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Recent ups and downs in form have turned him into a different kind of player

Karthik Krishnaswamy16-Jul-20231:16

Dasgupta on Kohli: Very good innings on a difficult pitch

Virat Kohli has played every kind of cover drive you could think of. The front-foot cover drive, the back-foot cover drive, the step-out-and-step-away inside-out cover drive. The cover drive to the left of the cover fielder, the cover drive to his right. The straight-bat, punchy cover drive, the bottom-handed topspin cover drive with twirly flourish. The middled cover drive, the edged cover drive.It took until his 110th Test match, however, for Kohli to play a cover drive followed by a punch-the-air celebration when he hadn’t brought up 50, 100 or multiples thereof.Kohli celebrating a milestone, however. He had just hit the first boundary of his innings, off the 81st ball he had faced.It was that kind of innings. The pitch for the first West Indies-India Test in Dominica was a slow turner with a bit of bounce for the spinners, ingredients that limited batters’ ability to drive the ball unless it was pitched right up, or use the bowlers’ pace to score their runs.And so it was that Kohli took 81 balls to hit his first boundary, another 43 to hit his second, and another 36 to hit his third, by which time he had already passed 50.It was far from Kohli’s most fluent innings, and there were slices of luck along the way – two dropped chances on 40 and 72, and a missed run-out chance on 45 – but he was doing what he needed to do. India were looking to bat once and bat big after bowling West Indies out for 150 on the first day, and he was helping them do just that. He was happy to bat time, grind out his runs, and pump his fists whenever a boundary happened to come along.Related

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• Two Ashwin wickets, and what they say about his craft

A broad grin accompanied these boundary celebrations, suggesting both that he was enjoying his struggle and aware of how mortal it was making him look. Great batters don’t score runs only when every ball is pinging off the sweet spot; they often place greater value on the times they had to fight their own lack of fluency but scored runs nonetheless. They love waging heroic battles against the greatest bowlers on difficult pitches, and they also love days when they are themselves their stiffest opponents.The most remarkable thing about Sachin Tendulkar’s 241 not-out in Sydney wasn’t so much that he shelved his cover drive but the fact that he shelved it on one of the flattest pitches he ever batted on, against a middling Australia attack. It takes a lot for one of the greatest batters of all time to acknowledge that he wasn’t playing one of his bread-and-butter shots well enough to use it even in those circumstances.Virat Kohli took 81 balls to score his first boundary in the first Test against West Indies•AFP via Getty ImagesOver recent months and years, some of Kohli’s longest Test innings have featured this sort of self-denial: for instance the 79 in Cape Town, which featured one of the highest leave percentages of any Test innings in recent times, and the 186 in Ahmedabad, where he went 122 balls before hitting his first boundary of day four. He’s been happy to pare his game down to its most prosaic components when required to, almost revelling in the setting aside of his ego.But sometimes it’s felt different from the kind of situation-specific curtailing of shots that Tendulkar would perform every now and then. With Kohli over recent seasons, it feels like something may have changed in his game, perhaps even irrevocably.Until the end of 2019, Kohli scored his Test runs at a strike rate of 57.81. Since the start of 2020, he’s gone at 44.43.This, of course, is partly an effect of his diminished returns in this period – he has only averaged 30.75 in the pandemic and post-pandemic eras – and partly an effect of the quality of attacks he’s faced and the bowling-friendly nature of the pitches he’s batted on. Kohli has been far from alone among India’s batters in seeing his average and strike rate drop significantly since the turn of the decade.The difference with Kohli, however, is that when he had scored runs against quality attacks in testing conditions in the pre-pandemic period, he had often done so at a significant clip. Take three celebrated innings from 2018: the 153 in Centurion came at a strike rate of 70.50, his 149 in Birmingham at 66.22, and his 97 in Nottingham at 63.81.It isn’t easy to say why Kohli has slowed down to the extent he has, post-2020. The fundamentals of his game don’t seem to have changed to any great extent, but his limitations may be hampering him now in a way they didn’t in his prime. These limitations have always been evident. He’s a superb puller, for instance, but he’s never had much of a back-foot repertoire on the off side; against spin he only rarely sweeps or hits over the top or uses his feet to get down the pitch. In Dominica, for instance, he didn’t sweep or use his feet even though he faced a lot of bowling from West Indies’ part-time spinners.It could be that his eye isn’t quite what it used to be, and he isn’t hitting his go-to shots in quite the ruthless way he used to. Or it could be that bowlers are denying him his go-to shots more successfully now than they used to.Whatever the reasons may be, Kohli hasn’t changed his game or added new shots to his repertoire. And by not changing his game, Kohli has paradoxically turned into a different kind of player. He scores his runs slower now, and perhaps with less certainty than before, though he seems to be over the worst of his lean run – he averages 48.44 this year, compared to 26.20 in the 2020-22 period. What hasn’t changed, as Dominica showed, is how much he relishes a scrap – even if his fiercest opponent happens to be himself.

