Sports
Tight contests at UCL Day 2; Barcelona, United make it two from two
Álvaro Morata had three goals ruled out for offside as Barcelona, Manchester United, Paris, Chelsea, Dortmund and Sevilla all won.
Tight contests dominated the second night of Match Day 2 action, no more so than at Juventus where Álvaro Morata had three goals ruled out for offside as Barcelona edged victory.
Group E
Krasnodar 0-4 Chelsea
Chelsea survived a scare for their first win of the campaign, going ahead through Callum Hudson-Odoi’s first UEFA Champions League goal after Jorginho’s penalty hit the post. Yuri Gazinski rattled the crossbar but Timo Werner’s emphatic spot kick, Hakim Ziyech’s clinical finish and a close-range Christian Pulišić strike saw off Krasnodar.
Key stat: Chelsea are seven UEFA Champions League group stage matches unbeaten.
04/11: Sevilla vs Krasnodar, Chelsea vs Rennes
Sevilla 1-0 Rennes
The UEFA Europa League holders dominated from start to finish, but had to wait until 11 minutes after half-time for Luuk de Jong’s fine volley to force the breakthrough.
It ended the resistance of the excellent Alfred Gomis, and even when the Senegalese goalkeeper was beaten the woodwork intervened to deny Munir and Joan Jordán.
Key stat: Sevilla are undefeated in 13 European home games (W11 D2)
04/11: Sevilla vs Krasnodar, Chelsea vs Rennes.
Group F
Club Brugge 1-1 Lazio
Joaquín Correa gave depleted Lazio an early lead, but after Hans Vanaken converted from the spot before the interval the visitors were indebted to Pepe Reina for earning a point. They might have won themselves through Sergej Milinković-Savić but Simon Mignolet kept him out with a fine stop. Both teams move on to four points.
Key stat: Club Brugge have won only two of their last 20 UEFA Champions League matches
04/11: Club Brugge vs Dortmund, Zenit vs Lazio
Dortmund 2-0 Zenit
Jadon Sancho and Erling Braut Haaland left it late as the hosts claimed their first points in Group F. Dortmund were made to work as Zenit stood firm, but a lapse of concentration in the 78th minute allowed Sancho to score from the spot before Haaland rubber-stamped the win with a stoppage-time strike.
Key stat: Dortmund are yet to concede a goal at home in all competitions this season.
04/11: Club Brugge vs Dortmund, Zenit vs Lazio.
Group G
Ferencváros 2-2 Dynamo Kyiv
The Hungarian side completed a stunning comeback, thanks to fine efforts from Tokmac Nguen and, on 90 minutes, substitute Franck Boli.
Dynamo had led through Viktor Tsygankov’s penalty and Carlos de Pena’s close-range finish, but almost ended up with nothing as a volley from the hosts’ Ukrainian forward Oleksandr Zubkov flew just over.
Key stat: Dynamo Kyiv have drawn four of their last five UEFA Champions League away games.
04/11: Ferencváros vs Juventus, Barcelona vs Dynamo Kyiv.
Juventus 0-2 Barcelona
Ronald Koeman’s charges showed their intent from the off with Antoine Griezmann hitting the post inside two minutes, and went in front when Ousmane Dembélé’s deflected drive left Wojciech Szczęsny helpless.
Merih Demiral was dismissed late on, before the Blaugrana’s second victory in the section was capped off by Lionel Messi’s added-time penalty.
Key stat: Barça are 22 group stage matches unbeaten.
04/11: Ferencváros vs Juventus, Barcelona vs Dynamo Kyiv.
Group H
Başakşehir 0-2 Paris
Moise Kean’s second-half double secured Paris a hard-fought win in Istanbul. The visitors were largely second best until the 20-year-old headed in a 64th-minute opener.
Edin Višća went close several times and an injury to Neymar ended his involvement, but Kean’s well-taken second wrapped up the points.
Key stat: Aged 20 years and 243 days, Kean is the youngest Italian player to score on his first UEFA Champions League start.
04/11: Başakşehir vs Man. United, Leipzig vs Paris.
Man. United 5-0 Leipzig
Marcus Rashford came off the bench to net his first senior hat-trick as United romped to the top of Group H.
Mason Greenwood’s first UEFA Champions League goal elicited a half-time advantage, but it was Rashford’s treble – three calm right-footed finishes – and Anthony Martial’s penalty that added late gloss to an impressive all-round display.
