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<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ollie-watkins">Ollie Watkins</a> returned to haunt old club Brentford once more as Aston Villa closed on the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/premier-league">Premier League</a>'s top four with a 1-0 win in west London on Saturday.
The England striker has now scored six times in his last six games against the Bees but had Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken to thank for his part in the winner.
Victory lifts Villa up to seventh and within two points of the top four to round off a fine week for Unai Emery's men.&nbsp;After progressing to the FA Cup quarter-finals last weekend, Villa took a giant stride towards the last eight of the Champions League with a 3-1 away win in the first leg of their last 16 tie against Club Brugge on Tuesday.
"We have to be extremely demanding for the rest of the season," said Emery.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bundesliga-bayern-munich-unpunished-for-shock-loss-as-bayer-leverkusen-fall-to-defeat-8835150">Bundesliga: Bayern Munich unpunished for shock loss as Bayer Leverkusen fall to defeat</a>
"Now we are really hungry to play the last two-and-a-half months (of the season). We lost something in our way this year and we have to try to recover it now, especially in the Premier League."
Emery had to cope without the injured Emi Martinez, while <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/marcus-rashford">Marcus Rashford</a> dropped to the bench in the Spaniard's only two changes from midweek.
Villa had won just one of their last seven Premier League games to place their chances of a Champions League return next season in serious jeopardy.
But they ground out a vital three points as Brentford's prolific forward duo of Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa failed to fire.&nbsp;After a flat first half, the game came to life just four minutes into the second period when Watkins' powerful low shot slipped through Flekken's grasp.
Moments later the visitors thought they had a second as Watkins this time played provider for Morgan Rogers to stroke home.&nbsp;However, a VAR review for offside came to Brentford's rescue.&nbsp;The home side did most of the pressing in the final half hour.
Keane Lewis-Potter came closest to an equaliser when his shot from outside the box hit the post.&nbsp;Villa, though, should have made a nervy finale more comfortable when Watkins raced clean through but got the execution on an attempted chip over Flekken all wrong.
A first away league win in nearly two months brings Villa right back into contention for the Champions League places.&nbsp;A top-five finish is almost certain to be enough due to the strong performance of English sides in European competition this season.
Villa are now just one point outside the top five as five points separate Manchester City in fourth from Fulham in 10th.
<h2>Barca Liga match postponed after club doctor dies</h2>
Barcelona's La Liga match against Osasuna was postponed on Saturday after one of the club's first team doctors died.&nbsp;"Barcelona is sorry to announce the sad news of the death of the first team doctor, Carles Minarro Garcia, this afternoon," said the club in a statement.
"For this reason, the match between Barcelona and Osasuna has been postponed until a later date.&nbsp;"The board of directors and all the staff at Barcelona wish to convey our most sincere condolences to his family and friends, we are with them at this difficult time."
Fans had begun entering the Olympic stadium for the league leaders' clash against Osasuna, before it was called off around 20 minutes before the expected kick off at 2000 GMT.
"I still can't believe it, a big hug to the family and friends of Carles," wrote Barcelona midfielder Pedri in a post on social media network Instagram.
The doctor, 53, leaves behind a wife and two children, said Barcelona president Joan Laporta.&nbsp;"This is incredibly painful news for Barcelona, it has left us heartbroken, in shock, because it was so sudden," said Laporta.
"We contacted his mother and his wife, to express our condolences and support them in these incredibly painful moments...
"It is our duty to be there for all of them, his wife, his children, his mother."
The doctor had been working with different Barcelona sides since 2017, and began working with the men's football first team a few months ago.&nbsp;Osasuna president Luis Sabalza said his team had no objection whatsoever to the match being postponed.
"We understand that life is the most important thing and you can't play a game thinking that the person with whom you've lived with for so long is not there any more," he told DAZN.
Osasuna offered their condolences in a post on social media platform X.&nbsp;"Osasuna wishes to convey its deepest condolences to the family of doctor Carles Minarro Garcia and would like to send a big hug at this difficult time to all the staff of Barcelona, as well as their fans. May he rest in peace," wrote the club.
On Monday Villarreal's game against Espanyol in La Liga was also postponed because of a heavy rain alert in the region.
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Sports, Football: The England striker has now scored six times in his last six games against the Bees but had Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken to thank for his part in the winner

Ollie Watkins returned to haunt old club Brentford once more as Aston Villa closed on the Premier League's top four with a 1-0 win in west London on Saturday. The England striker has now scored six times in his last six games against the Bees but had Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken to thank for his part in the winner. Victory lifts Villa up to seventh and within two points of the top four to round off a fine week for Unai Emery's men. After progressing to the FA Cup quarter-finals last weekend, Villa took a giant stride towards the last eight of the Champions League with a 3-1 away win in the first leg of their last 16 tie against Club Brugge on Tuesday. "We have to be extremely demanding for the rest of the season," said Emery. Also Read: Bundesliga: Bayern Munich unpunished for shock loss as Bayer Leverkusen fall to defeat "Now we are really hungry to play the last two-and-a-half months (of the season). We lost something in our way this year and we have to try to recover it now, especially in the Premier League." Emery had to cope without the injured Emi Martinez, while Marcus Rashford dropped to the bench in the Spaniard's only two changes from midweek. Villa had won just one of their last seven Premier League games to place their chances of a Champions League return next season in serious jeopardy. But they ground out a vital three points as Brentford's prolific forward duo of Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa failed to fire. After a flat first half, the game came to life just four minutes into the second period when Watkins' powerful low shot slipped through Flekken's grasp. Moments later the visitors thought they had a second as Watkins this time played provider for Morgan Rogers to stroke home. However, a VAR review for offside came to Brentford's rescue. The home side did most of the pressing in the final half hour. Keane Lewis-Potter came closest to an equaliser when his shot from outside the box hit the post. Villa, though, should have made a nervy finale more comfortable when Watkins raced clean through but got the execution on an attempted chip over Flekken all wrong. A first away league win in nearly two months brings Villa right back into contention for the Champions League places. A top-five finish is almost certain to be enough due to the strong performance of English sides in European competition this season. Villa are now just one point outside the top five as five points separate Manchester City in fourth from Fulham in 10th. Barca Liga match postponed after club doctor dies Barcelona's La Liga match against Osasuna was postponed on Saturday after one of the club's first team doctors died. "Barcelona is sorry to announce the sad news of the death of the first team doctor, Carles Minarro Garcia, this afternoon," said the club in a statement. "For this reason, the match between Barcelona and Osasuna has been postponed until a later date. "The board of directors and all the staff at Barcelona wish to convey our most sincere condolences to his family and friends, we are with them at this difficult time." Fans had begun entering the Olympic stadium for the league leaders' clash against Osasuna, before it was called off around 20 minutes before the expected kick off at 2000 GMT. "I still can't believe it, a big hug to the family and friends of Carles," wrote Barcelona midfielder Pedri in a post on social media network Instagram. The doctor, 53, leaves behind a wife and two children, said Barcelona president Joan Laporta. "This is incredibly painful news for Barcelona, it has left us heartbroken, in shock, because it was so sudden," said Laporta. "We contacted his mother and his wife, to express our condolences and support them in these incredibly painful moments... "It is our duty to be there for all of them, his wife, his children, his mother." The doctor had been working with different Barcelona sides since 2017, and began working with the men's football first team a few months ago. Osasuna president Luis Sabalza said his team had no objection whatsoever to the match being postponed. "We understand that life is the most important thing and you can't play a game thinking that the person with whom you've lived with for so long is not there any more," he told DAZN. Osasuna offered their condolences in a post on social media platform X. "Osasuna wishes to convey its deepest condolences to the family of doctor Carles Minarro Garcia and would like to send a big hug at this difficult time to all the staff of Barcelona, as well as their fans. May he rest in peace," wrote the club. On Monday Villarreal's game against Espanyol in La Liga was also postponed because of a heavy rain alert in the region. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Premier League: Watkins haunts Brentford to revive Aston Villa's top-four hopes

Arne Slot says he has to convince his Liverpool players they are playing three finals over the coming week, urging fans to raise the roof against Premier League basement club Southampton on Saturday.
Liverpool are closing in on the Premier League title, have a 1-0 lead against Paris Saint-Germain after the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie and face Newcastle in next weekend's League Cup final.
But Slot is anxious to focus on the visit of Southampton, even though his men are heavy favourites to extend their 13-point lead at the top of the table, at least for 24 hours.
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"Our full focus, my full focus, is now on Southampton, which is the first of three finals to be played in the upcoming week," Slot said on Friday.
The Dutchman was anxious to guard against complacency with the second leg against PSG and the League Cup final at Wembley to come.
"I hope, I truly hope, that our fans will be as loud as possible, at the loudest tomorrow," he said. "And not in the final and not against PSG, but tomorrow.
"I have to convince my players that we play three finals," he added. "And I'm hoping, and that's why I every time I come up with the word final, that I influence our fans a bit as well, that they understand how important they're going to be tomorrow.&nbsp;
"So I'm hoping they will not come into the stadium five minutes before the kick-off. I'm hoping the whole stadium is already completely filled half an hour before kick-off, and that these players get the reward for what they did in Paris, for working so hard."
The Dutchman admitted his players had been "really, really, really lucky" to come away from their midweek trip to Paris with a win after the French side had dominated the game, with goalkeeper Alisson Becker playing a starring role.
"But, as Michael Jordan said once, the harder you work, the more luck you have. And this is the biggest compliment you have to give the players," he said.
"They've worked incredibly hard, and I think even the second half we didn't control possession, we were not the dominant team at all, but we controlled them better than in the first half."
Slot, in his first season at Anfield, said it was sometimes important to tough matches out when not playing well.
"If you want to win something, if it's the Premier League or the League Cup or the Champions League or the FA Cup, you need to have once in a while a game where you don't play your best football and you are lucky, which is maybe not lucky if you work as hard as we do, to come and get away with a result," he said.
"There are almost no teams that play 38 (league) games or in the Champions League as much, only good football, I think Real Madrid is one of the best examples of that."
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Slot is anxious to focus on the visit of Southampton, even though his men are heavy favourites to extend their 13-point lead at the top of the table, at least for 24 hours. Football Sports

Arne Slot says he has to convince his Liverpool players they are playing three finals over the coming week, urging fans to raise the roof against Premier League basement club Southampton on Saturday. Liverpool are closing in on the Premier League title, have a 1-0 lead against Paris Saint-Germain after the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie and face Newcastle in next weekend's League Cup final. But Slot is anxious to focus on the visit of Southampton, even though his men are heavy favourites to extend their 13-point lead at the top of the table, at least for 24 hours. Also Read: Neymar back for Brazil after 16-month absence for World Cup qualifiers "Our full focus, my full focus, is now on Southampton, which is the first of three finals to be played in the upcoming week," Slot said on Friday. The Dutchman was anxious to guard against complacency with the second leg against PSG and the League Cup final at Wembley to come. "I hope, I truly hope, that our fans will be as loud as possible, at the loudest tomorrow," he said. "And not in the final and not against PSG, but tomorrow. "I have to convince my players that we play three finals," he added. "And I'm hoping, and that's why I every time I come up with the word final, that I influence our fans a bit as well, that they understand how important they're going to be tomorrow. "So I'm hoping they will not come into the stadium five minutes before the kick-off. I'm hoping the whole stadium is already completely filled half an hour before kick-off, and that these players get the reward for what they did in Paris, for working so hard." The Dutchman admitted his players had been "really, really, really lucky" to come away from their midweek trip to Paris with a win after the French side had dominated the game, with goalkeeper Alisson Becker playing a starring role. "But, as Michael Jordan said once, the harder you work, the more luck you have. And this is the biggest compliment you have to give the players," he said. "They've worked incredibly hard, and I think even the second half we didn't control possession, we were not the dominant team at all, but we controlled them better than in the first half." Slot, in his first season at Anfield, said it was sometimes important to tough matches out when not playing well. "If you want to win something, if it's the Premier League or the League Cup or the Champions League or the FA Cup, you need to have once in a while a game where you don't play your best football and you are lucky, which is maybe not lucky if you work as hard as we do, to come and get away with a result," he said. "There are almost no teams that play 38 (league) games or in the Champions League as much, only good football, I think Real Madrid is one of the best examples of that." Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Liverpool boss Arne Slot urges fans to raise the roof ahead of 'three finals'

Virgil van Dijk believes Liverpool's Champions League suffering at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain is not yet over despite surviving an onslaught to win the first leg of their last 16 tie 1-0 in the French capital.
The Reds were outclassed for almost the entire match at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday but clung on thanks to what goalkeeper Alisson Becker described as the performance "of his life".
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Harvey Elliott came off the bench to score the winner with his first touch on 87 minutes. Liverpool had only two shots, compared with PSG's 27 attempts at goal.
It was the Paris side's first defeat in 23 games, a run stretching back to November.
Liverpool will expect to be much stronger for the second leg at Anfield on Tuesday, but Van Dijk warned the tie is not yet over.
"It should be a great game and we have to be ready to suffer as they are a very good team who were unbeaten for a very long time," said the Liverpool captain.
"What I really liked was the togetherness, everyone put a shift in and we know everyone can be better."
Liverpool boss Arne Slot conceded his side would have been lucky even to escape with a draw.
Van Dijk agreed the backs-to-the-wall display is not how the runaway Premier League leaders are used to winning but paid tribute to the "world-class" opposition they faced.
"We don't want to be playing this way because everyone who plays football wants to have the ball a lot and wants to be dominating opponents," he said.
"But we played against a team with a lot of quality, world-class quality, and they made it very difficult for everyone in the world so far and they made it difficult for us but we found a way and we have to try to finish it off next week."
Slot's substitutes made a telling contribution as Darwin Nunez set up the winner for Elliott, while Curtis Jones and Wataru Endo helped snuff out the PSG threat.
"We are coming to the last stages of the season and the message is pretty clear -- everyone who is part of the team has to play a part when they come on," said Van Dijk.
"With the goal you saw Darwin makes it difficult for Marquinhos and the ball falls and he gives a good pass to Harvey for the finish.
"Even Wataru coming on, Curtis doing a good job is good to see. Everyone needs to feel that importance because there are many big games -- and decisive games -- coming up so we have to keep going."
Liverpool can extend their 13-point lead at the top of the Premier League when bottom-of-the-table Southampton visit Anfield on Saturday.
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

The Reds were outclassed for almost the entire match at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday but clung on thanks to what goalkeeper Alisson Becker described as the performance "of his life".

