Pep Guardiola endured a painful night as his Manchester City side squandered a commanding 3-0 lead against Feyenoord. The reigning Premier League champions were left shell-shocked at the Etihad Stadium after a dramatic collapse in the final 15 minutes. The Dutch side capitalised on a defensive error, with Anis Hadj Moussa seizing on a mistake by Josko Gvardiol to score their first goal. Substitute Santiago Gimenez then chested in the equalizer with just eight minutes remaining, before David Hancko completed the stunning turnaround in the 89th minute. This latest setback means City have now gone six matches without a win, leaving Guardiola visibly frustrated. To add insult to injury, the jubilant Feyenoord fans taunted him with chants associated with their former manager, Arne Slot, who now oversees Liverpool. Stress is real and it kills….I almost lost my life the day pic.twitter.com/UdnYu0TOra — Cosma (@cosma_aino) November 26, 2024 As Hancko's late equalizer rang out, the away end erupted into a rendition of Liverpool's iconic anthem, "You’ll never walk alone," further rubbing salt into City’s wounds ahead of their daunting trip to Anfield on Sunday. Also Read: It's time to pep up city! Feyenoord manager Arne Slot was lauded by his successor, Brian Priske, who expressed pride in their performance. The Danish coach, who has taken over at Feyenoord, was eager to show his respect for Slot's legacy. "I’m sure he’s proud. As an ex-Feyenoord manager, I’m sure he’s following [results], I know that. We’ve definitely done everything we could to help him as well. He had a massive impact on the club over the last three years," said Priske. "He definitely gave me a good start as well, with a good team and Champions League qualification. So I’m really happy that, hopefully, we can help him a bit, and he needs to do the dirty job at the weekend." Also Read: What’s behind Manchester City’s uncharacteristic struggles this season? Reflecting on Feyenoord’s remarkable comeback, Priske continued, "If you are from Feyenoord Rotterdam, it is an unbelievable evening, 3-0 down away from home against, for me, still the best team in the world. Obviously, you always believe, but it was a difficult game. The first 25 minutes, they played fast football, we were not as tight as we wanted, ended up too low. At 3-0 down, you definitely think this is going to be a long night, a tough evening. But without any tactical [changes], just individual quality, moments, gave us the draw. The players stayed in the game, kept pushing and kept believing. I can only praise them." Meanwhile, Guardiola appeared battered and bruised during his post-match interviews, with noticeable cuts and marks on his face and head. When asked about the injuries, he revealed they were self-inflicted: “My finger, here [points to nose]. My nail. I want to harm myself.”
27 November,2024 04:55 PM IST | London | mid-day online correspondentFC Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski scored his 100th goal in the UEFA Champions League as he opened the scoring in his side's 3-0 win over Brest. Lewandowski put Barcelona ahead with a penalty in the 10th minute after a mistake from Brest goalkeeper Marco Bizot, who charged into the striker's back and bundled him over. As well as being his 100th Champions League goal, it was Lewandowski's sixth in the competition this season, reports Xinhua. With Lamine Yamal watching from the stand, Barcelona controlled the first half, with Fermin Lopez crowded out in another chance before he fired just wide after an assist from Raphinha. It was then Raphinha's turn as his shot was deflected wide for a corner after a long buildup ended with the ball finding him in space. Barca was in complete control, with the ball almost constantly in the Brest half, which allowed Bizot to redeem his earlier error with an excellent save to frustrate Lopez's powerful header from a Marc Casado cross. Also Read: Lewandowski’s seven-star show There was little change to the script in the second half, with Raphinha and Dani Olmo seeing shots blocked before Bizot again frustrated Lopez, who was given space to shoot by Lewandowski's deft back-heel. Dani Olmo finally gave Barcelona a two-goal cushion in the 66th minute when he took a pass from left back Gerard Martin, beat Brendan Chardonnet and scored with a shot that went in at the near post. Mathias Pereira Lage had the ball in the net for the visitor with 15 minutes left on the clock, but it was ruled out for a clear offside. Pablo Torre shot wide for Barca after intercepting a wild pass in the Brest defense, but it didn't matter as Lewandowski netted his 101st goal in the tournament in the 92nd minute after controlling a pass from Alejandro Balde and finding room at the far post to score. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