Key stat: This was United’s biggest UEFA Champions League home win since a 7-1 defeat of Roma in the 2006/07 quarter-finals.
04/11: Başakşehir vs Man. United, Leipzig vs Paris.
Sports
Paris 2024: Brazil beat the Super Falcons in opening game
Paris 2024: Brazil beat the Super Falcons in opening game
The Super Falcons began their campaign at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games on a shaky footing, losing 0-1 to Brazil in their first match.
Nigeria came into the game on the back of an impressive showing at the 2023 FIFA World Cup and an eight-game unbeaten run.
They started the match well, missing a couple of chances to have taken the lead in the French city of Bordeaux.
Many thought the team would go into the tunnel with the lead or at least all square with the South Americans. But Gabi Nunez finished off finely with about eight minutes to the end of the first half to give Coach Randy Waldrum’s side a mountain to climb in the second half.
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Upon the resumption of the second half, the Nigerians rallied to get back into the game. But their final balls were rarely threatening the Brazilian defence.
Despite running some changes and bringing in fresh legs to push for an equaliser, the Brazilians defended gallantly to deny the Super Falcons the leveller.
Nigeria’s next game is against world champions Spain. That match is on the 28th of July before the team take on Japan on the 31st.
In the other Group C game, Spain saw off Japan 2-1 while the US defeated Zambia 3-0 in a Group B tie. France mauled Colombia 3-0 in a Group A encounter on the same day.
Paris 2024: Brazil beat the Super Falcons in opening game
Sports
PSG not giving up on Osimhen, seek further slash in price
PSG not giving up on Osimhen, seek further slash in price
Paris Saint-Germain is still negotiating a lower transfer fee for Napoli striker Victor Osimhen as they pursue the Nigeria international this summer.
According to transfer market expert Gianluca Di Marzio, PSG are poised to retake the lead in their pursuit of the Napoli striker.
In contrast, Italian sports news outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that the French champions are still dissatisfied with Napoli’s reduced asking price of £100 million.
“The Parisian club would in fact have decided to take a step back. President Al-Khelaifi considers the 100 million euros excessive, believing that with De Laurentiis he is making the same mistake as last summer,” the report stated.
Napoli had initially demanded the full payment of Osimhen’s £130m release clause, a figure that has deterred many potential suitors. PSG, however, have refused to meet this valuation and are hoping for a further reduction in the price.
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The prolonged negotiations have reportedly left Osimhen frustrated, with Italian publication Tutto Napoli suggesting that the striker is now open to considering offers from Saudi Arabian clubs Al-Ahli and Al-Hilal.
“Osimhen is fed up, a prisoner of his golden contract. De Laurentiis will probably grant discounts on the clause but not sales,” Tutto Napoli wrote.
As the transfer saga continues, PSG may need to offload either Goncalo Ramos or Randal Kolo-Muani to make room for Osimhen.
Interestingly, Chelsea have reportedly been offered the chance to sign these two PSG forwards, potentially holding the key to Osimhen’s move to the French capital.
Osimhen, who joined Napoli in 2020 for a club-record fee, has been in impressive form, scoring 41 league goals in the past two seasons and helping the club secure their first Scudetto in over three decades.
PSG not giving up on Osimhen, seek further slash in price
Sports
Two Saudi clubs eye Osimhen amid PSG stalled deal
Two Saudi clubs eye Osimhen amid PSG stalled deal
With options fast drying up for Victor Osimhen, it has now been reported that top Saudi Arabian clubs Al Ahli and Al Hilal are now pulling all the stops to sign the Napoli striker.
Osimhen continues the pre-season with Napoli and will join the team in Castel Di Sangro for the second part of preparation while waiting for a move to PSG.
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Corriere dello Sport and Gazzetta claimed that a move to the French capital is now a priority for Osimhen. Tuttosport reported last week that the striker has already agreed personal terms with the club.
However, the French giants must sell Gonçalo Ramos or Randal Kolo Muani before sending an official offer to Napoli. PSG are unlikely to pay the entire €130m clause, but Napoli will look for at least €100m.
Two clubs who can surely match Napoli’s demands are Al-Ahli and Al-Hilal in the Saudi Pro League. According to Il Corriere dello Sport, both sides are waiting for the developments of PSG talks with Osimhen before making a formal bid.
Two Saudi clubs eye Osimhen amid PSG stalled deal
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