Virgil van Dijk believes Liverpool's Champions League suffering at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain is not yet over despite surviving an onslaught to win the first leg of their last 16 tie 1-0 in the French capital. The Reds were outclassed for almost the entire match at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday but clung on thanks to what goalkeeper Alisson Becker described as the performance "of his life". Also Read: Test greats back Shami’s plea to revoke saliva ban for ‘reverse swing’ Harvey Elliott came off the bench to score the winner with his first touch on 87 minutes. Liverpool had only two shots, compared with PSG's 27 attempts at goal. It was the Paris side's first defeat in 23 games, a run stretching back to November. Liverpool will expect to be much stronger for the second leg at Anfield on Tuesday, but Van Dijk warned the tie is not yet over. "It should be a great game and we have to be ready to suffer as they are a very good team who were unbeaten for a very long time," said the Liverpool captain. "What I really liked was the togetherness, everyone put a shift in and we know everyone can be better." Liverpool boss Arne Slot conceded his side would have been lucky even to escape with a draw. Van Dijk agreed the backs-to-the-wall display is not how the runaway Premier League leaders are used to winning but paid tribute to the "world-class" opposition they faced. "We don't want to be playing this way because everyone who plays football wants to have the ball a lot and wants to be dominating opponents," he said. "But we played against a team with a lot of quality, world-class quality, and they made it very difficult for everyone in the world so far and they made it difficult for us but we found a way and we have to try to finish it off next week." Slot's substitutes made a telling contribution as Darwin Nunez set up the winner for Elliott, while Curtis Jones and Wataru Endo helped snuff out the PSG threat. "We are coming to the last stages of the season and the message is pretty clear -- everyone who is part of the team has to play a part when they come on," said Van Dijk. "With the goal you saw Darwin makes it difficult for Marquinhos and the ball falls and he gives a good pass to Harvey for the finish. "Even Wataru coming on, Curtis doing a good job is good to see. Everyone needs to feel that importance because there are many big games -- and decisive games -- coming up so we have to keep going." Liverpool can extend their 13-point lead at the top of the Premier League when bottom-of-the-table Southampton visit Anfield on Saturday. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

'We have to be ready to suffer': Liverpool's Van Dijk on PSG's return leg in Champions League

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/newcastle-united" rel="dofollow">Newcastle United</a> striker <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/alexander-isak">Alexander Isak</a>'s home was raided by a "professional group of travelling burglars" who stole his car and jewellery worth &pound;68,000 ($87,000), a court heard on Wednesday.
The Sweden international was not in his house in Northumberland, in northeast England, when the gang broke in through a glass door last April, Newcastle Crown Court was told.
The thieves had already stolen jewellery and clothes worth more than &pound;1 million from a businesswoman and designer goods worth &pound;100,000 from another woman in the previous days.
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Three members of the same family, living in Italy, have admitted conspiracy to commit burglary, the court heard.&nbsp;A fourth family member, Valentino Nikolov, 32, denies the charge.
Dan Cordey, prosecuting, said Isak left his home between 4:00 pm and 10:00 pm on April 4, and he discovered the break-in when he returned.
The gang broke into his TV room and "inside an untidy search took place", Cordey said.&nbsp;Cash between &pound;5,000 and &pound;10,000 was taken, along with jewellery worth about &pound;68,000 and Isak's Audi car, which a member of the public later found abandoned, jurors were told.
CCTV images of the break-in were recorded.&nbsp;"This was a professional group of travelling burglars," said Cordey. "It contained one female and three men -- all related. Two of those men and one female have admitted their part in pleading guilty."
Cordey said the fourth man was the defendant Valentino Nikolov.&nbsp;The gang arrived in Britain via a ferry from Calais to Dover last March, using a motor-home as their base, the court heard.
Nikolov, of Birmingham, is representing himself at the trial and requires an Italian interpreter.&nbsp;Jurors have been told his brother Giacomo Nikolov, 28, his sister Jela Jovanovic, 43, and her son Charlie Jovanovic, 23, who all live in Italy, have admitted conspiracy to commit burglary.
Isak has enjoyed a standout season for Newcastle, scoring 22 goals in all competitions for <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/eddie-howe">Eddie Howe</a>'s team, who face Liverpool in the League Cup final at Wembley on March 16.
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Sports, Football: The Sweden international was not in his house in Northumberland, when the gang broke in through a glass door last April, Newcastle Crown Court was told

Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak's home was raided by a "professional group of travelling burglars" who stole his car and jewellery worth £68,000 ($87,000), a court heard on Wednesday. The Sweden international was not in his house in Northumberland, in northeast England, when the gang broke in through a glass door last April, Newcastle Crown Court was told. The thieves had already stolen jewellery and clothes worth more than £1 million from a businesswoman and designer goods worth £100,000 from another woman in the previous days. Also Read: 'It wasn't ideal': Did missing a full toss from Shami in Champions Trophy semis make Smith think about ODI retirement? Three members of the same family, living in Italy, have admitted conspiracy to commit burglary, the court heard. A fourth family member, Valentino Nikolov, 32, denies the charge. Dan Cordey, prosecuting, said Isak left his home between 4:00 pm and 10:00 pm on April 4, and he discovered the break-in when he returned. The gang broke into his TV room and "inside an untidy search took place", Cordey said. Cash between £5,000 and £10,000 was taken, along with jewellery worth about £68,000 and Isak's Audi car, which a member of the public later found abandoned, jurors were told. CCTV images of the break-in were recorded. "This was a professional group of travelling burglars," said Cordey. "It contained one female and three men -- all related. Two of those men and one female have admitted their part in pleading guilty." Cordey said the fourth man was the defendant Valentino Nikolov. The gang arrived in Britain via a ferry from Calais to Dover last March, using a motor-home as their base, the court heard. Nikolov, of Birmingham, is representing himself at the trial and requires an Italian interpreter. Jurors have been told his brother Giacomo Nikolov, 28, his sister Jela Jovanovic, 43, and her son Charlie Jovanovic, 23, who all live in Italy, have admitted conspiracy to commit burglary. Isak has enjoyed a standout season for Newcastle, scoring 22 goals in all competitions for Eddie Howe's team, who face Liverpool in the League Cup final at Wembley on March 16. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Newcastle striker Isak lost car and cash in home robbery, court hears

FIFA President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/gianni-infantino" rel="dofollow">Gianni Infantino</a> has announced that the FIFA World Cup 2026 will see the first-ever halftime show take place at the Metlife Stadium during the final of the tournament. The decision to add the half-time show, alongside separate events at Times Square during the final weekend of the tournament, was announced at the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/fifa">FIFA</a> Commercial &amp; Media Partners Convention in Dallas on Wednesday.
&ldquo;It was my pleasure to speak with friends and colleagues attending the FIFA World Cup 26: FIFA Commercial &amp; Media Partners Convention in Dallas, where we discussed some very exciting plans for the biggest-ever FIFA World Cup in 2026.
&ldquo;I can confirm the first-ever half-time show at a FIFA World Cup final in New York, New Jersey, in association with Global Citizen. This will be a historic moment for the FIFA World Cup and a show befitting the biggest sporting event in the world. We also spoke about how FIFA will take over Times Square for the final weekend of the FIFA World Cup in 2026, during both the bronze match and final&rdquo;, read the post on Instagram.
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With the tournament scheduled to take place in the United States, Canada and Mexico, the football governing body has decided to follow in the footsteps of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/national-football-league">National Football League</a> (NFL) with a show similar to the Super Bowl halftime show, which is one of the major attractions of the final. American rapper Kendrick Lamar performed at the Super Bowl LIX on February 10.
Infantino went on to reveal that the governing body will be consulting with Chris Martin and Phil Harvey, members of the popular English band Coldplay for the show, and the events at Times Square.
&ldquo;These will be two incredible matches, featuring some of the best players in the world, and what better way to celebrate them than in the historic Times Square in New York City?
&ldquo;My thanks, of course, to Global Citizen CEO Hugh Evans and his incredible team, for helping us put together these amazing shows. I also want to thank Chris Martin and Phil Harvey of Coldplay, who will be working with us at FIFA to finalise the list of artists who will perform during the halftime show, as well as at Times Square,&rdquo; he added.
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Sports, Football: Infantino went on to reveal that the governing body will be consulting with Chris Martin and Phil Harvey, members of popular English band Coldplay for the show

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has announced that the FIFA World Cup 2026 will see the first-ever halftime show take place at the Metlife Stadium during the final of the tournament. The decision to add the half-time show, alongside separate events at Times Square during the final weekend of the tournament, was announced at the FIFA Commercial & Media Partners Convention in Dallas on Wednesday. “It was my pleasure to speak with friends and colleagues attending the FIFA World Cup 26: FIFA Commercial & Media Partners Convention in Dallas, where we discussed some very exciting plans for the biggest-ever FIFA World Cup in 2026. “I can confirm the first-ever half-time show at a FIFA World Cup final in New York, New Jersey, in association with Global Citizen. This will be a historic moment for the FIFA World Cup and a show befitting the biggest sporting event in the world. We also spoke about how FIFA will take over Times Square for the final weekend of the FIFA World Cup in 2026, during both the bronze match and final”, read the post on Instagram. Also Read: LeBron James achieves impossible feat, becomes first player to register 50,000 career NBA points With the tournament scheduled to take place in the United States, Canada and Mexico, the football governing body has decided to follow in the footsteps of the National Football League (NFL) with a show similar to the Super Bowl halftime show, which is one of the major attractions of the final. American rapper Kendrick Lamar performed at the Super Bowl LIX on February 10. Infantino went on to reveal that the governing body will be consulting with Chris Martin and Phil Harvey, members of the popular English band Coldplay for the show, and the events at Times Square. “These will be two incredible matches, featuring some of the best players in the world, and what better way to celebrate them than in the historic Times Square in New York City? “My thanks, of course, to Global Citizen CEO Hugh Evans and his incredible team, for helping us put together these amazing shows. I also want to thank Chris Martin and Phil Harvey of Coldplay, who will be working with us at FIFA to finalise the list of artists who will perform during the halftime show, as well as at Times Square,” he added. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

FIFA announces first-ever half-time show for 2026 World Cup final

Bayern Munich have promised not to die wondering against domestic rivals Bayer Leverkusen as the sides prepare for the first leg of their <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/champions-league">Champions League</a> last 16 tie on Wednesday.
Bayern play the first match at home before next week's return leg in Leverkusen.&nbsp;The sides have already played three times this year, with two draws and one win for Leverkusen, who booted Bayern out of the German Cup in December.
German giants Bayern were uncharacteristically defensive in the most recent meeting between the sides in Leverkusen in February, a scoreless draw in which Bayern failed to register a shot on target for just the second time since 1992.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/football/difficult-to-imagine-a-better-match-up-psg-boss-enrique-on-slot-almost-perfect-liverpool-champions-league-8790541">'Difficult to imagine a better match-up': PSG boss Enrique on Slot's 'almost perfect' Liverpool</a>
Bayern defender <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/alphonso-davies" rel="dofollow">Alphonso Davies</a> promised on Tuesday his side would welcome Leverkusen with all guns blazing.&nbsp;
"We've played them many times and know how they play, but tomorrow's not a day to hold back and defend.&nbsp;"Especially at home, we'll go out there and play our game with intensity and enthusiasm on the pitch."
Davies had won the Bundesliga every season after joining Bayern in 2019 until last year, when <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/xabi-alonso">Xabi Alonso</a>'s Leverkusen side became the first to go through a German domestic season unbeaten.&nbsp;
The 24-year-old Canadian praised Leverkusen's "intensity", saying the duel was "blossoming into a very good and important rivalry."&nbsp;
"Three games this season and we haven't got the better of them, but we know that and it's not going to stop us from playing our game and playing our football."
Bayern coach Vincent Kompany pumped the brakes on Davies' enthusiasm a little, saying the Bavarians should "never lose sight of the fact there are two games -- tomorrow is not all or nothing.
"We are at home. Something special can always happen there."
Kompany said Bayern midfielder Joshua Kimmich, who missed Friday's game against Stuttgart with injury, would be back against Leverkusen with "100 per cent" certainty.
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&nbsp;

Football, Sports: Kompany said Bayern midfielder Joshua Kimmich, who missed game against Stuttgart with injury, would be back against Leverkusen with 100% certainty.

Bayern Munich have promised not to die wondering against domestic rivals Bayer Leverkusen as the sides prepare for the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie on Wednesday. Bayern play the first match at home before next week's return leg in Leverkusen. The sides have already played three times this year, with two draws and one win for Leverkusen, who booted Bayern out of the German Cup in December. German giants Bayern were uncharacteristically defensive in the most recent meeting between the sides in Leverkusen in February, a scoreless draw in which Bayern failed to register a shot on target for just the second time since 1992. Also Read: 'Difficult to imagine a better match-up': PSG boss Enrique on Slot's 'almost perfect' Liverpool Bayern defender Alphonso Davies promised on Tuesday his side would welcome Leverkusen with all guns blazing. "We've played them many times and know how they play, but tomorrow's not a day to hold back and defend. "Especially at home, we'll go out there and play our game with intensity and enthusiasm on the pitch." Davies had won the Bundesliga every season after joining Bayern in 2019 until last year, when Xabi Alonso's Leverkusen side became the first to go through a German domestic season unbeaten. The 24-year-old Canadian praised Leverkusen's "intensity", saying the duel was "blossoming into a very good and important rivalry." "Three games this season and we haven't got the better of them, but we know that and it's not going to stop us from playing our game and playing our football." Bayern coach Vincent Kompany pumped the brakes on Davies' enthusiasm a little, saying the Bavarians should "never lose sight of the fact there are two games -- tomorrow is not all or nothing. "We are at home. Something special can always happen there." Kompany said Bayern midfielder Joshua Kimmich, who missed Friday's game against Stuttgart with injury, would be back against Leverkusen with "100 per cent" certainty. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Champions League: 'No holding back', say Bayern before Leverkusen showdown

Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique hailed the work done by Liverpool boss Arne Slot and said on Tuesday the Dutchman had built an "almost perfect team" since taking over from Jurgen Klopp at Anfield.
Two of Europe's best sides this season meet on Wednesday as PSG host Liverpool at the Parc des Princes in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie.
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PSG are unbeaten in Ligue 1 and coasting towards another French title, while Liverpool sit 13 points clear in the Premier League and finished top of the 36-team league phase in the Champions League.
"It's difficult to imagine a better match-up on paper, between two dominant teams, with two slightly different ways of playing but teams with dominant styles," Luis Enrique told reporters.
Liverpool have lost on both their previous visits to PSG, in 1997 and 2018. The second defeat came months before they went on to lift the trophy later that same season in Madrid, beating Tottenham in the final.
The Reds also twice lost in the final under Klopp, both times to Real Madrid and most recently in 2022 at the Stade de France in a game overshadowed by the chaos outside the ground that left many fans traumatised.
Slot replaced Klopp last summer as the German stood down after nine years at the helm, and has made a remarkable impact on the six-time European champions.&nbsp;
"Liverpool have been one of the best teams in Europe over the past few years, they won the Champions League (in 2019)," said Luis Enrique.&nbsp;
"It was difficult to improve on what Klopp did, but Arne Slot has succeeded in creating an almost perfect team."
Mohamed Salah is enjoying a sensational campaign with 30 goals and 22 assists, emerging as a frontrunner for the Ballon d'Or, but Luis Enrique was quick to point out Liverpool pose a number of dangers to his team.
"There's a player like Salah with incredible stats, but there's not just Salah, there are lots of top-class players, it's a very complete team," said the Spaniard.
"That motivates us and it's time for us to also show we've got what it takes."
He added: "They have one of the best attacks in Europe, we're going to look to keep the ball, but we'll need to be careful with their counter-attacks, they've got three fighter jets up front."
PSG needed to go through the play-offs after a slow start in the Champions League saw them lose three of their opening five matches.
But they crushed domestic rivals Brest 10-0 on aggregate to power into the last 16 and are unbeaten in 22 matches in all competitions.
"We have to be able to do what we've been doing since the start of the season, there's nothing that changes," said Luis Enrique.
"We know that we're facing the most consistent team this season, but the plan doesn't change.
"It's going to be a hard-fought, difficult game. The first match is not going to decide everything, but it's a very important one for us. It's hard for opponents to play at the Parc des Princes with the pressure of the crowd."
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Slot replaced Klopp last summer as the German stood down after nine years at the helm, and has made a remarkable impact on the six-time European champions. Football Sports

Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique hailed the work done by Liverpool boss Arne Slot and said on Tuesday the Dutchman had built an "almost perfect team" since taking over from Jurgen Klopp at Anfield. Two of Europe's best sides this season meet on Wednesday as PSG host Liverpool at the Parc des Princes in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie. Also Read: Indian court grants bail to murder-accused wrestler Sushil Kumar PSG are unbeaten in Ligue 1 and coasting towards another French title, while Liverpool sit 13 points clear in the Premier League and finished top of the 36-team league phase in the Champions League. "It's difficult to imagine a better match-up on paper, between two dominant teams, with two slightly different ways of playing but teams with dominant styles," Luis Enrique told reporters. Liverpool have lost on both their previous visits to PSG, in 1997 and 2018. The second defeat came months before they went on to lift the trophy later that same season in Madrid, beating Tottenham in the final. The Reds also twice lost in the final under Klopp, both times to Real Madrid and most recently in 2022 at the Stade de France in a game overshadowed by the chaos outside the ground that left many fans traumatised. Slot replaced Klopp last summer as the German stood down after nine years at the helm, and has made a remarkable impact on the six-time European champions. "Liverpool have been one of the best teams in Europe over the past few years, they won the Champions League (in 2019)," said Luis Enrique. "It was difficult to improve on what Klopp did, but Arne Slot has succeeded in creating an almost perfect team." Mohamed Salah is enjoying a sensational campaign with 30 goals and 22 assists, emerging as a frontrunner for the Ballon d'Or, but Luis Enrique was quick to point out Liverpool pose a number of dangers to his team. "There's a player like Salah with incredible stats, but there's not just Salah, there are lots of top-class players, it's a very complete team," said the Spaniard. "That motivates us and it's time for us to also show we've got what it takes." He added: "They have one of the best attacks in Europe, we're going to look to keep the ball, but we'll need to be careful with their counter-attacks, they've got three fighter jets up front." PSG needed to go through the play-offs after a slow start in the Champions League saw them lose three of their opening five matches. But they crushed domestic rivals Brest 10-0 on aggregate to power into the last 16 and are unbeaten in 22 matches in all competitions. "We have to be able to do what we've been doing since the start of the season, there's nothing that changes," said Luis Enrique. "We know that we're facing the most consistent team this season, but the plan doesn't change. "It's going to be a hard-fought, difficult game. The first match is not going to decide everything, but it's a very important one for us. It's hard for opponents to play at the Parc des Princes with the pressure of the crowd." Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

‘Difficult to imagine a better match-up’: PSG boss Enrique on Slot’s ‘almost perfect’ Liverpool

Barcelona delivered a stunning 4-0 victory over Real Sociedad, reclaiming the top spot in La Liga. Gerard Martin opened the scoring in the 25th minute, while Sociedad's Aritz Elustondo saw red early in the game. Hansi Flick’s side put on a dominant display, strengthening their title bid.