27 November,2024 03:46 PM IST | Barcelona | IANSArsenal extended their revival with a ruthless 5-1 rout of Sporting Lisbon to bolster their bid to reach the Champions League last 16 on Tuesday. Mikel Arteta's side ended a three-match winless run in all competitions by beating Nottingham Forest 3-0 in the Premier League last weekend. And the Gunners built on that success with an even more dynamic display at the Jose Alvalade stadium. Gabriel Martinelli gave Arsenal an early lead and Kai Havertz increased their advantage before Gabriel Magalhaes struck just before half-time. Goncalo Inacio got one back for Sporting, but Bukayo Saka's penalty underlined the gulf in class between the teams. Leandro Trossard netted late on to give Arsenal five away goals in a Champions League game for the first time since 2008. Arsenal's third win in five Champions League matches this season lifted them into seventh place, with the top eight teams in the revamped tournament earning automatic qualification for the last 16. Sporting's first defeat in Europe's elite club competition this season leaves them below Arsenal on goal difference. Arsenal are nine points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool after their dip, but this swaggering effort suggested they are finally back in the groove. Arteta had challenged Arsenal to make a statement against Sporting and they responded in emphatic fashion. The north Londoners' first away win in the Champions League in six attempts was a welcome tonic after a 1-0 loss at Inter Milan in their last European fixture. Arsenal's impressive performance was all the more notable as Sporting had crushed Manchester City 4-1 in their final Champions League game under Ruben Amorim, who has since taken charge of Manchester United. Joao Pereira has replaced Amorim as Sporting boss but he was unable to maintain their unbeaten start to the season as the Portuguese champions were defeated for the first time in 19 games in all competitions. Arsenal run riot It took just seven minutes for Martinelli to put Arsenal ahead. Jurrien Timber's low cross was perfectly weighted and the Brazilian slid in to apply the finish inside the six-yard box. In stark contrast to City's capitulation at Sporting earlier in November, Arteta's men were in complete command. They picked the Sporting defence apart again in the 22nd minute as Thomas Partey's incisive pass picked out Saka's run beyond the hosts' creaky offside trap. Saka guided a pin-point pass into the Sporting area and Havertz timed his run immaculately to slot home from close range. Sporting finally forced a save from David Raya when 17-year-old Geovany Quenda unleashed a fierce strike that the Arsenal keeper tipped over. But Gabriel bagged his first Champions League goal on the stroke of half-time. Arsenal's set-piece prowess was on show as the Brazilian defender rose highest to power his header past Franco Israel from Declan Rice's in-swinging corner. Gabriel marked the goal with a cheeky celebration as he mimicked the eye-covering gesture used by Sporting striker Viktor Gyokeres when he scores. That inflammatory gesture briefly woke Sporting from their slumber and Inacio reduced the deficit two minutes after half-time. Arsenal's Riccardo Calafiori went to sleep at a corner and Inacio took advantage to volley past Raya from close range. Sporting needed another goal quickly to put Arsenal under genuine pressure, but instead it was the visitors who struck again in the 65th minute. Ousmane Diomande's lunge tripped Martin Odegaard in the area and Saka drilled his penalty into the corner of the net. Trossard put the seal on Arsenal's demolition job in the 82nd minute, nodding home after Israel spilled Mikel Merino's shot. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
27 November,2024 03:43 PM IST | Lisbon | AFPEzequiel Vidal, Luka Majcen and Mushaga Bakenga starred as Punjab FC handed Mumbai City FC their first home loss in nine matches with a 3-0 victory in their Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 match at the Mumbai Football Arena (MFA) on Tuesday night. A strike each by Vidal, Majcen, and Bakenga ensured smooth sailing for the visitors, who delivered outstanding performances in all concerned departments to keep the Petr Kratky-coached side at bay. Majcen was the architect of the initial two strikes, as he and Vidal combined deftly to land the first blow in the added time of the first half. The latter rushed near the Mumbai City FC box with a burst of space and found Majcen waiting at the edge of the box. His pass was well received and then sent back to him by Majcen, who perfectly spotted Vidal to be at the appropriate spot to unleash his thunderous left-footed effort. Vidal didn’t blink once before depositing the ball into the top left corner from the outside of the 18-yard area, with the shot being so perfectly directed that it swayed past a sea of Mumbai City FC players and gave Punjab FC the crucial lead in the contest. The visitors carried forward that momentum in the second half, exerting pressure on the Mumbai City FC backline. Cruising on the left channel inside the box, Filip Mrzljak smartly drew a foul and got his side a spot-kick in the 53rd minute. Also Read: IN PHOTOS: Mumbai City FC players go traditional to celebrate Diwali Up stepped Luka Majcen from the penalty area, and slotted the ball into the bottom left corner – with Islanders’ goalkeeper Phurba Lachenpa diving to make a save in the wrong direction. Majcen broke into a joyous celebration and this was perhaps the moment that his side assuredly felt that they could garner three points from this contest. Kratky tried shaking things up a bit, adding the fresh legs of Brandon Fernandes and PN Noufal to inject more energy and pace into the Mumbai City FC set-up in the 60th minute. However, Punjab FC’s well-organised defence not only kept the Islanders away but also made sure that they made the right moves from the back to help their team initiate a piercing attack at every possible opportunity. But Punjab FC did not embrace a defensive outlook despite their two-goal advantage, which helped them grab their third strike of the night. It was Mushaga Bakenga who got his name on the scoresheet in the 84th minute, making the correct run to get into the centre of the box and placing a straightforward pass by Ninthoinganba Meetei to the bottom left corner to add to Punjab FC’s tally and seal the game lock, stock, and barrel in their favour. Mumbai City FC will play their next game against Hyderabad FC on Saturday, whereas Punjab FC are set to feature against Mohammedan SC on December 6. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
