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Ancelotti defends Vinicius ahead of Super Cup

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Ancelotti defends Vinicius ahead of Super Cup

Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr is available to play in the Spanish Super Cup, despite his recent two-match suspension, and on Wednesday manager Carlo Ancelotti continued to defend his player despite the club losing their appeal.

Vinicius was sent off for slapping Valencia goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski in Friday’s LaLiga match, and after an appeal, the Spanish FA suspended the striker for two league games, clearing him for Thursday’s Super Cup semi-final against Mallorca.

Ancelotti had been confident of winning the appeal, believing it to be a yellow card offence, and also said that Vinicius is under enormous mental stress due to previous incidents of racist abuse directed at him in Spain.

The manager still believes the suspension decision was wrong.

“We are delighted with Vinicius in every aspect,” Ancelotti told a press conference ahead of Thursday’s game in Jeddah.

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“Both he and I hear what happens on the pitch. I keep saying that it is difficult to be Vinicius. The sanction is not correct.

“When you talk about Vinicius’ provocation, you deflect the shot from the insults he receives.”

Real have already played Mallorca this season, when they were held to a 1-1 draw in the opening game of the campaign, and Ancelotti is happy that their Super Cup tie will go to penalties without extra time should they end level again.

“We know the opponent very well and they know us. It’s going to be very competitive, they cost us a lot in LaLiga. They have good characteristics and can fight for the game,” Ancelotti said.

“You think you will play a good game and win it. If you don’t win, there’s the penalty shootout.

“It changes a lot. It avoids extra time, which can be more complicated to manage.”

The winners will face either Barcelona or Athletic Bilbao, who play in Wednesday’s semi-final, in the final on Sunday.

 

Ancelotti defends Vinicius ahead of Super Cup

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Salah hits new record with 50th European goal for Liverpool

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5 hours ago

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January 22, 2025

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Liverpool and Egypt forward Mohamed Salah

Salah hits new record with 50th European goal for Liverpool

Liverpool and Egypt forward Mohamed Salah has now scored three Champions League goals this season and 22 in 31 games in all competitions.

He has also set up another 17 for team-mates and his total of 39 goal involvements is the highest of any player in Europe’s big five leagues.

His latest goal set Liverpool on their way to victory against Lille and to securing their place in the Champions League last 16.

It was a nonchalant finish as he latched on to Curtis Jones’ superb through ball and lifted over the advancing Lucas Chevalier.

It was his 50th goal in Europe for Liverpool – with 44 coming in the Champions League, five in last season’s Europa League and one in Champions League qualifying.

His latest strike extends his record as the club’s leading European goalscorer and he has now scored 20 Champions League goals at Anfield.

Former Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero (23 at Etihad Stadium) and ex-Manchester United forward Ruud van Nistelrooy (23 at Old Trafford) are the only players to score more goals in the competition at a specific venue for an English team.

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“There has always been a smile on Salah’s face but it’s just that belief in himself that he will score,” said former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock on BBC Radio 5 Live.

“That’s what makes him so dangerous. That’s the elite mindset of a player of his calibre.”

He has also been directly involved in 18 goals in 15 appearances at Anfield this season (10 goals, eight assists in all competitions).

“He is a real talisman for Liverpool,” said former Reds striker Robbie Fowler on Amazon Prime.

“He is a game winner. He is very comfortable in front of goal.

“He is one of those players that if he misses a chance, he is not fazed because the next one he will score.

“We wax lyrical about Mohamed Salah and know what he is capable of.”

Speaking to Amazon Prime, Salah said: “Hopefully [it’s] not the last one but I’m very proud of it. I wasn’t focused on it before the game.”

The 32-year-old’s long-term future at Anfield has been a constant talking point, as he has yet to sign an extension to his contract that expires at the end of this season.

At the end of December, Salah said an agreement was “far away” but former Liverpool forward Luis Garcia said the “situation is not affecting him”.

“He has never said he wants to leave,” said Garcia on Amazon Prime.

“The club never said he wants to leave. I think they are trying to give him normality. Week in, week out he is delivering, he is scoring. So this situation is not affecting him.”

Salah hits new record with 50th European goal for Liverpool

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Barcelona in major comeback claim victory at Benfica

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5 hours ago

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January 22, 2025

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Barcelona in major comeback claim victory at Benfica

Raphinha struck a dramatic winner in stoppage time as Barcelona came from behind to beat Benfica 5-4 in a wild match on Tuesday and virtually ensure direct qualification to the Champions League last 16.

