Raith Rovers defeated Airdrie United 2-0 in League One. The fixture is part of the Regular Season - 15 stage in the 2018 season. The full-time result capped a Raith Rovers vs Airdrie United meeting in League One with detailed post-match statistics available on Sportra. This match centre covers lineups, live events, player ratings, team statistics, xG, head-to-head history, and related news for Raith Rovers and Airdrie United. On Sportra you can view xG, lineups, match statistics, events, player ratings, predictions, head-to-head history, and related news for this fixture.
League OneRecorded meetings: 6 (available previous meetings, not necessarily all-time).
Conor Gallagher says it is "a lot more enjoyable" and a "fresh" feeling being a Tottenham player during pre-season. The 26-year-old midfielder previously spoke about being played out of position, not being liked by former head coach Igor Tudor and losing confidence as Spurs narrowly avoided relegation to the Championship on the final day of the 2025-26 campaign.
During his presentation, new Inter Miami star Casemiro filled Lionel Messi with praise: "Messi is one of the gods, if not the god of football." Casemiro has emerged as Inter Miami’s marquee addition of the 2026 summer transfer window, instantly filling the high-profile defensive midfield void the club struggled to replace. Set to share the pitch with Lionel Messi, the Brazilian superstar offered glowing praise during his official introduction: “Messi is one of the gods, if not the god of football.“ Following his starting run with Brazil at the 2026 World Cup, Casemiro opted to join Inter Miami in free agency, providing the Herons with a proven defensive anchor in the wake of Sergio Busquets’ retirement. Although the 34-year-old made his club debut last Saturday, logging a full 90 minutes in a 1-0 road victory over CF Montreal, his formal unveiling took place Thursday at Nu Stadium. During Thursday’s press conference, as reported by journalist José Armando, Casemiro spoke passionately about teaming up with Messi: “I am living a dream to play with one of the greatest of all time. I want to enjoy it, I want to help him continue winning because he is a winner. He teams up with another player who wants to win, who wants to compete. In the end, the margin between winning and losing is always very close, we know that, but we want to compete, and we want to compete.“ Casemiro expressed gratitude to managing owner Jorge Mas and co-owner David Beckham, noting that despite lucrative interest from European suitors, South Florida was his top priority. “I had many options—I had offers in Italy, I had many teams reaching out—but I am exactly where I want to be,” he stated. Casemiro sobre la oportunidad de jugar con Messi: "Quiero ayudarle a seguir ganando; es el Dios del fútbol"#InterMiamiCF #Messi pic.twitter.com/9Lxx6yGgPI— José Armando (@Jarm21) July 30, 2026 He concluded by placing Messi among the most influential figures in sports history: “I want to enjoy that, being with him, making him win, making him greater; he is one of the gods, if not the god of football. So I want to enjoy it with him and keep winning with him.“ Since Busquets hung up his boots, Inter Miami struggled to replicate the midfield balance that drove their previous championship runs, a vulnerability Casemiro’s presence is expected to resolve. The five-time Champions League winner inked a deal through June 2027 that includes a club option through 2029. Casemiro joins exclusive club to play alongside Messi and Ronaldo During their prime years in Europe, Messi and Casemiro shared an intense rivalry on opposite sides of El Clasico, featuring in epic Barcelona–Real Madrid clashes alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, as well as heated international battles between Argentina and Brazil. Now in the twilight of his career, the decorated midfielder finds himself partnering with the player he once spent years trying to suppress. With the move, Casemiro becomes just the 28th player in soccer history to play alongside both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. He is also the eighth former Real Madrid player to subsequently share a locker room with Messi, joining Angel Di Maria, Sergio Ramos, Gonzalo Higuain, Achraf Hakimi, Keylor Navas, Pablo Sarabia, Fernando Gago, and Ezequiel Garay. Complete List of Players to Play with Both Messi and Ronaldo Angel Di MariaGerard PiqueSergio RamosPaulo DybalaGonzalo HiguainCarlos TevezAchraf Hakimi Keylor NavasDecoVitinhaHenrik LarssonMartin CaceresMiralem PjanicArthur MeloNelson SemedoAndre GomesDanilo PereiraNuno MendesRenato SanchesFrancisco TrincaoPablo SarabiaAlejandro GarnachoLisandro Martinez Gabriel HeinzeFernando GagoEzequiel GarayGonzalo MartinezCasemiro
Rangers midfielder Paul Nsio has joined St Mirren on a season-long loan, with Buddies manager Craig McLeish saying the 20-year-old brings the "calibre, physical attributes and athleticism" lacking in their own academy at present. London-born Nsio spent last season on loan to Raith Rovers and helped the Kirkcaldy side win the Challenge Cup in April, making 31 appearances and being voted the club's young player of the year.
