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London, United Kingdom
Tottenham Hotspur captain Son Heung-min was seen in spectacular form on Thursday (Dec 19) evening after he scored a rare Olimpico goal in a 4-3 win over Manchester United in the League Cup. Playing at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the single-legged quarterfinal tie, Son scored his goal directly from a corner, setting the stage on fire. The win also helped Spurs reach the semifinals of the competition for the first time since the 2021-22 season.
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<h2>Son scores rare olimpico goal</h2>
With the score 3-2 in favour of the home side, Son took a corner at the famous North Stand with the crowd expecting him to deliver a neat ball in the six-yard penalty box. However, spectacularly, the South Korean’s neat delivery landed directly into the net and beat United goalkeeper Altay Bayındır, in the process of completing the Olimpico goal.
The goal is a rare event in football, adding another feather to Son’s impressive hat as he continues to flourish in North London.
Over the years, the Spurs captain has been renowned to score some spectacular goals with one of his goals also winning the Puskas Award for Best Goal of the Year in professional football. In December 2019, Son scored a solo goal while running almost 100 metres from his own penalty area against Burnley which saw him win the Puskas Award.
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/bgt-202425-nathan-mcsweeney-likely-to-be-axed-from-boxing-day-test-sam-konstas-in-frame-for-australia-785445">BGT 2024/25: Nathan McSweeney axed from Boxing Day Test; Sam Konstas roped in for Australia</a>
<h2>Spurs to take on Liverpool in the League Cup semis</h2>
With Spurs already scheduled to face Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday, the two teams have also been paired up for the semis of the League Cup. Ange Postecoglou’s side will take on the Reds over two legs in January and February with a place in the final up for grabs. The competition is a perfect opportunity for the Lilywhites to end their 17-year drought for a senior trophy.
The North London side is still active in three competitions as they are also enjoying a good run in the Europa League while they will kick-off their FA Cup campaign in January against Tamworth.

Playing at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the single-legged quarterfinal tie, Son Heung-min scored his goal directly from a corner, setting the stage on fire. The win also helped Spurs reach the semifinals of the competition for the first time since the 2021-22 season.



London, United Kingdom Tottenham Hotspur captain Son Heung-min was seen in spectacular form on Thursday (Dec 19) evening after he scored a rare Olimpico goal in a 4-3 win over Manchester United in the League Cup. Playing at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the single-legged quarterfinal tie, Son scored his goal directly from a corner, setting the stage on fire. The win also helped Spurs reach the semifinals of the competition for the first time since the 2021-22 season. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tottenham Hotspur (@spursofficial) × Son scores rare olimpico goal With the score 3-2 in favour of the home side, Son took a corner at the famous North Stand with the crowd expecting him to deliver a neat ball in the six-yard penalty box. However, spectacularly, the South Korean’s neat delivery landed directly into the net and beat United goalkeeper Altay Bayındır, in the process of completing the Olimpico goal. The goal is a rare event in football, adding another feather to Son’s impressive hat as he continues to flourish in North London. Over the years, the Spurs captain has been renowned to score some spectacular goals with one of his goals also winning the Puskas Award for Best Goal of the Year in professional football. In December 2019, Son scored a solo goal while running almost 100 metres from his own penalty area against Burnley which saw him win the Puskas Award. ALSO READ | BGT 2024/25: Nathan McSweeney axed from Boxing Day Test; Sam Konstas roped in for Australia Spurs to take on Liverpool in the League Cup semis With Spurs already scheduled to face Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday, the two teams have also been paired up for the semis of the League Cup. Ange Postecoglou’s side will take on the Reds over two legs in January and February with a place in the final up for grabs. The competition is a perfect opportunity for the Lilywhites to end their 17-year drought for a senior trophy. The North London side is still active in three competitions as they are also enjoying a good run in the Europa League while they will kick-off their FA Cup campaign in January against Tamworth.

WATCH: Son Heung-min scores rare OLIMPICO goal in Tottenham's League Cup win over Manchester United

Tottenham survived two calamitous errors from stand-in goalkeeper Fraser Forster on Thursday to beat Manchester United 4-3 and set up a League Cup semi-final against Liverpool, staying on track for their first trophy since 2008.

The home side were cruising at 3-0 in the 54th minute of a captivating tie in London after two goals from Dominic Solanke and one from Dejan Kulusevski.

But Forster's mistakes allowed substitutes Joshua Zirkzee and Amad Diallo to pull the score back to 3-2 with 20 minutes to go.

It was one-way traffic after that, with United totally on top, but Spurs scored a fourth as Son Heung-min found the net from a corner and they held on despite a late Jonny Evans goal.

Tottenham will face Premier League leaders Liverpool in the two-legged semi-finals, with Arsenal taking on Newcastle.

Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou said his injury-hit team inflicted pain on themselves but gave a passionate defence of his gung-ho approach.

"It should have been a lot more comfortable there, but having said that, I still can't get away from the fact that this group of players have done an unbelievable job at the moment to get us through this," he said.

The Australian added: "I know people will say, "Well, don't take any risks' and all that sort of stuff, but we wouldn't be scoring four goals and five goals.

"It's the hardest thing in the game to do, score goals, and we're doing it with bare bones."

Tottenham, 10th in the Premier League, have not won silverware for 16 years, when they lifted the League Cup under Juande Ramos.

But they are now just one stage away from a Wembley final in March, with Postecoglou still on track to deliver on his bold statement that he always wins a trophy in his second season at a club.

New United boss Ruben Amorim is back down to earth with a bump after his side's dramatic 2-1 Premier League win at Manchester City on Sunday.

Amorim made five changes from the team that beat City while Spurs had six academy players on their bench.

Marcus Rashford was left out of United's squad for the second consecutive game but Alejandro Garnacho, also absent on Sunday, was on the bench and came on as a second-half substitute.

<h2>Solanke double</h2>

Tottenham opened the scoring in the 15th minute when Solanke reacted quickest after United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir, in for Andre Onana, parried a shot from distance into his path.

Kulusevski doubled Tottenham's lead moments after the restart, finishing unerringly when Lisandro Martinez failed to deal with a James Maddison&nbsp;cut-back, only succeeding in diverting the ball into the Sweden international's path.

Spurs were 3-0 up when Solanke&nbsp;ran onto a long ball over the top, drifting inside Martinez and Evans and finishing with confidence.

But control turned to chaos just after the hour mark following some incredible goalkeeping errors from Forster, deputising for the injured Guglielmo Vicario.

Forster, being closed down by Zirkzee, passed straight to Bruno Fernandes, whose ball found Zirkzee and the Dutchman slotted the ball into an empty net in the 63rd minute.

Minutes later United scored again when Forster dithered after receiving a back pass.

Diallo closed him down in a flash and slid in as Forster tried to clear, with the ball hitting Diallo and ending up in the net.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/mathias-french-footballer-paul-pogbas-brother-sentenced-in-extortion-case-785366">Mathias, French footballer Paul Pogba’s brother, sentenced in extortion case</a>

United had further chances but instead Son gave Tottenham a cushion in the 88th minute.

Even then United had time to find another, with Evans heading in from a corner, but they ran out of time.

"We were not the best team in all of the game, but most of the parts I think we were the best team," said Amorim.

"I think we disconnected for eight minutes. It was really hard to recover from that, but then the lads did a great job."

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.

Tottenham survived two calamitous errors from stand-in goalkeeper Fraser Forster on Thursday to beat Manchester United 4-3 and set up a League Cup semi-final against Liverpool, staying on track for their first trophy since 2008.

Tottenham survived two calamitous errors from stand-in goalkeeper Fraser Forster on Thursday to beat Manchester United 4-3 and set up a League Cup semi-final against Liverpool, staying on track for their first trophy since 2008. The home side were cruising at 3-0 in the 54th minute of a captivating tie in London after two goals from Dominic Solanke and one from Dejan Kulusevski. But Forster's mistakes allowed substitutes Joshua Zirkzee and Amad Diallo to pull the score back to 3-2 with 20 minutes to go. It was one-way traffic after that, with United totally on top, but Spurs scored a fourth as Son Heung-min found the net from a corner and they held on despite a late Jonny Evans goal. Tottenham will face Premier League leaders Liverpool in the two-legged semi-finals, with Arsenal taking on Newcastle. Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou said his injury-hit team inflicted pain on themselves but gave a passionate defence of his gung-ho approach. "It should have been a lot more comfortable there, but having said that, I still can't get away from the fact that this group of players have done an unbelievable job at the moment to get us through this," he said. The Australian added: "I know people will say, "Well, don't take any risks' and all that sort of stuff, but we wouldn't be scoring four goals and five goals. "It's the hardest thing in the game to do, score goals, and we're doing it with bare bones." Tottenham, 10th in the Premier League, have not won silverware for 16 years, when they lifted the League Cup under Juande Ramos. But they are now just one stage away from a Wembley final in March, with Postecoglou still on track to deliver on his bold statement that he always wins a trophy in his second season at a club. New United boss Ruben Amorim is back down to earth with a bump after his side's dramatic 2-1 Premier League win at Manchester City on Sunday. Amorim made five changes from the team that beat City while Spurs had six academy players on their bench. Marcus Rashford was left out of United's squad for the second consecutive game but Alejandro Garnacho, also absent on Sunday, was on the bench and came on as a second-half substitute. Solanke double Tottenham opened the scoring in the 15th minute when Solanke reacted quickest after United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir, in for Andre Onana, parried a shot from distance into his path. Kulusevski doubled Tottenham's lead moments after the restart, finishing unerringly when Lisandro Martinez failed to deal with a James Maddison cut-back, only succeeding in diverting the ball into the Sweden international's path. Spurs were 3-0 up when Solanke ran onto a long ball over the top, drifting inside Martinez and Evans and finishing with confidence. But control turned to chaos just after the hour mark following some incredible goalkeeping errors from Forster, deputising for the injured Guglielmo Vicario. Forster, being closed down by Zirkzee, passed straight to Bruno Fernandes, whose ball found Zirkzee and the Dutchman slotted the ball into an empty net in the 63rd minute. Minutes later United scored again when Forster dithered after receiving a back pass. Diallo closed him down in a flash and slid in as Forster tried to clear, with the ball hitting Diallo and ending up in the net. ALSO READ | Mathias, French footballer Paul Pogba’s brother, sentenced in extortion case United had further chances but instead Son gave Tottenham a cushion in the 88th minute. Even then United had time to find another, with Evans heading in from a corner, but they ran out of time. "We were not the best team in all of the game, but most of the parts I think we were the best team," said Amorim. "I think we disconnected for eight minutes. It was really hard to recover from that, but then the lads did a great job." 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.

Tottenham Hotspur survive Man Utd comeback to reach League Cup semi-finals

London, United Kingdom
Tottenham survived two calamitous errors from stand-in goalkeeper Fraser Forster on Thursday to beat Manchester United 4-3 and set up a League Cup semi-final against Liverpool, staying on track for their first trophy since 2008.
The home side were cruising at 3-0 in the 54th minute of a captivating tie in London after two goals from Dominic Solanke and one from Dejan Kulusevski.
But Forster's mistakes allowed substitutes Joshua Zirkzee and Amad Diallo to pull the score back to 3-2 with 20 minutes to go.
It was one-way traffic after that, with United totally on top, but Spurs scored a fourth as Son Heung-min found the net from a corner and they held on despite a late Jonny Evans goal.
Tottenham will face Premier League leaders Liverpool in the two-legged semi-finals, with Arsenal taking on Newcastle.
Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou said his injury-hit team inflicted pain on themselves but gave a passionate defence of his gung-ho approach.
"It should have been a lot more comfortable there, but having said that, I still can't get away from the fact that this group of players have done an unbelievable job at the moment to get us through this," he said.
The Australian added: "I know people will say, "Well, don't take any risks' and all that sort of stuff, but we wouldn't be scoring four goals and five goals.
"It's the hardest thing in the game to do, score goals, and we're doing it with bare bones."
Tottenham, 10th in the Premier League, have not won silverware for 16 years, when they lifted the League Cup under Juande Ramos.
But they are now just one stage away from a Wembley final in March, with Postecoglou still on track to deliver on his bold statement that he always wins a trophy in his second season at a club.
New United boss Ruben Amorim is back down to earth with a bump after his side's dramatic 2-1 Premier League win at Manchester City on Sunday.
Amorim made five changes from the team that beat City while Spurs had six academy players on their bench.
Marcus Rashford was left out of United's squad for the second consecutive game but Alejandro Garnacho, also absent on Sunday, was on the bench and came on as a second-half substitute.
<h2>Solanke double</h2>
Tottenham opened the scoring in the 15th minute when Solanke reacted quickest after United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir, in for Andre Onana, parried a shot from distance into his path.
Kulusevski doubled Tottenham's lead moments after the restart, finishing unerringly when Lisandro Martinez failed to deal with a James Maddison cut-back, only succeeding in diverting the ball into the Sweden international's path.
Spurs were 3-0 up when Solanke ran onto a long ball over the top, drifting inside Martinez and Evans and finishing with confidence.
But control turned to chaos just after the hour mark following some incredible goalkeeping errors from Forster, deputising for the injured Guglielmo Vicario.
Forster, being closed down by Zirkzee, passed straight to Bruno Fernandes, whose ball found Zirkzee and the Dutchman slotted the ball into an empty net in the 63rd minute.
Minutes later United scored again when Forster dithered after receiving a back pass.
Diallo closed him down in a flash and slid in as Forster tried to clear, with the ball hitting Diallo and ending up in the net.
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/mathias-french-footballer-paul-pogbas-brother-sentenced-in-extortion-case-785366">Mathias, French footballer Paul Pogba’s brother, sentenced in extortion case</a>
United had further chances but instead Son gave Tottenham a cushion in the 88th minute.
Even then United had time to find another, with Evans heading in from a corner, but they ran out of time.
"We were not the best team in all of the game, but most of the parts I think we were the best team," said Amorim.
"I think we disconnected for eight minutes. It was really hard to recover from that, but then the lads did a great job."
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.

The home side were cruising at 3-0 in the 54th minute of a captivating tie in London after two goals from Dominic Solanke and one from Dejan Kulusevski.



London, United Kingdom Tottenham survived two calamitous errors from stand-in goalkeeper Fraser Forster on Thursday to beat Manchester United 4-3 and set up a League Cup semi-final against Liverpool, staying on track for their first trophy since 2008. The home side were cruising at 3-0 in the 54th minute of a captivating tie in London after two goals from Dominic Solanke and one from Dejan Kulusevski. But Forster's mistakes allowed substitutes Joshua Zirkzee and Amad Diallo to pull the score back to 3-2 with 20 minutes to go. It was one-way traffic after that, with United totally on top, but Spurs scored a fourth as Son Heung-min found the net from a corner and they held on despite a late Jonny Evans goal. Tottenham will face Premier League leaders Liverpool in the two-legged semi-finals, with Arsenal taking on Newcastle. Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou said his injury-hit team inflicted pain on themselves but gave a passionate defence of his gung-ho approach. "It should have been a lot more comfortable there, but having said that, I still can't get away from the fact that this group of players have done an unbelievable job at the moment to get us through this," he said. The Australian added: "I know people will say, "Well, don't take any risks' and all that sort of stuff, but we wouldn't be scoring four goals and five goals. "It's the hardest thing in the game to do, score goals, and we're doing it with bare bones." Tottenham, 10th in the Premier League, have not won silverware for 16 years, when they lifted the League Cup under Juande Ramos. But they are now just one stage away from a Wembley final in March, with Postecoglou still on track to deliver on his bold statement that he always wins a trophy in his second season at a club. New United boss Ruben Amorim is back down to earth with a bump after his side's dramatic 2-1 Premier League win at Manchester City on Sunday. Amorim made five changes from the team that beat City while Spurs had six academy players on their bench. Marcus Rashford was left out of United's squad for the second consecutive game but Alejandro Garnacho, also absent on Sunday, was on the bench and came on as a second-half substitute. Solanke double Tottenham opened the scoring in the 15th minute when Solanke reacted quickest after United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir, in for Andre Onana, parried a shot from distance into his path. Kulusevski doubled Tottenham's lead moments after the restart, finishing unerringly when Lisandro Martinez failed to deal with a James Maddison cut-back, only succeeding in diverting the ball into the Sweden international's path. Spurs were 3-0 up when Solanke ran onto a long ball over the top, drifting inside Martinez and Evans and finishing with confidence. But control turned to chaos just after the hour mark following some incredible goalkeeping errors from Forster, deputising for the injured Guglielmo Vicario. Forster, being closed down by Zirkzee, passed straight to Bruno Fernandes, whose ball found Zirkzee and the Dutchman slotted the ball into an empty net in the 63rd minute. Minutes later United scored again when Forster dithered after receiving a back pass. Diallo closed him down in a flash and slid in as Forster tried to clear, with the ball hitting Diallo and ending up in the net. ALSO READ | Mathias, French footballer Paul Pogba’s brother, sentenced in extortion case United had further chances but instead Son gave Tottenham a cushion in the 88th minute. Even then United had time to find another, with Evans heading in from a corner, but they ran out of time. "We were not the best team in all of the game, but most of the parts I think we were the best team," said Amorim. "I think we disconnected for eight minutes. It was really hard to recover from that, but then the lads did a great job." 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.

