Football

Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League woes continued on Tuesday as they were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by PSV Eindhoven at the Parc des Princes. The result leaves the French giants with just four points from their first three matches in the competition, raising concerns about their prospects of progressing to the knockout stages.PSV took a shock lead through Noa Lang's strike just after the half-hour mark, but Achraf Hakimi equalized for PSG early in the second half. Despite dominating possession and creating numerous chances, PSG failed to find a winning goal, with their profligacy in front of goal proving costly once again.Coach Luis Enrique expressed his frustration after the match, admitting that he was "worried" about his team's performance. "We played well throughout and were better than PSV," he said. "But it is difficult to accept the result after a game like that."PSG's frustration was compounded when they were awarded a penalty in injury time only for the decision to be overturned on review. The French giants had 26 attempts on goal to their opponents' eight, but their inability to convert their chances has become a recurring problem in Europe."I think it is obvious that we created a lot more chances than our opponents and we deserved to win the game," Enrique added.After a narrow 1-0 victory against Girona and a 2-0 defeat away to Arsenal in their first two matches in the new-look format of the competition, PSG have a tough task ahead of them. They face Atletico Madrid at home next followed by Bayern Munich away, suggesting things will not get any easier."It is the worst group (fixtures) and we need to be prepared to improve what we can and keep going," Enrique said. "But yes, it is difficult and of course I am worried."PSV, meanwhile, are still winless in the Champions League this season, having previously lost away to Juventus before drawing with Sporting. The Dutch champions showed great resilience against PSG, but their lack of experience at this level was evident at times."The players did a great job tonight and I am really proud of them to be leaving here with a point," said PSV coach Peter Bosz.

Aston Villa's resurgence under Unai Emery reached new heights as they soared to the summit of the Champions League table with a resounding 2-0 victory over Bologna. The triumph marked a historic return to the competition for Villa, who last graced the European stage in 1983.McGinn's exquisite free-kick broke the deadlock in the second half, his curling effort finding the far corner beyond the reach of the Bologna goalkeeper. The Scottish midfielder's goal ignited the Villa Park crowd, who witnessed their team's dominance throughout the match.Emery's tactical acumen was evident as he rotated his squad, making four changes without compromising the team's performance. The introduction of Jhon Duran proved decisive, with the Colombian striker netting his sixth goal of the season with a clinical finish.Villa's strength from set-pieces has been a cornerstone of their success under Emery. McGinn's free-kick was a testament to their prowess, while Ezri Konsa's return from injury added further solidity to the defense.The victory extended Villa's winning streak in the Champions League to three games, making them the only team to achieve such a feat this season. The result has instilled a sense of boundless ambition within the squad, with McGinn declaring, "We don't want to stop here."Bologna, on the other hand, have endured a disappointing start to their Champions League campaign, with just one point from their opening three matches. The Italian side has struggled to replicate their impressive form from last season, when they qualified for the competition for the first time in 60 years.Emery's transformative impact on Villa has been remarkable. Since his arrival two years ago, he has guided the club from relegation contenders to European contenders. The Spaniard's ability to blend youth and experience, coupled with his tactical flexibility, has been instrumental in Villa's resurgence.With nine points already secured, Villa are well-positioned to qualify for the playoff round. However, their sights are set on securing a top-eight finish and automatic qualification for the last 16. The meteoric rise of Aston Villa under Emery shows no signs of slowing down, and the future holds endless possibilities for the ambitious Midlands club.

AC Milan's Champions League campaign got off to a winning start as Tijjani Reijnders' brace secured a 3-1 victory over 10-man Club Brugge at the San Siro.Reijnders opened the scoring in the 61st minute with a composed finish, before doubling Milan's lead ten minutes later with another clinical strike. The Netherlands midfielder's goals proved decisive after Brugge had equalized Christian Pulisic's early opener through Kyriani Sabbe.Brugge's hopes of a comeback were dealt a blow when Raphael Onyedika was sent off for a reckless challenge on Reijnders in the 40th minute. Milan took advantage of their numerical superiority, with Reijnders' goals putting them in control.The Rossoneri's victory was almost overshadowed by a stunning header from 16-year-old Francesco Camarda, who became the youngest ever goalscorer in Champions League history. However, his goal was ruled out for offside, much to the disappointment of the youngster and the Milan faithful."His goal being disallowed was disappointing for him. He and the team deserved that moment," said Milan manager Paulo Fonseca. "He deserves to be in the squad, he's worked very hard to be here. He'll score plenty of goals in the future, today was just the beginning."The win was crucial for Milan, who face a daunting trip to Real Madrid in their next Champions League fixture. Anything less than three points at the San Siro could have put their qualification for the knockout phase in jeopardy.However, the match was played in front of a subdued crowd as Milan's hardcore ultras continued their protest against high ticket prices. The cheapest general sale tickets for Milan's upcoming domestic fixture against Juventus are priced at 100 euros, with the highest at 479 euros.The major supporters club AIMC has criticized the club's ticketing policy, claiming it favors "rich foreign tourists or casual fans." Only 58,649 people attended Tuesday's match, significantly lower than the usual attendance of over 70,000 for Milan and Inter's Serie A matches."We're not cows to be milked, we're not just here to fill the stadium for the lesser matches, we're not just here to fill the club museum or San Siro's car parks with 120 coaches every time we play at home," said AIMC in a statement.Fans will be watching with interest the latest developments in the joint effort with Inter Milan to build a new stadium near the current San Siro. One of the criticisms of the previous project, which was abandoned last year, was a drastic reduction in capacity and an increase in high-priced hospitality seating.

