In a strategic move prompted by Vinicius Junior's injury, Real Madrid's board are contemplating reinforcing their forward line in January.

In a strategic move prompted by Vinicius Junior's injury, Real Madrid's board are contemplating reinforcing their forward line during the winter transfer window.
According to SPORT journalist Alejandro Alcazar, Carlo Ancelotti's squad were initially warned about the limitations in attack, boasting only three key players. Vinicius' injury exposed this vulnerability in a team aspiring to triumph in all four competitions.
Vinicius is set to be sidelined for two and a half months, with a projected return in mid to late January if the recovery follows the anticipated timeline. The team face their first title challenge of the season in the Spanish Supercopa, held in Saudi Arabia from January 10 to 14. Vinicius is expected to make a tight return to the tournament, leaving the Whites to play nine matches without him, risking potential injuries to Joselu or Rodrygo.
Given these circumstances, the club are considering the wisdom of bolstering their attack through a potential signing or loan. However, they are aware that securing a top-tier player during this period is a formidable task. Prospective players, including German striker Timo Werner, are beginning to surface as potential targets. Werner, currently with Leipzig, has not showcased his best form since returning to the Bundesliga from Chelsea.
The need for offensive reinforcement is not a recent development but an issue that has persisted since the start of the season. With Vinicius sidelined, the spotlight now falls on the Brazilian Joselu, who will assume a more prominent role. Despite being a veteran, Joselu has exceeded expectations by scoring goals and contributing to the attack. However, his individual efforts may not be sufficient for a team that relied on Jude Bellingham's goals and Vinicius' rescues when the Englishman was injured.
Real Madrid face a critical juncture, considering their offensive shortcomings and the challenging path ahead without Vinicius. The upcoming transfer window poses a complex task for the club's leadership as they explore options to fortify their attacking prowess and maintain competitiveness in multiple competitions.

Vinicius Junior injury reveals Real Madrid offensive vulnerabilities

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Vodacom Soccer | News | Vinicius Junior injury reveals Real Madrid offensive vulnerabilities

Fagrie Lakay was immensely proud to kickstart Pyramids FC's CAF Champions League group stage campaign with a winning goal against DR Congo giants TP Mazembe.

The former Santos, <a href="https://vodacomsoccer.com/teams/supersport-united">SuperSport United</a> and <a href="https://vodacomsoccer.com/teams/cape-town-city">Cape Town City</a> winger combined superbly with Fiston Mayele at the famous 30 June Stadium on Friday to open his account for the season. The Egyptian Premier League side are competing in the Champions League for the first time and cruised through their qualifier with a 6-1 aggregate win over Rwandan side Armee Patriotique Rwandaise Football Club.Facing the five-time continental champions was an entirely different prospect altogether, but Lakay and his teammates emerged with a well-deserved 1-0 win in Cairo.Lakay joined Pyramids from the Citizens on a three-year deal in the 2022 transfer window and made an immediate impact with a brace of goals in the CAF Confederation Cup.The South African added six goals in the league in the second half of that season, and managed a further 10 last term to help his new side to a second-placed finish.Now off the mark in Africa's elite competition, the 26-year-old Bafana international is eager to see how far his side can go, in a group that also contains <a href="https://vodacomsoccer.com/teams/mamelodi-sundowns">Premier Soccer League powerhouse Mamelodi Sundowns</a> and Mauritanian team FC Nouadhibou.Reflecting on his goal, Lakay - who still holds the record as the youngest ever South African international at aged 17 years, six months and one day - exclusively told <a href="https://vodacomsoccer.com/">Vodacom Soccer</a>: "It feels good to start our campaign on a positive note with three points."It is the first time in the history of the club to play in the Champions League so it's a good start."Lakay will be making a return to South Africa when his side face Sundowns in their third group game on December 10 - and he acknowledges that they must be at their best if they are to compete with the top clubs in Africa."It won't be an easy one because you have teams like TP Mazembe and Sundowns in our group and also the team Nouadhibou from Mauritania; it's their first time playing Champions League so it won't be easy," he explained."We want to do well and will definitely give it our all. We would like to go far in the competition and make it a success."But for now we take it one step at a time."YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:&nbsp;<a href="https://vodacomsoccer.com/news/south-africa-withdraw-bid-for-2027-fifa-womens-world-cup-1">South Africa withdraw bid for 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup</a>Despite making his Bafana debut at such a young age, Lakay had to wait until November 2021 to earn his second cap, against Zimbabwe, and has seven caps in total for the senior side.While he grew massively as a player with SuperSport and during a subsequent loan move to the now defunct Bidvest Wits, it was with Cape Town City where he rediscovered the devastating explosiveness and captivating form that had catapulted him into the spotlight at such a young age.He last featured for Bafana Bafana during international friendly matches against Angola and Mozambique in November 2022."I'm settled now," continued Lakay. "I know my way around the busy city and have good team-mates. I am happy and enjoying my football."On the thought of returning home to play against Sundowns, the humble young attacker revealed: "I'm excited to play in South Africa again, to play against Sundowns because currently they are one of the best teams in Africa."To be the best you need to be able to compete against the best."And on a potential return to the Bafana fold for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations, the player concluded: "I will continue to work hard and make sure I am ready whenever they call me."READ MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://vodacomsoccer.com/news/super-sport-and-sundowns-to-vie-for-first-spot-in-tshwane-derby">SuperSport and Sundowns to vie for first spot in Tshwane Derby</a>