Tottenham Hotspur captain Son Heung-min was seen in spectacular form on Thursday (Dec 19) evening after he scored a rare Olimpico goal in a 4-3 win over Manchester United in the League Cup. Playing at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the single-legged quarterfinal tie, Son scored his goal directly from a corner, setting the stage on fire. The win also helped Spurs reach the semifinals of the competition for the first time since the 2021-22 season.

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<h2>Son scores rare olimpico goal</h2>

With the score 3-2 in favour of the home side, Son took a corner at the famous North Stand with the crowd expecting him to deliver a neat ball in the six-yard penalty box. However, spectacularly, the South Korean’s neat delivery landed directly into the net and beat United goalkeeper Altay Bayındır, in the process of completing the Olimpico goal.

The goal is a rare event in football, adding another feather to Son’s impressive hat as he continues to flourish in North London.

Over the years, the Spurs captain has been renowned to score some spectacular goals with one of his goals also winning the Puskas Award for Best Goal of the Year in professional football. In December 2019, Son scored a solo goal while running almost 100 metres from his own penalty area against Burnley which saw him win the Puskas Award.

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<h2>Spurs to take on Liverpool in the League Cup semis</h2>

With Spurs already scheduled to face Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday, the two teams have also been paired up for the semis of the League Cup. Ange Postecoglou’s side will take on the Reds over two legs in January and February with a place in the final up for grabs. The competition is a perfect opportunity for the Lilywhites to end their 17-year drought for a senior trophy.

The North London side is still active in three competitions as they are also enjoying a good run in the Europa League while they will kick-off their FA Cup campaign in January against Tamworth.

Tottenham Hotspur captain Son Heung-min was seen in spectacular form on Thursday (Dec 19) evening after he scored a rare Olimpico goal in a 4-3 win over Manchester United in the League Cup.

Tottenham Hotspur captain Son Heung-min was seen in spectacular form on Thursday (Dec 19) evening after he scored a rare Olimpico goal in a 4-3 win over Manchester United in the League Cup. Playing at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the single-legged quarterfinal tie, Son scored his goal directly from a corner, setting the stage on fire. The win also helped Spurs reach the semifinals of the competition for the first time since the 2021-22 season. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tottenham Hotspur (@spursofficial) × Son scores rare olimpico goal With the score 3-2 in favour of the home side, Son took a corner at the famous North Stand with the crowd expecting him to deliver a neat ball in the six-yard penalty box. However, spectacularly, the South Korean’s neat delivery landed directly into the net and beat United goalkeeper Altay Bayındır, in the process of completing the Olimpico goal. The goal is a rare event in football, adding another feather to Son’s impressive hat as he continues to flourish in North London. Over the years, the Spurs captain has been renowned to score some spectacular goals with one of his goals also winning the Puskas Award for Best Goal of the Year in professional football. In December 2019, Son scored a solo goal while running almost 100 metres from his own penalty area against Burnley which saw him win the Puskas Award. ALSO READ | BGT 2024/25: Nathan McSweeney axed from Boxing Day Test; Sam Konstas roped in for Australia Spurs to take on Liverpool in the League Cup semis With Spurs already scheduled to face Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday, the two teams have also been paired up for the semis of the League Cup. Ange Postecoglou’s side will take on the Reds over two legs in January and February with a place in the final up for grabs. The competition is a perfect opportunity for the Lilywhites to end their 17-year drought for a senior trophy. The North London side is still active in three competitions as they are also enjoying a good run in the Europa League while they will kick-off their FA Cup campaign in January against Tamworth.

Berlin, Germany
Harry Kane is set to return to the Bayern Munich group before the Bundesliga leader's host RB Leipzig on Friday knowing anything but a win could mean they have little to show for a strong start under new coach Vincent Kompany. Bayern fell to their first league loss of the season 2-1 at Mainz last weekend and are now just four points clear of defending champions Bayer Leverkusen. 
Kane's return is good news for Munich, who have missed the England captain's creativity and goals. He had 20 goals and nine assists in 19 games in all competitions before tearing his hamstring in November. 
"I'm not going to say whether he will start the match or not, the last training session (Thursday) is important," said Kompany. "But if everything goes well, he will definitely have a role to play tomorrow (Friday)."
"Harry has this science of positioning close to the penalty area. He also helped us a lot in defensive work. He's one of the best in the world in the box -- that's where he makes the difference. There aren't many players who can do that."
Jamal Musiala has stepped up in Kane's absence, with four goals and an assist in all competitions, but the 21-year-old cannot be expected to shoulder the load alone. "It's always tough," Musiala said of Leipzig, adding, "We've had finals against them before and it's definitely a big game—we lost against them last season."
Musiala's 13 goals and five assists in all competitions rank just behind Kane, showing how important the Germany-born, England-raised midfielder is for Bayern.
Musiala, who switched international allegiances from England to Germany just after moving to Bayern, credits Kompany for helping him "go up a level this season".
Struggling to kick their title hangover early in the season, Xabi Alonso's Leverkusen have hit form, with seven straight wins in all competitions, including knocking Bayern out of the German Cup last 16 in Munich. 
A win will ensure a four-point buffer during the winter break. But Leipzig, who sit six points behind Bayern in fourth, have had the advantage over the German giants lately. 
Bayern have won just one of their past five games against Leipzig, including two defeats in Munich. 
Leverkusen face this season's quiet achievers Freiburg, who sit in fifth place ahead of Champions League sides Stuttgart and Borussia Dortmund. Third-placed Eintracht Frankfurt are winless in four after a blistering start to the season, but will look to get back on track against derby rivals Mainz. 
<h2>One to watch: Felix Nmecha (Borussia Dortmund)</h2>
A year and a half after arriving as Jude Bellingham's replacement, Felix Nmecha has established himself in the heart of Borussia Dortmund's midfield. 
After an injury-hit first year at the Westfalenstadion, where some asked if Dortmund had overpaid for the Hamburg-born Manchester City academy product, Nmecha has emerged as the perfect link between defence and attack. 
Calm on the ball and a goal threat, Nmecha's form has been rewarded with a return to Julian Nagelsmann's Germany squad.
The 24-year-old takes on his former club Wolfsburg on Sunday, with eighth-placed Dortmund just one point above their bottom-half-of-the-table opponents.
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<h2>Key stats</h2>
15-12th-placed Union Berlin have conceded 15 goals in 14 games. Only league leaders Bayern Munich, with 12, have conceded fewer. 
One in 18 - Wolfsburg have won just one of their past 18 league games against Borussia Dortmund dating back to 2015.
0 - Rock-bottom Bochum are the only side yet to win a game this season. 
<h2>Fixtures (all times 1430 GMT unless indicated)</h2>
Friday
Bayern Munich v RB Leipzig (1930)
Saturday
Stuttgart v St Pauli, Eintracht Frankfurt v Mainz, Holstein Kiel v Augsburg, Werder Bremen v Union Berlin, Hoffenheim v Borussia Moenchengladbach, Bayer Leverkusen v Freiburg (1730)
Sunday
Bochum v Heidenheim, Wolfsburg v Borussia Dortmund (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.

Kane's return is good news for Munich, who have missed the England captain's creativity and goals. He had 20 goals and nine assists in 19 games in all competitions before tearing his hamstring in November. 



Berlin, Germany Harry Kane is set to return to the Bayern Munich group before the Bundesliga leader's host RB Leipzig on Friday knowing anything but a win could mean they have little to show for a strong start under new coach Vincent Kompany. Bayern fell to their first league loss of the season 2-1 at Mainz last weekend and are now just four points clear of defending champions Bayer Leverkusen. Kane's return is good news for Munich, who have missed the England captain's creativity and goals. He had 20 goals and nine assists in 19 games in all competitions before tearing his hamstring in November. "I'm not going to say whether he will start the match or not, the last training session (Thursday) is important," said Kompany. "But if everything goes well, he will definitely have a role to play tomorrow (Friday)." "Harry has this science of positioning close to the penalty area. He also helped us a lot in defensive work. He's one of the best in the world in the box -- that's where he makes the difference. There aren't many players who can do that." Jamal Musiala has stepped up in Kane's absence, with four goals and an assist in all competitions, but the 21-year-old cannot be expected to shoulder the load alone. "It's always tough," Musiala said of Leipzig, adding, "We've had finals against them before and it's definitely a big game—we lost against them last season." Musiala's 13 goals and five assists in all competitions rank just behind Kane, showing how important the Germany-born, England-raised midfielder is for Bayern. Musiala, who switched international allegiances from England to Germany just after moving to Bayern, credits Kompany for helping him "go up a level this season". Struggling to kick their title hangover early in the season, Xabi Alonso's Leverkusen have hit form, with seven straight wins in all competitions, including knocking Bayern out of the German Cup last 16 in Munich. A win will ensure a four-point buffer during the winter break. But Leipzig, who sit six points behind Bayern in fourth, have had the advantage over the German giants lately. Bayern have won just one of their past five games against Leipzig, including two defeats in Munich. Leverkusen face this season's quiet achievers Freiburg, who sit in fifth place ahead of Champions League sides Stuttgart and Borussia Dortmund. Third-placed Eintracht Frankfurt are winless in four after a blistering start to the season, but will look to get back on track against derby rivals Mainz. One to watch: Felix Nmecha (Borussia Dortmund) A year and a half after arriving as Jude Bellingham's replacement, Felix Nmecha has established himself in the heart of Borussia Dortmund's midfield. After an injury-hit first year at the Westfalenstadion, where some asked if Dortmund had overpaid for the Hamburg-born Manchester City academy product, Nmecha has emerged as the perfect link between defence and attack. Calm on the ball and a goal threat, Nmecha's form has been rewarded with a return to Julian Nagelsmann's Germany squad. The 24-year-old takes on his former club Wolfsburg on Sunday, with eighth-placed Dortmund just one point above their bottom-half-of-the-table opponents. Also read: Sergio Perez parts ways with Red Bull after season of struggles Key stats 15-12th-placed Union Berlin have conceded 15 goals in 14 games. Only league leaders Bayern Munich, with 12, have conceded fewer. One in 18 - Wolfsburg have won just one of their past 18 league games against Borussia Dortmund dating back to 2015. 0 - Rock-bottom Bochum are the only side yet to win a game this season. Fixtures (all times 1430 GMT unless indicated) Friday Bayern Munich v RB Leipzig (1930) Saturday Stuttgart v St Pauli, Eintracht Frankfurt v Mainz, Holstein Kiel v Augsburg, Werder Bremen v Union Berlin, Hoffenheim v Borussia Moenchengladbach, Bayer Leverkusen v Freiburg (1730) Sunday Bochum v Heidenheim, Wolfsburg v Borussia Dortmund (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.

Harry Kane boost as Bayern Munich host RB Leipzig with title rivals in hot pursuit

Paris Saint-Germain came from behind to extend their unbeaten start to the Ligue 1 season with a 4-2 win away to Monaco on Wednesday but lost goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to a gruesome facial injury.

The bloodied Italy international was left requiring 10 staples after suffering lacerations to the right side of his face when he was caught by the studs of Monaco defender Wilfried Singo.

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"I don't know if the referee was badly positioned but VAR needed to intervene, you have to protect the players," said PSG captain Marquinhos.

"To not give a red in a situation like that, it's a big call."

Singo avoided any punishment for his clumsy but unintentional collision as Donnarumma was replaced by Matvey Safonov before Desire Doue gave PSG the lead with his first league goal for the reigning champions.

That came after Achraf Hakimi rattled the post with an intended cross, but Monaco hit back with two goals in seven second-half minutes.

Eliesse Ben Seghir converted a penalty awarded for a handball by Marquinhos to level.

Maghnes Akliouche then crossed for Breel Embolo to poke Monaco in front on the hour and put PSG's record 31-game unbeaten Ligue 1 away run in jeopardy.

Ousmane Dembele soon equalised and Goncalo Ramos headed in a corner shortly after coming on to swing the match back in PSG's favour.&nbsp;

Lee Kang-in's long-range effort was tipped onto the post by Monaco goalkeeper Philipp Koehn before home coach Adi Huetter was sent off for his reaction to a penalty appeal being turned down following a challenge on Embolo.

Dembele struck again deep into stoppage time to seal victory and signal his return to form after reports of tension with PSG coach Luis Enrique in recent weeks.

The result opens up a 10-point gap between PSG and their closest challengers Marseille and Monaco, the last team to beat the capital club away from the Parc des Princes in March 2023.&nbsp;

Luis Enrique's side go to Lens on Sunday in the last 64 of the French Cup in their final game of the year before a rematch with Monaco in the Champions Trophy in Doha on January 5.

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.

Paris Saint-Germain came from behind to extend their unbeaten start to the Ligue 1 season with a 4-2 win away to Monaco on Wednesday but lost goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to a gruesome facial injury.

Paris Saint-Germain came from behind to extend their unbeaten start to the Ligue 1 season with a 4-2 win away to Monaco on Wednesday but lost goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to a gruesome facial injury. The bloodied Italy international was left requiring 10 staples after suffering lacerations to the right side of his face when he was caught by the studs of Monaco defender Wilfried Singo. Also Read: Ruben Amorim admits wanting to work with Marcus Rashford after forward drops Manchester United exit hint "I don't know if the referee was badly positioned but VAR needed to intervene, you have to protect the players," said PSG captain Marquinhos. "To not give a red in a situation like that, it's a big call." Singo avoided any punishment for his clumsy but unintentional collision as Donnarumma was replaced by Matvey Safonov before Desire Doue gave PSG the lead with his first league goal for the reigning champions. That came after Achraf Hakimi rattled the post with an intended cross, but Monaco hit back with two goals in seven second-half minutes. Eliesse Ben Seghir converted a penalty awarded for a handball by Marquinhos to level. Maghnes Akliouche then crossed for Breel Embolo to poke Monaco in front on the hour and put PSG's record 31-game unbeaten Ligue 1 away run in jeopardy. Ousmane Dembele soon equalised and Goncalo Ramos headed in a corner shortly after coming on to swing the match back in PSG's favour. Lee Kang-in's long-range effort was tipped onto the post by Monaco goalkeeper Philipp Koehn before home coach Adi Huetter was sent off for his reaction to a penalty appeal being turned down following a challenge on Embolo. Dembele struck again deep into stoppage time to seal victory and signal his return to form after reports of tension with PSG coach Luis Enrique in recent weeks. The result opens up a 10-point gap between PSG and their closest challengers Marseille and Monaco, the last team to beat the capital club away from the Parc des Princes in March 2023. Luis Enrique's side go to Lens on Sunday in the last 64 of the French Cup in their final game of the year before a rematch with Monaco in the Champions Trophy in Doha on January 5. 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.

