Sports
Ibrahimovic double wins Milan derby as Real Madrid, Barcelona suffer defeat
Zlatan Ibrahimovic made a winning return to the AC Milan team as his quickfire double won the Milan derby, while Real Madrid and Barcelona suffered a shock defeats in La Liga.
Romelu Lukaku also scores for Inter Milan in derby; Real Madrid beaten by Cadiz in La Liga for the first time since 1991; Luis Suarez scores for Atletico Madrid but Diego Costa injured; Robert Lewandowski, Thomas Muller and Marco Reus all on the scoresheet in the Bundesliga
Ibrahimovic, a 39-year-old striker, had missed recent games after contracting coronavirus and only resumed training this week, but scored twice early on, Sky Sport reports.
Ibrahimovic put Milan in front after 13 minutes, tapping the ball in from the rebound after his penalty was saved by Samir Handanovic, and then struck again three minutes later from Rafael Leao’s cross.
In a breathless first half, Romelu Lukaku pulled one back for Inter in the 29th minute – the first Serie A goal Milan have conceded this season. Inter were awarded a penalty in the 75th minute but it was revoked for offside in the build-up.
Milan have won all four games so far and top the table with 12 points, while Inter have seven after their first defeat of the season.
Federico Chiesa was sent off on his debut for Juventus as Crotone earned their first point back in Serie A.
Juventus was without Cristiano Ronaldo and Weston McKennie, who both tested positive for COVID-19, and also had several other players out injured.
Simy gave Crotone a surprise lead from the penalty spot in the 12th minute after Leonardo Bonucci fouled Arkadiusz Reca.
Chiesa set up Alvaro Morata for the equaliser nine minutes later but was shown a straight red on the hour following a challenge on Crotone midfielder Luca Cigarini.
Juve thought they had scored a winner shortly after but Morata’s effort was ruled out for offside on video review by VAR.
Napoli were 4-1 winners against Atalanta, which was only their second loss since January.
Hirving Lozano scored twice for Napoli and there were also goals for Matteo Politano and Victor Osimhen in the first half. Sam Lammers netted a consolation for Atalanta in the 69th.
The only positive note for Atalanta from a miserable afternoon was the return of key forward Josip Ilicic. He has not played since July after being given compassionate leave because of personal issues.
triker Fabio Quagliarella set Sampdoria on the way to a comfortable 3-0 win at home to a disappointing Lazio.
The 37-year-old capitalised on poor marking by Lazio to head in from Tommaso Augello’s cross in the 32nd minute after Sampdoria had taken control of the game.
Augello added the second himself nine minutes later when a clearance landed at his feet and he thumped a left-foot shot into the net from the edge of the area for his first Serie A goal at the age of 26.
Lazio failed to take their second-half chances and substitute Mikkel Damsgaard wrapped the game up for Sampdoria in the 74th minute after the ball ricocheted around the Lazio area.
Spanish champions Real Madrid suffered a shock 1-0 loss at home to promoted Cadiz – their first La Liga defeat in over seven months.
Honduran forward Anthony Lozano put Cadiz ahead in the 16th minute, darting between Madrid defenders Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane to meet a cushioned header from Alvaro Negredo and lifting the ball over keeper Thibaut Courtois into the net.
Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane made four substitutions at half-time in a bid to turn the game around and brought on Luka Jovic later on. The Serbian striker soon putt the ball in the net but saw his effort ruled out for a clear offside.
Vinicius Jr missed the target with a free header, while Karim Benzema struck the bar from the edge of the area and Cadiz clung on to claim their first league win over Madrid since 1991.
Barcelona missed the chance to go top of La Liga after slipping to a surprise 1-0 defeat at Getafe.
Jaime Mata scored the only goal from the penalty spot early in the second half and that was enough to lift Getafe up to second, level on points with leaders Real Madrid, who were beaten at home by Cadiz earlier on Saturday.
Lionel Messi hit a post for Barca in the first half, but it was a frustrating evening for the Catalans and Getafe also hit the woodwork in the closing stages.
Barca’s first defeat of the season under head coach Ronald Koeman leaves them ninth in the table, three points adrift of Madrid with a game in hand.
Luis Suarez scored an early goal to help Atletico Madrid win 2-0 at Celta Vigo, breaking a short run of 0-0 stalemates against Huesca and Villarreal.