Fagrie Lakay exclusive: ‘Good to start CAF CL campaign on a positive note’

Former Liverpool captain Phil Thompson has no issues with manager Jurgen Klopp making wholesale changes for their Europa League campaign.

Former Liverpool captain Phil Thompson has no issues with manager Jurgen Klopp making wholesale changes for their Europa League campaign but has warned against complacency.
In their four European matches so far Klopp has made 11, 10, eight and nine alterations from the previous Premier League game and up until the 3-2 defeat to Toulouse earlier this month it had no effect.
Defeat in the south of France extended the process of guaranteeing top spot, and thereby avoiding an extra play-off game in the knockout stage, but that could be secured on Thursday with a win at home to LASK if second-placed Toulouse do not beat Union Saint-Gilloise.
Klopp is likely to make significant changes again at Anfield, especially after injuries to goalkeeper Alisson Becker and Diogo Jota in Saturday's draw at Manchester City, but three-time European Cup winner Thompson does not believe that should make any difference until the competition reaches its later stages.
"Toulouse was extremely difficult and the players didn't perform well, there are no two ways about it, but that happens," he told the PA news agency at the launch of the Ultimate LFC Experience in which fans can experience, among other things, training at the club's Melwood complex.
"No one was moaning about that team in the other games when we made a lot of changes so I have no problems with that. It was the lads on the day.
"Because we had more or less got the group wrapped up I don't think we were up for it as much as we should have been and that was the disappointment.
"With respect to the teams we have played in the Europa League it is not as tough as the Champions League group stage so you can mix and match.
"He has got a big squad, you need players and you need them to get minutes and a little bit of understanding and barring the Toulouse game things have gone according to plan.
"Players have got valuable time playing in the Europa League but I think as it goes on you see changes and the first team will come to the fore."
Thompson believes Liverpool's position as favourites, which has been the case before a ball was even kicked, is fully justified but knows the competition changes when teams from the Champions League drop down in the new year.
"You can see why they made Liverpool favourites, with their great tradition in the Champions League and European Cup, but you have to wait to see the teams who will drop out of the Champions League," he added.
"In 2001 when we were in the UEFA Cup (and he was assistant to Gerard Houllier) the teams that dropped out were really top-class teams and it was really tough.
"We beat Olympiacos and Barcelona (both teams came from the Champions League) and Porto (who were Champions League qualifying losers).
"The league is your bread and butter but the European competitions are just fantastic so you have to enjoy it, embrace it and if big teams come all the better."

Phil Thompson backs Jurgen Klopp's rotation strategy in Europa League

Mike Phelan has warned Manchester United not to get distracted by Galatasaray's fierce atmosphere or any pre-match hostility.