Benfica were leading 4-2 with under 15 minutes remaining but Barcelona mounted a stunning late comeback to stay three points behind leaders Liverpool.

Vangelis Pavlidis hit a first-half hat-trick for the hosts, in part thanks to two big errors by Barcelona goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny.

However a Robert Lewandowski double from the penalty spot, Eric Garcia’s header and a brace for Raphinha helped Barcelona claim a stunning last-gasp triumph in Lisbon.

“We knew how hard it would be here, in front of their fans, and they know how to play really well, they have top level players,” Raphinha told Movistar.

“We didn’t let ourselves sink at 3-1 down, we were focussed on what we needed to do to try and change the game.

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“It was a spectacular game for everyone. They could have won, or us, but we managed to take it.”

Benfica opened the scoring in the second minute, when Pavlidis escaped Pau Cubarsi and fired home from Alvaro Carreras’ low cross.

Barcelona responded swiftly with Lewandowski scoring from the penalty spot after Alejandro Balde was brought down by Benfica defender Tomas Araujo.

The hosts nosed back ahead through a stroke of luck, when Szczesny raced out of his goal to try and cut out a through-ball, but crashed into Balde.

Greece international Pavlidis gleefully collected the loose ball and rolled his second into the empty net.

Barcelona, who lured Szczesny out of retirement to replace the injured Marc-Andre ter Stegen in October, soon fell further behind.

Pavlidis completed his half-hour hat-trick with a penalty after another Szczesny mistake, with the goalkeeper flying in to try and dispossess Kerem Akturkoglu but bringing him down.

– Barca battle back –

Lamine Yamal and Raphinha missed good chances before the break as Barcelona pushed forward.

Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin saved from Jules Kounde, who should have scored, and Lewandowski could not turn home from Pedri’s dangerous ball across the face of goal.

Raphinha pulled one back for Barcelona in bizarre fashion as a clearance by Trubin struck his head on the edge of the area and flew back into the net.

However, Benfica soon struck again, with Ronald Araujo nudging past Szczesny into his own net as he tried to cut out a cross.

Barcelona kept pushing and Lewandowski converted another penalty after Nicolas Otamendi brought down Yamal.

The Catalan giants, who last won the Champions League in 2015, pulled level when substitute Garcia headed home from Pedri’s inviting cross.

Szczesny saved former Real Madrid star Angel Di Maria’s low shot before Raphinha’s dramatic winner.

With Benfica appealing for a penalty, Barcelona sprang a quick breakaway and the Brazilian winger slotted home to end a blockbuster battle.

Players from both sides clashed after the final whistle as tempers flared following the thrilling denouement.

“To go behind in the second minute… spoils your plans,” said Garcia.

“The team showed an incredible mentality.”

 

Barcelona in major comeback claim victory at Benfica

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Manchester City sign defender Abdukodir Khusanov from Lens

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23 hours ago

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January 21, 2025

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Abdukodir Khusanov

Manchester City sign defender Abdukodir Khusanov from Lens

Manchester City announced on Monday that it has signed Uzbekistan central defender Abdukodir Khusanov from Lens of Ligue 1 on a four-and-a-half-year contract.

Khusanov, 20, played in 13 of Lens’ 16 league games this season, and City paid a £33.5 million transfer fee for him, according to British media.

“For such a young defender, Abdukodir is already very intelligent, as well as being strong, aggressive and extremely quick,” City said in a statement.

The centre-back is the Premier League’s first player from Uzbekistan. He will wear the number 45.

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“I’m absolutely delighted to be joining Manchester City, a club that I have enjoyed watching for a long time,” Abdukodir Khusanov said.

“This squad is full of the best players in the world, and I can’t wait to meet them and play alongside them.

“And of course Pep Guardiola is one of the greatest coaches ever and I am so excited to learn from him and improve my game even more.

“This is a very proud moment for me and my family to be joining a great Club like Manchester City and I’m more than ready for this challenge,” he told the City website.

Abdukodir Khusanov joined Lens from Belarusian side Energetik-BGU Minsk in 2023, playing 31 matches for the French team in all competitions.

Manchester City are back in the top four in the Premier League after thrashing Ipswich on Sunday.

Manchester City sign defender Abdukodir Khusanov from Lens

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