Holders Paris Saint-Germain made it three wins from three in this season's Champions League, beating Barcelona 4-2 thanks to late goals from Vitinha and Fabian Ruiz on Tuesday, while Liverpool clinched a dramatic comeback victory over Villarreal.Phil Foden scored a hat-trick as Manchester City thrashed AEK Athens 5-1, while there were also much-needed wins for Roma and Napoli.PSG kept their place at the top of the league-phase table, but could yet count the cost of injuries suffered by Ousmane Dembele, Marquinhos and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia at the Parc des Princes.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/he-let-the-team-and-me-down-erik-ten-hag-reflects-on-cristiano-ronaldo-fallout-at-manchester-united-1792496187437">'He let the team &amp; me down': Erik ten Hag reflects on Ronaldo fallout at Man Utd</a>"We don't feel superior to any team but we trust in ourselves, in everyone who starts and who comes off the bench," Paris midfielder Ruiz told Movistar. "There's still a long way to go."Barcelona twice levelled against the two-time defending champions, but were ultimately well beaten as they slipped to their first defeat of the season."We tried to play how we want to play, we pressed them very high. There were a lot of fantastic things on show today," said Flick, whose team had won their previous 11 games in all competitions this term.Kvaratskhelia hit the post, Dembele hobbled off and Ferran Torres was denied by Barca goalkeeper Joan Garcia in a fast-paced opening.PSG took a deserved lead in the 38th minute as Desire Doue collected the ball outside the area and thumped a shot into the bottom corner.Garcia made another excellent save shortly after the break from Achraf Hakimi, before Xavi Espart burst through to level for Barca against the run of play.Kvaratskhelia and Marquinhos both pulled up injured within seconds of each other and had to leave the field.The home team continued to press, though, and Lucas Hernandez restored their advantage 18 minutes from time with a brilliant header.Lamine Yamal powered past Warren Zaire-Emery to equalise again seven minutes later.But Vitinha hammered home from outside the box in the 81st minute and Ruiz's tap-in gave Luis Enrique's team a second straight 4-2 Champions League win after seeing off Man City by the same scoreline last week.<h2>Liverpool fight back</h2>Liverpool battled back from two goals down to also maintain their 100-percent record by edging out Villarreal 4-3 at Anfield.Liverpool fell behind in the fourth minute when Georges Mikautadze pounced on a terrible error from Virgil van Dijk, before Villarreal defender Sergi Cardona strolled through their defence to make it two.Alexis Mac Allister pulled one back for the hosts nine minutes before half-time by heading in Kostas Tsimikas's corner.Andoni Iraola's men were level in first-half added time through Ronald Araujo's back-post header after Cardona inexplicably left Rio Ngumoha's cross.Mac Allister completed the turnaround by firing in from Ngumoha's square pass, and half-time substitute Florian Wirtz's first goal of the season gave the Reds some breathing space.Tani Oluwaseyi set up a nervy finish for Iraola, but Liverpool held on."We are facing very good teams. It's good to come back but we've started losing too many goals this season," Iraola told Amazon Prime.At the Etihad, Elliot Anderson put Manchester City in front with his first goal for the club, before Phil Foden made it two goals in as many games after scoring against Ipswich at the weekend.AEK halved the deficit early in the second half through Stavros Pilios, only for Rayan Cherki to sweep in City's third in the 57th minute.Foden later fired in his second and third goals in a comprehensive victory, despite Erling Haaland being rested after picking up a knock at the weekend."Slowly, but surely. Still got a long way to go, but I am going in the right direction," Foden told TNT Sports of his gradual return to form.<h2>Respite for Serie A clubs</h2>Roma eased to their first Champions League win since 2019 as the capital club brushed aside pointless Slovan Bratislava 4-0 at the Stadio Olimpico.All four Serie A clubs in the competition lost last week, but Napoli made it two wins from two on Tuesday for the Italian sides.Massimiliano Allegri's men were twice pegged back by Bodo/Glimt but eventually got the better of the Norwegians in a 4-3 thriller, as Scott McTominay scored a brace.Atletico Madrid played out a 1-1 draw with Stuttgart in Germany, despite playing much of the second half with 10 men.Borussia Dortmund ended a run of four straight away defeats in the Champions League with a 2-1 win over Sabah in Baku.

PSG kept their place at the top of the league-phase table, but could yet count the cost of injuries suffered by Ousmane Dembele, Marquinhos and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia at the Parc des Princes.

Holders Paris Saint-Germain made it three wins from three in this season's Champions League, beating Barcelona 4-2 thanks to late goals from Vitinha and Fabian Ruiz on Tuesday, while Liverpool clinched a dramatic comeback victory over Villarreal. Phil Foden scored a hat-trick as Manchester City thrashed AEK Athens 5-1, while there were also much-needed wins for Roma and Napoli. PSG kept their place at the top of the league-phase table, but could yet count the cost of injuries suffered by Ousmane Dembele, Marquinhos and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia at the Parc des Princes. Also Read - 'He let the team & me down': Erik ten Hag reflects on Ronaldo fallout at Man Utd "We don't feel superior to any team but we trust in ourselves, in everyone who starts and who comes off the bench," Paris midfielder Ruiz told Movistar. "There's still a long way to go." Barcelona twice levelled against the two-time defending champions, but were ultimately well beaten as they slipped to their first defeat of the season. "We tried to play how we want to play, we pressed them very high. There were a lot of fantastic things on show today," said Flick, whose team had won their previous 11 games in all competitions this term. Kvaratskhelia hit the post, Dembele hobbled off and Ferran Torres was denied by Barca goalkeeper Joan Garcia in a fast-paced opening. PSG took a deserved lead in the 38th minute as Desire Doue collected the ball outside the area and thumped a shot into the bottom corner. Garcia made another excellent save shortly after the break from Achraf Hakimi, before Xavi Espart burst through to level for Barca against the run of play. Kvaratskhelia and Marquinhos both pulled up injured within seconds of each other and had to leave the field. The home team continued to press, though, and Lucas Hernandez restored their advantage 18 minutes from time with a brilliant header. Lamine Yamal powered past Warren Zaire-Emery to equalise again seven minutes later. But Vitinha hammered home from outside the box in the 81st minute and Ruiz's tap-in gave Luis Enrique's team a second straight 4-2 Champions League win after seeing off Man City by the same scoreline last week. Liverpool fight back Liverpool battled back from two goals down to also maintain their 100-percent record by edging out Villarreal 4-3 at Anfield. Liverpool fell behind in the fourth minute when Georges Mikautadze pounced on a terrible error from Virgil van Dijk, before Villarreal defender Sergi Cardona strolled through their defence to make it two. Alexis Mac Allister pulled one back for the hosts nine minutes before half-time by heading in Kostas Tsimikas's corner. Andoni Iraola's men were level in first-half added time through Ronald Araujo's back-post header after Cardona inexplicably left Rio Ngumoha's cross. Mac Allister completed the turnaround by firing in from Ngumoha's square pass, and half-time substitute Florian Wirtz's first goal of the season gave the Reds some breathing space. Tani Oluwaseyi set up a nervy finish for Iraola, but Liverpool held on. "We are facing very good teams. It's good to come back but we've started losing too many goals this season," Iraola told Amazon Prime. At the Etihad, Elliot Anderson put Manchester City in front with his first goal for the club, before Phil Foden made it two goals in as many games after scoring against Ipswich at the weekend. AEK halved the deficit early in the second half through Stavros Pilios, only for Rayan Cherki to sweep in City's third in the 57th minute. Foden later fired in his second and third goals in a comprehensive victory, despite Erling Haaland being rested after picking up a knock at the weekend. "Slowly, but surely. Still got a long way to go, but I am going in the right direction," Foden told TNT Sports of his gradual return to form. Respite for Serie A clubs Roma eased to their first Champions League win since 2019 as the capital club brushed aside pointless Slovan Bratislava 4-0 at the Stadio Olimpico. All four Serie A clubs in the competition lost last week, but Napoli made it two wins from two on Tuesday for the Italian sides. Massimiliano Allegri's men were twice pegged back by Bodo/Glimt but eventually got the better of the Norwegians in a 4-3 thriller, as Scott McTominay scored a brace. Atletico Madrid played out a 1-1 draw with Stuttgart in Germany, despite playing much of the second half with 10 men. Borussia Dortmund ended a run of four straight away defeats in the Champions League with a 2-1 win over Sabah in Baku.

PSG kept their place at the top of the league-phase table, but could yet count the cost of injuries suffered by Ousmane Dembele, Marquinhos and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia at the Parc des Princes.

Champions League: PSG thrash Barcelona; Liverpool fight back, and Man City rout AEK Athens

Erling Haaland said Manchester City must "stick together" in uncertain times after being found guilty of over 100 charges of breaking Premier League financial rules. City face a severe points penalty or even expulsion from the Premier League after an independent commission found they used "sham" commercial contracts to inflate revenue and cut costs by over £900 million ($1.2 billion) between 2009 and 2018. Haaland did not join City until 2022 but it is the current squad that could bear the burden of any sanction.Premier League leaders City return to action for the first time since the guilty verdict was revealed at Liverpool on Sunday."We have to stay positive, look ahead and try to win football games and try to enjoy the situation and win the game," Haaland told the club's website."We have to stick together, and we have to spread the love to each other."So yeah, stick together, enjoy the ride and smile."Haaland signed a contract until 2034 last year, but his future is likely to depend on the severity of any sanction.The Norwegian has scored 169 goals in 205 games for the club and also shone in spearheading his country's run to the World Cup quarter-finals.Europe's top teams would be lining up for the 26-year-old should City face dropping out of the Premier League or even a prolonged spell without Champions League football."I care a lot about City, I have to say," added Haaland, whose father, Alf-Inge Haaland, also played for the club."I care a lot about the fans because I'm a fan myself -- I feel with them as well."- Maresca trusts club 'completely' -City manager Enzo Maresca echoed Haaland's call for unity."Personally, I'm very calm, to be honest," Maresca told City's website."The club has been quite clear. We trust completely the club. We understand the noise but the focus for us is just what we can control and we can control just the football side."We need to be all together. I said many times the reason why this organisation in the last 15 years was top was because from the owner, the CEO, the sporting director, the manager, players, fans, they are all on the same page. And this is fantastic."City have made a perfect start to the Premier League season, winning all of their opening five games, with Maresca insisting the mood among his squad is "fantastic" following a lengthy international break."The players are excited for the next two games," he said."But especially they are excited because in this moment we are top of the league. The players are just focused on that."They know what we can control is the football side –- they are not worried at all about different things."He added: "They know their profession and they know that the noise is there, but they don't care too much about the noise. They are just focused in this moment on how we can beat Liverpool and how, together with the fans, we can try to win in Anfield."

City face a severe points penalty or even expulsion from the Premier League after an independent commission found they used "sham" commercial contracts to inflate revenue and cut costs.

Erling Haaland said Manchester City must "stick together" in uncertain times after being found guilty of over 100 charges of breaking Premier League financial rules. City face a severe points penalty or even expulsion from the Premier League after an independent commission found they used "sham" commercial contracts to inflate revenue and cut costs by over £900 million ($1.2 billion) between 2009 and 2018. Haaland did not join City until 2022 but it is the current squad that could bear the burden of any sanction. Premier League leaders City return to action for the first time since the guilty verdict was revealed at Liverpool on Sunday. "We have to stay positive, look ahead and try to win football games and try to enjoy the situation and win the game," Haaland told the club's website. "We have to stick together, and we have to spread the love to each other. "So yeah, stick together, enjoy the ride and smile." Haaland signed a contract until 2034 last year, but his future is likely to depend on the severity of any sanction. The Norwegian has scored 169 goals in 205 games for the club and also shone in spearheading his country's run to the World Cup quarter-finals. Europe's top teams would be lining up for the 26-year-old should City face dropping out of the Premier League or even a prolonged spell without Champions League football. "I care a lot about City, I have to say," added Haaland, whose father, Alf-Inge Haaland, also played for the club. "I care a lot about the fans because I'm a fan myself -- I feel with them as well." - Maresca trusts club 'completely' - City manager Enzo Maresca echoed Haaland's call for unity. "Personally, I'm very calm, to be honest," Maresca told City's website. "The club has been quite clear. We trust completely the club. We understand the noise but the focus for us is just what we can control and we can control just the football side. "We need to be all together. I said many times the reason why this organisation in the last 15 years was top was because from the owner, the CEO, the sporting director, the manager, players, fans, they are all on the same page. And this is fantastic." City have made a perfect start to the Premier League season, winning all of their opening five games, with Maresca insisting the mood among his squad is "fantastic" following a lengthy international break. "The players are excited for the next two games," he said. "But especially they are excited because in this moment we are top of the league. The players are just focused on that. "They know what we can control is the football side –- they are not worried at all about different things." He added: "They know their profession and they know that the noise is there, but they don't care too much about the noise. They are just focused in this moment on how we can beat Liverpool and how, together with the fans, we can try to win in Anfield."

City face a severe points penalty or even expulsion from the Premier League after an independent commission found they used "sham" commercial contracts to inflate revenue and cut costs.

Premier League: Haaland wants Manchester City to 'try to enjoy the situation and win the game'

Pep Guardiola has finally broken his silence on the Manchester City verdict, saying to the players, staff, and ownership: “We will get through this together. I love you all.” An independent commission found Premier League giants City guilty of all 114 charges related to serious breaches of PL financial rules, casting doubts over the club’s future in the league. The commission found that between 2009/10 and 2017/18, City arranged ‘sham contracts’ with a number of its commercial partners as part of a ‘disguised funding scheme’ to inflate the club’s revenue by £830m.&nbsp;While City continue to deny the breaches, with club chief executive Ferran Soriano calling the process a ‘Premier League conspiracy theory’ in a video message to players and staff, Manchester City has confirmed it will appeal against the ruling.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/premier-league-says-manchester-city-s-sham-contracts-financial-breaches-most-significant-in-history-1790742784080">Premier League says Manchester City's 'sham contracts' financial breaches ‘most significant in history’</a>&nbsp;Guardiola, who was the face of City’s most dominant and memorable PL run since 2016, posted on his social media to let each club fan know that he hasn’t gone anywhere, and that he will always be backing ‘his club’.&nbsp;"I want every single Manchester City fan across the world to know I am here; more than ever. I am, always have been, always will, be behind my club, my owner, my chairman, Ferran, the players, staff, Enzo [Maresca] and you, our unique supporters.&nbsp;"Let me be clear: we will get through this together. I love you all,” he wrote on his social media handle.<h2>‘Process was not Impartial’: City</h2>After the Premier League also confirmed the commission’s reading, accusing the 10-time PL champions of major financial breaches, Manchester City released an official statement saying the process was not impartial.&nbsp;"Manchester City FC is both disappointed and surprised by the opinion of the Premier League commission that has been published today.&nbsp;"The club is innocent of the accusations made by the Premier League and a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence exists in support of all of its positions relating to this case. The club will therefore be relentless, and where necessary proactive, in any and all appropriate regulatory and legal forums.&nbsp;"The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements incomplete. Manchester City FC will now pursue the appeal avenues open to it, on the basis that the opinion contains clear material errors of law, principle and fact, and is unsafe.&nbsp;"The club has diligently respected due process for eight years on the basis that the Premier League board and executive would behave as an independent, impartial and fair-minded regulator, free from partisan influence.&nbsp;"The club is obviously restricted in what it can say further until all future proceedings are complete,” it read.&nbsp;Meanwhile, Guardiola spent 10 years at the club, winning six Premier League titles, including four on the trot from 2020 to 2023, before bidding goodbye ahead of the ongoing season.

Pep Guardiola has broken his silence following Manchester City's 114-charge verdict, pledging full support: "We will get through this together."

Pep Guardiola has finally broken his silence on the Manchester City verdict, saying to the players, staff, and ownership: “We will get through this together. I love you all.” An independent commission found Premier League giants City guilty of all 114 charges related to serious breaches of PL financial rules, casting doubts over the club’s future in the league. The commission found that between 2009/10 and 2017/18, City arranged ‘sham contracts’ with a number of its commercial partners as part of a ‘disguised funding scheme’ to inflate the club’s revenue by £830m. While City continue to deny the breaches, with club chief executive Ferran Soriano calling the process a ‘Premier League conspiracy theory’ in a video message to players and staff, Manchester City has confirmed it will appeal against the ruling. Also read| Premier League says Manchester City's 'sham contracts' financial breaches ‘most significant in history’ Guardiola, who was the face of City’s most dominant and memorable PL run since 2016, posted on his social media to let each club fan know that he hasn’t gone anywhere, and that he will always be backing ‘his club’. "I want every single Manchester City fan across the world to know I am here; more than ever. I am, always have been, always will, be behind my club, my owner, my chairman, Ferran, the players, staff, Enzo [Maresca] and you, our unique supporters. "Let me be clear: we will get through this together. I love you all,” he wrote on his social media handle. ‘Process was not Impartial’: City After the Premier League also confirmed the commission’s reading, accusing the 10-time PL champions of major financial breaches, Manchester City released an official statement saying the process was not impartial. "Manchester City FC is both disappointed and surprised by the opinion of the Premier League commission that has been published today. "The club is innocent of the accusations made by the Premier League and a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence exists in support of all of its positions relating to this case. The club will therefore be relentless, and where necessary proactive, in any and all appropriate regulatory and legal forums. "The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements incomplete. Manchester City FC will now pursue the appeal avenues open to it, on the basis that the opinion contains clear material errors of law, principle and fact, and is unsafe. "The club has diligently respected due process for eight years on the basis that the Premier League board and executive would behave as an independent, impartial and fair-minded regulator, free from partisan influence. "The club is obviously restricted in what it can say further until all future proceedings are complete,” it read. Meanwhile, Guardiola spent 10 years at the club, winning six Premier League titles, including four on the trot from 2020 to 2023, before bidding goodbye ahead of the ongoing season.

Pep Guardiola has broken his silence following Manchester City's 114-charge verdict, pledging full support: "We will get through this together."