Ligue 1: Goalie Gianluigi Donnarumma suffers facial injury in PSG's thrilling win over Monaco

Paris
Paris Saint-Germain came from behind to extend their unbeaten start to the Ligue 1 season with a 4-2 win away to Monaco on Wednesday but lost goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to a gruesome facial injury.
The bloodied Italy international was left requiring 10 staples after suffering lacerations to the right side of his face when he was caught by the studs of Monaco defender Wilfried Singo.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ruben-amorim-admits-wanting-to-work-with-marcus-rashford-after-forward-drops-manchester-united-exit-hint-785014">Ruben Amorim admits wanting to work with Marcus Rashford after forward drops Manchester United exit hint</a>
"I don't know if the referee was badly positioned but VAR needed to intervene, you have to protect the players," said PSG captain Marquinhos.
"To not give a red in a situation like that, it's a big call."
Singo avoided any punishment for his clumsy but unintentional collision as Donnarumma was replaced by Matvey Safonov before Desire Doue gave PSG the lead with his first league goal for the reigning champions.
That came after Achraf Hakimi rattled the post with an intended cross, but Monaco hit back with two goals in seven second-half minutes.
Eliesse Ben Seghir converted a penalty awarded for a handball by Marquinhos to level.
Maghnes Akliouche then crossed for Breel Embolo to poke Monaco in front on the hour and put PSG's record 31-game unbeaten Ligue 1 away run in jeopardy.
Ousmane Dembele soon equalised and Goncalo Ramos headed in a corner shortly after coming on to swing the match back in PSG's favour. 
Lee Kang-in's long-range effort was tipped onto the post by Monaco goalkeeper Philipp Koehn before home coach Adi Huetter was sent off for his reaction to a penalty appeal being turned down following a challenge on Embolo.
Dembele struck again deep into stoppage time to seal victory and signal his return to form after reports of tension with PSG coach Luis Enrique in recent weeks.
The result opens up a 10-point gap between PSG and their closest challengers Marseille and Monaco, the last team to beat the capital club away from the Parc des Princes in March 2023. 
Luis Enrique's side go to Lens on Sunday in the last 64 of the French Cup in their final game of the year before a rematch with Monaco in the Champions Trophy in Doha on January 5.
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.

The bloodied Italy international was left requiring 10 staples after suffering lacerations to the right side of his face when he was caught by the studs of Monaco defender Wilfried Singo.



Paris Paris Saint-Germain came from behind to extend their unbeaten start to the Ligue 1 season with a 4-2 win away to Monaco on Wednesday but lost goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to a gruesome facial injury. The bloodied Italy international was left requiring 10 staples after suffering lacerations to the right side of his face when he was caught by the studs of Monaco defender Wilfried Singo. Also Read: Ruben Amorim admits wanting to work with Marcus Rashford after forward drops Manchester United exit hint "I don't know if the referee was badly positioned but VAR needed to intervene, you have to protect the players," said PSG captain Marquinhos. "To not give a red in a situation like that, it's a big call." Singo avoided any punishment for his clumsy but unintentional collision as Donnarumma was replaced by Matvey Safonov before Desire Doue gave PSG the lead with his first league goal for the reigning champions. That came after Achraf Hakimi rattled the post with an intended cross, but Monaco hit back with two goals in seven second-half minutes. Eliesse Ben Seghir converted a penalty awarded for a handball by Marquinhos to level. Maghnes Akliouche then crossed for Breel Embolo to poke Monaco in front on the hour and put PSG's record 31-game unbeaten Ligue 1 away run in jeopardy. Ousmane Dembele soon equalised and Goncalo Ramos headed in a corner shortly after coming on to swing the match back in PSG's favour. Lee Kang-in's long-range effort was tipped onto the post by Monaco goalkeeper Philipp Koehn before home coach Adi Huetter was sent off for his reaction to a penalty appeal being turned down following a challenge on Embolo. Dembele struck again deep into stoppage time to seal victory and signal his return to form after reports of tension with PSG coach Luis Enrique in recent weeks. The result opens up a 10-point gap between PSG and their closest challengers Marseille and Monaco, the last team to beat the capital club away from the Parc des Princes in March 2023. Luis Enrique's side go to Lens on Sunday in the last 64 of the French Cup in their final game of the year before a rematch with Monaco in the Champions Trophy in Doha on January 5. 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.

Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior both scored as Real Madrid cruised to a 3-0 victory over Mexican side Pachuca in the Intercontinental Cup final in Doha on Wednesday.

Mbappe opened the scoring in the 37th minute before Rodrygo doubled Madrid's lead early in the second half. Vinicius sealed a comfortable win for the Spanish and European champions with a late penalty.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ruben-amorim-admits-wanting-to-work-with-marcus-rashford-after-forward-drops-manchester-united-exit-hint-785014">Ruben Amorim admits wanting to work with Marcus Rashford after forward drops Manchester United exit hint</a>

France striker Mbappe returned to the Madrid line-up in Doha after missing Saturday's 3-3 draw with Rayo Vallecano due to a hamstring injury suffered in the Champions League win at Atalanta last week.

Mbappe swept in from close range to break the deadlock after brilliant play from Vinicius Junior, who won the FIFA Best men's player of the year award a day earlier after missing out on the Ballon d'Or.

Former West Brom and Newcastle forward Salomon Rondon led the attack for CONCACAF Champions Cup winners Pachuca, but they never truly looked capable of an upset and Rodrygo's fine curling strike from the edge of the area put Madrid in total control.

It was allowed to stand after the referee consulted the pitchside monitor even though Jude Bellingham was in an offside position and appeared to be interfering with the goalkeeper's line of vision.

Vinicius added a third from the penalty spot six minutes from time following another VAR review after Lucas Vazquez was chopped down in the Pachuca box.

"We knew that after a long trip and playing just one game it's hard. We struggled at the beginning, but we adapted well," Madrid midfielder Fede Valverde told Spanish television channel Telecinco.

<h2>'Anxious' Ancelotti makes more history</h2>

It is Madrid's second title of the season following their UEFA Super Cup triumph over Atalanta in August, a welcome boost after what coach Carlo Ancelotti admitted had been a difficult period.

"In this part of the season I was a bit anxious because I didn't like the team, honestly, but this will change in 2025 I'm sure," said Ancelotti.

"It's important for us to get to Christmas alive. If we think about the team after the defeat by Milan (in the Champions League on November 5), I think we've grown a lot and that gives us confidence for 2025."

Ancelotti won his 15th trophy as Madrid coach, moving him past Miguel Munoz for the most in the club's history.

"It's a nice moment. It's an honour for me. Madrid are the club that everybody wants to coach because they're the best club in the world," said Ancelotti.

"It's easier than winning them in other places because you have a great team and fanbase."

This was the first edition of the FIFA-backed Intercontinental Cup, which broadly maintains the previous format of the Club World Cup and features the six continental champions.

The latter is being expanded to include 32 teams in 2025 and will now be played every four years. A past version of the Intercontinental Cup ran from 1960 to 2004 involving the champions of Europe and South America.

Madrid won that competition three times and then lifted the Club World Cup on a record five occasions.

They are to due to play Pachuca again at next year's Club World Cup in the United States, as well as an Al Hilal team including Neymar, and Red Bull Salzburg.

Madrid host Sevilla in La Liga on Sunday in their final game of the year. They will return to the Middle East in early January for the four-team Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia.

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.

Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior both scored as Real Madrid cruised to a 3-0 victory over Mexican side Pachuca in the Intercontinental Cup final in Doha on Wednesday.

Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior both scored as Real Madrid cruised to a 3-0 victory over Mexican side Pachuca in the Intercontinental Cup final in Doha on Wednesday. Mbappe opened the scoring in the 37th minute before Rodrygo doubled Madrid's lead early in the second half. Vinicius sealed a comfortable win for the Spanish and European champions with a late penalty. Also Read: Ruben Amorim admits wanting to work with Marcus Rashford after forward drops Manchester United exit hint France striker Mbappe returned to the Madrid line-up in Doha after missing Saturday's 3-3 draw with Rayo Vallecano due to a hamstring injury suffered in the Champions League win at Atalanta last week. Mbappe swept in from close range to break the deadlock after brilliant play from Vinicius Junior, who won the FIFA Best men's player of the year award a day earlier after missing out on the Ballon d'Or. Former West Brom and Newcastle forward Salomon Rondon led the attack for CONCACAF Champions Cup winners Pachuca, but they never truly looked capable of an upset and Rodrygo's fine curling strike from the edge of the area put Madrid in total control. It was allowed to stand after the referee consulted the pitchside monitor even though Jude Bellingham was in an offside position and appeared to be interfering with the goalkeeper's line of vision. Vinicius added a third from the penalty spot six minutes from time following another VAR review after Lucas Vazquez was chopped down in the Pachuca box. "We knew that after a long trip and playing just one game it's hard. We struggled at the beginning, but we adapted well," Madrid midfielder Fede Valverde told Spanish television channel Telecinco. 'Anxious' Ancelotti makes more history It is Madrid's second title of the season following their UEFA Super Cup triumph over Atalanta in August, a welcome boost after what coach Carlo Ancelotti admitted had been a difficult period. "In this part of the season I was a bit anxious because I didn't like the team, honestly, but this will change in 2025 I'm sure," said Ancelotti. "It's important for us to get to Christmas alive. If we think about the team after the defeat by Milan (in the Champions League on November 5), I think we've grown a lot and that gives us confidence for 2025." Ancelotti won his 15th trophy as Madrid coach, moving him past Miguel Munoz for the most in the club's history. "It's a nice moment. It's an honour for me. Madrid are the club that everybody wants to coach because they're the best club in the world," said Ancelotti. "It's easier than winning them in other places because you have a great team and fanbase." This was the first edition of the FIFA-backed Intercontinental Cup, which broadly maintains the previous format of the Club World Cup and features the six continental champions. The latter is being expanded to include 32 teams in 2025 and will now be played every four years. A past version of the Intercontinental Cup ran from 1960 to 2004 involving the champions of Europe and South America. Madrid won that competition three times and then lifted the Club World Cup on a record five occasions. They are to due to play Pachuca again at next year's Club World Cup in the United States, as well as an Al Hilal team including Neymar, and Red Bull Salzburg. Madrid host Sevilla in La Liga on Sunday in their final game of the year. They will return to the Middle East in early January for the four-team Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia. 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.

Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr. score as Real Madrid beat Pachuca to win Intercontinental Cup

Doha
Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior both scored as Real Madrid cruised to a 3-0 victory over Mexican side Pachuca in the Intercontinental Cup final in Doha on Wednesday.
Mbappe opened the scoring in the 37th minute before Rodrygo doubled Madrid's lead early in the second half. Vinicius sealed a comfortable win for the Spanish and European champions with a late penalty.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ruben-amorim-admits-wanting-to-work-with-marcus-rashford-after-forward-drops-manchester-united-exit-hint-785014">Ruben Amorim admits wanting to work with Marcus Rashford after forward drops Manchester United exit hint</a>
France striker Mbappe returned to the Madrid line-up in Doha after missing Saturday's 3-3 draw with Rayo Vallecano due to a hamstring injury suffered in the Champions League win at Atalanta last week.
Mbappe swept in from close range to break the deadlock after brilliant play from Vinicius Junior, who won the FIFA Best men's player of the year award a day earlier after missing out on the Ballon d'Or.
Former West Brom and Newcastle forward Salomon Rondon led the attack for CONCACAF Champions Cup winners Pachuca, but they never truly looked capable of an upset and Rodrygo's fine curling strike from the edge of the area put Madrid in total control.
It was allowed to stand after the referee consulted the pitchside monitor even though Jude Bellingham was in an offside position and appeared to be interfering with the goalkeeper's line of vision.
Vinicius added a third from the penalty spot six minutes from time following another VAR review after Lucas Vazquez was chopped down in the Pachuca box.
"We knew that after a long trip and playing just one game it's hard. We struggled at the beginning, but we adapted well," Madrid midfielder Fede Valverde told Spanish television channel Telecinco.
<h2>'Anxious' Ancelotti makes more history</h2>
It is Madrid's second title of the season following their UEFA Super Cup triumph over Atalanta in August, a welcome boost after what coach Carlo Ancelotti admitted had been a difficult period.
"In this part of the season I was a bit anxious because I didn't like the team, honestly, but this will change in 2025 I'm sure," said Ancelotti.
"It's important for us to get to Christmas alive. If we think about the team after the defeat by Milan (in the Champions League on November 5), I think we've grown a lot and that gives us confidence for 2025."
Ancelotti won his 15th trophy as Madrid coach, moving him past Miguel Munoz for the most in the club's history.
"It's a nice moment. It's an honour for me. Madrid are the club that everybody wants to coach because they're the best club in the world," said Ancelotti.
"It's easier than winning them in other places because you have a great team and fanbase."
This was the first edition of the FIFA-backed Intercontinental Cup, which broadly maintains the previous format of the Club World Cup and features the six continental champions.
The latter is being expanded to include 32 teams in 2025 and will now be played every four years. A past version of the Intercontinental Cup ran from 1960 to 2004 involving the champions of Europe and South America.
Madrid won that competition three times and then lifted the Club World Cup on a record five occasions.
They are to due to play Pachuca again at next year's Club World Cup in the United States, as well as an Al Hilal team including Neymar, and Red Bull Salzburg.
Madrid host Sevilla in La Liga on Sunday in their final game of the year. They will return to the Middle East in early January for the four-team Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia.
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.

Mbappe opened the scoring in the 37th minute before Rodrygo doubled Madrid's lead early in the second half. Vinicius sealed a comfortable win for the Spanish and European champions with a late penalty.



Doha Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior both scored as Real Madrid cruised to a 3-0 victory over Mexican side Pachuca in the Intercontinental Cup final in Doha on Wednesday. Mbappe opened the scoring in the 37th minute before Rodrygo doubled Madrid's lead early in the second half. Vinicius sealed a comfortable win for the Spanish and European champions with a late penalty. Also Read: Ruben Amorim admits wanting to work with Marcus Rashford after forward drops Manchester United exit hint France striker Mbappe returned to the Madrid line-up in Doha after missing Saturday's 3-3 draw with Rayo Vallecano due to a hamstring injury suffered in the Champions League win at Atalanta last week. Mbappe swept in from close range to break the deadlock after brilliant play from Vinicius Junior, who won the FIFA Best men's player of the year award a day earlier after missing out on the Ballon d'Or. Former West Brom and Newcastle forward Salomon Rondon led the attack for CONCACAF Champions Cup winners Pachuca, but they never truly looked capable of an upset and Rodrygo's fine curling strike from the edge of the area put Madrid in total control. It was allowed to stand after the referee consulted the pitchside monitor even though Jude Bellingham was in an offside position and appeared to be interfering with the goalkeeper's line of vision. Vinicius added a third from the penalty spot six minutes from time following another VAR review after Lucas Vazquez was chopped down in the Pachuca box. "We knew that after a long trip and playing just one game it's hard. We struggled at the beginning, but we adapted well," Madrid midfielder Fede Valverde told Spanish television channel Telecinco. 'Anxious' Ancelotti makes more history It is Madrid's second title of the season following their UEFA Super Cup triumph over Atalanta in August, a welcome boost after what coach Carlo Ancelotti admitted had been a difficult period. "In this part of the season I was a bit anxious because I didn't like the team, honestly, but this will change in 2025 I'm sure," said Ancelotti. "It's important for us to get to Christmas alive. If we think about the team after the defeat by Milan (in the Champions League on November 5), I think we've grown a lot and that gives us confidence for 2025." Ancelotti won his 15th trophy as Madrid coach, moving him past Miguel Munoz for the most in the club's history. "It's a nice moment. It's an honour for me. Madrid are the club that everybody wants to coach because they're the best club in the world," said Ancelotti. "It's easier than winning them in other places because you have a great team and fanbase." This was the first edition of the FIFA-backed Intercontinental Cup, which broadly maintains the previous format of the Club World Cup and features the six continental champions. The latter is being expanded to include 32 teams in 2025 and will now be played every four years. A past version of the Intercontinental Cup ran from 1960 to 2004 involving the champions of Europe and South America. Madrid won that competition three times and then lifted the Club World Cup on a record five occasions. They are to due to play Pachuca again at next year's Club World Cup in the United States, as well as an Al Hilal team including Neymar, and Red Bull Salzburg. Madrid host Sevilla in La Liga on Sunday in their final game of the year. They will return to the Middle East in early January for the four-team Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia. 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.

Harry Kane is set to return to the Bayern Munich group before the Bundesliga leader's host RB Leipzig on Friday knowing anything but a win could mean they have little to show for a strong start under new coach Vincent Kompany. Bayern fell to their first league loss of the season 2-1 at Mainz last weekend and are now just four points clear of defending champions Bayer Leverkusen.&nbsp;

Kane's return is good news for Munich, who have missed the England captain's creativity and goals. He had 20 goals and nine assists in 19 games in all competitions before tearing his hamstring in November.&nbsp;

"I'm not going to say whether he will start the match or not, the last training session (Thursday) is important," said Kompany. "But if everything goes well, he will definitely have a role to play tomorrow (Friday)."

"Harry has this science of positioning close to the penalty area. He also helped us a lot in defensive work. He's one of the best in the world in the box -- that's where he makes the difference. There aren't many players who can do that."

Jamal Musiala has stepped up in Kane's absence, with four goals and an assist in all competitions, but the 21-year-old cannot be expected to shoulder the load alone. "It's always tough," Musiala said of Leipzig, adding, "We've had finals against them before and it's definitely a big game—we lost against them last season."

