight

Line-ups
Crystal Palace XI: Dean Henderson, Jean-Philippe Mateta, Kamada, Sarr, Daniel Muñoz, Guehi, Maxence Lacroix, Chris Richards, Yeremy, Tyrick Mitchell, Adam Wharton

Subs: Clyne, Hughes, Lerma, Borna Sosa, Remi Matthews, Nketiah, Justin Devenny, Jaydee Canvot, Christantus Uche

Liverpool XI: Alisson, Salah, Van Dijk, Konate, Isak, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Conor Bradley, Milos Kerkez, Wirtz

Subs: Endo, Robertson, Joe Gomez, Gakpo, Chiesa, Curtis Jones, Giorgi Mamardashvili, Jeremie Frimpong, Rio Ngumoha

Six Ballon d'Or Winners didn't place Yamal first in their Kopa Trophy votes

Former Ballon d'Or winners who placed Lamine Yamal FIRST in their Kopa Trophy votes:

Messi, Zidane, Ronaldo Nazario, Figo, Modrić, Benzema, Rodri, Sammer, Van Basten, Shevchenko, Papin, Stoichkov, Owen, Cannavaro, Kaká, Rivera, Blokhin, Simonsen, Rummenigge, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho, Matthäus & Weah.