Pep Guardiola breaks silence on Manchester City verdict: ‘We will get through this together’

The English Premier League has issued a<a href="https://www.premierleague.com/en/news/4727779/premier-league-statement-manchester-city-fc/"> statement on Manchester City</a>'s being found guilty of breaching the league's financial rules over a nine-year period from 2009/10 to 2017/18. During this period, the club was found guilty of boosting its income by more than $1.19 billion via "sham contracts". City was found guilty of 114 of the 115 charges, and the Premier League statement confirmed the verdict, calling it "the most significant in Premier League history". The investigation began in December 2018 against City, and an Independent Commission held a 10-week hearing which was completed in December 2024. City, however, has the right to appeal against the finding of the Independent Commission by Friday, October 2.<h2>Premier League issues statement on City's financial breach</h2>In a statement issued on Tuesday (Sept. 29) by the Premier League, it was confirmed that "an Independent Commission has found Manchester City FC guilty of virtually all charges related to serious breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules over a nine-season period".According to the commission, between 2009/10 and 2017/18:Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wayne-rooney-man-utd-man-city-115-charges-stripped-titles-medals-1790693841695">Rooney insists Manchester United 'don't deserve' retrospective titles if Man City are stripped</a><ul><li>Manchester City arranged ‘sham’ contracts (which misrepresented the true agreement between the parties) with a number of its commercial partners, as well as relying on ‘sham’ agreements with others, to artificially inflate the club’s revenues and reduce its costs.</li><li>The club filed misstated accounts and concealed the true state of its finances from its auditors and football regulators.</li><li>Manchester City was significantly in breach of both the Premier League’s and UEFA’s spending limits.</li><li>During the Premier League’s investigation, Manchester City committed multiple breaches of its duties of co-operation and utmost good faith towards the League.</li></ul><h2>What next for Manchester City</h2>The club is expected to be fined heavily, with relegation possible as well. While there is no precedent available for what punishment City might incur, given the scale of its breaches, Everton previously suffered a 10-point penalty for overspeding $25 million in a breach of profitability and sustainability rules. Everton's penalty was calculated as six points for an initial breach and an additional point for each $6.6 million overspent by the club.

The Premier League confirmed Manchester City was found guilty of 114 financial breaches over nine seasons, inflating income by over $1.19 billion. City faces severe fines or potential relegation.

The English Premier League has issued a statement on Manchester City's being found guilty of breaching the league's financial rules over a nine-year period from 2009/10 to 2017/18. During this period, the club was found guilty of boosting its income by more than $1.19 billion via "sham contracts". City was found guilty of 114 of the 115 charges, and the Premier League statement confirmed the verdict, calling it "the most significant in Premier League history". The investigation began in December 2018 against City, and an Independent Commission held a 10-week hearing which was completed in December 2024. City, however, has the right to appeal against the finding of the Independent Commission by Friday, October 2. Premier League issues statement on City's financial breach In a statement issued on Tuesday (Sept. 29) by the Premier League, it was confirmed that "an Independent Commission has found Manchester City FC guilty of virtually all charges related to serious breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules over a nine-season period". According to the commission, between 2009/10 and 2017/18: Also Read - Rooney insists Manchester United 'don't deserve' retrospective titles if Man City are stripped Manchester City arranged ‘sham’ contracts (which misrepresented the true agreement between the parties) with a number of its commercial partners, as well as relying on ‘sham’ agreements with others, to artificially inflate the club’s revenues and reduce its costs. The club filed misstated accounts and concealed the true state of its finances from its auditors and football regulators. Manchester City was significantly in breach of both the Premier League’s and UEFA’s spending limits. During the Premier League’s investigation, Manchester City committed multiple breaches of its duties of co-operation and utmost good faith towards the League. What next for Manchester City The club is expected to be fined heavily, with relegation possible as well. While there is no precedent available for what punishment City might incur, given the scale of its breaches, Everton previously suffered a 10-point penalty for overspeding $25 million in a breach of profitability and sustainability rules. Everton's penalty was calculated as six points for an initial breach and an additional point for each $6.6 million overspent by the club.

The Premier League confirmed Manchester City was found guilty of 114 financial breaches over nine seasons, inflating income by over $1.19 billion. City faces severe fines or potential relegation.

Premier League says Manchester City's 'sham contracts' financial breaches 'most significant in history'

Wayne Rooney insists his old club Manchester United do not deserve Premier League winners' medals if Manchester City are stripped of their titles for breaking financial rules. City are reported to have been found guilty of the vast majority of 115 financial misconduct charges brought against them by the Premier League. They have strenuously denied the charges and City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak on Saturday said he is still confident of proving the club's innocence.&nbsp;City are expected to appeal against their eventual punishment, which is yet to be announced and could include a points deduction, expulsion from the Premier League or a huge fine. There have also been calls for City to be stripped of their eight Premier League titles won since 2008.&nbsp;Rooney's former United team-mates Rio Ferdinand and David de Gea have said their old club should be awarded retrospective title wins.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/karachi-football-team-robbed-balochistan-highway-quetta-1790679144820">Karachi football team robbed on Balochistan highway; gunmen snatch phones and cash</a>&nbsp;Rooney, a five-time title winner, was a member of the United side that finished as runners-up in 2012 after Sergio Aguero's dramatic late winner for City against QPR on the final day of the season. But the ex-England striker does not believe United or any other team should be willing to accept medals after ending in second place.&nbsp;"I wouldn't feel comfortable about accepting another Premier League medal if I'm being honest, because I don't think we deserve it. We didn't do enough that season to win the league," Rooney told the "Stick to United" podcast on Tuesday. "I'm thinking as their players, they're there doing everything they can to win the Premier League title and in their minds they've done it."&nbsp;Rooney admitted he would be heartbroken if any of United's medals were ever taken away from him for something over which he had no control.&nbsp;"If that happened to me, if all of a sudden Manchester United had been doing the same and my Premier League medal had been taken away, I would be absolutely devastated," the 40-year-old said. "It might happen, they might take them away, but I wouldn't want it because I don't think as a team we deserved it that year because obviously we didn't finish first.&nbsp;"So when I see ex-team-mates and other people saying 'I want a medal'. I'm happy with the five I've won. I wouldn't want this one, just 15 years later you get a medal because City cheated.&nbsp;"Should they get it stripped for what the owners have done? Yeah, maybe, but I wouldn't feel comfortable accepting it."

Wayne Rooney insists Manchester United shouldn't be awarded retrospective Premier League titles if Manchester City are stripped of theirs over financial charges.

Wayne Rooney insists his old club Manchester United do not deserve Premier League winners' medals if Manchester City are stripped of their titles for breaking financial rules. City are reported to have been found guilty of the vast majority of 115 financial misconduct charges brought against them by the Premier League. They have strenuously denied the charges and City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak on Saturday said he is still confident of proving the club's innocence. City are expected to appeal against their eventual punishment, which is yet to be announced and could include a points deduction, expulsion from the Premier League or a huge fine. There have also been calls for City to be stripped of their eight Premier League titles won since 2008. Rooney's former United team-mates Rio Ferdinand and David de Gea have said their old club should be awarded retrospective title wins. Also read| Karachi football team robbed on Balochistan highway; gunmen snatch phones and cash Rooney, a five-time title winner, was a member of the United side that finished as runners-up in 2012 after Sergio Aguero's dramatic late winner for City against QPR on the final day of the season. But the ex-England striker does not believe United or any other team should be willing to accept medals after ending in second place. "I wouldn't feel comfortable about accepting another Premier League medal if I'm being honest, because I don't think we deserve it. We didn't do enough that season to win the league," Rooney told the "Stick to United" podcast on Tuesday. "I'm thinking as their players, they're there doing everything they can to win the Premier League title and in their minds they've done it." Rooney admitted he would be heartbroken if any of United's medals were ever taken away from him for something over which he had no control. "If that happened to me, if all of a sudden Manchester United had been doing the same and my Premier League medal had been taken away, I would be absolutely devastated," the 40-year-old said. "It might happen, they might take them away, but I wouldn't want it because I don't think as a team we deserved it that year because obviously we didn't finish first. "So when I see ex-team-mates and other people saying 'I want a medal'. I'm happy with the five I've won. I wouldn't want this one, just 15 years later you get a medal because City cheated. "Should they get it stripped for what the owners have done? Yeah, maybe, but I wouldn't feel comfortable accepting it."

Wayne Rooney insists Manchester United shouldn't be awarded retrospective Premier League titles if Manchester City are stripped of theirs over financial charges.

Rooney insists Manchester United 'don't deserve' retrospective titles if Man City are stripped

Manchester City have been found guilty on Premier League charges, following one of the biggest financial fair play cases in football history. Possible sanctions range from heavy points deductions and fines to relegation, or even expulsion from the league in the most serious scenario. We break down the charges, the verdict, and what could come next for City and the rest of the Premier League. Watch the full breakdown.


Manchester City found guilty: Premier League delivers its verdict on the FFP charges

Former Manchester City midfielder Rodri backed the club to ultimately win a legal battle with the Premier League despite reports on Friday that the English giants have been found guilty on 114 charges. The ruling has not yet been published and no sanctions decided.&nbsp;However, the news has already sent shockwaves through English football with speculation over whether City could be relegated via a severe points deduction or have previous titles stripped.&nbsp;The club are accused of breaking regulations by failing to provide accurate information and details of payments to players and coaches, as well as breaches of financial sustainability rules.&nbsp;City were also initially found guilty by UEFA in 2020 of breaking financial fair play rules and given a two-year European ban before winning an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/manchester-city-found-guilty-of-breaching-115-premier-league-financial-rules-1790352168679">Manchester City found guilty of breaching 115 Premier League financial rules</a>&nbsp;"We went through an identical process in 2020," Rodri said at a press conference ahead of Spain's Nations League clash against England on Saturday. "The club always reassured us that we would be cleared of wrongdoing, that we would face no penalties—because nothing improper had been done. We trusted the club, and ultimately, the club was acquitted."&nbsp;Rodri scored the winning goal when City won their only Champions League title in 2023, among 12 major trophies with the club.&nbsp;"I have faith that the club, which I know very well, will be cleared, given the reassurance they gave us back then that they had done everything by the book."&nbsp;Rodri's final two seasons at City were hampered by injuries, but he was back to his best at the World Cup to lead Spain to glory.La Roja's victory at Euro 2024 saw Rodri claim the Ballon d'Or that year and he is again among the candidates to be named the world's best player.&nbsp;Unlike some of the other contenders such as Kylian Mbappe and international team-mate Lamine Yamal, he does not believe in the need to openly promote his case for the award.&nbsp;"Do you think I don't want to win it? I know it’s an award that doesn't depend on what you say publicly. It depends on what you’ve shown on the pitch," said the 30-year-old. "Individual titles are a reward for collective effort...nothing players like me have achieved makes sense without teammates."&nbsp;Despite winning two major tournaments in two years, Rodri insisted Spain "are hungry for more" as they begin their Nations League campaign in front of 90,000 at Wembley.&nbsp;"We are motivated to win another title," he said.

Former Man City midfielder Rodri backs his former club following reports of a guilty ruling on 114 Premier League financial charges. Read details.

Former Manchester City midfielder Rodri backed the club to ultimately win a legal battle with the Premier League despite reports on Friday that the English giants have been found guilty on 114 charges. The ruling has not yet been published and no sanctions decided. However, the news has already sent shockwaves through English football with speculation over whether City could be relegated via a severe points deduction or have previous titles stripped. The club are accused of breaking regulations by failing to provide accurate information and details of payments to players and coaches, as well as breaches of financial sustainability rules. City were also initially found guilty by UEFA in 2020 of breaking financial fair play rules and given a two-year European ban before winning an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Also read| Manchester City found guilty of breaching 115 Premier League financial rules "We went through an identical process in 2020," Rodri said at a press conference ahead of Spain's Nations League clash against England on Saturday. "The club always reassured us that we would be cleared of wrongdoing, that we would face no penalties—because nothing improper had been done. We trusted the club, and ultimately, the club was acquitted." Rodri scored the winning goal when City won their only Champions League title in 2023, among 12 major trophies with the club. "I have faith that the club, which I know very well, will be cleared, given the reassurance they gave us back then that they had done everything by the book." Rodri's final two seasons at City were hampered by injuries, but he was back to his best at the World Cup to lead Spain to glory. La Roja's victory at Euro 2024 saw Rodri claim the Ballon d'Or that year and he is again among the candidates to be named the world's best player. Unlike some of the other contenders such as Kylian Mbappe and international team-mate Lamine Yamal, he does not believe in the need to openly promote his case for the award. "Do you think I don't want to win it? I know it’s an award that doesn't depend on what you say publicly. It depends on what you’ve shown on the pitch," said the 30-year-old. "Individual titles are a reward for collective effort...nothing players like me have achieved makes sense without teammates." Despite winning two major tournaments in two years, Rodri insisted Spain "are hungry for more" as they begin their Nations League campaign in front of 90,000 at Wembley. "We are motivated to win another title," he said.

Former Man City midfielder Rodri backs his former club following reports of a guilty ruling on 114 Premier League financial charges. Read details.

‘I believe in the club’s innocence’: Rodri reacts as Man City found guilty of 114 Premier League charges

Manchester City have been found guilty of all but one of the 115 Premier League charges brought against them for alleged financial regulation breaches. The Athletic reported on Friday that no punishment has been decided yet, with City expected to appeal the findings. The decision comes after an independent hearing that began more than two years ago. Its outcome could have major consequences for English football and raise questions over the legacy of City’s highly successful era.&nbsp;The Premier League charged City in 2023 following an investigation into alleged breaches between 2009 and 2018.&nbsp;Manchester City has consistently denied the allegations, which include claims of providing inaccurate financial information on payments to players and coaches and breaching financial sustainability rules.&nbsp;Since Sheikh Mansour’s Abu Dhabi United Group took over the club in 2008, City have established themselves as one of the most successful teams in English football.&nbsp;They have won eight Premier League titles, four FA Cups, seven League Cups and one Champions League over the past 15 years.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/exclusive-we-always-want-to-improve-suruchi-kamaljeet-after-winning-asian-games-gold-1790347185865">Exclusive | 'We always want to improve': Suruchi, Kamaljeet after winning Asian Games gold</a>&nbsp;The allegations first came under scrutiny after leaked documents were published by German outlet Der Spiegel in 2018.&nbsp;Emails allegedly exchanged between senior City officials appeared to suggest that the club had overstated sponsorship income from Abu Dhabi-based companies Etihad and Etisalat. The documents claimed that money invested by Mansour’s Abu Dhabi United Group was presented as sponsorship revenue.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/asian-games-2026-gulveer-singh-bags-silver-in-men-s-10-000m-as-india-s-medal-tally-rises-to-22-1790340530141">Gulveer Singh bags silver in men's 10,000m as India's medal tally rises to 22</a>&nbsp;Other documents reportedly suggested that former manager Roberto Mancini received payments through consultancy fees from an Abu Dhabi-based club.&nbsp;If City are found guilty, possible sanctions could include a significant points deduction and even expulsion from the Premier League.&nbsp;Everton and Nottingham Forest were both handed points deductions during the 2023/24 season for breaches of profit and sustainability rules.&nbsp;A major punishment could also create uncertainty around the futures of several City players, including striker Erling Haaland.&nbsp;Other Premier League clubs could also seek compensation or ask for titles to be reconsidered if City are found to have gained an unfair advantage through financial wrongdoing.&nbsp;With inputs from agencies

According to a report, City could appeal against any sanction handed down to the club.

Manchester City have been found guilty of all but one of the 115 Premier League charges brought against them for alleged financial regulation breaches. The Athletic reported on Friday that no punishment has been decided yet, with City expected to appeal the findings. The decision comes after an independent hearing that began more than two years ago. Its outcome could have major consequences for English football and raise questions over the legacy of City’s highly successful era. The Premier League charged City in 2023 following an investigation into alleged breaches between 2009 and 2018. Manchester City has consistently denied the allegations, which include claims of providing inaccurate financial information on payments to players and coaches and breaching financial sustainability rules. Since Sheikh Mansour’s Abu Dhabi United Group took over the club in 2008, City have established themselves as one of the most successful teams in English football. They have won eight Premier League titles, four FA Cups, seven League Cups and one Champions League over the past 15 years. Also Read - Exclusive | 'We always want to improve': Suruchi, Kamaljeet after winning Asian Games gold The allegations first came under scrutiny after leaked documents were published by German outlet Der Spiegel in 2018. Emails allegedly exchanged between senior City officials appeared to suggest that the club had overstated sponsorship income from Abu Dhabi-based companies Etihad and Etisalat. The documents claimed that money invested by Mansour’s Abu Dhabi United Group was presented as sponsorship revenue. Also Read - Gulveer Singh bags silver in men's 10,000m as India's medal tally rises to 22 Other documents reportedly suggested that former manager Roberto Mancini received payments through consultancy fees from an Abu Dhabi-based club. If City are found guilty, possible sanctions could include a significant points deduction and even expulsion from the Premier League. Everton and Nottingham Forest were both handed points deductions during the 2023/24 season for breaches of profit and sustainability rules. A major punishment could also create uncertainty around the futures of several City players, including striker Erling Haaland. Other Premier League clubs could also seek compensation or ask for titles to be reconsidered if City are found to have gained an unfair advantage through financial wrongdoing. With inputs from agencies

According to a report, City could appeal against any sanction handed down to the club.

Manchester City found guilty of breaching 115 Premier League financial rules

The English Premier League (PL) Virtual Assistant Referees (VARs) who were involved in awarding a wrong goal to Manchester City's Erling Haaland against Manchester United on Sunday (Sep 13) have been stood down. This is the first time that PL officials have been stood down this season owing to an error. The decision from Matt Donohue and his assistant, Blake Antrobus, ensured that City, who were down to 10 men after Phil Foden was given a red card in the 23rd minute, came out winners against their local rivals Manchester United.<h2>VARs stood down after error in judgment during City vs. United Premier League match</h2>The incident happened in the 60th minute of the match when the goal by Haaland was disallowed by on-field referee Michael Oliver because of an offside call. VAR Donohue was called to review the decision and overturned the on-field decision, which allowed the goal. Donohue, in his decision, failed to spot Enzo Fernández's role in the goal, where he influenced play from an offside position.Howard Webb, the chief refereeing officer, reviewed the incident with his team, and Pro Ref, the official body of referees, informed Donohue and Antrobus that they do not have appointments for next week's Premier League matches.Also read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/var-blunder-refereeing-body-admits-error-over-haaland-s-manchester-derby-winner-1789371304877">Man United vs Man City: Why Haaland’s controversial goal has sparked VAR fury</a><h2>What next for Donohue and Antrobus?</h2>Pro Ref has said that the availability of Donohue and Antrobus in the Premier League will be considered after the international break.Donohue has been an EFL referee since 2018 and has taken charge of three matches this season apart from his VAR duties in the Premier League. According to his EFL profile, Donohue has completed the "Enhanced VAR Training Programme" offered by Pro Ref.Antrobus, meanwhile, is an assistant referee in the Premier League and has officiated in three matches this season.

The Premier League VAR officials have been stood down following an error that allowed Erling Haaland's controversial goal for 10-man Manchester City in their victory over Manchester United.

