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By winning their last regular-season game Renegades also improved to fourth, while Sixers are third

AAP05-Dec-2025Melbourne Renegades duo Georgia Wareham and Courtney Webb have produced a match-winning partnership to sink Sydney Sixers and keep the defending WBBL champions in finals contention.The win had significant ramifications ahead of next week’s finals, ending Sixers’ three-game winning streak and meaning Hobart Hurricanes will finish top of the ladder.That means Hurricanes will host the final on Saturday week. Adelaide will host Hurricanes tonight at Karen Rolton Oval, with Strikers needing an upset win to stay in the top-four hunt.By winning their last regular-season game Renegades also improved to fourth, while Sixers are third. But Renegades must sweat on other results to find out whether they play in the finals.Chasing 131 for victory, Wareham (49 not out) and Webb (33 not out) took Renegades to 134 for 4 from 16.2 overs on Friday in Melbourne.The pair put on a whirlwind unbroken 85-run stand, rescuing Renegades from a wobbly 49 for 4 in the tenth over.Wareham, who earlier took three wickets, finished with a furious flourish, cracking five fours and two sixes from her 29 deliveries. And Webb also found the boundary four times as Renegades (five wins, five losses) climbed from sixth to fourth on the table.Sixers (five wins, three losses) remain third after failing to capitalise on an Ellyse Perryspecial with the bat.Perry top-scored with 65 from 47 balls but Sixers struggled to 130 for 9. The allrounder dominated Sixers’ innings, hitting nine fours and a six, despite frequently losing partners.Only one other team-mate – Ash Gardner (16) – reached double figures amid some excellent legspin bowling from Wareham (3 for 21 from four overs).Alyssa Healy made a six-ball duck and the middle order failed to fire around Perry, who was dismissed in the 18th over when caught at long-on from the bowling of Alice Capsey (2 for 27).Ellyse Perry put on a one-woman show with the bat for Sixers•Getty ImagesRenegades hit early trouble in their chase when Maitlan Brown snared two wickets in the second over.Opener Davina Perrin (28 from 27) and Capsey (10 from 15) briefly steadied before both fell in a three-over patch, leaving Renegades in serious strife four down.But Wareham and Webb launched a power-packed counter-punch with Brown (2 for 45) the only multiple wicket-taker for Sixers.All three games over the weekend will affect the top-four finishing order. The Melbourne Stars are second and on Saturday cannot afford a slip-up when they host the Sydney Thunder, who are out of finals contention.The late Saturday game will feature fifth-placed Perth Scorchers at home against bottom side Heat, while Sixers host Adelaide Strikers on Sunday in a massive end to the regular season.Only three points separates Stars from the sixth-placed Strikers.Tuesday’s knockout final will feature the third-placed team at home against fourth.The winner of that game travels to the second-placed team on Thursday for the challenger final and that will decide who faces Hurricanes for the title.

It feels like Chelsea’s momentum is starting to build this season.

Enzo Maresca’s side had a few poor results earlier in the campaign, but have just come off a week that saw them demolish Barcelona in the Champions League.

Then, a few days later, they held Premier League leaders Arsenal to a 1-1 draw, despite being a man down for over half the game.

One of Chelsea’s best players in this uptick in form has been Marc Cucurella, but if reports are to be believed, he could soon have some extra competition for his place in the team.

Chelsea target Cucurella rival

With the winter transfer window now so close, Chelsea have unsurprisingly been linked with a huge number of players.

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For example, the West Londoners have been one of several sides linked with an audacious move for Juventus’ Kenan Yıldız, and if that wasn’t exciting enough, Real Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga has also been touted for a £70m move to Stamford Bridge.

However, while these two players would most certainly improve Maresca’s squad, if not his starting lineup, they cannot really be described as competition for Cucurella, unlike Castello Lukeba.

Yes, according to a recent report from Caught Offside, Chelsea are one of a number of teams interested in the French defender.

Alongside the Blues, the report claims Liverpool, Manchester United and Newcastle United are all keen on the 22-year-old, but the good news is that it is the West Londoners who are leading the race at the moment.

Interestingly, while he has a release clause worth up to €90m in his contract, which is about £79m, the report has revealed that RB Leipzig may be willing to let him leave for around €60m, which is just £53m.

It could still be a complicated transfer to get over the line, but with how talented Lukeba is, one Chelsea should fight for, especially as he could provide more competition for Cucurella.

How Lukeba compares to Cucurella

Now, the first thing to say is that it feels incredibly unlikely that any defender would come into this Chelsea side in January and immediately displace Cucurella.

After all, the Spaniard is one of the first names on the team sheet at the moment.

However, all great teams need serious competition in all areas of the pitch, and by signing Lukeba, Maresca would be ensuring that he has that at left-back and extra cover at centre-back.