From facing subtle discouragement to downright racism, Khawaja narrates his challenges of trying to belong

Danyal Rasool03-Jun-2021In an already decorated CV, Usman Khawaja’s pioneering advocacy for diversity in Australian cricket might be the richest legacy he leaves yet.When he made his international debut at the SCG, his home ground, in an Ashes Test 2011, the Australian top-order batter became the first Muslim and the first player of Pakistani descent to represent Australia.Since then, Khawaja has often spoken about the challenges he has faced, from subtle discouragement to downright racism, in pursuing a cricket career. Those experiences have made him an outspoken advocate of the need to institutionally diversify Australian cricket.In an interview with ESPNcricinfo, the 34-year old said he didn’t like being considered a trailblazer for inclusivity in Australian cricket initially, but has come to only now appreciate the impact he has had over time.”I think when I was younger, I didn’t like it, I sort of shied away from it,” Khawaja says from his hotel room in Abu Dhabi, where he will play for Islamabad United in the remainder of the PSL.”I just wanted to be known for my cricket. But then as I started growing up, and started being more involved in cricket, people with subcontinent heritage in Australia came up to me and said “we’re so happy to see you at the top. Seeing someone like you, we feel we’ve got a part in the Australian team, and we support the Australian team. We didn’t do before and we do it now.””And that kept happening over and over and over again. The more that happened, I realised my background does matter and it does make a difference. And then I realised from my childhood it probably took me a while to support Australia. I didn’t really support Australia when I first went [from Pakistan] because I didn’t really get it.”You know, the guys on the screen didn’t really look like me, act like me. They’re spraying VB alcohol around everywhere, and it didn’t really match up for me growing up as a young Pakistani Australian Muslim in the country.”Jason Sangha, who has Indian roots, led Australia at the Under-19 World Cup in 2018•ICC/Getty ImagesWhile Khawaja remains one of Australia’s most experienced active cricketers, notable wider change in Australian cricket, especially at the top, has proved harder to achieve. Ashton Agar, whose mother is from Sri Lanka, is the only other player from a South Asian background to have since played Test cricket for Australia, while the only other South Asians to play international cricket for the country are spinner Fawad Ahmed and fast bowler Gurinder Sandhu.However, South Asian involvement in clubs throughout the country has increased year on year, and Khawaja says he spoke to parents who were happier to see their children involved in cricket with people like him present.”I understand my position in Australia and Australian cricket, which is still a very predominantly white sport in Australia,” he says. “There are a lot of good cricketers coming up that have subcontinent heritage. I think parents now see that and they say “oh Khawaja’s there, and all these other guys are coming up playing in the BBL. Our kids can do that, too.””When I was younger in Australia, the amount of time I got told I was never going to play for Australia, I’m not the right skin colour was immense. I’d get told I don’t fit the team and they wouldn’t pick me. That was the mentality but now it’s starting to shift.”I push that a lot and try to tell any parents in Australia to give their kids a chance. It might not be an easy road, might not be as easy as other people might experience. You’re going to get a few people that don’t agree with yourself or what you look like or what you say. But if you keep persevering, it only makes you stronger. And then when you reach the top, it just feels that much better.”Last year, Khawaja condemned ongoing systemic racism issues in cricket in Australia, speaking about how his perception as a “lazy runner” held undertones of racism, and the failure of the system to push through more players from diverse backgrounds spoke to changes that needed to be made.The fact that, a decade on from his debut, Khawaja continues to remain the pin-up player for inclusivity is a telling indicator that this is an issue very much a work in progress for Australian cricket. Khawaja singled out the England cricket team for praise on the subject, and says Australia had plenty to learn from their oldest rivals.Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, David Warner and Steven Smith sing the Australian national anthem•Cricket Australia/Getty Images”It is a lot better now,” Khawaja says. “I see a lot more cricketers coming up through state levels in Australia in particular that are from subcontinent backgrounds, which we really did not see when I came up, even when I played. I was playing domestic cricket and I was the only subcontinent player there. At the moment there’s only probably myself and a few others.”We’re still a long way to go and I look at the England team and see the diversity they’ve had for a long time. They are an older nation than us, but I can see that diversity and think that’s probably where Australia need to reach. We have definitely got better from when I was younger, but it’s a generational shift too.”I was from the old-school Australian way of everyone needing to be tough. The “If you’re not tough, you can leave” sort of era in Australian cricket. It has its pros and cons. It does make you a stronger person. But I think at the same time, it can also push you away from the game if you didn’t fit at the time. But now I think people are becoming a lot more tolerant and understanding to the differences people have, which is only making society and Australian cricket better.Khawaja has continued to push the needle on this issue. He’s in talks with Cricket Australia about looking to increase South Asian representation not just on the field, but also in coaching and administration to help players from those backgrounds feel more comfortable.At the same time, South Asian parents have undergone their own ideological journeys, with Khawaja saying when he was young, his parents didn’t accept sport was a viable career path. Khawaja’s own academic credentials are rather more advanced than the average cricketer’s, with the player completing a bachelor’s degree in aviation before immersing himself fully into cricket.”I think a lot of it stems from parents, too, because being from a  family, mums and dads set a lot of store by studying. Especially when I was younger, my mum wanted me to study a lot. They didn’t understand that you could have a career playing cricket. You know, you have to be a doctor or a lawyer or whatever it might be.”So a lot of times parents take kids away from sport because they feel there’s no future in sport. But I think that’s also changing, too. Now we see where sport in Australia has gone, especially with cricket. There are T20 leagues around the world. You can make a very nice living being a sportsman. You don’t have to be just a doctor or a lawyer. I think subcontinent parents are slowly seeing that more and parents from multicultural backgrounds are seeing that more. That’s helped.”Khawaja still hopes to play all three forms of cricket for Australia•AP PhotoKhawaja’s involvement with the Australian cricket team has turned his family into Australia fans, but that wasn’t always the case. He admitted around the time Pakistan played Australia in the 1999 Cricket World Cup final, there were a fair few Pakistan supporters in the Khawaja household. Fittingly, it was a stroke-making left-handed Australian opener who turned Khawaja over to the other side.”When I was young, I didn’t quite feel like I could relate to the older Australian generation. They felt brash for me, a bit blunt. But Adam Gilchrist, I could relate to him and he dragged me to the Australian side. I loved him, left handed player, entertaining. And he’s such a nice guy now I know him, one of the best blokes you’ll ever meet.”Khawaja had always wanted to play at the PSL, but with the tournament’s natural window clashing with the Australian season, the opportunity had never presented itself. But his involvement with the tournament now isn’t just for the competition’s sake. Khawaja hasn’t played any international cricket for Australia since 2019, but he revealed it remained very much his ambition to play international cricket for Australia in as many formats as possible.”I was really disappointed about being dropped from the white ball side just because I felt like I was scoring a lot of runs. The team was winning and performing really well when I got dropped so it was pretty disappointing. And then the opportunity just goes away.”It’s hard to break into the World T20 squad this year because there’s only the West Indies series, and then they’ve got the World Cup coming up straight after that. You never know if you play well enough, but it’ll be hard at the moment. I still haven’t given up playing all three formats for Australia. You never know what can happen around the corner. Sport can change very quickly.”

