Ancelotti has doubts on defense for Real Madrid’s return game against Leipzig in Champions League

Ancelotti has doubts on defense for Real Madrid’s return game against Leipzig in Champions League
Real Madrid’s Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti and his players attend a training session on the eve of their UEFA Champions League last 16 second leg match against RB Leipzig at the Ciudad Real Madrid training ground in Valdebebas, on Mar. 5, 2024. (AFP)
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Updated 05 March 2024
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Ancelotti has doubts on defense for Real Madrid’s return game against Leipzig in Champions League

Ancelotti has doubts on defense for Real Madrid’s return game against Leipzig in Champions League
  • Tchouaméni has been one of the players who has pitched in defensively because of injuries to the team’s regular defenders
  • “I’ve thought about it but I don’t want to give away any hints, I still have some doubts,” Ancelotti said Tuesday

MADRID: Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti still has doubts about how to set up his defense for the return match against Leipzig in the round of 16 of the Champions League on Wednesday.
Madrid will enter the game at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium defending a 1-0 lead from the first leg in Germany three weeks ago.
Ancelotti didn’t say whether he will improvise again with midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni playing as a central defender or would promote Nacho Fernández to the position.
Tchouaméni has been one of the players who has pitched in defensively because of injuries to the team’s regular defenders.
“I’ve thought about it but I don’t want to give away any hints, I still have some doubts,” Ancelotti said Tuesday. “We played with Tchouaméni and (Antonio) Rüdiger because Nacho hadn’t practiced, he had a small ailment. Now he is available and has the same opportunity to start as the others.”
Madrid chose not to add any central defenders in the winter transfer window, with Ancelotti saying that the players he had were enough despite the many injuries affecting the club.
Nacho is a defender but isn’t a usual starter for Ancelotti. The coach also had to use right back Dani Carvajal as a central defender.
Madrid defender Éder Militão has been out since the season opener because of a serious knee injury and David Alaba tore his ACL in December. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois also has been out since before the season started with a knee ligament injury.
Leipzig’s attack is led by Loïs Openda, a Belgium international who has scored 21 goals — including four in the Champions League — this season.
Madrid are coming off a 2-2 draw at Valencia in the Spanish league. They have a seven-point lead over Girona in the competition.
“Tomorrow we have to show the best version of ourselves,” Ancelotti said. “The tie is not over yet. Talking about the season today is complicated. So far we have done very well but we still have a long way to go.”
Madrid have advanced past the round of 16 the last three seasons, reaching at least the semifinals every time and winning the title in 2022.


Newcastle strike back to win at Wolves, move into Premier League top four

Newcastle strike back to win at Wolves, move into Premier League top four
Updated 15 September 2024
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Newcastle strike back to win at Wolves, move into Premier League top four

Newcastle strike back to win at Wolves, move into Premier League top four
  • Eddie Howe’s men have picked up 10 points from possible 12

WOLVERHAMPTON: Harvey Barnes’ stunning strike sent Newcastle third in the Premier League on Sunday after coming from behind to win 2-1 at Wolves.
Mario Lemina had swept the home side into a first-half lead at the end of a swift counter-attack.
However, Wolves remain without a win in the Premier League this season as Newcastle’s greater quality proved decisive after the break.
The Magpies’ performances have been far from convincing so far this season.
Yet, Eddie Howe’s men have still picked up 10 points from a possible 12.
Howe responded to another lacklustre opening 45 minutes with a triple half-time change with Alexander Isak among those to come off at the break.
Newcastle could have found themselves 2-0 down before the fightback started when Jorgen Strand Larsen smashed off the post.
Instead, fortune favored the visitors when Schar’s speculative shot flicked off the head of Craig Dawson and flew beyond Sam Johnstone.
Barnes needed no such luck as he arrowed a rocket into the top corner 10 minutes from time to snatch all three points.
Newcastle still required a brilliant save from Nick Pope to deny Matheus Cunha in stoppage time and leave Wolves in the bottom three.
However, they survived to move level with second-placed Arsenal, just two points behind Manchester City.


Gabriel strikes as Arsenal hit wasteful Spurs with sucker punch in north London derby

Gabriel strikes as Arsenal hit wasteful Spurs with sucker punch in north London derby
Updated 15 September 2024
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Gabriel strikes as Arsenal hit wasteful Spurs with sucker punch in north London derby

Gabriel strikes as Arsenal hit wasteful Spurs with sucker punch in north London derby
  • Premier League title contenders dug deep with a combative display, benefitting from Tottenham’s latest display of wasteful finishing