Mike Phelan has warned Manchester United not to get distracted by Galatasaray's fierce atmosphere or any pre-match hostility 30 years on from his ‘Welcome to Hell' experience.
Three losses in four Group A matches means defeat in Istanbul on Wednesday night will end the Red Devils' hopes of making the Champions League knockout phase with a game to spare.
Galatasaray won last month's reverse fixture 3-2 at Old Trafford and are sure to make life tough for Erik ten Hag's visitors at what is set to be a rocking Rams Park.
The encounter brings back memories of United's famous visit to the Turkish giants' hostile old ground in November 1993, when Phelan started a wild second round second-leg clash.
"We arrived and they allowed everybody into the airport," the former midfielder said. "There was a fair few there.
"I think they blocked it off with some glass, Perspex, something like that.
"There was a lot of police there, but they were just all shouting, jeering and holding these placards that we're going to die over there.
"An unusual welcome, put it that way. But there was a lot of intimidation really in the atmosphere at the airport. When we got to the hotel, exactly the same."
Gary Pallister was part of the travelling party and remembers the ‘Welcome to Hell' placards, as well as the intimidation extending to their plush hotel.
"I was walking past this bellboy, he's pushing one of the trolley things that you hang your suit on and carries suitcases," Pallister said.
"As I'm walking past him, I just went ‘afternoon' or whatever and he just went like that (makes a slit throat gesture) and I just carried on walking.
"I was like ‘wow, this is a bit different'. But I mean that's what we faced most of the trip I would suggest."
The air of intimidation continued throughout a trip that ended in United's Champions League exit, with a 3-3 draw at Old Trafford followed by a 0-0 at the rickety Ali Sami Yen Stadium.
Eric Cantona was sent off towards the conclusion of a game that ended with the forward and Bryan Robson furious at having been attacked as they left the field.
United have made two less chaotic Champions League visits to Galatasaray since then and Phelan says cool heads are required in what is a huge game for both teams.
"Just play the game," Phelan said. "The best place to be is on the pitch.
"Off the pitch is where frustrations are but on the pitch you are in control.
"On the pitch it is up to what you do, not necessarily what Galatasaray do. It's what you do.
"What is your game plan? Can you execute your game plan? Have you got the confidence to go there to get the result that you need?
"Can your big players turn up? Because you need your big players. In big games and occasions, you need your big players.
"I think you've got to control the game because you can't control the atmosphere.
"You might be able to, in a little way, if your retention of the ball is good and you're not making mistakes, then you control the game, control the ball, and that can silence the crowd – don't encourage the crowd."
Victory on Wednesday would be United's most important Champions League away win since their stunning 3-1 last 16 second-leg triumph at Paris St Germain in 2019.
Phelan was assistant to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer back then and says they just need to keep the mentality that "it's a game of football".
"Galatasaray are in a fantastic position, being at home and knowing they can go through with a win, so their team talk will be slightly different to United's," he said.
"But United know the task ahead – they have to win two games. But you can only play one at a time, so win the first one, then take up the challenge of playing Bayern."

Mike Phelan warns Man Utd about Galatasaray's 'Welcome to Hell' atmosphere

RB Leipzig are hoping to restore some pride as they return to the scene of last season's thrashing by Manchester City, coach Marco Rose has said.

RB Leipzig are hoping to restore some pride as they return to the scene of last season's thrashing by Manchester City, coach Marco Rose has said.
The German side were crushed 7-0 by the eventual Champions League winners when they visited the Etihad Stadium in the last-16 stage of the competition in March.
The two sides meet again at the same venue for a group match on Tuesday, with both having already secured their places in the knockout stages.
Rose said at a press conference: "Last year with the 7-0 thrashing, it put us down, it knocked us down. We haven't spoken about it but it was not a good feeling after the game.
"But we became cup champions in Germany after the game and we qualified for the Champions League, so it didn't destroy us as a team.
"Tomorrow we want to do better for sure. We want to compete with one of the best teams in the world. We want to show that we can make it better, that we are better.
"It's difficult. We will have to suffer tomorrow. I didn't see a team here that had much possession. Even Liverpool I think had just 40 per cent ball possession.
"So we know what we'll get but we are here to try again."
Erling Haaland scored five goals for City in that last meeting and Rose knows all about the threat the Norwegian poses having managed him at his former club Borussia Dortmund.
He said: "I hope the relationship is as good as it always was but obviously he has to do his job tomorrow. We have to try and suppress him if we can.
"We'll enjoy watching him play but hopefully we'll be able to stifle him."
Leipzig go into what is their penultimate game in Group G trailing City by three points. Top spot is still to be finalised but the Germans need to win to have any hope of overhauling the English outfit.

RB Leipzig out to avenge last season's thrashing by Man City

Brighton broke a Premier League record with Saturday’s 3-2 win at Nottingham Forest, their 17th consecutive game in which both teams have scored.