Real Madrid staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Borussia Dortmund 5-2 in the Champions League on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, with Vinicius Junior scoring a hat-trick. Aston Villa maintained their perfect record to go top of the table.Vinicius struck three times in the second half as Madrid bounced back from two goals down to inflict further anguish on Dortmund, in a repeat of last season's final, which Real Madrid won 2-0.First-half goals in quick succession by Donyell Malen and Jamie Gittens had given Dortmund a two-goal lead at half-time. "Things were very quiet when we got to the dressing room 2-0 down at halftime," Vinicius (24) told Movistar. "But we listened to the boss (coach Carlo Ancelotti) and agreed one simple thing: if we can score first then we'll fight back and win once again."The 15-times champions duly struck back early in the second period via Antonio Rudiger and Vinicius, before Lucas Vazquez sent Real ahead and the Brazilian netted two more inside the final 10 minutes. After the surprise defeat at Lille last time out, Madrid's hunt for a record-extending 16th Champions League crown is back on track as they move to ninth in the standings, on six points.Malen swept the Germans into the lead on the half-hour following a deft pass from Serhou Guirassy that split open the defence. Madrid defender Eder Militao was then left beating the turf in frustration four minutes later when Gittens flew in at the back post to double Dortmund's lead.Rudiger halved the deficit with a powerful header from a Kylian Mbappe cross on 60 minutes. Vinicius equalised two minutes later by tucking away a stray ball, the goal being awarded by VAR after Mbappe was shown to have been onside in the build-up.A rare Dortmund foray forward resulted in a fine Thibaut Courtois save, with the holders then racing straight down the other end and Vazquez lashing home on 83 minutes. Vinicius then completed his hat-trick in the 86th and 93rd minutes, his second coming after a lung-busting sprint down the line from inside his own half.Arsenal emerged 1-0 winners at home to Ukraine's Shakhtar Donetsk thanks to an own-goal from the visitors' goalkeeper. Dmytro Riznyk could only grasp at thin air after Gabriel Martinelli had cut in from the left and smacked the ball against the near post before it rebounded back off the goalie and over the line. Leandro Trossard missed a penalty near the end, but Arsenal had already done enough to secure their second win of the tournament.Table-topping Villa Fellow Premier League side Aston Villa are enjoying an excellent return to European football's top table after 41 years as they won their third match in three Champions League outings this term with a 2-0 victory against Bologna. "We are playing seriously, we are playing focussed, responsible and the team is progressing and mature in everything," manager Unai Emery told TNT Sports. John McGinn opened the scoring at Villa Park 10 minutes after the interval and Jhon Duran wrapped up the points in the 64th minute, sending Emery's side to the top of the league phase table on nine points with zero goals conceded.Stuttgart sank Juventus 1-0 in Turin, thanks to a stoppage-time winner by El Bilal Toure. The Italians were reduced to 10 men when Danilo picked up a second yellow while conceding a penalty in the 84th minute. Mattia Perin looked to have saved his side when he stopped the resulting spot-kick from Enzo Millot, but Toure slammed home in the 92nd minute for Stuttgart.PSV Eindhoven surprised Paris Saint-Germain with a Noa Lang goal against the run of play in the first period, before Achraf Hakimi hit back on 55 minutes to ensure the points were shared. AC Milan beat 10-men Club Brugge at the San Siro with Christian Pulisic and a Tijjani Reijnders brace giving the Italians a 3-1 victory. Monaco won 5-1 at home to Red Star Belgrade, while Sporting Lisbon beat Sturm Graz 2-0 in Austria. Last season's Spanish league surprise-packages Girona picked up their first points in the competition with a 2-0 win at home to Slovan Bratislava.On Wednesday (October 23, 2024), five-time winners Barcelona host six-time champions Bayern Munich and Liverpool visit RB Leipzig.