Barcelona crush Real Sociedad 4-0 to reclaim top spot

FIFA, the world governing body of football, has lifted the suspension on the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/pakistan-football-federation">Pakistan Football Federation</a> (PFF) after necessary constitutional changes were made to ensure smooth governance of the sport in the country.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/fifa">FIFA</a> had imposed the suspension on the PFF on February 5 due to the failure of Congress members to amend the constitution as required by the global body.
Last Thursday, PFF Congress members reached a consensus to implement the necessary amendments. A PFF official confirmed that FIFA informed them on Sunday that the suspension had been lifted.
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Since June 2019, Pakistan football has been governed by a FIFA-appointed normalisation committee, which was tasked with conducting elections and resolving disputes between parallel factions.
Despite multiple changes in the committee's leadership over the past five years, the core issues facing Pakistan football remained unresolved. A senior official from the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/asian-football-confederation">Asian Football Confederation</a> (AFC) visited Lahore last week to persuade Congress members to adopt the required constitutional amendments. The changes were approved at a meeting in Lahore, clearing the way for FIFA to lift the suspension.
With the suspension lifted, Pakistan will now be able to participate in the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers, with the national team scheduled to face Syria in their Group &lsquo;E' opener on March 25.
<h2>Not for the first time</h2>
This was not the first time Pakistan Football Federation has been suspended as they faced embarrassment in 2017 and 2021. The latest ban comes after PFF&rsquo;s failure to adopt a revision of its constitution, which would have ensured fair and democratic elections. The ban means Pakistan won&rsquo;t able to compete in any international tournament organised by FIFA until they are registered again by the football body.<o:p></o:p>
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Football, Sports: FIFA had imposed the suspension on the PFF on February 5 due to the failure of Congress members to amend the constitution as required by the global body

FIFA, the world governing body of football, has lifted the suspension on the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) after necessary constitutional changes were made to ensure smooth governance of the sport in the country. FIFA had imposed the suspension on the PFF on February 5 due to the failure of Congress members to amend the constitution as required by the global body. Last Thursday, PFF Congress members reached a consensus to implement the necessary amendments. A PFF official confirmed that FIFA informed them on Sunday that the suspension had been lifted. Also Read: Suarez hits prime form in Messi’s absence as Miami rout Houston in MLS Since June 2019, Pakistan football has been governed by a FIFA-appointed normalisation committee, which was tasked with conducting elections and resolving disputes between parallel factions. Despite multiple changes in the committee's leadership over the past five years, the core issues facing Pakistan football remained unresolved. A senior official from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) visited Lahore last week to persuade Congress members to adopt the required constitutional amendments. The changes were approved at a meeting in Lahore, clearing the way for FIFA to lift the suspension. With the suspension lifted, Pakistan will now be able to participate in the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers, with the national team scheduled to face Syria in their Group ‘E' opener on March 25. Not for the first time This was not the first time Pakistan Football Federation has been suspended as they faced embarrassment in 2017 and 2021. The latest ban comes after PFF’s failure to adopt a revision of its constitution, which would have ensured fair and democratic elections. The ban means Pakistan won’t able to compete in any international tournament organised by FIFA until they are registered again by the football body. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

FIFA lifts ban on Pakistan Football Federation after necessary constitutional changes

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/danny-welbeck">Danny Welbeck</a> sent Brighton into the FA Cup quarter-finals as his extra-time strike clinched a dramatic 2-1 win against <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/newcastle-united">Newcastle</a> in a stormy clash scarred by red cards for both teams.
Alexander Isak's penalty put Newcastle ahead in the fifth round tie at St James' Park.&nbsp;Former Newcastle winger Yankuba Minteh equalised before the break, setting the stage for an explosive second half.
Newcastle forward Anthony Gordon was sent off for violent conduct in the 83rd minute after shoving Brighton's Jan Paul van Hecke in the head.
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Brighton were also reduced to 10 men late in the second half when Tariq Lamptey was dismissed for a second booking.&nbsp;Fabian Hurzeler's side emerged victorious thanks to Welbeck's strike in the closing stages of extra-time.
Brighton have never lifted the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/fa-cup">FA Cup</a> and last reached the final in 1983 when they lost in a replay against Manchester United.
The Seagulls have won five successive matches since their 7-0 thrashing at Nottingham Forest. They are through to the quarterfinals for the second time in three seasons after winning at St. James' Park for the second time this season.
It was a bitter blow for Newcastle, who haven't won a domestic trophy since landing the 1955 FA Cup, while their last major trophy was the 1969 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup.
Unless Newcastle appeal against Gordon's three-match ban, they will be without one of their key players for the League Cup final against Premier League leaders Liverpool at Wembley on March 16.
<h2>Brighton hit back</h2>
Newcastle made a vibrant start as Harvey Barnes lofted a pin-point cross to the far post, where Isak blazed over from close range after his initial effort was blocked by Adam Webster.
Isak tested Brighton keeper Bart Verbruggen with a long-range drive before Newcastle took the lead in the 22nd minute. Minteh conceded a penalty with his rash challenge on Tino Livramento. Isak confidently lashed the spot-kick into the top corner.
It was Isak's 22nd goal in all competitions this season, and the Sweden striker had the ball in the net again with a ferocious blast, only for an offside flag to curtail his celebrations.
Newcastle looked in complete command when Anthony Gordon cut inside for a curler that Verbruggen saved at full stretch.&nbsp;But Brighton snatched an equaliser against the run of play in the 44th minute.
Joao Pedro's superb pass picked out Minteh inside the area, and the Gambian's shot took a deflection as it flashed past Newcastle keeper Martin Dubravka.
It was a sweet moment for Minteh, who joined Brighton from Newcastle last year in a &pound;30 million ($37 million) deal.&nbsp;Gordon saw red with seven minutes left in normal time, the England star lashing out at Van Hecke as they challenged for the ball after play was stopped for offside against Isak.
Lamptey followed Gordon down the tunnel in stoppage-time after the Brighton defender's rash foul on Jacob Murphy. Fabian Schar thought he had volleyed Newcastle's winner in stoppage time, but the defender was ruled offside after a VAR check.
Brighton came on strong in extra time. Dubravka made a fine stop to keep out Diego Gomez's rocket from the edge of the area.
Newcastle had wilted, and Welbeck won it for the Seagulls in the 114th minute, racing onto Solly March's defence-splitting pass and clipping his shot over Dubravka.
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Football, Sports: Newcastle forward Anthony Gordon was sent off for violent conduct in the 83rd minute after shoving Brighton's Jan Paul van Hecke in the head.

Danny Welbeck sent Brighton into the FA Cup quarter-finals as his extra-time strike clinched a dramatic 2-1 win against Newcastle in a stormy clash scarred by red cards for both teams. Alexander Isak's penalty put Newcastle ahead in the fifth round tie at St James' Park. Former Newcastle winger Yankuba Minteh equalised before the break, setting the stage for an explosive second half. Newcastle forward Anthony Gordon was sent off for violent conduct in the 83rd minute after shoving Brighton's Jan Paul van Hecke in the head. Also Read: Champions Trophy 2025: Matt Henry breaks legendary Richard Hadlee's ODI record for New Zealand Brighton were also reduced to 10 men late in the second half when Tariq Lamptey was dismissed for a second booking. Fabian Hurzeler's side emerged victorious thanks to Welbeck's strike in the closing stages of extra-time. Brighton have never lifted the FA Cup and last reached the final in 1983 when they lost in a replay against Manchester United. The Seagulls have won five successive matches since their 7-0 thrashing at Nottingham Forest. They are through to the quarterfinals for the second time in three seasons after winning at St. James' Park for the second time this season. It was a bitter blow for Newcastle, who haven't won a domestic trophy since landing the 1955 FA Cup, while their last major trophy was the 1969 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. Unless Newcastle appeal against Gordon's three-match ban, they will be without one of their key players for the League Cup final against Premier League leaders Liverpool at Wembley on March 16. Brighton hit back Newcastle made a vibrant start as Harvey Barnes lofted a pin-point cross to the far post, where Isak blazed over from close range after his initial effort was blocked by Adam Webster. Isak tested Brighton keeper Bart Verbruggen with a long-range drive before Newcastle took the lead in the 22nd minute. Minteh conceded a penalty with his rash challenge on Tino Livramento. Isak confidently lashed the spot-kick into the top corner. It was Isak's 22nd goal in all competitions this season, and the Sweden striker had the ball in the net again with a ferocious blast, only for an offside flag to curtail his celebrations. Newcastle looked in complete command when Anthony Gordon cut inside for a curler that Verbruggen saved at full stretch. But Brighton snatched an equaliser against the run of play in the 44th minute. Joao Pedro's superb pass picked out Minteh inside the area, and the Gambian's shot took a deflection as it flashed past Newcastle keeper Martin Dubravka. It was a sweet moment for Minteh, who joined Brighton from Newcastle last year in a £30 million ($37 million) deal. Gordon saw red with seven minutes left in normal time, the England star lashing out at Van Hecke as they challenged for the ball after play was stopped for offside against Isak. Lamptey followed Gordon down the tunnel in stoppage-time after the Brighton defender's rash foul on Jacob Murphy. Fabian Schar thought he had volleyed Newcastle's winner in stoppage time, but the defender was ruled offside after a VAR check. Brighton came on strong in extra time. Dubravka made a fine stop to keep out Diego Gomez's rocket from the edge of the area. Newcastle had wilted, and Welbeck won it for the Seagulls in the 114th minute, racing onto Solly March's defence-splitting pass and clipping his shot over Dubravka. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

FA Cup: Welbeck sinks Newcastle as Brighton reach quarterfinals

Marco Asensio fired Aston Villa into the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/fa-cup">FA&nbsp;Cup</a>&nbsp;quarter-finals as the Spanish forward struck twice in a 2-0 win against Cardiff on Friday.
Unai Emery's side were held at bay by the gritty Championship outfit until deep into the second half of the last-16 clash at Villa Park.
Asensio's double ensured Villa advanced to the last eight for the first time since their run to the final in 2015.&nbsp;The 29-year-old has four goals in six games for Villa since joining on loan from Paris Saint-Germain in the January transfer window.
It was a welcome victory for Villa, who were thrashed 4-1 at Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Tuesday.&nbsp;"We needed <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/marco-asensio">Asensio</a>. We were creating chances but not clinical. The second half was still difficult to beat them. We scored one goal. After that it was easier to dominate," Emery said.
"Playing against a Championship team is not easy, trying to respect them because you can lose even if you're better than the opponent."
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/aston-villa">Villa</a> last won the&nbsp;FA&nbsp;Cup&nbsp;in 1957 and Emery added: "We are not considered favourites to win this trophy. We are contenders but not favourites."
Despite the Champions League last-16 first-leg tie at Club Brugge looming on Tuesday, Emery opted to pick a strong team against the Bluebirds.
Teetering just six points above the Championship relegation zone, Cardiff boss Omar Riza took the opposite approach, as he selected a weakened team to prioritise their survival battle.
Cardiff last won at Villa Park in 1954 and the Welsh side never looked like ending that futile streak.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/marcus-rashford">Marcus Rashford</a>'s snap-shot and John McGinn's curler from distance were both well saved by Cardiff keeper Ethan Horvath in the opening stages.
Ollie Watkins should have put Villa ahead but the England striker poked wide after racing into the penalty area.
Emery's men monopolised possession to such an extent that Cardiff fans sarcastically chanted "we've got the ball" when they finally stemmed the tide of Villa attacks for a moment.
Villa were swiftly back in ascendency and Leon Bailey's fierce blast was tipped over by Horvath.
Rashford wasted a golden opportunity to end Cardiff's resistence, scuffing Bailey's cross over from close-range.&nbsp;Watkins was equally profligate, volleying straight at Horvath from Rashford's header.
The over-worked Horvath saved McGinn's strike from the edge of the area, then plunged to claw away Rashford's 20-yard drive as Villa maintained their assault in the second half.
Cardiff almost snatched the lead completely against the run of play when Yousef Salech stretched to meet Perry Ng's cross, but Emiliano Martinez was equal to the effort.
Moments later, Villa finally broke the deadlock in the 68th minute.&nbsp;Enjoying a resurgence in form since his loan move from Manchester United, Rashford burst onto Youri Tielemans' pass and pulled it across the area for Asensio to slide a clinical finish into the bottom corner.
Asensio put the result beyond doubt in 80th minute as he took Bailey's pass and guided his shot past Horvath from 10 yards.
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Sports, Football: It was a welcome victory for Villa, who were thrashed 4-1 at Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Tuesday. Aston Villa last won the FA Cup in 1957