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Rômulo é jogador do Palmeiras e está devidamente apresentado. Novo camisa 20 da equipe treinada por Abel Ferreira, o meia enfrentou o Verdão já estando comprado pelo clube, na semifinal do Paulistão.

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Na ocasião, o atleta defendia o Novorizontino. Porém, Rômulo estava negociado e até oficialmente anunciado pelo Palmeiras. Ele revelou que essa situação foi difícil de lidar.

– Foi um momento um pouco difícil, defender o Novorizontino e estar comprado pelo Palmeiras. Eu estava vestindo a camisa do Novorizontino e tinha que defender eles. Aconteceu o que tinha que acontecer e acho que fiz meu trabalho bem feito e fui profissional com o Novorizontino e Palmeiras. Fiquei feliz. – contou, em entrevista de apresentação nesta terça-feira (9).

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O meia também compartilhou uma história de superação. Rômulo teve cerca de 30 recusas ao tentar testes em clubes de futebol e, inclusive, recebeu um “não” do próprio Palmeiras.

– Esse processo foi bastante árduo por tudo que passei, pelos “nãos” que levei. Não sei ao certo, mas acho que quase 30 recusas. Mas minha família ajudou bastante, continuamos firmes. Já tinha feito avaliação no Palmeiras e talvez não era o momento. Mas continuei trabalhando e hoje chego no Palmeiras para fazer um grande trabalho – disse.

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Rômulo ainda não estreou pelo Palmeiras, mas está à disposição de Abel para jogar na quinta-feira (11). A equipe enfrenta o Liverpool, do Uruguai, pela segunda rodada da fase de grupos da Libertadores.

Aos 22 anos, o meia somou 13 partidas, três gols e duas assistência pelo Novorizontino no Paulistão. Ele foi um dos destaques do torneio e apareceu na seleção oficial da competição.

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Futebol NacionalPalmeirasRômulo

While they are still some way from being the finished article, Chelsea have built a squad full of incredible players over the last few years.

The likes of Moises Caicedo, Cole Palmer, Marc Cucurella, and probably even Enzo Fernández would be able to get into most Premier League teams.

However, at the same time, West Londoners also have more than a few players who are arguably holding them back, with Tosin Adarabioyo perhaps the most obvious example over the last few weeks.

The former Fulham star has been at the centre of more than a few dire defensive performances for Chelsea, so it’s not all that surprising to see reports linking them to someone who’d be a dream upgrade.

Chelsea target Tosin upgrade

While talk of a title race might be a tad premature for Chelsea this season, they are most certainly in a race for the Champions League place.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

With that in mind, it’s unsurprising to see them linked with a plethora of talented players ahead of the transfer window reopening next month.

For example, the Blues are among several Premier League sides who have shown real interest in RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande and have also been linked with Juventus’ Kenan Yıldız.

However, while hugely talented, neither of those exciting wingers would help solve the West Londoners’ defensive problems, nor send Tosin packing, unlike Castello Lukeba.

Yes, according to a recent report from TEAMtalk, Chelsea have maintained their intense interest in the French centre-back.

In fact, the report goes further, revealing that the Blues are now ready to submit a bid of up to £52m for the player in the coming weeks.

Interestingly, while the 22-year-old has a release clause worth around €80million in his contract, which is £70m, the report claims that Leipzig may be willing to cash in on the player for that £52m fee in January.

However, it might not be all that straightforward, as the story also states that Bayern Munich are keen to make a mid-season move for the highly rated defender.

In all, it could be a costly and complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Lukeba’s ability and potential, one Chelsea should be pursuing, especially as he could send Tosin packing.

How Lukeba compares to Tosin

Now, when it comes to midfielders, forwards and wingers, it can be relatively straightforward to compare players, as more often than not, their goals and assists are going to be what matters most.

However, when it comes to defenders, and centre-backs in particular, it can be a little trickier, and as a result, you have to go into more detail, you have to take a look under the hood at their underlying numbers.

Unfortunately for Tosin, doing so demonstrates just how far ahead of him Lukeba is.

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.10

0.02

Progressive Passes

4.17

2.90

Progressive Carries

0.83

0.48

Key Passes

0.33

0.00

Shot-Creating Actions

1.25

0.48

Goal-Creating Actions

0.17

0.00

Blocks

1.92

0.65

Interceptions

1.58

0.97

Clearances

5.67

6.77

Successful Take-Ons

1.00

0.00

Ball Recoveries

5.67

2.58

For example, according to FBref, the Frenchman comes out on top in the vast majority of relevant metrics, including, but not limited to, blocks, interceptions, and ball recoveries, all per 90.

In other words, as analyst-turned-scout Ben Mattinson puts it, the Frenchman is a “defensively exceptional” centre-back.

However, his advantages over Tosin extend to more than just his ability off the ball.

For example, the “outstanding” titan, per Mattinson, also comes out on top in metrics like progressive passes and carries, shot and goal-creating actions, key passes, successful take-ons and more, all per 90.

Essentially, the Leipzig star is someone who can snuff out an opposition attack and then, either through his carrying ability or range of passing, kickstart one for his own side.

Ultimately, from every conceivable angle, it’s clear that Lukeba would be a massive upgrade on Tosin and, therefore, Chelsea should do all they can to sign him in January.

Gittens upgrade: BlueCo convinced they must sign £87m star for Chelsea

The sensational superstar in the making would be an incredible signing for Chelsea, but bad news for Gittens.

