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Japan Forward Mitoma Is a Major Doubt for Next Month’s Asian Cup Due to Ankle Injury

Brighton's Kaoru Mitoma looks onduring the Premier League soccer match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Crystal Palace at the American Express Community Stadium in Brighton, England, Wednesday, March 15, 2023. (AP)
Brighton's Kaoru Mitoma looks onduring the Premier League soccer match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Crystal Palace at the American Express Community Stadium in Brighton, England, Wednesday, March 15, 2023. (AP)
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Japan Forward Mitoma Is a Major Doubt for Next Month’s Asian Cup Due to Ankle Injury

Brighton's Kaoru Mitoma looks onduring the Premier League soccer match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Crystal Palace at the American Express Community Stadium in Brighton, England, Wednesday, March 15, 2023. (AP)
Brighton's Kaoru Mitoma looks onduring the Premier League soccer match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Crystal Palace at the American Express Community Stadium in Brighton, England, Wednesday, March 15, 2023. (AP)

Japan forward Kaoru Mitoma is a major doubt for next month's Asian Cup after sustaining an ankle injury with his English Premier League club Brighton.

“Tomorrow we have more or less 10 injured players, maybe eight, but (the other) two players can’t start the game,” Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi said on the eve of his team's home match with Tottenham on Thursday.

“Mitoma is one of them. We've lost Kaoru for around six weeks.”

The 26-year-old Mitoma, a fast and skillful player, suffered his injury in Brighton's 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace last Thursday.

The Asian Cup, to be played in Qatar, begins on Jan. 12 and four-time winner Japan has been drawn in Group D with Indonesia, Iraq and Vietnam.

Japan launches its campaign against Vietnam in Doha on Jan. 14.

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Real Target Jeddah Super Cup Final Success in Clasico to Atone for Barca Mauling

Real Madrid's Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti attends a press conference in Jeddah on January 11, 2025, on the eve of their Spanish Super Cup final football match against Barcelona. (AFP)
Real Madrid's Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti attends a press conference in Jeddah on January 11, 2025, on the eve of their Spanish Super Cup final football match against Barcelona. (AFP)
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Real Target Jeddah Super Cup Final Success in Clasico to Atone for Barca Mauling

Real Madrid's Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti attends a press conference in Jeddah on January 11, 2025, on the eve of their Spanish Super Cup final football match against Barcelona. (AFP)
Real Madrid's Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti attends a press conference in Jeddah on January 11, 2025, on the eve of their Spanish Super Cup final football match against Barcelona. (AFP)

Real Madrid's humiliating 4-0 home loss to Barcelona in October still haunts the club as the rivals prepare for their second Clasico of the season in the Spanish Super Cup final on Sunday.

LaLiga leaders Real recovered from that setback and are on a five-match winning streak ahead of defending the Super Cup in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, but coach Carlo Ancelotti is cautious.

"We have to think about what happened in the first game because they beat us (in LaLiga)," Ancelotti told reporters on Saturday as he looked forward to Real's second cup final in a month, having won the Intercontinental Cup in December.

"We've made a pretty clear assessment, so we'll have to repeat the good things we did and avoid the mistakes. A Clasico is always a Clasico, but a final puts a bit more pressure on you."

Ancelotti has all the players who travelled available for the final including England midfielder Jude Bellingham, who experienced some muscle issues during the semi-final where he scored the first goal in a 3-0 win over Mallorca.

"He's fine, he's recovered well," the Italian said of Bellingham who is Real's third-highest scorer and joint-top with assists in their current LaLiga campaign.

The coach said the Super Cup was an important title, and statistically Real had a good season every time they won it.

"When we haven't won it, it hasn't gone well. It's a competition that gives you a lot more motivation," said Ancelotti, whose last two Champions League trophies with Real have coincided with Super Cup wins.

"Barcelona are a historic rival and the matches are always very competitive. It's difficult for us and for them. The result of the match cannot be predicted," he added.