Marco Asensio fired Aston Villa into the FA Cup quarter-finals as the Spanish forward struck twice in a 2-0 win against Cardiff on Friday. Unai Emery's side were held at bay by the gritty Championship outfit until deep into the second half of the last-16 clash at Villa Park. Asensio's double ensured Villa advanced to the last eight for the first time since their run to the final in 2015. The 29-year-old has four goals in six games for Villa since joining on loan from Paris Saint-Germain in the January transfer window. It was a welcome victory for Villa, who were thrashed 4-1 at Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Tuesday. "We needed Asensio. We were creating chances but not clinical. The second half was still difficult to beat them. We scored one goal. After that it was easier to dominate," Emery said. "Playing against a Championship team is not easy, trying to respect them because you can lose even if you're better than the opponent." Villa last won the FA Cup in 1957 and Emery added: "We are not considered favourites to win this trophy. We are contenders but not favourites." Despite the Champions League last-16 first-leg tie at Club Brugge looming on Tuesday, Emery opted to pick a strong team against the Bluebirds. Teetering just six points above the Championship relegation zone, Cardiff boss Omar Riza took the opposite approach, as he selected a weakened team to prioritise their survival battle. Cardiff last won at Villa Park in 1954 and the Welsh side never looked like ending that futile streak. Marcus Rashford's snap-shot and John McGinn's curler from distance were both well saved by Cardiff keeper Ethan Horvath in the opening stages. Ollie Watkins should have put Villa ahead but the England striker poked wide after racing into the penalty area. Emery's men monopolised possession to such an extent that Cardiff fans sarcastically chanted "we've got the ball" when they finally stemmed the tide of Villa attacks for a moment. Villa were swiftly back in ascendency and Leon Bailey's fierce blast was tipped over by Horvath. Rashford wasted a golden opportunity to end Cardiff's resistence, scuffing Bailey's cross over from close-range. Watkins was equally profligate, volleying straight at Horvath from Rashford's header. The over-worked Horvath saved McGinn's strike from the edge of the area, then plunged to claw away Rashford's 20-yard drive as Villa maintained their assault in the second half. Cardiff almost snatched the lead completely against the run of play when Yousef Salech stretched to meet Perry Ng's cross, but Emiliano Martinez was equal to the effort. Moments later, Villa finally broke the deadlock in the 68th minute. Enjoying a resurgence in form since his loan move from Manchester United, Rashford burst onto Youri Tielemans' pass and pulled it across the area for Asensio to slide a clinical finish into the bottom corner. Asensio put the result beyond doubt in 80th minute as he took Bailey's pass and guided his shot past Horvath from 10 yards. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

FA Cup: Asensio sinks Cardiff City as Aston Villa reach quarterfinals

Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag says modern footballers find it tough to deal with criticism and that his generation had "much thicker skin".
The 55-year-old, sacked in October after a poor start to the season, clashed with several high-profile players during his tenure at Old Trafford.
Cristiano Ronaldo said he did not respect Ten Hag, leading to his exit from the club in November 2022, a few months into the Dutchman's reign.
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The following year Jadon Sancho, now on loan at Chelsea, said he was being made a "scapegoat" as he responded on social media after Ten Hag said he had dropped the England winger because of his training performances.
Ten Hag disciplined Marcus Rashford when the forward, currently on loan at Aston Villa, missed training after reportedly being spotted in nightspots in Northern Ireland.
The former United boss told SEG Stories, a media outlet attached to his management agency: "This generation usually find it difficult to deal with criticism. Criticism really gets to them."
"The generation that I grew up in had much thicker skin. You could be much more direct with that generation. I was approached much more directly. If I would do that with my current group of players, I would demotivate them."
Ten Hag, who was replaced in the Old Trafford hot seat by Ruben Amorim, oversaw the development of young players such as Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo.
He said young players require "different words and a different approach".
"(Former United boss Alex) Ferguson also belonged to the previous generation. With that generation, you could be much more direct in your communication and approach," he said.
"With this generation, you have to convey your message in a more tactful way to get the same effect. You have to show the player more love. Our generation found that much more difficult to do than this generation."
Ten Hag, who previously managed Ajax, won the League Cup and FA Cup during his spell at Old Trafford but they finished eighth in the Premier League last season -- their lowest top-flight finish for decades.
Despite his struggles, he said he had enjoyed his stint with the club and felt appreciated by the fans.
United have struggled badly under Amorim and are currently 15th in the Premier League ahead of Wednesday's home match against relegation-threatened Ipswich.
The club this week announced they expect to make up to 200 fresh job cuts as part of a "transformation plan" to improve financial sustainability.
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Ten Hag disciplined Marcus Rashford when the forward, currently on loan at Aston Villa, missed training after reportedly being spotted in nightspots in Northern Ireland. Football Sports

Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag says modern footballers find it tough to deal with criticism and that his generation had "much thicker skin". The 55-year-old, sacked in October after a poor start to the season, clashed with several high-profile players during his tenure at Old Trafford. Cristiano Ronaldo said he did not respect Ten Hag, leading to his exit from the club in November 2022, a few months into the Dutchman's reign. Also Read: Lionel Messi fined by MLS after grabbing neck of New York City assistant coach The following year Jadon Sancho, now on loan at Chelsea, said he was being made a "scapegoat" as he responded on social media after Ten Hag said he had dropped the England winger because of his training performances. Ten Hag disciplined Marcus Rashford when the forward, currently on loan at Aston Villa, missed training after reportedly being spotted in nightspots in Northern Ireland. The former United boss told SEG Stories, a media outlet attached to his management agency: "This generation usually find it difficult to deal with criticism. Criticism really gets to them." "The generation that I grew up in had much thicker skin. You could be much more direct with that generation. I was approached much more directly. If I would do that with my current group of players, I would demotivate them." Ten Hag, who was replaced in the Old Trafford hot seat by Ruben Amorim, oversaw the development of young players such as Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo. He said young players require "different words and a different approach". "(Former United boss Alex) Ferguson also belonged to the previous generation. With that generation, you could be much more direct in your communication and approach," he said. "With this generation, you have to convey your message in a more tactful way to get the same effect. You have to show the player more love. Our generation found that much more difficult to do than this generation." Ten Hag, who previously managed Ajax, won the League Cup and FA Cup during his spell at Old Trafford but they finished eighth in the Premier League last season -- their lowest top-flight finish for decades. Despite his struggles, he said he had enjoyed his stint with the club and felt appreciated by the fans. United have struggled badly under Amorim and are currently 15th in the Premier League ahead of Wednesday's home match against relegation-threatened Ipswich. The club this week announced they expect to make up to 200 fresh job cuts as part of a "transformation plan" to improve financial sustainability. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Former United boss Erik ten Hag says current players find it tough to deal with criticism

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said Tuesday his team was doing a good job given their packed fixture list, describing the football calendar as "absurd" and "unsustainable".
If Madrid progress as far as possible in the Champions League and Copa del Rey, as well as the Club World Cup in the summer, they could play 72 games this season.
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Madrid have already won the Intercontinental Cup and the European Super Cup, but lost against Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final in Saudi Arabia.
"Taking into account the absurd calendar we have to deal with, that all teams have to, not just us, we're doing very well," Ancelotti told reporters.
"All teams that are fighting and battling in these moments are doing very well, because it's an unsustainable calendar."
Los Blancos face Real Sociedad in a Copa del Rey semi-final first leg clash in the Basque country on Wednesday.
"In the span of 52 days, tomorrow will be our 17th game," continued Ancelotti.
"If I look back to my time (as a player), in a season we'd play 30 league games, so we'd already be in the second half of the season."
Real Madrid demolished Manchester City 6-3 on aggregate in the Champions League play-off round to reach the last 16 and are level on points with Barcelona at the top of La Liga.
Ancelotti said he, his staff, and the players needed a break.
"I am tired, and I imagine you (reporters) are tired too, from what I see and hear, you are tired. You need rest... we need rest," he added.
Kylian Mbappe did not take part in the club's training session on Tuesday due to a dental problem, but Ancelotti said he would be travelling to San Sebastian and could feature.
Ancelotti praised Mbappe's attitude since arriving in Spain from Paris Saint-Germain.
"Mbappe arrived with humility and keeping a low profile," said the Italian coach.
"He improved the dressing room atmosphere, there's a lot more confidence because one of the best players in the world arrived... (and) in terms of ego, absolutely nothing has changed."
Ancelotti also fired a barb at La Liga president Javier Tebas, who called Madrid a "cry-baby" club following their recent complaints about Spanish referees.
"He talks too much about Real Madrid, since I've been here," said the Italian.
"There are more important issues, and he should focus more on solving the problems of Spanish football."
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Madrid have already won the Intercontinental Cup and the European Super Cup, but lost against Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final in Saudi Arabia. Football Sports

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said Tuesday his team was doing a good job given their packed fixture list, describing the football calendar as "absurd" and "unsustainable". If Madrid progress as far as possible in the Champions League and Copa del Rey, as well as the Club World Cup in the summer, they could play 72 games this season. Also Read: Premier League: Here's how early Liverpool can win record-equalling 20th title Madrid have already won the Intercontinental Cup and the European Super Cup, but lost against Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final in Saudi Arabia. "Taking into account the absurd calendar we have to deal with, that all teams have to, not just us, we're doing very well," Ancelotti told reporters. "All teams that are fighting and battling in these moments are doing very well, because it's an unsustainable calendar." Los Blancos face Real Sociedad in a Copa del Rey semi-final first leg clash in the Basque country on Wednesday. "In the span of 52 days, tomorrow will be our 17th game," continued Ancelotti. "If I look back to my time (as a player), in a season we'd play 30 league games, so we'd already be in the second half of the season." Real Madrid demolished Manchester City 6-3 on aggregate in the Champions League play-off round to reach the last 16 and are level on points with Barcelona at the top of La Liga. Ancelotti said he, his staff, and the players needed a break. "I am tired, and I imagine you (reporters) are tired too, from what I see and hear, you are tired. You need rest... we need rest," he added. Kylian Mbappe did not take part in the club's training session on Tuesday due to a dental problem, but Ancelotti said he would be travelling to San Sebastian and could feature. Ancelotti praised Mbappe's attitude since arriving in Spain from Paris Saint-Germain. "Mbappe arrived with humility and keeping a low profile," said the Italian coach. "He improved the dressing room atmosphere, there's a lot more confidence because one of the best players in the world arrived... (and) in terms of ego, absolutely nothing has changed." Ancelotti also fired a barb at La Liga president Javier Tebas, who called Madrid a "cry-baby" club following their recent complaints about Spanish referees. "He talks too much about Real Madrid, since I've been here," said the Italian. "There are more important issues, and he should focus more on solving the problems of Spanish football." Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

'We're doing very well,' says Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti amid 'unsustainable calendar'

Virgil van Dijk has urged Liverpool's players and fans to make Anfield a "horrible" place for opponents during the Premier League title run-in.
Liverpool are 11 points clear of second-placed Arsenal at the top of the table, with 11 games remaining after Sunday's 2-0 win at the home of champions Manchester City.
Arsenal have a game in hand, but Arne Slot's men are galloping towards a record-equalling 20th English top-flight title and have seven of their remaining league matches at Anfield.
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Liverpool looked nervous during last week's 2-1 home win against Wolves and have also dropped points recently against Everton and Aston Villa.
"I mentioned it after that (Wolves) game, that obviously it's pretty normal, humans, there could be some anxious feelings kicking in," said Liverpool captain Van Dijk.
"And that could still be the case, but I think it only helps us and them as well to make Anfield horrible for the opponent, like most of the time we have been doing that, and obviously the way we play obviously helps with that as well."
He added, "So let's make sure those seven (home games) are going to be amazing, as loud as possible, and I don't think we have to speak about it, because normally that is the case."
Goals from Mohamed Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai gave Liverpool their first top-flight victory at the Etihad for nearly 10 years as they capitalised on Arsenal's defeat by West Ham the previous day.
Liverpool fans chanted "We're going to win the league" in the closing stages of the match, looking forward to celebrating just their second English league title since 1990.
"A couple of days ago there was noise also about other things and it could go the other way," said Van Dijk, who is now preparing for Wednesday's home match against Newcastle.
"Obviously, the result on Saturday and the result (at the Etihad) gives them (the fans) the belief.
"It's down to us to just keep focusing on the game ahead of us. That's what we do and that's what I told the boys as well.&nbsp;
"It's all about recovery now and being ready for Newcastle. It will be a big test again and we need our fans to be in great shape."
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Liverpool are 11 points clear of second-placed Arsenal at the top of the table with 11 games remaining after Sunday's 2-0 win at the home of champions Manchester City. Football SPorts

Virgil van Dijk has urged Liverpool's players and fans to make Anfield a "horrible" place for opponents during the Premier League title run-in. Liverpool are 11 points clear of second-placed Arsenal at the top of the table, with 11 games remaining after Sunday's 2-0 win at the home of champions Manchester City. Arsenal have a game in hand, but Arne Slot's men are galloping towards a record-equalling 20th English top-flight title and have seven of their remaining league matches at Anfield. Also Read: ‘We rely on Cole for everything,’ Maresca urges misfiring midfield to step up during Palmer's lean patch Liverpool looked nervous during last week's 2-1 home win against Wolves and have also dropped points recently against Everton and Aston Villa. "I mentioned it after that (Wolves) game, that obviously it's pretty normal, humans, there could be some anxious feelings kicking in," said Liverpool captain Van Dijk. "And that could still be the case, but I think it only helps us and them as well to make Anfield horrible for the opponent, like most of the time we have been doing that, and obviously the way we play obviously helps with that as well." He added, "So let's make sure those seven (home games) are going to be amazing, as loud as possible, and I don't think we have to speak about it, because normally that is the case." Goals from Mohamed Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai gave Liverpool their first top-flight victory at the Etihad for nearly 10 years as they capitalised on Arsenal's defeat by West Ham the previous day. Liverpool fans chanted "We're going to win the league" in the closing stages of the match, looking forward to celebrating just their second English league title since 1990. "A couple of days ago there was noise also about other things and it could go the other way," said Van Dijk, who is now preparing for Wednesday's home match against Newcastle. "Obviously, the result on Saturday and the result (at the Etihad) gives them (the fans) the belief. "It's down to us to just keep focusing on the game ahead of us. That's what we do and that's what I told the boys as well. "It's all about recovery now and being ready for Newcastle. It will be a big test again and we need our fans to be in great shape." Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Premier League: 'Make Anfield horrible for the opponent,' says Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk to fans

Tired of finishing second best to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/manchester-city">Manchester City</a>, Liverpool took revenge on the English champions with a 2-0 victory at the Etihad on Sunday to strike a potentially decisive blow in the Premier League title race.
Arne Slot's men enjoy a commanding 11-point lead over second-placed Arsenal, whose 1-0 home defeat to West Ham on Saturday realistically ended their challenge to win the league for the first time in 21 years.
Liverpool know themselves the pain of such a drought despite being one of the giants of the English game.&nbsp;Thirty years passed between their 18th top-flight title in 1990 and 19th in the coronavirus-impacted 2019/20 season.
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Now they are on course to match <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/manchester-united">Manchester United</a>'s record of 20 thanks to a Slot's smooth transition as the successor to Jurgen Klopp.
The German seemed an impossible act to follow after his emotional Anfield goodbye at the end of last season.&nbsp;Klopp led Liverpool out of the wilderness back to the top of the English and European game during a nine-year spell in charge.
"No-one saw us as a title contender when we started in the beginning of the season," said Slot on the common perception of the impact Klopp's departure would have.
However, Klopp left behind a core of Premier League winners in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/mohammed-salah">Mohamed Salah</a>, Virgil van Dijk, Alisson Becker, Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
"Me and the big guys in the team, we need another title," said Salah.&nbsp;Klopp crucially also oversaw a rejuvenation of the Liverpool squad in his final 18 months with the signings of Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch and Cody Gakpo to allow Slot to hit the ground running.
<h2>City's rebuild</h2>
That rebuilding process is what now lies ahead for City.&nbsp;Pep Guardiola has dominated English football since he arrived as City boss in 2016, winning six of the last seven Premier League titles.
This season they have been a pale shadow of their former selves to fall 20 points behind Liverpool down in fourth.&nbsp;City splashed out &pound;170 million in the January window on four new signings, three of which, Omar Marmoush, Nico Gonzalez and Abdukodir Khusanov, started on Sunday.
Guardiola has hinted at more big money arrivals in the summer as he looks to get back on top but was at least heartened by his side's performance.
In stark contrast to recent thrashings by Arsenal and Real Madrid to exit the Champions League in midweek, City forced Liverpool to defend for large spells.
"If you lose, you have to lose the way we lost today," said Guardiola.&nbsp;"I saw many things that this club has a bright future with the players that we have."
<h2>'Not difficult for Mo'</h2>
City badly missed the presence of Erling Haaland up front to make their dominance of possession show on the scoreboard.
By contrast, Liverpool have Salah in the form of his life despite the ongoing speculation over his future.&nbsp;The 32-year-old could be nearing the end of his career on Merseyside with his contract expiring at the end of the season, but is determined to go out with a bang.
Salah has scored 30 goals and provided 21 assists in 38 appearances this season.&nbsp;"I think the numbers speak for itself," added Slot.
"Today, there weren't that many moments we could bring him in promising positions, but moments that we gave him the ball in those positions, he was every time a threat.
"That probably tells you even more the quality player he is, because it's not so easy for an attacker if he has to defend and then he gets the ball and does something special.
"That's sometimes difficult, but at the moment, not many things seem difficult for Mo."&nbsp;Slot has also made the Premier League look easy to make himself an instant hero of the Anfield faithful.
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Sports, Football: Liverpool are on course to match Manchester United's record of 20 thanks to a Slot's smooth transition as the successor to Jurgen Klopp