ByJack Salveson Holmes 4 days ago

Harmer ran through Pakistan on the fourth morning before South Africa made short work of the chase

Danyal Rasool23-Oct-2025

Ultimately, Pakistan’s overnight hope was built on a bed of straw. South Africa did not even need to huff or puff particularly hard to blow the house down. It took them five balls to dismiss an ostensibly back-to-form Babar Azam, nine runs to take four wickets that put the conclusion beyond doubt, and one session to dispatch the paltry 68 they had been set for victory. Along the way, Simon Harmer took six wickets to take his tally to exactly 1000 first-class wickets, becoming the fourth South African to do so.It took South Africa to a thumping eight-wicket series-levelling win, their first in their defence of the World Test Championship title. For Pakistan, it is their first home defeat after winning the toss since they resorted to spin-friendly tracks at home, their recent third innings malaise coming back to haunt them in its full splendour. Babar’s little tickle into the onside off the day’s second ball got him to a first home Test half-century since 2022, but what should have been the bedrock of his innings was instead its culmination point. Three balls later, he stepped back into his crease off a similar, gentle off spinner, but this one kept slightly low, and rapped him just below the knee roll to begin Pakistan’s slide.A superb Harmer kept the pressure on, but there was assistance aplenty from a Pakistan side that immediately began to go to pieces. Harmer gave Rizwan generous flight, who stretched out well beyond his crease try and get to the pitch to defend. Instead, he got an inside edge onto the pad, which looped up to Tony de Zorzi at short leg, and Harmer went to 999.Related

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Deja Vu for Masood as SA's tail wags and Pakistan's plans unravel

The four-figure dismissal was all about Harmer, though, and a microcosm of what has made him so successful for so long. He went around the wicket to Noman Ali, flighting it well and landing on a sixpence into some of the footmarks the left-arm bowlers have created. It spat up and away from Noman, kissing the outside edge on its way into Kyle Verreynne’s hands. Harmer threw his head up into the sky and let out a roar to rouse any part of Pindi that might still have been asleep.But Pakistan kept hoisting themselves by their own petard. Shaheen Shah Afridi and Salman Agha worked themselves up into calling for a run, taking on Ryan Rickelton who dived forward to effect a direct hit that sent Shaheen on his way, and Pakistan had gone from 105 for 5 to 105 for 8 – yet another middle and lower order collapse in a series they have been sprinkled like confetti.Ryan Rickelton collided with Shaheen Shah Afridi while running him out•AFP/Getty Images

At the other end stood Agha, not so much like a rock of resistance as a young oak waiting to be felled. Maharaj duly did the honours in his first over, the arm ball cutting Agha in half as he chopped back on. Sajid Khan tried to take him on the following over, only to find himself well adrift of his crease for Verreynne to do the honours.Pakistan turned immediately to spin, but there was no intimidating South Africa with a target this shallow. They were off and away with an Aiden Markram mow across the line for four, and Rickelton began to get his kicks in shortly after. Pakistan kept recycling through some combination of their three finger spinners, and South Africa kept putting them away for four, speeding towards the target as lunch approached.Noman got Pakistan the dubious consolation prize of a late couple of wickets when South Africa’s target was in single digits. Markram was trapped in front as he went for another one of his productive sweeps that had fetched him six of his eight fours in the innings, and found Tristan Stubbs’ outside edge for a duck three balls later. But Rickelton made the ignominy official with a whack over long-off for six in the following over.After the previous Test, Pakistan captain Shan Masood had talked about how Pakistan would look to play if they lost the toss to try and stay competitive. South Africa showed they had been listening carefully, and across these four days, executed that plan to perfection.

Also picked is batter Karima Gore, who has represented USA in eight T20Is

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Sep-2025West Indies have named five uncapped players in a 15-member squad to face Nepal in three T20Is in Sharjah later this month. With several first-choice names, including regular captain Shai Hope, rested, West Indies will be led by left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein.The five uncapped players are top-order batter Ackeem Auguste, batting allrounder Navin Bidaisee, legpsinner Zishan Motara, left-arm quick Ramon Simmonds, and wicketkeeper-batter Amir Jangoo. Also picked is batter Karima Gore, who has represented USA in eight T20Is, but is yet to play for West Indies.Gore impressed for his franchise Antigua and Barbuda Falcons in the ongoing CPL 2025, where he scored 219 runs in 11 matches.Apart from Hosein, the experienced members of the squad include Fabian Allen, Jason Holder and Kyle Mayers. Hosein, who has played the most T20Is among the squad members, will be leading West Indies for the first time across formats.In April 2024, West Indies A had toured Nepal for five T20s. Although the hosts lost the series, they still beat the visitors in two matches.The first T20I between West Indies and Nepal begins on September 27, with the next two matches on September 29 and 30.West Indies squad for Nepal T20IsAkeal Hosein (capt), Fabian Allen, Jewel Andrew, Ackeem Auguste, Navin Bidaisse, Jediah Blades, Keacy Carty, Karima Gore, Jason Holder, Amir Jangoo, Kyle Mayers, Obed McCoy, Zishan Motara, Ramon Simmonds and Shamar Springer

Manchester City continue their impressive start to this Champions League campaign.