Odisha FC emerged victorious in their Indian Super League (ISL) clash against East Bengal FC, securing a 2-1 triumph at home. The victory marked Odisha's second win of the season, while East Bengal suffered their sixth consecutive defeat.Roy Krishna, the Fijian forward, opened the scoring for Odisha in the 22nd minute, capitalizing on a through ball from Isak Vanlalruatfela. Krishna's goal was his fourth against East Bengal in the ISL.East Bengal managed to equalize in the added time of the first half through a penalty kick converted by Dimitrios Diamantakos. The penalty was awarded after Thoiba Singh handled the ball in the penalty area.In the second half, Odisha regained control of the match. Mourtada Fall, the Senegalese defender, scored the winning goal in the 69th minute, heading home a free-kick from Ahmed Jahouh.East Bengal's woes were compounded when Provat Lakra was sent off for a second yellow card in the 76th minute. The dismissal left East Bengal with 10 men, and they were unable to recover from the setback.Odisha FC held on to their lead and secured the three points, moving up to seventh place in the ISL standings. East Bengal, on the other hand, remained rooted to the bottom of the table with just one point from seven matches.

India, having secured a semifinal berth, will face Bangladesh in their final Group A match of the SAFF Women's Championship in Kathmandu on Wednesday. For Bangladesh, this is a crucial encounter, as a win would secure them the group title, while a loss would send Pakistan to the semifinals due to a superior goal difference.India's commanding 5-2 victory over Pakistan has propelled them into the semifinals, but their focus now shifts to topping the group and avenging their 2022 defeat to Bangladesh. In that tournament, Bangladesh shocked India by ending their unbeaten streak with a 3-0 win, marking the first time India had lost to their South Asian rivals in SAFF history."We have faced Bangladesh before, and we watched their last game against Pakistan. Our sole focus now is to win this match," said India's skipper Bala Devi. "We have both senior and young players and we are prepared to push for a win."Head coach Santosh Kashyap has meticulously prepared the team for the challenges posed by Bangladesh. "Tomorrow's match will be challenging, as Bangladesh are a strong side with a foreign coach and have solid tactical plans," he said. "Although we have already booked a spot in the semi-finals, we are taking it one game at a time, aiming to win every match."Bangladesh and Pakistan are currently tied on one point each after a 1-1 draw in their group-stage match. Bangladesh will miss the services of coach Golam Rabbani Choton and key players Akhi Khatun and Anai Mogini, but they have introduced fresh talents like Afeida Khandakar, Matsushima Sumaya, and Airin Khatun."We are coming up against an Indian team, who, in my opinion, are probably the best team in the tournament," said Bangladesh head coach Peter Butler. "It's a do or die game. It's a game we don't want to lose."With India already in the semifinals, the match will determine the group winner and the second semifinalist. Bangladesh will need a victory to top the group, while Pakistan will advance if India triumphs. A draw would leave Bangladesh as group runners-up, but they would still need a victory to secure the top spot.

Jurgen Klopp's legacy looms large over RB Leipzig as they prepare to host Liverpool in the Champions League on Wednesday. Klopp, who stepped down as Liverpool manager in the summer, is now the head of football operations for Red Bull, which oversees Leipzig.While Klopp will not be present at the Red Bull Arena, his influence is undeniable. Leipzig's fixture list has thrown up a strange quirk, with the German club facing each of Klopp's former clubs in the five games following his appointment.Leipzig's 2-0 win at Mainz on Saturday was overshadowed by Klopp's presence. Fans held banners protesting his appointment, while reporters asked Leipzig coach Marco Rose if he had sought Klopp's advice on how to beat Liverpool.Rose dismissed the notion, saying Klopp was "in Mallorca, looking after his dog, his wife, and his children." He added, "I will do everything (to beat Liverpool) but I won't call Klopp. He needs his peace and quiet and needs to rest a bit."Leipzig, under Rose's guidance, have emerged as a force to be reckoned with. They won the German Cup last season and reached the Champions League last 16. This season, they have held onto their young talent and are challenging for the Bundesliga title.However, Leipzig's Champions League campaign has been disappointing so far. They have lost both of their opening games and are in desperate need of a result against Liverpool.Liverpool, under Klopp's replacement Arne Slot, have been in impressive form in the Premier League. They have conceded just three goals in eight games, the best defensive record in the league.Leipzig goalkeeper Peter Gulasci acknowledged the similarities between the two teams. "Liverpool are extremely stable and don't allow much at the back -- just like us," he said. "That's why it won't be easy."Wednesday's clash promises to be a fascinating encounter between two teams with strong defensive records and a shared history with Jurgen Klopp.

