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Chelsea’s Nkunku Hurts Knee in Preseason Game, Could Miss Start of Premier League

Christopher Nkunku #45 of Chelsea FC controls the ball while defended by Salih Ozcan #6 of Borussia Dortmund during the first half during the pre-season friendly at Soldier Field on August 02, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. Justin Casterline/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Justin Casterline / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
Christopher Nkunku #45 of Chelsea FC controls the ball while defended by Salih Ozcan #6 of Borussia Dortmund during the first half during the pre-season friendly at Soldier Field on August 02, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. Justin Casterline/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Justin Casterline / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
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Chelsea’s Nkunku Hurts Knee in Preseason Game, Could Miss Start of Premier League

Christopher Nkunku #45 of Chelsea FC controls the ball while defended by Salih Ozcan #6 of Borussia Dortmund during the first half during the pre-season friendly at Soldier Field on August 02, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. Justin Casterline/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Justin Casterline / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
Christopher Nkunku #45 of Chelsea FC controls the ball while defended by Salih Ozcan #6 of Borussia Dortmund during the first half during the pre-season friendly at Soldier Field on August 02, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. Justin Casterline/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Justin Casterline / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

Newly signed Chelsea striker Christopher Nkunku might miss the start of the Premier League season after coming off injured in the team's final preseason game in the United States.

The France international was substituted midway through the first half of the 1-1 draw with Borussia Dortmund in Chicago on Wednesday after falling to the ground clutching his leg.

Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino said Nkunku felt “something in his knee.”

“The doctors are checking him and I hope it is not a big issue,” Pochettino said.

“We hope he can be back quickly with the team. We need a few days to assess him.”

Nkunku, who joined from Leipzig for 52 million pounds ($67 million), has been a regular starter for Chelsea in its preseason games. If he does miss the start of the season, it may open the door for another offseason signing — Nicolas Jackson — to start up front.

Chelsea's first Premier League game is at home against Liverpool on Aug. 13.

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Arsenal's Eze Out of England Friendlies Due to Calf Injury

Eberechi Eze of Arsenal in action during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 2nd leg match between Arsenal and Bayer 04 Leverkusen in London, Great Britain, 17 March 2026. EPA/NEIL HALL
Eberechi Eze of Arsenal in action during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 2nd leg match between Arsenal and Bayer 04 Leverkusen in London, Great Britain, 17 March 2026. EPA/NEIL HALL
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Arsenal's Eze Out of England Friendlies Due to Calf Injury

Eberechi Eze of Arsenal in action during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 2nd leg match between Arsenal and Bayer 04 Leverkusen in London, Great Britain, 17 March 2026. EPA/NEIL HALL
Eberechi Eze of Arsenal in action during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 2nd leg match between Arsenal and Bayer 04 Leverkusen in London, Great Britain, 17 March 2026. EPA/NEIL HALL

Arsenal's Eberechi Eze will miss England's friendlies against Uruguay and Japan due to a calf injury, manager Mikel Arteta said on Sunday, after the attacking midfielder sat out their 2-0 loss to Manchester City in the League Cup final.

Eze ⁠had been named ⁠in Thomas Tuchel's 35-man squad on Friday for matches against Uruguay at Wembley Stadium on March 27 and Japan ⁠at the same venue four days later as part of England's preparations for the World Cup.

"No, he's out," Arteta told reporters when asked if Eze would be fit for international duty, Reuters reported. "We have to do another scan ⁠in ⁠six or seven days and wait and see the results. It is a leg injury. His calf."

British media have reported that Newcastle United winger Harvey Barnes may replace Eze in the England squad.

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World Cup Hero Götze Omitted as Frankfurt Loses Bundesliga Derby 2-1 in Mainz

Mainz' scorer Paul Nebel, right, and his teammates Nelson Weiper, center, and Nikolas Veratschnig, left, celebrate their side's second goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between 1.FSV Mainz 05 and Eintracht Frankfurt in Mainz, Germany, Sunday, March 22, 2026. (Marc Schueler/dpa via AP)
Mainz' scorer Paul Nebel, right, and his teammates Nelson Weiper, center, and Nikolas Veratschnig, left, celebrate their side's second goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between 1.FSV Mainz 05 and Eintracht Frankfurt in Mainz, Germany, Sunday, March 22, 2026. (Marc Schueler/dpa via AP)
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World Cup Hero Götze Omitted as Frankfurt Loses Bundesliga Derby 2-1 in Mainz

Mainz' scorer Paul Nebel, right, and his teammates Nelson Weiper, center, and Nikolas Veratschnig, left, celebrate their side's second goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between 1.FSV Mainz 05 and Eintracht Frankfurt in Mainz, Germany, Sunday, March 22, 2026. (Marc Schueler/dpa via AP)
Mainz' scorer Paul Nebel, right, and his teammates Nelson Weiper, center, and Nikolas Veratschnig, left, celebrate their side's second goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between 1.FSV Mainz 05 and Eintracht Frankfurt in Mainz, Germany, Sunday, March 22, 2026. (Marc Schueler/dpa via AP)

Eintracht Frankfurt dropped World Cup hero Mario Götze and lost 2-1 at local rival Mainz in their Bundesliga derby on Sunday.