Tired of finishing second best to Manchester City, Liverpool took revenge on the English champions with a 2-0 victory at the Etihad on Sunday to strike a potentially decisive blow in the Premier League title race. Arne Slot's men enjoy a commanding 11-point lead over second-placed Arsenal, whose 1-0 home defeat to West Ham on Saturday realistically ended their challenge to win the league for the first time in 21 years. Liverpool know themselves the pain of such a drought despite being one of the giants of the English game. Thirty years passed between their 18th top-flight title in 1990 and 19th in the coronavirus-impacted 2019/20 season. Also Read: La Liga: Modric seals Real Madrid's 2-0 win over Girona with a screamer! Now they are on course to match Manchester United's record of 20 thanks to a Slot's smooth transition as the successor to Jurgen Klopp. The German seemed an impossible act to follow after his emotional Anfield goodbye at the end of last season. Klopp led Liverpool out of the wilderness back to the top of the English and European game during a nine-year spell in charge. "No-one saw us as a title contender when we started in the beginning of the season," said Slot on the common perception of the impact Klopp's departure would have. However, Klopp left behind a core of Premier League winners in Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Alisson Becker, Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold. "Me and the big guys in the team, we need another title," said Salah. Klopp crucially also oversaw a rejuvenation of the Liverpool squad in his final 18 months with the signings of Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch and Cody Gakpo to allow Slot to hit the ground running. City's rebuild That rebuilding process is what now lies ahead for City. Pep Guardiola has dominated English football since he arrived as City boss in 2016, winning six of the last seven Premier League titles. This season they have been a pale shadow of their former selves to fall 20 points behind Liverpool down in fourth. City splashed out £170 million in the January window on four new signings, three of which, Omar Marmoush, Nico Gonzalez and Abdukodir Khusanov, started on Sunday. Guardiola has hinted at more big money arrivals in the summer as he looks to get back on top but was at least heartened by his side's performance. In stark contrast to recent thrashings by Arsenal and Real Madrid to exit the Champions League in midweek, City forced Liverpool to defend for large spells. "If you lose, you have to lose the way we lost today," said Guardiola. "I saw many things that this club has a bright future with the players that we have." 'Not difficult for Mo' City badly missed the presence of Erling Haaland up front to make their dominance of possession show on the scoreboard. By contrast, Liverpool have Salah in the form of his life despite the ongoing speculation over his future. The 32-year-old could be nearing the end of his career on Merseyside with his contract expiring at the end of the season, but is determined to go out with a bang. Salah has scored 30 goals and provided 21 assists in 38 appearances this season. "I think the numbers speak for itself," added Slot. "Today, there weren't that many moments we could bring him in promising positions, but moments that we gave him the ball in those positions, he was every time a threat. "That probably tells you even more the quality player he is, because it's not so easy for an attacker if he has to defend and then he gets the ball and does something special. "That's sometimes difficult, but at the moment, not many things seem difficult for Mo." Slot has also made the Premier League look easy to make himself an instant hero of the Anfield faithful. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Premier League champions-elect Liverpool leave mark on Manchester City

Luka Modric scored a brilliant goal from long range to help <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/real-madrid">Real Madrid</a> secure a 2-0 win against Girona on Sunday, which took them back level with Barcelona at the top of La Liga.
Vinicius Junior wrapped up the win late on as Carlo Ancelotti's side produced a solid display at the Santiago Bernabeu.&nbsp;After rivals Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, now third, both won on Saturday, the pressure was on for the champions in the title race.
They had not won in their prior three league games but flexed their muscles by thrashing Man City in the Champions League in midweek.
"It's a very important win, we have to stay in the fight," <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/luka-modric">Modric</a> told Real Madrid TV.&nbsp;"We can't let our level slip and consider ourselves satisfied, we can still grow as a team."
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The Croatian's goal was the highlight of the match.&nbsp;"I was by myself, I controlled the ball, I hit it well and it went in," Modric added.
"I don't know if it's one of the most spectacular I've scored, it was really nice, it's always special to score at the Bernabeu."
Madrid were without suspended England international Jude Bellingham after his red card last weekend.&nbsp;Thibaut Courtois made a good save in the opening stages to deny Arnau Martinez, but Girona were unable to build on the chance.&nbsp;Last year's surprise title contenders were hard for Madrid to break down but far less threatening in attack than at their fluent best.
Watch the magical goal here:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
LUKA MODRIC WHAT A GOAL! 🤯 <a href="https://t.co/99vtnvIVKW">pic.twitter.com/99vtnvIVKW</a>
&mdash; TC (@totalcristiano) <a href="https://twitter.com/totalcristiano/status/1893692039876813288?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 23, 2025</a></blockquote>
At the other end, Paulo Gazzaniga saved well from <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/kylian-mbappe">Kylian Mbappe</a> and Vinicius let a good attacking opportunity break down instead of looking for his French strike partner.
Another promising Real Madrid counterattack was cut short when Vinicius tried to square for Mbappe but his pass was cut out. Girona winger Viktor Tsygankov should have struck for the visitors but blazed a good opportunity over the bar, snatching at his shot.
With the game trickling towards halftime, Modric sent Madrid ahead with a rocket from distance. The 39-year-old midfielder controlled the ball after a corner was cleared into his path and hammered a superb strike beyond the helpless Gazzaniga.
<h2>'Very very happy'</h2>
Madrid had further chances to extend their lead in the second half, with Vinicius clipping the crossbar with a curling effort from the edge of the box.
Gazzaniga made a fine save to thwart Mbappe after the former Paris Saint-Germain star controlled a dropping ball brilliantly. Eventually Mbappe fed Vinicius with a perfectly weighted pass for the second goal, which the Brazilian brushed past the Girona goalkeeper.
Real Madrid have been engaged in a battle with Spanish officials in the past few weeks, but with the exception of one moment where Rodrygo found his path blocked by the referee, they had nothing to complain about on a tranquil afternoon in the Spanish capital.
David Alaba started for Los Blancos for the first time in over a year after a severe knee injury.&nbsp;"It's very important win for us, we are very happy, it's a good moment for us," the Austrian defender told Real Madrid TV.
"I am very, very happy, after the injury, I was ready to start this game."&nbsp;Real Madrid next face Real Sociedad away on Wednesday in the Copa del Rey semi-finals.
Girona coach Michel Sanchez said his side, 12th, were bound to struggle against the European champions.&nbsp;"Real Madrid know every point is vital and coming here at this point of the season is hard," said Sanchez.
"We tried but it's not easy to play against Real Madrid in a winning mode, because they need to."
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Football, Sports: Real Madrid had not won in their prior three league games but flexed their muscles by thrashing Man City in the UEFA Champions League in midweek

Luka Modric scored a brilliant goal from long range to help Real Madrid secure a 2-0 win against Girona on Sunday, which took them back level with Barcelona at the top of La Liga. Vinicius Junior wrapped up the win late on as Carlo Ancelotti's side produced a solid display at the Santiago Bernabeu. After rivals Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, now third, both won on Saturday, the pressure was on for the champions in the title race. They had not won in their prior three league games but flexed their muscles by thrashing Man City in the Champions League in midweek. "It's a very important win, we have to stay in the fight," Modric told Real Madrid TV. "We can't let our level slip and consider ourselves satisfied, we can still grow as a team." Also Read: At 36, Kohli’s record-shattering century guides India to famous victory against Pakistan The Croatian's goal was the highlight of the match. "I was by myself, I controlled the ball, I hit it well and it went in," Modric added. "I don't know if it's one of the most spectacular I've scored, it was really nice, it's always special to score at the Bernabeu." Madrid were without suspended England international Jude Bellingham after his red card last weekend. Thibaut Courtois made a good save in the opening stages to deny Arnau Martinez, but Girona were unable to build on the chance. Last year's surprise title contenders were hard for Madrid to break down but far less threatening in attack than at their fluent best. Watch the magical goal here: LUKA MODRIC WHAT A GOAL! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/99vtnvIVKW — TC (@totalcristiano) February 23, 2025 At the other end, Paulo Gazzaniga saved well from Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius let a good attacking opportunity break down instead of looking for his French strike partner. Another promising Real Madrid counterattack was cut short when Vinicius tried to square for Mbappe but his pass was cut out. Girona winger Viktor Tsygankov should have struck for the visitors but blazed a good opportunity over the bar, snatching at his shot. With the game trickling towards halftime, Modric sent Madrid ahead with a rocket from distance. The 39-year-old midfielder controlled the ball after a corner was cleared into his path and hammered a superb strike beyond the helpless Gazzaniga. 'Very very happy' Madrid had further chances to extend their lead in the second half, with Vinicius clipping the crossbar with a curling effort from the edge of the box. Gazzaniga made a fine save to thwart Mbappe after the former Paris Saint-Germain star controlled a dropping ball brilliantly. Eventually Mbappe fed Vinicius with a perfectly weighted pass for the second goal, which the Brazilian brushed past the Girona goalkeeper. Real Madrid have been engaged in a battle with Spanish officials in the past few weeks, but with the exception of one moment where Rodrygo found his path blocked by the referee, they had nothing to complain about on a tranquil afternoon in the Spanish capital. David Alaba started for Los Blancos for the first time in over a year after a severe knee injury. "It's very important win for us, we are very happy, it's a good moment for us," the Austrian defender told Real Madrid TV. "I am very, very happy, after the injury, I was ready to start this game." Real Madrid next face Real Sociedad away on Wednesday in the Copa del Rey semi-finals. Girona coach Michel Sanchez said his side, 12th, were bound to struggle against the European champions. "Real Madrid know every point is vital and coming here at this point of the season is hard," said Sanchez. "We tried but it's not easy to play against Real Madrid in a winning mode, because they need to." Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

La Liga: Modric seals Real Madrid's 2-0 win over Girona with a screamer!

Liverpool's charge towards the Premier League title has slowed ahead of a trip to Manchester City on Sunday, giving Arsenal hope of closing in on the leaders.
The Gunners can move to within five points of the Reds should they see off lowly West Ham at the Emirates.
Behind the top two, the race is on for a place in next season's Champions League.
Premier League: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/football/premier-league-liverpool-boss-arne-slot-to-talk-to-darwin-nunez-after-missed-opportunity-vs-aston-villa-8741090">Liverpool boss Arne Slot to talk to Darwin Nunez after missed opportunity vs Aston Villa</a>
Only six points separate third-placed Nottingham Forest from Newcastle in seventh before they face off at St James' Park.
AFP Sports looks ahead to the pick of Premier League action this weekend:
<h2>Liverpool's title test</h2>
Arne Slot's men appeared to be cruising towards a record-equalling 20th English top-flight title.
However, two 2-2 draws at Everton and Aston Villa in the past 10 days have brought the title race alive again.
But Manchester City, the dominant force in English football during the last decade, were outclassed by Real Madrid in midweek as they crashed out of the Champions League before the last 16 stage for the first time since the 2012/13 season.
The English champions may also be without Erling Haaland, who did not get off the bench at the Santiago Bernabeu due to injury.
But Pep Guardiola's men showed what they are still capable of in a 4-0 thrashing of Newcastle last week and are in need of points themselves in the top-four race.
"They've had maybe one or two months in the seven or eight years he's (Guardiola) there now that weren't the best, maybe partly because of injuries as well," said Slot.&nbsp;
"Injuries come back, they've signed three or four players, I can see them coming back already if you look at the result against Newcastle."
Arsenal have the chance to up the pressure when they face West Ham 24 hours earlier.
Mikel Arteta's side will be without a recognised striker for the rest of the season but have won 23 points from a possible 27 to remain in the race.
"If we constantly look at Arsenal or what other teams are doing, that would not help us," added Slot.
"We already know how difficult it is to go to the Etihad, so we don't need Arsenal to get involved in that even more."
Chelsea crisis Chelsea need to bounce back quickly if they are to retain hope of Champions League football next season.
The Blues flirted with a title challenge towards the end of 2024 but have won just twice in their last nine league games and crashed out of the FA Cup.
Manager Enzo Maresca said his side's meek 3-0 defeat by Brighton last weekend was the worst performance of his tenure to date, amid concerns star man Cole Palmer could leave without the lure of the Champions League.&nbsp;
Chelsea travel to Aston Villa on Saturday, whose own hopes of a top-four finish are starting to fade.
Unai Emery's men pushed Liverpool all the way in a four-goal thriller on Wednesday but find themselves down in ninth, five points off the top four, due to an inconsistent season.
Nottingham Forest's acid test
Not in their wildest dreams could Nottingham Forest fans have imagined sitting third in the table with just 13 games to go.
However, they face a stern test of their credentials to make it back to European football's elite competition for the first time in 45 years.
Forest visit Newcastle on Sunday before hosting Arsenal and Manchester City in their next two home league games.
Newcastle have suffered back-to-back league defeats either side of their League Cup semi-final heroics against Arsenal, with Magpies manager Eddie Howe annoyed by his side's see-saw form.
"I think we have days where we can look far from the team that we are when we're on it," said Howe. "It's a real frustration for us because to be an elite team, you've got to be consistent."
Fixtures (all times 1500 GMT unless stated)&nbsp;
Friday
Leicester v Brentford (2000)
Saturday
Everton v Manchester United (1230), Fulham v Crystal Palace, Ipswich v Tottenham, Southampton v Brighton, Bournemouth v Wolves, Arsenal v West Ham, Aston Villa v Chelsea (1730)
Sunday
Newcastle v Nottingham Forest (1400), Man City v Liverpool (1630)
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Arne Slot's men appeared to be cruising towards a record-equalling 20th English top-flight title. However, two 2-2 draws at Everton and Aston Villa in the past 10 days have brought the title race alive again. Football Sports