Brazilian superstar Neymar made his long-awaited return to the pitch on Monday after more than a year on the sidelines. The 32-year-old forward, now playing for Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal, came on as a second-half substitute in his team's thrilling 5-4 victory over Asian champions Al Ain in the UAE.Neymar had not played since rupturing his meniscus and anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee while on international duty in October 2022. He underwent surgery and a lengthy rehabilitation process, but is now back in action and eager to regain his top form.The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain attacker is Brazil's all-time leading goalscorer, with 79 goals in 128 appearances. He is expected to play a key role for Al Hilal in the Saudi Pro League and the Asian Champions League.Neymar was named on the Hilal bench for the first time since his injury and was introduced on 76 minutes of the Asian Champions Elite encounter at a packed Hazzan Bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain. By then, Hilal were leading 5-3, thanks to goals from Renan Lodi, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, and a hat-trick from Salem Al Dawsari.Neymar cannot be registered for the Saudi top-flight until January, but Hilal coach Jorge Jesus is keen to get him match fit as soon as possible. "I need to prepare Neymar with games; that's the only possible means to bring him to his level, which was the idea today," Jesus said."There are some risks for the team because we need to use the games to prepare him, but it's the only way to have one of our important players back at the highest level," the Portuguese boss added.On Monday, Hilal took the lead on 26 minutes when Aleksandar Mitrovic played in Lodi down the left, and the ex-Atletico Madrid full-back drilled a low shot past Khalid Essa in the Al Ain goal. However, Hernan Crespo's side drew level six minutes before half-time when Morocco international Soufiane Rahimi slid home a cross.In first-half stoppage-time, Hilal seemed to take the contest away from their UAE rivals. First, Joao Cancelo, a summer signing from Manchester City, crossed for Milinkovic-Savic to head home unmarked from six years. Moments later, reigning Asian Player of the Year Al Dawsari raced cleared of the Al Ain defence, skipped around the onrushing Essa and curled home superbly on the angle.Al Ain reduced the deficit just after the hour through substitute Mateo Sanabria, only for Al Dawsari to flick home his second of the night from a Milinkovic-Savic centre. Minutes later, Rahimi notched his double as a see-saw clash took another swing. Al Dawsari then restored Hilal's two-goal advantage with a sublime strike from range.Not long into 12 minutes of the allotted injury-time, and with Hilal reduced to 10 men after defender Ali Al Bulaihi was sent off for an intentional handball, Rahimi won and converted a penalty to secure his hat-trick and give Al Ain hope, but the Saudi champions hung on to claim the win.Neymar had little time to truly impact the game, although he did flash wide an effort in the dying moments of normal time. Hilal sit top of the Western region group, with three victories from three while Al Ain have picked up a solitary point.

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has emphasized the importance of Kylian Mbappe's goal-scoring prowess over his defensive contributions. The Spanish giants have struggled to find their rhythm this season, and Ancelotti believes Mbappe's primary focus should be on finding the back of the net."I prefer that he scores goals than he presses," Ancelotti stated. "The central striker position in our team has not changed. I ask him the same I asked of Karim (Benzema)."Mbappe has scored eight goals in 12 appearances for Madrid this season, but his output has been overshadowed by Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski, who has netted 14 times in 12 games. The French forward has also faced criticism for his absence from France's recent Nations League matches due to a thigh injury.Ancelotti's comments come amid concerns about Mbappe's impact on the team's balance. The arrival of the former Paris Saint-Germain star has pushed Jude Bellingham into a more defensive role, and the English midfielder has yet to score this season."We're satisfied with his work... because he works a lot on the pitch," Ancelotti said of Bellingham. "The truth is he hasn't scored the goals he did last year, but the surprise isn't this year, it's last year."Ancelotti acknowledged Madrid's attacking prowess, which includes Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo Goes, and expressed his preference for end-to-end matches. "I want (rock and roll football) because I have players with these characteristics," he said.Meanwhile, Borussia Dortmund coach Nuri Sahin emphasized the need for a strong mentality and collective effort to overcome Madrid's attacking threats. "It's only possible (to succeed) as a collective, not just against these two, but against all of Real's players," he said.Dortmund midfielder Julian Brandt stressed the importance of closing down Madrid players quickly. "It's about working even more defensively... you probably shouldn't give them any breathing room to get close to our goal," he said.