1. Barcelona Worries Over Lewandowski’s Injury In Spain, FC Barcelona is deeply concerned about the injury to their star striker, Robert Lewandowski. The Polish striker was forced to leave the field during the match against FC Porto in the UEFA Champions League after suffering an ankle injury.
According to Sport, the situation is alarming as Lewandowski’s ankle sprain is more severe than initially anticipated. He might be sidelined for a month, which could potentially rule him out of the upcoming Clasico against Real Madrid.
Mundo Deportivo echoes these concerns with a headline reading “Lewy is KO,” indicating uncertainty regarding his availability for the October 28 Clasico due to an ankle injury sustained from a tackle. However, there is a glimmer of hope, as Ferran Torres is in excellent form and could serve as Lewandowski’s replacement. Torres has been scoring a goal every 88 minutes, making him a strong candidate to bolster FC Barcelona’s attack.
2. Harit Shares Gory Image of Injured Ankle During the second half of the match between Olympique de Marseille (OM) and Brighton, right-back Tariq Lamptey executed a tackle on Amine Harit that left the OM player writhing in pain.
Video replays showed Harit’s right ankle bending at an unnatural angle. However, the match referee did not deem it a foul, as he believed Lamptey had initially touched the ball.
3. Vinicius Mocked as “Pinochius” FC Valencia has responded to allegations of racist abuse made by Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior during a match at Mestalla in May. The Valencia club expressed its dissatisfaction with Vinicius’ claims.
Local newspaper Super Deporte has taken a critical stance by dubbing Vinicius “Pinochius,” a reference to Pinocchio, whose nose grows longer when he lies. The publication accuses Vinicius of admitting to provoking the stands but then falsely accusing the entire stadium of hurling racist insults. To recap, Vinicius Junior was interviewed by the Madrid court as part of an investigation into allegations of “hate crime” related to the incident at Mestalla.
4. Naples is taking an unconventional approach to football attire once again. Teaming up with Italian sportswear brand Giorgio Armani, the Italian club has released a special Halloween jersey. Napoli is known for pushing the boundaries when it comes to football kits, and their partnership with Italian sportswear giant Giorgio Armani since the 2021-2022 season has only intensified this reputation.
This season, the club has decided to pay homage to Halloween for the second consecutive year. After featuring bats on a blue background the previous year, the new jersey showcases a skull design on a black and gray backdrop.
“The Halloween EA7/SSCN shirt features the Skulls Allover graphic. Skulls take center stage! The print is digital on a breathable technical material, both on the body and raglan sleeves. The piping details are in Naples blue. Embossed silver transfer logos enrich the product, making it unique and precious,” reads the description on the official website.
Napoli’s bold choice for a Halloween-themed jersey certainly sets them apart from the rest, making a striking statement on and off the pitch.
💀 This is our special edition Halloween game.
Available now in our official stores, SSC Napoli webstore and eBay marketplace🛒: https://t.co/XmWZkZAf3t
🛍️: https://t.co/7L8Zx5DXNy💙 #ForzaNapoliSempre pic.twitter.com/zlXor1R0Kw
— Official SSC Napoli (@sscnapoli) October 6, 2023
5. Juventus: Doping – Is Pogba’s Career Over After B Sample Tests Positive?
Juventus Turin midfielder, Paul Pogba (30 years old, 2 Serie A appearances this season), finds himself in confirmed trouble after testing positive for testosterone in an anti-doping control following a Serie A match against Udinese (3-0) on August 20th.
Hoping to avoid a sanction, Pogba was awaiting the results of the B sample, but this second analysis confirmed the initial findings by revealing traces of testosterone, as reported by journalist Fabrizio Romano on Friday.
Pogba now faces a maximum suspension of 4 years, and Juventus will likely consider the possibility of terminating the player’s contract, which currently runs until June 2026.