The English Premier League (PL) Virtual Assistant Referees (VARs) who were involved in awarding a wrong goal to Manchester City's Erling Haaland against Manchester United on Sunday (Sep 13) have been stood down. This is the first time that PL officials have been stood down this season owing to an error. The decision from Matt Donohue and his assistant, Blake Antrobus, ensured that City, who were down to 10 men after Phil Foden was given a red card in the 23rd minute, came out winners against their local rivals Manchester United. VARs stood down after error in judgment during City vs. United Premier League match The incident happened in the 60th minute of the match when the goal by Haaland was disallowed by on-field referee Michael Oliver because of an offside call. VAR Donohue was called to review the decision and overturned the on-field decision, which allowed the goal. Donohue, in his decision, failed to spot Enzo Fernández's role in the goal, where he influenced play from an offside position. Howard Webb, the chief refereeing officer, reviewed the incident with his team, and Pro Ref, the official body of referees, informed Donohue and Antrobus that they do not have appointments for next week's Premier League matches. Also read - Man United vs Man City: Why Haaland’s controversial goal has sparked VAR fury What next for Donohue and Antrobus? Pro Ref has said that the availability of Donohue and Antrobus in the Premier League will be considered after the international break. Donohue has been an EFL referee since 2018 and has taken charge of three matches this season apart from his VAR duties in the Premier League. According to his EFL profile, Donohue has completed the "Enhanced VAR Training Programme" offered by Pro Ref. Antrobus, meanwhile, is an assistant referee in the Premier League and has officiated in three matches this season.

The Premier League VAR officials have been stood down following an error that allowed Erling Haaland's controversial goal for 10-man Manchester City in their victory over Manchester United.

Premier League VARs, involved in Haaland's controversial goal vs Manchester United, not given appointment this week

Premier League Matchday 3 is over, and Liverpool have their first win of the season, beating Ipswich Town 2-0. Apart from them, Crystal Palace also got their first win, beating Fulham 3-2. Manchester City, meanwhile, continue to be at the top of <a href="https://www.premierleague.com/en/tables/premier-league/2026-27/all-matchweeks">points table</a>, while defending champions Arsenal are second—both with three wins in three matches. Hull, who are enjoying a dream return to top-flight English football, are still third after a draw in their third match against Aston Villa. Below are the complete results from Premier League Matchday 3:<ul><li>Liverpool 2-0 Ipswich Town</li><li>Newcastle 2-2 Bournemouth</li><li>Brentford 1-1 Sunderland</li><li>Nottingham Forest 0-0 Tottenham Hotspur</li><li>Manchester City 1-0 Coventry</li><li>Crystal Palace 3-2 Fulham</li><li>Brighton 1-1 Leeds</li><li>Hull 0-0 Aston Villa</li><li>Everton 2-2 Manchester United</li><li>Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea</li></ul><h2>Who is leading the <a href="https://www.premierleague.com/en/stats/goals/2026-27">Golden Boot race</a>?</h2>Manchester City's Erling Haaland is at the top of the goal-scoring charts with three goals. He shares the top spot with Alexander Isak (Liverpool) and Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), who also have three goals each.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rival-driver-loek-hartog-saves-fellow-racer-ollie-millroy-from-burning-car-in-daring-rescue-at-china-gt-1788757114246">Rival driver saves fellow racer from burning car in daring rescue at China GT</a><h2>Who is the <a href="https://www.premierleague.com/en/stats/top/players?statMetric=cleanSheets&amp;season=2026&amp;position=Goalkeeper">best goalkeeper</a>?</h2>Hull City's Konstantinos Tzolakis continues to be at the top with three clean sheets in as many matches. Arsenal's David Raya is now second with two clean sheets in three matches.<h2>Who is leading the <a href="https://www.premierleague.com/en/stats/goal-assists/2026-27">Golden Playmaker race</a>?</h2>Cody Gakpo (Liverpool) is currently the leader in assists with three assists. Behind him, with two assists, are Jorrel Hato (Chelsea), João Pedro (Chelsea), Julio Enciso (Ipswich Town), Riccardo Calafiori (Arsenal), Rayan Cherki (Manchester City), Evanilson (Bournemouth), Antoine Semenyo (Bournemouth), and Phil Foden (Manchester City).<h2>Which team has scored the most goals and conceded the least?</h2>Chelsea and Brighton have scored the most goals in three matches so far—eight each—while Manchester United and Manchester City have seven each. Hull City, remarkably, continue to be the only team that have yet to concede a goal, while Arsenal have just one against them.

Matchday 3 saw Liverpool and Palace win, while Man City lead the table. Remarkable newcomers Hull City sit third, standing out as the only Premier League side yet to concede a goal.

Premier League Matchday 3 is over, and Liverpool have their first win of the season, beating Ipswich Town 2-0. Apart from them, Crystal Palace also got their first win, beating Fulham 3-2. Manchester City, meanwhile, continue to be at the top of points table, while defending champions Arsenal are second—both with three wins in three matches. Hull, who are enjoying a dream return to top-flight English football, are still third after a draw in their third match against Aston Villa. Below are the complete results from Premier League Matchday 3: Liverpool 2-0 Ipswich Town Newcastle 2-2 Bournemouth Brentford 1-1 Sunderland Nottingham Forest 0-0 Tottenham Hotspur Manchester City 1-0 Coventry Crystal Palace 3-2 Fulham Brighton 1-1 Leeds Hull 0-0 Aston Villa Everton 2-2 Manchester United Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea Who is leading the Golden Boot race? Manchester City's Erling Haaland is at the top of the goal-scoring charts with three goals. He shares the top spot with Alexander Isak (Liverpool) and Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), who also have three goals each. Also Read - Rival driver saves fellow racer from burning car in daring rescue at China GT Who is the best goalkeeper? Hull City's Konstantinos Tzolakis continues to be at the top with three clean sheets in as many matches. Arsenal's David Raya is now second with two clean sheets in three matches. Who is leading the Golden Playmaker race? Cody Gakpo (Liverpool) is currently the leader in assists with three assists. Behind him, with two assists, are Jorrel Hato (Chelsea), João Pedro (Chelsea), Julio Enciso (Ipswich Town), Riccardo Calafiori (Arsenal), Rayan Cherki (Manchester City), Evanilson (Bournemouth), Antoine Semenyo (Bournemouth), and Phil Foden (Manchester City). Which team has scored the most goals and conceded the least? Chelsea and Brighton have scored the most goals in three matches so far—eight each—while Manchester United and Manchester City have seven each. Hull City, remarkably, continue to be the only team that have yet to concede a goal, while Arsenal have just one against them.

Matchday 3 saw Liverpool and Palace win, while Man City lead the table. Remarkable newcomers Hull City sit third, standing out as the only Premier League side yet to concede a goal.

Premier League Matchday 3: Hull City continue dream return, Manchester City & Arsenal still top two

Premier League side <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/manchester-city-equal-british-transfer-record-enzo-fernandez-1788287462735">Manchester City broke the bank to get Enzo Fernandez</a> from Chelsea before the transfer deadline on Tuesday (Sep 1). Fernandez now joins Enzo Maresca, his former boss at Chelsea, at City, where Maresca takes over from Pep Guardiola. City spent nearly $169 million (£125 million)—a British record—to bring Fernandez to the Etihad Stadium. Along with him, they also acquired Iliman Ndiaye from Everton (nearly $87 million / £65 million), Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest ($156 million / £116 million), and Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille ($116 million / £86 million).<h2>Fernandez shares thoughts on joining City</h2>The Argentine international has signed a five-year contract with Manchester City, which means he will call the Etihad home until 2031. Reacting to the transfer, Fernandez, 25, said via his new club's statement: "Manchester City are the most successful club in England in recent times. Every player wants to be part of a club like this because everyone knows how well-run City are. I could not be happier to be here, and I am ready for the challenge of helping City continue winning trophies. This is a club built for success."On his goals at City, Fernandez said: "If you look across the squad, City have quality in every area. I want to learn from my new teammates and become a better player. &nbsp;"I pride myself on continually improving my game. Anyone who’s worked with me will know how hard I train every single day and how much I put into matches. I give absolutely everything and I can promise Manchester City that will continue now I’m here."<h2>How Chelsea and Fernandez drifted apart</h2>Fernandez had been looking for a way out of Stamford Bridge since March and initially wanted to join Real Madrid. Maresca's unceremonious exit from Chelsea earlier this year also fuelled his plans. He was suspended for two games in March by the club for speaking out after their Champions League exit at the hands of eventual champions Paris Saint-Germain. He came back after the World Cup but was booed by fans at training. He featured in the club's first game of the season against Fulham but didn't take the field in the next two games. He scored 31 goals during his overall tenure at Chelsea after joining from Benfica in 2023 for nearly $144 million (£106.7 million).

Manchester City signed Enzo Fernandez from Chelsea in a British record $169 million deal on a five-year contract, reuniting him with Enzo Maresca after his relationship with Chelsea deteriorated.

Premier League side Manchester City broke the bank to get Enzo Fernandez from Chelsea before the transfer deadline on Tuesday (Sep 1). Fernandez now joins Enzo Maresca, his former boss at Chelsea, at City, where Maresca takes over from Pep Guardiola. City spent nearly $169 million (£125 million)—a British record—to bring Fernandez to the Etihad Stadium. Along with him, they also acquired Iliman Ndiaye from Everton (nearly $87 million / £65 million), Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest ($156 million / £116 million), and Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille ($116 million / £86 million). Fernandez shares thoughts on joining City The Argentine international has signed a five-year contract with Manchester City, which means he will call the Etihad home until 2031. Reacting to the transfer, Fernandez, 25, said via his new club's statement: "Manchester City are the most successful club in England in recent times. Every player wants to be part of a club like this because everyone knows how well-run City are. I could not be happier to be here, and I am ready for the challenge of helping City continue winning trophies. This is a club built for success." On his goals at City, Fernandez said: "If you look across the squad, City have quality in every area. I want to learn from my new teammates and become a better player. "I pride myself on continually improving my game. Anyone who’s worked with me will know how hard I train every single day and how much I put into matches. I give absolutely everything and I can promise Manchester City that will continue now I’m here." How Chelsea and Fernandez drifted apart Fernandez had been looking for a way out of Stamford Bridge since March and initially wanted to join Real Madrid. Maresca's unceremonious exit from Chelsea earlier this year also fuelled his plans. He was suspended for two games in March by the club for speaking out after their Champions League exit at the hands of eventual champions Paris Saint-Germain. He came back after the World Cup but was booed by fans at training. He featured in the club's first game of the season against Fulham but didn't take the field in the next two games. He scored 31 goals during his overall tenure at Chelsea after joining from Benfica in 2023 for nearly $144 million (£106.7 million).

Manchester City signed Enzo Fernandez from Chelsea in a British record $169 million deal on a five-year contract, reuniting him with Enzo Maresca after his relationship with Chelsea deteriorated.

Enzo Fernandez reacts after joining 'built for success' Manchester City in record deal

The UEFA Champions League 2026-27 league-phase draw has set up several exciting matches. Defending champions Paris Saint-Germain will face Barcelona and Manchester City, while 15-time winners Real Madrid will take on Inter Milan and Arsenal. The draw took place at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco on Thursday I(Aug 27). This is the third season of the new format, which has replaced the traditional group stage.&nbsp;PSG enter the tournament as back-to-back champions after beating Arsenal on penalties in last season’s final. Luis Enrique’s team will now aim to become only the fourth club to win the European Cup/Champions League three years in a row, following Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Ajax.<h3>PSG face Manchester City, Barcelona</h3>PSG received one of the toughest draws, as they will host Barcelona and Roma, while their away games include Manchester City and Aston Villa.&nbsp;Their other opponents are Galatasaray, Villarreal, Slovan Bratislava and Como.&nbsp;&nbsp;PSG’s eight opponents<ul><li>Barcelona - Home</li><li>Manchester City - Away</li><li>Roma - Home</li><li>Aston Villa - Away</li><li>Galatasaray - Home</li><li>Villarreal - Away</li><li>Slovan Bratislava - Home</li><li>Como - Away</li></ul><h3>Real Madrid handed Arsenal Test</h3>Real Madrid will start their Champions League campaign under returning manager Jose Mourinho. They will host Inter Milan, PSV Eindhoven, RB Leipzig, LASK and their away matches are against Arsenal, Roma, Shakhtar Donetsk and AEK Athens.&nbsp;The Inter Milan game will have an added storyline, as Mourinho guided Inter to the Champions League title in 2010 before joining Real Madrid. He has now returned to Madrid on a contract running until 2029.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fih-women-s-hockey-world-cup-2026-india-secure-fifth-place-with-3-1-win-over-germany-1787845102086">A Moment to Cherish! India defeat Germany 3-1 to finish fifth at FIH Women’s Hockey World Cup 2026, best in 52 years</a>&nbsp;Real Madrid’s eight opponents<ul><li>Inter Milan - Home</li><li>Arsenal - Away</li><li>PSV Eindhoven - Home</li><li>Roma - Away</li><li>RB Leipzig - Home</li><li>Shakhtar Donetsk - Away</li><li>LASK - Home</li><li>AEK Athens - Away</li></ul><h3>Bayern renew rivalry with Manchester United</h3>Bayern Munich will host Arsenal, Real Betis, Bodo/Glimt and Slavia Prague and their away fixtures are against Atletico Madrid, Manchester United, Lille and Viking.&nbsp;Bayern Munich’s eight opponents<ul><li>Arsenal - Home</li><li>Atletico Madrid - Away</li><li>Real Betis - Home</li><li>Manchester United - Away</li><li>Bodo/Glimt - Home</li><li>&nbsp;Lille - Away</li><li>Slavia Prague - Home</li><li>Viking - Away</li></ul><h3>Manchester United to face Atletico</h3>Manchester United will welcome Bayern Munich, Roma, RB Leipzig and Sabah at home. Their away games will be against Atletico Madrid, Sporting CP, Villarreal and Como.&nbsp;Manchester United’s eight opponents<ul><li>Bayern Munich - Home</li><li>Atletico Madrid - Away</li><li>Roma - Home</li><li>Sporting CP - Away</li><li>RB Leipzig - Home</li><li>&nbsp;Villarreal - Away</li><li>Sabah - Home</li><li>Como - Away</li></ul><h3>Other major draws</h3>Barcelona<ul><li>Manchester City - Home</li><li>Aston Villa - Home</li><li>Feyenoord - Home</li><li>Como - Home</li><li>PSG - Away</li><li>Sporting Lisbon - Away</li><li>Galatasaray - Away</li><li>Sabah - Away</li></ul>Arsenal<ul><li>Real Madrid - Home</li><li>Bayern Munich - Away</li><li>Borussia Dortmund - Home</li><li>Real Betis - Away</li><li>Lille - Home</li><li>Napoli - Away</li><li>Sabah - Home</li><li>Slavia Prague - Away</li></ul>Manchester City<ul><li>PSG - Home</li><li>Barcelona - Away</li><li>Sporting CP - Home</li><li>Porto - Away</li><li>Napoli - Home</li><li>RB Leipzig - Away</li><li>AEK Athens - Home</li><li>Lens - Away</li></ul>Liverpool<ul><li>Atletico Madrid - Home</li><li>Inter Milan - Away</li><li>Porto - Home</li><li>Club Brugge - Away</li><li>Villarreal - Home</li><li>Fenerbahce - Away</li><li>Lens - Home</li><li>LASK - Away</li></ul>Aston Villa<ul><li>PSG - Home</li><li>Barcelona - Away</li><li>Borussia Dortmund - Home</li><li>Club Brugge - Away</li><li>Fenerbahce - Home</li><li>Galatasaray - Away</li><li>Viking - Home</li><li>Slavia Prague - Away</li></ul><h3>New Champions League format</h3>The 2026-27 Champions League has 36 teams competing in a single league table. Every club will play eight different opponents, with two opponents coming from each of the four pots.&nbsp;Each team will play four matches at home and four away.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/we-did-everything-we-could-shubman-gill-reacts-after-sri-lanka-hold-india-to-draw-in-second-test-1787843646557">'We did everything we could': Gill reacts after SL hold IND to draw in 2nd Test</a>&nbsp;The top eight teams will automatically qualify for the Round of 16. Teams finishing from ninth to 24th will enter the knockout play-offs, while clubs finishing 25th or lower will be eliminated from European competition.&nbsp;Champions League important dates<ul><li>Matchday 1: 8-10 Sept, 2026</li><li>&nbsp;Matchday 2: Oct 13-14</li><li>Matchday 3: Oct 20-21</li><li>Matchday 4: Nov 3-4</li><li>Matchday 5: Nov 24-25</li><li>Matchday 6: Dec 8-9</li><li>Matchday 7: 19-20 Jan, 2027</li><li>Matchday 8: Jan 27</li><li>Knockout play-offs: Feb 16-17 and 23-24</li><li>Round of 16: Mar 9-10 and 16-17</li><li>Quarter-finals: Apr 6-7 and 13-14</li><li>Semi-finals: Apr 27-28 and May 4-5</li><li>Final: 5 Jun, 2027, at the Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid</li></ul>

PSG and Real Madrid have been handed blockbuster clashes in the 2026-27 Champions League league phase. The defending champions will face Barcelona and Manchester City, while 15-time winners Real Madrid take on Arsenal and Inter Milan.