Liverpool's charge towards the Premier League title has slowed ahead of a trip to Manchester City on Sunday, giving Arsenal hope of closing in on the leaders. The Gunners can move to within five points of the Reds should they see off lowly West Ham at the Emirates. Behind the top two, the race is on for a place in next season's Champions League. Premier League: Liverpool boss Arne Slot to talk to Darwin Nunez after missed opportunity vs Aston Villa Only six points separate third-placed Nottingham Forest from Newcastle in seventh before they face off at St James' Park. AFP Sports looks ahead to the pick of Premier League action this weekend: Liverpool's title test Arne Slot's men appeared to be cruising towards a record-equalling 20th English top-flight title. However, two 2-2 draws at Everton and Aston Villa in the past 10 days have brought the title race alive again. But Manchester City, the dominant force in English football during the last decade, were outclassed by Real Madrid in midweek as they crashed out of the Champions League before the last 16 stage for the first time since the 2012/13 season. The English champions may also be without Erling Haaland, who did not get off the bench at the Santiago Bernabeu due to injury. But Pep Guardiola's men showed what they are still capable of in a 4-0 thrashing of Newcastle last week and are in need of points themselves in the top-four race. "They've had maybe one or two months in the seven or eight years he's (Guardiola) there now that weren't the best, maybe partly because of injuries as well," said Slot. "Injuries come back, they've signed three or four players, I can see them coming back already if you look at the result against Newcastle." Arsenal have the chance to up the pressure when they face West Ham 24 hours earlier. Mikel Arteta's side will be without a recognised striker for the rest of the season but have won 23 points from a possible 27 to remain in the race. "If we constantly look at Arsenal or what other teams are doing, that would not help us," added Slot. "We already know how difficult it is to go to the Etihad, so we don't need Arsenal to get involved in that even more." Chelsea crisis Chelsea need to bounce back quickly if they are to retain hope of Champions League football next season. The Blues flirted with a title challenge towards the end of 2024 but have won just twice in their last nine league games and crashed out of the FA Cup. Manager Enzo Maresca said his side's meek 3-0 defeat by Brighton last weekend was the worst performance of his tenure to date, amid concerns star man Cole Palmer could leave without the lure of the Champions League. Chelsea travel to Aston Villa on Saturday, whose own hopes of a top-four finish are starting to fade. Unai Emery's men pushed Liverpool all the way in a four-goal thriller on Wednesday but find themselves down in ninth, five points off the top four, due to an inconsistent season. Nottingham Forest's acid test Not in their wildest dreams could Nottingham Forest fans have imagined sitting third in the table with just 13 games to go. However, they face a stern test of their credentials to make it back to European football's elite competition for the first time in 45 years. Forest visit Newcastle on Sunday before hosting Arsenal and Manchester City in their next two home league games. Newcastle have suffered back-to-back league defeats either side of their League Cup semi-final heroics against Arsenal, with Magpies manager Eddie Howe annoyed by his side's see-saw form. "I think we have days where we can look far from the team that we are when we're on it," said Howe. "It's a real frustration for us because to be an elite team, you've got to be consistent." Fixtures (all times 1500 GMT unless stated) Friday Leicester v Brentford (2000) Saturday Everton v Manchester United (1230), Fulham v Crystal Palace, Ipswich v Tottenham, Southampton v Brighton, Bournemouth v Wolves, Arsenal v West Ham, Aston Villa v Chelsea (1730) Sunday Newcastle v Nottingham Forest (1400), Man City v Liverpool (1630) Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Premier League: Liverpool face Manchester City as race for top heats up

Liverpool manager Arne Slot will talk to Darwin Nunez about his attitude after accusing the striker of letting a costly miss at Aston Villa affect his effort levels for the rest of the game.
The Reds failed to go 10 points clear of second-placed Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table as Wednesday's trip to Villa Park ended in a frantic 2-2 draw.
Villa also had chances to win, but Nunez's failure to seal the victory for league leaders Liverpool was especially glaring.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/premier-league-aston-villa-dent-liverpools-title-charge-with-hard-earn-draw-8738220">Premier League: Aston Villa dent Liverpool's title charge with hard-earn draw</a>
Slot's frustration was still evident Thursday at his pre-match press conference ahead of this weekend's clash with Manchester City.&nbsp;
"I can accept every miss, especially from a player that has scored two very important goals against Brentford, that scores for us in the home game against Villa," said Slot.
"I would prefer him to score, but the word 'chance' says it all. It's a chance, so it's not 100 percent sure that the ball goes in and players miss chances."
But the Dutch boss, in his first season as Liverpool manager, was concerned by Nunez's reaction.
"What was a bit harder for me to accept was his behaviour after that chance," said Slot.
"With behaviour, I mean, I think it got too much in his head, where he wasn't the usual Darwin that works his ass off and makes sure he helps the team.
"I think he was too disappointed after missing that chance and maybe &ndash;- we will never know, we will never find out &ndash; that's why (his attitude) was just a fraction short the moment afterwards."
Slot added: "I always truly believe that it's always the best to have Wata's (Wataru Endo) mindset. What I mean with that is that for the whole season he doesn't stop playing, keeps on going, keeps on going, keeps on going and whenever we need him he's ready."
The Liverpool manager contrasted that approach with Nunez's reaction at Villa Park, saying: "It's not about (missing) the chance. But it's not part of the job of a number nine then to slow down in work rate and that is something we will talk about."
Following the match, Nunez posted on X: "I wasn't the best three weeks ago, and I'm not the worst now. If I fall, I get up. You'll never see me give up. I'm going to give it my all until the last day I'm here in Liverpool. Resilience!"
Liverpool substitute Conor Bradley limped off against Villa.
The right-back is set to miss the trip to City.
"We don't know yet, but I would be completely surprised if he's involved in the Sunday game or the Wednesday game against Newcastle, so, you can assume that that's not going to happen," said Slot
Forward Cody Gakpo could return after missing two matches through injury.
"Let's see," Slot said. "I'm not 100 percent sure. He hasn't trained with the team yet...It will be a close call."
He also confirmed that centreback Joe Gomez would be a long-term absentee.
"Joe Gomez had a surgery for his hamstring injury, so he's out for a long time," Slot said. "He will be back, maybe, just before the end of the season."
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The Reds failed to go 10 points clear of second-placed Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table as Wednesday's trip to Villa Park ended in a frantic 2-2 draw. Football Sports

Liverpool manager Arne Slot will talk to Darwin Nunez about his attitude after accusing the striker of letting a costly miss at Aston Villa affect his effort levels for the rest of the game. The Reds failed to go 10 points clear of second-placed Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table as Wednesday's trip to Villa Park ended in a frantic 2-2 draw. Villa also had chances to win, but Nunez's failure to seal the victory for league leaders Liverpool was especially glaring. Also Read: Premier League: Aston Villa dent Liverpool's title charge with hard-earn draw Slot's frustration was still evident Thursday at his pre-match press conference ahead of this weekend's clash with Manchester City. "I can accept every miss, especially from a player that has scored two very important goals against Brentford, that scores for us in the home game against Villa," said Slot. "I would prefer him to score, but the word 'chance' says it all. It's a chance, so it's not 100 percent sure that the ball goes in and players miss chances." But the Dutch boss, in his first season as Liverpool manager, was concerned by Nunez's reaction. "What was a bit harder for me to accept was his behaviour after that chance," said Slot. "With behaviour, I mean, I think it got too much in his head, where he wasn't the usual Darwin that works his ass off and makes sure he helps the team. "I think he was too disappointed after missing that chance and maybe –- we will never know, we will never find out – that's why (his attitude) was just a fraction short the moment afterwards." Slot added: "I always truly believe that it's always the best to have Wata's (Wataru Endo) mindset. What I mean with that is that for the whole season he doesn't stop playing, keeps on going, keeps on going, keeps on going and whenever we need him he's ready." The Liverpool manager contrasted that approach with Nunez's reaction at Villa Park, saying: "It's not about (missing) the chance. But it's not part of the job of a number nine then to slow down in work rate and that is something we will talk about." Following the match, Nunez posted on X: "I wasn't the best three weeks ago, and I'm not the worst now. If I fall, I get up. You'll never see me give up. I'm going to give it my all until the last day I'm here in Liverpool. Resilience!" Liverpool substitute Conor Bradley limped off against Villa. The right-back is set to miss the trip to City. "We don't know yet, but I would be completely surprised if he's involved in the Sunday game or the Wednesday game against Newcastle, so, you can assume that that's not going to happen," said Slot Forward Cody Gakpo could return after missing two matches through injury. "Let's see," Slot said. "I'm not 100 percent sure. He hasn't trained with the team yet...It will be a close call." He also confirmed that centreback Joe Gomez would be a long-term absentee. "Joe Gomez had a surgery for his hamstring injury, so he's out for a long time," Slot said. "He will be back, maybe, just before the end of the season." Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Premier League: Liverpool boss Arne Slot to talk to Darwin Nunez after missed opportunity vs Aston Villa

Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham was hit with a two-match La Liga ban on Wednesday by the Spanish football federation's disciplinary committee after he was sent off for dissent.
The England international was dismissed during the champions' 1-1 draw at Osasuna on Saturday by referee Jose Munuera Montero.
Bellingham, who insisted he had been expressing his frustration and not insulting the referee, will miss league matches against Girona and Real Betis on February 23 and March 2 respectively.
Also Read: <a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/champions-league-bayern-munich-edge-out-celtic-to-reach-last-16-milan-dumped-out-8734382" aria-label="Champions League: Bayern Munich edge out Celtic to reach last 16; Milan dumped out">Champions League: Bayern Munich edge out Celtic to reach last 16; Milan dumped out</a>
The disciplinary committee said Madrid's attempts to show that Bellingham had not insulted the official were "insufficient" to remove "the presumption of veracity of the referee's report".
Bellingham had said his dismissal was due to a misunderstanding.
"I think you can see clearly in the video, I remember the incident very well, it was an expression (I was saying) to myself," said the 21-year-old.
"I'm not even directing myself towards the referee, but obviously there was a misunderstanding. He's believed that I've said (something insulting) to him."
A Real Madrid source told AFP the club will appeal the decision.
Referee Munuera Montero has faced online abuse and threats in the days since sending off Bellingham, which the federation described as "repulsive".
Real Madrid have attacked Spanish refereeing in recent weeks, calling it "rigged" in a letter they sent to the federation and published on their website.
Los Blancos have not won in their last three league games, and rivals Barcelona now lead the table on goal difference.
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Bellingham, who insisted he had been expressing his frustration and not insulting the referee, will miss league matches against Girona and Real Betis on February 23 and March 2, respectively. Football Sports

Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham was hit with a two-match La Liga ban on Wednesday by the Spanish football federation's disciplinary committee after he was sent off for dissent. The England international was dismissed during the champions' 1-1 draw at Osasuna on Saturday by referee Jose Munuera Montero. Bellingham, who insisted he had been expressing his frustration and not insulting the referee, will miss league matches against Girona and Real Betis on February 23 and March 2 respectively. Also Read: Champions League: Bayern Munich edge out Celtic to reach last 16; Milan dumped out The disciplinary committee said Madrid's attempts to show that Bellingham had not insulted the official were "insufficient" to remove "the presumption of veracity of the referee's report". Bellingham had said his dismissal was due to a misunderstanding. "I think you can see clearly in the video, I remember the incident very well, it was an expression (I was saying) to myself," said the 21-year-old. "I'm not even directing myself towards the referee, but obviously there was a misunderstanding. He's believed that I've said (something insulting) to him." A Real Madrid source told AFP the club will appeal the decision. Referee Munuera Montero has faced online abuse and threats in the days since sending off Bellingham, which the federation described as "repulsive". Real Madrid have attacked Spanish refereeing in recent weeks, calling it "rigged" in a letter they sent to the federation and published on their website. Los Blancos have not won in their last three league games, and rivals Barcelona now lead the table on goal difference. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

La Liga: Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham banned for two games for showing dissent

Barcelona secured a crucial 1-0 victory over Rayo Vallecano, with Robert Lewandowski scoring the only goal from the penalty spot in the 28th minute. Despite a late chance for Rayo, the Catalan giants returned to the top of the table.

Barcelona earn a hard-fought 1-0 win over Rayo Vallecano

Tottenham won the battle of the&nbsp;Premier&nbsp;League's underachievers 1-0 on Sunday to inflict another dismal result on <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/manchester-united">Manchester United</a> boss Ruben Amorim.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/james-maddison">James Maddison</a> scored the only goal on 13 minutes as <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/tottenham">Spurs</a> moved above United in the table into 12th thanks to a third win over the Red Devils this season.&nbsp;Victory eased the pressure on under-fire Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou after exiting both domestic cup competitions this month to go with their lowly&nbsp;league&nbsp;position.
United now find themselves down in 15th, but do enjoy a 12-point cushion over the bottom three.
"The place in the table is my worry, I am not worried about me," said Amorim, who has won just four of 14&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/premier-league">Premier&nbsp;League</a>&nbsp;games since taking charge in November.
"I hate to lose. That feeling is the worst. The rest I am not thinking about.&nbsp;"I understand my situation, my job, I am confident in my work and I just want to win games."
Also Read: PL: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/premier-league-luis-diaz-ends-goal-drought-to-power-liverpool-seven-points-clear-at-the-top-of-points-table-wolves-8727114" rel="dofollow">Luis Diaz ends goal drought to power Liverpool seven points clear at top</a>
Tottenham's first home&nbsp;league&nbsp;win since November came amid a spirit of revolt among their support.&nbsp;Before kick-off and after the match Spurs fans again vented their frustration towards owners ENIC and chairman Daniel Levy.
A huge banner read "24 years, 16 managers, 1 trophy - Time for change" as a sizeable contingent of the home crowd joined a protest calling for Levy to go.
However, the mood for Postecoglou was lifted even before kick-off as he was able to welcome back a host of first-team regulars who have been sidelined by injury.
<h2>'Quality players' return'</h2>
Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario made his first appearance since November. Maddison returned to &nbsp;the starting line-up, while Destiny Udogie, Brennan Johnson and Wilson Odobert were on the bench.
"They are quality players. We've had it pretty tough the last two-and-a-half months," said Postecoglou. "It was important for us to win and gain some traction.
"I certainly feel there is still a massive opportunity for us in this back half of the season and hopefully today is the start of that."
United have their own injury troubles with Amad Diallo joining Lisandro Martinez on the sidelines for the rest of the season and Kobbie Mainoo ruled out for a month.&nbsp;Amorim had to name eight teenagers among his nine substitutes, forcing Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee to start together up front after both were overlooked for United's last&nbsp;league&nbsp;game - a 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace.
Hojlund had the first chance when he fired too close to Vicario before the Italian flew to his left to deny Alejandro Garnacho.
Instead, Spurs got the opener when Andre Onana could only parry Lucas Bergvall's shot into the path of Maddison, who tapped into an empty net for his 10th goal of the season.
United should have been at least level by half-time as Garnacho blazed over a glorious opportunity with just Vicario to beat after being picked out by Bruno Fernandes.
Vicario continued to frustrate Garnacho with another fine save after the break.&nbsp;Zirkzee wasted a huge chance to equalise 20 minutes from time when the Dutch international headed Noussair Mazraoui's cross wide with the goal gaping.
But United's inability to put the ball in the net comes as little surprise.&nbsp;Only the bottom three plus Everton have scored fewer than United's 28 goals in 25&nbsp;league&nbsp;games this season.
At the other end, Onana kept the visitors in the game by parrying Dejan Kulusevski's powerful effort.&nbsp;But even Spurs' makeshift backline could not be breached by Amorim's men to allow Postecoglou to see some light at the end of the tunnel.
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Sports, Football: James Maddison scored the only goal on 13 minutes as Spurs moved above United in the table into 12th thanks to a third win over the Red Devils this season