27 November,2024 03:36 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSWith Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior injured for the Champions League clash at Liverpool on Wednesday, superstar summer signing Kylian Mbappe will become their key attacking weapon. Tough start in Spain The France captain has endured a tough start to life in the Spanish capital, on and off the pitch, but found the net for the first time in five matches at Leganes on Sunday in La Liga. He was started on the left wing in his favoured role by coach Carlo Ancelotti for the first time and rewarded the Italian by opening the scoring at Butarque. However, the chance was created by Vinicius and with the Brazilian out for over three weeks, Mbappe will be responsible for stepping up and providing Madrid’s attacking edge hereon, starting at Anfield. Liverpool lead the Champions League group table with holders Madrid down in 18th after surprise defeats by Lille and AC Milan in their first four matches. Vinicius hit four Champions League goals in those games while Mbappe has found the net just once in Europe. While seven La Liga strikes in 12 appearances is not a bad record, Mbappe’s performances have left something to be desired given his superstar status. Left out of France team The French forward, left out of his country’s squad in the last two international breaks, believes he is finding his footing slowly but surely. “I think I put in a good performance, I’m starting to get up to speed with my teammates,” Mbappe told Real Madrid TV after the win over Leganes that them to second in La Liga. “I can play in every position and I’m ready to help the team and give my all... “I play on the right, on the left, in the middle and with two up top. It doesn’t matter to me. I want to help the team and score goals.” Ancelotti may use Mbappe as part of a two-man strike force with Jude Bellingham. SevenNo. of La Liga goals Mbappe has scored for Real in 12 ties OneNo. of UCL goals Mbappe has scored for Real in four games This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
27 November,2024 08:22 AM IST | Madrid | AFPSavio United won the IC Colts-organised QPL rink football tournament, beating Avilon United 1-0 in the final at the USF Turf, Borivli, recently. Vijesh Nair scored the all-important winner for Savio United. Also Read: Shivaansh, Anaahi shine at GMAAA swim meet Savio Pereira, from the winning team, was adjudged the best player of the tournament, while the best goalkeeper’s award went to Santosh Castelino. Nair finished as the highest scorer with three goals. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
26 November,2024 08:08 AM IST | Mumbai | AgenciesRuben Amorim did not pull any punches after a disappointing start to his career in the Manchester United dugout on Sunday night, admitting his players are “confused and afraid,” leading to an underwhelming 1-1 draw at lowly Ipswich. Marcus Rashford scored in the second minute after which Omari Hutchinson equalised at the end of the first half. Also Read: Won’t change our belief: Pep “If you see the first half, we were a little bit afraid. When we don’t have training, we had two days, they are confused a little bit. You feel that in the data,” Amorim said at the post-match press conference. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
26 November,2024 08:02 AM IST | IPSWICH | AgenciesAmid the worst losing streak of his career, Pep Guardiola is determined to stick to his plans. Man City has lost five straight games in all competitions and are eight points behind EPL leaders Liverpool. Tonight City faces Feyenoord in the Champions League, but Guardiola’s faith in his approach is unshaken. Also Read: St Joseph’s boys, Scottish girls are happy hoopsters! “What should I change? he asked. “We are not going to change our beliefs. We are big believers in the process and the fundamentals that we have to do. We have to go more direct to our principals. Don’t change much — less than ever. I don’t give up and I have the feeling we’ll do good things,” he said. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
26 November,2024 08:00 AM IST | Manchester | AP | PTIBayern Munich host Paris Saint-Germain tonight in a battle between two sides flying high domestically, but struggling to adjust to the new Champions League format. After four games, Bayern have lost twice — including a 1-4 defeat by Barcelona, led by their former boss Hansi Flick — and sit 17th, which would leave them unseeded for the knockout phase play-off. PSG’s situation is even worse, with the French champions in 25th — one spot outside the knockout places entirely. Bayern’s struggles are a far cry from their exploits in the old group stage, where the six-time champions signed off with a record 40-match unbeaten run, featuring 36 wins and four draws. Their last loss in the group phase was in 2017 — a 0-3 defeat to PSG. Also Read: Spinner Ronil Jhanjani shines for Al-Barkaat v Anjuman-I-Islam This season, other than the loss in Barcelona, the Vincent Kompany-coached German giants have impressed. Unbeaten in the league, Bayern’s only other defeat came in the Champions League away at Aston Villa (0-1). The crowded football calendar provides a real incentive for finishing in the top eight and avoiding the extra play-off round for teams finishing from ninth to 24th. Thomas Mueller knows PSG will be eager to gain ground after an underwhelming start in Europe. “PSG’s position in the table does not reflect their performance. They’re a super team with super individual players. A lot is at stake. I’m happy it’s at home,” Mueller told BR24 recently. Bayern defender Dayot Upamecano knows what to expect from France teammates Ousmane Dembele and Bradley Barcola. “It’s an important game for us. If you look at the table, it’s not great — we are not where we want to be,” he told Telefoot. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