Here, <a href="https://vodacomsoccer.com/">Vodacom Soccer</a> looks at Roberto De Zerbi’s free-flowing side. <h1>Goals galore</h1>After beating Arsenal 3-0 in May, the Seagulls’ final four games of last season began the ongoing sequence.They lost 4-1 to Newcastle, beat Southampton 3-1, drew 1-1 with champions Manchester City and closed out the season with a 2-1 loss to Aston Villa.They opened the new campaign with 4-1 wins over Luton and Wolves before their next four games all finished 3-1 – defeat to West Ham followed by wins over Newcastle, Manchester United and Bournemouth.Even during the six-match winless run that followed, they scored in each – losing 6-1 to Villa and 2-1 at City and drawing 2-2 with Liverpool before 1-1 draws with Fulham, Everton and Sheffield United.That matched Everton’s previous record of 16 successive games between September 2012 and January 2013, and Evan Ferguson’s 26th-minute equaliser against Forest broke the record before <a href="https://vodacomsoccer.com/match-centre/match-detail/2404641">Joao Pedro’s double secured three points for the Seagulls</a>.Thirteen games is also the longest such run from the start of a season, comfortably beating the record of nine by Middlesbrough in 2000-01 and Leicester on their way to the 2015-16 title.<h1>Roberto’s revolution</h1>Since De Zerbi succeeded Graham Potter last season, Brighton rank fourth in Premier League goals scored with 89.They have found the back of the net in 29 successive games since losing 1-0 to Fulham in February and 41 out of 45 since the Italian started as he meant to go on with a 3-3 draw against Liverpool.Only Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United have longer scoring runs in the Premier League era.&nbsp;The latter pair each have a longest run of 36 so should Brighton score in their next seven games up to January 2 against West Ham, only Arsenal would rank ahead of them with a record of 55.With 71 conceded under De Zerbi, Albion rank joint fourth-highest in that time behind Bournemouth (80), Tottenham (73) and Forest (72). They are alongside Wolves, who have played two games fewer, and Everton.Unsurprisingly, Brighton’s games are the highest-scoring in the Premier League since De Zerbi took over – 160 total goals is 10 clear of nearest challengers Spurs. His side rank seventh in points and sixth in goal difference.<h1>Sharing the goals around</h1>Brighton’s top-scorer under De Zerbi is Ferguson with just 12 goals.That 13.5 per cent share is the lowest of any Premier League club’s top scorer in that time and demonstrates Brighton’s tendency to share the goals around.They are one of only five teams with three players in double figures in the time since De Zerbi’s arrival, with Kaoru Mitoma and Solly March on 10 apiece.Manchester City’s Erling Haaland has 39 league goals in that time, backed up by 12 from Phil Foden and 11 for Julian Alvarez. Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah (27) is joined by Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota, also on 12 and 11 respectively.Newcastle have Callum Wilson on 23, Alexander Isak 15 and Miguel Almiron 12 while for Arsenal, Bukayo Saka has 17, Martin Odegaard 15 and Gabriel Martinelli 13.Ten Seagulls have scored this season, with only Arsenal, Newcastle (13 each) and Manchester United (11) having more different scorers.YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:&nbsp;<a href="https://vodacomsoccer.com/news/top-five-craziest-premier-league-records-mourinho-man-city-the-invincibles-and-more">Top five craziest Premier League records: Mourinho, Man City, The Invincibles and more…</a>

Analysis: Brilliant Brighton blazing a Premier League trail with goals at both ends

The Champions League’s penultimate round of fixtures take place this week with 10 round-of-16 places still up for grabs.

Holders Manchester City are already through and Arsenal can seal their place in the knockout stages, but Manchester United and Newcastle have plenty to do. Here, <a href="https://vodacomsoccer.com/">Vodacom Soccer</a> looks at each of the Premier League clubs’ matchday five opponents.<a href="https://vodacomsoccer.com/match-centre/match-detail/2534467">Paris Saint-Germain v Newcastle (Tuesday)</a>Paris Saint-Germain can secure their place in the last 16 for a 12th successive season if results go their way in Group F on matchday five.Should the French champions avenge their humbling 4-1 defeat to Newcastle at St James’ Park in October with victory in the return at the Parc des Princes and Borussia Dortmund beat AC Milan in Italy, the Parisiens will go through.But with all four group rivals still harbouring hopes of reaching the knockout stage with two games to play, it could all go down to the final round of matches.Luis Enrique’s side have recovered from an indifferent start to their domestic season, winning seven of their last eight matches - and last Friday’s 5-2 home win against Monaco kept them top of Ligue 1.<a href="https://vodacomsoccer.com/match-centre/match-detail/2534479">Manchester City v Leipzig (Tuesday)</a>Leipzig joined City as one of the first two sides to reach the knockout phase this season after winning 2-1 on the road against Red Star Belgrade in their previous Group G match.The Germans’ only group defeat this season came last month against City, who won 3-1 at the Red Bull Arena, while victories over Red Star (twice) and Young Boys have left them a comfortable second in the table.Leipzig secured Champions League football for a fifth straight year by finishing third in the Bundesliga last season behind champions Bayern Munich and Dortmund.Marco Rose’s side have lost two of their last three domestic league games and currently sit fifth, while they have lost heavily on their last two visits to the Etihad Stadium, 6-3 in 2021 and 7-0 in March when Erling Haaland scored five goals.<a href="https://vodacomsoccer.com/match-centre/match-detail/2534406">Galatasaray v Manchester United (Wednesday)</a>Galatasaray will give their hopes of reaching the last 16 for the first time in 10 years a major boost if they can beat United for a second time in Group A this season.The Turkish champions twice fought back to win 3-2 at Old Trafford in October thanks to Mauro Icardi’s late winner - and currently sit third behind runaway leaders Bayern Munich, level on points with Copenhagen and a point better off than United.Galatasaray won five and drew one of their six qualifying round matches before being drawn into Group A and while they have lost both group games to Bayern, they have also drawn with Copenhagen.Okan Buruk led Galatasaray to a 23rd Super Lig title last season and his side currently sit second behind arch-rivals Fenerbahce on goal difference after losing only one of their first 13 domestic league matches.<a href="https://vodacomsoccer.com/match-centre/match-detail/2534419">Arsenal v Lens (Wednesday)</a>Lens, playing Champions League football for the third time, are still in the hunt to secure their first-ever slot in the round of 16.Their 2-1 home win against Arsenal in October was sandwiched by 1-1 draws against both Sevilla and PSV Eindhoven and although the Gunners are four points clear at the top of Group B, any one of four teams can still qualify.Lens, who were playing in Ligue 2 only three years ago, secured their place in this year’s Champions League with an impressive second-placed finish in Ligue 1, just a point behind PSG.Franck Haise’s side failed to win any of their first five Ligue 1 games this season, losing four of them, but have since remained unbeaten and back-to-back wins in their last two domestic matches have lifted them up to sixth spot.READ MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://vodacomsoccer.com/news/borussia-dortmund-target-champions-league-knockout-stage-with-milan-win">Borussia Dortmund target Champions League knockout stage with Milan win</a>