Paul Nebel scored both goals for Mainz, grabbing the winner in the 89th minute to set off wild celebrations and deal Frankfurt its second defeat under new coach Albert Riera.

Nebel opened the scoring in the sixth minute before Nathaniel Brown responded for Frankfurt in the 20th, then Nebel fired home the rebound after Frankfurt ’keeper Michael Zetterer saved Nelson Weiper’s header.

Götze’s omission prompted questions for Riera before kickoff, when the Spanish coach asked which of his players should make way for the former Germany star to be in his squad after Arthur Theate, Can Uzun, Younes Ebnoutalib and Ansgar Knauff all recovered from injuries.

“Name me one player,” Riera challenged his pre-game interviewer on broadcaster DAZN. “If I could take 21 players, he’d be included,” The Associated Press quoted him as saying.

“Mario also had some physical problems during the week and wasn’t always at 100%. And I had to make a decision about who the best players for the bench are.”

Götze, who scored Germany’s World Cup-winning goal in 2014, has featured sparingly for Frankfurt this season, making 18 league appearances over 27 rounds and completing only one full Bundesliga game. He didn’t appear at all in Frankfurt’s last two games and seems to have lost some standing under Riera compared to the previous coach, Dino Toppmöller, who was fired in January.

Mainz’ win lifted it six points above St. Pauli in the relegation zone before the Hamburg-based team played Freiburg later.

Also later, Stuttgart had the chance to move third at Augsburg.

Sports

Premier League Probing Alleged Discriminatory Abuse in Newcastle-Sunderland Game

Sunderland's Dutch defender #06 Lutsharel Geertruida (L) challenges Newcastle United's English midfielder #10 Anthony Gordon (R) during the English Premier League football match between Newcastle United and Sunderland at St James' Park in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, north east England on March 22, 2026. (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN / AFP)
Sunderland's Dutch defender #06 Lutsharel Geertruida (L) challenges Newcastle United's English midfielder #10 Anthony Gordon (R) during the English Premier League football match between Newcastle United and Sunderland at St James' Park in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, north east England on March 22, 2026. (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN / AFP)
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Premier League Probing Alleged Discriminatory Abuse in Newcastle-Sunderland Game

Sunderland's Dutch defender #06 Lutsharel Geertruida (L) challenges Newcastle United's English midfielder #10 Anthony Gordon (R) during the English Premier League football match between Newcastle United and Sunderland at St James' Park in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, north east England on March 22, 2026. (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN / AFP)
Sunderland's Dutch defender #06 Lutsharel Geertruida (L) challenges Newcastle United's English midfielder #10 Anthony Gordon (R) during the English Premier League football match between Newcastle United and Sunderland at St James' Park in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, north east England on March 22, 2026. (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN / AFP)

England's Premier League said that it is investigating an incident of "discriminatory abuse" during Sunderland's 2-1 Premier League derby win away to Newcastle United after one of visiting team's players was allegedly racially abused.

The incident occurred early in the second half of the frenetic north-east clash when Newcastle's Sven Botman was being treated for ⁠a head injury, ⁠causing referee Anthony Taylor to briefly stop the game.

"Today's match between Newcastle United and Sunderland was temporarily paused during the second half after a report of discriminatory abuse from the crowd, directed at Sunderland’s Lutsharel Geertruida," the ⁠league statement said.

"This is in line with the Premier League's on-field anti-discrimination protocol.

The incident at St James’ Park will now be fully investigated. We offer our full support to the player and both clubs."

Newcastle United also offered their support to the 25-year-old Dutch defender.

"Our stance is clear - we do not tolerate discrimination of any form. We will work with the authorities to fully ⁠investigate ⁠and will ensure any individuals are identified and held accountable," Reuters quoted a Newcastle spokesperson as saying.

The incident took the shine of a superb second-half performance by Sunderland, who came back from a goal down and snatched the three points with a 90th-minute goal from striker Brian Brobbey.

"He (Geertruida) looks OK. It is unacceptable, and important to report and manage the situation properly. He looks OK, but we need to support him," Sunderland coach Regis le Bris said.