Tottenham won the battle of the Premier League's underachievers 1-0 on Sunday to inflict another dismal result on Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim. James Maddison scored the only goal on 13 minutes as Spurs moved above United in the table into 12th thanks to a third win over the Red Devils this season. Victory eased the pressure on under-fire Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou after exiting both domestic cup competitions this month to go with their lowly league position. United now find themselves down in 15th, but do enjoy a 12-point cushion over the bottom three. "The place in the table is my worry, I am not worried about me," said Amorim, who has won just four of 14 Premier League games since taking charge in November. "I hate to lose. That feeling is the worst. The rest I am not thinking about. "I understand my situation, my job, I am confident in my work and I just want to win games." Also Read: PL: Luis Diaz ends goal drought to power Liverpool seven points clear at top Tottenham's first home league win since November came amid a spirit of revolt among their support. Before kick-off and after the match Spurs fans again vented their frustration towards owners ENIC and chairman Daniel Levy. A huge banner read "24 years, 16 managers, 1 trophy - Time for change" as a sizeable contingent of the home crowd joined a protest calling for Levy to go. However, the mood for Postecoglou was lifted even before kick-off as he was able to welcome back a host of first-team regulars who have been sidelined by injury. 'Quality players' return' Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario made his first appearance since November. Maddison returned to the starting line-up, while Destiny Udogie, Brennan Johnson and Wilson Odobert were on the bench. "They are quality players. We've had it pretty tough the last two-and-a-half months," said Postecoglou. "It was important for us to win and gain some traction. "I certainly feel there is still a massive opportunity for us in this back half of the season and hopefully today is the start of that." United have their own injury troubles with Amad Diallo joining Lisandro Martinez on the sidelines for the rest of the season and Kobbie Mainoo ruled out for a month. Amorim had to name eight teenagers among his nine substitutes, forcing Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee to start together up front after both were overlooked for United's last league game - a 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace. Hojlund had the first chance when he fired too close to Vicario before the Italian flew to his left to deny Alejandro Garnacho. Instead, Spurs got the opener when Andre Onana could only parry Lucas Bergvall's shot into the path of Maddison, who tapped into an empty net for his 10th goal of the season. United should have been at least level by half-time as Garnacho blazed over a glorious opportunity with just Vicario to beat after being picked out by Bruno Fernandes. Vicario continued to frustrate Garnacho with another fine save after the break. Zirkzee wasted a huge chance to equalise 20 minutes from time when the Dutch international headed Noussair Mazraoui's cross wide with the goal gaping. But United's inability to put the ball in the net comes as little surprise. Only the bottom three plus Everton have scored fewer than United's 28 goals in 25 league games this season. At the other end, Onana kept the visitors in the game by parrying Dejan Kulusevski's powerful effort. But even Spurs' makeshift backline could not be breached by Amorim's men to allow Postecoglou to see some light at the end of the tunnel. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Premier League: Tottenham beat Manchester United in battle of strugglers

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In a move that blends geopolitics with the beautiful game, North Korea has reportedly blacklisted <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/tottenham">Tottenham Hotspur</a> matches from its television broadcasts. While the reclusive nation has long kept a tight grip on the content its citizens can access, Premier League games have surprisingly made the cut &mdash; though with a few curious caveats.<span class="EOP SCXW41631482 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}">&nbsp;
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Football fans in North Korea watch their matches four months behind the rest of the world, with games shortened to an hour and sandwiched between state news bulletins. Yet, the North London club has now found itself unwelcome on these heavily curated airwaves. The reason? Spurs' talismanic captain, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/son-heung-min">Son Heung-min</a>, is a native of Chuncheon, South Korea &mdash; the North&rsquo;s long-standing rival.<span class="EOP SCXW41631482 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}">&nbsp;
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This revelation comes from the US-based Stimson Center&rsquo;s 38 North project, which specialises in analysing North Korean affairs. According to their findings, Tottenham isn&rsquo;t the only team facing this bizarre form of censorship. Last year, the regime also quietly omitted games featuring Wolverhampton Wanderers&rsquo; forward Hwang Hee-chan and Brentford&rsquo;s young defender Kim Ji-soo &mdash; both South Korean internationals.<span class="EOP SCXW41631482 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}">&nbsp;
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"We thought it was interesting," said Martyn Williams of the Stimson Center in an interview. "We just saw a lot of football on KCTV. It's the main international sport they broadcast." Yet, even football can&rsquo;t seem to avoid the iron curtain of North Korean propaganda.
<h2 class="Paragraph SCXW41631482 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraid="1384675671" paraeid="{66be4021-448a-4f65-bae0-8ca1ad542cbf}{45}"><span class="EOP SCXW41631482 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}">Social media reacts&nbsp;</h2>
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The news sparked an expected wave of social media reactions, with fans turning to humor to digest the surreal development.<span class="EOP SCXW41631482 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}">&nbsp;
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"It's because Kim thinks his people have suffered enough," one user quipped, while another remarked, "Should be banned here too the way Spurs are playing." Another jabbed, "Given Spurs' miserable recent performances, notably against mighty Tamworth, he's doing the people a favour!"<span class="EOP SCXW41631482 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}">&nbsp;
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Tottenham, meanwhile, will aim to resurrect their dwindling campaign on Sunday, February 16, when they face off against Manchester United. After crashing out of both the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/fa-cup">FA Cup</a> and the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/carabao-cup">Carabao Cup</a>, manager Ange Postecoglou finds himself under mounting pressure. The Australian&rsquo;s plans have been derailed by an injury-hit squad, leaving Spurs fans anxiously hoping for a turnaround.<span class="EOP SCXW41631482 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}">&nbsp;
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As for North Korean football enthusiasts, they'll have to make do without Harry Kane&rsquo;s old stomping ground &mdash; though given recent form, they might not be missing out on much.<span class="EOP SCXW41631482 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}">&nbsp;
<span class="EOP SCXW41631482 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}">(With inputs from agencies)
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Sports, Football: Football fans in North Korea watch their matches four months behind the rest of the world, with games shortened to an hour and put between state news bulletins

In a move that blends geopolitics with the beautiful game, North Korea has reportedly blacklisted Tottenham Hotspur matches from its television broadcasts. While the reclusive nation has long kept a tight grip on the content its citizens can access, Premier League games have surprisingly made the cut — though with a few curious caveats. Football fans in North Korea watch their matches four months behind the rest of the world, with games shortened to an hour and sandwiched between state news bulletins. Yet, the North London club has now found itself unwelcome on these heavily curated airwaves. The reason? Spurs' talismanic captain, Son Heung-min, is a native of Chuncheon, South Korea — the North’s long-standing rival. This revelation comes from the US-based Stimson Center’s 38 North project, which specialises in analysing North Korean affairs. According to their findings, Tottenham isn’t the only team facing this bizarre form of censorship. Last year, the regime also quietly omitted games featuring Wolverhampton Wanderers’ forward Hwang Hee-chan and Brentford’s young defender Kim Ji-soo — both South Korean internationals. "We thought it was interesting," said Martyn Williams of the Stimson Center in an interview. "We just saw a lot of football on KCTV. It's the main international sport they broadcast." Yet, even football can’t seem to avoid the iron curtain of North Korean propaganda. Social media reacts The news sparked an expected wave of social media reactions, with fans turning to humor to digest the surreal development. "It's because Kim thinks his people have suffered enough," one user quipped, while another remarked, "Should be banned here too the way Spurs are playing." Another jabbed, "Given Spurs' miserable recent performances, notably against mighty Tamworth, he's doing the people a favour!" Tottenham, meanwhile, will aim to resurrect their dwindling campaign on Sunday, February 16, when they face off against Manchester United. After crashing out of both the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup, manager Ange Postecoglou finds himself under mounting pressure. The Australian’s plans have been derailed by an injury-hit squad, leaving Spurs fans anxiously hoping for a turnaround. As for North Korean football enthusiasts, they'll have to make do without Harry Kane’s old stomping ground — though given recent form, they might not be missing out on much. (With inputs from agencies)

Kim Jong Un ‘red cards’ Spurs: North Korea drops Tottenham broadcasts in political power play

Real Madrid dropped two points in a 1-1 draw at Osasuna on Saturday in which <a href="https://www.wionews.com/search?title=jude+bellingham">Jude Bellingham</a> was sent off, but stayed top of La Liga after Atletico Madrid tied 1-1 with Celta Vigo.
The Spanish champions took the lead through <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/kylian-mbappe">Kylian Mbappe</a> before the referee red-carded England international Bellingham for dissent towards the end of the first half.
Ante Budimir levelled for hosts Osasuna from the penalty spot after 58 minutes as Carlo Ancelotti's side endured a third consecutive league match without victory.
Atletico Madrid, who also played with 10 men after Pablo Barrios was dismissed in just the seventh minute, were unable to capitalise and remain a point behind Los Blancos, but Barcelona could pull level with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/real-madrid">Real Madrid</a> if they beat Rayo Vallecano on Monday.
Bellingham insisted he was expressing his frustration and not insulting the referee.&nbsp;"I think you can see clearly in the video, I remember the incident very well, it was an expression to myself," he told reporters.
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"I'm not even directing myself towards the referee, but obviously there was a misunderstanding. He's believed that I've said (something insulting) to him...
"There was no intent to insult him, there was no insult."&nbsp;Real Madrid coach <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/carlo-ancelotti">Carlo Ancelotti</a> said he was happy with how his team played despite dropping points.&nbsp;"In a footballing sense we started very well, and we finished well despite having one less player," said Ancelotti.
The Italian made a few rotations with the midweek Champions League play-off second leg clash against Manchester City in mind, with Rodrygo resting and Brahim Diaz given a rare start.
Los Blancos controlled the game from the off, moving the ball around too quickly for Osasuna to get a foothold.&nbsp;Madrid did not have to wait long for their opener, with Mbappe firing home from Fede Valverde's cross, his seventh goal in his last five La Liga matches.
<h2>'Referee was nervous'</h2>
The game changed when Bellingham was dismissed in the 39th minute. The England international exchanged words with referee Jose Munuera Montero, who then reached for his red card.
Ancelotti said Bellingham should not have been dismissed.&nbsp;"I think with Bellingham's red card (the referee) didn't understand the English well... I don't think it's something offensive," Ancelotti told reporters.
"I think the red card came out because the referee was nervous... Bellingham did nothing today to have been sent off, absolutely nothing."
Madrid have complained heavily about Spanish refereeing in recent weeks, labelling it "rigged" and they grew further frustrated with Munuera Montero in the second half.
Osasuna levelled before the hour mark through Budimir from the spot after Eduardo Camavinga was late on the Croatian striker.&nbsp;Budimir's penalty was his 13th goal of the season, behind only Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski and Mbappe, on 17, in the standings.
Mbappe had one last chance in stoppage time but Osasuna goalkeeper Sergio Herrera palmed away his effort with a strong hand.
After playing for nearly an hour with 10 men, Manchester City will hope it takes a toll on Madrid on Wednesday when the sides meet at the Santiago Bernabeu.
<h2>'Gladiators'</h2>
Atletico's draw with Celta was conditioned by Barrios' seventh minute red card for a reckless high tackle on Pablo Duran.&nbsp;Iago Aspas fired Celta ahead in the second half from the penalty spot but Atletico target man Alexander Sorloth rescued a point for the Rojiblancos.
"The team had gladiators again, playing 90 minutes with one fewer player is very tough," said Atletico coach Diego Simeone, who did not disagree with the decision to dismiss Barrios.
"It was a red card, it was clear," he added.&nbsp;Atletico dug deep in the first half and frustrated Celta, who had more of the ball, before biting back to level after Aspas' penalty.
"When we were left with 10 men it's very difficult... the team tried everything," Atletico midfielder Koke told DAZN.&nbsp;"We defended well, we suffered when we had to. Obviously we're still in the fight for the title."
Valencia, 17th and battling relegation, fought back to draw 1-1 at fifth-place Villarreal in an east coast derby.
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Sports, Football: The Spanish champions took lead through Kylian Mbappe before the referee red-carded England international Bellingham for dissent towards the end of the first half

Real Madrid dropped two points in a 1-1 draw at Osasuna on Saturday in which Jude Bellingham was sent off, but stayed top of La Liga after Atletico Madrid tied 1-1 with Celta Vigo. The Spanish champions took the lead through Kylian Mbappe before the referee red-carded England international Bellingham for dissent towards the end of the first half. Ante Budimir levelled for hosts Osasuna from the penalty spot after 58 minutes as Carlo Ancelotti's side endured a third consecutive league match without victory. Atletico Madrid, who also played with 10 men after Pablo Barrios was dismissed in just the seventh minute, were unable to capitalise and remain a point behind Los Blancos, but Barcelona could pull level with Real Madrid if they beat Rayo Vallecano on Monday. Bellingham insisted he was expressing his frustration and not insulting the referee. "I think you can see clearly in the video, I remember the incident very well, it was an expression to myself," he told reporters. Also Read: Qatar Open: Anisimova triumphs in Doha, clinches first WTA 1000 title of career "I'm not even directing myself towards the referee, but obviously there was a misunderstanding. He's believed that I've said (something insulting) to him... "There was no intent to insult him, there was no insult." Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said he was happy with how his team played despite dropping points. "In a footballing sense we started very well, and we finished well despite having one less player," said Ancelotti. The Italian made a few rotations with the midweek Champions League play-off second leg clash against Manchester City in mind, with Rodrygo resting and Brahim Diaz given a rare start. Los Blancos controlled the game from the off, moving the ball around too quickly for Osasuna to get a foothold. Madrid did not have to wait long for their opener, with Mbappe firing home from Fede Valverde's cross, his seventh goal in his last five La Liga matches. 'Referee was nervous' The game changed when Bellingham was dismissed in the 39th minute. The England international exchanged words with referee Jose Munuera Montero, who then reached for his red card. Ancelotti said Bellingham should not have been dismissed. "I think with Bellingham's red card (the referee) didn't understand the English well... I don't think it's something offensive," Ancelotti told reporters. "I think the red card came out because the referee was nervous... Bellingham did nothing today to have been sent off, absolutely nothing." Madrid have complained heavily about Spanish refereeing in recent weeks, labelling it "rigged" and they grew further frustrated with Munuera Montero in the second half. Osasuna levelled before the hour mark through Budimir from the spot after Eduardo Camavinga was late on the Croatian striker. Budimir's penalty was his 13th goal of the season, behind only Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski and Mbappe, on 17, in the standings. Mbappe had one last chance in stoppage time but Osasuna goalkeeper Sergio Herrera palmed away his effort with a strong hand. After playing for nearly an hour with 10 men, Manchester City will hope it takes a toll on Madrid on Wednesday when the sides meet at the Santiago Bernabeu. 'Gladiators' Atletico's draw with Celta was conditioned by Barrios' seventh minute red card for a reckless high tackle on Pablo Duran. Iago Aspas fired Celta ahead in the second half from the penalty spot but Atletico target man Alexander Sorloth rescued a point for the Rojiblancos. "The team had gladiators again, playing 90 minutes with one fewer player is very tough," said Atletico coach Diego Simeone, who did not disagree with the decision to dismiss Barrios. "It was a red card, it was clear," he added. Atletico dug deep in the first half and frustrated Celta, who had more of the ball, before biting back to level after Aspas' penalty. "When we were left with 10 men it's very difficult... the team tried everything," Atletico midfielder Koke told DAZN. "We defended well, we suffered when we had to. Obviously we're still in the fight for the title." Valencia, 17th and battling relegation, fought back to draw 1-1 at fifth-place Villarreal in an east coast derby. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