Musiala's 13 goals and five assists in all competitions rank&nbsp;just behind Kane, showing how important the Germany-born, England-raised midfielder is for Bayern.

Musiala, who switched international allegiances from England to Germany just after moving to Bayern, credits Kompany for helping him "go up a level this season".

Struggling to kick their title hangover early in the season, Xabi Alonso's Leverkusen have hit form, with seven straight wins in all competitions, including knocking Bayern out of the German Cup last 16 in Munich.&nbsp;

A win will ensure a four-point buffer during the winter break. But Leipzig, who sit six points behind Bayern in fourth, have had the advantage over the German giants lately.&nbsp;

Bayern have won just one of their past five games against Leipzig, including two defeats in Munich.&nbsp;

Leverkusen face this season's quiet achievers&nbsp;Freiburg, who sit in fifth place ahead of Champions League sides Stuttgart and Borussia Dortmund.&nbsp;Third-placed Eintracht Frankfurt are winless in four after a blistering start to the season, but will look to get back on track against derby rivals Mainz.&nbsp;

<h2>One to watch: Felix Nmecha (Borussia Dortmund)</h2>

A year and a half after arriving as Jude Bellingham's replacement, Felix Nmecha has established himself in the heart of Borussia Dortmund's midfield.&nbsp;

After an injury-hit first year at the Westfalenstadion, where some asked if Dortmund had overpaid for the Hamburg-born Manchester City academy product, Nmecha has emerged as the perfect link between defence and attack.&nbsp;

Calm on the ball and a goal threat, Nmecha's form has been rewarded with a return to Julian Nagelsmann's Germany squad.

The 24-year-old takes on his former club Wolfsburg on Sunday, with eighth-placed Dortmund just one point above their bottom-half-of-the-table opponents.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/formula-1/news-sergio-perez-parts-ways-with-red-bull-after-season-of-struggles-785181">Sergio Perez parts ways with Red Bull after season of struggles</a>

<h2>Key stats</h2>

15-12th-placed Union Berlin have conceded 15 goals in 14 games. Only league leaders Bayern Munich, with 12, have conceded fewer.&nbsp;

One in 18 - Wolfsburg have won just one of their past 18 league games against Borussia Dortmund dating back to 2015.

0 - Rock-bottom Bochum are the only side yet to win a game this season.&nbsp;

<h2>Fixtures (all times 1430 GMT unless indicated)</h2>

Friday

Bayern Munich v RB Leipzig (1930)

Saturday

Stuttgart v St Pauli, Eintracht Frankfurt v Mainz, Holstein Kiel v Augsburg, Werder Bremen v Union Berlin, Hoffenheim v Borussia Moenchengladbach, Bayer Leverkusen v Freiburg (1730)

Sunday

Bochum v Heidenheim, Wolfsburg v Borussia Dortmund (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.

Harry Kane is set to return to the Bayern Munich group before the Bundesliga leader's host RB Leipzig on Friday knowing anything but a win could mean they have little to show for a strong start under new coach Vincent Kompany.

Harry Kane is set to return to the Bayern Munich group before the Bundesliga leader's host RB Leipzig on Friday knowing anything but a win could mean they have little to show for a strong start under new coach Vincent Kompany. Bayern fell to their first league loss of the season 2-1 at Mainz last weekend and are now just four points clear of defending champions Bayer Leverkusen. Kane's return is good news for Munich, who have missed the England captain's creativity and goals. He had 20 goals and nine assists in 19 games in all competitions before tearing his hamstring in November. "I'm not going to say whether he will start the match or not, the last training session (Thursday) is important," said Kompany. "But if everything goes well, he will definitely have a role to play tomorrow (Friday)." "Harry has this science of positioning close to the penalty area. He also helped us a lot in defensive work. He's one of the best in the world in the box -- that's where he makes the difference. There aren't many players who can do that." Jamal Musiala has stepped up in Kane's absence, with four goals and an assist in all competitions, but the 21-year-old cannot be expected to shoulder the load alone. "It's always tough," Musiala said of Leipzig, adding, "We've had finals against them before and it's definitely a big game—we lost against them last season." Musiala's 13 goals and five assists in all competitions rank just behind Kane, showing how important the Germany-born, England-raised midfielder is for Bayern. Musiala, who switched international allegiances from England to Germany just after moving to Bayern, credits Kompany for helping him "go up a level this season". Struggling to kick their title hangover early in the season, Xabi Alonso's Leverkusen have hit form, with seven straight wins in all competitions, including knocking Bayern out of the German Cup last 16 in Munich. A win will ensure a four-point buffer during the winter break. But Leipzig, who sit six points behind Bayern in fourth, have had the advantage over the German giants lately. Bayern have won just one of their past five games against Leipzig, including two defeats in Munich. Leverkusen face this season's quiet achievers Freiburg, who sit in fifth place ahead of Champions League sides Stuttgart and Borussia Dortmund. Third-placed Eintracht Frankfurt are winless in four after a blistering start to the season, but will look to get back on track against derby rivals Mainz. One to watch: Felix Nmecha (Borussia Dortmund) A year and a half after arriving as Jude Bellingham's replacement, Felix Nmecha has established himself in the heart of Borussia Dortmund's midfield. After an injury-hit first year at the Westfalenstadion, where some asked if Dortmund had overpaid for the Hamburg-born Manchester City academy product, Nmecha has emerged as the perfect link between defence and attack. Calm on the ball and a goal threat, Nmecha's form has been rewarded with a return to Julian Nagelsmann's Germany squad. The 24-year-old takes on his former club Wolfsburg on Sunday, with eighth-placed Dortmund just one point above their bottom-half-of-the-table opponents. Also read: Sergio Perez parts ways with Red Bull after season of struggles Key stats 15-12th-placed Union Berlin have conceded 15 goals in 14 games. Only league leaders Bayern Munich, with 12, have conceded fewer. One in 18 - Wolfsburg have won just one of their past 18 league games against Borussia Dortmund dating back to 2015. 0 - Rock-bottom Bochum are the only side yet to win a game this season. Fixtures (all times 1430 GMT unless indicated) Friday Bayern Munich v RB Leipzig (1930) Saturday Stuttgart v St Pauli, Eintracht Frankfurt v Mainz, Holstein Kiel v Augsburg, Werder Bremen v Union Berlin, Hoffenheim v Borussia Moenchengladbach, Bayer Leverkusen v Freiburg (1730) Sunday Bochum v Heidenheim, Wolfsburg v Borussia Dortmund (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.

Holders Juventus progressed to the quarter-finals of the Italian Cup with a 4-0 win at home to Cagliari on Tuesday.

Dusan Vlahovic slotted home a first-half opener, before Teun Koopmeiners wrapped up the last-16 tie for the 15-time winners with a sensational free-kick from distance.

Francisco Conceicao and Nico Gonzalez netted late to underline an emphatic performance by the Old Lady.

"It was a good performance," Juve coach Thiago Motta told Canale 5.

"These lads are going through a tough situation in the right way, giving their all in every training session," he added of his players who have endured a stop-start domestic campaign as they sit sixth in the league table.

Juve join Lazio, Empoli, Bologna and AC Milan in the next stage of the cup.

Serie A leaders Atalanta are in action on Wednesday against Cesena, while Roma take on Sampdoria.

Reigning Scudetto champions Inter Milan complete the round of 16 when they host Udinese on Thursday.

In Turin, Vlahovic put the home side in front one minute before half-time when he swivelled smartly on a pass to feet from Kenan Yildiz and rolled the ball into the far corner.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/super-league-promoters-reveal-approaching-fifa-uefa-for-official-recognition-784749">Super League promoters reveal approaching FIFA, UEFA for official recognition</a>

Summer signing Koopmeiners then notched up his second goal for Juve with an unstoppable left-footed free-kick from 25 metres out in the 53rd minute.

Vlahovic had the ball in the net twice more for Juve as they pressed forward in search of a third, but was on both occasions denied by the assistant's flag for offside.

Conceicao eventually made it three on 80 minutes with a whipped finish after cutting in from the right flank and Gonzalez chipped home a fourth with one minute remaining.

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.

Holders Juventus progressed to the quarter-finals of the Italian Cup with a 4-0 win at home to Cagliari on Tuesday. Dusan Vlahovic slotted home a first-half opener, before Teun Koopmeiners wrapped up the last-16 tie for the 15-time winners with a sensational free-kick from distance.

Holders Juventus progressed to the quarter-finals of the Italian Cup with a 4-0 win at home to Cagliari on Tuesday. Dusan Vlahovic slotted home a first-half opener, before Teun Koopmeiners wrapped up the last-16 tie for the 15-time winners with a sensational free-kick from distance. Francisco Conceicao and Nico Gonzalez netted late to underline an emphatic performance by the Old Lady. "It was a good performance," Juve coach Thiago Motta told Canale 5. "These lads are going through a tough situation in the right way, giving their all in every training session," he added of his players who have endured a stop-start domestic campaign as they sit sixth in the league table. Juve join Lazio, Empoli, Bologna and AC Milan in the next stage of the cup. Serie A leaders Atalanta are in action on Wednesday against Cesena, while Roma take on Sampdoria. Reigning Scudetto champions Inter Milan complete the round of 16 when they host Udinese on Thursday. In Turin, Vlahovic put the home side in front one minute before half-time when he swivelled smartly on a pass to feet from Kenan Yildiz and rolled the ball into the far corner. ALSO READ | Super League promoters reveal approaching FIFA, UEFA for official recognition Summer signing Koopmeiners then notched up his second goal for Juve with an unstoppable left-footed free-kick from 25 metres out in the 53rd minute. Vlahovic had the ball in the net twice more for Juve as they pressed forward in search of a third, but was on both occasions denied by the assistant's flag for offside. Conceicao eventually made it three on 80 minutes with a whipped finish after cutting in from the right flank and Gonzalez chipped home a fourth with one minute remaining. 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.

Copa Italia: Teun Koopmeiners stunner sends Juventus into quarters

Milan, Italy
Holders Juventus progressed to the quarter-finals of the Italian Cup with a 4-0 win at home to Cagliari on Tuesday.
Dusan Vlahovic slotted home a first-half opener, before Teun Koopmeiners wrapped up the last-16 tie for the 15-time winners with a sensational free-kick from distance.
Francisco Conceicao and Nico Gonzalez netted late to underline an emphatic performance by the Old Lady.
"It was a good performance," Juve coach Thiago Motta told Canale 5.
"These lads are going through a tough situation in the right way, giving their all in every training session," he added of his players who have endured a stop-start domestic campaign as they sit sixth in the league table.
Juve join Lazio, Empoli, Bologna and AC Milan in the next stage of the cup.
Serie A leaders Atalanta are in action on Wednesday against Cesena, while Roma take on Sampdoria.
Reigning Scudetto champions Inter Milan complete the round of 16 when they host Udinese on Thursday.
In Turin, Vlahovic put the home side in front one minute before half-time when he swivelled smartly on a pass to feet from Kenan Yildiz and rolled the ball into the far corner.
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/super-league-promoters-reveal-approaching-fifa-uefa-for-official-recognition-784749">Super League promoters reveal approaching FIFA, UEFA for official recognition</a>
Summer signing Koopmeiners then notched up his second goal for Juve with an unstoppable left-footed free-kick from 25 metres out in the 53rd minute.
Vlahovic had the ball in the net twice more for Juve as they pressed forward in search of a third, but was on both occasions denied by the assistant's flag for offside.
Conceicao eventually made it three on 80 minutes with a whipped finish after cutting in from the right flank and Gonzalez chipped home a fourth with one minute remaining.
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.

Dusan Vlahovic slotted home a first-half opener, before Teun Koopmeiners wrapped up the last-16 tie for the 15-time winners with a sensational free-kick from distance.



Milan, Italy Holders Juventus progressed to the quarter-finals of the Italian Cup with a 4-0 win at home to Cagliari on Tuesday. Dusan Vlahovic slotted home a first-half opener, before Teun Koopmeiners wrapped up the last-16 tie for the 15-time winners with a sensational free-kick from distance. Francisco Conceicao and Nico Gonzalez netted late to underline an emphatic performance by the Old Lady. "It was a good performance," Juve coach Thiago Motta told Canale 5. "These lads are going through a tough situation in the right way, giving their all in every training session," he added of his players who have endured a stop-start domestic campaign as they sit sixth in the league table. Juve join Lazio, Empoli, Bologna and AC Milan in the next stage of the cup. Serie A leaders Atalanta are in action on Wednesday against Cesena, while Roma take on Sampdoria. Reigning Scudetto champions Inter Milan complete the round of 16 when they host Udinese on Thursday. In Turin, Vlahovic put the home side in front one minute before half-time when he swivelled smartly on a pass to feet from Kenan Yildiz and rolled the ball into the far corner. ALSO READ | Super League promoters reveal approaching FIFA, UEFA for official recognition Summer signing Koopmeiners then notched up his second goal for Juve with an unstoppable left-footed free-kick from 25 metres out in the 53rd minute. Vlahovic had the ball in the net twice more for Juve as they pressed forward in search of a third, but was on both occasions denied by the assistant's flag for offside. Conceicao eventually made it three on 80 minutes with a whipped finish after cutting in from the right flank and Gonzalez chipped home a fourth with one minute remaining. 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.

Real Madrid attacker Vinicius Junior won the FIFA Best men's player of the year award at a ceremony in Doha on Tuesday, while Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmati picked up the women's prize for the second time.

The award comes two months after 24-year-old Vinicius was second in the Ballon d'Or, with Real electing to snub the ceremony when they found out beforehand that Manchester City midfielder Rodri was set to win the trophy.

But the Brazilian was this time on hand to collect the prize in person as he is in Qatar with his club ahead of their Intercontinental Cup final clash with Mexico's Pachuca on Wednesday.

"Thank you very much. I don't know where to start. It was impossible to think of getting here. I grew up in a world of poverty, of organised crime. It's for all the children who grow up in that world. I thank everyone who voted for me," Vinicius said on stage.

"(Thank you) To my family, to the club, to my teammates, to Carletto (Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti), who always helps me.&nbsp;

"To everyone who helped make my dream come true. I hope to be at Madrid for many years, because it is the best club in the world. To Flamengo (his first club in Brazil). To my team-mates in my national team. And to my country, which always supports me in my work."

Vinicius succeeds Lionel Messi as the FIFA Best men's player after the Argentinian scooped up the last two editions of the award.

The live wire forward scored 24 goals and laid on 11 assists in 39 matches across all competitions as he led Real to a La Liga and Champions League double last season.

Having already wrapped up his third La Liga title in May, Vinicius secured the second Champions League trophy of his career as Real beat Borussia Dortmund 2-0 on June 1.

Vinicius was on the scoresheet at Wembley with a pinpoint finish inside the final 10 minutes to make the game safe for his team.

If Vinicius at times played second fiddle to clubmate Jude Bellingham in La Liga, he was undoubtedly the main man for Madrid in Europe once the going got serious.

He was the top scorer for the Champions League winners with six goals in the competition, including the strike in the final and a brace in Madrid's 4-3 aggregate win over Bayern Munich in the semi-finals.

He also scored a hat-trick in a 4-1 victory in the final of the Supercopa against arch-rivals Barcelona in January.

But it was not all plain sailing last season for Vinicius as he endured a disappointing Copa America with the Brazilian national team over the summer.

He scored two goals in a group-stage win against Paraguay, but his side ultimately crashed out on penalties to Uruguay in the quarter-finals.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/super-league-promoters-reveal-approaching-fifa-uefa-for-official-recognition-784749">Super League promoters reveal approaching FIFA, UEFA for official recognition</a>

<h2>Serial winner Bonmati</h2>

The 26-year-old Spaniard Bonmati picked up the Best women's player award for the second year running, adding to the two Ballon d'Or trophies she already boasts.

"I'm grateful, I'm proud to receive this award," Bonmati said via video link from Barcelona's Olympic stadium.

Last term, Bonmati led Barcelona to a historic continental quadruple of titles and claimed the Nations League with her national team.

She won every trophy available to her in club football in 2023/24 -- the Spanish league, the Copa de la Reina, the Supercopa de Espana and a second-successive Women's Champions League.

Bonmati scored a goal and put in a player-of-the-match performance as Barcelona beat Lyon 2-0 in the final of the Champions League to claim their third title in four seasons.