On Tuesday night, Pep Guardiola’s team comfortably swatted aside Villarreal, prevailing 2-0 at Estadio de la Cerámica, with Erling Braut Håland, who else, breaking the deadlock, before Bernardo Silva’s close-range header on the cusp of half time made the points secure.

This takes the Citizens’ points tally to seven, having beaten ten-man Napoli 2-0 on opening night, before that frustrating 2-2 draw with Monaco in the Principality.

Well, considering the Sky Blues finished 22nd in last year’s league phase, only enjoying victories over Slovan Bratislava, Sparta Prague and Club Brugge, they’re in a much better place this time round, with back-to-back home games against Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen up next.

While the goalbot himself will once again earn all the headlines, another Man City star showcased what he can offer at el Madrigal, putting in a fine display reminiscent of a club great from the not too distant past.

Erling Haaland's ridiculous Champions League record

Håland’s opener on Tuesday was his 15th goal of the season already; having also bagged both during the weekend win over Everton, the Norwegian has now been responsible for 65% of all goals his team have scored in the Premier League or Champions League this season.

His record in UEFA’s top-tier competition is also mind-boggling, only getting better and better.

In 51 Champions League appearances, he has now scored 53 goals, thereby averaging a goal every 78 minutes.

Adding Villarreal to the list, Håland has now scored against 20 different opponents in the competition, very much hoping Bayer Leverkusen, Bodø/Glimt and Galatasaray will join his list of victims come the end of the league phase.

Overall, only eight men in history have scored more Champions League goals than the 25-year-old, just three behind Ruud van Nistelrooy and only four adrift of Thomas Müller.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s all-time record of 140 goals in 183 matches may seem a long way off at the moment, but it is very much in his sights.

If Manchester City as a team are going to win the Premier League and Champions League this season, they are going to need their other attacking players to come to the fore, so Guardiola will be encouraged that one certainly did just that in Eastern Spain this week.

Manchester City's Sane-esque star

Arguably, when Manchester City were at their best under Pep Guardiola, during the 100-point season, was back when they had Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sané as their wingers.

The German scored 39 goals and registered 44 assists in 135 appearances in sky blue, reaching double figures for both in back-to-back Premier League seasons, at which point Guardiola described him as “intelligent” and a “fantastic player”, also adding “he’s so fast”.

Well, one could argue Man City have not had wingers of that calibre since then, but is Savinho growing into that role?

Since arriving from within the City Football Group for £31m in the summer of 2024, the Brazilian international has scored just four goals for the club, but shone against Villarreal, as the table below documents.

As the table documents, Savinho ranks first for the vast majority of attacking metrics, registering five key passes, creating three big chances and completing all five dribbles he attempted, while only Håland mustered more shots on target on the night, which is par for the course in any match.

Simon Bajkowski of the Manchester Evening News asserted that this was ‘one of his best games’ for the club, awarding him an 8/10 rating, while Richard Martin of Goal noted that his ‘trickery… tormented Villarreal’ all night.

When he joined the club last summer, Umir Irfan of BBC Sport outlined how Savinho was “Sane-esque”, praising his pressing and pace, as well as the Brazilian’s ball-carrying ability and goal threat.

Well, all of this was on show and more at Estadio de la Cerámica on Tuesday, with Savinho putting in a sparkling display, reminiscent of Sané at his peak in Manchester, both an electrifying winger while also offering genuine end product.

This was actually only his fifth start of the season, one of which came in the Carabao Cup, very much part of Guardiola’s rotation in attacking areas, alongside Jérémy Doku, Oscar Bobb, Bernardo Silva, Rayan Cherki, Omar Marmoush and others.

However, he has started each of the last three Premier League games, thereby very much expected to be in the lineup that walks out at Villa Park on Sunday, and will continue to be a key figure in Man City’s push for silverware.

Not just Haaland: 110-touch Man City star is in the best form of his life

Man City made it nine games unbeaten with a win over Villarreal in the Champions League.

By
Angus Sinclair

Oct 22, 2025