Kylian Mbappe hoped his move to Real Madrid would finally end his wait to win the Champions League. That felt a long way off on Wednesday after a 0-2 defeat to Liverpool left the champs in danger of being eliminated from the UCL at the first stage. Mbappe had a miserable night at Anfield, where he was humbled by a young defender and then missed a penalty. Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said the star forward was going through a “difficult moment” just months after he joined the record 15-time European champions. “We must give him our support and love and he will soon be fine,” said Ancelotti, facing multiple questions on Mbappe from Spanish reporters. “It could be lack of confidence. Sometimes in the game, when things don’t work out, the idea is to keep things simple. Don’t complicate things. He’s going through that moment now. Don’t blame him for missing a penalty. We can’t put too much grief on him for that.” Also Read: Hybrid model for CT not acceptable: PCB to ICC Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher (yellow) dives to his left to save a penalty taken by Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe during their UEFA Champions League match at Anfield on Wednesday World Cup-winner Mbappe looked a shadow of himself against a Liverpool team that leads the way in the Premier League and Champions League. He was brought crashing down by a crunching tackle from 21-year-old right back Conor Bradley when threatening to burst through on goal in the first half. And it got worse in the second when he had a chance to make it 1-1 from the penalty spot after Alexis Mac Allister had given Liverpool the lead, but couldn’t beat Liverpool’s back-up goalie Caoimhin Kelleher. Mbappe has scored nine goals in 18 ties for Madrid since leaving PSG, but has only one goal in the UCL for his new club, who have lost three of their five games in the revamped competition. Reds bos Slot on song Liverpool are the only team with a perfect record in this season’s UCL after beating holders Real Madrid 2-0 on Wednesday. They are the sole side with five wins from five in this new-look UCL, and are guaranteed to advance to the play-offs in February. “It’s special to play against a club that won this Champions League so many times,” said Liverpool boss Arne Slot. “Real are the reigning champions and have been a pain in the a**e for Liverpool many times as well,” added Slot. 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
29 November,2024 07:39 AM IST | Liverpool | AFPEmiliano Martinez produced a wonder save and Aston Villa were controversially denied a last-gasp winner in a 0-0 Champions League draw with Juventus on Wednesday. Chances were at a premium in Birmingham but the home side had Argentina international Martinez to thank for keeping the scores level. Then, deep into stoppage time, Morgan Rogers looked to have given Unai Emery's team another famous win when he slammed a loose ball home. But the goal was ruled out after it was deemed that Diego Carlos had fouled Juventus goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio. Emery said he was "very happy" with the point despite the late ruling by the officials, describing the contact as "soft". "The last action is clear, it is the interpretation of the referee," the Spaniard told TNT Sports. "Only the interpretation. We know here in England, 80 percent is not fault (foul) and maybe in Europe it is a fault." Villa raced out of the blocks in Europe this season, winning their first three matches, but they have now gone seven games in all competitions without a victory. Emery made it clear before the match that a draw would not be a bad result against the Italian giants as he plots an exit from the revamped group stage. Also Read: Champions Trophy 2025 | "Jay Shah will think about the ICC's benefit": Naqvi hopes positive response on hosting the event Juventus, playing without a recognised striker, enjoyed the bulk of possession in the early stages but showed little punch. The game opened up as the first half progressed. Teenager Kenan Yildiz drifted in from the left but dragged his shot wide of Martinez's right-hand post in the 20th minute. The first shot on target for either side came when Ollie Watkins controlled a clever Boubacar Kamara pass in the 37th minute but Di Gregorio pushed the ball behind. Matty Cash lashed a shot towards goal from the resulting corner but it hit a Juventus player and the Italians broke with pace, Timothy Weah, playing up front, firing over from distance. Martinez then kept out a shot from the impressive Francisco Conceicao. But Villa came closest to breaking the deadlock in first-half stoppage time when Lucas Digne rattled the crossbar from a free-kick. Both teams showed more urgency early in the second half as the game picked up pace, with the home crowd trying to lift Villa. Two-time champions Juventus had a glorious chance to take the lead in the 65th minute when the ball fell to Conceicao at the back post from a corner. He got his effort on target but somehow Martinez made up ground to his right, diving low to keep the ball out, millimetres short of crossing the line. Five minutes later Villa were denied when Leon Bailey crossed for John McGinn, whose shot was kept out by the outstretched boot of Manuel Locatelli. The home side thought they had won the match in the final seconds but it was not to be. Villa, playing their first season in Europe's top-tier competition since the 1982/83 season, are ninth in the Champions League table, with Thiago Motta's Juventus down in 19th spot 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.
28 November,2024 12:12 PM IST | United Kingdom | AFPThiago Messi, the eldest son of the Argentina star, has made his debut in the “Newell’s Cup” tournament in the countryside city of Rosario. Also Read: We’re fragile, unstable: Pep after 3-3 draw v Feyenoord The 12-year-old Messi played with the No. 10 jersey of an Inter Miami youth team, which lost 1-0 on Monday to host Newell’s Old Boys in the traditional under-13 competition. The team also played on Tuesday. 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
28 November,2024 07:45 AM IST | Buenos Aires | AP | PTIManchester City boss Pep Guardiola said a 3-3 draw in the Champions League against Feyenoord felt like another defeat after his side blew a 3-0 lead in the final 15 minutes on Tuesday. A point did snap City’s five-game losing streak, but did little to inspire confidence ahead of Sunday’s daunting trip to Premier League leaders Liverpool. It is the first time City had failed to win a match they led by three goals since 1989 and the first time ever it had happened in the final 15 minutes of a Champions League game. Also Read: Bajrang Punia said that joining this political party would lift his ban Pep Guardiola But the defensive frailties that have been the root cause for a staggering collapse in recent weeks were exposed in the closing stages as Anis Hadj Moussa, Santiago Gimenez and David Hancko scored for Feyenoord. “We concede a lot of goals because we are not stable,” said Guardiola. “We give them the first and the other ones and that is why it is difficult.” Erling Haaland had struck twice, either side of Ilkay Gundogan’s deflected effort, to put the English champions in a commanding position at the Etihad Stadium. “We lost a lot of games lately. We are fragile and of course we need a victory,” added Guardiola. “The game [at 3-0] was good for the confidence, playing a good level and the first time something happens we have problems.” 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
28 November,2024 07:42 AM IST | Manchester | AFPPep 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 | AgenciesADVERTISEMENT
