FOOTBALL
Champions League: Ajax & Liverpool win, Milan exit
RB Leipzig secured the third place of Group A with a 2-1 win over Manchester City at the Red Bull Arena, thanks to goals from Dominik Szoboszlai and Andre Silva.
The home side was without their manager Jesse March on the sidelines because of the red card he received for his last match antics.
But, the Germans still managed to pick up a crucial victory to keep their European campaign alive.
Manchester City, who had already won the group, cut the deficit by half with a 75th minute strike from Riyad Mahrez, but failed to find the equalizer in the remainder of the match.
A win would not have done Club Brugge any good since Leipzig won in their match and nicked the 3rd place, but the Belgians were denied a consoling result before bowing out of Europe as PSG steamrolled them to a 4-1 defeat.
Messi sparkles
Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe both grabbed a brace to take the game way beyond Brugge’s reach.
Mats Rits pulled one back for the visitors, but Messi PSG’s three-goal minutes later from the penalty spot.
Ajax continues to rock
Ajax Amsterdam concluded a perfect Champions League group stage campaign as they picked up their sixth straight win with a 4-2 triumph against Sporting Lisbon.
Sebastien Haller opened the scoring with an 8th-minute penalty and also got his name into the history books, becoming the first player after Cristiano Ronaldo to score in all six Champions League group stage matches.
Sporting immediately responded through Nuno Santos, but Antony, David Neres, and Steven Berghuis restored and extended the Dutch side’s lead.
Bruno Tabata scored 12 minutes from time to make it 4-2.
Despite the loss, Sporting will progress to the next round ahead of Dortmund because of superior goal difference.
Atletico step up
Atletico Madrid made it to the knock-out stages with a remarkable 3-1 away win at Porto.
It was a match where tempers flew high as none of them could finish the tie with 11-men.
Going into the match, both teams had the opportunity to go through to the next round, which set up an enthralling 90 minutes at the Estadio Do Dragao.
The hosts were on the front foot and looked more likely to take the lead when the visitors drew first blood through Antoine Griezmann four minutes from the hour mark.
Yannick Carrasco saw red 11 minutes later, giving the hosts a numerical boost, which turned out to be a temporary one as Porto lost two in the following minutes as the referee sent off Wendell and Agustin Marchesin.
Goals from Angel Correa and Rodrigo De Paul in the dying minutes of the game added to the misery of the hosts, even though they pulled one back through Sergio Oliveira late on stoppage time.
Madrid too good for Inter
In a battle for Group D top spot, Real Madrid came out on top with goals from Toni Kroos and Marco Asensio.
Los Blancos were missing their star striker Karim Benzema, who was sidelined with a hamstring injury, but they did not have to wait for picking the locks of the Inter defence as Kroos put them ahead in the 17th minute.
Inter came close to equalizing as Marcelo Brozovic, and Ivan Perisic missed good chances to score.
But, Nicolo Barella’s red card followed by Asensio’s goal in the 79th minute made Real group champions.
Heartbreak for Milan
With Premier League fixtures coming in thick and fast, Jurgen Klopp chose to field a second-string Liverpool side at San Siro.
But, Milan failed to take advantage of the situation and pick up a vital win.
Fikayo Tomori put the home team ahead, but goals from Mohamed Salah and Divock Origi condemned Milan to a 2-1 defeat, crashing them out of the competition in the process.
Sheriff grinded out a 1-1 draw against Shakhtar Donetsk to grab the Group D third spot and carry on their European mission in the Europa League.
Borussia Dortmund’s 5-0 victory over Besiktas proved too little too late for their Champions League survival, and they will now have to focus on the Europa League.
The results
Pep Guardiola blames himself! Pep Guardiola took full responsibility for Manchester City’s disappointing 2-1 defeat against Manchester United, admitting he “was not good enough.” The loss came in a closely contested derby that saw United capitalize on critical moments, leaving City to rue missed opportunities. Guardiola’s tactical decisions have come under scrutiny, with some analysts suggesting changes in formation or lineup may have been necessary to counter United’s gameplay.
Speaking to the press, Guardiola emphasized that the blame for the defeat lies with him. “I’m not good enough. I didn’t make the right decisions today,” he said, reflecting on the team’s performance. City started strongly, controlling possession and creating early chances, but United’s resilience and counterattacking strategy ultimately sealed the match in their favor. Pep Guardiola blames himself!
The result leaves Manchester City trailing in the league standings, with increasing pressure to secure consistent wins to stay competitive in the title race. Guardiola, however, remained optimistic, urging his squad to learn from the loss and focus on upcoming matches. Meanwhile, United celebrated a crucial victory that solidified their standing as strong contenders this season.
Fans and pundits alike are debating Guardiola’s admission, as City look to bounce back in their next fixture.
In the upcoming Indian Super League (ISL) fixture, Bengaluru FC is set to host FC Goa at the Kanteerava Stadium, hoping to end Goa’s impressive unbeaten streak and claim a crucial three points. With Bengaluru’s strong home record, they look to exploit the advantage of playing in front of their passionate supporters to halt Goa’s momentum.
Bengaluru FC, who have been inconsistent this season, will be aiming to regroup and put their best foot forward in this clash. Their attacking options, led by the experienced Sunil Chhetri, will be key as they face one of the most solid sides in the league. Despite their inconsistency, Bengaluru will be looking to ride the wave of support from their home crowd and create the chances needed to break down Goa’s defense.
On the other hand, FC Goa comes into this match riding high on confidence, having remained unbeaten for a considerable stretch. Their well-balanced squad, with notable players like Edu Bedia and Jorge Ortiz, have been a force to reckon with. Goa’s fluid passing game and lethal counter-attacks have made them a tough opponent this season, and they will be keen to extend their winning run.
Bengaluru FC’s defense will be tested as FC Goa’s potent attack looks to exploit any gaps in the backline. Bengaluru’s defense, led by the experienced Juanan and the dynamic Sandesh Jhingan, will need to remain sharp and organized to limit Goa’s chances. If Bengaluru can shut down the creative outlets of Goa, they stand a good chance of taking the upper hand in this high-stakes encounter.
With both teams needing points for different reasons, this match promises to be a thrilling contest. Bengaluru FC is looking to put their recent struggles behind them, while FC Goa is keen on extending their unbeaten run. As the match approaches, the battle between Bengaluru FC’s home advantage and FC Goa’s unstoppable momentum is sure to capture the imagination of fans.
Liverpool’s impeccable start to the season has made them strong contenders for the Champions League. After securing a place in the knockout rounds with a win over Girona, they’ve maintained a perfect European record.
Rio Ferdinand praised their momentum, highlighting their position as favorites based on form, though he cautioned that freshness, particularly for key players like Virgil van Dijk and Mo Salah, will be crucial. Stephen Warnock echoed this sentiment, noting that Liverpool is a formidable opponent in both the Premier League and Champions League.
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