Football

Manchester City's title hopes received a major boost as they came from behind to defeat arch-rivals Manchester United 3-1 in a thrilling Premier League derby at the Etihad Stadium. Phil Foden's brace and Erling Haaland's stoppage-time strike sealed the victory, leaving City just one point behind league leaders Liverpool.United stunned the hosts with a stunning goal from Marcus Rashford in the eighth minute. However, City dominated possession and created numerous chances, with Foden and Rodri denied by excellent saves from Andre Onana.Haaland's incredible miss just before half-time, when he fired over with an open goal, seemed to give United hope. But Foden's equalizer in the 73rd minute, a blistering shot into the top corner, leveled the match.Ten minutes later, Foden struck again, this time with a composed finish after a slick one-two with Julian Alvarez. Haaland then atoned for his earlier miss with a clinical finish in stoppage time, rolling the ball into the net to seal the victory.United's defeat leaves them 11 points adrift of the top four, while City's triumph keeps them firmly in the title race. The result sets up a tantalizing clash between City and Liverpool next weekend, with the Premier League crown potentially on the line.

Ilkay Gundogan, a veteran midfielder who witnessed Phil Foden's rise at Manchester City, now finds himself mentoring a similar talent at Barcelona: Lamine Yamal. Gundogan, who joined Barcelona in 2023, has observed striking similarities between Foden and Yamal, both of whom debuted as teenagers.Like Guardiola at City, Xavi at Barcelona has shown faith in young players, giving Yamal ample playing time despite his tender age. However, Yamal's path has been more challenging, as he has assumed greater responsibility at a younger age than Foden.Gundogan attributes this difference to the size and competitiveness of Barcelona's squad, which has forced Yamal to prove himself more quickly. Despite the pressure, Yamal's attitude and character have impressed Gundogan, who believes the competition will ultimately benefit him.Barcelona's youth movement is evident in their roster, with over a dozen players born after 2004. Gundogan sees a bright future for the club, despite their current inconsistencies. He believes that the team is still in the early stages of a new project and that consistency will come with time.While Barcelona trails Real Madrid in the league, Gundogan remains optimistic about their Champions League prospects. He is focused on making Xavi's farewell as a manager a memorable one and is confident that the team can achieve success under his guidance.