Winger Lamine Yamal is not included in Barcelona’s squad for their Champions League match at Newcastle United on Thursday. The 18-year-old missed his side’s victory against Valencia on Sunday with a groin issue after Barcelona manager Hansi Flick criticised the amount of time Yamal played for Spain during the international break. Yamal played for his country for 79 minutes of a 3-0 win in Bulgaria on 4 September and 73 minutes of a 6-0 victory in Turkey three days later. Barca beat Valencia 6-0 without him and have not included the forward in their squad for their first game of this season’s…
Author: Omoniyi Alade
Qarabag delivered a stunning comeback at Benfica to create history and become the first Azerbaijani side to win a Champions League main draw match. Having qualified for Europe’s premier competition for the first time in eight years, Gurban Gurbanov’s side found themselves trailing 2-0 after just 16 minutes following goals from Enzo Barrenechea and Vangelis Pavlidis. The Azerbaijan champions halved the deficit on the half-hour mark through a fine Leandro Andrade finish before team-mate Kady Borges struck the foot of the post. Three minutes after the break, Gurbanov’s side silenced the Estadio da Luz with the leveller. Marko Jankovic’s defence-splitting…
Kylian Mbappe netted two penalties as 10-man Real Madrid battled to victory over Marseille in their Champions League opener. The Los Blancos were delt an early blow when Trent Alexander-Arnold pulled up with what appeared to be a hamstring injury after only three minutes. And they suffered another setback when the England full-back’s replacement, Dani Carvajal, was sent off with 18 minutes left after he faced off with Geronimo Rulli and moved his head towards the Marseille goalkeeper. But the 15-time European champions emerged victorious thanks to Mbappe, who stepped up twice to smash spot-kicks past Rulli, taking his club…
Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard came off the bench to score as Arsenal beat Spanish side Athletic Club to get their Champions League campaign off to a flying start. The Brazilian, Martinelli scored just 36 seconds after being introduced, with Belgium forward Trossard putting him through on goal in the 71st minute. The Brazil winger then returned the favour, dribbling past his man and giving the ball to Trossard to squeeze in the second in the 86th minute. It was a tough match for the Gunners at times and Bilbao-based Athletic Club, back in the Champions League for the first…
Daniel Levy, who has served as the chairman of Tottenham for 25 years, has left the club with immediate effect. “I am incredibly proud of the work I have done together with the executive team and all our employees. We have built this club into a global heavyweight competing at the highest level,” Levy said. “More than that, we have built a community. I was lucky enough to work with some of the greatest people in this sport, from the team at Lilywhite House and Hotspur Way to all the players and managers over the years. “I wish to thank…
West Ham grabbed a well-earned victory against Nottingham Forest, scoring three goals in the last six minutes to relieve pressure on under-fire manager, Graham Potter After what appeared to have been a disastrous start to the season, the Hammers finally secured their first three points thanks to goals from Jarrod Bowen, Lucas Paqueta’s penalty, and Callum Wilson. Given the Hammers’ fragility in prior games, Potter will have been reassured by their consistency in a forgettable first half. They competed well but lacklustre Forest never stretched them and the visitors created the only opening, Paqueta testing Sels. Underwhelming Forest failed to…
Manchester United have renewed their interest in Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, and are seriously considering a move for the 32 year-old shot stopper before Monday’s transfer deadline. The Red Devils have been looking to address their goalkeeping problems and have been in talks with Royal Antwerp about their highly rated 23-year-old Belgian Senne Lammens. Lammens is keen to join United and has been left out of Antwerp’s past two games. It is known the Belgian Pro League club need to make a sizeable sale so they can meet an external loan they have previously taken out. However, he lacks…
Foward Yoane Wissa has asked Brentford to “keep their word” and let him leave before the transfer deadline, accusing the club of “unduly standing in his way” of a move to Newcastle United. With two days left before the close of the transfer window, the DR Congo international is furious the west London club are refusing to sell him to the Magpies, who have had two offers rejected – the latest being £35m guaranteed, plus a further £5m in add-ons. Wissa has made clear he wants to leave for St James’ Park and has not been training or playing with…
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes kept his cool to convert an injury-time penalty and give Ruben Amorim’s side an important 3-2 victory against Burnley at Old Trafford. United’s unending goalkeeping woes looked set to cost them three points after another blunder from Altay Bayindir gifted Jaidon Anthony a second equaliser of the day for the Clarets. But Anthony went from hero to villain for Scott Parker’s men as the contest entered stoppage time. Trying to stop Amad’s run into the penalty area, Anthony grabbed the Ivorian’s shirt. At first the contact was outside the box, but it continued as Amad…