Champions League: A look at who Newcastle, Man City, Man Utd and Arsenal face this week

The English Premier League has produced some of the most iconic and bizarre moments in the history of football. 

Here, <a href="https://vodacomsoccer.com/">Vodacom Soccer</a> takes a look at some that might never be beaten. <h1>5. Away there is danger</h1>Homeground advantage is a well-acknowledged, if a bit under-researched, phenomenon in just about every level of sport.However, the Burnley team in the 2009/10 Premier League season took the idea to a whole new level when they were beaten in 17 of their 19 trips away from home.The only teams they managed to get points from on the road were Hull City (win) and Manchester City (draw).Unsurprisingly, they were relegated after picking up just 30 points from the 38-game Premier League season.<h1>4. Friedel be back</h1>Former Tottenham Hotspur and USA international goalkeeper Brad Friedel holds a mind-boggling record in the Premier League that is likely to stand for a very, very long time.Across eight seasons from 2004 to 2012, playing for three different teams in Blackburn Rovers, Aston Villa and Spurs, Friedel played in 310 Premier League matches in a row.There is almost no chance an outfield player could ever match that - and the rate of attrition in modern football squads means it may never be beaten at all.<h1>3. The defensive one</h1>Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho is famous for a great many things; some good, some bad. Some fair, some unfair. However, there is no denying he is a very talented manager and there are plenty of facts to back that up.One such record was his 2004/05 Premier League season in charge of Chelsea in which they conceded just 15 goals in 38 Premier League games en route to the title.Goalkeeper Petr Cech kept a quite remarkable 24 clean sheets in that campaign, also a record.<h1>2. Pep domination</h1>The ethical and moral debate about how it happened aside, there is no doubt that Manchester City have become one of the most dominant sides in English football over the last decade.With Pep Guardiola at the helm and a collection of the world's best players in their squad, they have been picking up titles almost at will (although I'm sure some will argue they should have won more).There are a couple of seasons that stand out - even among City's litany of success in recent years - such as the 2017-18 season in which they won 32 of 38 Premier League games to become the first, and so far still the only, team to claim 100 points in a single campaign.<h1>1. The Invincibles</h1>A list of the craziest Premier League records would not be complete without mention of Arsene Wenger's Arsenal Invincibles of 2003 and 2004.With stars like Thierry Henry, Denis Bergkamp, Patrick Viera and Robert Pires, the Gunners were not just impossible to beat - they won matches with style.To go 49 Premier League games without losing is almost unfathomable and it seems highly unlikely that another team will manage to go nearly a season and a half without defeat in the Premier League ever again.YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:&nbsp;<a href="https://vodacomsoccer.com/news/memorable-man-utd-goals-garnacho-rooney-ronaldo-van-persie-giggs-beckham">Memorable Man Utd goals: Garnacho, Rooney, Ronaldo, Van Persie, Giggs, Beckham</a>