The UEFA Champions League 2026-27 league-phase draw has set up several exciting matches. Defending champions Paris Saint-Germain will face Barcelona and Manchester City, while 15-time winners Real Madrid will take on Inter Milan and Arsenal. The draw took place at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco on Thursday I(Aug 27). This is the third season of the new format, which has replaced the traditional group stage. PSG enter the tournament as back-to-back champions after beating Arsenal on penalties in last season’s final. Luis Enrique’s team will now aim to become only the fourth club to win the European Cup/Champions League three years in a row, following Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Ajax. PSG face Manchester City, Barcelona PSG received one of the toughest draws, as they will host Barcelona and Roma, while their away games include Manchester City and Aston Villa. Their other opponents are Galatasaray, Villarreal, Slovan Bratislava and Como. PSG’s eight opponents Barcelona - Home Manchester City - Away Roma - Home Aston Villa - Away Galatasaray - Home Villarreal - Away Slovan Bratislava - Home Como - Away Real Madrid handed Arsenal Test Real Madrid will start their Champions League campaign under returning manager Jose Mourinho. They will host Inter Milan, PSV Eindhoven, RB Leipzig, LASK and their away matches are against Arsenal, Roma, Shakhtar Donetsk and AEK Athens. The Inter Milan game will have an added storyline, as Mourinho guided Inter to the Champions League title in 2010 before joining Real Madrid. He has now returned to Madrid on a contract running until 2029. Also Read - A Moment to Cherish! India defeat Germany 3-1 to finish fifth at FIH Women’s Hockey World Cup 2026, best in 52 years Real Madrid’s eight opponents Inter Milan - Home Arsenal - Away PSV Eindhoven - Home Roma - Away RB Leipzig - Home Shakhtar Donetsk - Away LASK - Home AEK Athens - Away Bayern renew rivalry with Manchester United Bayern Munich will host Arsenal, Real Betis, Bodo/Glimt and Slavia Prague and their away fixtures are against Atletico Madrid, Manchester United, Lille and Viking. Bayern Munich’s eight opponents Arsenal - Home Atletico Madrid - Away Real Betis - Home Manchester United - Away Bodo/Glimt - Home Lille - Away Slavia Prague - Home Viking - Away Manchester United to face Atletico Manchester United will welcome Bayern Munich, Roma, RB Leipzig and Sabah at home. Their away games will be against Atletico Madrid, Sporting CP, Villarreal and Como. Manchester United’s eight opponents Bayern Munich - Home Atletico Madrid - Away Roma - Home Sporting CP - Away RB Leipzig - Home Villarreal - Away Sabah - Home Como - Away Other major draws Barcelona Manchester City - Home Aston Villa - Home Feyenoord - Home Como - Home PSG - Away Sporting Lisbon - Away Galatasaray - Away Sabah - Away Arsenal Real Madrid - Home Bayern Munich - Away Borussia Dortmund - Home Real Betis - Away Lille - Home Napoli - Away Sabah - Home Slavia Prague - Away Manchester City PSG - Home Barcelona - Away Sporting CP - Home Porto - Away Napoli - Home RB Leipzig - Away AEK Athens - Home Lens - Away Liverpool Atletico Madrid - Home Inter Milan - Away Porto - Home Club Brugge - Away Villarreal - Home Fenerbahce - Away Lens - Home LASK - Away Aston Villa PSG - Home Barcelona - Away Borussia Dortmund - Home Club Brugge - Away Fenerbahce - Home Galatasaray - Away Viking - Home Slavia Prague - Away New Champions League format The 2026-27 Champions League has 36 teams competing in a single league table. Every club will play eight different opponents, with two opponents coming from each of the four pots. Each team will play four matches at home and four away. Also Read - 'We did everything we could': Gill reacts after SL hold IND to draw in 2nd Test The top eight teams will automatically qualify for the Round of 16. Teams finishing from ninth to 24th will enter the knockout play-offs, while clubs finishing 25th or lower will be eliminated from European competition. Champions League important dates Matchday 1: 8-10 Sept, 2026 Matchday 2: Oct 13-14 Matchday 3: Oct 20-21 Matchday 4: Nov 3-4 Matchday 5: Nov 24-25 Matchday 6: Dec 8-9 Matchday 7: 19-20 Jan, 2027 Matchday 8: Jan 27 Knockout play-offs: Feb 16-17 and 23-24 Round of 16: Mar 9-10 and 16-17 Quarter-finals: Apr 6-7 and 13-14 Semi-finals: Apr 27-28 and May 4-5 Final: 5 Jun, 2027, at the Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid

PSG and Real Madrid have been handed blockbuster clashes in the 2026-27 Champions League league phase. The defending champions will face Barcelona and Manchester City, while 15-time winners Real Madrid take on Arsenal and Inter Milan.

Champions League 2026-27 draw: PSG, Barcelona set for blockbuster clash, Man Utd face Bayern

Former Manchester City and Chelsea player Raheem Sterling has been charged with dangerous driving and possession of a Class C drug, and is now looking at possible jail time. Sterling, 31, who is currently a free agent, has been charged in connection with a crash involving his Lamborghini in May earlier this year. He has also been charged with failing to provide a specimen following the single-vehicle crash, in which no one was hurt. He is due to appear before a Basingstoke Magistrates' Court judge on September 15.<h2>Raheem Sterling's crash charges</h2>The ex-England winger was reported by concerned motorists and was arrested on May 28 while driving on the southbound carriageway of the M3 motorway. At the time, Sterling was released on bail while the inquiry continued.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/premier-league-matchday-1-who-won-and-who-lost-check-full-results-and-standings-1787649035026">Premier League, matchday 1: Who won &amp; who lost - check full results, standings</a>A Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary spokesman has now said: "Raheem Sterling, 31, from Berkshire, has been charged with the following offences: dangerous driving, possession of nitrous oxide for wrongful inhalation, and failing to provide a specimen."If convicted, Sterling - who won the PFA Young Player of the Year award during the 2018–19 season - could face up to two years in prison for dangerous driving as well as possession of a Class C drug.<h2>Sterling's rise and downfall</h2>Raheem started with Liverpool in the Premier League in 2012 and played with them until the 2014-15 season, scoring 18 goals in 95 league appearances. He then joined Manchester City, where he peaked and won four PL titles, scoring 91 goals in 225 league appearances during his stay from 2015 to 2022. From City, he moved to Chelsea in a £47.5 million deal in 2022, but failed to live up to expectations. He spent the 2024–25 season on loan with Arsenal and moved to Dutch club Feyenoord after Chelsea terminated his contract. He scored only 14 goals for the Blues at Stamford Bridge across 59 appearances.

Ex-England winger Raheem Sterling, 31, faces up to 2 years in prison after being charged with dangerous driving, possessing a Class C drug, and failing to provide a specimen. Court date is Sept 15.

Former Manchester City and Chelsea player Raheem Sterling has been charged with dangerous driving and possession of a Class C drug, and is now looking at possible jail time. Sterling, 31, who is currently a free agent, has been charged in connection with a crash involving his Lamborghini in May earlier this year. He has also been charged with failing to provide a specimen following the single-vehicle crash, in which no one was hurt. He is due to appear before a Basingstoke Magistrates' Court judge on September 15. Raheem Sterling's crash charges The ex-England winger was reported by concerned motorists and was arrested on May 28 while driving on the southbound carriageway of the M3 motorway. At the time, Sterling was released on bail while the inquiry continued. Also Read - Premier League, matchday 1: Who won & who lost - check full results, standings A Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary spokesman has now said: "Raheem Sterling, 31, from Berkshire, has been charged with the following offences: dangerous driving, possession of nitrous oxide for wrongful inhalation, and failing to provide a specimen." If convicted, Sterling - who won the PFA Young Player of the Year award during the 2018–19 season - could face up to two years in prison for dangerous driving as well as possession of a Class C drug. Sterling's rise and downfall Raheem started with Liverpool in the Premier League in 2012 and played with them until the 2014-15 season, scoring 18 goals in 95 league appearances. He then joined Manchester City, where he peaked and won four PL titles, scoring 91 goals in 225 league appearances during his stay from 2015 to 2022. From City, he moved to Chelsea in a £47.5 million deal in 2022, but failed to live up to expectations. He spent the 2024–25 season on loan with Arsenal and moved to Dutch club Feyenoord after Chelsea terminated his contract. He scored only 14 goals for the Blues at Stamford Bridge across 59 appearances.

Ex-England winger Raheem Sterling, 31, faces up to 2 years in prison after being charged with dangerous driving, possessing a Class C drug, and failing to provide a specimen. Court date is Sept 15.

Ex-Chelsea, Man City winger Sterling looking at 'up to two years in prison' for May car crash

The Premier League 2026/27 season has started and nothing could have shocked the fans more than Manchester City's prolific striker Erling Haaland's buzz cut hair style. Famous for his flowing blonde hair, Haaland introduced the shock new look ahead of Manchester City's opening fixture against Bournemouth on Sunday (Aug 23). Manchester City came from behind to win the match 2-1, but Haaland failed to score his customary opening game goal for the first time in five seasons at City.<h2>Haaland opening goal scoring in Premier League goes away with his hair?</h2>On Sunday (Aug 23) morning, Haaland took to Instagram to post a <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DcYKkUalmgT">series of photos with his new hair cut</a> along with the caption "short hair don't care." The Norwegian striker later <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reels/DcYIjucPQA9/">added a video</a> as well, showing him before and after the new haircut. Joining in on the conversation, Manchester <a href="https://x.com/premierleague/status/2091606398614360571">City also posted a video</a> of their star player.In the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YEJDmfjy7M">longer video</a> of his Instagram clip, Haaland video called City's former manager Pep Guardiola for his reaction and the manager said: "No way! You are lucky you have hair, I would love to have it!"The new haircut, however, coincided with Haaland failing to score in the opening game of Premier League for the first time in five seasons.He had scored two goals against West Ham in 2022/23, two against Burnley in 2023/24, one against Chelsea in 2024/25, and two against the Wolves in 2025/26.<h2>Premier League standings and points table</h2>The 20-team English Premier League saw nine matches being played between 18 teams on the weeked of August 22-23 with only Fulham vs Chelsea being the remaining fixture for the first week. Below are full standing and points table of Premier League after week 1:&nbsp;

<figure class="table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Team</td><td>Matches</td><td>Win</td><td>Loss</td><td>Draw</td><td>Points</td></tr><tr><td>Brighton</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>3</td></tr><tr><td>Brentford</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>3</td></tr><tr><td>Arsenal</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>3</td></tr><tr><td>Hull</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>3</td></tr><tr><td>Everton</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>3</td></tr><tr><td>Ipswich Town</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>3</td></tr><tr><td>Man City</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>3</td></tr><tr><td>Leeds</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>3</td></tr><tr><td>Liverpool</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>Newcastle</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>Chelsea</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Fulham</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Bournemouth</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Sunderland</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Nottingham Forest</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Crystal Palace</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Man United</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Spurs</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Coventry</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Aston Villa</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>0</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>

The City came from behind to win the match 2-1, but Haaland failed to score his customary opening game goal for the first time in five seasons at City.

The Premier League 2026/27 season has started and nothing could have shocked the fans more than Manchester City's prolific striker Erling Haaland's buzz cut hair style. Famous for his flowing blonde hair, Haaland introduced the shock new look ahead of Manchester City's opening fixture against Bournemouth on Sunday (Aug 23). Manchester City came from behind to win the match 2-1, but Haaland failed to score his customary opening game goal for the first time in five seasons at City. Haaland opening goal scoring in Premier League goes away with his hair? On Sunday (Aug 23) morning, Haaland took to Instagram to post a series of photos with his new hair cut along with the caption "short hair don't care." The Norwegian striker later added a video as well, showing him before and after the new haircut. Joining in on the conversation, Manchester City also posted a video of their star player. In the longer video of his Instagram clip, Haaland video called City's former manager Pep Guardiola for his reaction and the manager said: "No way! You are lucky you have hair, I would love to have it!" The new haircut, however, coincided with Haaland failing to score in the opening game of Premier League for the first time in five seasons. He had scored two goals against West Ham in 2022/23, two against Burnley in 2023/24, one against Chelsea in 2024/25, and two against the Wolves in 2025/26. Premier League standings and points table The 20-team English Premier League saw nine matches being played between 18 teams on the weeked of August 22-23 with only Fulham vs Chelsea being the remaining fixture for the first week. Below are full standing and points table of Premier League after week 1:

Manchester City came from behind to win the match 2-1, but Haaland failed to score his customary opening game goal for the first time in five seasons at City.

Premier League: Haaland lets go of hair for buzzcut and opening game goal scoring

Arsenal lifted the 2025-26 Premier League title, while England's top clubs secured Champions League qualification. Erling Haaland finished as the league's top scorer, Bruno Fernandes led the assists chart, and Virgil van Dijk recorded the most passes.

Arsenal lifted the 2025-26 Premier League title, while England's top clubs secured Champions League qualification. Erling Haaland finished as the league's top scorer, Bruno Fernandes led the assists chart, and Virgil van Dijk recorded the most passes.

Premier League 2025-26 Review | Who scored most goals, assists and passes and teams which qualified for Champions League

Pep Guardiola is set to leave his role as manager of Manchester City at the end of the season, closing a decade-long tenure widely regarded as one of the most successful in European football. The club confirmed his departure in an official statement, noting his immense contribution since arriving in July 2016. Manchester City are currently second in the Premier League table with 78 points, behind leaders Arsenal.&nbsp;The club further stated that Guardiola transformed Manchester City during his tenure and leaves as the most decorated manager in its history, having secured 20 major trophies.&nbsp;&nbsp;"Pep Guardiola will step down as Manager of Manchester City this summer. The Catalan, who joined City in July 2016, has had a transformative effect during his ten years in charge, and will leave having won 20 major trophies - making him the most successful Manager in our history," the statement said.&nbsp;&nbsp;Although he will no longer serve as head coach, Guardiola will continue his association with the City Football Group by taking on the role of global ambassador.&nbsp;&nbsp;"Despite his departure as Manager of Manchester City, Pep will continue his relationship with the City Football Group, by taking up a role as a Global Ambassador. The role will see him giving technical advice to the clubs in the group, working on specific projects and collaborations," the club statement said.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/-you-will-get-to-know-it-next-year-itself-ruturaj-gaikwad-on-ms-dhoni-s-ipl-future-1779446606867">'You will get to know it next year itself': Ruturaj Gaikwad on MS Dhoni’s IPL future</a>&nbsp;Since joining City in 2016, Guardiola has overseen a golden era for the club, guiding them to six Premier League titles, one UEFA Champions League crown, three FA Cups, five League Cups and victories in the FIFA Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup and FA Community Shield.&nbsp;His finest achievement came during the 2022-23 campaign, when Manchester City completed a historic treble by winning the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League in the same season.&nbsp;&nbsp;The feat made City only the second English club after Manchester United to accomplish such a milestone, with many regarding it as the greatest season in the club’s 132-year history.&nbsp;Speaking on his departure from the club, Guardiola said, as quoted by the official Premier League website, "When I arrived, my first interview was with Noel Gallagher. I walked out thinking, 'Okay... Noel is here. This will be fun." "And what a time we have had together. Do not ask me the reasons I'm leaving. There is no reason, but deep inside, I know it is my time. Nothing is eternal; if it were, I would be here. Eternal will be the feeling, the people, the memories, the love I have for my Manchester City."&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/malaysia-masters-2026-ashmita-chaliha-knocked-out-by-line-kjaersfeldt-in-quarterfinal-clash-1779444624678">Malaysia Masters 2026 | Ashmita Chaliha loses to Kjaersfeldt in quarterfinals</a> "This is a city built from work. From graft. You see it in the colour of the bricks. From people who clocked in early, stayed late. The factories. The Pankhursts. The unions. The music. Simply the Industrial Revolution and how it changed the world. And I think I grew to understand that, and my teams did too." "We worked. We suffered. We fought. And we did things our own way. Our way," he signed off.&nbsp;&nbsp;With inputs from agencies

Pep Guardiola’s finest achievement with Manchester City came during the 2022-23 campaign, when the club completed a historic treble by winning the Premier League, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League in the same season.

Pep Guardiola is set to leave his role as manager of Manchester City at the end of the season, closing a decade-long tenure widely regarded as one of the most successful in European football. The club confirmed his departure in an official statement, noting his immense contribution since arriving in July 2016. Manchester City are currently second in the Premier League table with 78 points, behind leaders Arsenal. The club further stated that Guardiola transformed Manchester City during his tenure and leaves as the most decorated manager in its history, having secured 20 major trophies. "Pep Guardiola will step down as Manager of Manchester City this summer. The Catalan, who joined City in July 2016, has had a transformative effect during his ten years in charge, and will leave having won 20 major trophies - making him the most successful Manager in our history," the statement said. Although he will no longer serve as head coach, Guardiola will continue his association with the City Football Group by taking on the role of global ambassador. "Despite his departure as Manager of Manchester City, Pep will continue his relationship with the City Football Group, by taking up a role as a Global Ambassador. The role will see him giving technical advice to the clubs in the group, working on specific projects and collaborations," the club statement said. Also Read - 'You will get to know it next year itself': Ruturaj Gaikwad on MS Dhoni’s IPL future Since joining City in 2016, Guardiola has overseen a golden era for the club, guiding them to six Premier League titles, one UEFA Champions League crown, three FA Cups, five League Cups and victories in the FIFA Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup and FA Community Shield. His finest achievement came during the 2022-23 campaign, when Manchester City completed a historic treble by winning the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League in the same season. The feat made City only the second English club after Manchester United to accomplish such a milestone, with many regarding it as the greatest season in the club’s 132-year history. Speaking on his departure from the club, Guardiola said, as quoted by the official Premier League website, "When I arrived, my first interview was with Noel Gallagher. I walked out thinking, 'Okay... Noel is here. This will be fun." "And what a time we have had together. Do not ask me the reasons I'm leaving. There is no reason, but deep inside, I know it is my time. Nothing is eternal; if it were, I would be here. Eternal will be the feeling, the people, the memories, the love I have for my Manchester City." Also Read - Malaysia Masters 2026 | Ashmita Chaliha loses to Kjaersfeldt in quarterfinals "This is a city built from work. From graft. You see it in the colour of the bricks. From people who clocked in early, stayed late. The factories. The Pankhursts. The unions. The music. Simply the Industrial Revolution and how it changed the world. And I think I grew to understand that, and my teams did too." "We worked. We suffered. We fought. And we did things our own way. Our way," he signed off. With inputs from agencies

Pep Guardiola’s finest achievement with Manchester City came during the 2022-23 campaign, when the club completed a historic treble by winning the Premier League, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League in the same season.

Pep Guardiola to step down as manager at end of the season, confirms Manchester City

Arsenal were crowned Premier League champions on Tuesday (May 19), ending a 22-year wait for the title after Manchester City were held to a 1-1 draw by AFC Bournemouth. Pep Guardiola’s side needed a victory on the south coast to keep the title race alive, but despite a late strike from Erling Haaland, City failed to secure all three points. The result confirmed Arsenal as league champions after years of near misses under manager Mikel Arteta. After finishing runners-up in each of the previous three seasons, the Gunners finally secured the Premier League crown and ended a six-year wait for major silverware.&nbsp;&nbsp;Arsenal had moved within touching distance of the title on Monday with a narrow 1-0 win over already relegated Burnley FC, opening a five-point gap over Manchester City. Arsenal, who have led the Premier League title race for much of the season, responded strongly after last month’s defeat to Manchester City by winning four consecutive league matches without conceding a goal.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rr-vs-lsg-vaibhav-sooryavanshi-93-runs-58-balls-carnage-puts-rajasthan-royals-one-step-closer-to-ipl-2026-playoff-spot-1779213487681">RR vs LSG: Sooryavanshi's carnage puts RR one step closer to IPL 2026 playoff spot</a>&nbsp;City, meanwhile, entered Monday’s clash under intense scrutiny following widespread reports that manager Pep Guardiola will leave the club at the end of the season after a decade in charge. Just 48 hours earlier, Guardiola had guided City to a domestic cup double after defeating Chelsea FC in the FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, securing the 20th trophy of his remarkable tenure. However, Guardiola will not add another Premier League title to his collection of six league crowns, with Sunday’s home match against Aston Villa FC at the Etihad Stadium expected to be his final game in charge.&nbsp;Before the Bournemouth clash, Guardiola admitted fatigue could affect his side against a highly motivated AFC Bournemouth team still chasing a place in next season’s UEFA Champions League. As things stand, Bournemouth are set to qualify for the UEFA Europa League after guaranteeing at least a seventh-place finish. A sixth-place finish could still secure Champions League football if Aston Villa finish fifth and win Wednesday’s Europa League final.&nbsp;Manchester City supporters at the Vitality Stadium chanted “One more year, Guardiola” early in the match as they attempted to persuade the decorated coach to stay for the final year of his contract. However, if the travelling Manchester City supporters expected the players to deliver a memorable farewell performance for manager Pep Guardiola, they were ultimately left disappointed by the result.

