Sports
Benfica sink Barcelona 3-0 to bottom of Group E, Bayern win 5-0
Barcelona have suffered a second defeat in two games and from now on can’t afford any more slip-ups if they are to progress from Champions League Group E. Ronald Koeman’s former club, Benfica, took an early lead and although the Catalans had a host of opportunities to get back into the game, the Portuguese side were eventually able to build on that lead in the second half.
The result leaves Barça bottom of the group for the time being, but there’s a lot more football to be played, beginning with back-to-back games with Dynamo Kyiv on October 20 and November 2.
Buoyed by an infectious atmosphere inside the Stadium of Light, the home side flew at Barça and Darwin Nuñez fired them into the lead after just two minutes. A finely crafted and finished goal by the Uruguayan, but anything but the start that Barça needed.
The blaugrana response was immediate. For all the remainder of the first half the big plays were all in the direction of the Portuguese goal and it is difficult to fathom how not one of them ended with the ball in the back of the net.
Frenkie de Jong, on the night of his 100th appearance for the club, set up his compatriot and namesake Luuk twice to no avail. Frenkie had a couple of pops of his own and there were fine chances for Pedri and Memphis too, but Barça were still trailing at the break.
That wasn’t for lack of chances, but none of them had hit the target, and sadly that statistic wasn’t going to change after the break.
Other than the goal, Benfica may have battled hard and well to keep the Catalans at bay, but they’d created very little threat of their own. They found new verve in the second half and the closest of a number of chances in quick succession came when Nuñez caught Ter Stegen well off his line and ended up hitting the post.
That had been a let-off, but on 68 minutes Benfica did stretch their lead. Barça had lacking their tight shape of the first half and an unmarked Rafa Silva was able to convert the rebound after a previous effort had been cleared.
And there was further woe ten minutes later when Sergiño Dest handled in the area and Darwin Nuñez poked the penalty home. Benfica had only scored once in their last six meetings with Barça, but tonight they had three.
Meanwhile, for Barça it was the first time they had lost their first two games of a European campaign since losing twice to FC Porto in 1972.
To rub salt into the wounds, Barça played the final minutes with ten men after Eric Garcia was red-carded, but by that stage the game was already looking like a lost cause.
Bayern win
In the other game in Group E, Bayern Munich thrashed Dynamo 5-0, with Lewandowski scoring twice in the first half, and Gnarby, Sane and Choupo-Moting adding three more in the second. The result leaves the Germans flying high with six points, Benfica have four, Dynamo one and Barça none.
Sports
Lookman Shines as Atlético Madrid Hammer Barcelona 4-0
Lookman Shines as Atlético Madrid Hammer Barcelona 4-0
Atlético Madrid delivered a blistering first-half performance to thrash FC Barcelona 4–0 in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final at the Metropolitano on Thursday night.
Nigerian international Ademola Lookman continued his fine scoring form, netting in the 33rd minute as Diego Simeone’s side ran riot in a devastating opening 45 minutes.
Atlético took the lead as early as the sixth minute when Barcelona defender Eric García inadvertently turned the ball into his own net under pressure, setting the tone for a difficult evening for the visitors.
The hosts doubled their advantage in the 14th minute through Antoine Griezmann, who capitalised on Barcelona’s shaky defensive start to slot home confidently. Lookman then extended the lead in the 33rd minute with a composed finish after a swift attacking move exposed gaps in the Blaugrana backline.
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Argentine forward Julián Álvarez completed the rout before halftime, adding Atlético’s fourth goal to crown a ruthless first-half display that left Barcelona shell-shocked.
Despite naming a strong line-up that included teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, Barcelona struggled to cope with Atlético’s intensity, pressing, and clinical finishing. At several stages in the first half, Xavi’s men were forced onto the back foot as the home side dictated the tempo.
Barcelona’s night went from bad to worse in the 85th minute when Eric García received a second yellow card and was sent off for a professional foul as the last defender.