LONDON: Gabriel Magalhaes headed Arsenal to a 1-0 win at Tottenham on Sunday as the Gunners overcame the absence of key midfielders Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard to extend their north London derby dominance.
Mikel Arteta’s side were without skipper Odegaard due to an ankle injury suffered on Norway duty, while Rice served a suspension for his red card against Brighton.
Losing two such influential players appeared to make Arsenal vulnerable on their trip up the Seven Sisters Road to face their bitter rivals.
But the Premier League title contenders dug deep with a combative display, benefitting from Tottenham’s latest display of wasteful finishing before Gabriel bagged the winner in the second half.
The Brazilian defender’s first goal since February made it three wins from four league games for unbeaten Arsenal as they chase a first title since 2004 after two successive runners-up finishes.
Arsenal have now won on their last three visits to Tottenham, losing just once, in May 2022, in their last eight meetings with their hated neighbors.
The second placed Gunners are two points behind Manchester City as they turn their attention to their Champions League opener at Atalanta on Thursday before traveling to face Pep Guardiola’s champions next weekend.
The 196th north London derby showed Arsenal have steel and spirit aplenty, but they also needed a dose of good fortune as Tottenham let them off the hook in the first half.
Failing to turn dominant spells into goals has been a familiar story for Tottenham this season and once again Ange Postecoglou’s men were let down by their lack of cutting edge.
Tottenham’s second successive defeat leaves them with only one win from four games in a worrying start to the season for Postecoglou after their late swoon last term cost them a top four place.
Turning to Jorginho and Gabriel Martinelli to replace Rice and Odegaard, Arteta had urged his team to show the “resilience, depth and hunger” needed to overcome their selection issues.
Arsenal had to call on all those qualities during a vibrant start from Tottenham, with David Raya making a fine save at his near post after Son Heung-min’s pass picked out Dejan Kulusevski for an instinctive strike.
Raya had to make an even more agile stop when Kulusevski’s cross flashed through a crowd of players toward the far corner until the Spaniard clawed it away at full stretch.
William Saliba had to make a crucial, last-ditch tackle to deny the unmarked Dominic Solanke, who took too long to shoot inside the area after Son pressured Arsenal into conceding possession.
Tottenham’s profligacy gave Arsenal encouragement and Kai Havertz rose highest for a close-range header that forced a superb save from Guglielmo Vicario, who was also equal to Martinelli’s curler moments late.
Picked out by James Maddison’s cross, Solanke did well to hold off Gabriel but his looping header dropped narrowly wide.
Amid a flurry of aggressive challenges, the simmering derby tension boiled over after Jurrien Timber’s tackle on Pedro Porro left the Tottenham right-back writhing on the turf.
Vicario confronted the Arsenal defender, with both players booked after a melee featuring a plastic bottle thrown from the stands.
By the time Kulusevski crudely up-ended Jorginho on the stroke of half-time, seven players had been booked in a fractious clash, including five from Tottenham.
Micky van de Ven’s glancing tested Raya soon after the interval, but toothless Tottenham were hit with a brutal sucker punch in the 64th minute.
With 23 goals from set-pieces since the start of last season, Arsenal have become dead-ball specialists this was another expertly worked routine.
Saka’s in-swinging corner arrowed toward Gabriel, who got away with a push on Cristian Romero before powering his header past Vicario from five yards.
Tottenham penned Arsenal back in the closing stages, but couldn’t find a way through as Kulusevski blasted just over.


Al-Nassr’s Cristiano Ronaldo diagnosed with viral infection, misses Iraq trip

Al-Nassr’s Cristiano Ronaldo diagnosed with viral infection, misses Iraq trip
Updated 15 September 2024
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Al-Nassr’s Cristiano Ronaldo diagnosed with viral infection, misses Iraq trip

Al-Nassr’s Cristiano Ronaldo diagnosed with viral infection, misses Iraq trip
  • After a medical evaluation by the team's doctor, it was determined that Ronaldo requires rest

RIYADH: Al-Nassr’s captain Cristiano Ronaldo is unwell due to a viral infection, according to an official statement released by his club.

The team’s doctor said that Ronaldo requires rest and will not accompany the side on their trip to Iraq today for their Asian Champions League clash.

He will now miss the AFC Champions League match against Al-Shorta in Baghdad on Monday night.
The club’s statement confirmed that Ronaldo’s condition is being closely monitored and that Al-Nassr extended their wishes for a speedy recovery.

Ronaldo’s absence is a significant one for the team as they prepare for their upcoming match with Iraq’s Al-Shorta.


Kuwait football board quits after match chaos

Kuwait football board quits after match chaos
Updated 15 September 2024
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Kuwait football board quits after match chaos

Kuwait football board quits after match chaos
  • Board members quit after an inquiry into ticketing and logistical problems that marred Tuesday’s match

Kuwait City: The entire board of Kuwait’s football governing body has resigned after fans were left in sweltering temperatures for hours during a World Cup qualifier against Iraq.
Board members quit after an inquiry into ticketing and logistical problems that marred Tuesday’s match at the 60,000-capacity Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium, the Kuwait Football Association said in a statement late Saturday.
“The board members of the Kuwait Football Association tendered resignations en masse,” Kuwait’s official KUNA news agency reported, citing the statement.
According to the association website, the board had seven members.
The association also accepted the resignation of its secretary-general, Salah Al-Qanai, and public relations boss Mohamed Bou Abbas, it said.
They had been suspended since Wednesday over what the association called “unacceptable events.”
Fans fainted in temperatures of above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) as they pleaded with staff for water.
Some fans without tickets were meanwhile allowed in, while others who had purchased tickets were refused entry.


Saudi player in ICU after falling from Dubai balcony

Saudi player in ICU after falling from Dubai balcony
Updated 15 September 2024
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Saudi player in ICU after falling from Dubai balcony

Saudi player in ICU after falling from Dubai balcony
  • Officers are investigating the accident

DUBAI: Saudi football player Fahad Al-Muwallad has been admitted to the intensive care after falling from the second-floor balcony of his vacation home in Dubai, the emirate’s police said in a statement.

Officers are investigating the accident, said the Dubai Police.

 

 

The Al-Shabab star’s health condition is under supervision at a Dubai hospital where “medical teams are providing the necessary healthcare,” the police said.

The Saudi consulate in Dubai confirmed in a statement on X early Sunday it was informed of an accident at Muwallad’s private residence in Dubai on Thursday afternoon.

The consulate “is following the investigations conducted with the police” in Dubai, it said in a statement posted on X.

 

 

Under the instructions of the sports minister Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Saud, the medical and administrative team of the Saudi national club flew to Dubai to monitor the player’s condition in coordination with the consulate and the hospital, the statement read.

Al Muwallad is a winger for Al-Shabab Saudi club in Riyadh and in the Saudi national team.