Arsenal clinched the Premier League title for the first time in 22 years after Manchester City’s 1-1 draw with Bournemouth handed Mikel Arteta’s side the crown

Arsenal were crowned Premier League champions on Tuesday (May 19), ending a 22-year wait for the title after Manchester City were held to a 1-1 draw by AFC Bournemouth. Pep Guardiola’s side needed a victory on the south coast to keep the title race alive, but despite a late strike from Erling Haaland, City failed to secure all three points. The result confirmed Arsenal as league champions after years of near misses under manager Mikel Arteta. After finishing runners-up in each of the previous three seasons, the Gunners finally secured the Premier League crown and ended a six-year wait for major silverware. Arsenal had moved within touching distance of the title on Monday with a narrow 1-0 win over already relegated Burnley FC, opening a five-point gap over Manchester City. Arsenal, who have led the Premier League title race for much of the season, responded strongly after last month’s defeat to Manchester City by winning four consecutive league matches without conceding a goal. Also Read: RR vs LSG: Sooryavanshi's carnage puts RR one step closer to IPL 2026 playoff spot City, meanwhile, entered Monday’s clash under intense scrutiny following widespread reports that manager Pep Guardiola will leave the club at the end of the season after a decade in charge. Just 48 hours earlier, Guardiola had guided City to a domestic cup double after defeating Chelsea FC in the FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, securing the 20th trophy of his remarkable tenure. However, Guardiola will not add another Premier League title to his collection of six league crowns, with Sunday’s home match against Aston Villa FC at the Etihad Stadium expected to be his final game in charge. Before the Bournemouth clash, Guardiola admitted fatigue could affect his side against a highly motivated AFC Bournemouth team still chasing a place in next season’s UEFA Champions League. As things stand, Bournemouth are set to qualify for the UEFA Europa League after guaranteeing at least a seventh-place finish. A sixth-place finish could still secure Champions League football if Aston Villa finish fifth and win Wednesday’s Europa League final. Manchester City supporters at the Vitality Stadium chanted “One more year, Guardiola” early in the match as they attempted to persuade the decorated coach to stay for the final year of his contract. However, if the travelling Manchester City supporters expected the players to deliver a memorable farewell performance for manager Pep Guardiola, they were ultimately left disappointed by the result.

Arsenal won the Premier League title for the first time in 22 years after Manchester City drew 1-1 against Bournemouth

Premier League: Arsenal crowned champions after 22 years as Manchester City draw against AFC Bournemouth

Manchester City have two more matches left in the ongoing Premier League season and are still in hunt of the title against table toppers Arsenal, but this isn't the biggest news of all. Everything, including Man City's chances to win the Premier League seventh time in last 10 years, has been overshadowed by the news of possible departure of Pep Guardiola from the Premier League team. Man City play Bournemouth in their second last game of the season and a loss or a draw will end their hopes for a seventh title in 10 years under Guardiola. Under him, Man City won four back-to-back PL titles from 2021 to 2024 - the first and only instance it the league.<h2>Is Guardiola really leaving Man City after ongoing Premier League season?</h2>If the reports are to be believed, Pep Guardiola is certain to leave Man City at the end of the ongoing Premier League season. ESPN has reported citing sources that Guardiola leaving is a done deal but Man City bosses are not saying anything to avoid distractions in the last two matches. Guardiola's contract is until 2027 but a break clause allows him to leave at the end of the season.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/where-to-watch-fifa-world-cup-2026-in-india-live-football-fans-in-limbo-amid-broadcast-uncertainty-1779172973810">Where to watch FIFA World Cup 2026 in India live? Football fans in limbo amid broadcast uncertainty</a>Guardiola's former assistant at City and ex-Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca is the favorite to replace the 55-year-old at the Etihad stadium. Guardiola recently won his 20th trophy on Saturday (May 16), beating Chelsea in the FA Cup final.<h2>How many trophies did Guardiola win with Man City?</h2>Guardiola joined Man City in ahead of 2016-17 season and has won six Premier League trophies with the club during his stay. Under him, Man City won the Premier League consecutively in 2017/18 and 2018/19 season before winning a record four titles on the trot from 2020/21 to 2023/25 seasons.Apart from his six PL titles, Man City also won Champions League in 2022/23 season, along with 3 FA Cups, 5 Carabao Cups, 3, FA Community Shields, and one each of UEFA Super Cup as well as FIFA World Cup.

Under Guardiola, Man City won six Premier League titles including a record four back-to-back trophies from 2021 to 2024. His last game would be Man City vs Aston Villa Sunday (May 24) at home - Etihad Stadium.

Manchester City have two more matches left in the ongoing Premier League season and are still in hunt of the title against table toppers Arsenal, but this isn't the biggest news of all. Everything, including Man City's chances to win the Premier League seventh time in last 10 years, has been overshadowed by the news of possible departure of Pep Guardiola from the Premier League team. Man City play Bournemouth in their second last game of the season and a loss or a draw will end their hopes for a seventh title in 10 years under Guardiola. Under him, Man City won four back-to-back PL titles from 2021 to 2024 - the first and only instance it the league. Is Guardiola really leaving Man City after ongoing Premier League season? If the reports are to be believed, Pep Guardiola is certain to leave Man City at the end of the ongoing Premier League season. ESPN has reported citing sources that Guardiola leaving is a done deal but Man City bosses are not saying anything to avoid distractions in the last two matches. Guardiola's contract is until 2027 but a break clause allows him to leave at the end of the season. Also Read - Where to watch FIFA World Cup 2026 in India live? Football fans in limbo amid broadcast uncertainty Guardiola's former assistant at City and ex-Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca is the favorite to replace the 55-year-old at the Etihad stadium. Guardiola recently won his 20th trophy on Saturday (May 16), beating Chelsea in the FA Cup final. How many trophies did Guardiola win with Man City? Guardiola joined Man City in ahead of 2016-17 season and has won six Premier League trophies with the club during his stay. Under him, Man City won the Premier League consecutively in 2017/18 and 2018/19 season before winning a record four titles on the trot from 2020/21 to 2023/25 seasons. Apart from his six PL titles, Man City also won Champions League in 2022/23 season, along with 3 FA Cups, 5 Carabao Cups, 3, FA Community Shields, and one each of UEFA Super Cup as well as FIFA World Cup.

Under Guardiola, Man City won six Premier League titles including a record four back-to-back trophies from 2021 to 2024. His last game would be Man City vs Aston Villa Sunday (May 24) at home - Etihad Stadium.

Pep Guardiola is leaving Man City after ongoing Premier League season - Report

Arsenal are on the brink of ending a 22-year wait to win the Premier League after beating Burnley 1-0 on Monday to open up a five-point lead at the top. Kai Havertz headed in the only goal but was also lucky to avoid a second-half red card that could have swung the title race back in Manchester City's favour. The Gunners could be crowned champions as early as Tuesday should City fail to win at Bournemouth. Even if City do end the Cherries' 16-game unbeaten run and beat Aston Villa, Arsenal will secure the title with victory at Crystal Palace on Sunday."One more to go," said Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/iran-fifa-world-cup-squad-lands-in-turkey-for-training-crucial-us-visa-process-donald-trump-israel-ceasefire-1779113108788">Iran’s World Cup squad lands in Turkey for training, crucial US visa process</a>"We have done our job, what is in our hands. We have to wait and see what is going to happen tomorrow and then it's time to prepare for the Palace game."However, the narrow margin of victory against a Burnley side that have long since been relegated does offer City hope.An Arsenal draw at Selhurst Park would allow City to snatch the title on goal difference if Pep Guardiola's team win their final two matches.To add extra intrigue to the final days of the season, reports on Monday suggest Guardiola will leave City after a decorated decade in charge after Villa visit the Etihad on Sunday.Roared on by an expectant capacity crowd in their final home game of the season, Arsenal were tipped to put the Clarets to the sword with ease.Burnley have taken just two points from their last 10 matches but made Arteta's men work for the three points on another nervy night at the Emirates.Leandro Trossard struck the post from the edge of the area before Bukayo Saka saw a penalty appeal waived away as he attempted to turn in Havertz's low cross.Arsenal were forced to rely on their set piece threat once more to prise Burnley open.Havertz rose highest to power in Saka's delivery on 37 minutes as they scored from a corner for the 18th time in the league this season.Yet the floodgates did not open and Arsenal were very fortunate not to have to defend their lead with 10 men for the final quarter.Havertz raked his studs down the calf of Lesley Ugochukwu in a mistimed challenge.Despite a VAR review, the original decision of a yellow card was not upgraded to red.Havertz was quickly replaced by Viktor Gyokeres. The Swede's arrival failed to kickstart Arsenal as an attacking force.But their rock solid defensive record again edged them closer to the title.Since losing to City last month, Arsenal have not conceded in their last four league games."The margin should have been bigger but we haven't achieved that," added Arteta."We have shown what we have shown all season that when we need to defend and get through the game, we can do it in an efficient way."

An Arsenal draw at Selhurst Park would allow City to snatch the title on goal difference if Pep Guardiola's team win their final two matches.

Arsenal are on the brink of ending a 22-year wait to win the Premier League after beating Burnley 1-0 on Monday to open up a five-point lead at the top. Kai Havertz headed in the only goal but was also lucky to avoid a second-half red card that could have swung the title race back in Manchester City's favour. The Gunners could be crowned champions as early as Tuesday should City fail to win at Bournemouth. Even if City do end the Cherries' 16-game unbeaten run and beat Aston Villa, Arsenal will secure the title with victory at Crystal Palace on Sunday. "One more to go," said Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta. Also Read - Iran’s World Cup squad lands in Turkey for training, crucial US visa process "We have done our job, what is in our hands. We have to wait and see what is going to happen tomorrow and then it's time to prepare for the Palace game." However, the narrow margin of victory against a Burnley side that have long since been relegated does offer City hope. An Arsenal draw at Selhurst Park would allow City to snatch the title on goal difference if Pep Guardiola's team win their final two matches. To add extra intrigue to the final days of the season, reports on Monday suggest Guardiola will leave City after a decorated decade in charge after Villa visit the Etihad on Sunday. Roared on by an expectant capacity crowd in their final home game of the season, Arsenal were tipped to put the Clarets to the sword with ease. Burnley have taken just two points from their last 10 matches but made Arteta's men work for the three points on another nervy night at the Emirates. Leandro Trossard struck the post from the edge of the area before Bukayo Saka saw a penalty appeal waived away as he attempted to turn in Havertz's low cross. Arsenal were forced to rely on their set piece threat once more to prise Burnley open. Havertz rose highest to power in Saka's delivery on 37 minutes as they scored from a corner for the 18th time in the league this season. Yet the floodgates did not open and Arsenal were very fortunate not to have to defend their lead with 10 men for the final quarter. Havertz raked his studs down the calf of Lesley Ugochukwu in a mistimed challenge. Despite a VAR review, the original decision of a yellow card was not upgraded to red. Havertz was quickly replaced by Viktor Gyokeres. The Swede's arrival failed to kickstart Arsenal as an attacking force. But their rock solid defensive record again edged them closer to the title. Since losing to City last month, Arsenal have not conceded in their last four league games. "The margin should have been bigger but we haven't achieved that," added Arteta. "We have shown what we have shown all season that when we need to defend and get through the game, we can do it in an efficient way."

An Arsenal draw at Selhurst Park would allow City to snatch the title on goal difference if Pep Guardiola's team win their final two matches.

Premier League - Arsenal on brink of ending 22-year title drought with win over Burnley

The ongoing English Premier League (PL) season is nearing its end with Arsenal poised to win it barring any surprises. Second-placed Arsenal are place at the top of 20-team table with with 76 points and three matches left. The Gunners can only be challenged by Manchester City, which are second with 71 points but four matches left. Third on the table are Manchester United with 64 points and three matches left, meaning they can gather at most 73 points after 38 games. If Manchester City manage to win all their remaining matches then they will end up with 83 points which Arsenal can match up with two wins and a draw.<h2>How soon can Arsenal win the Premier League season?</h2>Manchester City's 3-3 draw against Everton has left the title race in favour of the Gunners which are looking for their first title in 22 years. Arsenal play in next three matches against: West Ham on Sunday (May 10), Burnley on Monday (May 18), and Crystal Palace on Sunday (May 24). Man City, meanwhile, has four games left against: Brentford on Saturday (May 9), Crystal Palace on Wednesday (On May 13), Bournemouth on Tuesday (May 19), and Aston Villa on Sunday (May 24).Also Check - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/champions-league-who-is-leading-the-golden-boot-in-ongoing-season-check-complete-list-1777962671901">Champions League | Who is leading the golden boot race in ongoing season?</a>If Man City fail to win against Brentford on May 9 or Crystal Palace on Wednesday (May 13) and Arsenal beat West Ham on May 10, the Gunners can very well lift the trophy with a win against Burnley on Monday (May 18) at home to cap off a memorable season.<h2>Can Man City still win Premier League title?</h2>Pep Guardiola's side have one game extra than Arsenal and they can stretch it to wire by winning all their remaining games, given Arsenal do not fumble. A loss or a draw by the Gunners and a win in rest of the games for Man City can still put Guardiola's side in position to lift the title.

If Man City fail to win against Brentford on May 9 or Crystal Palace on May 13 and Arsenal beat West Ham on May 10, the Gunners can very well lift the trophy with a win against Burnley on May 18.

The ongoing English Premier League (PL) season is nearing its end with Arsenal poised to win it barring any surprises. Second-placed Arsenal are place at the top of 20-team table with with 76 points and three matches left. The Gunners can only be challenged by Manchester City, which are second with 71 points but four matches left. Third on the table are Manchester United with 64 points and three matches left, meaning they can gather at most 73 points after 38 games. If Manchester City manage to win all their remaining matches then they will end up with 83 points which Arsenal can match up with two wins and a draw. How soon can Arsenal win the Premier League season? Manchester City's 3-3 draw against Everton has left the title race in favour of the Gunners which are looking for their first title in 22 years. Arsenal play in next three matches against: West Ham on Sunday (May 10), Burnley on Monday (May 18), and Crystal Palace on Sunday (May 24). Man City, meanwhile, has four games left against: Brentford on Saturday (May 9), Crystal Palace on Wednesday (On May 13), Bournemouth on Tuesday (May 19), and Aston Villa on Sunday (May 24). Also Check - Champions League | Who is leading the golden boot race in ongoing season? If Man City fail to win against Brentford on May 9 or Crystal Palace on Wednesday (May 13) and Arsenal beat West Ham on May 10, the Gunners can very well lift the trophy with a win against Burnley on Monday (May 18) at home to cap off a memorable season. Can Man City still win Premier League title? Pep Guardiola's side have one game extra than Arsenal and they can stretch it to wire by winning all their remaining games, given Arsenal do not fumble. A loss or a draw by the Gunners and a win in rest of the games for Man City can still put Guardiola's side in position to lift the title.

If Man City fail to win against Brentford on May 9 or Crystal Palace on May 13 and Arsenal beat West Ham on May 10, the Gunners can very well lift the trophy with a win against Burnley on May 18.

Premier League | How soon can Arsenal win title and does Man City still have a chance?

Manchester City edged ahead of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League as a 1-0 victory at Turf Moor condemned Burnley to relegation on Wednesday. The defeat confirmed the Clarets' third Premier League relegation in five seasons, consigning them to the Championship alongside Wolves next season. Erling Haaland scored the only goal as Pep Guardiola's men ended the day top of the table for the first time since August, but the City boss was frustrated at his side's inability to win by a greater margin. City go ahead of the Gunners only on goals scored, with five games left for both the title contenders.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/-tough-for-tournament-sinner-not-happy-with-alcaraz-withdrawing-from-madrid-open-1776835810362">'Tough for tournament', says Sinner on Alcaraz withdrawing from Madrid Open</a>"The chances were there. We created a lot. We made a fantastic game," said Guardiola. "We did everything after a demanding game three days ago."However, City have on paper the tougher run-in as they aim to snatch a seventh league title in nine years.Fresh from beating Arsenal 2-1 in what was billed as a title decider on Sunday, the visitors roared out of the blocks.A stunning save by Martin Dubravka turned Rayan Cherki's shot onto the woodwork.Haaland was then set free by Jeremy Doku and coolly chipped over the advancing Dubravka with just five minutes on the clock.City continued to pepper Dubravka with efforts from distance, but Guardiola grew visibly angry as they let the tempo drop in their pursuit of more goals.Burnley could even have been level by half-time as Zian Flemming dragged a glorious chance wide.Haaland hit the post after the break, but City's failure to rack up a more convincing scoreline leaves the title race tantalisingly poised.<h2>‘Fallen a bit short’</h2>At the other end of the table, Burnley have to rebuild once more in the second tier.A return of just 20 points from 34 games has left Scott Parker's men 13 adrift of safety with only four games remaining."We've fallen a bit short. The facts are we had to overachieve this year and we've not mananged to do that," said Parker."In certain moments we've lacked a certain quality about us and not managed to get enough points."It is the fifth consecutive season that Burnley have either been relegated or promoted as they oscillate between the riches of the Premier League and the Championship.Three wins from their opening nine games offered hope that they could join Sunderland and Leeds in bucking the trend of promoted sides being immediately relegated back to the second tier.However, just one win in their 25 matches since has sealed their fate.Parker has become a Championship specialist, also winning promotion in the past with Fulham and Bournemouth.But the former Tottenham and Chelsea midfielder has consistently struggled at all three clubs to make an impact in the Premier League.Bournemouth's challenge to qualify for Europe for the first time was dented by Sean Longstaff's 97th-minute equaliser for Leeds in a 2-2 draw.Junior Kroupi's opener for Bournemouth was quickly cancelled out by a James Hill own goal.Rayan's strike had the Cherries on course for the top six until Longstaff's volleyed leveller.A point edges Bournemouth above Chelsea, who sacked Liam Rosenior on Wednesday, into seventh.Leeds are now nine points clear of the relegation zone.