The emphatic result gives Atlético a commanding advantage heading into the return leg at Camp Nou on March 4. Barcelona will need a remarkable turnaround in front of their home fans to keep their hopes of reaching the Copa del Rey final alive.
Before the decisive second leg, Barcelona will shift focus back to La Liga action with an away fixture against Girona FC on Monday.
Lookman Shines as Atlético Madrid Hammer Barcelona 4-0
Sports
Manchester City Defeat Fulham 3‑0 to Narrow Gap on Arsenal
Manchester City Defeat Fulham 3‑0 to Narrow Gap on Arsenal
Manchester City delivered a commanding performance on Wednesday, defeating Fulham 3‑0 at the Etihad Stadium to reduce Arsenal’s lead at the top of the Premier League to just three points. The victory strengthens City’s bid for the 2025‑26 title and underscores their growing momentum as the season approaches its critical stages.
City dominated from the outset, taking control of the match through quick, precise passing and relentless pressure in Fulham’s defensive third. The opener came in the 24th minute when Antoine Semenyo finished clinically after a sustained City attack, giving the home side an early advantage. Six minutes later, Nico O’Reilly doubled City’s lead with a composed finish following a slick team move, leaving Fulham struggling to respond.
The contest was effectively sealed in the 39th minute as Erling Haaland struck a powerful shot into the bottom corner, marking his 153rd goal for Manchester City and moving him joint-fourth on the club’s all-time scoring list. Haaland’s goal also ended his open-play league goal drought, boosting City’s confidence heading into the run-in.
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Fulham offered little resistance, with their best early chance denied by Gianluigi Donnarumma, City’s goalkeeper. Despite sporadic pressure late in the game, the visitors failed to breach City’s well-organized defence, leaving the home team in complete control throughout the 90 minutes.
With the win, Manchester City climb to 53 points from 26 matches, sitting just behind Arsenal, who retain a game in hand. Fulham remain mid-table on 34 points, struggling to find consistency in recent fixtures.
City’s performance showcased attacking cohesion, defensive solidity, and tactical discipline, giving manager Pep Guardiola a strong platform as his side intensifies their Premier League title challenge. With over a dozen matches remaining, the narrowing gap sets up an intense battle for the top spot between the two Manchester rivals’ challengers.
Manchester City Defeat Fulham 3‑0 to Narrow Gap on Arsenal
Sports
Liverpool Edge Sunderland 1-0 to Halt Impressive Home Streak
Liverpool Edge Sunderland 1-0 to Halt Impressive Home Streak
Liverpool brought an end to Sunderland’s unbeaten home run with a hard-fought 1-0 win in a tightly contested encounter that underlined the visitors’ title ambitions.
In front of a packed stadium, Sunderland came into the match boasting an impressive home record, having gone several games without defeat on their own turf. However, Liverpool’s discipline, tactical organisation and cutting edge in the final third proved decisive.
The breakthrough came after sustained pressure from the Reds, who dominated possession for large spells while Sunderland remained compact and dangerous on the counterattack. A well-worked move eventually unlocked the hosts’ defence, with Liverpool capitalising on a defensive lapse to score what turned out to be the winning goal.
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Despite going behind, Sunderland responded with urgency and intensity, pushing forward in search of an equaliser. The home side created a handful of promising chances, but Liverpool’s defence held firm, with the goalkeeper producing key saves to preserve the slender lead.
The victory not only ended Sunderland’s strong home streak but also strengthened Liverpool’s position in the league standings as the season approaches a crucial phase.
Managerial reactions after the match reflected the contest’s intensity. Liverpool’s bench praised the team’s resilience and game management, while Sunderland acknowledged the disappointment of seeing their unbeaten home run come to an end but vowed to bounce back quickly.
With the result, Liverpool continue their push at the top end of the table, while Sunderland will look to regroup and rediscover their formidable form at home in their next fixture.
Liverpool Edge Sunderland 1-0 to Halt Impressive Home Streak
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