Fiorentina 1-0 Pisa: Match report — and more

Pre-match

With Rolando Mandragora suspended and Albert Guðmundsson only fit for the bench, Daniele Cavalletto didn’t have many choices to make for his XI. On the other side of the aisle, Oscar Hiljemark shuffled things a bit without really shaking them up. Viola boss Paolo Vanoli was forced to watch from the stands after his pretty weak red card against Como. At least the other folks in there provided him, and us, with a blistering atmosphere for a Monday night, complete with an impressive tifo in the Curva Ferrovia.

First half

Both sides quickly showed their hands: Pisa committed 2 fouls in the first 90 seconds and Fiorentina kept the ball patiently, moving it around quite well without generating many chances; the combinations between fullback, winger, and mezzala were particularly encouraging. Ndour cracked a decent effort on goal and Antonio Caracciolo got a desperate block on Marco Brescianini’s dangerous shot. The breakthrough came from Ndour’s skewed effort, which bounced off Simone Canestrelli and dropped right to Moise Kean’s feet. The Moose duly swept home to make it 3 straight games with a goal.

If you were expecting a response from Pisa, you were left waiting: the Viola remained patient on the ball and showed a good ability to change gears and get into the final third, although the connections there were too loose to generate much threat. The out-of-possession work was also excellent, turning the Nerazzurri over time and again in their own half. The only disappointment was not doubling the lead at some point because it felt like another goal would’ve ended the game, but Fiorentina went into the break with a 1-0 lead, 67% possession, and 9 shots to Pisa’s 1. Pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty good.

Second half

Maurizio Mariani grabbed the spotlight just after the restart after Dodô went down under slight but clear contact from Rosen Bozhinov; instead of just waving play on, the ref decided to make a point and booked the Brazilian, which felt quite harsh. It nearly got worse when Fagioli slipped over in midfield, giving Pisa a 2-v-2 break, but Luca Ranieri put in a fantastic tackle on Henrik Meister in the box to snuff it out. That gave the visitors some confidence and they grew into the game, creating a couple of pretty good chances, including one that Dodô cleared over his own crossbar from about 4 yards out. It was ragged, particularly after Jacopo Fazzini missed the net after rounding Nícolas late on and Canestrelli banged one over the bar right at the death, but it was a win.

Full time

Goals: Kean 13’

Cards: Dodô 47’, Fabbian 90’+1, Fazzini 90’+2; Caracciolo 37’, Marin 62’, Cuadrado 79’

What we learned

-Ndour isn’t a project anymore. He’s the 4th-best midfielder on this team at worst and might be more valuable than Brescianini (who was also good here). Cher’s gone from a gawky heap of potential to a genuine Serie A quality player in just a few months.

-I don’t think Harrison’s all that good a player but he does one thing that nobody else on the team does: spam crosses into the box. That adds balance to the attack and forces the opponent to commit someone out wide rather than collapsing everyone into central positions.

-Fiorentina’s now W3 D1 in the games in which Vanoli’s been sent off or suspended. That’s 42% of its points this season in 15% of the games. Hmm. HHMMMMM. (This is obviously a joke and not a call for Vanoli to be sacked.)

-It felt like half the Viola XI ended up with their shirts ripped up. Dodô, Harrison, and Kean all head tears in them by halftime. Bold choice by Kappa to make the unis out of a delicate cheese.

-For what feels like the first time this season, Fiorentina defended set pieces reasonably well. By my count, Pisa created 2 opportunities from 4 corners and 1 attacking free kick. Is that still too high a percentage? Yes. Is keeping it below half a minor triumph? Also yes.

What’s next

The win pushes Fiorentina’s tally to 24 points, even with Lecce and Cremonese. Lecce’s still got the tiebreaker over the Viola but Cremonese is one of the few teams they’ve beaten. Both those sides are still on the schedule so expect the run-in to remain very tight; beating both would probably do enough to ensure survival. Beating everyone else would also help, of course, and that starts with Udinese in yet another Monday game next week.

Before that, though, we’ll see some heavy squad rotation because Jagiellonia Białystok’s coming to town for the second leg of the Conference League playoff round. Fiorentina, as you probably recall, has a 3-0 win in the tank and thus should be able to get this one over the line with minimal fuss, right? Right? Guys?

The best of all time keeps getting it done.

Defender’s future looks set to continue at Old Trafford

From the bench to a new contract in the Michael Carrick revolution

Manchester United close to renewing Harry Maguire’s contract as talks progress positively ahead of the 2025 /26 season end.