City go ahead of the Gunners only on goals scored, with five games left for both the title contenders. However, City have on paper the tougher run-in as they aim to snatch a seventh league title in nine years.

Manchester City edged ahead of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League as a 1-0 victory at Turf Moor condemned Burnley to relegation on Wednesday. The defeat confirmed the Clarets' third Premier League relegation in five seasons, consigning them to the Championship alongside Wolves next season. Erling Haaland scored the only goal as Pep Guardiola's men ended the day top of the table for the first time since August, but the City boss was frustrated at his side's inability to win by a greater margin. City go ahead of the Gunners only on goals scored, with five games left for both the title contenders. Also Read - 'Tough for tournament', says Sinner on Alcaraz withdrawing from Madrid Open "The chances were there. We created a lot. We made a fantastic game," said Guardiola. "We did everything after a demanding game three days ago." However, City have on paper the tougher run-in as they aim to snatch a seventh league title in nine years. Fresh from beating Arsenal 2-1 in what was billed as a title decider on Sunday, the visitors roared out of the blocks. A stunning save by Martin Dubravka turned Rayan Cherki's shot onto the woodwork. Haaland was then set free by Jeremy Doku and coolly chipped over the advancing Dubravka with just five minutes on the clock. City continued to pepper Dubravka with efforts from distance, but Guardiola grew visibly angry as they let the tempo drop in their pursuit of more goals. Burnley could even have been level by half-time as Zian Flemming dragged a glorious chance wide. Haaland hit the post after the break, but City's failure to rack up a more convincing scoreline leaves the title race tantalisingly poised. ‘Fallen a bit short’ At the other end of the table, Burnley have to rebuild once more in the second tier. A return of just 20 points from 34 games has left Scott Parker's men 13 adrift of safety with only four games remaining. "We've fallen a bit short. The facts are we had to overachieve this year and we've not mananged to do that," said Parker. "In certain moments we've lacked a certain quality about us and not managed to get enough points." It is the fifth consecutive season that Burnley have either been relegated or promoted as they oscillate between the riches of the Premier League and the Championship. Three wins from their opening nine games offered hope that they could join Sunderland and Leeds in bucking the trend of promoted sides being immediately relegated back to the second tier. However, just one win in their 25 matches since has sealed their fate. Parker has become a Championship specialist, also winning promotion in the past with Fulham and Bournemouth. But the former Tottenham and Chelsea midfielder has consistently struggled at all three clubs to make an impact in the Premier League. Bournemouth's challenge to qualify for Europe for the first time was dented by Sean Longstaff's 97th-minute equaliser for Leeds in a 2-2 draw. Junior Kroupi's opener for Bournemouth was quickly cancelled out by a James Hill own goal. Rayan's strike had the Cherries on course for the top six until Longstaff's volleyed leveller. A point edges Bournemouth above Chelsea, who sacked Liam Rosenior on Wednesday, into seventh. Leeds are now nine points clear of the relegation zone.

City go ahead of the Gunners only on goals scored, with five games left for both the title contenders. However, City have on paper the tougher run-in as they aim to snatch a seventh league title in nine years.

Premier League: Man City replace Arsenal at top as title race enters last five matches

Man City can close the gap within three points of Premier League leaders Arsenal with a game in hand next week after the eight-time winners hammered Chelsea 3-0 at Stamford Bridge on Sunday (April 12). Starting the day nine points behind Arsenal, but with two games in hand, the clash was supposed to be a litmus test for Citizens, but three second half goals from Pep Guardiola’s men have now seen them in the driving seat ahead of next week’s super clash.<h2>City rout Chelsea</h2>Guardiola's side produced a devastating spell immediately after half-time, with Nico O'Reilly and Marc Guehi scoring in the space of six minutes at Stamford Bridge. Jeremy Doku wrapped up a statement victory to ensure City took advantage of Arsenal's shock 2-1 home defeat against Bournemouth on Saturday.&nbsp;Second-placed City are now only six points behind Arsenal with a game in hand, setting up a seismic showdown against the Gunners at the Etihad Stadium on April 19. Having beaten Arsenal in the League Cup final and thrashed Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-finals, City are hitting form at just the right time. Their bid for a seventh English title under Guardiola appeared to be fading after successive draws with strugglers West Ham and Nottingham Forest in their previous two league matches.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-cameron-green-to-liam-livingstone-5-most-expensive-players-in-ipl-2026-auctions-matheesha-pathirana-kartik-sharma-prashant-veer-1774031148132">From Cameron Green to Liam Livingstone, 5 most expensive players in IPL 2026 auctions</a>&nbsp;A disjointed first half against Chelsea suggested City might waste a golden opportunity to pile pressure on Arsenal. But Guardiola's half-time team-talk had the desired effect and City can now target next weekend's do-or-die visit from Mikel Arteta's spluttering team.&nbsp;If City win that blockbuster clash, they will be within three points of Arsenal, who blew substantial leads in the 2023 and 2024 title races, allowing Guardiola's men to pip them to the trophy. Arteta said the defeat to Bournemouth was a "punch in the face" and City's success in west London was another body blow for the Spaniard.&nbsp;City have won 29 of their 32 league games in the month of April in recent seasons, underlining their ability to thrive when the title pressure mounts.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-rohit-sharma-to-sanju-samson-5-highest-individual-score-in-a-lost-chase-in-ipl-yusuf-pathan-kl-rahul-shaun-marsh-ipl-2026-1774084136030">From Rohit Sharma to Sanju Samson, 5 highest individual scores in a lost chase in IPL</a>&nbsp;After winning their first four league matches following Liam Rosenior's arrival from Strasbourg to replace Enzo Maresca, Chelsea have won just one of their last seven, losing three in a row to leave the Blues boss facing some difficult questions.&nbsp;Chelsea, who haven't beaten City since the 2021 Champions League final, were again without Enzo Fernandez after Rosenior's controversial decision to drop the Argentine midfielder for hinting he might leave in the summer.

Starting the day nine points behind Arsenal, but with two games in hand, the clash was supposed to be a litmus test for Citizens, but three second half goals from Pep Guardiola’s men have now seen them in the driving seat ahead of next week’s super clash.

Man City can close the gap within three points of Premier League leaders Arsenal with a game in hand next week after the eight-time winners hammered Chelsea 3-0 at Stamford Bridge on Sunday (April 12). Starting the day nine points behind Arsenal, but with two games in hand, the clash was supposed to be a litmus test for Citizens, but three second half goals from Pep Guardiola’s men have now seen them in the driving seat ahead of next week’s super clash. City rout Chelsea Guardiola's side produced a devastating spell immediately after half-time, with Nico O'Reilly and Marc Guehi scoring in the space of six minutes at Stamford Bridge. Jeremy Doku wrapped up a statement victory to ensure City took advantage of Arsenal's shock 2-1 home defeat against Bournemouth on Saturday. Second-placed City are now only six points behind Arsenal with a game in hand, setting up a seismic showdown against the Gunners at the Etihad Stadium on April 19. Having beaten Arsenal in the League Cup final and thrashed Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-finals, City are hitting form at just the right time. Their bid for a seventh English title under Guardiola appeared to be fading after successive draws with strugglers West Ham and Nottingham Forest in their previous two league matches. ALSO READ | From Cameron Green to Liam Livingstone, 5 most expensive players in IPL 2026 auctions A disjointed first half against Chelsea suggested City might waste a golden opportunity to pile pressure on Arsenal. But Guardiola's half-time team-talk had the desired effect and City can now target next weekend's do-or-die visit from Mikel Arteta's spluttering team. If City win that blockbuster clash, they will be within three points of Arsenal, who blew substantial leads in the 2023 and 2024 title races, allowing Guardiola's men to pip them to the trophy. Arteta said the defeat to Bournemouth was a "punch in the face" and City's success in west London was another body blow for the Spaniard. City have won 29 of their 32 league games in the month of April in recent seasons, underlining their ability to thrive when the title pressure mounts. ALSO READ | From Rohit Sharma to Sanju Samson, 5 highest individual scores in a lost chase in IPL After winning their first four league matches following Liam Rosenior's arrival from Strasbourg to replace Enzo Maresca, Chelsea have won just one of their last seven, losing three in a row to leave the Blues boss facing some difficult questions. Chelsea, who haven't beaten City since the 2021 Champions League final, were again without Enzo Fernandez after Rosenior's controversial decision to drop the Argentine midfielder for hinting he might leave in the summer.

Starting the day nine points behind Arsenal, but with two games in hand, the clash was supposed to be a litmus test for Citizens, but three second half goals from Pep Guardiola’s men have now seen them in the driving seat ahead of next week’s super clash.

Premier League: Man City hammer Chelsea to gain title race momentum ahead of crunch Arsenal clash

Manchester City dashed Liverpool’s hopes of winning the FA Cup as they reached the semis after a thumping 4-0 win on Saturday (April 4). Playing at home at the Etihad Stadium, City striker Erling Haaland was the star of the show as he scored a hat-trick to help his side reach the last four. Liverpool’s exit from the competition means they can realistically win only one trophy, which is the Champions League, as they continue to struggle in the Premier League.<h2>Man City thrash Liverpool</h2>Haaland netted twice late in the first half of the quarter-final at the Etihad Stadium and completed his treble after the interval following an Antoine Semenyo strike. With Liverpool trailing by four, Mohamed Salah had a penalty saved by City goalkeeper James Trafford to compound a miserable afternoon for the under-fire Slot. Liverpool's tame surrender was a bitter blow to Slot, who had to endure chants of "you're getting sacked in the morning" from gloating City fans.&nbsp;They head to Paris Saint-Germain for the Champions League quarter-final first leg on Wednesday with Slot desperately needing a victory over the holders to keep the critics at bay.&nbsp;"We have had a lot of setbacks and disappointments, but that is also part of being a football player and being a human being. You have to stand there when things are not so positive," Slot said.&nbsp;Liverpool, who have just two wins in their last seven matches in all competitions, are fifth in the Premier League and far from certain to qualify for next season's Champions League. It is a remarkable decline for Slot, who just 12 months ago was on the brink of leading Liverpool to their record-equalling 20th English title.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-rohit-sharma-to-sanju-samson-5-highest-individual-score-in-a-lost-chase-in-ipl-yusuf-pathan-kl-rahul-shaun-marsh-ipl-2026-1774084136030">From Rohit Sharma to Sanju Samson, 5 highest individual scores in a lost chase in IPL</a>&nbsp;"It's very disappointing to be out, not only in the manner but also in the score. Another big disappointment for us," Slot said.&nbsp;"The only good thing was that we didn't concede more."&nbsp;City's ruthless performance took them into the FA Cup semi-finals for an eighth successive season. After beating Liverpool twice in the Premier League this term, City have enjoyed three successive victories over the Reds for the first time since 1937. City have also won 18 consecutive home FA Cup matches, setting a new record in the competition. Guardiola's men have found a rich vein of form at just the right time to salvage their season.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-cameron-green-to-liam-livingstone-5-most-expensive-players-in-ipl-2026-auctions-matheesha-pathirana-kartik-sharma-prashant-veer-1774031148132">From Cameron Green to Liam Livingstone, 5 most expensive players in IPL 2026 auctions</a>&nbsp;Trailing Premier League leaders Arsenal by nine points and knocked out of the Champions League by Real Madrid, City bounced back to beat the Gunners 2-0 in the League Cup final just before the international break. Now they can set their sights on winning the FA Cup for the first time since 2023 while retaining an outside chance of catching Arsenal in the title race.

Erling Haaland netted twice late in the first half of the quarter-final at the Etihad Stadium and completed his treble after the interval following an Antoine Semenyo strike.

Manchester City dashed Liverpool’s hopes of winning the FA Cup as they reached the semis after a thumping 4-0 win on Saturday (April 4). Playing at home at the Etihad Stadium, City striker Erling Haaland was the star of the show as he scored a hat-trick to help his side reach the last four. Liverpool’s exit from the competition means they can realistically win only one trophy, which is the Champions League, as they continue to struggle in the Premier League. Man City thrash Liverpool Haaland netted twice late in the first half of the quarter-final at the Etihad Stadium and completed his treble after the interval following an Antoine Semenyo strike. With Liverpool trailing by four, Mohamed Salah had a penalty saved by City goalkeeper James Trafford to compound a miserable afternoon for the under-fire Slot. Liverpool's tame surrender was a bitter blow to Slot, who had to endure chants of "you're getting sacked in the morning" from gloating City fans. They head to Paris Saint-Germain for the Champions League quarter-final first leg on Wednesday with Slot desperately needing a victory over the holders to keep the critics at bay. "We have had a lot of setbacks and disappointments, but that is also part of being a football player and being a human being. You have to stand there when things are not so positive," Slot said. Liverpool, who have just two wins in their last seven matches in all competitions, are fifth in the Premier League and far from certain to qualify for next season's Champions League. It is a remarkable decline for Slot, who just 12 months ago was on the brink of leading Liverpool to their record-equalling 20th English title. ALSO READ | From Rohit Sharma to Sanju Samson, 5 highest individual scores in a lost chase in IPL "It's very disappointing to be out, not only in the manner but also in the score. Another big disappointment for us," Slot said. "The only good thing was that we didn't concede more." City's ruthless performance took them into the FA Cup semi-finals for an eighth successive season. After beating Liverpool twice in the Premier League this term, City have enjoyed three successive victories over the Reds for the first time since 1937. City have also won 18 consecutive home FA Cup matches, setting a new record in the competition. Guardiola's men have found a rich vein of form at just the right time to salvage their season. ALSO READ | From Cameron Green to Liam Livingstone, 5 most expensive players in IPL 2026 auctions Trailing Premier League leaders Arsenal by nine points and knocked out of the Champions League by Real Madrid, City bounced back to beat the Gunners 2-0 in the League Cup final just before the international break. Now they can set their sights on winning the FA Cup for the first time since 2023 while retaining an outside chance of catching Arsenal in the title race.

Erling Haaland netted twice late in the first half of the quarter-final at the Etihad Stadium and completed his treble after the interval following an Antoine Semenyo strike.

Erling Haaland hat-trick helps Man City thrash Liverpool to reach FA Cup semis

The Premier League title race will start its final showdown on Saturday (April 4) as teams return to action for one final time before the FIFA World Cup 2026 in the Americas. While the race for Premier League title, European places and desperation to avoid drop remains intense, eyes will be on Arsenal as they try to end their 22-year wait for the title. The Gunners are close to getting the job done with only eight matches to go in the Premier League season, so here is a look at when the Gunners could actually seal the title.<h2>What is the current scenario?</h2>As things stand, on Friday (April 3) at the time of writing, Arsenal are the league leaders with 70 points from 31 matches. They still have seven matches in hand and can reach a maximum of 91 points if they win all their matches. On the other hand, Manchester City remain Arsenal’s nearest rivals and have 61 points from 30 matches and can reach a maximum of 85 points. This means Arsenal should drop at least seven points from now to the end of the season while needing Manchester City to collect maximum points.<h2>What is the practical scenario?</h2>Practically, Arsenal need a maximum of 16 points from a possible 21 to clinch the Premier League title. If Mikel Arteta’s men collect 16 points, they will lift the Premier League title no matter what happens with Pep Guardiola and his men. Arsenal’s run of fixtures contains matches against Bournemouth (home), Manchester City (away), Newcastle United (home), Fulham (home), West Ham United (away), Burnley (home) and Crystal Palace (away).&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-cameron-green-to-liam-livingstone-5-most-expensive-players-in-ipl-2026-auctions-matheesha-pathirana-kartik-sharma-prashant-veer-1774031148132">From Cameron Green to Liam Livingstone, 5 most expensive players in IPL 2026 auctions</a>&nbsp;Considering the majority of the teams Arsenal will face are in the bottom half of the Premier League, collecting 16 points won’t be a huge deal. Assuming the Gunners lose against Manchester City on April 19 and they win their remaining matches, they can lift the Premier League title on the final day of the season on May 24 against Crystal Palace, provided Manchester City don’t drop any points in their remaining matches.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-rohit-sharma-to-sanju-samson-5-highest-individual-score-in-a-lost-chase-in-ipl-yusuf-pathan-kl-rahul-shaun-marsh-ipl-2026-1774084136030">From Rohit Sharma to Sanju Samson, 5 highest individual scores in a lost chase in IPL</a>&nbsp;However, if City keep on leaking points, the Gunners can seal the title even before the final day of the season. The equation will solely depend on the number of points City will drop and Arsenal don’t drop any to keep their fate in their own hands.

As things stand, on Friday (April 3) at the time of writing, Arsenal are the league leaders with 70 points from 31 matches. They still have seven matches in hand and can reach a maximum of 91 points if they win all their matches. 

The Premier League title race will start its final showdown on Saturday (April 4) as teams return to action for one final time before the FIFA World Cup 2026 in the Americas. While the race for Premier League title, European places and desperation to avoid drop remains intense, eyes will be on Arsenal as they try to end their 22-year wait for the title. The Gunners are close to getting the job done with only eight matches to go in the Premier League season, so here is a look at when the Gunners could actually seal the title. What is the current scenario? As things stand, on Friday (April 3) at the time of writing, Arsenal are the league leaders with 70 points from 31 matches. They still have seven matches in hand and can reach a maximum of 91 points if they win all their matches. On the other hand, Manchester City remain Arsenal’s nearest rivals and have 61 points from 30 matches and can reach a maximum of 85 points. This means Arsenal should drop at least seven points from now to the end of the season while needing Manchester City to collect maximum points. What is the practical scenario? Practically, Arsenal need a maximum of 16 points from a possible 21 to clinch the Premier League title. If Mikel Arteta’s men collect 16 points, they will lift the Premier League title no matter what happens with Pep Guardiola and his men. Arsenal’s run of fixtures contains matches against Bournemouth (home), Manchester City (away), Newcastle United (home), Fulham (home), West Ham United (away), Burnley (home) and Crystal Palace (away). ALSO READ | From Cameron Green to Liam Livingstone, 5 most expensive players in IPL 2026 auctions Considering the majority of the teams Arsenal will face are in the bottom half of the Premier League, collecting 16 points won’t be a huge deal. Assuming the Gunners lose against Manchester City on April 19 and they win their remaining matches, they can lift the Premier League title on the final day of the season on May 24 against Crystal Palace, provided Manchester City don’t drop any points in their remaining matches. ALSO READ | From Rohit Sharma to Sanju Samson, 5 highest individual scores in a lost chase in IPL However, if City keep on leaking points, the Gunners can seal the title even before the final day of the season. The equation will solely depend on the number of points City will drop and Arsenal don’t drop any to keep their fate in their own hands.