Club have been promoted three times in four yearsPhil Parkinson’s side missed out on playoffs in 2026The Wrexham co-owner Ryan Reynolds called it a “punch-me moment” – his club playing Liverpool in a pre-season friendly at Yankee Stadium just five years after he and Rob McElhenney (now simply Rob Mac) completed their takeover of a club languishing in the National League. The knockout blow would be playing Liverpool at Anfield in the Premier League in 2027-28 and the manager, Phil Parkinson, accepts there is expectation on Wrexham to complete their remarkable rise through the divisions next season.Parkinson’s team face Liverpool with confidence in the Bronx on Wednesday having defeated Manchester United and Leeds in pre-season so far and moved on from the anguish of missing out on the Championship playoffs on the final day of last season. The near-miss was undoubtedly a setback to an ambitious club’s grand vision but finishing seventh in the Championship at the first time of asking, Parkinson insists, was an accomplishment that should not be dismissed lightly. Continue reading...
Mancini replaces Gattuso for second spell in chargeRanieri takes over from Paolo Maldini in overseeing roleRoberto Mancini has agreed to be Italy head coach for a second time, the president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), Giovanni Malagò, said on Tuesday, also confirming Claudio Ranieri would take over as technical director.Mancini replaces Gennaro Gattuso, who left the post in April after Italy failed to qualify for a third World Cup in succession, and returns to a job he held between 2018 and 2023. He led the national team to European Championship glory in 2021 with a penalty shootout victory over England at Wembley but then failed to reach the 2022 World Cup and a slow start to Euro 2024 qualifying. In total, Mancini managed Italy for 58 matches during his first spell and at club level has managed Inter, Fiorentina and Manchester City, where he spent three years and guided them to their first Premier League title in 2011-12. Continue reading...
Neymar's future at Santos has been put heavily in doubt after a reported confrontation in the locker room with club youngsters Gabriel Bontempo and Joao Ananias in the last game against Chapecoense. Neymar has rejoined Santos following his 2026 World Cup run with Brazil, but his long-term standing with O Peixe is once again on shaky ground. Following reports of a heated locker-room altercation with young teammates Gabriel Bontempo and Joao Ananias, serious doubts have re-emerged surrounding his future at the club. In the days leading up to his return to action, Neymar raised eyebrows by attending the BSOP Winter poker tournament, the fourth leg of the 2026 Brazilian Poker Championship, while Santos was in Venezuela facing UCV in the Copa Sudamericana. The Brazilian superstar fired back against public criticism over his absence, but the incident reportedly left a sour taste among his teammates. According to Brazilian outlet Globo Esporte, tensions boiled over Saturday during a match against Chapecoense, where Neymar berated youngsters Bontempo and Ananias in the dressing room following a disappointing draw. His behavior at halftime and after the final whistle at Vila Belmiro frustrated players, coaching staff, and Santos front-office executives alike. Things initially started bright for Santos, with Neymar opening the scoring in the 36th minute after a crisp team buildup, celebrating by mimicking a card dealer shuffling a deck. However, Santos collapsed early in the second half, conceding two goals in a 10-minute span before Neymar salvaged a draw late in the match by converting a penalty. Neymar Junior of Santos celebrates after scoring against Chapecoense. According to Globo Esporte, Neymar took an overly sharp tone when criticizing midfielder Bontempo and center-back Ananias, directly questioning the skill level of the young defender, who scored an own goal during the second-half collapse. Through his PR team, Bontempo downplayed the rift, describing it as a standard halftime team dressing-down rather than a targeted personal attack. Ananias also released a statement denying any direct confrontation with Neymar, though he confirmed a team-wide reprimand took place. The incident follows another recent training-ground clash where Neymar slapped teammate Robinho Jr., an episode for which the former Barcelona star later issued a public apology. Neymar and Santos reach a breaking point Neymar’s homecoming to Santos in February 2025 was pitched as a win-win: the forward would stay match-fit for Brazil’s 2026 World Cup campaign, while the club reaped major sponsorship deals and star power on the pitch. But the partnership has proven turbulent, with both sides growing increasingly dissatisfied. Santos management remains unhappy with Neymar’s leadership style and his treatment of younger players. That frustration was exacerbated by his appearance at the poker event on the very night Santos kicked off its South American cup fixture. Neymar, meanwhile, has voiced frustration with the club’s infrastructure and what he perceives as a lack of media protection at the CT Rei Pele training facility. Despite funding ongoing upgrades to the facility himself, Neymar and his father have openly questioned the quality of Santos’ roster as the club fights a relegation battle for the second straight year. Neymar Junior of Santos competes for the ball with Bruno Leonardo of Chapecoense. To make matters worse, Globo Esporte reports that Santos owes Neymar over R$ 90 million ($17.5M USD) in unpaid debts, having fallen up to three months behind on image-rights payments this year. With the 34-year-old under contract through late 2026, a contract extension is now considered highly unlikely by both camps.