Yes, the Frenchman has spent most of his career playing in the centre of a defence, but he has got some experience out on the left, and players like Jorrel Hato, Jurrien Timber and even Riccardo Calafiori all prove that centre-backs can transition to become more of a full-back.

Moreover, respected analyst-turned-Como scout Ben Mattinson has even described the 22-year-old as a “perfect LB/LCB hybrid for the modern game.”

Mattinon goes on to describe the Frenchman as “defensively exceptional,” pointing out his “outstanding timing of last man tackles” as one of the reasons why.

However, he’s not just a lockdown defender, as u23 scout Antonio Mango has described him as someone who “excels on the ball” and has “that line breaking ability” so many managers want from their full-backs and centre-backs.

With all that said, his most significant advantage over Cucurella, and the reason he could seriously challenge him for game time, is his defensive solidity, and the numbers back that up.

According to FBref, the Leipzig star outperforms the Blues ace in most defensive metrics, including ball recoveries, aerial duels won, blocks, interceptions and clearances.

Blocks

1.91

1.42

Interceptions

1.45

1.00

Clearances

5.82

3.33

Aerial Duels Won

1.18

1.00

Ball Recoveries

5.73

3.83

Ultimately, Cucurella’s place in Chelsea’s starting lineup is guaranteed at the moment, but were Maresca to get his hands on Lukeba, he could have some serious competition.

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ByJack Salveson Holmes Dec 3, 2025

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. – Thomas Muller was sad his Vancouver Whitecaps side couldn't get past Lionel Messi and Inter Miami in the MLS Cup, but he wasn't disappointed. The German legend insisted this defeat was the start of a journey, rather than the end of one. He pointed to the team's young core and the fact the team converted a hockey city into one passionate about soccer as reasons why.

Getty Images Sport'We will come back stronger'

Muller, for his part, asserted that the Whitecaps will contend next season – even if they fell just short this time:

 "It hurts, but in the best way it could hurt," he said. "We will come back stronger next season, even stronger. Jesper is in now for one year. It's only one year. I think nobody expected a season like that one year ago," he said. "And I think maybe it's not the right moment to talk about next year, but I still feel that our process is not at the top. At the moment, we are on our way up. We have a very young group, a very talented group, and a very hungry group. And you know how it is with the big losses, that gains a lot of energy for the future," he told reporters after the game." 

He also acknowledged a hungry core of young players ready to push for more. 

"We have a young group, a very young group, a very talented group, and a very hungry group," he said. "And you know how it is with the big losses that gain a lot of energy for the future. So I try to focus my emotions a little bit more on these upcoming months." 

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTurning Vancouver into a soccer town

Muller also acknowledged the impact of the Whitecaps' steps forward this season for the city of Vancouver, which currently faces an uncertain future. 

"Yeah, that was it's so nice to hear that we created in a city like Vancouver, the hockey city, we created the buzz," he said. "We wanted to create that when we talked about it two or three months ago [when I considered joining], and that this happened. It was very nice to experience that by myself and with the group.

"So we were happy for every support, and I hope the buzz continues next season." 

Getty Images Sport'Today we cry'

Vancouver Whitecaps manager Jesper Sorensen also mentioned this loss was a important moment for the club. He asserted that he was proud of his team despite their 3-1 loss to Inter Miami in MLS Cup final Saturday night. The Whitecaps were in the game at 1-1, but conceded two second-half goals – both off Leo Messi assists – to see their dream season fall short. The first-year head coach has led the Canadian side to three finals in 2025.

Sorensen admitted that his side was devastated after failing to win the final fixture of the season in their 3-1 MLS Cup loss – but in a postmatch press conference asserted that they could have few regrets after a fine campaign: 

"We are a very strong group. And I think today, obviously, we cry, but I think what is important is that it is proud, tears, because I know that we have excited a lot of people in Vancouver," he said. "We have created something around us that people want to see and watch. And I also think that the behavior of our players throughout the season, both on and off the pitch, has been masterful. It's important you can be you can be a champion on the pitch, but you also have to be a champion outside the pitch."

Still, for all of Vancouver's efforts, they failed to get Muller involved in the game. Sorensen believes Inter Miami were effective in denying the Whitecaps star from being able to play in his comfort zone. 

"With that focus they had on Thomas, it was also about playing past him. But yeah, when you play against the team, they also have a plan for playing against you. It's obviously how football works," he added.

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Getty Images Sport'It means everything'

The loss comes among talk that the Whitecaps might find a new home next year. Their lease at BC Place is up, while their ownership made moves to undergo the process of selling the team 12 months ago. Sorensen insisted, though, that the Whitecaps will fight for the city.

"We will play in the same style again. Next year, we will work hard and see if we can continue this great run together with the fans. And it means everything. It means everything, because football, this game, the beautiful game, is not just for the players. It's for the fans to interact [with]. It's for the atmosphere, it's for the tension, it's for the excitement, it's for everything. And the fact that we've been able to create that together with our fans in Vancouver, I think it's, it's the most important thing."