Suarez netted after a pass from Manuel Sanchez in the sixth minute at Celta’s Balados Stadium. Yannick Carrasco added a second goal in stoppage time when he headed in a rebound after fellow substitute Joao Flix hit the crossbar with a curling strike.
Celta had their chances to equalise in the first half, only to be stopped by the woodwork and goalkeeper Jan Oblak.
Sports
Super Eagles Most Impressive Team at AFCON 2025 – Yaya Touré
Super Eagles Most Impressive Team at AFCON 2025 – Yaya Touré
Former African football icon Yaya Touré has described Nigeria’s Super Eagles as the most impressive team at AFCON 2025, praising their attacking quality, discipline and consistency throughout the tournament in Morocco.
The former Ivory Coast captain said Nigeria stood out among the continent’s best despite failing to reach the final, noting that the Super Eagles combined exciting attacking football with strong organisation at the back. According to Touré, Nigeria’s style of play and overall impact made them his top performers at the tournament.
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Under head coach Éric Chelle, the Super Eagles enjoyed a strong AFCON campaign, winning the majority of their matches and emerging as one of the highest-scoring teams at the competition. Nigeria reached the semi-finals, where they narrowly lost to hosts Morocco on penalties, before defeating Egypt to secure the bronze medal.
Touré’s praise adds to the growing recognition Nigeria has received following AFCON 2025. The team’s impressive run also contributed to an improvement in their FIFA ranking, reinforcing optimism around the squad ahead of upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
As celebrations continue back home, Touré’s endorsement has further strengthened the belief that the Super Eagles are firmly back among Africa’s elite football nations, with a promising future on both the continental and global stage.
Super Eagles Most Impressive Team at AFCON 2025 – Yaya Touré
Sports
Mbappé Nets Brace as Real Madrid Demolish Monaco 6–1
Mbappé Nets Brace as Real Madrid Demolish Monaco 6–1
Kylian Mbappé scored twice as Real Madrid delivered a ruthless performance to thrash AS Monaco 6–1 at the Santiago Bernabéu, sending a strong statement in the UEFA Champions League and easing pressure after recent domestic setbacks.
The French superstar wasted no time against his former club, opening the scoring early before adding a second inside the first half to take his Champions League goals tally into double figures this season. His sharp finishing set the tone for a dominant night in Madrid.
Vinícius Júnior was equally influential, tormenting the Monaco defence with pace and creativity. The Brazilian capped his display with a fine goal and an assist, while Jude Bellingham added his name to the scoresheet late on as Madrid ran riot.
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Further goals came through teenage prospect Franco Mastantuono and a Thilo Kehrer own goal, highlighting Monaco’s defensive collapse. The visitors managed only a consolation strike, offering little resistance as Madrid controlled possession and tempo throughout.
The emphatic victory lifts Real Madrid into a strong position in the Champions League standings, keeping them firmly on course for automatic qualification to the knockout stage. For Monaco, the heavy defeat leaves their European hopes hanging by a thread.
The result also marks a positive start under new head coach Álvaro Arbeloa, with Madrid fans buoyed by one of the club’s most complete performances of the season as the race for European glory intensifies.
Mbappé Nets Brace as Real Madrid Demolish Monaco 6–1
Sports
Ballon d’Or 2026: Declan Rice Leads Early Rankings Ahead of Kane, Haaland, Mbappé
Ballon d’Or 2026: Declan Rice Leads Early Rankings Ahead of Kane, Haaland, Mbappé
The race for the 2026 Ballon d’Or is already taking shape, with Declan Rice, Harry Kane, Erling Haaland, and Kylian Mbappé emerging as early front-runners for football’s most prestigious individual award. With Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo now past their peak, the field is wide open for new stars to claim the coveted Golden Ball.
Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice tops early rankings thanks to his influential performances in club and international competitions, particularly his leadership in Arsenal’s title push. Close behind are Harry Kane, who continues to score prolifically for Bayern Munich, Erling Haaland with his lethal finishing for Manchester City, and Kylian Mbappé, maintaining his form for Real Madrid and France.
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Rising star Lamine Yamal, Barcelona’s teenage sensation, also features prominently among early favourites, while other notable contenders include midfield dynamo Vitinha and reigning 2025 Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé. Analysts note that the race is still early and that Champions League and World Cup performances will heavily influence the final outcome.
The early rankings provide a snapshot of the competition, highlighting a mix of established stars and emerging talents who could define the next era of global football.
Ballon d’Or 2026: Declan Rice Leads Early Rankings Ahead of Kane, Haaland, Mbappé
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