La Liga: 10-man Real Madrid draws at Osasuna after Bellingham's red card

Enzo Maresca admitted&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/chelsea">Chelsea</a>'s dismal 3-0 defeat at <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/brighton-and-hove-albion">Brighton</a> was the "worst performance" of his reign as Japan forward Kaoru Mitoma produced a contender for Premier League goal of the season on Friday.
Maresca's hapless side failed to muster a shot on target in their second defeat in the space of seven days at the Amex Stadium.&nbsp;Mitoma scored the winner when Brighton knocked&nbsp;Chelsea&nbsp;out of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/fa-cup">FA Cup</a> fourth round with a 2-1 victory last weekend.
He tormented the Blues again with a breathtaking piece of skill in the first half before Gambia winger Yankuba Minteh netted either side of the interval.
Maresca, in his first season in charge after arriving from Leicester, said this week that&nbsp;Chelsea&nbsp;"belong" in the Champions League, with the club setting him the target of qualifying within two years.
But&nbsp;Chelsea's third defeat in their last four games in all competitions was another blow to their hopes of finishing in the top four.&nbsp;"I feel pressure always, not only now, but tonight the performance we can say was the worst performance since I arrived," Maresca said.
"With this result the frustration is with everything. We feel really sorry for the fans who came here."
Maresca will have to find a solution to&nbsp;Chelsea's chronically error-prone defence if the fourth-placed Blues, two points ahead of Manchester City and Newcastle, are to achieve their target this term.
"When you play this kind of game, the situation we are in, and you perform in the way we did tonight there are many things you can do better," Maresca said.
"It is not only mentally. When you play these games in the moment we are, where you can make the gap bigger to the ones behind us and you perform like we did tonight, there are many things that we need to do better.
"But we are still fourth and we are still in the race to finish well."&nbsp;Thrashed 7-0 at Nottingham Forest in their previous league game, Brighton had won only two of their previous 12 top-flight matches.
The Seagulls have got back on track at&nbsp;Chelsea's expense with a pair of impressive wins.
<h2>Palmer out of sorts</h2>
After beginning the season with six goals in his first seven league games, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/cole-palmer">Cole Palmer</a> had netted eight times, two from the penalty spot, in the following 17 matches in the competition.
Chelsea&nbsp;had slipped from early title contenders to top four hopefuls since Palmer's red-hot start turned colder.
Palmer again looked out of sorts on the south-coast as he blazed over from the edge of the area, then scuffed wide from Noni Madueke's cross.
Madueke limped off injured moments later to add to&nbsp;Chelsea's growing injury woes.&nbsp;There was worse to come for Maresca in the 27th minute as Brighton took the lead in eye-catching fashion.
Bart Verbruggen's long goal-kick was superbly controlled by Mitoma with a remarkably deft touch as it dropped over his shoulder.&nbsp;That was just the start of Mitoma's magical moment as he adroitly rolled the ball away from&nbsp;Chelsea&nbsp;defender Trevoh Chalobah and planted a fine low finish into the far corner from the edge of the area.
Chelsea&nbsp;threatened an immediate equaliser but Enzo Fernandez's header from Malo Gusto's cross was ruled out for the midfielder's blatant push.
Even that near miss was a false dawn for&nbsp;Chelsea&nbsp;as Brighton struck again in the 38th minute.&nbsp;Conceding possession deep into their own half, sloppy&nbsp;Chelsea&nbsp;were unable to recover as Danny Welbeck teed up Minteh, who evaded Marc Cucurella before drilling home from close-range.
Maresca's men were in disarray at the back and Brighton made it three in the 63rd minute.&nbsp;After&nbsp;Chelsea&nbsp;appealed in vain for a foul on Levi Colwill by Welbeck, the forward found Minteh and he danced past Cucurella to score with a fierce strike from eight yards.
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Sports, Football: Mitoma scored the winner when Brighton knocked Chelsea out of the FA Cup fourth round with a 2-1 victory last weekend. Chelsea failed to muster a shot on target

Enzo Maresca admitted Chelsea's dismal 3-0 defeat at Brighton was the "worst performance" of his reign as Japan forward Kaoru Mitoma produced a contender for Premier League goal of the season on Friday. Maresca's hapless side failed to muster a shot on target in their second defeat in the space of seven days at the Amex Stadium. Mitoma scored the winner when Brighton knocked Chelsea out of the FA Cup fourth round with a 2-1 victory last weekend. He tormented the Blues again with a breathtaking piece of skill in the first half before Gambia winger Yankuba Minteh netted either side of the interval. Maresca, in his first season in charge after arriving from Leicester, said this week that Chelsea "belong" in the Champions League, with the club setting him the target of qualifying within two years. But Chelsea's third defeat in their last four games in all competitions was another blow to their hopes of finishing in the top four. "I feel pressure always, not only now, but tonight the performance we can say was the worst performance since I arrived," Maresca said. "With this result the frustration is with everything. We feel really sorry for the fans who came here." Maresca will have to find a solution to Chelsea's chronically error-prone defence if the fourth-placed Blues, two points ahead of Manchester City and Newcastle, are to achieve their target this term. "When you play this kind of game, the situation we are in, and you perform in the way we did tonight there are many things you can do better," Maresca said. "It is not only mentally. When you play these games in the moment we are, where you can make the gap bigger to the ones behind us and you perform like we did tonight, there are many things that we need to do better. "But we are still fourth and we are still in the race to finish well." Thrashed 7-0 at Nottingham Forest in their previous league game, Brighton had won only two of their previous 12 top-flight matches. The Seagulls have got back on track at Chelsea's expense with a pair of impressive wins. Palmer out of sorts After beginning the season with six goals in his first seven league games, Cole Palmer had netted eight times, two from the penalty spot, in the following 17 matches in the competition. Chelsea had slipped from early title contenders to top four hopefuls since Palmer's red-hot start turned colder. Palmer again looked out of sorts on the south-coast as he blazed over from the edge of the area, then scuffed wide from Noni Madueke's cross. Madueke limped off injured moments later to add to Chelsea's growing injury woes. There was worse to come for Maresca in the 27th minute as Brighton took the lead in eye-catching fashion. Bart Verbruggen's long goal-kick was superbly controlled by Mitoma with a remarkably deft touch as it dropped over his shoulder. That was just the start of Mitoma's magical moment as he adroitly rolled the ball away from Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah and planted a fine low finish into the far corner from the edge of the area. Chelsea threatened an immediate equaliser but Enzo Fernandez's header from Malo Gusto's cross was ruled out for the midfielder's blatant push. Even that near miss was a false dawn for Chelsea as Brighton struck again in the 38th minute. Conceding possession deep into their own half, sloppy Chelsea were unable to recover as Danny Welbeck teed up Minteh, who evaded Marc Cucurella before drilling home from close-range. Maresca's men were in disarray at the back and Brighton made it three in the 63rd minute. After Chelsea appealed in vain for a foul on Levi Colwill by Welbeck, the forward found Minteh and he danced past Cucurella to score with a fierce strike from eight yards. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Mitoma & Minteh’s magic inspires Brighton to dominating win over Chelsea

Chelsea women's manager Sonia Bompastor is "really happy" for Sam Kerr following her acquittal on charges of racially aggravated harassment and says there will be no disciplinary action taken against the Australia captain by the club.
Kerr, 31, was found not guilty by a jury at Kingston Crown Court in London on Tuesday after calling a British police officer "stupid and white" during an incident in the early hours of January 30, 2023.
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Following the verdict, Kerr -- who is of mixed race -- released a statement in which the striker said: "While I apologise for expressing myself poorly on what was a traumatic evening, I have always maintained that I did not intend to insult or harm anyone and I am thankful that the jury unanimously agreed."
Bompastor, asked for her reaction to the verdict, told a press conference on Thursday: "Really happy for her (Kerr)... Since I joined Chelsea (last summer) I really know Sam as a player, but also as a person and I was really surprised for her to be involved in that."
Asked if there would be any disciplinary action taken by the club or if officials would remind Kerr of her responsibilities, Bompastor replied: "Sam made a statement, she apologised for that and I think that is enough."
Football Australia welcomed the verdict and said it would speak with Kerr to "reflect on learnings from this matter".
Kerr made her debut for current Women's Super League champions Chelsea in 2020 but is currently out of action with a knee injury.
"She is progressing with her rehab and going in the right direction, but it's difficult for me to give a really precise timeframe (on a return to action)," said Bompastor.
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Kerr, 31, was found not guilty by a jury at Kingston Crown Court in London on Tuesday after calling a British police officer "stupid and white" on January 30, 2023. Football Sports

Chelsea women's manager Sonia Bompastor is "really happy" for Sam Kerr following her acquittal on charges of racially aggravated harassment and says there will be no disciplinary action taken against the Australia captain by the club. Kerr, 31, was found not guilty by a jury at Kingston Crown Court in London on Tuesday after calling a British police officer "stupid and white" during an incident in the early hours of January 30, 2023. Also Read: Blow to Arsenal as Kai Havertz ruled out for remainder of season, club confirms Following the verdict, Kerr -- who is of mixed race -- released a statement in which the striker said: "While I apologise for expressing myself poorly on what was a traumatic evening, I have always maintained that I did not intend to insult or harm anyone and I am thankful that the jury unanimously agreed." Bompastor, asked for her reaction to the verdict, told a press conference on Thursday: "Really happy for her (Kerr)... Since I joined Chelsea (last summer) I really know Sam as a player, but also as a person and I was really surprised for her to be involved in that." Asked if there would be any disciplinary action taken by the club or if officials would remind Kerr of her responsibilities, Bompastor replied: "Sam made a statement, she apologised for that and I think that is enough." Football Australia welcomed the verdict and said it would speak with Kerr to "reflect on learnings from this matter". Kerr made her debut for current Women's Super League champions Chelsea in 2020 but is currently out of action with a knee injury. "She is progressing with her rehab and going in the right direction, but it's difficult for me to give a really precise timeframe (on a return to action)," said Bompastor. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Chelsea decides to take no action on Sam Kerr after acquittal in racial harassment case

Luis Rubiales' lawyer asked a Spanish court on Thursday to acquit the ex-football chief over the kiss he gave Jenni Hermoso on the lips, calling it an "expression of uncontrollable joy".
Rubiales, 47, is accused of sexual assault for kissing Hermoso, 34, in 2023 following Spain's triumph at the women's World Cup in Australia, as well as coercion for allegedly trying to convince the player to downplay the incident after.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/champions-league-bayern-munich-sink-celtic-2-1-feyenoord-beat-ac-milan-in-play-offs-8715895">Champions League: Bayern Munich sink Celtic 2-1; Feyenoord beat AC Milan in play-offs</a>
The outcry over the kiss forced Rubiales to resign in disgrace and thrust the spotlight on the prevalence of macho culture and sexism in sport.
"We are dealing with an expression of uncontrollable joy. Is this inappropriate behaviour? Yes. Criminal? No," lawyer Ogla Tabau said during her closing arguments in his trial for sexual assault, adding Rubiales has apologised for behaving like "just another player" and not the president of the federation.
Video footage of the incident that rocked Spanish football shows Rubiales clasping Hermoso's head at the World Cup medal ceremony and kissing her on the lips before letting her go with two slaps on the back.
Rubiales told the trial on Tuesday he was "totally sure" Hermoso consented to the kiss, which was broadcast live around the world.
"She squeezed me very tightly under my armpits, she lifted me, and when I came down I asked her if I can give you a kiss, and she said 'OK', that's what happened," he said from the dock at the court in San Fernando de Henares near Madrid.
Rubiales conceded he "made a mistake" on the podium and that his behaviour "was not appropriate", saying he should have "been in a more institutional role", but denied any offence had been committed.
Hermoso told the opening day of the trial on February 3 she felt "disrespected" after a non-consensual kiss that "should not happen in any social or work setting".
Her teammates have described under oath how she cried and felt "overwhelmed" following the incident, and was not able to enjoy a team celebration trip to the Spanish island of Ibiza.
<h2>Joy and euphoria</h2>
But Tabau said video images of Hermoso celebrating and drinking champagne with her teammates in the changing room shortly after the kiss contradict this narrative.
"We see good humour, joy, a certain euphoria," Rubiales' lawyer said, calling it "behaviour that is very inconsistent with the suffering into which the victims of sexual assault immediately experience".
Public prosecutor Marta Durantez Gil rejected this argument on Wednesday during her closing arguments in which she also said there is "no doubt" the kiss was "non-consensual".
"How long are we going to keep demanding heroic behaviour from the victim of a sexual assault? Wasn't she entitled to celebrate such a sporting triumph?" she asked.
Prosecutors are seeking two and a half years in prison for Rubiales, one year for sexual assault, and 18 months for coercion of Hermoso.
Among the accused alongside Rubiales are ex-women's national team coach Jorge Vilda and two former federation officials.
They also stand accused of trying to coerce Hermoso with prosecutors seeking 18-month jail terms for them.
Rubiales minimised the importance of the kiss on Hermoso at the time and defied calls for his resignation at an emergency federation meeting in August 2023, railing against "false feminism".
He resigned in September that year after FIFA suspended him and Spanish prosecutors opened an investigation into alleged sexual assault. Rubiales had been federation chief since 2018.
The trial continues on Friday with the defence's closing arguments and the defendants' final words.
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

The outcry over the kiss forced Rubiales to resign in disgrace and thrust the spotlight on the prevalence of macho culture and sexism in sport. Sports Football

Luis Rubiales' lawyer asked a Spanish court on Thursday to acquit the ex-football chief over the kiss he gave Jenni Hermoso on the lips, calling it an "expression of uncontrollable joy". Rubiales, 47, is accused of sexual assault for kissing Hermoso, 34, in 2023 following Spain's triumph at the women's World Cup in Australia, as well as coercion for allegedly trying to convince the player to downplay the incident after. Also Read: Champions League: Bayern Munich sink Celtic 2-1; Feyenoord beat AC Milan in play-offs The outcry over the kiss forced Rubiales to resign in disgrace and thrust the spotlight on the prevalence of macho culture and sexism in sport. "We are dealing with an expression of uncontrollable joy. Is this inappropriate behaviour? Yes. Criminal? No," lawyer Ogla Tabau said during her closing arguments in his trial for sexual assault, adding Rubiales has apologised for behaving like "just another player" and not the president of the federation. Video footage of the incident that rocked Spanish football shows Rubiales clasping Hermoso's head at the World Cup medal ceremony and kissing her on the lips before letting her go with two slaps on the back. Rubiales told the trial on Tuesday he was "totally sure" Hermoso consented to the kiss, which was broadcast live around the world. "She squeezed me very tightly under my armpits, she lifted me, and when I came down I asked her if I can give you a kiss, and she said 'OK', that's what happened," he said from the dock at the court in San Fernando de Henares near Madrid. Rubiales conceded he "made a mistake" on the podium and that his behaviour "was not appropriate", saying he should have "been in a more institutional role", but denied any offence had been committed. Hermoso told the opening day of the trial on February 3 she felt "disrespected" after a non-consensual kiss that "should not happen in any social or work setting". Her teammates have described under oath how she cried and felt "overwhelmed" following the incident, and was not able to enjoy a team celebration trip to the Spanish island of Ibiza. Joy and euphoria But Tabau said video images of Hermoso celebrating and drinking champagne with her teammates in the changing room shortly after the kiss contradict this narrative. "We see good humour, joy, a certain euphoria," Rubiales' lawyer said, calling it "behaviour that is very inconsistent with the suffering into which the victims of sexual assault immediately experience". Public prosecutor Marta Durantez Gil rejected this argument on Wednesday during her closing arguments in which she also said there is "no doubt" the kiss was "non-consensual". "How long are we going to keep demanding heroic behaviour from the victim of a sexual assault? Wasn't she entitled to celebrate such a sporting triumph?" she asked. Prosecutors are seeking two and a half years in prison for Rubiales, one year for sexual assault, and 18 months for coercion of Hermoso. Among the accused alongside Rubiales are ex-women's national team coach Jorge Vilda and two former federation officials. They also stand accused of trying to coerce Hermoso with prosecutors seeking 18-month jail terms for them. Rubiales minimised the importance of the kiss on Hermoso at the time and defied calls for his resignation at an emergency federation meeting in August 2023, railing against "false feminism". He resigned in September that year after FIFA suspended him and Spanish prosecutors opened an investigation into alleged sexual assault. Rubiales had been federation chief since 2018. The trial continues on Friday with the defence's closing arguments and the defendants' final words. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Luis Rubiales' lawyer asks for acquittal after calling the kiss 'expression of uncontrollable joy'

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