Manchester United's Argentine forward Alejandro Garnacho won the Puskas award for the best goal of the year for his spectacular bicycle kick against Everton in the Premier League.

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.

Real Madrid attacker Vinicius Junior won the FIFA Best men's player of the year award at a ceremony in Doha on Tuesday, while Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmati picked up the women's prize for the second time.

Real Madrid attacker Vinicius Junior won the FIFA Best men's player of the year award at a ceremony in Doha on Tuesday, while Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmati picked up the women's prize for the second time. The award comes two months after 24-year-old Vinicius was second in the Ballon d'Or, with Real electing to snub the ceremony when they found out beforehand that Manchester City midfielder Rodri was set to win the trophy. But the Brazilian was this time on hand to collect the prize in person as he is in Qatar with his club ahead of their Intercontinental Cup final clash with Mexico's Pachuca on Wednesday. "Thank you very much. I don't know where to start. It was impossible to think of getting here. I grew up in a world of poverty, of organised crime. It's for all the children who grow up in that world. I thank everyone who voted for me," Vinicius said on stage. "(Thank you) To my family, to the club, to my teammates, to Carletto (Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti), who always helps me. "To everyone who helped make my dream come true. I hope to be at Madrid for many years, because it is the best club in the world. To Flamengo (his first club in Brazil). To my team-mates in my national team. And to my country, which always supports me in my work." Vinicius succeeds Lionel Messi as the FIFA Best men's player after the Argentinian scooped up the last two editions of the award. The live wire forward scored 24 goals and laid on 11 assists in 39 matches across all competitions as he led Real to a La Liga and Champions League double last season. Having already wrapped up his third La Liga title in May, Vinicius secured the second Champions League trophy of his career as Real beat Borussia Dortmund 2-0 on June 1. Vinicius was on the scoresheet at Wembley with a pinpoint finish inside the final 10 minutes to make the game safe for his team. If Vinicius at times played second fiddle to clubmate Jude Bellingham in La Liga, he was undoubtedly the main man for Madrid in Europe once the going got serious. He was the top scorer for the Champions League winners with six goals in the competition, including the strike in the final and a brace in Madrid's 4-3 aggregate win over Bayern Munich in the semi-finals. He also scored a hat-trick in a 4-1 victory in the final of the Supercopa against arch-rivals Barcelona in January. But it was not all plain sailing last season for Vinicius as he endured a disappointing Copa America with the Brazilian national team over the summer. He scored two goals in a group-stage win against Paraguay, but his side ultimately crashed out on penalties to Uruguay in the quarter-finals. ALSO READ | Super League promoters reveal approaching FIFA, UEFA for official recognition Serial winner Bonmati The 26-year-old Spaniard Bonmati picked up the Best women's player award for the second year running, adding to the two Ballon d'Or trophies she already boasts. "I'm grateful, I'm proud to receive this award," Bonmati said via video link from Barcelona's Olympic stadium. Last term, Bonmati led Barcelona to a historic continental quadruple of titles and claimed the Nations League with her national team. She won every trophy available to her in club football in 2023/24 -- the Spanish league, the Copa de la Reina, the Supercopa de Espana and a second-successive Women's Champions League. Bonmati scored a goal and put in a player-of-the-match performance as Barcelona beat Lyon 2-0 in the final of the Champions League to claim their third title in four seasons. Manchester United's Argentine forward Alejandro Garnacho won the Puskas award for the best goal of the year for his spectacular bicycle kick against Everton in the Premier League. 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.

Vinicius Jr, Aitana Bonmati named FIFA Best players of the year

Doha, Qatar
Real Madrid attacker Vinicius Junior won the FIFA Best men's player of the year award at a ceremony in Doha on Tuesday, while Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmati picked up the women's prize for the second time.
The award comes two months after 24-year-old Vinicius was second in the Ballon d'Or, with Real electing to snub the ceremony when they found out beforehand that Manchester City midfielder Rodri was set to win the trophy.
But the Brazilian was this time on hand to collect the prize in person as he is in Qatar with his club ahead of their Intercontinental Cup final clash with Mexico's Pachuca on Wednesday.
"Thank you very much. I don't know where to start. It was impossible to think of getting here. I grew up in a world of poverty, of organised crime. It's for all the children who grow up in that world. I thank everyone who voted for me," Vinicius said on stage.
"(Thank you) To my family, to the club, to my teammates, to Carletto (Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti), who always helps me. 
"To everyone who helped make my dream come true. I hope to be at Madrid for many years, because it is the best club in the world. To Flamengo (his first club in Brazil). To my team-mates in my national team. And to my country, which always supports me in my work."
Vinicius succeeds Lionel Messi as the FIFA Best men's player after the Argentinian scooped up the last two editions of the award.
The live wire forward scored 24 goals and laid on 11 assists in 39 matches across all competitions as he led Real to a La Liga and Champions League double last season.
Having already wrapped up his third La Liga title in May, Vinicius secured the second Champions League trophy of his career as Real beat Borussia Dortmund 2-0 on June 1.
Vinicius was on the scoresheet at Wembley with a pinpoint finish inside the final 10 minutes to make the game safe for his team.
If Vinicius at times played second fiddle to clubmate Jude Bellingham in La Liga, he was undoubtedly the main man for Madrid in Europe once the going got serious.
He was the top scorer for the Champions League winners with six goals in the competition, including the strike in the final and a brace in Madrid's 4-3 aggregate win over Bayern Munich in the semi-finals.
He also scored a hat-trick in a 4-1 victory in the final of the Supercopa against arch-rivals Barcelona in January.
But it was not all plain sailing last season for Vinicius as he endured a disappointing Copa America with the Brazilian national team over the summer.
He scored two goals in a group-stage win against Paraguay, but his side ultimately crashed out on penalties to Uruguay in the quarter-finals.
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/super-league-promoters-reveal-approaching-fifa-uefa-for-official-recognition-784749">Super League promoters reveal approaching FIFA, UEFA for official recognition</a>
<h2>Serial winner Bonmati</h2>
The 26-year-old Spaniard Bonmati picked up the Best women's player award for the second year running, adding to the two Ballon d'Or trophies she already boasts.
"I'm grateful, I'm proud to receive this award," Bonmati said via video link from Barcelona's Olympic stadium.
Last term, Bonmati led Barcelona to a historic continental quadruple of titles and claimed the Nations League with her national team.
She won every trophy available to her in club football in 2023/24 -- the Spanish league, the Copa de la Reina, the Supercopa de Espana and a second-successive Women's Champions League.
Bonmati scored a goal and put in a player-of-the-match performance as Barcelona beat Lyon 2-0 in the final of the Champions League to claim their third title in four seasons.
Manchester United's Argentine forward Alejandro Garnacho won the Puskas award for the best goal of the year for his spectacular bicycle kick against Everton in the Premier League.
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.

The award comes two months after 24-year-old Vinicius was second in the Ballon d'Or, with Real electing to snub the ceremony when they found out beforehand that Manchester City midfielder Rodri was set to win the trophy.



Doha, Qatar Real Madrid attacker Vinicius Junior won the FIFA Best men's player of the year award at a ceremony in Doha on Tuesday, while Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmati picked up the women's prize for the second time. The award comes two months after 24-year-old Vinicius was second in the Ballon d'Or, with Real electing to snub the ceremony when they found out beforehand that Manchester City midfielder Rodri was set to win the trophy. But the Brazilian was this time on hand to collect the prize in person as he is in Qatar with his club ahead of their Intercontinental Cup final clash with Mexico's Pachuca on Wednesday. "Thank you very much. I don't know where to start. It was impossible to think of getting here. I grew up in a world of poverty, of organised crime. It's for all the children who grow up in that world. I thank everyone who voted for me," Vinicius said on stage. "(Thank you) To my family, to the club, to my teammates, to Carletto (Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti), who always helps me. "To everyone who helped make my dream come true. I hope to be at Madrid for many years, because it is the best club in the world. To Flamengo (his first club in Brazil). To my team-mates in my national team. And to my country, which always supports me in my work." Vinicius succeeds Lionel Messi as the FIFA Best men's player after the Argentinian scooped up the last two editions of the award. The live wire forward scored 24 goals and laid on 11 assists in 39 matches across all competitions as he led Real to a La Liga and Champions League double last season. Having already wrapped up his third La Liga title in May, Vinicius secured the second Champions League trophy of his career as Real beat Borussia Dortmund 2-0 on June 1. Vinicius was on the scoresheet at Wembley with a pinpoint finish inside the final 10 minutes to make the game safe for his team. If Vinicius at times played second fiddle to clubmate Jude Bellingham in La Liga, he was undoubtedly the main man for Madrid in Europe once the going got serious. He was the top scorer for the Champions League winners with six goals in the competition, including the strike in the final and a brace in Madrid's 4-3 aggregate win over Bayern Munich in the semi-finals. He also scored a hat-trick in a 4-1 victory in the final of the Supercopa against arch-rivals Barcelona in January. But it was not all plain sailing last season for Vinicius as he endured a disappointing Copa America with the Brazilian national team over the summer. He scored two goals in a group-stage win against Paraguay, but his side ultimately crashed out on penalties to Uruguay in the quarter-finals. ALSO READ | Super League promoters reveal approaching FIFA, UEFA for official recognition Serial winner Bonmati The 26-year-old Spaniard Bonmati picked up the Best women's player award for the second year running, adding to the two Ballon d'Or trophies she already boasts. "I'm grateful, I'm proud to receive this award," Bonmati said via video link from Barcelona's Olympic stadium. Last term, Bonmati led Barcelona to a historic continental quadruple of titles and claimed the Nations League with her national team. She won every trophy available to her in club football in 2023/24 -- the Spanish league, the Copa de la Reina, the Supercopa de Espana and a second-successive Women's Champions League. Bonmati scored a goal and put in a player-of-the-match performance as Barcelona beat Lyon 2-0 in the final of the Champions League to claim their third title in four seasons. Manchester United's Argentine forward Alejandro Garnacho won the Puskas award for the best goal of the year for his spectacular bicycle kick against Everton in the Premier League. 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, United Kingdom
Arne Slot says he is not surprised that Liverpool are flying on all fronts just months after he replaced Jurgen Klopp as he prepares to rest some stars for their League Cup quarter-final against Southampton. The Reds are top of the Premier League and the Champions League, with 19 wins in 23 games in all competitions so far. Slot said at Tuesday's pre-match press conference that it was "normal for Liverpool to be fighting for every trophy and to be for a long time in every cup".
"This happened last season when this club won this competition," he said. "So I am not surprised that with the quality we have we are competing at this moment for these three trophies, and the fourth one (the FA Cup) is starting in January."
The Dutch manager, short of fit defenders, is set to rotate his players for Wednesday's tie as he plans for a trip to Tottenham in the Premier League at the weekend. He does not expect forward Diogo Jota, who scored as a substitute on his return from injury against Fulham, will be fit enough to start but Federico Chiesa could get some minutes for the first time since September.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fa-suspends-chelsea-forward-mykhailo-mudryk-over-failed-drug-test-784667">FA suspends Chelsea forward Mykhailo Mudryk over failed drug test</a>
Caoimhin Kelleher will be back in goal, having recently impressed while deputising for Alisson Becker during his lay-off, and defender Kostas Tsimikas is nearing a return. "I'm aware of the fact that we have only four defenders available and probably the ones that have started a lot of times will not play 90 minutes for sure and maybe not even at all," said Slot. "So it's going to be either academy players that are going to get playing time or it's going to be players that nobody would expect to see in the last line that are going to play in the last line tomorrow."
Slot must sit in the stands for Wednesday's match on the south coast after collecting a third booking of the season against Fulham. The former Feyenoord boss is calmer on the sidelines than the expressive Klopp but he admitted he has "fire" inside him.
"I don't always think you have to show it to have that fire," he said. "I think it's clear that if you work at a club like this or around the world at a top club you do have this fire inside you that you want to win every game."
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.

The Reds are top of the Premier League and the Champions League, with 19 wins in 23 games in all competitions so far. Slot said at Tuesday's pre-match press conference that it was "normal for Liverpool to be fighting for every trophy and to be for a long time in every cup".



Liverpool, United Kingdom Arne Slot says he is not surprised that Liverpool are flying on all fronts just months after he replaced Jurgen Klopp as he prepares to rest some stars for their League Cup quarter-final against Southampton. The Reds are top of the Premier League and the Champions League, with 19 wins in 23 games in all competitions so far. Slot said at Tuesday's pre-match press conference that it was "normal for Liverpool to be fighting for every trophy and to be for a long time in every cup". "This happened last season when this club won this competition," he said. "So I am not surprised that with the quality we have we are competing at this moment for these three trophies, and the fourth one (the FA Cup) is starting in January." The Dutch manager, short of fit defenders, is set to rotate his players for Wednesday's tie as he plans for a trip to Tottenham in the Premier League at the weekend. He does not expect forward Diogo Jota, who scored as a substitute on his return from injury against Fulham, will be fit enough to start but Federico Chiesa could get some minutes for the first time since September. Also read: FA suspends Chelsea forward Mykhailo Mudryk over failed drug test Caoimhin Kelleher will be back in goal, having recently impressed while deputising for Alisson Becker during his lay-off, and defender Kostas Tsimikas is nearing a return. "I'm aware of the fact that we have only four defenders available and probably the ones that have started a lot of times will not play 90 minutes for sure and maybe not even at all," said Slot. "So it's going to be either academy players that are going to get playing time or it's going to be players that nobody would expect to see in the last line that are going to play in the last line tomorrow." Slot must sit in the stands for Wednesday's match on the south coast after collecting a third booking of the season against Fulham. The former Feyenoord boss is calmer on the sidelines than the expressive Klopp but he admitted he has "fire" inside him. "I don't always think you have to show it to have that fire," he said. "I think it's clear that if you work at a club like this or around the world at a top club you do have this fire inside you that you want to win every game." 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.

Arne Slot set to rest some Liverpool stars for League Cup quarterfinal clash vs Southampton

Bournemouth's Enes Unal provided a dramatic climax to his side's 1-1 draw with West Ham on Monday as the Turkey forward's superb late free-kick cancelled out Lucas Paqueta's penalty.

Paqueta looked to have sealed West Ham's second successive Premier League victory when he converted from the spot with just three minutes left at the Vitality Stadium.

But Unal came to the Cherries' rescue three minutes later with only his second goal this season.

The 27-year-old's moment of magic extended Bournemouth's unbeaten run to four games as they climbed to sixth place.

Bournemouth have scored a league-high 10 goals in the final 15 minutes of games this season.&nbsp;

Two of those goals came in a remarkable 2-1 win at Ipswich in their previous game, with Unal also scoring Bournemouth's equaliser on that occasion.

"Enes scored an amazing goal. He's a specialist. But it's only one point. I'm very disappointed with the penalty," Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola said of the decision that went against his team for Tyler Adams' handball.

"It is a play we analysed at a meeting before the season. They (refereeing chiefs) said players don't need to defend with hands behind their back in an unnatural position.

"It didn't affect the direction of the cross. I don't care about the explanation now. It has cost us and I'm very disappointed."

West Ham have gone two games without defeat to ease a little of the pressure on boss Julen Lopetegui.

They remain in 14th place and sit seven points clear of the relegation zone.

"We suffered a little bit and overcame this to score, but it was an incredible goal from Unal. It's a pity," Lopetegui said.

"There are positives. This is the first step to be strong and a better team."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/we-cant-babysit-says-mumbai-captain-shreyas-iyer-about-former-dc-teammate-prithvi-shaw-784456">'We can't babysit...,' says Mumbai captain Shreyas Iyer about former DC teammate Prithvi Shaw</a>

<h2>Sting in the tale</h2>

Bournemouth have beaten Tottenham, Manchester City and Arsenal at home this season, so the under-fire Lopetegui might have feared the worst when Iraola's team made a strong start.

Antoine Semenyo was the catalyst for Bournemouth's first threat as he won a towering header before sprinting into the area to meet Evanilson's return pass with a low strike that glanced off the far post.&nbsp;

West Ham forward Jarrod Bowen scored the late winner when the sides last met in the League Cup in August and he nearly tormented Bournemouth again with a curler from the edge of the area that clanged off the crossbar.

Lopetegui's men were a threat on the counter and Carlos Soler whipped a shot narrowly wide before Tomas Soucek dragged a close-range effort just past the post.

Bournemouth's Dango Ouattara looked certain to break the deadlock when the ball fell to him just five yards from goal, but Lukasz Fabianski threw himself across to make a superb save with his legs.