Renewal talks move forward

Manchester United moving closer to agreement with defender Harry Maguire as discussions over contract extension continue in positive atmosphere.

Reports in February 2026 suggest the club is open to keeping the 32 year-old for at least one more season despite his current deal running until the end of the 2025 /26 campaign.

While no final agreement has been signed, reports indicate that both sides are confident of reaching common ground.

The talks reflect Maguire’s renewed importance at Old Trafford during demanding phase of the season.

Strong form under Michael Carrick

Maguire’s situation has improved greatly under head coach Michael Carrick. After returning from nine match absence caused by groin injury, the defender played every minute of four straight victories showing consistency & leadership at the back.

His experience has become even more valuable due to the long-term absence of Matthijs de Ligt who is sidelined with serious back injury.

Key role and contract balance

Inside the club Maguire is seen as a key figure especially when paired with Lisandro Martínez. Since 2022 the duo have started 14 match togetherwinning 11 of them, a record that highlights their effectiveness.

Contract talks expected to focus on middle ground. This could include shorter extension or changes to Maguire’s salary as co-owner Jim Ratcliffe continues efforts to control costs.

Los Angeles Dodgers fans can breathe a little easier if they’re looking to buy a jersey this year. The infamous “cut-off d” is no more.

In previous years, the jersey’s placket — where the buttons are — would bisect the second D in Dodgers, which many fans considered a strange place to break the team’s name.

Now, however, that second D is firmly on the left side of the break, creating what many believe is a more aesthetically pleasing appearance.

When star outfielder Kyle Tucker was introduced earlier this year, his jersey featured an unbroken second D.

How Can You Tell the Difference?

In short, it’s all about the description — and the price.

“Old style will be named ‘Elite’ or ‘Vapor Elite’ when looking at the listing the 2026 jerseys will have ‘authentic’ in their name,” explained Redditor u/cougar572. “There’s also a price bump for the 2026 jerseys they are $420 now instead of $395.”

That tip is borne out by a visit to the team’s official store, which is operated by Fanatics.

The “Elite” version of Mookie Betts’ jersey features the second D broken across the placket.

The “Authentic” version of Shohei Ohtani’s jersey, however, features an unbroken second D.

Either way, you’re going to pay over $400 once taxes and fees are accounted for, but the Reddit thread was correct that getting the “Authentic” jersey will cost you about $25 more.

And if you want a sponsor patch on that jersey, prepare to shell out even more.

An “Authentic” Ohtani jersey with the sponsor patch will run you $450.

Are There Cheaper Options for Jerseys?

If you’re looking to save money, consider going for the “Limited” or “Replica” editions of jerseys.

They’re not quite the quality of what the Boys in Blue are wearing, but they will still look great in the stands at Dodger Stadium or catching a game at your local sports bar.

The “Replica” jerseys are about $150, while the “Limited” models run for about $175.

There are, of course, cheaper options out there. Whether it’s a T-shirt, a cap, a game day polo or something else entirely, there’s no shortage of ways to show your support.

How do you like to show your Dodgers pride? Let us know in the comments!

Speaking at the launch of his book “Així hem salvat el Barça” (“This is how we saved Barça”), former FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta recalled how his administration rejected a massive bid for teenage sensation Lamine Yamal.

Following his breakthrough campaign with the Blaugrana in 2023/24, in Xavi Hernandez’s final season in charge, Lamine attracted strong interest from PSG in the summer of 2024.

With the Parisian giants losing Kylian Mbappe to Real Madrid, they were looking for a statement signing in attack and had their sights on Lamine, despite him being only 17 at the time.

The youngster’s brilliant run at the UEFA Euro 2024, where he helped Spain lift the trophy, only strengthened PSG’s interest, prompting them to launch a mammoth €250 million bid, which Barça rejected.

Recalling that moment from his tenure as president, ahead of the upcoming elections, Laporta remarked (h/t Jijantes):

“When PSG offered us €250 million for Lamine Yamal, and we rejected it, he was 17 years old; some people thought we were crazy.”

Barcelona rejected €250 million for Lamine Yamal. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

It must be noted that at the time, Barça were in a difficult situation financially, and such a huge sale would have made things a lot easier for the club. However, Laporta’s administration opted to turn the offer down.

Since then, Lamine has continued to scale greater heights, establishing himself as one of the best forwards in the game currently, despite being only 18 years old.

The young La Masia product was key to Barcelona’s domestic treble success last season and even finished second in the 2025 Ballon d’Or rankings.

Given his quality and potential, the sky is the limit for Lamine, with club legend Andres Iniesta backing him to win the Ballon d’Or sooner rather than later.