Aodhan Doherty has joined Falkirk on a season-long loan as the Northern Ireland Under-21 winger signed a new four-year contract with Blackburn Rovers. The 20-year-old had played 14 times for Linfield in Northern Ireland's top flight before joining the Championship club last summer and made his first-team debut for Rovers against Hull city in the FA Cup in January, before featuring in three league games later the same month. Falkirk manager John McGlynn says Doherty is not just a straight replacement on the left for Calvin Miller, who was sold to Hearts this summer, as he can play as a number 10 as well as out wide.
Brentford striker Callum Wilson says the club's pre-season training camp in Portugal has allowed him to get to know his new team-mates "on a more personal level", as head coach Keith Andrews steps up his preparations for the new campaign. Wilson signed a 12-month contract to join the Bees in July, after leaving West Ham United as a free agent following the club's relegation to the Championship. The forward will provide competition for Brazil international Igor Thiago, who scored 25 goals across 40 appearances in all competitions last season.
Following an impressive campaign for New Zealand at the World Cup, Elijah Just has completed a move from Motherwell to Swansea City. The post ‘I think it’ll suit me well’ – Just relishing Championship test after sealing Swansea move appeared first on SoccerNews.
Portugal teammate Samu Costa is reportedly set to join Cristiano Ronaldo at Al Nassr. Cristiano Ronaldo is preparing to return to Al Nassr following his 2026 World Cup run, aiming to defend their Saudi Pro League title after a championship-winning 2025-26 campaign. To keep the momentum going, the Saudi powerhouse is bolstering its midfield by reportedly securing Portugal teammate Samu Costa. According to Saudi news outlet Arriyadiyah, RCD Mallorca has confirmed the completion of Costa’s transfer to Al Nassr. While the official transfer fee remains undisclosed, the Portuguese midfielder will join Ronaldo in Riyadh for the 2026-27 season, becoming the latest countryman to link up with the legendary forward in the Gulf. Mallorca media officer Hector Martin confirmed the agreement in an official statement to the Saudi press: “The deal between Mallorca and Al Nassr has been finalized, and a definitive agreement has been reached regarding Samu Costa’s transfer, after the Saudi club’s offer surpassed that of Germany’s RB Leipzig as well as other European offers.“ A product of the SC Braga academy, Costa spent time with UD Almeria before moving to Mallorca, establishing himself as a reliable presence in La Liga. Despite Mallorca suffering a painful relegation at the end of the 2025–26 campaign, the 25-year-old midfielder was a lone bright spot, featuring in 36 matches while contributing seven goals and two assists. Cristiano Ronaldo #7 and Samu Costa #24 during Portugal’s training session. His strong domestic form earned him a call-up to Roberto Martinez’s Portugal squad for the 2026 World Cup, where he logged 20 minutes off the bench in a -0 group-stage draw against Colombia. Replacing PSG star Vitinha in the 70th minute, Costa provided physical balance in a double pivot, a box-to-box role he is now expected to replicate in Saudi Arabia. Alongside Bundesliga interest from RB Leipzig, fellow Saudi outfit Al Diriyah also made a strong push for his signature. However, Ronaldo’s presence in Riyadh, which previously helped lure Joao Felix, proved decisive once again as Al Nassr expands its Portuguese contingent ahead of the new season. Where does Samu Costa fit into Al Nassr’s lineup? With Ange Postecoglou stepping in as head coach following Jorge Jesus’ departure, Al Nassr’s tactical setup for the 2026-27 season remains a work in progress. The Australian manager famously favors an aggressive 4-3-3 formation, a staple during his tenures at Celtic, Tottenham Hotspur, and Nottingham Forest, moving away from the 4-2-3-1 and 4-4-2 systems employed by Jesus. While Ronaldo’s influence undoubtedly helped grease the wheels for the move, Costa’s arrival addresses an urgent tactical void left by Marcelo Brozovic, who departed the club following the expiration of his contract in June. Regardless of whether Postecoglou deploys two or three central midfielders, Costa is expected to slide directly into the starting XI alongside Brazilian midfielder Angelo to anchor Al Nassr’s engine room.
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