Ouattara almost bent a long-range effort past Fabianski soon after the interval, while Ryan Christie's drive was tipped over by the Hammers 'keeper.

After Fabianski denied Philip Billing and pushed away Christie's follow-up, West Ham took the lead in the 87th minute.

Adams half-blocked Aaron Wan-Bissaka's cross with his out-stretched arm and referee Chris Kavanagh gave the penalty after consulting the pitchside monitor.

Paqueta took the spot-kick and calmly sent Kepa Arrizabalaga the wrong way with his stutter-step run-up.

But there was a sting in the tale in the 90th minute as Unal bagged a brilliant equaliser, looping an unstoppable free-kick into the top corner from 25 yards.

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.

Bournemouth's Enes Unal provided a dramatic climax to his side's 1-1 draw with West Ham on Monday as the Turkey forward's superb late free-kick cancelled out Lucas Paqueta's penalty.

Bournemouth's Enes Unal provided a dramatic climax to his side's 1-1 draw with West Ham on Monday as the Turkey forward's superb late free-kick cancelled out Lucas Paqueta's penalty. Paqueta looked to have sealed West Ham's second successive Premier League victory when he converted from the spot with just three minutes left at the Vitality Stadium. But Unal came to the Cherries' rescue three minutes later with only his second goal this season. The 27-year-old's moment of magic extended Bournemouth's unbeaten run to four games as they climbed to sixth place. Bournemouth have scored a league-high 10 goals in the final 15 minutes of games this season. Two of those goals came in a remarkable 2-1 win at Ipswich in their previous game, with Unal also scoring Bournemouth's equaliser on that occasion. "Enes scored an amazing goal. He's a specialist. But it's only one point. I'm very disappointed with the penalty," Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola said of the decision that went against his team for Tyler Adams' handball. "It is a play we analysed at a meeting before the season. They (refereeing chiefs) said players don't need to defend with hands behind their back in an unnatural position. "It didn't affect the direction of the cross. I don't care about the explanation now. It has cost us and I'm very disappointed." West Ham have gone two games without defeat to ease a little of the pressure on boss Julen Lopetegui. They remain in 14th place and sit seven points clear of the relegation zone. "We suffered a little bit and overcame this to score, but it was an incredible goal from Unal. It's a pity," Lopetegui said. "There are positives. This is the first step to be strong and a better team." ALSO READ | 'We can't babysit...,' says Mumbai captain Shreyas Iyer about former DC teammate Prithvi Shaw Sting in the tale Bournemouth have beaten Tottenham, Manchester City and Arsenal at home this season, so the under-fire Lopetegui might have feared the worst when Iraola's team made a strong start. Antoine Semenyo was the catalyst for Bournemouth's first threat as he won a towering header before sprinting into the area to meet Evanilson's return pass with a low strike that glanced off the far post. West Ham forward Jarrod Bowen scored the late winner when the sides last met in the League Cup in August and he nearly tormented Bournemouth again with a curler from the edge of the area that clanged off the crossbar. Lopetegui's men were a threat on the counter and Carlos Soler whipped a shot narrowly wide before Tomas Soucek dragged a close-range effort just past the post. Bournemouth's Dango Ouattara looked certain to break the deadlock when the ball fell to him just five yards from goal, but Lukasz Fabianski threw himself across to make a superb save with his legs. Ouattara almost bent a long-range effort past Fabianski soon after the interval, while Ryan Christie's drive was tipped over by the Hammers 'keeper. After Fabianski denied Philip Billing and pushed away Christie's follow-up, West Ham took the lead in the 87th minute. Adams half-blocked Aaron Wan-Bissaka's cross with his out-stretched arm and referee Chris Kavanagh gave the penalty after consulting the pitchside monitor. Paqueta took the spot-kick and calmly sent Kepa Arrizabalaga the wrong way with his stutter-step run-up. But there was a sting in the tale in the 90th minute as Unal bagged a brilliant equaliser, looping an unstoppable free-kick into the top corner from 25 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.

Premier League: Enes Unal's late stunner rescues Bournemouth in West Ham draw

Bournemouth, United Kingdom
Bournemouth's Enes Unal provided a dramatic climax to his side's 1-1 draw with West Ham on Monday as the Turkey forward's superb late free-kick cancelled out Lucas Paqueta's penalty.
Paqueta looked to have sealed West Ham's second successive Premier League victory when he converted from the spot with just three minutes left at the Vitality Stadium.
But Unal came to the Cherries' rescue three minutes later with only his second goal this season.
The 27-year-old's moment of magic extended Bournemouth's unbeaten run to four games as they climbed to sixth place.
Bournemouth have scored a league-high 10 goals in the final 15 minutes of games this season. 
Two of those goals came in a remarkable 2-1 win at Ipswich in their previous game, with Unal also scoring Bournemouth's equaliser on that occasion.
"Enes scored an amazing goal. He's a specialist. But it's only one point. I'm very disappointed with the penalty," Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola said of the decision that went against his team for Tyler Adams' handball.
"It is a play we analysed at a meeting before the season. They (refereeing chiefs) said players don't need to defend with hands behind their back in an unnatural position.
"It didn't affect the direction of the cross. I don't care about the explanation now. It has cost us and I'm very disappointed."
West Ham have gone two games without defeat to ease a little of the pressure on boss Julen Lopetegui.
They remain in 14th place and sit seven points clear of the relegation zone.
"We suffered a little bit and overcame this to score, but it was an incredible goal from Unal. It's a pity," Lopetegui said.
"There are positives. This is the first step to be strong and a better team."
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/we-cant-babysit-says-mumbai-captain-shreyas-iyer-about-former-dc-teammate-prithvi-shaw-784456">'We can't babysit...,' says Mumbai captain Shreyas Iyer about former DC teammate Prithvi Shaw</a>
<h2>Sting in the tale</h2>
Bournemouth have beaten Tottenham, Manchester City and Arsenal at home this season, so the under-fire Lopetegui might have feared the worst when Iraola's team made a strong start.
Antoine Semenyo was the catalyst for Bournemouth's first threat as he won a towering header before sprinting into the area to meet Evanilson's return pass with a low strike that glanced off the far post. 
West Ham forward Jarrod Bowen scored the late winner when the sides last met in the League Cup in August and he nearly tormented Bournemouth again with a curler from the edge of the area that clanged off the crossbar.
Lopetegui's men were a threat on the counter and Carlos Soler whipped a shot narrowly wide before Tomas Soucek dragged a close-range effort just past the post.
Bournemouth's Dango Ouattara looked certain to break the deadlock when the ball fell to him just five yards from goal, but Lukasz Fabianski threw himself across to make a superb save with his legs.
Ouattara almost bent a long-range effort past Fabianski soon after the interval, while Ryan Christie's drive was tipped over by the Hammers 'keeper.
After Fabianski denied Philip Billing and pushed away Christie's follow-up, West Ham took the lead in the 87th minute.
Adams half-blocked Aaron Wan-Bissaka's cross with his out-stretched arm and referee Chris Kavanagh gave the penalty after consulting the pitchside monitor.
Paqueta took the spot-kick and calmly sent Kepa Arrizabalaga the wrong way with his stutter-step run-up.
But there was a sting in the tale in the 90th minute as Unal bagged a brilliant equaliser, looping an unstoppable free-kick into the top corner from 25 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.

Lucas Paqueta looked to have sealed West Ham's second successive Premier League victory when he converted from the spot with just three minutes left at the Vitality Stadium.



Bournemouth, United Kingdom Bournemouth's Enes Unal provided a dramatic climax to his side's 1-1 draw with West Ham on Monday as the Turkey forward's superb late free-kick cancelled out Lucas Paqueta's penalty. Paqueta looked to have sealed West Ham's second successive Premier League victory when he converted from the spot with just three minutes left at the Vitality Stadium. But Unal came to the Cherries' rescue three minutes later with only his second goal this season. The 27-year-old's moment of magic extended Bournemouth's unbeaten run to four games as they climbed to sixth place. Bournemouth have scored a league-high 10 goals in the final 15 minutes of games this season. Two of those goals came in a remarkable 2-1 win at Ipswich in their previous game, with Unal also scoring Bournemouth's equaliser on that occasion. "Enes scored an amazing goal. He's a specialist. But it's only one point. I'm very disappointed with the penalty," Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola said of the decision that went against his team for Tyler Adams' handball. "It is a play we analysed at a meeting before the season. They (refereeing chiefs) said players don't need to defend with hands behind their back in an unnatural position. "It didn't affect the direction of the cross. I don't care about the explanation now. It has cost us and I'm very disappointed." West Ham have gone two games without defeat to ease a little of the pressure on boss Julen Lopetegui. They remain in 14th place and sit seven points clear of the relegation zone. "We suffered a little bit and overcame this to score, but it was an incredible goal from Unal. It's a pity," Lopetegui said. "There are positives. This is the first step to be strong and a better team." ALSO READ | 'We can't babysit...,' says Mumbai captain Shreyas Iyer about former DC teammate Prithvi Shaw Sting in the tale Bournemouth have beaten Tottenham, Manchester City and Arsenal at home this season, so the under-fire Lopetegui might have feared the worst when Iraola's team made a strong start. Antoine Semenyo was the catalyst for Bournemouth's first threat as he won a towering header before sprinting into the area to meet Evanilson's return pass with a low strike that glanced off the far post. West Ham forward Jarrod Bowen scored the late winner when the sides last met in the League Cup in August and he nearly tormented Bournemouth again with a curler from the edge of the area that clanged off the crossbar. Lopetegui's men were a threat on the counter and Carlos Soler whipped a shot narrowly wide before Tomas Soucek dragged a close-range effort just past the post. Bournemouth's Dango Ouattara looked certain to break the deadlock when the ball fell to him just five yards from goal, but Lukasz Fabianski threw himself across to make a superb save with his legs. Ouattara almost bent a long-range effort past Fabianski soon after the interval, while Ryan Christie's drive was tipped over by the Hammers 'keeper. After Fabianski denied Philip Billing and pushed away Christie's follow-up, West Ham took the lead in the 87th minute. Adams half-blocked Aaron Wan-Bissaka's cross with his out-stretched arm and referee Chris Kavanagh gave the penalty after consulting the pitchside monitor. Paqueta took the spot-kick and calmly sent Kepa Arrizabalaga the wrong way with his stutter-step run-up. But there was a sting in the tale in the 90th minute as Unal bagged a brilliant equaliser, looping an unstoppable free-kick into the top corner from 25 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.

Arne Slot says he is not surprised that Liverpool are flying on all fronts just months after he replaced Jurgen Klopp as he prepares to rest some stars for their League Cup quarter-final against Southampton. The Reds are top of the Premier League and the Champions League, with 19 wins in 23 games in all competitions so far. Slot said at Tuesday's pre-match press conference that it was "normal for Liverpool to be fighting for every trophy and to be for a long time in every cup".

"This happened last season when this club won this competition," he said. "So I am not surprised that with the quality we have we are competing at this moment for these three trophies, and the fourth one (the FA Cup) is starting in January."

The Dutch manager, short of fit defenders, is set to rotate his players for Wednesday's tie as he plans for a trip to Tottenham in the Premier League at the weekend. He does not expect forward Diogo Jota, who scored as a substitute on his return from injury against Fulham, will be fit enough to start but Federico Chiesa could get some minutes for the first time since September.

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Caoimhin Kelleher will be back in goal, having recently impressed while deputising for Alisson Becker during his lay-off, and defender Kostas Tsimikas is nearing a return. "I'm aware of the fact that we have only four defenders available and probably the ones that have started a lot of times will not play 90 minutes for sure and maybe not even at all," said Slot. "So it's going to be either academy players that are going to get playing time or it's going to be players that nobody would expect to see in the last line that are going to play in the last line tomorrow."

Slot must sit in the stands for Wednesday's match on the south coast after collecting a third booking of the season against Fulham. The former Feyenoord boss is calmer on the sidelines than the expressive Klopp but he admitted he has "fire" inside him.

"I don't always think you have to show it to have that fire," he said. "I think it's clear that if you work at a club like this or around the world at a top club you do have this fire inside you that you want to win every game."

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.

Arne Slot says he is not surprised that Liverpool are flying on all fronts just months after he replaced Jurgen Klopp as he prepares to rest some stars for their League Cup quarter-final against Southampton.

Arne Slot says he is not surprised that Liverpool are flying on all fronts just months after he replaced Jurgen Klopp as he prepares to rest some stars for their League Cup quarter-final against Southampton. The Reds are top of the Premier League and the Champions League, with 19 wins in 23 games in all competitions so far. Slot said at Tuesday's pre-match press conference that it was "normal for Liverpool to be fighting for every trophy and to be for a long time in every cup". "This happened last season when this club won this competition," he said. "So I am not surprised that with the quality we have we are competing at this moment for these three trophies, and the fourth one (the FA Cup) is starting in January." The Dutch manager, short of fit defenders, is set to rotate his players for Wednesday's tie as he plans for a trip to Tottenham in the Premier League at the weekend. He does not expect forward Diogo Jota, who scored as a substitute on his return from injury against Fulham, will be fit enough to start but Federico Chiesa could get some minutes for the first time since September. Also read: FA suspends Chelsea forward Mykhailo Mudryk over failed drug test Caoimhin Kelleher will be back in goal, having recently impressed while deputising for Alisson Becker during his lay-off, and defender Kostas Tsimikas is nearing a return. "I'm aware of the fact that we have only four defenders available and probably the ones that have started a lot of times will not play 90 minutes for sure and maybe not even at all," said Slot. "So it's going to be either academy players that are going to get playing time or it's going to be players that nobody would expect to see in the last line that are going to play in the last line tomorrow." Slot must sit in the stands for Wednesday's match on the south coast after collecting a third booking of the season against Fulham. The former Feyenoord boss is calmer on the sidelines than the expressive Klopp but he admitted he has "fire" inside him. "I don't always think you have to show it to have that fire," he said. "I think it's clear that if you work at a club like this or around the world at a top club you do have this fire inside you that you want to win every game." 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.

England
Phil Foden insists Manchester City's players still believe in Pep Guardiola despite the painful loss against Manchester United that extended their dismal streak.
Guardiola's side have lost eight of their past 11 games in all competitions following the devastating 2-1 defeat in the Manchester derby at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/nfl/news-buffalo-bills-go-past-detroit-lions-patrick-mahomes-injured-in-kansas-city-chiefs-win-vs-cleveland-browns-784303">Buffalo Bills go past Detroit Lions, Patrick Mahomes injured in Kansas City Chiefs win vs Cleveland Browns</a>
Unhinged by the kind of dismal defending that has become a regular feature of their stunning decline, City conceded twice in the closing minutes as United dealt another blow to the Premier League champions' fading hopes of a fifth successive title.
Fifth-placed City are trailing nine points behind leaders Liverpool, who have a game in hand, and have already suffered five league defeats this season -- after enduring just three in the whole of the last top-flight campaign.
Guardiola said after the game that he is "not good enough" as the worst crisis of his managerial career deepened.
But City forward Foden is adamant the Spaniard, who recently signed a new two-year contract, retains the support of his beleaguered squad.
"We are still nowhere near our level, but I still believe that we are playing good enough to get points and results," he said.
"It's about remaining focused throughout the full 90 minutes, but we keep switching off at important times. We just need to get the focus right.
"We stick together, regroup and believe in ourselves after what we've achieved in the past.
"We keep believing in the process and the manager -- I'm sure if we do that we will get back to winning ways and get back to our level."
City desperately need to find a winning formula ahead of Saturday's Premier League trip to Aston Villa.
Foden admitted he is baffled by City's remarkable fall from grace, with the damage to the team's morale clear to him in the dressing room after the derby defeat.
"I can't put a finger on what's going on," Foden said.
"I thought the performance was more than good enough to get the result, but we come out with no points, and it seems to be the same story at the moment. We just have to stick together.
"The changing room is obviously going to be down and sad at the moment, but we can't dwell on this too much."
After facing Villa, Guardiola's team host Everton on December 26 before visiting Leicester in their last game of 2024.
With the busy festive season looming, Foden urged his teammates to stick together.
"It's about keeping our mentality strong throughout the whole 90 minutes and we're not doing that at the moment," he said.
"We have to go again and show character to come back from this blip.
"It's not a time for moaning, it's about sticking together, remaining strong and going again. I'm positive we are going to come back."
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.

Unhinged by the kind of dismal defending that has become a regular feature of their stunning decline, City conceded twice in the closing minutes as United dealt another blow to the Premier League champions' fading hopes of a fifth successive title.



