Football

Sporting CP and Manchester City will clash in a highly anticipated UEFA Champions League 2024-25 match on Wednesday, November 6 (IST). The match will be held at the Jose Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, and will kick off at 1:30 AM IST.Manchester City, the reigning Premier League champions, will be looking to bounce back from consecutive defeats to Tottenham in the League Cup and Bournemouth in the Premier League. Manager Pep Guardiola will face off against his future rival, Sporting CP boss Ruben Amorim, who will take charge of the Portuguese champions for the penultimate time before joining Manchester United.The two sides last met in the last 16 of the 2021/22 Champions League, with City securing a comfortable 5-0 aggregate victory. However, both teams have started the new Champions League format strongly, with seven points from their opening three matches.Sporting CP, led by Amorim, has impressed in the Champions League this season, defeating Eintracht Frankfurt and Marseille. They will be hoping to continue their good form against a formidable Manchester City side.City, despite their recent setbacks, remain one of the favorites to win the Champions League. With a star-studded squad featuring Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne, and Phil Foden, Guardiola's team will be confident of securing a positive result in Lisbon.The match promises to be an intriguing tactical battle between two of Europe's top managers. Amorim's Sporting CP will look to exploit City's recent defensive vulnerabilities, while Guardiola will be keen to restore his team's winning ways.Fans can expect a high-quality match with plenty of attacking flair and tactical intrigue. The outcome could have significant implications for both teams' hopes of reaching the knockout stages of the Champions League.

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has announced plans to organize two charity football matches to raise funds for relief efforts in Kerala and Himachal Pradesh, which have been devastated by natural disasters.The first match is scheduled for August 30, 2024, in Manjeri, Malappuram district of Kerala. It will feature Kolkata outfit Mohammedan Sporting Club and a Super League Kerala XI. The second match is proposed for September 2, 2024, in Lucknow, with the prospective clubs still being finalized.AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey expressed his support for the initiative, stating that sports can offer comfort and healing after such tragedies. He urged clubs to come together and raise the "cup of solidarity."Kerala has been facing devastating landslides, particularly in Wayanad, leaving behind a trail of death and destruction. Himachal Pradesh has also been hit hard by landslides and flash floods, resulting in over 100 fatalities.The AIFF's charity matches aim to provide financial assistance to the affected regions. The funds raised will be used for relief work, including providing food, shelter, and medical aid to those in need.Mohammedan Sporting Club, one of India's oldest clubs, has already agreed to participate in the first match. The AIFF is in advanced talks with two clubs for the Lucknow match.The AIFF's initiative has been met with praise from the football community. Former India captain Bhaichung Bhutia commended the federation for its efforts, saying that it is a "great way to show solidarity and support to those who have been affected."The charity matches are expected to attract a large audience and generate significant funds for relief work. The AIFF hopes that the event will not only raise awareness about the plight of the affected regions but also inspire others to contribute to the cause.