As things stand, on Friday (April 3) at the time of writing, Arsenal are the league leaders with 70 points from 31 matches. They still have seven matches in hand and can reach a maximum of 91 points if they win all their matches.&nbsp;

Premier League: When can Arsenal finally end their 22-year title drought?

Kylian Mbappe is ready to return from injury as Real Madrid aim to eliminate Manchester City in the Champions League last-16 second leg on Tuesday. Mbappe was sidelined by a knee injury for Real's 3-0 win over City in the first leg in Madrid last week. But the France forward, who has scored 38 goals in 33 appearances this season, is set to feature at the Etihad Stadium."Mbappe is ready to play," Real boss Alvaro Arbeloa told reporters on Monday.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/eden-hazard-willian-transfers-investigated-premier-league-punishes-chelsea-with-10-75m-fine-suspended-transfer-ban-2026-1773676350418">Hazard, Willian Transfers Investigated: PL punishes Chelsea with £10.75m fine</a>"I cannot wait to see him back on the pitch, to enjoy watching him play, to score the goals he scores. Of course he'll be important."England midfielder Jude Bellingham has also travelled with the Real squad as he steps up his recovery from a hamstring problem, but is not ready to feature against City."Bellingham wanted to come with his team-mates," Arbeloa said."I'm very happy to see him getting closer to the team. It is important to be around his team-mates, during the team-talk and at half-time he'll be one of the leaders as he always is."Real are expected to knock City out of the Champions League for a third successive season after establishing a substantial first leg advantage.Real defender Antonio Rudiger believes the key to victory is stopping City striker Erling Haaland from rediscovering his top form after a poor recent run."Players like Haaland, it's a huge pleasure to play against this type of player," Rudiger said."I like the physical battle, I want it and need it, the same as him. I'm looking forward to it."He's a world-class striker, very strong, and I like these type of duels."Rudiger acknowledged his combative approach as he addressed recent claims from Getafe defender Diego Rico about his conduct.Rico said Rudiger committed an "assault" against him in a challenge earlier this month."In slow motion it looks terrible but in the action itself and also what the player said, it was like I almost killed him," Rudiger said."He doesn't need to exaggerate because if I'd had the intention to do that he wouldn't have stood up."I don't justify it but the way he spoke after the game was like I killed him, but he was running afterwards."We all know I like to be tough on the pitch but I still have boundaries. I am a human being."

England midfielder Jude Bellingham has also travelled with the Real squad as he steps up his recovery from a hamstring problem, but is not ready to feature against City.

Kylian Mbappe is ready to return from injury as Real Madrid aim to eliminate Manchester City in the Champions League last-16 second leg on Tuesday. Mbappe was sidelined by a knee injury for Real's 3-0 win over City in the first leg in Madrid last week. But the France forward, who has scored 38 goals in 33 appearances this season, is set to feature at the Etihad Stadium. "Mbappe is ready to play," Real boss Alvaro Arbeloa told reporters on Monday. Also Read - Hazard, Willian Transfers Investigated: PL punishes Chelsea with £10.75m fine "I cannot wait to see him back on the pitch, to enjoy watching him play, to score the goals he scores. Of course he'll be important." England midfielder Jude Bellingham has also travelled with the Real squad as he steps up his recovery from a hamstring problem, but is not ready to feature against City. "Bellingham wanted to come with his team-mates," Arbeloa said. "I'm very happy to see him getting closer to the team. It is important to be around his team-mates, during the team-talk and at half-time he'll be one of the leaders as he always is." Real are expected to knock City out of the Champions League for a third successive season after establishing a substantial first leg advantage. Real defender Antonio Rudiger believes the key to victory is stopping City striker Erling Haaland from rediscovering his top form after a poor recent run. "Players like Haaland, it's a huge pleasure to play against this type of player," Rudiger said. "I like the physical battle, I want it and need it, the same as him. I'm looking forward to it. "He's a world-class striker, very strong, and I like these type of duels." Rudiger acknowledged his combative approach as he addressed recent claims from Getafe defender Diego Rico about his conduct. Rico said Rudiger committed an "assault" against him in a challenge earlier this month. "In slow motion it looks terrible but in the action itself and also what the player said, it was like I almost killed him," Rudiger said. "He doesn't need to exaggerate because if I'd had the intention to do that he wouldn't have stood up. "I don't justify it but the way he spoke after the game was like I killed him, but he was running afterwards. "We all know I like to be tough on the pitch but I still have boundaries. I am a human being."

England midfielder Jude Bellingham has also travelled with the Real squad as he steps up his recovery from a hamstring problem, but is not ready to feature against City.

Champions League R16: Mbappe to turn up for Real Madrid vs Man City in second leg

Federico Valverde scored an unlikely hat-trick as Real Madrid trounced Manchester City 3-0 in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie Wednesday, while holders Paris Saint-Germain beat Chelsea 5-2. Premier League leaders Arsenal snatched a 1-1 draw at Bayer Leverkusen to preserve their unbeaten record in Europe this season, while Bodo/Glimt continued their fairytale run with a 3-0 win over Sporting. Alvaro Arbeloa's record 15-time European champions avenged their loss to City in the league phase as Valverde struck three times in the first half to hand Madrid full control of the tie despite the absence of the injured Kylian Mbappe.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/who-will-replace-iran-at-fifa-world-cup-2026-after-sports-minister-cannot-participate-claim-iraq-uae-donald-trump-israel-us-war-west-asia-conflict-1773246224722">Who will replace Iran at FIFA World Cup after country’s sports minister’s ‘cannot participate’ claim?</a>"(It was) incredible, you dream of nights like this," Valverde told Movistar. "It's been a long time since I enjoyed a game like this."Valverde ran onto a long kick from Thibaut Courtois and dribbled past Gianluigi Donnarumma to slot home and give Madrid the lead at the Santiago Bernabeu against City as the teams met in a knockout tie for the fifth season running.The Uruguayan midfielder arrowed a low drive into the far corner to double Madrid's advantage and then completed his hat-trick with a sublime touch and finish after linking up with Brahim Diaz.City could have suffered an ever heavier defeat but Donnarumma saved a second-half penalty from Vinicius Junior after the City goalkeeper brought down the Brazilian."I had a feeling that we were better than the result said... but the result is here," City boss Pep Guardiola told TNT Sports, refusing to write off his team's chances next week."In football you never know. We will try."PSG have one foot in the quarter-finals after two late goals from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia at the Parc des Princes.Bradley Barcola fired PSG in front but Malo Gusto's scruffy effort skipped past Matfei Safonov to bring Chelsea level.Ousmane Dembele finished off a clinical counter to restore the lead for the hosts before half-time, only for Enzo Fernandez to reply once more for Chelsea after excellent work from Pedro Neto.A mistake from Filip Jorgensen saw Vitinha lob the Chelsea goalkeeper to put PSG on top for the third time, with Kvaratskhelia hammering in a superb fourth and then potentially applying the fatal blow for Luis Enrique's side in stoppage time."It is a special moment because we are maybe not quite as precise as usual..." said Luis Enrique, whose team have struggled to consistently replicate last season's form."There are all the comparisons with last year but it is impossible to be at that level... we are very resilient, I think that is a word which defines our team."Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior admitted his team paid the price for losing their composure late on."A very disappointing result in an evening where for so much of the game I was really happy. The last 15-20 minutes were crazy," he said."We need to be better with setbacks and we need to stay calm and we didn't."<h2>Arsenal leave it late</h2>Despite an unprecedented six English teams featuring in the last 16, not a single one won and only two avoided defeat in Europe this week.Arsenal needed an 89th-minute penalty from Kai Havertz against his former club to snatch a draw away to Bayer Leverkusen.Robert Andrich headed in a corner for Leverkusen moments into the second half to leave Arsenal, who won all eight of their league phase matches, staring at defeat in Germany.But Havertz came off the bench and converted from the spot after a foul on Noni Madueke to ensure Arsenal remain favourites to reach the quarter-finals."I know how hard it is to come here... and we knew what to expect," said Havertz."We didn't play our best today. But we're going home with a good result. We need to step on the gas next week."Bodo/Glimt enjoyed another remarkable Champions League night as they swept Portugal's Sporting aside 3-0 to register their fifth win in a row in the competition.Sondre Brunstad Fet put Bodo ahead from the penalty spot just after the half-hour mark and Ole Didrik Blomberg made it two in first-half injury time.Kasper Hogh scored his fifth goal in as many European games with 19 minutes remaining to spark wild celebrations for the Norwegian underdogs.

Arsenal snatched a 1-1 draw at Bayer Leverkusen to preserve their unbeaten record in Europe this season, while Bodo/Glimt continued their fairytale run with a 3-0 win over Sporting. Alvaro Arbeloa's record 15-time European champions avenged their loss to City in the league phase as Valverde struck three times in the first half to hand Madrid full control.

Federico Valverde scored an unlikely hat-trick as Real Madrid trounced Manchester City 3-0 in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie Wednesday, while holders Paris Saint-Germain beat Chelsea 5-2. Premier League leaders Arsenal snatched a 1-1 draw at Bayer Leverkusen to preserve their unbeaten record in Europe this season, while Bodo/Glimt continued their fairytale run with a 3-0 win over Sporting. Alvaro Arbeloa's record 15-time European champions avenged their loss to City in the league phase as Valverde struck three times in the first half to hand Madrid full control of the tie despite the absence of the injured Kylian Mbappe. Also Read - Who will replace Iran at FIFA World Cup after country’s sports minister’s ‘cannot participate’ claim? "(It was) incredible, you dream of nights like this," Valverde told Movistar. "It's been a long time since I enjoyed a game like this." Valverde ran onto a long kick from Thibaut Courtois and dribbled past Gianluigi Donnarumma to slot home and give Madrid the lead at the Santiago Bernabeu against City as the teams met in a knockout tie for the fifth season running. The Uruguayan midfielder arrowed a low drive into the far corner to double Madrid's advantage and then completed his hat-trick with a sublime touch and finish after linking up with Brahim Diaz. City could have suffered an ever heavier defeat but Donnarumma saved a second-half penalty from Vinicius Junior after the City goalkeeper brought down the Brazilian. "I had a feeling that we were better than the result said... but the result is here," City boss Pep Guardiola told TNT Sports, refusing to write off his team's chances next week. "In football you never know. We will try." PSG have one foot in the quarter-finals after two late goals from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia at the Parc des Princes. Bradley Barcola fired PSG in front but Malo Gusto's scruffy effort skipped past Matfei Safonov to bring Chelsea level. Ousmane Dembele finished off a clinical counter to restore the lead for the hosts before half-time, only for Enzo Fernandez to reply once more for Chelsea after excellent work from Pedro Neto. A mistake from Filip Jorgensen saw Vitinha lob the Chelsea goalkeeper to put PSG on top for the third time, with Kvaratskhelia hammering in a superb fourth and then potentially applying the fatal blow for Luis Enrique's side in stoppage time. "It is a special moment because we are maybe not quite as precise as usual..." said Luis Enrique, whose team have struggled to consistently replicate last season's form. "There are all the comparisons with last year but it is impossible to be at that level... we are very resilient, I think that is a word which defines our team." Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior admitted his team paid the price for losing their composure late on. "A very disappointing result in an evening where for so much of the game I was really happy. The last 15-20 minutes were crazy," he said. "We need to be better with setbacks and we need to stay calm and we didn't." Arsenal leave it late Despite an unprecedented six English teams featuring in the last 16, not a single one won and only two avoided defeat in Europe this week. Arsenal needed an 89th-minute penalty from Kai Havertz against his former club to snatch a draw away to Bayer Leverkusen. Robert Andrich headed in a corner for Leverkusen moments into the second half to leave Arsenal, who won all eight of their league phase matches, staring at defeat in Germany. But Havertz came off the bench and converted from the spot after a foul on Noni Madueke to ensure Arsenal remain favourites to reach the quarter-finals. "I know how hard it is to come here... and we knew what to expect," said Havertz. "We didn't play our best today. But we're going home with a good result. We need to step on the gas next week." Bodo/Glimt enjoyed another remarkable Champions League night as they swept Portugal's Sporting aside 3-0 to register their fifth win in a row in the competition. Sondre Brunstad Fet put Bodo ahead from the penalty spot just after the half-hour mark and Ole Didrik Blomberg made it two in first-half injury time. Kasper Hogh scored his fifth goal in as many European games with 19 minutes remaining to spark wild celebrations for the Norwegian underdogs.

Arsenal snatched a 1-1 draw at Bayer Leverkusen to preserve their unbeaten record in Europe this season, while Bodo/Glimt continued their fairytale run with a 3-0 win over Sporting. Alvaro Arbeloa's record 15-time European champions avenged their loss to City in the league phase as Valverde struck three times in the first half to hand Madrid full control.

Champions League R16 | Real Madrid trounce Man City, PSG sink Chelsea and Arsenal draw against Levekusen

Manchester City has cut the gap with table-toppers Arsenal with a 2-1 win over Newcastle United on Saturday (Feb 21). Nico O'Reilly's brace helped the former champions reign supreme in a crucial home game to stay alive in this season’s title race. O'Reilly put City ahead in the first half at the Etihad Stadium and restored their lead after Lewis Hall had equalised. While Pep Guardiola’s City weren’t the best on the day, they did enough to keep their noses in front and Arsenal in check.&nbsp;WATCH City's winning goal -

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Erling Haaland heads the ball, even when he&#39;s the one to put the cross in! 😅 🔵 <a href="https://twitter.com/ManCity?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ManCity</a> <a href="https://t.co/Xk8b6ZcEeH">pic.twitter.com/Xk8b6ZcEeH</a>&mdash; Premier League (@premierleague) <a href="https://twitter.com/premierleague/status/2025361176771665952?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Meanwhile, Arsenal will travel to Tottenham on Sunday (Feb 22), and regardless of the outcome of the north London derby, City has a significant chance of leapfrogging them. Guardiola’s City will have a game in hand on Arsenal after this weekend and host the Gunners in April, with 11 wins from as many remaining matches guaranteed to secure Manchester City’s record seventh Premier League title.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/premier-league-declan-rice-backs-arsenal-to-pick-up-form-ahead-of-nld-says-we-have-it-in-us-1771665200672">Premier League: Declan Rice backs Arsenal to pick up form ahead of NLD, says ‘we have it in us’</a>&nbsp;Guardiola had claimed on Friday that he "couldn't care less" about Arsenal's recent stumble breathing new life into the title race. But while Arsenal have spluttered with two wins from their last seven league games, City are heating up at just the right time. A fifth successive win in all competitions extended their unbeaten run to eight games.&nbsp;This was the fourth meeting between City and Newcastle already this season, with a fifth on the way in the last 16 of the FA Cup next month. Newcastle had never managed a win in 20 previous visits to the Etihad Stadium in the Premier League, also losing there in the League Cup semi-finals this season.&nbsp;Drained by a 5,000-mile round trip to Baku for their Champions League play-off first leg against Qarabag on Wednesday,Newcastle had persuaded the Premier League to move their trip to Manchester to Saturday evening from its original early slot.<h3>Tense finale</h3>City wasted little time testing Newcastle's fatigue levels with a vibrant start. Their early pressure paid off with an eye-catching opener in the 14th minute. After Erling Haaland flicked the ball into Omar Marmoush, the Egyptian played a clever pass towards O'Reilly, who advanced to the edge of the area and planted a powerful finish past Nick Pope.&nbsp;Anthony Gordon scored four times in Newcastle's 6-1 rout of Qarabag and the England forward threatened an immediate equaliser with a stinging strike that Gianluigi Donnarumma palmed away.&nbsp;Far too open at the back throughout the game, City were caught by a sucker punch in the 22nd minute. They made a hash of clearing a corner and Hall pounced with a drive from the edge of the area that took a hefty deflection off City defender Rayan Ait-Nouri on its way past the wrong-footed Donnarumma.&nbsp;Guardiola's men hit back, retaking the lead five minutes later.&nbsp;(With inputs from AFP)

While Arsenal sits at the top with 58 points in 27 games, City is in second place, two points behind in as many matches.

Manchester City has cut the gap with table-toppers Arsenal with a 2-1 win over Newcastle United on Saturday (Feb 21). Nico O'Reilly's brace helped the former champions reign supreme in a crucial home game to stay alive in this season’s title race. O'Reilly put City ahead in the first half at the Etihad Stadium and restored their lead after Lewis Hall had equalised. While Pep Guardiola’s City weren’t the best on the day, they did enough to keep their noses in front and Arsenal in check. WATCH City's winning goal -

While Arsenal sits at the top with 58 points in 27 games, City is in second place, two points behind in as many matches.

Pressure on Arsenal as Manchester City edge Newcastle to ignite Premier League title race

Manchester City beat Fulham 3-0 to close in on Arsenal at the top of the Premier League on Wednesday, as Liverpool inflicted Sunderland's first home defeat of the season to ease the pressure on Arne Slot. Fresh from what could be a turning point in the title race with a late fightback to beat Liverpool on Sunday, City cruised to victory with three goals in 15 first-half minutes to cut the gap at the top of the table to three points.Antoine Semenyo struck for the fifth time since joining from Bournemouth last month before he set up Nico O'Reilly to chip in a second."It's all a fairytale right now," said Semenyo of his fast start to his City career."It's just being part of a great team, a great environment, the coach has been great and they've made it easy for me to settle."Erling Haaland then netted his first Premier League goal from open play for nearly two months before being handed a second-half rest by Pep Guardiola.Also Check: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/t20-wc-2026-thriller-for-ages-watch-sa-vs-afg-double-super-over-drama-at-narendra-modi-stadium-in-ahmedabad-1770806597881">T20 WC 2026: WATCH | SA vs AFG double super over drama in Ahmedabad</a>Arsenal can stretch their advantage back to six points when they visit Brentford on Thursday, but the Gunners are suddenly under pressure in their quest for a first title in 22 years.<h2>Liverpool breach Sunderland fortress</h2>Liverpool remain in sixth but did their chances of Champions League football next season a power of good with an impressive 1-0 win at the Stadium of Light.Virgil van Dijk's header from a Mohamed Salah corner early in the second half was enough to earn just the English champions' second league win of 2026."If you generate so many chances you should score more than one goal," said Slot. "But today this was enough because we defended very, very well in all phases of the game."Slot admitted before the game that his job would be at risk should Liverpool fail to qualify for the Champions League, despite winning the title in his debut season.A place in the top five is almost certain to be enough thanks to the strong performances of English sides in European competition this season.The Reds close to within two points of fifth-placed Chelsea and three of Manchester United in fourth.Defeat ended Sunderland's proud record of having the only unbeaten home record left in the Premier League this season as they slipped to 11th.Third-placed Aston Villa moved closer to sealing their place in next season's Champions League thanks to a late own goal from Jack Hinshelwood to beat Brighton 1-0.Brighton midfielder James Milner made history with his 653rd Premier League appearance to match the all-time record held by former Villa captain Gareth Barry.The Seagulls are winless in six games but had held out comfortably until Hinshelwood turned a corner into his own net under pressure from Tyrone Mings.Burnley ended a 16-game Premier League winless streak with a stunning comeback to beat Crystal Palace 3-2 and spoil Jorgen Strand Larsen's impressive home debut for the Eagles.Strand Larsen struck twice in the opening 33 minutes on his first Selhurst Park appearance since joining for a club record £48 million ($66 million) from Wolves.Hannibal Mejbri and Jaidon Anthony brought Burnley level before Jefferson Lerma's own goal completed the comeback.Nottingham Forest could be set to sack a third manager this season after a 0-0 home draw against Wolves left them just three points above the relegation zone.The BBC reported Sean Dyche's position is in serious peril. Forest dismissed Nuno Espirito Santo and Ange Postecoglou earlier in the campaign.