England Phil Foden insists Manchester City's players still believe in Pep Guardiola despite the painful loss against Manchester United that extended their dismal streak. Guardiola's side have lost eight of their past 11 games in all competitions following the devastating 2-1 defeat in the Manchester derby at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday. Also Read: Buffalo Bills go past Detroit Lions, Patrick Mahomes injured in Kansas City Chiefs win vs Cleveland Browns Unhinged by the kind of dismal defending that has become a regular feature of their stunning decline, City conceded twice in the closing minutes as United dealt another blow to the Premier League champions' fading hopes of a fifth successive title. Fifth-placed City are trailing nine points behind leaders Liverpool, who have a game in hand, and have already suffered five league defeats this season -- after enduring just three in the whole of the last top-flight campaign. Guardiola said after the game that he is "not good enough" as the worst crisis of his managerial career deepened. But City forward Foden is adamant the Spaniard, who recently signed a new two-year contract, retains the support of his beleaguered squad. "We are still nowhere near our level, but I still believe that we are playing good enough to get points and results," he said. "It's about remaining focused throughout the full 90 minutes, but we keep switching off at important times. We just need to get the focus right. "We stick together, regroup and believe in ourselves after what we've achieved in the past. "We keep believing in the process and the manager -- I'm sure if we do that we will get back to winning ways and get back to our level." City desperately need to find a winning formula ahead of Saturday's Premier League trip to Aston Villa. Foden admitted he is baffled by City's remarkable fall from grace, with the damage to the team's morale clear to him in the dressing room after the derby defeat. "I can't put a finger on what's going on," Foden said. "I thought the performance was more than good enough to get the result, but we come out with no points, and it seems to be the same story at the moment. We just have to stick together. "The changing room is obviously going to be down and sad at the moment, but we can't dwell on this too much." After facing Villa, Guardiola's team host Everton on December 26 before visiting Leicester in their last game of 2024. With the busy festive season looming, Foden urged his teammates to stick together. "It's about keeping our mentality strong throughout the whole 90 minutes and we're not doing that at the moment," he said. "We have to go again and show character to come back from this blip. "It's not a time for moaning, it's about sticking together, remaining strong and going again. I'm positive we are going to come back." 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.

'Nowhere near our level,' says Phil Foden amid Manchester City's stunning decline

Phil Foden insists Manchester City's players still believe in Pep Guardiola despite the painful loss against Manchester United that extended their dismal streak.

Guardiola's side have lost eight of their past 11 games in all competitions following the devastating 2-1 defeat in the Manchester derby at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/nfl/news-buffalo-bills-go-past-detroit-lions-patrick-mahomes-injured-in-kansas-city-chiefs-win-vs-cleveland-browns-784303">Buffalo Bills go past Detroit Lions, Patrick Mahomes injured in Kansas City Chiefs win vs Cleveland Browns</a>

Unhinged by the kind of dismal defending that has become a regular feature of their stunning decline, City conceded twice in the closing minutes as United dealt another blow to the Premier League champions' fading hopes of a fifth successive title.

Fifth-placed City are trailing nine points behind leaders Liverpool, who have a game in hand, and have already suffered five league defeats this season -- after enduring just three in the whole of the last top-flight campaign.

Guardiola said after the game that he is "not good enough" as the worst crisis of his managerial career deepened.

But City forward Foden is adamant the Spaniard, who recently signed a new two-year contract, retains the support of his beleaguered squad.

"We are still nowhere near our level, but I still believe that we are playing good enough to get points and results," he said.

"It's about remaining focused throughout the full 90 minutes, but we keep switching off at important times. We just need to get the focus right.

"We stick together, regroup and believe in ourselves after what we've achieved in the past.

"We keep believing in the process and the manager -- I'm sure if we do that we will get back to winning ways and get back to our level."

City desperately need to find a winning formula ahead of Saturday's Premier League trip to Aston Villa.

Foden admitted he is baffled by City's remarkable fall from grace, with the damage to the team's morale clear to him in the dressing room after the derby defeat.

"I can't put a finger on what's going on," Foden said.

"I thought the performance was more than good enough to get the result, but we come out with no points, and it seems to be the same story at the moment. We just have to stick together.

"The changing room is obviously going to be down and sad at the moment, but we can't dwell on this too much."

After facing Villa, Guardiola's team host Everton on December 26 before visiting Leicester in their last game of 2024.

With the busy festive season looming, Foden urged his teammates to stick together.

"It's about keeping our mentality strong throughout the whole 90 minutes and we're not doing that at the moment," he said.

"We have to go again and show character to come back from this blip.

"It's not a time for moaning, it's about sticking together, remaining strong and going again. I'm positive we are going to come back."

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.

Phil Foden insists Manchester City's players still believe in Pep Guardiola despite the painful loss against Manchester United that extended their dismal streak.

Phil Foden insists Manchester City's players still believe in Pep Guardiola despite the painful loss against Manchester United that extended their dismal streak. Guardiola's side have lost eight of their past 11 games in all competitions following the devastating 2-1 defeat in the Manchester derby at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday. Also Read: Buffalo Bills go past Detroit Lions, Patrick Mahomes injured in Kansas City Chiefs win vs Cleveland Browns Unhinged by the kind of dismal defending that has become a regular feature of their stunning decline, City conceded twice in the closing minutes as United dealt another blow to the Premier League champions' fading hopes of a fifth successive title. Fifth-placed City are trailing nine points behind leaders Liverpool, who have a game in hand, and have already suffered five league defeats this season -- after enduring just three in the whole of the last top-flight campaign. Guardiola said after the game that he is "not good enough" as the worst crisis of his managerial career deepened. But City forward Foden is adamant the Spaniard, who recently signed a new two-year contract, retains the support of his beleaguered squad. "We are still nowhere near our level, but I still believe that we are playing good enough to get points and results," he said. "It's about remaining focused throughout the full 90 minutes, but we keep switching off at important times. We just need to get the focus right. "We stick together, regroup and believe in ourselves after what we've achieved in the past. "We keep believing in the process and the manager -- I'm sure if we do that we will get back to winning ways and get back to our level." City desperately need to find a winning formula ahead of Saturday's Premier League trip to Aston Villa. Foden admitted he is baffled by City's remarkable fall from grace, with the damage to the team's morale clear to him in the dressing room after the derby defeat. "I can't put a finger on what's going on," Foden said. "I thought the performance was more than good enough to get the result, but we come out with no points, and it seems to be the same story at the moment. We just have to stick together. "The changing room is obviously going to be down and sad at the moment, but we can't dwell on this too much." After facing Villa, Guardiola's team host Everton on December 26 before visiting Leicester in their last game of 2024. With the busy festive season looming, Foden urged his teammates to stick together. "It's about keeping our mentality strong throughout the whole 90 minutes and we're not doing that at the moment," he said. "We have to go again and show character to come back from this blip. "It's not a time for moaning, it's about sticking together, remaining strong and going again. I'm positive we are going to come back." 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 leaders Barcelona stumbled 1-0 at home against Leganes on Sunday as they suffered another blow in the Spanish title race. Atletico Madrid pulled level on points with the Catalans with a 1-0 victory of their own against Getafe earlier on, their 11th straight win across all competitions. Leganes defender Sergio Gonzalez headed home from a corner after four minutes for the visiting minnows and Barcelona missed a host of presentable chances as they failed to mount a comeback.

After a superb start to the season, Barcelona have lost three of their last six league games and won just one of those, seeing their lead whittled away. Hansi Flick's side lead third-place Real Madrid by a single point, after the champions drew at Rayo Vallecano on Saturday, having played one extra game than both their closest title rivals.

"It was a messed-up game, it's impossible to be happy. I think we started the game half asleep," Pedri told DAZN. "We woke up, we created chances but we didn't have the spark we needed to get the goal... "We have to be better in front of goal if we want to win points, we're in a bad run in the league and we have to turn it around."

Barcelona started in the worst possible way as their former youth player Munir El Haddadi broke in down the right and forced a fine save from Inaki Pena at his near post. From the resulting corner Leganes took the lead, with Sergio Gonzalez powering a header home to stun the Olympic stadium into silence. From there Barcelona dominated against the visitors, 15th, and created several chances but found an inspired Marko Dmitrovic in their way.

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The Serbian goalkeeper twice denied La Liga's top goalscorer Robert Lewandowski in the first half and produced a stunning save to thwart Raphinha, tipping his powerful effort against the crossbar. Barcelona's teenage wing wizard Lamine Yamal hurt his ankle in a challenge in the first half but despite the pain, continued to play and was his team's most potent threat as usual.

Neither Lewandowski nor Dani Olmo were on song and Barca replaced the pair with Torres and Fermin Lopez for the final 25 minutes, but Leganes held firm.

Raphinha whipped a stoppage time free-kick over the crossbar to end a thoroughly frustrating night as Leganes earned a first away win at Barca.

Barcelona host Atletico in their final match of the year next weekend.

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.

La Liga leaders Barcelona stumbled 1-0 at home against Leganes on Sunday as they suffered another blow in the Spanish title race. Atletico Madrid pulled level on points with the Catalans with a 1-0 victory of their own against Getafe earlier on, their 11th straight win across all competitions.

La Liga leaders Barcelona stumbled 1-0 at home against Leganes on Sunday as they suffered another blow in the Spanish title race. Atletico Madrid pulled level on points with the Catalans with a 1-0 victory of their own against Getafe earlier on, their 11th straight win across all competitions. Leganes defender Sergio Gonzalez headed home from a corner after four minutes for the visiting minnows and Barcelona missed a host of presentable chances as they failed to mount a comeback. After a superb start to the season, Barcelona have lost three of their last six league games and won just one of those, seeing their lead whittled away. Hansi Flick's side lead third-place Real Madrid by a single point, after the champions drew at Rayo Vallecano on Saturday, having played one extra game than both their closest title rivals. "It was a messed-up game, it's impossible to be happy. I think we started the game half asleep," Pedri told DAZN. "We woke up, we created chances but we didn't have the spark we needed to get the goal... "We have to be better in front of goal if we want to win points, we're in a bad run in the league and we have to turn it around." Barcelona started in the worst possible way as their former youth player Munir El Haddadi broke in down the right and forced a fine save from Inaki Pena at his near post. From the resulting corner Leganes took the lead, with Sergio Gonzalez powering a header home to stun the Olympic stadium into silence. From there Barcelona dominated against the visitors, 15th, and created several chances but found an inspired Marko Dmitrovic in their way. Also read: Premier League: Manchester United deepen Guardiola's gloom, Chelsea gain on Liverpool The Serbian goalkeeper twice denied La Liga's top goalscorer Robert Lewandowski in the first half and produced a stunning save to thwart Raphinha, tipping his powerful effort against the crossbar. Barcelona's teenage wing wizard Lamine Yamal hurt his ankle in a challenge in the first half but despite the pain, continued to play and was his team's most potent threat as usual. Neither Lewandowski nor Dani Olmo were on song and Barca replaced the pair with Torres and Fermin Lopez for the final 25 minutes, but Leganes held firm. Raphinha whipped a stoppage time free-kick over the crossbar to end a thoroughly frustrating night as Leganes earned a first away win at Barca. Barcelona host Atletico in their final match of the year next weekend. 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.

Sergio González stars as Leganes stun La Liga leaders Barcelona

Barcelona, Spain
La Liga leaders Barcelona stumbled 1-0 at home against Leganes on Sunday as they suffered another blow in the Spanish title race. Atletico Madrid pulled level on points with the Catalans with a 1-0 victory of their own against Getafe earlier on, their 11th straight win across all competitions. Leganes defender Sergio Gonzalez headed home from a corner after four minutes for the visiting minnows and Barcelona missed a host of presentable chances as they failed to mount a comeback.
After a superb start to the season, Barcelona have lost three of their last six league games and won just one of those, seeing their lead whittled away. Hansi Flick's side lead third-place Real Madrid by a single point, after the champions drew at Rayo Vallecano on Saturday, having played one extra game than both their closest title rivals.
"It was a messed-up game, it's impossible to be happy. I think we started the game half asleep," Pedri told DAZN. "We woke up, we created chances but we didn't have the spark we needed to get the goal... "We have to be better in front of goal if we want to win points, we're in a bad run in the league and we have to turn it around."
Barcelona started in the worst possible way as their former youth player Munir El Haddadi broke in down the right and forced a fine save from Inaki Pena at his near post. From the resulting corner Leganes took the lead, with Sergio Gonzalez powering a header home to stun the Olympic stadium into silence. From there Barcelona dominated against the visitors, 15th, and created several chances but found an inspired Marko Dmitrovic in their way.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/premier-league-manchester-united-deepen-guardiolas-gloom-chelsea-gain-on-liverpool-784257">Premier League: Manchester United deepen Guardiola's gloom, Chelsea gain on Liverpool</a>
The Serbian goalkeeper twice denied La Liga's top goalscorer Robert Lewandowski in the first half and produced a stunning save to thwart Raphinha, tipping his powerful effort against the crossbar. Barcelona's teenage wing wizard Lamine Yamal hurt his ankle in a challenge in the first half but despite the pain, continued to play and was his team's most potent threat as usual.
Neither Lewandowski nor Dani Olmo were on song and Barca replaced the pair with Torres and Fermin Lopez for the final 25 minutes, but Leganes held firm.
Raphinha whipped a stoppage time free-kick over the crossbar to end a thoroughly frustrating night as Leganes earned a first away win at Barca.
Barcelona host Atletico in their final match of the year next weekend.
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.

After a superb start to the season, Barcelona have lost three of their last six league games and won just one of those, seeing their lead whittled away. Hansi Flick's side lead third-place Real Madrid by a single point, after the champions drew at Rayo Vallecano on Saturday, having played one extra game than both their closest title rivals.



Barcelona, Spain La Liga leaders Barcelona stumbled 1-0 at home against Leganes on Sunday as they suffered another blow in the Spanish title race. Atletico Madrid pulled level on points with the Catalans with a 1-0 victory of their own against Getafe earlier on, their 11th straight win across all competitions. Leganes defender Sergio Gonzalez headed home from a corner after four minutes for the visiting minnows and Barcelona missed a host of presentable chances as they failed to mount a comeback. After a superb start to the season, Barcelona have lost three of their last six league games and won just one of those, seeing their lead whittled away. Hansi Flick's side lead third-place Real Madrid by a single point, after the champions drew at Rayo Vallecano on Saturday, having played one extra game than both their closest title rivals. "It was a messed-up game, it's impossible to be happy. I think we started the game half asleep," Pedri told DAZN. "We woke up, we created chances but we didn't have the spark we needed to get the goal... "We have to be better in front of goal if we want to win points, we're in a bad run in the league and we have to turn it around." Barcelona started in the worst possible way as their former youth player Munir El Haddadi broke in down the right and forced a fine save from Inaki Pena at his near post. From the resulting corner Leganes took the lead, with Sergio Gonzalez powering a header home to stun the Olympic stadium into silence. From there Barcelona dominated against the visitors, 15th, and created several chances but found an inspired Marko Dmitrovic in their way. Also read: Premier League: Manchester United deepen Guardiola's gloom, Chelsea gain on Liverpool The Serbian goalkeeper twice denied La Liga's top goalscorer Robert Lewandowski in the first half and produced a stunning save to thwart Raphinha, tipping his powerful effort against the crossbar. Barcelona's teenage wing wizard Lamine Yamal hurt his ankle in a challenge in the first half but despite the pain, continued to play and was his team's most potent threat as usual. Neither Lewandowski nor Dani Olmo were on song and Barca replaced the pair with Torres and Fermin Lopez for the final 25 minutes, but Leganes held firm. Raphinha whipped a stoppage time free-kick over the crossbar to end a thoroughly frustrating night as Leganes earned a first away win at Barca. Barcelona host Atletico in their final match of the year next weekend. 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.