26 November,2024 07:55 AM IST | Berlin | AFPKerala Blasters FC put on an impeccable second-half display to beat Chennaiyin FC 3-0 to in the Indian Super League here on Sunday. Jesus Jimenez, Noah Sadaoui and Rahul KP found the back of the net in the 56th, 70th, and 90+2' minute of the match respectively as Kerala Blasters grabbed their third win of the campaign in an exciting contest. The first half of the match was a closely contested affair. Jimenez and Noah found themselves at the centre of opportunities in the 17th and the 27th minutes respectively. Both were from close distances inside the box, but they were unable to find an opening past the Chennaiyin FC defensive unit. Uruguayan attacking midfielder Adrian Luna was crucial in the initial couple of goal-scoring efforts for the home team. He orchestrated the first move by charging up ahead in the left flank before opting for the unorthodox alternative of passing the ball to Korou Singh, who was marching forward from the right flank inside the box. Korou received the ball deftly and then played the ball forward for Jimenez, who simply slotted it into the net to get the lead 11 minutes into the second half. Also Read: ISL: Mohun Bagan SG ease past Jamshedpur 3-0, claim top spot The second strike was more straightforward, with Luna picking the ball at the centre of the park and driving the attack forward. The Chennaiyin FC backline wasn't exactly organised properly, leaving Luna with plenty of space to work with. Luna could have gone for a long-ranged effort, but he delivered a pass to Sadaoui, who turned around and deposited the ball into the bottom right corner to secure a decisive two-goal lead with just 20 minutes of play left to play in the regulation time. They tripled their advantage in the added time of the second half. It was Noah who became the provider of the goal this time around, as Kerala Blasters FC broke into a quick counter attack and found themselves at a favourable position inside Chennaiyin FC's box. Noah released the ball perfectly for Rahul, whose right footed shot from the centre of the box into the bottom left corner sealed the game for once and for all in added time. Noah wrapped up the game with a goal and an assist each, completing 26 out of his 33 attempted passes, even creating four goal-scoring opportunities and making a tackle too. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
25 November,2024 08:38 AM IST | Kochi | PTIDefending champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant outplayed Jamshedpur FC 3-0 at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan here and went to the top of the points table in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 season game on Saturday night. Goals from Tom Aldred, Liston Colaco, and Jamie Maclaren saw the Mariners secure their fourth win in their last five matches this season. The game began at a slow tempo but eventually came to life when Aldred steered the hosts forward in the 15th minute. The British defender was at the right spot following a frenzy around the box from a Dimitrios Petratos corner. The ball was initially cleared by the Jamshedpur FC defence, but a long-range effort from Deepak Tangri found a way to Alberto Rodriguez, who brought the ball down brilliantly for Aldred to hammer the opening goal. The goal handed Jose Molina’s men a great confidence boost and they looked more assured in attack. Jamshedpur FC’s backline led by Stephen Eze were on their toes to keep the likes of Jamie Maclaren, Petratos and Liston at bay. The next spell of play was dominated by the Mariners, with the likes of Petratos and Liston forcing a couple of saves from Albino Gomes. Mohun Bagan Super Giant’s persistent attacks finally bore fruit at the stroke of halftime when Liston attacked a pocket of space in Jamshedpur FC’s final third and from there he wriggled his way past a flurry of defenders before beating Albino with a vicious effort. The second half started with similar intensity with the hosts exerting their dominance over the Men of Steel. While Reliance Foundation Young Champs (RFYC) graduate Mohammed Sanan showed some sparks of brilliance with his darting runs, Pronay Halder looked out of sorts with a few turnovers and challenges in the middle. Molina’s men extended their dominance over Jamshedpur FC in the 75th minute when Tangri’s perfectly weighted delivery found the onrushing Manvir Singh on the right flank. The 29-year-old danced his way past Albino, who came off his lines before squaring to Maclaren who calmly slotted it into the open net to put the match results beyond doubt. In the final minutes of the game, Rei Tachikawa came up with a long-range effort in the hope of a consolation goal. However, Vishal Kaith parried it away with aplomb to secure the elusive clean sheet for the hosts. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
24 November,2024 11:50 AM IST | Kolkata | IANSADVERTISEMENT