Arsenal can stretch their advantage back to six points when they visit Brentford on Thursday, but the Gunners are suddenly under pressure in their quest for a first title in 22 years.

Manchester City beat Fulham 3-0 to close in on Arsenal at the top of the Premier League on Wednesday, as Liverpool inflicted Sunderland's first home defeat of the season to ease the pressure on Arne Slot. Fresh from what could be a turning point in the title race with a late fightback to beat Liverpool on Sunday, City cruised to victory with three goals in 15 first-half minutes to cut the gap at the top of the table to three points. Antoine Semenyo struck for the fifth time since joining from Bournemouth last month before he set up Nico O'Reilly to chip in a second. "It's all a fairytale right now," said Semenyo of his fast start to his City career. "It's just being part of a great team, a great environment, the coach has been great and they've made it easy for me to settle." Erling Haaland then netted his first Premier League goal from open play for nearly two months before being handed a second-half rest by Pep Guardiola. Also Check: T20 WC 2026: WATCH | SA vs AFG double super over drama in Ahmedabad Arsenal can stretch their advantage back to six points when they visit Brentford on Thursday, but the Gunners are suddenly under pressure in their quest for a first title in 22 years. Liverpool breach Sunderland fortress Liverpool remain in sixth but did their chances of Champions League football next season a power of good with an impressive 1-0 win at the Stadium of Light. Virgil van Dijk's header from a Mohamed Salah corner early in the second half was enough to earn just the English champions' second league win of 2026. "If you generate so many chances you should score more than one goal," said Slot. "But today this was enough because we defended very, very well in all phases of the game." Slot admitted before the game that his job would be at risk should Liverpool fail to qualify for the Champions League, despite winning the title in his debut season. A place in the top five is almost certain to be enough thanks to the strong performances of English sides in European competition this season. The Reds close to within two points of fifth-placed Chelsea and three of Manchester United in fourth. Defeat ended Sunderland's proud record of having the only unbeaten home record left in the Premier League this season as they slipped to 11th. Third-placed Aston Villa moved closer to sealing their place in next season's Champions League thanks to a late own goal from Jack Hinshelwood to beat Brighton 1-0. Brighton midfielder James Milner made history with his 653rd Premier League appearance to match the all-time record held by former Villa captain Gareth Barry. The Seagulls are winless in six games but had held out comfortably until Hinshelwood turned a corner into his own net under pressure from Tyrone Mings. Burnley ended a 16-game Premier League winless streak with a stunning comeback to beat Crystal Palace 3-2 and spoil Jorgen Strand Larsen's impressive home debut for the Eagles. Strand Larsen struck twice in the opening 33 minutes on his first Selhurst Park appearance since joining for a club record £48 million ($66 million) from Wolves. Hannibal Mejbri and Jaidon Anthony brought Burnley level before Jefferson Lerma's own goal completed the comeback. Nottingham Forest could be set to sack a third manager this season after a 0-0 home draw against Wolves left them just three points above the relegation zone. The BBC reported Sean Dyche's position is in serious peril. Forest dismissed Nuno Espirito Santo and Ange Postecoglou earlier in the campaign.

Arsenal can stretch their advantage back to six points when they visit Brentford on Thursday, but the Gunners are suddenly under pressure in their quest for a first title in 22 years.

Premier League: Man City closing in on Arsenal; Liverpool end Sunderland's home dominance

Manchester City can ramp up the pressure on Premier League leaders Arsenal by cutting the gap at the top to just three points when they face Fulham on Wednesday, a day before the Gunners travel to in-form Brentford. Arsenal remain in pole position for a first title in 22 years, but City's dramatic late rally to beat Liverpool on Sunday could prove a turning point for Pep Guardiola's men. Another defeat damaged Liverpool's chances of Champions League qualification and Arne Slot's threadbare squad face another tough task in midweek away to Sunderland.Tottenham and Newcastle are in even deeper trouble in the bottom half of the table, raising doubts over the future of respective managers Thomas Frank and Eddie Howe.AFP Sports looks at three talking points from the midweek round of fixtures:<h2>Can City provide title twist?</h2>Bernardo Silva conceded even the City players thought the title race would have been all but over with had they not turned around a 1-0 deficit with six minutes remaining at Anfield.The question now is whether a seismic win for Guardiola's side can be the launching pad towards another league title.City have made a habit of finishing strongly in Guardiola's six title-winning seasons in England, but have won just two of their seven league games in 2026."We need to believe and to start winning games. This is what matters in the end," said Erling Haaland, who is demanding more of himself in the title run-in.The Norwegian is the runaway leader for the Golden Boot but has scored just once from open play in his last 13 appearances."I haven't scored enough goals since the start of this year and I know that I need to improve," added Haaland.With a favourable run of fixtures before Arsenal visit the Etihad in mid-April, City have the chance to really test the Gunners mettle in the run-in.Mikel Arteta's men have bounced back from their own January wobble with four straight wins in all competitions.But a buoyant Brentford that have lost just twice at home all season will provide a stiff test of Arsenal's title challenge.<h2>Liverpool face tough trek to Sunderland</h2>Last season's title winners look increasingly likely to miss out on the Champions League next season with Liverpool now four points adrift of the top five.Worse could be still to come for Arne Slot as they travel to a Sunderland side boasting the only undefeated home record in the Premier League.Already short of options due to a mounting injury list, the Reds will be without their star performer in a difficult season, Dominik Szoboszlai, after his controversial late red card against City.With Manchester United and Chelsea having on paper easier tasks this week, Liverpool could find themselves cut further adrift to ramp up speculation on Slot's future.Spurs 'desperate' to avoid relegation battleIt says much for the domination of the Champions League by English sides this season that both Tottenham and Newcastle cruised into the knockout stages but find themselves mired in the bottom half of the Premier League.The sides meet in north London on Tuesday with Frank and Howe under the spotlight.Frank admitted Spurs are the more "desperate", sitting just six points above the relegation zone in 15th.The Dane has so far been handed a stay of execution despite repeated calls for his head by the Tottenham support.Howe, by contrast, remains a much loved figure on Tyneside having ended the club's 70-year wait for a domestic trophy by lifting the League Cup last season and twice delivering Champions League football to St. James' Park.He insisted on Monday he remains the right man for the job for now.But with England and Manchester United reportedly interested in the 48-year-old, Howe may feel he has taken Newcastle as far as he can come the end of the season.<h3>Fixtures (all times GMT)</h3>TuesdayChelsea v Leeds, Tottenham v Newcastle, Everton v Bournemouth (all 1930), West Ham v Man Utd (2015)WednesdayAston Villa v Brighton, Crystal Palace v Burnley, Man City v Fulham, Nottingham Forest v Wolves (all 1930), Sunderland v Liverpool (2015)ThursdayBrentford v Arsenal (2000)

Arsenal remain in pole position for a first title in 22 years, but City's dramatic late rally to beat Liverpool on Sunday could prove a turning point for Pep Guardiola's men.

Manchester City can ramp up the pressure on Premier League leaders Arsenal by cutting the gap at the top to just three points when they face Fulham on Wednesday, a day before the Gunners travel to in-form Brentford. Arsenal remain in pole position for a first title in 22 years, but City's dramatic late rally to beat Liverpool on Sunday could prove a turning point for Pep Guardiola's men. Another defeat damaged Liverpool's chances of Champions League qualification and Arne Slot's threadbare squad face another tough task in midweek away to Sunderland. Tottenham and Newcastle are in even deeper trouble in the bottom half of the table, raising doubts over the future of respective managers Thomas Frank and Eddie Howe. AFP Sports looks at three talking points from the midweek round of fixtures: Can City provide title twist? Bernardo Silva conceded even the City players thought the title race would have been all but over with had they not turned around a 1-0 deficit with six minutes remaining at Anfield. The question now is whether a seismic win for Guardiola's side can be the launching pad towards another league title. City have made a habit of finishing strongly in Guardiola's six title-winning seasons in England, but have won just two of their seven league games in 2026. "We need to believe and to start winning games. This is what matters in the end," said Erling Haaland, who is demanding more of himself in the title run-in. The Norwegian is the runaway leader for the Golden Boot but has scored just once from open play in his last 13 appearances. "I haven't scored enough goals since the start of this year and I know that I need to improve," added Haaland. With a favourable run of fixtures before Arsenal visit the Etihad in mid-April, City have the chance to really test the Gunners mettle in the run-in. Mikel Arteta's men have bounced back from their own January wobble with four straight wins in all competitions. But a buoyant Brentford that have lost just twice at home all season will provide a stiff test of Arsenal's title challenge. Liverpool face tough trek to Sunderland Last season's title winners look increasingly likely to miss out on the Champions League next season with Liverpool now four points adrift of the top five. Worse could be still to come for Arne Slot as they travel to a Sunderland side boasting the only undefeated home record in the Premier League. Already short of options due to a mounting injury list, the Reds will be without their star performer in a difficult season, Dominik Szoboszlai, after his controversial late red card against City. With Manchester United and Chelsea having on paper easier tasks this week, Liverpool could find themselves cut further adrift to ramp up speculation on Slot's future. Spurs 'desperate' to avoid relegation battle It says much for the domination of the Champions League by English sides this season that both Tottenham and Newcastle cruised into the knockout stages but find themselves mired in the bottom half of the Premier League. The sides meet in north London on Tuesday with Frank and Howe under the spotlight. Frank admitted Spurs are the more "desperate", sitting just six points above the relegation zone in 15th. The Dane has so far been handed a stay of execution despite repeated calls for his head by the Tottenham support. Howe, by contrast, remains a much loved figure on Tyneside having ended the club's 70-year wait for a domestic trophy by lifting the League Cup last season and twice delivering Champions League football to St. James' Park. He insisted on Monday he remains the right man for the job for now. But with England and Manchester United reportedly interested in the 48-year-old, Howe may feel he has taken Newcastle as far as he can come the end of the season. Fixtures (all times GMT) Tuesday Chelsea v Leeds, Tottenham v Newcastle, Everton v Bournemouth (all 1930), West Ham v Man Utd (2015) Wednesday Aston Villa v Brighton, Crystal Palace v Burnley, Man City v Fulham, Nottingham Forest v Wolves (all 1930), Sunderland v Liverpool (2015) Thursday Brentford v Arsenal (2000)

Arsenal remain in pole position for a first title in 22 years, but City's dramatic late rally to beat Liverpool on Sunday could prove a turning point for Pep Guardiola's men.

Premier League: Man City in position to spoil Arsenal's title dream

Manchester City will face Arsenal in the League Cup final after ending Newcastle's reign as holders with a first-half blitz in their 3-1 victory on Wednesday. Pep Guardiola's side were already in pole position after winning the semi-final first leg on Tyneside in January and they finished the job in ruthless fashion at the Etihad Stadium. Omar Marmoush struck twice in the first half of the second leg before Tijjani Reijnders put the result beyond doubt.Anthony Elanga reduced the deficit after the interval, but City's 5-1 aggregate win sent them back to the League Cup showpiece for the first time since 2021.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/arsenal-sink-chelsea-to-reach-first-league-cup-final-in-8-years-1770173934829">Arsenal sink Chelsea to reach first League Cup final in 8 years</a>City's final date with Arsenal is set for March 22 at Wembley after the Premier League leaders knocked out Chelsea on Tuesday.Reaching the final was a welcome tonic for Guardiola following the frustration of blowing a two-goal lead in a 2-2 draw at Tottenham on Sunday that delivered a major blow to their title challenge.With a crucial trip to Liverpool looming this weekend, City trail Arsenal by six points in the Premier League title race.The League Cup was the first silverware of Guardiola's City reign when they beat Arsenal in the 2018 final, with current Gunners boss Mikel Arteta then working as the Spaniard's assistant.City went on to win the competition for the following three years, but haven't lifted the League Cup since 2021."We will travel to London again, they will wait for us there. They never travel to the north (for finals) but I am really happy to be back. Five (League Cup) finals in 10 years is a big milestone," Guardiola said."It will be good. You have to live this experience. The first title we won here was in the League Cup."When you win something, it helps to win more. It's a pleasure to play against Arsenal, the best team right now in Europe and maybe the world."Newcastle boss Eddie Howe added: "Really annoyed with the first half display. We pride ourselves on being really organised and tactically we want to be able to handle any problem the opposition gives us."That first half we weren't good enough individually and our duels were off and it gave us huge problems."Guardiola used sarcasm and statistics this week to defend City against claims the club's success has been due to the financial muscle of their Abu Dhabi-based owners.The City manager pointed out six English clubs have spent more than his side over the past five years, but he knows he will never win over the critics.<h2>Slick City</h2>Guardiola's only way to silence the outside noise -- and mounting suggestions that City are a team in decline -- is with silverware.And after finishing last season without a trophy for the first time in eight years, Guardiola would love to end City's barren spell at Arsenal's expense.Marmoush put City ahead with a stroke of luck in the seventh minute.He raced into the Newcastle penalty area and when Dan Burn made a last-ditch tackle, the ball bounced off the Egypt forward and looped into the net.James Trafford preserved City's lead, saving from Joe Willock and Anthony Gordon in quick succession.Marmoush struck for the second time in the 29th minute, heading home from virtually on the goal-line after Kieran Trippier made a hash of clearing Antoine Semenyo's cross.That was the culmination of an incisive City counter-attack and they pulled Newcastle apart again with another rapid raid in the 32nd minute.Reijnders led the break, picking out Semenyo and racing into the area to finish the Ghanaian's return pass with a clinical low drive from 12 yards.City barely got out of first gear in the second half and Elanga got one back in the 62nd minute, curling into the far corner after slaloming through the defence.

Omar Marmoush struck twice in the first half of the second leg before Tijjani Reijnders put the result beyond doubt. Anthony Elanga reduced the deficit after the interval, but City's 5-1 aggregate win sent them back to the League Cup showpiece for the first time since 2021.

Manchester City will face Arsenal in the League Cup final after ending Newcastle's reign as holders with a first-half blitz in their 3-1 victory on Wednesday. Pep Guardiola's side were already in pole position after winning the semi-final first leg on Tyneside in January and they finished the job in ruthless fashion at the Etihad Stadium. Omar Marmoush struck twice in the first half of the second leg before Tijjani Reijnders put the result beyond doubt. Anthony Elanga reduced the deficit after the interval, but City's 5-1 aggregate win sent them back to the League Cup showpiece for the first time since 2021. Also read: Arsenal sink Chelsea to reach first League Cup final in 8 years City's final date with Arsenal is set for March 22 at Wembley after the Premier League leaders knocked out Chelsea on Tuesday. Reaching the final was a welcome tonic for Guardiola following the frustration of blowing a two-goal lead in a 2-2 draw at Tottenham on Sunday that delivered a major blow to their title challenge. With a crucial trip to Liverpool looming this weekend, City trail Arsenal by six points in the Premier League title race. The League Cup was the first silverware of Guardiola's City reign when they beat Arsenal in the 2018 final, with current Gunners boss Mikel Arteta then working as the Spaniard's assistant. City went on to win the competition for the following three years, but haven't lifted the League Cup since 2021. "We will travel to London again, they will wait for us there. They never travel to the north (for finals) but I am really happy to be back. Five (League Cup) finals in 10 years is a big milestone," Guardiola said. "It will be good. You have to live this experience. The first title we won here was in the League Cup. "When you win something, it helps to win more. It's a pleasure to play against Arsenal, the best team right now in Europe and maybe the world." Newcastle boss Eddie Howe added: "Really annoyed with the first half display. We pride ourselves on being really organised and tactically we want to be able to handle any problem the opposition gives us. "That first half we weren't good enough individually and our duels were off and it gave us huge problems." Guardiola used sarcasm and statistics this week to defend City against claims the club's success has been due to the financial muscle of their Abu Dhabi-based owners. The City manager pointed out six English clubs have spent more than his side over the past five years, but he knows he will never win over the critics. Slick City Guardiola's only way to silence the outside noise -- and mounting suggestions that City are a team in decline -- is with silverware. And after finishing last season without a trophy for the first time in eight years, Guardiola would love to end City's barren spell at Arsenal's expense. Marmoush put City ahead with a stroke of luck in the seventh minute. He raced into the Newcastle penalty area and when Dan Burn made a last-ditch tackle, the ball bounced off the Egypt forward and looped into the net. James Trafford preserved City's lead, saving from Joe Willock and Anthony Gordon in quick succession. Marmoush struck for the second time in the 29th minute, heading home from virtually on the goal-line after Kieran Trippier made a hash of clearing Antoine Semenyo's cross. That was the culmination of an incisive City counter-attack and they pulled Newcastle apart again with another rapid raid in the 32nd minute. Reijnders led the break, picking out Semenyo and racing into the area to finish the Ghanaian's return pass with a clinical low drive from 12 yards. City barely got out of first gear in the second half and Elanga got one back in the 62nd minute, curling into the far corner after slaloming through the defence.

Omar Marmoush struck twice in the first half of the second leg before Tijjani Reijnders put the result beyond doubt. Anthony Elanga reduced the deficit after the interval, but City's 5-1 aggregate win sent them back to the League Cup showpiece for the first time since 2021.

Manchester City blitz away Newcastle to set up League Cup final against Arsenal

Manchester City sealed their place in the last 16 after a convincing 2-0 victory over Galatasaray. City delivered a composed performance, controlling possession and finishing clinically to secure qualification in the knockout stages.

Manchester City Defeat Galatasaray 2-0 to Reach Last 16

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