Italy
Fiorentina lost ground in the Serie A title race on Sunday after falling to a 1-0 defeat at Bologna and missing the chance to claim a club-record ninth straight league win.
Raffaele Palladino's Fiorentina are fourth, six points behind league leaders Atalanta following a first league defeat in three months, albeit with a game in hand.
Jens Odgaard guided home the only goal of the game at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara to give Bologna their fifth win in seven matches in Italy's top flight.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/football/bundesliga-mainz-hand-bayern-munich-first-league-loss-under-vincent-kompany-784052">Bundesliga: Mainz hand Bayern Munich first league loss under Vincent Kompany</a>
Sunday's result moved Bologna up to seventh and three points behind Juventus, who sit in the Conference League spot, with a game in hand and gave coach Vincenzo Italiano a big win against his former club.
Italiano managed Fiorentina for three seasons, taking the Viola to two Europa Conference League finals and an Italian Cup final before joining Bologna in the summer.
Verona snapped a four-match losing streak by winning 3-2 at Parma, a result which lifted Paolo Zanetti's team out of the relegation zone and up to 16th place.
Como have dropped into the bottom three but can join Verona, Parma and Genoa -- who are at AC Milan in the day's late match -- on 15 points with a home win over Roma.
Italian media report that Verona, who have long had financial difficulties, are set to be sold to American private equity fund Presidio Investors.
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.

Raffaele Palladino's Fiorentina are fourth, six points behind league leaders Atalanta following a first league defeat in three months, albeit with a game in hand.



Italy Fiorentina lost ground in the Serie A title race on Sunday after falling to a 1-0 defeat at Bologna and missing the chance to claim a club-record ninth straight league win. Raffaele Palladino's Fiorentina are fourth, six points behind league leaders Atalanta following a first league defeat in three months, albeit with a game in hand. Jens Odgaard guided home the only goal of the game at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara to give Bologna their fifth win in seven matches in Italy's top flight. Also Read: Bundesliga: Mainz hand Bayern Munich first league loss under Vincent Kompany Sunday's result moved Bologna up to seventh and three points behind Juventus, who sit in the Conference League spot, with a game in hand and gave coach Vincenzo Italiano a big win against his former club. Italiano managed Fiorentina for three seasons, taking the Viola to two Europa Conference League finals and an Italian Cup final before joining Bologna in the summer. Verona snapped a four-match losing streak by winning 3-2 at Parma, a result which lifted Paolo Zanetti's team out of the relegation zone and up to 16th place. Como have dropped into the bottom three but can join Verona, Parma and Genoa -- who are at AC Milan in the day's late match -- on 15 points with a home win over Roma. Italian media report that Verona, who have long had financial difficulties, are set to be sold to American private equity fund Presidio Investors. 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.

Serie A: Fiorentina lose ground in title race with loss against Bologna

Spain
Alexander Sorloth earned Atletico Madrid an 11th straight victory with his goal sealing a 1-0 win over Getafe on Sunday in La Liga.
Diego Simeone's side have been in fine form and continued their winning run across all competitions with a deserved home triumph, pulling provisionally level with league leaders Barcelona.
Norwegian target man Sorloth came off the bench to head home the winner in the second half for his seventh league goal this season.
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Atletico, second, lead rivals Real Madrid by a point after Los Blancos drew at Rayo Vallecano on Saturday, while Barcelona host Leganes later Sunday.
"I'll repeat it, I'm boring, I won't change -- until the last day, we'll go game by game," Simeone told reporters when asked if his team could challenge for the title.
"I always say the best result is 1-0 because you work hard in defence and you're effective in attack, if you win 4-3 there are things you have to improve."
Atletico Madrid controlled the first half but could not put away the chances they created.
Two of the most inviting fell to winger Samuel Lino, but he failed to convert on both occasions.
Giuliano Simeone crossed for the Brazilian and he poked the ball wide, before firing off-target again after Rodrigo De Paul played him in with a clever lob.
Argentine midfielder De Paul, on a strong run of form, swept a shot wide as the hosts continued to dominate at the Metropolitano stadium.
David Soria saved from Julian Alvarez shortly before the teams went in goalless at the break. Pablo Barrios fired narrowly off-target before Atletico took the lead in the 69th minute.
Substitute Sorloth peeled off his marker at the far post and placed a header back across goal and into the net from Nahuel Molina's cross.
Molina was another reinforcement brought on by Simeone, with Atletico's impressive squad depth telling.
"Before the game I spoke with the players about thanking and recognising those who weren't going to start the game," said Simeone.
"There are very important players who are competing in an extraordinary way, and you can tell that when they come into the team.
"That is our strength, to compete in the way we want, we need everyone to be as involved as they (currently) are, it's our biggest strength."
Getafe pushed for a leveller but it was Atletico who came closer to scoring in the final stages, with Angel Correa running through on goal but between Soria and two defenders, the visitors managed to thwart him.
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Diego Simeone's side have been in fine form and continued their winning run across all competitions with a deserved home triumph, pulling provisionally level with league leaders Barcelona.



Spain Alexander Sorloth earned Atletico Madrid an 11th straight victory with his goal sealing a 1-0 win over Getafe on Sunday in La Liga. Diego Simeone's side have been in fine form and continued their winning run across all competitions with a deserved home triumph, pulling provisionally level with league leaders Barcelona. Norwegian target man Sorloth came off the bench to head home the winner in the second half for his seventh league goal this season. Also Read: New Zealand pile up 340-run lead after best day of cricket against England in 3rd Test Atletico, second, lead rivals Real Madrid by a point after Los Blancos drew at Rayo Vallecano on Saturday, while Barcelona host Leganes later Sunday. "I'll repeat it, I'm boring, I won't change -- until the last day, we'll go game by game," Simeone told reporters when asked if his team could challenge for the title. "I always say the best result is 1-0 because you work hard in defence and you're effective in attack, if you win 4-3 there are things you have to improve." Atletico Madrid controlled the first half but could not put away the chances they created. Two of the most inviting fell to winger Samuel Lino, but he failed to convert on both occasions. Giuliano Simeone crossed for the Brazilian and he poked the ball wide, before firing off-target again after Rodrigo De Paul played him in with a clever lob. Argentine midfielder De Paul, on a strong run of form, swept a shot wide as the hosts continued to dominate at the Metropolitano stadium. David Soria saved from Julian Alvarez shortly before the teams went in goalless at the break. Pablo Barrios fired narrowly off-target before Atletico took the lead in the 69th minute. Substitute Sorloth peeled off his marker at the far post and placed a header back across goal and into the net from Nahuel Molina's cross. Molina was another reinforcement brought on by Simeone, with Atletico's impressive squad depth telling. "Before the game I spoke with the players about thanking and recognising those who weren't going to start the game," said Simeone. "There are very important players who are competing in an extraordinary way, and you can tell that when they come into the team. "That is our strength, to compete in the way we want, we need everyone to be as involved as they (currently) are, it's our biggest strength." Getafe pushed for a leveller but it was Atletico who came closer to scoring in the final stages, with Angel Correa running through on goal but between Soria and two defenders, the visitors managed to thwart him. 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: Atletico Madrid continue to run hot, beat Getafe for 11th straight win

Diogo Jota rescued Liverpool as the Premier League leaders recovered from Andy Robertson's early red card to snatch a 2-2 draw with Fulham, while Arsenal's title challenge was dented by a goalless stalemate against Everton on Saturday.

With just four minutes left at Anfield, Arne Slot's side were in danger of losing for just the second time in 15 top-flight games this season.&nbsp;

But Jota grabbed a valuable equaliser as Liverpool extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to 19 matches since a loss to Nottingham Forest in September.

With last weekend's Merseyside derby at Everton postponed by severe weather, Liverpool have now gone two league games without a win following their 3-3 draw at Newcastle.

The Reds sit five points clear of second-placed Chelsea, who can close the gap with a win against Brentford at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

Liverpool were rocked in the 11th minute as Fulham midfielder Andreas Pereira met Antonee Robinson's cross with an agile volley that deflected in off Robertson.

The Reds suffered another blow when Scotland left-back Robertson was sent off in the 17th minute for a professional foul on Harry Wilson.

But Slot's men have made a habit of coming from behind this season and Cody Gakpo equalised in the 47th minute with a stooping header from Mohamed Salah's cross.

The Dutch forward's ninth goal in all competitions this season was the prelude to a period of sustained Liverpool pressure.

But Fulham forward Rodrigo Muniz delivered a sucker punch as he bundled over the line from Robinson's cross in the 76th minute.

That set the stage for a dramatic finale as Jota levelled in the 86th minute with a cool finish past Bernd Leno from the edge of the area.

"I don't think I could have asked for more from my players, especially after going down to 10 men," Slot said.

"It's an emotional game. It's good to see our performance after so many setbacks."

Arsenal failed to take advantage of Liverpool's rare stumble as the Gunners were kept at bay on a frustrating afternoon at the Emirates Stadium.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/football/ligue-1-psg-coach-luis-enrique-insists-having-my-best-season-784019">Ligue 1: PSG coach Luis Enrique insists having 'my best' season</a>

<h2>Lack of firepower</h2>

The north Londoners have become a force from set-pieces, scoring 23 goals from corners since the start of last season.

But their lack of firepower outside of that route has been questioned this season and once again they were hampered by a failure to turn pressure and possession into goals.

After a second successive league draw, third-placed Arsenal remain six points behind Liverpool, who have a game in hand on last season's runners-up.

"We fully deserved to win the game," Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said. "It's Frustrating, especially when we concede zero chances and dominate the game so much."

Newcastle handed Ruud van Nistelrooy his first defeat as Leicester boss with a 4-0 rout at St James' Park.

Former Manchester United striker Van Nistelrooy had taken four points from his first two games since replacing the sacked Steve Cooper.

But Newcastle ended that encouraging start as Jacob Murphy struck in the 30th minute and Bruno Guimaraes nodded the second goal in the 47th minute.

Alexander Isak bagged the Magpies' third two minutes later and Murphy netted again on the hour to leave Leicester two points above the relegation zone.

Jack Taylor's stoppage-time goal gave Ipswich a priceless 2-1 win over relegation rivals Wolves at Molineux.

Kieran McKenna's team went ahead through Matt Doherty's 15th-minute own goal.

Just as Wolves fans were calling for owners Fosun to sell the club, Matheus Cunha grabbed a 72nd-minute equaliser.

But Taylor headed home from a 94th-minute corner to seal Ipswich's second league win since their promotion to the top tier.

Third-bottom Ipswich are just one point adrift of safety, while second-bottom Wolves are three points behind them after an 11th loss in 16 league games piled further pressure on boss Gary O'Neil.

Nottingham Forest host Aston Villa in a battle of top-four contenders in Saturday's late game.

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.

Diogo Jota rescued Liverpool as the Premier League leaders recovered from Andy Robertson's early red card to snatch a 2-2 draw with Fulham, while Arsenal's title challenge was dented by a goalless stalemate against Everton on Saturday.

Diogo Jota rescued Liverpool as the Premier League leaders recovered from Andy Robertson's early red card to snatch a 2-2 draw with Fulham, while Arsenal's title challenge was dented by a goalless stalemate against Everton on Saturday. With just four minutes left at Anfield, Arne Slot's side were in danger of losing for just the second time in 15 top-flight games this season. But Jota grabbed a valuable equaliser as Liverpool extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to 19 matches since a loss to Nottingham Forest in September. With last weekend's Merseyside derby at Everton postponed by severe weather, Liverpool have now gone two league games without a win following their 3-3 draw at Newcastle. The Reds sit five points clear of second-placed Chelsea, who can close the gap with a win against Brentford at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. Liverpool were rocked in the 11th minute as Fulham midfielder Andreas Pereira met Antonee Robinson's cross with an agile volley that deflected in off Robertson. The Reds suffered another blow when Scotland left-back Robertson was sent off in the 17th minute for a professional foul on Harry Wilson. But Slot's men have made a habit of coming from behind this season and Cody Gakpo equalised in the 47th minute with a stooping header from Mohamed Salah's cross. The Dutch forward's ninth goal in all competitions this season was the prelude to a period of sustained Liverpool pressure. But Fulham forward Rodrigo Muniz delivered a sucker punch as he bundled over the line from Robinson's cross in the 76th minute. That set the stage for a dramatic finale as Jota levelled in the 86th minute with a cool finish past Bernd Leno from the edge of the area. "I don't think I could have asked for more from my players, especially after going down to 10 men," Slot said. "It's an emotional game. It's good to see our performance after so many setbacks." Arsenal failed to take advantage of Liverpool's rare stumble as the Gunners were kept at bay on a frustrating afternoon at the Emirates Stadium. ALSO READ | Ligue 1: PSG coach Luis Enrique insists having 'my best' season Lack of firepower The north Londoners have become a force from set-pieces, scoring 23 goals from corners since the start of last season. But their lack of firepower outside of that route has been questioned this season and once again they were hampered by a failure to turn pressure and possession into goals. After a second successive league draw, third-placed Arsenal remain six points behind Liverpool, who have a game in hand on last season's runners-up. "We fully deserved to win the game," Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said. "It's Frustrating, especially when we concede zero chances and dominate the game so much." Newcastle handed Ruud van Nistelrooy his first defeat as Leicester boss with a 4-0 rout at St James' Park. Former Manchester United striker Van Nistelrooy had taken four points from his first two games since replacing the sacked Steve Cooper. But Newcastle ended that encouraging start as Jacob Murphy struck in the 30th minute and Bruno Guimaraes nodded the second goal in the 47th minute. Alexander Isak bagged the Magpies' third two minutes later and Murphy netted again on the hour to leave Leicester two points above the relegation zone. Jack Taylor's stoppage-time goal gave Ipswich a priceless 2-1 win over relegation rivals Wolves at Molineux. Kieran McKenna's team went ahead through Matt Doherty's 15th-minute own goal. Just as Wolves fans were calling for owners Fosun to sell the club, Matheus Cunha grabbed a 72nd-minute equaliser. But Taylor headed home from a 94th-minute corner to seal Ipswich's second league win since their promotion to the top tier. Third-bottom Ipswich are just one point adrift of safety, while second-bottom Wolves are three points behind them after an 11th loss in 16 league games piled further pressure on boss Gary O'Neil. Nottingham Forest host Aston Villa in a battle of top-four contenders in Saturday's late game. 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: Diogo Jota rescues 10-man Liverpool in Fulham draw, Arsenal held

Fiorentina lost ground in the Serie A title race on Sunday after falling to a 1-0 defeat at Bologna and missing the chance to claim a club-record ninth straight league win.

Raffaele Palladino's Fiorentina are fourth, six points behind league leaders Atalanta following a first league defeat in three months, albeit with a game in hand.

Jens Odgaard guided home the only goal of the game at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara to give Bologna their fifth win in seven matches in Italy's top flight.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/football/bundesliga-mainz-hand-bayern-munich-first-league-loss-under-vincent-kompany-784052">Bundesliga: Mainz hand Bayern Munich first league loss under Vincent Kompany</a>

Sunday's result moved Bologna up to seventh and three points behind Juventus, who sit in the Conference League spot, with a game in hand and gave coach Vincenzo Italiano a big win against his former club.

Italiano managed Fiorentina for three seasons, taking the Viola to two Europa Conference League finals and an Italian Cup final before joining Bologna in the summer.

Verona snapped a four-match losing streak by winning 3-2 at Parma, a result which lifted Paolo Zanetti's team out of the relegation zone and up to 16th place.

Como have dropped into the bottom three but can join Verona, Parma and Genoa -- who are at AC Milan in the day's late match -- on 15 points with a home win over Roma.

Italian media report that Verona, who have long had financial difficulties, are set to be sold to American private equity fund Presidio Investors.

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.

Fiorentina lost ground in the Serie A title race on Sunday after falling to a 1-0 defeat at Bologna and missing the chance to claim a club-record ninth straight league win.

Fiorentina lost ground in the Serie A title race on Sunday after falling to a 1-0 defeat at Bologna and missing the chance to claim a club-record ninth straight league win. Raffaele Palladino's Fiorentina are fourth, six points behind league leaders Atalanta following a first league defeat in three months, albeit with a game in hand. Jens Odgaard guided home the only goal of the game at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara to give Bologna their fifth win in seven matches in Italy's top flight. Also Read: Bundesliga: Mainz hand Bayern Munich first league loss under Vincent Kompany Sunday's result moved Bologna up to seventh and three points behind Juventus, who sit in the Conference League spot, with a game in hand and gave coach Vincenzo Italiano a big win against his former club. Italiano managed Fiorentina for three seasons, taking the Viola to two Europa Conference League finals and an Italian Cup final before joining Bologna in the summer. Verona snapped a four-match losing streak by winning 3-2 at Parma, a result which lifted Paolo Zanetti's team out of the relegation zone and up to 16th place. Como have dropped into the bottom three but can join Verona, Parma and Genoa -- who are at AC Milan in the day's late match -- on 15 points with a home win over Roma. Italian media report that Verona, who have long had financial difficulties, are set to be sold to American private equity fund Presidio Investors. 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.

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